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…

Agriculture accounts for nearly 85% of Oregon's water use. (Deyan Georgiev/Adobe Stock)

Oregon seeks public comment on large-scale farming regulations

Oregonians have until July 22 to submit comments on the implementation of new environmental restrictions for the state's largest farms. When the …

The Double Up Food Bucks program matches purchases up to $20. (Lindsay Trapnell/Oregon Food Bank)

Summer food benefits for kids amplified through Double Up produce program

Oregon is participating in a federal food benefits program for children, called Summer EBT. Dollars from the program will go even farther to …

El programa Double Up Food Bucks iguala las compras hasta $20. (Lindsay Trapnell/Banco de Alimentos de Oregon)

Programa "Double Up" amplía beneficios alimentarios para niños en Verano

Oregon participa en un programa federal de prestaciones alimentarias para niños llamado Summer EBT. Los dólares del programa llegará…

Large-scale farm operations have raised concerns about nearby public health effects across the country. (Aaron/Adobe Stock)

Pollution concerns prompt OR county to limit large-scale farms

An Oregon county has enacted new restrictions on large-scale agriculture operations. Linn County commissioners approved a one-mile setback rule from …

Food banks provide a crucial service, but federal programs such as SNAP are critical to fighting hunger. (kuarmungadd/Adobe Stock)

Hunger Action Month: Farm Bill offers chance to support, expand SNAP

Hunger Action Month is coming to a close, but one major action for ensuring people are fed remains on the horizon. The largest federal food-…

Los bancos de alimentos brindan un servicio crucial, pero los programas federales como SNAP son fundamentales para combatir el hambre. (kuarmungadd/Adobe Stock)

Proyecto de Ley de agrícola ofrece oportunidad para apoyar y ampliar SNAP

El Mes de Acción contra el Hambre está llegando a su fin, pero aún queda en el horizonte una acción importante para garantizar …

Community health centers serve one in 11 people across the country. (Kirsten Davis, peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Week Spotlights Community Health Centers Removing Barriers to Care

Events across the country are marking this as National Health Center Week, including in Oregon. Community health centers provide affordable health …

There are more than 130 farmers markets across Oregon. (Tamela/Adobe Stock)

How to Eat Healthy, Even as Food Prices Rise

Higher food costs are a concern for many Oregonians, but one local health expert said people can still manage to eat healthy. Chelsea Warren…

Southeastern Oregon is a mostly arid section of the state. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

Proposed Plan Protects 400,000 Acres in Southeastern OR

A newly released management plan for the Owyhee landscape in Oregon will bring greater protections for more than 400,000 acres of public land…

Wallowa County is a sparsely populated county in northeast Oregon and recently voted in favor of joining Idaho. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

With Secession Votes, Rural OR Counties Signal Lack of Respect

A dozen rural Oregon counties have voted to leave the state over the past three years. It's a signal that large parts of the state don't feel like …

If passed, the Food for All Oregonians legislation would go into effect by 2025. (Oregon Food Bank)

OR Food Aid Expansion Bill Could Benefit Rural Immigrant Communities

Rural immigrant communities could benefit greatly from legislation known as Food for All Oregonians, anti-hunger groups say. Senate Bill 610 would …

Fire hardening a home also involves managing vegetation within 100 feet of the home. (jryanc10/Adobe Stock)

Hardening Homes Could Be More Effective Defense Against Wildfires

Wildfires are a growing threat in the Northwest and a lot of money is spent on fire suppression. But a less costly approach could be to make homes …

Oregon's budget writing committee has proposed a $31 billion budget over the next two years. (Rex Wholster/Adobe Stock)

State Agency Budget Cut Proposal Could Hit Rural OR Hardest

Under a proposal in the Legislature, Oregon's service agencies could see spending cuts, which could hit hardest in rural areas. Under the Committee …

Country Natural Beef ranchers are in nine western states covering more than 6.5 million acres of land. (Patrick Jennings/Adobe Stock)

Collaboration Grows 'Regenerative Ranching' Program in Northwest

By Caroline Tracey for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Deborah Van Fleet for Missouri News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publ…

The company Solectrac is providing the electric tractors for Oregon's

OR Farmers Can Test Out Electric Ag Vehicles with Rideshare Program

By Claire Carlson for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Co…

Before the EPA's ban, Oregon had planned to phase out the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos by 2023. (Dusan Kostic/Adobe Stock)

U.S. Pesticide Use Could Be on Docket in Trade Talks

As the United States enters into talks over a new trade framework with several nations, America's lax pesticide policy could be a sticking point for …

Nearly every vehicle in the town of Wallowa, Ore., was affected by a hailstorm in August.(Marika Straw)

