Oregon

Lawmakers Call for Oregon to Stick to Its Education Accountability Commitment

Published

9 months ago

May 29, 2025

Lawmakers Call for Oregon to Stick to Its Education Accountability Commitment

As calls for stronger education accountability continue to grow from the upper echelons of Oregon’s government, the Joint Subcommittee on Education approved Senate Bill 141 on Wednesday afternoon by a 7-1 vote. The approval means the bill will now advance to the broader Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

SB 141 is part of Gov. Tina Kotek’s effort this session to improve the state’s dismal education outcomes. It gives more power to the Oregon Department of Education to coach and intervene in struggling school districts, and establishes more metrics to track, specifically around early chronic absenteeism and eighth grade mathematics. It will also streamline grant reporting processes for school districts and improve ODE’s data transparency.

Kotek’s focus on education accountability came amid dueling reports presented to the Oregon legislature this cycle. A report from the American Institutes for Research studied the state’s Quality Education Model (that projects the cost to adequately educate students statewide), and found it would cost Oregon billions more to help its students achieve proficiency in mathematics and reading, while reducing chronic absenteeism. Another presentation, from the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, mapped increased education funding since 2013 against declining student outcomes.

As she unveiled her bill in March, Kotek told reporters she didn’t “believe in writing a blank check.” SB 141 accompanies the state government’s largest-yet investment in the State School Fund, though many district leaders say many of those costs will be offset by the Public Employees Retirement System, inflation and other rising costs, alongside declining enrollment. (In the same hearing Wednesday, the subcommittee approved $11.36 billion for schools in the upcoming biennium.)

The majority of legislators expressed optimism that Kotek’s bill was a step in the right direction to building a system of shared accountability between school districts and the state for student outcomes, which are in the bottom nationwide for both reading and mathematics.

But many of them emphasized that the bill must be implemented properly. Sen. Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook) said Oregon tends to fall for “shiny tricks,” where legislators are attracted to new policies but fail to follow through. “If we start this program, we have to commit to it,” she said.

Rep. Dwayne Yunker (R-Grants Pass) was the sole no vote for the accountability package in the subcommittee. He says many of the problems school districts face are not ones that can be addressed from the top down. For example, he says it’s hard to blame a school when a parent doesn’t send their child to attend.

“I think what’s going to work is changing what we’re doing…more class time, more time in school,” Yunker says. “We’re not changing any of that, and I think there’s other things we could’ve done that would’ve been more productive to change outcomes.”

Sen. Janeen Sollman (D-Hillsboro) told Yunker the bill is not about imposing a top-down authority on schools, but rather setting the state up to provide school districts with resources and tools to help students succeed. It’s meant to foster collaboration, she said, and emphasized that a streamlined grant process will also give schools more time to focus on improving outcomes.

Sen. Lew Frederick (D-Portland) added that until everyone in the education system and the broader community all put in the work to make student outcomes a priority, the bill’s text is just “rhetorical posturing.” He says it’s the conversation this bill will spark that may be its most powerful effect.

“I’m hoping that what will happen as a result of this is that people will begin to actually step forward and say ‘Alright, what do I need to do?’” Frederick says. “I don’t want to see yet another document that tells me we believe in education but we aren’t actually getting everyone involved in making changes. I hope this begins a process of accountability not just for the schools…but for everybody.”

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Oregon

Here’s why Oregon statehood falls on Valentine’s Day

Published

9 hours ago

February 14, 2026

Press Room

Here’s why Oregon statehood falls on Valentine’s Day

It’s easy to remember the date when Oregon became a state because it shares it with Valentine’s Day.

Although it would have been sweet if the day was intentionally selected, it was not. That day in 1859 just happened to be when President James Buchanan signed the bill officially admitting Oregon as the 33rd state in the Union.

Oregon is the first state with a Feb. 14 anniversary of statehood. The event was celebrated at the Capitol Saturday with live music by the Oregon Old Time Fiddlers Association.

The group performed classic American folk songs and fiddle tunes such as “Bile ‘Em Cabbage Down,” also known as “Boil Them Cabbage Down.”

The earliest known printed version of the song appeared in 1878, meaning it was probably known by people on the Oregon Trail, said Cathy Yale, chairwoman of the Oregon Old Time Fiddlers Association’s District 8. There are 10 districts.

Oregon’s Anniversary of Statehood was celebrated at the Capitol Feb. 14 with live music by the Oregon Old Time Fiddlers Association.Kent Spendal

Musicians invited kids to a table to touch an old-fashioned cigar box guitar, autoharp, fiddle and mountain lap dulcimer.

People also had a chance to see the original Oregon Constitution protected in a glass case on view in the Capitol Galleria. The document will be returned to the Oregon State Archives.

