AGP Executive Report

Oregon Community & Culture: Jacksonville’s Haunted History Walking Tours are back for spooky-season history lovers, with two real-report routes (Britt Hill and Courthouse) running about an hour each and tickets at historicjacksonville.org. Arts & Public Life: Carson City’s Murals & Music Festival returns Sept. 15–19, adding 15 new public artworks to the city’s growing mural collection alongside live music and community events. Sports on TV (Oregon angle): College football Week 2 is packed, with Oregon at Oklahoma State on ESPN/Disney+ and a full TV/streaming slate across major networks. Local Sports: Wapato and La Salle won pool play at the SunDome Volleyball Festival, while Zillah claimed the No. 2 seed bracket as the event continues. Public Safety & Health: A Portland podiatrist, Brian Bowen, was sentenced to 100 months after 13 women reported sexual abuse during treatment and surgical recovery. Practical Living: Before planting trees, call 811 to mark underground utilities and avoid dangerous, costly hits.

Oregon Sports Spotlight: No. 6 Oregon heads to Stillwater for a noon ESPN showdown at Oklahoma State after a shaky Week 1 vs. Boise State, while OSU tries to rebound from a Tulsa loss and two interceptions. Local Arts & Culture: Cole Escola, an Oregon native, reprises “Oh, Mary!” for an HBO screen version next year. Portland Arts & Travel: A new walking-tour style book, “In Search of Portland,” maps 100 notable stops across downtown and the Pearl, mixing architecture and personal storytelling. Community & Belonging: Bend’s Latino Community Association is urging residents to show up for Welcoming Week amid threats and hostile rhetoric toward immigrants. Sports Media: Major League Table Tennis is rolling out its biggest media push yet, with every match streaming via YouTube and DAZN plus broader TV recap coverage. Entertainment Pop Culture: “The Simpsons” Springfield mystery gets a long-awaited answer after 37 seasons. Local Events: Florence’s fall weekend returns with a community garage sale and the Florence Fall Classic car show.

Oregon Sports Spotlight: Texas Tech heads to Corvallis for a key Week 2 clash with Oregon State, with both teams coming off Big 12 openers—Tech after a 33-10 win over Abilene Christian, OSU after a 33-20 loss at Houston. Local Business & Community: Medford’s Chamber honored United Way of Jackson County exec Dee Anne Everson as “First Citizen,” alongside winners across nonprofits and local companies at Rogue X. Arts & Culture: WSU’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art kicked off “Art First Thursdays” with “The Mirror that Nature Holds,” plus a curatorial tour featuring Portland artist Michael Brophy. What to Do: The 14 South Artists Regional Art Tour runs Sept. 19-20, with studio stops and demos across South Central Wisconsin. Entertainment News: Nina Shipman, known for “The Munsters” and “Vertigo,” died at 88. Health & Science (national): A new review says berberine’s “natural Ozempic” buzz is oversimplified, pointing to gut-microbiome and inflammation pathways instead.

Portland Arts & Quirky Fun: Geek Week PDX is fueling a citywide “Sneaky Squatch” scavenger hunt, with artists hiding Sasquatch-inspired works across Portland and a 200-pound ballerina Sasquatch among the installations. Fall Museum Picks: The Oregonian rounds up nine must-see exhibits and events for the season, including Portland’s Japanese American Museum of Oregon and the Portland Art Museum’s Indigenous art show. Wine Country Spotlight: Readers are invited to nominate favorite Oregon wine tasting experiences for the 2026 Readers Choice Awards, with writers highlighting standout stops like LucidWild and a Tuscan-style new hospitality center at Casa Roco. Community Health in Canby: Neighborhood Health Center brings free screenings and services to Wait Park on Sept. 12, including vision, dental, blood pressure checks, OHP help, and community acupuncture. Sports Tech in Oregon: SportsBug, already delivering real-time play-by-play audio for University of Oregon fans, adds a new strategic equity partner as it expands. College Football Focus: Oregon State opens at home vs. No. 13 Texas Tech in Corvallis, setting up a big early-season test for the Beavers. Public Safety Reminder: The CPSC expanded a recall of light-up children’s toys due to accessible button batteries.

