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New plant hardiness map shows only subtle shifts in Oregon

Warming winters impact which plants thrive.

News

Policies guiding Portland police's use of body cameras

The city is one of the last of its size to implement the devices across its police agency.

Portland holiday lights guide

Don't miss the sing-a-long at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Things to Do

Who picks up Portland's trash?

You might have to first pick up the phone.

Split on daylight saving time

Axios readers are clear that they don&#x27;t like changing clocks twice a year — a habit <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sleep experts say" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/02/standard-time-daylight-saving-sleep-benefits" data-vars-content-id="36be2746-5131-44e2-ba07-dc50fa3bd880" data-vars-headline="Split on daylight saving time" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/02/standard-time-daylight-saving-sleep-benefits" target="_self">sleep experts say</a> is terrible for our health — but it&#x27;s a pretty close split on which way to go.Out of the 3,689 people who weighed in on our unscientific poll, half of poll participants want permanent daylight saving time.

How much sugar is in Halloween candy

Hi-Chews and plain M&Ms tie for the most grams per serving.

Food and Drink

The vast majority of Americans — 93% — say they will be sharing candy to celebrate Halloween, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Confectioners Association" data-vars-click-url="https://alwaysatreat.com/candy-moments/halloween-central/" data-vars-content-id="363ec70f-4306-473a-ad94-4d4e8d2be33f" data-vars-headline="How much sugar is in Halloween candy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://alwaysatreat.com/candy-moments/halloween-central/" target="_blank">National Confectioners Association</a>.Here&#x27;s how that sweet sensation breaks down in terms of sugar to your system.

Why Oregon's law to make daylight saving time permanent isn't in effect

Health

It&#x27;s that time of year again. Clocks will need to be reset this weekend, falling back an hour at 2am Sunday.Why it matters: The time disruption <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="affects our mental and physical health" data-vars-click-url="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-dark-side-of-daylight-saving-time" data-vars-content-id="4c276da7-a4f0-4582-b479-abaa3193d890" data-vars-headline="Why Oregon&#x27;s law to make daylight saving time permanent isn&#x27;t in effect" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-dark-side-of-daylight-saving-time" target="_blank">affects our mental and physical health</a>, fueling an ongoing debate about whether to stay year-round on daylight saving time, aka permanent summer time.

Illustration of a sun as a clock with clouds in the sky.

New infertility definition could be "game-changer" for Oregonians

Advocates hope a new definition of infertility could spur state lawmakers to require insurers to cover fertility treatments.

A new, more expansive definition of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="infertility" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/03/global-infertility-report-who" data-vars-content-id="b70e99a6-b32c-4895-9f8e-165079bf1449" data-vars-headline="New infertility definition could be &quot;game-changer&quot; for Oregonians" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/03/global-infertility-report-who" target="_self">infertility</a> could lead to more resources for hopeful LGBTQ+ or single parents in Oregon.Why it matters: While Oregon has one of the lowest fertility and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="birth rates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/10/16/birth-rate-data-statistics-women-babies" data-vars-content-id="b70e99a6-b32c-4895-9f8e-165079bf1449" data-vars-headline="New infertility definition could be &quot;game-changer&quot; for Oregonians" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/10/16/birth-rate-data-statistics-women-babies" target="_self">birth rates</a> in the country, the state does not require insurers to cover fertility treatment, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="despite multiple attempts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/05/25/oregon-fertility-bill-family-building-act" data-vars-content-id="b70e99a6-b32c-4895-9f8e-165079bf1449" data-vars-headline="New infertility definition could be &quot;game-changer&quot; for Oregonians" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/05/25/oregon-fertility-bill-family-building-act" target="_self">despite multiple attempts</a> by advocates and legislators.

Illustration of a stork holding a fountain pen in its beak.

4,000 Kaiser health care workers in Oregon go on strike

The three-day strike of about 75,000 workers nationwide is among one of the largest health care strikes in U.S. history.

Thousands of Kaiser Permanente health care workers were striking at hospitals and medical office buildings across Oregon and southwest Washington as of Wednesday morning.What&#x27;s happening: Kaiser and a coalition of local unions representing its workers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="haven&#x27;t reached a deal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/09/26/oregon-strike-authorization-healthcare-nurses" data-vars-content-id="e4820a60-673c-4ab3-b7aa-b72ead6a4b6c" data-vars-headline="4,000 Kaiser health care workers in Oregon go on strike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/09/26/oregon-strike-authorization-healthcare-nurses" target="_self">haven&#x27;t reached a deal</a> for a new contract that expired Sept. 30.

A group of people walking down the street all holding protest signs.

Vasectomies up in Oregon since Roe vs. Wade overturned

The trend could mark a shift in the evolution of the attitudes about a man's role in family planning.

