Heat wave

As Oregon continues to experience high temperatures and wildfire smoke, the state has enacted two new temporary rules to protect workers laboring in excessive heat and wildfire smoke.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Thursday declared a state of emergency in 22 counties — including Jackson, Josephine, Douglas and Curry Counties — due to a heat wave that’s expected to bring dangerously hot weather across much of state into Saturday.

There are no federal worker protections from extreme heat even as climate change makes deadly heat waves more likely. Oregon has passed emergency rules and is educating the public on how to stay safe.

The hottest place on Earth is as hot as it's ever been, at least in terms of recorded temperatures in modern times.

In the wake of 116 deaths — and counting — OPB asked first-response, disaster-planning and communications experts for their takes on how the state should protect Oregonians from extreme weather.

An estimated 1 billion sea creatures, mostly mussels, died in the heat wave last week along Vancouver's shorelines. But the marine biologist taking count worries the actual number will be much higher.

Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration enacted temporary rules Thursday after Gov. Kate Brown directed the agency earlier this week to protect workers laboring in excessive heat.

Gov. Kate Brown orders temporary rules to protect workers from extreme heat as state reports more than 100 deaths and counting after record-breaking heat wave.

A widely-shared Facebook post saying electric car owners were being told by state officials not to charge their cars is inaccurate. PolitiFact California looks at the claim.

Agriculture is stressed across the region. Blueberries are ripening so fast, processors can’t keep up. Potatoes, a valuable Northwest crop, are growing in weird shapes, making them hard to cut into fries. Dairy cows produce less milk when overheated, so operators are misting them with water and turning giant fans on them.

About 90% of the village of Lytton was destroyed by fire. It comes while hundreds have died in a massive heat wave that's affecting British Columbia and the western U.S.

A series of three vigils were held around Oregon Saturday in memory of Sebastian Francisco Perez, the 38-year-old farm worker who died during the heat wave.