Oregon is seeking fed approval for a basic health program. Learn more here.

Article by Oregon Public Broadcasting (By Amelia Templeton (OPB)) – SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE

A group of volunteer advisors to the Oregon Health Authority has voted Tuesday to make the state the third in the nation to seek federal approval for a basic health program.

Article by Oregon Public Broadcasting (By Amelia Templeton (OPB)) – SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE

Photo Credits: The emergency wing of the Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center…

Oregon’s new paid family leave program begins in September. Learn more here.

By Emily Harris / AXIOS

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Oregon’s new paid family leave program opened for applications Monday, following four years of preparation — disrupted by COVID — after the Legislature authorized it in 2019 with More

Triple-digit temperatures are forecasted for Oregon and Southwest Washington. Learn more here.

PORTLAND, Ore., KATU — Summer heat is expected to set in for Western Oregon and Southwest Washington with temperatures nearing 100 degrees by Sunday.

The National Weather Service of Portland is issuing an excessive heat watch starting Monday morning for “dangerously hot conditions” and a likely chance of temperatures between 94 and 105 degrees through Thursday.

KATU Meteorologist Dave Salesky said the high temperatures are coupled with an east wind through the Columbia River Gorge, making for critical fire danger.

READ THE ENTIRE KATU ARTICLE HERE

Gov. Kotek signed bills that will address Oregon’s mental health. Learn more here.

KGW8, SALEM, Ore. — Gov. Tina Kotek vowed to make meaningful strides for behavioral health in Oregon on Tuesday. She signed into law six bills that aim to strengthen the state’s response to mental health and substance abuse issues.

“The bills I am signing mark progress towards building a behavioral health continuum of care that incorporates harm reduction, suicide prevention, stronger tools against substance abuse among youth and adults, and improvements to the implementation of Measure 110,” Kotek said to a group of lawmakers and advocates.

Among the bills signed into law, two focus on preventing overdose deaths. More

A new city has been proposed in Deschutes County. Learn more here.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Bend, Redmond, Sisters, La Pine and … Mountain View? That’s the name of a vast new city proposed across 265 square miles of thinly populated Deschutes County southeast of Bend, both north and south of Highway 20, with the “ghost town” of Millican close to its center.

The petition to incorporate what would be the county’s fifth city was submitted in February by resident Andrew Aasen, who more recently announced his candidacy for Oregon’s Fifth District congressional seat.

The proposed nearly 170,000-acre city would extend west at Diamond T Road, bordered on the east at the intersection of U.S. Highway…

Credit: Media Whale Stock – stock.adobe.com.

KGW, PORTLAND, Ore. — Hackers were able to access the personal information of about 1.7 million Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) said Wednesday morning.

Performance Health Technology (PH Tech), a private company that works for health care providers, said hackers broke into the system through a security vulnerability in Progress MOVEit software. It’s the same software that was involved in a global cyberattack in June that impacted the Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services and the Umpqua Bank.

PH Tech said it was told about the problem on June 2, immediately moved their system offline and…

The Bedrock Fire in Willamette Nat’l Forest is 3% contained. Find out more about the fire here.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Bedrock Fire burning east of Eugene in the Willamette National Forest is now 9,568 acres in size and 3% contained, officials say.

The team of firefighters managing the fire stated on July 30 that crews made recent progress in containing the fire.

“Fire personnel are making progress on constructing fire lines in critical areas,” the fire management team said. “On the southwest edge of the fire, [a] line has been completed from Big Fall Creek Road south for more than three miles. Hand crews and heavy equipment continue to work on fire lines along…

The air quality advisory has been extended until the end July. Find out more here.

By Central Oregon Daily News

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency have extended an air quality advisory for Deschutes County and Lane County because of the smoke coming from the Bedrock Fire until at least July 31st.

The DEQ recommends to stay inside whenever possible, avoid areas with high levels of smoke, and to wear N95 masks if you are at risk or have medical conditions. At risk groups, according to the DEQ, include infants, older adults, pregnant people, and people with heart or lung disease.

SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE

Invasive vine mealybugs have been found in Southern Oregon. Find out more here.

By Rolando Hernandez (OPB)

An invasive vine mealybug was found in Southern Oregon in 2021 and since then, vineyards have been fighting to eradicate the insect. The pest can cause significant damage to Oregon’s grape vines, affecting fruit quality and mold growth. State funding from SB 5506 will invest more than $400,000 to monitor, research and suppress the insect before it becomes widespread in the state.

Brian Gruber is the president of the Oregon Winegrowers Association. Greg Jones is the vice chair on the Oregon Wine Board’s board of directors. And Vaughn…

Deschutes and Crook counties are in a state of severe drought. Learn more here.

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Despite experiencing heavy rainfall and a series of spring storms, the majority of Deschutes and Crook counties remain entrenched in a state of severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Consequently, Deschutes Basin irrigation districts are preparing for the need to curtail water as early as mid-July due to the dwindling natural flow in the Deschutes River.

Jeremy Giffin, Deschutes Basin watermaster for the Oregon Water Resources Department, highlighted the significance of the situation, stating, “While recent rainfall has provided some relief, the long-term recovery requires several years of above-average precipitation. Unfortunately, the snowpack we achieved during the winter is…