Recreational crabbing is back open on the Oregon Coast. Learn more here.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Winchester Bay, Oregon) – As of late last week, recreational crabbing is back open along the entire Oregon coast, after being shut down for a time between Winchester Bay and Cape Blanco. Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) made the announcement, saying all bays, estuaries and the ocean can once again continue the crustacean-gathering fun. (Above: Coos Bay, courtesy Oregon’s Adventure Coast)

The shut-down on May 1 was due to high levels of domoic acid, taking place from eight miles north of (43° 47′ at Tahkenitch Creek) to Cape Blanco (42° 50′). That…

Legislation to allow minors younger than 15 to get abortions without parental approval, expand state coverage of medical services for transgender individuals and make several other changes to state laws regulating reproductive and gender-affirming care has passed the Oregon House of Representatives, despite Republicans’ repeated attempts to block House Bill 2002.

It now needs approval from the state Senate before going to Gov. Tina Kotek for her consideration.

House members spent nearly 10 hours on the floor Monday, primarily on the 46-page bill’s third reading…

The Oregon recreational cannabis system may be facing some changes. Learn more about it here.

By Dirk VanderHart (OPB)

Oregon’s recreational cannabis system has overly strict regulations that make running a business expensive and hamper people aspiring to join the industry, state auditors found in an audit released Thursday.

The report is likely to be cheered by current and aspiring participants in Oregon’s legal cannabis market. It suggests the state should consider easing up on security requirements and other safeguards that made sense when Oregon first legalized cannabis, but…

An intense solar storm has the northern lights gracing the skies farther south than usual.

From Washington state to Wisconsin, auroras were reported as mostly a reddish glow instead of the typical green shimmer. In the U.S., skygazers also took in the sights from Colorado, California, New Mexico and even Arizona.

A blast of superhot material from the sun late last week hurled scorching gases known as plasma toward Earth at nearly 2 million mph, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday.

Earth felt the brunt…

Oregon’s minimum wage will see an increase July 1st. Learn more here.

By OPB staff (OPB)

Oregon’s minimum wage will increase by 70 cents per hour on July 1, but the new rate workers get paid depends on where they live in the state.

Oregon’s baseline minimum wage will climb from $13.50 per hour to $14.20, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries announced Friday afternoon.

In the Portland metro area, where state law sets the local minimum wage at $1.25 per hour more than the baseline, the new hourly minimum will climb to $15.45.

And in rural counties,…

Oregon is steps closer to banning styrofoam to-go containers. Learn more here.

Author: Katherine Cook, KGW8

PORTLAND, Oregon — Would you like that to go?

In Oregon, two bills could soon play into that question for people dining out. Under Senate Bill 543, lawmakers are considering banning Styrofoam to-go containers in Oregon as well as so-called “forever chemicals” known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

“Polystyrene is a threat to the health of our communities and our land,” said bill sponsor Senator Janeen Sollman (D-Hillsboro). “This is a step towards a more sustainable and mindful approach to consumption and a commitment to preserving the health, beauty and diversity of Oregon for generations to…

The new policy, which reverses a practice started during the pandemic, takes effect Sept. 1.

The delay will allow the state Department of Administrative Services to provide notice to employees about the policy change, Gov. Tina Kotek said in a news release.

The move comes as the Oregon Legislature considers a bill that would limit commuting reimbursements for out-of-state remote workers to those who live within 60 miles of the Oregon border.

Minority…

A new rent control bill is in the Oregon Senate. Learn more about it here.

Author: KGW Staff, Anthony Macuk (KGW)

SALEM, Ore. — Tenants from across Oregon gathered in Salem Monday to testify at the first committee hearing for Senate Bill 611, which would cap annual rent increases at either 3% plus inflation or a flat 8% — whichever is lower.

Oregon passed a previous rent control rule in 2019, Senate Bill 608, that capped rent at 7% plus inflation, but tenant organizations reacted with alarm last year when state economists announced that the high rate of inflation meant that rents could be hiked by up to 14.6%.

“(The…

Legal treatments for psychedelic mushrooms begin in Oregon. Learn more here.

By Ryan Haas (OPB)

Thanks to Hollywood, people across the country are familiar with a cocaine bear, but only in Oregon can a person find a psilocybin bear.

“These are our vibrating tactile neural feedback bears, but they are getting a psilocybin treatment as you can see,” therapist Cathy Jonas said as she pointed to the blindfolded stuffed animals in reclining chairs.

Jonas’ mental health practice, EPIC Healing in Eugene, is among several businesses that are first in line to provide legal treatments to people using psychedelic mushrooms.

Rebates for buying an electric vehicle will be suspended in Oregon. Learn more here.

By The Associated Press

Oregon will temporarily suspend rebates for buying or leasing an electric vehicle for a year starting in May.

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon will temporarily suspend rebates for buying or leasing an electric vehicle for a year starting in May because too many people are applying and the program is running out of money, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Thursday.

A growing number of Oregonians are buying or leasing electric vehicles, with over 60,600 registered in the state.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality announced Wednesday…