West
'Dying before our eyes': Overdose deaths push Oregon lawmakers to end drug decriminalization 'experiment'
Oregon is ready to end its “experiment” with drug decriminalization, according to one state senator. This comes as skyrocketing overdose deaths and public drug usage compelled the state legislature to re-introduce criminal penalties for possession in the Beaver State.
“About four Oregonians a day are dying because of overdoses,” state Sen. Tim Knopp, a Republican and minority leader in the upper chamber, told “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Sunday.
“The voters of Oregon were sold a bill of goods through an initiative that was on the ballot, and it decriminalized all hard drugs – fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine,” he said.
OREGONIANS SUPPORT ENDING DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION AMID RISING OVERDOSES, ‘RADICALIZED SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT’
The opioid epidemic continues to take America by storm. It even compelled Oregon lawmakers to walk back the state’s progressive drug decriminalization policy. (iStock)
“Instead of treatment that the voters thought they were going to get for their family and friends who are on drugs and addicted, they ended up getting unbridled drug use, drug sales all over our major cities across Oregon, and it turned into an exponential increase in overdose deaths.”
The three-year decriminalization “experiment” began in 2020 when nearly 60% of voters supported the passage of Measure 110, which decriminalized possession of small amounts of hard drugs like fentanyl, meth and heroin and made possession punishable by a maximum $100 fine.
VOTERS’ REMORSE: BLUE STATE SURVEY SHOWS MAJORITY WANT TO RE-CRIMINALIZE DRUGS: ‘WE MADE AN ENORMOUS MISTAKE’
Oregon HB 4002 is now headed to Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer, File)
The measure has since lost popularity as widespread concerns over the fentanyl crisis, homelessness and a decrease in public safety have entered the spotlight.
“What we had is more crime, open drug use, open drug sales, and you see people pretty much everywhere on drugs, and, they were literally dying before our eyes on the streets of Portland and Eugene and Salem and major cities across Oregon. It’s been horrific,” Knopp said.
The Oregon Senate voted 21-8 in favor of recriminalizing hard drugs with HB 4002 on Friday, following in the footsteps of the state House with the bill receiving largely bipartisan support.
OREGON OPIOID DEATHS INCREASE 13X AFTER DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION LAW: ‘WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT’
According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, the bill also expands access to opioid withdrawal medications, creates addiction services facilities and enables prosecutors to “seek steep penalties for drug dealers.”
The bill now heads to Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk.
According to the report, Kotek has declined to make her stance on the bill clear, but she has previously signaled support for reinstating criminal penalties for drug possession.
Fox News’ Kassy Dillon contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon’s most recent revenue forecast was released in February, and the picture looked better than many people expected.
Despite a government shutdown late last year and another partial shutdown this year, tariff uncertainty and other factors, Oregon’s economy is proving resilient.
The state’s economic output has increased at about the 4% range, and Oregon was ranked 20th in growth in the third quarter of 2025, exceeding national trends.
However, job growth has stagnated as technology replaces labor in some sectors.
Carl Riccadonna is the state’s lead economist, and he joined Eye on Northwest Politics to discuss Oregon’s economy.
Watch the full video in the player above.
A few Utah stars took one step closer to living out their dreams of playing professional football as the 2026 NFL Draft played out in Pittsburgh over the weekend.
Three Utes were phoned by NFL teams over the past three days, including two in the first round for the first time in school history.
Here’s what Utah’s 2026 draft class looked like following the seventh round on Saturday:
- Spencer Fano (OL): Drafted No. 9 overall by the Cleveland Browns
- Caleb Lomu (OL): Picked No. 28 overall by the New England Patriots
- Dallen Bentley (TE): Selected No. 256 overall by the Denver Broncos
It was the fourth time since 2020 that multiple Utah players were selected in the same draft. Fano became the third-highest drafted player in program history, behind only Alex Smith (No. 1 overall in 2005) and Jordan Gross (No. 8 overall in 2003).
As historic as the 2026 draft was for the Utes, how does their latest draft class compare to some of the previous classes they’ve produced? Let’s take a look at some of Utah’s other notable draft classes and figure out how the next batch of pro Utes fits into the equation.
