A farmworker in eastern Oregon (Yadira Lopez/Malheur Enterprise) The House passed a proposal Tuesday that would require overtime pay for farmworkers. House Bill 4002 would phase in time-and-a-half pay over five years while paying farmers tax credits over six years to cushion the cost of the…

The Oregon House in session (Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Hundreds, and perhaps thousands of people, could be helped to get off the streets under plans being worked on by the state Legislature. Democratic lawmakers, who have made homelessness a priority, are poised to approve hundreds…

Nick Kristof (Kristof campaign photo) Secretary of State Shemia Fagan was right to keep former New York Times columnist Nick Kristof off the ballot for governor, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled Thursday. In a 33-page unanimous opinion, the court affirmed Fagan’s early January decision that Kristof…

Preschool students play in a Salem-Keizer classroom (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) As Portland resident Jasmine Casanova-Dean spoke to legislators at a hearing about child care last week, her 67-year-old grandmother watched her 2-year-old daughter in another room.  Casanova-Dean can only afford professional child care two days…

(Yadira Lopez/Malheur Enterprise) A fight is brewing in the Oregon Legislature over a proposal to give farmworkers overtime pay after 40 hours a week. Democratic supporters say the change is long overdue and that extending overtime pay to a group of essential workers who toil…

Oregon Capitol Rotunda (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) Salem, you may have some new faces representing you in the state legislature this year. With several retirements and resignations over the past year, and the expulsion of Rep. Mike Nearman, Marion and Polk counties have three newly appointed…

A desk in the Oregon House of Representatives ahead of the 2022 Legislative session (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter) A flying pig, a gnome, baby Yoda, and a large bottle of pain medication are among the items found on desks in the Oregon House of Representatives. The sixty…

Casey Kulla, a Yamhill County farmer, dropped his gubernatorial bid on Wednesday to run for labor commissioner. (Casey Kulla photo) Casey Kulla decided to run for governor of Oregon a year ago, motivated by the Jan. 6 insurrection against the U.S. Capitol.  He believed that…

State Rep. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, speaks during a legislative special session on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Canby Republican Christine Drazan announced Friday that she will resign from the state House, becoming the latest candidate for governor to leave the Legislature to…