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
I like to dig deep and find fun stories.
Past stops: Idaho, Las Vegas, Oklahoma and Colorado.
Tips: ben@lookoutlocal.com
Pinned
Ben Botkin
@bbotkin.bsky.social
· Jun 24
‘Harm and death’: Report shows how Oregon State Hospital failed a Lane County patient
Federal inspectors linked repeated failures at Oregon State Hospital to the March 18 death of a patient in a locked seclusion room. When the hospital released the report, it censored those failures fr...
lookouteugene-springfield.com
What I've been up to lately: ‘Harm and death’: Unredacted report shows how Oregon State Hospital failed a Lane County patient lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
#journalism
#orleg
#journalism
#orleg
My latest: ‘I want to be treated fairly’: Loveall opens up about his frustrations lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
‘I want to be treated fairly’: Loveall opens up about his frustrations
Lane County Commissioner David Loveall wants a fair shake. On Wednesday, his fellow commissioners will decide whether to punish him.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:03 PM
My latest: ‘I want to be treated fairly’: Loveall opens up about his frustrations lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
My latest: Lane County outside investigation finds Loveall retaliated against employees, administrator lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
County investigation finds Loveall retaliated against employees, administrator
Lane County rebuked Commissioner David Loveall in an investigation released Tuesday into complaints about his behavior.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:13 PM
My latest: Lane County outside investigation finds Loveall retaliated against employees, administrator lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
My latest: Tourism officials, local governments at odds over bill divvying up lodging taxes lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #orleg #tourism
Tourism officials, local governments at odds over bill divvying up lodging taxes
Cities and counties would have more flexibility to use transient lodging tax revenues for local services under a legislative proposal.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:33 AM
My latest: Tourism officials, local governments at odds over bill divvying up lodging taxes lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #orleg #tourism
Bill would shift oversight of some local mental health, drug recovery program funding lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #orleg
Bill would shift oversight of some local mental health, drug recovery programs
Lane County officials are backing a bill that would put accountability into a program that spends millions on behavioral health services.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Bill would shift oversight of some local mental health, drug recovery program funding lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #orleg
My latest: Prozanski, colleagues seek to hold federal law enforcement accountable lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #orleg
Prozanski, colleagues seek to hold federal law enforcement accountable
Oregon lawmakers want to hold federal law enforcement accountable, following immigration enforcement activities deemed illegal in the courts.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:04 PM
My latest: Prozanski, colleagues seek to hold federal law enforcement accountable lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #orleg
My latest: Kotek, Eugene mayor urge peaceful protests as Trump puts Eugene in national spotlight lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/latest...
Kotek, Eugene mayor urge peaceful protests as Trump puts Eugene in national spotlight
President Donald Trump highlighted Eugene in a social media post about protecting federal buildings. Oregon’s state and local leaders say peaceful protests are the key to avoiding a stronger federal p...
lookouteugene-springfield.com
February 1, 2026 at 9:54 PM
My latest: Kotek, Eugene mayor urge peaceful protests as Trump puts Eugene in national spotlight lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/latest...
Fast timeline, tight budgets, federal worries: Legislators launch short session lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #orleg
Fast timeline, tight budgets, federal worries: Legislators launch short session
Oregon lawmakers will start a fast and furious legislative session Monday that tackles federal issues and the state budget.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Fast timeline, tight budgets, federal worries: Legislators launch short session lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #orleg
Day of Action updates: Caravan, fairgrounds rally wraps up; Eugene police nearby federal building protest lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/develo...
Day of Action updates: Caravan, fairgrounds rally wraps up; Eugene police nearby federal building protest
As a protest against federal immigration enforcement, organizers were asking local businesses to close and for workers and students to stay home. Demonstrations were planned as well. Follow our live c...
lookouteugene-springfield.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Day of Action updates: Caravan, fairgrounds rally wraps up; Eugene police nearby federal building protest lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/develo...
After care and safety violations, state psychiatric hospital returns to ‘substantial compliance,’ feds say lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
After care and safety violations, state psychiatric hospital returns to ‘substantial compliance,’ feds say
Oregon State Hospital has returned to substantial compliance after a patient death and violations that inspectors uncovered, officials said.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:01 AM
After care and safety violations, state psychiatric hospital returns to ‘substantial compliance,’ feds say lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
Our latest: Agents pepper-spray protesters during altercation at federal building lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/develo...
Agents pepper-spray protesters during altercation at federal building
Witnesses said at least one person, possibly two, were detained after agents in tactical gear emerged from the building and a conflict developed with protesters.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Our latest: Agents pepper-spray protesters during altercation at federal building lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/develo...
My day today: Merkley, Hoyle warn against Trump’s ‘authoritarian takeover’ of the government lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
Merkley, Hoyle warn against Trump’s ‘authoritarian takeover’ of the government
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley warned that fascism is on the rise as the Trump administration's playbook for an authoritarian takeover continues.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:43 AM
My day today: Merkley, Hoyle warn against Trump’s ‘authoritarian takeover’ of the government lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
.@jeff-merkley.bsky.social and @repvalhoyle.bsky.social are starting a town hall for constituents in Springfield today. Details to come.
