August 20, 2026

West of the Tunnel

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  • Compost bins can be a fire risk This semi-truck was hauling hay when it caught on fire on July 25, 2026. The entire truck and trailer were consumed by flames, stalling traffic on Interstate 5 Northbound near Albany, Oregon. ~ Photo by Brian Bull/KLCC August 20, 2026 KLCC | Brian Bull

    Compost bins are a potential fire risk for homeowners. The enclosed space can’t easily dissipate the heat generated by composting, Mike Caven, Chief of Eugene Springfield Fire, said to KLCC.

    Fires have erupted in gardens, hay trucks, and grain silos, sometimes explosively if pressure and heat exacerbated significantly. Caven said monitoring for moisture and tilling can help prevent such build-up.

    Read more…
  • Matsutake mushroom season arrives September 8 August 19, 2026 Press Release | Siuslaw National Forest

    Matsutake mushroom commercial permits will be available starting September 8, 2026, for use within the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and the Central Coast Ranger District. The Siuslaw National Forest announced.

    Permits can be purchased in person at the Reedsport office starting on September 8 and then at the Waldport office as well, on a first-come basis. 100 commercial use permits will be available.

    The permits cost $200. No permit is required for non-commercial use, up to six mushrooms per day,

    Similarly looking, poisonous mushrooms exist in the same areas as the matsutake, the Forest Service warns.

    Click for more information…
  • Oregon wants your input on transportation August 19, 2026 WotT | Will Yurman

    Oregon is looking for public comment on the state’s transportation system. The governor has convened “The Rebuilding Our Transportation Vision Workgroup,” to offer recommendations by the end of the year.

    The deadline for public comments is September 10.

    Read more…
  • Rise in Measles Cases in Oregon in 2026 Measles rashes usually appear as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. ~ Photo by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention August 17, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Mia Maldonado

    The Oregon Capital Chronicle reports that Oregon has seen a rise in measles cases this year, already ahead of the 2024 outbreak.

    The State of Oregon requires that children receive two doses of the measles vaccine before entering kindergarten, though parents can request an exemption and opt out.

    Vaccination rates for individual school districts are available from the Oregon Health Department online.

    Read the Full Story…
  • PNW needs a massive upgrade to the power grid, report says ~ Photo by Clinton Carpenter/Bonneville Power Administration August 14, 2026 Washington State Standard | Aspen Ford

    The Pacific Northwest will need a massive buildout of new energy infrastructure over the next six years to meet rising electricity demand, according to a draft regional power plan released Thursday, August 13, 2026.

    Electricity demand could double in the next 20 years in the Pacific Northwest because of data centers, the increase in electric vehicles, and population growth, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council forecast last year.

    The council released a draft of its Ninth Power Plan on Thursday, calling for the addition of 11,000 megawatts to the region’s grid — about a third of the electricity the Northwest uses at peak demand.

    Public comment for the draft is open until Oct. 16.

    Read the full story at the Washington State Standard…

     
  • This Oregon Wildfire Season Has Blazed Past All Records, With No End in Sight Firefighters meet outside the Florence Events Center before heading out to fight the Three Buttes Fire near Florence in this 2023 file photo ~ Photo by Will Yurman August 13, 2026 Oregon Journalism Project | Khushboo Rathore

    2026 has already broken the Oregon record for acres burned by wildfires, and we are still many weeks away from the fall rainy season.

    As of Aug. 10, more than 1,400 fires of all sizes have consumed more than 2.3 million acres across the state–an area far larger than the once-record 2024 fire season at its completion. That is more acres than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined.

    Read the full story…
  • Lane Community College receives accreditation warning over governance An undated photo of a sign near the eastern entrance to Lane Community College in Eugene. ~ Photo by Rachael McDonald / KLCC August 13, 2026 KLCC | Rebecca Hansen-White

    Lane Community College has received a warning from the body that oversees community college accreditation over concerns about its governance.

    In a college-wide message Wednesday, LCC President Stephanie Bulger and LCC Board of Education Chair Jesse Maldonado said the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities found the college was out of compliance in a few areas.

    Read More…
  • Sen. Wyden’s wildfire tax relief bill passes just before Congress recesses, goes to White House The 6:30 am briefing for fire fighters at the Three Buttes fire near Florence. ~ 2023 File Photo by Will Yurman August 10, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Alex Baumhardt

    In the final hours of work before members of Congress went on recess for five weeks, a bill backed by Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden to relieve natural disaster survivors from paying federal income taxes on their recovery settlements and lawyers’ fees passed against unexpected odds.

