heatherroberts

Last week, the Oregon House passed a bill that attempts to help homeowners in high-risk fire areas keep their insurance.  Some property owners report losing coverage.  Medford-area state Senator Jeff Golden said the bill directs the state to help communities take action to reduce wildfire risk.   "All prope...

A rural Oregon fire district has a Hollywood celebrity to thank for new safety equipment.  Southwest Polk Fire, in Dallas, just received a sizable grant from the Gary Sinise Foundation, allowing the fire district west of Salem to buy ten full sets of turnouts for firefighters.   ...

Oregon voters could decide whether to raise the bar on the initiative petition process.  Currently, paid signature gatherers focus on the metro area, where it's easy to fill petition sheets.  But state Senator Todd Nash said that ignores rural Oregon.   "Getting i...

Oregon lawmakers are trying to find a regular source of funding to pay for fighting wildfires.  Fighting wildfires across the state costs around $300 million annually.  The Legislature is trying to find a regular source to pay that bill, instead of relying only on the general fund.  State Senator Fre...

State lawmakers are looking for new ways to fund wildland firefighting efforts in Oregon.  2024 was a record year for the size and cost of wildfires across the Beaver State.  Doug Graf, Governor Tina Kotek’s advisor on wildfire prevention, told lawmakers last week they can't keep going to the general fund.   "The sustainable...

Oregon Food Bank officials met Thursday with Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, to discuss USDA cuts to hunger programs.  President Andrea Williams said they never received an official notification of the funding cuts, but are no longer able to order food through federal systems.   “...

A controversial law involving Oregon’s Wildfire Risk Map would be repealed, under a bill in the Legislature.  The map would have required property owners to take steps to reduce wildfire risk on their property.  Derrick Wheeler, with the Department of Forestry, said the new bill would remove those requirements.   "It removes the ...

Oregon berry farmers will start hiring for summer in just a few months, but some worry new federal immigration policies will lead to a labor shortage.  Narendra Varma grows a variety of vegetables and berries at his Sherwood farm and said it’s always a challenge to ramp up hiring ahead of summer.  But this seas...

If you’re feeling extra tired Monday, after Sunday’s time change, you’re not alone.  Oregon Health and Science University Sleep Specialist Dr. Andrew McHill said not only did everyone across the Northwest lose an hour of sleep, we’re also forcing our internal body clock to artificially adjust, and that can lead to significant health and safety issues on Monday.   "It’s the day you’re mor... R

Clocks change to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday.   But two bills in the Oregon Legislature could eventually make that twice-a-year change obsolete.  State Senator Dick Anderson wants Standard Time all year.   "A growing body of research has shown that regions in countries that have abolished Daylight Saving Time, such as Arizona and Hawaii, have seen positive results," he noted.     Stat