Julia Shumway
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jmshumway.bsky.social
Julia Shumway
@jmshumway.bsky.social
3.9K followers 550 following 440 posts
Oregon Capital Chronicle editor, Oregon Capitol press corps president, SPJ Oregon treasurer, bookworm, cat mom, national park enthusiast.
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jmshumway.bsky.social
Applications to join the @spjoregon.bsky.social board are still open! Perks include feeling good about supporting journalism and defeating bad public records bills in Oregon and occasionally seeing my cat on zoom calls.

www.spjoregon.com/news/apply-f...
November 15, 2025 at 12:12 AM
jmshumway.bsky.social
I did a lot of this month’s stitching while waiting to edit late-breaking or weekend stories about the legal battle over troops in Portland, so I guess it’s fitting I finished the final spooky season piece tonight.
Halloween tabletop tree with orange and purple lights and five handmade ornaments — two cross-stitched snow globes with an owl dressed as a pumpkin and a koala dressed as a butterfly, plus three felt appliqué ornaments: a pumpkin, a bay and an acorn.
November 3, 2025 at 6:23 AM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Seven years ago I wrote what is still one of my favorite articles ever about a cat running for mayor to protest draconian city sign codes and now I drive over a mountain pass every fall to buy crazily inexpensive art at the massive art show his owners/campaign managers created. Love you, Bend.
Small art, including a mountain scene painted on a slice of tree, circular painted cacti under a moon, Crater Lake’s island, a black and white cat with its tongue out in the snow, a black dog in woods, a ghost holding a pumpkin, a mermaid tail and dried flowers in a shell.
October 20, 2025 at 12:17 AM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Don’t mind me, just spending a Sunday morning spiraling over the vet casually dropping the fact that my sweet baby kitten is now the equivalent of older than I am.
Physical and Mental Development Your cat is chronologically the equivalent of a 36-year-old person. Happily humming towards middle age, your cat's personality has been shaped not only by their feline genetics but also by their home, by early socialization, and by the life experiences you have given them up to this point in time. Each cat's personality is unique. Some felines are outgoing and confident with people and other pets while others are reserved and prefer quiet one-on-one "conversations." It is important to know your cat' s temperament so that you don't force interactions that may cause them to become anxious or rebel.
October 19, 2025 at 5:08 PM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Eugene sisters Joan Flanders and Jean Boggs have been protesting since the 1960s, when they marched for civil rights and women’s rights and against the Vietnam War. Boggs has a message for young people just starting to protest: “Don’t give up. You’re in it for the long haul.” #NoKings
Sisters holding signs that says “in solidarity we have power” and “my arms are tired from holding signs since the ‘60s.”
October 18, 2025 at 6:42 PM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Eugene crowd starting to mosey down the street while singing “together, together, we are in this together.”
October 18, 2025 at 6:23 PM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Ty Warren of Eugene said he came out to protest because the country needs a really visual display to indicate how upset people are with the direction Trump is taking the country. He scoffed at Republican depictions of No Kings Day as “hate America rallies.”
October 18, 2025 at 6:13 PM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Inflatable dinosaur riders who identified themselves as Jen, Beet and Dad say they came out to protest in Eugene because they don’t want what happened to the dinosaurs to happen to America.
People on inflatable dinosaurs
October 18, 2025 at 6:12 PM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Hundreds of people, some in inflatable dinosaur costumes, on the streets and sidewalk by the Wayne Morse federal courthouse in Eugene for #NoKings.
Backs and protest signs
October 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Thought I was getting a cute picture of Fred with some of my hand-stitched fall decor; actually captured the moment before he knocked it all over on me during an SPJ meeting.
Orange cat tipping a cross stitch picture off a shelf
October 16, 2025 at 2:59 AM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Mt Washington was out today as I day-tripped to Bend to celebrate the journalism career of the editor who first brought me to Oregon.
Mountain behind trees
October 10, 2025 at 1:43 AM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Thank goodness the influencer following the homeland security secretary around while she avoids actual Oregon reporters was there to ask important questions about a country artist.
