State Library eClips
* State Sheriff’s Association: No support for illegal actions, threats of violence
* Oregon college savings tax break increases
* Oregon says it can’t tell if IBM met job requirements for state subsidy
* No coal. 50 percent renewables. What does the Legislature’s big energy bill really mean?
* Oregon’s dramatic switch: 99.7 percent of kindergartners in full-day classes
* Oregon school enrollment up by nearly 6,000, biggest growth in a decade
* Oregon regulators suspected SE Portland polluter months before telling public
* Oregonians using federal health care website to enroll jumps 30 percent
* Senate Democrats shift course, calling for three minimum wage rates
* Gun sales loophole: Hearing brings searing words from mass shooting relatives
* Oregon’s ‘motor voter’ law boosts voting rolls by 4,300
* It’s not too late for Klamath not Congress to manage its water — Opinion
* Nonstop flight to Asia critical to region’s economy — Guest Opinion
* Public pension grasping continues, even during short legislative session — Opinion
* Minimum wage changes? Talks among lawmakers still in flux
* Should Oregon’s local governments get to ban GMO crops?
* Gov. Brown: Motor Voter makes Oregon ‘leader’
* Family of Charleston shooting victims testifies on guns
* Legislature seeks to close gun sales loophole
* Bill helping to line up $25 million state subsidy for Eugene 2021 track event is due for Friday hearing in Legislature
* Plan to demolish dams moves ahead
* Three minimum wages back on the table
* Oregon seed pre-emption law challenged in Legislature
* New, three-tiered minimum wage plan considered in Salem
* Report: Bend-La Pine now fifth-largest district in Oregon
* Alternative sentencing for parents will come to Deschutes County
* Editorial: Grant state authority for federal forests — Opinion
* Editorial: Local input should matter on Ochoco plan — Opinion
* Northwest Volunteers Want To Help Restore Malheur Refuge
* US Added 151,000 Jobs In January, Unemployment Down To 4.9 Percent
* Political Impasse Could Lead To Lengthy Floor Sessions In Salem
* Lawmakers Consider Closing Background Check ‘Loophole’
* A Divided Burns Looks Toward Healing
* Health Officials Find Heavy Metals In Southeast Portland Air
* Coal By Wire, Motor Voter & Valhalla
* Washington State Lawmakers Want To Fight Fire With Fire More Often
* Oregon seed pre-emption law challenged in Legislature
* Three-tiered minimum wage back on the table
* FBIs hands-off strategy in Malheur follows lessons learned
* Senators press FCC head on bogus equipment fees
* GMO tensions return to Ore. Legislature
* Oregon schools receive top marks for sex education
* Man talks on weathering volatile economy
* Our View: Action on state foster care long overdue — Opinion
* Road crews preparing for higher speeds on Hwy. 97
* Klamath near, or above normal for water year
* Two bills renewed by Whitsett in legislative session
* More security right call for the federal refuges — Opinion
* No free rides for those who took over refuge — Opinion
* County lawsuit speaks to state land policies — Opinion
* Bill will nix Postal Service ban on pot ads
* Holidays buoy employment rates in NW Oregon
* Writers Notebook: A tale of two sheriffs — Opinion
* House bill addresses ATI lockout
* Editorial: Legislation on foster care deserves support — Opinion
* Lead presence extremely unlikely here
* The high cost of debt
* Baker grad rate rising
* Senators introduce wildfire funding amendment
* Wasco County unhappy with short session
* Commentary: Setting the record straight about wolves, ranching — Guest Opinion
* MY VOICE: Eastern Oregon must unshackle — Guest Opinion
* Hermiston principal sees room for improvement in graduation rates
* Employment stays level in HR County
* Despite lower graduation rates, some Douglas County schools stay hopeful
* Douglas to join Linn County lawsuit against state
* OED releases new minimum wage report
* Oregon’s Congressional Delegation Introduces Bill to Allow Weed Ads in the U.S. Mail
* Lawmakers Seek Childrens Taxing District
* Multnomah County Sheriff Dan Staton Says He Welcomes State Investigation
* Portland Economist Warns Against Trading Inclusionary Zoning for UGB Expansion
* Air at SE Portland schools to be tested after toxins detected
* Coast guard chopper funded: senate approval keeps helicopter in Newport
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STATE SHERIFF’S ASSOCIATION: NO SUPPORT FOR ILLEGAL ACTIONS, THREATS OF VIOLENCE (Portland Oregonian)
The Oregon State Sheriff’s Association released a statement Friday morning that opposes the views of the occupiers of a federal wildlife refuge outside of Burns.
