By Salem Reporter
Gov. Kate Brown grabs national spotlight on voter access
Gov. Kate Brown talks about Oregon’s voting policies, such as automatic voter registration, at a Center for American Progress panel in Washington D.C. in February. (Photo courtesy of Chris Williams for the Center for American Progress) In her final four…
Oregon should overhaul handling of insanity defendants, state official says
PORTLAND — The state of Oregon needs to overhaul the way it handles people found guilty except for insanity and better track what happens to them once they are released from state jurisdiction, the head of the agency that supervises…
Plan could mean you never change a clock again in Oregon
Whether they’re for standard time or daylight saving time, Oregonians are tired of changing their clocks twice every year. That’s the message state senators considering a time change in Oregon received this week. More than 50 people submitted written testimony…
Agenda: Polk County Commission to review garbage collection rate increase
The Polk County Courthouse. (Courtesy of Janet Guzman/Polk County Itemizer-Observer) The Polk County Commission has a light agenda this week. At its Wednesday meeting, it will consider a rate increase for garbage collection from Brandt’s Sanitary Service, Inc. The commission…
Report finds Oregon’s most vulnerable residents don’t have proper access to legal services
(Caleb Wolf/special to Salem Reporter) Many low-income Oregonians who need legal help can’t get it and they pay a price, a new study found. Such defendants are bombarded with legal issues. When they do have to appear in court, they…
Legislators consider sharpening access to government records
State Rep. Karin Power, D-Milwaukie, is sponsoring reforms to Oregon’s public records law. (File/Pamplin Media) In 2017, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed reforms into law to promote government openness and transparency. Two years later, some state officials and advocacy groups…
Jump a commuter train in Salem to head to work up north? Legislator lays groundwork
A WES commuter train pulls into the Beaverton station. A legislator dreams of pushing the service south to Salem. (File/Pamplin Media Group) SALEM — Ten years ago, the Westside Express Service began running between Beaverton and Wilsonville. State Rep. Mitch…
Legislative budget-writers show how they’d spend state money, and it could mean cuts
Oregon’s K-12 schools won’t feel pinched under a proposal unveiled by legislative budget-writers Thursday, but other government services throughout the state are likely to see cuts. The co-chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee presented a $23.2 billion budget…
Taxpayers bear the cost of $1.3 million sexual harassment settlement for lawmakers’ misdeeds
SALEM — In the next month, the Legislature will write a check for $1.1 million to finish its settlement of sexual harassment claims at the Capitol. But it won’t be legislators or employees accused of the misconduct who have to…
Legislature to pay $1.3 million for harassment at Capitol
SALEM — The Oregon Legislature will pay $1 million to nine victims of harassment at the Capitol, settling a complaint by state labor officials that has put a cloud over the 2019 session. In a deal announced Tuesday afternoon, legislative…