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Oregon gets Tree City USA designation just in time for Arbor Day

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Oregon gets Tree City USA designation just in time for Arbor Day


OREGON — Oregon is officially a Tree City USA.

During the April 23 Oregon City Council meeting, City Manager Darin DeHaan presented Mayor Ken Williams with a plaque honoring the city’s designation, which was received last month.

“This has been a project that we started in 2021,” DeHaan said. “I’m proud of our community, proud of our mayor’s leadership and glad to present him this plaque.”

Getting the designation is a big deal, Williams said.

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“In small, rural communities like Oregon, you always think of the tree-lined streets and the trees in the summer, and we feel like a community,” he said. “I love that. I’m glad we’re doing that, and I know we have resources set aside to help fund our tree policy and some of the things going with that.”

Tree City USA was created by the Arbor Day Foundation in 1976, according to ArborDay.org. A community can receive annual Tree City recognition by meeting four overarching standards:

1. Maintain a tree board or department.

City Council members unanimously voted to create the Oregon Tree Board on June 28, 2022. Members of the board met three times prior to its official creation.

2. Having a community tree ordinance.

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A tree preservation regulations ordinance was unanimously approved by council members on Nov. 8, 2022.

3. Spending at least $2 per resident on urban forestry.

Oregon has a population of 3,604 according to the 2020 census, which means the city must spend at least $7,208 on tree removals, pruning and plantings annually.

In 2023, the city got a $4,700 grant to conduct a tree inventory, something which hadn’t been done since 1998.

4. Celebrating Arbor Day.

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Illinois observes Arbor Day on the last Friday in April.

City officials were planning to plant a tree at the city’s wastewater treatment plant on Friday afternoon, but are rescheduling because of weather, DeHaan said. A new date has not yet been chosen.

Oregon was unable to gain Tree City USA status in 2023 because of deadlines.



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Texas ‘generational talent’ Booker scores 40 in March Madness rout of Oregon

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Texas ‘generational talent’ Booker scores 40 in March Madness rout of Oregon


AUSTIN, Texas — Oregon was simply helpless against Madison Booker.

Texas’ three-time All-American forward did anything she wanted as she scored a career-high 40 points in a rollicking 100-58 win over Oregon on Sunday that earned the No. 1-seeded Longhorns a trip to the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year.

Drive for layups? Easy. Her go-to mid-range jumper? Breezy. Step out for 3-pointers? Swish.

Booker set a Texas school record for most points in an NCAA Tournament game.

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It’s still 10 points shy of the overall tournament record of 50 set by Drake’s Lorri Bauman in 1982. But give her time. She’s got at least one more game coming up in Fort Worth, and if the Longhorns are going to play for their first national championship in 40 years, she could get four more.

Booker carried the Longhorns to the Elite Eight as a freshman and to Final Four last season.

“She’s a generational talent,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said.

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) drives to the basket against Oregon forward Ehis Etute (35) during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Austin, Texas. Credit: AP/Eric Gay

And an unselfish one. Schaefer often has to tell his star player to go get her shot instead of making the extra pass to a teammate.

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“I want her to hunt to go get a bucket,” Schaefer said.

That side of her is emerging now that it’s time to start collecting trophies.

Booker came in to the tournament averaging 18.9 points. She set her previous career high of 31 just a couple of weeks ago against Mississippi in the Southeastern Conference tournament, which Texas won.

The previous Texas tournament scoring record of 32 was set by Clarissa Davis in 1986 and Heather Schreiber in 2003. The 1986 team won the national title. The 2003 team made the Final Four.

“Coach Schaefer has pushed me into taking a big role, being aggressive on the offensive end,” Booker said.

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She was dominant from the start against Oregon, scoring 14 points in the first quarter. Bookers’ final stat line included 14-of-21 shooting, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and no turnovers.

“I’ve never seen that. I’d like to see it again,” Texas senior guard Rori Harmon said. “I saw the look in her eyes when she came in. I saw something special coming today.”



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Dylan Raiola received blessing of Marcus Mariota to wear No. 8 jersey

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Dylan Raiola received blessing of Marcus Mariota to wear No. 8 jersey


When the Oregon Ducks’ spring football roster was officially released earlier this month, a lot of eyebrows raised at the fact that Nebraska Cornhuskers transfer quarterback Dylan Raiola was changing his number from No. 15 to No. 8.

While Raiola had often mimicked the stylings of Patrick Mahomes — who also wears No. 15 — throughout his career at Nebraska, the switch to No. 8 — famously worn by Oregon Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota — was interesting, to say the least.

In a “Meet the Flock” video released by the football program on Saturday, giving a closer look at the QB room, Raiola opened up about the number change and revealed that he received permission from Mariota and Dillon Gabriel to wear the number at Oregon.

“The last two people to wear it, if you look at Dillon Gabriel and Marcus Mariota,” Raiola said. “So before I even thought about wearing it, I called Dillon, and I asked him. And then I actually asked him if I could have Marcus’ number, and I called Marcus. I was blessed with the opportunity to wear it.”

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While Raiola’s football journey has taken him all across the country, with stops in Texas, Arizona, Georgia, and Nebraska, it all started in Hawaii, where he was born and spent the early years of his life. During that time, Mariota’s legend grew in Eugene and Hawaii, as he became the first Duck and the first Hawaiian-born player to win the Heisman.

“I’m from Hawaii. I lived there for about nine or 10 years, so I call that home, and I always go back there and visit,” Raiola said.

Whether or not the number change means that Raiola is going to start trying to play in a similar fashion as Mariota did is yet to be seen, but Oregon fans everywhere would be thrilled to see him have similar success down the road.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.  



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Texas vs Oregon predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament Second Round

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Texas vs Oregon predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament Second Round


The Second Round of the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament continues Sunday with a slate featuring No. 1 Texas vs. No. 8 Oregon on the eight-game schedule.

Here is the latest on Sunday’s March Madness matchup, including expert picks from reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering the women’s NCAA Tournament to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.

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USA TODAY Studio IX : Check out our women’s sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more

Join the USA TODAY $1 million Bracket Challenge

No. 1 Texas vs No. 8 Oregon prediction

  • Heather Burns: Texas
  • Mitchell Northam: Texas
  • Nancy Armour: Texas
  • Cydney Henderson: Texas
  • Meghan Hall: Texas

No. 1 Texas vs No. 8 Oregon odds

  • Opening Moneyline: Texas (-100000)
  • Opening Spread: Texas (-26.5)
  • Opening Total: 136.5

How to Watch Texas vs Oregon on Sunday

No. 1 Texas takes on No. 8 Oregon at Moody Center in Austin on March 22 at 6:00 p.m. (ET). The game is airing on ESPN.

Stream March Madness on Fubo

2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament full schedule

  • March 18-19: First Four
  • March 20-21: First Round
  • March 22-23: Second Round
  • March 27-28: Sweet 16
  • March 29-30: Elite 8
  • April 3: Final Four
  • April 5: National Championship



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