Your Daily Guide

Wildfires Continue to Grow — Including the Largest on Record

Lightning sparked the Big Grass fire in Eastern Oregon three weeks ago. Since then, it has leaped the border to Idaho, where much of the growth in recent days has occurred. At more than 575,000 acres, it’s the largest in modern Oregon history and covers an area the size of six Portlands. [Oregonian]

• Mt. Hood fire update: Closer to home, the Grasshopper fire has grown rapidly to more than 83,000 acres as of yesterday afternoon, destroying at least six homes. Mt. Hood Meadows, which initially sought to reopen this week, remains under evacuation and has decided to remain closed for the rest of the summer season. Wasco County has canceled its annual fair and rodeo. [Oregonian]
• Sen Wyden’s wildfire tax relief: Just before recessing, Congress passed a bill — sponsored by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) — that gives survivors of natural disasters an exception from paying federal income taxes on their recovery settlements. The bill extends a 2024 law that was expiring; U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) had held up Wyden’s renewal effort for unexplained reasons. [Oregon Capitol Chronicle]

Native American Patients Left Homeless on Portland Streets

Between 2018 and 2025, an addiction treatment center in St. Helens was dumping its Native American patients who discontinued treatment on the streets of Portland. Medicine Wheel Recovery Services didn’t offer these patients transportation home, and some of them were left homeless. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

More Measles Cases

While the U.S. technically still claims to have eliminated measles, the number cases locally and nationally continues to grow. Public health officials have warned of two new incidents of exposure to the highly contagious virus — at an urgent care in Clark County and an emergency room in Gresham. Reminder: Those who are vaccinated face very limited risk of infection, but babies and immune-compromised patients face a significant health risk from measles. [KOIN]

Head South for a ’90s-Style Mall

If you’re looking for an old-school mall experience, you’ll find the world’s last remaining Sam Goody (a music store started in New York City) in Medford, Ore. It’s right beside Oregon’s only Orange Julius, the restaurant chain known for its signature beverage. The Rogue Valley Mall hasn’t had any major renovations since it opened in 1986. [Oregonian]