Elliot Njus
@elliotnj.us
Director of content @oregonian.com. The J is silent.
📍Portland, Oregon
🌐 Find me everywhere at elliotnj.us
📍Portland, Oregon
🌐 Find me everywhere at elliotnj.us
Dozens of bills are dead in the Oregon Legislature today after a key deadline. From self-driving taxis to restrictions on needle distribution, here's what didn't make the cut.
@carlosfuentes.bsky.social reports:
@carlosfuentes.bsky.social reports:
Self-driving cars, limits on needle handouts: These are among the dozens of bills that are dead in Oregon’s short session
The pile of discarded bills began to grow in the past week as two key deadlines came and went.
www.oregonlive.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Dozens of bills are dead in the Oregon Legislature today after a key deadline. From self-driving taxis to restrictions on needle distribution, here's what didn't make the cut.
@carlosfuentes.bsky.social reports:
@carlosfuentes.bsky.social reports:
Reposted by Elliot Njus
Sad to see my final story written during my time at The Oregonian running today. I had gotten to know her while reporting a project and remember nervously pitching her on the idea of writing her obituary. "It would be a blessing," she told me. RIP, Avel Gordly.
“I know that my presence made a difference,” she said of her time in office. “I know that my voice made a difference.”
Avel Gordly, Oregon’s first Black woman state senator, dies at 79
“I know that my presence made a difference,” she said of her time in office. “I know that my voice made a difference.”
www.oregonlive.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Sad to see my final story written during my time at The Oregonian running today. I had gotten to know her while reporting a project and remember nervously pitching her on the idea of writing her obituary. "It would be a blessing," she told me. RIP, Avel Gordly.
The last two Chinese restaurants in Portland's historic Chinatown are barely holding on. Owners say the neighborhood is coming back — but customers haven't.
@editorswindler.bsky.social reports:
@editorswindler.bsky.social reports:
The last two Chinese restaurants in Portland’s Chinatown hold on — and hope for a comeback
Golden Horse Seafood and the Republic Cafe are the last of the longtime eateries serving a neighborhood that was home to generations of Portland’s Chinese and Japanese residents.
www.oregonlive.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:52 PM
The last two Chinese restaurants in Portland's historic Chinatown are barely holding on. Owners say the neighborhood is coming back — but customers haven't.
@editorswindler.bsky.social reports:
@editorswindler.bsky.social reports:
Portland police criticized feds’ tear gas tactics at ICE protests as "Excessive and disproportionate"
@maxbernstein.bsky.social reports:
@maxbernstein.bsky.social reports:
‘Excessive and disproportionate’: Police criticize feds’ tear gas tactics at Portland ICE protests
Lawyers for the city and state are seeking friend-of-the-court status in the suit filed by protesters and freelance journalists against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
www.oregonlive.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Portland police criticized feds’ tear gas tactics at ICE protests as "Excessive and disproportionate"
@maxbernstein.bsky.social reports:
@maxbernstein.bsky.social reports:
Portland General Electric is expanding its territory, taking over Pacific Power’s service and assets in a swath of Washington state
PGE will expand to Washington state, acquiring swath of PacifiCorp territory
PacifiCorp will get an infusion of cash as it grapples with growing wildfire liabilities.
www.oregonlive.com
February 17, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Portland General Electric is expanding its territory, taking over Pacific Power’s service and assets in a swath of Washington state
Portland aimed to integrate students with special needs into general education classrooms at their neighborhood schools, but the bumpy rollout has been paused.
Education, interrupted: A Portland school grapples with blending high-needs students and mainstream classrooms
Portland Public Schools’ four-year-old effort to include students with profound medical or behavioral needs in general education classrooms carries promise and challenges.
www.oregonlive.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Portland aimed to integrate students with special needs into general education classrooms at their neighborhood schools, but the bumpy rollout has been paused.
Reposted by Elliot Njus
The government is pouring billions into leading-edge chip factories. But without advanced R&D in the U.S., too, those plants would rely entirely on overseas tech — “stuck in time” in case of a disaster in Asia.
Intel’s Oregon researchers could be the solution, if they can deliver.
Intel’s Oregon researchers could be the solution, if they can deliver.
The U.S. needs leading-edge chip research. Can Intel deliver? Will it even try?
The nation's semiconductor factories would be "stuck in time" without the research work Intel does in Oregon.
www.oregonlive.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:33 PM
The government is pouring billions into leading-edge chip factories. But without advanced R&D in the U.S., too, those plants would rely entirely on overseas tech — “stuck in time” in case of a disaster in Asia.
Intel’s Oregon researchers could be the solution, if they can deliver.
Intel’s Oregon researchers could be the solution, if they can deliver.
Oregon's snowpack is the lowest on record. It might get worse, @lizzyacker.bsky.social reports, this year and in years to come.
‘We’re in uncharted territory’: 5 dire warnings from scientists about what Oregon’s snow drought could mean for the state’s future
Climate scientists say conditions could be a preview of the new normal as the Pacific Northwest enters uncharted territory with critically low snowpack across the region.
www.oregonlive.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Oregon's snowpack is the lowest on record. It might get worse, @lizzyacker.bsky.social reports, this year and in years to come.
