Oregon Public Broadcasting

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Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, in Portland, Ore., Aug. 2, 2023. | KRISTYNA WENTZ-GRAFF/OPB

Providence says it is prepared for a major nurses strike, but asks doctors not to walk

The Oregon Nurses Association called the indefinite strike across all eight of Providence’s hospitals in Oregon beginning Jan. 10.

Jan 2

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A encampment is seen from the Willamette River in Portland, Ore., on May 29, 2024. | APRIL EHRLICH/OPB

Last year was the deadliest on record for people in Portland who are homeless

Fentanyl drove the biggest spike in Multnomah County deaths, according to the health department

Dec 26, 2024

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Holding cells at the Josephine County Jail. | DAVE BLANCHARD/OPB

A health care goliath operating in jails in Oregon and Washington files for bankruptcy

Wellpath’s move could impact at least one wrongful death case out of Southern Oregon

Nov 14, 2024

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Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Gomez, right, stands outside his cruiser while responding to a call in Glendale, Ore. Gomez is a field training officer and said he has helped arrest people after Oregon's recriminalized drug laws went into effect Sept. 1. | TROY BRYNELSON/OPB

Drug laws are back in Oregon. How they are enforced depends on the county

Counties will approach enforcement differently, providing yet another large-scale experiment in drug policy.

Oct 17, 2024

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A group of rural Boardman residents assembled in a garage to speak with U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley about nitrates in Boardman, Ore. in January 2023. Advocates have been seeking to address a regional nitrate crisis for years. On Friday, Oregon agencies released an eight-year plan. | ANTONIO SIERRA/OPB

State agencies pledge action on Eastern Oregon nitrates crisis — eventually

A plan released Friday maps out steps to reduce groundwater contaminants linked to cancer and thyroid disease

Sep 26, 2024

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Clinic staff listen as Gov. Kate Brown held a joint press conference with Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette, reaffirming Oregon’s commitment to abortion access, Aug. 25, 2022, at the Hillman East Portland Health Center. | KRISTYNA WENTZ-GRAFF / OPB

Oregon’s Planned Parenthood affiliates move forward with creating a new political organization

They plan to create a new, more integrated advocacy arm and promise the move will not only help them bolster their political efforts but also ensure sustainability for their health care clinics

Sep 17, 2024

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A view of downtown Heppner in Morrow County, Ore. on July 17, 2024. | ANTONIO SIERRA/OPB

Nurses and staff at Oregon’s smallest rural hospital unionize in Morrow County

Workers seek higher staffing levels and more consistent disciplinary policy at Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Heppner

Aug 15, 2024

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PIXABAY

Death toll from Oregon heat wave continues to climb

The suspected death toll of the July 2024 heat wave in Oregon has grown to 16

Jul 16, 2024

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Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem is a maximum-security prison. | COURTESY OF OREGON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

Oregon Department of Corrections ends practice of charging prisoners for medical devices

The change comes as a result of a 2021 class-action lawsuit that resulted in refunding $77,041 to 870 people currently in prison

Jun 19, 2024

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The OHSU Center for Health & Healing Building 2 in the South Waterfront neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, on July 25, 2020. | SHUTTERSTOCK

Oregon Health & Science University to lay off hundreds of workers

OHSU leaders said they’ll provide significant updates as soon as possible as part of their “commitment to transparency”

Jun 10, 2024