PORTLAND, OR -- Saturday is International Overdose Awareness Day and one Oregon hospital is focused on community prevention.

OHSU is distributing free Narcan kits this week at farmers markets and other events in Portland, and teaching people how to use the medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Pharmacist Emily Skogrand says they're also educating people about who is at risk, "Fentanyl is everywhere. We know that just from the massive amount of overdose that the United States has seen. And you never know who is using drugs or- Fentanyl is found in counterfeit pills, where the person doesn't even think that they're using fentanyl."

Skogrand says Narcan - also known as Naloxone - comes in a two-dose package and is easy to use. You place the applicator in the person's nose and spray the mist, "And then you wait two minutes, which feels like a really long time. But two minutes; and then if the person doesn't respond, you can repeat with a second dose." She says Narcan is not harmful if given to someone not suffering from an opioid overdose.

She says she hears from a lot of people who say they don't need to carry Narcan because they don't know an addict. But, she says, illicit fentanyl is sometimes taken unintentionally, "This is especially hitting our youth, where it's found in fake Adderall pills, fake- they're 'Xani bars,' is what they call them - Xanax, or fake Percocets. So, our kids are taking what they think is a fake Adderall from their friend and it actually has fentanyl in there. So, you just don't know who is either intentionally taking fentanyl or unintentionally being exposed to fentanyl." She adds, "I really do feel like everyone should have Narcan available to them. You never know where you're going to be or what situation you're going to be in, or what situation you're going to be in where you might be able to save someone's life."

Narcan is available without a prescription at pharmacies, "Unfortunately, there's still a significant cost associated with it," says Skogrand, "It's $40-45, and so I think that's another barrier to people obtaining it and carrying it. And so, we're just really trying to increase the amount of Naloxone out there, to save people's lives."

According to the Oregon Health Authority, in 2023, almost 1,400 people died in Oregon from an unintentional opioid overdose.

CORVALLIS, OR -- The Beavers and Ducks may not be in the same conference any more, but their football games will still tie up traffic in the mid-Willamette Valley and the Oregon Department of Transportation is warning drivers to be prepared.

ODOT's Mindy McCartt says even if you're not a college football fan, it's a good idea to have a general idea of the Oregon and Oregon State game schedule, "It can help you plan your travel on those weekends, especially when they both have home games on the same day."

That first day of dueling home games is this Saturday, when Oregon takes on Idaho and OSU faces Idaho State, just 50 miles apart, "That's going to mean there's an excessive amount of traffic, particularly in the Willamette Valley on Interstate 5, Highway 99, some of those secondary highways as well, 34 going into Corvallis." And football isn't the only factor this weekend, "You should know that it's a holiday weekend, so you're already going to get excessive traffic," says McCartt, "But also knowing that there's two home games in Corvallis and in Eugene, that's going to add to that congestion."

McCartt says any game day adds traffic, "On a regular home game, for either the University of Oregon or Oregon State, no matter if it's in the afternoon or in the evening, you can expect probably double to triple the amount of cars on Interstate 5 all day. If it's a day that both teams have a home game, you can only imagine the number of people that are going to be traveling on I-5." She adds, "If you're traveling on that Saturday, you're going to want to get on Tripcheck, you're going to want to plan ahead, you're going to want to leave early."

Because of the conference change, this year's Rivalry Game between Oregon and OSU is in Corvallis is September 14, before fall classes start at either school. That's much earlier than in recent memory, and McCartt says it could catch drivers off guard. She expects the 14th will be another exceptionally heavy traffic day on I-5, "And then November ninth is the other Saturday that they both have home games."

If you're going to a game, or just passing through the area on those days, McCartt suggests drivers consider alternate transportation like Amtrak or the bus, or carpool. 

PORTLAND, OR -- Another summer of drought in Oregon could lead to tree losses next year. "People are overly reliant on this belief that the rain is going to take care of all the trees," says Jim Gersbach, with the nonprofit Oregon Community Trees. He says that's especially true west of the Cascades. 

In recent years, he says, temps are hotter and the entire state goes longer without rain, stressing even mature trees. "If you have one dry summer and the next ten years are ample rainfall, then you may be able to overcome that. But we're getting back to back to back years of drought. And that cumulative drought stress can be very damaging, and even fatal, to these trees."

Gersbach says drought conditions can stunt the tree's development, "It's not really putting on new growth. And so, you don't get the big shade tree that you're looking for. It takes a lot longer for that tree to reach any size." And under extreme conditions, it could lead to the tree's death next year. "Trees will die the summer after they have been drought stressed because they have exhausted the sugars over the winter that they didn't get enough built up from the previous summer when it was drought." Dry trees are also more susceptible to bug infestations and disease. 

