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Widespread Power Outages Impact Multiple U.S. States Amid Severe Weather Conditions

Widespread Power Outages Impact Multiple U.S. States Amid Severe Weather Conditions

Severe storms are causing widespread power outages across several U.S. states, including Oregon, California, and New York. In Oregon and California, strong coastal winds, with gusts up to 70 mph in northern California’s Shasta Valley and 65 mph along the southern Oregon coast, are toppling trees and power lines. PowerOutage.com reports nearly 3,000 residents without power in Oregon, primarily in the southwestern region, and over 16,000 customers affected in northern California. Pacific Power has advised customers to prepare for up to 72 hours without essential services and to sign up for outage alerts. Meanwhile, heavy, wet snow in upstate New York has already knocked out power in Otsego, Chenango, and Delaware counties, with over 20,000 customers currently affected. Forecasters warn that snow clinging to trees could lead to further outages.

Iron Spur Bar Grill, Co-Owned by Dan Brown, Opens in Prairie City, Oregon

Iron Spur Bar Grill, Co-Owned by Dan Brown, Opens in Prairie City, Oregon

Iron Spur Bar Grill, Co-Owned by Dan Brown, Opens in Prairie City, Oregon

U.S. Representatives Schrier and Bonamici Reintroduce Healthy Meal Time Act to Address Student Lunch Time Deficiencies

U.S. Representatives Schrier and Bonamici Reintroduce Healthy Meal Time Act to Address Student Lunch Time Deficiencies

U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier of Washington and Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon have reintroduced the Healthy Meal Time Act. This bill aims to ensure public school students receive adequate time to eat and play during the school day, addressing the current lack of federal guidelines for school lunch periods. The legislation proposes that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, conduct a study to identify best practices for meal and recess timing. The bill also mandates the creation of a task force to review research on meal and recess scheduling and develop evidence-based best practices. Congresswoman Schrier, a pediatrician, emphasized that many students skip lunch or rush through meals, impacting their nutrition and learning. The bill is supported by several organizations, including the National Education Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Oregon State Treasury Announces Online Auction of Unclaimed Property Items

Oregon State Treasury Announces Online Auction of Unclaimed Property Items

The Oregon State Treasury is set to host a timed online auction of unclaimed property items, beginning at 4 p.m. PST on November 27, 2026. The auction will feature contents from over 400 abandoned safe deposit boxes, including coins, jewelry, baseball cards, and pocket watches. Capitol Auction & Estate Services in Salem will conduct the auction online, allowing for broad participation. Oregon State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner, MD, highlighted that the event aims to raise awareness about Oregon's Unclaimed Property Program, which currently holds over $1 billion in unclaimed assets. The Treasury ensures that military medals and insignia are never auctioned, instead listing them on its website for owners to reclaim.

Congressman Cliff Bentz Advocates for Streamlined Forest Management Amid Wildfire Concerns

Congressman Cliff Bentz Advocates for Streamlined Forest Management Amid Wildfire Concerns

Congressman Cliff Bentz, alongside Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and his predecessor Greg Walden, has been advocating for streamlining the process of forest management to accelerate efforts in thinning overcrowded forests. This advocacy comes in the context of recent wildfires, such as the McCully Fire, which burned approximately 13,600 acres. The U.S. Forest Service, in response to the fire, created firebreaks by cutting trees, yielding about 2 million board-feet of timber. This action, while beneficial in producing valuable logs and creating firebreaks, highlights a broader issue: the Forest Service often acts with alacrity only in the wake of a wildfire. The agency estimates that hundreds of thousands of acres have tree densities exceeding historical levels, increasing wildfire risk. Despite progress in some areas, such as projects on Black Mountain and the East Face, these initiatives typically require years of environmental studies and public comment periods, leading to slow implemen...

Democrats are preparing to probe the Trump family's finances

Democrats are preparing to probe the Trump family's finances

Oversight committees are already naming investigative targets, including Trump, his sons and his son-in-law.

House Approves Major Richard Star Act to Restore Benefits for Combat-Injured Veterans

House Approves Major Richard Star Act to Restore Benefits for Combat-Injured Veterans

The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved H.R. 2102, the Major Richard Star Act, with a vote of 392 to 18. This bipartisan legislation aims to eliminate a long-standing reduction in benefits for approximately 59,000 combat-injured military retirees nationwide. Under current federal policy, veterans medically retired before completing 20 years of service often see their military retirement payments reduced dollar-for-dollar when they also receive Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation. Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz voted in favor of the bill, emphasizing the need to support those who sustain lifelong injuries in defense of the nation. The act seeks to allow these veterans to collect both their eligible military retirement pay and VA disability compensation without offset. The legislation now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration, where a companion measure (S. 1032) has already been introduced.