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OREGON COLLEGE SAVINGS TAX BREAK INCREASES (Portland Oregonian)
The state tax subtraction for contributions to the Oregon College Savings Plan or MFS Oregon 529 Plan increases in 2016 to $2,310 for a single taxpayer and $4,620 for couples filing jointly, the Oregon State Treasurer’s office confirmed.
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OREGON SAYS IT CAN’T TELL IF IBM MET JOB REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE SUBSIDY (Portland Oregonian)
Oregon gave IBM $100,000. IBM promised more than 1,500 jobs.
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NO COAL. 50 PERCENT RENEWABLES. WHAT DOES THE LEGISLATURE’S BIG ENERGY BILL REALLY MEAN? (Portland Oregonian)
Lawmakers held their second, crowded public hearing Thursday to consider a complex bill that would restructure Oregon’s electricity supply in pursuit of significant reductions in the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.
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OREGON’S DRAMATIC SWITCH: 99.7 PERCENT OF KINDERGARTNERS IN FULL-DAY CLASSES (Portland Oregonian)
Oregon’s conversion from half-day to full-day kindergarten was startlingly fast and complete, with 99.7 percent of the state’s 5- and 6-year-olds currently enrolled in full-day classes, the state reported Thursday.
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OREGON SCHOOL ENROLLMENT UP BY NEARLY 6,000, BIGGEST GROWTH IN A DECADE (Portland Oregonian)
Oregon schools enrolled 5,550 more students this year than last, marking the biggest enrollment growth since 2005, the state reported Thursday.
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OREGON REGULATORS SUSPECTED SE PORTLAND POLLUTER MONTHS BEFORE TELLING PUBLIC (Portland Oregonian)
Oregon environmental regulators have suspected for months that unsafe levels of cadmium and arsenic air pollution in inner Southeast Portland may have been connected to a glass manufacturer there.
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OREGONIANS USING FEDERAL HEALTH CARE WEBSITE TO ENROLL JUMPS 30 PERCENT (Portland Oregonian)
Open enrollment has ended with a 30 percent spike in the number of Oregonians signing up for health insurance on the federal website.
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SENATE DEMOCRATS SHIFT COURSE, CALLING FOR THREE MINIMUM WAGE RATES (Portland Oregonian)
Abruptly changing course on the legislative session’s signature issue, Senate Democrats put forth a minimum wage plan Thursday that offers smaller raises to rural Oregonians while edging rates in Portland closer to $15.
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GUN SALES LOOPHOLE: HEARING BRINGS SEARING WORDS FROM MASS SHOOTING RELATIVES (Portland Oregonian)
House Democrats held an emotional hearing Thursday on legislation that would ban default gun sales when background checks take longer than three days.
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OREGON’S ‘MOTOR VOTER’ LAW BOOSTS VOTING ROLLS BY 4,300 (Portland Oregonian)
Gov. Kate Brown and Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins say more than 4,300 Oregonians have been registered to vote under a unique new Oregon law that’s been dubbed “motor voter.”
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IT’S NOT TOO LATE FOR KLAMATH NOT CONGRESS TO MANAGE ITS WATER — OPINION (Portland Oregonian)
The crushing defeat in Congress of a decade-long collaborative effort in the Klamath Basin to resolve water scarcity issues may not hold.
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NONSTOP FLIGHT TO ASIA CRITICAL TO REGION’S ECONOMY — GUEST OPINION (Portland Oregonian)
Prior to Delta inaugurating nonstop air service to Tokyo in March of 1987, there were few cultural or business ties to Japan and the broader Asia markets.
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PUBLIC PENSION GRASPING CONTINUES, EVEN DURING SHORT LEGISLATIVE SESSION — OPINION (Portland Oregonian)
The unfunded obligations of Oregon’s public pension system have exploded once again, reaching about $20 billion as of late last year.
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MINIMUM WAGE CHANGES? TALKS AMONG LAWMAKERS STILL IN FLUX (Portland Oregonian)
High-level talks over raising the minimum wage took a turn Thursday, putting the fate of Gov. Kate Brown’s plan into question.
