Program Gets $5000 Grant The Food Backpack for Kids program, which provides weekend food supplies to over 131 at-risk students in the Siuslaw and Mapleton school districts, is proud to announce a generous $5,000 grant from the Safeway Foundation. Founded in 2012 after a young student was seen searching for […]

Ranked-Choice Voting Measure This November, Oregon could join a growing number of states switching to ranked-choice voting for federal and state elections. Measure 117 would allow Oregonians to rank candidates by preference rather than choosing just one, and ensure that the winner gets more than 50-percent of the vote. Blair […]

Choosing a Medicare Plan It’s the time of year when people eligible for Medicare can shop around and make sure they are signed up for the health coverage that makes the most sense for them. Open enrollment for Medicare lasts through December 7th – an important date for more than […]

Ballots Coming The Lane County Elections Office has officially placed ballots in the mail for the November 5, 2024, General Election. All 21 ballot drop boxes across Lane County will be available 24/7 until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. In Florence, the drop box is located in front of the […]

New Police Vehicles The Florence Police Department has bolstered its fleet with the addition of two new 2024 Ford F150 Super Crew Cab 4×4 hybrid trucks. These gas-electric hybrid vehicles will enhance the department’s ability to respond to emergencies, support officers in the field, and manage the diverse demands of […]

Rural Voter to Swing Election? Rural voters in Oregon and across the U-S tend to be swing voters, and may decide the outcome of this year’s presidential election. Their biggest concerns are the economy, threats to democracy, and abortion – according to a new Rural Democracy Initiative poll. Sarah Jaynes […]