Tag STATE GOVERNMENT
New Oregon report finds narrowed disparity in drug prosecutions
SALEM — A disparity in the rate of drug possession convictions between blacks and whites in the state has declined dramatically as a result of an anti-racial profiling law that took effect over a year ago, according to a report by the Oregon Criminal Justice…
Oregon prepares to take another run at cap and trade
The Oregon State Capitol building (Salem Reporter file photo) In what was a contentious hearing by Oregon standards, state lawmakers grilled a right-wing think tank statistician who testified that the climate changed the day the earth was “born” and media and government are generating hysterics…
Governor, lawmakers stage walkout at Capitol steps, supporting Kavanaugh accusers
Gov. Kate Brown and House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson stand in solidarity with victims of sexual assault on the Capitol steps on Monday, Sept. 24. (Salem Reporter/Aubrey Wieber) Gov. Kate Brown and House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson took to the Capitol steps Monday morning to…
Department of Corrections partners with local Bible college to offer inmates a four-year degree
Former Judge Tom Kohl talking with a prisoner at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in 2014. (Photo courtesy of Tom Kohl) As Tom Kohl was leaving, the prison warden called him back to sit and pray. “Dear lord, don’t let these men rest until there is…
Secretary of State uses Facebook to target inactive voters
Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson is leaning on technology to reach the 447,000 Oregonians with inactive voter registration. Richardson’s office gave the state’s list of inactive voters to Facebook, which cross-referenced the names with its social media profiles. On Tuesday, a video from Richardson…
DHS seeks more than 1,000 new employees to support child welfare in proposed budget
Oregon’s largest state agency is asking for more than $1 billion to add 1,664 new employees. But the proposed salaries won’t fill Oregon Department of Human Services’ cubicles with high-paid lawyers or bolster a public relations team. It will go toward protecting the most vulnerable…
ACLU takes aim at Measure 11 in a plan to cut Oregon’s prison population in half
Oregon State Correctional Institution east of Salem (Salem Reporter/Aubrey Wieber) In recent decades, Oregon’s prison population has ballooned. In 2016, it was nearly five times that of 1980. In January, 14,713 people were held in Oregon prisons. Now, a civil rights group is proposing Oregon…
Secretary of state remains mum on health details, says he’s feeling better
Joining by phone, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson struggled to participate. When asked at the beginning of the call if he could hear, Richardson stammered for a couple seconds before a staffer jumped in. He was then silent for 18 minutes. Gov. Kate Brown, leading…