(Portland, OR)  --  State health officials are saying at least 88-percent of all active cases of COVID-19 in Oregon are the Delta variant.  Just a few weeks ago, the Delta variant accounted for just 33-percent of cases.  Now, Dr. Paul Cieslak with the Oregon Health Authority says that unvaccinated Oregonians are at a much greater risk of contracting the descendant of the novel coronavirus strand than when it first surfaced in the state 16 months ago.  The Delta variant, experts say, spreads twice as fast as the original and appears to make infected patients sicker than the novel COVID-19.   

(Portland, OR)  --  The Oregon State Fire Marshal is suspending the enforcement of regulations that prohibit pumping your own gas.  The expected heat wave and concern for employees working outside in triple-digit temperatures is the reason for the temporary suspension.  Any business that chooses to continue with full-service is encouraged to provide ample water and areas to keep cool for employees.  The temporary order is in effect through 11:59 Friday night.    

(Portland, OR)  --  Local health officials are warning residents to be careful amid an expected heat wave today in the Portland area.  Doctors are advising people to "listen to their bodies" and to seek shelter or other help if they need it.  Today's high is expected to hit around triple digits.  Cooling centers have been opened at local community centers to help people find respite from the sweltering heat.    

(Portland, OR)  --  The City of Portland is moving forward with clearing dozens of residents from a large homeless encampment along Laurelhurst Park.  On Thursday morning, police, park rangers, and several biohazard crews began clearing the area.  They were met by activists opposing the move amid ongoing pandemic concerns and the current housing crisis.  Many of the temporary residents had been staying in the park for nearly a year at this point, since the early onset of the pandemic. 

(Portland, OR)  --  The president of the Portland Association of Teachers is applauding Governor Kate Brown's decision to require masks for students K-through-12 this fall.  Elizabeth Thiel called the decision "crucial and important" amid increasing cases of COVID-19.  The teachers union committed to masks this fall shortly after the CDC recommended that people, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, go back to masks indoors due to the highly contagious Delta variant.  Thiel says most parents of students have been supportive of the most recent mask initiative.   

(Portland, OR) -- A rescued otter pup is staying at the Oregon Zoo for the summer. Zoo officials say the pup was found abandoned by its mother near Deer Island last month. The pup was taken to Portland Audubon's wildlife center and then the Wildlife Center of the North Coast for rehabilitation. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says the pup is not able to be released, because it's spent too much time with people. It'll stay at the Oregon Zoo with the other otters until a permanent home is found.

(Portland, OR) -- Half a dozen more Oregonians are dead after contracting COVID-19. The Oregon Health Authority reported six new deaths yesterday along with 804 new cases of COVID-19. There are 274 people hospitalized, which is 15 more than Tuesday. There have now been two-thousand-849 deaths and 217-thousand-690 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. Around 46-hundred vaccinations are being given each day.

(Portland, OR) -- New COVID-19 cases in Oregon increased 53-percent over the last week. The Oregon Health Authority says hospitalizations were also up, but deaths were down. Both hospitalizations and deaths are trailing factors, so they will likely increase as cases rise. The number of positive COVID-19 tests increased from four-point-two to five-percent. Case rates have been higher in counties with lower COVID-19 vaccination rates.

(Portland, OR) -- Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler says that he wants all city employees to either be vaccinated or regularly tested for COVID-19. Wheeler made that announcement to City Council members yesterday. Wheeler says he doesn't have the authority to make the requirement on his own, so he'll be talking with council members, unions, and other groups that would be part of the decision. He says the increasing COVID-19 cases makes it important to take steps to keep the virus out of city offices.

(Salem, OR) -- Oregon's economy is recovering from the pandemic recession, but not equally. The Oregon Employment Department reports that rural counties are recovering faster than metro areas. Three in ten jobs in metro areas have come back. Seven out of ten jobs have returned in rural counties. Some counties east of the Cascades have regained all of their jobs.

(Lakeview, OR) -- The Bootleg Fire continues to grow in southern Oregon. An InciWeb update shows the blaze has now burned more than 413-thousand acres as of late last night. Containment is still at 53-percent. Firefighters got some relief yesterday and Tuesday in the form of rain. Operations Section Chief Brad Washa says it helped slow the growth on the north side of the fire, but the rain didn't fall on the south side of the blaze and it's still growing.

(Portland, OR) -- COVID-19 case numbers are spiking in Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority reported one-thousand-32 new cases yesterday along with five new deaths. State Health Officer Dr. Dean Sidelinger says the Delta variant now accounts for 80-percent of the new cases. They are reviewing updated guidance from the CDC to see how it can be applied in Oregon. There are currently 259 Oregonians hospitalized with coronavirus, which is an increase of 52 people from Sunday.

(Salem, OR) -- Former Oregon State Representative Mike Nearman is pleading guilty to Official Misconduct for allowing protesters into the locked Capitol building during a special session last December. Nearman entered the guilty plea yesterday in the Marion County Superior Court. After getting inside of the building, the protesters, some armed with guns, fought with police and caused damage to the building. Nearman was sentenced to 18 months of bench probation, 80 hours of community service, and he was ordered to pay 27-hundred dollars for damage to the building. He's also banned from the Oregon State Capitol and its grounds. A charge of Criminal Trespass was dismissed as part of the plea deal.

(Portland, OR) -- The Oregon Health Authority is recommending that everyone wear masks in public indoor settings regardless of vaccination status as COVID-19 cases continue to surge. The agency issued the new guidance yesterday. More than a thousand new cases were reported in Oregon yesterday. The COVID-19 Delta variant was found in 80-percent of the new cases.

