Kitzhaber scandal, mass shooting top Oregon stories of 2015
Every editor or news director who submitted a ballot of 10 top stories had the governor's downfall as either the biggest or second-biggest story of 2015.
Reflecting the variety of opinions, the three stories that just missed the top 10 included the rollout of Common Core-aligned testing, the Portland Timbers winning the Major League Soccer championship and — of course!— the improbable stardom of the Portland International Airport carpet.
Just weeks after being sworn in for his fourth term, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber surrendered to political pressure and quit over allegations his live-in fiancee, Cylvia Hayes, used their relationship to win contracts for her consulting business and failed to report the income on her taxes.
The Oct. 1 attack shattered the Roseburg community and immediately reignited national debates about gun violence, school safety, mental health and media coverage.
Record December precipitation that triggered flooding and landslides eased the drought, with much of the rain and snow occurring after the ballots had been sent.
Heisman winner Marcus Mariota led the University of Oregon to the first College Football Playoff national championship game, but dreams of bringing a national title back to Eugene crumbled in a 42-20 loss to Ohio State.
Businesses that relied on the container terminal for international shipping are now paying more to send their goods to out-of-state ports via truck or rail.
Greenpeace activists rappelled off Portland's St. Johns Bridge this summer in a dramatic attempt to stop a Royal Dutch Shell icebreaker from leaving the city to join an Arctic drilling operation.