Twitter post: BREAKING: Secretary Kristi Noem flames country singer Zach Bryan. I just asked Noem about the new Zach Bryan song attacking ICE. Noem went scorched-earth calling the woke singer “completely disrespectful” to the law enforcement that protect him. Secretary Noem: "I hope Zach Bryan understands how completely disrespectful that song is, not just to law enforcement but to this country, to every single individual that has ever stood up and fought for our freedoms. He just compromised it all by putting out a product such as that attacks individuals who are just trying to make our streets safe." "Zach, I didn't listen to your music. I'm happy about that today. Today, that makes me very happy that I never once gave you a single penny to enrich your lifestyle. I am going to go out and probably download some Jason Aldean, John Rich, Kid Rock, and Jon Pardi songs.” @Sec_Noem says she will be boycotting Zach Bryan.
October 7, 2025 at 11:37 PM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Eye-popping scope and amazing design here. Highlighting two examples from Oregon, where the Oregon Food Bank missed out on at least 1.4 million pounds of food.

projects.propublica.org/trump-food-c...
Truck showing 38,400 pounds of turkey breast kept from Oregon Food Bank Truck showing 270,000 eggs kept from Oregon Food Bank
October 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Last note before bedtime: Four years ago today, the @oregoncapitalchronicle.com officially launched and also Fred licked his own nose outside. You’ll hear more about the birthday this week, but your support is the thing that keeps OCC going (and that cat fed): oregoncapitalchronicle.com/donate/
Homepage of the Oregon Capital Chronicle on the day it launched Orange cat in a green harness on a wooden porch licking his nose
October 6, 2025 at 5:51 AM
jmshumway.bsky.social
It was a watercolor weekend in this beautiful state, the only things on fire are the leaves on some trees and it would be really cool if the news could chill so we could all enjoy Oregon’s best season.
Changing leaves above the Willamette River in Salem.
October 6, 2025 at 4:38 AM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Gov. Tina Kotek on news of Texas National Guard: "This is a continuation and escalation of the President’s dangerous, un-American misuse of states’ National Guard members and hard-earned taxpayer dollars."
Governor Kotek Statement on the Mobilization of Texas National Guard to Oregon Salem, OR – Today, Governor Tina Kotek released the following statement after the Oregon National Guard was informed that the Texas National Guard is preparing a deployment to Oregon: “I have been notified that the Department of War has ordered the Texas Adjutant General to deploy 400 Texas National Guard members to ‘Illinois, Oregon, and other locations throughout the United States.’ “I have received no direct explanation from President Trump or Secretary Hegseth about the specific need for this action. It is unclear how many will go to what location and what mission they will carry out. “This is a continuation and escalation of the President’s dangerous, un-American misuse of states’ National Guard members and hard-earned taxpayer dollars. “I join Illinois Governor JB Pritzker in his call on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate. “I will continue to keep the public apprised. As Governor, I will continue to fight to uphold the rule of law and the right to govern ourselves.”
October 6, 2025 at 2:27 AM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Astonishingly partisan non-response to emailed questions about California National Guard troops landing in Oregon despite a judge telling the administration it couldn’t federalize Oregon troops.
Due to staff shortages resulting from the Democrat Shutdown, the typical 24/7 monitoring of this press inbox may experience delays. We ask for your patience as our staff work to field your requests in a timely manner. As you await a response, please remember this could have been avoided if the Democrats voted for the clean Continuing Resolution to keep the government open. The press office also cannot accommodate waves requests or escorts at this time. Thank you for your attention to this matter. -The White House Press Team
October 5, 2025 at 9:20 PM
jmshumway.bsky.social
nbd, just our @alexbaumhardt.bsky.social at the top of a (quite grim) set of Apple News top stories @oregoncapitalchronicle.com
October 5, 2025 at 12:20 AM
jmshumway.bsky.social
what if the mysterious new Taylor Swift countdown is for the judge’s ruling in the Portland troops case?

