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Oregon Department of Education Has Failed to Oversee $338 Million Program for Boosting High School Graduation Rates The Public Service Building in Salem houses the central offices of the Department of Education. ~ Photo from the Oregon State Archives Scenic Images collection September 23, 2026 Oregon Journalism Project
The Oregon Department of Education is not properly tracking its High School Success program,the Secretary of State’s office reported in an audit.

The program provides funds to high schools to support programs in career and technical education as one way to improve graduation rates. A previous audit in 2024 identified eight problems, including the failure to collect baseline data to compare against the results. The new audit said said that ODE has only fully corrected one of the eight issues, the Oregon Journalism Project reported.

Read the full story…
Oregon has one of the nation’s largest funding gaps to meet road maintenance needs The Oregon Department of Transportation works on safety improvements along the Portland and Gresham city limits. ~ Photo courtesy of the Oregon Department of Transportation September 20, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Mia Maldonado
Oregon has a large gap between what it spends on road maintenance and what it needs to spend — one of the highest gaps in the country — according to an article in the Oregon Capitol Chronicle and data from the PEW Charitable Trusts.

Oregon will need to more than double its planned roadway maintenance spending to close the cap, according to the study.

Read the full story…
New Poll Shows Drazan With Slight Lead in Governor’s Race Oregon gubernatorial candidates Tina Kotek, left, and state Sen. Christine Drazan. September 15, 2026 Oregon Journalism Project | Nigel Jaquiss
A new poll shows Republican nominee, state Sen. Christine Drazan (R-Canby), with a 2% lead over the incumbent, Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek, within the poll’s 4% margin of error, reports the Oregon Journalism Project.

The Sept. 11 poll was conducted by DHM Research of Portland for the business-backed group Grow Oregon and is based on a sampling of 600 likely voters.

Read the full story…
Trump’s Signature Bill Rewards Oregon for Its Food Stamp Incompetence Yvonne Stoffer, onsite manager of the Albany Farmers Market, works at the booth where SNAP recipients can trade their benefits for tokens that allow them to shop at the market. ~ Photo by Penny Rosenberg September 15, 2026 Oregon Journalism Project | Penny Rosenberg
Oregon’s food stamp program has had one of the highest error rates in the country over the past decade.

But because of a loophole in the tax bill passed last year by the Republican controlled Congress, Oregon will face no penalties, at least for a year, according to a story by the Oregon Journalism Project.

The state has one or perhaps two years to reduce the error rate significantly to avoid future penalties.

Read more…
Gray whales decline in the PNW tied to a changing Bering Sea Gray whale mother and her calf on their northbound migration. ~ Photo courtesy NOAA Fisheries September 15, 2026 KLCC | Brianna Bowman
Once considered a conservation success, the eastern North Pacific gray whale population has fallen in the past decade. It peaked at an estimated 27,000 whales in 2016, but fell to roughly 13,000 by 2025, the lowest estimate since the 1970s.

Scientists from around the world met last week at a symposium in Newport to discuss the future of the whale, tying the decline at least in part to warming temperatures in the Bering Sea which have reduced the food supply for the migrating whale.
Oregon lawmakers approve more than $120 million to cover cost of 2026 wildfires Wildfire smoke rolls over the skies near Warm Springs along U.S. Highway 26 on July 25, 2026. ~ Photo by Oregon Department of Transportation September 10, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Mia Maldonado
Oregon lawmakers approved nearly $123 million to help cover the costs of this year’s wildfire season.

As of late August, wildfires had scorched across 2.5 million acres and cost the state $236.2 million. Those costs are expected to reach $350 million by the end of the wildfire season — putting 2026 on track to surpass the state’s previous $318 million record when wildfires scorched 1.9 million acres in 2024.

Read the full story…
Oregon Health Authority allows COVID-19 vaccines statewide September 10, 2026 WotT | Will Yurman
The Oregon Health Authority(OHA) will allow vaccine providers statewide to begin administering updated COVID-19 vaccines as soon as this weekend.

