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SCOTUS, Community Updates & the Stories Shaping Oregon – Newsmakers at Noon 7/1/26

Posted on July 1, 2026

Today’s program kicked off with Jane Lowery and Daylee Howard from Willamette Valley Bank, who joined us for our monthly KYKN Community Calendar update. They shared a preview of community events and activities happening throughout the Mid-Valley during the month of July.

We then turned our attention to downtown Salem, discussing Jacob Espinoza’s article, “You Told Me Downtown Doesn’t Feel Safe. I Asked the Police Chief Why.” The conversation explored residents’ concerns about crime, homelessness, public safety, and the challenges of balancing compassion with accountability.

Much of today’s show focused on the Supreme Court’s recent birthright citizenship ruling and the reaction it has generated. We examined a Townhall column by Kurt Schlichter arguing that, despite the ruling, the issue is far from settled and that Congress still has the authority to address birthright citizenship through legislation. We also discussed constitutional attorney KrisAnne Hall’s analysis of the Court’s decision and reviewed commentary from several legal and political observers.

A key point of discussion was Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s concurrence, in which he wrote that while the Executive Order does not violate the Fourteenth Amendment, it conflicts with current federal law—specifically 8 U.S.C. §1401(a). He noted that Congress has the constitutional authority to amend the statute or enact legislation creating exceptions to birthright citizenship for children born to foreign citizens who are unlawfully or temporarily in the United States, but has not yet done so. We discussed what that could mean moving forward and why many believe Congress must now take up the issue.

We also covered the Supreme Court’s decision allowing Idaho and West Virginia to enforce laws prohibiting biological males from competing in girls’ and women’s school sports.

Back in Oregon, we looked at the Prosperity Council’s recommendations to Governor Tina Kotek, which include lowering taxes, reducing regulations, and making more land available for development to improve the state’s economic outlook.

We wrapped up our Oregon news with two reports highlighting Portland’s continuing challenges: one survey ranking the city’s downtown among the world’s least desirable urban centers, and another projecting Portland residents will pay approximately $577 more in taxes and fees in 2027 than they did in 2026.

To close the show on a lighter note, we shared the Bird Alliance of Oregon’s tongue-in-cheek fundraising campaign proposing a $10 “bird tattoo tax,” supposedly collected by the fictional “Internal RAVENue Service,” to support bird conservation efforts. The social media comments may have been even more entertaining than the campaign itself.

Stories discussed on today’s program:

 

 

 

Half Price Oregon
Day Heating and Cooling
Total Comfort
Oregon Medical Centers
DC Electric
Old Mill Feed & Garden
Premium NW
McDonald's