BUSINESS & AG LIFE
B2 — THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021
CLIMATE
Continued from Page B1
Andrew Selsky/The Associated Press
Debra Cross, director of operations for Provoking Hope, an addiction recovery center in McMinnville, displays an emergency kit used to treat
opioid overdose as she stands inside an ambulance converted into a mobile needle-exchange unit on Dec. 9, 2021.
OPIOID
Continued from Page B1
numbers. In the U.S., more
than 500,000 deaths over
the last two decades have
been linked to opioids,
both prescription drugs and
illegal ones.
Washington state
Attorney General Bob Fer-
guson has called the set-
tlement “woefully insuffi -
cient.” Instead of joining,
he sued Amerisource-
Bergen, Cardinal Health
and McKesson for $38
billion.
In Oregon, the agreement
still needs to be formally
approved by city councils
and county commissions to
become fi nal, Rosenblum
noted.
Some have already
taken steps. The Yamhill
County Board of Commis-
sioners unanimously autho-
rized the county counsel to
approve the settlement last
week, said Commissioner
Casey Kulla. In the county
southwest of Portland, as in
many others, the opioid epi-
demic has caused overdoses,
addiction and homelessness.
According to Rosen-
blum’s offi ce, the agreement
between the state and local
governments says:
• Almost half of Oregon’s
share would go into a fund
that would be used to study
the availability and effi cacy
of substance use prevention,
treatment and recovery ser-
vices across the state. The
funds would also be used to
address treatment and pre-
vention of substance use
disorder, focused on state-
wide and regional programs
and services.
• The remaining 55% of
Oregon’s share would go
directly to cities and coun-
ties to pay for prevention,
treatment and recovery ser-
vices at the local level.
“Every dollar we receive
must be used judiciously
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other U.S. states.
But critics are
concerned.
“I’m really troubled
by the agency’s process
here,” said Mary Anne
Cooper, spokesperson
for the Oregon Farm
Bureau. “Advocates of the
rule were hand-selected
and put on a committee,
which really didn’t have
enough business interest
representation.”
Agency offi cials,
Cooper said, “fail to
understand how busi-
nesses work generally and
how agricultural busi-
nesses work specifi cally.”
She said added costs will
cut into the bottom line.
In a public comment,
Michelle Palacios, execu-
tive director of the Oregon
Hop Growers Association,
said the rule “could greatly
and wisely,” Rosenblum
said. “For starters, it will
provide us with the ability to
increase access to lifesaving
treatment and recovery ser-
vices and will support indi-
viduals and families who
continue to suff er from sub-
stance use disorder.”
The settlement is second
only to the $200 billion-plus
tobacco settlement, in 1998,
with the nation’s four largest
tobacco companies.
increase the cost of natural
gas for local hop growers
at a time we can least
aff ord it.”
So, what might the new
plan actually cost?
Trucking industry
groups have estimated the
plan could double the price
of natural gas by 2050,
add 36 cents per gallon to
the cost of gasoline and
add 39 cents per gallon to
the price of diesel by 2035.
Whitman, of DEQ,
off ered a more modest
estimate, saying the regu-
lations could bump up fuel
prices 3% to 7% by 2050.
“We’re projecting even
less than that,” he said.
Kathleen George,
EQC’s chair, said the
plan includes fl exible lan-
guage to protect against
skyrocketing fuel prices.
If Oregon fuel prices
increase by more than
20%, she said, it will
trigger a review to poten-
tially change the program.
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by Stella Wilder
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021
YOUR BIRTHDAY by Stella Wilder
Born today, you learn by doing, so of course
it follows that only by doing will you learn
what you need to know to make your way in
the world. This may be something that is lost
on you when you are very young, when others
are more than willing to provide for you, but
once you are older and begin to take responsi-
bility for your own progress in life, you will
realize that by doing as much as possible you
will learn as much as possible.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You’ll
see things in just the right light today to be
able to make the most of the trends you
encounter. Few will get in your way.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You have
an important lesson to learn, but you’re not in
the best position to learn it just yet. Take a few
steps in a new direction.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Travel plans
may have to be altered today to accommodate
an unexpected wrinkle -- but your overall
purpose and agenda can remain unchanged.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- A discus-
sion about what is going on all around you
today makes you realize you’re in a better
position to do what is right.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Take care
that you don’t fall back into any old habits
today simply because you cannot determine
exactly where you will soon be heading.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Despite any
bad news you receive today, you should be
able to maintain a positive outlook -- at least
compared to many of your allies.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You
shouldn’t have to keep the ball rolling on your
own all day long, as there are others who know
you are depending on their assistance.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Take some time
to reflect on where you’ve recently been and
what you’ve accomplished. Today it can all
matter more than usual.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- You’ll
remember something that was told to you
some time ago, and today’s actions will be
affected in a way that gives you a solid advan-
tage.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You’re nearing
your destination, but are you ready for the
brief period of uncertainty that will descend
upon you when you get there?
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You’re fac-
ing something special today, and you don’t
want to miss out on the opportunity to expand
on this in a most creative way.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Your
decisions are likely to be dramatically different
today from those made by others -- but this
gives you a certain satisfaction.
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