Oregon

Air quality alert issued for Oregon Saturday

Published

2 years ago

August 10, 2024

Air quality alert issued for Oregon Saturday

On Friday at 11 p.m. an air quality alert was issued valid until Saturday at 8 p.m. for Tualatin Valley, West Hills and Chehalem Mountains, Inner Portland Metro, East Portland Metro and Outer Southeast Portland Metro.

“The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory, which is in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday. An Air Quality Advisory for Ozone has been issued. High levels of ozone in the lower atmosphere in the region combined with forecasted conditions will cause air quality to reach unhealthy levels at times through 8 p.m. Saturday. Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems. Limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if it is smoky. Please follow medical advice if you have a heart or lung condition,” says the National Weather Service.

Guidance for air quality alerts: Insights from the weather service

When an air quality alert is in effect, following the weather service guidance is pivotal. Here are some simple tips from the weather service for safeguarding your well-being:

Retreat indoors whenever feasible:

If you can, take refuge indoors, especially if you have respiratory concerns, underlying health conditions, or belong to the senior or child demographics.

Minimize outdoor exposure:

When you can’t avoid going outdoors, keep outdoor activities to the bare essentials. Reducing your time outdoors is the key.

Mitigate pollution sources:

Be mindful of activities that increase pollution, like driving cars, operating gas-powered lawnmowers, or using motorized vehicles. Limit their usage during air quality alerts.

A no to open burning:

Resist the urge to burn debris or any other materials during an air quality alert. This practice only adds to the air pollution problem.

Stay informed:

Keep yourself well-informed by tuning in to NOAA Weather Radio or your preferred weather news outlet. Staying in the loop empowers you to make informed decisions regarding outdoor engagements during air quality alerts.

Respiratory health caution:

If you have respiratory problems or underlying health conditions, exercise extra caution. These conditions can increase your vulnerability to adverse effects from poor air quality.

By adhering to the recommendations from the weather service, you can enhance your safety during air quality alerts and reduce your exposure to potentially harmful pollutants. Stay vigilant, stay protected, and prioritize your health above all else.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

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Oregon

Oregon police arrest man in online child sex crime case involving 13-year-old

Published

3 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

Oregon police arrest man in online child sex crime case involving 13-year-old

OREGON, Wis. (WMTV) – Police in Oregon arrested a 57-year-old man Friday after investigators said he communicated online with someone he believed was a 13-year-old child.

The Oregon Police Department said the investigation began March 12 after officers received a report about a concerning video posted online.

Detectives later identified a Village of Oregon resident who had been communicating with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old. Police did not release the suspect’s name.

Detectives took the suspect into custody Friday and booked him into the Dane County Jail on one count of use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, police said.

Click here to download the WMTV15 News app or our WMTV15 First Alert weather app.

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Oregon

Federal judge upholds Oregon gas tax argument submission deadline

Published

15 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

Federal judge upholds Oregon gas tax argument submission deadline

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read will not have to accept arguments on the gas tax referendum that were not submitted by the state’s March 12 deadline, a federal judge decided.

U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon’s March 20 ruling is a second blow to the referendum’s chief petitioners: Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, gubernatorial candidate Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, and Jason Williams, founder of the Taxpayers Association of Oregon, whose attempt to keep the vote in November was shot down in Marion County District Court.

The litigation by supporters of the gas tax referendum began after Democratic lawmakers passed, and Gov. Tina Kotek signed, Senate Bill 1599 to move the vote on the gas tax and other transportation costs from the November election to May.

Submitting arguments for the voters’ pamphlet required paying $1,200 or the collection of 500 signatures.

The gas tax referendum leaders’ federal suit, joined by four individuals and unidentified people whose signature submissions were not accepted for the ballot, argued Read violated the First and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution and the Americans with Disabilities Act by enforcing the deadline for voters’ pamphlet submissions.

The lawsuit mirrors another suit Simon heard March 11. In those arguments, ahead of the deadline, Simon found there was a potential ADA problem because someone without disabilities would have two pathways to submit signatures, where someone who could not physically collect signatures would only have one.

Simon allowed Mary Martin, a disabled and low-income woman, to submit her argument without the signatures or paying the fee, but noted she must still meet the deadline.

The ruling has no effect on the 35 arguments that are already included in the voters’ pamphlet.

Simon declined to allow the submissions that missed the deadline to be added to the pamphlet in part because only one plaintiff stated they were disabled and none, he said, clearly outlined the extent of their financial situations.

“The Legislature interfered with the referendum process, changed the rules midstream, and 52 Oregonians lost their voice. And today, the court sided with the political class over the people,” Diehl told the Statesman Journal.

In a statement, Read expressed appreciation for the speed of the decision and urged Oregon voters to be on the lookout for voters’ pamphlets and ballots in the mail.

Voters will weigh in on whether to increase the gas tax and other transportation costs in the May 19 election.

A written decision from Simon was expected later on March 20.

Anastasia Mason covers state government for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at acmason@statesmanjournal.com or 971-208-5615.

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Oregon

Where to watch Oregon vs. Virginia Tech in March Madness First Round: Time, TV Channel

Published

1 day ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

Where to watch Oregon vs. Virginia Tech in March Madness First Round: Time, TV Channel

March Madness is underway and college basketball’s big dance continues with No. 8 seed Oregon taking on No. 9 seed Virginia Tech in a First Round matchup on Friday, March 20. Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the clash between the Hokies and Ducks.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering women’s March Madness to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.

USA TODAY Studio IX: Check out our women’s sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more

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