Sam Stites - Oregon Capital Bureau
Wildfire bills moving forward, but will budgetary constraints extinguish their momentum?
Two bills being considered by Oregon lawmakers this session are expected to be the one-two punch the state needs to considerably reduce the impact of wildfire on its landscape and citizens. In recent years, the onslaught of smoke from major…
Old wounds of Oregon’s timber wars take first step toward healing
Sen. Jeff Golden and Sen. Herman Baertschiger, chair and vice chair of the Senate Committee on Wildfire Response, have differing views of a new state timber deal. (Sam Stites/Oregon Capital Bureau) SALEM – The deal announced last week was intended…
Bill giving Oregon public records advocate independence heads to vote
It took less than two minutes Wednesday for a Senate committee to approve legislation to solidify independence for Oregon’s public records advocate and the Public Records Advisory Council. During a Feb. 12 work session, members of the Senate Committee on…
Brown announces ‘historic’ agreement between timber industry, environmentalists
Gov. Kate Brown, Greg Miller, representative of the timber coalition, and Bob Van Dyke, of the Wild Salmon Center, announce the “historic” deal between logging and environmental interests Monday, Feb. 10. (Claire Withycombe/ Oregon Capital Bureau) A new deal between…
Impassioned testimony highlights Oregon hearing on gun storage bill
Rabbi Michael Cahana of Portland’s Congregation Beth Israel testifies in favor of a safe gun storage proposal during a hearing at the Capitol Friday, Feb. 7, on behalf of interfaith nonprofit organization Life Every Voice Oregon. (Sam Stites/Oregon Capital Bureau)…
Legislators consider throttling back ambition to fix wildfire issues in short session
Ed Keith (left), Deschutes County forester; Phil Henderson, Deschutes County commissioner; and Nick Lelack, Deschutes County community development coordinator, share concerns about a wildfire bill in a Feb. 5 hearing. (Sam Stites/Oregon Capital Bureau) SALEM – Drastically improving the way…
Elections division says Oregon’s electoral process is secure
U.S. Attorney Billy Williams addresses the media regarding cyber and disinformation threats to the security of Oregon’s electoral process during a press conference at the Oregon Capitol Tuesday, Feb. 4. (Sam Stites/Oregon Capital Bureau) The state’s top elections official wants…
The race for state treasurer draws its first Republican candidate
Jeff Gudman, Republican candidate for state treasurer. (Sam Stites/Oregon Capital Bureau) Jeff Gudman wants a rematch. The 2016 Republican candidate for Oregon State Treasurer filed Monday, Feb. 3, to become the party’s candidate again in the May primary and challenge…
Lack of access to dental care causing oral health epidemic in Oregon
Oregon is facing a dental health epidemic, and a lack of access to care is at the root of the problem for many children, rural residents and low-income families. Legislators will consider improving access to education and services in schools,…
Oregon public records council shores up support for independence
The Oregon State Capitol. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) The state’s Public Records Advisory Council rejected Wednesday an attempt to restrict its independence. At the same time, the 12-member council said it would fight attempts to block it from proposing public records…