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…]
Government
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…]
New law will allow ballots postmarked by day of election to be counted
Two ballots from a previous election. File photo: Chas Hundley A new Oregon law that went into effect January 1 allows mail-in ballots to be counted on Election Day as long as they are in the mail and postmarked by 8:00 p.m. House Bill 3291 changed Oregon mail-in voting laws,[Read More…]
County to fill vacant state senate seats Friday
The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley Washington County Commissioners are meeting virtually Friday, January 14 at 9 a.m. to interview candidates to replace District 16 Sen. Betsy Johnson who resigned Dec. 15 to focus on her run for Oregon’s governorship, and at 1:30 p.m. to interview candidates[Read More…]
Sen. Betsy Johnson will resign to focus on run for governor
State Senator Betsy Johnson in the Banks BBQ Parade on Sunday, August 22, 2021. Photo: Chas Hundley Betsy Johnson will end her 20-year career in the state Legislature on Wednesday to focus all her attention on her non-affiliated run for governor. Johnson, who left the Democratic Party in October to[Read More…]
Legislature passes rent relief extension, targets cartel cannabis grows during special session
The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley Oregon lawmakers during a special session on December 13 voted to pass a series of bills approving more than $400 million in spending to protect farmers, tenants and landlords, and to increase law enforcement in rural areas. Senate President Peter Courtney[Read More…]
With revenues up $725 million, Oregon taxpayers should expect kicker in 2024, forecast says
The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley The Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) issued this week a quarterly economic forecast predicting higher wages increasing projected tax revenue will allow the state to recover more quickly from the recession, triggered by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic than it did[Read More…]
Statewide vehicle title, registration fees to increase by three percent January 1
A vehicle drives near Gales Creek on Highway 6. Photo: Brenda Schaffer The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced a “historic transportation investment” that beginning January 1, 2022 increases by 3 percent fees for renewing vehicle license plates, getting new trip permits, and applying for vehicle titles. The 3 percent[Read More…]
Jim Geering selected to lead Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, other area fire agencies
Forest Grove Fire & Rescue Chief Jim Geering. Photo courtesy FGF&R. Forest Grove Fire & Rescue has a new fire chief. Chief Jim Geering, who began work Wednesday, November 17, will serve as the head of many of western Washington County’s fire agencies and districts, including Forest Grove Fire &[Read More…]
CDC approves Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for ages 5 through 11
File photo: Chas Hundley A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel voted to authorize the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for children ages 5 through 11 Tuesday afternoon, followed by an approval from the agency’s director, Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky. “Together, with science leading the charge, we have taken another important step forward in our[Read More…]
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