Category Government
Judge reverses secretary of state, allows Oregon energy measures to move ahead
A Marion County judge has reversed a decision by Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno to reject two proposed ballot initiatives on carbon reduction. Circuit Judge David Leith ruled Thursday, Jan. 16, that initiatives backed by renewable energy coalition Renew Oregon do not violate Oregon…
Oregon sues Trump administration to protect food help for 21,000 Oregonians
Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon attorney general SALEM — About 21,800 Oregonians risk losing government benefits to help them buy food if a proposed federal rule goes into effect in April. To prevent that, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has joined with more than a dozen other…
As Democrats resurrect carbon bill, Republicans leave all options on the table — including another walkout
Oregon State Capitol FILE (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) SALEM — One question has lingered in political circles in the days since Democratic legislators unveiled their latest plan to limit the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. What do the Republicans think? The GOP holds a shrinking share of…
Marion County prepares a Plan B for handling local garbage
A Covanta Marion worker operates the claw that hoists trash into the incinerator. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Garbage truck after garbage truck wheels into a nondescript industrial area in Brooks every day, bringing heaps of trash to the Covanta Marion waste incinerator. Last year, trucks hauled…
Courtney gets treatment for hip injury, misses Capitol duty
SALEM — Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, is out of the Capitol this week while being treated for a hip injury at Oregon Health & Science University, according to his office. Courtney’s absence occurs as state lawmakers convene in the Capitol for a series of…
A chat in a parking garage and a path to a new climate plan for Oregon
SALEM — Less than a month before legislators convene again, a new proposal to cap Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions is taking firmer shape. The aim is to reduce the state’s overall emissions from electricity, fossil fuels like natural gas and diesel, and industrial processes like making…
DEQ issues $1.3 million air quality fine – its largest ever – to aluminum recycler
The Dalles (Edward Stojakovic/Flickr) An aluminum recycling plant in The Dalles has been hit with the largest fine ever imposed by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for air pollution. The state announced Thursday that it is assessing a fine of $1.3 million against Hydro…
Rich Vial resigns as deputy secretary of state
Secretary of State’s office. (Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) Deputy Secretary of State Rich Vial has resigned his position. Vial submitted his resignation to Secretary of State Bev Clarno on Monday, Jan. 6, with an effective date of Friday, Jan. 10. In the letter to…
Cyber attack halts training for thousands of Oregon state employees
Oregon’s Department of Administrative Services building. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Thousands of state employees across dozens of Oregon agencies are awaiting the reinstatement of Oregon’s online training system after a Christmas Day cyber attack forced the state Department of Administrative Services to pull down the website.…