April Ehrlich
@aprilehrlich.bsky.social
Environment reporter @opb.org in Portland, Oregon. Wildfires, forests, public lands, wildlife, pollution. She/her. aehrlich@opb.org Signal: aprilehrlich.10
Reposted by April Ehrlich
Officials in The Dalles issued a public statement criticizing an OPB investigation into data centers, Google and water. Here are the facts underpinning that story, and why OPB stands by this reporting.
The Dalles’ mayor called OPB’s data center story inaccurate. Here are the facts
Officials in The Dalles issued a public statement criticizing an OPB investigation into data centers, Google and water. Here are the facts underpinning that story, and why OPB stands by this reporting.
www.opb.org
January 23, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Officials in The Dalles issued a public statement criticizing an OPB investigation into data centers, Google and water. Here are the facts underpinning that story, and why OPB stands by this reporting.
The Dalles city officials issued a public statement criticizing my investigation into data centers, Google and water. My editors and I have poured over every sentence. Here are the facts underpinning that story, and why we stand by it.
www.opb.org/article/2026...
www.opb.org/article/2026...
The Dalles’ mayor called OPB’s data center story inaccurate. Here are the facts
Officials in The Dalles issued a public statement criticizing an OPB investigation into data centers, Google and water. Here are the facts underpinning that story, and why OPB stands by this reporting...
www.opb.org
January 23, 2026 at 11:03 PM
The Dalles city officials issued a public statement criticizing my investigation into data centers, Google and water. My editors and I have poured over every sentence. Here are the facts underpinning that story, and why we stand by it.
www.opb.org/article/2026...
www.opb.org/article/2026...
Reposted by April Ehrlich
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO POWER STRIPS
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO POWER STRIPS
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO ANYTHING BUT A GROUNDED, WALL SOCKET
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO POWER STRIPS
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO ANYTHING BUT A GROUNDED, WALL SOCKET
January 22, 2026 at 7:45 PM
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO POWER STRIPS
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO POWER STRIPS
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO ANYTHING BUT A GROUNDED, WALL SOCKET
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO POWER STRIPS
DO NOT PLUG SPACE HEATERS INTO ANYTHING BUT A GROUNDED, WALL SOCKET
Reposted by April Ehrlich
So the Trump Administration is refusing to promise not to look at materials seized from a WaPo reporter even though that seizure is being challenged in court and may have been illegal
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
January 21, 2026 at 5:34 PM
So the Trump Administration is refusing to promise not to look at materials seized from a WaPo reporter even though that seizure is being challenged in court and may have been illegal
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Can you imagine just waking up and looking like this? With no effort whatsoever? He doesn’t even shower.
January 19, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Can you imagine just waking up and looking like this? With no effort whatsoever? He doesn’t even shower.
“The company plans to build new data centers using a closed-loop water system that recycles the water… Microsoft also pledged not to accept tax incentives or subsidies from local communities, and made other commitments around workforce training.”
Under the plan, Microsoft says it will ask local utilities to charge rates high enough to cover data center energy usage and upgrade electrical infrastructure without raising prices for residents.
A small town in Central Washington is Microsoft’s answer to the data center backlash
Quincy is a small farming town in Central Washington near the Columbia River, home to one of the world’s top french fry producers. It’s also the model for Microsoft’s nationwide data center strategy.
www.opb.org
January 17, 2026 at 6:03 PM
“The company plans to build new data centers using a closed-loop water system that recycles the water… Microsoft also pledged not to accept tax incentives or subsidies from local communities, and made other commitments around workforce training.”
The Dalles wants to pull more water out of the Mt Hood forest. It says it’s for a growing population, but the city hasn’t grown much in recent years. What has: Google’s footprint.
The tech giant uses a third of the city’s water.
www.opb.org/article/2026...
The tech giant uses a third of the city’s water.
www.opb.org/article/2026...
