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In Capitol appearance, former Oregon congressman recounts political history, laments state of politics

Les AuCoin speaks at the opening ceremony for the first MAX rail line in 1986. (Courtesy Wikimedia Commons) A former Oregon legislator known for his ability to reach across the political aisle spoke at the Capitol Tuesday at a time when government looks very different from years past. Les AuCoin,[Read More…]

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Polk County leaders press for more preschool as a crime prevention move

Polk County Sheriff Mark Garton, left, District Attorney Aaron Felton, Independence Police Chief Robert Mason and Monmouth Police Chief Darrell Tallan read to preschool students at the Oregon Child Development Coalition in Independence (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Polk County law enforcement leaders want Oregon to invest in a new crime prevention[Read More…]

Why does a diverse group of Oregon’s political interests want to take redistricting out of the legislature’s hands?

Oregon State Capitol, Legislature (Salem Reporter/file) After years of trying, Norman Turrill of Portland thought he had finally made some progress in preventing Oregon politicians from picking their voters.  In 2017, then-Secretary of State Dennis Richardson invited Turrill to serve on a task force aimed at reforming how the state[Read More…]

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State audit: Veterinary board must improve monitoring of drug security

The Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board hasn’t properly inspected facilities across the state for compliance with Drug Enforcement Agency regulation and or done required background checks on licensees, a state audit found. Those lapses increased the risk that prescription drugs meant for animals have been illegally diverted to human use,[Read More…]

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Salem school one of most rapidly improving in Oregon, driving up scores with innovation, focus

Scott Stenlund, Washington Elementary School principal (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Washington Elementary School has countered disappointing student test performance across Salem schools, nearly tripling in the past two years the percentage of students on track in math with similar gains in reading. Under principal Scott Stenlund, the school of about 400[Read More…]