Oregon News & Current Events | Public News Service

Oregon forestry officials say climate change, warmer-than-average temperatures and current megadrought conditions present new fire prevention and suppression challenges. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Rural OR communities face new challenges in fighting wildfires

By Julia Tilton for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Oregon News Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaborati…

Newspapers continue to disappear at a rate of more than two per week. (sebra/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Trust in local media strong, despite loss of OR newspapers

Oregon is losing local media outlets quickly, echoing a national trend. This year alone, 130 newspapers nationwide shut down, according to a new …

Mountain lions, found throughout North and South America, thrive in diverse environments, from dense forests to arid deserts. (Krzysztof Wiktor/Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 9, 2024

Mountain lions: A critical part of OR landscapes, despite bad rap

People are probably happy to hear two orphaned mountain lion kittens have been rescued and will find new homes at the Oregon Zoo but sharing space wit…

Undocumented immigrants make up an estimated 4% of Oregon's workforce. (Diego Cervo/Adobe Stock)<br />

OR sanctuary laws protect migrants, with caveats

As word has spread about President-elect Donald Trump's mass deportation plans, advocates for immigrants in Oregon are working to educate people …

It is important to share your feelings of grief with loved ones and to seek out a mental health professional for support with persistent symptoms of depression. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

Blue, blue Christmas: Coping with holiday grief, loss

'Tis the season for celebration and good cheer. However, for many Oregonians, the absence of a loved one -- whether through death, divorce or another …

Years of underinvestment by the federal government, coupled with a massive increase in gun sales nationwide, have sharply limited the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' capacity to enforce its own regulations, gun safety advocates said. (Roman/Adobe Stock)

Report: Lax oversight of OR gun dealers fuels shootings, homicides

Nearly 40% of guns used in Oregon homicides are illegally trafficked through legal gun dealers and another 30% are stolen from them, according to new …

New nuclear-energy technology has been proposed but not yet built in the United States. (Ezume Images/Adobe Stock)

Nuclear power proposal on Columbia River raises alarm

Interest in nuclear energy as a solution to "dirty" sources of power is growing, including a proposal in the Northwest. However, some critics said it …

A cap on out-of-pocket drug costs will likely decrease health care costs for many people on Medicare. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Medicare changes in 2025 to benefit Oregonians

Changes coming to Medicare in 2025 could be beneficial for Oregon residents who are eligible for the program. Oregonians who qualify for Medicare …

Oregon's Higher Education Coordinating Commission received 184 applications from organizations seeking a combined total of more than $185 million, for its latest round of grants. (C Malambo/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

$42 million awarded to Oregon job development projects

The latest round of Workforce Ready Grants means $42 million is being divided among 62 projects aiming to foster Oregon's diverse workforce in the fie…

Many countries in the world have reusable bottle systems. (Alvaro/Adobe Stock)

Two Oregon companies forge sustainable path for beer, wine bottles

By Allison Frost for Oregon Public Broadcasting.Broadcast version by Isobel Charlé for Oregon News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism…

Use caulk, spray foam and weather stripping to keep more heat inside the home. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Supports available in OR to help with winter heating bills

La Niña is bringing a cooler, wetter winter to Oregon and likely driving up heating bills as systems work harder. This is the third year of …

Senate Bill 1583, a measure banning book bans in Oregon, may resurface in spring. (Jacek Chabraszewski/Adobe Stock)

Post election, educators anticipate classroom censorship

In the wake of Donald Trump's re-election, teachers nationwide are bracing for more censorship battles. Currently, more than 40 laws in 22 states …

Research has found the stability of parents' home ownership contributes to their kids' higher standardized test scores in math and reading. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

New coalition aims to address Oregon home ownership 'crisis'

With housing prices nearly doubling in the last 10 years, the number of Oregonians who can afford to buy a home without assistance has dwindled and a …

The group BIPOC Adoptee Voices sponsors panel presentations, where adoptees can discuss issues like separation, race, identity, loss and reunification. (Talia Mdlungu/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Oregon nonprofit makes space for BIPOC adoptees

November is National Adoption Month and one Oregon nonprofit is making space for Black and Indigenous adoptees to share their stories. Although most …

Albany teachers say they will stay on strike until their demands are met around class size, safety and pay. (Amanda Miles)

Albany teachers on strike as Beaverton moves toward mediation

Teachers' unions say they're at an impasse in bargaining with two Oregon school districts. After four intense mediation sessions, Albany teachers …

Older LGBTQ+ people face different health and equity issues than their peers. (Hector/Adobe Stock)