Local Arts & Community: Medford’s Artbox program is rolling out fresh designs on 20 downtown traffic signal boxes, with 10 Rogue Valley artists paid $250 each to spotlight community, history, and nature. Wildfire Relief Through Art: Heartbreaker Tattoo and Artist Co-op is hosting a two-day Spokane Strong event Sept. 19-20 to connect wildfire survivors with recovery resources and raise money for relief. Parks & Recreation: Ashland Parks Commission voted down beginner mountain bike trails in Lithia Park, citing erosion and disruption concerns despite support for easier access to tougher routes. Film & TV: Portland’s Hollywood Theatre is pairing live bands with century-old silent films, and fall 2026 movie season is gearing up with major releases. Business/Jobs: Lonza says it will build a spray-drying pharma production site in Bend, aiming to be operational in 2029 and creating 80+ jobs. Sports (Oregon): Oregon heads to Stillwater for a Week 2 showdown with Oklahoma State after a shaky opener, with plenty of focus on fixing early-game issues. Tech & Streaming: ITV used Akamai TrafficPeak to cut streaming telemetry delays during World Cup coverage.

Oregon Arts & Community Calendar: Salem’s September lineup spotlights Indigenous Northwest Biennial at the Salem Art Association (through Oct. 25) plus Textilezzz: The Fabric of Sleep at the Willamette Heritage Center (through Dec. 31), with free talks on Sept. 12 and Sept. 27. Local Entertainment in Central Oregon: Redmond’s General Duffy’s Waterhole—taphouse, food truck lot, and live event space—has been listed for sale at $5.6 million after eight years, with the 1.4-acre site offering development potential. Music + Lifestyle Collab: Hydro Flask’s Hydro Flask x UMG partnership continues with a limited Role Model drinkware collection tied to his album Chuck Timely & The Hourglass, launching alongside Role Model’s Chuck On Tour. Sports Betting Buzz: Heisman odds are shifting fast after Week 1, with Miami’s Darian Mensah surging to the top of the board and Malachi Toney a featured buy ahead of Week 2. Oregon Sports Preview: No. 6 Oregon looks to bounce back after a narrow Boise State win as it heads to Oklahoma State for a 9 a.m. PT kickoff Sept. 12.

Music Spotlight: Twin Temple teased their next era with “Love You To Death,” the third single from Shooter Jennings-produced “Doomed Lovers,” blending sweet romance with murder-ballad darkness ahead of an Oct. 9 digital release. Arts & Culture: Portland’s Kasayahan 2026 is back downtown Sept. 12 with Filipino American food, dance, and live music—plus Black Eyed Peas co-founder apl.de.ap headlining. Science Meets Storytelling: UO doctoral researcher Angelique Allen brings octopus neuroscience to the Santa Barbara Sea Glass & Ocean Arts Festival, pairing lab work with children’s books and community storytelling. Community & Memory: Hundreds marked the 25th anniversary of Hands Across the Bridge on the I-5 span, joining recovery communities from Oregon and Washington. Local Schools: Siuslaw students are back in class with stricter phone rules, including Yondr pouches, as campuses restart for the year. Sports (Oregon): Oregon Tech’s Running Y Invitational wrapped with British Columbia winning both men’s and women’s team titles at the Running Y Resort.

College Football Buzz: LSU re-entered the AP Top 10 while Oregon slid to No. 6 and Michigan dropped out entirely after a wild, second-chance Hail Mary finish vs. Western Michigan. Oregon Sports Spotlight: Oregon’s Week 2 matchup at Oklahoma State is set for ESPN, with OSU dealing with a major hit—starting left tackle Jacob Sexton is out for the season. Entertainment & Pop Culture: Prime Video and Amazon Home Entertainment set physical releases for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Seasons 1 and 2, with a steelbook planned for December. Local Arts: Central Oregon’s High Desert Art League is bringing a “Best of the High Desert Art League” show to COCC’s Barber Library Rotunda Gallery starting Sept. 16. Civic Life: Baker City is lifting its outdoor burn ban Sept. 11, but residents still need permits and must follow city rules.

