Category Archives: My Central Oregon.com

Oregonians: One Year To Be Real-ID Compliant

Planning to travel on an airline? Check your ID. If you don’t have Real ID yet, you should consider adding it to your license or ID card at Oregon DMV. That’s because, starting May 7, 2025, all travelers must have a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card, or other approved identification, to pass through […]
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Mental Health Resources Available

Oregon Health Authority is recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month during May by promoting resources that support mental well-being for all Oregonians. One in five people will experience a mental health condition in a given year, and about half of all Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their lives, […]
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OHA Director Visits Central Oregon

Director of Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Dr. Sejal Hathi, visited Central Oregon this week and heard about the health issues that are of greatest concern to local residents and health care providers. Feedback from the Central Oregon community was consistent, from a lack of affordable housing to barriers to mental health treatment and workforce shortages. […]
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Waterway Permit Program Enters Fifth Year

The Oregon State Marine Board’s Waterway Access Permit Program has entered the fifth year of implementation; however, compliance is still low compared to other boating requirements. In 2019, the Oregon Legislature approved the waterway access permit program with the intent of having the Marine Board use the funding for improving nonmotorized access and increase paddling […]
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Dashboard Chronicles Behavioral Health Investments

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has released a supplemental online dashboard that will chronicle the ongoing progress from more than $230 million in behavioral health investments. The emerging capacity was funded through legislation in 2021, that is projected to create more than 1,000 behavioral health housing units and residential treatment beds by the end of 2025. […]
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Oregon Lawmakers Vote On Feeding Kids This Summer

A program that would provide food benefits to kids during the summer still needs funding approval from the Oregon Legislature. The state has already approved the Summer EBT program, but needs to agree to pay for half the administrative costs in order to get access to federal funds. Source: Oregon Lawmakers Vote On Feeding Kids […]
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OSU-Cascades Seeks State Funding For Land Phase

Oregon State University – Cascades is seeking $24 million from the Oregon Legislature to expedite the next phase of its land remediation, which will provide space over the next decade to serve the growing campus’s academic, research and student housing needs. “We are grateful for the Legislature’s support to date of OSU-Cascades’ development,” said Sherm […]
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Oregon Releases Competency Restoration Study

The number of people who are ordered to receive competency restoration services either at Oregon State Hospital (OSH) or through a Community Mental Health Program (CMHP) has been building towards crisis levels for years in Oregon. Many of the individuals are living with a wide range of behavioral health and social service needs that extend […]
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Mailing Error Impacts Unemployment Benefits

The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) has learned that a mailing error occurred while sending the tax form 1099-G to those who have received benefits from the Unemployment Insurance program in 2023. This error impacted 32,960 out of 122,245 mailings, meaning some individuals may have not received a tax form 1099-G at all, and others […]
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State Parks Recruiting Two ATV Reps

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is recruiting for two representatives for the All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Advisory Committee. The positions will represent a law enforcement agency and an emergency medical service (EMS) provider. The 17-member committee reviews safety features of all classes of off-highway vehicles, reviews accidents and fatalities resulting from all-terrain vehicle recreation, […]
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