Category Government
Audit finds Oregon pension system vulnerable to attacks, natural disasters
The Oregon State Capitol (Salem Reporter file) SALEM — The state’s public pension agency isn’t prepared for a major disaster like an earthquake or flood, and Oregonians’ personal information could be at risk if the agency doesn’t do more to protect its systems from attacks,…
National political analyst: Oregon’s governor race a ‘tossup’
Oregon’s close gubernatorial race between Democratic Gov. Kate Brown and GOP candidate Oregon Rep. Knute Buehler has captured the attention of national political pundits. On Tuesday, the race made the front page of the Cook Political Report’s website, with analyst Jennifer E. Duffy upgraded the…
Analysts say the close Oregon governor’s race to be settled in Washington, Clackamas counties
Rep. Knute Buehler and Gov. Kate Brown face off in the first of three gubernatorial debates in Portland on Oct. 2 (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) Gov. Kate Brown and Rep. Knute Buehler have traversed the state in search of swing voters to court. They have debated…
From chickens to guns, local voters in Oregon face measures
SALEM — While statewide attention is focused on controversial ballot measures, many Oregon voters face local decisions on issues that go above and beyond core public services. A total of 104 city and county measures are on ballots across the state Nov. 6. They range…
State forecast shows a significant decline in imprisonment over the next 10 years
The Oregon State Correctional Institution east of Salem (Salem Reporter file photo) The incarceration rate in Oregon’s prison system is projected to fall 15 percent over the next decade due in large part to sentencing reform. The projection, done by the Oregon Department of Administrative…
Energy Department puts fixes in place to stunt scandal, audit report says
SALEM — In the wake of a scandal over the state’s handling of energy tax incentives, the Oregon Department of Energy has cleaned up its process, state auditors say. The state Audits Division report, released Wednesday, assessed whether energy officials implemented recommendations made earlier by…
Oregon’s third-party candidate not giving up on debate fight
The Independent Party of Oregon’s candidate for governor, Patrick Starnes, appears at the first gubernatorial debate. (File/Portland Tribune) Patrick Starnes, a cabinetmaker and gubernatorial candidate from the Independent Party of Oregon, on Tuesday filed an elections complaint that could test a 2017 state law that…
State wants to step up monitoring of water systems, large and small
State officials want more money to boost inspections of water systems that now face little scrutiny. (File/Pamplin Media Group) SALEM — Under a proposal from state health officials, most public water systems — from small housing developments to bigger cities serving thousands of residents —may…
Major party candidates to participate in final gubernatorial debate, third-party candidate protests exclusion
Tonight, Gov. Kate Brown and state Rep. Knute Buehler will participate in the final debate before voters send off their ballots for the Nov. 6 election to determine if Oregon gets a new governor. It’s the last of three debates, the first two coming last…