AGP Executive Report

Ocean Monitoring Cuts: The Trump administration is dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative, removing hundreds of deep-ocean instruments that track temperatures, carbon uptake, and circulation—an especially risky move as scientists brace for major El Niño impacts off Oregon and beyond. Public Safety Tech: Sherwood’s new speed cameras on Southwest Oregon Street have flagged 1,045 speeding drivers in two weeks, underscoring how enforcement tech is reshaping local traffic behavior. Food Assistance Court Fight: A federal judge halted USDA enforcement of new SNAP-related conditions tied to immigration and gender-related policies, pausing a major shift that states say could disrupt help for millions. Energy & Costs: Gas prices remain elevated, with Oregon listed among the higher-cost states, while regional reporting highlights how global shipping disruptions and refinery dynamics keep fuel volatile. Oregon Industry & Tech: Intel’s Hillsboro chip-fab access story spotlights the tight controls behind semiconductor production—an Oregon manufacturing win with global ripple effects. Local Quality of Life: Oregon’s updated Coast Bike Route map refreshes guidance for riders, including safety and wind-aware planning.

Hunting/Fishing Ban Push: Oregon’s ballot initiative would criminalize hunting, fishing, trapping and conventional livestock farming, with signature drive and rural-vs-urban voter math setting up a high-stakes November fight. SNAP Funding Court Battle: A federal judge temporarily blocked Trump-era USDA conditions that would force states to certify compliance with gender and immigration-related “policies” to keep billions in nutrition funding flowing, pausing SNAP-related enforcement while 20 states and DC litigate. Forever Chemicals Crackdown: PFAS “forever chemical” rules are spreading state by state, including Oregon, as lawmakers move toward class-based restrictions and disclosure requirements that could reshape supply chains. Energy Watch: US natural gas futures slid on higher output and LNG export plant maintenance, while the Pacific Northwest saw very low next-day power prices tied to hydropower and demand. Oregon Real Estate: Dunthorpe’s High Hatch Estate—Prairie School design by William M. Whidden—hit the market for $5.29M. Local Construction: Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell is building a new clubhouse to replace a 1930s chicken-coop structure, targeting late-September completion. Gas Prices (Oregon): GasBuddy data for the week ending May 30 shows Oregon averages easing, with standout lows like $4.99 regular in Morrow County and $5.54 diesel in Wasco County.

Meat Processing Funding: USDA opened a $60M meat processing funding round for tribes and small processors, aiming to expand domestic capacity and reduce regulatory burdens for smaller facilities. Tribal Development: The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde started major construction at tumwata village on the former Blue Heron mill site, with plans for mixed-use housing, commercial space, and restored riverfront access. Energy & Data Centers: New reports say Northwest utilities in Oregon and Washington are increasingly turning to gas to power data center demand, raising concerns about missing emissions targets. Electricity Costs: A new map shows residential electricity prices rising fastest in places like Washington, D.C., with demand growth tied in part to AI and data center expansion. Portland Public Safety: A local op-ed argues Portland’s 911 response crisis is driven by staffing shortfalls and warns proposed police cuts will worsen service gaps. Ocean Monitoring: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, including removal of 900+ deep-sea instruments that track ocean conditions off Oregon and beyond. Oregon Business/Construction: Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell is building a new clubhouse to replace a 1930s chicken coop, with upgrades to dining, pro shop, and outdoor space. Retail/Local Economy: Rite Aid store conversions continue, including an El Torito Supermarket planned for downtown Salem.