Senate Democrats called off a potential vote on Brown’s proposal scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Her plan would raise wages to $14.50 in the Portland area and $13.25 statewide by 2022.
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SHOULD OREGON’S LOCAL GOVERNMENTS GET TO BAN GMO CROPS? (Salem Statesman Journal)
The battle over genetically engineered crops has returned to the Legislature.
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GOV. BROWN: MOTOR VOTER MAKES OREGON ‘LEADER’ (Salem Statesman Journal)
More than 4,600 Oregonians were registered to vote in the first month of the Oregon Motor Voter program. Data released Thursday from the Elections Division of the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office put the final tally at 4,348 voters registered between Jan. 4 and Feb. 2.
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FAMILY OF CHARLESTON SHOOTING VICTIMS TESTIFIES ON GUNS (Salem Statesman Journal)
Family members of shooting death victims testified Thursday in support of a bill that would end what some call a loophole in the gun purchasing system.
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LEGISLATURE SEEKS TO CLOSE GUN SALES LOOPHOLE (Salem Statesman Journal)
Dylann Roof is accused of shooting and killing nine people during a prayer service at a Charleston, South Carolina, church last year.
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BILL HELPING TO LINE UP $25 MILLION STATE SUBSIDY FOR EUGENE 2021 TRACK EVENT IS DUE FOR FRIDAY HEARING IN LEGISLATURE (Eugene Register-Guard)
Travel Oregon, the states small tourism marketing agency best known for its scenic TV and online ads, might soon be responsible for making an unprecedented decision on a $25 million state subsidy for the 2021 world track and field championships in Eugene.
Advocates for the Eugene track event want lawmakers to double the statewide lodging tax on hotel and campsite stays to produce the money for the subsidy.
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PLAN TO DEMOLISH DAMS MOVES AHEAD (Eugene Register-Guard)
Federal officials and the states of California and Oregon will press forward with plans to remove four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, seeking to resolve years of dispute over the watershed despite resistance from Congress, an official of California Gov. Jerry Browns administration said Tuesday.
We will move ahead as a group and start the process, California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird told lawmakers at a committee hearing.
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THREE MINIMUM WAGES BACK ON THE TABLE (Portland Tribune)
The Senate Workforce and General Government Committee set to vote on plan that would hike minimum to $14.50 in Portland by 2022. –
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OREGON SEED PRE-EMPTION LAW CHALLENGED IN LEGISLATURE (Portland Tribune)
Farmers overwhelmingly testified against a recent proposal before Oregon lawmakers that would reverse the states ability to pre-empt local government restrictions on seed.
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NEW, THREE-TIERED MINIMUM WAGE PLAN CONSIDERED IN SALEM (Bend Bulletin)
-Proposal would set Deschutes at $13.50 by 2023, Crook, Jefferson and other rural counties get $12.50-
A new minimum wage proposal that emerged Thursday and could pass a Senate committee today would split the state into three regions, each with separate rates for workers based on costs associated with living in those counties.
The proposal comes as the Legislature tries to stave off two ballot measures that would raise the minimum wage faster and to a higher rate statewide.
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REPORT: BEND-LA PINE NOW FIFTH-LARGEST DISTRICT IN OREGON (Bend Bulletin)
-It gains 395 students over last year and moves up from 6th place-
Bend-La Pine Schools is officially the states fifth-largest school district, according to enrollment figures for 2015-16 released Thursday by the Oregon Department of Education.
The district gained 395 students over last school year. With 17,517 students, the district now ranks behind districts in Portland, Salem-Keizer, Beaverton and Hillsboro.
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ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING FOR PARENTS WILL COME TO DESCHUTES COUNTY (Bend Bulletin)
This year Deschutes County will be one of five Oregon counties to try a 10-year pilot program that provides intensive supervision to a subset of criminal offenders: parents.
The Family Sentencing Alternative Pilot Program, outlined in a bill passed by the Legislature last year, will give offenders who are parents or legal guardians of minors the chance to be supervised locally instead of going to prison.
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EDITORIAL: GRANT STATE AUTHORITY FOR FEDERAL FORESTS — OPINION (Bend Bulletin)
After every round of wildfire in the federal forest comes a new round of reforms aimed at doing something about it.
But the wildfires are winning.
You can see it in the smoke and fires every summer.
The U.S. Forest Service burns up more and more every year in its firefighting budget. In 1995, it was 16 percent of its budget. Its likely to be more than half this year.
