AGP Executive Report

NCAA Baseball Bracket Set: UCLA earned the No. 1 overall seed for the 2026 tournament, with Georgia Tech, Georgia, Auburn, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama and Florida rounding out the top eight. Regionals start Friday (May 29) at 16 sites, with double-elimination play feeding into best-of-three super regionals and the College World Series in Omaha beginning June 12. Local Sports Spotlight: Oregon and Oregon State both landed in the Eugene Regional—Oregon as the top seed and OSU as the two-seed—setting up a potential early collision at PK Park. Memorial Day Reminders: Oregon flags will fly at half-staff Monday, and the state’s Memorial Day flyovers are scheduled across multiple cities. Public Safety & Weather: A three-vehicle crash near Coles Corner left one dead and two injured in Chelan County, while Oregon’s wildfire outlook warns conditions could make fires spread faster and burn larger.

Sports & Local Spotlight: UCLA’s Phoenix Call scored the winning run on a walk-off hit-by-pitch in the 11th to beat Oregon 3-2 and clinch the Big Ten baseball tournament title, capping a wild run of late comebacks. NCAA Baseball: Oregon State won’t host a 2026 regional, while Oregon is set to host the Eugene regional starting May 29—full bracket details come Monday on ESPN. Memorial Day in Oregon: Gov. Tina Kotek ordered flags at state institutions to fly at half-staff May 25, with F-15 flyovers planned. Public Safety: Salem firefighters contained a two-alarm warehouse fire at 4080 Reed Road, protecting Oregon State Fire Marshal wildfire equipment. Health & Consumer Watch: A specialty drink recall linked to possible salmonella contamination covers products sold in 25 states, including Oregon. Business/Tech: Microsoft’s support for a journalism fellowship program is drawing fresh questions about how newsrooms should use AI while staying independent.

Gas Prices & Travel: AAA says Arizona’s Memorial Day-weekend fuel picture is still rough: the Valley average slipped 5 cents to $4.82 a gallon, but it’s up 9 cents from last week and $1.23 from a year ago—statewide, prices are the highest in four years. Wildfire Readiness: Oregon’s emergency management office is warning of an especially dry wildfire season, urging go-bags, evacuation-route planning, alert signups, and insurance checks. Sports Spotlight: NCAA women’s golf is in the “first cut” spotlight at Omni La Costa, with Stanford holding a five-shot lead heading into the final round. Local Playoffs: In Salem-area prep sports, McNary hosts the first softball playoff round Monday, while West Salem and Sprague also open postseason at set times. Tech & Privacy Debate: A new national look at AI camera networks highlights how fast license-plate readers are spreading—and how cities are starting to push back.

Big Ten Baseball: Oregon crushed Nebraska 8-0 in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal Saturday, setting up a Sunday title game vs. UCLA after the Bruins stunned USC 7-5. Sports Spotlight: The Ducks’ Will Sanford dominated with six shutout innings and nine strikeouts as Oregon’s power surge kept Nebraska scoreless for the first time in the tournament. Wildfire Readiness: Oregon’s wildfire season warning is getting louder—state emergency managers urge residents to build go-bags, map evacuation routes, and sign up for alerts as drought conditions tighten. Local Fire Update: Salem firefighters knocked down a roof fire at the Oregon State Fire Marshal warehouse on Reed Road SE; no injuries, and the cause remains under investigation. Travel & Costs: Memorial Day weekend travel is hitting wallets—AAA says Oregon gas prices are among the highest in the nation. Lottery: Powerball for May 23 landed at 4-16-41-48-66 with Powerball 26 (2x).

Big Ten Baseball: No. 14 Oregon punched its ticket to the semifinals, beating Washington 9-4 in Omaha after a weather delay, blasting five solo homers and getting a strong start from Cal Scolari as the Ducks set up a 4 p.m. PT semifinal vs. No. 2 Nebraska. Salem Politics: Salem City Council incumbents took a hit in the primary—Mayor Julie Hoy and Ward 4 Councilor Deanna Gwyn lost, while Ward 2 Councilor Linda Nishoka won outright and two other races are headed toward runoffs. Cashless Camping: Southern Oregon campgrounds on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest are moving to phone-based “scan and pay” at Recreation.gov, with cash still allowed through July 20. Gas Watch: Fuel prices remain uneven—Kentucky’s regular average rose to $4.33 (+13 cents this week), while Oregon sits among the priciest states at $5.34. Outdoors Safety: Memorial Day morel hunters are warned about toxic look-alikes, and officials say the Manitou Incline in Colorado reopened after a medical emergency closure.

