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State agriculture officials offer $5 million in grants to fight voracious grasshoppers and Mormon crickets
The state is offering $5 million in grants to help owners of rangeland in Oregon cope with an expected infestation this summer of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets. The insects are native to the West and infestations are cyclical, with the latest cycle starting in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2020, the […]
One congressional race in Oregon remains close, most incumbents advance easily
The midterm primary was largely a good night for Oregon incumbents running for reelection to the U.S. Senate and Congress with the exception of one: Rep. Kurt Schrader who’s seeking the Democratic renomination in the 5th Congressional District. The Blue Dog Democrat, a seven-term moderate, trailed progressive attorney Jamie McLeod-Skinner on Wednesday by just over […]
Oregon appears headed towards a low turnout
Oregon appears headed towards a low turnout by its nearly 3 million voters – and potentially a new historical low in a midterm election. The final count won’t be known until next Tuesday. The Legislature last year extended the timeline for mail-in ballots. Those postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day will be counted, provided […]
Oregon’s Agriculture Department Director Alexis Taylor nominated by White House to serve in USDA
Alexis Taylor, Oregon’s Agriculture Department director, has been nominated by the Biden White House to serve in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An announcement by the White House of nine nominees said Taylor had been appointed to serve as under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs in the department. Since 2016, Taylor had led […]
State labor officials offer nearly $19 million for workforce training grants
State officials have nearly $19 million to spend on training Oregonians to work in construction, health care and manufacturing. Earlier this month, the state Bureau of Labor and Industries opened the bidding process for training and apprenticeship programs for underserved communities, including women, people of color, rural residents, low-income residents, people with disabilities, tribal communities […]
Health officials urge Oregonians to mask up indoors, especially in schools
With Covid cases rising in Oregon, Multnomah County health officials advised the public on Wednesday to mask up when inside public places. The Oregon Health Authority said Thursday that those at risk for severe disease should consider doing so. “The Multnomah County Health Department’s recommendation is eminently reasonable,” Dr. Paul Cieslak, Oregon’s communicable disease director […]
Oregon adopting rules to protect workers from excessive heat and wildfire smoke
New rules going into effect in Oregon in June and July are expected to protect tens of thousands of workers from illness and death when temperatures soar past 80 or when the air becomes clogged with wildfire smoke. The heat protections require employers to allow workers to take paid breaks to get relief from the […]
Candidates, others have to reset passwords to Oregon campaign finance system after hack
About 1,100 people who use the Oregon Secretary of State’s online campaign finance tracking system have to reset their passwords following a ransomware attack against a web provider. The office said the hack did not affect state election data. “No sensitive data on our systems has been exposed,” the agency said in a release. “No […]
Agriculture Department offers $40 million for disaster relief
The Oregon Department of Agriculture is offering farmers loans of up to $150,000 that can be forgiven to help the agriculture industry recover from last year’s natural disasters. The $40 million program, approved by the Legislature in December, applies to farm revenue throughout the year – not just in the immediate wake of a disaster. […]
Feds threaten to pull certification from Oregon State Hospital’s Junction City campus
Federal regulators have threatened to yank the certification for Oregon State Hospital’s Junction City unit if it doesn’t immediately fix multiple problems at that campus, including suspected sexual assault, attacks and a lack of supervision. The Oregon Health Authority, which manages the state hospital, has until May 15 to submit a corrective plan and until […]
Mothers join in cause to rattle Oregon into action on addiction care
For Mother’s Day, a few dozen moms plan to celebrate at a Portland rally. They want to raise awareness about Oregon’s drug crisis. The state has the highest rate of addiction in the country, according to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “I’m trying to educate other parents,” said Meggan McEvoy, a […]
$15 million for expanded abortion care in Oregon will take months to distribute
State money meant to expand access to abortions in Oregon is months away from being put to use, state officials say. The $15 million will be awarded as grants to nonprofits in Oregon, but the process to do so is just getting underway. “Time is of the essence and they know it,” said state Sen. […]