Will backing Trump cost an Oregon politician her seat?

Multnomah County Retracts Key Stat

Multnomah County health officials had claimed that fewer people were surviving cardiac arrests because of increasing fentanyl overdoses. That claim was an important data point for discussing whether the county’s slower ambulance response times were dangerous. But the county has now retracted and corrected their data, thanks to a reporter’s questions. Also: “The explanation of opioids being the cause doesn’t really make sense,” an expert told OPB. [OPB]

Local Fight for Congressional Control

Democrats and Republicans’ struggle for control of Congress this fall runs through Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, where first-term U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) is already trying to persuade independent voters to vote for her. The trouble: She’s endorsed Trump — which voters don’t associate with a moderate. Chavez-DeRemer faces state Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-Happy Valley) in a district that Chavez-DeRemer won by just two points in 2022 — and that Biden won too. [OPB]

Unusual Meetings With Drug Reps

This is the latest installment on the Oregon first lady’s unusual (and possibly problematic) involvement with policy and governance. Aimee Kotek Wilson’s meeting last year with the drug company Johnson & Johnson was unusual, say half a dozen lobbyists. The governor’s office usually vets meeting requests for possible pitfalls, but there was no such vetting of Kotek Wilson’s meeting. [Willamette Week]

• Key point: Three drugs made by Johnson & Johnson to treat schizophrenia with long-acting injections make up a sizable fraction of Oregon Health Authority’s Medicaid spending on prescription drugs. At the same time, it’s looking like the drugmaker may soon have competition from cheaper generics. [Willamette Week]

What It Takes To Get Rid of Graffiti

Officer Nate Kirby-Glatkowski, who investigates graffiti for the Portland Police Bureau, explains what it takes to stop graffiti — and all he’s had to learn about tags. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

How Portland Police Investigate the Most Notorious Graffiti

Official complaints about graffiti have skyrocketed in Portland, and the Portland Police Bureau has responded by studying up on the hundreds of tags and graffiti styles. It’s part of an effort to prosecute some of the more damaging crews. Officer Nate Kirby-Glatkowski, who investigates graffiti, shares his insights — and even a few of his favorite taggers.