Category Government
Sen. Peter Courtney introduces a bill to take into account the delayed effects of alcohol and a court ruling
Public safety – standing graphic Drivers who have at least 0.08% blood alcohol content two hours after getting behind the wheel would still face driving under the influence charges under legislation introduced by Sen. Peter Courtney, D-Salem. Courtney said Senate Bill 1503 addresses an Oregon…
Emails shed light on city hall’s scramble to find shelter solutions for homeless after camping ban
City Manager Steve Powers responds to questions from the a crowd of neighbors in January at Pringle Community Hall. The city later scrubbed plans to turn the hall into an emergency homeless shelter through the end of March. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) The pressure to deal…
Why a bill intended to avoid a legally messy election season has one campaign finance advocate worried
The Oregon Capitol (Salem Reporter archives) Rep. Dan Rayfield, D- Corvallis, wants to keep the campaign field for candidates level this year as courts and legislators untangle campaign finance reforms but he wants to short circuit a voter-approved measure to do that. Dan Meek, a…
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, as well as create licensing…
PERS reforms stall in face of complexity, mounting costs
State Department of Administrative Services building in Salem. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) SALEM — Public workers who expected to contribute more to their savings in July to make up for cuts to retirement benefits will have to wait until September. The agency that pays out billions…
Developers try for a third time to build the state’s only private casino
Rendering of the proposed casino in Wood Village. (R & S Strategy Group LLC) A pair of developers who have made two unsuccessful attempts to build the state’s first privately owned casino are trying again. Bruce Studer and Matt Rossman, two Lake Oswego businessmen, filed…
Here is the legislation lawmakers from Marion and Polk counties have sponsored
Oregon State Capitol (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Legislators from Marion and Polk counties are seeking changes in state law concerning mask-wearing rioters, a plant from southeast Asia, helping laid-off agricultural workers and uncompensated college athletes, as well as technical fixes to laws sought by…
In temporary home, Salem Public Library to reaffirm “all are welcome”
Salem Public Library (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) After facing backlash over the Salem Public Library’s temporary location and who owns it, the city is taking steps to reaffirm its welcoming to LGBTQ patrons. In July, the city approved a plan to lease the former…
Businesses voice support for cap and trade in west coast states
Oregon State Capitol, rotunda (Salem Reporter/file) SALEM — As Oregon lawmakers prepare to meet for the month-long session that starts next week, Democrats’ effort to limit greenhouse gas emissions is getting a public nudge from business. Twenty-one companies and two health care climate alliances in…