Oregon

Oregon man called for jury duty, turns up to court in drag: “Not illegal”

Published

1 year ago

November 11, 2024

Oregon man called for jury duty, turns up to court in drag: “Not illegal”

A man in Oregon who was called up for jury duty decided to liven things up by going to court dressed in drag.

Comedian, actor and host Kyle Prosen has made quite a name for himself under the guise of his drag queen persona, Poly Poptart.

Since 2020, Prosen has also garnered attention for his impression of former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, which he describes as a “product of boredom during the pandemic.” “I’ve hosted entire shows in character as Sarah Palin and done stand up comedy sets as her,” he said.

But while the occasional stand-up show or guest appearance is one thing, Prosen never imagined he would one day be heading to court in Oregon dressed in drag as the former Republican vice presidential pick.

Kyle Prosen getting into drag. Prosen adopted his drag queen persona while channeling the spirit of Sarah Palin.

TikTok/Polypoptart.

“The night before, I was at my friend Josh’s house watching TV, and he mentioned that I should go to jury duty the next day in drag,” Prosen said.

He said he initially laughed off the suggestion telling his friend: “Yeah, if I would, I would do Sarah Palin.” However, his friend was adamant it was “such a good idea that he wouldn’t let it go.”

Prosen, who has performed countless times as Poly Poptart, eventually relented, but decided if he was going to do it, he was going to do it properly. “Commitment to the bit is my middle name and I say it often,” Prosen said.

The next day he woke at 5:30 a.m. and got himself into his drag outfit, admitting it “fit a little more snugly” than he remembered. Prosen was keen to document the experience, so he had a camera on hand throughout, with the resulting clip posted to his Poly Poptart TikTok account.

In the video, Prosen explains that he had checked and it was “not illegal” to dress in drag for jury duty. “My friend is a judge, and I asked him if dressing up in drag was against the law. As much as I’m committed to the bit, I’m also painfully risk averse,” Prosen said.

‘Guidance on Etiquette’

A spokesperson for the Oregon Judicial Department told Newsweek: “To help ensure that court facilities remain a space of respect and safety, Oregon’s state courts provide guidance on etiquette. Jurors are encouraged to dress comfortably – suits and ties or dresses are not required – and should wear clothes that are clean and do not display foul language, insults, or other negative words. Court rules note the expectation that, ‘All persons attending court … must be dressed so as not to detract from the dignity of court.’”

Walking towards the courthouse and waiting in line, Prosen might have expected his appearance to generate some strong reactions. However, he said the response was negligible.

“It was interesting seeing people’s reactions,” he said. “Portland is very non-confrontational and obsessed with being politically correct. I think people were too professional to want to comment on how someone shows up for civic service. That, or it was just too early to deal with another Portland weirdo’s antics.”

In the end, the court dismissed all of the jurors who were given a number above 110 and Prosen was in the 130s. “The whole day was underwhelming,” he said. “I sat through all the jury things, and was hoping to get at least interviewed by someone, but they didn’t even get to my juror number.”

It was only later, when he posted his video to TikTok, that the biggest reactions were seen. At the time of writing it had been watched close to 700,000 times, with viewers full of praise for Prosen’s antics.

“I was not prepared for Sarah Palin,” one viewer wrote. “I would absolutely do jury duty with you!!! How fun!” a second commented, with a third adding: “You still dressed nicer than 99% of the people I was on the jury with when I did Jury Duty. I was the only one that got the business casual memo.”

“I always learn something about America when I have a post go viral,” Prosen said. “What people are stressed out by, or impressed by. The emotions or fears or burdens they carry. After this, I learned that people were desperate to release some of the political stress they have carried this election season.”

Prosen admits he was “a little scared” that Poly Poptart’s antics would reach “extremist” corners of the internet. Drag events have drawn criticism from some quarters. Last year, GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, highlighted 161 incidents of anti-LGBTQ protests and threats targeting drag events since early 2022.

The drag star’s day in court. Sadly, his Sarah Palin didn’t make the cut for jury duty.

TikTok/polypoptart

Thankfully there was no backlash. In fact, his experience that day has give him “a little more faith” in the idea of America as the land of the free.

