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$14B bridge between Oregon and Washington goes out to bid, $880k in behavioral health funding in Washington ‘goes nowhere,’ Clackamas Town Center mall resolving $191M loan default, Missoula to see property tax decrease for primary residence, Oregon stuck in a rut with less in migration and slower economic growth compared to nation.

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S&P 500 falls for a third day, as elevated global bond yields and oil prices weigh on market (CNBC)

Anthropic Pre-IPO Credit Facility Set to Climb Past $10 Billion (BBG)

SEC Unveils Crypto Plan as Agency Moves Ahead on Digital Assets (BBG)

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Trump administration moves ahead to end roadless rule on national forests (OPB)

“About 2 million acres of Oregon public lands could be affected by the proposed change.

The Trump administration announced Tuesday it is moving ahead with plans to rescind a quarter-century-old rule that blocked logging, road building and other development on some national forest lands, drawing the ire of environmentalists nationwide.

The U.S. Forest Service is filing a proposal that would scrap the so-called roadless rule adopted in the last days of Bill Clinton’s presidency in 2001. The agency described the rule as a one-size-fits-all restriction that has frustrated land managers and served as a barrier to reducing wildfire risks in the nation’s forests.

“Our forests can’t afford another decade of inaction. Across the country, we’ve watched preventable conditions — overgrown stands, insect outbreaks and disease — turn healthy landscapes into tinderboxes,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement.

Clinton had signed the rule to safeguard undeveloped national forest land from commercial logging and mineral leasing, with a goal of keeping ecosystems pristine and protecting water supplies.

Calling the roadless rule a failure, Rollins said the proposal calls for restoring authority to local forest managers and removing barriers that have kept them from improving forest health across millions of acres.

The roadless rule has affected 30% of national forest lands nationwide, or about 59 million acres (24 million hectares), according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the agency that oversees the Forest Service”

Reports Show Effects of Weak Economy, Population Shift (OBI)
What happened: In recent weeks, Common Sense Institute Oregon has released two reports that should motivate policymakers to improve the conditions businesses need to grow and individuals need to thrive. The reports examine domestic migration and economic growth, two areas in which the state has struggled in recent years.

Domestic migration: On July 29, CSI Oregon released a report focused on domestic migration data. In 2022-23, domestic arrivals and departures were roughly balanced. However, people who left earned more than those who arrived, a difference of about $7,300 per household. In sum, Oregon recorded a net loss of $476 million in adjusted gross income during 2022-23. And on net, “Oregon’s highest earners are leaving the state, and the households replacing them earn considerably less. Whether driven by tax policy, cost of living, remote work flexibility, or retirement decisions, the direction of the flow of income is unambiguous.” This trend is worrisome given Oregon’s reliance on personal income tax revenue to fund public services.

Economic growth: On Aug. 5, CSI Oregon released a report focused on the growth of Oregon’s economy, specifically the consequences of Oregon’s tepid rate of expansion. In 2025, Oregon’s GDP grew at only 1%, less than half the national rate. If Oregon’s economy had grown by an additional percentage point, the state could expect to have about 12,000 more jobs, $879 million more in wages and $88 million more in personal income tax revenue.

Context: Business leaders have warned policymakers about the state’s declining competitiveness and weakening economy for years. Oregon’s average monthly employment growth has trailed the national average for six consecutive years. Its GDP has grown more slowly than the national average for five straight years. And its unemployment rate has exceeded the national average for four straight years. Oregon’s performance in respected national rankings has suffered accordingly. CNBC ranked Oregon 42nd in its 2026 America’s Top States for Business index, a drop of 25 places since 2017, when the state was ranked 17th. To reverse this trend, the state’s elected officials must address the underlying policy drivers.

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