Oregon
Dan Lanning Talks Offensive Line, Oregon State in Weekly Presser
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Oregon Football coach Dan Lanning was available to media Monday for his game week press conference and discussed Oregon’s offensive line, running back Jay Harris, Oregon State’s backfield, and more. Below are his most notable quotes from the presser as well as my thoughts at the end.
Opening Statement:
“Excited to get back to it. The guys had a good day of prep but I just want to take the time to thank our fans at Autzen, I thought they were unbelievable this week.”
“I’m obviously very excited to play Oregon State, I know they’ve had some success these first couple of weeks. They do a great job of running the ball and they’re a really well-coached team.”
On young players‘ lack of playing time on the offensive line:
“I don’t know that any of those guys have earned that opportunity in practice. There isn’t a huge separation from the top to the bottom of our group right now.”
“If they were going to be able to help us that would show up in practice before it showed up in games.”
On the feel of the Civil War rivalry without conference implications:
“This game has been fun for us and our players. I know it means a lot to the fans and we’ve had some good battles with the Beavers the last few years.”
On running back Jay Harris’ progress and development in Oregon’s offense:
“Jay’s working his tail off, he’s doing an unbelievable job for us and I know that when his time comes he’ll be able to do a really good job. He’s been practicing hard and he’s continuing to create roles for himself so hopefully that gives him an opportunity to be on the field for us at some point.”
On frequent rotation of offensive linemen through two games:
“We’re going to continue to rotate guys until we find the combination that works best for us, knowing that there may be a rotation throughout the season.”
On the Oregon secondary’s performance early in the season:
“Our guys have done a good job on pass breakups and 50/50 balls. I think we’re playing tight in coverage and that showed up at times on Saturday.”
On Oregon State’s running back room:
“They run really hard. They do a really good job of being patient then creating burst when the hole opens up.”
On relying on speed and explosion from special teams:
“I always want to focus on special teams. I always want to be able to win games with special teams. If we have an opportunity to get gains in returns then we absolutely want to do that.”
On defensive tackle Derrick Harmon‘s immediate impact on the pass rush:
“He’s explosive. He studies his own game really well and he’s very consistent in his approach and he wants to be coached hard. He’s a big guy that moves with speed and he’s someone who can really affect the opponent.”
On rotation of centers through two games:
“We rotated last year so if our best chance to win is having one guy play the whole game, we’ll do that. If a guy snaps the ball better but gets blown off the ball every time then that’s not advantageous.”
Linden’s take:
I thought we got some really good stuff from Lanning in this interview. He seems to have a good respect for Oregon State’s continuity in their soundness and physicality from a year ago.
I thought the most interesting quote he gave was in discussing the younger players on Oregon’s offensive line. It’s a bit disappointing to hear that none of the freshmen have earned the right to play basically any snaps so far and it’ll be interesting to see if that changes as the season progresses.
Lanning touched on the strong backfield tandem Oregon State fields with Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson who’ve both had good performances in the Beavers’ first two games. With the way Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty carved up the Ducks’ defense, keeping containment on those two will be paramount this week.
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Entertain This!
The Aviation American Gin Distillery and visitor center in Portland, Oregon, has closed its doors as the company behind the celebrity-backed spirits brand shifts its production strategy, according to multiple reports.
Diageo, the global spirits company that acquired Aviation American Gin in 2020, confirmed the closure to local TV stations KGW and KOIN, saying the decision was made because of changing business needs.
“This decision reflects evolving business needs, as we continue to support growth ambitions for our Aviation American Gin brand,” Diageo’s statement reads. “Aviation American Gin remains an important part of Diageo’s portfolio and we are committed to the brand, our customers and consumers.”
USA TODAY contacted Diageo on July 9 for comment and additional information regarding the closure.
The nearly 33,000-square-foot facility opened in September 2022 in northwest Portland, offering visitors a cocktail bar, tasting room, gift shop and tours highlighting the gin-making process, including distillation and bottling operations.
Portland’s House Spirits Distillery founded Aviation American Gin in the early 2000s and later became associated with Emmy Award-winning actor Ryan Reynolds, who acquired a stake in the company in 2018.
“A little over two years ago, I became an owner of Aviation Gin because I love the taste of Aviation more than any other spirit,” Reynoalds said in a statement in 2020 after Diageo acquired the company. “What I didn’t expect was the sheer creative joy learning a new industry would bring. Growing the brand with my company, Maximum Effort Marketing, has been among the most fulfilling projects I’ve ever been involved with.”
Is Ryan Reynolds still a co-owner of Aviation Gin?
As of July 9, Reynolds remains an owner of Aviation Gin, according to his social media accounts. His Instagram says he owns Aviation Gin, Mint Mobile, Maxixum Effort and the Wrexham A.F.C. soccer club.
