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About 3.2 million Medicare enrollees are expected to save money in 2025 under a new law capping prescription drug costs. (Scott Hales/Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

Report: Oregonians to save money with prescription drug cost cap in 2025

Tens of thousands of Oregonians are expected to see savings next year when prescription drug costs are capped, according to a new report from AARP…

Oregon and 36 other states are participating in the Summer EBT program. (san_ta/Adobe Stock)

Eligible OR families have until Monday to apply for summer food benefits

Eligible Oregon families have until Monday to apply for summer food benefits. The Summer EBT program provides families with a one-time payment of $12…

Oregon es el �nico estado de la costa oeste en el que los legisladores fijan su propio sueldo. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Una comisión independiente fijaría el sueldo de los funcionarios electos

Partidarios de una medida electoral que podría establecer una comisión independiente para fijar el salario de los funcionarios electos han l…

Oregon is the only state on the West Coast where lawmakers set their own pay. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Under OR measure, independent commission would set elected officials' pay

Supporters of a ballot measure that would establish an independent commission for setting the pay of elected officials have launched a campaign…

A plan to improve the U.S. Postal Service means Oregon mail must go through a processing center in Portland. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Plan to restructure USPS faces opposition as mail delivery slows

Criticism of a plan to restructure U.S. mail service is mounting. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's 10-year plan, called Delivering for America…

The lodge at Multnomah Falls is among the latest projects to receive improvement funds. (Steve/Adobe Stock)

Recreation upgrades coming to NW Forests

More than $27 million is coming to upgrade forests in the Northwest for recreation. The investment is the latest round of funding from the Great …

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…

Birth through age five is a critical time for teaching kids how to read. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

OR prepares to fund early literacy efforts

Oregon is poised to distribute funds for early childhood learning and literacy. In 2023, lawmakers passed the Early Literacy Success Initiative…

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 …

A housing package passed in Salem aims to create more housing in Oregon cities of all sizes. (RG/Adobe Stock)

Next steps after OR legislators make 'groundbreaking' housing investments

Oregon lawmakers passed a major housing package in this year's session, but said easing the state's housing crisis will take more work. Bills passed …

A quarter of election officials reported being harassed or threatened in 2020. (richjem/Adobe Stock)

Report: Election officials left positions at increasing rate since 2000

A new report dives into election official turnover during more than two decades. It says rates have increased steadily nationwide since 2000…

Starting in 2025, insulin prices cannot surpass $105 for a 90-day supply in Oregon. (Orawan/Adobe Stock)

OR lawmakers limit insulin costs, prohibit increases

Oregon lawmakers during the 2024 session took another step to further limit the price of insulin. Gov. Tina Kotek signed a bill into law to cap out-…

A los legisladores de Oregon les quedan dos semanas de sesi�n para aprobar la financiaci�n del programa EBT de verano que ayuda a alimentar a los ni�os cuando no hay colegio. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

Casi 300,000 niños de OR esperan aprobación para prestaciones alimentarias de Verano

Un programa que proporciona beneficios alimentarios a los niños durante el verano aún necesita la aprobación de fondos de la Legislatur…

Oregon lawmakers have two weeks left in the session to approve funding for the Summer EBT program that helps feed children when school's out. (Lindsay Trapnell/Oregon Food Bank)

Nearly 300,000 OR kids await approval of summer food benefits

A program that would provide food benefits to kids during the summer still needs funding approval from the Oregon Legislature. The state has …

Oregon's legislative session is scheduled to adjourn on March 10. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

Coalition proposes 'People's Budget' for OR's short session

A coalition of groups has laid out its budget priorities for the Oregon legislative session in an effort to advance racial, gender and economic …

Experiences vary widely for kids across race in Oregon. (Cliff/Adobe Stock)

Report: Racial disparities persist among OR children

Racial disparities persist among kids in Oregon, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's new Race for Results report finds …

