State Library eClips
* Energy tax credit fix could cost Oregon taxpayers, in court or out
* Need help with taxes? Better find a tax pro now
* Losing food stamps: Thousands of vulnerable Oregonians at risk next year
* Oregon Legislature fails to make education a priority — Guest Opinion
* Oregon delegation asks postal service to explain stand on pot ads
* Oregon hunters may accept non-lead ammo once they adjust their hunting and shooting regimes
* Oregon’s bogus prison ’emergency’ — Guest Opinion
* ODOT sets open house for Highway 22 safety project
* Four local educators named Oregon Civic Scholars
* Willamette basin: Enough water for humans, but fish will suffer
* Female hunters on the rise in Oregon
* Congress takes the high road; Oregon benefits — Opinion
* Willamette Valleys future: River temperatures to rise, snowpack to shrink, population to double by 2100
* Eugene-based biogas company implements first-ever biogas projects in U.S., lacks local funding
* Rush for home solar panels expected as end of federal subsidy looms
* Standardized tests teach kids the wrong lesson — Opinion
* Corral runaway drug prices — Opinion
* State regulators consider new rules for controversial Clean Fuels Program
* State to crack down on residential demolitions done before checking for asbestos
* Oregon Business Creates Solar-Powered Drone For Disaster Relief
* Q&A: Are The Klamath Restoration Agreements In Trouble?
* Reducing The Prison Population
* Between A Dock And A Hard Place Again
* Perfect Invaders: How Crayfish Are Threatening Crater Lake’s Smallest Creatures
* Washington asks Supreme Court to OK Obama immigration plan
* Inmates rebuild pool table to benefit child abuse victims
* Latest PERS projections spell trouble for local agencies
* Forrester: Rodeo. Inclusion. Tolstoy on war. — Opinion
* Small revenue increase won’t avoid PERS cliff — Opinion
* Public comment being taken on LNG pipeline project
* Since You Asked: New Pioneer license now costs $6
* AOC lacked policy for Breidenthal account
* Spike in acid levels keeps crab season closed
* Keep police out of school discipline — Opinion
* Minimum wage hike wont work in Malheur County — Guest Opinion
* FCC reduces cost of calls from inmates
* Weather anomaly disturbs marine life
* Oregon to hold workshops for potential pot business owners
* Hungry Hordes
* PERS tab is growing
* Sheriffs association blocks release of jail standards in lawsuit
* Public to speak on settlement with states disabled workers
* Western governors endorse pre-screening tourists outside U.S.
* Recreation liability the focus for a new advocacy group
* State to send out thousands of tax letters
* Oregon highway funding gets boost from federal bill
* Cadillac health tax will hit Oregon — Opinion
* Whats missing at the OLCC — Opinion
* More minimum wage mess on the way — Opinion
* Redmond pharmacy accused of overcharging, mislabeling
* Congress has a choice on Federal Forest Act — Opinion
* From dream home to nightmare
* Sobering future for Willamette Basin
* Budget bill could hit seniors hard — Guest Opinion
* Town hall Wednesday on marijuana law
* Lawmakers seek funding for ports
* Oregon gets an “F” for government accountability, transparency
* A ‘model of Promise’
* East Face Project Reduces Wildfire Risk in Eastern Oregon – Video
* Oregon earns top marks on premature births Kurt Liedtke Dec 2, 2015 0
* State program promotes micro-investing in small business
* Director: No relief in sight for PERS
* Powers Ranch president named to forestry group board
* Meet OHA’s new Chief Medical Officer and medicine ball entrepreneur — Blog
* A solar champion predicts immediate spike, future slowdowns as incentive expires — Blog
* OREGON PROMISE: Grant funds available to local students
* Measuring Healthcare Costs Doesn’t Concern Dr. Joe Robertson
* Greenlick Endorses Corporate Tax Measure to Bolster State Funding
* Breakfast Forum Features Legislators on January 27
* Government, Private Sector and Physicians Share Goals and Gripes at Oregon Health Forum Breakfast
* OEBB Reaffirms New Director After Lund Report Article Causes Special Meeting
* Heatherington Faces Challenges with Other CCOs Eager to Capture his Territory
* Treasury Expects 2017 Launch for Savings Accounts for Disabled People
* Oregon Ranks at the Bottom in Oral Health
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ENERGY TAX CREDIT FIX COULD COST OREGON TAXPAYERS, IN COURT OR OUT (Portland Oregonian)
Oregon lawmakers are reluctantly contemplating a request from Gov. Kate Brown to reset the sales price of state energy tax credits so public agencies, nonprofits and businesses stuck with potentially worthless credits can finally unload them on investors.
