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Audit: Oregon Department of Education failed to oversee $338 million to boost high school graduation
By James Neff, Oregon Journalism Project The Oregon Department of Education needs oversight to make sure it corrects identified problems. That is the blunt assessment of a new audit by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office of ODE’s handling of High School Success, a state program that allocates $800 a year per high school student…
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Portland Public School closures? Not so fast
Guest Editorial by Steve Buel Portland Public Schools is considering closing up to ten elementary schools next year. At first glance, it seems like a sensible thing to do with a budget shortfall of approximately $50 million. If you save a couple of million dollars at each school, then it would go a long way…
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Mike Verbout, life-long North Portlander, civic leader dies
By Mark Kirchmeier No one goes into journalism to write obituary stories, but we write them because the community needs to know when someone has taken leave of this earth and why their lives mattered. Sometimes the subject is a person you knew and cared about, and the loss hurts less if you can celebrate…
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MODA Center, PPS funding face tests in 2026 Legislature
Even though the state’s budget crisis has eased slightly, the 2026 Oregon Legislature will still need to consider cutting budgets and raising revenue before it ends on March 8. A big North/Northeast Portland project is at the center of the negotiations – the estimated $600 million renovation of the Moda Center considered necessary to keep…
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Portland schools, churches prepare to resist ICE
Portland Public Schools (PPS) are reeling in reaction to President Donald Trump’s decision to let federal immigration agents enter schools and churches to arrest alleged undocumented individuals. “I will stand in front of a school door—and get arrested if need be—to keep our kids safe from immigration raids,” said school board member Rev. Herman Greene…