Read the full the story…
U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff down more than a third nationwide, 40% in Oregon, under the current administration A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist examines macroinvertebrates at the National Elk Refuge near Jackson Hole, Wyo. The agency has lost 1,900 scientists due to early retirements, buyouts and cuts under the Trump Administration. ~ Photo courtesy of Kari Cieszkiewicz/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service September 7, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Alex Baumhardt
U.S. Fish and Wildlife went from nearly 10,000 staffers in 2024 to just over 6,300 today, according to federal data obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity.

The number of Fish and Wildlife employees in Oregon is down 40% since 2024, from 434 full, part-time and seasonal staff in 2024 to 257 as of this year.

Read the full story from the Oregon Capitol Chronicle…
Oregonians will pay record gas prices this Labor Day weekend Over Labor Day 2026, the Oregon average price of gasoline will jump 12 cents to $4.89 a gallon. Of course, gas prices vary depending upon the location. ~ Photo by Tiffany Eckert/KLCC September 3, 2026 KLCC | Tiffany Eckert
Oregonians will face record gas prices this Labor Day weekend, according to the American Automobile Association. Prices in Oregon are averaging $4.89 per gallon.

The war in Iran is the principal cause of the high cost of fuel, AAA spokesperson told KLCC.

Despite the highest-ever gas prices for Labor Day, AAA expects record travel over the three-day holiday weekend.

Read more…
Oregon lawmaker to propose financial support for small cities left in financial limbo September 2, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Mia Maldonado

Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth, announced last week a plan to introduce during the 2027 Legislative session a proposed $1 million fund housed at the state’s economic development agency Business Oregon, which would allow cities with fewer than 20,000 residents to apply for a grant or low-interest loan to maintain parks, libraries, museums and other essential community spaces when they face budget crises. The grants and loans would be available up to $50,000, Evans said.

The proposal was inspired by the city of Independence last week closing five of its parks, citing insufficient funding to maintain them, he said. Two have since reopened after receiving a $30,000 grant from the nonprofit, Friends of Community Parks, the Statesman Journal reported.

Read more…

Left and Right Unite as Oregonians Turn Against Flock Camera Network

At least six cities and two counties have canceled or are curtailing contracts with the Flock surveillance technology company across red and blue parts of the state. Florence continues to use Flock cameras, with six installed in the city, according to the city’s website.
The path to shared prosperity begins with Oregon workers
Five Things to Know About Oregon on Labor Day
Get Strong

The Oregon State University Extension Service’s is offering a free exercise class at City Hall in Dunes City. The twice-a-week class will run for twelve weeks, through mid-November.
The Elm Park Projects

Elm Park Apartments is open, providing the area with 32 low-cost apartments, while next door, the Elm Park Early Learning Center will add nearly 80 childcare seats.
National Forest restricts some OHV use on the dunes due to court order.
Good Morning Florence
School attendance up statewide with mixed results locally
"Holy Bubbles!" and More

National Night Out at Miller Park Tuesday night, courtesy of the Florence Police Department. The red sun was courtesy of wildfire smoke that drifted into our area.
A Summer Night on Bay St.

Bay Street was closed from Laurel St. to the bridge for the annual Block Party.

More Local News

Western Lane Ambulance District Levy on the November Ballot The main station for Western Lane Fire & EMS Authority, on Highway 101 in Florence. ~ Photo courtesy of Western Lane Fire & EMS Authority September 22, 2026 KLCC | Karen Richards

Area voters will decide in November whether to renew an expiring levy for ambulance services from the Western Lane Ambulance District.

If the levy passes, the cost to taxpayers would remain the same, at $45 per year for each $100,000 of assessed property value.

