Oregon News & Current Events | Public News Service

The Oregon Legislature is required to end its session by June 25. (David Gn/Adobe Stock)

OR Senate Republican Walkout Endangers Anti-Hunger Policies

Three weeks into state Senate Republicans' walkout from the Oregon Legislature, concern is growing the move could sink action on important issues …

At the height of the pandemic, nearly two million Oregonians volunteered their services, according to AmeriCorps. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Are You One in Two Million? An OR Volunteer Will Be Award Winner

The nomination process is open for a prestigious award handed out to volunteers in Oregon each year. The Andrus Award for Community Service award is …

If passed, the Food for All Oregonians legislation would go into effect by 2025. (Oregon Food Bank)

OR Food Aid Expansion Bill Could Benefit Rural Immigrant Communities

Rural immigrant communities could benefit greatly from legislation known as Food for All Oregonians, anti-hunger groups say. Senate Bill 610 would …

Cape Foulweather is in Lincoln County south of Depoe Bay. (Mitch Meseke-Wirestock Creators/Adobe Stock)

OR Coast Conservation Areas Opportunity for 'Bottom Up' Management

Locals will help steward two iconic locations on Oregon's coast. The Cape Foulweather Complex and Cape Lookout Marine Conservation areas were …

More than 600 people showed up to be part of an informational picket for nurses held outside St. Charles Bend on Apr. 24. (Oregon Nurses Association)

Nurses at Largest Hospital East of Cascades Vote on Strike Authorization

Nurses at Oregon's largest hospital east of the Cascades are voting this week on whether to authorize a strike. Frustrated by five months of union …

Food for All Oregonians advocates have been meeting with legislators to get the bill passed. (Oregon Food Bank)

Lack of Food Assistance Has Health Consequences for Oregonians

Oregonians who have experienced food insecurity are pushing the state to ensure everyone has access to federal food assistance. The Supplemental …

A new survey found 92% of respondents age 45 and older say staying physically healthy is important. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Financial Strains Top of Mind for Older Oregonians

A new survey found older Oregonians are concerned about the cost of living in many aspects of their lives. The Vital Voices research program from …

The Food for All Oregonians bill has passed through the Senate Committee On Human Services. (Oregon Food Bank)

OR Bill Corrects Food-Aid Exclusion for Immigrant Communities

Legislation in Salem would extend food assistance to Oregonians in immigrant communities. Federal law excludes people who are undocumented from …

Wind energy makes up about 14% of the electricity generated in the state. (Danita Delimont/Adobe Stock)

Report Provides Guidelines for Siting Renewables Responsibly in OR

Oregon needs more renewable energy but also should be aware of where it sites new projects. A new report provided guidelines for choosing the best …

A passage under U.S. Highway 97 south of Bend is one of Oregon's five completed wildlife crossings. (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)

OR Lawmakers Consider Bill to Protect Wildlife from Busy Roads

Oregon lawmakers are considering a measure to increase the number of wildlife crossings in the state. Crossings help animals get under or over busy …

Medical debt is one of the leading reasons why people get caught in cycles of debt collection. (Valeri Luzina/Adobe Stock)

OR Bill Would Protect Against Poverty-Inducing Debt Collection

Predatory lending practices can leave people in a cycle of debt and even drive them into poverty. Legislation in Oregon would strengthen protections …

Nurses at Providence Seaside Hospital serve patients on a wide range of the Oregon coast. (Oregon Nurses Association)

Struggling to Keep Staff, OR Nurses Rally in Seaside

Nurses at an Oregon hospital are holding a rally to bring attention to wage issues they say are making it hard to retain staff. Nurses at Providence …

Around 11.5% of 2014 college graduates have loans in default, according to the U.S. Department of Education. (Adobe Stock)

Credit Union Pushes More Financial Literacy in Schools

A bill working its way through the state Legislature seeks to set students on a path toward higher education, career skills, and personal financial …

Fire hardening a home also involves managing vegetation within 100 feet of the home. (jryanc10/Adobe Stock)

Hardening Homes Could Be More Effective Defense Against Wildfires

Wildfires are a growing threat in the Northwest and a lot of money is spent on fire suppression. But a less costly approach could be to make homes …

Oregon's budget writing committee has proposed a $31 billion budget over the next two years. (Rex Wholster/Adobe Stock)

State Agency Budget Cut Proposal Could Hit Rural OR Hardest

Under a proposal in the Legislature, Oregon's service agencies could see spending cuts, which could hit hardest in rural areas. Under the Committee …

The Greater Hart-Sheldon area in southeastern Oregon is home to more than 350 species. (brx0/Flickr)

