OPB’s First Look: Who just bought the Blazers?

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Good morning, Northwest.

The Portland Trail Blazers have new owners.

Tom Dundon, who owns professional hockey’s Carolina Hurricanes, will lead the ownership group purchasing Portland’s NBA franchise for about $4 billion, according to estimates.

The owners plan to keep the team in the Rose City, but doing so will likely require major investment in the Moda Center — something Portland’s mayor, Oregon’s governor and the NBA commissioner have all acknowledged.

OPB business reporter Kyra Buckley dug into Dundon’s history as a professional sports owner, his plans for an entertainment district in North Carolina and what those might say about his vision for Portland.

We also received updated employment numbers from the state yesterday. Oregon’s jobless rate is the highest it’s been since the COVID shutdown.

Lots to dig into today! Here’s your First Look at Thursday’s news.

— Bradley W. Parks

What to know about the Portland Trail Blazers’ new owners

The Portland Trail Blazers’ eventful offseason continued this week, but the latest off-court move may prove to be the most significant: It could ensure the team remains in Rip City.

Yesterday, the sports business website Sportico broke the news that the Trail Blazers are in the process of being sold to an ownership group that intends to keep the franchise in Portland.

Tom Dundon, owner of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, is leading the new ownership group. Other members include Marc Zahr of Blue Owl Capital and Portland-based Sheel Tyle of Collective Global.

Dundon bought the Canes while they were in a situation similar to the Trail Blazers. His work in Raleigh could offer clues about what’s to come in Portland. (Kyra Buckley)

Learn more

3 things to know this morning

• Multnomah County is testing its wireless emergency alert system around 2 p.m. today. If you live in or are visiting the area, get ready for your phone to buzz. (OPB Staff)

• Oregon’s unemployment rate has climbed to 5%. That’s up nearly a whole percentage point since a year ago and higher than it’s been since the state recovered from the COVID-19 shutdown. (Courtney Sherwood)

• A 76-year-old retired state employee from La Grande is on a mission to keep wind turbines and transmission towers from blighting the rural landscape​​​​​​​. She has filed more challenges to energy projects — 15 in all, including lawsuits — than anyone in the state. (Tony Schick)

Headlines from around the Northwest

• Ontario hits fundraising mark to reopen a public pool (Antonio Sierra)

• Oregon tried to limit kids tallied in foster care abuse cases, but judge disagreed (Lauren Dake)

• Portland residents show out to save traffic diverters (Tarek Anthony)

• Conservationists again sue USFWS for denying Oregon red tree voles protection (Alex Baumhardt)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• Wholesaler-distributors sue over Oregon’s new recycling program

Is it Lewis & Clark research or is it cake?

Turns out, it’s both.

Undergraduate researchers from the Rogers Science Research Program at Lewis & Clark College are turning their summer research subjects into desserts.

They’ve made baked goods that resemble everything from acorns to fish embryos, presenting on subjects like wildfire, Parkinson’s disease and more.

The sweet treats are a gateway for students to learn about a variety of different research conducted by their classmates. (Claudia Johnson)

Subscribe to OPB’s First Look to receive Northwest news in your inbox six days a week.