(Undated) -- Oregon is among half a dozen states that are banning high-end, pre-built gaming personal computers. Niche Gamer reports Oregon is joining California, Vermont, Hawaii, Colorado and Washington state in banning the products because of the large amount of electricity they use. This follows a study published in 2019 that shows computer gaming consumed four-point-one terawatt hours in 2016, which cost about 700-million dollars in energy bills. Gaming consoles are exempt from the law.

(Lakeview, OR) -- Firefighters remain on the scene of the massive Bootleg Fire burning in Southern Oregon. Fire officials say the blaze remains at 53-percent containment and has now burned nearly 411-thousand acres. Officials announced yesterday the fire has now destroyed more than 400 structures, including 161 homes. It's also destroyed 342 vehicles.

(Portland, OR) -- Health officials in Multnomah County are asking residents to wear masks in public indoor spaces whether they're vaccinated or not. The health department issued that guidance yesterday in response to an increase in COVID-19 cases caused by the highly contagious delta variant. Public Health Director Jessica Guernsey says wearing masks now can reduce spread of the virus, preventing hospitalizations and deaths.

(Albany, OR) -- A man with a court order not to contact an Albany woman on his release from jail for domestic violence is now accused of violating that order and killing her. Albany Police say officers arrested 34-year-old James Anderson Friday after Angela Christian vanished and was later found dead near Mary's Peak in Benton County. Anderson is jailed on charges of Second Degree Murder and Contempt of Court for violating the no contact order.

(Lakeview, OR) -- The nation's largest wildfire continues to blacken the landscape in southern Oregon. Fire officials say the Bootleg fire grew by about a thousand acres on Sunday and has now burned 409-thousand-611 acres. Crews have now managed to get the blaze about 53-percent contained.

(Sweet Home, OR) -- A woman is dead after falling off her paddleboard in Foster Reservoir. Police say 36-year-old Courtney Anderson of Eugene was at Lewis Creek Park east of Sweet Home Sunday afternoon when she slipped off the board while trying to help a child. She wasn't wearing a life jacket and was underwater for several minutes before other swimmers pulled her from the water. She was taken to Lebanon Community Hospital where she died. Anderson was also a Lane County Sheriff's deputy.

(Portland, OR) -- Several bars in Portland's entertainment district are hiring guards with bullet-resistant vests in response to an increase in downtown shootings. Bar owners say they need to do it for the safety of the guards. Last weekend, Portland Police temporarily added officers downtown because of the mass shooting that killed one woman and injured six other people.

(Vancouver, WA)  --  Police are seeking the public's help in their search for an eleven-year-old girl who's been missing for a week.  The Vancouver Police Department says Shilo Faith Dove was last seen at her home on July 19th.  Police believe she may be with a 15-year-old boy named Zac.  Dove is described as white with blue eyes and blue and purple hair.

(Salem, OR)  --  The search continues for a climber who went missing after falling several hundred feet on Mt. Jefferson.  Police say 33-year-old Steven Vanpelt was descending the mountain when he fell on Friday.  Search and rescue teams from several agencies are trying to find him.  Life Flight and the Oregon Army National Guard searched by air over the weekend.  Search crews are battling difficult terrain, including snow, cliffs, large boulders, crevices and falling rock.

(Beatty, OR)  --  Fire officials say the Bootleg Fire in southern Oregon has become so intense that it spawned a tornado of fire.  The National Weather Service says the fire is so large that it's creating its own weather and they confirm a firenado touched down last week.  Photos of the area show trees broken off at the trunk and in a circular pattern.  The Bootleg Fire has burned nearly 409-thousand acres and is 46-percent contained.

(Eugene, OR)  --  Police are releasing new details regarding a shooting that injured one person at the Lane County Fair over the weekend.  The Eugene Police Department says a 16-year-old boy fired a single gunshot Saturday during an altercation involving several other teens and one adult.  A security guard tells KATU-2 the 16-year-old and several of his friends were arguing with an older man near a stage when things turned physical and the 16-year-old threatened to shoot the man.  The guard says he stepped in and tackled the teen to the ground, and that's when the gun went off, striking a woman nearby.  She was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  Police arrested the 16-year-old as well as a 14-year-old for disorderly conduct.

(Portland, OR)  --  Health officials say there was an increase in deaths from non-COVID-19 related conditions during the pandemic.  A Providence Health study found unplanned hospitalizations were cut up to 50-percent while deaths increased 20-percent.  People held off going to hospitals for heart issues, strokes and care for chronic conditions due to fear they'd get COVID-19.  Doctors say people need to know that medical clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms are safe places to get medical care.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is reporting one new death from COVID-19 and 539 new cases.  The Oregon Health Authority reported the new numbers yesterday.  There are currently 169 Oregonians hospitalized with the virus, which is 18 more than on Wednesday.

(Camas, WA)  --  The City of Camas, Washington is reminding residents not to release their pets into the wild after eight pythons were found in the parking area of Lacamas Park yesterday.  Pythons are not native to the Pacific Northwest, and police believe someone who had the snakes as pets set them free.  The pythons ranged in size from three to six feet in length.  All of the snakes were caught, and police searched the area for any snakes that might have moved into the park.  They were taken to the animal shelter and might be made available for adoption.

