Oregon News & Current Events | Public News Service

Proposals to cut SNAP come on top of a USDA decision in April to cancel 30 truckloads of food bound for Oregon food banks. (Ekkarat_Studio/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Federal cuts to food assistance would hit many Oregonians

Groups fighting hunger in Oregon are urging residents to speak up if they are concerned about the cuts Congress could make to food, health care and …

All employers in Oregon are now required to offer OregonSaves, a free service, to their employees if they do not already offer a retirement savings program. (Brian Jackson/Adobe Stock)

OR leads the way with state retirement savings plan

Oregonians have saved nearly $350 million for retirement through OregonSaves, a program allowing employees without workplace plans to automatically …

May Day is a traditional day for the immigrant rights movement to uplift workers and honor immigrant families. Undocumented immigrants contributed nearly $700 million in taxes to Oregon in 2023. (Susan Vineyard/Adobe Stock)

A May Day mayday: A distress call for immigrant rights rally Thursday

On May 1, Oregon labor and immigrants' rights organizations are gathering in Salem calling for justice for immigrant workers and an end to mass …

The Bonneville Dam is located on the Columbia River near Cascade Locks, Oregon. (Martina/Adobe Stock)

Bonneville Power energy market choice impacts NW environment

A major player in the Northwest's energy landscape is considering changes in the future, as extreme climate events make power delivery in Oregon more …

In addition to house paint, PaintCare sites also accept primers, stains, sealers and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish. (Ernest/Adobe Stock)

OR hits recycling milestone: 10 million gallons of paint

Oregonians have recycled more than 10 million gallons of leftover paint through the nonprofit PaintCare. The PaintCare program allows people to …

Seasonal allergies are expensive when they result in missed work and school days along with high medical costs. (WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Coping with OR's climate change-fueled pollen season

Oregon's pollen season is starting earlier and lasting longer, thanks to climate change, with research showing airborne pollen levels increasing more …

Despite being only 13% of the population, Black people were 28% of those killed by police in 2024.(Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

5 years after George Floyd's death, OR police reform is 'slow'

Five years after George Floyd's murder by a white police officer sparked nationwide protests and demands for police reform, progress remains slow…

State-funded program needs boost to help more Oregonians save money

A state-funded matched savings program has helped low-income Oregonians for more than 25 years and backers said it needs more funding to continue…

Rates of hunger are rising in Oregon and across the country, with Black and Latino families experiencing food insecurity at nearly double the rate of white households. (Natalie Kiyah, Oregon Food Bank)

Food advocates: extend benefits to all OR children

Each legislative session, Oregon's Joint Ways & Means Committee holds a statewide roadshow to hear from residents about their priorities. At the …

Oregon earned a point on the State Energy Efficiency Scorecard for supporting the industrial sector's electrification. (anatoliycherkas/Adobe Stock)

Oregon scores 9th in the nation for energy efficiency

Oregon ranked ninth this year on The State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a nonprofit research …

Participants in Multnomah County's Nurse-Family Partnership program experience a 56% reduction in ER visits for accidents and poisonings. (KAMPUS/Adobe Stock)

Nurses Union: Stop Multnomah County public health cuts

Multnomah County plans major public health cuts to address a $21 million budget gap and the Oregon Nurses Association said the cuts put programs for f…

In 2023, the USDA gave Oregon just over $2 million for the federal Farm to School reimbursement grant. Those funds have now been cancelled. (Robert Kneschke/Adobe Stock)

OR hunger-fighting advocates: USDA cuts 'cruel'

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is cutting two federal programs that provide over $1 billion annually to support schools and food banks in …

At the current rate, there will be eight replacement health care job openings for every one new job added by 2033. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

OR health care professionals have cure for dwindling workforce

Oregon does not have enough health care workers and the need continues to grow. Service Employees International Union Local 49 members said …

About one-third of the legislation targeting trans people's rights across the country is focused on schools. (vivalapenler/Adobe Stock)

Honoring OR trans lives amid hostile political climate

Today is International Trans Day of Visibility, to recognize the contributions of transgender people in society - and raise awareness of the …

In 2010, the passage of Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act was extended to include banks. (PheelingsMedia/Adobe Stock)

Legislation would protect OR consumers from unfair insurance practices

New legislation would bring the insurance industry under Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act. Supporters said the change would protect consumers …

People from across Oregon rally together before speaking with legislators. Research shows that during a slowing economy, 1-billion dollars in new SNAP benefits would lead to an increase of 1.54- billion dollars in GDP. (Oregon Food Bank)

Supporters rally for Food for All Oregonians bill

Hundreds of people from across Oregon gathered in Salem for an advocacy day last week, urging lawmakers to pass what's known as the Food for All …