NRL Finals Preview: The Rabbitohs and Knights kick off finals week with full team lists at Allianz Stadium, setting up a high-stakes run to the grand final. Portland Metro Pets: Off Leash K9 Training Portland is spotlighting private aggression and reactivity behavior-modification lessons for reactive dogs. Arts & Culture: Harbor Art Gallery in Port Angeles hosts Garret DelaBarre’s September exhibit during the Second Saturday Art Walk, with works inspired by coastal waters. Oregon Environment: A new study says northern spotted owls are functionally extinct across large parts of the Pacific Northwest, raising alarms for conservation. Film & Craft: Laika’s stop-motion “Wildwood” gets behind-the-scenes attention, with an exhibition tracing the film’s design and physical-making process. Health & Safety: Oregon’s Willamette Valley smoke alert urges residents to close windows and use air purifiers as wildfire haze moves indoors. Sports (Oregon): College football chatter continues around Oregon’s Week 1 scare and what it means heading into Week 2.

Oregon Sports Spotlight: No. 2 Oregon opens its next big test with a Sept. 12 showdown at Oklahoma State, with Ducks favored heavily and the matchup framed as a “prove it” moment after a shaky start vs. Boise State. Local Arts & Culture: The Pendleton Center for the Arts just landed an $85K Oregon Community Foundation grant to support a miniature-basket exhibition, part of a $1M Creative Heights push for Oregon artists. Community & Public Life: Portland is hosting a free, ticketed public conversation on the restored Abraham Lincoln statue’s return to the South Park Blocks, with plans to reinstall it in 2027 on a lower base. Entertainment & Lifestyle: Bend’s Silver Moon Brewing remains put—while its downtown property goes on the market, with the brewery continuing as the legacy entertainment anchor. Outdoor & Safety: Multiple Oregon Coast state park restrooms were vandalized and partially or fully closed after substantial damage. Sports Human Interest: Oregon State’s Cooper Hjerpe made a memorable MLB debut for the Cardinals, throwing four perfect innings. Labor Day Context: NPR’s Labor Day school-year kickoff includes reporting from Oregon Public Broadcasting, capturing how students and parents are feeling as classes begin.

Education & Community: Labor Day is being marked as the unofficial end of summer and the start of a new school year, with NPR-style coverage spotlighting first-day emotions and traditions like early “toolbox coach” welcomes for kindergarteners. Local Business & Tourism: The Oregon Coast Guide launched affordable local advertising to help coastal businesses get found by locals and visitors. Environment & Parks: Honeyman State Park is set to close its campground and day-use areas in early 2027 for removal of 150+ dead or unhealthy trees. Clean Energy: PacWave South, a grid-connected wave energy test facility off Newport, opened to speed up device testing without regulatory delays. Sports (Oregon): No. 2 Oregon survived a scare in its opener, beating Boise State 34-27 in Eugene, with Dante Moore throwing for 378 yards and three TDs. Arts & Culture: “19th Amendment and the Power of the Vote!” is slated as a Sept. 18 musical stop at the Coliseum Museum in Oregon. Outdoor Racing: The Don Burnison Memorial Boat Races returned over the weekend in Grants Pass.

Walker Cup Drama: Great Britain & Ireland pulled off the most improbable comeback in Walker Cup history at Lahinch, winning the 51st Cup after a Sunday singles surge led by Josh Hill’s clutch 18th-hole birdie. Oregon In the Spotlight: No. 2 Oregon survived a scare in Eugene, rallying past Boise State 34-27 with Dante Moore’s big day and a late go-ahead score. Apple Cup Preview: Washington and Washington State meet Sunday at Husky Stadium (4 p.m. ET), with the rivalry still feeling must-watch despite conference shakeups. Local Arts & Community: Milwaukie’s Decibel owners are turning an old dental office into Lulu Mae, a hidden garden venue for small private events. Inventor Watch: A Clatsop man’s “Day Light Arch” patent aims to make seismic-proof construction safer using arched steel panels and recycled materials. Labor Day Notes: Monday brings closures for schools and government offices, plus a reminder of Labor Day’s Oregon roots. Sports Betting Buzz: Kalshi and Polymarket rolled out new promo codes tied to Apple Cup and other Labor Day games.

