Public News Service

The Northwest is the biggest supplier of cherries in the country. (Dmitry/Adobe Stock)

Supports available for migrant workers' families during peak harvest in OR

A program in the Columbia River Gorge helps migrant farmworkers' families during harvest season. The Resources Available for Migrant Access to …

El Noroeste es el mayor proveedor de cerezas del pa�s. (Dmitri/Adobe Stock)

Ayuda disponible para familias de trabajadores migrantes durante temporada alta de cosecha en OR

Un programa en la garganta del río Columbia ayuda a las familias de trabajadores agrícolas migrantes durante la temporada de cosecha…

Si bien los inmigrantes figuran el 10% de la poblaci�n de Oreg�n, representan el 13% de la poblaci�n en edad de trabajar entre 16 y 64 a�os, y un correspondiente 13% de la fuerza laboral. (Natalie Kiyah/Oregon Food Bank)

Nuevo plan 'Alimentos para todos en OR' ampliará beneficios alimentarios

Los defensores de Oregón están centrando la atención en el hambre y cuestiones relacionadas, antes de las elecciones de otoño…

While immigrants make up 10% of Oregon's population, they make up 13% of the working-age population ages 16-64, and a corresponding 13% of the labor force. (Natalie Kiyah, Oregon Food Bank)

'Food for All Oregonians' aims to extend food benefits to immigrants

Oregon advocates are shining a spotlight on hunger and related issues ahead of the fall elections. A recent report from the Immigrant Research …

More than 21% of the student population at Portland Community College is hispanic. (Adumbvoget/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: OR colleges serving Hispanic students increasing

The number of higher institutions serving Hispanic students in Oregon is increasing, according to a new report. Excelencia in Education researched …

M�s del 21% de la poblaci�n estudiantil del Portland Community College es hispana. (Adumbvoget/Wikimedia Commons)

Informe: Aumentan universidades de OR que atienden a estudiantes hispanos

El número de instituciones superiores que atienden a estudiantes hispanos en Oregon está aumentando, según un nuevo informe. …

The call for a fast in solidarity with Palestinians is on Nov. 23, which is Thanksgiving Day. (Solidarityfast.com)

Call for global fast in solidarity with Gazans on Thanksgiving

Organizations are asking people to join them in a fast on Thanksgiving in solidarity with people suffering from war conditions in Gaza. Groups …

Oregon ranks in the middle of states in a new evaluation of its redistricting process. (iQoncept/Adobe Stock)

Report: Improvements needed for OR's redistricting process

Oregon has room to improve when it comes to drawing voting-district lines, according to a new report. The nonpartisan elections watchdog Common …

Oregon se sit�a en medio de los estados en una nueva evaluaci�n de su proceso de redistribuci�n de distritos. (iQoncept/Adobe Stock)

Informe: Necesario mejorar proceso de redistribución de distritos en OR

Oregon tiene un margen de mejoría a la hora de trazar líneas de distritos electorales, según un nuevo informe. La organización …

Oregon high school students felt less engaged last year than the year before, according to the YouthTruth survey. (coachwood/Adobe Stock)

Survey of OR Students Provides Guidance as School Returns

The new school year is approaching and schools in Oregon are using data to figure out what students need to feel like they belong. The organization …

Prices for 2.5 hour tickets on TriMet will increase from $2.50 to $2.80 in January. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Opponents Urge Alternative Ways to Fund Portland Public Transit

Despite an approved fare increase, a campaign continues to look for other ways to fund public transit in Portland. In front of crowd of loud …

The federal child tax credit program immediately reduced child poverty across the country. (tomertu/Adobe Stock)

Tax Credit Coming for OR Families 'in Greatest Need'

State lawmakers have approved a child tax credit for Oregonians with household earnings of $25,000 a year or less. House Bill 3235, which creates a $1…

Juneteenth is considered the longest running African-American holiday in the U.S. (EvgeniiAnd/Adobe Stock)

Juneteenth Acknowledges Struggle, Perseverance of Black Americans

Today is Juneteenth, which commemorates independence for enslaved people in the United States. In 2021, Juneteenth National Independence Day became …

Juneteenth es considerada la fiesta afroamericana m�s antigua de EE.UU. (EvgeniiAnd/Adobe Stock)

Juneteenth reconoce lucha y perseverancia de los americanos de raza negra

Hoy es Juneteenth, que conmemora la independencia de las personas esclavizadas en los Estados Unidos. En 2021, el Día de la Independencia …

Portland Police will move forward initiatives including Portland Ceasefire and Cure Violence to tackle gun violence. (4kclips/Adobe Stock)

Portland Axes Gunshot Detection Tech Plans for Police

Portland has nixed plans to bring gunshot detection technology to the city. The technology - designed by a company formerly known as ShotSpotter…

Currently, Oregonians with felony convictions regain their right to vote after serving their prison terms. (reewungjunerr/Adobe Stock)

