Ben Botkin - Oregon Capital Chronicle
Ben Botkin covers justice, health and social services issues for the Oregon Capital Chronicle. He has been a reporter since 2003, when he drove from his Midwest locale to Idaho for his first journalism job. He has written extensively about politics and state agencies in Idaho, Nevada and Oregon. Most recently, he covered health care and the Oregon Legislature for The Lund Report. Botkin has won multiple journalism awards for his investigative and enterprise reporting, including on education, state budgets and criminal justice.
Oregon advocates seek state food aid for immigrants excluded by feds
Senate Bill 611 would extend food benefits to ineligible immigrants under federal rules who under 26 or 55 and older.
Oregon officials scrambling to respond to Trump order freezing many federal funds
State programs including the Oregon Health Plan rely on federal money to operate.
Oregon lawmaker wants to expand emergency housing program for people with addictions
Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, wants Oregon to shelter unhoused people on waitlists for residential addiction treatment programs.
Oregon lawmakers sworn into office on Monday
The event marks the ceremonial start of the long session, which officially kicks off on Jan. 21.
Mother of deceased Oregon inmate files wrongful death lawsuit against corrections agency
A $4 million lawsuit alleges Oregon State Penitentiary doctors could have prevented an inmate's 2023 death from prostate cancer with timely treatment.
Disability watchdog group seeks order to find Oregon in contempt of court
Disability Rights Oregon wants a court order that will hold Oregon State Hospital accountable for failing to admit patients from jails within seven days.
New laws go into effect in Oregon to help curtail medicine costs, reduce drug use on transit
Protections for consumers, schoolchildren and warehouse workers are among the new laws that started on Jan. 1.
Oregon attorney general issues advice to businesses on use of AI
The guidance, based on existing state law, is a starting point to protect Oregonians, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum says.
Mother of deceased Oregon inmate files wrongful death lawsuit against agency
A lawsuit claims staff at Oregon State Correctional Institution ignored clear signs an inmate was having a mental health crisis prior to his death by suicide.
Oregon Attorney General-elect Rayfield establishes federal oversight cabinet
A dozen prominent Oregonians who work in areas like health care, law and labor advise Oregon's incoming attorney general as his office tries to defend against potential threats to Oregon policies from the incoming Trump administration.