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Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

2.2K followers 540 following 180 posts

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

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Ben Botkin @bbotkin.bsky.social · Jun 24

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

‘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

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: Oregon State Hospital’s culture needs to improve, officials tell legislators lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...
#orleg

Oregon State Hospital’s culture needs to improve, officials tell legislators

In a legislative hearing, Oregon state officials acknowledge culture at Oregon State Hospital needs to improve.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

November 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: After patient death, confidential Oregon State Hospital report calls out a ‘culture of complacency’ lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/latest...
#orleg

After patient death, confidential Oregon State Hospital report calls out a ‘culture of complacency’

The internal review, obtained by Lookout, found widespread, systemic problems at the state-run psychiatric hospital. Compiled after the March 18 death of a Lane County patient, the inquiry said that s...

lookouteugene-springfield.com

November 14, 2025 at 1:58 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

A third candidate enters race for Buch’s county commission seat lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/latest...

A third candidate enters race for Buch’s county commission seat

Another candidate is running for a Lane County commissioner seat, challenging incumbent Commissioner Heather Buch.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

November 6, 2025 at 12:57 AM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: A grieving family seeks answers after a patient dies at Oregon State Hospital lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...

A grieving family seeks answers after a patient dies at Oregon State Hospital

Kenneth Hass, who was often homeless in Eugene and throughout Lane County, died in Oregon State Hospital after living for months in seclusion. Nearly eight months later, his family wants accountabilit...

lookouteugene-springfield.com

November 2, 2025 at 1:18 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: Lane County neighbors, organizations prep for federal food benefits to stop lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/latest...

Lane County neighbors, organizations prep for federal food benefits to stop

Food pantries and neighbors are helping each other in preparation for the end of SNAP food benefits in November.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 31, 2025 at 6:27 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: Lane County homeless service providers warn that cuts will make it harder to connect people to housing lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...

Lane County homeless service providers warn that cuts will make it harder to connect people to housing

Lane County homeless service providers warn that cuts will force them to cut back on providing housing. The county's asking for more funding.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 27, 2025 at 9:35 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: As federal shutdown persists, @repvalhoyle.bsky.social says vulnerable Oregonians will suffer lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...

As federal shutdown persists, Hoyle says vulnerable Oregonians will suffer

U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle remains concerns about the federal shutdown, as it approaches nearly a month and impacts vulnerable Oregonians.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 24, 2025 at 1:57 AM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: Travel Lane County makes push for new events center in Lane County lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...

Travel Lane County makes push for new events center in Lane County

Lane County tourism leaders want to develop a new indoor sports facility that will drive up traffic to the region.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest scoop: @tinakotek.bsky.social communications aide gripes of ‘tough news cycles’; @orhealthauthority.bsky.social withholds press release about fallout from patient death lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...

Governor’s aide gripes of ‘tough news cycles’; agency withholds press release about fallout from patient death

Gov. Tina Kotek's office recommended the Oregon Health Authority to not release a press release about the Oregon State Hospital's failures.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 17, 2025 at 9:32 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

Our latest: Trillium to take Lane County Medicaid patients on PacificSource lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/health... double byline with @ashliblow.bsky.social

Trillium to take Lane County Medicaid patients on PacificSource

Trillium, a Medicaid insurer, will absorb about 92,000 Lane County residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan who rely upon PacificSource for coverage.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 16, 2025 at 9:21 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: Neighboring landowners sue to block new law that aids development of Lane County stabilization center lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...

Neighboring landowners sue to block new law that aids development of Lane County stabilization center

Property owners are suing Springfield, Lane County and PeaceHealth, seeking to block usage of a state law used for a planned crisis center.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 15, 2025 at 2:59 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: Lane County patches community corrections budget, but warns long-term fix is needed lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...

County patches community corrections budget, but warns long-term fix is needed

Lane County leaders dipped into reserves to avoid deep cuts to community corrections programs, but warned they cannot continue that approach.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 15, 2025 at 2:36 AM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: Lane County families with Affordable Care Act insurance could see premiums spike lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...

Lane County families with Affordable Care Act insurance could see premiums spike

Oregonians face rising premium costs if Republican-led expirations of tax credits expire at the end of 2025.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 13, 2025 at 11:44 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: Holiday Farm Fire survivors urged to apply for homeowner assistance program lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/holida...

Holiday Farm Fire survivors urged to apply for homeowner assistance program

The state's housing agency is urging Holiday Farm Fire survivors to apply for a home ownership program before the Dec. 31 deadline.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 13, 2025 at 11:18 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: For Holiday Farm Fire victims, and Lane County officials, recovery work remains lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/holida...

For Holiday Farm Fire victims, and county officials, recovery work remains

Five years after the Holiday Farm Fire, Lane County officials toured the area to hear about recovery efforts – and the work that remains.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: Eugene Mission to host 24-hour livestreamed event to raise awareness about homelessness lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/latest...

Eugene Mission to host 24-hour livestreamed event to raise awareness about homelessness

The Eugene Mission is planning a 24-hour livestream and discussion about homelessness that starts at noon Thursday.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 8, 2025 at 8:19 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: Eugene area law enforcement to map out plan to try to solve burglary ring targeting Asian households lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justic...

Police to map out plan to try to solve burglary ring targeting Asian households

A public forum is scheduled for Oct. 23 about burglaries that target Asian households in Lane County, as investigators map out a strategy.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM

Reposted by Ben Botkin

Oregon Capital Chronicle

@oregoncapitalchronicle.com

As Oregon awaits more clarity from a federal appeals court on the Trump administration’s attempts to deploy National Guard troops from multiple states to Portland, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem traveled to the city’s ICE facility on Tuesday.

DHS Secretary Noem visits Portland ICE facility as lawsuit over National Guard deployment continues • Oregon Capital Chronicle

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem traveled to Portland's Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Tuesday.

buff.ly

October 7, 2025 at 9:22 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: Lane County plans to expand opioid addiction treatment services to Florence lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/health...

Lane County plans to expand opioid addiction treatment services to Florence

Lane County officials plan to expand an opioid drug addition treatment service into Florence in 2026. Officials expect it can serve 100.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 6, 2025 at 4:02 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

Our latest: PacificSource’s Medicaid exit in Lane County: What we know, what we don't lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/health...
double-byline with @ashliblow.bsky.social

PacificSource’s Medicaid exit: What we know, what we don't

Nearly 70% of Lane County residents who rely on Medicaid are facing a transition in their health care coverage. Here's what we do and don't know about the future of Medicaid in the county.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 2, 2025 at 4:46 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

My latest: Lane County commissioners press Oregon health officials on PacificSource pullout lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...

County commissioners press state health officials on PacificSource pullout

Lane County officials are pressing the Oregon Health Authority to find a solution and keep them informed about Medicaid challenges.

lookouteugene-springfield.com

October 1, 2025 at 5:59 PM

Ben Botkin

@bbotkin.bsky.social

On the federal shutdown: Lane County organizations plan to maintain services as much as possible during federal shutdown lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/govern...