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Good morning, Northwest.
A group of women’s basketball players at Oregon State University has petitioned to form a union.
State regulators’ decision on whether to recognize the players as public employees could have ramifications far beyond Corvallis. OPB business reporter Kyra Buckley leads today’s newsletter with a look into the potentially groundbreaking case.
In other news, the Forest Service is aiming to fast-track salvage logging in the Deschutes National Forest after a wildfire.
Here’s your First Look at Tuesday’s news.
— Bradley W. Parks
Top story
FILE - Oregon State players celebrate after defeating Portland in the West Coast Conference tournament final on March 11, 2025, in Las Vegas.
John Locher / AP
OSU women’s basketball players argue athletes are employees
The state Employment Relations Board is considering whether members of Oregon State University’s women’s basketball team are school employees with the power to unionize.
The board’s eventual decision — which could take months and is likely to be challenged — could have significant effects beyond Corvallis.
It’s the latest chapter in an ongoing and complex debate, five years after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed college athletes to receive compensation beyond scholarships. (Kyra Buckley)
3 things to know
FILE - A house sits atop a hill in Redmond, Ore., as wildfire smoke from the Akawa Butte Fire lingers in the air on July 24, 2026.
Eli Imadali / OPB
- The Trump administration is seeking to fast-track logging in forests recently burned by wildfires in a policy shift that’s starting with Central Oregon. (April Ehrlich)
- Kathryn Harrington announced her resignation as chair of the Washington County Commission, nearly a week after she flipped off a colleague, prompting widespread backlash. (Holly Bartholomew)
- A geothermal developer has secured more than $135 million to advance development in Central Oregon’s Newberry Volcano. (Monica Samayoa)
Northwest headlines
FILE - Geese fly over the Willamette River in West Linn, Ore., July 17, 2025.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
- Fall bird migration nears its peak. Turning lights out can help (John Ryan, KUOW)
- Oregon flags to fly at half-staff to honor firefighter that died (OPB staff)
- Oregon has one of the nation’s largest funding gaps to meet road maintenance needs (Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle)
- AI, data centers take center stage in rematch for Oregon’s 4th Congressional District (Nathan Wilk, KLCC)
Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation
“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):
- Why Oregon doesn’t have more bridge barriers to prevent people from jumping off
- Wrapping up the Portland Fire’s premiere season
One more look
FILE - Radicchio comes in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Its bitterness depends on the type.
Stephani Gordon / OPB
A new book about radicchio celebrates the once obscure vegetable
Radicchio has quietly become the “it girl” of winter foods in the Pacific Northwest.
The leafy vegetable is also the subject of a new cookbook called “Radicchio: A Celebration of the Beloved Italian Vegetable.”
The book by Lane Selman and Margarett Waterbury includes recipes for radicchio salads, pasta dishes and even chocolate radicchio cake with mascarpone frosting. (Crystal Ligori)
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