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.
Gov. Kotek orders state agencies to move faster on clean energy projects, electrification
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek issued an executive order meant to get agencies to identify barriers to clean energy projects and transmission and find solutions by 2027.
More corporate tax money, economic resilience dramatically shrink Oregon’s budget deficit
Oregon is now expected to have a $63 million budget deficit in 2027, but state economists cautioned the forecast is complicated by a lack of reliable federal employment data due to the government shutdown.
Lawmakers might tap two reserve funds to fill Oregon’s budget deficit. What are they?
Oregon's Rainy Day Fund has nearly $2 billion and hasn't been tapped since 2010. A separate $1 billion state fund is set aside for schools during tough economic times.
Lawmakers to discuss ‘painful’ cuts for Oregon agencies under $373 million deficit
Potential cuts across state agencies could mean service reductions for Oregonians and more work for current employees.
Federal judge rules Trump Guard deployment to Portland likely unlawful
U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut blocked the National Guard from any state from deploying to Portland at least until she issues a final opinion Friday.
Oregon Treasury reducing public pension investments in private equity
After criticism that the Oregon Investment Council overinvested public pension dollars in private equity funds, Treasurer Steiner is calling for a strategy shift.
Guard deployment to Portland stays blocked as 9th Circuit reviews decision
A majority of the judges on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to review, and possibly void, a recent decision to allow the deployment.
Guard deployment to Portland stays blocked as 9th Circuit considers review of case
The appeals court on Friday paused any order allowing troop deployment until the 29 judges of the court decide if a “full court” review of an earlier decision is warranted.
Missing federal jobs report leaves Oregon Employment Department, businesses in the dark
Despite delivering in past shutdowns, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said it was unable to provide the September jobs report because of the government shutdown.
Oregon’s 2025 wildfires burned smaller, but closer to humans
Despite earlier fears of a depleted federal firefighting force, state officials said federal agencies responded aggressively and kept fires contained on federal land.