“Who’s this rando in my feed?” (clicks) “Oh right, Group Project Gregory from freshman year.”
The algorithm: “This guy’s obsessed!” (weeks of notifications about Group Project Gregory)
The algorithm: “This guy’s obsessed!” (weeks of notifications about Group Project Gregory)
February 8, 2026 at 10:01 PM
“Who’s this rando in my feed?” (clicks) “Oh right, Group Project Gregory from freshman year.”
The algorithm: “This guy’s obsessed!” (weeks of notifications about Group Project Gregory)
The algorithm: “This guy’s obsessed!” (weeks of notifications about Group Project Gregory)
The Trump administration has dropped its appeal of a ruling that barred the deployment of the National Guard in Portland, @maxbernstein.bsky.social reports:
Trump drops appeal of Oregon ruling barring National Guard deployment
Lawyers for Oregon, California and Portland ask appeals court to remand case to federal district judge for "monitoring and enforcement."
www.oregonlive.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:21 AM
The Trump administration has dropped its appeal of a ruling that barred the deployment of the National Guard in Portland, @maxbernstein.bsky.social reports:
Portland has been under a declared housing state of emergency for 10 years and counting.
Portland officials have uncovered $106 million in unspent housing funds that they are shifting into the budgetary process for city lawmakers to consider, the city administrator made in an extraordinary disclosure Friday.
Portland’s pile of unspent housing dollars surges to $106M, city administrator says
Portland officials have uncovered $106 million in unspent housing funds that they are shifting into the budgetary process for city lawmakers to consider, the city administrator made in an extraordinary disclosure Friday.
www.oregonlive.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:12 AM
Portland has been under a declared housing state of emergency for 10 years and counting.
Waymo coming soon to Oregon?
Self-driving Waymo cars could soon hit Portland’s streets under proposed Oregon bill
Waymo has recently ramped up its expansion efforts both in Oregon and other states.
www.oregonlive.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Waymo coming soon to Oregon?
OpenAI says it's committed to local news, evidenced by expanding its investment in Axios Local. At the time the partnership was announced, Axios said it had hired 100 local reporters to cover 34 markets — 2.9 reporters per city*.
*Including some in Portland I respect very much
*Including some in Portland I respect very much
ChatGPT is asked about local news 1 million times per week www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/chat...
ChatGPT is asked about local news 1 million times per week, OpenAI says
ChatGPT is fielding 1 million prompts about local news every week, OpenAI said in a blog post that also announced the AI company wants to take "a different path" on local news than other tech…
www.niemanlab.org
February 4, 2026 at 8:08 PM
OpenAI says it's committed to local news, evidenced by expanding its investment in Axios Local. At the time the partnership was announced, Axios said it had hired 100 local reporters to cover 34 markets — 2.9 reporters per city*.
*Including some in Portland I respect very much
*Including some in Portland I respect very much
Nike says its factory workers make nearly double the minimum wage. In Indonesia, workers say, "It’s not true."
@matthewkish.bsky.social reports
@matthewkish.bsky.social reports
Nike says its factory workers make nearly double the minimum wage. In Indonesia, workers say, ‘It’s not true’
The Oregonian/OregonLive spoke with roughly 100 workers in Nike’s second-largest production hub. None said they made anywhere near twice the minimum wage.
www.oregonlive.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Nike says its factory workers make nearly double the minimum wage. In Indonesia, workers say, "It’s not true."
@matthewkish.bsky.social reports
@matthewkish.bsky.social reports
Powell's Books laid off more workers this week in what it called the "final" round of cuts in a yearlong organizational shakeup. Veronica Nocera reports:
Powell’s Books lays off more workers in what it calls ‘final’ round of cuts
The Portland bookseller cut about one-fifth of its staff over the past year.
www.oregonlive.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Powell's Books laid off more workers this week in what it called the "final" round of cuts in a yearlong organizational shakeup. Veronica Nocera reports:
Reposted by Elliot Njus
I’m doing an AMA over on r/Ducks this Thursday at 10 AM.
Submit questions here:
Submit questions here:
From the ducks community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the ducks community
www.reddit.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:33 PM
I’m doing an AMA over on r/Ducks this Thursday at 10 AM.
Submit questions here:
Submit questions here:
Reposted by Elliot Njus
Black History Month 2026 brings concerts, films, exhibitions and community events across Portland and Oregon highlighting Black history, culture and legacy. See what’s happening this February here: www.oregonlive.com/living/2026/...
Black History Month 2026: Portland events celebrate Oregon’s Black legacy
From Albina's musical heritage to York's expedition story, February features concerts, films and exhibitions honoring Black contributions across the state.
www.oregonlive.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Black History Month 2026 brings concerts, films, exhibitions and community events across Portland and Oregon highlighting Black history, culture and legacy. See what’s happening this February here: www.oregonlive.com/living/2026/...