When Diageo acquired Aviation Gin, the acquisition agreement valued the deal at up to $610 million, including an initial payment of $335 million and a potential additional payment of up to $275 million based on the company’s performance over a 10-year period, according to a 2020 news release.
Diageo, one of the world’s largest spirits companies, also owns other alcohol brands including Captain Morgan, Crown Royal and Smirnoff.
What’s next for Aviation, Diageo?
Diageo said it had already begun moving Aviation’s production from Portland to other facilities in 2025 as part of an effort to improve efficiency and strengthen its North American operations, KGW reported.
Diageo also said Aviation American Gin will remain part of its portfolio despite the closure of the Oregon visitor center and distillery.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT
The man wanted in connection with two Pierce County homicides was shot and killed by police in Seaside, Oregon, Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank announced on X Wednesday night.
Hayes McCloud, 24, was identified earlier in the day by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) as a person of interest in two killings — the first in Puyallup around 2:40 a.m. and the second in Tacoma shortly after 3 a.m.
On Wednesday night, authorities referred to him as a suspect.
“The suspect has been contacted by police in Seaside, Oregon,” PCSO said in a Facebook post. “We are no longer looking for the suspect and details of the contact and major incident that transpired in Oregon will be available once the investigation is concluded.”
After that announcement, Swank posted an update on X.
“After he killed the person in Tacoma, he drove away. We didn’t know where he went, but he was picked up by a Flock camera in Lewis County around 4 a.m. So we knew he was headed southbound at that point,” Swank’s post said. “The suspect was shot and killed by police in Seaside, Oregon. No cops were hurt. I’m glad he was stopped before he killed anyone else. Great police work!”
The murder suspect from the homicide on Woodland Avenue also shot and killed a person in Tacoma.
After he killed the person in Tacoma, he drove away. We didn’t know where he went, but he was picked up by a flock camera in Lewis County around 4:00 AM. So we knew he was headed…
— Sheriff Keith Swank (@SaveOurSheriff) July 9, 2026
35-year-old killed in Puyallup home early Wednesday
At 2:40 a.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to the 12500 block of Woodland Avenue E. in Puyallup after receiving reports that a man was found dead in a home. Two homeowners were at the scene when deputies arrived.
“The preliminary investigation indicates there was homicidal violence in a bedroom that eventually led outside the home,” the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office reported. “The 35-year-old male was located inside the home with multiple deadly injuries. We have no suspect in custody at this time.”
Second homicide in Tacoma less than 30 minutes later
Just after 3 a.m., police responded to the 6900 block of E. D Street in Tacoma’s Hillsdale neighborhood after multiple people reported hearing gunfire. When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
Officers began lifesaving measures, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Contributing: Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest
Frank Lenzi is the News Director for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here.
The Oregon Country Fair is right around the corner and got an up-close preview of the annual event with generations of revelers expected to return yet again.
Vendors and construction teams were busy setting the venue up on Wednesday. It opens to the public on Friday, and organizers are expecting a big turnout.
For over fifty years, people have come together to enjoy live music, art, food and community at the event in Veneta.
“It has definitely changed and evolved and it’s definitely still holding true to the magic that has started the fair,” said fair attendee Jill Carter.
Carter has been going to the fair for about forty years, but throughout her time there, there’s always one thing on her mind.
“I’ve had a lifelong dream to do the poster, and I’ve been working on applying for a long time, and I got to do it and I’m so excited!”
Carter says over the years, she’s fine-tuned her design proposal to accurately capture the whimsey of the fair.
“In our day-to-day world, we really don’t get to connect on this kind of level of art and whimsey.”
This curated space of art and whimsey is what keeps generations returning to the fair.
“I was at a meeting the other day and somebody was a third generation Oregon Country fairgoer. Their parents were babies here. They were babies here. Now, they’re on crews that help manage the safety of this community,” says Kate Gillespie, the White Bird Rock Medicine crew coordinator.
Gillespie has been working within medical response at the fair for sixteen years.
Before fair goers even arrive, White Bird Rock Medicine works on setting up for the two hospitals provided on site as well as staffing medical crew – which consists of almost 300 medical professionals and mental health crisis workers.
“We are prepared to deal with first aid things like scrapes, bumps, bruises; injured feet are a big thing that we see – all the way up to things like cardiac events and strokes,” Gillespie explains.
And for the attendees they serve, the event is a yearly tradition that is more than just a fair – it’s a chance to catch up with old friends and make new memories.
“I think it’s really like a reunion for a lot of the people that are out here on this property,” says Gillespie.
The Oregon Country Fair runs Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the intersection of Suttle Road and Bus Road in Veneta.
For more information, visit the fair website.
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