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 Wins Court Fight to Bring Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter Back to Newport

Diane Megaw Dec 5, 2025

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden shared news on Thursday that the Newport-based U.S. Coast Guard helicopter removed by the Trump Administration is returning to base after a court ordered it back. With coastal water temperatures averaging 50 to 54…

Top Stories

Oregon Adds Nearly 14,000 Affordable Homes With 40,000 More In The Pipeline But Building Still Falls…

Diane Megaw Dec 4, 2025

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek released new data yesterday indicating that, with state support during her administration, nearly 14,000 affordable homes have been financed or built and that, through newly available land opportunities and…

Crime & Courts

Oregon Man Crashes Into Patrol Car With Car Full of Fentanyl, Meth and Guns, Then Gets Nearly 14…

Diane Megaw Dec 3, 2025

A Douglas County man, 51-year-old Glenn Allen Gearhart, is facing nearly 14 years in federal prison- plus 5 years of supervised release- on charges relating to fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution and illegal possession of firearms.…

Top Stories

With Budget Cuts Looming, Kotek Launches 2026 Prosperity Roadmap to Jump-Start Oregon’s Economy

Diane Megaw Dec 3, 2025

On Tuesday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced her 2026 economic plans, unveiling a Prosperity Roadmap detailing strategies to focus on the state’s contribution to economic development. Oregon Prosperity Roadmap Prioritizes…

Crime & Courts

ICE Detains Two Criminal Suspects in Oregon, Including Driver Accused of Killing Two in Deschutes…

Diane Megaw Dec 2, 2025

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has recently detained some of the worst illegal aliens, including Rajinder Kumar, a criminal illegal alien from India charged with criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment…

Crime & Courts

Oregon Man Arrested at OHSU After Allegedly Stalking Sandy Hook Parent for More Than a Decade

Diane Megaw Dec 2, 2025

Oregon resident Kevin Purfield, who has been stalking the parent of a Sandy Hook murder victim since 2013, ignoring a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), was arrested at his target’s workplace at OHSU last week. Habitual Stalker…

Environment

Oregon Places 30 Logs in Rock Creek to Restore Salmon Habitat in New Clatsop State Forest Project

Diane Megaw Dec 1, 2025

An Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) stream enhancement project on Rock Creek in the Clatsop State Forest that included new wood to help influence the formation of pools, spawning gravels, and provide cover for aquatic species, ultimately…

News

Hiker Rescued From Knife-Edge Ridge at Saddle Mountain After Crews Rappel 250 Feet in Nighttime…

Diane Megaw Dec 1, 2025

CLATSOP COUNTY, Ore. — A weekend hike that could have been tragic had a happy ending on Saturday after rescuers rappelled down a ridge at Saddle Mountain State Park to rescue a hiker stranded 40 feet up on a "knife-edge" ridge. Cannon…

Top Stories

Holiday Spending Slows in Oregon but Black Friday’s Record $11.8 Billion Proves Shoppers Aren’t Done…

Diane Megaw Nov 30, 2025

While U.S. online spending on Black Friday hit a record US$11.8 billion- up 9.1% from last year, as many people did their Christmas shopping early, economists have noted that Oregon shoppers are being more selective. Spending in the state…

Top Stories

Thousands of Oregonians Finally Get Lawyers as Public Defense Plan Slashes Unrepresented Cases by…

Diane Megaw Nov 30, 2025

The number of unrepresented defendants in Oregon courts decreased by 30% over the last 6 months as the Oregon Public Defense Commission’s (OPDC) 12-month plan started delivering results. OPDC Public Defenders Shrink Number Of…

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