Red Cross Cascades Region has been opening more wildfire evacuation shelters this summer
The Red Cross Cascades Region said Thursday it’s on pace to open more wildfire evacuation shelters this summer, compared to last.
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Oregon Dept. of Forestry reports uptick in human-caused wildfires, urges vigilance, prevention steps
The Oregon Department of Forestry is reminding Oregonians to stay vigilant this fire season. Over the last several weeks, the agency says it has seen an uptick in human-caused wildfires.
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Someone in LA hit the big $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot, but Oregon had 7 sizable prize winners
Wednesday’s $1.08 billion Powerball run ended with a jackpot ticket being sold in Los Angeles, but Oregonians weren’t left out. The third-largest Powerball jackpot in history also generated seven prize winners in Oregon. Those winners include:
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Oregon’s new paid leave program starts next month; benefits begin Sept. 3
Working Oregonians who need to take time off for important life events can apply for benefits from Paid Leave Oregon starting Aug. 14, with benefits starting Sept. 3.
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S. Oregon dairy pleads guilty to federal Clean Water Act violations with manure discharges into creek, river
A family-owned dairy located near Grants Pass pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court Monday for violating the Clean Water Act by negligently discharging cow manure into a nearby creek and river.
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Wyden, colleagues reintroduce bill to expand, improve access to clean water for tribal communities
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and colleagues reintroduced legislation Wednesday that would dramatically expand Tribal access to clean water by investing in water infrastructure.
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Fire destroys former Kmart building in NE Portland, puts up large smoke plume
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A large fire completely gutted the interior an old Kmart building near Northeast 122nd Avenue and Northeast Sandy Boulevard in Portland Wednesday morning, KGW reported. Firefighters began responding to the blaze at around 6:30 a.m. Rick Graves, public information officer for Portland Fire & Rescue, told KGW that an officer leaving a training
Continue ReadingIndustrial fire at Washington paper mill worsens air quality in Portland
LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) — A commercial fire fueled by wood chip piles at a paper mill in southwest Washington is worsening air quality in the Portland area. The fire at Nippon Dynawave Packaging started Tuesday night, but a large plume of smoke could still be seen Wednesday morning, reported The Longview Daily News. Crews estimate
Continue Reading Merkley introduces bills to protect Americans from hazardous wildfire smoke, extreme heat
WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., announced Wednesday the introduction of two bills aimed at protecting communities across the nation from the hazardous health, economic, and environmental impacts of severe wildfire smoke and extreme heat events, which are becoming more frequent due to climate chaos—the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act and the Smoke and Heat Ready Communities
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Oregon jobless rate falls to 3.5% in June, fifth straight drop; nearing record low
Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.5% in June, down from 3.7% in May, the Oregon Employment Department reported Wednesday. It’s the fifth consecutive monthly decline in the state’s unemployment rate, down from a recent high of 4.8% in January.
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Willamette National Forest seeks public comments on proposed fee hikes
The Willamette National Forest said Wednesday it is proposing fee increases at several campgrounds, group campgrounds, cabins and lookouts. Public comments are being sought through mid-September.
Continue ReadingAs police try to solve deaths of four women in Oregon, mothers hope for answers
By ANDREW SELSKY and LISA BAUMANN Associated Press SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The announcement that authorities are holding a person of interest in the case of four women found dead this year in northwest Oregon has their mothers hoping they may finally get answers about what happened to their daughters. Melissa Smith, the mother of
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OHA says more than 3/4 of Oregon Health Plan recipients keep benefits when eligibility reviewed
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – The latest renewal data shows that more than 3 out of 4 Oregonians whose Oregon Health Plan came up for renewal in recent months have kept their health coverage. Fewer than 1 in 13 people’s benefits ended. In the remaining 13% of cases that have come up for renewal so far
Continue ReadingA ‘person of interest’ is being held in Oregon deaths of 4 women after governor revokes commutation
By ANDREW SELSKY and REBECCA BOONE Associated Press SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A man considered a person of interest in the deaths of four women whose bodies were found in northwestern Oregon is being held in a state prison after Gov. Tina Kotek reinstated a prison sentence that was commuted by her predecessor. Jesse Lee
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Forest Service investigators seeking tips, info to find cause of Boulder Fire on Mt. Hood National Forest
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — U.S. Forest Service fire investigators said Tuesday they are seeking the public’s assistance with any tips or information pertinent to the start of the Boulder Fire on the Mt. Hood National Forest. Reported on July 8, the Boulder Fire broke out on the Mt. Hood National Forest’s Barlow Ranger District, about
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OSU researchers developing technology to make wastewater usable for crop irrigation, fertilization
Researchers in the Oregon State University College of Engineering are developing technology to convert wastewater into a product that would simultaneously irrigate and fertilize crops.
Continue Reading Chavez-DeRemer co-sponsors bill to improve tax credit, reduce child care costs and boost availability
WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Reps. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Salud Carbajal (CA-24) unveiled bipartisan child care affordability legislation Monday they said is aimed at lowering the cost of child care for middle-class families and creating new pathways to expand child care availability for small businesses. The bill would improve a tax credit aimed at helping employers
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As Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots soar toward record territory, Oregon Lottery has two $50,000 winners
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ)– As the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots continue to climb, Saturday’s Powerball drawing produced two prize winners in Oregon. One $50,000 winning ticket was purchased in Portland and another was bought in Bandon. The two lottery jackpot games continue to approach record territory. For Monday night’s drawing, Powerball now stands at $900
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Cannon Beach reopens after cougar that prompted closure leaves Haystack Rock
Cannon Beach reopened to the public around 10 a.m. Monday after wildlife and law enforcement officials confirmed a cougar sighted on Haystack Rock was no longer present, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said.
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Nearly 350 firefighters battling Flat Fire in SW Oregon that has grown to nearly 5,500 acres
Nearly 350 firefighters had arrived by Monday on the Flat Fire that broke out Saturday southwest of Agness on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and has burned nearly 5,500 acres.
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