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]

Business & Economy

Oregon Mortgage Rates Rise Above 7.2% as U.S. Borrowing Costs Keep Climbing

Diane Megaw Sep 18, 2026

Homebuyers are facing higher borrowing costs as mortgage rates continue to rise, with the national average for a 30-year fixed-rate loan approaching 7%. National Mortgage Rates Approach 7% The weekly average rate on a 30-year…

Environment

Oregon and Washington Could Face Warmer, Drier Winter as El Niño Nears Historic Strength

Diane Megaw Sep 17, 2026

Oregon and Washington could be heading into a warmer, drier winter as a strengthening El Niño in the Pacific Ocean has a chance of becoming one of the strongest such events on record. NOAA Warns El Niño Could Reach Historic…

Business & Economy

Oregon and Washington Face Major Grid Buildout as Northwest Electricity Demand Could Double

Diane Megaw Sep 16, 2026

The Pacific Northwest could need as much as twice its current electricity supply over the next two decades as data centers, electric vehicles, buildings and industry drive demand higher, according to a draft regional power plan. …

Politics & Government

Trump Blocks $25 Million in National Park Projects as Oregon Senators Question Where the Money Is…

Diane Megaw Sep 15, 2026

More than 130 planned projects at national parks across the country have been blocked by the Trump administration, putting more than $25 million in funding on hold, according to a Washington Post report citing internal documents. …

Politics & Government

Federal Appeals Court Says Constitution Does Not Guarantee Clean Water as Oregon Advocates Push…

Diane Megaw Sep 13, 2026

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Sept. 4 that residents who alleged they were harmed by lead-contaminated drinking water in Jackson, Mississippi, could not pursue constitutional claims against the city under federal civil-rights…

Public Safety

Portland Protest Over Transgender Athletes Draws Opposing Demonstrators Near Women’s Sports Bar

Diane Megaw Sep 13, 2026

PORTLAND, Ore. — Two groups of demonstrators confronted one another Friday near The Sports Bra in Northeast Portland following a dispute earlier in the week over transgender athletes in women's sports. Portland Transgender…

Business & Economy

New Geothermal Deal Could Deliver Enough Power for More Than 2 Million Homes Across Oregon and…

Diane Megaw Sep 12, 2026

A renewable-energy developer is moving to tap Oregon’s geothermal potential under a new deal covering nearly 150,000 acres of Weyerhaeuser timberland in Oregon and Washington, with the companies saying the sites could eventually support…

Crime & Courts

California Man Arrested After $200,000 in Gold Stolen From Grants Pass Resident

Diane Megaw Sep 11, 2026

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Grants Pass Police arrested 35-year-old Jing Chen from California after a local resident reported more than $200,000 in gold was stolen from him. Police confirmed yesterday that the Grants Pass Police Major Crimes…

Business & Economy

Diesel Prices Hit Records in Parts of Oregon as Oil Surges Above $100

Diane Megaw Sep 11, 2026

Diesel prices are reaching record levels in parts of Oregon as fuel costs rise sharply across the country, with the state's average now approaching its all-time high. Oregon Diesel Prices Hit New Highs According to AAA, Oregon's…

Politics & Government

Oregon Pauses New Data Center Projects on State Land Through July 2027

Diane Megaw Sep 9, 2026

Oregon is putting new data-center projects on state-owned land on hold as Governor Tina Kotek seeks to determine how the rapidly expanding industry will affect the state's water, electricity, infrastructure, and communities. Oregon…

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