Oregon
Oregon Sen. Aaron Woods remembered as ‘courageous’ lawmaker who bridged divides
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.
“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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
OPB Reporter Dirk VanderHart contributed reporting.
Oregon
Where Oregon Ducks rank in industry recruiting rankings for 2027 class
With the winter evaluation period of high school football recruiting now behind us, we’ve seen some of the top recruiting sites update their rankings over the past few weeks and start to reset their boards for the 2027 class. In February, On3 shifted players around after getting fresh looks at the class, and 247Sports did the same earlier this week.
So with Oregon’s handful of commits getting new ratings, where does the Ducks’ class rank nationally in this cycle?
If you look at sites individually, it looks different, with 247Sports having Oregon sitting at No. 13 in the nation. At Rivals, though, they take the industry ranking, which factors in their own rankings, plus an average from 247Sports and ESPN.
In the industry rankings, Oregon sits at No. 9 in the nation, with five commitments.
Going into the summer months, the Ducks are in a great spot, leading or among the top schools for a handful of the top prospects in the nation, like 5-star QB Will Mencl or 5-star WR Dakota Guerrant. We will see what movement Oregon can make in the coming months after official visits take place early in the summer.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Oregon
New Data Shows Oregon E-Scooter Injuries on the Rise
Data released by the Oregon Health Authority this week suggests Oregonians are getting hurt on electric scooters more every year.
In recent years, according to OHA, an “e-scooter-specific code” was developed for health care tracking purposes.
From 2021 to 2024, annual injury reports under this code from Oregon hospitals and emergency departments jumped from 211 to 418.
And in just the first nine months of 2025, there had been 509 such reports.
“These injuries are not minor scrapes,” said Dagan Wright, an OHA epidemiologist, in a written statement. “They often involve head injuries, broken bones, and other serious trauma that requires emergency or inpatient care.”
The city of Portland signed contracts with three e-scooter rental companies in 2018, as the transportation craze spread across the country. But e-scooter injury diagnosis codes are relatively new in health care reporting, Wright said in the OHA statement.
“While the overall numbers remain smaller than for other transportation-related injuries, the rapid increase over a short period of time is a clear safety signal,” OHA added.
The agency highlighted the story of Portland e-scooter commuter Daniel Pflieger, who it says was riding a scooter home when he reportedly slid on ice. He bruised several ribs.
Sometimes outcomes are worse. OHA identified 17 deaths linked to electric or motorized scooters since 2018, and seven of those occurred in 2025.
OHA says that e-bikes raise many similar safety concerns as e-scooters. The first full year for which e-bike injuries were coded for reporting was 2023. State data shows 392 reported e-bike injuries that year, 683 in 2024, and 760 in the first nine months of 2025.
“Injuries involving e-bikes and e-scooters share common risk factors—speed, lack of helmet use, roadway design, and interactions with motor vehicles,” Wright said.
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Oregon
Oregon women’s basketball playing for March Madness seeding vs. Purdue
Hear Oregon women’s Graves, Etute and Fiso after loss to Washington
The Oregon Ducks women’s basketball team finishes the regular season with a March 1 home loss to Washington.
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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