Tag OREGON STATE GOVERNMENT
Oregon prison system, facing escalating costs, cutting employees but no corrections officers
SALEM – Oregon’s prison system is laying off employees and cutting other costs as it faces a $60 million budget deficit. Colette Peters, director of the Oregon Department of Corrections, advised the agency’s employees of the circumstances in an email message Wednesday night. Agency officials…
Oregon promised millions from federal agency to help confront coronavirus
An image of the coronavirus from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oregon will soon be receiving roughly $7.3 million in federal funds provided as part of an emergency package approved by Congress last week that will help the state in its response…
After two failed legislative attempts, Gov. Kate Brown signs an expansive order targeting climate change
Students joined Gov. Kate Brown at the Oregon Capitol for the signing of a climate change executive order on March 10, 2020 (Jake Thomas/Salem Reporter) Gov. Kate Brown signed a sweeping executive order on Tuesday that directs state government to significantly cut greenhouse emissions in…
Governor turns to executive order to advance Oregon climate change program
SALEM — Gov. Kate Brown is preparing an executive order to cut the state’s climate impacts on her own authority, after a second failure to get legislators to approve such a plan. The governor’s office “is having conversations with the Department of Justice to ensure…
PERS reforms stall in face of complexity, mounting costs
State Department of Administrative Services building in Salem. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) SALEM — Public workers who expected to contribute more to their savings in July to make up for cuts to retirement benefits will have to wait until September. The agency that pays out billions…
Judge reverses secretary of state, allows Oregon energy measures to move ahead
A Marion County judge has reversed a decision by Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno to reject two proposed ballot initiatives on carbon reduction. Circuit Judge David Leith ruled Thursday, Jan. 16, that initiatives backed by renewable energy coalition Renew Oregon do not violate Oregon…
Oregon sues Trump administration to protect food help for 21,000 Oregonians
Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon attorney general SALEM — About 21,800 Oregonians risk losing government benefits to help them buy food if a proposed federal rule goes into effect in April. To prevent that, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has joined with more than a dozen other…
Courtney gets treatment for hip injury, misses Capitol duty
SALEM — Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, is out of the Capitol this week while being treated for a hip injury at Oregon Health & Science University, according to his office. Courtney’s absence occurs as state lawmakers convene in the Capitol for a series of…
A chat in a parking garage and a path to a new climate plan for Oregon
SALEM — Less than a month before legislators convene again, a new proposal to cap Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions is taking firmer shape. The aim is to reduce the state’s overall emissions from electricity, fossil fuels like natural gas and diesel, and industrial processes like making…