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Data breach could affect 3.5 million Oregonians
UPDATED at 8:13 p.m. June 15, 2023 with statement from Gov. Tina Kotek’s office, at 11:15 a.m. June 16, 2023 with a transportation department response and at 3:07 p.m. June 16, 2023 with at attorney general comment. The personal information of 3.5 million Oregonians with driver’s licenses and state identification cards could be affected by […]
Republicans, Democrats strike a deal. Here’s how it will affect Oregonians.
The deal between legislative Republican and Democratic leaders softens two bills on abortion rights and gun control that had been at their heart of their negotiations. Republicans hailed the deal as a major victory because Democrats agreed to drop a provision that would have allowed minors younger than 15 to obtain an abortion without parental […]
Dozens of advocacy groups disappointed food assistance bill fails
This session, immigrants and dozens of advocacy groups had hoped to get a bill passed to provide food assistance for tens of thousands of Oregon residents currently excluded because of their immigration status. Senate Bill 610 made it through the Senate Committee on Human Services in April on a bipartisan 4-1 vote, with only Republican […]
150 Oregon physicians urge Legislature not to change abortion provisions in House Bill 2002
About 150 physicians oppose watering down a bill on abortion rights and gender-affirming care that is at the heart of the Senate walkout and currently the subject of intense negotiations. Republicans have stalled the Senate by walking out since May 3, partly over House Bill 2002 on abortion, gender-affirming care and other reproductive rights. Democrats […]
Gov. Tina Kotek withdraws request for 50-cent surcharge on alcohol for mental health services
UPDATED on Friday at 7:58 a.m. with Oregon Recovers statement. Gov. Tina Kotek has dropped her request for the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission to add another 50-cent surcharge to bottles of alcohol to fund mental health and addiction services. She asked for the surcharge in her February budget. But on Wednesday, she sent a […]
LBGTQ students oppose selection of Republican Rep. Chavez-DeRemer as commencement speaker
A group of LGBTQ students has called on Central Oregon Community College to rescind its commencement address invitation to U.S. Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, saying she has “a record of transphobia and supports anti-transgender policies.” In a letter to the college leaders on Wednesday, they pointed to her support for House Resolution 734, the “Protection […]
All Oregon Capital Chronicle staff win journalism awards
Less than two years old, the Oregon Capital Chronicle just won its second set of regional journalism awards. Three staff members took home second-place awards for their 2022 coverage in the regional Society for Professional Journalists contest for Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Washington. The results of the large regional contest demonstrate that the Capital […]
Recovery advocates say commission member should recuse herself from alcohol surcharge vote
This article has been updated. A Portland-based recovery group wants a member of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission board to recuse herself from voting on a proposed surcharge on alcohol. Nathan Morales, a lawyer representing Oregon Recovers, said in a letter sent Thursday that Commissioner Kiauna Floyd should recuse herself from a June 15 […]
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will decide whether endangered Oregon beetle needs federal protection
In 2020, a nonprofit environmental group focused on biodiversity petitioned federal authorities to protect a bug-eyed beetle that used to thrive on West Coast beaches but now only exists in certain sites, mainly in Oregon. In 2021, officials at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service told the Center for Biological Diversity that the Siuslaw hairy-necked […]
Oregon’s Sen. Merkley opposes debt deal while Rep. Bentz praises it
UPDATED at 7:04 p.m. Wednesday with the U.S. House vote and reactions. At least one member of Oregon’s congressional delegation plans to vote against the debt ceiling deal brokered by congressional leaders and President Joe Biden. Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley said in a news release on Wednesday he plans to vote against the bill, which […]
USDA will invest $52 million to help fishing industry on the West Coast
The struggling fisheries industry on the West Coast is getting a much-needed financial boost from the federal government. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it will buy $52 million worth of Pacific groundfish for its food assistance programs. The money is the USDA’s third and biggest investment in the fish in as many years. “This […]
Merkley, Blumenauer optimistic about prospects of cannabis banking act
Over the past eight years, two Oregon congressional members have pushed Congress to pass a law encouraging banks to work with cannabis companies, considered illegal businesses under federal law. This year, they’re hopeful it will pass. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, both Oregon Democrats, said Wednesday in an online news briefing that […]