Oregon News & Current Events | Public News Service

The Conservation Fund says it aims to protect five million acres of forest by 2035. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

1 million acres of forest protected under The Conservation Fund, including in OR

The Conservation Fund, which works to protect land and nature across the U.S. has announced it has protected more than 1 million acres of working …

Monmouth and another Oregon city received AARP Livable Cities designations last year. (Publichall/Wikimedia Commons)

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Seven OR projects receive AARP livable community grants

Seven projects have been chosen in Oregon to receive grants from AARP. The projects were selected for the Community Challenge grant program…

United States Postal Service locations have been evaluating whether to move processing to larger hubs. (IanDewarPhotography/Adobe Stock)

Monday, July 1, 2024

Mail carriers celebrated on National Postal Workers Day

Today is National Postal Workers Day, a celebration of the job they do to deliver the mail. Postal workers provide a vital service, especially …

The Climate Protection Program was adopted in Oregon in 2021 but invalidated in late 2023. (Cascadia Aerial/Adobe Stock)

Coalition forms to support restoration of OR Climate Protection Program

A diverse coalition of groups in Oregon is advocating for the restoration of the Climate Protection Program as the state works to reestablish it…

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was rolled out nationwide in July 2022. (7N23/Adobe Stock)

Report on 988 crisis line rollout highlights OR youth suicide prevention

A new report examines the rollout of the 988 mental health crisis line in each state and found Oregon has more work to do. The national three-digit 9…

The phase-out of gas-powered leaf blowers in favor of electric in Portland begins ins 2026. (nieriss/Adobe Stock)

Portland turns down noise from gas-powered leaf blowers with phaseout

By Hannah Wallace for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Networ…

Ontario is the biggest city in southeast Oregon's rural Malheur County. (Nathan/Adobe Stock)

Community organizing key for ending hunger in rural OR

Organizing to end hunger is one tool groups are using in Oregon to highlight and address the issue. Workers said advocacy is especially important in …

Oregon is set to receive $689 million from the federal government to connect all state residents to high speed internet. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

OR closer to receiving 'historic investment' in internet infrastructure

The stage is set for a massive investment in Oregon's plans to bring high-speed internet to everyone in the state. The second volume of Oregon's …

Providence Oregon City is among the six hospitals where nurses are striking this week. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Providence nurses at six OR hospitals to strike this week

Providence nurses across Oregon are going on strike on Tuesday. It could be one of the biggest nurse strikes in state history. More than 3,000 …

More than a half million people visited Crater Lake National Park in 2023. (reisegraf/Adobe Stock)

Great Outdoors Month: Outdoor recreation 'economic multiplier' for OR

June is Great Outdoors Month, which also underscores the importance of outdoor recreation in Oregon. As temperatures warm up, people are enjoying …

Port Westward is located on the Columbia River north of the town of Clatskanie, Ore. (Sam Beebe/Wikimedia Commons)

Groups challenge proposed refinery near Columbia River

A lawsuit is challenging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decision not to require a permit for the construction of a new refinery on the Columbia …

Oregon has significantly decreased the number of children living in high poverty areas over the past decade. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Report: OR among bottom half of states for child well-being

Oregon ranks in the bottom half of states, at 26th, in a new report on child well-being. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual Kids Count Data Book …

Lake County, despite its small size, annually contributes about $22 million to the state of Oregon in outdoor recreation revenues. (flickr)

Public lands in Oregon's Dark Sky Sanctuary set for BLM update

More than 3 million acres of public lands in southeastern Oregon are poised for enhanced management by the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM is …

When finalized, the new contract for SEIU Local 49 janitors will be in place for four years. (SEIU Local 49)

Contract negotiations underway for Portland-area janitors

It is the first full week of contract negotiations for janitors who clean the buildings of some of the region's biggest employers. The janitors…

A new clinic on the Grand Ronde reservation includes solar panels so the building has power even during an outage. (Photo by Claire Carlson)

Clinic on OR reservation drives tribal self-reliance

By Claire Carlson for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaborat…

Many Oregonians lack air conditioners even as extreme heat events increase in the state. (M-Production/Adobe Stock)

OR first in nation to use Medicaid dollars to protect against climate change

By Samantha Young for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Servic…

Early deaths for older adults decreased from their peak during the start of the pandemic in 2020, a new report from the United Health Foundation showed. (bobex73/Adobe Stock)

