A Travel Oregon Board Member’s Company Got a Six-Figure, No-Bid Contract From the Agency
Travel Oregon’s CEO claims the Department of Justice gave the travel agency permission to go forward with the contract, but DOJ disputes that.
By James Neff
October 15, 2025
New Oregon Department of Forestry Report Says PacifiCorp Wasn’t Responsible for Santiam Canyon Fire
3/19/2025 - The long-awaited report supports the utility’s version of the deadly blaze.
3/12/2025 - Letter submitted by Megan Hill, Senior Manager of Environmental Science, PGE.
Bill Would Create $1 Billion Fund to Aid Utilities in Paying Wildfire Victims
3/1/2025 - In a document circulated last fall, Oregon power brokers argue wildfires endanger the entire state’s economic health.
Kotek’s Gift to Trade Unions Contradicts Her Own Agency’s Analysis
1/29/2025 - The Oregon Department of Transportation found that it will be costly and disproportionately hit rural Oregon.
1/8/2025 - Oregon’s new electric truck rule is disrupting the state’s transportation industry.
12/18/2024 - People who love an iconic Oregon river say an electric utility is harming it.
2/5/2025 - PacifiCorp was grossly negligent in Oregon’s 2020 wildfires. Now it’s asking lawmakers for protection.
1/15/2025 - Dr. Robert Pamplin concedes he raided his employees’ pension fund. Properties all over Oregon will now be sold so he can pay back tens of millions of dollars.
1/22/2025 - Raymond Parenteau built a fortune from one of the fastest-growing government programs in Oregon.
2/12/2025 - Letter submitted by Erin Isselmann, Vice President Communications, PacifiCorp.
The State’s Largest Union Wants to Assist Caregivers—and Grow Its Own Ranks
3/5/2025 - Senate Bill 1138 would create a board to oversee working conditions in the direct care industry and give that board extraordinary authority.
The State Failed to Set Aside Sufficient Money to Cover Legal Liabilities Even as Risks Increased
3/26/2025 - Self insurance requires state agencies to kick money into the state risk pool. They haven’t done enough.
Are Oregon’s Top Democrats More Interested in Housing the Poor or Helping Their Campaign Donors?
4/2/2025 - Examples in Astoria point to a state government that says it wants more affordable housing but places costly roadblocks in the way.
The Oregon GOP’s New Chairman Brings Some Baggage to His Role
4/9/2025 - Court records provide details from a long-running divorce and custody case that raise questions about Gerald “Jerry” Cummings.
The Gas Tax Already Hits Rural Oregonians Disproportionately. Lawmakers Want to Raise it 50%
4/9/2025 - City motorists drive less but benefit from the gas tax’s distribution formula.
Oregon GOP Chairman Resigns After Oregon Journalism Project Report About His Past
4/9/2025 - Jerry Cummings won election to lead his party in February.
4/22/2025 - He has a plan to stop Oregon from burning. Think Moneyball for forests.
State Policy Stands in the Way of a Major Housing Expansion on the Eugene Waterfront
5/14/2025 - Developers aligned with the city of Eugene are challenging a state ruling that threatens their plan to transform an industrial property into 1,300 units of new housing.
Longtime Travel Oregon CEO Steps Down Amid Oregon Journalism Project Investigation
5/22/2025 - Todd Davidson led the lodging tax-funded agency since 1996.
5/24/2025 - But nobody’s minding the state agency that promotes Oregon tourism.
Trump’s New Tax Bill Could Penalize Oregon for Providing Health Care to All Undocumented Immigrants
5/28/2025 - Oregon was the first to provide such coverage and remains the most committed. Hard decisions loom.
Lawmakers Hamstrung in Overseeing Travel Oregon’s Spending
5/30/2025 - Gov. Tina Kotek avoids saying the agency needs more oversight.
Oregon Got a Massive Federal Recovery Grant After 2020 Wildfires. Most of the Money Remains Unspent.
6/3/2025 - The state was unprepared for the unprecedented loss of housing.
New Lawsuit Aims to Clarify Whether State Bond Dollars Trigger Prevailing Wages.
6/11/2025 - The stakes are enormous for the development of affordable housing.
6/13/2025 - The departure of Oregon companies speaks to a bigger problem for the state.