Read the full story from KLCC…
New: The Puzzle #13 September 19, 2026
Siuslaw National Forest rescinds restrictions on campfires September 18, 2026 Press Release | Siuslaw National Forest
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Walk for Breast Cancer returns to Florence in October Members of the Lincoln County cancer-fighting group CoastBusters promote their upcoming fundraising walks Sept. 26 in Newport and Oct. 3 in Florence during the Beachcombers Festival parade in Waldport. ~ Photo Quinton Smith/Lincoln Chronicle September 2, 2026 Lincoln Chronicle | Cheryl Romano
CoastBusters Walk for Breast Cancer will be in Florence on October 3, 2026, at the Siuslaw Middle School.

After taking a year off in 2025 to mourn the loss of their co-founder and regroup, this year’s events will be held in memory of Sonia Graham, who co-founded the organization with Jeanette Campagna to support area breast cancer patients and their families.

Participants can register on the CoastBusters’ website.

Businesses, sponsors, volunteers and community partners are also invited to participate, as CoastBusters gears up for what it expects to be its biggest year since its start in 2021. Since then, the group has staged walk-a-thons and other events to help patients and their families along the central coast, raising almost $150,000.

Donations can be made online to support those in Lincoln County and in Lane County. People preferring to write a check may mail it to CoastBusters, P.O. Box 1804, Newport, Ore. 97365. Anyone who donates will get a receipt for their tax-deductible contributions.
Car crashes into the Travelodge hotel August 31, 2026 Press Release | Florence Police Department
A red SUV crashed into the Travelodge on Route 101 on Saturday evening, August 29, injuring a woman inside the motel, according to a press release from the Florence Police Department.

The initial investigation of the scene, combined with eyewitness statements, indicates that the driver left the Circle K at a high speed, crossed 101, crashed through the Edward Jones Investment building before crashing into the Travelodge, trapping a woman inside. Western Lane Fire and EMS Authority extracted the woman from the room and both the victim and driver were transported to Peace Harbor Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation and felony charges against the driver are pending, according to the press release.

Read the full press release…
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.

Latest Stories

Oregon Department of Education Has Failed to Oversee $338 Million Program for Boosting High School Graduation Rates The Public Service Building in Salem houses the central offices of the Department of Education. ~ Photo from the Oregon State Archives Scenic Images collection September 23, 2026 Oregon Journalism Project
The Oregon Department of Education is not properly tracking its High School Success program,the Secretary of State’s office reported in an audit.

The program provides funds to high schools to support programs in career and technical education as one way to improve graduation rates. A previous audit in 2024 identified eight problems, including the failure to collect baseline data to compare against the results. The new audit said said that ODE has only fully corrected one of the eight issues, the Oregon Journalism Project reported.

Read the full story…
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Western Lane Ambulance District Levy on the November Ballot The main station for Western Lane Fire & EMS Authority, on Highway 101 in Florence. ~ Photo courtesy of Western Lane Fire & EMS Authority September 22, 2026 KLCC | Karen Richards

Area voters will decide in November whether to renew an expiring levy for ambulance services from the Western Lane Ambulance District.

If the levy passes, the cost to taxpayers would remain the same, at $45 per year for each $100,000 of assessed property value.

Read the full story from KLCC…

Read More
Oregon has one of the nation’s largest funding gaps to meet road maintenance needs The Oregon Department of Transportation works on safety improvements along the Portland and Gresham city limits. ~ Photo courtesy of the Oregon Department of Transportation September 20, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Mia Maldonado
Oregon has a large gap between what it spends on road maintenance and what it needs to spend — one of the highest gaps in the country — according to an article in the Oregon Capitol Chronicle and data from the PEW Charitable Trusts.

Oregon will need to more than double its planned roadway maintenance spending to close the cap, according to the study.

Read the full story…

Read More
New: The Puzzle #13 September 19, 2026 Read More
Siuslaw National Forest rescinds restrictions on campfires September 18, 2026 Press Release | Siuslaw National Forest
Read more…
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New Poll Shows Drazan With Slight Lead in Governor’s Race Oregon gubernatorial candidates Tina Kotek, left, and state Sen. Christine Drazan. September 15, 2026 Oregon Journalism Project | Nigel Jaquiss
A new poll shows Republican nominee, state Sen. Christine Drazan (R-Canby), with a 2% lead over the incumbent, Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek, within the poll’s 4% margin of error, reports the Oregon Journalism Project.