January 18, 2026 at 7:48 PM
.@jeff-merkley.bsky.social and @repvalhoyle.bsky.social are starting a town hall for constituents in Springfield today. Details to come.
My latest: Amid ICE fears, Eugene city leaders seek to reassure an alarmed community lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justic...
#immigration
#immigration
Amid ICE fears, Eugene city leaders seek to reassure an alarmed community
The mayor, police chief and independent police auditor called out “unaccountable, reckless behavior.” They urge peaceful community engagement, not vigilantism, after a federal immigration officer shot...
lookouteugene-springfield.com
January 17, 2026 at 7:43 PM
My latest: Amid ICE fears, Eugene city leaders seek to reassure an alarmed community lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justic...
#immigration
#immigration
Eugene mayor lays out challenges for 2026 in annual State of the City address lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/latest...
Eugene mayor lays out challenges for 2026 in annual State of the City address
Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson is leaning on regional and state partnerships amid the uncertainty at the federal level.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:11 AM
Eugene mayor lays out challenges for 2026 in annual State of the City address lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/latest...
My latest: Lane County OKs deal with Oregon Health Authority to help fund mental health services lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
#orleg
#orleg
County OKs deal with state to help fund mental health services
Lane County officials approved a funding agreement with the state for behavioral health services, capping a period of disagreements.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:30 PM
My latest: Lane County OKs deal with Oregon Health Authority to help fund mental health services lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
#orleg
#orleg
My latest: Lane County commissioners tap Ceniga to succeed Loveall as chair lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
Lane County commissioners tap Ceniga to succeed Loveall as chair
Lane County Commissioner Ryan Ceniga became chair of the five-member board of commissioners Tuesday for a one-year term.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
January 6, 2026 at 10:07 PM
My latest: Lane County commissioners tap Ceniga to succeed Loveall as chair lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
My latest: Loveall says government isn’t the answer to Lane County’s challenges lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
Loveall says government isn’t the answer to Lane County’s challenges
Lane County Commission Chair David Loveall urged county residents to dig deeply for solutions to the problems burdening the county.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:42 PM
My latest: Loveall says government isn’t the answer to Lane County’s challenges lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
Lane County closes out first full year of drug ‘deflection’ program lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/health...
Lane County closes out first full year of drug ‘deflection’ program
Lane County's deflection program that steers people into recovery from drug addiction offers emergency housing, which aids its success.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Lane County closes out first full year of drug ‘deflection’ program lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/health...
Shortfall will need fixing as Lane County begins budget planning, officials say lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
Shortfall will need fixing as Lane County begins budget planning, officials say
Lane County officials are preparing for a tight budget ahead, one with few options amid state mandates and limits on property taxes.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Shortfall will need fixing as Lane County begins budget planning, officials say lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
My latest: Lane County commissioners open to new CleanLane site, OK other waste projects lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #recycling
County commissioners open to new CleanLane site, OK other waste projects
Lane County officials are considering a new location for CleanLane and moving forward with new technology to process methane at the landfill.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:48 PM
My latest: Lane County commissioners open to new CleanLane site, OK other waste projects lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #recycling
Lane County seeks fees from Sanipac over trash hauled to Medford area lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/latest...
Lane County seeks fees from Sanipac over trash hauled to Medford area
Waste Connections, which runs Sanipac, has told the county it is not required to pay fees on Springfield trash collections that are taken to a dump in southern Oregon. The county disagrees.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Lane County seeks fees from Sanipac over trash hauled to Medford area lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/latest...
My latest: Lane County commissioners weigh options for recycling facility and landfill lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
Lane County commissioners weigh options for recycling facility and landfill
Lane County officials are considering two sites for a planned recycling facility that would raise the county's recycling rate.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:02 PM
My latest: Lane County commissioners weigh options for recycling facility and landfill lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
Nonprofit that aids homeless is raising money for building remodel in Eugene lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/busine...
Nonprofit that aids homeless is raising money for building remodel
Community Supported Shelters has launched a capital campaign to renovate its new office building for workers.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Nonprofit that aids homeless is raising money for building remodel in Eugene lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/busine...
My latest: James Edmunson, a towering Oregon political figure and Eugene attorney, dies at 74 lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #orleg #orpol
James Edmunson, a towering Oregon political figure and Eugene attorney, dies at 74
James Edmunson, an Oregon politician and former state legislator, died at the age of 74.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:09 PM
My latest: James Edmunson, a towering Oregon political figure and Eugene attorney, dies at 74 lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern... #orleg #orpol
My latest: During visit to Eugene, Merkley hears about impact of tariffs on local business lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
During visit to Eugene, Merkley hears about impact of tariffs on local business
The Trump administration's tariffs are hurting a Eugene business that sells bicycle trailers manufactured overseas.
lookouteugene-springfield.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:24 PM
My latest: During visit to Eugene, Merkley hears about impact of tariffs on local business lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...