Oregon News & Current Events | Public News Service

Along with the increase in the number of family caregivers, their stints are getting longer. The study found 30% have been caregiving for more than five years, a significant increase since 2020. (Marco/Adobe Stock)

Report: OR programs work to help family caregivers

More people are providing care at home for aging family members or those with disabilities - and a new study says they face mounting financial and emo…

Microgrids can provide up to 10 megawatts of power, enough to power approximately 2,000 homes, and can be equipped with batteries for storage. (Oulailux/Adobe Stock)

Landmark microgrid legislation boon for rural Oregon

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has signed into law the first set of statewide policies in the country supporting community-owned microgrids. Microgrids are …

Americans generate more than 35 million tons of plastic waste every year, almost all of which ends up in a landfill or is incinerated. (diy13/Adobe Stock)

OR scores 'good' in fight against plastic pollution

Oregon has received good marks in the fight against plastic pollution. This month is Plastic-Free July and a report called "The United States of …

Beth and David Chase at their new Home in Sisters, OR last fall. (Habitat for Humanity, Sisters)<br />

OR funding for affordable homeownership dwindles

The latest round of state-funded LIFT Homeownership grants will fund 239 new affordable homes across Oregon. Previous LIFT grants totaling over $100…

April's Clean Water Lobby Day was held by Oregon Rural Action and the Stand Up to Factory Farms Coalition in Salem. (Oregon Rural Action)

Environmentalists: OR's new groundwater law too diluted to be effective

Environmental groups say Oregon's new groundwater law, meant to curb pollution, has been diluted to the point they can no longer support it. …

Workers pose in front of supplies in Wasco County. (Columbia Gorge Food Bank)

OR Food Bank vital to Rowena Fire recovery efforts

It has been about three weeks since the Rowena Fire in Oregon's Columbia Gorge was put out, and the local food bank remains vital to recovery efforts…

Nationwide the recommended ratio of students to counselors is 250 to 1, Oregon is over that number at 330 to 1. (Adobe Stock)

Survey finds gaps in how high school students learn about post-grad options

Most Gen Z high school students and their parents are unaware of the range of options available to kids after graduation, according to a new survey…

Protesters gathered in Baker City on July 2nd to protest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. (Partners for a Hunger-free Oregon)

Anti-hunger groups warn OR must backfill federal SNAP cuts

Oregon lawmakers would have to find an extra $850 million in the state budget starting in 2028 to cover cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance …

Laboratory technicians were among the 1,100 employees at Portland's Providence St. Vincent Hospital recently voting to join Service Employees International Union Local 49. (Adobe Stock)

Portland hospital workers vote to organize, join service employees union

More than 1,100 caregivers at Portland's Providence St. Vincent Medical Center have voted to unionize, joining the Service Employees International …

Rogue Climate staff and volunteers are seen at the community-led Fire Relief Center, following the Almeda Fire in the Rogue Valley in 2020. (Rogue Climate)

Oregon state budget defunds climate resiliency programs

Oregon's new state budget cuts funding for programs intended to protect residents from extreme weather and make renewable energy more accessible…

Oregonians' formal volunteer hours are worth about $3.2 billion a year. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Spotlighting Oregon's most impactful volunteers

AARP Oregon has opened up nominations for its prestigious award for volunteerism. For the Andrus Award for Community Service, the organization will …

Despite the area's beauty, a decades-old waste disposal site lies underwater around Bonneville Dam, leaching toxic levels of mercury and lead as well as industrial chemicals known as PCBs. (thecolorpixels/Adobe Stock)

Some fish around Bonneville Dam remain unsafe to eat

As outdoor recreation picks up for summer, a clean-water advocacy group reminds people that some fish around Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River are …

The new law could increase people's credit score by 20 points on average. (Delmaine Donson/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

New law strikes medical debt from Oregonians' credit scores

A bill prohibiting credit reporting on Oregonians' medical debt has been signed into law by Gov. Tina Kotek. Hailed as a significant victory for …

A new Oregon law requires the Housing and Community Services Department to create a public homeownership goal dashboard. It will track statewide progress as well as regional and racial disparities. (mavoimages/Adobe Stock)

OR passes homeownership goal, defunds homeownership programs

Advocates for homeownership in Oregon are celebrating a new bill which sets targets to boost the state's homeownership rate, currently at 64%…

Christina Eastman, a fifth-generation farmer who is a co-founder of Farmers Against Foster Farms. Her farm is located next to a proposed CAFO site which has now been blocked. (Kendra Kimbirauskas)

OR farmers block construction of new factory farm

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient Climate.Broadcast version by Isobel Charle for Oregon News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

The old-growth forest-dwelling Pine Marten is one of hundreds of species in Oregon in need of habitat protection to avoid becoming endangered. (Wikimedia Commons)

