It's 2026 and we're already looking ahead at what's to come on a variety of issues at the local, state and federal level.

The big picture: We've got our hometown hero back on our team, transportation bill part deux and yet another election cycle — all of which could impact the lives of Oregonians in ways big and small.

Here's our shortlist.

🏡 Housing: After declaring victory on opening 1,500 new shelter beds in December, Mayor Keith Wilson said he's shifting his focus to developing 1,200 new housing units in Portland's urban core by 2030.

• Whether or not the mayor's decision to waive fees for developers ushers in a building boom remains to be seen. Plus, nearly 1,900 affordable apartments were empty as of last month, driven largely by administrative delays.

🚗 Transportation: Déjà vu! The $4.3 billion transportation funding bill approved by lawmakers last session is heading to voters before any of its new taxes are enacted.

• That means a fix for the underfunded agency remains in limbo and could lead to road maintenance delays and layoffs.

😬 Economic uncertainty: Oregon has a myriad of factors working against it. Unemployment reached 5% last year while major industries — like manufacturing, semiconductors and agriculture — faced layoffs and slow growth.

• Gov. Tina Kotek aims to tackle the permitting hurdles and regulatory burdens that make doing business in Oregon so difficult.

🏀 Sports: Professional women's hoops returns to Portland as the Fire tip off as the WNBA's newest franchise, assuming the players' union and the league can come to a collective bargaining agreement.

• Plus: We get a new women's soccer team and Dame will be back in a Blazers jersey.

🗳️ Midterm elections: The governor, all six congressional members and one of our two senators will be up for reelection.

• Six of Portland's 12 city councilors will also face voters after serving two-year terms in our new form of city government.

🌡️ Climate: Kotek signed an executive order last year aimed at speeding up siting and permitting for clean energy projects, but the state faces a federal government that has a decidedly anti-climate agenda.

Oregon saw more departures than arrivals in 2025 according to an analysis of interstate moves by Atlas Van Lines.

Why it matters: High housing costs are keeping many people in place. But some are still moving, often for lower home prices, jobs, climate resilience or to be closer to family.

Zoom in: Of the 1,380 services provided by the company in Oregon last year, just over 47% were for people moving to the Beaver State, while nearly 53% were for those leaving, per the analysis, which looked at 107,000 domestic services provided.

Zoom out: Arkansas, Idaho and North Carolina drew the most new arrivals this year.

• Louisiana recorded the highest share of outbound moves for the second year in a row, followed by West Virginia and Wyoming.

Between the lines: Americans have largely stopped moving — a trend researchers warn could weigh on the economy and reshape communities.

• Plus: Many homeowners feel locked into cheaper mortgages. (Right now, moving would require a 73% jump in the median monthly payment, a new Realtor.com analysis finds.)

🪖 President Trump announced last week that he is dropping efforts to send National Guard troops to Portland and other cities, and claimed victory for crime being "greatly reduced" despite the city never seeing troops on its streets. (Axios)

😢 North Mississippi dive bar Interurban will close this month after 14 years. (KOIN)

• Related: We spoke with owner Dan Hart about the behind-the-scenes story of the building's iconic "free art wall" in November.

Four Oregonians died in a helicopter accident near Arizona's Telegraph Canyon over the weekend after striking a recreational slackline. (OPB)

🍃 Oregon cannabis revenue fell to a six-year low in 2025, driven largely by rock-bottom retail prices and overproduction. (Portland Business Journal)

Hundreds of Portlanders rallied downtown over the weekend to protest the U.S. military intervention and capture of President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. (KGW)

New Year's Day has come and gone, but some of us still have dried out Christmas trees dropping needles in our living rooms.

You can still ditch your tree for free (or with a donation or charge) courtesy of several nonprofits and your garbage company.

Portlanders can easily compost their Christmas trees by placing whole trees (6 feet or shorter) next to their compost bins for a $5.25 charge.

• Trees of any size can also be cut up into less than three-foot chunks and placed inside the bins for no charge.

Make sure all decorations have been removed first. String lights, ribbon, tinsel and yarn go in the garbage, as they can get tangled in the machines that sort recyclables and cause the whole process to shut down.

• Flocked trees (those adorned with fake snow) must be discarded as trash and placed inside the bin, or call your garbage collector for a disposal estimate.
• If you don't have a saw, you can rent one from Northeast Portland Tool Library.

Separately, local organizations will also provide Christmas tree pick-ups or drop-offs at no cost, though small donations are encouraged.

• Use Metro's "Find a Recycler" tool by entering your address and selecting "Christmas trees" from the yard and garden section.

Tell a neighbor