Rebecca Hansen-White
ReporterRebecca Hansen-White joined the KLCC News Department in November 2023. She started her journalism career in print, first as an editorial assistant at her hometown paper, The Dayton Chronicle in Southeast Washington. She spent the 2017 legislative session at the Washington Statehouse as a correspondent for The Columbia Basin Herald newspaper. She moved to The Spokesman-Review newspaper in Spokane in 2018, covering local government and criminal justice issues. She started her public radio career in 2021 as a reporter, and fill-in host for Spokane Public Radio where she covered healthcare, rural communities and environmental issues.
Rebecca studied journalism and political science at Washington State University and enjoys collecting vintage records, and spending time with her husband and cat Iris.
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Springfield Public Schools says it will need to eliminate nearly 33.5 positions to balance next year's budget. The draft spending plan was released on Friday. -
Willamalane Park and Recreation District is asking voters for a five-year increase in their levy to preserve existing services. -
Val Hoyle is running for a third term representing Oregon’s 4th District in Congress, saying she hopes to be a part of a blue wave that will hold the Trump administration accountable. An opponent in the Democratic primary, Melissa Bird, said the district needs a new, bolder voice who has directly experienced the impacts of this administration’s policies. -
Incumbent David Loveall and Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon are vying to represent Lane County Commissioner District 2 in next month’s election. The district includes Springfield and some surrounding areas. -
Lane County has taken emergency action to address deterioration of two covered bridges near Cottage Grove; the Currin Bridge which spans the Row River and the Stewart Bridge which crosses Mosby Creek. -
East Lane County Commissioner Heather Buch is facing two challengers in her bid for re-election: political consultant Jake Pelroy and forest management advocate Bob Zybach. -
Incumbent Ryan Ceniga said he’s seeking another term to advocate for housing and rural communities. He’s challenged by Thomas Hiura, who said local government needs to include voices that haven’t always felt welcome at the county level. -
The Board will narrow candidates next month and hopes to bring finalists to the district for in-person interviews in early June.
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Rural Lane County residents say they’re frustrated about public safety: a handful of deputies patrol a sprawling unincorporated area, and there is very little followup when they call. KLCC spoke to several residents of an unincorporated area near Florence, where there's been a rash of burglaries. -
Lane County Commissioner David Loveall is under investigation by the Oregon Ethics Commission. Allegations reviewed by the commission accuse Loveall of improperly using the State of the County address in January to promote businesses he owns and improperly filling out ethics paperwork.