After Devastating Eastern OR Hailstorm, Neighbors Lend Support

After a devastating hailstorm in eastern Oregon, community members are lending each other a helping hand. In mid-August, a severe storm dropped …

Projects like expanding broadband in rural areas will be available to communities under the infrastructure package passed last year. (mitgirl/Adobe Stock)

OR Rural Economies Get Assist in CHIPS Act

A program approved by Congress aims to give rural communities in Oregon and elsewhere a boost when applying for federal dollars. The CHIPS Act…

The USDA says pollinators add more than $18 billion in revenue to crop production every year. The major U.S. crops pollinated by honey bees and other pollinators include almonds, non-citrus fruits, berries, melons and squash. (Milan/Adobe Stock)

Bee-Friendly "Pollinator Gardens" Put Food on Oregon Tables

A single bee can help produce more than 125 pounds of food every year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Some Oregon groups are …

A plan to update the Coos Bay port could make it among the top ten busiest in the country. (mdurson/Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Funds for Port Could Boost Rural OR Community

Funding from the infrastructure measure Congress passed last year could benefit a struggling rural community in Oregon. Lawmakers in the state have …

Overtime pay will be phased in for farmworkers in Oregon over the next five years. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

Farmworkers Rights a Ballot Issue as OR Primary Approaches

Ballots are due for Oregon's primary election on Tuesday, and one key issue for voters is the rights of workers who grow the state's food. …

Many of the farmworkers in Oregon near the Columbia River Gorge work in orchards. (Kirk/Adobe Stock)

Radio Station Shares Bilingual News with Gorge Farmworkers

A unique radio station in the Columbia River Gorge provides information in English and Spanish, on topics ranging from the environment to immigration…

Veterans working on a central Oregon ranch supply produce for a restaurant in Bend. (Central Oregon Veterans Ranch)

OR Veterans Ranch Fosters "Post-Traumatic Growth"

BEND, Ore. - Veterans returning home sometimes struggle to find a place where they feel like they belong. In Central Oregon, a ranch is supporting …

In 2019, Oregon's mega-dairies produced 6.5 billion pounds of waste, according to the Stand Up to Factory Farms Coalition. (Lynn Ketchum/Oregon State University)

OR Lawmakers Could Freeze Mega-Polluting Dairy Farms

SALEM, Ore. - Critics say big dairy farms produce a massive amount of waste and pollution, and bills in the Oregon Legislature would hit pause on …

Developing enough solar energy on farms to generate a fifth of the country's electricity needs could create 100,000 jobs. (Sean Nealon/Oregon State University)

Research: 'Harvesting' Solar Would Benefit Farmers, Climate

PORTLAND, Ore. -- If a small fraction of farms captured solar energy, it could produce a large slice of the country's energy needs - and boost …

Coastal-restoration projects in Oregon would improve watersheds for fish. (Joseph Hunkins/Flickr)

OR Coast Could Get Boost After 'Missed Opportunity' in 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Congress could fund restoration projects on the Oregon coast - and focus on rural communities that were left behind in the wake of …

Mudbone Grown co-farm managers Art Shaver and Shantae Johnson are heading an effort to provide relief for Black Oregonians during the pandemic. (Mudbone Grown)

COVID-19 Response Team Brings Aid to Black Oregonians

PORTLAND, Ore. - As the COVID-19 pandemic grinds on, some organizations are leading efforts to provide relief to Black Oregon families. Shantae …

Low levels in the Klamath River could make conditions ripe for spreading disease among juvenile salmon. (Patrick McCully/Flickr)

Dry Year, Court Decision Disappoint OR Salmon Advocates

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- With the Klamath Basin expected to see one of the driest years on record, struggles for salmon in southern Oregon are piling …

Farmers across Oregon believe climate change is hurting them financially. (Sheila Sund/Flickr)

Ag Voices: OR Needs Cap-and-Invest Climate Bill

SALEM, Ore. -- With tensions high in Salem as lawmakers begin work on a cap-and-invest bill, one organization is reminding legislators that voices in …

Oregon'a coyote population is estimated to be around 300,000. (David K/Flickr)

OR Lawmakers to Consider Ban on Coyote-Killing Contests

SALEM, Ore. - Oregon lawmakers are trying again to ban coyote-hunting contests. In 2019, Oregon Senators passed a bill to end coyote-killing …

Environmental groups want the Oregon legislature and Gov. Kate Brown to take action to curb climate change next year. (Backbone Campaign/Flickr)

OR Groups Explore All Options for 2020 Climate Action

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon's climate future could be decided in several ways in the New Year. During the legislature's short session in February…

A bill in Congress would protect more than a million acres of Owyhee Canyonlands as wilderness. (U.S. Bureau of Land Management/Flickr)

