Homeland Security’s ‘welfare’ check on Idaho migrant students raises school privacy questions
In other parts of the country, the welfare checks have resulted in children being taken out of their homes and put back into government custody
Wildfires
Oregon's timber industry proposes shifting wildfire protection costs from landowners to public
Several timber companies participated in a workgroup and proposal that would cut the fees they pay to the state for fire protection.
Oregon needs more money to fight big wildfires. Who should pay for it?
Two senators aim to boost funding to the state’s firefighting efforts, one funded by the public, the other by timber companies.
The dangerous consequences of wildland fire dispatcher burnout
An internal Forest Service survey shows a critical link in the wildfire fighting apparatus is struggling.
Amid heavy smoke, wildfire crews work without practical respirators
'There are times where you just don’t breathe, because you can’t.'
What WA’s new wildfire smoke rules might mean for outdoor workers
Washington could be the second state to impose permanent safety regulations, but employers and workplace advocates disagree on the proposal.
An Oregon town is buying surrounding forests to confront wildfires
A logger, forester and former mayor have joined forces to help Butte Falls protect its town and build an economy supported by tourism
The cost of wildfires is rising. But by how much?
States are struggling to budget given incomplete data
New state fire risks map leaves Oregon property owners with insurance concerns; some cities challenge data
The map’s impact on insurance rates and property values should not be severe, according to the state wildfire programs director
Growing sprawl in WA woods comes with high wildfire risk
Policymakers and homeowners are scrambling to manage the so-called 'wildland-urban interface' to mitigate the threat
Hundreds of firefighters. 20 bulldozers. Intentional burns: Inside Washington’s $328M push to break cycle of disastrous fires
Legislature unites in support of massive cash infusion to step up firefighting, improve forests and secure communities near the fire lines