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NEED HELP WITH TAXES? BETTER FIND A TAX PRO NOW (Portland Oregonian)
Typically this time of year I tell readers of last-minute maneuvers to save on taxes.
This year, if you’re looking for a pro to prepare your returns, the best advice I have is to get him or her lined up now.
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LOSING FOOD STAMPS: THOUSANDS OF VULNERABLE OREGONIANS AT RISK NEXT YEAR (Portland Oregonian)
Thousands of vulnerable Oregonians could lose access to food stamps next year under rule changes meant to reflect the state’s improving economy.
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OREGON LEGISLATURE FAILS TO MAKE EDUCATION A PRIORITY — GUEST OPINION (Portland Oregonian)
School funding and corporate taxes are hot topics for Oregonians today. Oregonians don’t understand how their elected officials consistently fail to do one simple thing: fully fund K-12 education, instead turning to tax hikes to fill the self-imposed gap.
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OREGON DELEGATION ASKS POSTAL SERVICE TO EXPLAIN STAND ON POT ADS (Portland Oregonian)
Members of Oregon’s congressional delegation this week asked the U.S. postmaster general for a “detailed explanation” of a postal service policy prohibiting mailing material that contains marijuana advertising.
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OREGON HUNTERS MAY ACCEPT NON-LEAD AMMO ONCE THEY ADJUST THEIR HUNTING AND SHOOTING REGIMES (Portland Oregonian)
Oregon hunters aren’t facing an immediate California-style legislative ban on the use of lead ammunition for hunting, but they’re largely supportive of using alternatives.
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OREGON’S BOGUS PRISON ‘EMERGENCY’ — GUEST OPINION (Portland Oregonian)
Largely unknown to most Oregonians in 2013, a “grand bargain” was struck between Oregon’s state government and its local counties that had great significance for our criminal justice system. The state agreed to send money to the counties if they would agree to send fewer convicted felons to prison.
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ODOT SETS OPEN HOUSE FOR HIGHWAY 22 SAFETY PROJECT (Salem Statesman Journal)
The Oregon Department of Transportation has scheduled a public open house to discuss the OR 22 Corridor Safety Improvement Project in West Salem.
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FOUR LOCAL EDUCATORS NAMED OREGON CIVIC SCHOLARS (Salem Statesman Journal)
On Friday, four educators from the Salem-Keizer School District were recognized as Civic Scholars at the Civic Conference for Teachers.
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WILLAMETTE BASIN: ENOUGH WATER FOR HUMANS, BUT FISH WILL SUFFER (Salem Statesman Journal)
Over the next 85 years, climate change will raise temperatures, reduce snowpack, and increase forest fires in the Willamette River basin. Population will double, and housing will replace farmland.
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FEMALE HUNTERS ON THE RISE IN OREGON (Salem Statesman Journal)
My wife, Asha, grew up among hunters in a small town on the Oregon Coast.
Her grandfather hunted, and so did many of the families she grew up with in Gold Beach.
But she never caught the bug.
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CONGRESS TAKES THE HIGH ROAD; OREGON BENEFITS — OPINION (Salem Statesman Journal)
Political miracles do happen. Congress and President Barack Obama agreed last week on a five-year transportation plan and quickly turned it into law.