OR ranks 16th in report on older adults' well-being

A new report looks at the well-being of older Americans. The America's Health Ranking Senior Report showed a mixed bag for the living conditions of …

Food insecurity rates are much higher for children than the rest of the population in Tillamook County. (SHELL/Adobe Stock)

Rural OR county battles increased summer hunger

While Tillamook County, Oregon might be famous for its cheese, many of its residents struggle with food insecurity. The issue is especially acute in …

Conservation groups say the Northwest's old growth forests need greater protections. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

Update to Northwest Forest Plan expected soon

An update to the 30-year-old Northwest Forest Plan is expected soon. The plan has a been a critical tool for managing 19 million acres of federal …

Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center is located in Gresham, in the Portland metro area. (M.O. Stevens/Wikmiedia Commons)

OR hospital workers celebrate decision to unionize

Workers at an Oregon hospital are celebrating their recent vote in favor of unionizing. More than 260 Legacy Mount Hood health-care workers voted to …

Semiconductor manufacturing openings are growing in Oregon. (Acronym/Adobe Stock)

Report: OR workforce grows, but gaps should be addressed

A new report analyzes the workforce dynamics in Oregon and how the state can address gaps for workers and industries. The 2024 Talent Assessment …

Oregonians contributed more than 88 million hours of volunteering in 2021. (lovelyday12/Adobe Stock)

Nominations open for OR volunteer making impact in their community

AARP Oregon has opened up nominations for its prestigious award for volunteerism. For the Andrus Award for Community Service, the organization will …

Birth through age five is a critical time for teaching kids how to read. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

OR prepares to fund early literacy efforts

Oregon is poised to distribute funds for early childhood learning and literacy. In 2023, lawmakers passed the Early Literacy Success Initiative…

The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument encompasses about 14,000 acres in east-central Oregon. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

New BLM rules better protect national parks, supporters say

Conservation groups said two new federal rules aim to help better protect public lands, including national parks. The Bureau of Land Management's …

Vose Elementary is unique as a 750-student preschool through sixth-grade Spanish dual-immersion school focused on playful inquiry and habits of mind. (Adobe Stock)

OR school approaches early education with bilingual curriculum

The Beaverton School District is blazing a trail in early education through bilingual learning labs, which emphasize playful inquiry and habits of …

The Consumer Confidence Comic helps consumers get the best bang for their buck when purchasing a used car. (Oregon Consumer Justice)

Consumer advocates find colorful way to educate used-car buyers

Buying a used car can be a risky proposition, but a new consumer guide can help people avoid common pitfalls. The nonprofit Oregon Consumer Justice …

Air quality can suffer greatly during the summer when the Northwest experiences wildfires. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Air Quality Awareness Week starts with focus on wildfire smoke

Agencies are raising awareness about air quality across the country this week. Led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Quality …

While immigrants make up 10% of Oregon's population, they make up 13% of the working-age population ages 16-64, and a corresponding 13% of the labor force. (Natalie Kiyah, Oregon Food Bank)

'Food for All Oregonians' aims to extend food benefits to immigrants

Oregon advocates are shining a spotlight on hunger and related issues ahead of the fall elections. A recent report from the Immigrant Research …

If symptoms of stroke are recognized within the first four and a half hours, experts said irreversible damage can be prevented. (marina_ua/Adobe Stock)

Stroke Awareness Month: Quick response key to treatment

May is Stroke Awareness Month and health experts stressed time is of the essence when responding to the medical condition. The acronym "BE FAST" can …

Birds are attracted to the Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove, Ore., where wastewater is treated naturally. (Bryn Nelson)

Wastewater wetlands in OR, US provide natural filtration option

By Bryn Nelson for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

The federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program is distributing more than $42 billion to expand high-speed internet. (escapejaja/Adobe Stock)

Fed funding helps OR address barriers to internet access

Oregon is working to address the state's digital divide with hundreds of millions of dollars in funding. Infrastructure presents the largest …

Nurses from Providence St. Vincent in Portland held an informational picket amid contract negotiations. (Oregon Nurses Assocation)

OR nurses at six Providence hospitals unite for union negotiations

Nurses at Providence hospitals across Oregon are coming together to fight for new union contracts. Negotiations are happening now or in the near …

A proposed mining road would have been built near the Brooks Range in northwest Alaska. (Irenabyss/Adobe Stock)

Rejection of AK mining road seen as victory for national parks across U.S.

