In The NewsBend Fire and Rescue said on Twitter that it had stopped forward progress of a fire burning north of the city Saturday evening. The fire produced a large plume of black smoke as it consumed several cars in a nearby junkyard, the fire department said.The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office earlier in the evening issued Level 3 evacuation orders, meaning “go now,” for residents north of Cooley Road and east of Highway 97 in Bend. A map of the evacuation zones is available .THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:The size of the fire was unknown as of Saturday night, but hot temperatures and high winds...…In The NewsBend Fire and Rescue said on Twitter that it had stopped forward progress of a fire burning north of the city Saturday evening. The fire produced a large plume of black smoke as it consumed several cars in a nearby junkyard, the fire department said.The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office earlier in the evening issued Level 3 evacuation orders, meaning “go now,” for residents north of Cooley Road and east of Highway 97 in Bend. A map of the evacuation zones is available .THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:The size of the fire was unknown as of Saturday night, but hot temperatures and high winds...WW…

In The NewsOregon’s seen the biggest percentage increase in COVID-19 cases of any state in the country over the past two weeks. Cases have , putting Oregon just ahead of Kansas and behind territories Guam and Puerto Rico.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:“A few weeks ago, I came before you to say that we were concerned we would have a fourth surge of COVID-19 in Oregon,” Gov. Kate Brown said at a Friday press conference. “Unfortunately, today, that surge is here.”Not enough people have been vaccinated and adherence to public health guidelines has fallen off a cliff, giving rise to virus transmission...…In The NewsOregon’s seen the biggest percentage increase in COVID-19 cases of any state in the country over the past two weeks. Cases have , putting Oregon just ahead of Kansas and behind territories Guam and Puerto Rico.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:“A few weeks ago, I came before you to say that we were concerned we would have a fourth surge of COVID-19 in Oregon,” Gov. Kate Brown said at a Friday press conference. “Unfortunately, today, that surge is here.”Not enough people have been vaccinated and adherence to public health guidelines has fallen off a cliff, giving rise to virus transmission...WW…

In The NewsOregon Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday in Klamath County.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Much of the south-central Oregon county is , according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, and the area is entering the spring with mountain snowpack well below normal.“The Klamath Basin faces one of the most difficult water years in recent memory,” Brown said in a . “Moving forward, we must look at long-term solutions to the underlying issue in Klamath and many other Oregon counties: there is too little water in the ground, and as the climate changes we are experiencing hotter, drier summers.”Related: Drought...…In The NewsOregon Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday in Klamath County.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Much of the south-central Oregon county is , according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, and the area is entering the spring with mountain snowpack well below normal.“The Klamath Basin faces one of the most difficult water years in recent memory,” Brown said in a . “Moving forward, we must look at long-term solutions to the underlying issue in Klamath and many other Oregon counties: there is too little water in the ground, and as the climate changes we are experiencing hotter, drier summers.”Related: Drought...WW…

In The NewsLaura Acevedo and Sally Compton teamed up to carry the large crate to the middle of a grassy meadow near Sunriver in Central Oregon. The moon overhead was gaining strength as trees swallowed the sun.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Inside the crate, one of the forest’s most elusive creatures — a great gray owl — flipped and flopped, eager to return to the wild after several days on the mend at , a nonprofit wildlife hospital in Bend.“You want these guys to be really feisty on their way out,” said Acevedo, a veterinarian who volunteers at Think Wild.“It tells me that they’re doing well, and...…In The NewsLaura Acevedo and Sally Compton teamed up to carry the large crate to the middle of a grassy meadow near Sunriver in Central Oregon. The moon overhead was gaining strength as trees swallowed the sun.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Inside the crate, one of the forest’s most elusive creatures — a great gray owl — flipped and flopped, eager to return to the wild after several days on the mend at , a nonprofit wildlife hospital in Bend.“You want these guys to be really feisty on their way out,” said Acevedo, a veterinarian who volunteers at Think Wild.“It tells me that they’re doing well, and...WW…

In The NewsAnother week and another big promise from the Biden administration has Oregon speeding up its coronavirus vaccine timeline once again.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Gov. Kate Brown’s office announced Friday morning that frontline workers, , and all adults 16 and older with underlying health conditions will be eligible for vaccine appointments starting April 5. That’s a full two weeks earlier than the previous timeline, . All Oregon adults will be eligible for vaccines by May 1.All Oregon adults will be eligible for vaccines by May 1, but counties can apply to start vaccinating the general...…In The NewsAnother week and another big promise from the Biden administration has Oregon speeding up its coronavirus vaccine timeline once again.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Gov. Kate Brown’s office announced Friday morning that frontline workers, , and all adults 16 and older with underlying health conditions will be eligible for vaccine appointments starting April 5. That’s a full two weeks earlier than the previous timeline, . All Oregon adults will be eligible for vaccines by May 1.All Oregon adults will be eligible for vaccines by May 1, but counties can apply to start vaccinating the general...WW…

