Category OREGON NEWS
Greg Smith defends actions giving him now-revoked pay boost
Greg Smith recently released a new statement justifying his actions in seeking a major pay raise for his work at the Columbia Development Authority. He stayed silent, though, on claiming hours worked for the small agency while in Salem working as a legislator.
Oregon lawmakers target plastic utensils, condiments, hotel toiletries with updated bag ban
The Oregon Senate voted 22-8 on Tuesday to pass Senate Bill 551, which would expand the state’s plastic bag ban to cover takeout bags provided by restaurants and the thicker plastic bags some stores have offered since the original ban took effect in 2020.
Kotek urges DEQ to relax electric truck rules for largest vehicles
A state requirement that dealers sell electric 18-wheelers is upsetting the market for diesel-powered trucks, the governor acknowledged.
State education officials would have power to intervene in struggling schools under governor’s plan
Gov. Tina Kotek is backing bills to give the Oregon Department of Education control of up to 25% of a school’s budget, require coaches if students chronically struggling.
Veteran Republican legislator Greg Smith concedes ethics violation
An ethics investigation established that state Rep. Greg Smith failed to disclose a key source of income for his private consulting company. Smith will get a formal letter of education over the ethics violation after a vote Friday by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission.
BPA announces intention to split with California and join new Southwest energy market
The Northwest’s largest hydropower supplier announced it intends to join a new day-ahead energy market based in Arkansas over one based in California.
Oregon Senate votes to ban toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in firefighting foam
Firefighting foam, used at airports and military bases, has been identified as a source of toxic PFAS chemicals.
Advocates, scientists ask lawmakers for $1 million to stop toxic algal blooms on Willamette River
Lawmakers will consider a proposal to fund a years-in-the-making plan to carve a channel through Ross Island on the Willamette River.
Oregon budget writers plan to spend hundreds of millions more on health, social services
New spending on Medicaid is part of a routine “budget rebalance” which the Legislature does before the end of each budget cycle