Ben Botkin

@BenBotkin1

Politics & Policy Correspondent at Lookout Eugene-Springfield. Public records/data geek. @SPJOregon board member. Tips: [email protected]

Oregon

Joined July 2012

5KFollowing

5KFollowers

Pinned

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · Jun 24

My latest: ‘Harm and death’: Unredacted report shows how Oregon State Hospital failed a Lane County patient lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme… #orleg #Journalism

BenBotkin1's tweet card. 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...

567

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · Jul 23

My latest: Amid neighbor concerns, @LaneCountyGov renews contract with homeless services provider lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme…

BenBotkin1's tweet card. Lane County officials approved a one-year contract for a navigation center to serve the homeless, but with more accountability.

104

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · Jul 21

My latest scoop: Eugene wine-shop owner plans 2026 Democratic primary challenge against @RepValHoyle lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme… #2026primaries #orpol

BenBotkin1's tweet card. Boris "Bo" Wiedenfeld-Needham says the 4th Congressional District needs a more progressive voice in Washington. He says he was prompted to run because of U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle's vote to table a Trump...

201

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · Jul 21

My latest piece comes from this corner of Lane County: Oakridge looking to purchase, restore historic hot springs site lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme… #journalism #hotsprings

BenBotkin1's tweet card. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Kitson Hot Springs was a soaking mecca. Now, the city of Oakridge is working on plans to buy the 157-acre site and reopen it to public use — but the deal comes with...

109

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · Jul 15

Eugene City Council repeals fire service fee that attracted strong opposition lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme…

134

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · Jul 9

UO dean to step down from leadership post after travel expense audit lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/universi… by @GraceChinowsky Also: Props to UO's @DailyEmerald for its coverage of the dean's travel expenses.

BenBotkin1's tweet card. Juan-Carlos Molleda will resign from his position as the dean of the School of Journalism and Communication Aug. 1 and will stay on as a University of Oregon faculty member after a university audit...

168

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · Jun 12

My latest: Scathing Oregon State Hospital report shows employee concerns after patient death lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme…

BenBotkin1's tweet card. Oregon State Hospital released a report on the death of a patient that found numerous other shortcomings with patient care.

132

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · Jun 11

My latest: @LaneCountyGov to cover defense costs for employees charged with federal crimes – in some cases lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme… #Immigration #ICERaids

BenBotkin1's tweet card. Lane County commissioners approved a policy that allows the county to cover the legal defense costs of counties charged with federal crimes.

116

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · Jun 9

My latest: Eugene faces challenges as it seeks to boost the community’s housing supply lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme…

BenBotkin1's tweet card. Eugene officials met some internal goals for growing housing, but face challenges in meeting the demand for affordable housing.

140

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · Jun 6

After criticism, @GovTinaKotek reverses decision to deny extradition for suspect in burglary case lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justice/…

138

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · Jun 4

My latest: Oregon health providers, including PeaceHealth, wary of potential federal Medicaid cuts lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme… #orleg

BenBotkin1's tweet card. A Republican-backed bill in Congress could force deep cuts to Medicaid, which insures 1 in 3 Oregonians and provides health care.

144

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · Jun 3

Lane County and Eugene were on a Trump list of localities breaking immigration law. Then the list disappeared lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme…

BenBotkin1's tweet card. Lane County and Eugene were on the Trump administration's list of sanctuary jurisdictions. Then the list disappeared.

155

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · May 30

My latest: Lane County’s homelessness grows amid shortage of affordable housing lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme…

136

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · May 28

Federal funding aids Looking Glass efforts to reach youth in Cottage Grove lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme…

BenBotkin1's tweet card. An expanded facility in Cottage Grove provides more resources so Looking Glass can serve at-risk youth who need social services.

128

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · May 27

Eugene youth organization faces cuts amid steep drop in state funding lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme…

BenBotkin1's tweet card. A Eugene organization that serves youth in crisis faces tough choices as the state has reduced its funding.

168

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · May 23

.@EugenePolice loses public records lawsuit after judge finds it unlawfully declined to waive fees lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme… #FOIA #publicrecords

BenBotkin1's tweet card. A Lane County judge found the Eugene Police Department erred in its handling of a public records request for a missing person case from 1986.

234

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · May 15

My latest: Lane County sheriff rehires deputy after firing him for misconduct in excessive use of force against inmates lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme…

BenBotkin1's tweet card. Lane County Sheriff's Office rehires a deputy it fired for excessive use of force against two inmates in the jail.

114

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · May 14

My latest: Eugene woman sues for $1.9M after @ORCorrections 'really screwed up' her prison release date lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme…

BenBotkin1's tweet card. A Eugene woman alleges the Oregon Department of Corrections imprisoned her for more than three years longer than her sentence allowed.

218

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · May 13

My latest: Court-appointed expert: Patient death, leadership change at @OHAOregon's Oregon State Hospital ‘call into question its stability’ lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme… #orleg

BenBotkin1's tweet card. The Oregon State Hospital's stability is in question amid turmoil, an expert said in a court-ordered report about the mental care facility.

225

Ben Botkin@BenBotkin1 · Apr 26

My latest scoop: ‘This can’t be the Oregon State Hospital:’ New boss lays out goals after Lane County patient’s death lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/governme…

219