Wildfire Resilience: A new cohort of Indigenous firefighters and ecological restoration workers graduated from the Lomakatsi Restoration Project in Ashland, trained for 18 weeks to reduce fuels and protect Oregon forests using both ancient and modern approaches. Drought Watch: Gov. Tina Kotek approved drought declarations for five more Oregon counties, bringing 17 counties statewide into drought status as conditions worsen east of the Cascades. Water & Public Health: Oregon Health Authority lifted a health advisory for Nye Beach in Newport after follow-up testing showed fecal bacteria levels returned to normal. Contaminated Sites Cleanup: Ashland’s long-running cleanup of contaminated railroad property near Railroad Park is moving forward under a state-approved plan to cap and confine soil on-site, paving the way for future development. Ocean Monitoring Under Threat: The Trump administration is dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative, including deep-sea instruments off the Oregon coast, raising concerns that some data losses can’t be undone. Wildlife Management Fight: A federal plan to kill nearly half a million barred owls across the West is headed toward a judge’s decision, with claims the removals may already be underway. Heat Risk: As record-breaking summer heat arrives early, lifeguards and local officials urged water safety and hydration for crowds heading to rivers and beaches. Local Energy Policy: Portland completed a pilot on extending commercial energy reporting to multifamily buildings, finding limited first-year workload and setting up future statewide benchmarking. Waste & Illegal Dumping: A Portland-area resident says hundreds of tires were illegally dumped on his property, highlighting ongoing challenges with enforcement and cleanup.