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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 …

About 3,700 students attend Western Oregon University in Monmouth where the summit will be held. (IanDewarPhotography/Adobe Stock)

'Making communities work for everyone' focus of Age-Friendly Oregon Summit

Supporters of efforts to make Oregon cities more livable and accessible for people of all ages are meeting this week. The Age-Friendly Oregon …

Parking mandates - the requirement that developers include certain amounts of parking for their structures - came under scrutiny during the pandemic, when office spaces started shutting down. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Following OR, More States Consider Ending Parking Mandates

Parking lots dominate the landscapes in many cities, but state lawmakers across the country are looking to reduce the number of unused parking spaces…

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 …

A passage under U.S. Highway 97 south of Bend is one of Oregon's five completed wildlife crossings. (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)

OR Lawmakers Consider Bill to Protect Wildlife from Busy Roads

Oregon lawmakers are considering a measure to increase the number of wildlife crossings in the state. Crossings help animals get under or over busy …

In Oregon, 36 building projects were LEED-certified in 2022. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Oregon Ranks in Top 10 for Green Buildings

Oregon is high on the list of states focused on sustainable building practices, according to a new report. The state comes in at number 10 in U.S…

Electric bike sales outpaced electric cars sales in 2021. (aerogondo/Adobe Stock)

Local OR E-Bike Program Could Make for Easy Riding Across State

By Henry Houston for Eugene Weekly.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service with support from the Solutions Journalism Network It'…

Mosier is a small Oregon town in the Columbia River Gorge with a population of about 700, according to the 2020 Census. (Ian Poellet)

Small OR Town Among Recipients of AARP Project Grant

AARP has selected six projects in Oregon to receive funds for its Community Challenge grant program. The largest grant, $20,000, is going to a …

Easily accessible transportation is a crucial issue, especially for older people, in cities across the country. (Victoria/Adobe Stock)

AARP Grants: An Opportunity for OR Communities to Try New Ideas

Local organizations and governments in Oregon looking for funding for their projects now have an opportunity with AARP's Community Challenge Grant…

Milton-Freewater was the recipient of an AARP Community Challenge grant last year. (Ian Poellet/Wikimedia Commons)

Grants Program Funds Projects with 'Immediate Impact' on Communities

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Applications are open for AARP's Community Challenge grant program. The program provides funds for projects that can be produced …

Oregon scored high points in a report on electric vehicles for ensuring in its building codes that new buildings are wired to charge them. (Oregon Dept. of Transportation/Flickr)

OR in Top 10 for Electrifying Vehicles; Could Do More

PORTLAND, Ore. - Oregon is doing better than many states when it comes to electrifying transportation, but could do more, according to a new report…

Climate action groups hope Oregon lawmakers will do more work to electrify transportation this session. (vivalapenler/Adobe Stock)

OR Climate Action Groups Push Multi-Pronged Approach in 2021 Session

SALEM, Ore. -- Climate-action groups are outlining their priorities for the 2021 legislative session in Oregon. In the previous two sessions…

The technology already exists to make Oregon homes completely sustainable, but not everyone knows how to get it. (Theresa Hogue/Oregon State University)

Oregonians 'Go Zero' for Sustainable Building Week

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Next week, Oregonians will get a peek into the greener future of homes. Monday is the start of the third annual Sustainable …

A $250 million wildlife crossing pilot program is included in the Senate version of a major transportation bill. (Oregon Department of Transportation/Flickr)

Wildlife Advocates Push for Highway Crossing Funding

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Highway crossings play an integral role in keeping drivers and wildlife safe. Wildlife advocates want the U.S. House of …

Wildlife crossings for U.S. Highway 97 in central Oregon could serve as templates for the rest of the state. (Simon Wray/ODFW)

Survey: Strong Support in OR for Protecting Wildlife Migration Routes

PORTLAND, Ore. - Most Oregonians want to protect wildlife migration corridors, according to the latest poll results. The survey - commissioned by …

Gov. Kate Brown kept her promise to enact sweeping climate action if it didn't come from the Oregon Legislature this year. (Oregon Dept. of Transportation/Flickr)

Conservation Groups Praise OR Governor's Climate Action

SALEM, Ore. -- Stymied at the Oregon Legislature, conservation groups are celebrating an extensive list of climate actions from Gov. Kate Brown…

The AARP Community Challenge grant is seeking proposals that make places such as parks vibrant places for people of all ages. (Mediteraneo/adobe stock)

Grant Program Seeking Ideas to Make Communities Age-Friendly

SALEM, Ore. -- Communities around Oregon have a chance to fund quick action projects that bring people of all ages together. The AARP Community …

Salem, Ore., Mayor Chuck Bennett says his city is planning to make itself more friendly for older Oregonians. (City of Salem)

OR State Leaders Tackle How to Make Cities Age-Friendly

PORTLAND, Ore. – AARP is holding a summit Monday to explore how to make cities great places for people of all ages to live. The Age-Friendly …