In The NewsOregon will speed up its COVID-19 vaccination timeline to make all adult residents 16 years and older eligible for a shot by May 1, the governor announced Friday. That’s the date President Joe Biden said .State health officials and Gov. Kate Brown previously balked at the president’s announcement, cheering his ambition while simultaneously to people before they materialized. The previous federal administration under Donald Trump made many empty promises in that regard.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen told OPB’s “Think Out Loud” on Wednesday...…In The NewsOregon will speed up its COVID-19 vaccination timeline to make all adult residents 16 years and older eligible for a shot by May 1, the governor announced Friday. That’s the date President Joe Biden said .State health officials and Gov. Kate Brown previously balked at the president’s announcement, cheering his ambition while simultaneously to people before they materialized. The previous federal administration under Donald Trump made many empty promises in that regard.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen told OPB’s “Think Out Loud” on Wednesday...WW…

In The NewsYour browser does not support the audio element.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Next to the babbling banks of the Santiam River’s south fork, Brooke Penaluna sought a flat spot to set up shop. She plopped down a black, pipe-like reservoir with four clear cups on top and clicked the power button on a small pump that sounded like the world’s tiniest lawnmower.“And then we put on our gloves and our waders, and we go out into the stream,” said Penaluna, who works as a research fish biologist for the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station.Near the middle of the river, Penaluna...…In The NewsYour browser does not support the audio element.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Next to the babbling banks of the Santiam River’s south fork, Brooke Penaluna sought a flat spot to set up shop. She plopped down a black, pipe-like reservoir with four clear cups on top and clicked the power button on a small pump that sounded like the world’s tiniest lawnmower.“And then we put on our gloves and our waders, and we go out into the stream,” said Penaluna, who works as a research fish biologist for the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station.Near the middle of the river, Penaluna...WW…

In The NewsOregon could open COVID-19 vaccine appointments to all adults by mid-summer, health officials announced Friday.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:The Oregon Health Authority expects a sharp uptick in the state’s vaccine supply starting next week based on communications with suppliers and the federal government. If Oregon receives as many vaccines as advertised, the state will have enough first doses for 3.5 million people by the end of May.“While that gives us all a reason to breathe a sigh of relief, it should also serve as a reminder that the finish line is in sight and we cannot let up,”...…In The NewsOregon could open COVID-19 vaccine appointments to all adults by mid-summer, health officials announced Friday.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:The Oregon Health Authority expects a sharp uptick in the state’s vaccine supply starting next week based on communications with suppliers and the federal government. If Oregon receives as many vaccines as advertised, the state will have enough first doses for 3.5 million people by the end of May.“While that gives us all a reason to breathe a sigh of relief, it should also serve as a reminder that the finish line is in sight and we cannot let up,”...WW…

In The NewsThe federal government this week approved a lease for a wave energy test site off the Oregon Coast.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:An Oregon State University-led project called PacWave has worked for years to build an offshore facility to test wave energy devices. The lease from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management moves the project one step closer to construction, which could begin as early as this summer.Wave energy is quickly . Waves are relatively more consistent and predictable than other renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which gives them enormous potential.“We...…In The NewsThe federal government this week approved a lease for a wave energy test site off the Oregon Coast.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:An Oregon State University-led project called PacWave has worked for years to build an offshore facility to test wave energy devices. The lease from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management moves the project one step closer to construction, which could begin as early as this summer.Wave energy is quickly . Waves are relatively more consistent and predictable than other renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which gives them enormous potential.“We...WW…

In The NewsA salmonella outbreak is sickening and killing birds in Oregon and elsewhere along the west coast of North America.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Cases of salmonella among pine siskins and other birds in Oregon have trended upwards in recent months, and wildlife rehabilitators. ODFW urges Oregonians who encounter sick or dead birds to take down bird feeders at least for the next month or two to slow the spread of the disease.California’s state wildlife agency recently and baths for the time being. Washington for people who cannot rigorously clean bird feeders daily.Salmonella can grow in...…In The NewsA salmonella outbreak is sickening and killing birds in Oregon and elsewhere along the west coast of North America.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Cases of salmonella among pine siskins and other birds in Oregon have trended upwards in recent months, and wildlife rehabilitators. ODFW urges Oregonians who encounter sick or dead birds to take down bird feeders at least for the next month or two to slow the spread of the disease.California’s state wildlife agency recently and baths for the time being. Washington for people who cannot rigorously clean bird feeders daily.Salmonella can grow in...WW…