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

Image Courtesy Bedrock Fire 2023 Facebook

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KVAL, SALEM, Ore. – Five CalOES strike teams are headed to Oregon to provide additional capacity as the state deals with a continued forecast of triple-digit temperatures, extreme fire danger, and forecasted lightning, the Oregon State Fire Marshal said.

The strike teams are able to mobilize to Oregon after the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) made the request Monday through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.

The strike teams will be pre-positioned in the Willamette Valley to be available to support existing wildfires or any new fire starts that break out.

“With several fires burning on the west slope of the Cascades and…

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

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…

Portland police prevented 138,000 fentanyl pills from hitting the streets in a recent bust. (Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office)

By Stephen Sorace| Fox News

Deputies in Oregon made the largest fentanyl bust in their county history last week, seizing tens of thousands of pills and powder packed into gallon-sized plastic bags, authorities said.

The bust happened Tuesday as investigators were watching a wanted person in Portland’s Goose Hollow neighborhood, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies took the person into custody “at the opportune time” after watching him walk to a vehicle.

Deputies with the sheriff’s Special Investigations Unit obtained a search warrant for the individual’s car…

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

New evidence suggests humans were in Oregon more than 18,000 years ago.

Photo Courtesy of Becky Raines / University of Oregon

By Ella Hutcherson (Jefferson Public Radio)

Archaeologists have new evidence suggesting that humans occupied Oregon more than 18,000 years ago. This makes it one of the oldest known sites of human occupation in North America.

A 2023 radiocarbon dating analysis was made based on findings at the Rimrock Draw Rockshelter near Burns, Oregon. The University of Oregon Archaeological Field School has been excavating at the site, which features a shallow overhang in an otherwise open environment. The field school has been working in partnership with the…