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WILLAMETTE VALLEYS FUTURE: RIVER TEMPERATURES TO RISE, SNOWPACK TO SHRINK, POPULATION TO DOUBLE BY 2100 (Eugene Register-Guard)
By 2100, the Willamette Valleys population may double, and residents will endure significantly warmer temperatures while snowpack in the Cascade Range will shrink dramatically, a new study forecasts.
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EUGENE-BASED BIOGAS COMPANY IMPLEMENTS FIRST-EVER BIOGAS PROJECTS IN U.S., LACKS LOCAL FUNDING (Eugene Register-Guard)
A Eugene startup has gotten a big boost a contract to install a biogas plant and introduce what will be the country’s first biogas-powered garbage truck in Lincoln, Neb. But while Hestia Home Biogas is beginning to gain traction elsewhere with plans to convert mainly food waste into clean-burning biogas, the company isn’t generating much interest in Lane County or statewide.
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RUSH FOR HOME SOLAR PANELS EXPECTED AS END OF FEDERAL SUBSIDY LOOMS (Eugene Register-Guard)
Winter in Western Oregon may seem an odd time to consider the benefits of solar power, but industry experts say a couple of compelling financial reasons should prompt residents to think now about installing solar panels on their homes.
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STANDARDIZED TESTS TEACH KIDS THE WRONG LESSON — OPINION (Eugene Register-Guard)
Some education leaders try to defend the use of standardized tests as a necessary evil to manage schools. I respond, At least you understand they are evil, so lets discuss necessary.
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CORRAL RUNAWAY DRUG PRICES — OPINION (Eugene Register-Guard)
Prescription drug prices are out of control in the United States. Since 2008, prices for brand-name drugs have increased 127 percent while the consumer price index rose only 11 percent. In 2014, Americans spent $376 billion on prescription drugs, accounting for at least 10 cents of every dollar spent on health care in this country. Increasingly, doctors, insurers and members of Congress are demanding that someone do something to rein in soaring drug prices.
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STATE REGULATORS CONSIDER NEW RULES FOR CONTROVERSIAL CLEAN FUELS PROGRAM (Portland Tribune)
State environmental regulators will consider new rules to carry out the Oregon Clean Fuels Program next Wednesday.
The Clean Fuels Program, more than six years in the making, requires a 10 percent reduction in carbon emissions from motor vehicle fuels used in Oregon over the next decade. Gasoline and diesel fuels, plus coal plants, are the two biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon that contribute to climate change.
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STATE TO CRACK DOWN ON RESIDENTIAL DEMOLITIONS DONE BEFORE CHECKING FOR ASBESTOS (Portland Tribune)
Residential developers and homeowners seeking to demolish residential properties would be obliged to conduct an asbestos survey before proceeding, under an interim rule proposed by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
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OREGON BUSINESS CREATES SOLAR-POWERED DRONE FOR DISASTER RELIEF (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Ben Berry will tell you its a lucky man whose interests, training, experience and vision all converge to create the opportunity of a lifetime.
For Berry, that time is now.
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Q&A: ARE THE KLAMATH RESTORATION AGREEMENTS IN TROUBLE? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
People have been fighting about scarce water resources in the Klamath Basin in Southern Oregon and Northern California for decades. After nearly 10 years of negotiations, a series of agreements were reached. They were designed to provide irrigation certainty for farmers and ranchers while preserving river and fishery health.
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REDUCING THE PRISON POPULATION (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
There are too many people being sent to prison in Oregon. Unless counties can sentence fewer inmates, the state will have to spend $9 million dollars to expand Deer Ridge Correctional Institution. And the money to finance the expansion would come from the same pot of money that is currently funding programs to keep people out of prison.
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BETWEEN A DOCK AND A HARD PLACE AGAIN (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
A conflict has been simmering on the Willamette River for some time now. Its between people who are living on boats anchored in the Portland area, and others who live on or near the waterway.
They say they’re not doing anything wrong. But the state says many of them are breaking the law.
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PERFECT INVADERS: HOW CRAYFISH ARE THREATENING CRATER LAKE’S SMALLEST CREATURES (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Biologist Mark Buktenica scours the shoreline of Crater Lake. He scans white sun-bleached rocks, takes a step, flips a rock.
