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Good morning, Northwest.

Officials yesterday confirmed a second death related to the chemical tank rupture at a Longview paper mill earlier this week. Another nine people are presumed dead.

Today’s newsletter starts with the latest in this developing story, which we continue to follow.

In other news, Portland City Council has agreed on a plan to increase the arts tax.

Here’s your First Look at Thursday’s news.

— Bradley W. Parks

Top story

Longview paper mill disaster could be ‘deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history,’ governor says

The confirmed death toll from a chemical tank rupture in Longview has now climbed to two, officials said yesterday, with another nine people presumed dead.

“We’re bracing ourselves for this being the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said at a news conference yesterday. “I want to extend my deepest condolences to those who have been directly impacted by the loss of a loved one during this extraordinarily challenging time.”

Early Tuesday morning, a 900,000-gallon chemical tank failed at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. The tank rupture released tens of thousands of gallons of the caustic chemical known as white liquor, which is used to break wood chips into pulp to make paper. (Conrad Wilson, Troy Brynelson, Amelia Templeton and Courtney Sherwood)

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3 things to know

• The Portland City Council has narrowly approved a plan to raise the annual arts tax to $50 per person, while exempting more taxpayers based on their income. (Alex Zielinski)
• For the past year, Oregon’s unemployment rate has fluctuated very little as the state — and the nation — has remained in what economists call a low-hire, low-fire environment. While many sectors of the economy are shrinking, private healthcare and social assistance keep growing. (Zac Ziegler, KLCC)
• The Kam Wah Chung and Company building has been a constant in the town of John Day for more than 150 years, and it continues to serve as a key economic driver to this day as tourists flock to the site in what now is a popular state park. (Chelsea Rose and Christie Goshe)

Northwest headlines

• Portland approves policy to bar law enforcement from wearing masks (Alex Zielinski)
• Head of Portland’s civic life office is on leave (Alex Zielinski)
• Federal judge refuses to block Trump order to create federal voter list and limit mail voting (Nicholas Riccardi, AP)
• Why a decades-old forest planting practice from Japan is gaining traction in the US (Lauren Gallup, Courtney Flatt and Bianca Garcia, NPR)
• Oregon DMV won’t reinstate undercover plates for feds, citing potential sanctuary lawsuit (Shaanth Kodialam Nanguneri, Oregon Capital Chronicle)
• McClatchy newspaper reporters in Washington strike for higher pay, better AI regulations (Sami West, KUOW)
• Feds agree to decide on endangered species protections for Mazama newt by October (Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle)
• Leite scores 20 and the Fire win third straight with 71-61 victory over the Sun (Anne M. Peterson, AP)

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):

• Federal officials eye vineyard southeast of Salem to expand Oregon’s largest veterans cemetery
• If you think Portland train delays have gotten longer and more frequent, you’re not wrong

One more look

Oregon Zoo’s captive breeding program produces rare Mazama newt eggs

The Mazama newt, a small native amphibian found only in Oregon’s Crater Lake, is on the brink of extinction.

In the late 1800s, fish were introduced to the lake to attract anglers. Crayfish were then added as a food source for the fish. Both of these non-native species prey upon the newt.

In a last-ditch effort to save this unique creature, the Oregon Zoo is attempting to breed the newts in captivity for the first time with the hope of someday reintroducing them back to Crater Lake.

The zoo announced yesterday that it now has newt eggs. (Jule Gilfillan)

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/28/longview-chemical-disaster-first-look/