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Oregon looks to regulate AI chatbots
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/12/oregon-looks-to-regulate-ai-chatbots/
Published: February 13, 2026 00:37
Lawmakers who ”missed the boat” on regulating social media now have a chance to address the next emerging technology’s effects on youth, Oregon lawmakers contend. Sen. Lisa Reynolds, D-Portland, and the Senate Early Childhood and Behavioral Health…
A partial decoupling from federal tax law
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/12/a-partial-decoupling-from-federal-tax-law/
Published: February 12, 2026 22:49
The federal government and the state of Oregon have a disconnect these days on everything from health care to energy policy to, obviously, immigration. But it boils down to specifics in the case of Oregon Senate Bill 1507, which concerns income taxes, and…
Jobs report shows a historic stall in hiring last year
Published: February 12, 2026 22:25
U.S. jobs increased by 130,000 in January, buoyed by hires in health care, social assistance and construction. But in another sign of anemic hiring last year, estimates for 2025 were revised down by more than a million jobs to a level of low growth rarely…
Department of Homeland Security shutdown nears, as US Senate remains stuck on funding
Published: February 12, 2026 21:43
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security is headed for a shutdown as lawmakers on Capitol Hill remained stuck Thursday over bans on face masks and other immigration tactics. The department’s funding expires Friday night. A procedural vote to…
US House approves bill mandating proof of citizenship for voting in federal elections
Published: February 12, 2026 19:47
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House passed legislation Wednesday that would require the public to produce a passport or birth certificate in most cases to register to vote, less than a year out from November midterm elections. The 218-213 vote split mostly along…
Facing a ‘chilling effect,’ Oregon lawmakers seek to beef up abortion, trans health care laws
Published: February 12, 2026 14:00
In the wake of Oregon hospitals ending access to gender-affirming care for minors, dueling state policies over abortion and increasingly hostile federal actions toward transgender Americans, Oregon Democrats say the state’s protections for doctors and…
Oregon family detained by federal agents appear as special guests in state capitol
Published: February 12, 2026 00:16
Diana Crespo, 7, and her parents spent three weeks in a Texas detention center, locked up 2,000 miles from their Gresham home after federal immigration officers detained them in a clinic parking lot. On Wednesday, days after they flew home with an Oregon…
JOBS Act could make small, important changes for Oregon economy
Published: February 11, 2026 22:55
Senate Bill 1586 is proof that even in today’s highly partisan political climate, legislators from both major parties will sometimes lend their support to good policy.
Shutdown looms for FEMA, Coast Guard, TSA with stalemate over Homeland Security funds
Published: February 11, 2026 21:12
WASHINGTON — Leaders from several agencies within the Department of Homeland Security testified before a U.S. House panel Wednesday about how a shutdown would affect the programs they oversee, though Democrats argued the hearing was a “show” that wasn’t…
Layoffs or redirecting funding: Oregon lawmakers grapple with ODOT budget gap again
Published: February 11, 2026 20:13
Oregon lawmakers are once again discussing ways to fill a massive shortfall within the Oregon Department of Transportation’s budget — except this time they can’t raise taxes or fees. Lawmakers have two options if they want to fill the $242 million gap in…
Oregon lawmakers reveal reworked plans to partially delay campaign finance law
Published: February 11, 2026 14:00
Oregon lawmakers forced by the threat of a citizen-led ballot measure to adopt a sweeping law limiting campaign contributions in 2024 are once again trying to delay key portions of the law before it takes effect. Lawmakers on the House Rules Committee…
Oregon GOP gubernatorial candidate skips Senate floor session for business event
Published: February 11, 2026 01:23
State Sen. Christine Drazan, running for governor for the second time, skipped voting on bills on Tuesday to meet with business owners at an Oregon City pub 20 miles outside the Senate district she represents. The Canby Republican was officially excused…
All Democratic governors bow out of White House dinner after Trump snubs several
Published: February 11, 2026 00:26
WASHINGTON — Democratic governors headed to an annual bipartisan gathering in the nation’s capital will not participate in a traditional White House black-tie dinner after President Donald Trump disinvited several Democrats from the event. A joint…
Oregon housing bill tries to reduce rental barriers for older adults
Published: February 10, 2026 23:14
A clerical error on an online rent payment portal nearly led to one Milwaukie renter losing her home — and that’s just one example of housing advocates’ increasing concerns as online portals become more standard for finding housing and paying rent.…
From classrooms to careers: Why Oregon FFA matters
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/10/from-classrooms-to-careers-why-oregon-ffa-matters/
Published: February 10, 2026 23:08
In a state where agriculture remains the cornerstone of our economy and culture, Oregon FFA has been cultivating the next generation of leaders for nearly a century. But FFA is about more than just cows and plows. The organization once known as “Future…
Oregon lawmakers propose capping cannabis edibles at 10 milligrams of THC
Published: February 10, 2026 19:48
Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill to prohibit the sale of individual edibles that have more than 10 milligrams of THC . The proposal, Senate Bill 1548, comes as lawmakers grapple with responding to increasing reports of children seeking medical…
Here’s how much Oregon’s congressional delegation raised at the end of 2025
Published: February 10, 2026 14:00
Oregon’s candidates for Congress raised nearly $3 million between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 — half a million more than they had in the previous quarter, federal campaign finance records show. As the May 19 primary approaches, fundraising is ramping up among…
Oregon lawmakers propose criminal penalties for alarming, threatening public officials
Published: February 9, 2026 23:30
As threats of violence against public officials continue to rise nationwide, Oregon lawmakers want clear criminal penalties for those who attempt to intimidate a public official or their family. Lawmakers on Monday heard testimony on Senate Bill 1530 and…
Oregon Democrats push plan to renovate Moda Center, woo new Blazers owner
