Oregon’s People
Oregon state legislators prepare for U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade
Oregon state legislators are preparing for the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, which has guaranteed abortion rights nationwide for nearly 50 years. Last week, four members of Oregon’s Legislature, including the Democratic leaders of each chamber, met with White House cabinet members and other legislators from Washington, California, Illinois, Maryland, Connecticut and […]
Oregon Secretary of State looking for translators for election information
Secretary of State Shemia Fagan is looking for Oregonians who can help translate the state-issued Voters’ Pamphlet into 12 languages. A 2021 law requires that the pamphlet, which includes biographical and endorsement information provided by candidates and is mailed to each voter, be translated into the most common languages spoken in Oregon beginning with the […]
OHSU researcher leads creation of a Portland-based research center on gun violence
A center on gun violence is in the making in Oregon. A researcher at Oregon Health & Science University and the VA Portland Health Care System, recently obtained a grant to create a Gun Violence Prevention Research Center to step up research on gun deaths and injuries, their causes and strategies for prevention. Kathleen Carlson, […]
Russia’s ban against Oregon’s congressional delegation stirs few waves
Oregon’s congressional delegation is permanently barred from entering Russia. The country’s latest banned list, reported by the Washington Post, includes both of Oregon’s Democratic senators – Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley – and its four Democratic representatives – Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Kurt Schrader and Peter DeFazio. Rep. Cliff Bentz, Oregon’s sole Republican member of […]
Sen. Jeff Merkley becomes latest Oregon congressional member to contract Covid-19
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley said Monday he was infected with Covid and experiencing mild symptoms, which he attributed to being vaccinated and boosted. “I strongly encourage all Oregonians and Americans to take advantage of available vaccines and boosters to stay safe,” Merkley said. “This is yet another reminder that Covid is still among us.” His […]
One congressional race in Oregon remains close, most incumbents advance easily
The midterm primary was largely a good night for Oregon incumbents running for reelection to the U.S. Senate and Congress with the exception of one: Rep. Kurt Schrader who’s seeking the Democratic renomination in the 5th Congressional District. The Blue Dog Democrat, a seven-term moderate, trailed progressive attorney Jamie McLeod-Skinner on Wednesday by just over […]
Pursuing solutions to Oregon’s homelessness issue could be aided with better information
The old saying among business consultants is that you can’t manage it if you can’t measure it. That’s not true of managing everything. (Measures of quality don’t always reduce easily to numbers.) But it does seem true for at least one of Oregon’s most difficult problems: homelessness. We know it’s a big problem. But we […]
Mothers join in cause to rattle Oregon into action on addiction care
For Mother’s Day, a few dozen moms plan to celebrate at a Portland rally. They want to raise awareness about Oregon’s drug crisis. The state has the highest rate of addiction in the country, according to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “I’m trying to educate other parents,” said Meggan McEvoy, a […]
Oregon Democrats lash out at Supreme Court ruling that would overturn Roe v. Wade
Oregon’s U.S. senators reacted with anger, sadness and resolution to the release of a draft U.S. Supreme Court decision that would overturn the landmark decision in Roe v. Wade that guaranteed abortion rights. “Five unelected justices acting as a super legislature are rolling over Americans’ rights,” Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, said in a statement. […]
Normal families struggle with abnormal lives
At least once a week, Kelly Hernandez tries to find her son. The search in Portland always starts the same: feeling tense and anxious, with questions running through her head. “What will he look like?” “Is he well fed?” “Will I see him?” It’s Easter Sunday. A yellow bag sits on the back floor of […]
Survey finds many Asian Oregonians experience hate crimes, harassment that go unreported
A survey of Asian Oregonians showed that half had heard someone use a racial slur, epithet or degrading language against them or their family. One-fifth said they or their family have faced a threat of physical harm or property damage because of their race. But most did not report it to police or the state’s […]
Oregon’s congressional delegation calls for renewal of firefighting agreement with feds
In a rare display of unity, all seven members of Oregon’s congressional delegation appealed to the U.S. Department of the Interior on Tuesday to renew a century-old agreement on managing wildfires in Oregon. The agreement covers wildfire protection on federal land in western Oregon through financial arrangements, resource sharing, planning and joint activities. The area […]