Ballot title approved for health care funding referendum
Neither side happy with committee’s description for possible January ballot question.
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Featured Stories
What you can do under Oregon’s new distracted driving law
The revised law expands a ban on mobile electronic devices and stiffens penalties and fines.
Governor doesn’t get meeting with Sessions
Brown told reporters she would have appealed to the U.S. attorney general on behalf of DACA recipien
Oregon wildfire fighting costs hit $340 million
The expenses of containing the blazes will be shared by federal, state, private and tribal entities.
Governor touts economic development record in rural Oregon
Although Brown has not formally announced her candidacy for 2018, her political action committee has been fundraising.
Bentz: Legislature should prioritize revenue, PERS reform
Rep. Cliff Bentz is meeting resistance from leadership in his call to prioritize revenue reform in 2018.
Forestry department ‘militia’ steps up to fight fires
ODF’s model draws staff from many jobs to support fire suppression.
State economists tackle pot, but gaps persist in young industry
State economists project the state will bring in net marijuana revenues of about $142 million in the next two years, but the very short history of legal marijuana and other factors complicate forecasting.
Task force mulls options to reduce PERS liability
Gov. Kate Brown has charged the task force to reduce the unfunded liability, by $5 billion.
Democrats see path to carbon ‘cap and invest’ bill in 2018
The proposed state program would put a price on greenhouse emissions from industry.
Oregon sues Trump administration to save DACA
Oregon is one of 15 states claiming in a federal lawsuit that ending the program violates the Constitution’s equal protections clause.
Oregon’s non-unanimous jury law under scrutiny
A case appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court could impact Oregon law allowing 10-2 convictions.
Brown: Fire threatens water, power systems
The Eagle Creek blaze jumped 13 miles in 16 hours, officials say. It is 0 percent contained.
State: Fire costs at $21.9 million and rising
The State of Oregon has insurance to cover costs of severe fires, but it doesn’t kick in until the state has spent $50 million of its own money.
No pot plants at Oregon State Fair this year
A regulatory snafu implementing a law allowing such displays ended up preventing this year’s exhibition.
OHA says it has cleared its Medicaid eligibility backlog
Oregon had fallen behind on redeterminations of participant eligibility and by late May had a backlog of roughly 115,000 people.
PERS task force solutions have uncertain future
Some proposals floated by the task force involve substantial policy changes.
Governor celebrates transportation package with statewide tour
The tour to five cities was meant to celebrate enactment of a $5.3 billion transportation funding package.
Legislative lawyer: Richardson lacks authority to change petition rules
Corvallis-area Democrat sought an analysis to determine the proposed rule change’s legality.
Richardson seeks to ease initiative restrictions
Critics say the changes would erode the integrity of the initiative petition process.
Governor defends state’s cannabis regulations
Brown wrote a letter Wednesday pushing back against accusations by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions that Oregon has failed to protect the public.
Richardson ends speculation he’ll run for governor
Secretary of state’s announcement opens the way for other Republican candidates to consolidate support.
State economists: Taxpayers can expect a ‘kicker’
Oregon will return nearly $464 million to taxpayers as revenue collections exceeded estimates in the two-year budget cycle that ended June 30.