Paper Industry & Safety: Longview community members rallied with a barbecue fundraiser after the Nippon Dynawave chemical spill killed 11 workers, while residents say long-term questions about the paper industry’s future are now front and center. Energy Costs & Grid Planning: A new analysis using EIA data shows where residential electricity prices jumped most year over year, with grid investment and rising demand (including from data centers) driving pressure. Data Centers & Power Supply: Oregon and Washington utilities are increasingly turning to gas to meet data-center demand, raising concerns about missing climate targets as some projects skirt new gas limits. Transportation Finance: Oregon and Washington transportation commissions heard results from a Level 3 traffic and revenue study indicating Interstate Bridge tolling can still hit the $1.5B target despite an early traffic drop. Local Housing & Growth: Tualatin approved Norwood Townhomes, a 95-unit “missing middle” subdivision, as the city moves forward with attached single-family housing. Labor & Health Care: The NLRB ordered Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center to bargain with more than 250 healthcare technicians after their 2023 union vote. Trade & Manufacturing: KEITH Manufacturing in Madras received a Global Trailblazer Award for international expansion tied to agricultural and material-handling growth. Antitrust Watch: State AGs are drafting a legal challenge to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, setting up a major competition fight. Community Health: Salem opened a downtown sobering center and expanded detox and clinic services, aiming to reduce reliance on jail and hospital care.

Data Center Power Rates: Portland General Electric filed for approval of Oregon’s new data center rate class under the 2025 POWER Act, with rates for large-load users (20MW+) set to rise 29% starting June 10, while residential rates are projected to fall 1.3%—a direct hit to the cost math for Oregon’s fast-growing AI and crypto buildout. Local Governance & Growth: Hillsboro is coordinating with In-N-Out on traffic controls for its first local opening, including staged drive-thru staffing and restrictions on where lines can queue to prevent spillover congestion. Food Security: Oregon’s Summer EBT program kicked off with $120 in one-time benefits per eligible child, expected to reach about 360,000 kids and drive more than $43M into local grocery and farmers market spending. Agriculture & Risk: A Capital Press dairy feature highlights how Oregon coast producers are managing heavy rain, mud, and manure timing while chasing stability after volatile milk markets. Public Health & Environment: A national report links Parkinson’s risk to pesticide exposure in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, underscoring pressure on farmworker and nearby community health. Wildlife & Safety: Bend residents are seeking answers after multiple raptor deaths raised concerns about possible poisoning, including rodenticide use. Construction & Procurement: Pacific Northwest project bidding roundup includes Oregon City’s Mulino airport hangar and waterline work and Springfield School District’s large-span truss repair bid. Policy Watch: Oregon’s hunting and fishing ban initiative is moving closer to the November ballot, with opponents warning it could reshape livestock and rural economies.

Utility & Data Centers: Portland General Electric filed for POWER Act rate changes that would raise electricity costs for large-load data centers by 29% starting June 10, while nudging residential rates down 1.3% and cutting small business rates 3.7%. Local Governance & Food Policy: Portland City Council passed a 7-5 ordinance banning the sale of force-fed foie gras, giving restaurants a six-month transition window to Dec. 1 and setting fines up to $5,000 per violation. Public Safety & Traffic Enforcement: Sherwood rolled out mobile speed cameras on Southwest Oregon Street, already flagging 1,045 speeding drivers since May 25, with citations set to begin June 23. Community & Accessibility: Klamath Falls’ Major Connections nonprofit secured a 4,000-square-foot site to build an inclusive play and support center for families of people with disabilities. Tourism & Hospitality: Eugene’s hotel market is seeing sustained growth tied to major university and tech investment, including the $1B Phil and Penny Knight Campus. Energy & Industry Watch: Oregon’s gas prices dipped in the week ending May 30, with Klamath County’s lowest reported regular at $4.79. Workforce & Education: Oswego Lake Country Club hosted “First Green” lessons for fifth graders, linking golf course maintenance to soil, irrigation, and local industry impacts.

