What the Seattle Supersonics relocation can teach us about the Trailblazers

What the Seattle Supersonics relocation can teach us about the Trailblazers

NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO, SEATTLE LOST ITS NBA TEAM, THE SUPERSONICS. A COMBINATION OF NEW OWNERSHIP WITHOUT LOCAL TIES, AN OUTDATED ARENA AND POLITICAL DECISION-MAKING SAW THE SONICS LEAVE AFTER 41 YEARS IN SEATTLE.   SOUNDS FAMILIAR DOESN’T IT?   AMIDST THE DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN PORTLAND CITY OFFICIALS AND BLAZERS MANAGEMENT, SEATTLE TIMES REPORTER TIM BOOTH JOINS US TO DISCUSS WHAT LED THE SUPERSONICS TO RELOCATE FROM SEATTLE, AND HOW THAT RELATES TO THE ISSUES PORTLAND CURRENTLY FACES WITH THE BLAZERS.

Proposed data center in Salem stalled

THE SALEM CITY COUNCIL HAS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO BEGIN THE PROCESS [https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/2026/08/04/salem-city-council-votes-in-favor-on-moratorium-on-ai-data-centers/91098961007] OF ADOPTING A DATA CENTER MORATORIUM. OREGON GOV. TINA KOTEK HAS FORMED A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP STATEWIDE REGULATIONS [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/04/oregon-data-centers-advisory-committee-to-propose-statewide-regulations/] FOR THESE FACILITIES, AND SHE RECENTLY CANCELED THE SALE OF A PIECE OF STATE-OWNED LAND THAT THE VERRUS COMPANY WAS SLATED TO PURCHASE AS PART OF THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A DATA CENTER [https://www.cityofsalem.net/Home/Components/News/News/2169/15] ON THE PROPERTY.   KOTEK RELEASED A STATEMENT ABOUT THE CANCELLATION [https://apps.oregon.gov/oregon-newsroom/OR/GOV/Posts/Post/governor-kotek-directs-state-to-withdraw-land-for-proposed-salem-data-center-site]. “THIS DECISION IS ABOUT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE STATE ACTIONS REFLECT OREGON’S VALUES AND SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST,” SHE SAID. “I BELIEVE IN GROWING OREGON’S ECONOMY AND WELCOMING NEW INVESTMENT, INCLUDING IN THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR. BUT GROWTH HAS TO MAKE SENSE FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FOR OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.”   VERRUS [https://www.verrusdata.com/] CEO NELSON ABRAMSON ARGUES HIS COMPANY'S DATA CENTERS ARE DIFFERENT THAN MOST — HE MAKES THE CASE THAT PROJECTS SHOULD BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY, SUPPORT CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES. HE SAYS THE COMPANY’S FACILITY WOULD FULFILL ALL THOSE GOALS, UNLIKE OTHER SIMILAR FACILITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. ABRAMSON JOINS US TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT.

Outdoor summer camps in Oregon rescheduling and canceling due to wildfire smoke

OUTDOOR CAMPS ACROSS OREGON HAVE BEEN SEVERELY IMPACTED BY POOR AIR QUALITY FROM WILDFIRE SMOKE. CAMPS ARE BEING FORCED TO MOVE INDOORS AND CANCEL CAMPS ALTOGETHER, RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL LOSSES. WE’LL HEAR FROM MT. HOOD CAMP KIWANIS DIRECTOR DAVE MCDONALD AND THE CAMP MANAGER AT CENTRAL OREGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SARAH WOLCOTT, ABOUT HOW THEIR CAMPS ARE RESPONDING TO THE SMOKY AIR.

The Hybrid Gallery creating safe space for queer and trans arts and the greater Eugene community

For the last 5 years, The Hybrid Gallery [https://www.thehybrideugene.com/] in Eugene has welcomed and showcased creatives of all kinds into its space. The art collective has diversified its offerings over the years, adding more classes, groups and space for local bands to play. General manager Geneva Vincent says The Hybrid is providing a safe space, not just for artists but for everyone in the community. Events include weekly open mic nights where anyone can share comedy, music, poetry and storytelling. And last year they added [https://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/arts-culture/2025/08/22/with-body-positive-figure-drawing-muses-can-be-any-shape/] a monthly queer and trans figure drawing class [https://www.thehybrideugene.com/events/p/queer-trans-figure-drawing]. Mars Cantrell teaches that class in addition to one that focuses on body positivity. He and Vincent join us to share more about the art collective and how these figure drawing classes support both those who take them and those who model for them.

New leader of Multnomah County Homeless Services Department on heading up the agency

The Multnomah County Homeless Services Department was first established in 2016 as the Joint Office of Homeless Services — an office overseeing services provided to people experiencing homelessness in Portland and Multnomah County The agency faced turnover as it transitioned from a joint office to a formal county department in 2024, and its newest leader, appointed in April, is Nathaniel VerGow, who comes from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.   VerGow begins his new position following Portland Mayor Keith Wilson’s campaign promises to end unsheltered homelessness in Portland, which have raised questions about what goals can be realistic for the city [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/01/behind-portlands-homelessness-data-familial-political-fight-emerges/] and what services do the most good [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/27/think-out-loud-homeless-research/]. He's also heading up the agency as it faces a $67 million funding gap [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/16/multnomah-county-chair-cutting-homeless-shelter-beds-budget/]. VerGow says the agency has the current job of learning how to “do as much if not more with less,” as the department adjusts to its new fiscal norm.   We’ll hear from VerGow about his plans for the agency, and how his work with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority can inform his new role with Multnomah County.