News
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 Rep. Bill Post will resign two months after moving to Nevada
State Rep. Bill Post, who thought he could continue in the Oregon Legislature despite moving to Nevada, found out otherwise and said in a statement Tuesday that he will resign his seat by Nov. 30. The Keizer Republican and former broadcaster revised his plans and will resign more than two months after he announced in […]
Oregon Republicans sue over new congressional districts
Four former Republican officials in Oregon sued over newly drawn congressional boundaries, alleging that legislative Democrats created a “clear, egregious partisan gerrymander.” The suit, filed in Marion County Circuit Court late Monday, claims that Democrats ignored required criteria for redistricting to ensure Democratic dominance in congressional elections as Oregon gets a sixth seat in the […]
Child welfare calls from Oregon schools dropped 30% during distance learning
During any other school year, the statistic at the Warrenton-Hammond School District in northwest Oregon would have been positive. Superintendent Tom Rogozinski, superintendent, was taking stock of the months his students spent under distance learning, and noticed a steep decline in calls from staff to the state Department of Human Services over concerns about student […]
Many adult foster homes likely to opt for religious exemptions to Covid-19 vaccine
UPDATED: This story has been updated with outbreak data After the state announced a vaccine mandate affecting thousands, dozens of owners of adult foster homes caring for seniors and people with disabilities warned that they would be forced out of business. They told officials at the state Department of Human Services Department in emails obtained […]
Overwhelming majority of Kaiser Permanente union members vote to strike
An overwhelming majority of nurses, physician assistants, lab specialists and others have voted to strike at Kaiser Permanente. Nine out of 10 Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals participated in the days-long vote, with 96% endorsing a walkout. Shane Burley, spokesman for the union, called the endorsement unprecedented. “I’ve never seen a strike authorization […]
Report shows parts of Oregon spent months last year with elevated air pollution levels
Klamath Falls had as many elevated pollution days as cities like Phoenix, Cincinnati and San Antonio in 2020, according to a new report. The non-profit Environment America, part of the left-leaning Public Interest Network, used EPA air quality data taken from monitors in every state. Despite fewer Americans using cars every day or undertaking major […]
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 joins 18 other states in deploying task force to combat labor trafficking
Ernesto Hernández spent 15 of his last 20 years in the U.S. working with the Mexican Consulate in Portland on human trafficking issues. He visited farms where workers slept 20 to a room, had little to eat. He encountered workers who had wages stolen and hours of overtime go unpaid. He says it’s gotten worse. […]
Judge rejects Oregon state troopers’ Covid vaccine mandate lawsuit
Oregon state troopers who refuse to get vaccinated for Covid failed in their initial attempt to block an Oct. 18 vaccination deadline after a state judge ruled against them late Thursday. Nearly three dozen troopers, along with the Oregon Fraternal Order of Police and a union representing Klamath County firefighters, sued Gov. Kate Brown over […]
IN D.C.: GOP lawmakers push back against federal probe into threats against school board members
WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans on Thursday objected to a move by the Justice Department to investigate violent threats made against local school board members and teachers, arguing that the federal agency is “policing the speech of citizens and concerned parents.” “Violence and true threats of violence should have no place in our civic discourse, but […]
Oregon Farm Bureau names new lobbyist
The Oregon Farm Bureau has appointed a new director of government affairs. In her new role, Lauren Smith will be responsible for several issues, including wildfire, wildlife taxes and transportation. “Lauren’s role will be to advocate for and with our farm bureau members at the Capitol, in the courts and within regulatory agencies,” Anne Marie […]