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.
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...
Oregon’s Akawa Butte Fire Explodes Past 26,000 Acres as Crews Battle to Protect Sisters
The Akawa Butte Fire continues to test the strength of the Sisters community as firefighters work tirelessly to keep one of Oregon's most dangerous wildfires from reaching homes and businesses. The...
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!
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...
The Seafood At This Unassuming Family Restaurant Might Ruin Every Other Oregon Coast Spot For You
Some restaurants feel connected to the place around them from the moment you walk through the door. The food makes sense for the landscape. The menu reflects what people have eaten in the region for...
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,...
This Storybook Oregon Lodge Near Crescent Lake Is the Ultimate Summer Escape
Some places are so charming they almost do not feel real. The first time you pull into Red Cone Lodge, tucked beneath towering pines near Crescent Lake, you may find yourself slowing down just to take it all in. Massive handcrafted logs stretch toward the sky. Forest...
Oregon Enters August Under an Extremely Rare Fire Warning as Powerful Winds Arrive
A rare “Particularly Dangerous Situation” Red Flag Warning has been issued for parts of Central and Eastern Oregon on Saturday, August 1, as strong winds collide with extremely dry vegetation and several ongoing wildfires. Oregon is entering August under a fire...
Oregon Nears a Historic Wildfire Record With More Than 1.6 Million Acres Burned Before August
Oregon has not yet reached August, but the 2026 wildfire season has already left an enormous mark across the state. From the open rangelands of southeastern Oregon to the dry hills surrounding small communities in the central and eastern parts of the state, fire has...
Lane County Deputy Arrested Over Alleged Online Relationship With Minor
There are certain allegations that should stop every Oregonian in their tracks. This is one of them. A Lane County sheriff’s deputy has been arrested following an investigation into an alleged inappropriate online relationship with a minor living outside the United...
FEMA Approves 3 of 5 Oregon Wildfire Aid Requests, Denies Help for Two Major Fires
As firefighters continue working long shifts across a smoke-covered Oregon, the federal government has agreed to help cover the cost of battling three major wildfires. Two other requests, including one tied to a fire complex that grew to nearly 300,000 acres, were...
Bench Fire Destroys 6 Homes on Warm Springs Reservation as Families Lose Generational History
Across Oregon, wildfires are often described through numbers. Acres burned. Containment percentages. Evacuation zones. Engines, crews and aircraft assigned to the flames. But on the Warm Springs Reservation, the Bench Fire is being measured in family homes, treasured...
70 Miles of I-84 Closed Overnight as Fox Fire Burns Across Eastern Oregon
For thousands of people traveling through eastern Oregon, one of the state’s most important highways became eerily quiet overnight. A roughly 70-mile section of Interstate 84 between Baker City and Ontario was closed in both directions for about five hours as the...
Coward Caught on Camera Punching a Defenseless Dog in Salem
I’ll be honest, this is making my stomach turn. I can’t fully express the anger and sadness I feel watching a defenseless dog apparently being punched by someone who should have been protecting it. Salem police are now trying to identify the man seen in the video,...
34 Large Wildfires Push Oregon Past 1 Million Acres as Homes Are Lost and Thousands Evacuate
Central Oregon entered the final weekend of July under a sky filled with smoke, flashing emergency alerts and the unsettling knowledge that several dangerous wildfires were growing at the same time. This article is based on reporting from OPB journalists Joni Auden...
