August 29, 2026

West of the Tunnel

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  • In Oregon, Safeway and Fred Meyer among companies with highest number of employees on Medicaid July 28, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Alex Baumhardt

    Safeway and Fred Meyer were among the most-listed employers on Oregonians’ applications for Medicaid in 2025, according to a report by the Oregon Capitol Chronicle.

    More than 5,000 people receiving Medicaid listed Safeway/Albertsons as their employer and just over 4,000 listed Fred Myer/Kroger.

    This comes as cuts to the federal program in 2025 could cost Oregon more than $9 billion in Medicaid funding over the next ten years, according to The Oregon Health Authority, the Chronicle reported.

     
  • Proposal to Ban Hunting Won’t be on November’s Ballot Members of the Yakama Nation harvest Pacific lamprey at Wilumpt, or Willamette Falls, near Oregon City on June 24, 2026. The lamprey are an ancient and culturally significant species for many Northwest tribes. Fishing would have been banned under an initiative that failed to gather sufficient signatures to make the November ballot. ~ Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle July 25, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Julia Shumway

    Initiative Petition 28, an effort to dramatically expand the state’s animal cruelty laws, won’t be on the ballot in November. The Oregon Secretary of State’s Office announced the petition did not have enough valid signatures to qualify.

    The Oregon Capitol Chronicle reported that, “none of the other 88 initiatives Oregonians proposed this year submitted enough signatures, so this will be the first general election in decades without a citizen-led initiative on the ballot.”

    Read the full story at the Oregon Capitol Chronicle by clicking on this post.
  • Heceta Head Lighthouse Shining Again The Heceta Head Lighthouse in a 2023 file photo by Will Yurman July 24, 2026 Lincoln Chronicle | Dana Tims

    The lighthouse is back online after five months of repairs, according to this story from the Lincoln Chronicle. A $35,000 project replaced and repaired part of the mechanism that rotates the 10-foot-tall lens.

    “Everything is fully restored and it all looks beautiful,” said Hylah Furnish, park manager for the state-managed property that includes the 132-year-old lighthouse. “We’re all really excited.”
  • National Carousel Day Celebrated in Albany Volunteer Dale Gray hands out rings for the brass ring game at the Albany Carousel on July 13, 2026. ~ Photo by Kendra Schertell/KLCC July 24, 2026 KLCC | Kendra Schertell

    The Albany Historic Carousel and Museum is celebrating National Carousel Day on July 25th with free rides for visitors. Hours and pricing are on its website.

    The Albany Carousel includes a greyhound named Neil who is missing a toe. As are most of the wooden animals in the carousel, Neil is modeled after a real pet, a former greyhound racer who lost a toe and had to stop racing.

    All of the animals have been crafted by hand by a team of 30 or so active artists. It took four years to carve Neil, appropriately the fastest carving ever for the museum.

    Click to read the whole story on the KLCC website.

     
  • Help Buying Home Arrive Executive Director Dana Shepherd Fuller, left, with tenured board member Mike Shcrader and Arrive Founder and Former Executive Director Peg Malloy. ~ Photo Courtesy of Arrive July 22, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Mia Maldonado

    Arrive, an Oregon non-profit, helps people on a low income buy a home.

    Formerly the Portland Housing Center, Arrive helps marginalized Oregonians achieve homeownership with counseling and lending services. In 2025, it expanded its lending services statewide to support Oregonians living outside the Portland area.

    A one-time $99 fee provides access to a housing counselor and finance, homebuying and homeowner classes such as plumbing 101 or estate planning.
  • Lane County Fair Opens The "Vertigo" ride was one of the options at the 2025 Lane County Fair. Photo by Kendra Schertell / KLCC July 22, 2026 KLCC | Hannah Bush

    The Lane County Fair opens July 22 and runs through the 26th.

    As KLCC reports, the fair has new attractions and events, including “Canine Stars” and a BMX bike and acrobatics show. The fair runs Wednesday through Sunday, July 22 at the Lane Events Center, 796 W. 13th Ave In Eugene.

    For tickets and information, go to atthefair.com.
  • State Drone Use Has Grown Oregon Department of Aviation director Kenji Sugahara operates a drone at the Toketee State Airport. (Photo by Oregon Department of Aviation) July 14, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Mia Maldonado In 2013, the state passed some of its earliest regulations regarding the public use of drones. Today, the state police, and the departments of forestry and transportation are among the Oregon State agencies using drones as a standard part of the job.
  • Oregon Country Fair opens Friday, July 10 July 9, 2026 KLCC | Tiffany Eckert The 57th annual Oregon Country Fair runs from July 10 through July 12 on the Long Tom River in Veneta. An adult one-day pass is $60, a three-day pass costs $150. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are not sold on the fair grounds.
  • Minimum wage increase photo/Will Yurman June 30, 2026 Oregon Capitol Chronicle | Alex Baumhardt Oregon’s minimum wage will increase by 50 cents per hour on July 1. For workers in the Siuslaw region, the new minimum wage will be $15.55/hr.
  • Firework restrictions Fireworks file photo/Will Yurman June 29, 2026 KLCC Oregon State Park officials are urging people to keep fireworks off the beaches and out of state parks. They are illegal and a fire hazard officials said.

More Local News

  • Electricity rates to rise 3% June 30, 2026 Press Release Central Lincoln, which provides electricity to most of our area, is raising its rates 3%, effective July 1. In the press release, they say that even with the increase, the rates are lower than most of the state.
  • The New Website Design June 27, 2026 WotT | Will Yurman
  • New Shop in Old Bike Store June 27, 2026 WotT | Will Yurman A new business on Route 101
  • Dollar Days from LTD June 27, 2026 Press Release During July and August, Lane Transit is offering discounted tickets, including for the Rhody Express.