AGP Executive Report

Labor & Public Services: Portland General Electric system operators in Tualatin are warning of a possible strike as contract talks drag on, with the union saying a work stoppage could trigger widespread outages as soon as Aug. 2. Postal & Politics: Oregon postal workers are joining a national July 28 day of action urging Congress to invest in USPS and push back on slower delivery and privatization efforts. Tech & Security: AWS is previewing an “Amazon GuardDuty investigation agent” aimed at cutting security investigation work from hours to minutes by synthesizing threat telemetry and logs. AI & Business Growth: e.Republic says it’s expanding second-quarter offerings and leadership communities as government and education leaders race to address AI and cybersecurity priorities. Oregon Economy & Jobs: A new survey finds 54% of job seekers expect a difficult search in the next six months, with pay, fit, and competition driving anxiety. Local Community: Les Schwab is adding a “Fields to Fairs” experience at the Deschutes County Fair, including a Blue Ribbon Club for 4-H and FFA exhibitors. Education Policy (National): California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom is reversing course on paid pregnancy leave for teachers, a move tied to the state budget education bill.

Undersea Cable Fees: Oregon plans to triple application fees and add a price-per-foot for coastal undersea cable installations, aiming to raise about $1 million per new cable while keeping the state attractive to data-heavy tech projects. Wildfire & Public Safety: A state of emergency was declared on the Warm Springs Reservation as the Beachcomb and Bench fires merged and surged past 40,000 acres with evacuations and “go now” orders in place. Labor & Workplace Safety: Oregon OSHA reminded employers to protect workers from heat illness and wildfire smoke, and it’s accepting grant applications for safety and health training projects through Oct. 9. Energy & Environment: A multistate coalition, led by Washington’s AG Nick Brown, urged the federal regulator FERC to reject a rule that would fast-track more natural gas pipeline projects, warning of higher bills and more pollution. Local Economy & Growth: Redmond received a $1.25 million federal grant to expand its sustainable wastewater treatment system. Portland Business/Infrastructure: Portland’s commercial permitting list showed major school and facility upgrades, including a large Jackson Middle School track redevelopment and other seismic and site-work projects. Sports & Local Spotlight: Oregon’s initiative process took a hit as IP 28 failed to qualify for the November ballot, while Portland-area media and community groups continued to rack up awards and attention.

Oregon Energy & Rates: The Oregon Public Utility Commission is taking public comment on Pacific Power’s proposed rate increase that would collect about $170 million more from customers statewide, with a virtual hearing Monday at 6 p.m. AI Data Centers & Backlash: A new wave of opposition to AI data centers is growing over environmental impacts, while Intel is also preparing more data-center-related layoffs—another reminder that the boom isn’t evenly shared. Local Tech Surveillance Fight: Communities are pushing back on Flock Safety’s license-plate camera networks, raising privacy and data-use concerns as the system expands nationwide. Oregon Ballot Update: A controversial Oregon initiative that would have tightened animal abuse rules—including hunting and fishing—failed to qualify for the November ballot after signature review. Housing & Cost Pressures: A MoneyLion analysis finds Gen Z is often squeezed harder than millennials on income versus living costs, with big state-by-state gaps. Business/Community: Verizon retailer Round Room LLC is distributing free backpacks to Oregon families through its School Rocks giveaway, aiming to offset rising back-to-school costs. Federal Watch: The U.S. Senate is set to begin voting on Trump’s DNI nominee Jay Clayton as confirmation moves quickly.

Amazon & Eugene Logistics: Work has started on Amazon’s Eugene distribution center even as three residents challenge the state’s wetland permit approval, arguing Oregon Department of State Lands didn’t properly meet “public need” and “public health and safety” requirements for a removal-fill permit. Oregon DOJ & Data Center Deal: The Oregon Department of Justice filed an amended civil complaint alleging Morrow County officials conspired to sell Windwave Technologies to themselves for far less than its value tied to Amazon business, with claims of improper board actions and misstatements to watchdogs. Utilities & Local Budgets: Oakridge residents are seeing a quiet $17 monthly “ambulance service utility fee” tied to a $500,000 budget shortfall, raising questions about whether such charges should require a vote. Wildlife & Enforcement: Washington fish and wildlife officers charged an Oregon man with unlawfully targeting protected sixgill and sevengill sharks after complaints and online posts. Business Expansion: Pacific Seafood says it has acquired Ocean Beauty Seafoods’ distribution operations, aiming to meet growing demand and expand capacity. Policy Watch: Oregon’s endangered-species habitat conservation plans face uncertainty as federal changes to the Endangered Species Act could make them obsolete, even as state agencies keep moving forward. Energy & Safety Standards: The NRC is proposing to drop the ALARA radiation-safety principle, a shift that could affect how Oregon and other facilities manage radioactive exposure.

