Local Politics

Politics Lane only timber county to pass law enforcement tax Lane only timber county to pass law enforcement tax
By JEFF BARNARD, Associated Press Published: May 22, 2013 at 12:58 PM PDT
Voters in two Oregon timber counties with the lowest property taxes in the state — Curry and Josephine — turned down tax increases Tuesday that would have funded law enforcement, but a jail levy passed in a third, Lane County.
Politics Timber country: 'A beautiful place to live, a hard place to make a living' Timber country: 'A beautiful place to live, a hard place to make a living' (Photo Gallery)
By JEFF BARNARD, Associated Press Published: May 21, 2013 at 2:30 PM PDT
Nearly 1 million people live in Oregon's timber country. The region's troubles have reached a tipping point since the expiration last year of federal subsidies that were sent to rural counties across America for 11 years to offset revenue losses caused by reduced logging on federal lands to protect endangered and threatened species.
Politics Oregon House backs Hatfield statue in US Capitol
By Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press Published: May 21, 2013 at 8:45 AM PDT Last Updated: May 24, 2013 at 9:42 AM PDT
The Oregon House voted Monday to pull a statue of Oregon pioneer Jason Lee from a prominent place in the U.S. Capitol and replace it with one of the late Mark Hatfield, one of the most influential politicians the state has seen.
Politics Oregon bill would legalize medical pot retailers Oregon bill would legalize medical pot retailers
By Associated Press Published: May 17, 2013 at 11:30 AM PDT Last Updated: May 17, 2013 at 12:07 PM PDT
Oregon legislators are considering a bill to legalize and license medical marijuana retailers, calling it a step toward reining in abuses of the state's 15-year-old effort to allow people to use pot for therapy.
Politics Ore. lawmaker: Rule-breaking college coaches should pay Ore. lawmaker: Rule-breaking college coaches should pay
By Jonathan J. Cooper, Lauren Gambino, Associated Press Published: May 16, 2013 at 9:03 AM PDT
A state House committee heard brief testimony Wednesday but took no action on a bill that would make coaches personally liable for the university's legal fees and other costs if they "intentionally or recklessly" commit a major NCAA rules violation.
Politics Oregon budget talks to gain momentum with econ report Oregon budget talks to gain momentum with econ report
By Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press Published: May 13, 2013 at 7:30 AM PDT
Economists are scheduled to tell the Oregon Legislature on Thursday how much money they expect the state to collect over the next two years. Armed with those numbers, lawmakers will accelerate the tough balancing act of divvying up the money.