News
Oregon adopts new carbon emission caps on fuel suppliers, major polluters
At a meeting Thursday, Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission voted for new regulations that require the state’s fuel companies to reduce their emissions by 90% during the next 30 years. The Climate Protection Program would require Oregon’s fuel suppliers to cut in half the greenhouse gas emissions from their products by 2035 and reduce emissions by […]
Oregon legislators will try again to restore prisoners’ voting rights
Oregon legislators stymied in their attempt earlier this year to restore voting rights to thousands of incarcerated Oregonians will try again in 2022. Rep. Lisa Reynolds, D-Portland, announced Thursday that she plans to introduce legislation for the February session of the Oregon Legislature to restore voting rights to people serving time for felonies. If passed, […]
Hunters, animal rights group raise reward for information on poisoned wolves
The unsolved, illegal killing of eight wolves in northeast Oregon earlier this year has riled up everyone from animal rights groups to a hunting association, driving up the reward for information about who poisoned the animals. The fund grew by more than $20,000 in just two weeks with the addition of thousands of dollars from […]
How an election denier’s fan club got its start in the states
WASHINGTON — The suddenly famous election denier behind the circulation of a PowerPoint filled with plans to overturn the 2020 election has a long history of election subversion attempts in multiple states. Retired Army Col. Phil Waldron also has close ties to former President Donald Trump’s legal team and served as one of its key […]
In race to succeed DeFazio in Congress, Airbnb executive in, Oregon legislators out
Contenders for Rep. Peter DeFazio’s congressional district are shifting. A policy executive at Airbnb is in the race and several legislators have opted out while Democrats in southwest Oregon weigh their odds for the newly open seat. Andrew Kalloch, a Harvard-educated lawyer now living in Eugene, filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday […]
State audit finds $1.6 million in likely inappropriate Medicaid payments related to hospital stays
A state audit of Medicaid payments by the Oregon Health Authority found that $1.6 million was likely spent on services that were not allowed while patients were in the hospital. The audit was narrow: The Secretary of State’s office studied payments related to 25 people who were hospitalized for at least three days between January […]
Record employment posted in Oregon sectors, but recovery remains uneven
The Oregon Employment Department on Tuesday reported a record number of jobs in construction, wholesale trade and professional and business service sectors, but continued declines in employment at private hospitals, residential care facilities and in education. The monthly report is a snapshot, based on surveys sent to 7,000 businesses across the state that self-report their […]
Kristof seeks audit of all Oregon agencies dealing with homelessness
A day after two legislative Democrats asked Secretary of State Shemia Fagan to audit the state department responsible for sending rental assistance to landlords, a candidate for governor issued a broader request: audit every state agency that plays a role in preventing homelessness. Democrat Nick Kristof, a former New York Times columnist who returned to […]
Sen. Betsy Johnson will resign to focus on run for governor
Betsy Johnson will end her 20-year career in the state Legislature on Wednesday to focus all her attention on her independent run for governor. Johnson, who left the Democratic Party in October to launch her campaign, said in a video shared Tuesday that she would resign as state senator to ensure her constituents had someone […]
Democratic governors press U.S. Senate to act on voting rights legislation
WASHINGTON — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and 16 other Democratic governors are urging the U.S. Senate to pass two bills that aim to protect voting rights. Both measures need 60 votes to advance under Senate rules but have been stalled by Republican opposition in the evenly divided Senate. “Without decisive action by the federal government this […]
Advocates call on small farmers to weigh in on processing plant grant program
Farmers raising small herds of beef cattle, pigs or other meat animals in Oregon may have an easier time processing their meat for sale at farmers markets or grocers under rules being considered by the state Agriculture Department. Advocates for small farms want to be sure the state is paying attention to their needs as […]
Oregon legislators extend eviction protection, approve $400 million for landlords, farmers
Thousands of Oregon renters who faced the threat of receiving an eviction notice for Christmas are safe after the Legislature voted Monday to extend a safe harbor period and allocate another $215 million toward stopping evictions. Along with providing more money, the chairs of the House and Senate housing committees sent Secretary of State Shemia […]