Data show integrating community health workers into the health care system creates more cost-effective and sustainable care. (buritora/Adobe Stock)

OR community health workers get a boost from tech

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Isobel Charle for Oregon News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Servic…

Oregon's system for funding early childhood special education was last updated in 2011. House Bill 2682 has garnered strong support from a broad coalition of early childhood advocates and educators. (Wosunan/Adobe Stock)

Bill would revamp OR special ed preschool funding

Legislation to overhaul the way Oregon funds early childhood special education has advanced through the state House with near unanimous support…

Oregon's older population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, with more than 45% of older adults projected to be people of color by 2050. (moodboard/Adobe Stock)

Bill would offer a blueprint for an aging Oregon

Oregon's population, along with the rest of the country, is getting older. Within 10 years there will be more Oregonians age 65 and older than …

Fewer than 40% of rural youth said they are confident they can find an internship, compared to more than half of their urban peers. (JustLife/Adobe Stock)

Study: Rural OR youth often need to leave hometown to find jobs

New data show fewer than half of rural Gen Z'ers believe they can find a good job in their community, compared to nearly 70% of their urban peers…

Wolves help maintain healthy ecosystems by regulating prey populations which, in turn, influences plant growth and supports other wildlife. (cherwoman730 /Adobe Stock)

Wildlife lobby day for OR conservation groups

Today, Oregon conservation groups are headed to the state Capitol for "Wildlife Lobby Day." The organizations, all part of the Oregon Wildlife …

Oregon's lumber output of more than 6 billion board feet in 2021 accounted for about 17% of total U.S. production. (Kirk/Adobe Stock)

Executive order calls for ramping up logging in OR

The Trump administration's recent executive order, "Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production," called on federal land managers to ramp up …

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Department of Transportation mapped out wildlife collision

Wildlife crossings would make OR highways safer, save money

New legislation would help build more wildlife crossings across Oregon highways to make roads safer for people and animals. Research shows that …

The Northern Spotted Owl has been the subject of many lawsuits impacting forest management in Oregon and Washington for decades. (gevans/Adobe Stock)

Jobs cuts at Dept. of Fish and Wildlife could harm sensitive OR species

The Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, has ordered the federal government to fire 400 Department of Fish and Wildlife …

Miranda Johnson and her family received the keys to their new home, thanks in part to the Homeownership Development Incubator Program. (McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity)

Funds sought to help address OR housing shortage

Groups working to address Oregon's shortage of affordable housing are backing a bill to fund the state's Homeownership Development Incubator Program…

With the closure of the CFPB, new rules to curb excessive bank overdraft fees and prevent medical debt from limiting creditworthy borrowers from accessing credit will not take effect. (Nattakorn/Adobe Stock) <br />

OR consumers face more financial risks with CFPB closure

Seven members of Oregon's congressional delegation have signed a letter demanding protection for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to enable …

More than 60,000 people in Oregon could benefit from expanding food benefits to undocumented residents. (Franco Capotosti/Adobe Stock)

Undocumented OR farmworkers may gain access to food assistance

By Amal Ahmed for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Isobel Charle for Oregon News Service reporting for the Yes! Media/Sentient/Just and Climate-…

School Meals for All programs consistently show nutritional and behavioral improvements in students. (School Meals for All Coalition)

Bill extending free food to all OR public schools has broad support

New legislation that would ensure every Oregon public school student has access to free breakfast and lunch has widespread, bipartisan support…

Research shows hands-only CPR can be just as effective in the first few minutes as conventional CPR for heart attacks. (Platoo Studio/Adobe Stock)

New bill would bring cardiac emergency plans to OR schools

New legislation backed by the American Heart Association would require all Oregon schools to have cardiac emergency response plans in place. …

The Stand Up to Factory Farms coalition is made up of more than 25 organizations concerned about the harmful impacts of factory farms on Oregon family farms, environment, public health and animal welfare. (barmalini/Adobe Stock)

OR clean water advocates call for moratorium on factory farms

Oregon lawmakers are considering a moratorium on permits for new or expanding factory farms in some of the state's most polluted areas. A coalition …

The transportation sector accounts for about a third of Oregon's climate emissions and the state hopes to cut the numbers by putting more electric vehicles on the road. (zinkevych/Adobe Stock)

OR electric vehicle drivers show love this week

A coalition of clean car advocates has declared the days leading up to Valentine's Day EV Love Story Week. The effort comes in the midst of …

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., offered a resolution to protect public education, which was backed by the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, the Parent Teacher Association and many others. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

Lawmaker: Dismantling Education Dept. would harm OR schools

After introducing a resolution condemning attempts to defund public education, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., was denied access to the U.S. …

