SALEM — In the wake of a scandal over the state’s handling of energy tax incentives, the Oregon Department of Energy has cleaned up its process, state auditors say. The state Audits Division report, released Wednesday, assessed whether energy officials implemented recommendations made earlier by state and private auditors and[Read More…]
By Salem Reporter
Oregon’s third-party candidate not giving up on debate fight
The Independent Party of Oregon’s candidate for governor, Patrick Starnes, appears at the first gubernatorial debate. (File/Portland Tribune) Patrick Starnes, a cabinetmaker and gubernatorial candidate from the Independent Party of Oregon, on Tuesday filed an elections complaint that could test a 2017 state law that encourages debate hosts to invite[Read More…]
State wants to step up monitoring of water systems, large and small
State officials want more money to boost inspections of water systems that now face little scrutiny. (File/Pamplin Media Group) SALEM — Under a proposal from state health officials, most public water systems — from small housing developments to bigger cities serving thousands of residents —may have to pay higher monitoring[Read More…]
Major party candidates to participate in final gubernatorial debate, third-party candidate protests exclusion
Tonight, Gov. Kate Brown and state Rep. Knute Buehler will participate in the final debate before voters send off their ballots for the Nov. 6 election to determine if Oregon gets a new governor. It’s the last of three debates, the first two coming last week in Portland and Medford.[Read More…]
Thousands of Salem-Keizer students would attend different schools under boundary change proposal
New high school boundaries proposed under a draft boundary adjustment plan. (Courtesy/Salem-Keizer School District) Thousands of local students could be affected by attendance boundary changes proposed for more than half of Salem-Keizer schools. The plan, which will take effect next year, would also shift the district’s “feeder system,” which determines[Read More…]
Buehler calls on Trump to withdraw Kavanaugh from consideration hours before Senate confirmation process
On Thursday, Rep. Knute Buehler called for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to be withdrawn from consideration. (Jamie Valdez/Portland Tribune) State Rep. Knute Buehler, GOP candidate for governor, on Thursday called on President Trump to replace Brett Kavanaugh as nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. “At this point I[Read More…]
Independent candidate for governor stymied in debate effort
Patrick Starnes, gubernatorial candidate from Brownsville, makes a point at a debate Tuesday in Portland. (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) Despite a herculean effort to nudge the state’s two-party status quo, Patrick Starnes, Independent Party of Oregon candidate for governor, has been left out of the final two gubernatorial debates. Starnes, a[Read More…]
Where is the money going in Oregon’s most expensive gubernatorial race?
State Rep. Knute Buehler, R-Bend, and Gov. Kate Brown debate in Portland Tuesday night. Independent candidate Patrick Starnes also participated. (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) In addition to being one of the closest governor’s races in recent memory, the fight between Gov. Kate Brown and Rep. Knute Buehler is the most expensive.[Read More…]
Governor moves to head off Trump, shift water and air regs into state law
Gov. Kate Brown wants to guard against a rollback of federal environmental rules by moving them into state law where the Trump administration couldn’t touch them. Brown, a Democrat up for reelection next month, proposed legislation Wednesday that would have the state adopt all federal clean air and water standards[Read More…]
Sharp questioning from youth pin back Oregon gubernatorial candidates
State Rep. Knute Buehler, R-Bend, and Gov. Kate Brown debate in Portland Tuesday night. Independent candidate Patrick Starnes also participated. (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) PORTLAND — The most challenging force facing gubernatorial candidate Knute Buehler in his first debate wasn’t incumbent Gov. Kate Brown. It was Rose Lawrence, a 15-year-old from[Read More…]
