One of the potential statewide measures vying for the November ballot is calling it quits.
FILE – The rainbow flag, also known as the gay pride flag, is a symbol of LGBT and queer pride, left, along with the transgender flag, right, pictured in 2022.
Advertisement
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
A coalition led by the ACLU of Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon and Planned Parenthood has announced it is ending a campaign to amend the Oregon Constitution to guarantee the right to health care for transgender people, abortion and same-sex marriage.
Advocates for LGBTQ+ rights in Oregon had hoped to follow the lead of New York state, which passed a similar measure, Proposition 1, by a wide margin in 2024. They’ve been gathering signatures to qualify an initiative for the November ballot, promoting the measure at Pride events, and raising money.
But on Friday, the coalition announced via an Instagram post that the campaign is over. The coalition thanked community members for their support. It did not offer any explanation as to what led to the change of heart.
“This is a particularly difficult time, as the federal government continues attacking our rights, freedom, and basic humanity,” the post concludes. “We still firmly believe that together, we will build an Oregon where all of us can be who we are, and make our own decisions about our lives and bodies, and access the care that we need.”
Advertisement
The initiative petition had been endorsed by dozens of left-leaning organizations, including heavyweight labor unions like the AFL-CIO and SEIU Local 503.
Campaign finance records show the coalition’s biggest cash expenditures this year — $177,750 — were for polling and surveys.
The measure, known as Equal Rights for All or Initiative 33, had already faced a rocky path to the ballot. Democratic lawmakers had planned to refer it to voters in 2024, but dropped that plan in a deal to end a six-week long walkout by Republicans.
The political action committee supporting the measure has about $130,000 in cash remaining in its accounts.
Oregon law is already protective of gender-affirming care, requiring insurers and the state’s Medicaid program to cover it when it is medically necessary. Abortion is also covered by public and private insurance and Oregon places no specific gestational limit on it.
Advertisement
But those policies could change if the balance of power in Salem shifts.
As it is, the Oregon Constitution prohibits discrimination on account of sex. The proposed measure expanded on that, stating that discrimination is also prohibited based on pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation.
It would have also repealed language in the state constitution that bans same-sex marriage. Oregon voters approved that ban in 2004. The provision has been void since 2015, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional.
Sign up today for OPB’s “First Look” – your daily guide to the most important news and culture stories from around the Northwest.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Oil prices continue to soar Monday as the war in Iran shows no signs of slowing down. Oregon’s gas prices are above the national average.
Production and shipping in the Middle East have been jeopardized by the conflict, pummeling financial markets.
The Associated Press reported that the price for a barrel of Brent crude surged to $119 on Monday. That’s the highest level it’s been since the summer after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Brent crude is the international standard.
RELATED| High oil prices won’t limit Trump’s actions in Iran war: Hegseth
Advertisement
The prices fell to just under $100 later Monday, but barrels are still 36% more expensive than they were before Israel and the United States attacked Iran on Feb. 28.
Today’s AAA national average is $3.478, whereas Oregon’s current average across the state is $4.205.
SEE ALSO | New video shows US Tomahawk hit Iranian Naval Base near school
The average in Oregon just a year ago was 3.730, demonstrating a 12% increase since then.
Still, Washington State’s current average remains higher than Oregon’s, at $4.630.
Advertisement
Malheur County in Oregon currently has the cheapest gas price at $3.499, while Josephine has the more expensive at $4.447.
AAA suggests maintaining cars to the manufacturer’s recommendations can help save fuel. The agency also recommends slowing down and driving the speed limit, avoiding “jackrabbit” starts and hard accelerations and avoiding extended idling to warm up the engine, in winter and even prolonged idling in general.
Research by AAA has shown that premium fuel provides no added benefit unless it is recommended or required by the car’s manufacturer.
Vice President and Global Head of crude oil research at at S&P Global Energy Jim Burkhard said in an analysis on Monday that, at first, the crisis was a transportation issue, “which could conceivably be resolved quickly.”
However, he explained that production and storage concerns are increasingly piling up and restoration “will be a massive technical exercise that could last weeks or more.”
Advertisement
Energy experts’ opinions are clashing, as some warn the war could contribute to even higher oil prices in the near future. In particular, if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for only a few weeks, oil and gas strategists at Macquarie Research said the price of crude could push to a $150 per barrel or higher. Such prices would top previous peaks of nearly $147, which were reached just before the 2008 financial crisis.
Others, however, don’t expect the disruptions to last much longer. Oxford Economics researchers predict prices will soon fall to an average of $80 a barrel for the quarter, but noted today that the “risk of a more prolonged crisis has clearly increased.”
Iran exports roughly 1.6 million barrels of oil a day, mostly to China, which has called for an immediate end to the fighting.
The Oregon Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 8, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 8 drawing
1PM: 5-0-5-7
4PM: 9-6-4-3
Advertisement
7PM: 1-4-8-5
10PM: 7-9-3-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Oregon Lottery drawings held?
Powerball: 7:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 7:59 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 4: 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily.
Win for Life: 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Megabucks: 7:29 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Oregon editor. You can send feedback using this form.
San Francisco Dons (17-15, 9-10 WCC) vs. Oregon State Beavers (16-15, 9-9 WCC)
Paradise, Nevada; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Oregon State and San Francisco play in the WCC Tournament.
Advertisement
The Beavers are 9-9 against WCC opponents and 7-6 in non-conference play. Oregon State averages 11.3 turnovers per game and is 5-2 when it wins the turnover battle.
The Dons are 9-10 against WCC teams. San Francisco averages 74.6 points while outscoring opponents by 1.6 points per game.
Oregon State averages 8.2 made 3-pointers per game, 1.1 more made shots than the 7.1 per game San Francisco gives up. San Francisco averages 74.6 points per game, 0.2 more than the 74.4 Oregon State allows to opponents.
The teams square off for the third time this season. Oregon State won the last meeting 90-63 on Feb. 13. Jorge Diaz Graham scored 18 to help lead Oregon State to the victory, and Ryan Beasley scored 17 points for San Francisco.
TOP PERFORMERS: Josiah Lake is averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals for the Beavers. Johan Munch is averaging 11.0 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 55.7% over the last 10 games.
Advertisement
Beasley is scoring 13.4 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Dons. Legend Smiley is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Beavers: 6-4, averaging 72.3 points, 31.0 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 5.0 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 43.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.2 points per game.
Dons: 4-6, averaging 73.0 points, 28.7 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 4.6 steals and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.2 points.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
