heatherroberts

Governor Tina Kotek has issued two more drought declarations in Central Oregon.  The emergency declarations for Deschutes and Grant counties clear the way for state coordination of resources in an area now in its fourth year of drought.  ...

It's looking more and more likely that COVID vaccinations will be similar to flu shots.  Oregon State Health Officer Dr. Dean Sidelinger said the COVID vaccines are effective.   "The current COVID-19 bivalent booster that we got, it seems to be holding up and offering effective protection against severe disease and death."   Side...

A proposed bill in Salem would impose a moratorium on new mega farms in Oregon.  Lawmakers are considering two amendments to either pause new licensing of all factory farms for eight years, or only the largest poultry farms for two years.  Lucy Go...

Oregon’s junior senator is pushing for more funding for the U.S. Forest Service.  Jeff Merkley Chairs the Interior Subcommittee, which held hearings last week on the Administration’s proposed budget for the Forest Service.  That funding has do...

The potato is one step closer to becoming the state vegetable of Oregon.  State Senator Bill Hansell posed this question before this week's vote.   "Should the potato the Oregon vegetable be, or not to be, that is the question before us."   Hans...

Pile burning, and the smoke it produces, could soon be a thing of the past in Oregon.  Via a pilot project, the Bureau of Land Management is testing the CharBoss Air Curtain Incinerator to burn the debris left behind from hazard tree logging efforts.   “It’ ...

The potato would become the Oregon state vegetable under a resolution in the legislature.  Potatoes are the top selling vegetable in Oregon, with growers harvesting over 2.5 billion pounds of spuds each year.   "Nothing rises to the stature of the potato as far as jobs produced, as far as products shipped, and as far as farm gate dollars coming in," said State Senator Bill Hansell.   &qu

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is scheduled to visit Oregon this weekend.  Senator Jeff Merkley said he’s asked the Secretary for some time to come to the state and talk about important investments in tourism.   “To discuss public recreation on public lands, which, we have these extraordinary lands that are in our collective ownership.  And we want to make sure...

Oregon agriculture is in a unique position, with two members on the House Ag Committee working on the 2023 Farm Bill.  Republican freshman Lori Chavez-DeRemer said she wants public input.   “This is going to be a large farm bill. I’m meeting with fa...

Oregon lawmakers are considering whether to bring the healthcare marketplace under state control, instead of healthcare.gov.  Oregonians who don't get health insurance from an employer and aren't eligible for the Oregon Health Plan can buy insurance through the federal website Healthcare.gov.  Chi...