Category Government
Second attempt filed to repeal Oregon’s law easing driver’s license requirements
SALEM — After hitting a legal roadblock, backers of an initiative to undo a new state law that allows undocumented immigrants to get Oregon driver’s licenses filed a new petition Friday. Their goal hit a snag after the Secretary of State Bev Clarno said the…
State’s top economic development leader stepping down
SALEM — The head of Oregon’s economic development agency will be stepping down at the end of the year, the agency said Thursday. Chris Harder has led Business Oregon, overseeing a two-year budget of about $800 million, since March 2016. The agency provides Oregon businesses…
Citizens question legality of Salem council’s appointment
Salem city hall (Salem Reporter) Update 4:55 p.m.: Salem City Council will reopen the vote between Reid Sund and Vanessa Nordyke at its upcoming meeting, Oct. 28. City Manager Steve Powers released the following statement to Salem Reporter: “In reviewing the appointment process from Monday,…
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 state Audits Division exposed a…
Petition drive to restrict Oregon licenses derailed by state ruling
SALEM — An attempt to repeal a new state law allowing undocumented immigrants to get Oregon driver’s licenses has hit a snag. Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno on Tuesday halted a proposed ballot initiative to walk back House Bill 2015, saying it doesn’t comply…
Nordyke appointed to Salem City Council
Vanessa Nordyke, left, was appointed to Salem City Council on Monday night over Reid Sund, right. (Courtesy/Vanessa Nordyke, Reid Sund) Vanessa Nordyke will be the next representative of Salem’s southwest neighborhoods on Salem City Council. And she announced her plans to run for the seat…
State still struggling to handle Oregon’s child abuse tip calls
SALEM — Callers gave up on more than 4,000 calls to Oregon’s child abuse hotline last month as the central operation stumbled in efforts to make reporting abuse quicker and easier, according to a new state report. Other callers waited as long as 90 minutes…
Salem City Council finalists share thoughts on homelessness, third bridge, city budget
Vanessa Nordyke, left, and Reid Sund will interview with Salem City Council on Monday night to take the open seat. They responded to a short survey from Salem Reporter. Who will represent southwest neighborhoods on Salem City Council? It could be a state lawyer or…
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 Portland to Medford. And then…