Oregon News

Oregon Agency Inadvertently Releases Employees Vaccine Status

Oregon’s central administrative agency inadvertently released the COVID-19 vaccination status of more than 40,000 state employees to two media outlets. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported a spreadsheet sent to them and the Statesman Journal was supposed to contain the latest vaccination rates …

Firefighter Dies While Working Oregon Wildfire, Officials Say

A firefighter died this week while battling a wildfire southeast of Eugene, Oregon, officials said. Bryan Cutchen, Oakridge city administrator and acting fire chief, said the death is suspected to have been caused by a tree falling on the firefighter, …

Fire Crews Making Progress on Massive Oregon Blaze

The nation’s largest wildfire is still raging through southern Oregon but crews were scaling back some night operations as hard work and weaker winds helped reduce the spread of flames even as wildfires continued to threaten homes in neighboring California. …

Severe Water Crisis on Oregon-California Border to Impact Agriculture

The water crisis along the California-Oregon border went from dire to catastrophic this week as federal regulators shut off irrigation water to farmers from a critical reservoir and said they would not send extra water to dying salmon downstream or …

Former Employee in Oregon City Intends to Sue Following Firing

A former Coquille city, Ore., employee has informed the city she plans to sue for whistleblower retaliation and a failure to provide due process during the course of her firing. Former city recorder Jennifer Rose filed a notice with the …

Earthquake Early Warning System Launches in Oregon

People in Oregon will be better prepared for earthquakes – particularly important in the Pacific Northwest because experts say “the big one” is coming – as an early warning system launched Thursday, the 10th anniversary of a devastating quake and …

Oregon SAIF Declares $210M Dividend for Policyholders

Oregon’s nonprofit State Accident Insurance Fund Corp. (SAIF) on Wednesday declared a $210 million dividend for its policyholders and acknowledged the financial toll the pandemic has taken on Oregon businesses. “Oregon businesses continue to face tremendous uncertainty,” SAIF President and …

Oregon Hotel Fined for Overcharging People During Wildfire

A hotel in Roseburg, Oregon, has been fined $31,000 for overcharging dozens of area residents who sought rooms after fleeing a large wildfire in September. The News-Review reports SUBH Investment LLC, which does business as Days Inn by Wyndham in …

Most Oregonians Applying for Disaster Aid After 2020 Wildfires Denied

More than 24,000 Oregonians applied for federal disaster assistance after the catastrophic 2020 wildfires and about 57% of them were denied. Jefferson Public Radio reports that nearly 14,000 Oregonians have been denied aid, according to data provided by the Federal …

Tire Chain to Pay $16M to Oregon Employees Over Lunch Breaks

Thousands of Les Schwab Tire Centers employees in Oregon will receive $2,500 checks this month as part of a settlement over a lawsuit that said the chain hadn’t given workers enough time for lunch. The suit alleged the Schwab employees …