Economy
Audit: Oregon agency vulnerable to cyberattacks, ignored warnings
The Oregon state agency that oversees workers’ compensation and banks and investigates consumer complaints hasn’t heeded cybersecurity warnings over the past five years and remains vulnerable to attacks, state auditors found. A review released Tuesday by the Audits Division of the Secretary of State’s office found that the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services […]
Oregon transportation officials already at work planning to spend new billions
SALEM – Travis Brouwer had given up on Congress Friday afternoon. Brouwer, an assistant director of the Oregon Department of Transportation, was eager to see the federal infrastructure package pass. That would mean billions for Oregon in the coming years and the state agency was already planning what to do with it. But Brouwer thought […]
Democrats in Oregon delegation applaud infrastructure passage, lone Republican silent
Much of Oregon’s Congressional delegation sees nothing but good news for the state in the passage of the federal infrastructure legislation. The U.S. House on Friday passed the $1.2 trillion package to fix roads, airports, railways and broadband across the country. The state’s four Democrat representatives voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including […]
Emergency food benefits for Oregonians to continue in November
Most Oregonians who receive supplemental food aid will receive extra benefits in November. Nearly 400,000 households will receive about $63 million in emergency aid as part of ongoing pandemic relief from the federal government, according to the state Department of Human Services. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, has […]
Noxious weed warriors: Sign up for grant money now
Gardeners, if you think you’ve got a problem controlling dandelions, take note: Oregon watersheds, wildlife habitat and farm land are threatened by dozens of noxious weeds. Troublesome plants vary by region. In the northeast, Wallowa County has battled welted thistle that threaten alfalfa fields, while on the coast, Curry County is waging a war against […]
Urban hospitals in Oregon lose hundreds of employees over mandate but largely adjust
Oregon’s urban hospitals have lost hundreds of employees and some have consolidated services over the state’s vaccine mandate but they’re continuing to admit patients, perform necessary surgeries and conduct lab tests, they reported on Monday. Rural hospitals, which play a bigger role in their communities, have dealt with the mandate by largely accepting claims from […]
Oregon’s vaccine mandate is likely to cause longer waits for health care
Health care workers in Oregon, who were among the first to be vaccinated against Covid-19, have some of the highest vaccination rates ahead of the mandate taking effect Monday. Dentists are out in front: 98% are inoculated. Medical doctors, psychologists and physical therapists all have rates above 90%. But chiropractors are near the bottom: Only […]
2020 was a banner year for nurseries but the value of wine grapes plummeted
As people hunkered down at home last year, trying to avoid becoming a pandemic statistic, Oregon’s nursery industry pulled in great numbers. The value of nursery plants grown in Oregon last year surpassed $1 billion for the second year in a row, and cherry and hazelnut growers also enjoyed a banner year. But the value […]
Oregon tenants risk expiration of eviction safe harbor before they can get rent help
Three months ago, most legislators agreed to let the state’s eviction moratorium expire but provide a 60-day grace period as landlords and tenants waited on bureaucrats to process rental assistance claims. There were hundreds of millions of dollars in federal rent assistance available, Covid cases were decreasing and more than 2 million Oregonians had already […]
Oregon Department of Agriculture names insider to top role
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has named a new deputy director from within its own ranks. The appointment of Lauren Henderson was effective on Sept. 29. He has worked for the agency for 22 years. “I can’t think of a better person for the position,” Alexis Taylor, the department’s director, said in a statement. “He […]
Oregon safety officials field avalanche of mask-related complaints
In one month, Oregonians filed nearly 3,000 complaints against employers alleging violations of Gov. Kate Brown’s latest indoor mask mandate, but less than 1% has faced inspection. Oregon Occupational Safety & Health, which investigates workplace violations, is scrambling to keep up with an avalanche of complaints related to COVID-19. The new mandate went into effect […]