Many parents and caregivers have to come up with at least 10 additional meals per week, per child, when school breakfasts and lunches are not available in summer. (Adobe Stock)

Nearly 300,000 Oregon kids could get help accessing nutritious food this summer

The risks of child hunger increase dramatically when school cafeterias close for the summer, especially for the one in eight families currently …

Oregon ranked behind California, Massachusetts and Vermont in a report on transportation spending policies. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

Report: Oregon in top 5 for transportation spending policies

Oregon ranks in the top five in a new report measuring how states spend on transportation. With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and …

An increase in wildfires has brought devastation to Oregon in recent years. (Victoria Schaal/Adobe Stock)

Inflation Reduction Act will improve national security, vet group says

A group of veterans is touting the national security benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act. The organization Elected Officials to Protect America …

The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act currently has 113 cosponsors in the U.S. House. (W.Scott McGill/Adobe Stock)

Bill in Congress would end tax breaks for anti-union campaigns

A bill in Congress aims to close a tax loophole allowing companies to deduct anti-union activities. The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act has …

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 …

Umpqua Community College is a small institution in southwest Oregon with about 3,000 full time students. (Gordon Friedman/Wikimedia Commons)

OR Tribal Student Grant Gets Permanent Funding

A college grant program for tribal students in Oregon received an extension in this year's budget. The Oregon Tribal Student Grant was funded with $2…

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…

A bill in Oregon would help 200 schools in the state offer free breakfast and lunch meals at school. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

OR Lawmakers Move to Expand Free School Meals

Oregon lawmakers could make sure more students have access to free school meals. A federal pandemic waiver ensuring school meals for all kids …

Oregonians gathered to support a food assistance bill in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. (jpldesigns/Adobe Stock)

Oregonians Rally to Back Bill Providing Food Aid for All

A rally was held in Salem Thursday to urge passage of a bill to provide food assistance to Oregonians regardless of their immigration status…

The Oregon Legislature is required to end its session by June 25. (David Gn/Adobe Stock)

OR Senate Republican Walkout Endangers Anti-Hunger Policies

Three weeks into state Senate Republicans' walkout from the Oregon Legislature, concern is growing the move could sink action on important issues …

Food for All Oregonians advocates have been meeting with legislators to get the bill passed. (Oregon Food Bank)

Lack of Food Assistance Has Health Consequences for Oregonians

Oregonians who have experienced food insecurity are pushing the state to ensure everyone has access to federal food assistance. The Supplemental …

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 …

Hospital staffing standards would be based on the unit where the health care professionals work.(Yakobchuk Olena/Adobe Stock)

OR Bill Aims to Fix Understaffing at Hospitals

Hospital staff members are struggling under the strain of patient overload and they want Oregon lawmakers to do something about it. A measure in …

Oregon community college students who completed credentials or transferred within four years increased from 45% to 51% between 2017 and 2021. (WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Audit: Lawmakers Can Help Improve Oregon Community Colleges

An audit of community colleges in Oregon has implications for the state's legislative session, which started this week. The report from the …

Oregon has one of the highest prevalences of mental illness among adults in the country. (freshidea/Adobe Stock)

OR Nurses Call for Investments in Mental Heath System

The need for investments in Oregon's mental health care system is urgent, some nurses in the state say. According to a study from the nonprofit …

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 percentage of children with health insurance in Oregon is higher than the national average.(Bob/Adobe Stock)

OR 'Middle of Pack' in Child Well-Being State Rankings

Oregon sits at 26th in a new ranking of states based on child well-being. The Annie E. Casey Foundation has released its annual Kids Count data …

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. …

More than 50,000 students come to Portland Community College each year. (Adumbvoget/Adobe Stock)

Education, Training Investments in OR Could Boost Workforce

In an effort to boost workers in critical industries, Oregon lawmakers are considering a major investment in education and workforce development…

