Former Oregon defensive tackle Jericho Johnson is reuniting with Tosh Lupoi.
Johnson, who has three years of eligibility remaining, committed to Cal on Saturday.
He is the third former UO player to follow Lupoi to Berkeley, joining safety Kingston Lopa and receiver Cooper Perry.
The 6-foot-4, 342-pound Johnson had five tackles and one pass breakup in nine games this season. He did not record a statistic while playing six snaps in two games while redshirting in 2024.
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He is the 21st of 26 UO scholarship players to transfer this offseason to commit elsewhere, joining running backs Makhi Hughes (Houston), Jay Harris (Kansas State) and Jayden Limar (Washington), cornerbacks Jahlil Florence (Missouri), Sione Laulea (Missouri) and Dakoda Fields (Oklahoma) and safeties Kingston Lopa (Cal), Solomon Davis (San Diego State) and Daylen Austin (Arizona), offensive lineman Lipe Moala (Hawaii), receivers Justius Lowe (San Diego State) and Cooper Perry (Cal), defensive linemen Tionne Gray (Notre Dame), Ashton Porter (Houston), Xadavien Sims (Arkansas) and Terrance Green (Alabama), outside linebackers Blake Purchase (Ole Miss) and Tobi Haastrup (West Virginia), quarterbacks Austin Novosad (Bowling Green) and Bryson Beaver (Georgia) and tight end Roger Saleapage (BYU).
Video: When was the last time Oregon had a statistically ‘cool’ year?
Explore Oregon Podcast host Zach Urness talks with Oregon state climatologist Larry O’Neill about Oregon’s string of historically hot years.
A major winter storm has been forecast to spread heavy snow and ice across much of the United States. And while the storm won’t reach Oregon, the Beaver State is in for some of the coldest weather of the season.
The National Weather Service forecasts cold weather and potential cold weather advisories beginning Jan. 23 and lasting through Jan. 27, with widespread morning low temperatures near to below freezing.
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The Salem area is under a cold weather advisory until Jan. 24 at noon. The region saw overnight lows that felt like 20 degrees at times due to wind chill earlier in the week.
But don’t count on snow in Marion and Polk counties any time soon. That’s because Oregon is in the midst of an unusually dry winter. Even though it’s cold enough to snow, it’s been nearly two weeks since the region has seen measurable rainfall.
It’ll likely remain dry for the next few days.
Still, there is an 80-95% chance for cold weather advisory conditions west of the Cascades, excluding the coast, and a 60-80% chance within the Greater Portland-Metro area, the weather service said in a release.
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These conditions could see apparent temperatures at or below 25 degrees for four or more hours between Friday, Jan. 23, and Saturday, Jan. 24.
Areas of the Willamette Valley, Cowlitz and Columbia Valleys, and the Portland/Vancouver metros have a 20-40% chance of a Cold Weather advisory between the evening of Jan. 24 and the morning of Jan. 25.
Oregon could also experience “cold pockets” with temperatures at or below 25°F for up to three hours overnight and into the morning hours of Sunday, Jan. 25.
The weather service warned that the houseless could be impacted the most if they are unable to get to adequate heating. Frostbite and hypothermia are also dangers to pets and people not dressed appropriately for the cold weather.
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For updated weather alerts, Oregonians can visit the weather service website at www.weather.gov.
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.
On Thursday at 11:26 p.m. the National Weather Service issued a special weather statement until Friday at 6 a.m. for Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon and Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon.
“Patches of freezing drizzle are moving through the area, with temperatures currently hovering between 20 and 30 degrees. As a result, light ice accumulation is causing a thin glaze of ice on roadways, particularly on bridges, overpasses, and lightly used corridors. Conditions are expected to persist until 6 a.m. Use caution if traveling,” says the weather service.
Kacey KC would lead an agency that manages 745,000 acres of Oregon forestland.
FILE: A log truck in the Tillamook State Forest pictured in a file photo.
Amelia Templeton / OPB
Gov. Tina Kotek has chosen Oregon’s next top forestry executive.
If approved by the state Senate, Kacey KC would be the first woman to permanently lead the Oregon Department of Forestry.
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KC has worked in forestry for more than two decades, most recently as the boss of the Nevada Division of Forestry. She was tapped as the President of the National Association of State Foresters in 2023.
“While I am not from Oregon, my experience at both the national and state level equips me to deepen key relationships while leading and supporting the strong work and mission of the Department,” KC said in a statement Thursday.
Kotek tapped KC for the job after state forester Cal Mukumoto resigned in January 2025 amid rising wildfire costs and controversy over multiple workplace conduct investigations into state employees. Kate Skinner, a longtime Tillamook district forester, served as the interim forester after Mukumoto’s resignation.
KC would lead an agency that manages 745,000 acres of Oregon forestland, including by helping fight wildfires. The agency is also responsible for implementing rules that seek to balance the state’s logging interests with the protection of vulnerable species.
“KC brings tenacity and a get-it-done style to her management approach and knows how to build strong partnerships across all levels of government to tackle complex challenges,” Kotek said.
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The Senate Committee on Rules will take up KC’s appointment during the February legislative session.
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