Federal officers confront protesters at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, Portland, Ore., Oct. 4, 2025.
Eden McCall / OPB
It was a big year in news for the Pacific Northwest. The president attempted to send the National Guard into Portland, plans for a potential ICE facility caused unrest in Newport, and communities across the region saw an uptick in aggressive immigration enforcement activity.
Meanwhile, a significant road funding bill died — then was resurrected — in the Oregon Legislature. And the deadline for Mayor Keith Wilson’s pledge to end unsheltered homelessness in Portland came and went.
Lisa Bates is a professor of Black studies at Portland State University. Jim Pasero is a principal at the public affairs company Third Century Solutions. Nigel Jaquiss is a senior investigative reporter for the Oregon Journalism Project. They all join us to break down the biggest news stories of 2025.
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