Category Archives: Portland Tribune

Housing sites everywhere but no way to build

Oregon has a housing shortage, which has been known for decades. There is no single cause, but certainly a lack of buildable land is one of them. Only about 2% of Oregon’s land mass is developed, so one would think that finding land to build on should not be a problem. But most of that […]
Read More »

Oregon lawmakers pass first campaign finance limits in 50 years

Oregon’s new limits on political campaign contributions will not take effect until 2027. But as Gov. Tina Kotek, legislative leaders and representatives of interest groups said at a recent ceremony, Oregon’s real achievement was legislative approval of such regulations for the first time in half a century — and during a 35-day short session in an […]
Read More »

$1.326 billion Powerball jackpot winner comes forward

The winner of the $1.326 billion Powerball jackpot winner has come forward, according to the Oregon Lottery. The winner has not yet been identified and is currently working with the lottery on vetting and security precautions before being named. “This is an unprecedented jackpot win for Oregon Lottery,” Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells said on […]
Read More »

Neighbors call on state commission to intervene in Zenith Energy plans

The Linnton Neighborhood Association and environmental advocacy groups filed a petition with the state on April 8 asking the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission to deny an air emissions permit for Zenith Energy. The petition comes as the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality prepares for a public comment period on Zenith’s permit application. Source: Neighbors call […]
Read More »

Bonamici: Feds are making progress on reducing student loan debt

Even before President Joe Biden announced his latest plans to relieve up to 30 million Americans of student debt, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici said the federal government is finally making progress to reduce the burden of student loans. Bonamici, a Democrat from Beaverton who sits on the House higher education subcommittee, spoke at a roundtable […]
Read More »

Population stagnation will affect Oregon’s future economy

More than half a century ago, a newly re-elected Gov. Tom McCall uttered the words that still are much debated in Oregon. In a January 1971 interview with Terry Drinkwater for CBS News, McCall said Oregon welcomed visitors. “But for heaven’s sake, don’t move here to live!” he added. “Or if you do have to […]
Read More »

Record-breaking Powerball ticket sold in Portland

A record-breaking Powerball winning ticket was sold in Portland, the Oregon State Lottery announced on Sunday, April 7. The winner of the $1.326 billion ticket was not immediately identified. It was purchased on April 6. “I want to congratulate the winner on this life changing moment. No one in Oregon has ever won a prize […]
Read More »

Daniel Bonham is new GOP leader in Oregon Senate

Daniel Bonham of The Dalles will lead Oregon Senate Republicans, whose ranks will undergo an upheaval in the next two years as 10 of its 13 current members — including himself — retire or are barred from re-election bids as a result of their 2023 walkout. Like Tim Knopp of Bend, who will yield the […]
Read More »

Kotek will seek ethics panel advice on office for first spouse

Gov. Tina Kotek says she will seek an advisory opinion from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission as she shapes a formal role for her spouse, Amy Wilson. Wilson has an assistant from the Department of Administrative Services, the budget and management agency for state government. She received Oregon State Police protection during a conference organized […]
Read More »

Oregon school districts have fourth-highest chronic absenteeism rate nationwide

Oregon schools have one of the nation’s worst post-pandemic rates of chronic absenteeism, according to a national study released earlier this year. Students are considered chronically absent if they fail to show up for at least 10% of days through the school year. Source: Oregon school districts have fourth-highest chronic absenteeism rate nationwide