OR Bill Would Restore Voting Rights for People in Prison

Oregon lawmakers could restore voting rights to people currently in prison. For the third year in a row, advocates are attempting to get a bill …

Actualmente, los habitantes de Oreg�n con condenas por delitos graves recuperan su derecho al voto despu�s de cumplir sus condenas en prisi�n. (reewungjunerr/Adobe Stock)

OR Proyecto de ley restauraría derecho al voto de personas en prisión

Los legisladores de Oregón podrían restaurar los derechos al voto de las personas que actualmente están en prisión. Por tercer a&#…

Highways are considered hot spots for soot pollution. (vit/Adobe Stock)

Critics: EPA's New Soot Standards Lag Behind Current Science

Clean-air advocates say a new air-quality standard from the federal government does not go far enough to protect the public. For the first time in a …

In a recent study, about 15% of middle and high school age young people admitted they had cyberbullied someone in the past. (asiandelight/Adobe Stock)

Online Spaces Ripe for Harassment, But Parents Can Fight Back

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow…

The River Democracy Act would double the number of river miles currently protected as Wild and Scenic. (Jeffrey Schwartz/Adobe Stock)

OR Rivers Vital to State's BIPOC Communities

Oregon is home to a plethora of rivers, but those waterways are not always accessible to every community. A new video series highlights how …

Portland has seen an uptick in gun violence since the start of the pandemic in 2020. (JustSuper/Adobe Stock)

Portland's Gun-Violence List Comes with Hazards, Critics Say

A new proposal to reduce gun violence in Portland would create a list of people likely to cause violence, but the plan has skeptics. Known as the …

The J.H. Baxter Co.'s wood mill was closed earlier this year after complaints that it had dumped cancer-causing toxins into the air and soil in nearby neighborhoods. (Crag Law Center)

Oregon Communities Unite to Force Chronic Polluter to Shut Down

A coalition of community organizations teamed up in Oregon to force a chronic polluter out of business, and bring environmental justice to a nearby …

Portland, Ore., has been working to curb an uptick in gun violence, but there are mixed views about the use of different types of surveillance systems. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Concerns Voiced About Gunshot Detection Technology for Portland

A police oversight group has formally recommended Portland adopt a technology known as "ShotSpotter" to help tackle gun violence, but the technology …

This month, the Charter Review Committee in Multnomah County recommended a measure for November's ballot that would allow non-U.S. citizens to vote. (MyPhotoBuddy/Adobe Stock)

OR County to Decide on Voting for Undocumented; Some Aim Higher

In Multnomah County, voters will decide in November whether the right to vote should extend to people who are not citizens. Some say all of Oregon …

The United States celebrates Independence Day while Congress investigates the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

Groups Follow Anti-Democratic Movements as US Celebrates July 4th

This July 4th marks nearly 250 years since the United States declared its independence, setting the country on a path to establishing its democracy…

In February, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced the Algorithmic accountability Act in Congress. (maciek905/Adobe Stock)

OR Child Services Algorithm Axed Over Discrimination Concerns

Child-welfare services in Oregon will no longer use an algorithm which helped social workers decide which families to investigate. The Oregon …

A recent survey finds 84% of Asian Oregonians did not report race-based incidents or crimes after they happened. (Xavier Lorenzo/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Hate Incidents Strain Asian Oregonian Communities

There has been an alarming rise in racist incidents against Asian residents in Oregon, and it is changing how community members behave. The Oregon …

About a quarter of Oregon's population is a race or ethnicity other than white, according to the Census Bureau. (niyazz/Adobe Stock)

Ties Between Systemic Racism, Hunger on Ballot as Oregonians Vote

Oregon's primary election is today, and one of the issues affecting voters is systemic racism. Black, Indigenous and people of color suffer from …

Mercy Corps, an aid organization based in Oregon, is on the ground in Ukraine, Poland and Romania. (Michele Ursi/Adobe Stock)

OR Credit Unions Raise Relief Dollars for Ukraine

Ukrainians continue to suffer in their country from the Russian invasion - and in Oregon, credit unions have banded together to send aid to the …

A new report finds the one-day count of incarcerated children in 2019 was about six times smaller than the annual count. (AungMyo/Adobe Stock)

Report: Hundreds of Thousands of Kids Detained Nationwide

Children were incarcerated in massive numbers in 2019, according to new data. The Sentencing Project's report, "Too Many Closed Doors," found more …

Under a bill in the Oregon Legislature, law enforcement could not pull someone over only for a broken light on their car. (lowphoto/Adobe Stock)

Backers: OR Criminal-Justice Bill Would Create Job, Housing Stability

Advocates for criminal-justice reform are continuing their effort to change the system during Oregon's upcoming legislative session. Senate Bill 151…

A survey from 2021 found 38% of Oregon respondents with children age 12 and under faced disruptions to their child-care arrangements in the last month. (Kawee/Adobe Stock)

Child-Care Conundrum Presents Hurdles for OR Families

Finding and affording child care is no cakewalk for Oregon families right now. A new report details the pressures and some potential policy fixes…

