Wildfire & Forest Policy: A new commentary warns Oregon’s “protected” public-lands forests are burning, pointing to the Grasshopper Fire in the Mt. Hood National Forest and criticizing how a years-long fuel-reduction project ended up with legal fights and limited treatment before the area ignited. Higher Ed Labor: Oregon’s seven public universities and SEIU reached a tentative contract deal, averting a planned classified staff strike as fall classes begin, with a focus on livable wages and food insecurity. AI Regulation in Oregon: Gov. Tina Kotek ordered state agencies to develop rules for regulating “frontier” AI, including third-party safety review qualifications and whether a kill switch is viable. Antibiotic Resistance Research: University of Oregon researchers resurrected 160-million-year-old proteins/peptides that show surprising activity against drug-resistant microbes, offering new starting points for antimicrobial therapies. Data Centers & PFAS Cooling: A report highlights how AI data centers are shifting from water to PFAS-based cooling, raising environmental and regulatory concerns. Public Health & Psychedelics: A UB researcher revisits harm-reduction best practices for recreational psychedelics, emphasizing safer session guidance. Parkinson’s Research Fundraiser: Baker City’s Great Salt Lick Auction raised $25,000 for OHSU Parkinson’s research, bringing its total to about $264,000 since 2007.