High costs are affecting Oregonians’ health care choices
Health care and health insurance costs are eating up close to $1 out of every $4 spent by Oregon households, according to a report by the state’s leading health agency. And rising costs are leading people in the state to delay accessing treatment and care, the Oregon Health Authority reports. It’s a trend that’s playing out across the country. Insurance companies expect costs will continue climbing as people seek to access health care they were not able to receive during the pandemic. Insurers also said that rising drug prices and an increase in inpatient hospital services are driving up costs. (Sydney Wyatt/Salem Statesman Journal)
US Forest Service plans wildfire containment efforts in Oregon’s central Cascade Mountains
The Willamette National Forest, in the central Cascades, is getting $14.7 million to work to contain future wildfires. The U.S. Forest Service plans to use the funds to remove vegetation along areas that can be used as control lines in a wildfire, such as roads and natural features with the potential to act as fire breaks. The agency will work with local businesses and community leaders to identify these projects, according to a press release. Two federal programs, funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, are paying for the work. (OPB staff)
$3.9M grant aims to bring more trained school counselors to Central Oregon
The Oregon State University-Cascades campus in Bend has been awarded almost $4 million in federal funds to support students in its counseling program. The funds will cover full tuition for up to 75 master’s degree students, specifically students who are studying to become school counselors. The five-year grant aims to increase counselors in rural K-12 schools in Central Oregon. Students who receive the grant commit to working as a counselor at a rural Central Oregon school for two to three years after they graduate. The deadline to apply for the grant is May 25. (OPB staff)
A nod to progress on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Awareness Day
Friday is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Awareness Day. The Nisqually Tribe, based in northwest Washington, held a summit Thursday to highlight the issue. Chay Squally, a council member of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, said she’s encouraged by recent legislation that tackles the issue. In the past year, Washington has established the first alert system for missing Indigenous people in the country. A new law creates an MMIWP cold case unit. (Lauren Gallup/NWPB)
Eugene education leaders get schooled on public records law
The school board for the Eugene School District 4J got a legal lesson on Oregon’s public records and open meetings laws this week after four elected members of the board were accused of talking to one another over a private messaging app, Signal, which deletes messages and does not save a record of digital conversations. Attorney Eric DeFreest said board members can’t have private group conversations about topics relevant to their work in the school district. If a written discussion relates to the official duties of public officials, a copy of that conversation must be retained as a public record. “Get your new board members some really good training because this board has messed this up from day one,” said school board member Alicia Hays, who is in her final year on the board. (Miranda Cyr/Register-Guard)
