Month: September 2018

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Legislature is considering allocating more than $1.2 million to better equip state agencies to respond to algal toxin contamination. The Statesman Journal reports the increased funding stems from Salem’s drinking water crisis earlier this year, when city public works officials discovered elevated levels of cyanotoxins. Water advisories were issued

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon environmental regulators are seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit that looks to strengthen pollution regulations in Tillamook Bay. The Capital Press reports attorneys for the state Department of Environmental Quality have asked Tillamook County Circuit Judge Mari Garric Trevino to throw out the case before it goes to trial scheduled

Bend’s next high school is another step closer to becoming a reality. The Bend-La Pine School Board received an update on the project at their meeting Tuesday evening. The project’s still in the design process, but the school district is working toward moving dirt within a couple years. The new high school is going to

(Update: More details on changes, city comments, residents’ reaction) Changes are coming to a busy intersection on Bend’s east side. On Wednesday starting at 7 p.m., the city of Bend will be adding left turn lanes and adjusting traffic signal heads on the north and south legs of the Northeast Purcell Boulevard and Butler Market

Participants on the popular Bend Ale Trail have long been urged to walk, arrange a guided tour, take a cab, or appoint a designated driver before tackling Bend’s legendary craft beer scene. But starting this week, they have an extra incentive to don the DD superhero cape. Visit Bend, the non-profit tourism marketing agency behind

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) – A total of 10 heroin overdoses have now been reported in Springfield and Eugene since the weekend. Springfield police previously warned heroin users about the possibility of an exceptionally potent round of heroin on sale in the area after five people overdosed in an eight-hour period on Saturday. All five were

The High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (HDFFA) is excited to announce their fourth annual Local Food Challenge from Sept. 23-29. HDFFA invites the public to pledge to eat something local every day during the week of the Local Food Challenge. Participants are entered to win prizes by answering daily trivia, trying new foods, and

(Update: Fire contained, adding video) A brushfire broke out along Highway 126 between Sisters and Redmond Tuesday afternoon, closing one lane of the road and prompting a multi-agency attack, officials said. The fire, Incident 1212, was reported around 2:15 p.m. on BLM land near milepost 101 and had burned about 3/4 of an acre in

Happy Tuesday evening, everyone! A calm weather pattern is ahead for us through the end of the week. Winds will generally gust out of the north around 10 to 15 miles per hour, which is typical. Clear skies stick around overnight as high pressure sits offshore. Under clear skies tonight we’ll see cold temperatures by

This week, the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment looks at building a digital defense to keep our kids safe while they surf online. Your kids are starting to settle back into the school routine, and, as they do, many of them are carrying phones with them to class. They are also spending more and more

(Update: Adding Walden statement) Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., led the House passage Tuesday of two bipartisan bills that aim to lower drug costs and give patients more control over their health care. With Walden’s support, the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act and the Know the Lowest Price Act passed the House unanimously after

The Washington State Hospital Association and the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems said Tuesday they have established the Northwest Safety and Quality Partnership. The new partnership combines health care quality and safety initiatives from both associations to serve all 169 hospitals and health systems in Washington state and Oregon, making health care safer

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced Tuesday he is co-sponsoring legislation that would provide more mental health screening and services for students in Oregon and nationwide. Wyden said the bill would authorize $200 million for a federal Health and Human Services program to give much-needed support to state and local education agencies working to bolster mental

SEATTLE (AP) – Federal officials have determined that commercial fishery failures occurred for salmon in Washington, Oregon and California, making those fisheries eligible for federal disaster assistance. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Tuesday also announced a commercial fishery failure for the sardine fishery in California, but not for the state’s red sea urchin

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Police say a man was arrested after officers performing a traffic stop in Southeast Portland discovered a woman’s body in the stopped car. Portland Police Bureau Sgt. Christopher Burley says officers stopped the Toyota Camry Monday and saw a dead person inside. He says 58-year-old Timothy Mackley was arrested on suspicion

ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) – The famed Oregon Shakespeare Festival that attracts tourists from around the world says it lost $2 million this summer because wildfire smoke forced it to cancel more than two dozen outdoor performances. The organization will have an indoor venue next season for smoky days as an alternate to its award-winning outdoor

Mt. Bachelor has presented a $200,000 donation to the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation in support of the organization’s capital campaign to build its first permanent home and training facility for Central Oregon youth pursuing mountain sports. MBSEF launched its A Place To Soar Capital Campaign in October 2017, with a goal of constructing a

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, is awarding $342,000 in environmental education grant funds to the Swinomish Tribe, University of Alaska, Children’s Forest of Central Oregon and Eastern Washington University for local projects to increase environmental awareness and stewardship. Grants are being awarded to the following organizations: University of Alaska, Fairbanks will receive $85,252

All three Central Oregon counties again posted record low levels of unemployment in August, a state economist said Tuesday. However the employment situation in each of the counties is dramatically different. Deschutes County remains in the midst of a rapid expansion, with employment levels nearly 20 percent higher than the previous p eak, Employment Department

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) – SkyWest Airlines is taking a look at offering commercial air service out of Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport. The Herald and News reported Tuesday that the Utah-based airline says it will assess the market for possible service this summer but it has not made any commitments. The potential exists for nonstop