Semiconductor & tech pipeline: Bangladesh’s Semiconductor Industry Association kicked off its “USA Roadshow 2026,” with stops across major U.S. hubs and a final leg in Portland, aiming to deepen ties between Bangladeshi talent and the global chip ecosystem. Public health & agriculture: Oregon’s Department of Agriculture issued final rules after the USDA confirmed the first New World Screwworm detection in the U.S. (Texas), tightening animal movement, inspections, and pre-entry treatments into Oregon. Local infrastructure: Coos Bay’s Chandler Bridge will close June 12–15 and June 19–22 for painting and repairs, with detours via East Bay Road and U.S. 101. Energy policy & industry: Bend advanced a controversial natural gas appliance fee for new construction, while drought worsened across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, with more counties seeking emergency declarations. Coastal regulation: Oregon lawmakers urged DEQ to pause $3.2M in civil fines against Pacific Seafood while the company appeals. Workforce & manufacturing: Nosler is relocating operations from Bend to a new Redmond headquarters, and Oregon’s Travel Oregon named Kate Sinner as its next executive director amid tourism headwinds.

Energy & Data Centers: PGE asked Oregon regulators for a 29% rate increase for large-load data center customers under the POWER Act, while most other customer classes would see small decreases—another sign utilities are trying to make big electricity users pay for new infrastructure. Regional Power Planning: Avista filed with the SEC about a “large load” customer seeking 125 MW starting in 2029, with a path to 500 MW by 2032, and says any contract would be structured so the customer covers added power and transmission upgrades. Workforce & Industry Tech: Boise State was named the lead institution for a nine-state semiconductor education pipeline (PINES), aiming to expand microelectronics training for Oregon and the broader region. Public Health & Food Safety: FDA is investigating two new foodborne illness outbreaks—Listeria and Cyclospora—and a third Salmonella wave tied to moringa supplement capsules. Marine & Climate Monitoring: Ocean Observatories Initiative sensors off the Pacific Northwest are being pulled as the network is “descoped,” with a buoy removal planned near the Oregon coast. Local Business & Real Estate: Datalogic put its 32-acre Eugene campus up for sale as it scales back its local footprint. Housing & Community: Portland City Council approved $2.5 million for two homeownership projects tied to past harms against Black Portlanders. Tourism: Travel Oregon reported 2025 travel spending of $14.6B, supporting 122,920 travel-generated jobs statewide.

Ocean & Energy Policy: The Trump administration is dismantling the $368M Ocean Observatories Initiative, starting with instruments off Alaska, Washington, Oregon and more, raising alarms for ocean research and climate monitoring. Offshore Wind Legal Fight: New York and other states sued over a Trump-era deal that pays companies to cancel offshore wind leases in favor of oil and gas, with Oregon groups also challenging Pentagon reviews that have stalled onshore wind. Coastal Industry Pressure: Oregon lawmakers from coastal communities urged DEQ to pause or reconsider $3.2M in Pacific Seafood wastewater fines while the company appeals, warning it could threaten the seafood economy. State Regulation Watch: Oregon expanded tobacco rules to cover nicotine pouches and other nicotine products starting June 5, aiming to curb youth access. Ballot Politics for Agriculture & Outdoors: Initiative Petition 28 cleared a key signature milestone to expand animal-cruelty enforcement and potentially narrow exemptions for hunting, fishing and livestock practices. Local Economy & Jobs: UW’s Dempsey Startup Competition crowned BioBead for ag tech to boost soil health, while Oregon’s grass seed negotiator transition highlights ongoing pricing leverage issues for growers.

Ocean & Climate Science: The Ocean Observatories Initiative is starting to wind down, with a key buoy off the Oregon coast set for removal June 16 as the NSF “descopes” the network—scientists warn this will create long-term data gaps. Federal Policy & Retirement Savings: Oregon AG Dana Nessel joined a 24-state coalition opposing a Trump Labor Department proposal that would steer retirement plans toward riskier assets like crypto and private credit. Construction Costs in Oregon: Diesel prices have surged again, with Oregon retail averaging $6.04 a gallon, pushing contractors to raise bids and owners to feel the squeeze on projects like I-5 improvements. Local Governance & Housing: RootedHomes is celebrating 23 net-zero, permanently affordable homes in Redmond under a community land trust model, aimed at keeping local workers housed. Industrial Safety: Washington regulators opened a six-month investigation into the Nippon Dynawave chemical tank implosion that killed 11 workers. Energy Infrastructure: Avangrid has finished a new Oregon solar project and connected it to the grid. Portland Development: Colas Development Group is in exclusive talks for a $70M 150-room hotel and conference center near PSU’s future Performing Arts + Culture Center.

