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The fossil fuel economy and other factors driving climate change created dramatic impacts on the natural environment and the wildlife that call those places home. Countless species have disappeared and others are threatened or endangered. In her latest book, “Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World,” Emma Marris says human activity has touched so much of the planet that it raises the question of whether any part of the Earth can truly be considered “wild.”

Despite the removal of pandemic restrictions across Oregon, many residents of long-term care facilities are still impacted by the dangers of COVID-19. In May, a report published by the Oregon Health Authority stated that 62% of staff and 84% of residents at long-term care facilities that voluntarily reported data, are vaccinated against COVID-19. The report provides the most recent, available data, since some facilities have residents and staff that fluctuate. OHA aims to monitor the vaccination rate over time, says Rebecca Pierce, manager of the Healthcare Associated Infections Program at OHA. We hear from Pierce on how to interpret these vaccination numbers. We also hear from Fred Steele, Oregon’s long-term care ombudsman on how long-term care facilities can better serve their residents during times of crisis.

Oregon could be facing a huge financial burden — from $1 to $3.3 billion dollars — when the eviction moratorium ends in June. That’s one of the findings of the Portland State University Homeless Research and Action Collaborative. Researcher Lisa Bates says the costs from the anticipated mass evictions come from additional shelter, including emergency shelter, medical care, and child welfare services.

California officials gave a nod to Kaiser Permanente’s reputation for efficiency when they recently selected it to help speed vaccine rollout. But a review of worker safety citations shows Kaiser has had its own pandemic troubles, failing to adequately protect its employees early on. Kaiser Permanente has on multiple occasions failed to provide hospital employees the gear … Continue reading California Fines Kaiser $499K for COVID-19 Worker Safety Violations →

PSU is the second public university in the state to make such an announcement.

The health and vitality of forest ecosystems in the Northwest, and how much timber should be cut from those forests, is laid out in the Northwest Forest Plan. But that plan was created in the mid-1990s, and has not changed substantially since then, says Norm Johnson, one of its developers. He and his longtime colleague, Jerry Franklin, recently penned an opinion piece in The Register-Guard newspaper, opposing the planned logging of about 2,000 acres of mature trees in Oregon’s Willamette National Forest.

So far in the pandemic, parents who can’t work because of school closures have had access to unemployment benefits. Going forward, that could get more complicated.

While the partial government shutdown means that fewer creatures are stirring at federal facilities, one of the government services that will be staffed at full strength is the NORAD Santa Tracker.

A power struggle within Puerto Rico's ruling New Progressive Party has stalled the outgoing governor's plans to name his successor.

Six passengers were stricken on the Tampa-bound flight, prompting Cleveland airport officials to shut down and clean water fountains.