Alex Baumhardt - Oregon Capital Chronicle
Alex Baumhardt has been a national radio producer focusing on education for American Public Media since 2017. She has reported from the Arctic to the Antarctic for national and international media, and from Minnesota and Oregon for The Washington Post. She previously worked in Iceland and Qatar and was a Fulbright scholar in Spain where she earned a master's degree in digital media. She's been a kayaking guide in Alaska, farmed on four continents and worked the night shift at several bakeries to support her reporting along the way.
Oregon natural gas providers raising residential rates up to 25% this fall
On Nov. 1, NW Natural, the state’s largest natural gas utility, will raise residential rates about 14%, and then another 11% in March, affecting about 600,000 people.
Race to represent Oregon’s new congressional district among state’s tightest, most heated
Republican Mike Erickson and Democrat Andrea Salinas are vying for Oregon’s 6th Congressional District that’s one of the most diverse in the state.
‘Nation’s report card’ shows Oregon students falling behind in reading and math
Results from the National Assessment for Educational Progress show declines in math and reading proficiency among Oregon fourth- and eighth-graders.
State Republicans bank on winning on education wedge issues: school choice, ‘parents’ rights’
Republicans hope ongoing frustration from pandemic school closures will win over undecided voters in November.
Student attendance, graduation rates down since pandemic, state analysis finds
New data released this week shows the number of Oregon high schoolers on track to graduate has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
Oregon Chief Justice Martha Walters to retire at year’s end
Oregon Chief Justice Martha Walters will retire on Dec. 31 after 16 years on the state’s Supreme Court and four years as its leader.
State’s first green hydrogen project could be among most expensive attempts to cut emissions
A large gap exists between the costs and benefits of NW Natural’s plan to produce and blend green hydrogen into natural gas for customers in Eugene.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality names interim leader after director resigns
Leah Feldon, deputy director of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality will lead the agency following the departure of former Director Richard Whitman this week.
How has more than $1.5 billion in federal Covid relief money changed Oregon schools?
Districts have two more years to spend $1 billion in federal funds, but some say the benefits have been temporary and have come with unintended consequences.
Fewer community groups got state funding for summer learning due to insurance requirement
About one-quarter fewer groups received funding this year, but the grant amounts were double what they were the year prior for groups who did receive them.