The Oregon Legislature began the 2022 short session today, February 1, and these are some of the bills that the region’s five legislative representatives signed onto as chief sponsors. To read more about each bill, visit olis.oregonlegislature.gov and click on the “bills” tab at the upper right corner. There, you[Read More…]
By Daniel Pearson - Banks Post
Gov. Brown appoints Miranda S. Summer to Washington County Circuit Court
Gov. Kate Brown announced she appointed Municipal Court Judge Miranda S. Summer to the Washington County Circuit Court, filling the vacancy left by the elevation of Judge Ramon Pagan’s appointment to the Oregon Court of Appeals. Summer’s experience includes previously serving on the Washington County Circuit Court as a judge[Read More…]
New law will allow ballots postmarked by day of election to be counted
A new Oregon law that went into effect January 1 allows mail-in ballots to be counted on Election Day as long as they are in the mail and postmarked by 8:00 p.m. House Bill 3291 changed Oregon mail-in voting laws, which the legislature has debated since the state became the[Read More…]
County to fill vacant state senate seats Friday
Washington County Commissioners are meeting virtually Friday, January 14 at 9 a.m. to interview candidates to replace District 16 Sen. Betsy Johnson who resigned Dec. 15 to focus on her run for Oregon’s governorship, and at 1:30 p.m. to interview candidates to replace Sen. Chuck Riley (D-Hillsboro) who announced last[Read More…]
Legislature passes rent relief extension, targets cartel cannabis grows during special session
Oregon lawmakers during a special session on December 13 voted to pass a series of bills approving more than $400 million in spending to protect farmers, tenants and landlords, and to increase law enforcement in rural areas. Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) said Oregonians can be proud of their legislature. “We[Read More…]
With revenues up $725 million, Oregon taxpayers should expect kicker in 2024, forecast says
The Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) issued this week a quarterly economic forecast predicting higher wages increasing projected tax revenue will allow the state to recover more quickly from the recession, triggered by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic than it did from The Great Recession of the early 2000s. Oregon’s[Read More…]
Statewide vehicle title, registration fees to increase by three percent January 1
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced a “historic transportation investment” that beginning January 1, 2022 increases by 3 percent fees for renewing vehicle license plates, getting new trip permits, and applying for vehicle titles. The 3 percent increase is the third of four scheduled fee changes — the final[Read More…]
Banks resident admitted to United States Merchant Marine Academy
The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Alumni Association & Foundation announced Banks resident Alexander Steiner is now a sworn-in Midshipman and a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Representative Susan Bonamici (D-Oregon District 1) nominated Steiner to attend the USMMA academy in Kings Point,[Read More…]
FDA issues full approval for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine
File photo: Chas Hundley The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which now will be marketed as Comirnaty, for the prevention of the coronavirus in individuals 16 years old or older. The clinical results of the trial showed the vaccine is[Read More…]
‘Movie in the Park’ returns with ‘Tom and Jerry’ on August 6
Greenville City Park. Photo: Chas Hundley Coming Friday, August 6, as dusk settles over the city at Greenville City Park, join the community gathering that is the Banks Movie in the Park. The Aug. 6 flick features none other than those slapstick sillies Tom & Jerry. However, this cat and[Read More…]