Category State
Gov. Kate Brown recall effort fails to gather enough signatures
Oregon State Fair visitors sign a petition to recall Gov. Kate Brown at the booth organized by Flush Down Kate Brown. (Claire Withycombe/Oregon Capital Bureau) Supporters of a petition to recall Gov. Kate Brown came up short of the signatures needed for a ballot challenge,…
OLCC kicks off six-month ban on flavored vape products
OLCC Director Steve Marks addresses reporters following the OLCC’s unanimous approval of temporary rules implementing a six-month ban on all flavored vaping products as directed by Gov. Kate Brown’s executive order. (Oregon Capital Bureau) Oregon’s Liquor Control Commission and the Oregon Health Authority on Friday,…
Outgoing public records advocate says high fees stifle access in Oregon
The Oregon State Capitol SALEM — Oregon’s departing public records advocate said Wednesday that high fees often create a barrier for requesters seeking public information, and called for more clarity and less discretion for public bodies assessing fees to fill those requests. In her 11-page…
For former Oregon Legislature exec, it was 8 months at home, $96,000 in pay
SALEM — The former human resources director for the Oregon Legislature was paid nearly $100,000 to work from home for the first eight months of 2019 after she agreed to a quiet exit last fall amid intense public scrutiny over workplace harassment in the Capitol.…
Council carves out greater independence for Oregon’s records advocate
SALEM — A state council formed to improve Oregonians’ access to government records has endorsed a slate of reforms to make the state’s public records advocate more independent from political influence. The council met Tuesday to hash out the proposed changes after the sudden resignation…
For Oregon universities, threat of strike evaporates with union deal
SALEM — A looming strike by thousands of workers at Oregon’s seven public universities has been avoided after the workers settled with management early Saturday morning. The two-year contract was settled during talks at the Oregon Institute of Technology campus in Wilsonville. Workers and the…
As crisis looms, Oregon officials propose vaping ban
Oregon State Capitol, governor’s office (Salem Reporter/file) SALEM — The Oregon Health Authority is recommending that Gov. Kate Brown ban for six months the display and sale of all vaping products, both nicotine and cannabis based. The recommendation is one of six related to curtailing…
Wildfire council tells governor: update firefighting tools
The Governor’s Council on Wildfire Response met Thursday for its final meeting. (Sam Stites/ Oregon Capitol Bureau) The Governor’s Council on Wildfire Response said Thursday, Sept. 26, that the state needs to update its firefighting priorities and techniques to deal with future conflagrations. At its…
Once a foster child, Maryland leader takes on troubled Oregon program
SALEM — Adopted out of foster care as a baby, Rebecca Jones Gaston will now oversee the welfare of thousands of Oregon kids in similar situations. Jones Gaston was born in Minnesota and raised in Iowa. After an East Coast education and more than two…