New Rule Could Spur More Conservation on BLM Lands

A proposed rule from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management could raise conservation up as a priority on the land it manages. Under the proposal…

Oregon could join other states in preferring construction materials that are made domestically. (Cascade Photo/Adobe Stock)

OR 'Buy America' Bill Could Boost Iron, Steel Industries

Oregon lawmakers could bring more iron and steel manufacturing stateside. Building on requirements to buy from American manufacturers in last year's …

Black Americans are the most likely to suffer from insufficient sleep. (ChadBridwell/Adobe Stock)

Get More Zzz's, Health Experts Say During Sleep Awareness Month

March is Sleep Awareness Month and health experts say Americans are not getting enough of it. United Health Foundation data found more than 32% of …

People are put in precarious positions when they cannot afford their medical bills. (volgariver/Adobe Stock)

OR Nonprofit Hospitals Fail to Provide Financial Aid to Low-Income Patients

Oregon's nonprofit hospitals are not doing enough to provide assistance on medical bills for low-income patients, but a bill in Salem aims to change …

Kids can grow accustomed to foods like vegetables and fruits even if they're picky eaters. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

50th Nutrition Month: Introducing Healthy Foods to Picky Eaters

This March marks the 50th anniversary of National Nutrition Month. Making sure children eat healthy can be tricky. Chuck Larimer, an elementary …

Federal and California state regulators stepped in after Silicon Valley Bank's collapse on March 10. (MichaelVi/Adobe Stock)

Bank Collapses Highlight Alternative Structure of Credit Unions

The collapse of two banks has put the U.S. financial sector into focus this week. Some are considering the alternative structures of institutions …

Oregon nurses at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham filed a petition to have their union voluntarily recognized but were denied. (Oregon Nurses Association)

Nurses Fear Fallout from Closure of OR Birth Center

Nurses are concerned about the closure of a Portland-area birth center set to go through today. The Family Birth Center at Legacy Mount Hood …

Country Natural Beef ranchers are in nine western states covering more than 6.5 million acres of land. (Patrick Jennings/Adobe Stock)

Collaboration Grows 'Regenerative Ranching' Program in Northwest

By Caroline Tracey for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Deborah Van Fleet for Missouri News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publ…

The Trojan Nuclear Plant in Oregon was connected to the grid in 1975 and shut down in 1992. (David Falconer/Wikimedia Commons)

'Atomic Bamboozle' Documents 'False Promises' of New Nuclear Tech

A film premiering this week tackles the potential harms of the nuclear industry. Portland State University professor emeritus Jan Haaken directed …

Scammers have been known to tell people to transfer their money to a

Slam the Scam Day: Tips for Avoiding Fraud

It's National Slam the Scam Day today, and fraud experts are advising people to keep their eyes open. Carmel Perez Snyder, director of community …

The pygmy rabbit has lost large chunks of its sagebrush habitat in recent decades. (randimal/Adobe Stock)

Western Groups File Petition to Protect Continent's Smallest Rabbit

Advocates are petitioning the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to save the smallest rabbit species in North America, the pygmy rabbit. Its habitat…

The Bonneville Dam is located about 40 miles east of Portland, Ore. (Dominic/Adobe Stock)

NW Energy Experts in DC Talking Grid Update, Saving Fish

Northwest energy experts and conservation leaders are in Washington, D.C. to urge policymakers to invest in modernizing the region's power grid…

Currently, Oregonians with felony convictions regain their right to vote after serving their prison terms. (reewungjunerr/Adobe Stock)

OR Bill Would Restore Voting Rights for People in Prison

Oregon lawmakers could restore voting rights to people currently in prison. For the third year in a row, advocates are attempting to get a bill …

The boosted benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will be dropped for the first time in three years. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

OR Families to See Federal Food Assistance Drop This Month

Emergency allotments to supplement food assistance during the pandemic are ending this month, and Oregon families are likely to take a big hit…

On its route through Oregon, the GTN pipeline system skirts by Pendleton and south near Ashland. (Photocreo Bednarek/Adobe Stock)

Gas Pipeline Expansion Would Hurt NW Climate Goals, Say Opponents

Environmental groups want West Coast governors to speak out against the expansion of a gas pipeline in the region. The Canadian company T-C Energy is …

Hospital staffing standards would be based on the unit where the health care professionals work.(Yakobchuk Olena/Adobe Stock)

OR Bill Aims to Fix Understaffing at Hospitals

Hospital staff members are struggling under the strain of patient overload and they want Oregon lawmakers to do something about it. A measure in …

Highways are considered hot spots for soot pollution. (vit/Adobe Stock)