Diverse Groups Applaud New Bill to Protect Owyhee Canyonlands

VALE, Ore. – A bill in Congress to protect the Owyhee Canyonlands and parts of Malheur County is being praised for the inclusive process …

About 57,000 Oregon children were living in high-poverty areas between 2013 and 2017, according to a new Annie E. Casey Foundation report. (Lazurite/Flickr)

Despite Economy, OR Kids Stuck in High-Poverty Areas

PORTLAND, Ore. — Economic expansion after the Great Recession of 2008 has done little to get Oregon children out of high-poverty neighborhoods…

Oregon's state bird, the western meadowlark, is considered a sensitive species that would benefit from proactive conservation efforts. (Becky Matsubara/Flickr)

House Bill Could Be "Watershed Moment" for Wildlife Conservation

PORTLAND, Ore. – A bill in Congress would aid states in their efforts to conserve species before they are in crisis. The Recovering America's …

One in eight Oregonians is food insecure, often relying on local food pantries for meals. (wittco.gmbh/Flickr)

Funds Needed to Tackle Growing Hunger Issue in Oregon

SALEM, Ore. – Anti-hunger advocates are hoping lawmakers will continue their investment in the state's food banks. The Oregon Hunger Response …

There are 137 known wolves in Oregon, according to the latest count. (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife/Flickr)

OR Hosts Meeting on Removing Endangered Species Protections for Wolves

PORTLAND, Ore. – With no official public meetings scheduled on a proposal to remove Endangered Species protections for gray wolves, community …

The workshop on ranchers and wolves is exploring such topics as range-riding and wolf behavior. (Defenders of Wildlife)

Workshop Offers Ore. Ranchers New Perspective on Wolves

HALFWAY, Ore. – Ranchers and wildlife managers are gathering in Oregon to discuss creative solutions for avoiding conflicts with wolves…

A group of Lincoln County residents wanted to ban aerial use of pesticides, because its research determined aerial spraying was the most harmful. (Rio Davidson/Lincoln County Community Rights)

Ore. County Pesticide Ban Model for Fight Against Farm Chemicals

NEWPORT, Ore. – A grassroots effort in a seaside Oregon county last year could serve as an example for how other communities can beat large …

Oregon has had an active wildfire season and thousands of acres continue to burn. (Kari Greer/U.S. Forest Service)

Food Bank Serving Oregonians Affected by Wildfires

THE DALLES, Ore. — A food bank is helping people in fire-ravaged areas of eastern Oregon. The Columbia Gorge Food Bank is serving The Dalles …

Opponents of Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court are concerned he could overturn Roe v. Wade. (Charles Edward Miller/Wikimedia Commons)

Ore. Protesters Join Nationwide Rallies Against SCOTUS Nominee

SHERWOOD, Ore. – Rallies in Oregon and nationwide are taking place on Sunday to protest President Donald Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme …

A protest over sending two Burns-area ranchers to prison for arson led to the 41-day armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. (Barbara Wheeler/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Critics See Attack on Public Lands, Double Standard in Hammonds' Pardon

BURNS, Ore. – President Donald Trump has pardoned two eastern Oregon ranchers who inspired the armed occupation of the Malheur National …

Oregon and a farmworkers union in the state say a pesticide used on food is harmful, especially for children. (William M. Ciesla/USDA Forest Service)

Oregon Presents Arguments in Court to Ban Dangerous Pesticide

PORTLAND, Ore. — Labor, civil rights and public health groups, as well as seven states, will make their final arguments in court today …

A solar farm near Medford, Ore., also is home to 48 thriving bee colonies. (Pine Gate Renewables)

Nation's Largest Solar Bee Farm in Ore. Creating Buzz

MEDFORD, Ore. - Bees are enjoying their days in the sun on a clean-energy farm in southern Oregon. The Eagle Point solar farm outside Medford is the …

Improved pesticide standards would save $64 million in health-care costs a year, according to the EPA. (USDA/Wikimedia Commons)

Farmworkers Sue EPA Over Workplace Protections Delay

PORTLAND, Ore. – Farmworker groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency for delaying key safety standards for working with pesticides…

The goal of this year's Stamp Out Hunger for Oregon and Clark County, Wash., is to collect 1.2 million pounds of food. (Oregon Food Bank)

Ore. Letter Carriers to Help Stamp Out Hunger on Saturday

PENDLETON, Ore. — This weekend, Oregonians and people across the nation will fight hunger at their mailboxes. On Saturday, people can leave …

An Oregon fishing guide says fishers worry about the effects of ethanol on their outboard motors. (Michelle B./Flickr)

Reforming Ethanol Mandate Could be Win for Environment

PORTLAND, Ore. – A bill to reform the biofuels mandate could reverse a decade of destruction to America's grasslands, according to …

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