Semiconductors in Oregon: Lam Research broke ground on a major Tualatin R&D expansion, aiming to add 120,000 sq. ft. of lab space and support hundreds of new research and construction jobs. Geothermal push: Quaise Energy and Nabors backed Oregon’s “Obsidian” superhot geothermal plan, using a microwave gyrotron to heat rock for the first commercial plant targeting 300–500°C. Climate + water: A new study links decades of carbon emissions from fossil fuel and cement producers to worsening western water stress, including reduced snowpack and altered river flows. Earth science: New seismic work suggests the Juan de Fuca slab beneath northern Oregon sits about 20 km deep near the coast, potentially raising expected Cascadia shaking estimates. Wildlife conservation: Oregon State University research says northern spotted owls are already functionally extinct across large parts of the Pacific Northwest. Public safety + policy: Oregon tightened e-bike rules as injuries and complaints climb, while federal wildlife protection laws are also facing calls for revision. Healthcare labor: Violence against healthcare workers and staffing shortages are driving hospital strikes. AI in the real world: A report on AI’s spread in education weighs how schools can use it effectively while managing risks. Local tech + infrastructure: Data centers are emerging as a flashpoint in Oregon politics, with residents focused on who pays and how impacts are handled.