Cover Oregon Report Due Today

20 March, 2014

Coast Radio News
Local News

Kitzhaber to release Cover Oregon report Thursday

Governor John Kitzhaber plans to release today an independent review of what went wrong with Oregon’s troubled health insurance exchange.

Kitzhaber’s office has scheduled a press conference to disclose the findings of the review and “steps he is taking to ensure that Cover Oregon delivers on its promise for Oregonians who need health coverage.”

The review by First Data Government Solutions is based on interviews with 67 people and the review of more than 3,200 documents.

Kitzhaber ordered the review in January at a cost of $228,000. It’s supposed to answer seven questions aimed at pinpointing why Cover Oregon’s online enrollment system wasn’t ready to launch on schedule in October.

Oregon is the only state where the public still can’t sign up for health insurance online in one sitting

West Lane Candidates Forum

The two candidates for West Lane seat on the Board of County Commissioners will answer questions from the public today at the Florence Events Center.

The monthly noon Chamber of Commerce Forum is the setting.

The candidates, Dawn Lesley of Eugene and Jay Bozievich of Elmira, will introduce themselves and answer questions about their qualifications and goals.

It is open to the public and there’s no cost to attend… lunch is available for a charge.

Fish hooks, Harpoon Heads and Digging Sticks

Technology hasn’t always changed at such a rapid pace.  The earliest residents of the Oregon Coast used tools that went virtually unchanged for centuries.  Fish hooks, harpoon heads, digging sticks and other examples of native technology will be on display this Saturday at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center.

Forest Service archeologist Kevin Bruce will show off a collection of native stone tools and other artifacts at two Saturday.  He’ll also demonstrate how some of those stone tools were created.

Pot Dispensary Delay Signed

The Governor has signed a bill allowing local governments to temporarily ban medical marijuana stores.

The governor’s signature Wednesday came as many Oregon communities move swiftly to block marijuana dispensaries within their borders.

The new law gives cities and counties until May 1 to enact moratoriums for up to a year.

The Oregon Health Authority released a draft of rules that establish a way for license applicants to get a refund if their facility would be blocked by a local ordinance. The agency also added rules restricting marijuana-infused products that would appeal to children.

Those rules were required under a compromise needed to move the bill through the Legislature earlier this month.