(Sheridan, OR)  --  Police in Sheridan say a car that was throwing sparks on Highway 22 caused several spot fires last night.  Firefighters put out the three fires.  Polk County Sheriff's deputies caught up with the car so they could fix the problem and prevent any other fires.  Police say it's important with conditions so dry to prevent vehicles from emitting sparks.

(Beatty, OR)  --  Firefighters battling the largest wildfire in the country are also battling COVID-19.  Incident commanders at the Bootleg Fire in southern Oregon say nine firefighters have tested positive for the virus.  They have been quarantined away from the fire camp, and contact tracing is underway to determine other people who might have been exposed.  They will be isolated until they test negative for the virus.  The fire camps have COVID-19 protocols they follow to limit spread of the virus.

(North Bend, OR)  --  Coquille Indian Tribe Chief Don Ivy has died after a seven-month battle with cancer.  Tribal Chair Brenda Meade issued a statement saying "Chief Ivy was a consistent source of wisdom and kindness for the Coquille people."  The tribe will hold a special election to choose his successor.

(Lakeview, OR)  --  More than two-thousand people remain under evacuation orders in southern Oregon as the Bootleg Fire continues to grow.  Officials in Lake County issued additional evacuation orders last night in response to increased fire activity.  The new Level 3 evacuations are in effect from the Paisley Airport to Mile Post 82 and from Picture Rock Pass to Mile Post 77.  Fire officials say the blaze has now passed 400-thousand acres.  Containment has grown by two points to 40-percent.

(Salem, OR)  --  The Oregon Department of Education is unveiling updated COVID-19 rules for this fall.  All public schools will be open for full time in-person instruction.  The CDC requires that students on school buses wear masks.  Students should maintain three feet of social distancing.  In grades Kindergarten and up, students and staff are advised to wear face coverings.  People who are fully vaccinated and do not have COVID-19 symptoms don't need to quarantine or get tested after exposure to someone with COVID-19.

(Mitchell, OR)  --  The Klamath County Museum says the Mitchell Monument has been spared from the Bootleg Fire burning in southern Oregon.  Officials say firefighters wrapped the monument with flame retardant and insulating blankets to protect it from the blaze earlier this week.  The Mitchell Monument was built in 1950 to mark the site where a Japanese balloon bomb from World War Two killed six Klamath County residents in 1945.  The Bootleg Fire has now scorched over 395-thousand acres and remains the largest wildfire currently burning in the U.S.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is reporting one new death from COVID-19 and 421 new infections.  The Oregon Health Authority reported the new numbers yesterday.  There are 151 Oregonians currently hospitalized with coronavirus, which is four less than on Tuesday.  Officials say around 46-hundred people a day are receiving vaccinations in Oregon.

(Portland, OR)  --  Weekly COVID-19 cases in Oregon have soared to the highest level in seven weeks.  The Oregon Health Authority says new cases are up 54-percent from the previous week.  Hospitalizations and deaths are also up.  Officials say counties with low vaccination rates are having higher rates of infections.
 

(Salem, OR)  --  Police say they've arrested a suspect in connection to a double homicide at the Capital Cantina in northeast Salem earlier this month.  The Salem Police Department says officers arrested 21-year-old Nivardo Ramirez Monge in Nevada on Monday.  He'll be charged with the shooting deaths of 27-year-old Jose Pablo Arrevalo and 29-year-old Erlin Adonay Rivas-Lopez on July 10th.
 

(Lakeview, OR)  --  Crews continue to make progress against the Bootleg Fire in Southern Oregon.  Fire officials say the blaze is now 38-percent contained as of late last night.  That's up from 30-percent containment on Tuesday.  Officials say cooler temperatures and calmer winds helped firefighters increase their containment of the blaze yesterday.  However, temperatures are expected to warm back up this weekend, and Forestry officials warn the fire may burn another 100-thousand acres before crews can completely put it out.  The fire has now scorched over 395-thousand acres and remains the largest wildfire currently burning in the U.S.

(Salem, OR)  --  Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer is proposing a space tourism tax for spaceflights on Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic or any other tourist craft.  Blumenauer, a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced the Securing Protections Against Carbon Emissions, or SPACE, tax on Tuesday.  Blumenauer says just as normal Americans pay taxes when they buy airline tickets, billionaires who fly into space to produce nothing of scientific value should do the same.  The tax would have two tiers, one for suborbital flights and a higher tax for orbital flights.  The tax would not apply to NASA spaceflights where scientific research is conducted.

(Troutdale, OR)  --  A 7-year-old girl and her father are dead following a rafting accident on the Sandy River.  The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office says the girl was rafting on the river yesterday when her raft overturned, throwing her into the water.  Her father jumped in after her to try to save her.  Rescue crews pulled both father and daughter from the water and rushed them to a hospital, where they were both pronounced dead.  Police say they were not wearing life jackets.

(Salem, OR)  --  Governor Kate Brown is urging residents to be prepared for wildfires and the possibility they might have to evacuate.  Brown issued the warning yesterday.  She says this is one of the worst fire seasons in the state's history.  Brown says everyone should have two week's worth of supplies and be registered at the website OR ALERT DOT GOV to receive emergency alerts.

(Portland, OR)  --  Crime Stoppers is offering a 25-hundred dollar reward for information that leads to an arrest in Saturday morning's mass shooting in downtown Portland that killed one person and injured six others.  Police say 18-year-old Makayla Harris died at a hospital from her injuries.  Police say several people left the scene before officers arrived, and they need to talk with them.  Any tip to Crime Stoppers that results in an arrest in the case is eligible for the reward.