The Biden administration has blocked a mining road in Alaska and public lands proponents see the move as a win for national parks around the country…

Much of Oregon's BLM lands are in the southeastern part of the state. (John Chedsey/Adobe Stock)

New BLM rule creates opportunities for conservation in OR

Conservation and public access are on equal footing with other considerations for Bureau of Land Management lands under a recently announced rule…

A housing package passed in Salem aims to create more housing in Oregon cities of all sizes. (RG/Adobe Stock)

Next steps after OR legislators make 'groundbreaking' housing investments

Oregon lawmakers passed a major housing package in this year's session, but said easing the state's housing crisis will take more work. Bills passed …

Nearly 70,000 people in Oregon are living with Alzheimer's disease. (Beaunitta Van Wyk/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

National Healthcare Decisions Day: Make end-of-life planning early

It's National Healthcare Decisions Day, which highlights the importance of planning for the future when it comes to medical choices. In particular…

The Double Up Food Bucks program matches purchases up to $20. (Lindsay Trapnell/Oregon Food Bank)

Summer food benefits for kids amplified through Double Up produce program

Oregon is participating in a federal food benefits program for children, called Summer EBT. Dollars from the program will go even farther to …

A quarter of election officials reported being harassed or threatened in 2020. (richjem/Adobe Stock)

Report: Election officials left positions at increasing rate since 2000

A new report dives into election official turnover during more than two decades. It says rates have increased steadily nationwide since 2000…

Prescribed burning is the purposeful use of fire to reduce the risk from fire fuel sources in the forest. (Heidi/Adobe Stock)

NW states, fed collaborate on prescribed burns to fight wildfires

State and federal agencies are collaborating to increase the use of prescribed fires in the Northwest. Prescribed fire is the controlled use of …

More than 650,000 Americans experienced homelessness on a single night in 2023. (Victoria/Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS to hear Oregon case on criminalizing homelessness

A case out of Oregon soon to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court could have a major impact on how cities treat homelessness. Oral arguments for …

Starting in 2025, insulin prices cannot surpass $105 for a 90-day supply in Oregon. (Orawan/Adobe Stock)

OR lawmakers limit insulin costs, prohibit increases

Oregon lawmakers during the 2024 session took another step to further limit the price of insulin. Gov. Tina Kotek signed a bill into law to cap out-…

A new collective bargaining contract for TSA officers working in Oregon airports will allow for the ability to bargain over local issues. (Dmitry/Adobe Stock)

Oregon TSA officers improve working conditions with new contract

Airport security officers in Oregon are celebrating what they say will be better working conditions, after ratifying a new collective bargaining …

The Snake River is the largest tributary to the Columbia River. (Sascha Burkard/Adobe Stock)

Carbon emissions found from Columbia River Basin dams

A new report found four dams in the Columbia River Basin are big emitters of methane. Research from the organization Tell The Dam Truth showed the …

More than 21% of the student population at Portland Community College is hispanic. (Adumbvoget/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: OR colleges serving Hispanic students increasing

The number of higher institutions serving Hispanic students in Oregon is increasing, according to a new report. Excelencia in Education researched …

A bill limiting campaign contributions to candidates is expected to head to Gov. Tina Kotek's desk soon. (Joaquin Corbalan/Adobe Stock)

New campaign finance law limits OR donor influence

Oregon lawmakers took a step toward limiting the impact of money on elections during the legislative session. Lawmakers passed House Bill 2024…

Medical debt is a major source of financial strain across the U.S. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

OR lawmakers pass bill that 'changes landscape' on debt collection

Consumer advocates in Oregon are praising recently passed legislation they say changes the landscape on debt collection. Senate Bill 1595, known as …

An update to the Northwest Forest Plan could be available by this fall. (jamesdcawley/Adobe Stock)

Update coming for 30-year-old Northwest Forest Plan

The U.S. Forest Service has announced its intention to update a 30-year-old plan for managing forests in the Northwest. The agency has issued a …

Students alternate between the classroom and dealerships in the Ford ASSET program. (guruXOX/Adobe Stock)

Industry partnership with community colleges addresses auto tech shortage

A partnership between higher education and industry is helping address the shortage of automotive technicians. The Ford Automotive Student Service …

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