Sam Stites - Oregon Capital Bureau
Oregon forests become political battleground that voters could decide next year
A political fight over the way Oregon manages its forests and timber activity could play out before voters next fall. Two separate sets of ballot initiatives with contrary views of forestry in Oregon have been filed with the state Elections…
State seeks owners of medals of heroism sitting unclaimed in Salem
Navy insignia found inside a deposit box once owned by a George B. James was sent from an Umpqua Bank in Bandon. (Courtesy/Oregon Department of State Lands) Tucked away inside a vault within the Oregon Department of State Lands sit…
Where others see chaos, he tackles opportunity to reshape mental health care
Steve Allen is director of the state agency charged with caring for Oregonians with mental health and substance abuse. (Sam Stites/Oregon Capital Bureau) Finding a director to run a key new division of the Oregon Health Authority vexed Pat Allen…
Oregon State Hospital gets a break as federal judge decides against contempt finding
Oregon State Hospital in Salem (Salem Reporter/file) After several months of noncompliance, wait times for patients being admitted to the Oregon State Hospital are back in compliance with a 2002 rule requiring the facility to take just seven days to…
Democrats renew effort to pass carbon-reduction bill
Oregon State Capitol, Legislature (Salem Reporter/file) SALEM – The next session of the Oregon Legislature is expected to begin the way the last one ended, with a dramatic clash between Democrats and Republicans over the future carbon emissions. Sen. Michael…
Oregon agency needs to tweak computer project clocking in at a half billion dollars, audit finds
A new system aimed at streamlining the way Oregonians apply for public benefits will need some retooling before it’s implemented next year to be used by about a million Oregonians, a state audit found. The audit released Wednesday by the…
Record number of Oregonians participate in earthquake drill
At 10:17 a.m. on a recent morning, 396,834 students, teachers, administrators and at more than 400 schools across Oregon dropped to the floor clambering under their desks. The same thing was happening for 65,286 state and local government officials from…
Oregon Court of Appeals blocks flavored vape ban from taking effect
(Courtesy/Wikimedia Commons) SALEM — The Oregon Court of Appeals Thursday granted a temporary stay on Oregon Health Authority rules enforcing a 180-day ban on the sale of flavored nicotine and medical marijuana vaping products. The temporary ban against the sale…
ODOT, TSA warn travelers ‘Real ID’ compliance could cause massive headache
As Oregon moves to catch up with new security requirements, officials suggest passports will be the best way to clear airport security next year. (Pamplin Media Group/file) If you’ve flown from Portland International Airport within the past couple of weeks…
OLCC kicks off six-month ban on flavored vape products
OLCC Director Steve Marks addresses reporters following the OLCC’s unanimous approval of temporary rules implementing a six-month ban on all flavored vaping products as directed by Gov. Kate Brown’s executive order. (Oregon Capital Bureau) Oregon’s Liquor Control Commission and the…