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Good morning, Northwest.
The deadly chemical tank rupture at a Longview paper mill late last month is having ripple effects on local residents — and could for years to come.
The mill is closed while an investigation into the spill continues, which affects other paper and wood products facilities nearby. OPB Southwest Washington bureau chief Erik Neumann reports to start today’s newsletter.
In other news, furor over data centers is growing in Hillsboro, which just approved a slew of tax breaks for the facilities.
Here’s your First Look at Thursday’s news.
— Bradley W. Parks
Top story
Penny and Bob Piper collect donations for families impacted by the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. chemical disaster during their weekly kettle corn fundraiser in Longview, Wash., on May 29, 2026.
Eli Imadali / OPB
After paper mill disaster, Longview community rallies around fundraising efforts
Eleven people died in a chemical tank rupture at a Longview paper mill at the end of May. Since then, community members have rallied around fundraising efforts for the victims’ families.
At a barbecue fundraiser over the weekend, people told OPB about how integral paper mills like Nippon Dynawave, where the spill occurred, are to the area. It’s created close ties among the people who live and work here.
Most in town are no more than one or two degrees of separation from someone involved in the tragedy.
While they grieve the deaths of workers, big questions about the fuiture of the mill and the industry at large are starting to circulate in Longview. (Erik Neumann)
3 things to know
Opponents of data centers hold a sign outside the Hillsboro Civic Center ahead of a city council meeting Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Holly Bartholomew / OPB
- The wave of anti-data center sentiment sweeping the nation has reached the heart of Oregon’s “Silicon Forest.” More than 200 people packed a Hillsboro City Council meeting Tuesday to voice concern and frustration with tax exemptions for planned data center developments in the city. (Holly Bartholomew)
- The owner of Portland’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building has successfully lobbied the county court to block the city from ruling on a land use violation against his property, which could have imposed steep fines against him. (Alex Zielinski)
- Federal cuts to the National Science Foundation will dismantle a vast ocean monitoring network. Scientists will pull a research buoy stationed off the Oregon Coast later this month. (Annika Hammerschlag, AP)
Northwest headlines
FILE - Ripening cherries will become dark and sweet near Yakima, Washington, on May 22, 2026.
Courtesy of Eric Patrick
- Elusive Northwest cherries are here (Anna King, NWPB)
- Amid warnings of future cuts, University of Oregon trustees approve next year’s budget (Nathan Wilk, KLCC)
- As Washington businesses prep for the World Cup, some ask how many fans will show up (Emil Moffatt, KNKX)
- Upper McKenzie River recreation sites reopen after 9 years (Nathan Wilk, KLCC)
- Oregon petition to ban hunting and fishing moves closer to November ballot (Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle)
- As Trump admin sues states over federal agent mask bans, Northwest remains on sidelines (Shaanth Nanguneri, Oregon Capital Chronicle)
- More than 20 rural Oregon hospitals will receive millions from state and feds for maternal health (Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle)
Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation
“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):
- US Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez on Longview mill disaster, ongoing federal investigation
- New film documents life of West Ham, Timbers soccer legend Clyde Best
- Portland Book Week celebrates more than 80 independent bookstores in the region
One more look
Researchers from the University of Washington and the Pacific Northwest National Lab monitored a small tidal energy turbine for impacts with wildlife in the winter of 2023-24. The team observed diving birds more than 400 times; none came into contact with the turbine.
Courtesy of Cotter et al., 2026, PLOS One
What a toy whale tells Pacific Northwest scientists about the potential for renewable tidal energy
One idea for generating clean energy from the ocean is to harness the power of tides. In theory, it’s a straightforward idea. Drop a turbine underwater in a high flow area and let the moon do its thing. But in practice, it’s not so simple.
In the Pacific Northwest, the Puget Sound region has fantastic potential for tidal energy. But before putting a large, cake beater-shaped contraption underwater, there’s a need to make sure it won’t mix anything it shouldn’t — like salmon, diving birds and marine mammals.
Researchers at the University of Washington and the Pacific Northwest National Lab are working to understand the risk. (Jes Burns)
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