Oregon News

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 …

Small Tornado Confirmed in Oregon, Buildings Damaged

The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down north of Portland in St. Helens, Ore. The weather service confirmed the tornado at about 2 p.m. Tuesday. It touched down around 12:20 p.m., KPTV reported. Damage to the roof of …

Oregon Workers’ Comp Costs Dropping for 8th Straight Year

Oregon employers on average will pay less for workers’ compensation coverage in 2021, the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services announced today. The decline in costs marks eight years of average decreases in the pure premium rate – the …

SAIF in Oregon Declares $100 Million Dividend for Policyholders

SAIF, Oregon’s state chartered workers’ compensation insurer, has declared a $100 million dividend for policyholders. Kerry Barnett, president and CEO of SAIF, remarked that the dividend comes at a difficult time for many Oregon businesses facing the challenges of the …

Oregon Children Sue Day Care Owner, State Agencies Over Sex Abuse

The representatives of three children who attended a Polk County, Ore. day care are suing multiple people and state agencies over sexual abuse for $5.1 million. The children attended the now-closed Stinky Feet Childcare in Independence owned by Ceola Harden, …

Oregon Governor Declares Drought Emergency in Coos County

A drought declaration passed by Coos County Commissioners has been approved by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. The governor’s declaration, which expires Dec. 31, will authorize state agencies to expedite water management tools for local officials to quickly start mitigation activities, …

Parents of Oregon Baby Who Died From Meningitis Sue For $6.3M

The parents of an infant who died from meningitis after he was released from Silverton Medical Center in Oregon are suing the hospital for $6.3 million. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in the death of 7-month-old Blaize Wheeldon and …