It was quite a year in 2024 for the greater Hillsboro community. So much has happened, and the winds of change are blowing across the Tualatin Plains. The Hillsboro Herald remains the only local news and media source in the City of Hillsboro and the greater community. In our 3rd year, we more than doubled the number of readers and became nationally covered and mentioned in several articles. Telling the stories of our people and collective experiences is our mission. As we began this work, we explained why the Herald was started and what we hoped to accomplish. The legendary Hillsboro Argus (RIP) is and will be the North Star to which we set sail. That means reaching across our community and having the will to tell the most challenging stories along with the good stuff. We remind you to bring your stories and rely on us to help when possible.
In 2024, The Hillsboro Herald generated:
- 200 Unique news stories
- Wrote over 275,000 words
- Had 1,101,339 Views
- Welcomed 734,000 Visitors
That is not bad, considering we have no paywall and no ad revenues, and we operate with a small group of dedicated community writers who all have full-time jobs. The Herald is a passion project and is one of the only community news sources left in the Metro Area, as more and more Media Conglomerates with political agendas force out and buy up any news sources they can. AI attacks us daily, making it harder to trust what we read and ingest for news. Check out this story today about scammers and AI taking over the Ashland Tidings newspaper for some time and publishing false news.
We are committed to creating authentic and one-of-a-kind leading stories free from interference or agendas tainted by corporate America and the Billionaire class that has divided our Nation. We could use your support in 2025, starting at $5 monthly. Click here to safely support the Herald this year and continue the work we do for our community! Happy 2025, everyone!
Top Stories Of 2024 By Total Reads Per Story
Intel was in the news all year. As was the CHIPS ACT and the Billions the Biden Administration handed out. This story captured the end of a long year in that process and nearly 40,000 readers.
Hillsboro’s ties to Intel and a discussion of how the community can advance in job reduction times were on the table.
Can Hillsboro And Oregon Survive A Major Disruption At Intel?
Big Gus- the ancient Sequoia was one of the BIGGEST stories of 2024. The Herald wrote several stories about his demise. This one captured a vast audience. We will forever miss that magnificent tree.
Giant Sequoia To Come Down This Week Across From Old High School In Hillsboro
Data Centers took center stage as our Community’s most significant growth factor. Hillsboro has become the 4th or 5th most prominent Data Center location in the US. With few jobs, a profound power grid, and environmental concerns, the future of Hillsboro is now tied to what we, as a community, have allowed to happen. This story was one of 10 the Herald wrote about these behemoths.
Hillsboro Becomes National Power In The Data Center Game As Massive Buildings Take Over The Skyline
A super local story took off as we announced the closure of the beloved Orenco Tap House and some other changes in Hillsboro’s lineup. That was a big blow to folks around Orenco Station, who called that fine establishment their home base and loved the staff there.
Beloved Orenco Tap House And New Sizzle Pie Closing In Hillsboro
Block 67, the huge parcel of land on the East flank of Hillsboro’s Historic Downtown, was in the news twice this year. This story was the first to announce the 2nd big bail-out of a sale. However, we just posted a new story about KOZ Development taking the project forward into 2025! https://hillsboroherald.com/koz-development-delivers-winning-plan-for-block-67-in-downtown-hillsboro/
This story generated the most comments last year, and boy, what a debate our community had over this—closing two lanes of TV Highway? Really? Yes, our leaders approved doing just that.
City Council To Approve Closing TV Highway Down To Two Lanes
A Cougar in the middle of Hillsboro? Yep- Here, Kitty Kitty Kitty!
Housing dominated in 2024 as it became more expensive, and Renters now outnumber homeowners.
As Hillsboro Residents Sleep, State Close To Adding Huge Land Expansion To City
Roads into the agricultural area to accommodate growth were controversial – this was a big story.
Washington County Commissioners Seem Hell Bent On Slamming New Road Through Scholls Countryside
Housing – again showing what we are up against. Nationally, we are one expensive place to live.
Hillsboro & Washington County Make List Of Least Affordable Housing Communities In Nation
A historical look at the Hillsboro A&W and the beloved Burger Family connected with readers.
Memories Of Hillsboro A&W Drive In Cause Ripple Across Facebook
Intel was caught dumping tons of chemicals and gases into the atmosphere without reporting it. These sorts of events can not go unreported.
Hillsboro Herald Releases Copy Of Scathing EPA Inspection Report On Intel In Hillsboro
Another historic story connected with our readers and tens of thousands read this story about the last farmhouse in the Hillsboro Industrial Park.
Historic Shute Farm In Hillsboro Open This Weekend For Viewing As Owners Look For Buyer
Last week, we covered this story about Hillsboro’s City View Charter School after shocked parents contacted us about Board Members’ hot mic discussions regarding the exclusion of students.
Hillsboro’s City View Charter School Rocked By Board Members Recall Petition
Most Commented On Story- Water Rates-
Hillsboro Residents Will Get Soaked On Water Rates Again As Industry Gets Another Break
Happy New Year Everyone! Let’s make 2025 a great one!
The Hillsboro Herald is a News source- an online digital newspaper and media source. Most of our stories are one-of-a-kind, unique, hyper-local, investigative, and uncovered by no other news media. We have subscribers and allow advertisers to work with us and meet our readers. We are formally organized as an Oregon LLC with the express purpose of gathering and diseminating news to the public and the Citizens of the Communities we serve. The City of Hillsboro leadership denies the Hillsboro Herald access to Executive Sessions, which has been held almost every meeting lately. There is no record of what happens in those meetings, and media and journalists are allowed. The Herald has been denied access because their city attorneys stated that this is a blog site, not a news media source. This makes it convenient for them to hide what is being done and said from the Herald. We tell you, our readers, this to make you ponder their decision and why they have made it. Several attorneys from the State and National Levels offer to take this matter to court. We want to bring you the news- and the best of the news. We do not force our readers to pay for the news like The Oregonian, Oregon-Live, The Business Journal, and others will. We do ask for your support and patronage as a subscriber or supporter. You can do that right here- https://www.patreon.com/join/HillsboroHerald