Workplace Safety & Industry: Longview’s Nippon Dynawave chemical spill probe continues after a white liquor tank rupture killed 11 and injured seven, with cleanup and investigations still underway. Oregon Transportation: Oregon’s road-funding crisis persists after Measure 120’s collapse, leaving ODOT with only short-term fixes and ongoing uncertainty for maintenance and staffing. Local Planning: Sisters’ Urban Growth Boundary expansion hearing was delayed as planners review a heavy record and public comments ahead of a June 25 decision. Conservation & Land Use: The Crater Lake newt could gain federal Endangered Species Act protection after a settlement sets a decision deadline for listing. Energy & Grid Policy: The Northwest Power and Conservation Council is weighing more natural gas generation, a move that clashes with Oregon and Washington clean-energy goals. Agriculture & Compliance: The Oregon Seed Association’s Seed Labeling Database is now used nationwide and internationally to streamline federal and state labeling rules. Manufacturing & Jobs: Oregon City-based Benchmade unveiled the Bugout Vapyr, built and manufactured at its Oregon headquarters. Public Health & Food: A frozen pizza recall in Washington includes lots sold nationwide, with Oregon shoppers urged to check freezers. Community & Access: Lane County is upgrading Mount Pisgah’s Summit Trail for safer, more accessible access starting June 8.

Workplace Safety & Environment: Oregon DEQ fined Albany’s Pacific Cast Technologies nearly $51,000 for hazardous waste violations tied to fire risk, including improper storage/labeling of acids and mercury lamps, venting butane cylinders outdoors, and outdated contingency planning. Manufacturing & Research: Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center (OMIC R&D) installed a Shimadzu ultrasonic very high-cycle fatigue system, funded via an Air Force Research Laboratory subcontract, to speed up materials testing for aerospace, automotive, and advanced tooling. State Economy: Oregon’s unemployment rate held steady at 5.2% through early 2026, with job growth largely concentrated in private healthcare and social assistance. New Oregon Laws: A package of new laws takes effect June 5, targeting what lawmakers call federal overreach and adding protections for workers, data privacy, and minors’ workplace safeguards. Outdoor & Recreation: Oregon’s free fishing weekend runs June 6-7, with no licenses needed and trout stocking planned, plus free state park parking. Local Industry & Community: Eugene Beer Week returns as a 10-day Lane County celebration starting May 29, featuring 26 breweries and events from tastings to a bike crawl. Public Safety: A Portland-area ballot initiative effort is facing allegations that signature canvassers misled voters about a proposal to divert clean-energy funds to police.

Retail & Small Business: Sweet Home quilters Suzette and Eric Andersen just finished a 7,000-mile Oregon-Washington-Idaho shop hop, a reminder that independent sewing and quilting stores are leaning hard on Shop Hop discounts and passport-style traffic to stay afloat. Energy Transparency: A University of Oregon planning professor argues real-time electricity data should be a basic consumer right as EVs and heat pumps spread and dynamic rates rise—without better tools, households can’t manage costs. AI Power Demand: A new report warns data centers are wasting huge amounts of energy as heat because policy doesn’t require reuse, pushing grid strain and higher bills. Grid Costs Map: An EIA-based map shows electricity prices jumped most in Maryland, while Oregon saw declines—still, the broader trend is rising household power costs. Agriculture & Drought: Klamath Project drought programs are drawing strong interest, with higher potential payments for no-irrigation and limited-irrigation options as conditions stay dry. Workplace Safety Tragedy: Longview, Washington’s Nippon Dynawave paper mill disaster continues to unfold after 11 deaths, with investigators still focused on what caused the chemical tank rupture. Local Media & Community: Oregon Public Broadcasting led the Northwest Regional Emmy wins, including Warm Springs filmmaker LaRonn Katchia’s first Emmy for Indigenous storytelling.

