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…]
Politics
Redistricting draws most rural far western Washington County communities into House District 31
A zoomed-out view of the entire newly drawn House District 31, which will be used for the 2022 election. Map courtesy Oregon Legislature Thanks to the 2020 Census, new legislative maps have been drawn, approved, and signed into law to be used for the 2022 election. And while there is[Read More…]
State Senator Betsy Johnson announces unaffiliated run for governor
State Senator Betsy Johnson in the Banks BBQ Parade on Sunday, August 22, 2021. Photo: Chas Hundley State Senator Betsy Johnson, a Democrat who serves the northwest corner of Oregon in the state legislature, including Gales Creek and Banks, will run for governor under no party’s banner in 2022, Johnson[Read More…]
Brown calls special legislative session to tackle redistricting
The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley Oregon’s legislators will head back to Salem following Governor Kate Brown’s call to convene a special legislative session to tackle congressional and legislative redistricting. Following the decennial census, held last in 2020, the Oregon Constitution requires the legislature to draw new[Read More…]
Sen. Jeff Merkley to host online town hall for Washington Co. constituents
Senator Jeff Merkley (center, in yellow) at a town hall in Banks on January 13, 2018. Photo: Chas Hundley Oregon’s junior senator will hold a virtual town hall for Washington County residents on June 29, a tradition for Sen. Jeff Merkley, though in non-pandemic years, the events are generally held[Read More…]
‘Sine Die’: The highlights of Oregon’s historic 2021 legislative session
The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley The Oregon Legislature wrapped up Saturday, marking the end of an eventful session that included high profile legislation, a resignation and the first expulsion of a legislator in state history. The session, which began Jan. 21 after a two-day delay from[Read More…]
Oregon House expels State Rep. Mike Nearman over Dec. 21 Capitol incursion
The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley Rep. Mike Nearman (R-Independence) became the first House member expelled in state history for his role in the Dec. 21, 2020 breach of the Oregon Capitol on Thursday. A bipartisan House Special Committee on Dec. 12, 2020, established Monday by Oregon[Read More…]
Rep. Brad Witt removed from chair position following harassment complaint
A campaign sign for Rep. Brad Witt in Manning on October 28, 2020. Photo: Chas Hundley Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland), officially removed Rep. Brad Witt (D-Clatskanie) from his role as chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Monday, in the latest development after Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson[Read More…]
Nancy Hirsch appointed Oregon Department of Forestry’s acting state forester
Nancy Hirsch, pictured here with departing Oregon Department of Forestry State Forester Peter Daugherty in December of 2018 at her retirement as deputy state forester. Photo: ODF The six members of the Oregon Board of Forestry unanimously voted to appoint Nancy Hirsch as interim state forester in a short special[Read More…]
Board of Forestry to vote on interim state forester candidate May 27
Peter Daugherty (center) during a Salmonberry Trail Intergovernmental Agency meeting on August 4, 2017 in Grand Ronde. Photo: Chas Hundley The search for an interim state forester continues, with a vote on a candidate coming on Thursday, May 27 at a special meeting called for that purpose. Among other duties,[Read More…]
