heatherroberts

Plans to remove four Pacific Corps hydro-electric dams in the lower Klamath River made a big step Friday.  Pacific Powers’ Tom Gauntt said the environmental impact statement released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission provides guidance for the future.   “It sp...

Salem will be rocking this weekend, and for the rest of the month, as the 156th Oregon State gets underway Friday.  This will be the first full-sized state fair since 2019.  Kimberly Jacobson with the Fair said Pavilion events were canceled last year, as COVID restrictions lingered, but they’re back in full force this go-around.   "We have two day...

Despite the spring rains we saw across much of the Pacific Northwest, drought conditions continue for much of Central and Eastern Oregon.  The water year officially ended in July, and Larry O’Neill, with the Oregon Climate Office, says conditions didn’t improve much in the last two months.   “The average...

A study from Oregon State University found where beer ingredients are grown make a big difference; just like with wine grapes.  Researchers chemically analyzed acids and compounds for Cascade and Mosaic hops from the 2020 harvest year, grown in 39 different locations.  ...

While a number of wildfires continue to burn across Oregon, state officials say they have not seen the mega-fires that were anticipated when the fire season started.  Christie Shaw with the Oregon State Fire Marshal said because of a lack of massive wildfires, to date, they’ve been able to be proactive when it comes to fighting the current blazes and where they put personnel.   “...

On Monday, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden met with a local farmer, student and nonprofit organizer in Bend discussing his new effort to reduce fuel prices.  Last week, Wyden unveiled his “Taxing Big Oil Profiteers Act”, and he said it sends a message.   “For ex...

Oregon’s Department of Agriculture is now recommending against all in-person exhibitions of poultry, because of the ongoing epidemic of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.  Bird flu already prevented 4-H students from displaying birds at the Deschutes and Lane County fairs. ODA sa...

Over a million dollars in federal funding is coming to Oregon for firefighting efforts.  Senator Jeff Merkley said it’s a step toward disaster prevention. "These funds go to the fire chiefs to prepare and basically develop their plans for tackling the fires. They’re v...

New artificial intelligence developed at Oregon State University could help protect bees from new pesticides.  Typically, pesticide developers expose a group of bees to a new chemical and if more than 50% survive, it’s deemed nontoxic for these critical pollinators.  But, OSU...

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden says the Inflation Reduction Act, which is now in the U.S. House will help almost every American.  Oregon's senior Senator points to the $20 billion included for climate-smart agriculture. "It empowers farmers to make decisions, with respect to drought mitigation, how to promote carbon sequestration - our farmers are so well positioned to sequester carbon, and that’s