(Seaside, OR)  --  A rare deep-sea fish is capturing the attention of those in northwest Oregon.  Officials say a 100-pound moonfish washed up on the shore in Seaside last week.  Keith Chandler, the general manager of Seaside Aquarium, tells CNN that a moonfish on the Oregon coast is "uncommon to find."  According to NOAA, not much is known about the species since the fish live in deep water.  The species is usually found in temperate and tropical waters.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State University is reducing the amount of water it uses in response to Governor Kate Brown's order directing state agencies to curtail nonessential water use.  The order doesn't apply to OSU, but the school is taking steps at all of its campuses.  Grass will be allowed to go dormant unless it's an area where a lot of people walk on it.  Athletic fields will also be watered.  Most buildings already have low flow faucets and toilets.

(Portland, OR)  --  A demonstrator who set the Portland Justice Center on fire last September has been sentenced to four years in prison.  Cyan Bass admitted to breaking windows in the Justice Center and using a flammable liquid to set the building on fire.  It caused 46-thousand dollars in damage.  He also ran into Chapman Square and threw a lit Molotov cocktail at officers.  Bass was convicted of several charges including arson and attempted assault.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is reporting nearly a dozen new coronavirus deaths and over 700 new cases of COVID-19 from over the weekend.  The Oregon Health Authority reported nine new deaths yesterday from Friday through Sunday, raising the state's death toll from the pandemic to two-thousand-826.  The health department also reported 777 new cases of the virus.

(Hillsboro, OR)  --  The Washington County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a scam involving Amazon.  The victim receives an email saying there was an unauthorized purchase and they need to call customer support.  The scammers then convince the victim to give personal  information and to install apps on their phone that allowed them to steal more information.  If you receive a similar email, check the email address.

(Undated)  --  Firefighters in southern Oregon are gaining some ground on the country's largest wildfire.  The Bootleg Fire is 30-percent contained after making its way through over 364-thousand acres.  Meanwhile, officials issued new evacuations yesterday south of the community of Summer Lake.  The fire has destroyed 67 homes and is currently threatening nearly 25-hundred more.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police are releasing the name of a woman who was killed in a mass shooting in downtown Portland early Saturday morning.  The police bureau says 18-year-old Makayla Harris died at a hospital.  Six other people were injured.  Detectives think witnesses left the scene after the shooting and they want to talk with those people.  Police have not made an arrest in the case.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  The search continues for four armed carjacking suspects who prompted police to issue a shelter-in-place order for residents in Southeast Portland early this morning.  Police issued the order for residents between 122nd and 129th and between Tibbetts and Powell around 1 a.m. while officers conducted a yard-by-yard search for the suspects.  Police say the suspects robbed a person of their pickup truck just before 1 a.m.  Investigators managed to track the truck's location by tracking the victim's cell phone, which was left inside the vehicle, but when officers approached the truck, the suspects fled on foot.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police are trying to identify the people responsible for Saturday morning's mass shooting downtown that left one woman dead and six people injured.  The Portland Police Bureau says no arrests have been made in connection to the shooting, which happened around 2 a.m. near a collection of popular food carts at Southwest Oak and 3rd Avenue.  Investigators say it's too soon to say whether the shooting was gang-related.  Police believe several potential witnesses ran from the scene before speaking with detectives, and they're urging those witnesses to contact them.

(Beatty, OR)  --  The Bootleg Fire in southern Oregon continues to grow.  Fire officials say the blaze has now surpassed 303-thousand acres as of late last night and is continuing to advance toward three communities.  A total of 67 homes have been destroyed, and 31-hundred homes are threatened.  Firefighters are working to build containment lines to protect Paisley, Summer Lake, and Silver Lake.  The fire is 25-percent contained.

(Walla Walla, WA)  --  Governor Kate Brown has invoked the Conflagration Act to send firefighters to help battle the Elbow Creek Fire about 30 miles southeast of Walla Walla.  The fire has grown to nearly eleven-thousand acres since it started on Thursday.  Incident commanders say winds are making the fire erratic with fast growth.  Thunderstorms are forecast for Monday night.  The fire is threatening 156 homes, and it's ten-percent contained.

(Longview, WA)  --  A 12-year-old girl is lucky to be alive after escaping a mobile fire in Longview.  Fire officials say the girl was the only person home when the fire started Saturday morning.  She was asleep in a bedroom when the fire started in the kitchen.  The girl escaped through a bedroom window.  Several pets escaped or were rescued, but one cat died.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(Portland, OR)  --  Local leaders are responding to Saturday's deadly mass shooting in downtown Portland.  Mayor Ted Wheeler says the police need more resources to stop the shootings.  City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty says adding more officers to the bureau won't solve the problem.  Instead, she wants more money directed to programs that would prevent violence.

(Portland, OR)  --  State health officials are investigating the death of a dog that went swimming in Hagg Lake.  They're trying to determine whether a toxic algae bloom was responsible.  The lake didn't have any health warnings posted about algae.  Blue-green algae can make both people and animals sick.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is reporting seven new COVID-19 deaths and 322 new cases.  The Oregon Health Authority reported the new numbers yesterday.  There are 137 people hospitalized for coronavirus, which is 15 more than Wednesday.

(Washington, D.C.)  --  Money from the expanded child tax credit will appear in bank accounts each month through the end of the year.  Oregon Senator Ron Wyden is chair of the Senate Finance Committee and says he plans to push for the tax credit to be continued after the end of the year.  Roughly 39-million households will get the tax credit automatically on the 15th of each month.  It's an advance on the tax credit they would have received when they file their 2021 taxes.

