Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 3m

Timberline Lodge is increasing prices this ski season due to skyrocketing insurance costs caused by Oregon's "broken liability system."

The Mount Hood resort said it would increase "peak time lift ticket pricing, tier 2 season pass pricing, and summer skiing products": tinyurl.com/uepeab8m

Reposted by Zach Urness

Brian Goldstone @brian-goldstone.bsky.social · 1d

There are now two Americas when it comes to housing:

In one, people work multiple jobs and still can't afford a home.

In the other, housing isn't a place to live but a portfolio to grow.

More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 1d

Real estate investors bought one-third of all single-family residential homes sold in the second quarter of 2025.

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 1d

In the latest podcast, we did a roundup that featured stories on …

-How the government shutdown impacts access to Oregon’s public lands
-The 2025 Oregon wildfire season in review
-Great news for coastal coho salmon
-Terrible news for Oregon’s Douglas fir trees.

Listen: tinyurl.com/39ksku9r

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Reposted by Zach Urness

Lisa Wood @lisaeffinwood.bsky.social · 3d

Props to my co-workers for grinding it out until the wee hours as the news kept coming in.

Local journalism is more important than ever. Support your community papers and stations however you can.

OPB @opb.org · 3d

Outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Saturday, federal officers pushed crowds of protesters hundreds of yards down city streets and fired tear gas, flash-bang grenades and pepper balls without any clear signs of provocation.

Federal tactics on Portland protesters escalate, hours after judge rules against Trump

Hours after a federal judge paused the Trump administration’s plans to deploy 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to Portland, federal law enforcement officers escalated the tactics used on protesters in the city.

www.opb.org

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 4d

Drought and insects have killed an unprecedented number of Oregon’s Douglas fir trees during the last decade, costing billions in timber value, damaging infrastructure and ramping up wildfire danger.

What is Douglas fir dieback? Where is it happening? What is being done? tinyurl.com/5n9amvx6

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 4d

Yup!

Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 5d

And speaking of salmon, our intern Rose Shimburg reports on the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde creating new salmon passage and habitat on a 462-acre conservation property they own along the North Santiam River: tinyurl.com/y5u2epcu

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 5d

Here's some positive news for your Friday morning. Oregon's coastal coho salmon population has rebounded so well that they could soon be delisted from the federal Endangered Species Act: tinyurl.com/musejass

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Reposted by Zach Urness

ProPublica @propublica.org · 5d

NEW: Portland Trail Blazers buyer Tom Dundon created a company that Oregon sued in 2020, alleging it issued predatory loans to residents.

He went on to invest in another subprime lender that’s come under regulatory scrutiny.

With @opb.org

Portland Trail Blazers Buyer Tom Dundon Built His Fortune on Subprime Loans

In 2020, the state sued Santander Consumer USA for allegedly preying on Oregonians through high-interest car loans they couldn’t afford in a case involving more than 265,000 borrowers nationwide.

www.propublica.org

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 6d

Rogue River reopens after rains quell wildfire, permits being issued despite shutdown www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2... via @salem_statesman

Rogue River reopens after rains quell wildfire, permits being issued despite shutdown

The iconic section of the southwest Oregon’s Rogue River reopened Oct. 2 after heavy rain quelled the Moon Complex wildfire.

www.statesmanjournal.com

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Reposted by Zach Urness

Andrew Deck @andrewdeck.bsky.social · 6d

Deepfakes of broadcast journalists are spreading across social media. Many of them are ads selling cryptocurrencies, gambling apps, and snake oil medicines.

Meanwhile, social media companies like Meta profit off the ad dollars. My latest @niemanlab.org. www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/scam...

Scammers are using video deepfakes of journalists to peddle products online

Broadcast journalists around the world are being targeted amid an explosion in deepfake scams. Are social media platforms doing enough to counter them?

www.niemanlab.org

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 6d

Ah, like they can't access anything for their projects from USFS? That's pretty annoying given they're volunteering.

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 7d

Jeeze. That's another big one. Esp with no end in sight. Curious what group you're talking about?

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 7d

It’s a complex situation for Oregon’s national parks & public lands as the government shutdown begins.

The status of Crater Lake, Oregon Caves and Lewis & Clark are all a little different. Meanwhile, the state’s national forests are open but what about the rangers? Full story: tinyurl.com/3ej57c2d

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 8d

Chinook salmon passes through key Klamath River fish ladder as fish repopulate river www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2... via @salem_statesman

Chinook salmon passes through key Klamath River fish ladder as fish repopulate river

Salmon are gradually repopulating sections of the Klamath River blocked to the ocean-going fish for a century.

www.statesmanjournal.com

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Reposted by Zach Urness

Will James @willjames.bsky.social · 9d

At what point do journalists get to start taunting tech people with “Learn to write”?

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Reposted by Zach Urness

Dianne Lugo @diannelugo.bsky.social · 9d

Good morning from the Capitol. It’s the first day of committee days and the restart of the special session on transportation funding. It’s also the first day the Rotunda is reopened to the public. #orleg

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 10d

The wildfire burning on southwest Oregon’s Rogue River exploded to 17,316 acres by Sept. 28 and brought new evacuations to one of the world's most beloved river canyons.
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2...

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 11d

The Rogue River wildfire absolutely exploded yesterday, more than doubling in size. The Moon Complex grew to over 12,000 acres.

New level 3 evacuations are in place, access roads closed and the fire is encroaching on Foster Bar.

Here’s what I’ve got: tinyurl.com/bddjs9ax

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Reposted by Zach Urness

Leah Sottile @leahsottile.bsky.social · 12d

My perennial story pitch to any editor that wants to bite: “Portland is not burning and what do I need to say to get you to believe me.”

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 12d

Trump: "We're gonna get out there and we're gonna do a pretty big number on those people in Portland. They are professional agitators and anarchists."

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 12d

I wrote about an off-trail lake in the Jefferson Wilderness that has a very strange name. It's also home to some large and foul-tempered trout. Latest spot on my backcountry lakes series: tinyurl.com/yw443w8a

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 13d

The most famous section of southern Oregon's Rogue River will close because of increased wildfire activity from the Moon Complex, federal officials said on Sept. 25: tinyurl.com/yc6fhcjk

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 13d

This was always on the short list of people's favorite campground ... bummer that it's not going to return to being that and will instead be day use exclusively.
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2... via @salem_statesman

What's next for beloved Yellowbottom Recreation Site in Quartzville corridor?

Federal officials plan to improve a trail at the once-popular Quartzville corridor.

www.statesmanjournal.com

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 13d

An 18-year-old hiker was rescued from around Tumble Lake — in the mountains above Detroit — the night of Sept. 23 by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team.
Full story: tinyurl.com/yvj5a5y2

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 14d

Keizer man released after being detained by Border Patrol while fighting Bear Gulch Fire www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/l... via @salem_statesman

Keizer man released after being detained by Border Patrol while fighting Bear Gulch Fire

The Keizer man was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection while fighting the Bear Gulch Fire on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington.

www.statesmanjournal.com

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