UPDATE: The fire to the northwest of Juntura was contained by crews early Tuesday morning. “There were no reports of damage to private property or infrastructure caused by the fire, which is burning in grass and brush in Sage-grouse habitat,” said the Vale District Bureau of Land Management in a[Read More…]
Around Oregon
Drazan, Johnson, Kotek spar over guns, abortion, homelessness in first Oregon governor debate
The three women running to be Oregon’s next governor sparred over abortion, homelessness, guns and climate change in their first debate on Friday. Friday’s forum, hosted by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association at a resort in Welches, was the unofficial start of the general election campaign and the first time[Read More…]
Mystery group sending anti-Democrat mailers, prepping web ads
Earlier this month, some Oregon voters began receiving glossy mailers blaming Gov. Kate Brown and the “Democrat-controlled state Legislature” for “soaring gas prices” and the “out-of-control cost of living.” A website with two short videos claiming policies passed by legislative Democrats led to increases in crime and inflation went live around the[Read More…]
Nearly half of Oregon’s inmate population included in first class action suit of its kind
A federal lawsuit involving current or former Oregon inmates infected with Covid, including one who died, is moving forward with notification of nearly half of the state’s prison population of their inclusion in the class-action suit. The U.S. District Court in Eugene certified the class-action status of the suit in[Read More…]
Bentz joins in bipartisan vote to pass bill protecting right to same-sex marriage
WASHINGTON — Both Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. House voted Tuesday to enshrine the right to same-sex and interracial marriages in federal law, though the bill’s path forward in the Senate is unclear. The 267-157 bipartisan vote stemmed from concerns that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last month to overturn the[Read More…]
US inflation hits 40-year high, but Biden points to decreasing gas prices
WASHINGTON — U.S. inflation reached a 40-year high for June as prices for gas, food and rent increased, according to the latest Consumer Price Index. Consumer prices for all items increased 9.1% for the 12 months ending in June compared to last year, the biggest year-to-year increase since the period ending[Read More…]
New poll shows reasons for Republican optimism in Oregon legislative races
Republicans haven’t controlled any branch of Oregon government since Barack Obama’s first campaign for president – but they’re bullish this year about their legislative chances. An internal poll memo produced for the national Republican State Leadership Committee and shared with the Capital Chronicle suggests that Republicans have a “rare opportunity”[Read More…]
Oregon gun safety measure poised to appear on November ballot
Supporters of a gun safety ballot initiative say they have gathered more than enough signatures to guarantee a statewide vote on a law that would require licenses for all gun owners. Hundreds of volunteers for Initiative Petition 17 will continue collecting petition signatures across Oregon until Tuesday night, then deliver them to[Read More…]
Oregon’s Bentz says he never asked Republican colleague to pursue pardon for him
U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz during an interview in Ontario in 2021. (The Enterprise/FILE) U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz said Friday that he was unaware that a colleague had recommended a presidential pardon for his Jan. 6, 2021, vote to challenge the 2020 election results in Pennsylvania. Bentz, Oregon’s lone Republican in[Read More…]