Author
Oregon youth join global climate strike, call on governor to declare emergency
Young people across the state are organizing to demand that Gov. Tina Kotek declare an emergency over climate change, with protests and marches Friday in five Oregon cities as part of action across the country and worldwide. Youth from more than 20 environmental organizations are leading the action. They want local, state and federal officials […]
Oregon lawsuit by youth over climate inaction not likely to be helped by judicial win in Montana
Young activists in Oregon involved in a long-running lawsuit against the U.S. government over climate inaction won’t have their case helped by a recent win for Montana youth, the U.S. Department of Justice said. The 21 plaintiffs in Oregon suing the federal government for violating their constitutional right to life, liberty and property by allowing […]
Plan to protect vulnerable species in Western state forests moves forward
A plan to protect threatened and endangered species in Oregon’s Western state forests by limiting some logging will move forward, despite a recent attempt to make last-minute changes that could have further delayed it. The Oregon Board of Forestry decided Thursday not to vote on a controversial proposal from Chair Jim Kelly that would have […]
Federal officials will meet with Oregonians about controversial offshore wind energy projects
Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management officials will meet with Oregonians concerned or curious about potential floating offshore wind energy projects following public and political outcry. Officials will host three in-person meetings in Gold Beach, Coos Bay and Brookings on Sept. 26, 27 and 28. The agency also doubled the public comment period from 30 […]
Third of Oregon counties now in a drought emergency
Twelve of 36 counties, covering half the land in Oregon, are in a state of emergency over drought, with local officials calling for help. Gov. Tina Kotek Wednesday declared the latest drought emergencies in Gilliam, Douglas and Lincoln counties, the 10th, and 12th such declarations of the year. The declarations follow requests for drought aid […]
‘Very strong’ El Niño to bring warmer winter, with scorching ocean water for marine life
A tropical weather system called El Niño is beginning its march up the coast of Oregon, bringing with it a warmer winter and inescapable heat for some marine life. Oregonians on the coast could experience flooding from high tides and rising sea levels. In the mountains, areas hoping for snow are more likely to get […]
Oregon Fish and Wildlife approves killing of wolves in eastern Oregon, angering conservationists
State fish and wildlife officials authorized the killing of six gray wolves in eastern Oregon during the past six weeks, bringing relief to ranchers who lost livestock to the wolves and heartache and anger to conservationists who see the killings as inhumane and ineffective. The six wolves were caught with foothold traps and then shot […]
Burns Paiute Tribe in southeast Oregon to receive federal disaster assistance for floods, mudslides
The Burns Paiute Tribe is getting help digging out from heavy spring rains that caused flash flooding, mudslides and major damage to its Jonesboro ranch, a 6,380-acre property in eastern Oregon. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, announced this week that the tribe would receive federal disaster assistance to help with recovery costs following […]
Gray whales feeding off Oregon Coast found to have smaller bodies, tails, skulls
Every summer, as thousands of eastern North Pacific gray whales journey 12,000 miles from birthing grounds in Mexico to feeding grounds in the Arctic, a small group peels off to dine along the Oregon Coast. The group of just over 200, called the Pacific Coast Feeding Group, or Oregon’s “summer residents,” represents about 1% of […]
Two dozen Oregon school districts will split $53 million for summer, after-school programs
Thousands of kids across Oregon are guaranteed summer and after-school programs in the coming school year with millions in new federal funding. The Oregon Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that 25 school and education service districts around the state, along with the Boys & Girls Club and United Way, […]
Oregon, Western companies settle with EPA for sale of equipment used to disable car pollution controls
A northeast Oregon company that manufactured parts used to disable pollution controls in cars will pay a six-figure fine to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. EPA accused Diamond Eye Manufacturing, a custom exhaust and car parts fabricator in Athena, and six companies in California, Washington and New Jersey, of violating the Clean Air Act by […]
Plan to protect threatened and endangered species in Western state forests could face new delay
A long-delayed plan to protect threatened and endangered species from logging in Western state forests could face another setback, this time brought by the chair of the state Board of Forestry. Jim Kelly proposed Tuesday a resolution to revise the draft Western Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan, allowing logging in some areas currently earmarked […]