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‘Killer whale predation’: Gray whale washes up on Oregon beach covered in tooth marks

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‘Killer whale predation’: Gray whale washes up on Oregon beach covered in tooth marks


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A deceased gray whale calf with tooth marks all over its body was found on a beach in Oregon this week.

Jim Rice, a program manager with the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, told USA TODAY he was notified Tuesday of the 20-foot gray whale calf that washed ashore at Tish-A-Tang Beach in Bandon, Oregon.

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Bandon is located in southern Oregon along the Pacific Ocean, about 140 miles southwest of Eugene.

The calf had widespread tooth marks over its body and “major trauma to the lower jaw and the underside of the body,” which Rice said indicated that it had recently died of severe injuries caused by “killer whale predation.”

What do whales eat? Inside the diet of blue, humpback, sperm and killer whales

What is a gray whale?

Gray whales are large whales, up to 49 feet long and weighing about 90,000 pounds. They have one of the longest migration patterns of any mammal, often traveling 10,000 to 14,000 miles round trip.

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According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, they earned the nickname “devil fish” because of their aggressive response when harpooned by hunters. They were hunted nearly to extinction, but thanks to commercial whaling moratoriums and conservation efforts, they are now a protected species.

They mainly eat amphipod crustaceans, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and their only major predators are humans and killer whales.

Where are gray whales found?

Although they were once common throughout the Northern Hemisphere, gray whales are now mainly found in the North Pacific Ocean, according to NOAA.



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Cruise ship rescues stranded mariner off Oregon coast

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Cruise ship rescues stranded mariner off Oregon coast


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A cruise ship rescued a Canadian man stranded on his boat nearly 500 miles of the Oregon coast on May 26, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The 74-year-old man, who the agency did not name, was sailing from Hawaii to British Columbia when his vessel ran into gale-force winds and 30-foot high waves. The 29-foot boat’s engine failed and the mast broke, injuring the man’s shoulder.

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He’s made the same trip four times before, Coast Guard officials said, and had food, water, a life raft and a life jacket on board. The mariner used his handheld satellite communicator to contact the U.S. Coast Guard’s Northwest District, which the agency used to track him.

He was rescued 489 miles off the coast of Tillamook.

“This mariner’s experience and preparedness allowed the Coast Guard and other agencies to communicate with him and effect a rescue,” Coast Guard Northwest District Search and Rescue Program Manager Scott Giard said. “His foresight to bring a satellite communicator averted a tragedy.

Coast Guard officials deployed a C-27J cargo plane from Sacramento, California, to function as their “eye in the sky” as they coordinated the rescue because he was so far from the shore.

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The plane assessed the state of the sea and the damage to the vessel. It was also equipped with life rafts, communication gear and rations that could sustain a survivor while responders coordinate the rescue, officials said.

Coast Guard officials contacted a cruise ship, the Silver Whisper, that went 120 off its charted course to rescue the stranded Canadian man. The Coast Guard found the Silver Whisper by tapping into its Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue system, a global network that tracks the positions of commercial ships that participate in the program.

Eder Campuzano is the local news editor for the Statesman Journal. He can can be reached at ecampuzano@statesmanjournal.com. Find him on Bluesky at @ederc.bsky.social or Threads @ederc.



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Oregon Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 4 results for May 29

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The Oregon Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 29, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 29 drawing

19-24-47-59-65, Mega Ball: 07

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 29 drawing

1PM: 6-7-9-9

4PM: 4-3-8-0

7PM: 1-2-5-0

10PM: 3-9-9-3

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Oregon Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 7:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 7:59 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 4: 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily.
  • Win for Life: 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Megabucks: 7:29 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Oregon editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Oregon childhood vaccination rates fall to record low as exemptions reach new high

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Oregon childhood vaccination rates fall to record low as exemptions reach new high


Oregon’s childhood vaccination rates have fallen to their lowest levels on record, while the number of parents claiming nonmedical vaccine exemptions continues to climb, according to newly released data from the Oregon Health Authority.

The agency reported on Thursday that 85.6% of Oregon kindergarteners were up to date on required vaccines during the 2025-26 school year.

At the same time, the nonmedical exemption rate reached a record high of 10.9%.

State health officials say the trend is raising concerns about the potential for outbreaks of highly contagious diseases, including measles and whooping cough.

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“Although the vast majority of families in Oregon are still choosing to protect families through vaccination, the downward trends are deeply concerning,” said Dr. Howard Chiou, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA. “We risk seeing the return of diseases such as measles and polio—diseases of the past that once caused widespread harm but are entirely preventable with vaccines.”

READ ALSO | Oregon State study raises concerns about AI’s impact on student thinking skills

The statewide numbers tell only part of the story.

According to OHA, more than one in three Oregon schools with at least 10 students have measles vaccination rates below 95%, the threshold public health officials say is needed to help prevent outbreaks through community immunity.

Chiou said those exemption rates, combined with lower vaccination coverage at some schools, are increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.

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The concerns come as Oregon and the nation are seeing increases in vaccine-preventable diseases.

OHA says the nonmedical exemption rate for the second dose of the measles vaccine has nearly doubled over the past decade, rising from 4.9% to 9.4%.

The state also recorded 1,475 cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, in 2025, the highest total in 75 years.

What could happen if the trend continues?

Dr. Alanna Braun, a pediatrician at OHSU, said declining vaccination rates increase the likelihood of disease outbreaks.

“The thing that really stands out to me the most is just sort of the trend of just ongoing decreased immunization rates across our state and seeing how many schools here in Oregon are now at risk for major outbreaks of some really serious illnesses,” said Braun.

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Braun said communities become more vulnerable when vaccination rates fall below the level needed to prevent the spread of disease.

READ ALSO | Council passes Portland Arts Tax update, increasing fee & changing exemption threshold

She noted that outbreaks can affect more than just unvaccinated students.

“A lot of kids have infant siblings at home who are not able to be vaccinated,” Braun said. “Certainly, there are kids in all of these schools who are unable to be vaccinated, kids who are undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. There are teachers who are immunocompromised for various reasons.”

Braun said the long-term outlook is concerning if vaccination rates continue to fall.

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“As we’re seeing reduced rates of immunizations, I think it’s more and more likely that we are gonna see some of these preventable illnesses with more frequency,” she said.

What parents can do

OHA is encouraging parents to check vaccination rates at their child’s school and talk with their healthcare provider if they have questions about vaccines.

“We want to empower families to make informed decisions,” said Chiou. “We want parents to revisit and reconsider their decisions because the situation in Oregon has changed.”

Parents can view vaccination and exemption rates for individual schools using OHA’s School Immunization Data Dashboard.



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