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Feds allocate more than $20 million to 11 Oregon airports for renovations
The Federal Aviation Administration has allocated more than $20 million for repairs at 11 rural airports in Oregon and to help attract new flights from Salem to California, Nevada and Arizona. Most of the money – $17.5 million – will go toward reconstructing runways at the Corvallis Municipal Airport, the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in […]
Evacuations ordered as firefighters battle spreading Miller Fire in Wasco County
UPDATED: Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022 at 9 p.m. Firefighters rushed to Wasco County on Wednesday to battle a brush fire that spread from 1,000 to more than 10,000 acres in 24 hours. The Miller Fire, 13 miles west of Maupin, is threatening buildings and people. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office ordered the evacuation of some […]
Fire in Wasco County prompts conflagration order, Fire Marshal mobilizes resources
UPDATED: Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022 at 10:44 a.m. A fire ignited in Wasco County on Tuesday afternoon quickly swept through dry brush, grass and juniper bushes, prompting evacuation orders and a state conflagration declaration. Late Tuesday, Gov. Kate Brown declared a conflagration, prompted by the threat to residents. “I have invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act […]
Bird flu infects two more flocks in Deschutes County
State agricultural officials have identified two more backyard bird flocks that are infected with bird flu. The Agricultural Department said Tuesday that they’re both in Deschutes County, marking the fifth and sixth outbreaks there. They coincide with the death of nine pet rabbits killed by a virus that only affects rabbits and hares but is […]
Heatwave sparks dozens of worker complaints; 14 suspected deaths
The weeklong heatwave in Oregon ended on Monday with 14 suspected deaths and dozens of complaints about companies not following new rules to protect workers from the heat. The state medical examiner tracked 14 deaths that may be heat-related: seven in Multnomah County, four in Marion County, two in Clackamas County and one in Umatilla […]
Bird flu infects first flock in Coos County
Bird flu has spread in Oregon to Coos County where an infected flock was discovered last week. The state Department of Agriculture said the flock of 25 chicken and ducks was euthanized to prevent the spread of the deadly disease. To date, the virus has infected nine backyard flocks, including four in Deschutes County, two […]
Semiconductor bill that would benefit Oregon passes first hurdle
A congressional bill that would funnel billions of dollars into semiconductor manufacturing has passed its first big hurdle, with approval in the U.S. Senate. The $280 billion bill passed with a bipartisan 64 to 33 vote. The “CHIPS and Science Act” would allocate $50 billion over five years toward the semiconducter industry and $200 billion […]
Amid heat wave, organizations distribute AC units to vulnerable Oregonians
Over the weekend, nonprofits distributed 500 air conditioning units to households in the Portland area thanks to a $5 million allocation from the Legislature. The Oregon Health Authority said it distributed the units through three community organizations: the Portland Open Bible Church, Rockwood Community Development Corp., which serves that community in unincorporated Multnomah County near […]
Another Oregon backyard poultry farm infected with bird flu
Another backyard poultry farm in Deschutes County has lost its flock to bird flu. State agricultural officials said the outbreak was confirmed Tuesday, marking the fourth outbreak in Deschutes County. As of Thursday, state and federal agriculture officials have “humanely euthanized” 980 birds, including 40 chickens and ducks in the latest outbreak, according to the […]
Covid-19 sickening thousands of Oregonians a week, while monkeypox causes several dozen cases
The latest coronavirus variant is sickening thousands of Oregonians a week and increasing demand for hospital beds, and the monkeypox virus has spread only to a few dozen people. Monkeypox is not something most people should worry about, Dr. Dean Sidelinger, Oregon’s state epidemiologist, said in an online news conference on Wednesday. But Covid-19 remains […]
Health care in Oregon becoming increasingly expensive, report says
Oregonians are increasingly paying a bigger share of their income for health care, the latest state report on health care costs shows. The Oregon Health Authority said in the report, published Tuesday, that Oregonians saw an increase of nearly 50% in health care costs between 2013 and 2019. That’s an average of nearly 7% a […]
Oregon, and the rest of the country, launches new 988 crisis intervention service
UPDATED at 5:15 p.m. to reflect Oregon Health Authority response. Oregonians in a mental health crisis have an easy new resource to get help: 988. On Saturday, the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launches to connect those who call, text or go online to counselors trained in helping people in a crisis. Counselors will […]