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EDITORIAL: LOCAL INPUT SHOULD MATTER ON OCHOCO PLAN — OPINION (Bend Bulletin)
We hope the decision-makers in Washington are listening to the people of Crook County about the proposed recreation area for the Ochoco National Forest.
The Prineville City Council opposed it.
The Crook County Commission opposed it.
Shouldn’t it matter what local governments think?
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NORTHWEST VOLUNTEERS WANT TO HELP RESTORE MALHEUR REFUGE (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Oregon conservation groups say volunteers are lining up to help reverse damage done to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge during the ongoing occupation.
At the end of January, the Oregon Natural Desert Association put out a call for volunteers interested in doing environmental restoration at the refuge after the occupation is over. In just a week, more than 600 people from all over the Northwest have signed up.
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US ADDED 151,000 JOBS IN JANUARY, UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN TO 4.9 PERCENT (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
The U.S. economy added 151,000 jobs in January, a slowdown from recent months but still a sign of a solid job market. Employers raised pay, more people felt confident enough to look for work and the unemployment rate dipped to 4.9 percent, its lowest level since 2008.
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POLITICAL IMPASSE COULD LEAD TO LENGTHY FLOOR SESSIONS IN SALEM (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
A political showdown at the Oregon Capitol could result in some very long floor sessions this month. At the heart of the debate is a clause in the state constitution that dates back to 1859.
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LAWMAKERS CONSIDER CLOSING BACKGROUND CHECK ‘LOOPHOLE’ (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Oregon lawmakers are considering a measure that would close what some activists call a loophole in the states criminal background check law. It allows gun sales to go through if a background check isn’t completed by the end of the next business day.
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A DIVIDED BURNS LOOKS TOWARD HEALING (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Sally Hendry set out down the highway on a 28-degree morning with an armful of thick orange ribbons meant to symbolize unity. Trudging through the snow, the retired social worker wrapped one of the ribbons around a utility pole.
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HEALTH OFFICIALS FIND HEAVY METALS IN SOUTHEAST PORTLAND AIR (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Oregon health officials are warning of unhealthy levels of heavy metals in Southeast Portland’s air. They found high levels of cadmium and arsenic at a monitoring station near SE Powell Boulevard and SE 22nd Avenue.
David Monro with the state Department of Environmental Quality said his agency has been studying the correlation between metals in the air and metals found in moss.
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COAL BY WIRE, MOTOR VOTER & VALHALLA (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Representatives Jessica Vega Pederson and Cliff Bentz talk about the Oregon Energy Bill HB 4036, which would would eliminate the use of coal energy by Oregon’s two biggest utilities by 2035.
We talk to Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins about how the implementation of the states automatic voter registration law which began January 1 is going.
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WASHINGTON STATE LAWMAKERS WANT TO FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE MORE OFTEN (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
A few short months from now, federal and state foresters around the West will purposely set controlled burns to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires later. This is a regular practice in Oregon, Idaho and California, but much less common in Washington state.
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OREGON SEED PRE-EMPTION LAW CHALLENGED IN LEGISLATURE (Capital Press)
-Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, has proposed a House Bill 4041, which would effectively reverse Oregon’s pre-emption statute.-
Oregon lawmakers heard a clear message from farmers who oppose local government restrictions what seeds they can use.
The Oregon Legislature pre-empted such local regulation of seed at a time when several counties were contemplating bans against genetically modified crops in 2013.
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THREE-TIERED MINIMUM WAGE BACK ON THE TABLE (East Oregonian)
-The Senate Workforce and General Government Committee is expected to vote on minimum wage Friday.-
Legislators have returned to a proposal that would set three minimum wage rates in the state based on median income and cost of living.
The proposal by Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, would hike wages to $14.75 in the Portland metro area, $12.50 in rural and coastal areas with struggling economies and $13.50 in the rest of the state by 2022.
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FBI’S HANDS-OFF STRATEGY IN MALHEUR FOLLOWS LESSONS LEARNED (East Oregonian)
Federal officials have allowed the armed occupation of an Oregon wildlife refuge to drag on for more than a month as part of a strategy learned from past standoffs in Texas and Idaho that ended in bloodshed and spurred more government mistrust, experts say.
