Tag Archives: Thefts

New year, new laws on housing, addiction and more

New laws started in January that will impact housing, crime, drug addiction and behavioral health needs. New Oregon laws that took effect Jan. 1 are aimed at the state’s biggest crises and needs, from affordable housing to the exploding fentanyl addiction crisis to mental health. The laws, passed amid a tumultuous legislative session with a […]
Read More »

After Rise in Murders During the Pandemic, a Sharp Decline in 2023 

State Library Ed. Note: If you cannot access this story directly from the source, state employees can access this New York Times story HERE via the State Library’s subscription to the US Newstream database. Alternatively, state employees can contact us for access: LibraryHelp.SLO@slo.oregon.gov or 503-378-8800.

‘Smash-and-grab’ robberies fuel new laws, but critics question the need

Even before Virginia lawmakers passed a tough new law against organized retail crime earlier this year, Bradley Haywood, a public defender in Arlington, Virginia, challenged the rationale. The idea that retailers in the state had lost billions to organized theft was a myth manufactured by retailers themselves, Haywood argued. Source: ‘Smash-and-grab’ robberies fuel new laws, […]
Read More »

New Oregon laws on opioids, theft, wildfire insurance and more coming in the new year

Like most states in the country Oregon will see dozens of new laws take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. Some notable bills passed by the Oregon Legislature and signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek include measures to address the ongoing opioid epidemic, reduce retail theft and provide insurance protections from wildfire damage to homes. […]
Read More »

Starting January 2024, Oregon laws targeting drugs, retail theft go into effect

Big changes are coming to Oregon and Washington in the new year, thanks to certain laws passed earlier in 2023. Starting Jan. 1, changes are coming to some of the most urgent needs of Oregon residents, targeting the state’s drug crisis, retail theft, and child tax credits. One law will combat the drug crisis with […]
Read More »

Oregon employers rarely pay penalties for wage theft. The state wants that to change

For Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries, tackling wage theft involves more than just collecting unpaid wages. It also involves deterring wage theft from happening in the first place. That’s why the bureau may issue penalties to employers who investigators determined have unlawfully denied workers pay. Source: Oregon employers rarely pay penalties for wage theft. […]
Read More »

FTC slams Rite Aid for misuse of facial recognition technology in stores

State Library Ed. Note: If you cannot access this story via the link below, state employees can access this Washington Post story HERE via the State Library’s subscription to the US Newstream database. Alternatively, state employees can contact us for access: LibraryHelp.SLO@slo.oregon.gov or 503-378-8800. A landmark settlement over the pharmacy chain’s use of the surveillance technology could raise further doubts about […]
Read More »

Oregon fails to collect unpaid wages – OPB’s Think Out Loud

The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries has failed to collect nearly $5 million in wage theft claims from employers since 2015, according to a new analysis from InvestigateWest. It also found that employers in industries with more low-wage and undocumented workers, like construction and agriculture, left more wages and penalties unpaid. Kaylee Tornay, investigative […]
Read More »

Retail crime wave in U.S. is more like a few ripples

Is the U.S. in the middle of a shoplifting wave? Target and other retail chains have warned of widespread theft. News outlets have amplified the story. On social media, people have posted videos of thieves looting stores. But the increase in shoplifting appears to be limited to a few cities, rather than being truly national. […]
Read More »

Oregon water violations surge but regulators see signs of progress

Though water law violations in Oregon have continued surging, regulators believe they’re turning the corner on curbing water theft and illegal use related to illicit cannabis production. The state’s Water Resources Department issued 153 notices of water law violations in 2022, up from 40 the previous year. Source: Oregon water violations surge but regulators see […]
Read More »