As Google’s water demands grow, The Dalles aims to pull more from Mount Hood forest
The Dalles, a rural city in north-central Oregon, wants to expand its reservoir in the Mount Hood National Forest so it can store more water. While city officials say the water is needed for a growing...
www.opb.org
January 15, 2026 at 4:37 PM
The Dalles wants to pull more water out of the Mt Hood forest. It says it’s for a growing population, but the city hasn’t grown much in recent years. What has: Google’s footprint.
The tech giant uses a third of the city’s water.
www.opb.org/article/2026...
The tech giant uses a third of the city’s water.
www.opb.org/article/2026...
Reposted by April Ehrlich
Not something anyone I've talked to was expecting. Former state Sen. Tim Knopp, who led the longest legislative walkout in Oregon history, now works for Gov. Tina Kotek. #orleg #orpol
www.opb.org/article/2026...
www.opb.org/article/2026...
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek taps Republican rival to boost business relations
Tim Knopp, a former state senator from Bend, will join Kotek’s administration.
www.opb.org
January 14, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Not something anyone I've talked to was expecting. Former state Sen. Tim Knopp, who led the longest legislative walkout in Oregon history, now works for Gov. Tina Kotek. #orleg #orpol
www.opb.org/article/2026...
www.opb.org/article/2026...
Reposted by April Ehrlich
As the climate data for 2025 continues to be released, it's time to update various data visualisations.
First - the global climate stripes for 1850-2025. A third darkest red stripe is added.
The last 11 years have been the warmest 11 years on record. A sequence that is unlikely to be broken soon.
First - the global climate stripes for 1850-2025. A third darkest red stripe is added.
The last 11 years have been the warmest 11 years on record. A sequence that is unlikely to be broken soon.
January 14, 2026 at 11:02 AM
As the climate data for 2025 continues to be released, it's time to update various data visualisations.
First - the global climate stripes for 1850-2025. A third darkest red stripe is added.
The last 11 years have been the warmest 11 years on record. A sequence that is unlikely to be broken soon.
First - the global climate stripes for 1850-2025. A third darkest red stripe is added.
The last 11 years have been the warmest 11 years on record. A sequence that is unlikely to be broken soon.
Reposted by April Ehrlich
@aprilehrlich.bsky.social shares for our “what our audience doesn’t know” series.
"Many of these managers make 6 figures, a salary that many of us may never reach, and OPB is paying for a negotiator. The more they prolong this process, the more money it costs." -April Ehrlich, OPB Reporter/Producer
"Many of these managers make 6 figures, a salary that many of us may never reach, and OPB is paying for a negotiator. The more they prolong this process, the more money it costs." -April Ehrlich, OPB Reporter/Producer
January 13, 2026 at 8:14 PM
@aprilehrlich.bsky.social shares for our “what our audience doesn’t know” series.
"Many of these managers make 6 figures, a salary that many of us may never reach, and OPB is paying for a negotiator. The more they prolong this process, the more money it costs." -April Ehrlich, OPB Reporter/Producer
"Many of these managers make 6 figures, a salary that many of us may never reach, and OPB is paying for a negotiator. The more they prolong this process, the more money it costs." -April Ehrlich, OPB Reporter/Producer
Oregon DEQ appears to have known that a cyber attack leaked Oregonians’ personal information since June. The agency didn’t notify most people affected by it until six months later. It also didn’t disclose the leak to the public, not until I started asking about it. www.opb.org/article/2026...
Oregon DEQ data breach leaked thousands of people’s information, but the agency hasn’t told the public
About 4,800 members of the public had their personal information exposed after a cyberattack on the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s servers — but nine months after that, the agency has ye...
www.opb.org
January 12, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Oregon DEQ appears to have known that a cyber attack leaked Oregonians’ personal information since June. The agency didn’t notify most people affected by it until six months later. It also didn’t disclose the leak to the public, not until I started asking about it. www.opb.org/article/2026...