Wildfire Response: A lightning-caused wildfire north of Sisters, Ore., threatened to spread with gusts up to 30 mph; officials said the city should be safe once winds ease, while a fourth firefighter died after being overwhelmed by a Colorado-Utah border blaze. Portland Sports & Public Money: Portland city councilors held a town hall on the Moda Center renovation, with residents pressing over costs, jobs, and how much public funding should be committed. Clean Energy Funding Fight: The Trump administration acknowledged in court filings it canceled $7.6 billion in clean-energy grants based on the political identity of recipient states, escalating pressure from Democrats and environmental groups. Oregon Ballot Update: Oregon’s Secretary of State said a proposed initiative to ban hunting, fishing, livestock farming and animal research won’t appear on the November ballot after failing to meet signature requirements. Business & Community: Vital Farms awarded $127,196 in grants for food access and ag education, while Salem-area journalists at Hagadone Communications earned regional honors for community journalism. Local Economy Watch: Trader Joe’s and a new McDonald’s are moving forward in Spokane Valley, and Dutch Bros is planning another Division Street location in Spokane.

Energy & Climate Policy: The Trump administration acknowledged in court filings that it canceled $7.6 billion in clean-energy grants “based solely on the political identity” of the recipient states, reigniting fights over whether the cuts were punishment for blue states. Wildfire & Health: Oregon’s air quality advisory was extended through today as wildfire smoke blanketed eastern and central counties, with DEQ warning about health risks from fine particles. Local Government & Infrastructure: Salem is pressing ahead with a $45M seismic upgrade and renovations at City Hall, with work ahead of schedule and a planned return of employees in early 2027. Housing & Risk: A Realtor.com report says homebuyer demand stays strong even in high-risk areas, but buyers often face later costs via insurance premiums, HOA fees, and financing. Business Tech & Reliability: AWS restored connectivity in Portland’s US-West-2 after an outage that knocked out services including Apple Pay, Reddit, Hulu, DoorDash, and PlayStation Network for about 80 minutes. Sports Betting & Markets: Polymarket and Kalshi rolled out new Oregon-linked promo codes for MLB and other sports markets, while a separate legal fight has Paramount agreeing to pause its Warner Bros. merger into 2027 amid state and industry lawsuits.

Housing & Aging: A new “Golden Girls” style home-sharing model is helping older adults afford staying put, pairing seniors who need help with housemates who can’t afford their own rentals. Federal Energy Politics: The Trump administration admitted in court filings it canceled $7.6B in clean-energy grants based on which states backed Kamala Harris, escalating claims of political “weaponization” of federal funding. Tariffs in Court: Small businesses are suing over Trump’s latest tariffs, arguing the administration is using Section 301 to revive a tariff regime the Supreme Court already shut down—setting up another legal fight that could hit Oregon importers. Media M&A: Paramount Skydance has paused its $111B Warner Bros. Discovery merger while state and labor lawsuits play out, pushing a potential close toward 2027. Oregon Ballot Watch: Initiative Petition 28 (the PEACE Act) failed to qualify for Oregon’s November ballot, so hunting and fishing would not be criminalized statewide via that measure. Local Business: Trader Joe’s is coming to Keizer Station next to REI, a new 14,125-square-foot store that adds to Oregon’s growing retail footprint. Utilities: Pacific Power customers can weigh in on a proposed Oregon rate increase of about $170M (8.6%) at a PUC virtual meeting Monday. Public Safety Tech: Medford Police is backing Flock automated license-plate cameras despite broader Oregon pushback.

Data Centers & Air Quality: A new report warns Oregon regulators haven’t modeled how diesel backup generators at fast-growing data centers could worsen Eastern Oregon air pollution and health risks. Chamber Recognition: The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce earned National Chamber of the Year, citing work on housing, homelessness and an “Elevate 2028” push to create nearly 4,000 jobs. Media Merger Halt: Oregon’s AG Dan Rayfield says Paramount-Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery will pause their $110B merger until June 2027 as state antitrust lawsuits move forward. Wildfire Policy & Jobs: Bentz and Merkley introduced a Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act to expand how woody biomass can qualify for renewable fuel markets—aiming to cut wildfire risk while supporting new jobs. Local Public Works: John Day City Council will weigh a wastewater treatment plant change order tied to federal funding rules and discuss buying a street sweeper at its July 28 meeting. Agriculture: USDA projects Oregon and other key sweet cherry regions will see declines, with Washington’s crop forecast down sharply year over year. Energy & Wildlife: PacifiCorp and OSU are painting wind turbine blades black in a bird-collision study, building on Norway research suggesting fewer fatalities.

