PORTLAND, Oregon, April 14 -- The American Forest Resource Council issued the following news release: A coalition representing counties, business and labor has reached an agreement with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service that will initiate a public regulatory rulemaking process for revaluating critical habitat designated for the Northern Spotted Owl (NSO) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The agreement was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and is subject to court  more

SILVER SPRING, Maryland, April 16 -- The American Herbal Products Association issued the following news release: AHPA and the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) filed joint comments last week to reiterate significant concerns to the Oregon Department of Justice (OR DOJ) about a Proposed Rule that would create a private right of action for opportunistic plaintiffs' lawyers motivated by the potential for recovery rather than the public interest. This Proposed Rule would allow private plaint  more

PORTLAND, Oregon, April 16 -- The Center for Biological Diversity issued the following news release on March 15: Oregon's wolf population increased by 21 confirmed animals from 137 to 158 wolves in 2019, according to a report released by the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife. The state also added six new packs, for a total of 22. The overall population increase marks an annual growth rate of 15% above last year's numbers. "We're excited to see some of Oregon's wolves move into new places  more

NEWPORT, Oregon, April 16 -- The Journal of Heredity, a journal that says it features conservation genetics of endangered species, population structure and phylogeography, molecular evolution and speciation, molecular genetics of disease resistance in plants and animals, genetic biodiversity and relevant computer programs from the American Genetic Association, published research articles on the following topics in its March 2020 issue: * Genomic Footprints of Recovery in the European Bison * I  more

PORTLAND, Oregon, April 16 -- The Mercy Corps issued the following statement by Country Director Whitney Elmer: With new Ebola cases emerging in the Democratic Republic of Congo just days before the largest ever epidemic in the country was to be declared over, the DRC is now fighting health enemies on two fronts. "After 20 months spent fighting Ebola, we are still not done. And now with a rising number of COVID-19 cases, the Democratic Republic of Congo is facing health enemies on two fronts.   more

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The Natural Products Association issued the following news release: A new Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) order is duplicative of federal law and wastes limited resources during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Oregon's order does nothing to protect public health by restricting health claims for nutritional supplements. Furthermore, the order places onerous requirements on retailers to compile "competent and reliable scientific evidence" that will confuse consumers,  more

SEATTLE, Washington, April 16 -- Comagine Health issued the following news release: The Oregon Health Authority named Comagine Health as the new Independent and Qualified Agent (IQA) for the behavioral health support program contract. This three-year contract ensures that Oregonians with severe and persistent mental illness are actively involved in directing their treatment through person-centered care planning. Additionally, the work includes connecting individuals with necessary resources and  more

SPRINGFIELD, Oregon, April 18 -- PeaceHealth issued the following news: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created new challenges across the globe. To help respond to those challenges locally, PeaceHealth has created COVID-19 Emergency Response Funds in each of its communities: Eugene-Springfield, Cottage Grove and Florence. Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation recently launched a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund thanks to a generous $25,000 donation from the OCCU Foundation. The   more

EUGENE, Oregon, April 18 -- The Western Environmental Law Center issued the following news release on April 17: Groups delivered a resounding message to the New Mexico State Land Office: To protect New Mexico's economy and environment, the oil and gas industry must be reined in. The New Mexico State Land Office held an online hearing today to adopt an emergency rule that would allow oil and gas companies to stop producing from oil and gas wells on state public lands. In light of a severe decli  more