Lookout PM: Pileup closes I-5

Hello, Eugene and Springfield,

A pileup on Interstate 5 this morning closed the freeway in both directions for three hours about halfway between Eugene and Creswell. The crash involved as many as nine vehicles, police said.
As crews were fighting a 20-acre blaze near Waldo Lake, the National Weather Service issued a red-flag wildfire warning for parts of eastern Lane County. Thunderstorms, lightning and wind gusts are in the forecast for Wednesday.
On a lighter note, we bring you a column today from Bob Welch, reflecting on a lifetime spent enjoying the quiet constancy of what he calls his “refuge” — a beloved family cabin in Yachats, which his grandparents purchased for $500 in the 1930s. Has the weather improved since his childhood visits? No. Is an extra layer of clothing pretty much always a good idea? Yes. Has anything changed at all? Not really, no. Well, maybe the price of cabins on the coast.
Speaking of the cost of housing, Gov. Tina Kotek signed a series of five bills into law today, saying they will help address Oregon’s housing crisis. The bills aim to make it easier to build more housing faster and ease pressure on rents and home prices.
Finally, a nicely written column by Duane Noriyuki explores the unimaginable trauma of having a child die, and he introduces us to a woman who has tried to use her grief as a way to help others.

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DAILY DIGEST

Red flag warning issued as crews battle 20-acre Piper Lake Fire

By Grace Chinowsky

The warning comes as lightning storms were forecast for July 30, combined with extremely dry forest conditions. Meanwhile the Piper Lake Fire was burning near Skookum Creek Campground, north of Waldo Lake.

The allure of the Oregon Coast: It’s not for everyone

By Bob Welch

The weather is notoriously unreliable. There is rarely a whole lot “going on.” Nothing much ever changes. All of which is exactly why I love my longtime refuge in Yachats.

Update: Interstate 5 reopened after crash south of Highway 58

By Jaime Adame

A vehicle collision has shut down Interstate 5 south of Eugene near Goshen for roughly an hour this morning, July 29, according to online traffic information from the state Department of Transportation.