Klamath County residents have been encouraged to take precautions through at least 10 a.m. Thursday.
Smoke from wildfires across the state is pushing air quality into dangerous levels in parts of Central and Southern Oregon.
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The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory as air quality index readings topped 150 Wednesday morning near Bend and La Pine, made worse by smoke from the Cram Fire near Madras.
In a photo provided by the Wasco County Sheriffs Department, the Cram Fire burns a hillside. Smoke from the fire is worsening air quality in Central Oregon.
Courtesy of Wasco Sheriffs Department
Further south in Klamath and Jefferson counties, the AQI climbed over 170, affected by smoke from fires burning across Southern Oregon.
The Klamath County Public Health Department issued a health alert Wednesday for county residents. That DEQ advisory is in effect until at least 10 a.m. Thursday, while conditions are expected to slightly improve before then in Deschutes and Crook counties with intermediate smoke remaining.
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AQI levels range from 0-50 for “good” air quality to 300-500 for “hazardous” conditions.
Public health officials are encouraging people affected by poor air quality to stay safe by:
Avoiding strenuous outdoor activity
Using air purifiers
Running air conditioning on recirculate mode
Keeping windows and doors closed
Using N95 masks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly
Keeping pets indoors — as much as possible
“Wildfire smoke contains fine particles that can be harmful to your health. People at the highest risk are those with health conditions, older adults, children and infants,” Deschutes County Public Health Director Heather Kaisner said in a press release. “People who have asthma or other lung conditions should keep medications available and contact their healthcare provider if necessary.”
Multiple counties are also providing the public with cleaner air-conditioned locations to visit,such as local libraries to avoid the smoke and heat.
Resources: Stay safe and informed during wildfire season with OPB’s wildfire guide at opb.org/wildfires. This resource offers essential safety tips and preparedness guidance to help you navigate fire and smoke events. This resource was created as part of our commitment to serving the public as wildfire seasons become longer and more dangerous.
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The overall student headcount is up by 1.5% across the state this fall. Oregon’s community colleges are driving the increase.
Portland Community College and several other community colleges saw an increase in student enrollment this fall term compared to last year.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
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Despite federal attacks on universities, growing tuition costs and uncertain economic times, more Oregonians are choosing to head back to school to pursue a higher education.
Fall headcount enrollment is up by an average of 1.5% across the state’s seven public universities and 17 community colleges compared to last year, according to data released by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission Thursday. Oregon’s colleges and universities also saw more students enrolling in classes full-time this school year.
Community colleges buoy the state’s higher education landscape. These schools saw a 3.7% increase in enrollment this fall.
“Energy is high across all of our campuses,” said Oregon Community College Association Executive Director Abby Lee. “Students are coming back.”
More than half of the state’s community colleges saw enrollment gains, with Portland, Linn-Benton and Blue Mountain leading the way.
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Colleges are seeing more interest in short-term career technical education programs, Lee said. These programs offer students certificates or associate degrees that can lead to high-demand jobs more quickly than a four-year education at a university.
“In Oregon, there’s a lot of retraining happening and students are choosing community colleges to do that training,” Lee said.
The picture is not as rosy among Oregon’s public universities, where enrollment was relatively stable, falling by 0.6% compared to 2024. Just three schools are reporting more students this year: Oregon State University, Oregon Institute of Technology and Southern Oregon University.
OSU’s rapid growth in students from the past few years, largely driven by increased enrollment in its online education offerings, appears to be slowing down. Oregon State welcomed fewer than 400 more students compared to last year, an increase of less than 1%. OSU saw gains more than double that since 2021.
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Portland State University’s downward enrollment trend is continuing this year. But university officials say they are glad to see enrollment climbing at community colleges. Transfer students from the two-year institutions made up 60% of PSU’s enrollment in the 2021-22 academic year.
“PSU’s enrollment of Oregon transfer students increased 4.9% this year,” said Portland State spokesperson Katy Swordfisk. “We are heartened to see enrollment recovering at our partner community colleges and see this increase as the start of a growing trend.”
Oregon colleges say no to Trump administration higher ed compact
Amid tightened visa requirements for international students, the number of students from outside the U.S. studying at Oregon’s public universities is down by about 8%.
Overall, this year’s numbers continue a positive trend that’s slowly closing the steep drop in college students caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, said HECC Office of Research and Data Director Amy Cox.
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“The continued increase in enrollment numbers at the colleges is really gratifying and really great to see,” Cox said. “But it’s not necessarily surprising. We would expect these numbers to rise because the drop that occurred during the pandemic was so unusual.”
University enrollment is nearing full recovery and is about 2 percentage points — or roughly 1,000 students — lower than pre-pandemic levels. Community colleges, which experienced a 23% decline in students in 2020, are still working to close the gap. These institutions are about 17,000 students short of 2019 enrollment figures.
