Oregon
Many Oregonians living in state’s hottest homes lack cooling devices, study shows
As parts of Oregon endure their first serious winter storms of the season, a new study is looking to the warmer months ahead.
FILE: Katherine Morgan drinks water in front of a box fan while trying to stay cool in her downtown apartment without air conditioning on Aug. 12, 2021, in Portland.
Nathan Howard / AP
The Oregon Department of Energy’s Cooling Needs Study, published this month, found many of Oregon’s most vulnerable residents do not have sufficient cooling equipment in their homes to stay cool during summer heat waves.
ODOE staff developed the study to understand how to help Oregon’s most vulnerable populations stay cool during extreme heat events. The agency surveyed people living in manufactured dwellings, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, publicly-supported housing and employer-provided agricultural workforce housing from across the state.
According to the agency, these housing types are some of the most vulnerable to heat because the homes lack proper insulation, adequate ventilation and safe electrical wiring, or they are located in areas with few trees to provide shade during the day.
The study found that 58% of those surveyed lack sufficient cooling devices, such as air conditioners or heat pumps.
ODOE Facilities Engineer Stephanie Kruse said the results show a significant portion of the state’s population is not prepared to keep cool during a heatwave. It would cost hundreds of millions of dollars to provide a baseline level of cooling in these homes, she said.
“That might include temporary cooling equipment or cooling equipment that only serves one room in a house,” she said. “That came to a total of $604 million.”
To install permanent equipment like ductless heat pumps or central air conditioning throughout a home, the total estimate came to a little over $1 billion.
The study comes after nearly 100 Oregonians died of heat-related illnesses during a 2021 heat dome event that saw temperatures soar to 116 degrees in Portland. Many residents who perished from the heat lived in the kinds of homes the agency surveyed. Some were found alone in their homes with no cooling devices.
As Oregon summers are getting hotter due to climate change, the state department’s study underscores the need to invest in life-saving cooling devices, something that hasn’t always been a priority due to the Northwest’s history of milder weather.
Among those surveyed, 84% said they want to improve their cooling systems.
Kruse said some residents made their own makeshift cooling devices during recent heatwaves, like swamp coolers, or had one cooling device in a shared space. Others lacked proper insulation or had poorly installed AC window units.
There were a variety of reasons why these homes lacked proper cooling equipment, Kruse said. A major challenge residents faced was the costs of cooling units, she said, which is a reason why the estimated number to provide permanent cooling equipment was more than $1 billion.
One existing option residents can tap is heat pump programs, which the state has supported since the 2021 heat dome. These offer low-cost or free heat pumps to people who need them.
“We always recommend people reach out to their local utility to find out whether there’s any options available, if they think that they are low-income qualified,” she said. “Those programs provide comprehensive weatherization and heating and cooling equipment assistance.”
The state energy department is also hoping to receive federal funds to further offset costs for vulnerable residents. Although those funds would be significant, Kruse said it is still not going to meet the full need of the state.
Last year, lawmakers passed the Climate Resilience Package, a compilation of more than a dozen bills with a focus on community resiliency, adaptation and reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector. One of the bills created a goal of installing 500,000 heat pumps across the state by 2030. Kruse said meeting that goal would definitely help people feeling the effects of climate change.
Kruse said the study will help lawmakers and others addressing cooling shortages to get resources to “where the needs are most pressing.”
The agency also developed a heat vulnerability index that shows which areas and populations are most at risk during extreme heat.
The counties with the highest heat vulnerability are Morrow, Multnomah, Malheur, Marion, Umatilla and Wheeler. Residents in these counties have an increase in exposure and limited capacity to adapt to the heat, according to the energy department.
Oregon
Suspect in custody, shelter-in-place lifted after shooting investigation in Sandy, police say
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A shelter-in-place order has been lifted and a suspect is in custody following a shooting and domestic disturbance investigation in Sandy on Sunday, police said.
Around 8:30 p.m., the Sandy Police Department made the announcement on social media that the suspect was in custody with “no ongoing threat to the community.”
This comes after the suspect had been “confined to residence” one hour earlier.
Just after 5 p.m., an initial social media post by Sandy police said that officers and other agencies were on the scene near 39500 Evans Street due to a “domestic disturbance and reported shooting.”
The shelter-in-place order remained in effect for hours and people were asked to avoid the area.
KOIN 6 News crews saw several ambulances lined up on the street near the site and armored vehicles entering the scene.
We will update this article as we find out more details.
This is a developing story.
Video shows retirement party for Oregon Fish & Wildlife Conservation K-9
Oregon’s first Fish & Wildlife Conservation K-9, Buck, was deployed 184 times across the state before his retirement.
Oregonians can fish, clam and crab for free during Oregon’s annual Free Fishing Weekend in June.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said it will hold another free fishing weekend June 6-7, offering all Oregonians and nonresidents the chance to fish for free across the state for two days.
No fishing or shellfish licenses or tags, endorsements or validations are required on these days. Oregon State Parks will also offer free parking at state parks on June 6.
While fishing may be free, ODFW said that all other fishing regulations apply. That includes single rod limitations, bag limits, size restrictions and closures.
