Category State
Kids steal the show in Salem public hearing on cap and trade
Dozens sign up to give testimony during a public hearing on cap and trade legislation. Overall, about 75 people testified Monday. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) SALEM — About 75 people answered the legislative Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction’s call for comments Monday, weighing in on a proposed…
Legislators to hear from the public on cap and trade proposal
Last week, hundreds of Oregonians came to the Capitol to support cap and trade legislation, moving through the committee process. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) SALEM — Oregon’s proposed cap and trade system will change the state’s economy, providing lucrative opportunities to some industries and potentially putting…
Oregon senator draws rebukes from all sides, stands firm
Sen. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls, on the left. (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) SALEM – State Sen. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls, finds himself alone on a political island this week after being publicly rebuked by fellow legislators for an inflammatory statement about a police killing. Republicans and…
Legislature takes on bullying and suicide in schools
(Caleb Wolf/Special to Salem Reporter) SALEM — Four days before Chloe Wilson took her life, the 14-year-old from Eugene was meeting with her legislators at the state Capitol, eager to push for more recognition of people with mental illnesses. She died Feb. 26, 2018. Nearly…
Lawmakers consider interstate marijuana commerce, banning employers from forcing workers to abstain from legal substances
Oregonians would no longer be compelled by employers to avoid off-duty use of marijuana under a proposal being considered at the Legislature. Legislators also are considering opening the door to exporting the state’s marijuana crop, which far exceeds demand in the state. Senate Bill 379…
Fight to hike Oregon’s tobacco tax resurfaces
Smokers paying higher taxes would help buy health insurance for low-income Oregonians under a plan being advanced by Gov. Kate Brown. Brown is proposing tax increase of $2 a pack of cigarettes, currently taxed at $1.33. Backers say the increase would price thousands out of…
Secretary of State Dennis Richardson further reduces workload amid cancer battle
A screenshot from Richardson’s latest health update video, posted to Facebook Dec. 13. Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson announced Monday he is further scaling back his workload to focus on treatment of his brain cancer. Richardson didn’t provide details about his new schedule. “I…
Oregon’s largest prison shifting away from using ‘the hole’
The state’s largest prison began a new policy on segregated housing a year ago and since then inmate-to-inmate assaults are down. (The Enterprise/Pat Caldwell). ONTARIO – A year ago, the cell on the upper tier of Snake River Correctional Institution’s privileged housing unit was stark.…
Long-awaited carbon cap bill is released
SALEM — After nearly a year of work by a legislative committee, a bill released Thursday afternoon outlines how Oregon would drastically cut its greenhouse gas emissions and become the second state to implement a cap and trade system. The anticipated legislation – criticized before…