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Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

Journalist at Lookout Eugene-Springfield, dog owner and traveler of the West. I like to dig deep and find fun stories. Past stops: Idaho, Las Vegas, Oklahoma and Colorado. Tips: ben@lookoutlocal.com

228 Posts2356 Follower606 Folgt
Ben Botkin@bbotkin.bsky.social · last mo.

Another sign that fire season is here: The state's McKenzie Bridge State Airport is now closed to private aircraft, with the exception of firefighting aircraft, through July 8, the Oregon Department of Aviation says.

Ben Botkin@bbotkin.bsky.social · 2mo ago

My latest from today: Facing lawmaker scrutiny, Oregon Health Authority boss doesn’t dwell on state hospital’s past failures  lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #orleg #orpol

Facing lawmaker scrutiny, Oregon Health Authority boss doesn’t dwell on state hospital’s past failures

The Oregon Health Authority director told lawmakers the state psychiatric hospital's past extensive usage of seclusion was confusing.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

Ben Botkin@bbotkin.bsky.social · 2mo ago

My latest: Months before a patient died alone at Oregon State Hospital, agency boss was warned about seclusion practices lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/health...

Months before a patient died alone at Oregon State Hospital, agency boss was warned about seclusion practices

The Oregon Health Authority’s director, Dr. Sejal Hathi, has publicly stated through a spokesperson she didn’t know about the “scale and severity” of Oregon State Hospital’s over-reliance of seclusion...

lookouteugene-springfield.com

Ben Botkin@bbotkin.bsky.social · 2mo ago

My latest: Miles of Lane County roads are in a no-man’s land, with no government on hook to fix them lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #transportation

Miles of Lane County roads are in a no-man’s land, with no government on hook to fix them

Lane County officials say 124 miles of so-called “local access roads” are not their responsibility. Property owners who live along the public roads are stuck with the potholes.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

Ben Botkin@bbotkin.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Top PeaceHealth RiverBend executive put on administrative leave lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/health... Great reporting by @ashliblow.bsky.social

Top PeaceHealth RiverBend executive put on administrative leave

PeaceHealth has put Jim McGovern, chief hospital executive at PeaceHealth Medical Center at RiverBend, on leave after allegations that he worked outside of his administrative scope and tried to influence the emergency care of patients. It comes after the hospital’s medical executive committee received more than 300 pages of emails allegedly showing McGovern trying to […]

lookouteugene-springfield.com

Greater Oregon SPJ@spjoregon.bsky.social · 6mo ago

A bill is advancing in Salem that would blow a hole in the public's right to know, according to the top official who protects Oregonians’ public meetings law, Susan Myers. @SPJOregon, @OPB and others strongly oppose #orleg #orpol #foia

Bill could enable secret government talks, Oregon ethics chief warns

A section that would provide broad exceptions to the public meetings law 'gives me heartburn,' said Susan Myers, executive director of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission.

oregonlive.com

Freedom of the Press Foundation@freedom.press · 6mo ago

“The hunting of whistleblowers is wrong because it is failing to address the actual problem, which is the reason they blow the whistle in the first place,” FPF's Adam Rose told @lookout-es.bsky.social's @bbotkin.bsky.social.

Officials investigating how Lookout obtained report on Oregon State Hospital

Oregon state officials are investigating a leak of Oregon State Hospital records to Lookout that showed problems with patient care.

lookouteugene-springfield.com