Gersbach says a little human intervention can help, "Deep soaking once a month for established trees helps get them over that increasingly long period of drought." He encourages tree owners to consider the last weeks of July and August "Soak-It-Week." That's when, he says, "Those trees are probably pretty thirsty and will benefit from a good, deep soaking that gets the soil around it moist. We're not talking about 15-seconds of just splashing water on the surface." The first three to five years of a new tree, it'll need more water - probably once a week.

If you missed the last week of July, Gersbach says, don't panic, "We always say the best day to start watering your trees is the day you remember to do it."

(Vancouver, WA)  --  A drive-by shooting suspect is behind bars, after a short chase in Vancouver.  It started late Sunday night, when a man shot into the building at the Woodspring Suites on Northeast 104th Avenue, then fled in a silver SUV.  No one was hurt.  A short time later, officers responded to reports of a man fitting the shooter's description being belligerent at a bar on Northeast 112th Avenue.  The suspect took off in the SUV.  Officers used a pit maneuver to stop and arrest 21-year-old Gavin Woods Leonard.  Woods Leonard faces several charges, including drive-by shooting and attempt to elude. 

(Hazel Dell, WA)  --  There was a shooting between people in two cars Sunday evening in a Hazel Dell retail parking lot.  The Clark County Sheriff's Office says people in a white Chrysler sedan exchanged gunfire with people in a Volkswagen SUV and then both cars fled the scene.  It happened near Northeast 6th Avenue and 78th Street.  Witnesses reported ten to 12 shots were fired.  A Range Rover that was leaving the parking lot was hit by a bullet.  No injuries were reported.  No arrests have been made.

PORTLAND, OR -- An Oregon nonprofit is expanding its consumer advocacy services to include legal advice and representation. Oregon Consumer Justice has worked the last few years to pass state and federal laws to protect consumers from scams and corporate schemes. It's now rolling out personal legal services, "Related to auto, related to insurance, related to debt," says OCJ Executive Director Jagjit Nagra, "Those will be our primary focus areas."

The goal, he says, is to be all-inclusive and serve a large demographic typically incapable of fighting large corporations, "Unlike Legal Aid - who does fantastic work - we don't have income requirements. We're statewide, as well. So whether you're in Drain, Oregon or you're in Banks, in southern Oregon, wherever you are, our services are open to you." Nagra adds, "That may not mean necessarily filing a case or doing a big class action, but even just being able to speak to a lawyer to get legal advice, so they can help navigate their situation."

He says the focus on auto, insurance and debt-related issues also separates them from services provided by Legal Aid, "Serving that 'missing middle,' between what Legal Aid can provide and what private consumer attorneys can provide. And that chasm is actually quite large; it's quite large." But, Nagra says, they will be flexible, "One scam today will look like a different scam tomorrow, even if you're talking about in the same space; even if you're talking about the mortgage space or the auto space. So, we're also prioritizing being responsive to emergent opportunities." Currently, OCJ is co-counsel on a class action lawsuit that claims CenturyLink has not fulfilled its "Price for life" guarantee. 

The group has also released free educational materials and guidance for navigating common consumer challenges, like buying a used car.

OCJ aims to help consumers who have been taken advantage of, "The system is not working in their favor. It's actually designed for them to fail. And that's where we're trying to really put people first and empower them, and give them opportunities to have justice either in the court, at the state legislature, with their local utility commission, cities, counties, all of that, and also at the federal level." The nonprofit launched in 2020, funded by unclaimed settlement money paid by BP, after the oil giant was accused of ripping off Oregon customers.

SALEM, OR -- The Oregon State Fair officially begins Friday in Salem, featuring old favorites and a few new ones. 

Livestock events have already started and the State Fair's Drew Marine says the Beef Show is always impressive, "There are nine and 10 year olds that might not even weigh 75 pounds, and they're controlling an animal that weighs over a thousand pounds." Because of the ongoing risk of bird flu in both waterfowl and cattle, she says those animals must be tested before they're allowed in the fairgrounds. They're also following other Oregon Department of Agriculture guidelines, "Posting signage that encourages handwashing after people leave the animal areas, just to be sure, and having hand washing stations, as well."

One area showcases baking and crafting skills from all over the state, "Creative Living is so fascinating because we truly have such an array of different talents on display." Marine says one competitor crocheted the State Fair mascot Sunny the Sunflower, "The full getup, overalls and all, has a pair of sunglasses on. It's very cute. And then, there's another entry into the fiber arts competition, where someone made a replica of their daughter's dog made out of wire and felted wool. It looks exactly like a real dog." And, she says, "There's a 120-year-old quilt on display." It's also the location of two pie-eating contests, August 24 and 30, both at 4 p.m.

