Government

Week one: Western Washington County’s legislators busy in first week of short session

The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley Rep. Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis), Oregon’s first new Speaker of the House since 2013, told OPB the 2022 legislative short session that began on February. 1 is “the most important short session” of the state’s history, and with inflation, Covid-19, and homelessness[Read More…]

Oregon economic forecast: More money for lawmakers to spend, tax credits likely in two years

The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley Higher wages for workers and more income for businesses is driving up state tax collections, creating the prospect for even more state government spending and then credits in two years for those paying income taxes, state economists announced Wednesday. The economists[Read More…]

How should Oregon spend $400 million on roads and transit? State officials want your input

Highway 6 in Gales Creek at the intersection of the county-maintained Highway 8 and ODOT-maintained Highway 6 on February 24, 2021. Photo: Chas Hundley The Oregon Transportation Commission wants Oregonians’ thoughts on how best to spend more than $400 million, available as part of the recent federal infrastructure law. Oregon[Read More…]

Local legislators introduce bills for short session beginning Feb. 1

The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley The Oregon Legislature began the 2022 short session today, February 1, and these are some of the bills that the region’s five legislative representatives signed onto as chief sponsors.  To read more about each bill, visit olis.oregonlegislature.gov and click on the[Read More…]

Gov. Brown appoints Miranda S. Summer to Washington County Circuit Court

Miranda S. Summer, photo courtesy Gov. Brown office Gov. Kate Brown announced she appointed Municipal Court Judge Miranda S. Summer to the Washington County Circuit Court, filling the vacancy left by the elevation of Judge Ramon Pagan’s appointment to the Oregon Court of Appeals. Summer’s experience includes previously serving on[Read More…]

Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen hospitalized after fall

Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen during a press conference held December 17, 2021. Photo from YouTube The director of the agency tasked with leading the state’s coronavirus response was hospitalized Sunday morning after a fall the Oregon Health Authority described as “serious.”  OHA Director Patrick Allen is currently undergoing[Read More…]

Rachel Armitage appointed to vacant Senate District 16 seat

Rachel Armitage, photo courtesy Armitage campaign website County commissioners from the six counties in Senate District 16 appointed Rachel Armitage to fill the remaining year of former State Senator Betsy Johnson’s empty seat. Armitage, a former legislative assistant in 2016 and 2017, according to her campaign website, is a Warren[Read More…]

Sign up for free Gales Creek news in your inbox ↓

The Miller Team John L Scott Market Center