Oregon’s ‘colossal heist’

‘Colossal Heist’ in Oregon

A married couple working as private chauffeurs allegedly stole $34 million from their employer, buying a private jet and multimillion-dollar vacation homes. Their victim is a high-profile figure: Win McCormack, 79, publisher of The New Republic magazine and owner of the Portland book publisher Tin House. McCormack was friends with the couple, who’ve driven for him since 2006, and it was only last fall that he discovered extraordinarily large credit-card charges. [Oregonian 🔒]

Scarce and Expensive Rehab for Teens

Drug treatment options for teenagers are scarce and expensive, according to an Oregon Health and Science University study published this month. In Oregon, the researchers found no beds available for kids with Medicaid. Nationally, for families who can pay for treating a teenager’s opioid addiction, the monthly cost is $26,000. Alarmingly, the number of Oregon teenagers who died of a drug overdose rose 550% from 2018 to 2022. [Portland Monthly]

Cage-Free Eggs Only

Under laws that went into effect at the beginning of the year, eggs sold in Oregon and Washington can come only from hens who get space to roam. Local commercial farms that have 3,000 or more chickens must also be cage-free. California and Massachusetts have similar laws in place, while Utah, Colorado, Rhode Island, Nevada, Arizona, and Michigan have passed cage-free egg laws that take effect in the future. [Oregonian 🔒]

Familiar Face for New City Council

Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan is the only current member of City Council running to be on next year’s new City Council. Under Portland’s new form of government, there will be 12 city councilors, instead of five commissioners. Ryan, first elected in 2020, is running to represent District 2, which covers North Portland. [Portland Mercury]

Oregon’s Short Legislative Session

Oregon’s short legislative session will take up some high-profile efforts, including the proposals to make drug possession illegal again and spend $500 million to create more housing. Dirk VanderHart, OPB state politics and government reporter, explains. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

From Measure 110 to Housing: Your Short Session Preview

Oregon lawmakers are planning to weaken Measure 110, the voter-approved measure that decriminalized drug possession. And the governor is introducing just one piece of legislation: a half-billion-dollar housing bill. Dirk VanderHart, OPB state politics and government reporter, runs down what to expect at the Oregon Legislature’s short session, which starts next week.