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 Task Force Investigating Tax Increase On Wine And Beer To Fund Addiction Programs

Diane Megaw Jan 23, 2024

Taxes on beer and wine have not been increased since the 1980s and the election of Rep. Tawna Sanchez, D-Portland, to chair the state's new Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services Task Force in its first meeting last week looks likely to…

Business

200,000 Acres of Oregon Timberland Makes Chinese Billionaire Second Largest Foreign Landowner

Diane Megaw Jan 22, 2024

The Land Report- a Dallas-based quarterly magazine that lists the top 100 private landowners annually published a report on January 9 revealing that Chinese billionaire Tianqiao Chen, is the owner of swathes of forestland across Oregon-…

Southern Oregon’s Rental Assistance Programs: A Closer Look

Diane Megaw Jan 21, 2024

Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency due to homelessness on January 9, following a previous declaration set to end on January 10. Extending the emergency order was directed at allowing Oregon to keep the momentum going for recently…

Business

Layoff Fears for Dutch Bros Employees in Grants Pass

Diane Megaw Jan 20, 2024

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — It has come to light that Dutch Bros. Corporate intends to move forty percent of its company to Phoenix, Arizona. According to NewsWatch 12, the company intends to expand into Arizona by January 1, 2025. Its headquarters…

News

Southwestern Oregon Flood Watch Alert: Heavy Rainfall Can Cause Landslides

Diane Megaw Jan 20, 2024

Effective Saturday, January 20 through Monday, January 22, the National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for parts of Oregon, which includes the Curry County coast. Significant rain is forecasted between Friday evening and Monday…

Clackamas County in Oregon Dismantles Office Of Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion

Diane Megaw Jan 19, 2024

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. — Clackamas County Commissioner Ben West announced the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) will be dismantled after officials voted to cut its bloated $828,000 budget. He confirmed that the DEI department…

Gov. Tina Kotek’s One And Only 2024 Proposed Bill Seeks To Increase Primarily Affordable Housing

Diane Megaw Jan 18, 2024

With housing being her key focus for 2024, Gov. Tina Kotek plans to introduce just one bill in the 2024 legislative session. In the bill, she will be calling for $500 million to create more housing, particularly affordable housing. With…

Environment

Oregon’s Whitebark Pine Genome Sequenced By Scientists: Threatened Trees Could Be Restored

Diane Megaw Jan 17, 2024

Facing threats from climate change and white pine blister rust- a deadly fungus, mountaintop whitebark pine was recently identified as a threatened species by the federal government. Through genetic research, scientists are finding…

News

Three Hospitalized and Two Arrested in Ashland After Propane Explosion

Diane Megaw Jan 16, 2024

ASHLAND, Ore. — Three have been hospitalized and two arrested last night after an explosion that took place in Ashland’s designated camping area behind 1175 E. Main Street. The two suspects arrested at the scene were 19-year-old Noah…

Business

TriMet MAX Could Set New Closure Record: Return Of Service Hampered By Storms

Diane Megaw Jan 16, 2024

PORTLAND, Ore. — TriMets' Green Line light train rails have not been running for three days, since Monday, January 15. Crews are hard at work on the ice and fallen trees on the tracks, but storms are making their work challenging. With…

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