By Salem Reporter
State transportation director Garrett to retire after 13 years
Oregon Department of Transportation Director Matt Garrett speaks at a distracted driving awareness event in 2017. (ODOT Flickr) SALEM —Matt Garrett, the longtime director of the state Transportation Department, announced Friday that he intends to retire by June. 30. During…
Outreach and organization can help regular citizens have a voice in the Capitol
SALEM — When Oregon legislators convene on Tuesday, they could raise or lower your taxes, cut or boost government services and decide how much your landlord can hike the rent. Interest groups, from the pharmaceutical industry to labor unions, spend…
Unions look to take advantage of Democratic leadership and strong economy in 2019
In November, educators and school children got a champion. The homeless got an advocate and environmentalists got a steward. But perhaps the people most happy with Gov. Kate Brown’s re-election reside in Oregon’s union shops. Brown has long been pro…
Chemeketa administration proposes tuition increase to offset state cuts, declining enrollment
The Chemeketa Community College board sat silently Wednesday night as the college’s chief financial officer proposed another tuition increase for the 2019-2020 academic year. As explained by college President Julie Huckestein and Chief Financial Officer Miriam Scharer, Gov. Kate Brown’s…
AGENDA: Polk County Commission to meet in executive session
The Polk County Courthouse. (Courtesy of Janet Guzman/Polk County Itemizer-Observer) The Polk County Commission’s agenda for the second week in January is bare, aside from an issue to be discussed in executive session. State law allows governing bodies to meet…
After a decade of delay, Oregon officials finally launching child abuse call center
A state worker answers calls to Oregon’s child abuse hotline, operating from a new call center in Portland. (Portland Tribune/Jaime Valdez) PORTLAND — The caller told Hannah Lene about a child disciplined at school for spraying water who begged school…
Harassment investigation hangs over swearing in of Oregon’s 80th legislature
Gov. Kate Brown gets congratulated during her inauguration Monday in the Oregon House chambers. (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) SALEM — Claims that legislative leaders mishandled sexual harassment reports cast a shadow over the Capitol Monday as lawmakers gathered to kick off…
Brown calls on Oregon to be ambitious, speed help for homeless
Gov. Kate Brown takes the oath of office on Monday, Jan. 14, as she starts her final term as governor. (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) SALEM — Gov. Kate Brown wants the state to get ambitious about solving major challenges such as…
Salem’s student salon teaches customers as well as high schoolers
Mannequins await their appointments with student hairdressers at Salem-Keizer’s Career and Technical Education Center. (Salem Reporter photo) Cade Burckhardt was all business as he considered what to do with my hair. He looked over my untidy mess. He asked what…
Oregon legislative leaders, regulators to meet behind closed doors to settle harassment claims
SALEM — The Oregon Legislature wants to settle a complaint accusing legislative leaders and administrators of creating a hostile work environment at the Capitol. In so doing, the Legislature will enter into confidential negotiations with the state’s Bureau of Labor…