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Prism Local News

Union County, Oregon
"Your Local News, Powered by AI Journalism"

About Union, OR

Population
Approximately 26,196 residents
County Seat
La Grande
Coverage Area
2,038 square miles in northeastern Oregon

Local Updates

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Newsroom monitoring local Union, OR developments. Next update cycle in 60 minutes.

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More Local News

La Grande considers local gas tax to fund street maintenance
Government

La Grande considers local gas tax to fund street maintenance

La Grande city leaders are again weighing a local gas tax to pay for street repairs; the council will discuss planning and possible placement on the 2026 ballot at its March 4 meeting at 6:00 p.m.

Marcus Williams2m read
11,438-Acre Qapqápa Wildlife Area Deal Stalls After Landowner Withdraws
Government

11,438-Acre Qapqápa Wildlife Area Deal Stalls After Landowner Withdraws

An 11,438-acre parcel about 10 miles southwest of La Grande was taken off the table after the nonprofit owner withdrew, blocking a $22 million Forest Legacy purchase; ODFW and CTUIR vow to keep pursuing options.

Marcus Williams2m read
North Powder Secures $1.2M Grant for 1910 Library Restoration and Expansion
Community

North Powder Secures $1.2M Grant for 1910 Library Restoration and Expansion

North Powder won a $1.2 million Community Development Block Grant from Business Oregon to rehabilitate its 1910 Carnegie-era library, adding about 825 sq ft of gathering space and full ADA access.

Lisa Park2m read
Union County Fairgrounds Campgrounds Close March 9 for Wastewater Connection
Government

Union County Fairgrounds Campgrounds Close March 9 for Wastewater Connection

Union County will close the fairgrounds campgrounds beginning Monday, March 9, 2026, as heavy equipment arrives for a wastewater project that will tie the site into La Grande’s water system.

Marcus Williams3m read
Union County opens applications for wolf depredation compensation and prevention funding
Business

Union County opens applications for wolf depredation compensation and prevention funding

Producers must submit an application by Nov. 1 to be considered for funding; drop off at Union County Administrative Office, email apowers@union-county.org, or call 541-963-1001.

Sarah Chen3m read
Follow Union County Public Meetings Across PA, NJ, FL: Schedules, Livestreams, Accessibility
Government

Follow Union County Public Meetings Across PA, NJ, FL: Schedules, Livestreams, Accessibility

Check the county calendar and public notices now: Union County (PA) posted Dec. 2, 2025 commissioner sessions and three April 2023 comprehensive‑plan open houses; Union County (FL) meets first and third Mondays and lists an ADA contact.

Marcus Williams7m read
La Grande Business and Technology Park ready for industry, near I-84
Business

La Grande Business and Technology Park ready for industry, near I-84

La Grande Business & Technology Park offers about 25 acres of shovel-ready lots 1–8+ acres in size, located 1.5 miles from I‑84 exit 263 with rail and airport access.

Sarah Chen3m read
Union County Search and Rescue to Conduct Rope-Rescue Drill at Riverside Park
Community

Union County Search and Rescue to Conduct Rope-Rescue Drill at Riverside Park

Residents may notice an influx of emergency personnel at Riverside Park this Saturday, March 7, as Union County Search and Rescue stages a large-scale rope-rescue drill.

Sarah Chen2m read
La Grande’s Fourth Annual Shamrock Shuffle Set for March 14; Registration Open
Community

La Grande’s Fourth Annual Shamrock Shuffle Set for March 14; Registration Open

La Grande Main Street Downtown will stage the fourth annual Shamrock Shuffle March 14 with a 9:00 a.m. 10K toward the Union County Fairgrounds and a 9:30 a.m. 5K through downtown; registration is open.

Sarah Chen2m read
Eastern Oregon University stages Thou Hast Thy Will song cycle March 12-15
Education

Eastern Oregon University stages Thou Hast Thy Will song cycle March 12-15

EOU alumnus Nicholas Vece ’24 returns to Schwarz Theatre with a 14-piece song cycle setting Shakespeare’s sonnets to original music, performed March 12-15 by four student singers.

Lisa Park3m read
Union County commissioner filings: Who’s filed in Oregon and North Carolina
Government

Union County commissioner filings: Who’s filed in Oregon and North Carolina

Union County, Ore., has two commissioner races with a March 10 filing deadline; Union County, N.C., held a Dec. 1–19 filing window that produced six GOP and one Democratic commission candidates.

Marcus Williams6m read
Island City road closure March 4 affects E. 1st Street, Island Avenue
Government

Island City road closure March 4 affects E. 1st Street, Island Avenue

City Recorder Karen Howton announced portions of Island Avenue/E. 1st Street (Highway 237) will close March 4 for water-main work; a detour runs along 2nd Street behind D&B Supply.

Marcus Williams2m read
How to Follow and Engage with Union County Governments in Four Counties
Government

How to Follow and Engage with Union County Governments in Four Counties

If you live in Marysville, La Grande, Elizabeth, or Lake Butler, use the specific address, phone or meeting ID for your Union County — calendars, comment deadlines and remote access differ by county.

James Thompson6m read
Eagle Cap Excursion Train announces 2026 season in Elgin, reservations open
Community

Eagle Cap Excursion Train announces 2026 season in Elgin, reservations open

In Elgin, the nonprofit Friends of the Joseph Branch opened reservations for 22 Eagle Cap Excursion Train rides running May through October, starting with a Mother’s Day Brunch on May 10, 2026.

