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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 11h

Salem, Marion County and others spent Oct. 6 working to convince a federal judge to halt the planned 'deep drawdown' of Detroit Lake. It's an issue I've been writing about for years now, and his decision will be a big one. Here's six takeaways from the hearing: tinyurl.com/2s4ftpe8

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Abra / Jessica Conwell, Carmella Creeper's Gender Doula🏳️‍⚧️ 🇲🇽🌼 @pairofclaws.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Benefits like: All the art sucks now, all the writing sucks now, every website and app runs like shit, every search engine is broken, the environment is being poisoned, jobs are being lost, and all your creative output and also photos of your family are being feasted on like carrion.

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Huge court case tomorrow. Salem and Marion County are asking a judge to halt the planned ‘deep drawdown’ of Detroit Lake. They’re worried about water quality, rec, tourism. Army Corps says they’re legally required to make it easier for spring Chinook to migrate thru the dam: tinyurl.com/4sf26t6p

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Razzball @razzball.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Damn, hit ‘em with the lookback

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Fun fact: one of Mount Hood and Oregon’s greatest hikes is named for a newspaperman and an outdoor lover who organized the Pacific Northwest Ski Association. It's one of the best hikes you can take in the autumn: tinyurl.com/mu2myrem

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Oregon's wildfire season a record saw 2.1 million acres burn — almost entirely east of the Cascades — and a record cost of $1.4 billion. Fire crews saved communities, and two firefighters lost their lives. But a lack of fire bosses also led to major frustration. We go deep: tinyurl.com/m4ebk2rb

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

It hasn’t been an easy few years for outdoor retailers in Oregon, but there are some bright spots. Intern Riley Ellis reports on a beloved fly shop based in Albany that’s weathered all the storms since 2002 and is still thriving: tinyurl.com/2p9wd5z7

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

It’s been a rough few years for Oregon’s outdoor gear shops — many have closed or are struggling. We talked to the owner of Peak Sports in Corvallis, which recently downsized, about why it’s been so tough: tinyurl.com/4p7ce9mx

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Damn, West Wing gets no respect these days.

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

20 Oregon state parks opened to drone use, frustrating some www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/l... via @salem_statesman

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Oregon approved purchase of Abiqua Falls and another property nearby for $2 million on Sept. 23, setting the stage for development of a new state park. But commissioners acknowledged it will be “daunting” to create a park — esp facing a multi-million dollar budget shortfall: tinyurl.com/29wp66uh

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

An inspiring story about a Newport man who lost his leg in an accident — and suffers from debilitating pain — who goes to incredible lengths to ride the ocean waves. Great story and video from our outdoors journalism intern Riley Ellis: tinyurl.com/bdfwxbzz

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

holy hell. I mean I'm honestly not that surprised but holy hell. But I mean, Pablo showed us journalism could be done in an quasi-influencer way so maybe we ink stained wretches just need to perfect our "hey guyyyys"

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

SOS! Three tourists were stranded by the tide at Lost Boy Beach near Oceanside on Sept. 16, according to the Netarts-Oceanside Rural Fire Protection District. Fire Chief Jeff McBrayer described the individuals as "tourists trying to get a dramatic photo opportunity." tinyurl.com/2wy74ku3

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde would receive more than 18,000 acres of federal public land east of Hebo, near Lincoln City, if a bill introduced this week in Congress passes. It’s an example of the “land back movement" that's been gaining steam: tinyurl.com/3w2tmu4x

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Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

"Yes, care about the real kids who really die because of the bullshit I told their incredibly gullible parents. But what about the imaginary kids I made up? Don't they deserve sympathy for their non-existent injuries, too?"