For more on Oregon’s birthday, see Oregon-themed valentines created by OregonLive.com. The Peak Northwest podcast, celebrating Oregon’s birthday and beloved places in every part of this state, can be heard at OregonLive.com/podcasts.

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Oregon

Oregon bill bars public bodies from helping privatize federal lands

Published

21 hours ago

February 14, 2026

Press Room

Oregon bill bars public bodies from helping privatize federal lands

Oregon legislators are considering a bill that would prohibit public bodies from spending resources to help sell or transfer federal public lands to private interests.

“National public lands belong to all Americans, including all Oregonians,” Fiona Noonan, of Central Oregon LandWatch, said at a hearing on the bill Feb. 2.

For years, some congressional leaders have sought to privatize federal public lands. The effort has gotten a boost under the Trump administration.

A draft federal budget bill released last summer proposed selling off thousands of acres of Oregon public lands, including Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service land. That provision was dropped from the bill.

Significant areas in Oregon, especially the areas around Mount Hood, have been targeted for privatization.

“This profiteering would eliminate public access and permanently degrade recreational experiences, local economies, and cultural and traditional uses throughout Oregon, and thwart long-term conservation management needed to sustain these resources for generations to come,” Ryan Houston, executive director of the Oregon Natural Desert Association, said in written testimony.

Senate Bill 1590 prohibits public bodies from using state or local funds, data, technology, equipment, personnel or other resources to help sell or transfer certain federal lands to private parties.

“Protecting Oregon’s federal land base, and the rivers that run through them, from privatization is vital to ensuring guaranteed public access for recreation, preservation of important wildlife habitats and ecosystems, maintenance of outdoor economies, and protection of cultural sites and clean water sources,” said Kimberley Priestley, of WaterWatch of Oregon.

The bill applies only to real property managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service or the National Park Service.

It contains multiple exemptions, including for property located within urban growth boundaries, surplus federal buildings, lands held in trust for, or transferred for the benefit of, a federally recognized tribe in Oregon or a tribal member, and transfers for infrastructure, utility or transportation purposes.

“It’s modeled after the sanctuary promise law that has long protected Oregonians from overbearing activity by the federal government,” said Sen. Anthony Broadman, D-Bend, the bill’s chief sponsor.

No one spoke against the bill at the hearing, although Sen. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford, testified in favor of a gut-and-stuff amendment that would have replaced it with a bill requiring the Oregon Department of Forestry to make changes to the draft Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan.

The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire voted Feb. 10 to send the bill to the Senate floor. It is not currently scheduled for further action.

Tracy Loew covers the environment at the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips: tloew@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6779. Follow her on X at @Tracy_Loew

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Oregon

How to watch Penn State Nittany Lions: Live stream info, TV channel, game time | Feb. 14

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

Press Room

How to watch Penn State Nittany Lions: Live stream info, TV channel, game time | Feb. 14

The Oregon Ducks and Freddie Filione V will duke it out when the Ducks (8-16, 1-12 Big Ten) take on the Penn State Nittany Lions (11-14, 2-12 Big Ten) at Matthew Knight Arena on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. ET.

We provide more coverage below, including how to watch this game on BTN.

To prepare for this matchup, here’s what you need to get ready for Saturday’s college basketball action.

Oregon vs. Penn State: How to watch on TV or live stream

Game day: Saturday, February 14, 2026
Game time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Arena: Matthew Knight Arena
TV Channel: BTN
Live stream: Fubo – Watch NOW (Regional restrictions may apply)

Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Watch college basketball on Fubo!

Oregon vs. Penn State stats and trends

Penn State scores 75.6 points per game and allow 78.8, ranking them 193rd in the nation offensively and 310th on defense.
On the glass, the Nittany Lions are second-worst in the nation in rebounds (26.9 per game). They are 174th in rebounds allowed (30.9 per game).
Penn State is 271st in the nation in assists (12.8 per game) in 2025-26.
In terms of turnovers, the Nittany Lions are 33rd in the country in committing them (9.4 per game). They are 163rd in forcing them (11.5 per game).
Penn State makes 7.2 3-pointers per game and shoots 32.7% from beyond the arc, ranking 249th and 252nd, respectively, in the nation.
In 2025-26 the Nittany Lions are 14th-worst in college basketball in 3-pointers conceded (9.6 per game) and -1-worst in defensive 3-point percentage (38.1%).
In 2025-26, Penn State has attempted 38.1% percent of its shots from behind the 3-point line, and 61.9% percent from inside it. In terms of made shots, 26.7% of Penn State’s buckets have been 3-pointers, and 73.3% have been 2-pointers.

Oregon vs. Penn State Odds and Spread

Spread Favorite: Ducks (-6.5)
Moneyline: Oregon (-293), Penn State (+233)
Total: 147.5 points

NCAA Basketball odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Friday at 9:21 p.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

Watch college basketball on Fubo!

Follow the latest college sports coverage at College Sports Wire.

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