By Salem Reporter
State’s top economic development leader stepping down
SALEM — The head of Oregon’s economic development agency will be stepping down at the end of the year, the agency said Thursday. Chris Harder has led Business Oregon, overseeing a two-year budget of about $800 million, since March 2016.…
Petition drive to restrict Oregon licenses derailed by state ruling
SALEM — An attempt to repeal a new state law allowing undocumented immigrants to get Oregon driver’s licenses has hit a snag. Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno on Tuesday halted a proposed ballot initiative to walk back House Bill…
State still struggling to handle Oregon’s child abuse tip calls
SALEM — Callers gave up on more than 4,000 calls to Oregon’s child abuse hotline last month as the central operation stumbled in efforts to make reporting abuse quicker and easier, according to a new state report. Other callers waited…
Businesswomen celebrated at Deepwood Estates
Shannon Martinez & Christine Moehl cut the cake to celebrate 10 years. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter) Saalfeld Griggs, PC is a well-known law firm in town. Founded in 1932, it was established by Roy Harland and is one…
Oregon teachers union won’t fund candidates who voted for public pension reforms
John Larson, left, Oregon Education Association president, and National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen García, center, hold a bannerwhich marching in support of increased school funding on May 8, 2019 in Salem. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) SALEM — A third Oregon…
Supporters of Salem cats turn out for fundraiser
Guests dress up at the Salem Friends of Felines Paws and Purrsonality fundraiser on Oct. 5, 2019, in Salem. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter) Cat-lovers united recently as Salem Friends of Felines, a nonprofit that shelters and adopts out…
Drives to recall Brown see petitions pile up as Monday deadline looms
Oregon State Fair visitors this summer sign a petition to recall Gov. Kate Brown at the booth organized by Flush Down Kate Brown. (Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau/file) SALEM — They were busy this summer, showing up in places like the…
Outgoing public records advocate says high fees stifle access in Oregon
The Oregon State Capitol SALEM — Oregon’s departing public records advocate said Wednesday that high fees often create a barrier for requesters seeking public information, and called for more clarity and less discretion for public bodies assessing fees to fill…
After 2 deaths, Oregon governor bans sale of flavored vaping products
Flavored vape products are banned in Oregon for six months as of Oct. 4, 2019 (Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons) SALEM — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has imposed a six-month ban on the sale of flavored vaping products. Eight cases of respiratory illness…
For former Oregon Legislature exec, it was 8 months at home, $96,000 in pay
SALEM — The former human resources director for the Oregon Legislature was paid nearly $100,000 to work from home for the first eight months of 2019 after she agreed to a quiet exit last fall amid intense public scrutiny over…