AI & Power Planning: The U.S. Department of Energy says AI data centers are now the main driver of transmission buildout, shifting planning from reliability and aging lines to rapid load growth—meaning big “campus” projects can become transmission-planning events. Wildfire & Insurance: Sen. Jeff Merkley unveiled a Wildfire Insurance Affordability Act aimed at cutting wildfire risk around homes and lowering premiums for low-income homeowners via hardening/defensible-space grants and premium-assistance vouchers. Healthcare M&A: Oregon DOJ is holding a public hearing Aug. 5 on the Salem Health–Santiam Hospital merger, after insolvency warnings and public pushback tied to insurer participation changes. Southern Oregon Care Access: Asante will close two outpatient physical therapy sites in Medford and Grants Pass by Aug. 28, citing financial strain while keeping inpatient therapy as a safety net. Timber & Rural Jobs: USDA announced $80M in guaranteed loans for Oregon and Nevada timber businesses to expand processing and improve forest health. Cybersecurity: Chick-fil-A says credential-stuffing attacks may have exposed loyalty account data for customers in Oregon and several other states; affected users should reset passwords. Local Food Security: Tigard opened a community fruit fridge with Portland Fruit Tree Project to route fresh backyard produce to families. Oregon Hiring: Private job openings in Oregon were essentially flat in Q2 2026 at about 45,400, with demand concentrated in health care and social assistance.

Chick-fil-A Cyberattack: The fast-food chain says unauthorized parties may have accessed Chick-fil-A One loyalty accounts in Oregon and 10 other states, potentially exposing names, emails, membership numbers, saved payment details, and balances; affected customers are being told to update logins and passwords. Oregon Utilities & Rates: The Oregon Public Utility Commission is seeking public input on Pacific Power’s proposed rate increase, with a virtual hearing set for July 27. Insurance Oversight: Oregon regulators lifted ATRIO Health Plans’ supervision after the insurer improved its financial condition and reduced the claims backlog. Wildfire Pressure: The U.S. Wildfire Preparedness Level was raised to the top tier as fires strain national resources, while evacuations continued near the Akawa Butte Fire outside Sisters. Housing Investment: Oregon Housing and Community Services is rolling out investments aimed at pairing stable housing with early learning and youth supports. Timber Financing: USDA announced $80 million in federally guaranteed loans for Oregon and Nevada sawmills to expand processing and reduce wildfire risk. Energy & Labor: A union says some PGE grid workers in Tualatin could strike as early as Aug. 2. Seafood Deal: Pacific Seafood merged with Ocean Beauty Seafoods, expanding distribution across multiple states.

Hotel & Jobs: Dayton’s new Marriott-branded hotel is headed to the city’s convention district, a $77 million project by Concord Hospitality expected to open in late 2028 with 197 rooms, event space, and 90 permanent jobs. Public Health & Consumer Safety: Oregon-based PT Organics Limited recalled select Pumpkin Tree Peter Rabbit Organics banana-strawberry 4 oz. baby food pouches nationwide after a packaging defect may leave a strand of soft plastic; the company says the issue is limited to one production run and no injuries were reported. Cybersecurity: Chick-fil-A confirmed a data breach tied to credential-stuffing attacks on its Chick-fil-A One loyalty accounts, potentially exposing names, emails, account IDs/QR codes, and partial payment details for a limited number of customers. Local Land Use: Goodall 16, LLC has appealed a dismissal of its lawsuit against the city of Lake Oswego over wetlands created on land planned for nine homes in the Forest Highlands neighborhood. Energy & Grid Costs: The White House expanded a “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” covering about 80% of U.S. power, but the real fight is still over how grid upgrade costs are billed—especially as data centers grow. Wildfire Economy: Oregon officials urged safe, effective wildfire support, while tourism-linked communities like Ely, Minnesota, show how smoke can quickly drain local business.

Banking & Deals: Gesa Credit Union is buying Willamette Valley Bank, adding Salem branches and a Portland-area loan office, with the deal set to close in the first half of 2027. Local Business & Public Safety: Corvallis police and the Oregon DOJ arrested a woman at Spring Foot Spa after complaints about unlicensed massage and suspected prostitution tied to human trafficking. Tech, Media & Courts: Oregon AG Dan Rayfield asked a federal court to enforce its order blocking the Nexstar–Tegna merger, arguing recent board moves could violate the “independent” requirement. Trade & Energy Policy: Sen. Ron Wyden introduced a bill to rein in President Trump’s tariff powers, aiming to restore Congress’s role after new duties on Canadian goods. Consumer & Health: FDA recalled 380,000 fruit purée pouches sold at Target, Kroger and Meijer due to possible soft plastic strands. Cybersecurity: Chick-fil-A warned loyalty members in Oregon and 10 other states that a credential-stuffing attack may have exposed account data. Oregon Economy & Growth: Hillsboro paused new data-center Strategic Investment Program deals for 180 days to close a potential tax-break loophole. Workforce & Healthcare: Rogue Workforce Partnerships won a $5 million state grant to expand rural healthcare training and placements in Southern Oregon. EV Infrastructure: Oregon’s $10.9M rebate program added 1,915 Level 2 EV charging ports statewide, with more funding expected later this year.