The Oregon Legislature passed a bill that requires cities to allow mixed housing types, such as tiny homes. (Mark McClure/Sightline Institute)

Build Small, Live Large - Summit Encourages Oregonians

PORTLAND, Ore. — A conference next month will explore how tiny homes can be a big part of life in Oregon. The Build Small Live Large 2019 …

A revitalization project in downtown Salem is one of the grantees for the 2019 Community Challenge program. (M.O. Stevens/Wikimedia Commons)

OR Cities, Organizations Selected for AARP Community Grants

SALEM, Ore. – Three community projects in Oregon have been selected to receive grants from the 2019 AARP Community Challenge program. The …

Oregon lawmakers passed the first bill in the nation that will allow cities to ban single-family zoning. (Sightline Institute/Flickr)

OR Lawmakers Pass Nation's First Bill Curtailing Single-Family Zoning

SALEM, Ore. — A historic bill that could strike at Oregon's housing affordability crisis is on its way to the governor's desk. After Senate …

Accessible transportation and affordable housing are important parts of making cities friendly for people of all ages. (Randy Rasmussen/AARP Oregon)

Gov. Brown Declares Age-Friendly Oregon Day

SALEM, Ore. — Gov. Kate Brown has proclaimed today Age-Friendly Oregon Day, recognizing communities' efforts to make the state livable for …

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has made transportation a priority during her tenure in office. (SupportPDX/Flickr)

What Does Future of Transportation Look Like for Oregonians?

PORTLAND, Ore. — Events in Oregon this week will focus on the future of transportation and the livability of cities. The Livability Solutions …

A proposal to end single-family zoning could allow for denser housing in Oregon cities. (jonryanjohnson/Twenty20)

Could Oregon Become First State to End Single-Family Zoning?

PORTLAND, Ore. — In an effort to tackle the affordable housing crisis, Oregon could end single-family zoning this legislative session. Oregon …

Portland airport workers want the city to join workers in New York and New Jersey, where the minimum wage will increase to $19 an hour. (SEIU Local 49)

Airport Workers in Ore., Worldwide Launch Day of Protests

PORTLAND, Ore. — Airport workers around the world are holding a day of action today to call for better wages and working conditions. Portland …

Under NEPA, federal agencies must review the environmental impact of infrastructure projects, such as Oregon's dams. (U.S. Forest Service/Flickr)

White House, Congress Take Aim at Environmental Review Law

PORTLAND, Ore. – A law for evaluating the environmental impact of infrastructure projects is being targeted for changes by the White House and …

Portlanders have easy walking access to the amenities they need, ranking the city high on AARP's Livability Index. (AARP Oregon)

Communities' Livability Scored on New AARP Map

PORTLAND, Ore. – The AARP Public Policy Institute has launched a map that scores the livability of communities across the country. Folks can …

A 2017 law requires Oregon to upgrade older, diesel-powered school buses by 2025. (tmeanes77/Twenty20)

Report: Ore. Plans "Electrifying" Replacement for Diesel Buses

PORTLAND, Ore. - Oregon has announced it will replace hundreds of old diesel-powered school buses, and a new report suggests that replacing them with …

AARP is making 12 stops across Oregon to hear from people on how to make communities more age-friendly. (kaboompics/Flickr)

Listening Tour Explores How to Make Ore. Communities Age-Friendly

ASTORIA, Ore. – AARP is kicking off a listening tour across Oregon to hear what people love about their communities and would make them more …

The Pacific Northwest is preparing itself for the big one � a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake that could devastate the region. (USGS/Wikimedia Commons)

Is Our Fear of Earthquakes Grounded in Facts?

PORTLAND, Ore. – The scene starts with the ground shaking violently. By the end, there's mass pandemonium. Disaster movies frequently depict …

Bonneville Dam is one of many in the Columbia River basin. (Colleen Benelli/Flickr)

Negotiations on Columbia River Treaty to Start in 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – Columbia River Treaty negotiations between the United States and Canada are set to begin in 2018, and advocates for the …

The Oregon Legislature this year passed a bill that will offer rebates up to $2,500 to electric-vehicle purchasers. (Oregon Department of Transportation/Flickr)

Future Still Bright for Electric Vehicles in Ore. Even If Tax Credit is Axed

PORTLAND, Ore. – The auto industry and supporters of electric vehicles don't want to see Congress put the brakes on an electric vehicle tax …

Oregonians are gathering at the Capitol today to push legislators to help ease the state's housing crisis. (AARP)

Advocates Urge Oregon to Act to Ease Housing Crisis

SALEM, Ore. – Oregon's popularity as an attractive destination has had a side effect on housing markets across the state. Oregonians face …

Oregon received a mix of grades on an annual report card assessing the state's transition to clean energy. (Karen Murphy/Flickr)

Oregon Grades Mixed on Clean-Energy Report Card

SALEM, Ore. – A new report card on Oregon's transition to clean energy shows a mix of successes and failures. The state received an A-minus …

A new report says autonomous vehicles could make transportation much easier for people with disabilities. (smoothgroover22/Flickr)

Will Self-Driving Cars Help People with Disabilities?