Champion of LGBTQ+ rights in OR wins volunteering award

A champion of rights for older LGBTQ+ people has received recognition for her volunteer work in Oregon. Liz James is the winner of the AARP Andrus …

Some 43% of of municipal officeholders are women in Oregon, compared to 32% nationwide. (Dog Paw Productions/Adobe Stock)

Report: More OR women are running for office and winning

Oregon has the third highest percent of women in city government, according to a new report from Rutgers University. It may be proof of the success …

A proposed refinery project would be located at Port Westward near Clatskanie, Oregon. (Sam Beebe, Ecotrust/Wikimedia Commons)

Proposed refinery on Columbia River draws objections from public

A proposed project to build a refinery on an estuary along the Columbia River is getting pushback from the public. NEXT Renewable Fuels is proposing …

The Klamath River was once home to the third largest salmon run on the West Coast. (Piotr Wawrzyniuk/Adobe Stock)

After 100 years, salmon return to Upper Klamath River

Wild Chinook salmon have returned to the Upper Klamath River less than two months after the largest dam-removal project in U.S. history to remove …

Albany teachers are asking for a stipend for the extra work they have to do outside their classrooms. (WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Albany teachers vote to authorize strike

The Greater Albany Education Association has voted to strike in as soon as 10 days if no agreement is reached on a new contract with the Greater Alban…

Oregon has six national park units across the state, including Crater Lake. (aiisha/Adobe Stock)

Scorecard shows how Congress voted on national parks ahead of election

As Election Day approaches, Oregonians and people around the country can see how their members of Congress voted on issues related to national parks…

Health-care workers have put a strike on the table at two Providence facilities. (Oregon Nurses Association)

OR Providence doctors, nurses authorize strike

Health-care workers in Oregon have authorized a potential strike that includes nurses at Providence Women's Clinic and doctors at Providence Saint Vin…

Courts across the country have ruled in favor of companies with mandatory arbitration clauses. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

FAIR Act would prevent companies from evading responsibility, supporters say

Critics of recent court cases they say allow corporations to evade responsibility are pointing to legislation in Congress that could fix this issue…

According to FairVote.org, ranked-choice voting is used in two states, three counties and 45 cities in the U.S. (Adobe Stock)

Oregon could opt for ranked-choice voting this November

This November, Oregon could join a growing number of states switching to ranked-choice voting for federal and state elections. Measure 117 would …

Eligibility for Medicare typically starts at age 65. (STOATPHOTO/Adobe Stock)

Oregonians have chance to evaluate, change their Medicare plans

It is the time of year when people eligible for Medicare can shop around and make sure they are signed up for the health coverage that makes the most …

Countries like Chile are major exporters of farmed salmon. (Ludmila/Adobe Stock)

National Seafood Month: Fish farming crowds out wild salmon

October is National Seafood Month and the fish on your plate might not be coming from where you think. The U.S. imports 90% of the seafood it …

Family caregivers typically play a critical role in long-term care decisions. (freeograph/Adobe Stock)

Tips for discussing long-term care plans with loved ones

October is Long-Term Care Planning Month, and a few tips can help people when talking with their loved ones about this topic. Conversations about …

Free school meals could help address the hunger nearly 145,000 Oregon children face. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

OR coalition urges state to feed every student at school

It is National School Lunch Week and groups in Oregon are taking the opportunity to encourage lawmakers to make school meals available to every kid in…

Cuts to an at-home program helping people with speech difficulties could leave some Oregonians struggling to communicate. (ChiccoDodiFC/Adobe Stock)

OR home health speech program could be stifled

Providence Health and Services could close an at-home program enabling communication by people with diseases making it hard or impossible to speak…

The economy, jobs and inflation are the top concerns for likely rural voters. (Esteban Martinena/Adobe Stock)

Rural voters want worker-centered policies, poll says

Rural voters in Oregon and across the U.S. tend to be swing voters, and may decide the outcome of this year's presidential election. Their biggest …

The BLM's Blue and Gold timber sale is on the Oregon coast north of Roseburg. (Cascadia Wildlands)

Groups challenge project to stop logging old growth OR forests

Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit to stop the logging of centuries-old trees on the Oregon coast. The Bureau of Land Management is moving …

Keven Dardon was among the leaders on the negotiation team in Oregon during the largest health care strike in history. (SEIU Local 49)

Workers celebrate one year on from largest health care strike in US history

It's been one year since the largest health care strike in U.S. history, and union members say they've seen changes since their 2023 victory…

The process for testing for bacteria in foods can be a tricky, segmented process. (sinhyu/Adobe Stock)