Oregon Ducks Football: No. 2 Oregon survived a scare at Autzen, rallying past Boise State 34-27 as Dante Moore threw for 378 yards and three TDs, capped by Dakorien Moore’s 62-yard go-ahead score. Oregon State Football: Oregon State opened the JaMarcus Shephard era with a 33-20 loss at Houston; true freshman Jesse Legree shined with 136 yards and a TD in his debut. College Football Chaos: Michigan escaped Western Michigan 13-12 on a second-chance Hail Mary after officials put a second back on the clock, while LSU crushed Clemson 51-10 in Lane Kiffin’s debut. Sports & Health (Oregon): A new study links lead found near Portland-area airports to leaded aviation fuel used by small aircraft, raising fresh concerns for nearby communities. Local Sports Coverage: KEZI’s Friday Night Blitz wrapped up Oregon high school football’s opening week, with OSAA site issues delaying some score posting. Arts & Entertainment: Horror icon Bruce Campbell says his cancer prognosis gives him about five years to live, while his Medford-set film Ernie & Emma heads toward wider release. Education Watch: Oregon districts face budget pressure tied to enrollment drops and state funding cuts, with teacher layoffs and consolidation debates heating up.

Oregon Football: No. 2 Ducks and Boise State traded scores in Eugene, with Boise State leading 17-14 at halftime after a late Dante Moore TD to Jamari Johnson and a Broncos field goal plus a screen-pass score by Sire Gaines. Oregon State Football: Conner Weigman threw for 305 yards and two TDs as No. 23 Houston beat Oregon State 33-20 in the Beavers’ season opener under new coach JaMarcus Shephard. Sports Streaming Watch Guide: Multiple Week 1 matchups are streaming-only on ESPN’s platforms (ESPN Select/Unlimited), including Arizona State vs. Morgan State and BYU vs. Utah Tech—useful if you’re planning your Oregon weekend viewing. Local Sports & Community: A 78-year-old Eugene retiree sprinted to two silver medals at the Washington State Senior Games. Entertainment & Culture: Bruce Campbell says his cancer prognosis suggests he has about five years to live, while the Grateful Dead’s psychedelic “Furthur” bus returns to San Francisco for a new exhibit. Food Note: FDA recalled Hodo Fried Tofu products in 29 states due to potential chemical contamination from ink.

Oregon Ducks Football: Boise State’s season opener at No. 2 Oregon is still set for Saturday, but the Broncos hit major travel trouble—weather forced diversions and a long bus ride that could push arrival to late evening. College Football Hype: Paul Finebaum is predicting a Big Ten run at the top, with Oregon winning it all, while Malachi Toney’s Heisman-style end-zone poses keep the national spotlight on Week 1 stars. Sports TV & Schedules: A full slate of Sept. 5 games is lined up across major networks, plus quick guides for where to watch and what’s on. Arts & Pop Culture: Rose City Comic-Con 2026 announces Dark Horse’s signing schedule, and a Grateful Dead “Furthur” bus exhibit is headed to San Francisco for a major psychedelic moment. Books & Film: Nora Roberts’ “The Final Target” gets a local review, and Bruce Campbell says he has about five years left to live as he promotes “Ernie & Emma.” Local Health: West Coast Health Alliance shares 2026-27 respiratory virus immunization recommendations for Oregon and neighbors.

Oregon Civic Calendar: Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read is set to host an “Oregon Votes Town Hall” in Gresham on Sept. 8 at the East County Library, with Maxine Dexter, Chris Gorsek, and Ricki Ruiz on the panel. Public Safety & Remembrance: Oregon DPSST will open its Sept. 11 Memorial to the public at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem on Sept. 11 (9 a.m.–4 p.m.), featuring artifacts tied to the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Local Arts & Community: Salem’s “Punx in the Park” returns for its fifth year on Sept. 5 at Riverfront Park, mixing free punk shows with youth resources and mentorship. Food & Health Watch: Oregon Health Authority issued swim-surf advisories for Oceanside Beach, Siletz Bay, and Mill Beach due to unsafe fecal bacteria levels. Portland Food News: Chef Marius Pop’s Nuvrei is expanding beyond Portland with a new bakery-cafe in Detroit, opening in phases starting Sept. 7. Sports (Oregon angle): Week 1 college football is here, with Oregon’s big matchup vs. Boise State drawing heavy attention as the Pac-12 era kicks off.