Scan, step, flip.
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WASHINGTON ASKS SUPREME COURT TO OK OBAMA IMMIGRATION PLAN (Capital Press)
Washington state asks U.S. Supreme Court to let Obama’s immigration plan go forward. Oregon and California agrees.
Washington state Friday led a 15-state coalition in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold President Barack Obama’s plan to legalize some 4.4 million illegal immigrants, arguing that immigration reform will benefit states by increasing tax revenue, enhancing public safety and reducing the demand for social services.
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INMATES REBUILD POOL TABLE TO BENEFIT CHILD ABUSE VICTIMS (East Oregonian)
-Only 1,000 tickets available for pool table raffle.-
The old Brunswick pool table was all but bound for the garbage heap when inmates at the state prison in Pendleton gave it new life.
Now, more than 100 years after the table first saw use, it will be raffled off to benefit a local nonprofit that serves a crucial role in helping child abuse victims.
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LATEST PERS PROJECTIONS SPELL TROUBLE FOR LOCAL AGENCIES (East Oregonian)
-Rising PERS costs will continue to siphon money from city, school and county budgets.-
Pension contributions have been hitting public budgets hard in recent years, and the news just keeps getting worse.
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FORRESTER: RODEO. INCLUSION. TOLSTOY ON WAR. — OPINION (East Oregonian)
-Towns that are accessible to citizen involvement do better than ones that are closed.-
In late 19th century America, if the railroad came through your town, you knew it would prosper.
In the 20th century, air service led to prosperity.
In the 21st century, something a bit more elusive drives the prosperity of Western towns.
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SMALL REVENUE INCREASE WON’T AVOID PERS CLIFF — OPINION (Medford Mail Tribune)
Lawmakers are upbeat about last week’s revenue forecast, which predicts the state’s income will increase slightly, because the Legislature won’t have to back away from spending increases approved during this year’s session. But while the current two-year budget is sound, the state is facing a massive hole when legislators start work on the next budget in 2017.
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PUBLIC COMMENT BEING TAKEN ON LNG PIPELINE PROJECT (Medford Mail Tribune)
Two government agencies have opened themselves up to public comment on their respective work related to the Jordan Cove LNG Project and the Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline.
First, the Department of State Lands will take public comment from Dec. 10 to Jan. 8 on two applications from the energy companies.
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SINCE YOU ASKED: NEW PIONEER LICENSE NOW COSTS $6 (Medford Mail Tribune)
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife seems to have snuck a new fee past us. They are now charging $6 a year for my Pioneer license to hunt and fish. It’s always been free. What gives?
After 70 years of being a way to recognize long-term Oregon residents, the Pioneer license will cost $6 beginning in 2016 for hunters and anglers 65 or older and who have lived in Oregon for at least 50 years. It once cost 50 cents, but it has been free the past 15 years.
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AOC LACKED POLICY FOR BREIDENTHAL ACCOUNT (Medford Mail Tribune)
A public organization that set up a special bank account for Jackson County Commissioner Doug Breidenthal acknowledged Friday it failed to have a written policy before he started depositing funds and making withdrawals.
AOC Association of Oregon Counties does not currently have a written policy regarding these campaign accounts, Rob Bovett, legal counsel for the AOC, said in a response to a series of public record requests from the Mail Tribune. I think it’s safe to say that is most likely to change.
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SPIKE IN ACID LEVELS KEEPS CRAB SEASON CLOSED (Medford Mail Tribune)
Sport-crabbers may have to wait until mid-December before they will be allowed back on South Coast bays and beaches catching Dungeness amid continued concerns about domoic acid levels in these crustaceans.
Despite two straight weeks of tests that showed domoic acid levels below thresholds considered unhealthy coastwide, a spike this past week of as much as 450 percent in acid levels in crabs sampled outside of Brookings and Winchester Bay has state authorities uncomfortable with lifting the health advisory until another round of tests is analyzed.
