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Oregon Employment Division Offers Tips as Jobless Rate Soars

Going online is the fastest way to file for unemployment.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Oregon Department is experiencing an unusually high number of calls to its unemployment insurance call centers for this time of year, according to Tom Fuller with the WorkSource Oregon Employment Department.

"More than 70,000 Oregonians are currently on unemployment, meaning the crush of unemployment claims that normally occur in January and February have come early."

Fuller says that to ensure claims for benefits are filed quickly, the Employment Department recommends going online.

Fired Up and Ready to Go End Poverty

Invest in the Public Good Through Fair Budget and Tax Policies. The state's revenue shortfall threatens critical public structures. This revenue problem must be met with a revenue solution, not cuts to vital public services.

(SILVERTON, Ore.) - The morning after the election, I watched a video of Barack Obama telling how, on a rainy morning last June, Edith Childs of Greenwood, South Carolina, energized a room full of people with her chant, "Fired up! Ready to go!" The chant became a signature of the Obama campaign.

With the chant still echoing in my head, I turned to a blog post by an advocate I've admired for years, John Bouman, president of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law. Noting that "the State of Poverty is America's most populated state -- 37 million people," the Shriver Center recommended a 12-point plan to confront poverty.

Lyons City Official Charged with Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor

Investigators say a party the woman held led to the rape of a 13-year old girl.

(LYONS, Ore.) - The Administrator for the City of Lyons has been arrested for furnishing alcohol to minors, in an incident that allegedly involved the forcible rape of a 13-year old girl.

Linn County's Sheriff Tim Mueller, says his deputies are investigating the incident involving 49-year old Mary Martha Mitchell.

Plan Now for Oregon`s Civil War Game Festivities

Police remind fans to "Leave early, be patient, keep your emotions in check, buckle up and keep a sober driver behind the wheel at all times."

(SALEM, Ore.) - In preparation for this Saturday's highly anticipated in-state ‘Civil War' football game in Corvallis, law enforcement and highway officials emphasize the importance of having a 'game plan' no matter where you are traveling.

"This is a historic game for which the battle should be played between the lines on the football field, not in the lanes of all roads leading to and from Corvallis."

"Just like coaches who stress the importance of playing smart and in control, we can't emphasize enough the importance of being smart and under control when driving," said Oregon State Police (OSP) Superintendent Timothy McLain.

On World AIDS Day, Oregon Health Officials Encourage Testing

More than 7,000 Oregonians are living with HIV/AIDS in 2008, Schafer said. That number includes an estimated 1,500 people who are infected but don't yet know it

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon state health officials are taking World AIDS Day, December 1st, as an opportunity to encourage all adults to be tested for the virus that causes AIDS.

Dr. Sean Schafer, M.D., medical epidemiologist with the Oregon Department of Human Services Public Health Division’s HIV/STD/TB Program, said voluntary, confidential testing of all adults for the human immunodeficiency virus would be highly effective in preventing new infections.

“About 25 percent of people who carry HIV/AIDS don't yet know they're infected,” Schafer said. “About half of all new infections are transmitted by people who don't know they're infected. Just the knowledge that one is infected leads to approximately a 67 percent reduction in the risky sex that can transmit the virus. That’s why testing is so important.”

Oregonians to Receive More Emergency Unemployment Benefits

In addition, Oregon’s unemployment rate has made the state eligible for the Extended Benefits (EB) program. This program provides an additional thirteen weeks of unemployment benefits for those who exhaust their original claim and their EUC extension.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregonians who have run out of unemployment insurance benefits have some help coming. Congress passed legislation on November 20th 2008 to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program by an additional seven weeks.

The initial EUC program, which began in July, allowed thirteen weeks of benefits for anyone exhausting their original claim. With the new program, someone who exhausts their original claim for unemployment can receive up to 20 weeks of EUC benefits. The additional benefits are available beginning November 23rd 2008.

To date, more than 11,000 Oregonians have exhausted their original claim and the 13-week EUC claim. For them, they will have up to an additional seven weeks of EUC benefits. All potentially eligible Oregonians will be notified by mail about the new EUC program.

Barack Brings Economic Team Together (VIDEO)

Moving forward, Barack Obama names the people who he believes can put the country back on track.

(CHICAGO, Ill.) - Today and yesterday, President-elect Barack Obama announced key members of an economic team tasked with creating jobs, stabilizing the economy, and getting our country back on track.

Barack says he is is bringing together some of the best minds in the country to make swift progress on the economic challenges we face.

Timothy F. Geithner, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, will serve as Secretary of the Treasury. Lawrence H. Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury under President Clinton, will serve as Director of the National Economic Council.

Orthodox Christianity Comes to America

Members are jealous and protective of their religion. At the headquarters of the Orthodox Church in America I learned of a satellite church opened in Japan where services were being conducted in Japanese to the disapproval of the secretary.

(PASO ROBLES, Calif.) - In one of my History classes at SFSU students were asked to write a term paper on a subject of their choice. I chose as my subject Fort Ross, the only vestige of Russian occupation in California.

The chain of Spanish Missions in California begun in the 18th Century was intended in part to prevent Russia from extending its claim in California. But Russia was interested in sea otter for commercial exploitation, not expansion. In 1841 when the otter population was virtually depleted Russia voluntarily withdrew its people from Fort Ross and resettled them to its Sitka-base far to the north. I wanted to know if, after the withdrawal any Russians remained in California, none did.

Sean O`Day Appointed Salem`s Deputy City Manager

Before joining the City, O'Day served on Governor John A. Kitzhaber's staff as Deputy Legal Counsel, and was previously an associate attorney for Stoel Rives, LLP, in Portland, Oregon.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Salem City Manager Linda Norris has announced that Sean O'Day has been appointed Deputy City Manager. "I am very pleased to appoint Sean to fill this position" states Norris. "His legal and policy background and his deep knowledge of city operations are extremely beneficial to the entire City in this role."

Oregon Health Officials Confirm Season`s First Flu Case

“Routine immunization of all children will help protect others in the community, because as more people get vaccinated, the spread of disease is reduced.”- Dr. Paul Cieslak, M.D.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon’s first confirmed influenza case of the season has been reported to the Oregon Department of Human Services Public Health Division, state officials announced today.

The case of influenza B occurred in a Washington County man in his 20s. The patient is recovering.

"Flu has arrived in Oregon and more people will be getting sick from it,” said Dr. Paul Cieslak, M.D., program manager for the Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention program in DHS.