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

A federal judge on Sept. 14 ordered Oregon to stop releasing summer steelhead, a non-native species meant for recreational fishing, into the North Santiam River: tinyurl.com/mdpf63z7

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Oregon wildlife officials want to reduce the cougar population in a southeastern Oregon mountain range to help the number of bighorn sheep grow: tinyurl.com/2ratp3wy

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Vandals significantly damaged a cabin essential to Willamette Backcountry Ski Patrol operations at Gold Lake Sno-Park east of Oakridge last weekend. A website has been set up so the public can help cover some of the repair costs. Full story: tinyurl.com/5x3nwm6e

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission will vote whether to officially purchase Abiqua Falls and another 160-acre property downstream at its upcoming meeting. It could mean a new state park, and quite a stunner, for Oregon: tinyurl.com/yc5y8cs2

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Oregon and 19 other states sue Trump Administration for its narrowing and weakening of the federal Endangered Species Act: tinyurl.com/3nea49sf

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 08/09/2026

"Marshall, a Republican seeking re-election this fall, filed lawsuits against more than 700 patients with outstanding bills ... Marshall's lawyers garnished patients’ paychecks and bank accounts. They routinely charged patients an 18% annual interest rate."

nytimes.com

Roger Marshall Sued 700 Patients for Debts; 81 Were Arrested. Now He’s a Senator. (Gift Article)

Patients sued by Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas were routinely charged 18 percent interest, The Times found. Some had bank accounts garnished.

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

The future of one of Oregon’s most beautiful but fire-scarred places will begin to take shape with a series of open house meetings this month in Salem and Lyons: tinyurl.com/rj63a236

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Rain and wind! Maybe hail and funnel clouds?! Even some snow way up there! Oregon weather starts to get wild this evening and really kicks up tomorrow: tinyurl.com/hxybws6k

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Riley Ellis grew up surfing Lincoln City. One place his crew avoided like the plague was Oregon's most popular surf spot — Short Sands. So, of course, I made him go and write about what makes it such a beautiful, perfect, annoying place to ride waves: tinyurl.com/ybvzs8ph

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

A 38-year-old wildlife officer and veteran from Oregon died while helping residents evacuate from a wildfire on Aug. 29 in Oklahoma. David Taylor, 38, of Scio, is believed to have died while going door-to-door to help residents threatened by the fast-moving Railroad South Fire: tinyurl.com/5bx5hyt2

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Major change in the weather is coming next week. Oregon could see 1 to 2 inches of rain, which would be a major help for wildfire season and the drought. But ... less ideal if you've got outdoor adventures planned: tinyurl.com/26k9e7wu

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Just a remarkable deep dive report from @leahsottile.bsky.social on the struggles and collateral damage of sorta, kinda, not really effort to implement DEI policies at the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. www.thewesternedge.media/p/dei-at-ore...

thewesternedge.media

DEI at Oregon Parks is Lost in the Woods

In progressive Oregon, the Parks department has wrung its hands for years over inclusion

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

A new wildfire ignited south of Oakridge and Hills Creek Reservoir this afternoon. The fire is currently estimated at 10 acres but is throwing up a large smoke column: tinyurl.com/4zuau9z2

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Northern spotted owls are becoming functionally extinct across large swaths of the Pacific Northwest, a new study said: tinyurl.com/36cfy53f

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Newsletter from the @ryanjhaas.bsky.social and the Western Edge sums up the challenge for all media, and in particular local and independent media, in today's newsletter. Incidentally, you can read (and subscribe) to their great stuff here: www.thewesternedge.media

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Evidence is growing that Oregon could face a historically powerful El Niño this fall and winter. What does that mean for Oregon. I talked with state climatologist Larry O’Neill about the most likely scenarios: tinyurl.com/mwexx248

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Zach Urness @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

The AI tools installed on Google Docs and Gmail remind me of trying to work with my kids in the house. Just frequently bothering me and being like "hey, hey, can I help! I bet I could do a REALLLLY good job! Come on let me trryyyy!."

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404 Media @404media.co · 17/08/2026

EXCLUSIVE: 404 Media placed a tracking device in a shipment of rare books to see which AI company was buying it, and found an Amazon facility where Amazon scans and destroys books. @evystadium.bsky.social has more. Investigation by @emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social here: www.404media.co/we-tracked-a...

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Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

New from 404 Media: we solved which AI company is buying massive shipments of rare books, scanning and destroying them to train AI. We put an Apple AirTag in a rare book, followed it. It ended up at an Amazon facility. Its logo is a dinosaur ripping through a book www.404media.co/we-tracked-a...

404media.co

We Tracked a Shipment of Rare Books. It Ended at an Amazon AI Training Facility

We placed a tracking device in a shipment of rare books to see which AI company was buying it, and found an Amazon facility where Amazon scans and destroys books.

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