Portland ranks as one of the worst cities for allergies
Portland was named in a 2025 study that examined which U.S. cities struggled most with allergies that year. The 2025 Allergy Capitals report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reviewed 100 of the most populated metropolitan areas in the country, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Each city was evaluated based on pollen scores, over-the-counter allergy medication […]
Yachats becomes first ‘Bird City’ on the Pacific Coast
Visitors driving into the small coastal town of Yachats may notice something new along U.S. Highway 101. New signs welcoming travelers to a designated “Bird City” mark the community as the first on the Pacific Coast to receive the conservation honor. Seven Capes Bird Alliance, a coastal branch of the Bird Alliance of Oregon, began efforts […]
Conservation groups sue Trump administration over endangered species protections
Conservation organizations across the United States are suing the Trump administration over changes they say could make it harder to protect endangered wildlife and the places those animals depend on to survive. The lawsuit targets a new federal rule that no longer considers damage to wildlife habitat to be the same as doing “harm” to […]
Trump ends habitat protections for endangered species. What it means for the Pacific Northwest
The Trump administration finalized a major change to the Endangered Species Act on July 10, one that could reshape how wildlife habitat is protected across the Pacific Northwest. The new rule removes decades-old protections that treated the destruction of wildlife habitat as illegal harm to endangered species. Environmental groups say the change could make it […]
Salt & Straw celebrates National Ice Cream Day with weeklong sundae special
Salt & Straw is giving ice cream lovers another reason to stop by this July. The Portland-based ice cream company is celebrating National Ice Cream Day with a weeklong promotion featuring a new Build Your Own Pint Sundae. Available July 17-23, the $15 treat lets customers choose three scoops of their favorite flavors served in […]
Oregon universities move forward with plans to merge into one
Willamette University and Pacific University are moving forward with plans to merge into a single institution serving more than 6,000 students across campuses in Salem, Forest Grove, Hillsboro and Portland. Both universities have cleared a major step toward the merger, with plans to begin operating as one legal entity by the start of 2027. If […]
Subaru drivers in Oregon and Washington should check this new recall
If it feels like every other driveway in Oregon and Washington has a Subaru parked in it, you’re probably not far off. From rainy commutes to mountain adventures, the brand has long been a favorite across the Pacific Northwest. Now, more than 541,000 Subaru vehicles are being recalled nationwide because of an incorrect certification label […]
Two missing hikers found dead in remote Whatcom County
Authorities have recovered the bodies of two hikers who went missing in separate incidents in Whatcom County in June, bringing weeks of search efforts in the Mount Baker region to a close. The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that 34-year-old Gursimran Singh of British Columbia was recovered July 13 in the Twin Sisters Range. Two […]
Gray whale deaths along PNW Coast prompt ‘Catastrophic Mortality Event’
Gray whale deaths along the west coast have reached alarming numbers, prompting researchers to declare a catastrophic mortality event. Researchers with the environmental organization Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, or PEER, say that gray whales are suffering a “catastrophic mortality event,” citing rapidly rising strandings and population declines. At least 145 gray whales have been […]
Washington to give away pieces of the beloved Bellingham Rock
For decades, the Bellingham Rock greeted drivers along Interstate 5 and served as a community canvas for messages, celebrations, and colorful artwork. Although the iconic roadside landmark was removed earlier this year during a fish passage project, Washington residents will soon have the chance to take home a small piece of its history. The Washington […]