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 Manufacturers Lose 10,000 Jobs Even as National Factory Index Hits Multi-Year High

Diane Megaw Aug 4, 2026

While recent reports indicate that the national Production Index jumped to its highest level since November 2021, in Oregon, manufacturers are shedding jobs, with 10,000 jobs lost over the last year. Manufacturing Sector Expands…

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More Than Half of Oregonians Struggle to Pay Bills as Credit Card Delinquencies Hit Highest Level…

Diane Megaw Aug 3, 2026

53% of Oregonians reported difficulty paying their bills as the annualized share of credit card balances nationwide that moved into serious delinquency reached 13.1% in the first quarter of 2026- the highest since 2010 The Federal…

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Grants Pass I-5 Grass Fire Held to About 80 Acres After Aggressive Initial Attack

Diane Megaw Aug 2, 2026

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District is continuing suppression efforts after responding to a grass fire that started burning along I-5 near Grants Pass yesterday. Multiple units, including…

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Oregon Homebuyers Face Nearly $900 More a Month as Mortgage Rates Hit 6.66%

Diane Megaw Aug 2, 2026

A recent survey indicates that the average 30-year fixed mortgage reached 6.66% last week, adding around $900 to Oregon homeowners' monthly mortgage payments on a $500,000 home with 20% down. In 2021, on a $500,000 home with 20% down,…

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Oregon Faces Critical Fire Risk as 40 MPH Gusts Could Push Wildfires Toward Record Year

Diane Megaw Aug 1, 2026

Fears have arisen that existing and new wildfires could spread after the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a fire watch for central and eastern parts of Oregon on Saturday. Warm temperatures with low humidity and strong winds are…

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Oregonians Could Pay Less for Electricity as New Energy Market Delivers $5.42 Million in Savings

Diane Megaw Jul 31, 2026

The Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM)- PacifiCorp's new regional energy market- delivered $5.42 million in gross benefits to the company and its customers since implementation on May 1, according to a new report. Built on the foundation…

U.S. Private Hiring Slows for Fifth Straight Week as Oregon Employers Post Fewer New Job Ads

Diane Megaw Jul 31, 2026

Despite U.S. private employers adding an average of 15,000 jobs per week during the four weeks ending July 11, hiring slowed, falling from 35,750 weekly jobs in early May. In Oregon, employers posted 900 fewer job ads. Hiring nationwide…

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Hillsboro Pauses New Data Centers for 120 Days as City Reviews Land Use Rules

Diane Megaw Jul 29, 2026

HILLSBORO, Ore. — At a special meeting on Monday, the Hillsboro City Council voted to enact a 120-day temporary land use moratorium on data center and battery energy storage system (BESS) developments. Following several weeks of public…

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Oregon Pushes Robocall Crackdown After Americans Got 29.6 Billion Scam Calls and Texts in 2025

Diane Megaw Jul 29, 2026

As part of a 50-state coalition, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield is pressuring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to strengthen its rules cracking down on these illegal operations, after these scams resulted in losses of $2…

More Than 70,000 Oregonians Lost SNAP Benefits in One Year as Food Bank Visits Hit Record High

Diane Megaw Jul 27, 2026

More than 70,000 Oregonians lost SNAP food assistance in one year between April 2025 and April 2026, while food-bank visits reached a record 2.9 million. Number of Oregon SNAP Beneficiaries Reduced A national SNAP tracker…

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