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]

Education

Oregon Lawmakers Push New Plan to Stabilize Colleges as Out-of-State and Online Programs Drain…

Lucille McNamara Mar 1, 2026

Lawmakers have passed a bill to strengthen the sustainability of higher education in Oregon, as out-of-state and online tutoring programs continue to make negative inroads into enrollment figures at state universities and colleges. These…

News

Federal Judge Blocks Marion County From Giving Immigration Records to ICE Under Oregon’s Sanctuary…

Lucille McNamara Mar 1, 2026

A federal judge has overthrown a lawsuit filed by Marion County that asked whether county officials are allowed to follow federal immigration subpoenas under Oregon’s sanctuary law. Tidings Context Oregon has been a sanctuary state…

News

Oregon Family Loses $2,500 After AI Scammers Fake Their Daughter’s Voice and Threaten to Kill Her

Lucille McNamara Mar 1, 2026

Scammers using AI technology, who managed to coerce $2,500 from a Hillsboro family, are using fear and a sense of urgency to stop people from thinking clearly during stressful situations, according to detectives from the Washington County…

Crime & Courts

Alaska Resident Gets Federal Prison Time in Portland for Stealing More Than $170,000 in COVID Relief…

Lucille McNamara Feb 28, 2026

An Alaskan resident was found guilty on three counts of wire fraud involving more than $172,000 from emergency COVID-19 programs when he appeared before a Portland U.S. District Court judge earlier this week. Tidings Context Wire fraud…

Politics & Elections

Oregon Lawmakers Pass Bill Rolling Back Trump Tax Breaks as Republicans Push for a Statewide Vote

Lucille McNamara Feb 27, 2026

Oregon lawmakers this week passed Senate Bill 1507, which eliminates three tax exemptions contained in President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). However, the future of the legislation - if ratified by Governor Tina…

Crime & Courts

Oregon Real Estate Broker Pleads Guilty After Drafting Fake Leases and Moving Cash for Client’s…

Lucille McNamara Feb 27, 2026

An Oregon real estate broker, who drafted fake property leases after one of the illegal marijuana grows owned by her client was raided, has pleaded guilty to avoiding reporting requirements and obstruction of justice. According to a news…

Crime & Courts

Former Southern Oregon Builders CEO Arrested in Medford After Detectives Say He Embezzled 100,000…

Lucille McNamara Feb 27, 2026

MEDFORD, Ore. — The former CEO of the Builders Association of Southern Oregon (BASO) is facing multiple criminal charges after being accused of embezzling $100,000 from the organization. Bradley Bennington was arrested yesterday…

Crime & Courts

Oregon Arrest of Alleged Venezuelan Gang Member Prompts Federal Detainer and Deportation Action

Lucille McNamara Feb 26, 2026

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced an arrest *detainer for an illegal Venezuelan immigrant and member of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang who was recently arrested in Oregon. He was Arrested for a Weapons…

News

Oregon Advances Bill to Limit Federal Reach in the State and Stop Masked Policing

Lucille McNamara Feb 26, 2026

House Bill 4138, which limits cooperation with federal and out-of-state law enforcement agencies and requires officers in Oregon not to hide their identity, will now move to the State Senate for consideration after successfully passing…

Crime & Courts

Five Portland Teens Arrested and Charged in Fatal Shooting of Minister Kevin Cooper

Lucille McNamara Feb 25, 2026

PORTLAND, Ore. — Five teenagers have been arrested and charged with the murder of minister, devoted family man, and grandfather, 56-year-old Kevin Cooper, who was gunned down in his Portland home in front of his family. The shooting took…

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