The Sept. 11 poll was conducted by DHM Research of Portland for the business-backed group Grow Oregon and is based on a sampling of 600 likely voters.

Read the full story…

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Trump’s Signature Bill Rewards Oregon for Its Food Stamp Incompetence Yvonne Stoffer, onsite manager of the Albany Farmers Market, works at the booth where SNAP recipients can trade their benefits for tokens that allow them to shop at the market. ~ Photo by Penny Rosenberg September 15, 2026 Oregon Journalism Project | Penny Rosenberg
Oregon’s food stamp program has had one of the highest error rates in the country over the past decade.

But because of a loophole in the tax bill passed last year by the Republican controlled Congress, Oregon will face no penalties, at least for a year, according to a story by the Oregon Journalism Project.

The state has one or perhaps two years to reduce the error rate significantly to avoid future penalties.

Read more…
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Gray whales decline in the PNW tied to a changing Bering Sea Gray whale mother and her calf on their northbound migration. ~ Photo courtesy NOAA Fisheries September 15, 2026 KLCC | Brianna Bowman
Once considered a conservation success, the eastern North Pacific gray whale population has fallen in the past decade. It peaked at an estimated 27,000 whales in 2016, but fell to roughly 13,000 by 2025, the lowest estimate since the 1970s.

Scientists from around the world met last week at a symposium in Newport to discuss the future of the whale, tying the decline at least in part to warming temperatures in the Bering Sea which have reduced the food supply for the migrating whale.
Read More
Left and Right Unite as Oregonians Turn Against Flock Camera Network Data as of September 8, 2026 Map: Khushboo Rathore, Oregon Journalism ProjectSource: Open Street MapGet the dataEmbed Download imageCreated with Datawrapper September 11, 2026 Oregon Journalism Project | Khushboo Rathore At least six cities and two counties have canceled or are curtailing contracts with the Flock surveillance technology company across red and blue parts of the state. Florence continues to use Flock cameras, with six installed in the city, according to the city's website. Read More
Oregon lawmakers approve more than $120 million to cover cost of 2026 wildfires Wildfire smoke rolls over the skies near Warm Springs along U.S. Highway 26 on July 25, 2026. ~ Photo by Oregon Department of Transportation September 10, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Mia Maldonado
Oregon lawmakers approved nearly $123 million to help cover the costs of this year’s wildfire season.

As of late August, wildfires had scorched across 2.5 million acres and cost the state $236.2 million. Those costs are expected to reach $350 million by the end of the wildfire season — putting 2026 on track to surpass the state’s previous $318 million record when wildfires scorched 1.9 million acres in 2024.

Read the full story…

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Oregon Health Authority allows COVID-19 vaccines statewide September 10, 2026 WotT | Will Yurman
The Oregon Health Authority(OHA) will allow vaccine providers statewide to begin administering updated COVID-19 vaccines as soon as this weekend.

Read the full the story…
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The path to shared prosperity begins with Oregon workers Restaurant workers are often among the lowest paid hourly employees. ~ file photo by Will Yurman September 7, 2026
Research shows that economic insecurity isn’t about individual choices or skills. Rather, it’s the result of efforts by employers and policymakers to undermine the power of workers to demand better wages and working conditions.

This balance of power between workers and employers can have generational consequences.

One study found that workers covered by a union for most of their careers had a net worth of about $224,000, compared with about $162,000 for workers with no union coverage.
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff down more than a third nationwide, 40% in Oregon, under the current administration A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist examines macroinvertebrates at the National Elk Refuge near Jackson Hole, Wyo. The agency has lost 1,900 scientists due to early retirements, buyouts and cuts under the Trump Administration. ~ Photo courtesy of Kari Cieszkiewicz/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service September 7, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Alex Baumhardt
U.S. Fish and Wildlife went from nearly 10,000 staffers in 2024 to just over 6,300 today, according to federal data obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity.

