Your Daily Guide

How Federal Cuts Are Hitting OR Benefits

President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which passed last year, made cuts to social supports that are soon coming to fruition in Oregon. Soon 600,000 residents on the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) will get letters notifying them they may be subject to work or activity rules to keep health coverage. Meanwhile, due to an odd loophole, the state is not on the hook for shouldering food stamps costs.

• One-year reprieve: Trump’s bill moved to penalize states with a high error rate in food stamp distribution. Yet, some (like Oregon) with an error rate above 13.32% are getting a reprieve, which could be extended until Oct. 2029. If the error rate isn’t reduced by more than 8 percentage points by then, federal funding will get cut. About 15% of Oregonians, or 636,427 people, received SNAP benefits as of July. [Oregon Journalism Project]
• Lost health care: An estimated 200,000 residents eligible for Oregon Health Plan could lose coverage in the next decade. The state is sending notices to the 600,000 Oregonians on OHP, saying they must “have an exception, work, go to school or volunteer to keep” health coverage. Though fewer people may be on OHP in years to come, officials predict federal funding cuts will leave the state on the hook for $421 million to support OHP in the 2027-29 budget cycle. [Willamette Week]
• If all that weren’t enough: A poll of about 2,000 Oregonians found food costs are leading many to financial stress. Groceries on the West Coast are 2.7% higher than they were a year ago, and the squeeze is being felt most among renters and residents making under $50,000. [Oregonian 🔒]

OR Leaders On SCOTUS Vote-By-Mail Ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s plan to further involve the U.S. Postal Service in vote-by-mail. Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read responded to the ruling, saying “I think the Supreme Court has better things to do than explain the Constitution to the president, but I’m glad they did.” Other leaders shared their relief, calling the ruling “a win for free and fair elections.” [New York Times / Oregonian 🔒]

Does Everyone Hate Flock Cams?

Six Oregon cities and two counties have canceled or suspended contracts with Flock, which operates AI license plate reader cameras, citing fears of privacy and data leaks. (Both Portland Police Bureau and the Multnomah Sheriff’s Office have said they have no contracts with Flock.) Some state lawmakers want to ban the camera network altogether. In Woodburn, officials found federal immigration agencies were accessing Flock data, which is expressly prohibited by state law. [Oregon Journalism Project / Feet in 2 Worlds / Oregonian 🔒]

• Where are they? It’s not clear exactly how many Flock and other license plate reading cameras are around (Flock won’t say), but websites have crowdsourced their locations. Search specific addresses or along your commute. [Flock Camera Locations]

Pearl District Bar Owner Sued Over COVID Relief Loans

Today on the podcast, we’re talking about the $2.2 million Portland city councilors spent on pet projects — as well as how a Pearl District bar owner who once complained about crime is now being accused of committing fraud. Plus, we have a new installment of Portland’s pettiest gripes. [City Cast Portland 🎧 / KGW]