heatherroberts

Much like Washington, the early season snowpack across Oregon is reason for optimism and encouragement.  Some are crediting La Nina for the cooler, wetter weather.  But Matt Warbritton with NRCS said that may be premature.   “We can’t ...

It's Christmas tree harvesting time in Oregon.   "We're deep in the heart of it.  Trucks are rolling this week, especially to the East Coast and the eastern half of the United States.  Those go out first, because it's a little longer trip."   Tom ...

The first case of bird flu found in a pig appears to be here in the Northwest.  State health officials say a pig was infected with bird flu at a Central Oregon farm where the virus was detected in ducks and geese last week.  State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz says f...

Investigators say 17 people face federal charges for conspiring to defraud the U.S. of more than 2.4-million dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program money.  Federal prosecutors in Portland say the group operated in several states as well as on-line via curb pick up programs.   ...

According to the latest numbers from the CDC, cases of Whooping Cough continue to rise nationwide, and Oregon is contributing to the outbreak.  The CDC reports there have been more than 1,700 cases of Pertussis, or Whooping Cough, so far this year.  In 2023...

Starting in 2025, Oregon taxpayers will be able to electronically file their state and federal returns for free.  Both the IRS and Oregon Department of Revenue tested their own “Direct File” programs this past year, but they weren’t connected, but that changes in January.  The state’s Robin Maxey s...

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden wants to increase consumer protections and regulations for hemp-infused beverages, and those in the industry appear to support the effort.  The Democrat spoke at the Pacific Hemp Beverage Industry Summit in Bend last week, telling the group federal regulations would ease the concerns of retail chains who have to deal with different rules in different states.  ...

October is Farm to School Month and many Oregon schools will be taking part.  One goal of the Farm to School program is to get locally grown and caught food to kids in schools.   "Basically, the program works by helping connect producers and ranchers and processors to schools across the state to help them get their products into schools," said Amy Gilroy with the Oregon Department of Agr

Following this year's record fire season in Oregon, legislators are looking ahead to what's next.  Statewide, 1.9 million acres burned in 2024.  State Senator Lynn Findley recently praised a new effort by the State Fire Marshal to send task forces to protect buildings.   "One of th...

This has been a record setting year for wildfires in Oregon, and fire officials say it's the new norm.  Kyle Williams, director of forest protection for the Oregon Department of Forestry, said he thought this was going to be an average year for wildfires, until the heat wave.   ...