Lookout PM: Learn about local Medicaid changes

Good evening,

Here we are, like a slice of turkey, sandwiched between Thanksgiving and the last regular season Ducks football game day. Boy, were things quiet around the Lookout office today.

Among those not in the building were sportswriter Tyson Alger and photographer Isaac Wasserman, who are on their way to Seattle to cover the Ducks-Huskies contest. Check our website for Tyson’s insights during the game tomorrow. Kickoff is at 12:30 p.m.

Are you enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan? Or are you a health care provider who sees Oregon Health Plan patients? If so, you may be interested in some “listening sessions” that the state has scheduled to help people learn about upcoming changes to Medicaid services in Lane County — as PacificSource exits and Trillium absorbs its members. Ben Botkin has the details on how to attend.

PeaceHealth’s hospice program is accepting names to be read during its annual “Light Up a Life” remembrance ceremony. Names must be submitted by Monday, Dec. 1, to be included and read aloud during the event, which is set for Dec. 14.

A couple stories you might have missed in the busy-ness of the holiday — or because we forgot to tell you about them earlier:

Worth a read is Jaime Adame’s story of a 41-year-old Venezuelan-born man, living in Eugene, who was picked up by ICE while taking his car to a mechanic. At a hearing Wednesday, a federal judge said the man had been “indiscriminately pulled over” and ordered him immediately released. After having been in detention for a week, the man walked out of the federal courthouse with his wife and his lawyer.

Also on Wednesday, an explosion rocked a neighborhood in Santa Clara and started a fire. Two men were severely burned. Jaime reports.

Ashli Blow wraps up Lane County’s summer wildfire season: Not so bad in terms of acres burned, and the biggest blaze — the Emigrant Fire — was fairly remote. Still, the cost of the firefighting efforts in the county — including state and federal agencies — was $78 million.

Ben Botkin writes about a new bus route from McMinnville to Eugene. It’s a pilot project for now, called 99 Vine. It will make stops along the way in Rickreall, Amity, Monmouth, Corvallis, Monroe and Junction City. And it’s free to ride.

Anything on your mind this holiday weekend you think the community should know about? Send us a letter (350 words or less, please): lte@lookoutlocal.com

Have a news tip on something we should cover: newsroom@lookoutlocal.com

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DAILY DIGEST

Officials plan listening sessions about upcoming Medicaid transition in Lane County

By Ben Botkin

The Oregon Health Authority has planned listening sessions for Lane County residents enrolled in Medicaid to learn about the transition from PacificSource to Trillium.

PeaceHealth seeks names for annual remembrance ceremony

By Lookout Eugene-Springfield Staff

PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Hospice will hold its annual “Light Up a Life” ceremony to remember loved ones Dec. 14, and the deadline to submit names for the event is Dec. 1.

New fare-free bus route connects Eugene, McMinnville

By Ben Botkin

Yamhill County Transit and Benton County Transit have launched a pilot project that offers more connections throughout the Willamette Valley, including Eugene.

Lane County’s modest wildfire season still cost more than $78 million

By Ashli Blow

Though Lane County saw fewer acres burn this year, more than $78 million in firefighting costs — along with fires pushing close to communities — made the season feel visible. The Emigrant Fire dominated the landscape and still requires monitoring, even as strong preparation kept most other fires small.