SALEM — The job of Oregon secretary of state may not bring fame or fortune, but it’s an essential state post. And politicians are lining up to get it. The race for secretary of state will determine who will manage oversight of state government performance. And the next secretary will[Read More…]
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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…]
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…]
Salvation Army urges supporters to “Be the Light” at fundraising lunch
Raising funds at Salvation Army’s “Be the Light” luncheon. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter) The nostalgic tune of “Good King Wenceslas” and the aroma of cinnamon and pumpkin pie greeted you when you entered the Kroc Center for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Kickoff Fundraising luncheon on Nov 15. [Read More…]
COMMENTARY: Digging into high-profile Salem story takes patience, care
Reporter Saphara Harrell of Salem Reporter. I was there the day police taped up the parking lot to Goodwill in west Salem. I rushed over as cop cars filled the lot and bystanders stood on the sidewalk, still in shock after a man was shot and killed on the floor[Read More…]
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…]
Flavored marijuana products can go back on sale, Oregon court decides
(Wikimedia Commons photo) The Oregon Court of Appeals has blocked the statewide ban on flavored marijuana vape products. The order last week comes a month after the court approved a similar stay on the ban for flavored nicotine vaping products enacted after Gov. Kate Brown issued an executive order asking[Read More…]
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…]
Hate crimes in Oregon decreased in 2018
The number of hate crimes reported in Oregon dropped in 2018 after a three-year increase, according to a new report released earlier this week by the FBI. There were 118 hate crimes reported last year in Oregon, a drop from 146 in 2017. Previous FBI reports show that hate crime[Read More…]