PORTLAND, Oregon, March 27 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Portland District issued the following news release: Army leaders announced plans to quickly convert unused buildings into makeshift hospitals in multiple states, starting in New York, as hospitals brace for medical shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, construction is set to kick off as the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan will be refitted into a 1,000-bed hospital and an additional 1,800 field medica  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 25 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Western Regional Information Office issued the following report on the alternative measures of labor underutilization in Oregon for 2019: In 2019, the broadest measure of labor underutilization, designated U-6 (which includes the unemployed, workers employed part-time for economic reasons, and those marginally attached to the labor force), was 8.0 percent in Oregon, not significantly different tha  more

PORTLAND, Oregon, March 25 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the following news release: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District is refilling its 13 Willamette Valley Project reservoirs and two Rogue River Basin Project reservoirs to prepare for the spring and summer conservation seasons. Refill season, which begins in February and ends in May, is crucial for the reservoir systems to adequately fill before summer. Both the Willamette and Rogue reservoir systems, which lar  more

PORTLAND, Oregon, March 24 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service Oregon office issued the following news release on March 23: U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Centers are encouraging visitors to take proactive protective measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. USDA Service Centers in Oregon will continue to be open for business by phone appointment only and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While our program   more

PORTLAND, Oregon, March 25 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Investigation Portland Field Office issued the following news release: The FBI has launched the "Protected Voices" initiative to help 2020 political campaigns and American voters protect against online foreign influence operations and cyber security threats. The Protected Voices campaign includes information and guidance from the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of the Director of National I  more

PORTLAND, Oregon, March 25 -- The U.S. Army Medicine issued the following news: With the outbreak of the coronavirus, we're living in uncertain times. More and more schools and businesses are closing to reduce the spread of COVID-19. As a result, many people are working from home or out of work indefinitely. If you feel you're in a precarious financial situation, you're not alone. George Katsinis, a personal finance counselor for Oregon National Guard members and their families, shares some ac  more

PENDLETON, Oregon, March 27 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's U.S. Forest Service unit - Umatilla National Forest - issued the following news release: In partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Umatilla National Forest has temporarily closed the Tucannon River Road (Forest Service Road 47) on the Pomeroy Ranger District. This closure is in place to be consistent with Washington state's "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" executive order that closed state campgrounds and  more