Vasectomies at clinics, hospitals and medical centers in Oregon and southwest Washington have increased since <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Roe vs. Wade was overturned" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/24/roe-wade-decision-abortion" data-vars-content-id="9d54ba57-7aef-409f-8862-24f602f4e7fd" data-vars-headline="Vasectomies up in Oregon since Roe vs. Wade overturned" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/24/roe-wade-decision-abortion" target="_self">Roe vs. Wade was overturned</a> last year, local health officials tell Axios.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="trend" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/09/16/vasectomies-iowa-increased-overturning-roe-wade" data-vars-content-id="9d54ba57-7aef-409f-8862-24f602f4e7fd" data-vars-headline="Vasectomies up in Oregon since Roe vs. Wade overturned" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/09/16/vasectomies-iowa-increased-overturning-roe-wade" target="_self">trend</a>, which isn&#x27;t <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="isolated" data-vars-click-url="https://charlotte.axios.com/340103/vasectomies-are-on-the-rise-in-charlotte-post-roe-v-wade/?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="9d54ba57-7aef-409f-8862-24f602f4e7fd" data-vars-headline="Vasectomies up in Oregon since Roe vs. Wade overturned" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://charlotte.axios.com/340103/vasectomies-are-on-the-rise-in-charlotte-post-roe-v-wade/?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" target="_blank">isolated</a> to the Pacific Northwest, could mark a shift in attitudes about a man&#x27;s role in family planning.

A photo of a building with blue letters that reads "Planned Parenthood"

Legacy Health-OHSU merger shakes up health care in Oregon

It requires regulatory approval under Oregon's year-old oversight program.

Two of Portland&#x27;s largest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="health care" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/health" data-vars-content-id="21437ef6-e4f6-4ac0-8407-d838e67b8285" data-vars-headline="Legacy Health-OHSU merger shakes up health care in Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/health" target="_self">health care</a> systems, Legacy Health and Oregon Health &amp; Science University, announced <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plans to merge" data-vars-click-url="https://news.ohsu.edu/2023/08/17/oregon-health-science-university-and-legacy-health-combining-to-better-serve-our-patients-communities" data-vars-content-id="21437ef6-e4f6-4ac0-8407-d838e67b8285" data-vars-headline="Legacy Health-OHSU merger shakes up health care in Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://news.ohsu.edu/2023/08/17/oregon-health-science-university-and-legacy-health-combining-to-better-serve-our-patients-communities" target="_blank">plans to merge</a>, raising questions about the future of health care services here.Why it matters: While many details of the merger remain unknown, it requires regulatory approval under Oregon&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="year-old oversight program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.oregon.gov/oha/hpa/hp/pages/health-care-market-oversight.aspx" data-vars-content-id="21437ef6-e4f6-4ac0-8407-d838e67b8285" data-vars-headline="Legacy Health-OHSU merger shakes up health care in Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.oregon.gov/oha/hpa/hp/pages/health-care-market-oversight.aspx" target="_blank">year-old oversight program</a> of health care industry mergers. Until then, it&#x27;s unclear how patients and providers will be impacted.

Illustration of a conference table shaped like a red cross with chairs around it

Oregon's school vaccine exemption rate remains high

Oregon is one of 15 states that allow exemptions for kindergartners whose parents object to vaccines.

Education

Oregon has one of the highest vaccine exemption rates for kindergartners in the country.<ul><li>7% of kindergartners across the state were granted exemptions for required vaccines as of the 2022 school year, below only Idaho (9.8%) and Utah (7.4%).</li></ul>

A visualization of both medical and non-medical exemptions; 2011-12 school year to 2021-22 school year.

Local food needs are rising after years of improvement

Advocates say Covid supports show what to do.

The percentage of Oregonians who aren&#x27;t sure where their next meal will come from has risen steadily since 2020 after a significant drop over recent years, new data shows.Why it matters: Even with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="near-record low unemployment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.qualityinfo.org/uesti?lfAreacode=4101000000&amp;lfAdjusted=y&amp;lfMeasure=unemprate&amp;lfSyear=2000&amp;lfRpt=summary&amp;lfEyear=2023" data-vars-content-id="2bd140e4-f2c4-4ab1-83b4-cc6a514d1c3d" data-vars-headline="Local food needs are rising after years of improvement" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.qualityinfo.org/uesti?lfAreacode=4101000000&amp;lfAdjusted=y&amp;lfMeasure=unemprate&amp;lfSyear=2000&amp;lfRpt=summary&amp;lfEyear=2023" target="_blank">near-record low unemployment</a> across the state, hundreds of thousands of people in Oregon are experiencing food insecurity.

A woman lifts a box of tomatoes onto shelving full of boxes of various produce.

How these Oregon high schools aim to help teens recover from drug addiction

The second one in the state recently opened in NE Portland.

Teenagers fighting drug addiction say going to school can be one of their biggest obstacles, with access to drugs and social, academic and emotional stress creating specific challenges.<ul><li>Oregon is turning to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recovery high schools" data-vars-click-url="https://recoveryschools.org/what-is-a-recovery-high-school/" data-vars-content-id="9ed3a588-b783-47d5-b670-3efff353f3e8" data-vars-headline="How these Oregon high schools aim to help teens recover from drug addiction" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://recoveryschools.org/what-is-a-recovery-high-school/" target="_blank">recovery high schools</a>, which incorporate abstinence strategies and recovery counseling into the daily curriculum.</li></ul>

The feet of eight people, all wearing different shoes, in a circle on a multicolored carpet.

Health 🩺