Category Government
Lawmakers stripped of committees amid workplace culture change
Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland. (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) SALEM – Growing political tensions at the Legislature boiled over Thursday as House Speaker Tina Kotek stripped a powerful Portland Democrat of two committee chairmanships because of his behavior. Kotek at the same time booted a Republican legislator…
Sen. Fagan pushes reform to lower voting age to 16
Christine Bynum, daughter of state Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Happy Valley, urged lawmakers to lower the voting age to 16 during a press conference Monday. (Photo courtesy of Bus Project) SALEM — Christine Bynum, 17, can be charged and sentenced as an adult, drive on interstates…
Oregon joins 15 other states in suing Trump over national emergency declaration
Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said Tuesday that she joined other states in suing President Donald Trump to safeguard federal money for flood protection in Oregon. The 16 states sued in U.S. District Court in California Monday to block Trump’s declaration of…
Capitol interns, staff slam harassment, hostile environment in lawsuits
SALEM — Two women who interned at the state Capitol are suing a former state senator who they say sexually harassed them. They are also suing lawmakers and legislative leadership for creating a hostile work environment that they claim allowed sexual harassment to go unchecked.…
After splitting on third bridge, councilors seek common ground in West Salem
Salem City Councilor Cara Kaser addresses the West Salem Neighborhood Association on Monday, Feb. 18, regarding transportation issues. (Salem Reporter/Les Zaitz) Salem City Councilors Cara Kaser and Jim Lewis bridged some political differences Monday night, pledging to work together to solve the city’s congestion woes…
Kids steal the show in Salem public hearing on cap and trade
Dozens sign up to give testimony during a public hearing on cap and trade legislation. Overall, about 75 people testified Monday. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) SALEM — About 75 people answered the legislative Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction’s call for comments Monday, weighing in on a proposed…
Salem council praises city manager in review, advises better communication
The plaza of Salem City Hall pictured last summer. (Salem Reporter files) Salem City Manager Steve Powers continues to have full support of the Salem city councilors but he could work to communicate better, according to an annual performance review. Councilors recently completed the review,…
GOP firebrand crashes Oregon’s polite politics
Jonathan Lockwood, spokesman for three Oregon legislators in this undated photo that he provided. Grayson Dempsey was at a Girl Scouts camp in the Columbia River Gorge with her 8-year-old daughter in August when her phone started buzzing. Social media accounts were sending notification after…
Legislators to hear from the public on cap and trade proposal
Last week, hundreds of Oregonians came to the Capitol to support cap and trade legislation, moving through the committee process. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) SALEM — Oregon’s proposed cap and trade system will change the state’s economy, providing lucrative opportunities to some industries and potentially putting…