Month: January 2019

Oregon is experiencing a true crisis in infant and toddler child care. The state lacks a supply of quality child care options for our youngest children. There are many barriers that families face when securing child care, including long wait lists, limited choices of available providers, a lack of quality care facilities and costs of

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Plagued by wildfires in recent years, Oregon will now evaluate the effectiveness of its system to combat the blazes. Gov. Kate Brown said Wednesday she’s issued an executive order establishing the Oregon Wildfire Response Council. It is to evaluate Oregon’s current system of response to large fires. The council must issue

Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson released an audit Wednesday examining how Oregon regulates marijuana, a responsibility shared by the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. He said auditors found gaps in the state’s developing regulatory framework that increase the risk of legal marijuana being diverted to the black market and out

The U.S. Department of Labor announced Wednesday that Heart of Oregon Corps is one of 81 programs across the country to be awarded a competitive YouthBuild grant, of $1.1 million. The nationwide total is $85 million for programs in 32 states. At a time when affordable housing shortages, construction trades workforce shortages and an achievement

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A Salem man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to his role in scamming more than $175,000 from the Oregon Department of Human Services by pretending to be disabled. The Statesman Journal reports that 53-year-old Eddie Wagner admitted to working with Dustin Hensley, 23, of Salem,

Following through on a pledge made when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act became law in late 2017, Pacific Power announced Tuesday that its 550,000 customers in Oregon will see a decrease in their bills, starting Friday. Under the tax cut-related reduction, approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission, residential customers in Oregon will see

(Update: Adding AP story about hearing, expected passage) SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon is poised to permanently ban offshore drilling, and to prohibit any drilling infrastructure from crossing state waters. The Statesman Journal reports a Senate committee heard testimony Tuesday on Senate Bill 256, which would make permanent an existing 10-year drilling moratorium, which is

Good Wednesday Morning, Everyone…With an air stagnation advisory in place for areas from bend north the foggy start to the day will dictate a day with little sunshine. Most highs will get into the low to mid 40’s with some southern areas not affected by the fog reaching 50. Breezes will be light and variable.

Stakeholders in the Deschutes River, many of whom have been at odds in the past, came together Tuesday to celebrate their efforts to create a shared vision for the river’s future. The idea is to get everyone who depends on the river for one reason or another to come together and support a shared vision

Here are Tuesday’s Oregon high school basketball scores, compiled by The Associated Press: BOYS PREP BASKETBALL Amity 59, Scio 43 Arlington 58, Ione 52 Ashland 67, Eagle Point 40 Bandon 67, Reedsport 42 Beaverton 53, Southridge 32 Benson 69, Wilson 41 Brookings-Harbor 91, Douglas 39 Central Catholic 73, Barlow 71 Central Linn 63, Jefferson 46

A group of more than 40 Oregon legislators has introduced a bill that would protect consumer privacy when it comes to personal health records. The bipartisan Senate Bill 703 – the Health Information Property Act – was brought forward by chief sponsors Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, Rep. David Gomberg, D-Central Coast, and Rep. Paul Holvey,

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Making it easier for Oregonians to get outdoors and finding a way to pay for search and rescue efforts are the focus of two bills introduced early in the Oregon Legislature. The Statesman Journal reports Senate Bill 448 would study the creation of an “Oregon Outdoors Pass” while House Bill 2503

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Two ranchers who were convicted in 2012 of intentionally setting fires on public land in Eastern Oregon have had their grazing rights restored. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, in one of his last actions before resigning, ordered the renewal of a 10-year grazing permit for Hammond Ranches

It’s a day to recognize successes in creating safe and healthy workplaces. It’s a day to refresh training and knowledge about protecting people on the job. It’s a day to reflect on future challenges and to forge new plans to wipe out worksite hazards. Employers across the state are invited to participate in Safety Break

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon Health Authority officials say they have recovered approximately $42 million the agency overpaid to organizations that coordinate Medicaid benefits for approximately 1 million Oregonians. Officials repaid the money owed to the federal government, OHA spokesman Robb Cowie said, the Salem Statesman Journal reported Tuesday. This comes after a Senate Republican

A pilot who has been missing since last week when he flew a plane from a Clark County, Wash., airport is believed dead after his plane was found crashed on Mount Hood, authorities said on Tuesday. KGW reports that George Regis, 63, of Battle Ground, took off out of Grove Field Airport on Friday in

Happy Tuesday evening, everyone! An AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY is still in effect until at least noon tomorrow for much of Central Oregon. Fog will return tonight, so we can expect calm winds and air quality levels suffering from time to time overnight. Lows will be in the low to mid 20s with the fog for

Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Shay Mikalson on Tuesday approved the adoption of new Bend-area elementary school attendance areas, set to take effect next fall when a new school opens. He made no change from an advisory panel’s proposal for the map of the new attendance areas, which can be viewed at the school disrict’s Attendance

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A Salem man was sentenced to 90 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to first-degree animal neglect for his role in the death of a starving Pomeranian named “Chewy.” The Statesman Journal reports that 47-year-old James Arthur Craver Jr. admitted to failing to provide minimum care for the dog and

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Two confirmed cases of measles in Hawaii were in unvaccinated children who traveled to Hawaii from Washington state. Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist for Hawaii, said Monday Washington public health officials told her office that the family had been exposed to measles as part of the ongoing outbreak in southwest Washington.