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SENATORS PRESS FCC HEAD ON BOGUS EQUIPMENT FEES (East Oregonian)
-Bad billing tops consumer complaints about TV, Internet services.-
Oregon’s U.S. senators joined four of their colleagues Wednesday in pressing Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler about companies charging consumers for equipment they do not use.
Consumers of Internet and TV service complain more about billing than another other problem, according to a statement from the office of Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden
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GMO TENSIONS RETURN TO ORE. LEGISLATURE (Argus Observer)
Tension between growers of genetically engineered crops and non-genetically engineered crops is back before the Oregon Legislature this session with House Bill 4122.
The issue of state or local regulation between genetically engineered and non-genetically engineered does not appear to be an issue in Malheur County, Bill Buhrig, Oregon State University Extension agent said.
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OREGON SCHOOLS RECEIVE TOP MARKS FOR SEX EDUCATION (Argus Observer)
Oregon has received a perfect score on The Population Institutes 2015 report card on reproductive health and rights for its comprehensive sex education program.
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MAN TALKS ON WEATHERING VOLATILE ECONOMY (Argus Observer)
There is an economic reset going on across the world, and while farmers can position themselves to be successful, there are a lot of challenges they need to keep their eyes on.
David Kohl, professor emeritus of agriculture and applied economics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, gave a talk about what to expect in the upcoming years to Idaho and Malheur County Onion Growers at their annual meeting Tuesday at Four Rivers Cultural Center in Ontario.
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OUR VIEW: ACTION ON STATE FOSTER CARE LONG OVERDUE — OPINION (Medford Mail Tribune)
While the concern over trying to consider complex legislation in the short 35-day session in Salem is well founded, there is one major fix that simply can’t wait another year: cleaning up Oregon’s scandal-plagued foster care system.
Senate Bill 1515, which already cleared the Senate Human Services Committee on a unanimous vote Wednesday, would require the state to issue public reports of confirmed abuse and neglect once every quarter.
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ROAD CREWS PREPARING FOR HIGHER SPEEDS ON HWY. 97 (Herald and News)
Local road crews are preparing for an increase in the speed limit on Highway 97 and will start installing new road signs next week.
The speed limit on a number of highways throughout Eastern Oregon will be increasingly slightly starting March 1. Highway 97 north of Klamath Falls will go from 55 mph to 65 mph 60 mph for trucks.
The change was approved by state legislators through House Bill 3402, which was passed last summer.
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KLAMATH NEAR, OR ABOVE NORMAL FOR WATER YEAR (Herald and News)
Water conditions in Klamath County are holding steady at near or above average.
Ryan Sandler, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Medford, said since the water year began Oct. 1 the Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport has received 6.79 inches of precipitation. Normal is 6.63 inches, making precipitation for the month about 2 percent above average.
The whole county is near or above normal for the water year, Sandler said.
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TWO BILLS RENEWED BY WHITSETT IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION (Herald and News)
In the 2016 legislative session, which started Monday, Rep. Gail Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, is renewing two bills that didn’t make it to the House floor last year.
Whitsett said she has reintroduced a government transparency bill, now called House Bill 4138. Whitsett said if passed, the bill will allow the states legislative body to request an independent council to investigate wrongdoing in the Oregon executive branch.
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MORE SECURITY RIGHT CALL FOR THE FEDERAL REFUGES — OPINION (Herald and News)
Its no surprise that federal refuges in the West are getting increased security. Its happening to all six in the local area, which are getting 24-7 security upgrades in light of the events at the Malheur National Refuge, which was taken over by armed occupiers.
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NO FREE RIDES FOR THOSE WHO TOOK OVER REFUGE — OPINION (Herald and News)
Though the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation may have the look of something that’s winding down, its effects will be felt for a long time.
Being over wont come soon, even if the four remaining occupants at the Burns-area refuge are gone by the time you read today’s newspaper. They have been trying to negotiate with authorities to be able to leave without charges of being arrested.
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COUNTY LAWSUIT SPEAKS TO STATE LAND POLICIES — OPINION (The World)
It says something about the state of frustration in rural Oregon that Linn County commissioners would see fit to drag the state of Oregon into court over management of the state’s forest trust lands.
The commissioners have said they intend to file a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Linn County and 14 other Oregon counties, including Benton, that contain state forest lands.
