The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley SALEM – The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis released its forecast for December 2019, and it also provided an overall outlook for the short term. The report shows the state’s economy remains strong with many workers in urban areas enjoying an[Read More…]
Salem
State Dispatch: Two legislators leaving Salem, the I-5 bridge project is back, free fishing weekend
Left to right: Roger Millar, WSDOT Director, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, ODOT Director Kris Strickler. Photo: Kate Brown Governor’s Office State Rep. Caddy McKeown will not run again In Oregon political news, Rep. Caddy McKeown (D-Coos Bay) announced on November 19 that she will not seek[Read More…]
State news dispatch: Who’s running for office, ODOT traffic safety, and Metro dollars for trails
The Oregon Capitol building in Salem. Photo: Chas Hundley Election results: Metro bond passes With no terms up for fire and school board positions, no county-wide measures or levies, and nothing on the city docket within Banks, this newspaper had no elections to cover on Tuesday, November 5. However, in[Read More…]
Vehicle registration fees going up in 2020
A vehicle drives near Gales Creek on Highway 6. Photo: Brenda Schaffer SALEM – Starting January 1, 2020, some fees to register a new vehicle, title a vehicle and purchase a trip permit will increase. According to an Oregon Department of Transportation press release, the fee increases were passed by[Read More…]
Current Highway Division admin. chosen to lead Oregon Department of Transportation
Kris Strickler, current Oregon Highway Division administrator (right). Photo: ODOT SALEM – After a six month search, the Oregon Transportation Commission offered the position of Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director to Kris Strickler, ODOT’s current Highway Division Administrator at their Tuesday, September 10 meeting. Pending contract negotiations and Oregon[Read More…]
Dual recall efforts against Gov. Kate Brown draw local logging, industry support
A log truck parks in front of Oregon’s capitol on June 22 as part of a protest against HB 2020, a cap and trade bill. Photo: Kevin Magwood VERNONIA – A normally-sleepy corner of Columbia County comes to life this weekend as the annual Vernonia Friendship Jamboree & Logging Show[Read More…]
Smokey Bear license plates will become available in Oregon August 1
Image courtesy of Keep Oregon Green OREGON – Smokey Bear’s 75th birthday is this year and Keep Oregon Green, a Salem-based nonprofit whose focus is the prevention of wildfires, and the Oregon DMV are celebrating the landmark with the introduction of a license plate adorned with the federal mascot. Beginning[Read More…]
Fire season begins for all Department of Forestry land in the state of Oregon
Image courtesy ODF OREGON – With the declaration of fire season on July 1 for the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Northwest Oregon and North Cascade protection districts, the entire state has now entered into official fire season on ODF protected lands. ODF’s Southwest Oregon District was the first of 12[Read More…]
Oregon Department of Transportation names Paul Mather to Interim Deputy Director
Photo: ODOT SALEM – The Oregon Transportation Commission named retired Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Highway Division Administrator Paul Mather as ODOT Interim Deputy Director at a special meeting of the Commission in Salem. His tenure began Monday, July 1. The Oregon Transportation Commission is the governing board of the[Read More…]
Nearly 1,000 acres have burned on ODF-protected lands in 2019 so far
Forest Grove Fire & Rescue responded to reports of an out-of-control burn pile in Gales Creek on May 5. It turned out to be a false alarm. Photo: Chas Hundley SALEM – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) issued a warning that the window to safely burn debris has closed until[Read More…]
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