Oregon Pays $295K to Trans Inmate After Transfer to Women’s Prison and Abuse Lawsuit
In a case that has sparked renewed conversation about safety inside correctional facilities, Oregon officials have agreed to pay $295,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by an inmate who reported ongoing abuse while housed in a men’s prison. The inmate, Zera Lola Zombie, is currently serving a sentence that extends to 2049 after being convicted of manslaughter and first-degree assault in connection to the 2014 death of a girlfriend. Years into that sentence, a legal battle unfolded over what...
TRAVEL
Oregon is a beautiful destination for travelers who enjoy exploring the great outdoors. With its diverse landscape of mountains, forests, waterfalls, and coastline, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
The 42 Best Oregon Mom & Pop Restaurants to Eat At in 2026
We're going a bit out on a limb here at That Oregon Life. This story began as a sort of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" compilation, but after a giant list of my own and a slew of recommendations...
This Hidden Hobbit-Style Airbnb in Oregon Feels Like Stepping Into a Tolkein Book
There are places you book for a night… and then there are places that feel like you’ve stepped straight into another world. Tucked quietly into the rolling hills above the Columbia River Gorge near...
This Beloved Tigard Restaurant Has Been Serving Comfort (And Legendary Pie) Since 1979
There are restaurants you try once… and then there are the ones you grow up with. The ones where the coffee is always hot, the booths feel like they’ve heard a thousand stories, and the pie case...
FOOD & DRINK
Explore Oregon’s food and drink scene – from locally sourced ingredients to craft brews and award-winning wines. Plan your culinary adventure now!
The 42 Best Oregon Mom & Pop Restaurants to Eat At in 2026
We're going a bit out on a limb here at That Oregon Life. This story began as a sort of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" compilation, but after a giant list of my own and a slew of recommendations...
This Beloved Tigard Restaurant Has Been Serving Comfort (And Legendary Pie) Since 1979
There are restaurants you try once… and then there are the ones you grow up with. The ones where the coffee is always hot, the booths feel like they’ve heard a thousand stories, and the pie case...
New In-N-Out Near Portland Opens Thursday and It’s Expected to Draw Huge Crowds
If you’ve been waiting for another reason to make a quick trip across the river, this might be it. Southwest Washington is about to welcome a familiar favorite, and for plenty of Oregonians, it is...
Oregon Pays $295K to Trans Inmate After Transfer to Women’s Prison and Abuse Lawsuit
In a case that has sparked renewed conversation about safety inside correctional facilities, Oregon officials have agreed to pay $295,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by an inmate who reported ongoing abuse while housed in a men’s prison. The inmate, Zera Lola...
This Hidden Oregon Trail Marks the Only WWII Bombing on the U.S. Mainland
There are places in Oregon where history whispers instead of shouts. No crowds. No big signs demanding your attention. Just a narrow trail winding through towering trees, the soft hush of wind through redwoods, and the quiet understanding that something extraordinary...
This Oregon ADA Trail Lets You Walk or Wheel Among Towering Redwood Trees
There’s something almost surreal about standing beneath a redwood tree. The scale doesn’t quite make sense at first. You look up, and up, and somehow still can’t find the top. The air feels cooler. The light turns soft and green. And for a moment, everything else...
New In-N-Out Near Portland Opens Thursday and It’s Expected to Draw Huge Crowds
If you’ve been waiting for another reason to make a quick trip across the river, this might be it. Southwest Washington is about to welcome a familiar favorite, and for plenty of Oregonians, it is going to feel like it’s right in the neighborhood. In-N-Out Burger is...
This Small Oregon Bakery Might Serve the Best Marionberry Pie You’ll Ever Taste
Some of the best food in Oregon doesn’t come with a neon sign or a viral reputation. Sometimes it’s tucked along a quiet road, in a town where things move a little slower and nobody’s in a rush to impress you. That’s exactly how you stumble into something special in...
Oregon Safari Owner Pleads Guilty to Animal Neglect, Drugs, and Weapons Charges
BANDON, Ore. — Nearly a year after a dramatic multi-agency raid shut down operations at a controversial Oregon roadside zoo, the park’s owner has now pleaded guilty to dozens of criminal charges tied to animal neglect and a wider web of illegal activity uncovered...
Quiet Day On The Lake Ruined By Kid Who Doesn’t Know How To Fish
BEND, OR — What began as a peaceful, carefully planned morning of solitude on a quiet Central Oregon lake quickly unraveled Saturday after local father Mark Ellison, 42, made the critical error of bringing along his 7-year-old son, who sources confirm “doesn’t know...
Portland Police Warn Enforcing Laws Could Result In Suspects Staying In Jail For Entire Afternoon
PORTLAND, OR — In what officials are calling a “deeply concerning and potentially irreversible shift,” Portland police warned Friday that fully enforcing existing laws could lead to suspects remaining in jail for an entire afternoon, marking a dramatic departure from...
Could Oregon Really Ban Hunting and Farming? A Closer Look at IP28
Lately, I cannot go anywhere without someone bringing this up. It comes up in passing conversations, quick chats with friends, even random messages out of nowhere. “Have you heard about this IP28 thing?” And every single time, my answer is the same. Absolutely. I have...
Oregon Family Who Vanished in 1958 Found in Car Submerged in Columbia River
For decades, the story of the Martin family lingered like a ghost along the Columbia River Gorge. It was one of those Oregon mysteries that people whispered about, revisited in old newspaper clippings, and passed down through generations. Now, nearly 70 years later,...