Conservationists pin hopes on OR's ‘1% for Wildlife’ bill

In the last few weeks of the Oregon Legislative Session, wildlife advocates say the state has an opportunity to make needed progress in conservation …

While Oregon ranked poorly for education overall, the 2025 Kids Count Data Book showed high school graduation rates are up in the state, as well as nationwide. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Kids Count report shows Oregon kids falling behind in education

Oregon maintained a troubling ranking, holding at 43rd in the nation for children's education, according to the 2025 Kids Count Data Book, a national …

Volunteers growing taro in Oregon, a crop that is a fundamental part of Hawaiian traditions. (KALO HCC)

OR groups fighting hunger: People need culturally specific food

As food insecurity rises across the state, groups fighting hunger are highlighting the need for food that is not only nutritious, but culturally …

Solar dominated new U.S. energy additions in 2024, accounting for 66% of all electricity-generating capacity installed. (Dmitry/Adobe Stock)

OR experts warn not all solar promotions are trustworthy

As utility rates rise in Oregon, data shows home solar panels are becoming more popular. However, experts warn of increasing misinformation and …

Along with helping in the classroom, proponents of the Early School Success program said it has helped deepen connections between schools and families. As students became more engaged, families reported greater trust and partnership with educators. (spyrakot/Adobe Stock)

Report: Consistency key to success of innovative OR school program

Student engagement and staff collaboration are both up in some Oregon schools and a new report found it is the result of a unique approach to supporti…

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said one in every 435 people living in the United States is currently homeless, an 18% increase from last year. (Crystal Madsen/Adobe Stock)

Among OR's rising homelessness, sweeps continue

With rates of homelessness on the rise, advocates are decrying plans to remove a long-standing camp from the Sandy River Delta, also known as …

The Northern Spotted Owl first gained critical habitat protection in 1992 and has since been the subject of many protracted legal battles between the timber industry and environmentalists. (PKZ/Adobe Stock)

OR conservation groups intervene to protect spotted owl habitat

Conservation groups are pushing back on a timber industry lawsuit brought against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, seeking to remove Northern …

Supporters of Oregon's Immigrant Justice Package rallied at the Capitol. (Oregon Food Bank)

Coalition calls on OR lawmakers to pass immigrant justice package

In response to increasing federal threats to immigrant communities, including cuts to food assistance and deportations, a coalition of more than 100 …

Advanced Practice Providers hold up signs during the OHSU Board of Directors' public session on April 25. (Oregon Nurses Association)

Health care providers struggle for first OHSU union contract

Oregon Health and Science University's Advanced Practice Providers, a title encompassing nurse practitioners, physician associates and midwives…

For rural hospitals that are able to stay afloat, the report notes a decline in obstetrical services. (Misha/Adobe Stock)

Report: Rural OR depends on Medicaid to cover childbirth

Oregon is one of the top ten states with the highest share of women of childbearing age covered by Medicaid in rural areas. That's according to a new …

About 19% of electricity in the United States is produced by nuclear plants. (Maksym Yemelyanov/Adobe Stock)

Oregon groups rally against proposed nuclear reactor

As Oregon legislators consider the possibility of allowing a nuclear reactor in Umatilla County, opponents rallied at the State Capitol this week to …

In 2022, children accounted for about 40% of all SNAP participants. (Natalie Kiyah, Oregon Food Bank)

SNAP cuts would hit Oregon's wallet hard

SNAP, the federal program which helps feed 42 million Americans, including 700,000 Oregonians, faces cuts under the Trump Administration's huge …

Oregon House Bill 3178 shortens the window car dealers have to secure the consumer's loan through a financial institution from 14 to 4 days, and requires more transparency. (Yuliia/Adobe Stock)

Five OR consumer protection bills move closer to becoming law

Consumer rights advocates are celebrating five bills that passed the First Chamber deadline in Salem, moving closer to becoming law. The bills are …

Along with bamboo, plastic alternatives are biodegradable and can be made from vegetable fats and oils, cornstarch, straw, woodchips, sawdust and recycled food waste. (Jaimie/Adobe Stock)

Tariffs hit OR plastic alternatives market

Tariffs are disrupting supply chains from China, making it harder for reusable alternatives to compete with single-use plastics. Jeffrey Delkin…

Data is big business. By 2028, the data broker market is expected to reach a value of $407.5 billion. (Pongsak/Adobe Stock)<br />

New tool helps OR consumers protect personal data online

A new tool aims to equip Oregonians with the knowledge they need to take control of their personal data and protect their privacy online. Oregon …

Oregon Food Bank President Andrea Williams sits with dozens of kids, parents and advocates before entering the Oregon State Capitol. (Oregon Food Bank)

Salem 'snack-in' calls for food benefits for all OR children

Families gathered at the Oregon State Capitol for what they called a "snack-in" last week to call attention to child hunger across Oregon. …

