Rep. Diego Hernandez, D-East Portland, sits at his desk on the floor of the Oregon House of Representatives Feb. 5, 2018. (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) When state Rep. Diego Hernandez heard a rumor in May 2017 accusing him of keeping a list ranking women lobbyists at the Oregon Capitol by attractiveness,[Read More…]
Tag: STATE GOVERNMENT
Oregon Youth Authority tries to find the balance between safety and child welfare as it transitions from isolation
John, a youth mentor at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, helps 18-year-old Zack understand the various personalities of staff at the facility. John regularly works in the STEPS program, an alternative to isolation, which Zack uses several times each week. (Courtesy of Oregon Youth Authority) WOODBURN — Early on the Friday[Read More…]
Speaker Kotek vows to act following report detailing poor response to sexual abuse, but says report was rushed
In compiling a damning report airing the Oregon Capitol’s dirty laundry, investigators failed to do their due-diligence and interview key witnesses, House Speaker Tina Kotek said Friday. The report detailed years of sexual harassment and claimed leadership failed repeatedly in addressing it. Bureau of Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian[Read More…]
State investigation determines legislative leadership ignored sexual harassment claims
SALEM — A five-month state investigation found that Democratic leaders in the Oregon Legislature knew legislative employees in the Capitol worked in a “hostile” environment amid pervasive sexual harassment but did little about it. A 52-page report released Thursday by the state Bureau of Labor and Industries’ Civil Rights Division[Read More…]
Uncategorized Officials say Oregon insulated from federal shutdown for now
The Oregon State Capitol in Salem. Federal dollars that flow to state agencies are frozen in the midst of a federal government shutdown. State officials say they are not yet impacted. (Salem Reporter files) Oregon is not yet expected to feel the impacts of a budgetary stalemate that shut down[Read More…]
How much wiggle room will polluters get if Oregon taxes carbon emissions?
A graph from a presentation Gov. Kate Brown’s staff made to the legislative committee overseeing cap and trade shows how the policy is projected to impact pollution levels. In two generations, Oregonians might drive along freeways and not see a single industrial smokestack. They might instead see solar panels or[Read More…]
As wildfires get larger and more expensive, Gov. Brown looks to a new advisory council
A plane drops retardant over the Canyon Fire in 2015. (Oregon Department of Forestry Flickr) SALEM — Oregonians saw $62 million in private grazing and timberland go up in flames this fire season. Such seasons continue to grow worse, longer and more expensive in the state, posing more threats to[Read More…]
Oregon agencies could have saved $1.6 billion through smarter shopping, audit finds
SALEM — State officials could have saved up to $1.6 billion over a two-year period by being smarter shoppers, according to a state audit released Wednesday, Dec. 19. But, auditors said, old technology and outdated practices largely prevent the state from digging into whether it is spending each dollar of[Read More…]
Proposed ballot measure would limit use of toll revenue
Portland-area drivers facing freeway tolls may get some protection from seeing that money diverted to anything but expanding highways. Language has been approved for a ballot measure that would restrict the state’s use of that toll money. Transportation Department officials are planning to assess tolls in about five years. The[Read More…]
Dennis Richardson withdraws plan to delegate his Land Board position to his deputy
UPDATE: This story has been updated with new information. Secretary of State Dennis Richardson has decided not to delegate his seat on the State Land Board to a subordinate while he deals with cancer, according to a letter disclosed Monday. Richardson’s decision was disclosed in a letter from Steve Elzinga,[Read More…]