(Portland, OR)  --  The U.S. Attorney in Oregon continues a crackdown on poaching of bull trout.  The office says 31-year-old Tyler Warren from Pendleton has been sentenced to three years federal probation, a thousand dollar fine, 40 hours community service, and he's banned from fishing for three years.  Warren pleaded guilty to catching bull trout from the Metolius River and keeping them.  He is the fourth Oregon resident convicted in federal court for illegally taking bull trout, which are listed as a threatened species and an important Tribal resource.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Oregon Health Authority is changing its COVID-19 vaccination goal.  After Oregon achieved its goal of a 70-percent vaccination rate for people 18 and older, the new goal targets tribal communities and communities of color.  Health officials say they want 80-percent of that group to get vaccinated.  Currently, their rate is around 45-percent.  OHA will direct vaccination efforts to both rural and urban areas that'll have a higher impact on communities of color.

(Klamath Falls, OR)  --  The Bootleg Fire continues to grow northeast of Klamath Falls.  Fire officials say the blaze has now burned over 227-thousand acres and is only seven-percent contained.  Incident Commander Joe Hessel says it's burning in extremely dry vegetation, and the weather is working against them.  The fire is moving rapidly through areas where many trees were killed by beetles.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon has three more deaths from COVID-19 and 251 new infections.  The Oregon Health Authority reported the new numbers yesterday.  Officials say there are currently 122 Oregonians hospitalized with coronavirus, which is up eleven from Tuesday.  An average of 49-hundred vaccine doses are being given each day.

(Hillsboro, OR)  --  Two men are hospitalized following a fight involving a BB gun at an AT&T store in Hillsboro.  Police responded to the store off TV Highway near Southeast 30th last night on reports that a man was pointing his BB gun at another man in the store.  Police say a scuffle ensued in which the other man managed to grab the BB gun from the man and shoot him several times.  Responding officers used a stun gun on one of the men.  An investigation into what caused the argument is ongoing.

(Salem, OR)  --  Two people are facing charges following a protest and counterprotest at a Planned Parenthood in Salem.  Police arrested 64-year-old Ricky Dale Clark of Beaverton and 30-year-old Shawn Christopher Davidson of Salem for disorderly conduct and assault during the demonstration Tuesday night.  Police say people dressed in Proud Boys attire, some of them carrying guns, faced off with counter-protesters.  Police tried to keep them separated, but the groups allegedly turned on officers.  Police used crowd control munitions to break up the crowd.

(Washington, D.C.)  --  The U.S. Senate will consider a bill to remove cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances.  Oregon Senator Ron Wyden is co-sponsoring the bill with Majority leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Cory Booker.  Eliminating cannabis as a controlled substance would allow marijuana businesses to use banks and it would allow federal inmates charged with non-violent marijuana crimes to petition a court for resentencing.  The bill would also create a fund to help communities adversely affected by marijuana laws.

(Portland, OR)  --  Officials say air travel is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels at Portland International Airport.  The TSA is warning travelers to be prepared for possible delays getting through security checkpoints.  They advise checking the TSA website to know what's allowed in carry-on bags.  The TSA says 29 guns have been found in carry-ons at Oregon airports so far this year, and 24 of those guns were loaded.  Travelers must check guns in locked cases and declare them to the airline, and they can't be loaded. 

(Salem, OR)  --  The Bootleg Fire burning in Southern Oregon continues to grow.  Fire officials say the blaze has now burned over 212-thousand acres and is currently the largest fire burning in the entire nation.  Firefighters on the front lines tell KATU-2 they've "never seen anything like" this fire.  Crews have reached five-percent containment on the blaze.  Fire officials say it could take more than four months to get the fire fully contained. 

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is reporting three new deaths from COVID-19 and 340 new infections.  The Oregon Health Authority reported the new numbers yesterday.  Officials say 111 Oregonians are currently hospitalized with coronavirus, which is two more than on Monday.  So far, 28-hundred Oregonians have died from COVID-19 and there have been 211-thousand-65 cases since the pandemic began.  The state is giving around 48-hundred vaccinations a day.

(Vancouver, WA)  --  A team of Washington state prosecutors are ruling that a Clark County sheriff's deputy was justified when he shot and killed an unarmed Black man during a traffic stop in February.  The team ruled Monday that Deputy Sean Boyle "acted in good faith" when he shot 30-year-old Jenoah Donald.  Boyle had ordered Donald out of his car during the traffic stop when the car started moving forward, prompting Boyle to open fire.  Donald died at a hospital.  Donald's family plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
 

(Tygh Valley, OR)  --  A man from Aloha is dead after drowning in the White River.  Police say 38-year-old Jason Vantine died Saturday afternoon at the White River Falls near Tygh Valley.  Police say Vantine and one of his daughters were swimming in the river when they got trapped in a whirlpool.  Vantine was able to get his daughter out of the whirlpool, and a bystander pulled her to shore.  The bystander also pulled Vantine from the water and started CPR, but medics pronounced him dead at the scene.  Oregon State Police drove his children back home to Aloha.

(Portland, OR)  --  A pilot program in Portland to pump sewage waste from RVs of homeless people will be extended another three months.  The Portland Bureau of Environmental Services collected waste from 192 RVs during the three month test.  It cost ten-thousand dollars.  The city will spend another ten-thousand dollars for another three months and are seeking another 60-thousand dollars in American Rescue Plan funds to continue the program for another year. 
 

