Oregon
Portland pays Oregon $19.5M to clean the Columbia Slough
The city of Portland finalized a 15-year settlement with the state to clean up the Columbia Slough, the 31-mile stretch of waterways between Fairview Lake and the Willamette River.
Portland city councilors unanimously approved entering the settlement with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Wednesday morning.
Under the settlement, the city will pay $19.5 million to DEQ over the next three years. The agency will use the money to address storm water discharges and sediment contamination in the slough. The city also commits to building 15 facilities to treat stormwater runoff, and spending an additional $4 million on cleanup projects that it will oversee over the next 15 years.
The settlement marks a new stage of cleanup for the slough’s waterways — including its 19-mile main channel — which for the last century have collected pollution from surrounding industrial and agricultural sites. The slough had also been a local dumping ground until the 1970s.
Columbia Slough: Portland neighborhood attraction or polluted embarrassment?
Some industrial chemicals remain among the sediment, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides, which are also consumed by fish. For that reason, the state advises people to limit eating fish caught in the area.
A June 2023 file photo of the Columbia Slough. Portland has agreed to pay Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality $19.5 million, which the state agency will use to address storm water discharges and sediment contamination in the slough.
Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB
The city owns about 200 outlets discharging storm and waste water throughout the slough. Since 2006, Portland has entered into a series of five-year agreements with the state. Those agreements, city staff explained at the council’s Jan. 15 meeting, mostly focused on investigating sources of pollution and collecting samples. The five-year agreements weren’t legally binding.
This new settlement, by contrast, is legally binding, outlines a cleanup plan, and helps protect the city from lawsuits.
“It also defines the city’s role and obligations in the long term with a work plan which will result in long-term cost savings for the city,” said Annie Von Burg, who oversees environmental remediation at the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, at last week’s meeting.
City staff said these funds will come out of the bureau’s sewer system operating fund for this fiscal year, as well as the next two fiscal years. The bureau is working with an insurance carrier to recoup some expenses going toward the settlement.
Entering the 2026 college football season, the Oregon Ducks are looking to not only win their first national championship in program history but also their second Big Ten title in the last three seasons.
When the Ducks joined the Big Ten in 2024, they kicked off their inaugural season in the conference in style, finishing the regular season undefeated at 13-0. This regular season was concluded with a thrilling 45-37 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten championship game.
Eug 040522 Lanning 02 | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
The Ohio State Buckeyes, however, got revenge for their loss to the Ducks at Autzen Stadium earlier in the regular season, beating Oregon 41-21 in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. Entering the 2026 season, here’s a look at the Ducks’ chances of winning the Big Ten for the second time.
Oregon Ducks Big Ten Title Odds: Who’s The Biggest Threat?
According to the latest betting odds by FanDuel Sportsbook, the Ducks have +270 odds to win the Big Ten championship this season. The one team ahead of them is the Ohio State Buckeyes at +190, who, believe it or not, are in search of their first Big Ten title since 2020. The Buckeyes were upset by the Indiana Hoosiers 13-10 in the Big Ten championship last season.
Among the top teams in the Big Ten next season, Ohio State poses the biggest threat to the Ducks’ chances of not only winning a conference title but also the national championship. The Buckeyes and Ducks will face off in what could be the game of the year in Columbus on Nov. 7.
As exciting as this matchup will be for college football fans, it likely won’t be the only one between the Buckeyes and Ducks. Regardless of which team wins the Nov. 7 showdown in Columbus, the Buckeyes and Ducks could match up again in the Big Ten title game and in the CFP.
Other Teams That Pose a Threat to Oregon
While the Buckeyes are the main threat to the Ducks’ Big Ten title aspirations, other teams will be worth watching. One of those teams is the defending national champions, the Indiana Hoosiers.
Despite the key losses this offseason, which include Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, coach Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers restocked talent with the addition of TCU Horned Frogs transfer quarterback Josh Hoover and Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Nick Marsh.
The only two losses that the Ducks suffered last season came against the Hoosiers. If the two face off in the Big Ten championship, Indiana looks to continue its dominance over the Ducks. The Hoosiers and Ducks don’t play each other during the regular season.
The USC Trojans, whom the Ducks will face at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Sept. 26, also look to knock off Oregon in what should be one of the top games of the first month of the college football season. Oregon coach Dan Lanning is undefeated 2-0 against USC’s Lincoln Riley and looks to extend the Ducks’ winning streak against the Trojans to five games.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram for the latest news.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
The Oregon Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 14, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 14 drawing
02-04-10-48-56, Mega Ball: 22
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 14 drawing
1PM: 6-3-6-3
4PM: 7-0-0-9
7PM: 2-0-6-0
10PM: 2-5-1-5
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Oregon Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 7:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 7:59 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 4: 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily.
- Win for Life: 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Megabucks: 7:29 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Oregon editor. You can send feedback using this form.
DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. — Oregon State Police are asking for additional witnesses to come forward after a three-vehicle crash on Highway 20E in Deschutes County left two people seriously injured.
Troopers responded at 12:47 p.m. Friday, July 10, to the crash near milepost 41. A preliminary investigation found a westbound 2013 black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck pulling a single-axle utility trailer attempted to pass a black Dodge 4500 towing a trailer. Police said an eastbound Hyundai Elantra tried to avoid a collision with the Chevrolet, lost control in the gravel on the eastbound shoulder, veered into the westbound lane and collided with the trailer pulled by the Dodge 4500.
The driver and passenger of the Hyundai were flown by air medic to a local hospital with serious injuries.
The crash affected traffic for about five hours. The driver of the Chevrolet was cited for careless driving and unsafe passing.
OSP is asking anyone who may have seen the Chevrolet driving westbound on Highway 20 at the moment of, or prior to, the collision to contact the OSP Northern Command Center dispatch at 800-442-0776 or *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone. Callers should reference case number SP26-255130.
-
Montana2 minutes agoGovernor Gianforte Announces Montana Ranks as Top 10 State for Job Growth
-
Nebraska8 minutes agoRoanoke County teen heads to national rodeo finals in Nebraska
-
Nevada14 minutes agoNevada’s modern boomtowns are these fast-growing cities, study said
-
New Hampshire20 minutes agoNH Forests: A Story of Revival and the Challenges Ahead: Business NH Magazine
-
New Jersey26 minutes agoNJ Spine Doctor, Daughter, Granddaughter Killed In Plane Crash, Police Say
-
New Mexico32 minutes agoMcCauley Springs Fire Reaches 100% Containment
-
North Carolina38 minutes agoMassive great white shark spotted off NC coast. See where its headed
-
North Dakota44 minutes agoNeighbors, not competitors