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BILL WILL NIX POSTAL SERVICE BAN ON POT ADS (Daily Astorian)
-Members of Oregon’s congressional delegation are taking the battle over pot ads shipped through the U.S. Postal Service to Congress.-
Legislators acted after Long Beach postmaster threatened.
Four members of Oregon’s congressional delegation, including Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici, introduced a bill Thursday to rescind the U.S. Postal Services ban on pot ads.
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HOLIDAYS BUOY EMPLOYMENT RATES IN NW OREGON (Daily Astorian)
-Employment rates increased during December, according to the Oregon Employment Department.-
Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates fell amid the holiday rush late last year, according to releases Tuesday by the Oregon Employment Department.
Clatsop County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December was 5.3 percent, down one-fifth of a percent from November. and three-quarters of a percent from a year ago. Clatsop County had the ninth-lowest unemployment rate of any county in Oregon.
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WRITERS NOTEBOOK: A TALE OF TWO SHERIFFS — OPINION (Daily Astorian)
-When a sheriff encourages lawbreakers, we’re in trouble.-
When a tough guy loses his composure, it startles us. That happened last week at the FBI press conference following the arrest of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupiers.
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HOUSE BILL ADDRESSES ATI LOCKOUT (Albany Democrat Herald)
An Oregon House of Representatives committee will hold a public hearing on Friday regarding a bill that extends unemployment benefits for up to an additional six months for workers who have been locked out such as at ATI Albany Operations, the former Oremet plant.
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EDITORIAL: LEGISLATION ON FOSTER CARE DESERVES SUPPORT — OPINION (Albany Democrat Herald)
We’ve heard plenty in the last few weeks about the partisan bickering going on in this legislative session, and its a lock that well hear plenty more.
But even though it doesn’t always grab the headlines, its still worth remembering that many of the bills that will emerge from this short session will do so with broad support from both sides of the political aisle.
This weeks case in point: Senate Bill 1515, from mid-valley Sen. Sara Gelser, which passed the Senates human services committee Wednesday on a unanimous vote.
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LEAD PRESENCE EXTREMELY UNLIKELY HERE (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
Residents of Flint, Michigan, have been living with a horrific water situation since April of 2014, when the city hooked up its water system to the Flint River. The corrosive Flint River water caused lead from aging pipes to leach into the water supply, causing extremely elevated levels of lead.
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THE HIGH COST OF DEBT (Ashland Daily Tidings)
-Report on Oregon’s student loan debt ‘crisis’ includes survey of SOU, RCC students-
The numbers are as frightening as a haunted house and the testimonials more depressing than the evening news, but arguably the most provocative page in a joint report issued last week by Alliance for a Just Society and Oregon Action is the cover.
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BAKER GRAD RATE RISING (Baker City Herald)
Though outpacing the state average, Baker County and North Powder schools followed the trend of most others by increasing their graduation rates in 2015.
Baker High School posted a rate of 85 percent of its students graduating in four years. Thats compared with a 74 percent rate statewide.
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SENATORS INTRODUCE WILDFIRE FUNDING AMENDMENT (Blue Mountain Eagle)
-Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, have called for an end to “fire-borrowing” in an amendment to the Senate’s energy bill.-
Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden is once again working with Idaho Republican Mike Crapo on legislation to fix wildfire funding.
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WASCO COUNTY UNHAPPY WITH SHORT SESSION (The Dalles Chronicle)
Wasco County Commission Chair Rod Runyon went to Salem Monday to testify during the first day of the Legislature short session and was not happy with what he saw.
Previously, the Legislature only met during odd years but in 2010 Measure 71 passed with 68 percent of Oregon voters supporting a 35-day session during even years.
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COMMENTARY: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT WOLVES, RANCHING — GUEST OPINION (The Dalles Chronicle)
It is a FACT wolves are predators and brutal ones at that. Are they terrorists? Do they terrorize?
We can argue the adjective, noun or the verb, but there is no denying that wolves are vicious killers.
Do wolves just follow their instincts preying on whatever target is easy and handylike a bunch of cattle? Yep, they sure do.
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MY VOICE: EASTERN OREGON MUST UNSHACKLE — GUEST OPINION (LaGrande Observer)
The West and the industries that created our communities have been under assault for more than 30 years. The federal land that historically made them prosperous has been managed under the influence of environmental and conservation poverty promoters for enough years to make no mistake in the results of their agenda: poverty.
