Author

Lucille McNamara

Lucille McNamara is a Daily Tidings reporter with 27 years of journalism experience, covering Oregon public safety, crime and courts, plus statewide policy and community impact stories including housing, education, health, and immigration. She previously worked at The Star.
Contact: [email protected]

News

Oregon Water Providers Get More Time to Remove Forever Chemicals From Drinking Water

Lucille McNamara May 20, 2026

Oregon water utilities will be given two additional years, until 2031, to meet Biden-era limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water. The additional breathing space has been announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),…

News

Jackson County DUI Suspect Crashes Head-On Into SUV While Driving Wrong Way on I-5

Lucille McNamara May 19, 2026

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — A drunk driver is in a serious condition in a local hospital after driving the wrong way on the I-5 before crashing head-on into an oncoming SUV, according to Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO). The incident…

Oregon Tourism Brings In $14.6 Billion but Growth Lags Behind National Pace

Lucille McNamara May 18, 2026

Although Oregon’s tourism industry appears stable, visitor travel spending increased by only 1.3% in 2025, compared to a growth almost three times faster nationwide. Travel and Tourism Contributed $14.6 Billion to State Coffers…

Crime & Courts

Oregon Man With 48 Misdemeanors and 7 Felonies Gets Life Without Parole

Lucille McNamara May 17, 2026

Forty-one-year-old Joshua Cory Nealy has received a true-life sentence – life imprisonment without the possibility of parole – after a long history of criminal offenses, including attempted rape, sexual abuse, and public indecency. Judge…

News

Oregon’s Overdose Crisis Eases but Remains Far Above the U.S. Average

Lucille McNamara May 17, 2026

Despite the ongoing statewide opioid abuse crisis, with most drug overdoses involving fentanyl and methamphetamine, the death rate in Oregon has decreased each year since 2023. Preliminary data released by the Oregon Health Authority…

Education

Southern Oregon University Faces $20 Million Budget Cut as It Tries to Secure Emergency Funding

Lucille McNamara May 16, 2026

ASHLAND, Ore. — After trimming one-fifth of its budget under recommendations from consulting firm Deloitte, Southern Oregon University must now serve as a model for other higher education institutions confronting similar financial strain.…

Crime & Courts

85-Year-Old Oregon Man Helps Stop Alleged Kidnapping Attempt at Medford Mobile Home Park

Lucille McNamara May 15, 2026

MEDFORD, Ore. — A caregiver, who was attacked with a taser by a man posing as a utility worker at a rural Medford mobile park home, was saved by an 85-year-old resident who intervened, giving the woman time to escape to her vehicle. A…

News

Oregon Drivers Could See Cheaper Gas This Summer as Officials Try to Avoid Fuel Supply Problems

Lucille McNamara May 15, 2026

Oregon motorists will be allowed to use cheaper fuel versions with higher ethanol content in their vehicles during the summer of 2026 to avoid possible supply problems. The temporary change will permit the sale of E15 gasoline during the…

Crime & Courts

Oregon Man Sentenced to Nearly 7 Years for Trafficking Fentanyl and Meth in Montana

Lucille McNamara May 14, 2026

An Oregon man will spend nearly seven years in prison for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine in Billings. Derry Jerel Howard (55) was sentenced yesterday to 82 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Tidings…

Oregon Prepares for Major Aging Shift as Seniors Now Outnumber Children

Lucille McNamara May 14, 2026

As one of 11 states where senior citizens outnumber children, Oregon is now preparing for a permanent shift in its age demographics. The State Has Released a Plan on Aging Yesterday, the Oregon Department of Human Services…

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