(Portland, OR)  --  Multnomah County officials are working toward being better prepared for extreme heat after at least 54 county residents died during the historic heat wave that slammed the Pacific Northwest.  Officials say they plan to open more cooling centers and offer transportation for people who are homebound.  The average age of the people who died was 70, and officials say most of them lived at home alone and didn't have air conditioning or a fan.

(Portland, OR)  --  Nearly half a dozen more Oregonians are dead after contracting COVID-19.  The Oregon Health Authority confirmed five new coronavirus deaths yesterday from the weekend into Monday.  That raises Oregon's death toll from the pandemic to two-thousand-797.  The health department also reported 506 new cases of COVID-19 from the past three days.  Officials say around 49-hundred doses of vaccine are being given on daily basis.

(Salem, OR)  --  Salem Police are releasing the name of a man who was shot and killed by a police officer Friday night.  Police say 23-year-old Arcadio Castillo the third was armed with a knife during a domestic violence incident.  Salem Police Officer Nathan Bush shot Castillo, who died at the scene.  Details of what led to the shooting remain under investigation. 

(Salem, OR)  --  The Oregon State Capitol is reopening its doors to the public.  Guided Capitol tours will resume on July 19th.  Tower tours will resume in 2022.  The Capitol is undergoing a major maintenance project, so the regular entrance is closed along with access to the Senate and House wings through December.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police and Portland Fire & Rescue Arson Detectives are investigating two explosions that happened over the weekend.  Police say a book exchange box near Northeast 87th and Fremont Street was destroyed Saturday night.  Debris caused minor damage to two nearby houses.  Early Monday morning, a second explosion blew apart a brick mailbox near Northeast 148th and Burnside, sending bricks flying across the street.  No one was hurt in either explosion.  Detectives are asking anyone with surveillance video of the explosions to contact them.

(Salem, OR)  --  Wildfire smoke is prompting Oregon DEQ to issue an air quality advisory for south central and northeast Oregon.  The advisory covers Jackson, Klamath, Lake, and Wallowa counties along with parts of Deschutes and Douglas counties.  It lasts until at least Friday.  People should stay indoors, avoid strenuous outdoor activity and if you have lung disease or asthma, follow the advice of your health care provider.

(Multnomah Falls, OR)  --  Visitors to Multnomah Falls will need to make a reservation starting next week.  Officials are implementing a reservation requirement starting on July 20th to control crowd size.  Visitors can get tickets online at recreation dot gov. 

(Salem, OR)  --  Oregon's first mass vaccination clinic is preparing to close this month.  Salem Health's vaccine clinic at the Oregon State Fairgrounds will close its doors on Saturday July 24th.  The clinic opened January 7th and vaccinated more than 44-hundred people a day in April when vaccine demand was at its highest.  More than 212-thousand vaccinations have been given at the clinic.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland's housing market remains hot.  RMLS reports that through June, the median price of a home was 500-thousand dollars, which is up 18-percent from June of 2020.  Homes are staying on the market for an average of three weeks before selling.

(Aurora, OR)  --  A cyclist is dead after being struck by a hit-and-run driver on Highway 551 near Aurora.  Oregon State Police say the cyclist was northbound on the shoulder of the road around 1:45 early Sunday morning when they were hit from behind.  The rider was pronounced dead at a hospital.  Police say the suspect's vehicle was a white 2008 through 2014 Subaru Tribeca.  It'll have damage to the front passenger side of the vehicle including the headlight and passenger side mirror.  Anyone with information should call Oregon State Police.

(Salem, OR)  --  Two people are dead following a shooting at a Salem bar.  Police say the two were shot early Saturday morning at Woody's Cantina on Hawthorne Avenue Northeast.  Police arrived to find several people leaving the bar.  One person died at the scene, and the second victim died at Salem Health Hospital.  No arrests have been made.

(Gresham, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into a shooting that injured the bouncer at the 2nd Street Bar in Gresham.  Police say the man was hit in the head by a bullet Saturday night, and he's expected to survive.  Police interviewed one person who a caller to 911 said was the suspect, but police say the person wasn't the shooter.  Detectives believe the shooting happened following an altercation between several people in the bar.  

(Portland, OR)  --  The Oregon Zoo is expanding its hours.  Starting today, the zoo grounds will remain open until 8 p.m., with reservations going through 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.  The zoo train will also start running again after being out of service for more than a year.  Masks are not required, but reservations are still needed.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Oregon Health Authority reports that COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are continuing to fall in the state.  The agency says new COVID-19 cases were down 13-percent last week from the previous week.  Hospitalizations declined 40-percent.  The number of deaths, meanwhile, increased from seven to 19.  Oregon reported two new deaths and 212 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.

(Glide, OR)  --  The Jack Fire east of Glide continues to grow.  Fire officials say the blaze has now burned 42-hundred acres with zero-percent containment.  The fire is burning in grass and timber.  Highway 138 remains closed east of Steamboat Creek.  There are Level 3 evacuations in place for recreation areas, homes, and businesses.  Much of the Umpqua National Forest where the fire is burning has been closed.

(Salem, OR)  --  Salem Police are identifying a suspect in the shooting death of Davontae DeShawn Smith on June 8th at the Capital Inn.  Police say 32-year-old Antonio Julian Soto fled the scene after the shooting and remains at large.  Investigators believe he may be in Washington state.  The gun used in the shooting hasn't been recovered, and police say Soto should be considered armed and dangerous.

