A swarm of Mormon crickets is causing a mild nuisance a few miles east of Lakeview in Southern Oregon

As drought conditions intensify, two Oregon agencies are helping local governments spread the word about conserving water. KLCC’s Zac Ziegler reports:

Sweltering heat is covering western Oregon and Washington today ((MON)).

The University of Oregon celebrated more than 55-hundred graduates at a commencement ceremony this morning.

The University of Oregon celebrated more than 55-hundred graduates at a commencement ceremony this morning [Monday morning].

Southern Oregon University has released its provisional plan to cut over $20 million and prevent the institution’s closure.

The Center for Biological Diversity is petitioning the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service to add two wildflowers, rough goldenweed and Palouse (PUH-loose) goldenweed, to the Endangered Species list.

There’s a new petition to add two Northwest wildflowers to the Endangered Species list. N-W-P-B’s Rachel Sun has more. :08

A heat wave is hitting the coastal Northwest.

Record-breaking temperatures in the 90s are expected in much of the usually temperate region.

KUOW's John Ryan reports [from Seattle].

[also filed for NPR Newscasts fyi]

LEAD: Several large-scale fires are burning across the Columbia Basin: [the Tule (TOOL) Fire, O-I-E Fire, and the Juniper Dunes Fire, plus another in the Gorge Area called the Highway 730 / Twin Sisters Fire. Air quality in central Washington is deteriorating.] And there’s a red flag warning Tuesday for much of central Washington and Oregon, with high winds expected. N-W-P-B’s Senior Correspondent Anna King reports.