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KEEP POLICE OUT OF SCHOOL DISCIPLINE — OPINION (Albany Democrat Herald)
We can understand why school officials might be tempted to view school resource officers essentially, police officers assigned to schools as extensions of their disciplinary efforts.
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MINIMUM WAGE HIKE WONT WORK IN MALHEUR COUNTY — GUEST OPINION (Argus Observer)
In February, during the short legislative session, Oregon’s governor, Kate Brown, will be asking the Legislature to vote for an increase in Oregon’s minimum wage from $9.25 per hour to some higher amount. It is speculated that the increase will be in the $11 to $12 per hour range, and that there will be a phase-in to allow employers to adjust.
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FCC REDUCES COST OF CALLS FROM INMATES (Argus Observer)
The Federal Communications Commission recently cut the costs of phone calls between inmates and their loved ones in Oregon.
According to a news release from the FCC, the average cost in Oregon for a 15-minute, in-state, long-distance, prepaid call is $2.40. With the new rate cap, the cost will be reduced by 31 percent to $1.65 for the same 15-minute call.
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WEATHER ANOMALY DISTURBS MARINE LIFE (Daily Astorian)
-Mass of warm water upsets nature’s normal patterns and impacts the Oregon coast’s marine ecosystem.-
This years fishing and clamming seasons have been poor or nonexistent with anomalies striking the Pacific Ocean.
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OREGON TO HOLD WORKSHOPS FOR POTENTIAL POT BUSINESS OWNERS (Daily Astorian)
-The OLCC says the events will include information about the regulations governing marijuana sales, an overview of the application process for licenses and time to answer questions.-
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is holding a series of workshops to answer questions from people interested in starting a marijuana business.
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HUNGRY HORDES (Baker City Herald)
-November Cold Snap Drives Elk To State-Owned Feed Sites-
The elk showed up early, and they brought their appetites.
But Eddie Miguez was ready.
He would have preferred, though, that Northeastern Oregon’s first bout of wintry weather would have waited for, well, winter.
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PERS TAB IS GROWING (Baker City Herald)
Oregon’s Public Employees Retirement System PERS reminds us of nothing so much as a maxed out credit card.
We can stuff the bills and the late payment warning notices in the back of a drawer, hidden behind discarded AA batteries and owners manuals for kitchen appliances.
But eventually well have to come up with the money.
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SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION BLOCKS RELEASE OF JAIL STANDARDS IN LAWSUIT (Bend Bulletin)
-Jail standards document sealed in Deschutes County jail suit-
A U.S. District Court in Eugene agreed recently to keep confidential a set of standards used to inspect county jails after the state sheriffs association intervened in a wrongful death lawsuit against Deschutes County.
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PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON SETTLEMENT WITH STATES DISABLED WORKERS (Bend Bulletin)
A federal judge will hear Monday from people affected by a proposed settlement involving employment for people with developmental disabilities.
The settlement stems from a class-action lawsuit filed in 2012 alleging that Oregon relies too heavily on so-called sheltered workshops, where people with disabilities work almost exclusively with disabled co-workers. In some cases, they earn less than minimum wage for menial work.
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WESTERN GOVERNORS ENDORSE PRE-SCREENING TOURISTS OUTSIDE U.S. (Bend Bulletin)
Governors from 19 Western states called Friday for expansion of a program that screens international travelers at airports abroad, in a bid to encourage tourism and stop terrorists before they arrive in the U.S.
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RECREATION LIABILITY THE FOCUS FOR A NEW ADVOCACY GROUP (Bend Bulletin)
-Meeting will be in Bend on Monday-
A group formed in the wake of an Oregon Supreme Court decision opening the door to liability lawsuits against recreation businesses will be holding a public meeting in Bend on Monday.
The Oregon Big Tent Recreation Coalition was formed following a ruling by the court in the case of Bagley v. Mt. Bachelor.
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STATE TO SEND OUT THOUSANDS OF TAX LETTERS (Bend Bulletin)
-Revenue Departments new software to issue notices to those who owe-
Oregon taxpayers will find out if they owe the state anything in the coming weeks thanks to new software that is being used by the Oregon Department of Revenue.
