Springfield council appoints 4J schools employee as interim member

Our communities need protections from the data center boom. A pause on new ones is the right place to start.

I join countless community members in calling for a moratorium on new data center development, along with statewide regulations on existing facilities that, at minimum, address power consumption, water usage, pollution, heat emission, and negative health impacts on surrounding communities.

Air conditioning, new playgrounds, a renovated greenhouse among visible school improvements

Bethel’s Danebo Elementary will have upgrades to its exterior and interior, several schools in Bethel and 4J will now have air conditioning and Thurston High School’s greenhouse will get a face-lift.

Firefighters doubt repeal of Roadless Rule will help with wildfires

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed repealing the 2001 Roadless Rule to allow more road construction in national forests, citing potential improvements in fighting wildfires. However, many firefighters and internal government research argue that additional roads could increase human-caused wildfire ignitions and that existing road maintenance is already critically underfunded.

For one day, Party Bar is letting diners set the price

On Wednesday, Aug. 26, Party Bar joins more than 100 restaurants for Pay What You Can Day, a global experiment that allows guests to determine how much they pay for their meal. Drinks will be charged in full, but the food bill is up to diners. The event was organized around food accessibility, mutual trust and community sharing.

‘Up to voters of his district’: Oregon lawmakers mostly silent on Rep. Greg Smith ethics violations

Smith has faced four investigations by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, and was fined for violating ethics laws and abusing his position as a public official. He has denied intentional wrongdoing.