Month: May 2019

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., called Thursday for the swift passage of his legislation that he said would help keep electric costs affordable and expand access to broadband in rural Oregon. In a letter sent Thursday to the leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, Walden said that the RURAL

The Workplace Fairness Act, adding to Oregon’s protection against workplace and discrimination, unanimously passed the Oregon House on Thursday and now heads to Gov. Kate Brown’s desk. The legislation, Senate Bill 726, seeks to protect Oregonians from workplace discrimination and harassment through a number of provisions that level the playing field between workers and employers.

(Update: Adding House Republican Leader statement) SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Gov. Kate Brown has announced a plan to limit Oregon’s unique tax rebate known as the kicker. The governor said Thursday she wants to limit kicker tax rebates to $1,000 per taxpayer. She says it allows the state to retain $500 million in revenue, which

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon House has narrowly sent the governor a proposal to contain rising pension costs by trimming public employee retirement benefits. The House initially voted down the proposal, Senate Bill 1049, Thursday 31-29, with all Republicans voting against. But after recessing for over half an hour, leaders were able to convince

On Saturday, Oregon State Parks aren’t the only thing that is free. Commemorate the day with a free, limited-edition 2019 Oregon State Parks “Go Play” pin. The pin is a partnership between the Oregon Lottery and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to help highlight State Parks Day, June 1. The pin was created by

Max, a three-banded armadillo at the Oregon Zoo, welcomed a tiny new pup last week. According to care staff, the new mom and her baby are doing well in their behind-the-scenes maternity den. This is the first offspring for Max and the pup’s father, Toby, and the first armadillo to be born at the Oregon

(Update: Injured climber in serious condition) MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Wash. (AP) – Officials say a climber died and two others were injured in a rock fall on Mount Rainier. Mount Rainier National Park spokesman Kevin Bacher says a rescue team responded to six climbers caught in a rock fall at 10,400 feet Wednesday. He

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A woman who claims she suffered major injuries while sledding down a snow-covered slope on an inner tube is suing Mt. Hood Skibowl for nearly $3.5 million. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Heather Frost-Eisenberg says the resort failed to create a large enough berm at the bottom of the hill to stop her

A. Michael Adler, a Deschutes County Circuit Court judge for the past 22 years, announced this week that he’ll be retiring June 30, though he’ll still oversee some court proceedings for the next few years. Adler, appointed to the bench in 1997 by then-Gov. John Kitzhaber, will be taking what’s called a “Plan B” retirement

A new, strategic $558,000 investment in Central Oregon’s foster care system has been approved by TRACEs, a region-wide partnership of organizations and individuals devoted to raising awareness of trauma and cultivating its antidote — resilience. The funding will support seven program areas across a variety of organizations focused on: mentoring, family stabilization strategies, culturally responsive

Researchers at Oregon State University have made an important advance in understanding the roles that gut bacteria play in human health. Learning the mechanisms by which gut microbes affect the health of their hosts opens the door to the development of better, more personalized diagnostic methods and therapies. Most studies so far have focused on

Happy Thursday evening, everyone! Tonight a slight chance for thunderstorms exists throughout Central Oregon as instability lingers east. We have a chance for light rain showers around 9 PM. Partly cloudy skies will be overhead once we get to the midnight hour. We’ll see low temperatures on a mild to warm note in the morning

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon will ban restaurants from offering single-use plastic straws unless requested under a measure on its way to the governor. The House voted 48-12 late Wednesday night to pass Senate Bill 890, which prohibits restaurants from providing single-use plastic straws unless a customer asks. Drive-thrus could still offer straws. Although the

The Deschutes National Forest announced that it will open the gate Friday on Forest Road 16 next to Upper Three Creek Sno-Park for the season. Access remains challenging, officials said, as the road is wide enough for two lane traffic until Park Meadows Trailhead, then narrows to one lane with limited turnouts for approximately one

The Bend Cultural Tourism Commission on Thursday announced 10 grant awards for Bend Cultural tourism focused activities taking place July 2019 through June 2020, awarding a total of $200,000. The funds will help organizations leverage marketing resources to attract more cultural tourists during the shoulder seasons and winter months – a time of year when

Bethlehem Inn announced Thursday that over $270,000 was raised on Tuesday, May 21, at its ninth annual Spotlight on Homelessness fundraising dinner. The record-breaking amount far surpasses donations received during prior years. Gwenn Wysling, the shelter’s executive director, called the community’s show of support for the Inn’s program serving the region’s adults and children experiencing

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A judge has blocked the city of Portland from enforcing its earthquake warning sign ordinance while a lawsuit over the policy plays out. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports U.S. Magistrate Judge John Acosta had already issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the city from enforcing the rule, which requires the warning signs on brittle

A Bend mother and daughter escaped serious injury Thursday when their Jeep and trailer left Cline Falls Highway and went down a 20-foot embankment, sparking a fire that burned some juniper trees, officials said. Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies responded around 10:30 a.m. to the crash near the 65000 block of Cline Falls Highway west of

We Build The Wall Inc., the group building a privately funded border barrier on private land, is holding a news conference at 11:00 a.m. The group has nearly completed a mile long barrier on land owned by the American Eagle Brick Company. Earlier this week, the City of Sunland Park issued a stop work order,

Even before he’s gotten a name, the new male trumpeter swan in Sunriver who arrived less than three weeks ago has become an expectant father. The Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory on Thursday asked patrons to make suggestions for a name for the new male partner for Grace (also known as Gracie) introduced to Lake