Critics: EPA's New Soot Standards Lag Behind Current Science

Clean-air advocates say a new air-quality standard from the federal government does not go far enough to protect the public. For the first time in a …

ADA Website Gets Makeover to Become More Accessible

A revamped website for the Americans with Disabilities Act has launched to make the site more accessible. The Justice Department has updated ADA.gov …

While heart failure is a long-term condition, there ways to make it manageable. (interstid/Adobe Stock)

Heart Month: Tips for Handling Heart Failure

February is heart month and many in the country are living with a chronic condition that affects this vital organ. Heart failure is the term for a …

The food truck West Coast Torta Company has been selected for Tigard, Ore.'s first Launch Pod, a business accelerator. (tigard-or.gov)

Grant Program 'Fast Tracks' Projects That Improve Communities

Imagine community projects that can be turned around quickly. Sounds unlikely? A program that does just that is open for applications. Started in 2017…

The North Fork of the Smith River in Oregon was not included in 1990 protections for the river, which runs through California. (Zachary Collier/Northwest Rafting Co.)

Bill in Congress Would Protect Smith River Watershed in OR

A new bill in Congress would add greater protections to a river and its watersheds in southern Oregon. Oregon Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron …

The Bonneville Power Administration has about 15,000 miles of transmission lines in the Northwest. (Cam/Adobe Stock)

Transmission Lines: Often Ignored, But Key to NW's Renewable Future

Oregon is pursuing an aggressive climate plan to switch to renewable energy sources, but it faces one often overlooked issue: enough high-voltage …

Much of the town of Phoenix, Oregon. was destroyed in the 2020 wildfire season. (Oregon Department of Transportation/Wikimedia Commons)

Grants Support 2020 Fire Recovery for Southern Oregonians

Southern Oregon continues to recover from the fires of 2020 and grants are helping residents in the region. The Almeda Fire in Jackson County …

Youth climate councils have been established in cities including Portland and San Antonio. (Tamia Studio/Adobe Stock)

Youth Climate Councils Seek to Influence Local Governments

By Marianne Dhenin for Prism.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Se…

SNAP helps hundreds of thousands of Oregonians but excludes people with undocumented immigration statuses. (jetcityimage/Adobe Stock)

Bill Extends Food Aid to All Oregonians Regardless of Immigration Status

A big gap exists in who can receive food assistance in Oregon, and some lawmakers want to bridge the divide this session. Federal law excludes …

The Oregon Nurses Association represents about 15,000 nurses across the state. (allexxandarx/Adobe Stock)

OR Nurses Push for Safe Staffing Levels

Oregon nurses say they are struggling under high patient loads, and they want state lawmakers to do something about it. The Oregon Nurses …

In Oregon, 36 building projects were LEED-certified in 2022. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Oregon Ranks in Top 10 for Green Buildings

Oregon is high on the list of states focused on sustainable building practices, according to a new report. The state comes in at number 10 in U.S…

Oregon community college students who completed credentials or transferred within four years increased from 45% to 51% between 2017 and 2021. (WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Audit: Lawmakers Can Help Improve Oregon Community Colleges

An audit of community colleges in Oregon has implications for the state's legislative session, which started this week. The report from the …

If approved, the gunshot-detecting technology to assist Portland police would be set up in five city neighborhoods. (MISHELLA/Adobe Stock)

Police Gunshot Detector Continues to Roil Portland Community

Community members continue to voice concerns about gunshot-detecting technology being considered in Portland. At a recent Inter-Faith Peace and …

The Columbia River is renowned for its salmon and steelhead runs. In a year of good returns, over 1 million Chinook, coho and sockeye salmon, and summer steelhead travel up the river to spawn in its tributaries. (Adobe Stock)

New Columbia River Protections Under EPA Permits

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop oil and other toxic chemical discharges into the Columbia …

In a recent study, about 15% of middle and high school age young people admitted they had cyberbullied someone in the past. (asiandelight/Adobe Stock)

Online Spaces Ripe for Harassment, But Parents Can Fight Back

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow…

Both full- and part-time workers will be eligible for Oregon's paid leave program. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

OR Paid Leave Program for All Workers Lifts Off in 2023

Oregon is joining the ranks of states providing paid leave for all workers. In January, employees and employers will begin paying into the program…

Kathy Goeddel won the 2022 Andrus Award for Community Service for her work with an annual Tax-Aide program. (AARP Oregon)

Award Highlights Important Role of Volunteering in OR

An Oregon woman who helps people with their taxes has won a prestigious award for volunteers. AARP Oregon has awarded the 2022 Andrus Award for …

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