College Sports Policy: Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Maria Cantwell (R-OR) are reviving a “stability” push with the Protect College Sports Act, aiming to limit transfers to once, add an anti-trust exemption, and pre-empt state-by-state rules. Tech & Security Markets: New market reports peg AI in IoT at $91.7B by 2032 and mobile app security at $37.1B by 2032, both driven by automation and rising cyber threats. Oregon Industry & Manufacturing: A Milwaukie footwear maker’s expansion story continues as Everett Carson buys the former Pendleton Grain Growers elevator in Athena, tying Oregon’s sports-shoe ecosystem to new local production. Public Health/Environment: OSU researchers describe a “molecular movie” approach to track how cheap zinc and UV light break down nitrophenols in water. Industrial Safety Tragedy (Regional): Longview’s Nippon paper mill chemical tank implosion killed 11 workers, with investigations and community support ongoing. Wildlife Funding: Oregon will start a dedicated 1.25% wildlife revenue stream via the transient lodging tax. Ballot Watch: Oregon’s IP 28/PEACE Act would ban hunting, fishing, and livestock farming, with signatures reported above the ballot threshold.

Industrial Safety & Accountability: After a 900,000-gallon “white liquor” tank imploded at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview, WA, all 11 workers have been identified and recovered, with officials also saying no state agency was responsible for inspecting the above-ground tank—responsibility largely fell to the site operator. Environmental Cleanup: The incident is tied to contamination reaching the Columbia River, with testing underway and health impacts not yet detected in air or drinking water. Oregon Policy & Jobs: A proposed Oregon initiative (IP-28) is gaining traction toward the November ballot, aiming to make it illegal to injure or kill animals—raising alarms from ranchers, farmers, and meat producers about impacts on hunting, fishing, and livestock operations. Energy Costs: AAA reports Oregon gas prices dipped modestly after Memorial Day demand, but remain elevated versus recent years. Transportation: ODOT rescheduled Tower Road bridge closures at I-84 Exit 159, with phased northbound and southbound lane shutdowns starting May 26 and a longer full closure planned June 11–July 9. Healthcare & Business: PacificSource is exiting Montana’s entire insurance footprint by Dec. 31, 2026, leaving members with fewer options in 2027.

Industrial Safety & Enforcement: A Troutdale woman was sentenced to federal prison for pouring 500,000 gallons of industrial wastewater—contaminated with hydrofluoric acid and toxic metals—into a Hillsboro sanitary sewer without permits, after prosecutors said she tried to conceal the discharges during Clean Water Services inspections. Public Finance & Workforce Costs: Baker City warned that rising Oregon PERS and health insurance costs are squeezing budgets, with police and fire benefit costs climbing sharply and threatening long-term sustainability. Healthcare Industry: PacificSource plans to lay off 97 Oregon employees as it scales back operations after exiting the ACA marketplace in Oregon, Idaho and Montana, leaving about 60,000 members to find new coverage. Local Housing & Development: Beaverton cut the ribbon on Amity Orchards, a $80 million multigenerational affordable housing complex supported by the Metro Affordable Housing Bond. Energy & Infrastructure Debate: La Pine rejected a proposed data center, citing concerns about groundwater, air impacts, and whether the rural power grid can handle the load. Trade & Agriculture: China lifted HPAI-related poultry import restrictions for 17 U.S. states, reopening export access under a regionalization deal. Community Response: Salem and Marion County launched the REACH mental health crisis team to divert some calls away from jail or hospital visits. Portland Fire: Two floating homes were destroyed and one under construction was damaged in a Columbia River fire; the cause is under investigation.