Proposals to cut SNAP come on top of a USDA decision in April to cancel 30 truckloads of food bound for Oregon food banks. (Ekkarat_Studio/Adobe Stock)

Federal cuts to food assistance would hit many Oregonians

Groups fighting hunger in Oregon are urging residents to speak up if they are concerned about the cuts Congress could make to food, health care and …

All employers in Oregon are now required to offer OregonSaves, a free service, to their employees if they do not already offer a retirement savings program. (Brian Jackson/Adobe Stock)

OR leads the way with state retirement savings plan

Oregonians have saved nearly $350 million for retirement through OregonSaves, a program allowing employees without workplace plans to automatically …

May Day is a traditional day for the immigrant rights movement to uplift workers and honor immigrant families. Undocumented immigrants contributed nearly $700 million in taxes to Oregon in 2023. (Susan Vineyard/Adobe Stock)

A May Day mayday: A distress call for immigrant rights rally Thursday

On May 1, Oregon labor and immigrants' rights organizations are gathering in Salem calling for justice for immigrant workers and an end to mass …

The Bonneville Dam is located on the Columbia River near Cascade Locks, Oregon. (Martina/Adobe Stock)

Bonneville Power energy market choice impacts NW environment

A major player in the Northwest's energy landscape is considering changes in the future, as extreme climate events make power delivery in Oregon more …

In addition to house paint, PaintCare sites also accept primers, stains, sealers and clear coatings such as shellac and varnish. (Ernest/Adobe Stock)

OR hits recycling milestone: 10 million gallons of paint

Oregonians have recycled more than 10 million gallons of leftover paint through the nonprofit PaintCare. The PaintCare program allows people to …

Seasonal allergies are expensive when they result in missed work and school days along with high medical costs. (WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Coping with OR's climate change-fueled pollen season

Oregon's pollen season is starting earlier and lasting longer, thanks to climate change, with research showing airborne pollen levels increasing more …

Despite being only 13% of the population, Black people were 28% of those killed by police in 2024.(Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

5 years after George Floyd's death, OR police reform is 'slow'

Five years after George Floyd's murder by a white police officer sparked nationwide protests and demands for police reform, progress remains slow…

State-funded program needs boost to help more Oregonians save money

A state-funded matched savings program has helped low-income Oregonians for more than 25 years and backers said it needs more funding to continue…

Rates of hunger are rising in Oregon and across the country, with Black and Latino families experiencing food insecurity at nearly double the rate of white households. (Natalie Kiyah, Oregon Food Bank)

Food advocates: extend benefits to all OR children

Each legislative session, Oregon's Joint Ways & Means Committee holds a statewide roadshow to hear from residents about their priorities. At the …

Oregon earned a point on the State Energy Efficiency Scorecard for supporting the industrial sector's electrification. (anatoliycherkas/Adobe Stock)

Oregon scores 9th in the nation for energy efficiency

Oregon ranked ninth this year on The State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a nonprofit research …

Participants in Multnomah County's Nurse-Family Partnership program experience a 56% reduction in ER visits for accidents and poisonings. (KAMPUS/Adobe Stock)

Nurses Union: Stop Multnomah County public health cuts

Multnomah County plans major public health cuts to address a $21 million budget gap and the Oregon Nurses Association said the cuts put programs for f…

In 2023, the USDA gave Oregon just over $2 million for the federal Farm to School reimbursement grant. Those funds have now been cancelled. (Robert Kneschke/Adobe Stock)

OR hunger-fighting advocates: USDA cuts 'cruel'

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is cutting two federal programs that provide over $1 billion annually to support schools and food banks in …

At the current rate, there will be eight replacement health care job openings for every one new job added by 2033. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

OR health care professionals have cure for dwindling workforce

Oregon does not have enough health care workers and the need continues to grow. Service Employees International Union Local 49 members said …

About one-third of the legislation targeting trans people's rights across the country is focused on schools. (vivalapenler/Adobe Stock)

Honoring OR trans lives amid hostile political climate

Today is International Trans Day of Visibility, to recognize the contributions of transgender people in society - and raise awareness of the …

In 2010, the passage of Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act was extended to include banks. (PheelingsMedia/Adobe Stock)

Legislation would protect OR consumers from unfair insurance practices

New legislation would bring the insurance industry under Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act. Supporters said the change would protect consumers …

People from across Oregon rally together before speaking with legislators. Research shows that during a slowing economy, 1-billion dollars in new SNAP benefits would lead to an increase of 1.54- billion dollars in GDP. (Oregon Food Bank)

Supporters rally for Food for All Oregonians bill

Hundreds of people from across Oregon gathered in Salem for an advocacy day last week, urging lawmakers to pass what's known as the Food for All …

Data show integrating community health workers into the health care system creates more cost-effective and sustainable care. (buritora/Adobe Stock)

OR community health workers get a boost from tech

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Isobel Charle for Oregon News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Servic…

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