Peter Defazio

Veteran Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio of Springfield turned back the toughest challenge in his 34-year U.S. House career, defeating Republican Alek Skarlatos in race for Oregon’s 4th Congressional District.

Voters in Oregon’s 4th Congressional District haven’t sent a Republican to Congress since 1972. But the current race between incumbent Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield, and GOP challenger Alek Skarlatos is drawing national attention to a degree not recently seen in the district.

Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden told an audience at a town hall event Friday that Roseburg VA officials admitted to him in a meeting that they had been using an inappropriate admissions system for over a year.

The fire brought together a run of show that included local, state and federal leaders talking about the lessons that can be learned from the fire burning in the Columbia River Gorge.

Members of Oregon’s congressional delegation introduced a bipartisan bill Friday to help towns and cities prepare for serious railroad incidents.