WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Reps. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) introduced Wednesday the bipartisan Jobs in the Woods Act, which seeks to address the current labor shortage impacting forestry and forestry-related industries. Specifically, the bill would create a grant program for nonprofit organizations, state governments, and colleges to utilize for workforce training in
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EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) — What the Earth’s environment was like shortly after the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs about 66 million years ago could help us understand, and prepare for, a future one. To do that, University of Oregon researchers are teaming up with scientists across the country to study how plant and animal
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Later this month, thousands of Oregon households will be invited to participate in the first wave of the most important statewide transportation study in a decade. The Oregon Travel Study, led by a partnership between the Oregon Department of Transportation and the eight Oregon Metropolitan Planning Organizations, seeks to understand where, when and
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The SAIF board of directors declared a $135 million dividend for its policyholders on Wednesday. This marks the 14th year in a row SAIF has been able to offer a dividend, and the 26th dividend since 1990. SAIF is one of the only insurance carriers in Oregon that has regularly returned
Continue ReadingBy ED KOMENDA Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) — A high school football coach in Washington state who won his job back after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled he could pray on the field resigned Wednesday after just one game back. Assistant Bremerton High School coach Joe Kennedy made the announcement on his website, citing several
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has declared a state of drought emergency in Gilliam, Douglas and Lincoln counties through Executive Order 23-20 and Executive Order 23-22 and has directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the regions. Drought conditions are variable throughout Gilliam County, ranging from abnormally dry to severe drought. Moderate drought
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CORVALLIS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Forest thinning is improving the robustness of older trees and enhancing native biodiversity on federal lands in Eastern Oregon, evidence that collaborative efforts to restore forests are working, research by Oregon State University shows. The study, led by James Johnston of the OSU College of Forestry, involved long-term monitoring and research
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PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bureau of Land Management recently acquired about 4,000 acres of property along the lower John Day Wild and Scenic River from the Western Rivers Conservancy. The acquisition is key to expanding public recreation opportunities along the river. The property is generally referred to as McDonald’s Ferry, located about 14 miles
Continue Reading SALEM, ORE — Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is leading a bipartisan effort to get Congress to study how artificial intelligence (AI) can be misused to exploit children through child sexual abuse material. Signed by a remarkable coalition of 54 states and territories, the letter urges Congress to protect children from AI-enabled harm. A two-step process is proposed.
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Right to Life sued a state agency Tuesday for relief from the state’s requirement that it provide coverage in its employee health insurance plan for abortion. The organization claims the mandate violates ORTL’s religious liberty, protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The federal lawsuit names the Oregon
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CORVALLIS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Bolstered by a big jump in funding from U.S. government agencies, Oregon State University’s research awards in the last fiscal year surged to $480 million, a university record. Of that total, 89% came from federal organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. The $426.7 million
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The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation said Tuesday it has finalized its rate decisions for 2024 health insurance for the state’s individual and small group markets, with average rate increases of about 6% to 8%.
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The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office on Monday dropped Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders near the Bensel Fire that broke out Sunday in Hermiston, prompting Gov. Tina Kotek to invoke the Emergency Conflagration Act, allowing the state fire marshal to mobilize firefighter task forces from around the state to protect life and property.
Continue ReadingSEATTLE (AP) — Detectives in Seattle were investigating the deaths of two adults and two children whose bodies were found following a reported shooting and house fire. Officers responding to a report of a shooting in a residential area of the city Saturday morning found the house engulfed in flames and its doors barricaded closed,
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A law to reduce Oregon nurses’ workload went into effect Friday. Passed by state lawmakers in this year’s session, it includes the first nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in the country.
Continue ReadingVANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — A man who drove the getaway car in a stolen firearms trafficking scheme that led to the fatal shooting of Clark County sheriff’s Sgt. Jeremy Brown in southwest Washington has been sentenced to more than 27 years in prison. Clark County Superior Court Judge David Gregerson sentenced 30-year-old Abran Raya Leon
Continue ReadingBy Paradise Afshar and Emma Tucker, CNN (CNN) — A state of emergency was declared in a small city in Washington state this week after a warning system for a dam protecting the city from being flooded by a reservoir falsely went off a fourth time since 2020, city officials said. The alarm system in
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An “extremely dangerous” attempted aggravated murder suspect who stole a van from the Oregon State Hospital in Salem and fled south on Interstate 5 late Wednesday night was back in custody Friday after being rescued from a muddy Portland pond, buried up to his armpits, Oregon State Police said.
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(Update: Adding Thursday update, reduced acreage) Shaded fuel break being created along Cascade Lakes Highway SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Due to the rugged terrain, safe access issues and the location in a wilderness area, Petes Lake fire officials have decided to shift to a more indirect approach to putting out the blaze, they said Thursday.
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Accused of shooting out vehicle window, walking through town firing at vehicles, buildings CHILOQUIN, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Chiloquin man shot out a vehicle window and walked through town firing at other cars and pointing a rifle at people Thursday afternoon, prompting roadblocks and school lockdowns until the man was found and arrested on attempted
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