Category Government
Lack of oversight has led to legal marijuana seeping into the black market, audit finds
SALEM — Oregon’s system for regulating legal cannabis likely fails to prevent spillover to the black market, state auditors said Wednesday. That increases the risk that the state could be subject to more federal scrutiny, said Secretary of State Dennis Richardson, whose audits division released…
Salem bridge advocates work to save project from collapse
Members of Salem Bridge Solutions, in green shirts, seen speaking and attending a Salem City Council meeting in November. The group worked with business groups in recent weeks in a last-ditch effort to keep the Salem River Crossing alive. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) In the office…
No plans to drill offshore, but Oregon legislators move to extend ban
Oregon legislators this year want to permanently prohibit oil and gas drilling off the Oregon Coast although no one has shown an interest in poking a hole in the coastal floor. Despite a call from the Trump administration last year to open up the waters,…
Oregon lawmaker pushes stronger job protections for pregnant and nursing workers
Rep. Karin Power (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) By Claire Withycombe – Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Most people who testify at the Capitol bring slide presentations, graphs or official letterhead to make their point. State Rep. Karin Power, D-Milwaukie, brought a breast pump as she talked…
Republicans say consideration from Democrats has eroded in first week of legislature over carbon reduction
(Photo by Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) SALEM – Just a week into the 2019 Legislature, unrest between Democratic and Republican legislators has surfaced over landmark legislation to reduce Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions. Legislators have been anticipating the environmental push as a major issue in…
While back to carpentry, Starnes wants to craft campaign spending limits
Patrick Starnes, former Independent Party of Oregon candidate for governor, isn’t giving up on his push to reform the flow of political money in the state. (Portland Tribune/Jaime Valdez) Carpenter Patrick Starnes, former candidate for governor, earns a living now renovating an 1878 house in…
Legislature looks to bolster education funding – with strings attached
Sen. Lew Frederick talks with Portland students during a tour of the state by the Joint Committee on School Success. (Pamplin file) A small group of legislators spent a year compiling their wish list of improvements to Oregon’s failing education system. Now they have five…
Repaving to slow I-5 traffic from Salem to Woodburn in summer months
The Oregon Department of Transportation will use new pilot programs to increase worker safety during its summer repaving project on Interstate 5. (Oregon Department of Transportation Flickr) The Oregon Department of Transportation has received more money to repave a 12.5-mile stretch of Interstate 5 between…
Business group analysis finds Oregon state employees contribute less to health care than in neighboring states
(Photo by Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) SALEM — Oregon’s public employees typically pay less for health insurance than their peers in neighboring states, a new study finds. The study by the actuarial firm Milliman was commissioned by The Oregon Business Council, an association of…