(It’s probably another vinyl variant)
October 4, 2025 at 10:53 PM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Cat’s at a rave / the first four Showgirl tracks are bangers / tomorrow is a work day.
Cat holds a flashing glow stick
October 3, 2025 at 4:24 AM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Every day, I link to at least two recent articles from other Oregon news outlets in our morning newsletter. Lately, it's been so dispiriting to see many local news sites' sidebars full of Capital Chronicle stories and little else, in a marked difference to last year.
List of recent headlines, all of which first appeared in the Oregon Capital Chronicle
September 25, 2025 at 12:48 AM
jmshumway.bsky.social
This section from Dick Hughes' latest column — one of the things I appreciate so much about Oregon compared to other western states is the lack of massive highways and unending sprawl. Thank goodness the ODOT engineer Dick talked to in the '70s was wrong.

oregoncapitalinsider.com/2025/09/18/c...
My wife and I moved to West Salem from McMinnville in 1981. The main thoroughfare into Salem, Wallace Road/Highway 221, was a delightful, oak-lined two-lane road but increasingly congested. ODOT engineers privately told me that projected traffic volumes called for an eventual 10-lane highway, which would never happen. Instead, trees were removed, and Wallace Road was widened to a four-lane road with a center turn lane. Traffic still backs up.
September 19, 2025 at 8:12 PM
jmshumway.bsky.social
And new GOP leader Bruce Starr — one of the Republicans who worked the most on transportation funding last session — leaves no doubt that no Senate Republicans will bail out the plan.
Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) issued the following statement: “First and foremost, we continue to keep Senator Gorsek in our prayers. We wish him strength, healing, and a full recovery. But let’s be clear: this situation was avoidable. Governor Kotek could have worked with Republicans from the beginning to craft a transportation package with true bipartisan support—one that redirected existing funding to road maintenance and operations, protected ODOT jobs, and eliminated the cost drivers that have made transportation more expensive under her leadership. Instead, she ignored the voices of thousands of Oregonians who oppose her $4.3 billion tax hike and pushed forward a partisan plan destined to pass only on a slim, party-line margin. Senate Republicans offered a serious alternative that would have saved jobs and avoided raising taxes on already overburdened families, but Democrats dismissed it without consideration. Now, we find ourselves stuck in a never-ending special session because the Governor refused to build consensus and insisted on ramming through a tax hike that working Oregonians are pleading for us to stop. Whenever this vote takes place, our caucus remains united in rejecting this tax hike, leaving no doubt about who is advocating for Oregon families—and who is not.”
September 17, 2025 at 3:34 AM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Senate president confirms no Senate vote on Oregon’s long-delayed transportation package tomorrow because it’s “medically unsafe and unwise” for Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Gresham to leave the hospital and no Republicans will vote for the measure. #orleg
SALEM, Ore. – Following the most recent of ongoing conversations with Sen. Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham) and his medical team, the Senate will postpone consideration of critical stop-gap transportation investments until interim legislative days, Sept. 29 - Oct. 1. The Senate floor session scheduled for Sept. 17 will be pro forma. Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) received a letter from Sen. Gorsek's medical team Monday night which read, in part, that it would be "medically unsafe and unwise for Sen. Gorsek to leave the hospital at this time." On Tuesday, President Wagner visited with Sen. Gorsek to check on him and pass along the well wishes of his fellow senators. Sen. Gorsek is recovering from a scheduled back surgery which resulted in an unforeseeable complication. "The stop-gap transportation bill before the Senate is important for all Oregonians who rely on our roads and the maintenance workers whose jobs are at risk. At the same time, we are not going to do anything that would put the health of our colleague at risk," President Wagner said. "The Senate will provide Sen. Gorsek with the time he needs to regain his health and be present for the vote on transportation policy he was instrumental in creating."
September 17, 2025 at 3:25 AM
jmshumway.bsky.social
Lots of logistical questions about how someone managed to chalk “Be kind 🧡” right in this particular spot on the millrace wall, but the message was worth reading.
Chalk on a concrete wall above water says “be kind”
September 16, 2025 at 12:28 AM