Memorial Day emergency: Southern California authorities are racing to stop a chemical leak after a methyl methacrylate storage tank overheated at an aerospace plastics facility in Garden Grove—about 40,000 people were ordered to evacuate across multiple cities as officials warn the tank could fail or explode. Local transit squeeze: TriMet says more layoffs and service cuts are coming as it updates its 2027 budget, citing a growing deficit and higher costs after Oregon voters rejected a transportation funding measure. Wildfire court ripple: A judge paused damages trials in the PacifiCorp wildfire case after an appeals ruling, leaving many claimants waiting on next steps. Oregon sports & community: Oregon softball’s Lyndsey Grein reveals her life-threatening eye infection; scouts kick off Memorial Day weekend with a massive flag-planting tribute at Willamette National Cemetery. Business closing: Minerva’s Furniture will shut its doors after 43 years.

Memorial Day safety push in Eugene: After five deaths on Eugene roads since the start of the year, the city is stepping up traffic safety enforcement with help from an ODOT grant, targeting corridors including 11th Avenue, Highway 99 and River Road. Health insurance shake-up: Providence Health Plan says it’s sunsetting most of its coverage next year, leaving hundreds of thousands scrambling for new plans. Local crime update: Federal charges were filed against a Lake Oswego man accused of sexually exploiting minors online and in person across multiple states and abroad. Oregon sports: Hunter Vaughn, a Willamette High standout, committed to Oregon as a preferred walk-on, while Oregon boys lacrosse saw its top-10 streak snapped by Arrowhead 15-7. Wildfire tech: A Texas-led satellite effort aims to spot wildfires from space in near real time.

Memorial Day travel + local safety: Oregon is bracing for a busy holiday weekend as AAA projects about 620,000 travelers statewide, with gas prices pushing the average just above $5.35; meanwhile, Salem police are investigating a shooting at the Cherriots transit center that left a 17-year-old in stable condition. Oregon politics: Voters overwhelmingly rejected Oregon’s May gas tax and vehicle fee measure, with affordability now front and center heading into the November governor rematch between Tina Kotek and Christine Drazan. Housing for older Oregonians: Gov. Kotek rolled out $94 million in new housing initiatives for seniors starting in June. Local history preservation: North Bend leaders are racing to digitize more than 80 years of local newspapers before paper and microfilm degrade, partnering with the University of Oregon’s Historic Oregon Newspapers program. Health & veterans: A rare muscle-disease case tied to military service is being reviewed by a National Academies panel.

Daylight Saving Push: GOP lawmakers are reviving the fight to make daylight saving time permanent, folding Rep. Vern Buchanan’s “Sunshine Protection Act” into a broader transportation bill headed for a House committee markup. Housing for Seniors: Gov. Tina Kotek announced $24M for an Older Adult Housing Program plus $50M for repairs and disability-focused housing support to help older Oregonians age safely at home. Energy Costs for Data Centers: Oregon regulators approved a new rate class for large data centers and crypto miners (20MW+), shifting grid-upgrade costs to those users and adding long-term contract requirements. Politics—Oregon GOP Race: Rep. Ed Diehl conceded Oregon’s GOP governor primary to Christine Drazan, setting up a rematch with Gov. Tina Kotek. Elections & Privacy: A federal judge dismissed a DOJ bid to force Wisconsin to hand over unredacted voter files, a win for voter privacy. Local Safety: Central Oregon agencies are urging e-bike safety after a sharp rise in crashes and serious injuries. Sports: Washington beat Michigan 7-1 to reach Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, where it faces Oregon.

Wildfire-ready power lines: Pend Oreille PUD is hiring a helicopter crew with an aerial saw to trim vegetation along hard-to-reach power corridors—aiming to cut wildfire risk and speed up work that could take years on the ground. Public safety: Salem police are hunting an armed suspect after a 17-year-old was shot near 220 High St SE; multiple agencies and drones are searching, and residents are being told to stay indoors. Health tech warning: The AMA says AI should complement doctors, not replace them, urging safeguards as patients increasingly ask chatbots for medical guidance. Student loans in court: Oregon AG Dana Nessel joins a coalition suing the U.S. Department of Education over a rule that limits federal loans for many professional degree programs. Local politics: Washington County legislative races remain too close to call, with late ballots shifting leads in Senate District 15 and House District 27. Business shakeup: The Portland Trail Blazers laid off 70+ business-side employees as part of a reorganization under new owner Tom Dundon.

Skyline 7 Crackdown: Lane County and federal partners held a press conference in Eugene tied to the Skyline 7 burglary ring, with FBI wanted posters and jamming devices shown as authorities move cases forward. Local Ballot Fight: Lane County voters rejected a watershed “rights” measure that would have let residents sue polluters and seek restoration costs plus penalties—opponents outspent backers by a wide margin. Courts & Privacy: The 9th Circuit heard arguments on whether the Trump administration can demand unredacted voter data from California and Oregon, setting up a major fight over state election records. Oregon Economy: Unemployment held steady at 5.2% in April, while the state added 500 jobs. Public Safety: A Lebanon man died in a head-on crash near Redmond, and Oregon State Police reported serious injuries for the other driver. Politics Ahead: Christine Drazan won the GOP governor primary and will face Gov. Tina Kotek in November.

