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 State Police investigating flow of harmful drugs to Oregon State Hospital patients
Two patients in Oregon's state-run psychiatric hospital tested positive for drugs officials suspect arrived in the mail.
Oregon Health Authority needs more language and behavioral health services, report says
The Oregon Health Authority’s Ombuds program is concerned about the lack of care in languages other than English and gaps in mental health and addiction treatment for Oregonians enrolled in Medicaid.
OHSU study finds benefits of using telehealth to help treat opioid addiction
Patients said video visits gave them a greater sense of autonomy and control over their addiction treatment.
Appeals court hears arguments in Oregon lawsuit on DHS protections for LGBTQ kids
A lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Human Services pits religious and free speech rights against state rules for adopting LGBTQ children.
Oregon Congresswoman introduces bill to provide disaster relief to farmworkers
U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, says farm workers need a safety net when disasters strike.
Citing ‘unlawful lockout,’ Oregon nurses will continue to picket Providence hospitals
Providence will keep temporary nurses through Sunday, saying staff nurses only need to report for work if they are contacted.
Oregon U.S. senators, congresswoman urge VA to fund Roseburg veterans’ home
Three Oregon federal lawmakers are seeking to fund a new 154-bed long-term home for veterans in Douglas County.
Oregon still fixing state employee payroll system after problems last year
State auditors could not get complete information from the Oregon Department of Administrative Services about the $21 million state payroll system which had an error-laden rollout last year.
Wyden targets poor care at youth residential treatment facilities
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden’s Senate Finance Committee released a report that details patterns of abuse and neglect at youth treatment facilities across the U.S.
Democrats, Republicans in Senate join to send drug law reforms to governor
OREGON NEWS: The sweeping drug addiction proposal reverses parts of Measure 110, recriminalizing possession of small amounts of drugs and expanding treatment options.