Murmurs: Jail Inmates Sue County Following Outbreak

In other news: State suggests burying toxic soil along beach.

Tina Kotek Will Seek to Give DEQ More Authority to Deny Permits to Bad Actors

Murmurs: Kotek Wants to Bolster DEQ’s Authority

In other news: Vaccines for most by April 21.

Metro Will Now Consider Full Cleanup of Contamination at Willamette Cove

Portlanders Can Finally Go Outside Again—Air Quality Has Gotten Much Better and Will Continue to Improve

As long as you’re not in a sensitive group—which the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality defines as children, seniors, pregnant women and people with heart disease or respiratory conditions—it’s safe to open your windows again and go outside without a respirator.

Tired of the Smoke? You Should Probably Get Used to It.

Before last week, the worst number Portland ever recorded on the Air Quality Index—which measures the levels of concentrated particulate matter in the atmosphere, then assigns categories based on potential health risks—was 167, achieved during the 2017 Eagle Creek fire, which is considered “unhealthy.” That record is now 442, or “hazardous.”

Oregon Lifts Air Quality Advisory For Much of the State Today

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality lifted an air quality advisory for large portions of the state today.

Oregon Extends Air Quality Advisory Through Tuesday, Plans to Install Additional Monitoring Sites Statewide

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has extended an air quality advisory for much of the state through Tuesday at noon.