Wildfire Insurance Protections: Gov. Tina Kotek ordered Oregon insurers to halt homeowners policy cancellations and nonrenewals in wildfire-affected ZIP codes, adding grace periods and extending claim deadlines to keep families from losing coverage mid-emergency. Transportation Budget Crunch: Oregon’s transportation agency warned of a roughly $200 million gap for 2027-29, driven by inflation and declining gas-tax revenue as EVs grow—raising the prospect of layoffs unless lawmakers restore funding. Election Law Fight: A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s DOJ lawsuit seeking Illinois’s unredacted voter registration database, marking the 19th straight courtroom loss in the administration’s push for broader access to state voter records. Animal Health Watch: Oregon confirmed classical scrapie in a sheep found through routine USDA surveillance, triggering an epidemiological investigation to trace the flock of origin and check for exposed animals. Portland Police Ballot Fight: A DSA-aligned effort is pushing back against a proposed Portland charter change that would set a sworn-officer staffing floor, aiming to keep police funding on the ballot. Heat Advisory: Eugene and the Willamette Valley face another warm stretch early August, with NWS flagging several days for moderate heat risk. College Sports Labor: Over 100 women’s college basketball players launched a unionization push, including Oregon State players seeking recognition as state employees. Local Public Safety: Medford police continue searching for a bank robbery suspect who allegedly fled on an electric scooter.