News
In DC: Conservative groups target state, local voter registration rolls with multiple lawsuits
North Carolina’s voter rolls are like a refrigerator that needs to be cleared periodically of rotting milk and other items past their expiration date, according to Jason Snead, director of the pro-Trump Honest Elections Project. Snead is an elections advocate supporting Republican plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking to force the state to more regularly maintain […]
State senator launches campaign for Oregon students denied class time due to language, disability
State Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D-Corvallis, launched a statewide campaign Monday to collect accounts of Oregon students who have been denied equal time in their schools during the pandemic due to disability, a need for behavioral support or a need for English Language Learner services. She hopes to use the material from the #AllMeansAll campaign […]
State, tribes get $87 million to lower energy costs for low-income households
More financial help is available for low-income Oregonians and tribal members struggling with home heating and cooling bills. The Biden administration announced Friday that the state and the 13 tribes in Oregon would get $87.7 million to fund the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program through September. In Oregon, the money goes to Community Action […]
Tested by one round, Oregon National Guard deploys for a second tour in hospitals
The Oregon National Guard is once again on the move to help the state’s hospitals. The order to do so came Wednesday from Gov. Kate Brown – less than a month after Guardsmen had completed the largest in-state mobilization in history. This time, up to 500 Guardsmen will be tasked to help as omicron surges, […]
Some Oregon school districts pause, ignore, or lack supplies for test-to-stay protocol
Testing meant to detect unvaccinated students exposed to Covid-19 in schools is hitting supply and staffing challenges, according to school district leaders. As Covid-19 cases declined in November, the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Education Department announced a new protocol to keep more students in the classroom. Under the program, unvaccinated students who are […]
Oregon reaches dire stage in pandemic as state issues guidelines for rationing care
The Covid-19 pandemic in Oregon has reached a dire stage, with the Oregon Health Authority advising hospitals how to ration care when they run out of beds, and officials warning the public that widespread infections will disrupt everyone’s life. During a news conference on Friday, Dr. Dean Sidelinger, Oregon’s state epidemiologist, said the highly infectious […]
Oregon Gov. Brown appoints policy adviser as infrastructure czar
One of Gov. Kate Brown’s policy advisers will oversee the spending of more than $5 billion in federal infrastructure money in Oregon over the next five years, Brown announced Friday. The White House earlier this week asked each state to appoint a high-level employee to coordinate with the federal government and various state and local […]
Kristof appeals residency decision to Oregon Supreme Court
Gubernatorial hopeful Nick Kristof on Friday asked the Oregon Supreme Court to force Secretary of State Shemia Fagan to return his name to the May ballot, just one day after Fagan’s office announced the former New York Times columnist wasn’t qualified to run. The state Elections Division within Fagan’s office determined Thursday that Kristof, a […]
Oregon Department of Agriculture enforces new federal hemp rules for state growers
Hemp growers in the state will now need to abide by several new federal regulations that will be overseen by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The changes come at a time of growing concerns over illegal marijuana operations in parts of southern Oregon. Both hemp and marijuana are cannabis plants, similar in appearance and smell […]
Covid-19 cases start to overwhelm Portland area health officials
The accelerating spread of Covid-19 is beginning to overwhelm Portland-area health officials. With infections growing exponentially and hospitalizations sharply rising, health officials in the three metro counties said Thursday they’re shifting resources away from investigating cases to vaccination. Those who test positive for Covid-19 will get their test results but they are unlikely to get […]
Biden in Jan. 6 speech decries ‘web of lies’ created by Trump about 2020 election
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday warned of the dangers of a collapse of American democracy, standing in a historic chamber in the U.S. Capitol that was besieged by an angry mob of pro-Trump supporters who attempted to halt the certification of the 2020 presidential election. “We are in the battle for the soul […]
Democrats in Oregon’s congressional delegation mark Jan. 6 insurrection
Democratic leaders of Congress gathered in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday to mark the one-year anniversary of the Jan 6. insurrection when a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the building to try to prevent Joe Biden from becoming president. They held moments of silence, listened to prayers and gave speeches. President Joe Biden also […]