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Oregon-Northwest

Oregon Water Resources Commission adopts disputed update to groundwater allocation rules; city critics to seek ‘balance’

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MEDFORD, Ore. (KTVZ)  – The Oregon Water Resources Commission voted unanimously Thursday to adopt updates to Oregon’s groundwater allocation rules, “marking a historic step in how the state manages and allocates groundwater,” according to the agency and its supporters – while critics of the new rules said they will press for a better-balanced compromise. The adopted

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Merkley, colleagues try again, reintroduce legislation to spend $2 billion on reducing class sizes

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WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Reps. Lucy McBath (D-GA-07) and Shontel Brown (D-OH-11) say they aim to address overcrowded classrooms by reintroducing the Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act, bold legislation that makes investments to address overcrowded classrooms and set students up for success. Here’s Merkley’s news release on the bill: Research

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Oregon workers’ compensation ‘pure premium’ rate to fall for 12th straight year, agency says

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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – In 2025, Oregon employers, on average, will pay less for workers’ compensation coverage, the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services announced Thursday. The decline in costs marks 12 years of average decreases in the pure premium rate – the base rate insurers use to determine how much employers must pay for

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Hundreds gather on a Seattle beach to remember an American activist killed by the Israeli military

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Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) — For her 26th birthday in July, human rights activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi gathered friends for a bonfire at one of her favorite places, a sandy beach in Seattle where green-and-white ferries cruise across the dark, flat water and osprey fish overhead. On Wednesday night, hundreds of people traveled to the

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Governor Kotek declares drought emergency in Lake County, second of the year, after Jefferson

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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek has declared a drought in Lake County through Executive Order 24-26, and directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Lake County has been in moderate drought since July 9. Drought metrics like the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) are

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Oregon State Parks asks visitors to help prevent spread of destructive emerald ash borer, use local firewood

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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is asking visitors to help slow the spread of the destructive emerald ash borer by choosing certified heat-treated firewood or firewood harvested within 10 miles of their destination, to avoid bringing the invasive insect into state parks.  OPRD also asks visitors to leave any ash, olive

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Oregon DHS contracts for advanced evacuation software to boost emergency preparedness, just used on Rail Ridge Fire

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(Update: Adding video) SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — In honor of National Preparedness Month, the Oregon Department of Human Services announced a new contract Tuesday that will provide advanced evacuation software to all of Oregon’s 36 counties and nine Tribes. The software, from Genasys Inc., will help manage emergency evacuations more effectively across the state. As

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Gov. Kotek orders public flags lowered to half-staff to mark Patriot Day, in remembrance of victims of 9/11 attacks

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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek ordered all flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at half-staff until sunset Wednesday, pursuant to President Biden’s Presidential Proclamation of September 11, 2024 as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance, and in remembrance of the nearly 3,000 civilians and first responders who were killed in

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Wyden introduces bill to ensure full retirement benefits for Americans held hostage, wrongfully detained abroad

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WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said Wednesday he has introduced bipartisan legislation that would protect the Social Security benefits of Americans who have been held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad.  On August 1, several Americans were released from Russian detention as part of a historic prisoner exchange. These individuals now

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Oregon’s Rosenblum among 42 attorneys general seeking law requiring warning labels on social media platforms

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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — In a letter sent Monday to Congress, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, who is also President of the National Association of Attorneys General, joined a broad, bipartisan coalition of 42 state attorneys general to urge lawmakers to pass legislation requiring a U.S. surgeon general warning on all algorithm-driven social media platforms. The

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Harney County receives air cleaners in local, state and federal effort to curb wildfire smoke exposure

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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — State and federal agencies are working together to bring air monitors and temporary air cleaners to schools in Harney County, which has experienced the most days of unhealthy air of any Oregon county due to wildfire smoke this year.  The air cleaners are helping clear smoke from classrooms and other indoor

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Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund program seeks applications for limited remaining funds

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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Housing and Community Services is accepting final applications for the Homeowner Assistance Fund program, which has limited funds remaining.  HAF offers federal temporary COVID-19 emergency mortgage relief, designed to help homeowners who have experienced severe financial hardship due to the pandemic. Homeowners are eligible if they are facing foreclosure, involved in a

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OSP seeks public’s help in finding man wanted in Oregon and Alabama for sex crimes against children

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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) Oregon State Police and the Mobile, Alabama Police Department are seeking the public’s help to locate Adam Renk, 39 who is wanted in both states for sex crimes against child victims.  On June 21, OSP detectives responded to a sexual abuse disclosure made by a minor. The minor disclosed Renk as the perpetrator,

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Deschutes SO issues alert of missing, overdue 7-year-old La Pine boy; he’s found unhurt, reunited with family

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La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) – An overdue, missing 7-year-old La Pine boy prompted a Deschutes Alert to a large number of area residents before he was found unhurt and reunited with family members, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said. The sheriff’s office received a call around 5 p.m. regarding the overdue and missing boy, Sergeant Jason

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Suspect arrested on arson charges in string of fires set along Interstate 5 in Lane County

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(Update: Suspect formally charged, arraigned, adding name) EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) – A man was arrested on arson, reckless burning and other charges Saturday, accused of starting a string of fires along Interstate 5 in the Goshen area south of Eugene, Lane County sheriff’s deputies said. Dispatchers received a report of a man starting fires along

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