Patrick Allen, the director of the Oregon Health Authority, returned to duty this week after a long absence. The agency declined to respond to requests for more information. He was working at his home in Sherwood throughout much of the pandemic. It’s not clear whether he is continuing to work[Read More…]
Government
Oregon will divest Russian investments, Treasurer Read says
Oregon will dispose of about $137 million invested with the Russian government and Russian companies over the country’s invasion of Ukraine, state Treasurer Tobias Read announced Thursday. The money is tied up in Russian bonds, public equity and currency and with Russian companies represents about 1/10th of 1% or the[Read More…]
County to host series of informational meetings on shelter projects
Washington County’s Department of Housing Services is hosting a series of virtual meetings in March to share information and seek input from the public to learn about the department’s plans to build new shelters for people experiencing homelessness. In a press release, the county said that the goal is to[Read More…]
Oregon, California, Washington will lift most mask mandates on March 12
In a surprise move, Gov. Kate Brown said Monday that Oregon, Washington and California will jointly lift their indoor mask mandate on March 12. Masks will no longer be required in schools but state officials will recommend they still be used, according to a news release. The joint announcement reflects[Read More…]
Week one: Western Washington County’s legislators busy in first week of short session
Rep. Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis), Oregon’s first new Speaker of the House since 2013, told OPB the 2022 legislative short session that began on February. 1 is “the most important short session” of the state’s history, and with inflation, Covid-19, and homelessness on the minds of many Oregonians lawmakers have a[Read More…]
Oregon economic forecast: More money for lawmakers to spend, tax credits likely in two years
Higher wages for workers and more income for businesses is driving up state tax collections, creating the prospect for even more state government spending and then credits in two years for those paying income taxes, state economists announced Wednesday. The economists described a robust Oregon economy that they now project[Read More…]
How should Oregon spend $400 million on roads and transit? State officials want your input
The Oregon Transportation Commission wants Oregonians’ thoughts on how best to spend more than $400 million, available as part of the recent federal infrastructure law. Oregon will receive more than $3.4 billion for roads over the next five years, with $1.2 billion going directly to the state Transportation Department and[Read More…]
In final State of the State address, Brown touts victories, pushes spending plan
Gov. Kate Brown’s final State of the State address on Thursday served largely as a victory lap, while she challenged legislators to approve her plans to spend $700 million on job training, housing and child care. As she did last year, Brown gave her 30-minute speech virtually from her office[Read More…]
Local legislators introduce bills for short session beginning Feb. 1
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…]
County commissioners appoint Nathan Sosa to vacant House District 30 seat
The Washington County Board of commissioners voted Monday afternoon to appoint Nathan Sosa to fill the remaining 11 months of former State Representative Janeen Sollman, who vacated the seat after her appointment to Senate District 15 in January, replacing former Sen. Chuck Riley, who resigned his seat to retire. The[Read More…]
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