Fishing regulations are available online and MyODFW.com for any in-season regulation updates.
Here’s what to know about Oregon June 2026 free fishing weekend.
Will Oregon lakes be stocked for 2026 free fishing weekend?
ODFW will be stocking many of Oregon’s lakes and ponds with rainbow trout for free fishing weekend.
People are encouraged to visit the recreation report at ODFW’s website to find the best fishing spots, and to check out the trout stocking schedule for stocking locations.
ODFW said that drought conditions will make a difference this year and some smaller lakes and ponds might be warmer than usual. The agency suggested fishing earlier in the day or fishing for warm water fish like bass, bluegill and crappie.
How to go crabbing and clamming during Oregon’s June 2026 free fishing weekend
For Oregonians who have never tried crabbing or clamming, free fishing weekend can be a good opportunity to learn.
ODFW provides information on how to get started crabbing on its website. It includes tips and tricks on how to crab, where to crab, how to measure a crab and how to tell if it is male or female.
People can also visit the website for information on how to get started clamming, including how to dig for clams, where to dig for clams and what species to look for.
As of May 26, crabbing is open coastwide. Razor clamming is only allowed from the Washington border to Cape Blanco. It is currently prohibited from Cape Blanco to the California border.
The agency warns that closures can happen at any time, especially closures related to shellfish biotoxins, or toxins carried by shellfish that can cause serious illness.
For updated recreational shellfish biotoxin closures, visit the ODA website or call the shellfish biotoxin hotline at 1-800-448-2474.
To get updated harvesting statuses, people can visit the Oregon Department of Agriculture website.
To check for additional closures during free fishing weekend, people can visit myodfw.com.
What are some events happening during fishing weekend?
ODFW and volunteers will be hosting free events around Oregon on June 6. These events will offer equipment and hands-on instruction for beginners learning how to fish.
Some of the scheduled events include:
- Twin Ponds in Ukiah from 9 a.m. to noon on June 6
- Olalla Reservoir in Toledo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 6
- Silverton Marine Park in Silverton from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 6
- Cleawox Lake in Florence from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 6
- Henry Hagg Lake in Gaston from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 6
- Alton Baker Park in Eugene will hold a youth-only event for anglers 17 and younger from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 6
- Small Fry Lake in Estacada from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 6.
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval is a lifelong Oregonian who covers trending news, entertainment, food and outdoors. She can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.
Oregon State Baseball Stays Alive With 9-2 Win Over Yale
Through the first four innings, the game was a pitcher’s duel, with the only base runner being Washington State’s Cam Macleod, who was hit by a pitch in the third inning. Oregon starting pitcher Will Sanford was putting on a clinic, striking out ten Cougars in the first four innings.
In the top of the fifth, the Duck bats started working. Burke-Lee Mabeus hit a double to right center, and then Maddox Molony was walked. Oregon had two base runners, but two outs on the board, and the eighth player in their rotation, Jax Gimenez, was coming to the plate. Gimenez got the job done, hitting a short single to right to score Mabeus and put Oregon up 1-0.
The Good, The Bad, and What’s Next After Oregon State’s NCAA Tournament Win Over Yale
Washington State came close to evening things in the bottom of the fifth. After striking out Dustin Robinson and forcing a ground out from Ryan Skjonsby, Sanford walked Ollie Obenour. Cam Macleod then hit a single, WSU’s first hit of the game, to put a runner in scoring position. Sanford remained clutch on the mound however, striking out Kyler Northrup, his twelfth K of the game, to end the inning.
Sanford picked up his 13th strikeout in the bottom of the sixth, and his 14th in the bottom of the seventh, but ended his day shortly after, having walked Dustin Robinson. Tanner Bradley came in for Oregon and finished off the inning, keeping the Ducks one run lead in place.
Oregon State Comeback Bid Falls Short in Eugene Regional Opener, 3-2
Washington State starter had his day end in the top of the eight, after picking up his seventh strikeout. His game will be overshadowed by Sanford, but Myers also had an impressive day, allowing five hits, two walks and one run in his 7.1 innings pitched. Scott Rienguette came in to close out the inning, giving Washington State six outs to get a run.
The Cougs didn’t get one in the bottom of the eighth, going three up three down, and got into trouble in the top of the ninth. Angel Laya led off with a single, and was replaced by pinch runner Elijah Cook. Cook moved to second on a bunt, and then Brayden Jaksa was walked. A fielder’s chocie from Burke-Lee Mabeus got Washington State a second out, but runners at the corners.
Eugene Regional Preview: Meet The Washington State Cougars
Naulivou Lauaki then came to the plate, and blasted the ball over the center field wall, giving Oregon a 4-0 lead headed into the final frame. Gavin Roy grounded out for the first out, but Max Hartman then singled to give the Cougars some hope. A wild pitch Matt Priest advanced Hartmna, but Priest struck out swinging. Dustin Robinson then struck out, sending Washington State to the loser’s bracket.
Washington State and Oregon State will play one last time tomorrow, with the winner having the tough task of taking down the Ducks twice on their home field to keep their Omaha hopes alive.
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