OPB’s First Look: Oregonians go back to college

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Good morning, Northwest.

Oregon students are heading back to college as institutions of higher education face budgetary challenges and shifting public perception.

OPB’s Natalie Pate caught up with students and families on move-in day at the University of Portland to hear their hopes for their college experiences. The story kicks off today’s newsletter.

Speaking of kickoffs, college football is back this weekend as the Big Ten’s Oregon Ducks start a national title quest and a reconfigured Pac-12 returns to the field.

Here’s your First Look at Friday’s news.

— Bradley W. Parks

Top story

As students move into Oregon’s private colleges, they start to learn to live on their own

Paytyn Loyd arrived at the University of Portland late last month with a full support team. Her mom, dad, brother and both sets of grandparents were all there to help her start the next chapter of her life.

“It’s a little bit less nerve-wracking now,” the freshman said, placing two Golden State Warriors pillows on her lifted, twin-sized dorm bed. “I was here for orientation, and I had fun, and now it’s kind of, like, reminding me, I guess, of how fun that was.”

Paytyn is one of about 800 first-year and transfer students joining the University of Portland this fall term. The private Catholic school in North Portland enrolls about 2,800 undergraduates in total.

Oregon’s higher education institutions serve hundreds of thousands of students across public and private universities, community colleges and career and trade schools. The private colleges, like UP, kicked off this year’s back-to-school season in August. (Natalie Pate)

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3 things to know

• In his decision yesterday, U.S. District Judge Michael Simon said he denied requests from Safer Portland, the group leading a ballot initiative that aimed to use money in Portland’s climate fund on local police, for an emergency recount of the signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot. (Troy Brynelson)
• Pendleton City Council has declared a homelessness state of emergency, allowing for the establishment of a year-round shelter. The decision led a circuit court judge to dismiss a lawsuit against the city’s public camping rules filed by a group of unhoused residents. (Antonio Sierra)
• The U.S. Forest Service announced yesterday that it will shutter nearly two dozen facilities, including the Pacific Northwest regional headquarters in Portland. (Adia White, Northwest News Network)

Where vote by mail stands as Trump legal fight continues

As we are exactly two months away from Election Day, reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake talk about all the uncertainty surrounding vote by mail, what state leaders and politicians are saying, and much more.(Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake)

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Northwest headlines

• ‘I didn’t get into healthcare to watch it disappear’: Tensions boil over Eastern Oregon hospital cutbacks (Monica Carrillo-Casas)
• Man in crisis dies after being shocked with a Taser by Portland police, bureau says (Troy Brynelson)
• Record number of Washington mail-in ballots uncounted after primary election, report finds (Sarah Mizes-Tan, KUOW)
• No. 2 Oregon hosts Boise State in a meeting of the old and new Pac-12 (Anne M. Peterson, AP)
• Pac-12 football returns 4 years after exodus nearly sent the conference to extinction (John Marshall, AP)

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):

• From Coltrane to Cuban filin, KMHD’s jazz highlights in September
• Parks in the city of Independence close due to funding dispute
• Will this be the year the University of Oregon wins its first national college football championship?

One more look

Beaverton baker blends Vietnamese and American cultures to create artistic cakes

As today marks National “Eat an Extra Dessert” Day, do you fancy a slice of ube velvet cake?

This unique twist on the traditional red velvet cake is one of the most popular dishes of Helen Hồng Nguyễn, a Beaverton baker who incorporates her Vietnamese identity into her desserts by combining Asian ingredients with Western baking techniques.

“Food to me is just basic necessities, but it also means a huge deal of creativity. It means togetherness. It means an abundance of love and unspoken language,” Nguyễn said.

This story was first published on May 30, 2025. (Steven Tonthat)

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