After listeria outbreak, food regulations under scrutiny

A recent foodborne illness outbreak linked to deli meats is putting the spotlight on how these foods are regulated. The listeria outbreak in Boar's …

With the addition of behavioral therapists, a new union bargaining unit at Legacy's Unity Center for Behavioral Health represents 120 workers. (ONA)

Therapists unionize as OHSU, Legacy submit plans for merger

Oregon Health and Science University and Legacy Health have officially submitted merger plans to state regulators. Behavioral therapists at Legacy …

A group of Oregon conservation advocates is calling on officials to reinstate a 2021 Climate Protection Program invalidated in 2023 by a state Court of Appeals. (Adobe Stock)

Groups seek reinstatement of Oregon’s Climate Protection Program

A group of Oregon conservation advocates is asking the state's Department of Environmental Quality to restore the provisions of a 2021 Climate Protect…

The recent allocation of $5 million to small businesses in the semiconductor industry mostly went to West Coast companies. (Maha Heang 245789/Adobe Stock)

OR business a recipient for fed semiconductor investments

The Biden administration has made more investments in revitalizing the U.S. semiconductor industry, including in an Oregon company. Seventeen …

A community garden at a DevNW property in Corvallis will provide fresh food and an organizing place for tenants.(Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Five OR organizations receive funding for age-friendly projects

Five organizations in Oregon will receive funds for projects that make their communities more age-friendly. AARP Oregon has selected the quick-…

A student at Portland Opportunities and Industrialization Center uses the organization's new self-measuring blood pressure cuff. (American Heart Association)

First self-measuring blood pressure site sets up in OR community center

Self-measuring blood pressure sites are coming to the Northwest, starting with a community organization in Portland. The American Heart Association …

School districts across the nation spend $8 billion per year on energy costs. (naraichal/Adobe Stock)

As climate change ramps up, energy efficiency helps OR schools save money

Oregon students are back in the classroom, but their classrooms might not be as energy efficient or climate resilient as they should be. As the …

About 3.2 million Medicare enrollees are expected to save money in 2025 under a new law capping prescription drug costs. (Scott Hales/Adobe Stock)

Report: Oregonians to save money with prescription drug cost cap in 2025

Tens of thousands of Oregonians are expected to see savings next year when prescription drug costs are capped, according to a new report from AARP…

The Oregon Outback covers a swath of sparsely populated counties in the southern part of the state. (chris/Adobe Stock)

Already largest in world, OR dark sky sanctuary expected to grow

A sanctuary for stargazing in Oregon is the largest in the world and is set to get even bigger. In eastern Oregon, the organization DarkSky …

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said 19 wolves have been killed in the state since 2015. (ODFW)

Wolf poaching affects recreation in OR

Groups in Oregon are warning wolf poaching poses a threat, not just to the creatures targeted but to people who enjoy the outdoors. Poaching was a …

A measure on ranked choice voting is one of five statewide ballot measures Oregonians will decide this November. (IanDewarPhotography/Adobe Stock)

Could women, minorities win more under OR voting measure?

Oregon voters will decide on a potential change to the state's electoral system in November. If passed, Measure 117 would create a ranked choice …

The greater sage grouse habitat stretches across ten states in the West, including Oregon. (tomreichner/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Widespread support for sage grouse protections in OR, West

A new poll indicates strong support for protections of the West's greater sage-grouse. The results come as the U.S. Bureau of Land Management …

Tina Kotek, the former speaker of the state house, is the third woman to serve as governor of Oregon. (Oregon National Guard)

Women hold 4 of 5 statewide elected offices in OR – for now

Oregon is in the upper echelon when it comes to the number of women in higher office. Four of the five statewide elected positions in the state are …

Oregon and 36 other states are participating in the Summer EBT program. (san_ta/Adobe Stock)

Eligible OR families have until Monday to apply for summer food benefits

Eligible Oregon families have until Monday to apply for summer food benefits. The Summer EBT program provides families with a one-time payment of $12…

The Lomakatsi Restoration Project partners with the U.S. Department of the Interior on forestry training for tribal youth. (fs.usda.gov)

Fed grant supports OR tribal youth conservation training

Federal grant money is supporting an Oregon organization rehabilitating the land and training tribal youth. The Interior Department's Indian Youth …

The 19th Amendment guaranteeing women's suffrage was sent for approval for the U.S. Constitution and signed on August 26, 1920. (bulgn/Adobe Stock)

Women's Equality Day celebrates suffrage, need for more progress

Women's Equality Day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. More than a century later, women have made …

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