“As much as I played a joke during the video, my day at jury duty was actually very empowering, and gave me a lot of hope in the American legal system, of democracy, and American freedom,” Prosen said. “We, as citizens, get to show up how we want or are, and decide cases. The law should apply to everyone, and the law should be able to be interpreted by the average American system.”

Prosen hasn’t ruled out doing it again, though possibly as Poly Poptart next time rather than Sarah Palin.

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Oregon

Oregon women’s basketball playing for March Madness seeding vs. Purdue

Published

3 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Oregon women’s basketball playing for March Madness seeding vs. Purdue

At times, the Oregon women’s basketball team has certainly made things much harder on themselves than it needs to be. The team has also produced some miraculous comeback victories, putting itself in position to make women’s March Madness for the second straight season.

March 1, in their final regular season game, the Ducks (20-11, 8-10 Big Ten) finished on the wrong end of yet another tight game to Washington, 70-69. It’s the second time this season Oregon has come back from a double-digit deficit, but ended up losing to the Huskies (20-9, 10-8).

Those aren’t the only times Oregon has come back from a double-digit deficit, like it did in wins vs. Nebraska and USC. The No. 11-seed Ducks are hoping they won’t need heroics in a Big Ten tournament first-round game against No. 14 Purdue this Wednesday.

Watch Oregon basketball on Peacock

“I think our biggest weakness this year has been our inconsistency,” coach Kelly Graves said, “something we’ve battled all year. The great thing is our kids know, regardless of the score, we’ve got a chance. We’ll make it a game at some point. As a coach, it drives you nuts. Hopefully we can figure it out and play more consistent basketball.”

Oregon’s volatility has seen it earn three double-digit comeback wins this year, but also blow several games in the final moments.

Against Wisconsin, the Ducks held a 6-point lead with less than a minute remaining, but lost in overtime. Against Illinois, Oregon held a 21-point lead at halftime, blew it in the third quarter, trailed by eight with minutes to play and somehow eked out a win.

That makes UO somewhat of a wild card heading into the conference tournament this week at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

“It’s definitely (been) a rollercoaster,” guard Katie Fiso said. “A lot of highs and a lot of lows. But one thing that I try to see through all games is our grittiness and our toughness. One thing that stays consistent throughout the season is our toughness and our grittiness. The game isn’t over until the last bell rings.”

The Ducks will be taking on a Boilermakers (13-16, 5-13) team that has struggled against most of the top competition in the league, but played Oregon tight in a Feb. 25 Ducks win.

Graves said when the Ducks went throughout the postgame handshake line after, the Boilermakers felt like their season would end after the regular season. Thanks to some upsets, Purdue is in the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 14 seed.

“We’re playing a team that probably feels like it’s playing with house money,” Graves said. “We’ve got to pick ourselves back up and get it done.”

What channel is Oregon vs. Purdue on today in Big Ten tournament?

Oregon will tip off vs. Purdue on Peacock, with no TV option to watch the game.

Oregon vs. Purdue start time in Big Ten tournament

Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: Around 5:30 p.m. PT

Oregon and Purdue will play around 5:30 p.m. PT at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The first game of the day begins at 12:30 p.m. PT, with the next game 25 minutes after the first game ends, and so on. The Ducks play in the third game of the day, so no official tip time is listed.

Oregon women’s basketball schedule 2025-26

Below are the past five games of Oregon’s 2025-26 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here.

Feb. 15	Washington 51, Oregon 43
Feb. 19	Oregon 80, Nebraska 76
Feb. 22	Indiana 72, Oregon 65
Feb. 25	Oregon 71, Purdue 65
March 1	Washington 70, Oregon 69
March 4	Oregon vs. Purdue (Big Ten tournament)

Purdue women’s basketball schedule 2025-26

Below are the past five games of Purdue’s 2025-26 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here.

Feb. 14	Purdue 72, Rutgers 57
Feb. 19	Iowa 83, Purdue 74
Feb. 22	Maryland 99, Purdue 66
Feb. 25	Oregon 71, Purdue 65
March 1	Purdue 67, Northwestern 62
March 4	Oregon vs. Purdue (Big Ten tournament)

Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football and women’s basketball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com.

