By ZACH URNESS/Salem Statesman Journal Oregon’s cutest shorebird has made a big rally over the past two decades, from the verge of extinction to expanding its range. Western snowy plovers, which nest in beach sand on the Oregon coast and resemble a palm-sized cotton ball with legs, reached an estimated population of 483 in […]
Portland
With Covid cash running out, Oregon legislative budget writers propose more spending on housing, health care while keeping state positions vacant
By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Legislative budget writers plan to trim many state agency budgets while increasing overall spending in the next two years. Co-chairs of the legislative budget-writing committee on Thursday shared the broad strokes of their $31.6 billion spending plan for the two years beginning July 1. It starts with 2.5% reductions to […]
The big divide over guns and violence plays out in the Oregon Legislature on Wednesday
People with the gun violence prevention group Moms Demand Action listen to testimony about firearms legislation Wednesday in the Oregon House Judiciary Committee. (Ben Botkin/Oregon Capital Chronicle) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon lawmakers heard civil but sometimes emotional testimony Wednesday about firearms legislation to prevent gun violence and ban untraceable or detectable […]
Oregon Senate passes $200 million emergency housing package which now goes to Gov. Kotek for her signature
By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — Gov. Tina Kotek is the final stop for a $200 million-plus package that she and lawmakers crafted to aid unhoused people, avert homelessness and lay the groundwork for more housing production in Oregon. The Senate gave final legislative approval to both bills Tuesday night, following House votes on […]
Kotek targets behavioral health system crisis – and plans ahead
Gov. Tina Kotek is asking the Legislature for more behavioral health funding. The money would fund programs for people who need care in other settings besides the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. (Oregon Health Authority) By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Gov. Tina Kotek is asking lawmakers to put $74.2 million into behavioral health […]
Renters in small Waldport apartment complex search for places to live after new owner says they will become vacation rentals
By KENNETH LIPP/YachatsNews WALDPORT – One apartment is occupied by a single mother with a 9-year-old. Another apartment is home to a disabled couple. A married couple with three children lived in the third. They all rely on some sort of rent assistance to live in the modest four-unit apartment building on Southwest Corona […]
Investments needed in higher ed, job training to recover from pandemic, Oregon leaders say during annual business summit
Ben Cannon, executive director of the state Higher Education Coordinating Commission, speaks on Monday, Dec. 6, about education needs in Oregon. (Ron Cooper/Oregon Capital Chronicle) By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle PORTLAND — Oregon can’t recover jobs lost during the pandemic and meet the needs of industry without new investments in training the workforce, state leaders […]