Spiking Gas Prices
Gas prices have jumped sharply in Florence over the past week, with the average for regular now at $3.81 a gallon. Statewide, the Oregon average surged 22 cents to $3.91, the largest week-over-week increase in the nation. The national average rose 3 cents to $2.95 a gallon. According to Marie Dodds with AAA Oregon/Idaho, the spike is tied to a temporary closure of the 400-mile Olympic Pipeline, which carries refined fuel from Washington to terminals across the Pacific Northwest, including Portland. At the same time, West Coast refineries began maintenance ahead of the switch to summer-blend fuel. The pipeline resumed operations last Thursday, but elevated crude oil prices tied to U.S.-Iran tensions are continuing to put upward pressure on pump prices.
City Offers New Speaker Series
The City of Florence Environmental Management Advisory Committee is launching a new Speaker Spotlight Series beginning Wednesday, March 11, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Lane Community College’s Florence Center on Oak Street. The first presentation features Justin Gast with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Materials Management Program. His topic, “Where Does Oregon’s Recycling Go?” will explain what happens to recycling after it leaves the curb and how the state’s Recycling Modernization Act supports responsible end markets and contamination reduction efforts. The free event includes snacks, educational materials, and giveaways. More information is available at ci.florence.or.us.
PeaceHealth Announces Changes in Emergency Department Management
PeaceHealth is transitioning emergency department physician management in Lane County from Eugene Emergency Physicians to ApolloMD in an effort to strengthen access, patient flow and quality. The change begins June 1, 2026, at Peace Harbor and Cottage Grove, and July 1 at Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. RiverBend has seen visits surge from about 55,000 in fiscal year 2024 to more than 80,000 projected this year, driven by regional pressures including the closure of the University District emergency department and reduced primary care access. PeaceHealth says ApolloMD, a physician-owned and physician-led organization, was selected after a competitive review process for its experience managing high-volume emergency departments. The hospital system says the move is not cost-cutting and emergency care will continue uninterrupted.
Response to ED Changes
In response to PeaceHealth’s announcement that it will transition emergency department physician management to ApolloMD, some local doctors and nurses are voicing opposition to the move. Physicians with Eugene Emergency Physicians, which has staffed the hospitals for more than 35 years, say they were given little notice and argue that rising wait times are tied to hospital capacity and system pressures, not physician performance. Reports indicate all 41 emergency doctors and physician assistants in the group have pledged not to work under the new provider for at least 90 days after the contract ends. Members of the Oregon Nurses Association have also raised concerns about continuity of care during the transition.