The department expects to send out more than 100,000 notices about seeking payment for delinquent accounts, according to a news release issued Friday.
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OREGON HIGHWAY FUNDING GETS BOOST FROM FEDERAL BILL (Bend Bulletin)
A federal transportation bill signed Friday by President Barack Obama includes help for several Oregon transportation projects.
The Oregon Department of Transportation says state and local highway funding will increase by 5 percent to $507 million in the first year, with additional hikes over the next four years. Oregon will also get a boost in transit funding. The money is not earmarked to specific projects.
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CADILLAC HEALTH TAX WILL HIT OREGON — OPINION (Bend Bulletin)
Oregonians could be on the hook to pay a penalty of as much as $11.7 million to the federal government in 2018 because of the rich health care benefits teachers get.
That’s an estimate from the Oregon Educators Benefit Board, which provides the plans. The board and school districts have failed Oregonians because they havent gotten around to revising plans to avoid the penalty.
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WHATS MISSING AT THE OLCC — OPINION (Bend Bulletin)
We learned the most bewildering thing Thursday when we spoke with Oregon Liquor Control Commission Executive Director Steven Marks.
Well get to the bewildering part in just a moment. First, you should know that Marks wants to ensure he has the right level of staffing at the OLCC. Hes going to need it for new marijuana inspection. He needs it for liquor inspection.
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MORE MINIMUM WAGE MESS ON THE WAY — OPINION (Bend Bulletin)
It is, apparently, a done deal. Oregon lawmakers are poised to introduce one or more bills increasing the states minimum wage when they meet early next year, though the details remain unclear.
One idea, from Sen. Mike Dembrow, D-Portland, and his Senate Workforce Committee, is drawing particular attention. That group is interested in setting three regional minimum wages, presumably a high one for the Portland area and two lower ones for places in Oregon where the cost of living and median salaries are lower.
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REDMOND PHARMACY ACCUSED OF OVERCHARGING, MISLABELING (Bend Bulletin)
-Board officially shuts down Tumalo Pharmacy-
A state licensing board says a Redmond pharmacy billed insurers for more expensive drugs and at higher quantities than the ones patients actually received sometimes for drugs patients did not receive at all.
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CONGRESS HAS A CHOICE ON FEDERAL FOREST ACT — OPINION (Blue Mountain Eagle)
-The time has come for Congress to provide the legal and financial tools the U.S. Forest Service needs to better manage the 188.4 million acres of national forests.-
For decades the Forest Service did a world-class job of managing national forests under the multiple-use doctrine.
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FROM DREAM HOME TO NIGHTMARE (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
When Dean and Marsha Frease decided to move to Corvallis in 1999, they bought a cozy older house on a large lot that came with a bonus: a small cottage in the backyard.
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SOBERING FUTURE FOR WILLAMETTE BASIN (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
A massive in-state project that is looking 85 years into the future of the Willamette River Basin is in the home stretch.
A group consisting mainly of faculty and scientists at Oregon State University, the University of Oregon and Portland State University, led an all-day workshop on Friday at the Chemeketa Community College viticulture facility that included stakeholders and water officials from around the state.
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BUDGET BILL COULD HIT SENIORS HARD — GUEST OPINION (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
The entire Oregon House and Senate delegation voted to enact the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 House Bill 1314, which has just been signed into law by the president. This act has dire consequences for senior citizens, especially widows or widowers, who are recipients of private pensions.
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TOWN HALL WEDNESDAY ON MARIJUANA LAW (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
State Reps. Dan Rayfield and Andy Olson of Albany will host a town hall to discuss Oregons legalization of recreational marijuana at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 N.W. Monroe Ave.
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LAWMAKERS SEEK FUNDING FOR PORTS (The Curry Coastal Pilot)
Oregon and Washington legislators this week requested increased federal funding for Northwest ports, including those in Curry County, which they hope will be included the Office of Management and Budgets 2017 budget proposal.