There's also a new Bounce 'n Battle Fun Zone in The Playground area, "It's great for all ages; it's not just kids. There are bouncy houses for kids - they can let out a lot of energy there after maybe they have some cotton candy and ice cream, or something. But also, another feature of it is basketball games [and] inflatable ax throwing, which could be harder than real ax throwing."

Craig Morgan opens the State Fair concert series Friday night, followed by the reggae band Steel Pulse on Saturday.

Marine says for those staying late, 300 drones take to the sky each night at 10 for a new choreographed show, "Each of the drones is programmed to do a little dance, if you will, and figure out what light or what color is being flashed at that time."

This year's theme is "Sunny Days are Here Again." The Oregon State Fair runs through Labor Day, September second.

WOODBURN, OR -- An invasive bug deadly to Oregon's native ash trees appears to be spreading. Emerald Ash Borer first appeared in Oregon two years ago, in Forest Grove. Three new infestations were reported in just the past month.

"This is really a difficult, a really difficult invasive pest to control, even under the best of circumstances," says Oregon Department of Forestry's Lilah Gonen. "We were always expecting Emerald Ash Borer to expand beyond Washington County, so none of this is unexpected." What is a surprise, says Gonen, is the seemingly sudden addition of two counties and a third awaiting confirmation. "The Marion County infestation, and by association, also the as-yet-unconfirmed Clackamas County infestation, they appear that they might be a complex of possibly a single large infestation along the Marion and Clackamas county border." Gonen says traps collected a large concentration of mature EAB, "We’re also seeing pretty advanced tree mortality, so trees that are already dead or dying and very close to death. And relatively high concentrations of those dead trees, and in streamside, creekside areas." The area is quite remote and difficult to access, which means the infestation could have have been growing undetected for years, "It’s totally possible that this one was before the Forest Grove infestation. And that the Forest Grove infestation started as a satellite of the Marion County. Or, it could be that these are actually two separate introductions." The other detection is in Yamhill County, and is likely an extension of the Forest Grove infestation discovered in 2022. 

Gonen says it’s critical people don’t haul wood and trees across county lines, "The primary mode that it spreads, so far as an invasive, has been by hitching a ride on firewood, on woody debris, on woodpacking materials, things like that." Oregon’s Department of Agriculture is also working out details of an expanded quarantine, to limit the movement of tree materials, including nursery stock.

Oregon ash is a native shade tree popular along urban streets. In natural areas, it protects streambanks and fish habitat. EAB can destroy entire stands and infestations have been devastating in other states. Gonen says, "The number one concern with Emerald Ash Borer is that we won’t be able to get ahead of it."

CHICAGO, IL -- When the Democratic National Convention begins Monday in Chicago it will feature a group of Black women making history, including one from Oregon.

"This is the first time in the history of the Association of State Democratic Chairs that the national Democratic Party has ever had seven Black chairs at one time," says Democratic Party of Oregon Chair Rosa Colquitt, who is among them. Each is the first Black women in their respective states to hold party chair status, "So this is pretty phenomenal. And likewise, it's phenomenal the work that Black women do to organize voting on the ground," says Colquitt, "That is what we have done, what we're doing now and what we'll continue to do." She adds, "The organizing on the ground is seriously important, within our individual states. That has an impact on the Democratic party, nationally."

Colquitt was elected DPO Chair in 2023 and hopes to inspire the next generation. "Two young women came up to me - I was at a meeting in Portland - one was a Latina and the other was a young Black girl. And they asked to take a picture with me. And I said, 'You know, I'm not an elected official. I'm a volunteer chair.' But, I said, 'I would love to take a picture with you because I think you're so important,'" she says, "My presence means that others look and say, 'I can be a strong volunteer. I can help my party. There's a place for me; a role for me. My voice is important.'"

We asked Colquitt why it took so long to reach this level of diversity in the party. "It took so long because progress and democracy is a business that just takes time in America. Some folks are ready for it, other folks are not."

The group of seven women from Oregon, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, Oklahoma and South Carolina will be honored in Chicago later this week, with a reception hosted by the Black Political Excellence Fund, "The point that that is making is that Black women will continue to work to reshape our history and to reshape what democracy looks like in America."

UMATILLA COUNTY, OR -- Oregon State Police troopers are investigating the illegal taking of an oversized sturgeon from an eastern Oregon sturgeon breeding sanctuary. The big fish was taken from Umatilla County on or around May ninth.