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HERMISTON PRINCIPAL SEES ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN GRADUATION RATES (Hermiston Herald)
-Hermiston School District had 69 percent of its class of 2015 graduate on time with a regular diploma.-
Hermiston School Districts graduation rates for 2014-15 were a slight improvement over the year before, but new Hermiston High School principal Tom Spoo is determined to push them much higher in the future.
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EMPLOYMENT STAYS LEVEL IN HR COUNTY (Hood River News)
Though Hood River County in December fell to fourth best in the state in unemployment rates, jobs have stayed roughly the same.
#According to a report by regional economist Dallas Fridley, Hood River County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was essentially unchanged in December, falling by 0.1 percentage point to 4.6 percent.
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DESPITE LOWER GRADUATION RATES, SOME DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS STAY HOPEFUL (Douglas County News-Review)
Douglas County’s graduation rates continue to fall farther and farther behind the states rate, which already sits 10 percentage points lower than the national rate for the 2014-2015 school year, according to the Oregon Department of Education.
County rates decreased nearly 7 percent over the last 3 years while state rates increased by more than 7 percent during that same time. As a county, Douglas County ranked the fourth worst in the state at 63.73 percent, better than only Jefferson, Coos and Crook counties.
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DOUGLAS TO JOIN LINN COUNTY LAWSUIT AGAINST STATE (Douglas County News-Review)
Douglas County will join a Linn County lawsuit that demands the state manage timber on Forest Trust Lands for the benefit of the county governments that formerly owned the lands.
Linn County announced last month its plans to file a class action suit against the state, saying the state has breached its contract with the counties to harvest timber on those lands and give the money to the counties.
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OED RELEASES NEW MINIMUM WAGE REPORT (Douglas County News-Review)
Gov. Kate Browns recent proposals to increase the statewide minimum wage, currently at $9.25, have been met with mixed reviews. Now, the Oregon Employment Department has put together a new report on Oregon’s minimum wage to show how it compares nationwide and how its impact differs within the state.
Low wage employment makes up different shares of jobs in different counties in Oregon, so therefore the impact of the increase in minimum wage would vary depending by location, said Nick Beleiciks, the states employment economist.
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OREGON’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION INTRODUCES BILL TO ALLOW WEED ADS IN THE U.S. MAIL (Willamette Week)
-It’s called the Marijuana Advertising in Legal States MAILS Act.-
The tussle over mailing marijuana ads is headed to Congress.
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LAWMAKERS SEEK CHILDREN’S TAXING DISTRICT (Willamette Week)
– The bill would allow the city to seek to make the Portland Children’s Levy a permanent tax.-
The 2016 ballot will be loaded with new tax measures. The legislative session that started Feb. 1 includes a bill that could add another tax: a permanent taxing district for children.
Oregon already has special taxing districts to fund libraries, transit and ports.
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MULTNOMAH COUNTY SHERIFF DAN STATON SAYS HE WELCOMES STATE INVESTIGATION (Willamette Week)
– Staton denies breaking the law by gathering information about members of a citizen committee.-
Multnomah County Sheriff Dan Staton this evening echoed a call earlier today from County Chairwoman Deborah Kafoury for the Oregon Department of Justice to investigate Staton’s actions.
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PORTLAND ECONOMIST WARNS AGAINST TRADING INCLUSIONARY ZONING FOR UGB EXPANSION (Willamette Week)
– The potential trade hasn’t gotten any press but in the planning and housing world, it’s a huge deal.-
In the feverishly-paced 35-day legislative session that began Feb. 1, few issues are more important to lawmakers than doing something to address Portland’s shortage of affordable housing.
One of the solutions lawmakers are mulling is a blockbuster trade: an expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary in exchange for inclusionary zoning.
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AIR AT SE PORTLAND SCHOOLS TO BE TESTED AFTER TOXINS DETECTED (KGW)
High levels of cadmium and arsenic have been detected in Southeast Portland, in the area of 22nd Avenue and Powell Boulevard, according to the state Department of Environmental Quality.
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COAST GUARD CHOPPER FUNDED: SENATE APPROVAL KEEPS HELICOPTER IN NEWPORT (The News Guard)
Working together to prevent the closure of lifesaving air facilities in Newport, Oregon and in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden D-OR, Jeff Merkley D-OR, Tim Scott R-SC and Lindsey Graham R-SC today applauded inclusion of language in the final Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 that now heads to the President for signature.
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