SALEM, Ore. - Oregon and the rest of the country are preparing for self-driving cars to hit the roadways, and new research says the technology could …

Oregon is looking into ways to make its electrical grid more secure in the wake of a potential disaster like the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. (USGS/Wikimedia Commons)

Oregon Exploring Ways to Protect Electric Grid on Coast from Catastrophe

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon will be getting some help in preparing its energy grid for natural disasters such as the large Cascadia earthquake …

Gasoline designated Top Tier could keep engines 19 times cleaner than non-Top Tier gas. (Pixabay)

Choose the Gas that's Best for Your Car This Summer

PORTLAND, Ore. – On the road this summer, you might want to check the type of gasoline you're putting into your vehicle. A new American …

In lieu of a ballot measure to end the use of coal power in Oregon, major utilities offered to negotiate a transition plan and timeline. (columbia114/morguefile)

New "Energy Transition Plan" Proposed for Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. - A new approach and new timeline for state energy policy awaits the Oregon Legislature for consideration. Utilities, clean-energy …

Some Oregon companies could use the U.N. climate agreement in Paris to share their clean-energy savvy with developing nations. (kconnors/morguefile)

Climate Deal May Be "Historic," But Changes Slow to Come

PORTLAND, Ore. - The big climate agreement in Paris over the weekend is expected to have a variety of effects in Oregon and along the West Coast…

Oregon's solar power fields are among the state's fastest growing for new jobs in the past five years, according to a Delphi Institute report. Credit: Jusben/morguefile.com

Oregon, Other West Coast States Gaining Jobs through Clean Economy

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon has gained about 4,800 jobs in the past five years in fields that are part of the clean economy, according to a new …

Portland International Airport janitor Julie Hayden spoke at a national rally this week in support of a $15 minimum wage and the right to join a union. Courtesy: SEIU

No Walkout, But Same Concerns for Portland Airport Workers

PORTLAND, Ore. - Oregon's busiest airport isn't among the seven where service workers went on strike on Thursday, but janitors, baggage handlers…

No matter how remote the area, the Federal Communications Commission says broadband Internet access should be possible within the next few years. Photo near Plush, Ore., by Chris Thomas

Rural Oregon Waits a Bit Longer for Broadband

PORTLAND, Ore. - Just over 50,000 homes and businesses in Oregon are on the list to get a broadband Internet connection - some for the first time…

Surely signs such as this won't be necessary to get Oregon motorists to slow down, pay attention and reduce the number of fatal crashes involving older pedestrians. Credit: Ariadna/Morguefile.

Statewide Survey: Oregon's a Tough Place for Pedestrians

PORTLAND, Ore. – The U.S. Surgeon General decreed on Wednesday that walking should be a bigger priority to improve the nation's health – …

The Columbia River Gorge is known for its scenic views and world-class windsurfing, but it is increasingly becoming a corridor for crude oil shipments by rail. Credit: Wikipedia.

Oil Train Safety Rules Challenged by Groups from Oregon to New York

PORTLAND, Ore. – New federal rules proposed for oil train safety don't do enough to ensure emergency responders know when trains are coming …

PHOTO: Not all the structural problems of Oregon bridges are age-related. ODOT crews also stay busy repairing damage caused by vehicles. Photo courtesy Oregon Dept. of Transportation.

With Funding in Limbo, Oregon Bridges Await Repair

SALEM, Ore. - There's a good news and bad for Oregon in a report on how states are doing in keeping bridges safe and in good repair. The American …

PHOTO: It was a standing-room-only crowd at Wednesday's Port of Portland Commission meeting, as workers for airport service subcontractors shared their concerns and heard commissioners' preliminary suggestions for improving Portland International Airport as a workplace. Photo credit: Jesse Stemmler.

Port Commissioners Hear from Portland Airport Contract Workers

PORTLAND, Ore. - Workers at Portland International Airport (PDX) got a chance on Wednesday to address their concerns directly to the Port Commission …

PHOTO: The nonprofit group Solar Oregon has a two-year goal to add 10,000 more homes and businesses across the state to the list of those powered by energy from the sun. A federal tax credit for solar installations is set to expire at the end of 2016. Photo credit: Farina6000/FeaturePics.com.

Solar-Power Advocates Have Big Plans for Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. - This has been a bright year for solar power in Oregon and the more than 130 businesses around the state that are associated with it…

PHOTO: A 58,000-acre parcel of public land, Sutton Mountain could be protected as federal wilderness now that local government has signed off on a plan that includes adding amenities to Wheeler County services. Photo credit: Copyright Jim Davis. Used with permission.

Sutton Mountain Wilderness Proposal Moves Forward

MITCHELL, Ore. – A potential new wilderness area for Wheeler County appears to have the support it needs to get it to Congress after a decade …

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