Starting Sunday, 14 counties in Oregon will start deflection programs that are intended to help people enter recovery and avoid criminal charges and jail. The timing of the programs coincides with the start of a new misdemeanor penalty for low-level drug possession.
Ben Botkin
Oregon counties plan new recovery programs amid funding concerns
Washington County officials plan to start a new diversion program to combat the state’s fentanyl crisis in September. But officials say state funding does not pay for enough outreach workers to respond every time police interact with a person with illicit drugs.
Oregon taps North Carolina deputy director to lead Medicaid system
On July 24, Emma Sandoe will become the director of Oregon’s Medicaid program, which provides care to more than one in four Oregonians.
Primary voters tap legislators, treasurer and an attorney for statewide office
Oregon voters decided to give a slate of state legislators a chance to prove themselves worthy of a promotion to statewide office in the November elections.
Oregon DOJ says no criminal charges warranted in bourbon scandal
The Oregon Department of Justice concluded that no criminal charges are warranted for the six former Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission employees who set aside bottles of in-demand bourbon for their personal use.
Oregon governor signs sweeping drug addiction proposal into law
Gov. Tina Kotek on Monday signed into law the sweeping measure the Oregon Legislature passed to combat the state’s fentanyl drug addiction and overdose crisis.
Biden announces up to $8.5 billion in preliminary funding for Intel
Intel plans $36 billion investment in Hillsboro to aid semiconductor research and development
Disability Rights Oregon sues Washington County alleging it fails people in mental health crises
Washington County routinely fails to meet the health needs of people in mental health emergencies by dispatching armed police officers instead of trained behavioral health teams to help people in crises, Disability Rights Oregon said in a lawsuit filed on Monday.
Kotek allows more than 10,000 Oregonians to reinstate driver’s licenses
The decision is expected to help many rural residents and low-income Oregonians who are struggling to pay their bills
Oregon health leaders warn of bumpy start for expanded Medicaid system
Oregon’s Medicaid system, which covers more than one in three Oregonians, faces a monumental challenge: proving that its expansion will help keep people housed, fed and healthy.
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