2 Thorns make women’s national team
Portland Thorns forward and 2022 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year Sophia Smith is among the 23 players selected for the United States team that will defend its title at the Women’s World Cup next month. Smith is among a mix of newcomers and veteran players named to the team Wednesday. This will be her first World Cup appearance. Thorns midfielder Crystal Dunn will return to the World Cup after playing in six matches in 2019. Leading the team will be Alex Morgan and former University of Portland standout Megan Rapinoe, who will each be making a fourth World Cup appearance. The U.S. women’s team has won the last two World Cups and is vying for an unprecedented third-straight title, when the tournament kicks off July 20 in Australia and New Zealand. (Anne M. Peterson/The Associated Press)
DMV says Oregon license and ID holders should assume their data was hacked
Oregon Department of Justice and motor vehicle officials are urging Oregonians to take precautions after a massive data breach that may have compromised the records of millions of license and ID card holders. The Department of Justice has outlined a list of steps Oregonians can take to protect their information, including seeking a free credit check report. (Peter Wong/The Portland Tribune)
Oregon voters might give lawmakers impeachment powers
A resolution asking Oregon voters whether lawmakers should have the power to remove their colleagues from office has passed out of committee. Oregon’s the only state in the country without an impeachment doctrine. The effort to create impeachment rules comes after several recent scandals, including former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan accepting outside contracts that potentially conflicted with her government work. (Dianne Lugo/Salem Statesman Journal)
Oregon Senate OKs wildfire map changes, response upgrades
Oregon’s controversial wildfire map has had changes made to it that have passed the Senate. Under Senate Bill 80, the map now refers to wildfire “hazard” rather than “risk” zones, and scraps the “extreme” and “no risk” categories, instead relying on three classes: high, moderate and low. Last year, the risk classifications proved so controversial that state forestry regulators withdrew the map’s initial version, responding to a public outcry among landowners who argued it didn’t take into account efforts to mitigate wildfire dangers. (Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press)
Officials declare fire season for Northeast Oregon
The Oregon Department of Forestry has officially declared wildfire season in Northeast Oregon after a dry spring and warm weather incoming. Department of Forestry officials said fire danger is increasing across the Northeast Oregon District. “Early in the fire season, it’s easy to underestimate what level the fire danger really is,” said district forester Matt Howard in the press release. “We really want to encourage folks to make sure they are getting out regularly and checking any place where slash or debris piles were burned late last winter and this spring. Those areas can hold heat for a long time and cause fires to rekindle months later.” (Wallowa County Chieftain)
