heatherroberts

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.   ...

Deer and elk hunters in Oregon have an incentive to get their animals tested for Chronic Wasting Disease.  They can have it for years without showing symptoms, which is why the state tests for it.  Now, Oregon is encouraging outdoor lovers to test their deer and elk for this fatal disease.  Michelle Dennehy,...

Emerald Ash Borer was recently found in additional Oregon counties, and could devastate the state’s native ash trees.  Stefanie Knowlton, with Oregon State Parks, says campers can help slow the spread of the invasive species; by not transporting firewood.   “On it...

A PEMCO insurance poll found 82% of people in the Northwest are concerned about wildfire smoke, but only a quarter do anything about it in their homes.  PEMCO's Jennifer Hawton said it's human nature to procrastinate.   "There's still a hesitancy to take some action, although the actions have increased since the last time we did a study in 2022."   Buyi...

The state of Oregon recently launched a new “Be Two Weeks Ready” toolkit as part of Preparedness Month, to encourage people to be ready for any disaster.  Oregon Department of Emergency Management’s Kayla Thompson acknowledges it’s scary to consider needing to shelter in place, or evacuate.   “I want people to feel e...

Fire season continues in the Pacific Northwest.  But Carol Connolly, with the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, says conditions are improving.   “We just took five large fires off the board over the last 24 hours. Four of those were ...