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Oregon gray whale strandings raise alarm of die-off

Three gray whales found on Oregon beaches add to concerns about a wider die-off.

Climate

Nearly two dozen <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gray whales" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2024/10/04/oregon-gray-whales-foraging-techniques" data-vars-content-id="b671108b-61cb-4616-8476-d6263eb5932e" data-vars-headline="Oregon gray whale strandings raise alarm of die-off" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2024/10/04/oregon-gray-whales-foraging-techniques" target="_self">gray whales</a> have washed ashore along the West Coast this year, including three found on Oregon beaches — a troubling sign some experts say may signal another die-off event.The big picture: Many of the whales appeared upon necropsy to be emaciated, meaning <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="they did not get enough food" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2024/05/31/sea-urchin-boom-harms-oregon-gray-whales" data-vars-content-id="b671108b-61cb-4616-8476-d6263eb5932e" data-vars-headline="Oregon gray whale strandings raise alarm of die-off" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2024/05/31/sea-urchin-boom-harms-oregon-gray-whales" target="_self">they did not get enough food</a> during last summer&#x27;s feeding session, Michael Milstein, a spokesperson with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="OPB" data-vars-click-url="https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/20/gray-whales-starving-died-oregon-coast/" data-vars-content-id="b671108b-61cb-4616-8476-d6263eb5932e" data-vars-headline="Oregon gray whale strandings raise alarm of die-off" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/20/gray-whales-starving-died-oregon-coast/" target="_blank">OPB</a>.

Oregon Outside: Gorge wildflowers nearing peak bloom

Wildflowers are at or near peak bloom in many parts of the Columbia River Gorge.

News

The time to seek out one of nature&#x27;s most beautiful displays is here — spring <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildflower season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/04/24/wildflowers-hikes-oregon-washington-pacific-northwest" data-vars-content-id="f23320c9-f1ac-405b-90ad-75d6d99cae95" data-vars-headline="Oregon Outside: Gorge wildflowers nearing peak bloom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/04/24/wildflowers-hikes-oregon-washington-pacific-northwest" target="_self">wildflower season</a> is at or near peak bloom in many parts of the Columbia River Gorge.Why it matters: This ephemeral explosion of color doesn&#x27;t last long.

Blazers fans roast new owner over cost cuts

Fans push back as Tom Dundon's cost-cutting moves draw scrutiny and jokes online.

The honeymoon, if it ever existed, is over for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new Blazers owner" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/08/13/trail-blazers-sale-tom-dundon" data-vars-content-id="0caa5f47-1be4-4bdb-82ac-0e3f28f3566c" data-vars-headline="Blazers fans roast new owner over cost cuts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/08/13/trail-blazers-sale-tom-dundon" target="_self">new Blazers owner</a> Tom Dundon.Why it matters: A series of stories detailing the billionaire&#x27;s attempts to cut costs with the team have landed poorly with the fan base.

Crowded GOP field targets Gov. Tina Kotek

The Oregon GOP hasn't occupied the governor's mansion since Victor G. Atiyeh's tenure ended in 1987.

Politics

Oregon&#x27;s gubernatorial primary next month features a crowded field of Republicans running for the opportunity to unseat incumbent Democratic <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gov. Tina Kotek" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/01/07/transportation-funding-bill-kotek-repeal" data-vars-content-id="d7d12bc4-9194-4a9d-b49f-dcf6b2785fe3" data-vars-headline="Crowded GOP field targets Gov. Tina Kotek" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/01/07/transportation-funding-bill-kotek-repeal" target="_self">Gov. Tina Kotek</a>.The big picture: The Oregon GOP hasn&#x27;t occupied <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the governor&#x27;s mansion" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nga.org/former-governors/oregon/" data-vars-content-id="d7d12bc4-9194-4a9d-b49f-dcf6b2785fe3" data-vars-headline="Crowded GOP field targets Gov. Tina Kotek" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nga.org/former-governors/oregon/" target="_blank">the governor&#x27;s mansion</a> since Victor G. Atiyeh&#x27;s tenure ended in 1987 and it doesn&#x27;t control a single statewide office.

Oregon's COVID levels are low amid national holiday surge

Almost every other state showed at least "high" levels this month compared to baseline trends.

