State Sen. Aaron Woods, D-District 13, right, talks with a colleague at the Oregon Capitol in Salem, March 20, 2023.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
The Oregon Senate on Thursday commemorated the late Sen. Aaron Woods, who recently died of complications from cancer.
Members of Woods’ family, who traveled from Illinois and Colorado, sat at his desk on the Senate floor as lawmakers remembered him as a dedicated statesman known for his humor, his love of food and his passion for Oregonians.
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“We’re all going to pass,” said Sen. Kate Lieber, her voice breaking as she recalled speaking with Woods about their shared experiences facing cancer and enduring chemotherapy. “But he showed us how to do it in a way that was courageous.”
Lawmakers spent roughly an hour Thursday speaking about Woods’s life and service. Some dotted their eyes with tissue. Others embraced and patted each other’s shoulders.
Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, read a passage from a Bible he keeps on his desk. Sen. Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a hymn that has long served as a national anthem among Black Americans.
Democratic Senator Lew Frederick approaches the podium during a press conference on the first day of the legislative session at the Oregon state Capitol, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Salem, Ore.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
“I considered him my older brother,” said Sen. Lew Frederick, a Portland Democrat.
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A U.S. Army veteran from Chicago, Woods worked as a tech executive and is survived by five adult children. Self-described as a political centrist, Woods brought levity and wisdom to the arduous work of lawmaking. Sen. James Manning, D-Eugene, spoke of Woods’s “strut” as he crossed the senate floor, prompting Manning, a fellow veteran, to greet him: “Wassup player?”
“He looked at me and said, ‘Oh man, oh you crazy,’” Manning said, chuckling. “He had a sense of humor, which we all do. Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with having a sense of humor. There’s too much hurt in the world today.”
Though he died during his first term in office, lawmakers said the 75-year-old Wilsonville Democrat made a significant impact on the chamber, sometimes providing the deciding vote for whether a bill advances. As political polarization grows nationwide, senators said Woods often worked across the aisle, building relationships with his Republican colleagues.
Oregon state Sen. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford, pictured in 2024.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
“Aaron was one of the strongest men I knew,” said Sen. David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford. He spoke of Woods’s knowledge of the importance of port jobs in Brock Smith’s district along the southwest Oregon coast, and the ongoing struggles of generational poverty among residents there. “He wanted to know everything there is about you and why you care about what you care about.”
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During his speech, Sen. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, told Woods’s family: “I didn’t have a lot in common with your dad.” The two lawmakers sat on opposite sides of the room and were from opposing parties. McLane grew up in a small rural town, while Woods was from a big city.
But one day, over a meal at Brock Smith’s home, McLane said Woods approached him, smiling. The two found common ground, exchanging stories about their children and their “awful” Army instructors during boot camp.
“In that little act, he bridged divides: urban, rural, race, political parties, political views,” said McLane, a colonel in the Oregon Air National Guard. “When we got up from the table, your dad had shown me that I had a friend. I’ve lost both my parents. And it’s hard. But remember that his legacy, even in that meal with me, is what you carry forward.”
(Left to right) Senators Bill Hansel, Aaron Woods, center, Feb. 5, 2024, on the opening of the legislative short session at the Oregon state Capitol in Salem, Ore.
Jordan Gale / Pool
The vacancy left by Woods’s death will be filled in the coming weeks. Democratic party officials are set to meet in Wilsonville on May 4 to nominate between three and five people to finish out his term. The ultimate decision will be up to commissioners in Clackamas, Washington and Yamhill counties, which all contain pieces of Senate District 13.
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At least one top-tier candidate for that position says he’s not interested. House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, whose district coincides with a portion of Woods’s, told OPB this week he will remain in the House.
“I trust the [precinct committee people] and county commissioners to pick someone who will represent our community effectively — and I look forward to supporting that person in their new role,” Bowman said.
State Rep. Courtney Neron, a Wilsonville Democrat whose district also aligns with Woods’s, was less definitive.
“The news is very fresh in the building, and we are still grieving,” Neron said in a text message. “That said, I know the process will need to move quickly. You can anticipate an announcement from me in the near future.”
As of Thursday morning, the Democratic Party of Oregon listed one candidate vying for the vacant seat, a Wilsonville energy consultant named Dave Backen.
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All week, lawmakers have been debating bills that are receiving their third readings in the chamber, having recently passed the halfway mark of this year’s legislative session. With many bills to go, the Senate adjourned on Thursday, without voting on any legislation, to spend time with Woods’s family.
But before that, Senate President Rob Wagner said that Woods’s legacy would remain part of the Legislature, his name engraved into brass name plates on the sides of the chamber desks, alongside the names of other lawmakers who have died.
“You will forever see the name of state senator Aaron Woods,” said Wagner.
Then, members of the Senate stood for a moment of silence. They remained standing as Woods’s family left the room, some of them in tears.
The University of Oregon’s Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to approve a $1.55 billion operating budget for the next fiscal year.
But they asked university leadership to return with an amended proposal by Dec. 15, when more details about future budget cuts will be known.
