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.
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.
Eastern Oregon likely to get fraction of money requested from state for drinking water emergency
The state Legislature’s emergency board will consider approving less than one-quarter of the $4 million the Morrow County Commission has requested.
Oregon, Washington hope to make Northwest the U.S. leader of ‘green hydrogen’ energy
Both states are preparing to pitch the region as a hub for clean hydrogen energy, vying for billions in federal funding and setting a standard for other states to follow.
Tax credits on electric cars, heat pumps will help low-income Oregonians, politicians say
At a panel in Portland, two of Oregon’s U.S. representatives and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the Inflation Reduction Act will help many people reduce their carbon footprint.