When: TODAY, Friday, OCtober 30

Where: BLM Bat Week webpage

Who:   Ryan GosWING, an Oregon pallid bat

UPDATE: Ryan Goswing, a pallid bat from Oregon, made it to the finals of the BLM's annual Bat Beauty Contest! He beat out the competition from Montana and Utah, and today faces competition. Today he faces Batty White, hairy-legged vampire bat, in the final round. Voting is open until 11 p.m. PT on blm.gov. With a victory Ryan GosWING will secure an Oregon bat dynasty, with four wins in a row.

Did you know that bats provide $3 billion of pest control to American agriculture every year? Through strong partnerships, the BLM helps bat populations by providing roosting and foraging habitat and supporting other bat conservation efforts like bat-friendly closures on abandoned mines.

Original advisory

MEDFORD, Ore. –  It's bat-ck! The Bureau of Land Management is hosting its annual Bat Beauty Contest with a brand new group of stunning contestants.

On Sunday, Oct. 24, Oregon’s own Ryan GosWING will go head-to-head with Dolly BATton, Miss Montana, in the first round. Visit the BLM’s webpage to learn more about Bat Week and vote for Ryan GosWING.

If he makes it through the first round, he’ll represent the Pacific Northwest in the Final Four on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Oregon bats have taken home the crown in the last three contests! Most recently, Hoary Potter was named the winner.

Help us take home a four-peat by voting for this year's Oregon bat when the contest begins on Oct. 24. Make sure you're following Bureau of Land Management so you don't miss your chance to vote!

See the attached media advisory from the BLM for more details.

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

(Vancouver, WA) – The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust recently announced its annual winners of the Lynwood W. Swanson Awards for excellence in teaching and research at primarily undergraduate institutions in the Pacific Northwest. The winner of the 2026 Lynwood W. Swanson Scientific Research Award was Michael Pitts, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. The winner of the 2026 Lynwood W. Swanson Promise for Scientific Research Award was Jessica Sutter, Ph.D., assistant professor of astronomy at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. More details on both winners, including full profiles, can be found here.

RECIDIVIST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFFENDER SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

CLARKSTON, WA — Enjoy an evening of international flavors while supporting local students at Clarkston High School DECA’s “Tastes From Around the World” dinner fundraiser on November 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The event will be hosted by Bravas in downtown Lewiston.
 

Guests will embark on a culinary journey featuring six courses inspired by destinations around the globe. Clarkston DECA students will guide guests through flavors from Brazil, Jamaica, Japan, Italy, France, Russia and more.

All proceeds will help students cover transportation costs to attend DECA competitions and activities. These experiences allow students to develop valuable skills, explore career paths and compete at the state and international levels. The fundraiser helps make these opportunities accessible to students as travel costs continue to rise.

Tickets are $60 per person and can be purchased at https://wa-clarkston-lite.intouchreceipting.com/DiningDECAdes. Ticket links are also available on Clarkston DECA’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Community members are invited to enjoy a taste of the world while helping Clarkston students take their next step toward future careers.


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