Reposted by April Ehrlich
"During the evening, as some children ran down 146th Ave playing with sticks, a woman stepped out of her apartment and told them not to speak to each other in Spanish, and not to open the door if anyone came to their apartment."
This story has been updated throughout the day/eve (and will continue to be!). Follow for updates on the feds' shooting of of two Portlanders this afternoon -- and related protests and lawmakers response.
Mayor Keith Wilson calls on ICE ‘to halt all operations in Portland’ after federal law enforcement shooting
Two people were shot Thursday by federal officers in East Portland, according to the Portland Police Bureau. The two people who were shot have been transported to local hospitals. Their condition was ...
www.opb.org
January 9, 2026 at 4:39 AM
"During the evening, as some children ran down 146th Ave playing with sticks, a woman stepped out of her apartment and told them not to speak to each other in Spanish, and not to open the door if anyone came to their apartment."
Reposted by April Ehrlich
An Oregon lawmaker is warning of ICE agents posing as utility workers. NW Natural and Portland General Electric have published guidance in several languages on how to tell if a person is actually one of their employees.
ICE posing as utility workers to detain immigrants, Gresham lawmaker warns
Oregon state Rep. Ricki Ruiz said three people were detained in his district after ICE agents posed as utility workers.
www.opb.org
January 8, 2026 at 6:30 PM
An Oregon lawmaker is warning of ICE agents posing as utility workers. NW Natural and Portland General Electric have published guidance in several languages on how to tell if a person is actually one of their employees.
Reposted by April Ehrlich
BREAKING NEWS: We are opening a formal investigation into the shooting involving federal agents in Portland today.
Our office will take every step necessary to ensure the rights and security of Oregonians are protected. #orpol #breakingnews
Our office will take every step necessary to ensure the rights and security of Oregonians are protected. #orpol #breakingnews
January 9, 2026 at 4:06 AM
BREAKING NEWS: We are opening a formal investigation into the shooting involving federal agents in Portland today.
Our office will take every step necessary to ensure the rights and security of Oregonians are protected. #orpol #breakingnews
Our office will take every step necessary to ensure the rights and security of Oregonians are protected. #orpol #breakingnews
Federal agents have shot two people in Portland, just a day after ICE shot and killed a woman in Minnesota. Follow @alexzee.bsky.social for updates. www.opb.org/article/2026...
Federal agents shoot 2 people in East Portland
Two people were shot Thursday by federal officers operating in East Portland, according to the Portland Police Bureau. The victims were transported to a local hospital. It was not immediately clear th...
www.opb.org
January 9, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Federal agents have shot two people in Portland, just a day after ICE shot and killed a woman in Minnesota. Follow @alexzee.bsky.social for updates. www.opb.org/article/2026...
The plan: Spam journalists' inboxes
December 18, 2025 at 6:18 PM
The plan: Spam journalists' inboxes
Reposted by April Ehrlich
@rcfp.org is supporting journalist @aprilehrlich.bsky.social’s 1A lawsuit against the city of Medford, Oregon, which stems from her unlawful arrest while reporting on police activity at a public park.
RCFP to 9th Circuit: Journalist’s unlawful arrest at public park violated First Amendment
RCFP is supporting journalist April Fonseca’s lawsuit against the city of Medford, Oregon.
www.rcfp.org
December 3, 2025 at 5:53 PM
@rcfp.org is supporting journalist @aprilehrlich.bsky.social’s 1A lawsuit against the city of Medford, Oregon, which stems from her unlawful arrest while reporting on police activity at a public park.
Reposted by April Ehrlich
Capitol Chronicle is a great resource that helps supplement politics coverage for many newsrooms across our region. It's worth supporting!
Thanks to all of you fantastic readers, we're about 5% of the way to our end-of-year fundraising goal after launching this campaign a few hours ago! Help the Capital Chronicle keep covering Oregon: oregoncapitalchronicle.com/donate/
November 17, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Capitol Chronicle is a great resource that helps supplement politics coverage for many newsrooms across our region. It's worth supporting!