About 38 percent of Oregon Native students went on to college in 2024, which is higher than the national average, but still the lowest of all racial/ethnic groups. (Tasneem H/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: OR needs to do more to get Native Americans into higher ed

Institutions need to do more to close the higher education graduation gap for Native Americans, according to a new report. The report notes at just …

The Lower Umatilla Groundwater Management Area was designated in 1990, after nitrate contamination was identified in northern Umatilla and Morrow counties. (Miljan Živković/Adobe Stock)

Report: Nitrate levels continue to rise in eastern OR groundwater

A new study by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality found nitrate levels have continued to rise across the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater …

Approximately one in 12 children in Oregon lives with at least one undocumented family member. (Manny DaCunha/Adobe Stock)

OR schools, advocates react to possible ICE raids

Oregon's largest school district has affirmed it will continue to enforce Oregon's sanctuary laws by not providing information to Immigration and Cust…

Houses are most likely to catch fire from the top down because of falling embers. (Jamie Hooper/Adobe Stock)

Simple ways to protect OR homes from wildfires

As Los Angeles starts to recover, residents across the Pacific Northwest are being reminded of the risks wildfires pose. Timothy Ingalsbee, …

More than half of all Americans will use SNAP benefits at least once in their lifetime. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Oregon SNAP users no longer protected from theft

People who receive food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will no longer be reimbursed if their benefits are stolen…

Less than 10% of forests in the lower 48 remain untouched by logging or development. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

U.S. Forest Service ditches amendment to protect OR old growth forests

Earlier this month, the U.S. Forest Service announced it would not be following through with the National Old Growth Amendment, which would have …

Advocates called on lawmakers at the Oregon State Capitol to pass Food for All Oregonians, Senate Bill 611, this legislative session. (Oregon Food Bank)

New bill would extend food benefits to undocumented Oregonians

In the face of rising hunger across the state of Oregon, new legislation would extend food assistance benefits to undocumented children and older …

An estimated one in five parents of children under 18 in the U.S. experienced mental illness in the past year. (grooveriderz/Adobe Stock)

New parenting skills app helps rural OR families

Researchers at the University of Oregon say a new online parenting skills program has helped improve mental health for rural Oregon families…

AARP Community Challenge Grants can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to tens of thousands for larger projects. (Robert Cowie)

OR town's pocket park makes a big impact

Sometimes small changes can have a big impact. For the Southern Oregon town of Chiloquin, a park that used to be a parking lot is creating space for …

Less than a third of Oregonians could afford to buy a typical home in 2023. (dechevm/Adobe Stock)

Gov. Kotek's budget supports first-time homebuyer assistance

More than half of all renters in Oregon and a third of homeowners experience a housing cost burden, according to new research. Housing advocates say …

In 2023, more than 16 million workers were represented by a union, an increase of more than 190,000. (SEIU Local 49)

Union rep: SEIU joining AFL-CIO will help OR workers

The Service Employees International Union is joining the AFL-CIO, a move both groups said will make it easier for more workers to unionize. SEIU is …

The Oregon Nurses Association says Providence Health has been spending more than $25 million per week on replacement nurses, or $1,400 per nurse per day. (ONA)

Striking health care workers in OR return to negotiations with Providence

After five days of Oregon's largest health-care strike, including the state's first doctors' work stoppage, Providence Health announced it is ready …

The report reveals nationwide, teen mental health worsened from 2013 to 2023, with young people reporting feelings of sadness and hopelessness rising from 30 to 40-percent. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

OR youth need more mental health support, new report has ideas

The Bipartisan Policy Center has released a new report on reforming the way youth mental health services are delivered, in Oregon and nationwide…

In December, the Oregon Investment council found the state's Public Employee Retirement System returned 2.7%, which lagged other states and its benchmark, in part because of fewer public investments. (Ded Pixto/Adobe Stock)

New bill would pause Oregon state retirement fund's fossil fuel investments

A new bill aims to further reduce investments in fossil fuels by Oregon's Public Employee Retirement System. The Pause Act would impose a five-year …

High water flows brought young sockeye quickly to the ocean, contributing to the record number of fish passing through the Bonneville Dam last summer, 92,000 more than the previous record. (Jason/Adobe Stock)

Resisting industry on the Columbia in 2025

Oregon salmon populations had some significant wins in 2024, including a record number of sockeye salmon passing through the Columbia River's …

Around 21% of a median income household's annual earnings is needed to cover child care for a toddler<br />in Oregon. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines 7% as affordable. (moodboard/Adobe Stock)

More funding needed to abate OR's statewide child care shortage

Nearly 9,000 families are on the wait list for the Oregon Employment Related Day Care program, and family advocates are calling on lawmakers to ramp …

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