(Portland, OR)  --  Multnomah County plans to release a preliminary report next week on heat-related deaths linked to last week's historic heat wave.  The Multnomah County Medical Examiner has identified 71 deaths that were related to the heat wave, with 46 of those deaths caused by hyperthermia.  That's when the body is overheated.  The report won't give specific information on individual cases, but it will detail demographics, type of housing, geographic location and cooling circumstances.

(Salem, OR)  --  Governor Kate Brown is set to announce the one-million-dollar winner of the Take Your Shot, Oregon vaccination campaign today.  The event will be broadcast on the Governor's YouTube channel at 1:30 p.m.  The Governor announced the campaign to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates.  Oregon met its 70-percent vaccination goal last week. 

(Beatty, OR)  --  The Oregon State Fire Marshal is sending additional structural crews to protect houses in Klamath County as the Bootleg Fire continues to grow.  Fire officials say the blaze has now burned 16-thousand acres.  Three task forces are being sent from Yamhill, Marion, and Polk counties.  Two strike teams are also being deployed from California.  Officials say the hot and dry conditions in southern Oregon will cause the fire to spread rapidly.  The fire is burning about eleven miles northeast of Sprague River.

(Portland, OR)  --  Half a dozen more Oregonians are dead after contracting COVID-19.  The Oregon Health Authority reported six new coronavirus deaths yesterday, raising the state's death toll from the pandemic to two-thousand-788.  The health department also reported 273 new cases of COVID-19.  Officials say 106 Oregonians are currently hospitalized with coronavirus, which is down 19 from Tuesday.

(Salem, OR)  --  Governor Kate Brown has invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the Bootleg Fire in Klamath County.  The fire started Tuesday afternoon and quickly grew to three-thousand acres north of the Sprague River.  There are Level 1 and Level 2 evacuation warnings in place.  The Governor's order allows more state resources to be used in battling the fire.

(Glide, OR)  --  Fire official say the Jack Fire in Klamath County has nearly tripled in size since it was first reported on Tuesday.  The fire has burned nearly 24-hundred acres and remains at zero-percent containment.  Highway 138 from Steamboat Creek remains closed.  The Steamboat Inn is open with access from the west.  There are some Level 3 Go Now evacuations in effect.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Oregon State Medical Examiner reports nine more people have died from the heat wave last week.  It brings the total number of deaths to 116.  Most of the deaths occurred in the Portland and Salem areas, although two were in Deschutes County. Many of the victims lived alone.  Governor Kate Brown has ordered a review of the response to the heat wave to find ways to prevent deaths during future extreme heat events.

(Salem, OR)  --  Oregon is joining 36 other states in filing a lawsuit against Google for anti-competitive behavior.  The lawsuit alleges Google imposes technical barriers that discourage or prevent third party developers from creating and distributing apps that run on the Android operating system.  It also claims Google buys off developers to reduce competition and forces app developers to use Google's payment processing system in their programs.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say they've booked a suspect in connection to a shooting at the Stephens Creek Crossing Apartments in southwest Portland.  Police booked 32-year-old Luke Stolarzyk [[ sto-LAR-zik ]] into the Multnomah County Jail yesterday after he was released from the hospital, where he was being treated for injuries he suffered while being detained at the apartment complex.  Police say he fired 30 rounds at people and into occupied apartments for injuries he suffered while being detained at the apartment complex on June 29th before witnesses managed to disarm him.  No injuries were reported from the shooting.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Broadway Bridge will be closed during the day this weekend for a structural inspection.  The bridge will be closed Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. to vehicles, buses and Portland Streetcar.  Sidewalks will remain open for bikes and pedestrians, but there will be brief delays when the drawbridge is opened for testing.  The nearby Steel Bridge is the nearest alternate for cyclists and pedestrians.

(Portland, OR)  --  The chlorine shortage that was impacting water departments across the Pacific Northwest is over.  Westlake Chemical in Longview, Washington has repaired a transformer and is back in operation.  The Portland Water Bureau has resumed normal operations.  They reduced chlorine to the minimum levels required during the shortage to make their supply last longer.  They have now returned the amount of chlorine added to drinking water to the regular level.

(Glade, OR)  --  A new wildfire is burning in the Umpqua National Forest.  The Jack Fire has burned 1500 acres of grass and timber near Steamboat, which is 30 miles east of Glide.  The fire was first spotted with smoke detection cameras located on Mt. Scott, near Glide.  It helped firefighters respond quickly.  The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

(Portland, OR)  --  The average price of gas in Oregon is up a nickel over the last week to three dollars and 65 cents a gallon.  The national average is up three-cents to three dollars and 13 cents.  Compared to this time last year, Oregon's average is more than a dollar a gallon higher.  Diesel in Oregon is up four-cents.

(Salem, OR)  --  Last month's historic heat wave in the Pacific Northwest is blamed for nearly 100 deaths in Oregon.  The state medical examiner reported 95 deaths as of Sunday, including 64 in Multnomah County.  Those who died range in age from 44 to 97, and most were found in homes without air conditioning or fans.  Portland set all-time heat records three days in a row, topping out at 116 on June 28th.  Marion and Gilliam counties both hit 117.

