By Salem Reporter
Foundation drives to limit worker dues, challenging Oregon public unions
One of the state’s largest public employee unions rallies outside the Capitol on Monday, May 20. (Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau) SALEM — Up to 30,000 Oregon workers may no longer automatically support their union as concerted national efforts to trim…
McKay stages rollicking version of ‘Clue’ as performances continue
Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum and Miss Scarlet argue in this scene from “Clue: On Stage” at McKay High School. From left are Jeremy Clifton, Jasmin Ramos, Maximus Rodriguez and Axel Islas. (Photos by Nadia Isom) “Clue: On Stage” at the…
Lawmakers grapple over extra revenue
SALEM — Oregon has come into an unexpected windfall, and now it’s up to lawmakers to figure out what to do with it. Personal and corporate income tax collections during the 2019 tax filing season were dramatically higher than state…
Cap and trade takes significant step toward reality
Rep. Karin Power, D-Milwaukie, and Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, leaders of the cap and trade proposal, speak at a rally outside the Capitol. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) Oregon’s carbon cap and trade proposal passed out of its legislative committee on a…
A fight over information and rights
Raisa Piatkoff of the Russian Old Believer community stands at a rally Wednesday in front of the Capitol to support the death of a mandatory vaccine bill. The community’s involvement is one example of the diversity in the opposition to…
Engineers renew alarm over Oregon’s crumbling bridges, water lines and more
SALEM — Oregon’s pipes, roads, bridges and other structures for moving around the state and to get power and water need significant work, civil engineers said Wednesday. Much of Oregon’s infrastructure is deteriorating with age, and the state must do…
Oregonians will see largest “kicker” tax rebate in state history in 2020
SALEM — Oregonians are in line for a big personal income tax credit, in the form of Oregon’s unique “kicker” rebate, when they file their taxes in 2020. That’s because the state has collected far more money over the past…
Lawmakers move forward on PERS reform
SALEM — Thousands of Oregon public workers could see smaller retirement pots if lawmakers pass a slate of changes to the state’s retirement plan. About 176,000 people now working for state and local government, ranging from teachers to firefighters to…
Tough choices, closed door deals result in Senate returning to business
SALEM — Four Oregon senators leading the charge to inject new lifeblood into the state’s troubled education system said in their combined 88 years in the Legislature, the passage of the Student Success Act was the pinnacle of their career.…
Covanta officials say trash incinerator could close if energy certificate bill fails
Covanta Marion, the trash incinerator in Brooks, pictures in late February. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) A law change that would give renewable energy credits to a trash incinerator in Brooks could have long-term impacts in Marion County. The county and Covanta,…