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Portland surgeon Brian Duty launches campaign for state House seat – Oregon Capital Chronicle

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Portland surgeon Brian Duty launches campaign for state House seat – Oregon Capital Chronicle


A Portland physician, Dr. Brian Duty, announced Thursday he’ll run in the Democratic primary for the northwest Portland state House district now represented by state Rep. Maxine Dexter, a Democrat and doctor who is running for Congress. 

Duty, a surgeon and professor of urology at Oregon Health & Science University, told the Capital Chronicle health care is central to the biggest concerns in the 33rd House District, which runs from downtown to the affluent West Hills of Portland.

“There are a tremendous number of issues that are going to impact our state from a health care standpoint, and so I think it is imperative that we have a physician in the house,” he said. 

The district has been dominated by medical professionals for the past two decades. Dexter, a pulmonologist at Kaiser Permanente in Hillsboro,  was appointed to the seat in 2020 after the death of former state Democratic state Rep. Mitch Greenlick, an OHSU professor who served in the Legislature from 2003 until his death. 

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The Legislature now has three physicians, all from the same geographic area. Rep. Lisa Reynolds, D-Beaverton, represents the district neighboring Dexter’s district, and Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, D-Portland, represents the Senate district that encompasses the two House districts. Steiner is running for treasurer and Reynolds intends to seek an appointment to finish her Senate term if she succeeds.

Duty’s starting his campaign with an endorsement from Oregon’s most prominent doctors-turned-politicians, former Gov. John Kitzhaber. 

“Oregon is at its best when we create a clear vision for the future and concrete steps to get us there,” Kitzhaber said in a statement. “I have known Dr. Duty for years, and I believe that is exactly the approach he will bring to the Legislature and he has my enthusiastic endorsement.”

Duty said his first priority if elected would be legislation addressing the state’s hospital capacity crisis. It came to a head during the COVID pandemic, but even before the pandemic Oregon and Washington had the lowest number of hospital beds per capita in the country. Lawmakers have made efforts in recent years to address the shortage of beds and health care workers, including a new nurse staffing law and a $200 million workforce training investment targeted at health care, manufacturing and construction, but problems persist. 

He now spends about half his time traveling across Oregon to meet with clinicians and leadership teams at hospitals to find ways they can work together to provide health care. 

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Measure 110, the 2020 voter-approved law that decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs, is also top of mind for voters in the district, Duty said. He said he’s still meeting with community organizations and making up his mind about the issue, but he said his initial inclination is that the law should be amended to ban the use of drugs in public spaces while maintaining and expanding funding for behavioral health and drug addiction. 

Duty is the first candidate to announce a run for the seat, but two other Democratic hopefuls set up fundraising committees this month. Pete Grabiel is a partner at Portland-based Pitzer Law and Tim Clairmont is a financial adviser at Lake Oswego-based Clear Financial Partners. The district is overwhelmingly Democratic and the next representative is all but certain to be chosen in the May primary. 

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Oregon State University hosting in-person shark dissection at McMenamins 

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Oregon State University hosting in-person shark dissection at McMenamins 


PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon State University’s Big Fish Lab is giving a “grand finale” presentation of its educational “Summer of the Shark” series — which includes an in-person shark dissection — at McMenamins Bagdad Theater and Pub in Southeast Portland on July 23.

The event includes lectures on the types of sharks found on Oregon’s Coast, the lives of mother sharks and the risk of shark attacks. The event also includes trivia, discussions with local shark experts, and, once again, a shark dissection performed live.

“Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to meet Oregon’s shark scientists and learn about the important work they do,” Mcmenamins announced. “And we’ll be projecting the dissection onto the theater screen, so you don’t miss out on any of the details. And just in case you’re wondering, don’t worry: the shark died of natural causes.”

Doors open for the event at 6 p.m. and the show will run from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets for the event are $12 for adults and $8 kids 17 and younger.

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Oregon football: 2 Ducks land in 1st round of PFF’s way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft

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Oregon football: 2 Ducks land in 1st round of PFF’s way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft


Dan Lanning has done a great job of building a talented roster in Eugene as the Oregon Ducks football program is gearing up for what is expected to be a special season in 2024. And right along with that comes a lot of interest in possible draft picks. 

So, as Oregon football fans continue to get ready for the upcoming season, they should keep an eye on and start getting excited about the Oregon Ducks’ NFL prospects. In PFF’s recent way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft, two standout Oregon football players are tabbed for getting picked up in the first round of the draft. 

While it might seem a little too early for way-too-early NFL draft content, PFF is literally called Pro Football Focus, so, you know, you can’t really blame them for getting excited about things.

Cornerback Jabbar Muhammad is the first Oregon Duck to land on the list. According to the good folks over at PFF, Muhammad is currently projected as the No. 24 overall pick, which would currently have him getting selected by the Green Bay Packers. 

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At least he’d get to continue to wear yellow and green. That’s a good thing, right?

Over on the opposite side of the ball sits former Texas A&M Aggies transfer Evan Stewart, who appears poised to thrive as a wide receiver for the Oregon Ducks. Stewart missed a few games last year, but he has immense potential and PFF is currently projecting Stewart as the No. 26 pick in the draft, allowing him to go play for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Which, you know, more green. And a bird! 

There’s a lot that’s going to happen between now and the actual 2025 NFL Draft, but as it stands right now, this would be a solid job from Lanning and his coaching staff to develop these players and put them on the platform they need to get to the NFL.

As the season gets closer to getting underway, Oregon football fans should keep an eye on the performances made by Stewart and Muhammad, who could improve their standing in the NFL draft thanks to more strong showings this season.

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PHOTOS: Corgi Beach Takeover returns to Seaside for second year

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PHOTOS: Corgi Beach Takeover returns to Seaside for second year


About 1500 people attended from all over the country

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Almost 800 short-legged, round-butted canines stormed the beach at Seaside when the Corgi Beach Takeover returned for its second year on Saturday.

This year featured races, costume contests, a silent auction and dozens of raffle items in a fundraiser for the Oregon Humane Society. According to the shelter, the corgi meetup is one of their most important fundraising events.

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  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)
  • The Corgi Beach Takeover took place at Seaside for the second year on June 29, 2024. (Courtesy: Oregon Humane Society)

“You can’t help but smile when you attend Corgi Beach Takeover – it’s cuteness overload on a whole new level,” OHS Events Manager Shelby Hollenbeck said. “Plus, you can smile knowing that your registration is supporting the lifesaving programs at Oregon Humane Society.”

OHS estimated close to 1,500 people were in attendance, with participants traveling to Seaside from as far away as Southern California, Montana and Michigan.

Further, they project to have raised more than $15,000, all for the benefit of thousands of shelter pets.



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