Elliot Njus

For well over a decade, Hillsboro has been among the most welcoming places in Oregon for data centers -- offering up huge tax breaks and scarce industrial land, while getting very few jobs in return. The city is now pulling up the drawbridge -- fast.

Oregon was among the earliest destinations for big data centers, whose impacts are now felt all across the state. After years of wrangling, Oregonians now see an opportunity to rein in the industry. “Data centers are despised,” says Rep. Pam Marsh. “That is really giving us an opening.”

Facing massive hyperscale computing centers to fuel AI, officials in small communities across America often say they see few options. Here's the view from Alabama, New Jersey, Michigan, Oregon and Pennsylvania where Big Tech often overwhelms local efforts to corral the data center industry.

Portland Public Schools on Monday unveiled two potential scenarios for a wave of school closures, boundary changes and program shifts that would fundamentally reshape the district, directly impacting students, teachers, staff and families at up to 42 of its 81 schools. https://mrf.lu/2rWp8

Welcome to the grocery store cheese aisle where we keep all the cheeses no not feta

Stephenie Turner testified before a grand jury about her missing friend Elizabeth Gibson, who authorities say was killed by Jesse Calhoun in 2022. Two days later, the city impounded her motorhome and car. https://mrf.lu/2hhGF

Happy 175th birthday to @nytimes.com — sort of a younger cousin to @oregonian.com, now pushing 176!

It is true that journalism layoffs are self-defeating. It’s also true that that local journalism is in a fight for its life, and it needs your support — financially, if possible, or else by your attention and engagement.

Oregon cities and counties are beginning to consider data center moratoriums. Washington County isn't one of them. @dediosreports.bsky.social explains why not:

Happy Hydro Hogs Day to @wweek.com and all who celebrate www.wweek.com/news/2026/08...

Don’t let Big Tech get away with calling it a “passport” or “clamshell” foldable phone It’s “hotdog style” or “hamburger style”

Some good news in central Oregon.

Here are key documents, insurance records and other essentials to stash in a financial go bag before a wildfire or other disaster. https://mrf.lu/21gHy

Lam Research is one of Oregon's largest manufacturers. Its big Tualatin expansion, in the works for years, appears to be moving forward now. Lam says it'll spend $1.5B on the project through 2041, and add 445 researchers and engineers. Its tax deal doesn't actually require any new jobs, though.

Just a train at a dead stop blocking a crossing in the middle of downtown Portland at rush hour

Portland has been making Freightliner trucks since the company's founding in 1942. No longer. Daimler Truck North America told employees today it's shutting down its Freightliner and Western Star production lines on Swan Island and moving that work to the Carolinas.

A federal jury on Wednesday awarded a former Nike employee $19,730.52 in economic damages and at least $7.5 million in punitive damages after it found Nike discriminated against her by paying her less than her male peers and promoting her more slowly. www.oregonlive.com/business/202...

“the developer of the project has reassured investors that the project will be completed on time” I dunno man, maybe don’t rush it?

While data centers face the whopping increase, smaller businesses and residential ratepayers will see a small rate cut, with the new rates effective July 8.

The Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, the cable TV regulator for Portland and other cities in MultCo, dissolved at the end of June. With fewer cable TV subscribers, the commission says revenue had fallen so far that the regulatory structure was "unsustainable."

Portland'6 Centers for the Arts

Bleep blorp, SPAC

I just wonder if the screenshot of the unsourced headline from Valuetainment on X might lack context

Did a little double take today as I was reading @billoram.bsky.social's column and saw his most-recent-stories box. When there's news, everyone at The Oregonian is a reporter — including the sports columnist.

Boy, am I going to miss Zane. He was an ante-upper and an envelope-pusher in all the best ways. He took everything exactly the right amount of seriously. His wit and wordplay was hard to keep pace with, but it was fun to try. He was a stellar journalist and an even better colleague.

The Guadalajara stadium looks cool as hell

Let’s see, it’s Mexico and South… something….

Oregon's semiconductor workforce is at a 30-year low even though share prices are through the roof. Will the jobs ever return? www.oregonlive.com/silicon-fore...

While I was staying in Sisters this spring, a friend had a tip for a fun thing to do on a rainy day: check out the local Best Western.

If Microsoft Copilot can't automate a mail merge to print some address labels, then what are we even doing here?

Now that you mention it, I don’t see a stockade, a guard tower OR an electronic frontier

The Oregon Department of Revenue wrongly garnished $20K from a Califonia woman's bank account, listing her Oregon address as that of a city park. The agency returned it after @aimeegreen.bsky.social asked questions.

With a moratorium on some Oregon tax breaks due to kick in next month, data centers are racing to beat the deadline. Hillsboro has fielded a flurry of 18 applications in recent months and has signed off on data center tax breaks that last 'til 2051.

"As a founding director of the Oregon Humane Society, David P. Thompson wanted to honor the wildlife that once roamed the city. The artist positioned the statue to face west, looking toward the west hills where herds of elk roamed before the city was developed." www.portland.gov/water/improv...

Why does the elk face away from traffic, and why did we not fix this when we had the chance?

The Oregonian is looking for an editor who wants to be right in the middle of everything. myjobs.adp.com/advancelocal... #journalismjobs

Finally saw one of those goofy new mail trucks in the wild! I don't usually get starstruck, but...

Project Hail Mary 2 must explain why Rocky speaks the same language as idling electric cars

Should Coca-Cola be commended for its deep-dive into Oregon symbology, or does it owe the state an redo? www.oregonlive.com/retail/2026/...

My fun fact for the day is that it's been 26 years since the WNBA expansion draft feautred multiple teams. 2006: Sky 2008: Dream 2025: Valkyries The 2000 expansion draft included 4 teams and one of them was also the Portland Fire.

The cellphone wars have receded in Oregon schools, but there's growing concern about another vector for screen time and distraction — on school-issued laptops. Julia Silverman reports: