CLAIRE RUSH

Reporter

Rush is an Associated Press reporter covering Oregon state government and general news in the Pacific Northwest more broadly.

Record-breaking wildfires scorch more than 1.4 million acres in Oregon, authorities say

Wildfires in Oregon have burned more acres of land in 2024 than in any other year since reliable records began in 1992.

Oregon city at heart of Supreme Court homelessness ruling votes to ban camping except in some areas

The small Oregon city at the heart of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on outdoor sleeping bans has voted to prohibit camping but establish certain areas where homeless people can go.

How Lahaina’s more than 150-year-old banyan tree is coming back to life after devastating fire

The deadly wildfire that tore through Lahaina last August scorched the 151-year-old banyan tree along the historic town’s Front Street.

ACLU sues Washington state city over its anti-homeless laws after a landmark Supreme Court ruling

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington has sued the city of Spokane, alleging its anti-homeless laws violate the state constitution.

Award-winning Oregon chef Naomi Pomeroy drowns in river accident

Naomi Pomeroy, an award-winning chef who helped put Portland, Oregon, on the map as a culinary destination, has drowned in an inner tubing accident.

Tourists still flock to Death Valley amid searing US heat wave blamed for several deaths

Hundreds of Europeans touring the American West and adventurers from around the U.S. are still being drawn to Death Valley National Park, even though the desolate region known as one of the Earth’s hottest places is being punished by a dangerous heat wave blamed for a motorcyclist’s death over the w

More records expected to shatter as long-running blanket of heat threatens 130 million in U.S.

Roughly 130 million people are under threat from a long-running heat wave that already has broken records with dangerously high temperatures and is expected to shatter more inot next week from the Pacific Northwest to the Mid-Alantic states and the Northeast.

Records tumble as dangerous heat wave scorches the US West and beyond, with the worst yet to come

Records are tumbling across the West as a slow-moving heat wave of potentially historic proportions tightens its grip from the Pacific Northwest to Arizona.

Ex-astronaut who died in Washington plane crash was doing a flyby near a friend’s home, NTSB says

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report into the fatal plane crash of former astronaut William Anders.

Bull that jumped the fence at Oregon rodeo forced to retire from competition, owner says

The bull who jumped out of the arena at an Oregon rodeo, sending the audience into a frenzy, has been forced to retire from competition.

Things to know about FDA warning on paralytic shellfish poisoning in Pacific Northwest

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says consumers should avoid eating shellfish from Oregon and Washington state as they may be contaminated with toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning.

PacifiCorp will pay $178M to Oregon wildfire victims in latest settlement over deadly 2020 blazes

Pacific Power, part of PacifiCorp, says it has agreed to a nearly $180 million settlement with over 400 Oregon plaintiffs.

Oregon wineries and vineyards seek $100 million from PacifiCorp for wildfire smoke damage to grapes

Dozens of Oregon wineries and vineyards have sued PacifiCorp over the deadly 2020 wildfires. They allege that the utility’s decision to not turn off power during the Labor Day windstorm contributed to fires whose smoke and soot damaged their grapes and negatively impacted their harvest and sales.

Centrist challenger ousts progressive prosecutor in DA race in Portland, Oregon

Centrist district attorney candidate Nathan Vasquez has ousted the incumbent progressive prosecutor in Oregon’s Multnomah County, home to Portland, after running a campaign in which he vowed to be tough on crime.

French President Macron says he won’t rush through voting reforms that triggered New Caledonia riots

French President Emmanuel Macron has said on a visit to riot-hit New Caledonia that he won’t force through a contested voting reform that has sparked deadly unrest in the French Pacific territory and wants to leave time for local leaders to come up with an alternate agreement for the archipelago’s f

Tough-on-crime challenger leading in race for district attorney in Portland, Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A centrist candidate who has vowed to be tough on crime was leading in the race for top prosecutor in Oregon’s Multnomah County, home to Portland, in a contest that was seen as a referendum on voter concerns over homelessness, public drug use and disorder.

California congressman urges closer consultation with tribes on offshore wind

A California congressman says tribes should be more involved in the decision-making process for the development of the first offshore wind farms along the West Coast.

In Oregon’s Democratic primaries, progressive and establishment wings battle for US House seats

Two Democratic primaries for U.S. House seats in Oregon could help reveal whether the party’s voters are leaning more toward progressive or establishment factions.

A man investigated in the deaths of women in northwest Oregon has been indicted in 3 killings

A man who has been under investigation in the deaths of four women whose bodies were found scattered across northwest Oregon last year has been indicted in two of those killings — as well as in the death of a woman whose body was found in Washington state.

What to do when facing extended summer power outages

Texas officials say power outages could last weeks in parts of Houston after thunderstorms with hurricane-force winds tore through the city and killed at least four people.

A man investigated in the deaths of women in northwest Oregon has been indicted in 3 killings

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A man who has been under investigation in the deaths of four women whose bodies were found scattered across northwest Oregon last year has been indicted in two of those killings — as well as in the death of a woman whose body was found in Washington state.

No criminal charges in rare liquor probe at Oregon alcohol agency, state report says

Oregon’s justice department has concluded that criminal charges are not warranted in the rare liquor investigation that shook the state’s alcohol agency last year.

A massive Powerball win draws attention to a little-known immigrant culture in the US

Cheng “Charlie” Saephan wore a broad smile and a bright blue sash emblazoned with the words “Iu-Mien USA” as he hoisted an oversized check for $1.3 billion above his head.

Winner of $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer

One of the winners of a $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot this month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.

Oregon’s Sports Bra, a pub for women’s sports fans, plans national expansion as interest booms

An Oregon sports bar focusing on and showing only women’s athletics has plans to expand across the country through a franchise model.

With homelessness on the rise, the Supreme Court weighs bans on sleeping outdoors

The Supreme Court is wrestling with major questions about the growing issue of homelessness as it considers whether cities can ban people from sleeping outside when shelter space is lacking.

Idaho’s ban on youth gender-affirming care has families desperately scrambling for solutions

Idaho families with transgender children are desperately scrambling for solutions as a state law banning gender-affirming care for minors has taken effect. The U.S.

Can homeless people be fined for sleeping outside? A rural Oregon city asks the US Supreme Court

The rural city of Grants Pass in southern Oregon has become the unlikely face of the nation’s homelessness crisis as its case over anti-camping laws goes to the U.S.

Two days after $1.3 billion Powerball drawing, the winning Oregon ticket holder remains unknown

Oregon lottery officials say the winner of the eighth-biggest lottery prize in U.S. history won’t be announced for at least a couple more weeks while the win is verified and arrangements for the massive payment are made.

Person comes forward to claim $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot in Oregon

Oregon officials say a person with a ticket matching all six Powerball numbers in Saturday’s $1.3 billion jackpot has come forward to claim the prize.