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Health officials urge Oregonians to get vaccinated against COVID, flu, RSV
As the latest COVID boosters dribble into Oregon, state health officials urged residents to get vaccinated to protect themselves against an expected rise in respiratory infections in the months ahead. Dr. Paul Cieslak of the Oregon Health Authority and Dr. Katie Sharff of Kaiser Permanente Northwest urged residents to protect themselves in a news conference […]
State wildlife officials ban wildlife killing contests on public land
Four years after the Legislature failed to ban wildlife killing contests, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission outlawed them. At its meeting Friday in Bend, five commissioners, with one abstaining, voted in favor of a rule to prohibit the contests, which have been held to kill coyotes in a few rural counties in Oregon. The […]
Oregon’s gun control law faces hearings in Harney County court
A voter-approved gun control law that’s been on hold for the past nine months heads back to court this week, with an eastern Oregon judge set to decide whether it’s constitutional. Arguments begin Monday in a Harney County Circuit Court case that pits two local gun owners against Gov. Tina Kotek, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum […]
Federal officials order Oregon State Hospital to make ‘immediate’ changes following escape
Two weeks after an “extremely dangerous” man facing felony charges escaped from the Oregon State Hospital in a state-owned van, federal health authorities ordered immediate changes to ensure the secure transport of patients, especially those involved in the criminal justice system. Late Friday, the Oregon Health Authority, which oversees the hospital, issued a brief news […]
Kotek announces details of $26 million to 26 rural counties to fight homelessness
Another slice of the more than $200 million allocated by the Legislature this session for homelessness is headed toward rural counties in Oregon. Gov. Tina Kotek announced Tuesday that 26 rural counties will receive a total of $26 million to get people off the street, out of their cars and away from other precarious situations […]
Spending on health care in Oregon soars 40% in eight years, report says
The cost of health care continues to increase in Oregon, forcing residents to dig into their savings, forgo care and rack up medical debt, according to a state report. The state spent about $31 billion on health care in 2021, according to a study released Thursday by the Oregon Health Authority. That averages out to […]
Portland officials monitor wildfire near water source as large blazes rage elsewhere in state
The Camp Creek wildfire near Bull Run reservoirs east of Portland spread in recent days but the water remains safe, Portland officials said Tuesday. The Portland Water Bureau said in a news release that it continues to monitor the fire and that weather conditions are currently favorable though that could change. “Fire in the watershed […]
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designates plant on Oregon dunes as threatened species
A coastal plant that’s been hammered by invasive species and recreational vehicles has won federal protection after years of pressure from environmental groups. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this week that it declared sand dune phacelia a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also designated 180 acres as protected critical […]
Gov. Kotek makes interim chief permanent director of Oregon Lottery
Gov. Tina Kotek announced on Wednesday that she had named the interim head of the Oregon Lottery the permanent director, pending state Senate approval. Michael Wells has served at the helm since December. Before that, he was assistant director for security and also the lottery’s cyber crime manager. As chief, he serves as the secretary […]
PeaceHealth plans to close emergency, other services at University District hospital in Eugene
In the latest potential shakeup of Oregon hospitals, PeaceHealth announced plans to close its emergency department and end other services at its University District hospital in Eugene. The Catholic hospital group, based in Vancouver, Washington, said Tuesday it intends to move emergency care, inpatient rehabilitation and other services from the Eugene hospital to its RiverBend […]
With two Lane County fires raging, Kotek declares emergency conflagration
Gov. Tina Kotek declared an emergency conflagration Monday for a fire burning amid severe weather conditions in the Willamette National Forest. The declaration allows the Oregon State Fire Marshal to bring in firefighters and equipment to fight the Lookout Fire, one of three blazes in Lane County and one of two, along with the Bedrock […]
Study: Marijuana use, and abuse, increases among young adults after legalization
Oregon legalized medical marijuana in 1998, and in 2015 it legalized recreational use, yet policymakers still know relatively little about the impact of the latter. A recent study by Oregon State University researchers and others shows that cannabis use has increased among college-aged Americans in states that legalized recreational use. “Some people would be surprised […]