$17 million lawsuit says DHS ignored report of 4-year-old with bruised head; 2 weeks later he was dead

The estate of a 4-year-old boy who prosecutors believe was kicked and stomped to death by his Portland dad filed a $17 million lawsuit Wednesday against the state, faulting Oregon’s child-welfare agency for failing to investigate a report two weeks earlier that the boy’s forehead was inexplicably bruised. Source: $17 million lawsuit says DHS ignored […]
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Concealed handgun license bans spread across Oregon school districts

Nearly 50% of public school students in Oregon now attend districts that have banned licensed handgun owners from bringing their weapons onto school property. Source: Concealed handgun license bans spread across Oregon school districts – oregonlive.com

PGE rate hikes: Oregon regulators say they can’t dismiss increase request

The Oregon Public Utility Commission declined to dismiss Portland General Electric’s newest rate increase proposal, rejecting a motion filed by a state nonprofit group that advocates for utility customers. Click here to access this premium story (State Employees) Source: PGE rate hikes: Oregon regulators say they can’t dismiss increase request – oregonlive.com

Oregon insiders: Who’s who in and around state government

Oregon’s state economist, Mark McMullen, is leaving at the end of May to join the Common Sense Institute of Oregon as vice president of policy and research. Berri Leslie, director of the Department of Administrative Services, named McMullen’s longtime colleague, senior economist Josh Lehner, to fill the role on an interim basis. The Oregon Fish […]
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Oregon man charged for breaking into hatchery, killing 18,000 fish

A Gardiner man was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly breaking into a fish hatchery and killing 18,000 smolts with a bottle of bleach. Source: Oregon man charged for breaking into hatchery, killing 18,000 fish

Oregon sees ‘flash drought,’ setting up elevated wildfire concerns

Abnormally warm temperatures and dry east winds created a “flash drought” that sucked record amounts of moisture from the ground. Source: Oregon sees ‘flash drought,’ setting up elevated wildfire concerns

Oregon State Economist Mark McMullen to step down next month

McMullen has done one of the state’s trickiest jobs for more than a decade, but his tenure had come under fire. Source: Oregon State Economist Mark McMullen to step down next month – OPB

Kotek returns to Oregon’s Umatilla Basin as locals grapple with nitrate response

A year ago, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek promised a “new day” for the Lower Umatilla Basin’s decades-long nitrates crisis. When she returned to Boardman this week, Kotek told community leaders that there are many more days of work ahead before the crisis can be solved. Source: Kotek returns to Oregon’s Umatilla Basin as locals grapple […]
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Oregon state economist resigns to join Common Sense Institute

Mark McMullen to become vice president of policy and research at Common Sense Institute. Click here to access this premium story (State Employees) Source: Oregon state economist resigns to join Common Sense Institute – Portland Business Journal

Ambitious Oregon universal health board launches amid questions

A new state board could put Oregon on a path to radically reshape its health care system, ensuring universal access and removing financial barriers for patients. Source: Ambitious Oregon universal health board launches amid questions | News | portlandtribune.com