Yes, Wildfire Betting Is Really a Thing, and Oregon Senators Want It Stopped
As wildfires force evacuations, destroy homes and send smoke across Oregon and the West, some people are apparently watching the devastation with something other than concern. They’re betting money on it. Online prediction markets have begun offering contracts that allow users to wager on wildfire outcomes, including how large a fire will become, how long it will burn and how much destruction it will cause. Now, Oregon’s two U.S. senators are joining a federal effort to put a stop to it. Sens....
TRAVEL
Oregon is a beautiful destination for travelers who enjoy exploring the great outdoors. With its diverse landscape of mountains, forests, waterfalls, and coastline, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
The Blue Angels Return to Oregon for 80th Anniversary, Massive Three-Day Air Show This August
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are returning to Oregon this August, bringing their unmistakable blue-and-gold fighter jets, tightly packed formations and thunderous aerial maneuvers to the Oregon...
A Former Coast Guard Ship Is Now One of the Oregon Coast’s Coolest Seafood Restaurants
Some restaurants give you a waterfront view. Big Fish Cafe gives you that, plus the entire boat. Tucked beside the Umpqua River in Reedsport, this wonderfully unexpected restaurant occupies a former...
Lincoln City’s Beloved Sandcastle Contest Returns to Siletz Bay This August
There’s something magical about spending a summer day on the Oregon Coast with your feet in the sand, the sound of waves rolling in, and a little friendly competition. If you're looking for a fun...
FOOD & DRINK
Explore Oregon’s food and drink scene – from locally sourced ingredients to craft brews and award-winning wines. Plan your culinary adventure now!
This Former Church in Downtown Springfield Is Now a Lively Food Hall With Drinks and Live Music
Some places make an impression before the food ever reaches the table. PublicHouse in downtown Springfield is one of them. I recently met up with fellow members of my high school graduating class,...
A Former Coast Guard Ship Is Now One of the Oregon Coast’s Coolest Seafood Restaurants
Some restaurants give you a waterfront view. Big Fish Cafe gives you that, plus the entire boat. Tucked beside the Umpqua River in Reedsport, this wonderfully unexpected restaurant occupies a former...
This Historic Pendleton Steakhouse Is One Of Oregon’s Best Places To Experience The Old West
Walk through the doors at Hamley Steakhouse & Saloon and it doesn't take long to realize this isn't just another place to grab a bite to eat. Rich woodwork, handcrafted details, glowing antique...
Yes, Wildfire Betting Is Really a Thing, and Oregon Senators Want It Stopped
As wildfires force evacuations, destroy homes and send smoke across Oregon and the West, some people are apparently watching the devastation with something other than concern. They’re betting money on it. Online prediction markets have begun offering contracts that...
A Forgotten Newspaper Clipping Reveals Oregon’s Wildfire Debate Was Already Raging More Than 120 Years Ago
Smoke had drifted into Lane County again, turning the sky a sickly-yellow and the surrounding hills into indistinct hazy blue, when I found myself remembering an old newspaper clipping I’d saved during some research into western Oregon history. The clipping came from...
Oregon Republicans Push Constitutional Right to Hunt, Fish and Farm After IP 28 Fails
In a state where fishing boats crowd coastal harbors, hunting camps are a longtime family tradition and farms stretch from the Willamette Valley to the high desert, a new political battle is taking shape over how Oregon protects those ways of life. Republican leaders...
Wildfire Smoke Pushes Portland to Fifth-Worst Air Quality in the World
Portland residents woke up Tuesday to a familiar and unwelcome sign of Oregon’s intense wildfire season: a hazy skyline, muted views of the surrounding hills, and the smell of smoke hanging in the air. By Tuesday afternoon, Portland’s air quality had deteriorated...
Mt. Hood Meadows Ordered to Evacuate as Grasshopper Fire Threatens the Area
Mt. Hood Meadows is under a Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation order as the Grasshopper Fire continues burning through the forests east of Mount Hood. The popular ski resort announced the evacuation Tuesday morning, asking employees, visitors, and members of the public to...
Oregon Wildfires Top 2 Million Acres, Closing In on State’s All-Time Record
Oregon’s already devastating 2026 wildfire season is now within striking distance of becoming the largest on record for total acreage burned. As of Monday morning, August 3, 60 large fires had burned an estimated 2,014,481 acres across the state, according to figures...
Firefighters Make Major Progress as I-5 Wildfire Near Grants Pass Reaches 96 Acres
Firefighters working through the night have completed fireline around the entire perimeter of the wildfire that erupted beside Interstate 5 north of Grants Pass, an important step forward after the fast-moving blaze destroyed a home and threatened surrounding...
Historic Fire Lookout Destroyed by Grasshopper Fire in Mt. Hood National Forest
A longtime piece of Oregon’s wildfire history has been lost to the Grasshopper Fire. Officials with the Mt. Hood National Forest confirmed Saturday that the Flag Point Fire Lookout was destroyed by the wildfire overnight, despite an extensive effort by firefighters to...
Grass Fire Along I-5 Near Grants Pass Grows to 50 Acres as Air Tankers Respond
GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Firefighters are mounting an aggressive ground and aerial attack on a grass fire burning along Interstate 5 near Grants Pass Saturday afternoon. The fire was initially estimated at approximately 10 acres as crews arrived and began working alongside...
Man Accused of Setting Series of Fires in Eastern Oregon as Wildfire Season Intensifies
An Eastern Oregon man is being held on $750,000 bail after authorities accused him of being connected to a series of fires reported along rural roads in Malheur County. Paul Clinton Emerson, 61, of Ontario, was arrested at his residence on the night of July 21,...