Intel Restructuring in Oregon: Intel is preparing another round of layoffs in its Data Center Group, extending a multi-year cost-cutting push that has already reduced its workforce by about 40,000 globally since 2023, with Oregon still a major footprint for the chipmaker. Semiconductor Deal Buzz: SK Hynix denied reports it was in talks to buy Intel’s under-construction Ohio fab, but the rumor still rattled markets. Defense Manufacturing in the Pacific Northwest: Oregon boatbuilder ReconCraft is set to help build Ukraine’s Magura attack drone series in the U.S., aiming for high-volume delivery for Navy testing and procurement. Port of Bellingham Race: Tor Benson filed to run for Port of Bellingham commissioner District 4, pitching more communication and transparency after past controversy. Oregon Health Care Cost Shift: Oath Surgical says it completed the first outpatient robotic prostatectomy in the Pacific Northwest, arguing outpatient care can cut costs by thousands per case. Local Business & Public Works Bids: Clackamas County seeks bids for $200,000 Head Start improvements in Canby, while Molalla is taking proposals for landscape architectural services for Clark Park improvements. Energy Policy Watch: A bipartisan geothermal research bill passed the U.S. House, targeting next-gen geothermal to meet AI-driven power demand. Education Rankings: WalletHub’s 2026 school-system rankings put Oregon near the bottom nationally, adding pressure to improve outcomes.

Mega-Merger Fight: Nevada AG Aaron Ford joined a coalition seeking to block Paramount’s $110B Warner Bros. Discovery deal, arguing it would crush competition and raise costs; a temporary restraining order halts the merger while courts weigh next steps. Antitrust & Pharma: Ford also announced a $29.6M settlement with Glenmark over alleged generic-drug price-fixing and reduced competition, with possible payments for affected buyers. Climate Regulation: Ford filed suit against the EPA over a rule weakening hydrofluorocarbon phaseout deadlines, joining other states and New York in asking a federal appeals court to stop the rollback. Oregon Economy & Infrastructure: Oregon is considering charging telecom firms for using undersea cables off the coast, potentially adding millions as data-center demand grows. Local Business & Health: Oregon restaurant Kann in Portland began serving FDA-cleared cell-cultivated salmon, marking a U.S. seafood first. Environment & Public Safety: Douglas County reported two more rabid bats, bringing its 2026 total to three; officials urge people not to touch wild animals. Land Use: A federal judge paused logging on about 3,000 acres of mature forest in Douglas County’s Divide Project after concerns about spotted-owl protections.

Antitrust & Media: A U.S. judge ordered Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery to pause their $81B merger for at least two weeks after 12 states—including Oregon—sued, arguing the deal would “extinguish competition” and reduce choices for consumers. Health Insurance Costs: A new report finds ACA premiums could rise about 14% in 2027 in several states, a warning sign for what New Jersey may see next year after subsidy changes. Local Crisis Services: Lane County approved a contract to build a crisis stabilization center in Springfield, with commissioners citing urgency as delays cost lives. Sports Business & Local Economy: Portland and the Trail Blazers remain at odds over a new Moda Center lease deal, with the city seeking clarity on how public funding will be used. Oregon Public Finance: Oakridge added a $17 ambulance fee to water bills to cover a $500,000 shortfall, drawing resident backlash over the lack of a public vote. Energy & Data Centers: Amazon AWS outlined its approach to carbon-free power, grid support, and community impacts tied to data center growth.

Antitrust & Media: A federal judge temporarily blocked Paramount Skydance’s $110B merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, pausing the deal for at least 14 days (states including Oregon are challenging it as anti-competitive) with an Aug. 3 hearing set for a possible longer injunction. Clean Energy Policy: Hawaii became the fifth state to adopt a clean fuel standard, targeting a 10% cut in transportation fuel carbon intensity by 2035 and at least 50% by 2045. Oregon Business Leadership: Linfield University named Isaac Wanasika dean of its School of Business, starting Aug. 1. Local Economy & Growth: Portland-area design-build remodeler Lamont Bros. Design & Construction won two 2026 National NARI Remodeler of the Year awards. Real Estate & Housing Market: A Zumper analysis highlights Reno as rent-favorable, underscoring how affordability math is driving buyer decisions nationwide. Wildfire Impacts: DEQ issued an air quality advisory for multiple Eastern Oregon counties as smoke pushed readings into unhealthy levels, expected to last at least through Wednesday. Consumer Finance: Block (Cash App’s parent) agreed to a $45M settlement with 46 states over fraud-protection and customer support failures.