Reposted by April Ehrlich
Was thrilled to help consult for this fantastic John Oliver segment on the tragic plight of U.S. public media and why, if we hope to be a democracy, we still need public media for so many things that commercial media will never provide. Deserves a wide viewership. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yknM...
Public Media: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Was thrilled to help consult for this fantastic John Oliver segment on the tragic plight of U.S. public media and why, if we hope to be a democracy, we still need public media for so many things that commercial media will never provide. Deserves a wide viewership. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yknM...
Reposted by April Ehrlich
NEW: We reviewed 700+ videos, hours of footage from ICE protesters and counterprotesters in Portland.
In 2 months before Trump said he was sending the National Guard, federal officers fire on, grab, pepper-spray or tear gas people 20 times -- without charging anyone. "Gratuitous," one expert said.
In 2 months before Trump said he was sending the National Guard, federal officers fire on, grab, pepper-spray or tear gas people 20 times -- without charging anyone. "Gratuitous," one expert said.
What Really Happened in Portland Before Trump Deployed the National Guard
In the two months before Trump’s decision, criminal charges were announced against only three people. On nights when physical conflict did erupt, it often came from police firing on, shoving, pepper-s...
www.propublica.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:29 PM
NEW: We reviewed 700+ videos, hours of footage from ICE protesters and counterprotesters in Portland.
In 2 months before Trump said he was sending the National Guard, federal officers fire on, grab, pepper-spray or tear gas people 20 times -- without charging anyone. "Gratuitous," one expert said.
In 2 months before Trump said he was sending the National Guard, federal officers fire on, grab, pepper-spray or tear gas people 20 times -- without charging anyone. "Gratuitous," one expert said.
Hear me out: Pez dispenser for tums.
November 3, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Hear me out: Pez dispenser for tums.
Reposted by April Ehrlich
A real rollercoaster of a story here:
A top Portland political aide took in a homeless woman. He abandoned her at a state park days later
"If I could do it over, I would do it differently.”
www.oregonlive.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:37 PM
A real rollercoaster of a story here:
Reposted by April Ehrlich
Crosscut is dead. Long live Crosscut. Today’s the official last day for me and my Cascade PBS newsroom colleagues. We did good work over the decades and it is supremely sad to see it shut down.
October 31, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Crosscut is dead. Long live Crosscut. Today’s the official last day for me and my Cascade PBS newsroom colleagues. We did good work over the decades and it is supremely sad to see it shut down.
The Forest Service has spent years on amending the Northwest Forest Plan, logging policies that came out of the timber wars. The agency under the Trump admin wants to restart that work and draft a new proposal. www.opb.org/article/2025...
Forest Service restarts effort to change decades-old Pacific Northwest forest policy
The Northwest Forest Plan has long protected vulnerable species like spotted owls in federal forests along the West Coast.
www.opb.org
October 31, 2025 at 12:11 AM
The Forest Service has spent years on amending the Northwest Forest Plan, logging policies that came out of the timber wars. The agency under the Trump admin wants to restart that work and draft a new proposal. www.opb.org/article/2025...
Reposted by April Ehrlich
Immigration officers have hit the city of Hillsboro hard in the past two weeks. To help students and parents feel safer, staff at an elementary school and nearby middle school, along with representatives from the local teachers’ union, have responded by standing watch in the neighborhood.
‘This community is not the enemy’: Hillsboro teachers form neighborhood ICE watch
ICE arrested a parent near Eastwood Elementary School last Monday. Teachers and parents have been patrolling the neighborhood every morning since.
www.opb.org
October 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Immigration officers have hit the city of Hillsboro hard in the past two weeks. To help students and parents feel safer, staff at an elementary school and nearby middle school, along with representatives from the local teachers’ union, have responded by standing watch in the neighborhood.