Utah’s Best NFL Draft Classes
2020
- Jaylon Johnson (2nd round, No. 50 overall)
- Julian Blackmon (3rd round, No. 85 overall)
- Zack Moss (3rd round, No. 86 overall)
- Terrell Burgess (3rd round, No. 104 overall)
- Leki Fotu (4th round, No. 114 overall)
- Bradlee Anae (5th round, No. 179 overall)
- John Penisini (6th round, No. 197 overall)
Average career length: 4.6 years (four active in 2025)
Accolades: 1x Super Bowl champion (Burgess), 2x Pro Bowls (Johnson)
2017
- Garett Bolles (1st round, No. 20 overall)
- Marcus Williams (2nd round, No. 42 overall)
- Joe Williams (4th round, No. 121 overall)
- Isaac Asiata (5th round, No. 164 overall)
- Brian Allen (5th round, No. 173 overall)
- JJ Dielman (5th round, No. 176 overall)
- Sam Tevi (6th round, No. 190 overall)
- Pita Taumoepenu (6th round, No. 202 overall)
Average career length: 4 years (two active in 2025)
Accolades: 1x All-Pro, 1x Pro Bowl (Bolles)
2019
- Marquise Blair (2nd round, No. 47 overall)
- Cody Barton (3rd round, No. 88 overall)
- Mitch Wishnowsky (4th round, No. 110 overall)
- Matt Gay (5th round, No. 145 overall)
- Jackson Barton (7th round, No. 240 overall)
Average career length: 6 years (three active in 2025)
Accolades: 1x Super Bowl champion, 1x Pro Bowl (Gay)
2010
- Koa Misi (2nd round, No. 40 overall)
- Zane Beadles (2nd round, No. 45 overall)
- Robert Johnson (5th round, No. 148 overall)
- David Reed (5th round, No. 156 overall)
- Stevenson Sylvester (5th round, No. 166 overall)
- RJ Stanford (7th round, No. 223 overall)
Average career length: 4.7 years
Accolades: 1x Super Bowl champion (Reed), 1x Pro Bowl (Beadles)
2005
- Alex Smith (1st round, No. 1 overall)
- Sione Pouha (3rd round, No. 88 overall)
- Chris Kemoeatu (6th round, No. 204 overall)
- Parris Warren (7th round, No. 225 overall)
- Jonathan Fanene (7th round, No. 233 overall)
Average career length: 7 years
Accolades: 1x Super Bowl champion (Kemoeatu), 3x Pro Bowl, Comeback Player of the Year (Smith)
Where Utah’s 2026 Draft Class Stands
Obviously, only time will tell just how many combined years and accolades the Utes’ 2026 class racks up at the pro level. If Fano and Lomu each play 10-plus seasons and collect a Pro Bowl nod or two along the way, the 2026 class could rival the 2005 and 2010 classes.
Due to the volume of the 2017 and 2020 classes, respectively, it’s hard to compare the 2026 group to those classes — at least, right now it is. If either (or both) of Utah’s first-round tackles goes on to become one of the best at their position and Dallen Bentley develops into a bonafide starter who contributes on good teams, then we’d have to revisit the conversation.
For now, we’re not going to place that kind of pressure on the 2026 class.
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Armed Secret Service agents stand on stage during a shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday in Washington, D.C. According to reports, President Donald Trump, along with other government officials, were rushed from the Washington Hilton after reports of gun shots.
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The annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner ended abruptly Saturday night after gunfire was exchanged between suspect Cole Allen and Secret Service agents at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C. One agent was injured after having been shot in his bulletproof vest and has been released from the hospital.
President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and several White House staff and cabinet members, who were not injured, were rushed from the hotel.
Allen, who is believed to have traveled from Torrance, Calif. to Washington, D.C., was arrested on the scene and is currently in custody.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller and his wife Katie Miller are taken out of the ballroom by security agents during a shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday.
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Attendees at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner hide under tables after reports of gunshots at a security screening area at the Washington Hilton hotel on Saturday.
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Members of the National Guard respond with weapons drawn at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other cabinet officials were rushed out of the hotel during the event when a gunman shot a U.S. Secret Service agent at a security checkpoint inside.
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Secret service agents respond after shots were fired during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.
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Secret service agents respond to shots fired during the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday.
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Vice President J.D. Vance walks back stage at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday. Several government officials were rushed from the hotel after a shooting incident at a security screening area.
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DC Fire and EMS units arrive at the Washington Hilton Hotel where shots were fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Cheryl Hines, are evacuated from the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington on Saturday.
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President Donald Trump holds a press conference at the White House in Washington, DC, shortly after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.
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Law enforcement officials respond to an address connected to Cole Tomas Allen, the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, as people stand and watch on Saturday in Torrance, Calif.
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FBI officers leave the scene after responding to an address connected to Cole Tomas Allen, the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Sunday in Torrance, Calif.
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FBI agents work on Sunday at an address in Torrance, Calif., connected to Cole Tomas Allen, who was identified as the shooting suspect at the White House Correspondents Dinner the night before.
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Members of the media work near the Washington Hilton hotel on Sunday, where a shooting incident occurred the night before at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
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Shattered glass at the Washington Hilton hotel on Sunday, where a shooting incident occurred the night before at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
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