By Julia Shumway | Editor
The small city of Umatilla will fight Gov. Tina Kotek’s recent directive to pause environmental permits for data centers. A majority of its city council voted last night to declare a local state of emergency in response to the directive, which it labeled a “human-created circumstance that threatens widespread financial loss within the city of Umatilla.” Umatilla County is home to nearly a quarter of Oregon’s data centers, with more in the pipeline.
Also in today's edition:
Oregon will increase payments to coordinated care organizations
New home starts are stuck at 2020 levels
Tillamook County commentary writer Glenda Payne calls for compassion in the abortion debate
And one more thing:
Have you checked out our voter guide yet? We reached out to every candidate running for governor, Congress and the Legislature with questions on issues including fire, budgeting, data centers and more, so you can cast an informed ballot.
News tips, feedback or questions? Email us at [email protected]
By Alex Baumhardt
An explosion of data center facilities, including the one pictured here in northeast Oregon on May 18, 2026, have been built along the Columbia River Gorge during the last few years. (Photo by Jordan Gale/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
An eastern Oregon city that has for the last decade welcomed some of the largest data centers in the state is fighting Gov. Tina Kotek’s recent order meant to temporarily pause data center development, saying it could cost the city millions in direct financial losses.
By Shaanth Nanguneri
A stethoscope sits on top of money next to a calculator. Oregon will increase the amount of money it pays local care organizations for Medicaid next year. (Photo illustration by Getty Images)
Next year, Oregon will pay an average of nearly $630 more per member every month to the organizations arranging providers for the vast majority of Oregon’s 1.4 million Medicaid members under new fixed payment rates announced by the Oregon Health Authority.
By Tim Henderson | Stateline
Instructor Jeff Karnes teaches plumbing construction techniques at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas, in September 2026. A shortage of skilled workers is one reason housing construction is down. (Photo courtesy of St. Philip’s College)
Single-family home completions remain stuck at early pandemic levels as of September as costs, labor supply shortages and high interest take a toll on home builders, especially in the Northeast and South.
Commentary: The compassion missing from the abortion debate
By Glenda Payne
I live in Tillamook County, a rural dairy-farming community where faith runs deep, and this fall, campaign signs line our roads. Abortion is part of the argument those signs are making. I am writing especially to those of who oppose abortion rights, in the hope that my story reminds you of the compassion Jesus taught.
MORE FROM THE CAPITAL CHRONICLE
OTHER OREGON NEWS Some stories may be behind paywalls.
Lane County commissioners step toward a ban on data-center nondisclosure agreements | Lookout Eugene-Springfield
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