The number of Fish and Wildlife employees in Oregon is down 40% since 2024, from 434 full, part-time and seasonal staff in 2024 to 257 as of this year.

Read the full story from the Oregon Capitol Chronicle…
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Five Things to Know About Oregon on Labor Day September 4, 2026 Oregon Journalism Project | Khushboo Rathore

Oregon has a rich history of supporting workers and their economic contributions. Here are five things to know about Oregon workers on the eve of their national holiday.

Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday in 1887.

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Oregonians will pay record gas prices this Labor Day weekend Over Labor Day 2026, the Oregon average price of gasoline will jump 12 cents to $4.89 a gallon. Of course, gas prices vary depending upon the location. ~ Photo by Tiffany Eckert/KLCC September 3, 2026 KLCC | Tiffany Eckert
Oregonians will face record gas prices this Labor Day weekend, according to the American Automobile Association. Prices in Oregon are averaging $4.89 per gallon.

The war in Iran is the principal cause of the high cost of fuel, AAA spokesperson told KLCC.

Despite the highest-ever gas prices for Labor Day, AAA expects record travel over the three-day holiday weekend.

Read more…

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Oregon lawmaker to propose financial support for small cities left in financial limbo September 2, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Mia Maldonado

Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth, announced last week a plan to introduce during the 2027 Legislative session a proposed $1 million fund housed at the state’s economic development agency Business Oregon, which would allow cities with fewer than 20,000 residents to apply for a grant or low-interest loan to maintain parks, libraries, museums and other essential community spaces when they face budget crises. The grants and loans would be available up to $50,000, Evans said.

The proposal was inspired by the city of Independence last week closing five of its parks, citing insufficient funding to maintain them, he said. Two have since reopened after receiving a $30,000 grant from the nonprofit, Friends of Community Parks, the Statesman Journal reported.

Read more…

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Walk for Breast Cancer returns to Florence in October Members of the Lincoln County cancer-fighting group CoastBusters promote their upcoming fundraising walks Sept. 26 in Newport and Oct. 3 in Florence during the Beachcombers Festival parade in Waldport. ~ Photo Quinton Smith/Lincoln Chronicle September 2, 2026 Lincoln Chronicle | Cheryl Romano
CoastBusters Walk for Breast Cancer will be in Florence on October 3, 2026, at the Siuslaw Middle School.

After taking a year off in 2025 to mourn the loss of their co-founder and regroup, this year’s events will be held in memory of Sonia Graham, who co-founded the organization with Jeanette Campagna to support area breast cancer patients and their families.

Participants can register on the CoastBusters’ website.

Businesses, sponsors, volunteers and community partners are also invited to participate, as CoastBusters gears up for what it expects to be its biggest year since its start in 2021. Since then, the group has staged walk-a-thons and other events to help patients and their families along the central coast, raising almost $150,000.

Donations can be made online to support those in Lincoln County and in Lane County. People preferring to write a check may mail it to CoastBusters, P.O. Box 1804, Newport, Ore. 97365. Anyone who donates will get a receipt for their tax-deductible contributions.
Read More
Car crashes into the Travelodge hotel August 31, 2026 Press Release | Florence Police Department
A red SUV crashed into the Travelodge on Route 101 on Saturday evening, August 29, injuring a woman inside the motel, according to a press release from the Florence Police Department.

The initial investigation of the scene, combined with eyewitness statements, indicates that the driver left the Circle K at a high speed, crossed 101, crashed through the Edward Jones Investment building before crashing into the Travelodge, trapping a woman inside. Western Lane Fire and EMS Authority extracted the woman from the room and both the victim and driver were transported to Peace Harbor Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation and felony charges against the driver are pending, according to the press release.

