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Good morning, Northwest.

Four Oregonians died in a helicopter crash in Arizona late last week.

We start today’s newsletter with new details about the people killed and what caused the crash.

Also this morning, heavy mountain snow and hazardous travel conditions are anticipated along the Cascades and in the Blue Mountains. We have the latest forecast.

Here’s your First Look at Tuesday’s news.

—Bradley W. Parks

FAA warned of tightrope hazard before fatal Arizona helicopter crash killed 4 Oregonians

A helicopter crash in an Arizona canyon killed four members of one Eastern Oregon family on Jan. 2.

An eyewitness reportedly saw the helicopter collide with a half-mile-long “recreational slackline.”

The tightrope was listed as flagged and lighted, a spokesperson with the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed to OPB.

The FAA warning noted that the rope would be there between Dec. 26, 2025, and Jan. 6, 2026. The helicopter crashed Jan. 2 around 11 a.m. (Joni Auden Land, Troy Brynelson and Antonio Sierra)

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3 things to know this morning

• Longtime Lincoln County Commissioner Claire Hall died late Sunday in a Portland hospital amid worsening health conditions and a contentious recall election that was scheduled for this Friday. She was 66. (Shayla Escudero)
• Heavy snow today through Thursday could lead to treacherous travel conditions in the Cascades and some areas of Eastern Oregon. Officials advise people to delay travel if possible. (Jeff Thompson)
• People living in Hillsboro will soon see their first-ever city flag flying as the city prepares to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its incorporation. The five-color flag, featuring a trillium flower honoring Indigenous communities, will debut next month. (Winston Szeto)

Headlines from around the Northwest

• Two Seattle curlers prepare to throw rocks for gold at Italian Olympics (Vaughan Jones, Patricia Murphy and Stephen Howie)
• $126M incentive program for zero-emission trucks nears launch in Washington (Jake Goldstein-Street)
• Conservative think tank asks court to block Oregon union fraud law (Mia Maldonado)
• Avdija scores 33 in latest outburst as Trail Blazers blow out Jazz, 137-117 (Associated Press)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• Astoria library remodel honors legendary female architect Ebba Wicks Brown
• It’s been one year since Portland welcomed its new City Council. Here’s what changed

The Hail Mary effort to save the Mazama newts of Crater Lake

Mazama newts in Crater Lake are facing severe decline because of invasive signal crayfish.

Scientists, including those at the Oregon Zoo, are attempting to save the species through a tricky captive breeding program and hope to reintroduce the newts to safer areas of the park. (Jule Gilfillan and Joey Lovato)

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/01/06/helicopter-crash-arizona-slackline-oregon-first-look/