People of color make up about a quarter of Portland's population, which makes it hard to reach half of voters to elect city council members. (Casimiro/Adobe Stock)

Proportional Elections Seen as Representing More Communities, Coalitions

Advocates for democracy reform say there is another way to hold elections that will better represent more communities. Proportional representation …

The Latino Community Association provides computer-skills training for beginners and more advanced users. (GR-Photography/Adobe Stock)

Central OR Organization Tackles Workforce Challenges for Latino Communities

A program in central Oregon is helping growing Latino communities in the region upgrade their workforce skills. The Latino Community Association …

La Asociaci�n de la Comunidad Latina ofrece capacitaci�n en computaci�n para principiantes y usuarios m�s avanzados. (GR-Fotograf�a / Adobe Stock)

Organización en Oregón central entrena fuerza laboral en comunidades latinas

Un programa en Oregón central está ayudando a las comunidades latinas en crecimiento de la región a mejorar sus habilidades laborales…

The Oregon Legislature adopted its maps on Sept. 27. (OregonLegislature.gov)

OR Voting Maps Could Weaken Indigenous Communities' Electoral Power

Indigenous communities in Oregon are raising concerns about the voting maps drawn and approved in Oregon. Brian Smith is a political consultant and …

Modern-day agriculture is now closely linked with technology, says a dean from Chemeketa Community College. (sodawhiskey/Adobe Stock)

USDA Grant to Help Invite OR Hispanic Students into Ag, Tech Careers

SALEM, Ore. -- A new project with a grant from the federal government aims to invite Hispanic students in Oregon into agriculture and technology …

Beginning in 2024, manufacturers must increase their zero-emission truck sales to between 30% and 50% by 2030. (Renew Oregon)

Front-Line Communities Applaud OR "Clean Truck" Rules

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Communities on the front lines of climate change are expected to benefit most from new rules in Oregon to move the state toward …

A measure in Oregon implemented in February aims to tackle substance-abuse disorder in a new way. (Richelle/Adobe Stock)

OR Drug Decriminalization Measure Strikes at Racial Disparities in Arrests

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Proponents of a measure in Oregon to decriminalize possession of a small amount of drugs are hailing the reduction in arrests after …

Electricity use is the second-largest source of carbon emissions in Oregon. (Beyond Toxics)

Groups Push for Stronger Action in OR Climate-Protection Program

Corrected 9/28/21, 2 p.m. MDT, to clarify that the Climate Protection Program was not directly created by executive order; and that it is unclear how …

Oregon's Latino workforce numbers 200,000, according to the organization Causa. (F8studio/Adobe Stock)

Initiative Shows How to Tackle Digital Divide for Latino Households

PORTLAND, Ore. - A growing slice of the workforce is Hispanic, but a disproportionate number of Hispanic households don't have regular access to the …

Oregon's Hispanic population grew 30% from 2010 to 2020. (Gstudio/Adobe Stock)

Hispanic Heritage Month Offers Opportunity for Reflection

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Hispanic Heritage Month began this week, and will be celebrated through Oct. 15. Oregon has a rapidly growing Hispanic population…

The Oregon Legislature released two different maps, with Plan A above, for how to draw its six congressional districts. (Oregonlegislature.gov)

Short Period for Public Input on OR Voting Maps Begins

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A small window for public input is open to discuss the Oregon Legislature's proposed voting maps. After receiving detailed census …

Members of Congress introduced bills in June banning use of facial-recognition technology by state and federal entities. (Electronic Frontier Foundation/Wikimedia Commons)

Portland's Facial-Recognition Ban Seen as Model for U.S.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A year ago today, Portland passed one of the most sweeping bans of facial-recognition technology in the country. The ban includes …

Along with wage increases, Portland janitors are ensured more COVID-19 protections from their new contract. (SEIU Local 49)

On Pandemic Front Lines, Janitors Get Union Contract Victory

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Janitors have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, more than 2,000 in the Portland area have been rewarded with a …

The keynote topic for the Oregon Nurses Association is

OR Nurses Conference Explores Fairness in Health Outcomes

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon nurses are holding a conference today on an important topic facing the health industry: equitable outcomes for patients…

The disparity between Black and white youths in juvenile facilitied dropped by 13% between 2015 and 2019. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Racial Gap Narrows for Incarcerated OR Youth, But Work Remains

SALEM, Ore. - Young people of color are locked up at disproportionately high rates compared with their white peers, despite recent signs the gap is …

Historically, students of color have been less likely to receive postsecondary degrees than their white counterparts. A new Oregon legislative task force wants to change that. (Devin Allphin/Adobe Stock)

New OR Task Force to Support Underrepresented Students in Higher Ed

SALEM, Ore. -- Oregon lawmakers want to ensure more underrepresented students are successful in higher education. At the end of the 2021 session…

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 18, 2024

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OR: Human Rights/Racial Justice