Reposted by Elliot Njus
We’re doing a survey of people who have stayed in homeless shelters. No paywall. Please send to anyone you think has something to say! Or like/re-post to increase the likelihood the right people will see it. THANKS
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
What is it like to stay in a Portland-area homeless shelter? We want to hear from you
The Oregonian/OregonLive wants to hear directly from people who have used homeless services what works and what doesn't.
www.oregonlive.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:58 PM
We’re doing a survey of people who have stayed in homeless shelters. No paywall. Please send to anyone you think has something to say! Or like/re-post to increase the likelihood the right people will see it. THANKS
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Elliot Njus
With opening delayed to 2027, James Beard Public Market carries weight of Portland’s civic hopes
w/ Michael Russell
www.oregonlive.com/dining/2026/...
w/ Michael Russell
www.oregonlive.com/dining/2026/...
James Beard Public Market delays Portland opening
The James Beard Public Market is betting on a down-and-out urban corridor. Project leaders are delaying opening but say they’re dreaming bigger.
www.oregonlive.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:47 AM
With opening delayed to 2027, James Beard Public Market carries weight of Portland’s civic hopes
w/ Michael Russell
www.oregonlive.com/dining/2026/...
w/ Michael Russell
www.oregonlive.com/dining/2026/...
*Buying something cheap at the hardware store for a quick project*
How does this place even stay in business?
*Comes back twice in the same day, spends $200*
How does this place even stay in business?
*Comes back twice in the same day, spends $200*
January 11, 2026 at 11:05 PM
*Buying something cheap at the hardware store for a quick project*
How does this place even stay in business?
*Comes back twice in the same day, spends $200*
How does this place even stay in business?
*Comes back twice in the same day, spends $200*
Oregon had just begun to reap the benefits of leaps in energy efficiency and imagine a future where little or none of its electricity came from fossil fuels.
Then came data centers, and extreme weather.
Now the state faces a new energy crisis. @rogoway.bsky.social reports in the first of a series:
Then came data centers, and extreme weather.
Now the state faces a new energy crisis. @rogoway.bsky.social reports in the first of a series:
‘A 9-gigawatt problem’: Northwest’s soaring energy demand, supply constraints, could spark new power crisis
Data centers are straining electricity supplies even as Oregon tries to switch to renewable power. That’s put the grid’s reliability in doubt.
www.oregonlive.com
January 11, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Oregon had just begun to reap the benefits of leaps in energy efficiency and imagine a future where little or none of its electricity came from fossil fuels.
Then came data centers, and extreme weather.
Now the state faces a new energy crisis. @rogoway.bsky.social reports in the first of a series:
Then came data centers, and extreme weather.
Now the state faces a new energy crisis. @rogoway.bsky.social reports in the first of a series:
Is Oregon's population slump turning around?
Oregon tops nationwide list for inbound movers. Is population growth on the rebound?
Population growth is core to Oregon’s economic health. A new survey potentially aligns in the state’s favor.
www.oregonlive.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Is Oregon's population slump turning around?
What's that quiet?
Portland’s gas-powered leaf blower ban goes into effect
For the first two years, gas leaf blowers will be prohibited for nine months out of the year, with the year-round ban starting on Jan. 2028.
www.oregonlive.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:16 AM
What's that quiet?
This Christmas, consider making a contribution to one of 14 nonprofits featured in @oregonian.com's Season of Sharing campaign. Each organization is vetted by journalists, and their stories show exactly how they're making a difference for Oregonians.
Help in trying times: See how the 2025 Season of Sharing campaign is assisting Oregonians in need
The Oregonian/OregonLive’s annual fundraising campaign is making a different to seniors, at-risk youth and people experiencing homelessness.
www.oregonlive.com
December 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
This Christmas, consider making a contribution to one of 14 nonprofits featured in @oregonian.com's Season of Sharing campaign. Each organization is vetted by journalists, and their stories show exactly how they're making a difference for Oregonians.
Reposted by Elliot Njus
State Supreme Court orders immediate release of 3 Oregon prisoners freed then rearrested
Lawyers for the three who were released Christmas Eve praised the ruling.
Prosecutors blasted state officials’ actions that led up to it and called for a legislative fix.
@oregonian.com
bit.ly/4phOpel
Lawyers for the three who were released Christmas Eve praised the ruling.
Prosecutors blasted state officials’ actions that led up to it and called for a legislative fix.
@oregonian.com
bit.ly/4phOpel
State Supreme Court orders immediate release of 3 Oregon prisoners freed then rearrested
The ruling led to an unusual flurry of filings late on Christmas Eve when it appeared the state Department of Corrections intended to delay the trio’s release through the weekend.
www.oregonlive.com
December 25, 2025 at 7:33 PM
State Supreme Court orders immediate release of 3 Oregon prisoners freed then rearrested
Lawyers for the three who were released Christmas Eve praised the ruling.
Prosecutors blasted state officials’ actions that led up to it and called for a legislative fix.
@oregonian.com
bit.ly/4phOpel
Lawyers for the three who were released Christmas Eve praised the ruling.
Prosecutors blasted state officials’ actions that led up to it and called for a legislative fix.
@oregonian.com
bit.ly/4phOpel