Oregon's top news stories of 2018

(DECEMBER 23, 2018) 2018 was a busy year in the news. Many things happened in around the world and in the state of Oregon. Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) is a TV and radio station that reports stories from all around the state. It made a list of its "top 10" stories from 2018. "Top 10" means the first 10 on a list, so they are the most important or the most memorable. Here are the top three from their list:

#3. 2018 was another bad year for wildfires. They destroy forests and farmland. One man even died trying to save a neighbor's property from burning. More than 1,000 fires burned more than 75,000 in Oregon in 2018.

The fire season is the time in the summer when things are dry and easily burned. During this time, the state restricts outdoor fires and things that can cause fires. The fire season is getting longer because the environment is changing. The weather has been dryer, and more land has been developed for homes and businesses. The dry weather makes fires easier to start, but the land development interrupts natural cycles of forest fires that are actually good for the environment. The delay means that when fires do start, they are often larger. They are more dangerous, and they cause more damage.

#2. Oregon legalized the recreational use of the drug cannabis, or marijuana, in 2014, and sales began in 2015. Now, some people want to legalize psychedelic mushrooms. They have collected enough signatures from others who agree (more than 140,000). Therefore, in 2020, Oregon citizens will vote to decide if the special chemical in psychedelic mushrooms should also be legal in the state.

Psychedelic mushrooms contain psilocybin. This is a naturally occurring chemical that has mind-altering effects. People say psilocybin can change a person's perception and sometimes lead to spiritual experiences. Supporters want to be able to use it for recreational purposes. Others disagree; they think it is too dangerous.

#1. A fatal (deadly) shooting on the campus of Portland State University (PSU) caused a lot of debate. There was a fight in a bar, and campus police were called. The campus police shot and killed Jason Washington. Washington was an African-American, a father, and a Navy veteran. He had a concealed (hidden) gun, but he also had a valid permit for the gun. He was only trying to break up the fight.

Many PSU students and faculty do not want campus police to have guns. They say it does not make them feel safer. Instead, they think it leads to problems like this. Others still support PSU's decision to allow its campus police officers to have guns. They think they are necessary to protect people on campus.