Oregon Capital Chronicle

01/03/2025

Two children died from the flu over Christmas week in Oregon, the first such deaths in two years. https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/01/03/two-children-died-from-the-flu-in-oregon-over-christmas-week/

01/03/2025

President Joe Biden approved disaster declarations for five Oregon counties that were the hardest hit by the state's historic wildfire season. The declarations unleash federal funds to those counties: Gilliam, Grant, Umatilla, Wasco and Wheeler. https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/briefs/eastern-oregon-counties-impacted-by-wildfire-to-get-federal-aid/

01/03/2025

Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has retired, scooting out a bit early. Now Dan Rayfield is officially AG.

Oregon’s new attorney general took office on New Year’s Eve, before the federal judge who presided over his criminal case 27 years earlier.

01/02/2025

Happy 2025 fellow FBers. We had a nice break the last two weeks but are not back at it with enthusiasm. First up, we profile U.S. Rep.-elect Maxine Dexter, who will be entering the congressional fray in the minority but has long-term goals:

U.S. Rep.-elect Maxine Dexter will be sworn into Congress as a member of the Democratic minority, replacing longtime Rep. Earl Blumenauer.

12/21/2024

Be prepared for higher electric bills: the Oregon Public Utilities Commission approved rate increase for Pacific Power and Portland General Electric that will leave most Oregonians paying about 50% more for electricity than they did just 5 years ago.

Most Oregonians will pay about 50% more for electricity than they did 5 years ago following rate hikes from large electric utilities.

12/20/2024

Oregon's congressional delegation all voted for the House's last-minute bill to avert a government shutdown.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House finally approved a stopgap spending bill Friday night that will keep the government open for a few more months, after a raucous 48 hours that served as a preview of what President-elect Donald Trump’s second term in office might look like. The short-term spending pack...

12/20/2024

As he prepares to step down from a "dysfunctional" Congress after a political career that spanned five decades, Democratic U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer is ever more certain he made the right choice.

As he steps down from Congress after a political career that spanned five decades, Earl Blumenauer is sure he made the right choice.

12/20/2024

Attorney General-elect Dan Rayfield tapped a dozen prominent Oregonians who work in areas like health care, law and labor to advise his office as it tries to defend against potential threats to Oregon policies from the incoming Trump administration.

Oregon Attorney General-elect Dan Rayfield picked a dozen leaders in the state to advise his office about federal impacts to the state.

12/19/2024

A year after naming the Northwest one of seven new “regional hydrogen hubs” in a nationwide competition, the U.S. Department of Energy is beginning its review of possible environmental risks of developing certain hydrogen projects and is inviting the public into the process.

The U.S. Department of Energy is beginning its environmental analysis of “clean” hydrogen projects vying for $1 billion in federal funding.

12/19/2024

Oregon is gearing up for the Trump administration: AG Ellen Rosenblum has put out a "toolkit" in English and Spanish to inform immigrants of their rights in Blue Oregon, the first sanctuary state.
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/18/oregon-ag-rolls-out-sanctuary-information-for-immigrants-before-trump-takes-office/

Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Grants Pass' homeless restrictions, the city has limited where 600 people can sleep outside.

12/19/2024

Millions were bet on the November election but two Democratic Oregon congressional members, Rep. Andrea Salinas and Sen. Jeff Merkley, and a Maryland U.S. House member want that to be banned. https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/18/oregons-salinas-and-merkley-marylands-raskin-push-to-ban-election-betting/

12/19/2024

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum rolled out a toolkit on Wednesday so immigrants in the state can protect themselves and know their rights under the first-in-the-nation state sanctuary law that has been in place since 1987.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum unrolled information for immigrants as they brace for President-elect Donald Trump to take office.

12/18/2024

Advocates in Oregon (and elsewhere) worry about new restrictions against homeless camping following the U.S. Supreme Court decision this summer backing those in Grants Pass. https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/18/oregon-advocates-see-overreach-in-local-camping-restrictions-for-homeless-after-court-ruling/

12/16/2024

The Legislature asked a task force to consider the implications of raising alcohol taxes. Membersmet and met and met. And in the end, They released a report with no consensus, just separate recommendations from individual members.

Editor’s note: The Capital Chronicle has launched a $10,000 end-of-year fundraising campaign to help us continue our first-class coverage next year. A lot is at stake, and there’s a long legislative session in 2025. We’re completely dependent on donor dollars, which are tax deductible. Please ...

12/16/2024

Oregon has a long legislative session next year to wrestle with the two-year budget and other issues. Housing will again be on the agenda.
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/16/lawmakers-preview-housing-bills-as-many-oregonians-face-unaffordable-rent-or-mortgage-payments/

During committee hearings at the state Capitol on Tuesday and Wednesday, lawmakers discussed proposals to limit rent increases for mobile home parks, build more condos and crack down on landlords pocketing deposits

12/13/2024

Wildfires have burned into Oregon's budget, forcing a special session and approval to scoop $218 million from the general fund to pay contractors who've been waiting for their money. https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/12/oregon-legislature-approves-218-million-in-additional-wildfire-funding-in-emergency-session/

12/12/2024

3.5 months into Oregon's new approach to illegal drugs, about 220 people who otherwise would be charged are in treatment programs as part of the state's new deflection systems https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/12/oregons-experiment-in-addressing-drugs-starts-with-about-220-people/

12/12/2024

Oregon announced late Wednesday that it will start testing raw milk for bird flu. The surveillance is part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture program involving six states. Oregon officials said it should give farmers, farmworkers and consumers more confidence in the food supply. https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/11/oregon-will-start-testing-raw-milk-this-week-for-bird-flu/