Sarah Chen2m read
La Grande City Council holds March 4 hearing on land-development code amendments
Government

La Grande City Council holds March 4 hearing on land-development code amendments

La Grande City Council will hold a 6:00 p.m. public hearing March 4 at City Hall to consider code changes that would make subdivisions administrative decisions and turn variances into over‑the‑counter “adjustments.”

Marcus Williams3m read
Union County Deputies Arrest 25-Year-Old After Highway 237 Stop on Adams Warrant
Government

Union County Deputies Arrest 25-Year-Old After Highway 237 Stop on Adams Warrant

Union County deputies arrested 25-year-old Yusong Zhou after a routine traffic stop on Highway 237 near milepost 1 when they confirmed an active national arrest warrant issued by Adams County, Pennsylvania.

James Thompson2m read
Cascade Natural Gas Seeks 17.4% Residential Rate Increase; Hearing March 3
Government

Cascade Natural Gas Seeks 17.4% Residential Rate Increase; Hearing March 3

Hermiston and Pendleton households could see average gas bills rise $11.07 a month if Cascade’s 17.4% residential increase is approved; the Oregon PUC will hold a virtual comment hearing at 6 p.m. March 3.

James Thompson2m read
Chris Dudley to Hold Meet and Greet at Benchwarmers Pub March 3
Government

Chris Dudley to Hold Meet and Greet at Benchwarmers Pub March 3

La Grande’s Benchwarmers Pub is hosting Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Dudley for a late‑afternoon meet‑and‑greet on March 3 as part of a March 2–3 Eastern Oregon swing.

James Thompson2m read
Union County commissioners include proposed electronic receipt fee rule Feb. 26
Government

Union County commissioners include proposed electronic receipt fee rule Feb. 26

Union County commissioners introduced Ordinance 865 at their Feb. 26 meeting, a proposal tied to residents who conduct county business electronically; the ordinance text and fee details were not published.

Marcus Williams3m read
Northeast Area Commission on Transportation Meets in La Grande; Public Invited
Government

Northeast Area Commission on Transportation Meets in La Grande; Public Invited

Northeast Area Commission on Transportation meets at ODOT Region 5 office, 3012 Island Ave., La Grande, 9 a.m. to noon with public comment time and a Microsoft Teams option.

Marcus Williams2m read
Elgin teen arrested after attempt to elude; charged with DUII, reckless driving
Community

Elgin teen arrested after attempt to elude; charged with DUII, reckless driving

Devon Dean Kennedy, 18, of Elgin was booked in the Union County Corrections Facility after Oregon State Police say he fled a traffic stop on Cove Avenue and failed standardized sobriety tests.

Sarah Chen2m read
OTEC reports March 3 outage affecting 910 accounts in La Grande, Cove
Community

OTEC reports March 3 outage affecting 910 accounts in La Grande, Cove

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative's outage map showed about 910 accounts in La Grande and the Cove/Union area without power after an apparent pole strike near Gekeler Lane and Peach Road; an afternoon update left two accounts waiting for equipment repairs.

Lisa Park2m read
La Grande Closes C Avenue Block March 2 for Sewer Work
Government

La Grande Closes C Avenue Block March 2 for Sewer Work

La Grande Public Works closed a portion of C Avenue on Monday, March 2, 2026, for a six-hour sewer service installation, following a Feb. 27 announcement.

James Thompson1m read
EOU names Solo Taylor permanent head coach of Mountaineer football
Education

EOU names Solo Taylor permanent head coach of Mountaineer football

EOU promoted Solo Taylor to full-time head coach after serving as interim following Tim Camp’s late-2025 departure, the university announced March 3, 2026.

Lisa Park2m read
Union County Chamber Held 90th Annual Awards Banquet in La Grande
Business

Union County Chamber Held 90th Annual Awards Banquet in La Grande

The Union County Chamber presented seven awards at its 90th annual banquet in La Grande, honoring Wow Supermarket, Union County Public Schools and lifetime recipient Helen Thomas.

Sarah Chen2m read
Grande Ronde Symphony Performs Music of the World at McKenzie Theater
Community

Grande Ronde Symphony Performs Music of the World at McKenzie Theater

La Grande's Grande Ronde Symphony will perform "Music of the World" at EOU's McKenzie Theater March 11, featuring Ralph Vaughan Williams and a program of familiar and lesser-known works.

Marcus Williams2m read
Cove School District Opens Nominations for Heart of the School Award
Education

Cove School District Opens Nominations for Heart of the School Award

Cove School District opened nominations March 2 for its Heart of the School Awards; nominations close April 9, recipients notified May 4 and honored at the May Day Program on May 7.

Marcus Williams2m read
La Grande School Board to Review Financial Reports, Budget Outlook March 11
Education

La Grande School Board to Review Financial Reports, Budget Outlook March 11

La Grande School Board will review district financials and consider adopting a social studies curriculum at 7 p.m. March 11; attend in person at 1305 N. Willow St. or join via Google Meet or phone.

Marcus Williams2m read
Elgin launches community housing survey to guide city planning, address workforce gaps
Government

Elgin launches community housing survey to guide city planning, address workforce gaps

Elgin launched a community housing survey on Feb. 25, 2026 asking residents, employers and property owners to document housing needs and workforce gaps to bolster grant applications.

Marcus Williams3m read