COVID

Oregon is seeing relatively low levels of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID-19" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/21/covid-omicron-variant-coronavirus-cases" data-vars-content-id="2642baba-14c0-4547-b96d-b7be529781a0" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s COVID levels are low amid national holiday surge" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/21/covid-omicron-variant-coronavirus-cases" target="_self">COVID-19</a> as the rest of the country experiences a surge ahead of the holiday travel season, according to the latest CDC data.Driving the news: Wastewater analysis was showing minimal COVID-19 levels in Oregon as of earlier this month, down considerably from December 2022.

New COVID vaccine boosters coming to Oregon

If you've recently been infected, the CDC recommends waiting three months.

Updated COVID-19 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="vaccines" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" data-vars-content-id="da738114-c7fb-465c-a048-cb9bf8b4127a" data-vars-headline="New COVID vaccine boosters coming to Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/cdc-advisors-endorse-updated-covid-vaccines" target="_self">vaccines</a> should be available in Oregon this week.Catch up quick: Last week, Oregon Health Authority officials <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="joined" data-vars-click-url="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORHA/bulletins/37002f1" data-vars-content-id="da738114-c7fb-465c-a048-cb9bf8b4127a" data-vars-headline="New COVID vaccine boosters coming to Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORHA/bulletins/37002f1" target="_blank">joined</a> the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in recommending the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="newly FDA-approved" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/11/fda-approves-updated-covid-19-vaccines" data-vars-content-id="da738114-c7fb-465c-a048-cb9bf8b4127a" data-vars-headline="New COVID vaccine boosters coming to Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/11/fda-approves-updated-covid-19-vaccines" target="_self">newly FDA-approved</a> Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for everyone 6 months and older, or those who have not received a COVID vaccine within the last two months.

COVID hospitalizations rise in Oregon

But there's no sign we're headed for anything like the waves of the peak pandemic era.

While COVID-19 hospitalization rates in Multnomah County <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="saw a slight decrease in July" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/08/07/oregon-covid-hospitalizations-down" data-vars-content-id="c4ffa5d8-107e-4257-8fa8-3211f240152b" data-vars-headline="COVID hospitalizations rise in Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/08/07/oregon-covid-hospitalizations-down" target="_self">saw a slight decrease in July</a>, rates across the county and state have since ticked upward as a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="summer wave" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/covid-19-cases-2023-uptick-where-why" data-vars-content-id="c4ffa5d8-107e-4257-8fa8-3211f240152b" data-vars-headline="COVID hospitalizations rise in Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/17/covid-19-cases-2023-uptick-where-why" target="_self">summer wave</a> sweeps the country.Why it matters: With the rise in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="at-home testing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/08/home-rapid-covid-test-report-positive-america" data-vars-content-id="c4ffa5d8-107e-4257-8fa8-3211f240152b" data-vars-headline="COVID hospitalizations rise in Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/08/home-rapid-covid-test-report-positive-america" target="_self">at-home testing</a> making official COVID-19 case numbers less reliable, hospitalization rates are an important metric for gauging viral spread.

Oregon keeps COVID hospitalizations in check

"Whatever immunity people have seems to be keeping most of them out of the hospital."

As COVID-19 hospitalizations and rates of positive tests rise in many parts of the country, hospitalizations in Oregon have recently gone down.Why it matters: According to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recent data" data-vars-click-url="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_new-admissions-state" data-vars-content-id="dc1d33a0-4817-4c6f-a14d-42429a59384b" data-vars-headline="Oregon keeps COVID hospitalizations in check" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_new-admissions-state" target="_blank">recent data</a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rising <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/health/coronavirus" data-vars-content-id="dc1d33a0-4817-4c6f-a14d-42429a59384b" data-vars-headline="Oregon keeps COVID hospitalizations in check" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/health/coronavirus" target="_self">COVID</a> cases and hospitalizations hint at how the virus will continue to be a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="predictable seasonal threat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/06/tripledemic-covid-vaccines" data-vars-content-id="dc1d33a0-4817-4c6f-a14d-42429a59384b" data-vars-headline="Oregon keeps COVID hospitalizations in check" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/06/tripledemic-covid-vaccines" target="_self">predictable seasonal threat</a>.

Axios What's Next

Weekly COVID-19 activity in Oregon wastewater

Data: CDC; Note: Data for the two most recent weeks may be incomplete due to delays in reporting; Chart: Alice Feng/Axios

COVID 🦠

Oregon's COVID levels are low amid national holiday surge

New COVID vaccine boosters coming to Oregon

COVID hospitalizations rise in Oregon

Oregon keeps COVID hospitalizations in check