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown gave her 2022 State of the State address, opening up a legislative session scheduled to adjourn on March 7. (Gov. Kate Brown)

With Legislative Kickoff in OR, Native American Youth Plot Priorities

Gov. Kate Brown's State of the State address kicked off Oregon's short legislative session, and organizations advocating for diverse communities are …

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…

The Providence R-N Medical Advice Line has been a valuable tool during the pandemic, where people can ask about COVID-19 symptoms. (Courtesy of Heidi Sweeney)

OR Nurse Advice Line Plagued by Understaffing

PORTLAND, Ore. - Nurses provide a range of care, and not all of it is delivered in person. The Providence RN Medical Advice Line is a phone number …

The Build Back Better Act could add 3,900 rental vouchers to Oregon that could house 8,000 people. (Aisyaqilumar/Adobe Stock)

Build Back Better Act Could Support Families, Affordable Housing in OR

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Supporters of the Build Back Better Act are touting the benefits it will bring to families in Oregon and across the country…

The U.S. Postal Service suggests, with the latest changes affecting first-class mail, plan ahead and send packages and correspondence early if you're on a deadline. (Adobe Stock)

USPS Changes Have OR Postal Workers Worried about Holidays

PORTLAND, Ore. - Ahead of the busiest season of the year for the U.S. Postal Service, some Oregon postal workers are voicing concerns about the …

A letter encourages Congress to raise taxes on wealthy people, including an additional tax on people with net assets of more than $50 million. (W.Scott McGill/Adobe Stock)

Wealthy Americans Encourage Congress to Raise Their Tax Rate

PORTLAND, Ore. - Wealthy Americans have a message for Congress: Tax us more. More than 200 high-income taxpayers and business owners have sent an …

Hist�ricamente, los estudiantes de color han tenido menos probabilidades de recibir t�tulos postsecundarios en comparaci�n con los estudiantes blancos. Un nuevo grupo de trabajo legislativo de Oreg�n quiere cambiar esto. (Devin Allphin / Adobe Stock)<br />

Nuevo grupo de trabajo apoya a estudiantes discriminados en la educación superior

SALEM, Ore. -- Legisladores de Oregón quieren asegurar que más estudiantes marginados tengan éxito en la educación superior…

The number of children living in poverty was nearly cut in half between 2010 and 2019, according to a new report. (Steve/Adobe Stock)

Report: OR Can 'Be Better' Than Middle of Pack on Child Well-Being

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Child well-being in Oregon was a mixed bag before the pandemic, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS …

Los programas de aprendizaje basados en colegios comunitarios tienen una serie de ventajas, incluido el acceso a los recursos escolares. (BillionPhotos.com/Adobe Stock)

Plan de Infraestructura de Biden Podría Impulsar Programas de Aprendizaje

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Los programas de aprendizaje en colegios comunitarios están listos para una gran inversión bajo el plan de …

Apprenticeship programs based at community colleges have a number of advantages, including access to school resources. (BillionPhotos.com/Adobe Stock)

Biden Infrastructure Plan Could Boost Apprenticeship Programs

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Apprenticeship programs at community colleges are poised for a big investment under President Joe Biden's infrastructure plan…

Oregon may have lost more than 44,000 child-care slots due to the pandemic, according to a new report. (Oksana Kuzmina/Adobe Stock)

Report: Child-Care Barrier for OR Parents in College

PORTLAND, Ore. - Oregon college students who also are parents often struggle to find affordable child care. New research details the accessibility …

Oregon's eviction moratorium ends June 30 and the state could see a torrent of evictions if renters have to pay missed rents. (Mr Doomits/Adobe Stock)

OR Bill Could Stave Off Wave of Evictions

SALEM, Ore. -- Facing a housing crisis from the pandemic, Oregon lawmakers are considering a measure to better protect renters. Senate Bill 282…

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 18, 2024

2024Talks - September 18, 2024

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OR: Budget Policy & Priorities