DUII Enforcement
Florence Police will increase patrols as part of the nationwide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign beginning August 19 and continuing through September 7. The extra enforcement coincides with the busy Labor Day travel period and will focus on identifying impaired drivers. The effort is supported by a federal traffic safety grant administered through the Oregon Department of Transportation. Police remind motorists that impairment can involve alcohol, cannabis, prescription medications or other substances, and encourage anyone celebrating over the holiday weekend to plan ahead and arrange for a sober ride.
Municipal Elections
The field is taking shape for Florence’s November 2026 municipal election, with 11 candidates filing petitions for mayor or City Council. Voters will elect a mayor to a 2-year term, two councilors to 4-year terms and two councilors to partial 2-year terms. The mayoral candidates are Shannon Warren, Sally Wantz and Daniel Lofy. Seeking the 2-year council seats are Renee LoPilato, Mike Webb, Elijah Yager and Haylee Cole. Running for the 4-year positions are Justin Ludwig, Jo Beaudreau, Terry Duman and Ryan Eichelberger. Most candidates have qualified for the ballot. Warren and Cole are still collecting signatures, while Beaudreau is awaiting verification from Lane County.
Deportations Costly for Oregon
With the money being spent by the federal government on mass deportations, Oregon could hire 95 hundred teachers or more than 6 thousand nurses. A new calculator released by the Economic Policy Institute will figure the cost of the Trump Administration’s mass deportation campaign in any state, county or city, along with the equivalent value of various social services. The calculator shows deportations have cost 3 billion dollars in Oregon. Gordon Lafer, with the University of Oregon and the E-P-I, says it is shocking to see such a high price tag while so many people are struggling to pay for food, housing and health insurance.
“We wanted to show what the trade-off is so that people understand we could be having all these things that really matter in people’s lives, and instead the money’s being wasted on this political circus of mass deportations.”
The calculator shows with that money, Oregon could fund medical care for 47-thousand veterans. The Trump Administration says deportations will restore economic stability and improve public safety