    The bill also passed the House and will go to the White House for the president’s signature.

    Read More…
  • Governor’s Advisory Committee Won’t Support Moratorium on Data Centers An explosion of data center facilities, including the one pictured here in northeast Oregon on May 18, 2026, have been built along the Columbia River Gorge during the last few years. ~ Photo by Jordan Gale/Oregon Capital Chronicle August 9, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Alex Baumhardt

    Data center construction in Oregon should be regulated but not stopped, an advisory committee to Gov. Tina Kotek said, according to an article in the Oregon Capitol Chronicle.

    “A lack of sales tax, generous property tax incentives for industrial development and relatively cheap electricity over the years has made Oregon a hot spot for data centers,” the Chronicle reported.

    The committee agreed that the state should require more transparency from data companies and local governments regarding tax incentives and other agreements, but that on the whole, the state can benefit economically from the centers.

    Read More…
  • Carl Washburne campground north of Florence closed for a month August 4, 2026 Lincoln Chronicle

    The Carl G. Washburne State Park campground along U.S. Highway 101 between Yachats and Florence is closed for at least a month so a contractor can replace two culverts damaged by a heavy rainfall in December 2023, the Lincoln Chronicle reported.

More Local News

  • New: The Puzzle #8 August 15, 2026
  • Siuslaw National Forest raises fire danger level The Three Buttes Fire northeast of Florence on September 11, 2023. ~ File photo by Will Yurman August 12, 2026 Press Release | Siuslaw National Forest

    The Siuslaw National Forest is raising the fire danger level from moderate to high, effective August 13, 2026, they announced in a press release.

    “Local firefighters have already detected and contained several small fires on the Forest this year,” said Anne Trapanese, Deputy Fire Staff Officer-Fuels with Northwest Oregon Interagency Fire Management. “With the hot and dry conditions in western Oregon, we want to urge the public to remain vigilant in preventing human-caused wildfires and follow all fire restrictions,” Trapanese said in the press release.

    Read the full release…
  • Road Work on Rhododendron Drive August 7, 2026 WotT | Will Yurman

    Be prepared for road construction starting Monday on Rhododendron Drive, from 9th Street to Wild Winds Street.

    Read More…
  • Cooling Centers in the County A 2024 file photo of the Siuslaw Public Library ~ Photo by Will Yurman August 5, 2026 WotT | Will Yurman

    Warm temperatures and poor air quality are in the forecast for all of Lane County including the coast.

    In Florence and Mapleton, the library is a cooling center. The DHS office in Florence is as well.

    Read the story to get the full list.
  • Fee increases proposed for Siuslaw National Forest August 2, 2026 Press Release | Siuslaw National Forest

    The Siuslaw National Forest has proposed fee increases to nearly two dozen recreation sites in the national forest area. Click to see the full list of sites, and the proposed fee changes.

    The public is invited to comment, and the Forest Service has extended the comment period through September 18. See the press release for how to submit your comments by mail, email or online.
  • Postcards July 23, 2026 WotT | Will Yurman When a picture is worth a thousand words.
  • Sutton Lake Boat Ramp Closing July 22, 2026 Press Release

    According to a Siuslaw National Forest press release, “Sutton Lake Boat Ramp and day use facilities will be closed for construction from August through November 2026 to replace the deteriorating boat ramp and floating docks.”

    The facilities will close August 3.
  • Local firefighters helping with southern fire July 14, 2026 WotT | Will Yurman

    Area firefighters have been sent south to help fight the East Evans Creek Fire.

    UPDATE: As of 7/25 the fire has spread to 15,705 acres, and is 46% contained.
  • Black & White Collection July 9, 2026 Press Release The City of Florence’s annual Black and White Collection event will be held Saturday, August 22 from 10am – 1pm in the Siuslaw Middle School south parking lot. The city collaborates with the county and other local agencies to provide, for free, a place to bring unwanted items such as tires, refrigerant, appliances and propane tanks, as well as household items such as used paint, mattresses and more. Donations will also be accepted for non-perishable human and pet food. Click to read more and learn how you can volunteer to help.
  • Higher Fees in Florence July 2, 2026 City Notice

    The Florence City Council approved higher utility fees as of July 1, 2026. The new rates will be reflected in bills received in August.
    Rates went up for water, wastewater, stormwater, street maintenance and public safety.

    According to the city, for the average residential customer, the total increase will be $7.30 per month.

    Click to view the city’s utility page where you can find the current rates.