JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, March 9 (TNSres) -- East Tennessee State University issued the following news on March 8, 2023: Take a stroll through a desert in western North America, and you might spot a tiny hopping rodent with enormous ears. Kangaroo rats and kangaroo mice are well-adapted for life in dry habitats, but their distant ancestors were not. Now, thanks to a new fossil discovered in Oregon, researchers have a clearer picture of how and why these charismatic critters evolved their uniq  more

SALEM, Oregon, March 7 -- Gov. Tina Kotek, D-Oregon, issued the following news: On her first full day in office, Governor Tina Kotek signed an executive order that set an ambitious housing production goal of 36,000 homes per year and established a council of leaders charged with developing an action plan to meet the new construction targets. Today, less than 60 days later, Governor Kotek announced her appointments to the Housing Production Advisory Council (HPAC). "I know too many Oregonians a  more

SALEM, Oregon, March 8 (TNSper) -- Gov. Tina Kotek, D-Oregon, issued the following news: Governor Tina Kotek announced that she will be appointing Dave Baden as Interim Director for the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) effective March 17th. Dave Baden is currently OHA's chief financial officer (CFO) and has a demonstrated ability to lead and implement public health initiatives on rapid timelines with transparency and accountability at the forefront. His accomplishments at OHA included managing O  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, March 10 -- Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey issued the following news release on March 9, 2023: Attorney General Aaron Frey has joined a multistate federal lawsuit against the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) accusing it of singling out one of the two drugs used for medication abortions for excessively burdensome regulation, despite ample evidence that the drug is safer than Tylenol. The lawsuit, led by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Oregon Attorney General Elle  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee issued the following news: When you are Val Hoyle, being too extreme is a big problem. That's exactly where Hoyle found herself today -- not just too far-left for Oregon voters, but also too far-left for fellow Democrats, including Chuck Schumer and Oregon Senator Ron Wyden. 33 Senate Democrats, including Wyden, rejected the reduced sentences for violent crime that Val Hoyle supported just weeks prior. Read more here (htt  more

SALEM, Oregon, March 9 -- The Oregon State Legislature issued the following news release on March 8, 2023: The Oregon House Republican Caucus sent a letter to Governor Kotek urging the immediate reconsideration of the Oregon Department of Forestry's (ODF) proposed 'Habitat Conservation Plan' or HCP. In a February 15 meeting, the Board of Forestry rejected a proposal that would have taken the plan back to the drawing board to balance the economic needs of Oregon's rural communities. House Repub  more

SALEM, Oregon, March 8 -- The Oregon State Legislature issued the following news release: Representatives and Senators of rural and coastal communities sent a letter to Governor Kotek and the Department of Forestry (ODF) expressing detailed opposition to the proposed Western Oregon Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Read the entire letter here. "The HCP, as currently proposed, would devastate the North Coast," said Representative Cyrus Javadi (R- Tillamook). "It would cost good-paying timber job  more

SALEM, Oregon, March 11 -- The Oregon State Legislature issued the following news release on March 9, 2023: The Senate Committee on Judiciary held a work session on Senate Bill 579, an extreme bill allowing incarcerated criminals to vote in Oregon elections before completing their sentences. It passed along party lines with a 3-2 vote. "This is truly an egregious bill that should have never seen the light of day. It blatantly disrespects victims of crime, and we stand united in fighting to ens  more

SALEM, Oregon, March 9 -- The Oregon State Legislature issued the following news release on March 8, 2023: Danielle Tudor and Tiffany Edens, who are victims of "Jogger Rapist" Richard Gillmore, joined Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R- Bend), Deputy Leader Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer), and Senator Cedric Hayden (R-Fall Creek) for a press conference at the State Capitol. Together, they discussed a series of bills that collectively support victims of sex crimes and promote justice. You can watch t  more

SALEM, Oregon, March 9 -- The Oregon State Legislature issued the following news release on March 7, 2023: The Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 592, which will protect Oregon workers by enforcing stiffer penalties for workplace safety violations, especially for employers with willful or repeated violations. Sponsored by Senator Kathleen Taylor, this legislation will align Oregon OSHA policies with federal OSHA standards. Currently, Oregon's penalties for serious violations are more than 73% be  more

CORVALLIS, Oregon, March 9 (TNSper) -- Oregon State University issued the following university news: Tuba Ozkan-Haller, an Oregon State University professor, noted international oceanography researcher, and leader of university research initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusion actions, has been named dean of the university's College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. Ozkan-Haller has served as acting or interim dean of the college since August 2021. Her appointment as dean is ef  more

PORTLAND, Oregon, March 8 (TNSrpt) -- Portland General Electric, an electric utility company, issued the following news release: Portland General Electric (PGE) released its 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, an annual report that showcases PGE's programs and progress on its path towards a clean energy future that is equitable, sustainable and reliable. This year's report highlights key initiatives and achievements that support the company's commitment to decarbonization an  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Simpson Thacher and Bartlett, a law firm, issued the following news: Simpson Thacher represented the agents, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and U.S. Bancorp Investments Inc., in an offering by Northwest Natural Gas Company ("NW Natural") of $100 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.75% Secured Medium-Term Notes, Series B due 2033. NW Natural is a local distribution company that currently provides natural gas service to approximately 2.5 million people in more than 140 c  more

CORVALLIS, Oregon, March 8 (TNSpp) -- Oregon State University issued the following university news on March 7, 2023: Oregon legislative and higher education leaders on Tuesday spotlighted the need to increase state support for college students and to make it easier for students to navigate Oregon's education system during a panel discussion at Oregon State University's Corvallis campus. The discussion, part of a summit focused on making college more affordable and accessible, featured state Re  more