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 Health Authority fails to show results after spending millions, audit finds
Oregon Health Authority auditors call for stronger oversight of behavioral health incentive programs and better outreach to communities.
Oregon State Hospital nurses raise safety fears as they work mandatory overtime
The union that represents registered nurses at Oregon State Hospital has filed more than 200 grievances in the past month.
Longtime Multnomah County administrator appointed new Measure 110 executive director
Abbey Stamp, who starts her new job on Oct. 15, has worked for years in behavioral health and criminal justice.
OHSU-led research fuels hope for a universal flu vaccine
OHSU scientists say a new approach could lead to the development of a “one and done” shot to cover all flu variants in five years
Governor’s women’s prison committee members unhappy with lack of progress
Gov. Tina Kotek’s office declined to answer multiple questions about the group she created to improve poor conditions at the state's only women's prison.
Sens. Merkley and Wyden and Rep. Blumenauer urge VA to expand care to medical cannabis
Oregon's senators said a federal prohibition deprives veterans of a drug that’s legal in nearly 40 states and forces them go to outside the VA system for care.
Judge seeks perspective of 5,000 Oregon foster children as the state moves toward reforms
To settle a class-action lawsuit, Oregon Department of Human Services has agreed to follow the guidance of a neutral expert over the next decade to improve its care.
Woman exits Oregon prison 21 months late after state corrections agency ‘really screwed up’
Bridget McDermott is among a few people held in Oregon prisons longer than they should have been and then suddenly released without a plan
After fatal drug overdose, Oregon State Hospital resumes limited in-person visits for patients
About one-quarter of the Oregon State Hospital's patients will be eligible to have in-person visits starting Monday.
A Portland State University study upends assumptions about police role in addiction treatment
Only a fraction of people with addiction have contact with the criminal justice system, a new Portland State University study found.