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]

News

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…

News

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…

News

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…

News

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.…

News

Oregon Drinking Water Not Contaminated After Washington Chemical Spill Reaches Columbia River

Diane Megaw May 29, 2026

While a deadly tank implosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging mill in Longview, Washington, leaked alkaline "white liquor" into the Columbia River, officials have emphasized that Oregon’s drinking water is not contaminated. The current…

Environment

Deadly Longview Tank Implosion Sends Chemical Leak Into Columbia River Along Oregon-Washington…

Diane Megaw May 28, 2026

Following a chemical tank implosion at the Nippon Dynawave Facility in Washington on Tuesday morning, officials confirmed that chemicals had leaked into the Columbia River. Longview Tank Implosion Led to Chemical Leak In Columbia…

News

Oregon PacifiCorp Customers Avoid Immediate Rate Hike as Regulators Order Full Review

Diane Megaw May 28, 2026

PacifiCorp’s request for an interim rate increase has been denied by the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC), which will first conduct a full review of the utility’s rate case. Oregon PacifiCorp Rates Increase Denied Until…

Oregon Borrowers Warned About Student Loan Collections as Debt Defaults Rise Nationwide

Diane Megaw May 27, 2026

As total U.S. household debt rises and more Americans fall behind on loan and credit card payments, the resumption of federal student loan collections in Oregon remains an additional burden, and some past-due borrowers could see their…

News

Man Killed and Teen Injured After Dirt Bike Riders Crash Into a Side-by-Side While Jumping a Dune in…

Diane Megaw May 27, 2026

An ATV crash on Sunday near Railroad Hill in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA) ended in tragedy when a 35-year-old man died, and a 13-year-old child was injured after their dirt bikes crashed into a side-by-side as they…

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