Jeff Thompson

New York, Portland, Queens

Newsroom Media & Technology Manager at WCBS-TV (New York, NY)

Breaking news editor at Oregon Public Broadcasting

Breaking news editor for @OPB. Father of a millennial and a Gen-Zer 🤯. Hobbies include records & booze. Tweets/RTs are not official OPB posts

Articles

Winter weather returns to the Cascade passes in Oregon and SW Washington

1 month ago | opb.org | Jeff Thompson

Heavy snow and gusty winds are expected along Cascade passes in Southwest Washington and most of Oregon for the next few days. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch through Saturday afternoon. Up to 2 feet of snow could accumulate by then, mostly at elevations above 2,500 feet. Wind gusts could reach 35 miles per hour. Several inches of snow fell in the passes overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning.
Former St. Helens teacher now faces 29 sexual abuse charges

1 month ago | opb.org | Jeff Thompson

A St. Helens High School choir teacher jailed for alleged sexual abuse against students is facing new charges, and his request for bail was denied Monday. The outside of St. Helens High School on Nov. 15, 2024. Court records show Eric Stearns, 47, is now facing 29 counts of sexual abuse, 26 of which are felony charges. An amended indictment against him now includes 16 total victims. The alleged abuse happened between 2015 and the current school year.
Arrest warrants issued for Bend family accused of child abuse

2 months ago | opb.org | Jeff Thompson

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has issued nationwide felony arrest warrants for a Bend-area family indicted in a child abuse case. Sarah Session is facing 19 different charges for alleged abuse against her 9-year-old stepson. Charging documents say she intentionally caused serious physical injury to the child and attempted to kill him. Her parents, Gary and Paula Hardenburg, face criminal mistreatment charges for aiding and abetting the abuse.
Winter storm warnings underway in western Oregon; weather advisories east of the Cascades

2 months ago | opb.org | Jeff Thompson

Winter weather alerts are in place for much of Oregon and Southwest Washington Thursday and Friday, including potential snow and freezing rain along the Willamette Valley, the Coast Range and the Columbia River Gorge. Snow begins to build up on Interstate 5 near Coburg, Oregon, on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. More snow, and potentially freezing rain, is expected in the region. Officials are urging people to stay home if possible, and many school districts are closed.
Extreme cold in western Oregon could give way to freezing rain overnight

2 months ago | opb.org | Jeff Thompson

Extreme cold gripped most of Oregon overnight Wednesday morning, with temperatures well below freezing in western Oregon and well below zero in Eastern Oregon. Cold weather advisories were in effect for most of the state through noon Wednesday, and then will go into effect again Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. Rita Calhoun eats a warm cup of soup at a warming shelter in Southeast Portland, operated by Multnomah County, Feb. 11, 2025.
US Rep. Val Hoyle exits DOGE caucus, says Elon Musk is ‘breaking the system’

2 months ago | opb.org | Jeff Thompson

U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle has announced she’s leaving the bipartisan Department of Government Efficiency House caucus. The new department agency was created by executive order of President Donald Trump and is being led by “special government employee” Elon Musk. A separate congressional caucus first met in December. Hoyle, who just won reelection to her second term, was one of a few Democrats to participate. In a post on X, Hoyle said she joined the caucus to be a voice for working people.
Rollover crash closes I-405 in Portland during morning commute

2 months ago | opb.org | Jeff Thompson

A rollover crash on Interstate 5 northbound at I-405 closed all exit lanes, including the city center off-ramps, in Portland, Ore., on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. Courtesy of Portland Police BureauA rollover semi-truck crash on Interstate 5 at Interstate 405 closed all exit lanes at the interchange during the Wednesday morning commute, including all northbound lanes to I-405 and all city center exits.
Winter weather alerts from the Oregon Coast to the Cascades

2 months ago | opb.org | Jeff Thompson

Winter weather alerts are in place for most of western Oregon this morning, from the coast to the east slopes of the Cascades. Along the Willamette Valley, a winter weather advisory for accumulating low-elevation snow is in effect through noon. Some flurries fell Wednesday morning at elevations over 500 feet, including Interstate 5 at Capitol Highway.
Snow could stick on the valley floor in the Portland metro area overnight

2 months ago | opb.org | Jeff Thompson

Sticking snow is a strong possibility Tuesday night into Wednesday morning at low elevations in the Portland metro area, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters say the most likely scenario is between a half-inch and an inch of snow accumulating between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday, But there’s a chance lowland areas in northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington could see more than an inch.
Low-elevation snow forecast for Oregon and SW Washington through the week

2 months ago | opb.org | Jeff Thompson

Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington should continue to see mountain snow through the rest of the week, along with overnight rain and snow at lower elevations, according to the National Weather Service in Portland. Any low-elevation snow for Monday night into Tuesday morning should be light, and probably won’t bring heavy traffic impacts in the Portland/Vancouver metro area.