The good news comes as higher education institutions across the nation face unprecedented challenges from the federal government. At the direction of the Trump administration, federal agencies have cut off or paused billions of dollars in grants to colleges and universities, made demands aimed at admissions offices and opened civil rights investigations at dozens of institutions.
And at the state level, Oregonians considering a higher education must contend with the rising costs that come with a college degree. The state’s universities, and some colleges, have been steadily increasing tuition since 2015 to make up for declining enrollment, a surge in personnel expenses and flattening state support.
Oregon legislators hear the ‘least worst options’ for possible state education agency cuts
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More tuition hikes could be coming next school year. In a presentation earlier this week, higher ed leaders laid out the tuition increases and financial aid cuts they might have to make under potential budget cut scenarios.
Cox acknowledges that there are a lot of headwinds working against institutions and students right now.
“But we did not see a substantial impact on enrollment from those headwinds,” Cox said. “My hope is that students and families are understanding the long term stability that comes from postsecondary education and training — whether that’s a career technical certificate, a two-year degree or a four-year degree.”
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EUGENE, Ore. — Danielle Bethell, a Marion County commissioner, has announced her run for Oregon governor.
She says her campaign is centered on holding state agencies accountable, making sure taxpayer dollars are used wisely, and having a collaborative partnership with the legislature.
FULL INTERVIEW: Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell announced run for governor, Nov. 20, 2025. (SBG)
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“I’m running for governor because it’s time Oregonians have an executive in office that understands the functions of government instead of a policy maker or a politician that’s running on an agenda that’s specific to some linear scope,” says Bethell, a Republican.
She says what sets her apart from candidate Senator Christine Drazan is that they have worked different positions and have different careers.
Marion County’s Danielle Bethell to run for Oregon governor, focusing on accountability
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Bethel says if she is elected the first thing she would do is convene transparent meetings with every local government agency in Oregon and make sure every county in Oregon has a voice.
The holiday season is right around the corner, which means the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree is on.
For those looking to bring home a real tree at an unbeatable price, $5 permits are now available for all Oregon national forests.
Christmas tree permits are available for purchase online at recreation.gov. On the website, just search for the name of the national forest, like Willamette National Forest, and “Christmas tree permit.”
Permits are $5 each (with an added $2.50 processing fee charged by the website). Each permit allows the cutting of one Christmas tree. Households can purchase a maximum of five permits.
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Some local businesses and some but not all U.S. Forest Service offices will also sell the permits in person.
Where should you go to get a Christmas from a national forest in Oregon?
The closest national forests depend on your location. For Salem or Eugene, you could head east to Willamette National Forest or west to Siuslaw National Forest. If you’re coming from Portland, the closest option is probably Mount Hood National Forest.
There are Christmas tree hunting maps open to download when you get a permit on Recreation.gov.
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Things to know during your Christmas tree hunt
Here are some things to remember for a successful Christmas tree hunt.
Remember the rules: Each national forest has specific guidelines on which trees can be cut down and taken, so be sure to check out the forest’s rules online before cutting your tree.
In general:
Do not cut on private land, wilderness areas, research natural areas, scenic areas, or areas with rare, threatened or endangered plants.
Do not cut trees within 300 feet of campgrounds or administrative sites.
Do not cut trees within 50 feet of trails and paved roads.
Do not cut trees within 200 feet of highways.
Do not cut trees within 100 feet of streams or lakes.
Know the size of the tree you can cut: Each forest has limitations on the size of the tree you can cut and the species of trees that are permitted.
In general:
Tree height: 15 feet maximum
Stump height: 6 inches maximum
Take the whole tree. Do not remove the top of the tree; cut down the entire tree
If snow is on the ground, remove it from around the stump so you can accurately measure the stump and tree height.
Do not cut the following tree species: whitebark pine, Pacific yew, western white pine.
Prepare for the weather: Be sure to dress appropriately as you’ll be hunting in the forest. Snow and ice conditions can also make traveling on the forest roads very dangerous. Make sure your vehicle is equipped to handle road conditions.
Know what tree you want: Noble, Pacific silver, Douglas and grand firs are typically the varieties you’re allowed to harvest and are best for a tree, so you want to be able to identify the trees. Many of the most sought-after firs only grow above 3,500 feet in Oregon.
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Sno-park permits: If you’re headed to the higher mountains and snow, you’ll need a permit if you park at a sno-park, which are plowed and feature marked routes out into the forest.
When you get home
After you find your perfect tree, keep your tree fresh and safe with these reminders.
Cut and water your tree: Once you get your tree home, cut half an inch off the stump to help with water uptake, and make sure to water your tree daily. Well-watered trees keep their scent longer.
Get the right tree stand: Use a sturdy tree stand that holds at least 1 gallon of water. Make sure you refill the container daily, as an average tree may consume 1 to 4 quarts of water daily.
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Place your tree away from heat sources: Do not place your Christmas tree within 3 feet of any heat source, like a radiator. Live tree fires outnumber artificial tree fires by 3-1.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social
