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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 2020)
6A — THE OBSERVER SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2020 STATE Robots deliver food to Oregon State students ‘Contactless’ delivery system called a valuable option in pandemic year By Douglas Perry The Oregonian/OregonLive via AP StoryShare CORVALLIS — The obsolescence of humans is upon us. The latest evidence can be found in Corvallis, where as of Wednesday, Oct. 21, robots began delivering food to Oregon State students, professors and staff. The university put out a statement her- alding that it is “the fi rst campus in the state to have autonomous delivery robots.” The robots were cre- ated by a San Francisco company called Starship Technologies. Kerry Paterson, who heads up Oregon State’s residential-dining services, said the “contactless” delivery system is a partic- ularly valuable option for this pandemic year. “This service is yet another way we can facili- tate COVID protocols reg- ulating restaurants,” he said. The robots can keep food hot or cold, and they’re cleaned between deliveries. Better still: the ‘bots are cute. Offers the university press statement: “Paterson said most people fi nd the robots pretty adorable, Blake Brown/Oregon State University A robot at Oregon State University, Corvallis, delivers food in this Wednesday Oct. 21, 2020, photo. Oregon State announced it is the fi rst campus in the state to use have autonomous delivery robots. Woman guilty of homicide in fatal DUII crash with their rounded bodies and steady pace as they hurry around campus.” The person who ordered the food is texted a code that unlocks the robot’s pouch. The autonomous-de- livery technology also could prove to be a boon for restaurants that aren’t in college towns. In Michigan, the Ann Arbor-based company Refraction AI launched a self-driving robot that delivers food for 15% of the cost of the meal, about half the charge for human delivery. Early reviews from restaurateurs and cus- tomers are positive, sug- gesting robot delivery ser- vice is going to live long and prosper. Associated Press CORVALLIS — A Cor- vallis woman pleaded guilty to criminally negli- gent homicide on Thursday, Oct. 22, in Polk County Circuit Court for a 2019 car crash that killed her teenage daughter. Kayla Carter also pleaded guilty for third-de- gree assault and no contest to driving under the infl u- ence of intoxicants, The Gazette-Times reported. Carter, with her 13-year-old daughter in the passenger seat of her car, ran a stop sign at an intersection on March 16, 2019, documents said. Her vehicle collided with car heading north on the highway. Brianna Carter died at the scene. Jessica Cornett of Bend, the driver of the other car, was injured. According to court doc- uments, Carter’s blood alcohol content was approx- imately 0.059%. As part of the deal, charges of man- slaughter and criminal mischief were dismissed. Sentencing was set for December. Virtual town halls coming on Paid Family Medical Leave Act The Observer SALEM — The Oregon Employment Department has launched a series of Paid Family and Medical Leave Insur- ance virtual town halls. “While they may not have all the answers to your questions, your input will help their staff to develop and create draft administrative rules for the Paid Family Med- LEARN MORE More information, including registration, is available here: https://www.oregon.gov/ employ/PFMLI/Pages/ Town-Halls.aspx. ical Leave program,” according to the depart- ment’s press release. “The PFMLI team invites you to join the upcoming vir- tual town halls to share your questions, ideas, or suggestions.” The team will use the input to implement a pro- gram that works for all Oregonians, the press release stated. The fi rst town hall was Oct. 13 on employer and employee contribution rates, employer reporting requirements, and more. The rest of the town hall are as follows: • Equivalent plans, Oct 27, 2-3 p.m. This ses- sion will focus on submis- sion and review of equiv- alent plans employers offer. • Benefi ts, Nov. 9, 6:30-7:30 p.m. This ses- sion will focus on pro- gram eligibility, applica- tion for benefi ts and more. • Small employers, Nov. 17, 2-3 p.m. This session will focus on small employers; assis- tance grants to help with the cost of hiring temporary replacement workers and more. • Self-employed/inde- pendent contractors, Dec. 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m. This session will focus on self-employed individuals and independent contrac- tors who elect to partici- pate in the program. OHA sees 70% increase in Oregon opioid deaths during April, May The Observer PORTLAND —Oregon Health Authority reported the state experienced an spike in opioid overdose deaths this past spring compared to last year, and public health experts believe use of illicit fentanyl and methamphetamine is driving the increase. Analysts in the Injury and Violence Prevention Section at the OHA Public Health Division found Oregon had a nearly 70% increase in the number of overdose deaths during April and May 2020 com- pared to the same time in 2019. There also was a nearly 8% increase in the number of overdose deaths during the fi rst quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. What’s unclear is what effect the COVID-19 pan- demic may have had on opioid misuse in Oregon. “Until more data become available, it is premature to say how much of the spike in overdose deaths is attrib- utable to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Tom Jeanne, deputy state health offi cer and deputy state epi- demiologist at the Public Health Division. “However, the realization that we will be dealing with COVID-19 for some time, and other stressors related to jobs, school and social isolation, may increase feelings of anxiety and depression, and that can lead to a harmful level of alcohol or other drug use.” The preliminary data come from the State Unin- tentional Drug Overdose Reporting System, which includes combined and abstracted data from med- ical examiners and death certifi cates. The analysis also found between April and May 2020 there was a 28% increase in overdose deaths and a more than 15% increase in overdose deaths between March and April. And opioid-involved deaths accounted for almost 73% of total overdose deaths in May 2020. Of opioid-involved deaths, the data show, fen- tanyl and heroin continue to be the drugs most fre- quently involved, and fen- tanyl-involved deaths accounted for almost 40% of total overdose deaths in May 2020. The analysis also found methamphetamine/amphet- amine-involved deaths accounted for more than 40% of all overdose deaths in May 2020. What will you put under the tree for that person who has everything?? Frank Szumski, DO, Family Medicine—Regional Medical Clinic How about a handmade soup set If a GRH Virtual Visit makes sense to you for your appointment, call your GRH clinic today to find out more, or message your care team via MyChart! We focus on you and your care needs. For trusted, local health care information, visit GRH.org today . We’re open with more ideas 541.910.0550 1601 6th Street, La Grande corner of 6th and Penn
