Category State
Sen. Mark Hass not running for reelection, interested in secretary of state post
Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, walking off the Senate floor. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) Longtime Beaverton state legislator Mark Hass has been informing local Democrats that he won’t run for reelection to his Oregon Senate seat, he confirmed Thursday, Aug. 22. Hass, who was appointed to the…
At an impasse: Why could thousands of Oregon university workers go on strike?
Jackson Stalley, a library technician at Western Oregon University, is the chief steward of the sublocal union of university workers. Those workers could strike in September. (Claire Withycombe / Oregon Capital Bureau) MONMOUTH — Sitting in a conference room at the Hamersly Library this week,…
Designs for executive action to limit greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon have long been in the works, records show
Gov. Kate Brown speaks at a rally promoting carbon capping legislation. For more than a year, Gov. Kate Brown’s environmental agency has been assessing how the governor could mandate lower greenhouse gas emissions without voter or legislative approval, according to interviews and public records. Brown…
Oregon to forego federal Title X funds while maintaining services amid battle with Trump administration
Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum took the lead on a multi-state legal challenge to a Trump administration rule change to strictly regulate Title X funds. In September, her solicitor general will argue for a stay on the rule while the legal battle continues. (Pamplin Media Group…
Oregon sues Trump administration to block “public charge” immigrant rules
SALEM — A move by the federal government to restrict most legal immigration to those who can afford health care, housing and food on their own is sowing worry among Oregon immigrants, even those who will not be impacted by the rule, advocates say. “We…
Independent Party of Oregon faces major/minor test next week
SALEM — The Independent Party of Oregon is preparing for a return to the minor leagues. In 2015, the party became the state’s third major political party, having accrued the needed share of registered voters to qualify. But a massive wave of new voters registered…
First-ever public records survey shows mixed bag for Oregon government transparency practices
A first-ever survey of Oregon public bodies sheds light on how well government of all sizes complies with public records law. The results are a mixed bag, said Ginger McCall, the state’s public records advocate. The survey was sent to 132 bodies, a mix of…
Gov. Brown backs off veto after Newport community and officials go to bat for dam project
SALEM — Newport Mayor Dean Sawyer was driving back from a conference of mayors in Medford when he got the call. Rep. David Gomberg, D-Central Coast, had bad news. The governor wanted to veto $4 million in state money to help replace two critical dams…
DHS pays out $1.1 million settlement in Keizer child death
The Oregon Department of Human Services has agreed to a $1.1 million settlement to avoid litigation over its alleged lack of action in preventing the death of a 12-year-old Keizer boy. On the evening of Jan. 13, 2017, Caden Berry had bathed and was watching…