Author

Diane Megaw

Diane Megaw is a veteran regional journalist at Daily Tidings, reporting across Southern Oregon and statewide developments from a Medford area lens.
Her coverage spans business and the economy, housing and labor, public safety and courts, with a focus on what policy and legal decisions mean for local communities.
Contact: [email protected]

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Oregon Expands Tobacco Rules June 5 to Block Youth Sales of Nicotine Pouches and Lozenges

Diane Megaw Jun 4, 2026

On June 5, the “tobacco products” definition in Oregon comes into operation, banning underage sales of oral nicotine pouches, lozenges, other emerging nicotine products, to prevent youth nicotine addiction. More Tobacco Products…

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Record U.S. Power Demand Projections Put Oregon Data Center Grid Costs in the Spotlight

Diane Megaw Jun 3, 2026

As national power demand projections show escalating record highs, in Oregon, regulators recently approved a new PGE structure meant to make large data centers pay more for the growth they drive. Power Demand Surges As More AI…

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Federal Judge Further Restricts Who Can Be Sent to Oregon State Hospital

Diane Megaw Jun 3, 2026

On Monday, a federal US judge further restricted admissions to Oregon State Hospital, ruling that all pre-trial defendants facing a lower-level felony charge not involving a crime against a person will be barred from accessing the…

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Jackson County’s Nearly Century-Old Lampman Road Bridge Is Closed Indefinitely After DUII Crash

Diane Megaw Jun 2, 2026

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — Following a DUII crash on Sunday that resulted in the nearly 100-year-old Lampman Road Bridge over Galls Creek in Gold Hill being significantly damaged- including structural damage- the driver was arrested. The bridge…

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Oregon Stops Issuing Undercover Plates to ICE as Fight Over Immigration Enforcement Deepens

Diane Megaw Jun 2, 2026

Yesterday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek directed the Oregon DMV to stop issuing undercover license plates to ICE agents, who have repeatedly flouted state and federal laws. Oregon Halts Issue of Undercover License Plates to ICE…

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Oregon Warns Medicaid Coverage Could Be Disrupted by Unclear Federal Rules

Diane Megaw Jun 1, 2026

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and five other states have demanded that the Trump Administration stop forcing states into an unworkable rollout of new Medicaid requirements with unclear rules that could trigger coverage losses and overwhelm…

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Nine Oregon Airports Get Nearly $14.5 Million for Runway, Terminal and Infrastructure Upgrades

Diane Megaw May 31, 2026

Nine airports across Oregon are set to receive a combined total of nearly $14.5 million in federal funding for critical infrastructure improvements, runway maintenance, and facility modernization. Federal Funding For Oregon…

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Nearly 7,000 Oregonians Lose SNAP Benefits as Federal Work Rules Take Effect

Diane Megaw May 31, 2026

Following federal changes to SNAP work requirements, nearly 7,000 Oregonians lost SNAP benefits in April, with a similar number expected to lose them next month. Oregon SNAP Beneficiaries Lose Benefits Under Federal Rule Change…

Oregon Data Center Boom Faces Pushback as AI Power Demand Raises Grid and Utility Bill Concerns

Diane Megaw May 31, 2026

The explosive growth of artificial intelligence is driving an unprecedented data center boom, fundamentally shifting the conversation from technological innovation to severe strain on the nation's power grids, particularly in Oregon, where…

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More Than a Third of Oregon Schools Face Measles Outbreak Risk as Vaccine Exemptions Hit Record High

Diane Megaw May 29, 2026

The Oregon Health Authority has indicated that vaccination rates for Oregon students have reached a new low, while nonmedical exemptions have reached a new high. More than a third of Oregon schools are now at risk of a measles outbreak.…

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