Country Music Legend Dolly Parton Dies at 80
Dolly Parton, the country music legend whose unmistakable voice, larger-than-life personality and remarkable songwriting career made her one of America’s most beloved entertainers, has died. She was 80 years old. Parton died Tuesday, August 25, in Nashville, according to an announcement from her family. A cause of death was not immediately released. The news brings to a close an extraordinary career that stretched across seven decades and reached far beyond the boundaries of country music,...
THINGS TO DO & EVENTS
Festivals, concerts, seasonal celebrations, and memorable Oregon adventures worth putting on your calendar.Fresh ideas for getting out and enjoying Oregon, from upcoming community events to unforgettable places and experiences around the state.
Portland’s Wildest Race Returns Saturday, Sending Homemade Cars Down an Extinct Volcano
Portland has an extinct volcano sitting right in the middle of the city, so naturally, at some point a group of grown men decided the appropriate thing to do with it was build homemade cars and race...
Heceta Head Halloween Haunt Cancelled Due to Historic Keeper’s House Renovations
Oregonians hoping to spend Halloween night listening to ghost stories beneath the beam of Heceta Head Lighthouse will have to make other plans this year. The Heceta Head Halloween Haunt scheduled...
One of Oregon’s Most Haunted Lighthouses Is Hosting a Halloween Night of Ghost Stories
UPDATE, AUGUST 14, 2026: Unfortunately, the Heceta Head Halloween Haunt scheduled for October 31 has been cancelled. Heceta Head Bed & Breakfast announced that the event will not take place this...
Bend City Council Considers Ban On Vehicles Without Bike Rack, Ski Rack, Or Kayak Straps
BEND, OR — In what city officials are calling a long-overdue effort to “protect Bend’s visual identity,” the Bend City Council is reportedly considering a new ordinance that would prohibit vehicles...
Oregon Officials Review Latest Data, Troubled To Find Some Residents Still Making Ends Meet
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon officials reportedly called an emergency meeting this week after reviewing the latest cost-of-living data and discovering a troubling trend: a small number of residents may...
Ron Wyden Announces Bold New Wildfire Plan: ‘Fine, I’ll Do It Myself’
With Oregon firefighters reportedly operating with roughly half the staffing and resources they need during a record-setting wildfire season, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden has apparently decided there is only...
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...
Oregon Police Uncover Kidnapping After Meth Bust Leads to Victim Being Tied to a Tree and Having Finger Cut Off
According to KTVZ, a Central Oregon drug investigation took a disturbing turn this week when police said it led them to a kidnapping case involving methamphetamine, firearms, a man tied to a tree, and an assault that ended with one of the victim’s fingers being...
Portland’s Wildest Race Returns Saturday, Sending Homemade Cars Down an Extinct Volcano
Portland has an extinct volcano sitting right in the middle of the city, so naturally, at some point a group of grown men decided the appropriate thing to do with it was build homemade cars and race them down the side. Honestly, it would almost be stranger if this...
Dead Fish, Drawdowns, Dams, and Lawsuits Muddy the Waters in Oregon’s Push to Save Salmon
If you've spent much time scrolling through Oregon news lately, you've probably seen some version of the same strange story. A reservoir is being lowered. A dam is spilling more water. Fish are dying. A town is worried about its drinking water. Someone is suing the...
Heceta Head Halloween Haunt Cancelled Due to Historic Keeper’s House Renovations
Oregonians hoping to spend Halloween night listening to ghost stories beneath the beam of Heceta Head Lighthouse will have to make other plans this year. The Heceta Head Halloween Haunt scheduled for October 31, 2026, has been cancelled due to ongoing preservation...
Oregon Tried to Make Guns Harder to Buy and Gun Sales Exploded Instead
Oregon voters narrowly approved one of the most restrictive gun-control measures in the country in 2022, adding a government permit requirement for people who want to legally purchase a firearm and banning magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds. The idea was...
Oregon Campground Closed After Mother Bear and Cub Threaten Visitors
A quiet campground tucked into Oregon’s Coast Range has been temporarily closed after a mother black bear and her cub began aggressively searching for food and behaving in ways that raised concerns for visitor safety. The trouble is unfolding at Fan Creek Campground...
Oregon Tribal Elder Still Missing 10 Months After Mysterious Disappearance
More than 10 months have passed since Umatilla tribal elder Wesley Dixon Jones disappeared under circumstances that have never been fully explained. His family still doesn't know where he is, no major breakthrough has been publicly announced, and the strange details...
Young Humpback Whale Tangled in Fishing Gear Rescued Off Newport, But Devastating Injury Could Still Be Fatal
A four-day effort off the Oregon Coast ended with a young humpback whale finally swimming free after becoming trapped in thousands of feet of fishing gear, but the rescue came with a heartbreaking complication. Marine mammal experts say the whale suffered a severe...
Vegetation Fire Burns Near Jasper and Mount Vernon Roads in Springfield
A vegetation fire is burning near the Jasper Road and Mount Vernon Road area of Springfield Wednesday afternoon, with early reports placing the fire at approximately 3 acres. The fire was reported Wednesday, August 12, in an area north of Jasper Road and Mount Vernon...
This Remote Oregon Mine Lets You Dig for Real Sunstones and Keep What You Find
There are road trips where the destination is the whole point, and then there are those wonderfully strange Oregon adventures where simply getting there feels like part of the story. Way out in the high desert of south central Oregon, beyond the forests, waterfalls...