In a video posted to Snapchat, one person holds the fishing rod hooked to the fish, while another gets into the water to wrestle the sturgeon to shore. That person then lifts it up and shoves his hands through the gills and mouth - a move that was likely fatal to the sturgeon, which appears to be over six feet long. The video was posted under the username “Rodrigo,” with a maple leaf emoji. 

Fishing for sturgeon is not allowed in the breeding sanctuary between May first and August 31, to protect the breeding stock.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact OSP Dispatch at 800-452-7888, *OSP (*677) on a cell phone, or email.

PORTLAND, OR -- When Oregon hops farmers begin harvesting their crop next week, there will be fewer acres to manage. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, hop acreage is down 18% nationwide, compared to a year ago. The same is true in Oregon for this critical beer-making ingredient.

"This is not an environmental impact," says Sam Pecoraro, brewmaster for Portland-based Von Ebert Brewing, "This is the result of farmers adjusting to demand and adjusting to the amount of hops that are in storage right now, and planting less acreage." Oregon hop growers will harvest around 5,500 acres this season, compared to 7,000 acres just two years ago. "It's a significant amount of hop trellises that don't have hops on them right now," says Pecoraro.

He says growers are reducing their acreage because demand for craft beer is down 2% this year, "I think the pandemic changed a lot of people's habits. People are not going out and drinking at establishments quite as much anymore. There's different lifestyles and a lot of people go into grocery stores and maybe spending their money in different ways today." 

Pecoraro says, "There's an ebb and a flow to all industries and right now we're in that ebb. And it's not just hop oversupply, it's also the cost of packaging materials, the cost of shipping, the cost of other raw materials like barley. We've seen an increase in all that." He adds, "We work together, here in Oregon. And if growers need to correct an oversupply, then we have to be there with them."

He says Von Ebert Brewing is also adjusting to the changing market, "We're building out a new facility that's going to allow us to get six-pack beers into grocery stores and get them where people are tending to buy more beer today."

Oregon is the third largest hop producer, behind Washington and Idaho. The industry is responsible for around 50,000 jobs in the state; nearly 1,300 are in the agriculture sector.

Photo courtesy of the Oregon Hop Commission

(Portland, OR) -- Portland Police will be able to run more retail theft missions this fall. The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission is awarding Portland Police over 474-thousand dollars from the Organized Retail Theft Grant Program. They money allows officers to be hired on overtime to run the missions. Police say the suspects aren't stealing items for personal use. They work for organized theft rings. They steal items that can be easily sold for cash or returned to the store for an illegal refund. The money will start being used in September.

TIGARD, OR -- Federal lawmakers have targeted hidden fees consumers pay for flights, hotel stays and concert tickets. One Oregon Congresswoman wants to add food delivery apps to the list.

Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR6) says American families spend billions every year on third-party food delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats, "The average American ordered takeout about once per week, and spends about $33 on that order. But what I think a lot of people don't know is about 35% of that cost is in hidden fees." She says, "Less than two-thirds of what you're actually paying for delivery is going back to support the restaurant."

Tigard Mayor Heidi Lueb says many of her city's 3,400 businesses are restaurants, "And a lot of them are struggling. And when they get orders from all of these apps, it really is cutting into their business and they're not able to break even; they're even losing [money], just to be able to get their name out there and get that name recognition."

Brenda Schmidt owns the Great Greek restaurant in Tigard and says she charges customers more when they order through a third-party app, but it's still not enough to cover the additional cost, "If things continue to be this way, it could be as bad as we have to shut the apps off and let off people, and have fewer employees, and people lose jobs that way, just to save costs." She told Rep. Salinas customers who order directly from her restaurant - whether to dine-in, take-out or for deliver - pay less, "I think if more people knew that was an option - take care of your local businesses and take care of your local restaurants - more of us will survive."

Salinas says she's not necessarily calling for the fees to be abolished, just that they're disclosed to customers who may otherwise believe the money they're spending is staying local, "There are some hidden fees that don't have any legitimacy. And so those are the kinds of fees - and we don't know where they're going exactly, except perhaps to profit." She adds, "Delivery apps are making a killing from what might be better known as junk fees. And we're talking billions of dollars every year. They're eating away at the margins of local restaurant owners."

(Gaston, OR)  --  A swimmer drowned in Hagg Lake Saturday evening.  The Washington County Sheriff's Office says the man jumped into the lake from a fishing pier and started struggling before going under water.  The temperature of the lake was 80 degrees.  Search and rescue located the body of 32-year-old Vielman De La Crus-Lopez more than two hours after the incident happened.