What do Oregonians worry about? That depends
What worries most Oregonians? Well, that depends on where they live and that’s something a recent survey aimed to more accurately represent by seeking opinions from every county in the state. Organizations behind the Oregon Voices survey randomly selected 500 people in every county to get opinions from urban and rural Oregonians across the whole state and it found people worry about a lot of the same things, such as affordable housing and rising levels of homelessness. But it found the level of concern does vary. It also showed some people of color and LGBTQ residents feel uncomfortable in their communities. Citing concerns that rural residents often go unheard in traditional polls that focus on getting a representative cross-section of the state’s population, the survey’s backers hope the data from their survey can provide better guidance for state lawmakers shaping public policy on key issues. (Julia Shumway/Oregon Capitol Chronicle)
North Coast communities criticize FEMA’s new flood insurance
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has proposed modifying its flood insurance to take into account the impact of flood plain development on wild salmon and steelhead. But local leaders on Oregon’s North Coast say the new insurance will hinder development, strain local budgets and negatively impact property owners. (Ethan Myers/The Astorian)
Clark County and its cities to gain $27M in opioid crisis settlement
Clark County is set to receive around $27 million after a Washington state lawsuit over the opioid crisis. The Columbian reports that the payout comes from settlements involving two pharmaceutical companies, as well as the pharmacies Walgreens and CVS. Clark County government will receive about two-thirds of the payout. The state will distribute the rest of the money to cities in the county, such as Vancouver. Local governments in Washington can use the funding to address the opioid crisis. A recent effort by state health officials to collect data on opioid deaths showed they roughly doubled between 2016 and 2021. (OPB Staff)
Medford enacts new restrictions on gas stations
New rules approved by Medford City Council last week will require a buffer of at least 100 feet between fuel pumps and residential property lines. Residents urged the council to craft new regulations for gas stations after one was built directly adjacent to several homes. (Damian Mann/Rogue Valley Times)
Washington gas prices top US as carbon fee takes hold
A year ago, gas prices in Washington state trailed California by about 85 cents a gallon. Now gas prices in the state are the highest in the nation by about 2 cents, according to recent figures from AAA. Pipeline maintenance in the Pacific Northwest has played a role, but Washington’s recent cap-and-trade auction also set the carbon fee nearly twice as high as California’s. Unlike a gas tax, carbon fees are embedded into wholesale fuel prices. (Don Jenkins/Capital Press)