FILE — The Board of Trustees recently approved next year’s budget for the University of Oregon. The vote comes several weeks after the school’s president announced that he wants the university to reduce its annual budget as revenues and out-of-state enrollment decline.
Brian Bull / KLCC
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The vote comes several weeks after University of Oregon President Karl Scholz announced that he wants the school to reduce its annual budget by around $65 million.
At a trustees meeting Monday, Scholz said the estimated budget shortfall for next year is just around $23 million. But he said out-of-state enrollment is below historical norms for the second year in a row, and it’s unlikely to bounce back.
“One year can be an aberration. Two years is a pattern,” said Scholz. “And I believe we have to treat it as a new reality.”
Scholz said in May that discussions about the budget would happen over a six-month period. He said no final decisions about cuts would be made over this summer.
On Monday, UO Senate President Dyana Mason told trustees that the Senate had approved a new process to allow for community feedback in the cost-cutting process.
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Mason said the provost will work with the deans on budget proposals, finding “clear rationale” for why programs are considered for elimination.
The provost would then bring those proposals to the Senate Committee for Academic Modifications—which includes staff, faculty and students—for feedback.
Once the plans are nearly finalized, the Senate could then hold a period for public comment.
Mason told trustees that a six-month timeline is better than the three months that frustrated some staff last year, but she recommended taking however much time is necessary.
“The worst situation would be rushing forward to make decisions without appropriate evidence, data, feedback from the people that are most in the know about the impact on our students,” said Mason.
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UO’s Board of Trustees Chair Steve Holwerda said that every week that university delays the decisions could cost them millions of dollars.
Nathan Wilk is a reporter with the KLCC newsroom.This story comes to you from the Northwest News Network, a collaboration between public media organizations in Oregon and Washington.
It is part of OPB’s broader effort to ensure that everyone in our region has access to quality journalism that informs, entertains and enriches their lives. To learn more, visit our journalism partnerships page.
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Oregon’s juvenile justice system has been reshaped in recent years by a sweeping reform law that changed how the state handles minors accused of serious crimes.
Senate Bill 1008, which took effect in 2020, ended automatic transfers of juveniles into adult court and eliminated life without parole sentences for juveniles. The law also created “second-look” hearings and established parole eligibility after 15 years for certain offenders who committed crimes before turning 18.
To help explain the law and its impact, KVAL’s Frannie Pedersen put together a timeline video tracing the history of Senate Bill 1008, from the passage of Measure 11 in 1994 to the reforms that later reshaped Oregon’s juvenile justice system.
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The video breaks down how the law changed, why lawmakers pushed for reform, and how SB 1008 continues to influence Oregon’s justice system today. Viewers can watch the full video for a detailed timeline and explanation of the changes.
PORTLAND, Ore. — A New Jersey man was sentenced to federal prison last Friday for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
Mark T. Eager, 34, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release.
“This defendant showed a blatant disregard for human life by trafficking fentanyl across the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Bradford. “My office will continue to pursue those who profit from poisoning our communities, and we will use every available resource and partnership to combat fentanyl trafficking and keep Oregonians safe.”
“This investigation brought together law enforcement agencies from across the nation,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “Homeland Security Investigations special agents from Portland, Newark, and Houston contributed to the case, along with the Portland Police Bureau and HIDTA HIT officers, who were instrumental in identifying Eager. His 11-year sentence sends a clear message: no matter where you are in the country or the world, if you attempt to sell narcotics online to Americans, we will find you.”
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“Fentanyl trafficking poses a grave threat to communities across the United States, and Homeland Security Investigations is committed to working with our partners to disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks responsible,” said HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas. “This case demonstrates the power of interagency collaboration under the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, leveraging resources from across the country to hold traffickers accountable and protect the American people. We will continue to pursue those who endanger lives through the distribution of dangerous synthetic opioids, and we remain steadfast in our mission to safeguard our communities from the violence and instability caused by transnational criminal organizations.”
“By following this offender’s digital trail, Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners nationwide executed federal search warrants, dismantled an active dark web fentanyl packaging operation and recovered deadly amounts of fentanyl, thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency, and a trove of electronic devices and packaging materials,” said HSI Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas. “This case is a powerful example of how coordinated, data-driven investigations can disrupt dangerous networks and help protect our communities from lethal synthetic opioids.”
According to court documents, from November 2023 through June 2024, Eager and his co-conspirator sold fentanyl on the Dark Net and Telegram. Eager operated as the vendor WRSEH10 and marketed the fentanyl as “China White Synthetic Heroin.”
In June 2024, HSI agents executed search warrants on two residences associated with Eager in Kearny, New Jersey, and seized over 360 grams of powdered fentanyl, counterfeit M30 pills, drug ledgers, cellular phones, two computers, and drug packaging consistent with three deliveries that were sent to Oregon.
On September 4, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging Eager with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl.
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On February 4, 2026, Eager pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
HSI Portland and HSI Houston investigated this case with assistance from HSI Newark, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Interdiction Task Force (HIT). Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey assisted the U.S. Attorney’s in Oregon in obtaining the search warrants that were executed in Kearny.
