Thanks for indulging me last week on my birthday weekend, Weekend Reader readers — and I think we can all agree that perhaps Isiah Kiner-Falefa should have taken a bigger lead off third base in the ninth inning of what was, to be truthful, a wonderful World Series. I think we also all could agree that Kiner-Falefa doesn’t deserve to get hateful messages because he was forced out by inches at the plate. Weren’t Canadians supposed to be nicer than this? Is the United States’ sour mood rubbing off on our northern neighbor?

But that was last weekend’s news. To start this weekend, take a look at this story from the Northwestern Medill Local News Initiative, about three Northwest newspapers that have managed to remain independent — which is to say, not owned by chains or hedge funds. Sadly, as the story notes, the list no longer includes the Malheur Enterprise, the excellent weekly that used to be owned by Les Zaitz, a top-notch journalist. Zaitz looked for years to find someone to take over the eastern Oregon weekly, but eventually had to throw in the towel. Nationally, the story reports, only 46% of U.S. newspapers are independently owned — and the number for dailies is about 15%.

As you may have heard earlier in the week, the Benton County commissioners voted 2-1 to approve the controversial planned expansion of the Coffin Butte Landfill. Opponents of the decision suggested they might pursue a costly appeal to the state Land Use Board of Appeals and also said they were considering a recall petition against the two commissioners who voted in favor of the appeal, Nancy Wyse and Pat Malone. If that talk made you wonder about what justification Oregon law requires for recalling public officials — well, I wondered as well, and tracked down this timely recent study from the League of Women Voters of Oregon. Here’s the summary: Any grounds at all will suffice in Oregon to recall a public official, although the grounds have to be true, whatever that means these days. So, if you disagree with a decision that a public official made as part of their duties, that can be grounds to launch a recall effort — and, of course, public officials who are doing their jobs are going to be making those types of decisions all the time. It seems to me — but I’m speaking just for myself — that a better recourse in a case like that would be to work to defeat that official at the next election. (Some states, by the way, do specify specific grounds for recall, such as unfitness for the job, incompetence, corruption, etc. Just a suggestion.)

Here’s the KLCC story about the commissioners’ vote. And if you’re just getting up to speed on the landfill controversy, here’s a good recent story from High Country News; I’ve linked to this before, but it’s still worthwhile. Finally — and again, just speaking for myself — I wish we would spend more time talking about how to reduce the amount of stuff we send to our landfills.

Oregon schools — already reeling from enrollment declines and public-pension costs — may have another big hit coming: The state is preparing for a cutback of 2% to 5% in funding support to school districts over the next two years. State officials point to lower-than-expected revenue — caused to some extent by the federal tax-cut bill passed by Congress this summer — as a big reason for the darkening budget picture. If I wanted to make a somewhat related point, I would mention that we also heard this week from state economists that Oregon taxpayers are expected to receive a $1.4 billion “kicker” next year, but I’m going to pass on that.

Are you buying into the hype that Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral victory in New York City could point to a winning path for Democrats across the country? Don’t buy in just yet, Jonathan Chait argues in The Atlantic.

Speaking of elections, here’s this week’s long read: It’s David A. Graham’s terrifying account in The Atlantic about how the Trump administration is laying the groundwork for election mayhem in 2026 and 2028. And it’s happening right before our eyes: “If you are not frightened,” one expert tells Graham, “you are not paying attention.”

Being frightened, of course, requires proper hydration, so here’s advice from The Associated Press about that water bottle you always carry with you: Even though you never put anything but cool, clear, artisanal (and probably filtered) water into your bottle, you still need to clean it, even if the only water you drink comes directly from melting glaciers.

A Weekend Reader shout-out to Colleen Dunn, who was walking near Nehalem Bay State Park last month when she found a salmon shark stranded on the beach and — unsure what to do — grabbed it by the tail and dragged it back out to sea so it could survive. I can understand the impulse — I like to think I would have done the same. But because I am a journalist, I am obliged to point out what experts say: Despite Dunn’s efforts, the shark almost certainly was doomed as soon as it hit the beach. But, hey, we live in hope, right? That’s why I added the word “almost” to the last sentence.

OK, I’ll grant you this: That last item doesn’t quite qualify as a “fun read.” Let’s see what else I can track down this weekend.

Dictionary.com has announced its word of the year: It’s the viral term “six-seven,” and it does say something about the times in which we live that nobody can say with certainty what it means. The reliable Associated Press tries to explain it all, and it mostly fails, despite giving it a good try.

Here’s another number-related story, but the number here is “996” — it’s the idea, inspired by a now-outlawed Chinese work schedule, that people should work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. If you’re thinking that, gee, that sounds inhumane — well, you’re probably not looking for a job in Silicon Valley these days. This NPR interview explains it all.

Finally this week: Here’s Olga Khazan in The Atlantic, explaining why you never should say “It takes a village” to a new parent. First, it’s a cliche. Second, she argues, it’s useless advice — perhaps even more useless than “sleep when your baby sleeps.”

Speaking of sleep, hope you got an extra hour last weekend. But remember: That hour will be stolen away from us next spring. In the meantime, let’s gather here again next week, all properly refreshed and hydrated.

About this week’s photo: My boss at the local news website Lookout Eugene-Springfield arranged for this timely sign to be painted on a wall at our Eugene office. I am ashamed to say that I never thought to do the same at newsrooms in Missoula, Corvallis or Albany.