(Portland, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into an apartment fire that killed two people and injured four others.  Firefighters responded to the blaze Sunday morning at the Heidi Manor Apartments in northeast Portland.  Officials say multiple residents jumped from their windows to escape the flames.  There's no word yet on what sparked the blaze.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police are searching for multiple suspects accused of firing 80 shots at apartments and vehicles in Northeast Portland.  Police responded to Northeast 7th and Wygat [[ WHY-gant ]] Street Saturday night to find shells in the streets and damage to four apartments and several vehicles.  People were inside of the apartments, but no one was hurt.  The suspects had fled the scene.  There have been 579 shootings in Portland so far this year, which is more than twice the number of shootings by this time last year.

(Eugene, OR)  --  A Eugene man is recovering from injuries after an improvised firework exploded in his hand, taking off multiple fingers.  Police say the accident happened in the early morning hours yesterday at a home in the 13-hundred block of Chambers Street.  Investigators say the man had created the fireworks using Tannerite powder.  No other injuries were reported.

(Portland, OR)  --  A Sweet Home man has pleaded guilty to fraudulently getting 600-thousand dollars in COVID-19 pandemic business relief money.  Court records show 39-year-old Russell Schort entered the guilty plea last week.  Prosecutors say Schort was working with Andrew Lloyd of Lebanon.  They allegedly claimed to have a business that did three-million dollars in sales a year and had 56 employees.  As part of Schort's plea deal, he'll pay nearly 295-thousand dollars to the federal government.  He could face 30 years in prison and a million dollar fine when he's sentenced.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is reporting four new deaths related to COVID-19 along with 198 new cases.  The Oregon Health Authority reported the new numbers yesterday.  There are currently 134 Oregonians hospitalized with coronavirus, which is two less than on Wednesday.  There have now been two-thousand-778 deaths in Oregon and 208-thousand-834 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
 

(Dufur, OR)  --  Firefighters are working to contain two wildfires in North Central Oregon.  The Rattlesnake Fire on the Warm Springs Reservation has burned one-thousand acres of grass.  Firefighters saved two houses from the blaze.  The Wrentham Market fire is burning near Dufur.  It has burned 10-thousand acres and is 38-percent contained.  Between 70 and 100 residents have been evacuated.  The causes of both fires are under investigation.

(Salem, OR)  --  Oregon State Police are releasing new details about the remains of a young girl found in the Van Duzer corridor.  Police say genetic testing of DNA has revealed the girl was between seven- and nine-years-old and had hazel or brown colored eyes and brown or black hair.  Police say her skin color was light brown to fair with no freckles and she was mostly Caucasian with some Central American ancestry.  Investigators have ruled out 60 potential missing children as they work to identify her.  Detectives believe she wasn't reported missing.

(Portland, OR)  --  A cryptocurrency company is a new sponsor of the Portland Trail Blazers.  Fans will see the StormX logo on their jerseys.  StormX is a Seattle-based Crypto cashback provider and Chrome extension.  It allows people to earn cryptocurrency cash back from purchases.  The Blazers will also include StormX when they launch their first non-fungible token later this month based on the team's Gameday Poster Series.

(Portland, OR)  --  An effort to recall Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is underway.  A group filed the initial paperwork for the recall effort yesterday.  The campaign will need to collect more than 47-thousand signatures.  If the petitions are approved, there would be a recall election and then a special election to elect a new mayor.  Wheeler just won re-election last November.

(Dufur, OR) -- A wildfire in Wasco [[ WAH'-scoe ]] County has grown to over ten-thousand acres. The Wrentham Market Fire is located outside of Dufur [[ DOO'-fir ]] where residents are on Level 3, Go Now, evacuation. Governor Kate Brown has signed an order allowing state resources to be used to fight the fire. Three structural task forces from Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill counties are being sent to protect homes in the area.

(Salem, OR) -- The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is putting new fishing regulations into effect because of the hot weather. Fishing will close from 2 p.m. until one hour before sunrise for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and trout in some rivers and streams in Northwest, Southwest, Willamette, Central, and Northeast zones. Anglers need to check the Fish and Wildlife website for specific details. The hot weather and warm water temperatures make it difficult for the fish to survive.

(Portland, OR) -- The U.S. Forest Service is banning campfires on local national forest lands. The ban includes all campfires, charcoal fires, and pellet fires in developed campgrounds. Portable cooking stoves and lanterns that use liquefied or bottled fuel are allowed because they can be turned off instantly. The restrictions take effect today on the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area and tomorrow in the Gifford Pinchot [[ PIN'-show ]] and Mt. Hood National Forests.

(Salem, OR)  --  Oregon's minimum wage increases today.  The state has three regions for the minimum wage.  In Portland, it's 14 dollars an hour.  The Standard rate is 12-75, and in smaller cities it's 12 dollars an hour.  There will be another step increase next year, and then starting in 2023, the increase will be based on the Consumer Price Index.

(Portland, OR)  --  Mayor Ted Wheeler is shutting down fireworks sales in Portland.  Wheeler signed an emergency declaration yesterday immediately banning all sales of fireworks because of the high fire danger.  The ban comes one day after Fire Chief Sara Boone banned the use of fireworks.  Wheeler says it's not an easy decision because of the effect on businesses that sell fireworks, but he says it's necessary to reduce threats posed by wildfires.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  The death toll from the Pacific Northwest's historic heat wave continues to climb.  The Oregon State Medical Examiner reports 63 deaths may be related to the heat wave throughout the state.  That number may change as investigations continue.  The Portland area had the most deaths at 45, followed by nine in Marion County, five in Washington County, two in Clackamas County and one each in Columbia and Umatilla counties.