Category Government
Salem councilors support law change so they can talk outside of public view
Salem city councilors approved council legislative priorities Monday which include a bill that would change prohibitions within state public meetings law against serial communications.
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CITY MEETING: Salem city councilors approve funding for new opioid treatment program
Excerpt: Salem city councilors on Monday authorized the use of $250,000 in opioid settlement funding for an opioid treatment and recovery program at Redwood Crossings. Councilors also authorized legislative priorities for 2026 and got updated on the deep drawdown of the Detroit Reservoir.
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Oregon House Republicans stage walkout as gas tax election, gun control votes near
House Republicans walked out of a session Monday after the Oregon Senate passed a bill along party lines to reschedule a referendum on transportation tax and fee increases from November to May.
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Judge dismisses Marion County’s lawsuit over ICE subpoenas
A federal judge dismissed a Marion County lawsuit over immigration subpoenas , siding with a state attorney who argued the county created “a false conflict” between state and federal laws.
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After slow fall Covid shot rollout, Oregon moves to bolster public health officials’ authority
Senate Bill 1598, which cleared the Senate in a party-line vote Thursday, Feb. 19, would empower Oregon’s public health officer to issue standing orders for vaccines in alignment with “evidence-based guidance” and recommendations from professional medical organizations. The bill would require health insurers to cover those recommended vaccines.
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Shut out of campaign finance bill, good governance groups tell lawmakers to vote against it
A bill meant to provide technical tweaks to a 2024 campaign finance reform law is now full of changes that render contribution limits moot, campaign finance reform advocates say.
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Calls grow for Rep. Greg Smith to resign as state Republican leaders stay mum
A third county Republican committee is now urging state Rep. Greg Smith to resign, intensifying pressure after ethics regulators found he violated state anti-corruption laws to boost his own pay. The Wasco County vote follows similar calls from Republican leaders in Smith’s home turf of Morrow and neighboring Sherman counties, citing what they describe as misconduct and unethical behavior.
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Salem refugee community seeks state support in era of turmoil
A recent memo from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security showed the agency’s intention to detain and question people in the process of getting a green card. It’s the latest of a series of federal policy changes that have stirred fear and stress for refugees living in Salem.
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CITY MEETING: Salem city councilors to consider authorizing new opioid treatment program
Salem city councilors on Monday will consider authorizing the use of $250,000 in opioid settlement funding for an opioid treatment and recovery program at Redwood Crossings. Councilors will also get updated on the deep drawdown of the Detroit Reservoir.
To comment on this story, use the form at the end of the report.