Oregon-Northwest Archives

OHA’s Climate and Health report highlights opportunities to build resilience against wildfires, drought, extreme heat

July 20, 2024 11:53 am KTVZ News Partners

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Communities that have been systemically marginalized continue to bear the brunt of extreme climate effects such as wildfires, drought and heat waves, according to a new Oregon Health Authority report. But the agency says opportunities abound for building resilience against future disasters. Publication of the OHA Public Health Division’s annual Climate and

Ore Fire burns about 500 acres in steep, rugged terrain NE of Blue River

July 20, 2024 11:10 am KTVZ News Partners

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (KTVZ) — Fire suppression efforts continue on the Ore Fire, which is burning in steep, rugged terrain 7 miles northeast of Blue River, officials said Saturday. The current acreage of 500 is an estimate due to the unavailability of an updated infrared flight. Here’s the rest of the Saturday morning update on the

Oregon fire marshal sends firefighters, gear to Baker County’s Durkee Fire as more out-of-state crews arrive

July 19, 2024 4:16 pm KTVZ News Partners

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – On Friday, the Oregon State Fire Marshal sent structural protection resources to the Durkee Fire in Baker County through Immediate Response. The fire was reported Wednesday night off Interstate 84 near the community of Durkee. It has grown substantially since it was first ignited, prompting new Level 3 evacuation notices. As of

Lightning-sparked fires in NE Oregon burn thousands of acres as numerous new fire starts emerge

July 18, 2024 6:54 pm KTVZ News Partners

La GRANDE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Forestry is getting even busier in northeast Oregon as more lightning-sparked fires come to light, 17 blazes in just 24 hours, three getting large. Here’s their update: ODF Northeast Oregon District responds to multiple fire starts after lightning storm; ODF IMT 3 deployed to Battle Mountain

Seattle officer fired for ‘cruel comments and callous laughter’ following Indian grad student’s death, police chief says

July 18, 2024 3:53 pm CNN Newsource

By Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN (CNN) — A Seattle police officer has been fired over the “dehumanizing laughter” and “cruel comments” he made after the 2023 death of an Indian graduate student who was struck by a police vehicle, the police chief says. Seattle interim Police Chief Sue Rahr terminated former officer Daniel Auderer on Wednesday and justified her decision to the department

Gov. Kotek invokes Conflagration Act for fires near Pilot Rock in Umatilla County; three task forces mobilized

July 18, 2024 12:03 am KTVZ News Partners

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – On Thursday night, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for a series of fires in Umatilla County near Pilot Rock. The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office is mobilizing its Green Incident Management Team and three structural task forces from Benton, Marion, and Polk counties. One of those task forces was

Oregon authorities recover body of award-winning chef who drowned in river accident

July 17, 2024 6:19 pm The Associated Press

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Oregon authorities said Wednesday that they have recovered the body of award-winning chef Naomi Pomeroy following her drowning in a river accident. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office said it located her body Wednesday morning in the Willamette River between Corvallis and Albany after canoers saw it and called 911. Authorities said

Governor Kotek releases proposal to boost State School Fund, the main source of public K-12 funding

July 17, 2024 5:12 pm KTVZ News Partners

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Office of Governor Tina Kotek unveiled a proposal Wednesday to boost the current service level for the State School Fund by an estimated $515 million above the original calculation for the 2025-27 biennium. This estimate will be updated prior to the 2025 legislative session. The State School Fund (SSF) is

It’s a boy, and he’s named ‘Bugsy’: Oregon Zoo welcomes roly-poly armadillo baby

July 17, 2024 4:44 pm KTVZ News Partners

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Zoo’s armadillo family grew by three tiny bands last month as parents Max and Toby welcomed a new pup. According to care staff, mom and baby are doing well in their behind-the-scenes maternity den. “Bugsy” — named for a favorite armadillo snack food, bugs — is Max and Toby’s second pup.

