Oregon Quietly Pulls the Plug on Non-Citizen CDL Program
Something pretty significant just changed in Oregon, and most people probably haven’t even heard about it yet. As of March 16, 2026, the Oregon DMV officially stopped issuing and reinstating limited-term commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and learner’s permits for non-domiciled applicants. In simple terms, that means non-citizens living in the U.S. on temporary legal status can no longer get or renew the licenses required to drive commercial vehicles in the state. And it didn’t come with much...
TRAVEL
Oregon is a beautiful destination for travelers who enjoy exploring the great outdoors. With its diverse landscape of mountains, forests, waterfalls, and coastline, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Locals Love This 24-Hour Oregon Diner, And The Strawberry Cheesecake Waffle Is Just One Reason Why
There’s something comforting about a place that never seems to close its doors. The kind of spot where the lights are always on, the coffee is always hot, and no one looks twice if you walk in at...
This Old School Astoria Gem Has Been Dishing Out Rich Frozen Custard For Decades
There are certain places on the Oregon Coast that feel stitched into your memory. For me, one of those places is Custard King. Every time I find myself in Astoria, whether it is a windy spring...
This Old School Springfield Joint Serves A 5-Pound Burger That Is A Cardiologist’s Worst Nightmare
Some restaurants serve burgers. Others dare you to prove something. At Giant Burger, larger than life burgers have been part of their identity for generations. This old school burger joint in...
FOOD & DRINK
Explore Oregon’s food and drink scene – from locally sourced ingredients to craft brews and award-winning wines. Plan your culinary adventure now!
Missing Izzy’s? This Oregon Pizza Buffet Has Been Packing Plates Since 1964
If you’ve been quietly mourning the loss of Izzy’s Pizza in Oregon — the buffet trays, the birthday parties, the sound of arcade games humming in the background — you’re not alone. For years,...
One of Oregon’s Longest-Running Favorite Donut Shops Opened in 1974
There are some places you visit once. And then there are places that quietly become part of your routine, your road trips, your family traditions. Joe’s Donuts in Sandy, Oregon is the latter. Joe's...
If You Love Brisket, This Portland Restaurant Serving Texas BBQ Is A Must-Visit
There is something unmistakable about the smell of wood smoke drifting through a neighborhood before most people have poured their first cup of coffee. In Northeast Portland, that scent has been...
Oregon Beachgoers Discover a 46-Foot Whale Along the Shoreline
Early Saturday morning, the Oregon coast woke up to a heavy and sobering sight. A 46-foot fin whale washed ashore just north of Sunset Beach Recreation Site, near Warrenton, sometime around 6:30 a.m. According to Seaside Aquarium, the whale had actually been on...
Pedal Through The Valley Or Enjoy Brunch On A Relaxing Santiam Excursion Train Ride
Date Night On A Willamette Valley Train Ride? Yes Please. If you’ve ever driven through the Willamette Valley and caught yourself staring a little too long at the railroad tracks, wondering where they go and what they’ve seen, Santiam Excursions is basically that...
This Easy Boardwalk Trail Leads to Towering Ancient Giants Just Off the Beach
There’s something that happens when you stand next to a tree that has been alive longer than almost everything you know. It quiets you. Not in a dramatic, movie-montage way, but in a subtle, grounding way, like your body suddenly realizes how small it is and how lucky...
Bright Yellow Sky Thing Lingers For Third Day, Officials Urge Residents To Stay Calm
PORTLAND, OR — State and local officials held a brief but tense press conference Wednesday morning to address growing public concern over a bright yellow thing that has remained visible in the sky for a third consecutive day. “This is not an emergency,” officials...
Researchers Admit They Still Don’t Understand Why Portland Residents Look Like This
PORTLAND, OR — After years of observation, analysis, and quietly judgmental note-taking, researchers have formally admitted they still do not understand why Portland residents look the way they do. The announcement came Tuesday from a multidisciplinary research team...
Portland Is Tearing Down Lloyd Center, and It Feels Like the End of an Era
Growing up in Oregon, Lloyd Center wasn’t just a mall. It was a landmark of childhood. It was where weekends happened. Where your parents took you when you were bored. Where Christmas felt bigger somehow. Where the echo of your footsteps mixed with the smell of...
Can You Actually Sell An Iconic Waterfall? Oregon Is About to Find Out
One of the Pacific Northwest’s most photographed waterfalls is officially on the market, and it’s setting off alarm bells across the state. That Oregon Life has been writing about this beloved spot since 2016, and ten years ago, I couldn't have imagined that I'd be...
16 Oregon Towns Where You Never Leave, Develop a Drinking Problem, and Hit on the Same People at the Same Bar for Eternity
There are Oregon towns you pass through.There are Oregon towns you stay in for a bit.And then there are Oregon towns that quietly enroll you in something permanent. Nobody ever announces they’re staying forever. They say things like “just for now,” or “until I figure...
After a Brutal Start, Oregon’s Mountains Could Finally See Real Snow
Winter in Oregon is usually defined by momentum. Snow builds steadily through December and January, storms reinforce one another, and by February the mountains are locked into a rhythm that carries them through spring. This year, that rhythm never materialized. As...
After 57 Years of Vinyl, Portland’s Most Beloved Music Store Is Looking For A Buyer
For generations of Portlanders, Music Millennium hasn’t just been a place to buy records. It has been a classroom, a sanctuary, a launchpad, and a second home for anyone whose life tilted toward music the moment the needle hit vinyl. This week, longtime owner Terry...