By Salem Reporter
Oregon’s largest prison shifting away from using ‘the hole’
The state’s largest prison began a new policy on segregated housing a year ago and since then inmate-to-inmate assaults are down. (The Enterprise/Pat Caldwell). ONTARIO – A year ago, the cell on the upper tier of Snake River Correctional Institution’s…
Long-awaited carbon cap bill is released
SALEM — After nearly a year of work by a legislative committee, a bill released Thursday afternoon outlines how Oregon would drastically cut its greenhouse gas emissions and become the second state to implement a cap and trade system. The…
For a measure of cap and trade success, look to the northeast
SALEM — As Oregon considers limiting carbon emissions to spare the environment, experience in Canada with a similar effort yields clues to what might happen. The province of Quebec’s cap and trade program, started in 2013, has proven a boon…
Oregon Supreme Court decides reduced prisons sentences legally passed
Clackamas County District John Foote challenged legislators’ ability to override a voter-enacted measure on prison sentences. (Portland Tribune/file) The Oregon Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a law to decrease sentences for repeat property thieves. In a unanimous decision handed down…
Lack of oversight has led to legal marijuana seeping into the black market, audit finds
SALEM — Oregon’s system for regulating legal cannabis likely fails to prevent spillover to the black market, state auditors said Wednesday. That increases the risk that the state could be subject to more federal scrutiny, said Secretary of State Dennis…
No plans to drill offshore, but Oregon legislators move to extend ban
Oregon legislators this year want to permanently prohibit oil and gas drilling off the Oregon Coast although no one has shown an interest in poking a hole in the coastal floor. Despite a call from the Trump administration last year…
Oregon lawmaker pushes stronger job protections for pregnant and nursing workers
Rep. Karin Power (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) By Claire Withycombe – Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Most people who testify at the Capitol bring slide presentations, graphs or official letterhead to make their point. State Rep. Karin Power, D-Milwaukie, brought a…
Republicans say consideration from Democrats has eroded in first week of legislature over carbon reduction
(Photo by Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) SALEM – Just a week into the 2019 Legislature, unrest between Democratic and Republican legislators has surfaced over landmark legislation to reduce Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions. Legislators have been anticipating the environmental push…
AGENDA: Polk County Commission to review fiscal year audit and go into executive session
The Polk County Courthouse. (Courtesy of Janet Guzman/Polk County Itemizer-Observer) The Polk County Commission will start its last meeting of January by looking over and potentially approving an audit of its last fiscal year, according to the agenda. The commission…
While back to carpentry, Starnes wants to craft campaign spending limits
Patrick Starnes, former Independent Party of Oregon candidate for governor, isn’t giving up on his push to reform the flow of political money in the state. (Portland Tribune/Jaime Valdez) Carpenter Patrick Starnes, former candidate for governor, earns a living now…