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Tributes pour in following death of longtime Oregon politician Peter Courtney
Oregon officials released statements Tuesday in the wake of Peter Courtney's death. Courtney, 81, was the longest-serving legislator and Senate president in state history. “It is with incredible sadness that I share the news today of the passing of Peter Michael Coleman Courtney, the former President of the Oregon State Senate and longest-serving state legislator in Oregon history. The First Lady and I ask that Oregonians hold Peter’s family – his wife Margie, their children, and grandchildren – in their hearts and prayers.“President Courtney was a friend and ally in supporting an Oregon where everyone can find success and community. His life story, the way he embraced Oregon and public service, and his love for the institution of the Oregon Legislature leaves a legacy that will live on for decades.“He led through times of prosperity and times of struggle – including the great recession and the COVID-19 pandemic – with a steadfast commitment to protecting people and making their lives better. His tenure in the legislature is marked by incredible triumphs, earned through his genuine statesmanship and enormous heart.“I want to recognize President Courtney for being one of the most important architects of our state in recent memory. At his core, Peter believed that we need to take care of each other, live with compassion for our neighbors, and get big things done, together. These Oregon values will live on in his name.”
30,000 children in low-income Oregon families missing out on extra food benefits
Thousands of low-income Oregon families are leaving food money on the table this summer. The Department of Human Services said Monday, July 15, that families with 320,000 children have received extra food assistance for the summer but families with another 30,000 children who qualify need to apply. The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children, or Summer EBT, provides a one-time payment of $120 per child to help low-income families...
BLM plans ‘helicopter gather,’ removal of 760 horses in South Steens Herd Management Area in SE Oregon
HINES, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Bureau of Land Management announced tentative plans Tuesday to gather with use of a helicopter 760 "excess" wild horses within and immediately adjacent to the Souths Steens Herd Management Area in southeast Oregon. "The helicopter gather would begin around August 15, and BLM officials...
Oregonians should be aware of power companies’ potential safety measures
The Public Safety Power Shutoff is a little-used method meant to keep electrical equipment from sparking a wildfire, but it’s one Oregonians should prepare for. Pacific Power spokesperson Simon Gutierrez said such shutoffs are rare, and the company has only implemented it once in Oregon, in 2022. Utilities have to weigh the risks of cutting power for vital services such as communication and fueling, with the possible risks to lives and structures from a wildfire.
Feds award $1.5 billion toward replacement Interstate 5 bridge
Federal transportation officials on Friday awarded $1.5 billion toward a replacement for the Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River. The grant, awarded from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s fund for major bridge projects, brings the total federal allocation to $2.1 billion, and could put the project within reach of its expected price tag — if bridge crossings are tolled to cover the remaining cost. Oregon and Washington have each pledged $1 billion in state funds.
Peter Courtney, Oregon’s longest-serving state lawmaker, dies at 81
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Peter Courtney, Oregon’s longest-serving lawmaker and a politician who was known for his bipartisanship and skills as a dealmaker, died Tuesday, officials said. He was 81. Courtney died of complications from cancer at his home in Salem, Gov. Tina Kotek said in a statement.
Award-winning Oregon chef Naomi Pomeroy drowns in river accident
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Naomi Pomeroy, an award-winning chef who helped put Portland on the map as a culinary destination, has drowned in an inner tubing accident, authorities said. She was 49 years old. Pomeroy drowned Saturday evening in the Willamette River near Corvallis after the group she was tubing with got caught on an exposed snag in the water, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Pomeroy was pulled under the water and trapped by a paddle board leash attached to her, Captain Chris Duffitt said. The group had tied their inner tubes and paddle board together. Authorities said they safely recovered the other two people on the shore and transported them to a boat launch. The sheriff’s office said it is still working to recover Pomeroy’s body. It searched the area using sonar, underwater cameras and drones but was unable to find it due to heavy debris.
Oregon Department of Forestry hires two new specialists in battle with beetles
The battle against invasive beetles has gained two new champions. The Oregon Department of Forestry hired two support specialists to aid communities in responding to the infamous emerald ash borer, which are spreading across the state and pose a devastating threat to native ash trees. The hope is Matt Mills and Kat Bethea will help mitigate the threat the green beetles pose. ...
Firefighters rescue 160-pound dog on Saddle Mountain trail in Oregon
A 160-pound Great Pyrenees was rescued from a trail at Saddle Mountain State Natural Area in Oregon on Thursday, July 12. The dog was hiking Saddle Mountain with human companions when he injured his paws on welded wire fencing that had been placed on the trail to improve traction and stability.
30,000 children in low-income Oregon families missing out on extra food benefits
Thousands of low-income Oregon families are leaving food money on the table this summer. The Department of Human Services said Monday, July 15, that families with 320,000 children have received extra food assistance for the summer but families with another 30,000 children who qualify need to apply. The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children, or Summer EBT, provides a one-time payment of $120 per child to help low-income families...
Around the Northwest, hot, dry, windy weather fuels fires
Dry, hot and windy conditions have communities on alert for wildfire danger across the Pacific Northwest. Those conditions propelled fire growth over the weekend, and more of the same weather is expected this week. In eastern Oregon, two large fires are burning. The Falls Fire that started on Wednesday is...
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