SALEM — While statewide attention is focused on controversial ballot measures, many Oregon voters face local decisions on issues that go above and beyond core public services. A total of 104 city and county measures are on ballots across the state Nov. 6. They range from whether the Astoria School[Read More…]
Tag: STATE GOVERNMENT
State forecast shows a significant decline in imprisonment over the next 10 years
The Oregon State Correctional Institution east of Salem (Salem Reporter file photo) The incarceration rate in Oregon’s prison system is projected to fall 15 percent over the next decade due in large part to sentencing reform. The projection, done by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and published Oct. 1,[Read More…]
Energy Department puts fixes in place to stunt scandal, audit report says
SALEM — In the wake of a scandal over the state’s handling of energy tax incentives, the Oregon Department of Energy has cleaned up its process, state auditors say. The state Audits Division report, released Wednesday, assessed whether energy officials implemented recommendations made earlier by state and private auditors and[Read More…]
State wants to step up monitoring of water systems, large and small
State officials want more money to boost inspections of water systems that now face little scrutiny. (File/Pamplin Media Group) SALEM — Under a proposal from state health officials, most public water systems — from small housing developments to bigger cities serving thousands of residents —may have to pay higher monitoring[Read More…]
Major party candidates to participate in final gubernatorial debate, third-party candidate protests exclusion
Tonight, Gov. Kate Brown and state Rep. Knute Buehler will participate in the final debate before voters send off their ballots for the Nov. 6 election to determine if Oregon gets a new governor. It’s the last of three debates, the first two coming last week in Portland and Medford.[Read More…]
Buehler calls on Trump to withdraw Kavanaugh from consideration hours before Senate confirmation process
On Thursday, Rep. Knute Buehler called for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to be withdrawn from consideration. (Jamie Valdez/Portland Tribune) State Rep. Knute Buehler, GOP candidate for governor, on Thursday called on President Trump to replace Brett Kavanaugh as nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. “At this point I[Read More…]
Where is the money going in Oregon’s most expensive gubernatorial race?
State Rep. Knute Buehler, R-Bend, and Gov. Kate Brown debate in Portland Tuesday night. Independent candidate Patrick Starnes also participated. (Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune) In addition to being one of the closest governor’s races in recent memory, the fight between Gov. Kate Brown and Rep. Knute Buehler is the most expensive.[Read More…]
Governor moves to head off Trump, shift water and air regs into state law
Gov. Kate Brown wants to guard against a rollback of federal environmental rules by moving them into state law where the Trump administration couldn’t touch them. Brown, a Democrat up for reelection next month, proposed legislation Wednesday that would have the state adopt all federal clean air and water standards[Read More…]
Brown, Buehler and Starnes have first of three debates in race for governor
In what appears to be a tightening race for Oregon governor, three hopefuls will face off tonight at Roosevelt High School in Portland for the first time in the 2018 election cycle. The debate will feature Democrat Kate Brown, the incumbent, and challengers Republican Knute Buehler and Patrick Starnes, an[Read More…]
Oregon students to get first crack at gubernatorial candidates in Tuesday’s debate
Justin Thach, a 17-year-old at West Salem High School, is one of 15 students selected as questioners in the first of three gubernatorial debates (Aubrey Wieber/Salem Reporter) In the first gubernatorial debate Tuesday, the three candidates seeking the state’s highest office won’t be grilled by reporters or field questions from[Read More…]