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Oregon Heritage Commission to meet July 21-22 in Coos Bay and online
The Oregon Heritage Commission will meet July21-22 in Coos Bay and online. The agenda includes a report from the University of Oregon Institute for Policy Research and Engagement project team on the 2024 Oregon Heritage Vitality Study, a summary and discussion of a report on addressing harmful content in collections, an application for the Heritage Tradition designation, and recommendations for the Commission’s FY25 Oregon Cultural Trust Partner Funds Grant. This meeting is open to the public and there is an opportunity at the beginning of...
Southern Oregon residents worry state isn’t monitoring water quality closely enough after arsenic scare
Teresa Blazer has lived at Rogue Meadows for nine years. It’s a tidy mobile home park in the town of Shady Cove, just off the Rogue River where her retired husband regularly catches his daily limit of Chinook and coho salmon. In February, by chance, Blazer found out she...
New Goodwill location set to open in December
ASHLAND, Ore. – Ashland’s Goodwill store is expanding to a new and bigger location. The new location will include more parking and more accessibility. In addition to a larger store another Job Connection Center will open. It provides essential job readiness and support for those in need, they plan to serve 300 community members in 2025 with these services. It will also offer an 8-week paid internship program.
Gov. Kotek proposes three steps to increase state school fund by a half-billion dollars
Last year, Oregon public schools celebrated the historic investment of $10.2 billion to the State School Fund. It did not take long, however, for this victory to lose some of its shine. Following the Portland Educator Association strike in November, which resulted in 11 lost instructional days, and a spring of school budget cuts across Oregon, many are wondering how the state can guarantee more school funding in 2025. On...
Temperatures up to 110 degrees forecast until Monday night
On Thursday at 1:22 p.m. an excessive heat warning was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until Monday at 11 p.m. for Oregon Lower Treasure Valley. The weather service adds to anticipate, "Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures from 105 to 110 degrees. The hottest temperatures will occur Sunday afternoon."
Oregon governor orders flags to half-staff in honor of late Senate President Peter Courtney
Gov. Tina Kotek ordered flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at half-staff effective immediately until sunset on Thursday, July 18, in memory of the life and service of Peter Courtney, the former president of the Oregon State Senate and longest-serving state legislator in Oregon history. “President Courtney truly lived by example: he cared deeply for our state, for the people that he worked with, and above all, for his family with vigor, compassion and courage,” Kotek said in a written statement. “It was an honor to serve alongside him and I know his legacy will live on through his many efforts on behalf of Oregonians and in the memory of those who knew him.” Courtney died Tuesday, July 16. He was 81. Kotek’s office first announced the news that Courtney died of complications from cancer in his home, surrounded by family.
Oregon authorities recover body of award-winning chef who drowned in river accident
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Oregon authorities said Wednesday that they have recovered the body of award-winning chef Naomi Pomeroy following her drowning in a river accident. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office said it located her body Wednesday morning in the Willamette River between Corvallis and Albany after canoers saw it and called 911.
Pea-sized hail expected with thunderstorms to hit Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon and Southern Blue Mountains of Oregon Wednesday
A weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service on Wednesday at 4:28 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until 5 p.m. for Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon and Southern Blue Mountains of Oregon. The storms are packing wind gusts of up to 40 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches). "At...
Oregon farmer says she can't afford to pay workers overtime, now that it's required
ALBANY, Ore. — In 2022, the Oregon Legislature passed a landmark bill requiring overtime pay for farm workers. It gave employers a gradual ramp-up, so they won't be paying overtime after a 40-hour week until 2027. But since the beginning of last year, farms have needed to pay time and a half when workers exceed 55 hours.
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