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Sandra Day O’Connor, who made history as the first woman on the Supreme Court, dies at 93
WASHINGTON — The first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court is dead at 93. Sandra Day O’Connor, a groundbreaking justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, died Friday in Phoenix, Arizona of complications related to advanced dementia, probably Alzheimer’s, and a respiratory illness, according to an announcement from the court. President Ronald Reagan nominated […]
State wildlife officials ban wildlife killing contests on public land
Four years after the Legislature failed to ban wildlife killing contests, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission outlawed them. At its meeting Friday in Bend, five commissioners, with one abstaining, voted in favor of a rule to prohibit the contests, which have been held to kill coyotes in a few rural counties in Oregon. The […]
National abortion ban eyed as group marks ‘Siege of Atlanta’ protests 35 years ago
Members of a national anti-abortion religious organization called Operation Save America are in Atlanta this week to protest at a local abortion clinic and to discuss new strategies for achieving a national prohibition on abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Operation Save America began as Operation Rescue in 1986 and became more well known in […]
State employee union warns of staffing ‘crisis’ as contract nears end
Low wages compared to local governments and mandatory overtime caused by staffing shortages are pushing more state employees out of their jobs and making it harder to hire new ones, according to a report released Wednesday by the union that represents state workers. Service Employees International Union 503 represents more than 22,000 state employees – […]
Predicting volcanic eruptions 43 years after the Mount St. Helens blast
Forty-three years ago today, Mount St. Helens erupted, triggering a magnitude 5 earthquake and spewing ash, mud and debris across southwest Washington. The explosion killed 57 people and changed the mountain’s landscape forever. The eruption wasn’t a total surprise. Months before, a series of small earthquakes and steam-venting alerted scientists that a major blast was […]
Bernie Sanders unveils push for $17-an-hour federal minimum wage, citing state increases
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday announced Democrats’ plans to rewrite legislation to increase the federal minimum wage to $17 an hour, pointing to an increase in the cost of living. Outside the U.S. Capitol, Sanders, a Vermont independent and chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said the panel will […]
U.S. could default as early as June 1, Yellen warns Congress
WASHINGTON — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Monday that the U.S. could default in as soon as one month if Congress does not act to raise the nation’s borrowing limit — a prediction that prompted President Joe Biden to call a meeting with congressional leaders next week. In a letter to lawmakers, Yellen wrote […]
Biden’s annual physical shows he is ‘a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male’
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden received a mostly positive review of his health from doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Thursday after undergoing his annual physical. The official evaluation of Biden’s health comes as the former vice president and longtime U.S. senator from Delaware weighs whether to run for reelection in 2024. […]
Dozens of legislative bills address curriculum, parent choice, teachers and more
Over the next five months, Oregon lawmakers will consider more than 100 proposals that could impact hundreds of thousands of students statewide. Curriculum, school resource officers, parent choice, expanding the teacher workforce, funding, graduation standards and student equity are among the topics being discussed. K-12 education will be a primary focus this year as newly […]
As fire season begins, new rules protecting workers from heat, smoke are challenged
With temperatures rising and fire season officially declared, advocates are visiting farms and job sites in Oregon, educating workers about new state rules to protect them from extreme heat and wildfire smoke. Oregon’s 86,000 farmworkers face among the highest risks from heat and smoke in summer, but many don’t know that new rules guarantee shade […]
Lynne Terry takes over as new editor of the Oregon Capital Chronicle
The Oregon Capital Chronicle has a new editor. Lynne Terry, who has served as deputy editor since the digital news outlet launched in October 2021, is taking the reins from founding editor Les Zaitz. Terry said she’s thrilled – and grateful – to become editor. “I know I have big shoes to fill,” she said. […]
Trump led pressure campaign on state election officials, Jan. 6 panel says
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Former President Donald Trump was directly involved in efforts to pressure state officials in Georgia, Arizona and elsewhere to overturn the 2020 election results in their states, according to evidence the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack presented Tuesday at the panel’s fourth hearing this month. Trump and his […]