WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service issued the following news release on Nov. 17, 2023: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released a new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM), updating this valuable tool for gardeners and researchers for the first time since 2012. USDA's Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The new ma  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (TNSres) -- AmeriCorps issued the following news release: AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, announces the deployment of 56 AmeriCorps NCCC teams to 25 states, Guam and Puerto Rico. The deployments began in mid-October, with several slated to run through mid-December, to address the impacts of climate change, and support families through food security programs and other community needs. When America calls, AmeriCorps answers. In the Pacif  more

PORTLAND, Oregon, Nov. 7 (TNSres) -- The Bonneville Power Administration issued the following news release: * * * First-ready, first-served cluster study aims to clear interconnection request backlog * * * The Bonneville Power Administration has worked with its customers to propose adoption of regional reforms to address the backlog in large generator interconnection requests that have accumulated over the past five years. The proposed interconnection queue reforms will help BPA more quickly  more

PORTLAND, Oregon, Nov. 18 (TNSres) -- The Bonneville Power Administration issued the following news release: * * * BPA proposes to pay down debt, reduce rates, provide liquidity and accelerate fish and wildlife mitigation * * * The Bonneville Power Administration ended fiscal year 2023 on solid financial footing, exceeding expectations of previous quarterly forecasts that indicated the agency would miss net revenues and expense targets. The agency's annual report describes how the agency bou  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release: Medford, Oregon - For many families, venturing out onto public lands to cut a Christmas tree is an annual holiday tradition! The process of obtaining permits differs a bit by agency, but families are able to cut Christmas trees on Forest Service or BLM lands using a permit from either agency. There are a number of options by which the public can obtain permits as follows: In  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: GRANTS PASS, Ore.- Today the DEA Seattle Field Division, along with our partners at the Grants Pass Police Department and Oregon State Police, are announcing the takedown of a drug and firearm trafficking ring in Southern Oregon on Tuesday. The investigation started about 18 months ago and resulted with the execution of nine search warrants i  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy issued the following news release on Nov. 16, 2023: The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that 12 states and the District of Columbia will participate as "core states" in fiscal year 2024 in its National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network initiative, enabling government agencies in these states to receive consulting, capacity-building support and ongoing mentoring to increase competitive  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The FBI issued the following news release on Nov. 14, 2023: The Portland Division of the FBI is joining the FBI's nationwide efforts to increase awareness about hate crimes and encourage reporting of hate incidents with an advertising campaign across Oregon. The campaign, which began on November 6, includes billboards in Medford, Eugene, Corvallis, as well as static and digital displays reaching thousands of passengers daily at Portland International Airport. Hate crimes  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. Navy's U.S. Fleet Forces Command issued the following news: By Lt. j.g. Jacob Nolan, HSC-26 public affairs The Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 "Chargers", stationed aboard Naval Station Norfolk held a change of command ceremony, Nov. 16 to mark a transition of command leadership. During the change of command ceremony, Cmdr. Scott Chirgwin, of Portland, Oregon, assumed all duties and responsibilities as the HSC-26 commanding officer from Cmdr. Matthew Mr  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release: LAKEVIEW, Ore. -- 'Tis the season! Looking for an outdoor experience to celebrate the holidays? How about cutting down your own Christmas tree? Christmas tree permits for the Bureau of Land Management Klamath Falls Field Office can be purchased ONLINE starting now. Buy your permit here! Permits cost $5 per tree with a limit of 2 trees per household. Go to forestproducts.blm.g  more

BILLINGS, Montana, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, Jesse Laslovich, issued the following news release on Nov. 17, 2023: An Oregon man who brought methamphetamine to Missoula for distribution was sentenced today to eight years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Tracy Jean Bell, 60, of Beaverton, Oregon, pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to distribute meth. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presid  more

SACRAMENTO, California, Nov. 17 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on Nov. 16, 2023: Small nonfarm businesses in eight Washington counties and neighboring counties in Oregon are now eligible to apply for low interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced Director Jeffrey Lusk of SBA's Disaster Field Operations Center West. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in the following   more

PORTLAND, Oregon, Nov. 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon issued the following news release on Nov. 16, 2023: A suspected drug trafficker is facing federal charges after he was caught by southern Oregon law enforcement transporting more than 100 pounds of fentanyl on U.S. Route 97 near Collier Memorial State Park. Jothan Paul Barrios-Chable, 20, of Portland, has been charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to co  more