Category Government
Walden breaks with Republicans, votes to reopen government
Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, Thursday joined six other GOP lawmakers to vote for a spending package designed to reopen most government agencies. (The Enterprise/File). WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S Rep Greg Walden, R-Hood River, broke from his party Thursday on a vote to reopen the federal…
Speaker Kotek vows to act following report detailing poor response to sexual abuse, but says report was rushed
In compiling a damning report airing the Oregon Capitol’s dirty laundry, investigators failed to do their due-diligence and interview key witnesses, House Speaker Tina Kotek said Friday. The report detailed years of sexual harassment and claimed leadership failed repeatedly in addressing it. Bureau of Labor…
State to investigate claims of sexual discrimination at Marion County
The doors outside the Senator Hearing Room, where public works employee Jamie Namitz in October publicly announced she was sexually discriminated against at work. Namitz recently complained to the state Bureau of Labor and Industries to investigate the county public works department. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter)…
State investigation determines legislative leadership ignored sexual harassment claims
SALEM — A five-month state investigation found that Democratic leaders in the Oregon Legislature knew legislative employees in the Capitol worked in a “hostile” environment amid pervasive sexual harassment but did little about it. A 52-page report released Thursday by the state Bureau of Labor…
In Salem, police team up with social workers to offer help instead of jail
Josh Lair stands by Marion Square Park, where many of his clients spend their time. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Josh Lair has learned one secret to earning trust when police call him out to meet a prospective client. Don’t look like a cop. Few people would…
Officials say Oregon insulated from federal shutdown for now
The Oregon State Capitol in Salem. Federal dollars that flow to state agencies are frozen in the midst of a federal government shutdown. State officials say they are not yet impacted. (Salem Reporter files) Oregon is not yet expected to feel the impacts of a…
He once wrote the laws. Now, he helps decide their meaning
The Oregon Court of Appeals judge who authored the opinion upholding the state law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation has been appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court. Chris Garrett, a former Lake Oswego lawmaker, was appointed Christmas Eve by Gov. Kate Brown to succeed…
How much wiggle room will polluters get if Oregon taxes carbon emissions?
A graph from a presentation Gov. Kate Brown’s staff made to the legislative committee overseeing cap and trade shows how the policy is projected to impact pollution levels. In two generations, Oregonians might drive along freeways and not see a single industrial smokestack. They might…
Legislators push to get guns locked up but some worry safety would be compromised
A few days after Liam Mankins was born in September 2016, his father posted a photo on Facebook of his son wearing oversized sunglasses. “Future’s so bright gotta wear sunglasses,” a friend commented. “Yes, yes, it is,” Liam’s father replied. “He’s going to … make…