The Portland metro area lands in the middle of the pack for ozone pollution, according to a new report from the American Lung Association, but Oregon still faces mounting climate challenges that affect air quality.

Why it matters: Air pollution threatens the health of everyone.

By the numbers: The Portland-Vancouver-Salem region ranked 105th worst out of 228 metropolitan areas for the number of high ozone days, per the report, which analyzed data from 2021-2023, "the most recent three years of quality-assured nationwide air pollution data publicly available."

• Eugene and Medford landed at 165th and 130th, respectively.
• As for short-term particle pollution (spikes in fine, unhealthy matter, like wildfire smoke, over a 24-hour period), Portland ranked 104th — far better than in last year's report, when the region ranked in the top 25.

How it works: The report uses local air-quality data to grade and rank locations based on ozone pollution, daily particle pollution and annual particle pollution.

• Ozone is a gas that, at ground level, is a harmful irritant. Particle pollution involves tiny airborne particles from wildfires, fossil fuel burning and more.

Threat level: Ozone pollution can reach unhealthy levels on warm, clear days when ground-level pollution — caused by vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and electric utilities — interacts with the sun, according to Multnomah County.

• A bill in the Oregon Legislature that would mandate the state escalate its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has been sitting in a House committee for more than a month and is likely dead this session.
• Oregon is expected to warm by 5° by 2074 and by 7.6° by 2100 without meaningful reductions to climate-warming gases.

State of play: Extreme heat, wildfires and drought are degrading air quality nationwide, including in Oregon, the Lung Association says. All are linked to climate change.

The big picture: Just over 156 million Americans, 46% of the population, live in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, per the Lung Association's report.

• That's up by nearly 25 million people from last year — the highest total in a decade.

Go deeper

The NFL draft could be a record-setting event for Oregon as the Ducks look to build on their momentum from last year.

Why it matters: A record eight players were selected from the University of Oregon in 2024, and NFL analysts believe the school is set to see even more players picked when the draft begins tonight.

Zoom in: Oregon star defensive tackle Derrick Harmon is projected to be taken in the first round, though his stock has fallen a bit in recent days after a report on unspecified medical concerns has given some teams pause, per Sports Illustrated.

• Offensive lineman Josh Conerly Jr. could be a high pick as well, though some projections have him sliding to the second round.
• If either gets taken in the first round, it will be the sixth year in a row the University of Oregon has had a first-round pick.
• Quarterback Dillon Gabriel — a Heisman Trophy finalist who led the Ducks to the Rose Bowl last season — is predicted to be chosen late in the third round.

Zoom out: The Ducks have several more players hoping to hear their names called over the three-day draft.

• Defensive end Jordan Burch, wide receiver Tez Johnson and tight end Terrance Ferguson have all declared for the draft and could be taken in the second round.
• Running back Jordan James, linebacker Jeffrey Bassa and Gabriel round out the Ducks' top prospects.

How to watch

🍸 Bar Hollywood, a David Lynch-themed watering hole, opened this week next to the historic Hollywood Theatre — and conveniently during the weeklong tribute screenings for the late director. (The Oregonian)

A coalition of 12 states, including Oregon, sued the Trump administration over what they called "illegal tariffs" they say the president lacks authority to set. (Axios)

✂️ Portlanders would rather cut funding for police and homeless services than parks and firefighters to deal with the city's looming budget shortfall, a new 600-person poll commissioned by two city councilors found.

• Yes, but: Funding preferences differed widely from district-to-district. (Willamette Week)

Indian Beach Trail at Ecola State Park offers some of the best ocean views on the entire Oregon coast.

The big picture: Just 90 minutes from Portland, Ecola State Park spans 9 miles of the coastline between Cannon Beach and Seaside.

Zoom in: Find the Indian Beach trailhead at Ecola Point before tackling the nearly 4-mile out-and-back trek.

• The trail winds through fern-carpeted forests of Douglas fir, Western red cedar and Sitka spruce and ends up at the beach at the end.
• There are several spots where the trail skirts up to the edge of the cliff, with panoramic views of the Pacific.

💭 My thought bubble: For a perfect day trip from Portland, grab some lunch and use a beach picnic as motivation to tackle the nearly 1,000 feet of elevation gain.

Tell a hiking buddy

Fewer young Portlanders live with their parents than in most other parts of the country, per new stats from the Pew Research Center.

• 11.6% of Portland adults aged 25-34 were living in a parent's home as of 2023.
• That's well below the national average of nearly 18%.

Yes, but: While living at home as a young adult is sometimes viewed negatively as a "failure to launch," it can also reflect economic realities, cultural preferences, caregiving needs, and other factors.