SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife this week announced an April 24, 2009 lottery to award two commercial sea urchin permits. The commercial sea urchin fishery in Oregon is limited to 30 permits. When the number of permits falls below 30, ODFW holds a lottery to bring the number back up to 30.  Two permits currently are available. Permit applicants must be at least 18 years old, and many not apply if they currently hold a permit. ... [full story]

The Oregon Department of Agriculture continues to offer reimbursement for organic certification costs from U.S. Department of Agriculture accredited certifiers. This reimbursement is also available to Oregon growers or processors renewing their certification. Eligibility is based upon certifications dated after October 1, 2007 and through September 30, 2009.Reimbursements for each of two qualifying years will be made on a first come-first serve basis.All qualified growers or processors who obtained organic certification or renewed their organic ... [full story]

SALEM, Ore. – Governor Ted Kulongoski on Wednesday applauded the Oregon Transportation Commission for its prompt action to put federal stimulus dollars to work, funding another 59 transportation projects across the state.  In total, the commission now has funded 100 projects with federal dollars provided to Oregon under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These projects will create or sustain an estimated 3,276 jobs this summer. “With unemployment exceeding 10 percent in Oregon, it is urgent that ... [full story]

The Number of Unemployed Oregonians more than Doubled Over the Past 12 Months Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 10.8 percent in February from 9.8 percent (as revised) in January. The state’s unemployment rate has risen rapidly and substantially over the past eight months, from a rate of 5.9 percent in June 2008. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.1 percent in February, from 7.6 percent in January.In February, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted ... [full story]

DESCHUTES NATIONAL FOREST -- As the first phase of USDA Forest Service economic stimulus funds arrive in Central Oregon, two Deschutes National Forest contracts were awarded Tuesday under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Jefferson and Deschutes Counties. Tree thinning and biomass removal work will begin within the week. A contract was awarded to Melcher Logging, Incorporated in the amount of $1,472,000 for work in Jefferson County on the Sisters Ranger District. This ... [full story]

Effective April 1, Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will allow customers to keep surrendered driver licenses, driver permits and identification cards when they receive an interim card or an applicant temporary permit at the DMV office. The surrendered card will be hole-punched to show invalidation, but people may carry the card as possible photo ID until the new card arrives in the mail. The Oregon Transportation Commission approved the administrative rule change today in its March ... [full story]

Mortgage rates fell this week, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropping to 5.29 percent. According to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey, the average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.33 discount and origination points. The average 15-year fixed rate mortgage inched lower to 4.86 percent and the average jumbo 30-year fixed rate slid to 6.88 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages were lower also, with the average 1-year ARM pulling back to 5.48 percent ... [full story]

ALOHA, Ore. - The Coast Guard has posthumously awarded a Gold Lifesaving Medal to Ross Barfuss, a 16-year-old teenager from Aloha, Oregon, for his unselfish and heroic actions despite imminent personal danger. Barfuss died while attempting to rescue a child who was caught in heavy ocean surf near Cutler, Oregon, in March of 2008.   Hero, Ross Barfuss, was posthumously awarded a Gold Lifesaving Medal for unselfish and heroic actions despite imminent personal danger.  The child, a 12-year old boy identified as ... [full story]

HB 3052 Clarifies State Medical Marijuana Laws SALEM, Ore. — House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg) on Wednesday testified in support of HB 3052, a bipartisan bill he co-sponsored to promote drug-free workplaces in Oregon. If passed into law, HB 3052 would allow employers to prohibit the use of medical marijuana at Oregon work sites. “Drug and alcohol abuse is the one of the leading causes of injury and death in the workplace, nationally and ... [full story]

HB 2062 And HB 2063 Create the Strongest Student Protection Regulations in the Nation SALEM, Ore. – The House on Wednesday passed two bills, HB 2062 and HB 2063, aimed at protecting kids from educator and school employee misconduct.  The bills each passed by a vote of 58-0. "With these bills, Oregon will clearly have the strongest laws protecting the safety of school children in the nation, bar none," said Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis/Philomath), who chairs ... [full story]