Oregon’s Rep. Peter Defazio and Washington’s Rep. Rick Larsen sent a letter to Shaun Donovan, director of the OMB, seeking funding to maintain coastal and port waterways.
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OREGON GETS AN “F” FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY (Douglas County News-Review)
The resignation of Gov. John Kitzhaber in February is cited in a recent report as a not-so-shining example of whats wrong with Oregons safeguards against corruption.
Oregon deserves an F for openness, transparency and accountability, according to a nonpartisan watchdog group, the Center for Public Integrity. The center issued report cards for all 50 states in November. Oregon ranked 42nd in the country in the centers 2015 State Integrity Investigation, earning an overall score of 59 out of 100.
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A ‘MODEL OF PROMISE’ (Hood River News)
-Rep. Johnson to share story on Oregon free community college program at White House education panel-
Top U.S. education staffers and decision makers will hear about Oregon’s flagship tuition waiver program, Oregon Promise, at an education conference at the White House Tuesday.
Rep. Mark Johnson R-Hood River will join a panel on college opportunity and affordability, discussing the path Oregon’s legislators took to implement the free community college grant program.
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EAST FACE PROJECT REDUCES WILDFIRE RISK IN EASTERN OREGON – VIDEO (LaGrande Observer)
The East Face of the Elkhorn Mountains project is funded by the Joint Chiefs Landscape Initiativea collaboration between the chiefs of two USDA agencies, the NRCS and the U.S. Forest Service.
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OREGON EARNS TOP MARKS ON PREMATURE BIRTHS (Lake County Examiner)
http://www.lakecountyexam.com/news/state/oregon-earns-top-marks-on-premature-births/article_04253cf4-988a-11e5-a009-5b8337167e79.html
Oregon’s Association of Hospitals and Health Systems OAHHS and March of Dimes released report cards for all 50 states on premature birth rates, naming Oregon as one of only four states to receive an A grade in 2015. Oregons pre-term birth rate was 7.7 percent in 2014, below the March of Dimes goal of 8.1 percent. The report also showed that Portland has the lowest pre-term birth rate in the nation.
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STATE PROGRAM PROMOTES MICRO-INVESTING IN SMALL BUSINESS (Wallowa.com)
-Small investors need not meet high-income qualifications in new Oregon plan.-
Oregon has a new law that encourages Oregons entrepreneurs to raise capital from their neighbors. The new law creates an exemption for the states small business owners to raise up to $250,000 in loan or equity agreements with Oregon residents, who do not need to be accredited investors.
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DIRECTOR: NO RELIEF IN SIGHT FOR PERS (The World)
For the past six weeks, PERS executive director Steve Rodeman has been making the rounds to talk about future contribution rates, with unfunded liability more than doubling by the end of 2014.
Nearing the end of his 22 meetings throughout the state, Rodeman met with local employers, school district employees and government officials in Coos Bay City Council chambers Thursday to talk about the state of PERS Oregon’s Public Employees Retirement System.
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POWERS RANCH PRESIDENT NAMED TO FORESTRY GROUP BOARD (The World)
-Quincy Powers replaces Coos Bay’s Ron Stuntzner as small-producer rep-
Oregon State Forester Doug Decker has appointed Quincy Powers, Tyler Freres, Steven McNulty and Audrey Barnes to fill four vacancies on the OFRI board of directors. The newly appointed board members officially take office on Jan. 1, 2016.
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MEET OHA’S NEW CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AND MEDICINE BALL ENTREPRENEUR — BLOG (Oregon Business Journal)
The Oregon Health Authority has a new Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Jim Rickards, health strategy officer for Yamhill Community Care Organization from its inception in 2012, to join OHA. He replaces Dr. Jeanene Smith, who left to join the private consulting firm Health Management Associates.
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A SOLAR CHAMPION PREDICTS IMMEDIATE SPIKE, FUTURE SLOWDOWNS AS INCENTIVE EXPIRES — BLOG (Oregon Business Journal)
With a 30 percent federal tax credit for solar installations set to expire at the end of next year, Energy Trust of Oregon is sharing its view on how the state’s landscape for residential installations will shift.
