"Polluted by Money"

"How corporate cash corrupted one of the greenest states in America"

"Oregon once aimed to be the greenest state in America.

Its leaders adopted the nation’s first bottle deposit. They controlled urban sprawl. They declared ocean beaches public property.

But in the last four years, Oregon’s most powerful industries have killed, weakened or stalled efforts to deal with climate change, wolf recovery, disappearing bird habitat, cancer-causing diesel exhaust, dwindling groundwater, industrial air pollution, oil spill planning and weed killers sprayed from helicopters.

What changed Oregon?

Money. Lots and lots of money."

Rob Davis reports for the Portland Oregonian February 15, 2019, with photography by Beth Nakamura, video by Teresa Mahoney, and data analysis by Steve Suo.

SEE ALSO:

Intro: "By the Numbers"

Part One: "Polluted by Money"

Part Two: "Leaving a Stench"

Part Three: "Weak Watchdog"

Part Four: "Perfectly Legal"