In a beauty contest, Oregon would take the crown

Lane county taxpayers are funding mass deportations. Here's how much we're paying.

There are a lot of reasons to oppose mass deportations besides cost. But when we look at the cost, it becomes clear that the policy of mass deportations is not just cruel and not just a threat to civil liberties. It is also the opposite of Putting America First.

‘Every summer is scary’: Skinner Butte community faces fire fears after close call

Residents of the historic and flammable neighborhood, including at the historic Victorian Shelton McMurphey Johnson House, responded quickly when a fire broke out on Skinner Butte on Aug. 17.

There's nothing modest about sales taxes | Letter to the editor

I have to disagree with Douglas Berg’s guest column in Lookout calling for a “modest 3% sales tax with exemptions for basics like food, medical care, and childcare.” He claims using that tax would make it possible for Oregon to eliminate income taxes for low- and some middle-income people. But low- and middle-income people spend […]

Oregon health insurance premiums keep rising. Isn't it time for a better system? | Letter to the editor

Regarding the news that Oregon health insurance marketplace plans are expected to see large premium hikes in 2027, insurance companies submit that their overheads have increased. In fact, they are not run efficiently. Corporate insurance overhead costs range from 15% to 25%. In contrast, a single-payer insurer’s overhead – traditional Medicare, for example – is […]

Oregon weighs enrollment caps, paying for claims as double-digit insurance hikes set for 2027 

Expiring tax credits to offset premium costs have been central to the rate increases. Congress opted against extending the COVID-era enhanced tax credits last year.