Oregon Primary Fallout: Tina Kotek cruised to the Democratic governor nod, while Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan won her party’s nomination—setting up a November rematch. Gas Tax Fight: Oregon voters rejected the Democrats’ gas tax increase/Measure 120 as pump prices stay high, with early returns showing the measure lagging. Congress Watch: Multiple U.S. House nominations were decided in Oregon’s May primary, including Val Hoyle on the Democratic side; on the GOP side, Patti Adair won her nomination for Oregon’s 5th District. Trump’s Party Test: Across the country, Trump-backed Ed Gallrein beat incumbent Thomas Massie in Kentucky, another signal of the president’s sway in GOP primaries. Local Elections: Newberg-Dundee’s school levy looked headed for defeat in early counts, while Pendleton voters rejected a fire/ambulance property tax levy. Sports: Oregon softball ace Lyndsey Grein detailed an eye injury that sidelined her during the Eugene Regional.

Federal Courts & Student Debt: Oregon AG Dan Rayfield and a coalition of attorneys general sued the U.S. Department of Education over a new rule they say unlawfully narrows which graduate “professional” programs qualify for higher student-loan caps—potentially hitting healthcare and other workforce fields. Wildfire Preparedness: Oregon’s State Fire Marshal finalized a defensible space model code, giving communities voluntary, Oregon-specific steps to protect homes from wildfire spread. Elections Watch: Tuesday’s primaries across Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, Idaho, and Pennsylvania are being framed as another test of how far President Trump’s influence reaches with GOP voters. Local Spotlight: Sisters’ Fourth Friday Artwalk adds two new venues, and KeizerFEST wrapped up a busy four-day run despite rain forecasts. Business/Tech: Beaverton-based Smart Banner Hub says the USPTO issued federal trademark protection for CLUSTROLIN®, its DBSCAN creative engine.

Election Countdown: Oregon’s high-stakes primary is Tuesday, with voters rushing last-minute ballots and weighing a major statewide referendum on Measure 120, which would raise the gas tax and vehicle fees as pump prices spike. Governor Race: Gov. Tina Kotek faces a crowded Democratic field, while Republicans try to nominate a challenger that can make November competitive—Christine Drazan is in the mix, pitching lower costs, fewer regulations, and a shift in homelessness strategy. Housing Authority Shake-Up: Home Forward’s new interim director, Michael Buonocore, promised a “reset” after controversy over vacancies, safety complaints, and taxpayer-funded travel by the former CEO. Local Infrastructure: CTUIR, ODOT and Umatilla County reopened the Thornhollow Bridge after years of delays from unsafe conditions. Sports: Oregon’s baseball Ducks rallied to win a Big Ten series at USC, and the softball season ended after NCAA Regional losses at home.

Fatal crash on Highway 97: A truck hit and killed an 18-year-old walking in the travel lane near Klamath Falls early Saturday, shutting down the road for about two hours while investigators worked. Wildlife and public land fight: The Trump administration has cleared the way for lethal cyanide devices on vast public lands, a move that’s reignited alarms about harm to wildlife and pets. Local business shake-up: Stumptown’s founder is bringing back one of the roaster’s original Portland-area cafes, as corporate coffee reshuffles keep opening doors for new operators. Election pressure building: Oregon’s primaries are in full swing with voters urged to drop ballots by May 19, while Tuesday’s broader primary calendar across multiple states adds to the churn. Health and safety reminders: An organic ice cream recall is in effect in Oregon and many other states due to possible metal fragments. Community spotlight: The Prism Awards honored local leaders, including students and nonprofits, underscoring how civic groups keep momentum going.

White House Security Stumble: The Senate parliamentarian says a $1 billion White House security add-on—including funding tied to Trump’s new ballroom—can’t fit inside a narrow GOP immigration bill, forcing Republicans to “redraft, refine, resubmit.” Oregon Sports Spotlight: Oregon track and field completed a rare Big Ten sweep, winning both men’s and women’s outdoor titles and finishing a “triple crown” year across cross-country, indoor, and outdoor. NCAA Softball Shakeup: The Eugene Regional ended Oregon’s season with a 5-4 loss to Saint Mary’s, while Mississippi State advanced after a regional sweep and now faces Oklahoma in super regionals. Public Health Watch: The FDA issued warning letters to four food businesses in California and Oregon over Listeria and sanitation/HACCP failures. Community & Culture: Sikhs of America held its Vaisakhi Gala honoring diaspora leaders, including Oregon-area philanthropist Sardar Bahadur Singh.