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OREGON PROMISE: GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE TO LOCAL STUDENTS (The News Guard)
Last year, the Oregon State Legislature drew national attention by passing a bill meant to provide free community college to Oregon students. The Oregon Promise has left the corridors of the capitol and is now reality. Lincoln County students who will graduate from high school or complete a GED test in the spring of 2016 are encouraged to apply for this state grant.
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MEASURING HEALTHCARE COSTS DOESN’T CONCERN DR. JOE ROBERTSON (The Lund Report)
-Robertson, president of OHSU, shared his thoughts when the Oregon Health Policy Board met to set the direction for the future of health transformation and determine whether it should measure healthcare costs.-
Oregons Health Policy Board appears divided over whether to measure healthcare costs, following a presentation by Rachel Block, a consultant with the Milbank Memorial Fund.
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GREENLICK ENDORSES CORPORATE TAX MEASURE TO BOLSTER STATE FUNDING (The Lund Report)
-At the annual conference of the Human Services Coalition of Oregon, the Portland representative also repeated plans to improve insurance affordability and tackle skyrocketing drug costs, while the acting DHS director promised active reform at the state agency while the governor searches for a permanent director.-
Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, the chairman of the Oregon House Health Committee, publicly endorsed the corporate tax ballot measure, saying the $2.5 billion a year the tax is anticipated to raise would eliminate much of the constant need to choose between funding critical budget concerns each legislative session.
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BREAKFAST FORUM FEATURES LEGISLATORS ON JANUARY 27 (The Lund Report)
-Oregon Health Forum has teamed up with the Oregon Environmental Council for this interactive event.-
The February legislative session is fast approaching, and you can learn what to expect by attending our January 27 breakfast forum.
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GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE SECTOR AND PHYSICIANS SHARE GOALS AND GRIPES AT OREGON HEALTH FORUM BREAKFAST (The Lund Report)
-Whether called coordinated or connected care, Intel, the state of Oregon and even private physicians groups agree the model will help contain rising healthcare costs while improving care.-
At Intel, healthcare spending rose from $250 million a year to $500 million, with just 800 people driving $100 million of that cost, Intel’s Tami Graham told 200 attendees at a breakfast forum co-sponsored by Oregon Health Forum and Oregon Business Magazine.
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OEBB REAFFIRMS NEW DIRECTOR AFTER LUND REPORT ARTICLE CAUSES SPECIAL MEETING (The Lund Report)
The Oregon Educators Benefit Board called a special executive session after an article in The Lund Report revealed previously undisclosed controversies about its new director James Raussen. A belated vetting process exonerated Raussen, and the board voted to go ahead with the hire, but the incident exposed continued holes in the states vetting process that relies upon media reports to let them know the background of candidates who apply for top-level government positions.
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HEATHERINGTON FACES CHALLENGES WITH OTHER CCOS EAGER TO CAPTURE HIS TERRITORY (The Lund Report)
Jeff Heatherington finds himself confronted by some of the same coordinated care organizations he brought together under the Coalition for a Healthy Oregon as its founder and former chairman. Now two of its members are eager to take over his territory in Marion County — Trillium Community Health Plan and Willamette Valley Community Health. .And those are the same CCOs that Heatherington asked to object to the Oregon Health Authority’s decision to call for new letters of intent.
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TREASURY EXPECTS 2017 LAUNCH FOR SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE (The Lund Report)
-The accounts will take a year for the Oregon 529 Savings Board to set up with the help of outside investment advisors. Families of people with disabilities will be able to deposit money in the accounts that will be invested without losing government assistance.-
Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler has set the stage for new tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities, directing a citizen panel to hire an investment advisor, set rules for the program, and get these accounts ready to go by 2017.
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OREGON RANKS AT THE BOTTOM IN ORAL HEALTH (The Lund Report)
Dr. Bruce Austin, 10 months into his job as Oregon’s first state dental director, says poor oral health is Oregon’s hidden epidemic, leading to worse overall health especially in children; he advocates statewide fluoridation among other solutions.
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