By Salem Reporter
Waste-burning firm spreads money chasing carbon cap exemption for Brooks plant
Covanta Marion’s trash burning facility in Brooks is one of the state’s largest polluters. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) SALEM — The company that operates the Brooks garbage-burning facility contributed more than $20,000 in campaign contributions last fall ahead of getting favorable…
Courtney takes medical leave from Oregon Senate
SALEM — Senate President Peter Courtney is taking a 10-day medical leave at the recommendation of his doctors. His spokeswoman, Carol McAlice Currie, said Courtney skipped Monday’s floor session and wasn’t in the Capitol Tuesday. Currie said Courtney’s doctors have…
Lawmakers come and go, but the lobby remains a powerful constant in Oregon
Visitors and advocates at the Oregon Capitol, Feb. 28 2019. Lobbyists can often be found sitting or standing in the hallways or rotunda waiting to meet lawmakers. (Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau) SALEM — As the 2019 Legislature steams ahead, an…
Hundreds turn out for heated, emotional testimony on vaccination bill
Hundreds signed up to give testimony on a bill that would end nonmedical exemptions for vaccines. The opposition was easily spotted, either by their red shirts or yellow stickers stating they are against House Bill 6063. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) SALEM…
Chemeketa board ups tuition amid enrollment slump, imperiled state funding
The Chemeketa Community College campus in Salem. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) At a meeting Wednesday, the Board of Education of Chemeketa Community College voted unanimously to approve an increase in tuition and fees for the upcoming 2019–2020 academic year. When fall…
Gov. Brown signs nation’s first statewide rent control bill
Gov. Kate Brown signs the first statewide rent control bill in the country Thursday morning in her ceremonial office. (Paris Achen/Portland Tribune) SALEM – Oregon on Thursday enacted the nation’s farthest-reaching law limiting rent increases and restricting no-fault evictions, providing…
Friends, colleagues praise Richardson’s integrity, drive
Dennis Richardson’s friends and colleagues from both political stripes remembered him Wednesday for his integrity, warmth, kindness and perseverance. Richardson died at about 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, at his Central Point home, surrounded by family and friends. He had…
Dennis Richardson, Oregon secretary of state, dies
(Moriah Ratner/Special to Salem Reporter) Dennis Richardson, Oregon secretary of state and former candidate for governor, died at his Central Point home Tuesday night, his office announced Wednesday. He has been fighting brain cancer for months. “Dennis passed away at…
Oregon passes sweeping rent control bill
Mark Meek speaking on the House floor about the rent control bill Tuesday. (Paris Achen/Oregon Capital Bureau) SALEM – House Speaker Tina Kotek on Tuesday finally accomplished her longstanding goal to protect tenants from abusive landlords with passage of sweeping…
AGENDA: Polk County Commission to take testimony on ordinance tweak
The Polk County Courthouse. (Courtesy of Janet Guzman/Polk County Itemizer-Observer) The Polk County Commission will take public testimony on proposed changes to its subdivision, partition and zoning ordinances to comply with new changes in state law. The change would allow…