6/14/2025 - Hotel and travel marketing groups oppose a House bill that would let public dollars earmarked for tourism promotion be diverted to pay for increased burdens on public safety and roads.
6/18/2025 - Todd Davidson ran the state tourism agency for three decades while making one of the highest salaries in state government.
Feds Say Robert Pamplin Jr. Dragged His Feet in Making Pensioners Whole
7/2/2025 - The industrialist admitted violating pension laws. As he slowly makes amends, other creditors are coming for him.
The Man Who Wants to Kill Vote-By-Mail in Oregon Contests a May Election Result
7/9/2025 - Ben Edtl is working to save his job—and change the way Oregonians cast their ballots.
Merkley Will Run for Re-Election in 2026
7/10/2025 - “It was a difficult decision.”
Oregon Hospitals Are Bracing for Medicaid Cuts That Will Hit Harder Here Than in Most States
7/16/2025 - Weakening the safety net program will cost everybody.
A Veteran GOP Lawmaker Sided With Democrats on Transportation. Why?
7/16/2025 - Kevin Mannix changed his vote after a large appropriation to a project he favors. He says there’s no connection.
An Internal GOP Investigation Finds a Party Official Diverted Proceeds From an Inaugural Celebration
7/24/2025 - Don Powers organized a big bash in D.C. His colleagues are trying to follow the money.
Judge in PacifiCorp Wildfire Trials Wants to Quadruple the Court’s Pace
8/1/2025 - Many victims of the 2020 wildfires still await resolution of their damages.
8/5/2025 - How the managers of Oregon's $100 billion pension fund ignored expert guidance and lost big.
Why Oregon’s Governor Had to Intervene on Pumpkin Patches
8/15/2025 - The latest rulemaking dispute is part of long-standing tensions over land use.
Oregon Cries Poverty, but Its Transportation Spending Is Typical of Western States
8/20/2025 - An OJP analysis of five recent years’ spending figures show that Oregon falls roughly in the middle of the other six states cited by ODOT.
8/20/2025 - Joe Cortright says the state agency is misleading lawmakers and the public about its budget.
New Study Finds PGE’s Efforts to Restore Deschutes River Aren’t Working
8/27/2025 - A peer-reviewed paper says measures to mitigate harms from dams have “resulted in a net reduction in water quality and aquatic habitat.”
Oregon Gained State Government Workers in the Past Year While Manufacturing Ranks Fell
9/11/2025 - Oregon’s lagging economy had one hot spot last fiscal year: State government’s workforce grew 4%.
More Questions Arise About State Investments in Private Equity
9/2/2025 - The Oregon Investment Council faces tough questions from lawmakers, unions and advocates. An email shows the former state treasurer shared their concerns.
9/9/2025 - One of the state’s leading economic observers says Oregon’s growth is over.
9/10/2025 - Nick Green’s big ideas to revive rural Oregon have divided John Day.
9/15/2025 - At a recent public meeting about the financial health of OPERF, an activist criticized the Oregon State Treasury for losing money when it recently sold $4.5 billion in private equity holdings from the fund.
Canadians and Other International Tourists Shun Oregon This Summer
9/24/2025 - Spending by international travelers to Oregon this summer has dropped sharply.
Oregon’s Early Child Care Crisis Impacts All but Two of the State’s 36 Counties
9/23/2025 - When Courtney Eggleston gave birth to her son, she knew she would have to rely on friends and family to help care for him when she went back to work.
An Elections Expert Explains Why the Federal Government Doesn't Need Oregon Voters' Private Data
9/25/2025 - Two weeks ago, President Trump’s Department of Justice sued Oregon and Secretary of State Tobias Read for failing to turn over full information about every Oregon voter.
Oregon’s Most Dangerous Job is Not What You Might Expect
10/10/2025 - Health care workers are much more likely to suffer injuries on the job.
10/3/2025 - A key sticking point of the current federal government shutdown, the “enhanced premium tax credit,” will have an outsized impact in three Oregon counties.
Ex-Blazer Chris Dudley and Former MMA Fighter Chael Sonnen to Address GOP Reagan Dinner
10/19/2025 - The two former athletes are among those mulling 2026 challenges to Gov. Tina Kotek.
Haines, Oregon