Read the full press release…
Read More
Five Things to Know About Oregon’s Record Wildfire Season The Wrights Spring Fire as seen on the afternoon of Friday, August 7 from Sprague River Road. ~ Photo from InciWeb August 28, 2026 Oregon Journalism Project | Khushboo Rathore
Oregon’s unfinished fire season is the most destructive ever, burning more than 2.5 million acres and choking off clean air across the state.

At the same time, Oregonians may misunderstand some aspects of the wildfire crisis, which could leave communities unprepared as fire seasons grow longer and more intense year after year. The Oregon Journalism Project analyzed recent data updated Aug. 24 by the National Interagency Fire Center to dispel some misconceptions.

Read the full story…
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Data centers emerge as new flashpoint between Kotek, Drazan in Oregon governor’s race A view of data centers in Boardman, Oregon. ~ Photo by Jordan Gale/Oregon Capital Chronicle August 28, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Shaanth Nanguneri
Growing public backlash over data centers is becoming an issue for voters of both parties in the Oregon governor’s race.

A fissure between the candidates is emerging over data centers and the growing public backlash over the server farms in Oregon and nationwide. A late July poll by the Portland-based firm DHM Research found that 71% of Oregonians have a negative view of data centers

Read the full story…
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State rebates on electric vehicle purchases, leases open again An electric vehicle charging at a station in a national park. Oregon’s popular EV rebate program is reopening through Nov. 4, 2026. ~ Photo courtesy of the National Park Service August 25, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Alex Baumhardt
Oregonians planning to buy or lease an electric vehicle before Nov. 4 can get thousands of dollars from the state to help pay for it, according to an article in the Oregon Capitol Chronicle.

Officials at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on Tuesday reopened the Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, which offers rebates of $1,500 to $7,500 on the purchase or lease of an eligible electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, depending on income. Motorcyclists through the program can get up to $375 back on the purchase of an electric motorcycle.

Read the full story…
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Get Strong August 25, 2026 WotT | Will Yurman The Oregon State University Extension Service’s is offering a free exercise class at City Hall in Dunes City. The twice-a-week class will run for twelve weeks, through mid-November. Read More
Oregon News Site to Close August 25, 2026 KLCC | Zac Ziegler
Another Oregon news website is shutting down.

The Highway 58 Herald, an online news outlet that covered Oakridge, Lowell, Pleasant Hill and other communities along the scenic highway, will officially shut down in September.

Earlier this year, The News-Review in Roseburg announced a significant restructuring of its newspaper, ceasing its print edition and laying off 11 of 15 employees.

According to the Agora Journalism Center, 13% of Oregon’s newspapers have closed since late 20222.

Read more about the Herald’s closure…

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Siuslaw National Forest is Hiring August 24, 2026 Press Release | Siuslaw National Forest
The USDA Forest Service is hiring for wildland firefighter positions on the Siuslaw National Forest.

Jobs include fire engine operators, assistant fire management officer, and entry-level firefighter positions. Applications are open Aug. 24 through Sept. 22, 2026

Click to see the job postings…
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One of the greatest films ever shot in Oregon turns 100 this year August 21, 2026 The Oregonian/OregonLive | Jamie Hale
Buster Keaton’s classic film “The General” turns 100 this year. It was filmed in Cottage Grove and released in 1926.

This year locals will celebrate the anniversary with a special screening Aug. 29 at the Cottage Theatre. Tickets are available at cottagetheatre.org.

Read more…
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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.

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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…
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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…
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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…
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The Elm Park Projects August 14, 2026 Elm Park Apartments is open, providing the area with 32 low-cost apartments, while next door, the Elm Park Early Learning Center will add nearly 80 childcare seats. Read More
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…

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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…
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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.

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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…
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National Forest restricts some OHV use on the dunes due to court order. August 12, 2026 Read More
Good Morning Florence August 11, 2026 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.

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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.

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School attendance up statewide with mixed results locally Siuslaw High School Principal Mike Harklerode gives a tour of the school in 2025. ~ Photo by Will Yurman/WotT August 8, 2026 Oregon Journalism Project | Khushboo Rathore Read More
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.

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