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Ethan Foltz, a 22-year-old from Eugene, Oregon, has been charged with developing and running the notorious 'RapperBot' botnet, which enabled large-scale distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks for hire.

Since 2021, RapperBot has been linked to more than 370,000 cyberattacks in over 80 countries, targeting thousands of victims including U.S. government agencies, tech firms, and global social media platforms.

Federal investigators allege that Foltz monetized the botnet by granting customers access to its powerful DDoS tools, with some clients reportedly using it to extort victims.

If convicted, Foltz faces up to 10 years in prison.

Authorities seized the botnet’s infrastructure during a search of Foltz’s home in August 2025, effectively shutting down its operations.

This action was part of Operation PowerOFF, a global effort to dismantle criminal DDoS-for-hire services.

Experts estimate a single DDoS attack from RapperBot could cause tens of thousands of dollars in damages, underscoring the botnet's severe local and international impact.

Portland Gets 365 Million for Arena While Eugene Lost Its Baseball Team: Is Oregon's funding for the Moda Center fair when smaller cities struggle to keep their teams?

So here's something that's got people talking around here. The Oregon House just approved 365 million dollars from the state's general fund to renovate the Moda Center in Portland. That's the home of the Portland Trail Blazers, and the money's supposed to keep the team in Oregon for the next 20 years.

Sounds like a big win for Portland, right? Well, maybe. But here's where it gets interesting for us here in Eugene.

You might remember back in May 2024 when Eugene voters were asked to approve a 15 million dollar bond to help build a new stadium for the Eugene Emeralds, our minor league baseball team. The voters said no. And now? The Emeralds are looking at moving to Medford.

So let's talk about this. Portland gets 365 million dollars in taxpayer money for an NBA arena. Eugene couldn't get 15 million dollars for a minor league baseball stadium. That's a pretty stark contrast, isn't it?

Why did the man bring a ladder to the University of Oregon football game?

Because he heard the Ducks were good at going up and down!

Should Citizens Have to Pay 1,200 Dollars to Voice Their Opinion on Oregon Ballot Measures? A lawsuit challenges new requirements for submitting to the voters' pamphlet as the March 12th deadline approaches.

There's a lawsuit brewing in Oregon that's raising some pretty important questions about democracy and access to the voting process. And the clock is ticking - the deadline at the center of this controversy is just a few days away, on March 12th.

Here's what's happening. Oregon moved a gas tax referendum from the November general election to the May primary. That might not sound like a big deal, but it comes with some strings attached that have people upset.

If you want to submit an argument for the voters' pamphlet - you know, that booklet everyone gets with information about ballot measures - you now have to either pay 1,200 dollars or gather 500 signatures. And you have to do it by March 12th.

A 73-year-old disabled woman in Klamath Falls has filed the second lawsuit over this, arguing that these requirements create an unfair burden on regular citizens who want to participate in the democratic process. She's not alone in thinking this feels wrong.

Let's break down the different perspectives here, because this is genuinely complicated.

When Protests Meet Traffic: How Should Eugene Handle Street Demonstrations? A local lawyer's advice sparks debate about balancing free speech, public safety, and the right to travel

Downtown Eugene has seen some tense moments recently when vehicles and protesters have encountered each other on city streets. These incidents have left people asking important questions about safety, rights, and how to handle these situations when they arise.

Local attorney Derek Larwick has been offering practical advice for motorists who find themselves in these situations, and it's worth talking through because this is genuinely tricky territory where people's safety and constitutional rights intersect.

First, let's acknowledge that this is a situation where both sides have legitimate concerns and legal protections. Protesters have First Amendment rights to assemble and express their views. Drivers have the right to use public roads without being blocked or threatened. When these two things collide, things can get complicated fast.

Here's what Larwick advises if you're driving and encounter a protest blocking the street. Stay calm. Keep your windows up and doors locked. Don't engage with protesters, even if they're yelling or banging on your car. Call 911 if you feel your safety is at risk. And if you're completely blocked and need to move forward, do so slowly and carefully, giving people every opportunity to move out of the way.

That's the practical, safety-focused approach. But it doesn't resolve the underlying tension here about who has the right to do what.