Oregon Logging Companies Recognized for Environmental Stewardship and Forest Health

Oregon Logging Companies Recognized for Environmental Stewardship and Forest Health

Three logging companies in Oregon have been awarded the 'Operator of the Year' title for their respective regions. This recognition highlights their commitment to protecting natural resources and actively improving forest health. The awards acknowledge practices that go beyond standard operational requirements, focusing on sustainable forestry and environmental preservation within their logging activities. This initiative underscores a growing emphasis on responsible resource management within the U.S. forestry sector, particularly in states like Oregon where timber production is a significant industry. The selection process likely involved evaluating their operational methods, adherence to environmental regulations, and proactive measures taken to enhance forest ecosystems. This recognition serves as a benchmark for other companies in the industry, promoting best practices in logging and forest management.

Oregon Lawmakers Urge VA to Prioritize Funding for Veterans' Homes in Roseburg and Lebanon

Oregon Lawmakers Urge VA to Prioritize Funding for Veterans' Homes in Roseburg and Lebanon

A bipartisan group of Oregon lawmakers, including U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, and U.S. Representatives Cliff Bentz and Val Hoyle, have called on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prioritize federal funding for two critical veterans' care projects in Oregon. The lawmakers sent a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins ahead of Veterans Day, advocating for the construction of a proposed State Veterans' Home in Roseburg and renovations to the existing Edward C. Allworth Veterans' Home in Lebanon. The proposed Roseburg facility aims to expand long-term care options for veterans in Southern Oregon, particularly in Douglas County, which is home to an estimated 10,000 veterans. The project is currently in the preliminary stages of preconstruction. The delegation emphasized that continued investment in Oregon's veterans' care infrastructure is essential to meet the needs of the state's geographically diverse veteran population, especially in rural areas. This request is part of a broader ef...

Congressman Bentz Announces $197.3 Million for Oregon's Rural Healthcare in 2027

Congressman Bentz Announces $197.3 Million for Oregon's Rural Healthcare in 2027

Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) has announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded $197.3 million for fiscal year 2027 to enhance and modernize rural healthcare in Oregon. This funding is a continuation of the 'Big Beautiful Bill’s Rural Health Transformation Program,' which provided a similar amount to Oregon in the previous year. Congressman Bentz was the sole member of Oregon’s congressional delegation to vote in favor of this funding measure. In 2026, the program distributed $16.4 million across 42 'Immediate Impact Award' projects addressing urgent needs, and $80.1 million to 103 'Catalyst Award' projects aimed at improving healthcare access in areas such as maternity, primary, and senior care. Additionally, $21.7 million was allocated to Oregon's nine federally recognized Tribes, $35 million to its 35 rural hospitals, and $10 million to its 100 rural health clinics.

Oregon Dairy Herd Confirms First Case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in State

Oregon Dairy Herd Confirms First Case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in State

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 clade 2.3.4.4b has been confirmed in a dairy cattle herd in Oregon, marking the state's first reported case in cattle. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the virus through PCR detection, with genetic sequencing results pending. This detection occurred during Oregon's routine surveillance for HPAI in dairy cattle, where the herd had previously tested negative under the National Milk Testing Strategy. Since March 2024, dairy cattle in 22 states have been infected, with APHIS noting new cases in previously unaffected states this year. APHIS is collaborating with the Oregon Department of Agriculture to conduct further on-farm investigations, diagnostic testing, and epidemiological data collection to understand the detection better and prevent further spread. The USDA's HPAI eradication strategy remains unchanged, emphasizing biosecurity measures for all dairy farms.

Oregon Law Intervenes in Faith-Healing Sect, Saving Child After Twin's Death

Oregon Law Intervenes in Faith-Healing Sect, Saving Child After Twin's Death

Oregon's legal framework and the intervention of authorities led to the rescue of Evelyn, a premature infant, from the Followers of Christ, a sect that forbids medical care. Evelyn's twin sister, Ginnifer, died shortly after birth in 2017 due to respiratory distress syndrome, a condition common in premature babies, which was left untreated by her parents, Sarah and Travis Mitchell. Medical examiner Eric Tonsfeldt discovered Evelyn, also in critical condition, and, after the family initially refused, police intervened to ensure she received hospital care. Evelyn was subsequently placed under the permanent guardianship of Marshall and Jennifer Phillips, former members of the Followers of Christ who had previously sought medical treatment for their own son, Nick, despite the sect's beliefs. The Mitchells later pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and criminal mistreatment, receiving the harshest sentence ever for parents in the sect.