Falls Fire north of Burns tops 91,000 acres, 0% contained; 1,400 firefighters on it; fire less active than predicted

July 13, 2024 10:47 pm KTVZ News Partners

The week-old Falls Fire burning in Harney and Grant counties about 13 miles north of Burns continues to grow, now topping 91,000 acres, as does a firefighting force now at more than 1,400 personnel. It’s still at zero containment amid evacuations, but nearby U.S. Highway 395 is now open without traffic escorts.

Oregon’s job picture sees little change in June; unemployment rate dips slightly to 4.1%

July 17, 2024 11:09 am KTVZ News Partners

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1% in June, down a bit from 4.2% in May, and has been in a tight range between 4.0% and 4.2% since October of last year, the state Employment Department reported Wednesday. The U.S. unemployment rate, at 4.1%, changed little in June. In June, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted

2nd Washington man pleads not guilty in 2022 attacks on Oregon electrical grids

July 16, 2024 7:28 pm The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A second Washington state man has pleaded not guilty to federal charges accusing him of damaging power substations in Oregon in 2022. Tacoma resident Zachary Rosenthal, 33, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Portland on Tuesday to three counts of damaging an energy facility. On Nov. 24, 2022, Rosenthal is

Money from Washington’s landmark climate law will help tribes face rising seas, climate change

July 16, 2024 3:44 pm The Associated Press

Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) — Tens of millions of dollars raised by a landmark climate law in Washington state will go to Native American tribes that are at risk from climate change and rising sea levels to help them move to higher ground, install solar panels, buy electric vehicles and restore wetlands, Gov. Jay Inslee

Former Oregon Senate president, veteran lawmaker Peter Courtney dies at 81; Knopp, others pay tribute

July 16, 2024 1:37 pm KTVZ News Partners

Former Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney, who retired last year as the longest-serving legislator in Oregon history, has died from complications from cancer, Gov. Tina Kotek’s office announced. He was 81.

Award-winning Oregon chef Naomi Pomeroy drowns in river accident

July 16, 2024 1:22 pm The Associated Press

Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Naomi Pomeroy, an award-winning chef who helped put Portland on the map as a culinary destination, has drowned in an inner tubing accident, authorities said. She was 49 years old. Pomeroy drowned Saturday evening in the Willamette River near Corvallis after the group she was tubing with got caught

160-pound Great Pyrenees with raw/cut paws rescued on coastal mountain trail

July 15, 2024 10:06 pm KTVZ News Partners

CANNON BEACH, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 160-pound Great Pyrenees needed help from rescuers recently when the dog refused to keep walking on a trail at Saddle Mountain due to raw, cut paws, the Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District said The dog was hiking on Saddle Mountain last Friday “when he suddenly refused to keep

Oregon Department of Agriculture seeks public comment on new large-scale farming regulations

July 15, 2024 6:40 pm KTVZ News Partners

Oregonians have until Monday, July 22 to submit comments on the implementation of new environmental restrictions for the state’s largest farms.

Oregon Dept. of Administrative Services upgrades site, improves public records request process

July 15, 2024 3:09 pm KTVZ News Partners

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon Department of Administrative Services announced Monday it has made it easier for customers to request and receive public records, thanks to modernizing its public records software. Effective Monday, DAS went live with Granicus GovQA software to efficiently process and manage requests for public records, such as procurement records, public

OSU researchers find silver lining in wildfire smoke: It can help protect vulnerable tree seedlings

July 15, 2024 2:24 pm KTVZ News Partners

CORVALLIS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Forest scientists at Oregon State University studying tree regeneration have found that wildfire smoke comes with an unexpected benefit: It has a cooling capacity that can make life easier for vulnerable seedlings. An OSU College of Forestry collaboration led by faculty research assistant Amanda Brackett made the discovery while working to

Oregon calls in out-of-state crews from as far as Florida to help battle numerous wildfires burning across the state

July 15, 2024 1:04 pm KTVZ News Partners

The Oregon State Fire Marshal and the Oregon Department of Forestry announced Monday they are bringing in out-of-state firefighters and equipment to fight several wildfires impacting communities and resources across the state.

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