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Oregon

Oregon lawmakers advance one-year moratorium on tax breaks for data centers

Published

15 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Oregon lawmakers advance one-year moratorium on tax breaks for data centers

Written by Alma McCarty & KGW:

SALEM, Oregon — In the final week of Oregon’s legislative short session, lawmakers in Salem discussed regulating data centers — specifically, placing a one-year moratorium on certain tax breaks.

Governor Tina Kotek has been looking to expand the state’s enterprise zone program, which is intended to grow Oregon companies and attract new ones. Businesses that locate or expand within designated zones can qualify for property tax exemptions on new investments if they meet eligibility requirements.

However, some advocates argue that extending incentives to data centers may not be sustainable long term.

“Data centers have been around for a while,” said Kelly Campbell, policy director for Columbia Riverkeeper. “Data centers are getting bigger and bigger. Some of these new AI hyperscale data centers are exponentially bigger than those tiny ones. They’re really just using a lot of energy, a lot of water.”

However, some advocates argue that extending incentives to data centers may not be sustainable long term.

Last week, Columbia Riverkeeper released a report examining data centers operating or planned along the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington.

“I think the question becomes, do we want to stick to our climate goals of getting to 100% renewable? Or do we want to have these big, mega data centers owned by big tech companies — some of the wealthiest corporations in the world — getting to use whatever energy they want? We would say, no, that’s not OK,” Campbell said.

On Monday, lawmakers amended an economic incentives bill to block new data centers from qualifying for certain tax breaks for one year.

“I think this moratorium is a pretty short pause to give the advisory council time and space to do their work,” said Rep. Nancy Nathanson, D-Eugene, during a subcommittee meeting Monday morning.

The Data Center Advisory Committee, convened by Kotek, held its first meeting Friday. The group’s goal is to develop policy recommendations addressing the rapid growth of data centers.

“There are some businesses that will need them, but freestanding data centers, the way we’ve been growing in the state, is not sustainable,” the Governor told reporters during a press conference last week.

On Monday, her office sent KGW a statement regarding the moratorium:

“The moratorium will address immediate concerns and also allow for the Governor’s Data Center Advisory Committee to develop recommendations to strategically pursue economic development opportunities while ensuring utility costs, infrastructure investments, and environmental impacts remain sustainable and equitable for all residents.”

Supporters of data center growth, particularly in rural communities, also spoke during work sessions.

“This moratorium will have a disparate impact on communities east of the Cascades — communities like Prineville, Hermiston and Redmond that have leveraged enterprise zones and data centers to bring hundreds of living-wage jobs to their communities,” said Alexandra Ring, a lobbyist for the League of Oregon Cities.

“While data centers may be seen as a nuisance or inconvenient in Washington County, they are not in Crook County. They are not in Morrow County, in Umatilla County,” said Sen. Mark McLane, who represents several Eastern Oregon counties, including Baker, Crook, Grant and Harney.

Even if the House and Senate ultimately approve the moratorium, it would apply only to new data centers — not those that already receive tax breaks or projects currently underway.

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Oregon

Iranian in Oregon says he was a political prisoner in his home country

Published

2 days ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Iranian in Oregon says he was a political prisoner in his home country

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — A member of Oregon’s Iranian community on Monday reacted to American and Israeli strikes in his home country and the death of Iran’s supreme leader over the weekend.

That reaction came as the conflict in the Middle East expanded into a third day. President Donald Trump indicated it could go on for several weeks.

Amin Yousefimalakabad says right now he is concerned about his family, who he says lives near military bases in Tehran, the capital of Iran.

He described businesses with shattered windows and explosions near his family’s home.

At the same time, Yousefimalakabad says he felt relief learning about the killing of the ayatollah.

He says he fled Iran four years ago after facing political persecution.

“I used to be a political prisoner in Iran. I got arrested in one of the protests that happened in Iran, and I was under torture for two weeks,” he said in an interview with KATU News. “They put me in prison for six months. I had, even when I was thinking about those days, it made my body shake from inside because I didn’t deserve that. I just wanted the first things that I can have in a foreign country like America in my country. I wanted freedom. I wanted to have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, to choose who I want to be.”

Meanwhile, Yousefimalakabad says he still can’t return to Iran, fearing he would be punished for his Christian beliefs and says although the regime could change, the ideology in Iran might not.

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