Published: February 9, 2026 23:07
Oregon Public Broadcasting originally published this article. Oregon’s top Democrats have unveiled their opening salvo to renovate the Moda Center in order to keep the Portland Trail Blazers in the state for decades to come. A bill being introduced in the…
Invest in the environment, boost the economy
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/09/invest-in-the-environment-boost-the-economy/
Published: February 9, 2026 18:43
It’s clear Oregon’s economy is top of mind for Oregonians and our elected officials as we rev into 2026. It seems like we get a new economic forecast or assessment every day, or an announcement of a new report outlining steps the state should take to…
With ICE using Medicaid data, hospitals and states are in a bind over warning immigrant patients
Published: February 9, 2026 14:00
The Trump administration’s move to give deportation officials access to Medicaid data is putting hospitals and states in a bind as they weigh whether to alert immigrant patients that their personal information, including home addresses, could be used in…
Critics say Eastern Oregon nitrates report shows more progress on policies than pollution
Published: February 7, 2026 14:00
More than a year after four Oregon agencies released a plan to reduce a decades-long nitrate problem in Eastern Oregon, a lot of work remains, according to the state’s first report on its progress. Overexposure to nitrates is especially harmful to infants,…
Family detained by agents in Portland hospital parking lot released from detention
Published: February 7, 2026 02:00
The family detained by federal agents in a Portland hospital’s parking lot is headed back to Oregon after being released from immigration detention in Texas. U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Oregon, announced Friday afternoon that she is escorting the…
White House takes down racist meme of Obamas posted on Trump social media
Published: February 6, 2026 19:20
WASHINGTON — The White House on Friday pulled down a social media post depicting former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as monkeys after members of Congress from both political parties expressed dismay and called it racist. A White…
Oregon bill would ban speculative ticketing on live events
Published: February 6, 2026 19:00
Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill to ban resellers or people affiliated with resellers from offering event tickets they don’t actually have, unless they have a written contract to obtain the ticket from an initial sale. House Bill 4024, which has…
To turn around Oregon, start with the hard conversation
Published: February 6, 2026 18:30
Everything should be on the table, including ideas we may individually dislike and, yes, even tax reform.
Southern Oregon senator revives bill to make big oil pay for disasters driven by climate change
Published: February 6, 2026 14:00
A bill that would require some of the largest, most profitable oil and gas companies in history to pay damages for disasters fueled by climate change is back on the table after the Oregon Legislature failed to pass it less than a year ago. State Sen. Jeff…
Oregon Republican pulls support from bill restricting National Guard deployment
Published: February 5, 2026 23:52
An Oregon Republican who backed a Democrat-led bill restricting the deployment of the state’s National Guard and other states’ troops to Oregon has revoked his support. Rep. Alek Skarlatos, R-Winston and a member of the House Emergency Management and…
Oregon Gov. Kotek, mayors call for pause on immigration enforcement
Published: February 5, 2026 23:49
Gov. Tina Kotek and mayors of 31 cities have a message for the federal government: Stop all immigration enforcement in Oregon until recent violent incidents in Minneapolis, Portland and elsewhere are fully investigated. Kotek and the mayors sent a letter…
US Senate Republicans block attempt to sue Trump administration over Epstein files
Published: February 5, 2026 21:39
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic proposal Thursday to sue the Trump administration over allegations that it did not fully release the Epstein files, as mandated under a law unanimously approved by senators and signed by the president…
Oregon anti-hunger advocates push for food bank funding, school meals
Published: February 5, 2026 21:37
After failing in recent years to convince the Oregon Legislature to extend food benefits to tens of thousands of immigrants, an anti-hunger coalition is narrowing its scope this year to addressing coming cuts to federal food aid.
Efforts underway to let all Oregon voters participate in primaries
Published: February 5, 2026 18:30
The plain meaning of Article II, Section 2 in the Oregon state constitution seems to be eluding a lot of people in high office in the state. And that’s a little puzzling because the words seem basic: “Every citizen of the United States is entitled to vote…
Federal judge blocks immigration agents from making warrantless arrests in Oregon
Published: February 5, 2026 16:58
A federal judge on Wednesday issued a ruling blocking federal immigration agents from making warrantless arrests in Oregon, joining Washington D.C. and Colorado with similar rules in place. The decision is based on M-J-M-A v. Wamsley, a lawsuit the…
Targeting debunked forensics, Oregon lawmakers propose narrowed wrongful conviction bill
Published: February 5, 2026 14:00
Less than a year after a bipartisan bill to streamline the payout process for exonerated Oregonians stalled, Oregon lawmakers are trying their hand at a narrower piece of legislation. Senate Bill 1515, sponsored by the Senate Judiciary Committee, aims to…
Oregon committee clears bill to eliminate costs for cervical cancer screenings
Published: February 5, 2026 00:42
A bill in the Oregon Legislature would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for cervical cancer screenings and procedures for Oregonians. Rep. Annessa Hartman, D-Gladstone, presented Senate Bill 1527 to the Senate Health Care committee Wednesday afternoon,…
Top Dems in Congress list ICE constraints they want in funding bill
Published: February 4, 2026 21:51
WASHINGTON — The top two Democrats in Congress on Wednesday outlined their proposal for restrictions on immigration enforcement, including body cameras and a ban on masks, though they had no details to share about when actual negotiations would begin.…
Parents, educators, workers ask Oregon lawmakers to separate from federal tax code
Published: February 4, 2026 21:33
As Oregon lawmakers weigh how to balance the state’s budget, hundreds of Oregonians visited the Capitol to plead with them not to cut funding for public defense, career and technical education and kids with disabilities. In the fall, Gov. Tina Kotek asked…
PERS reform starts with removing conflicts of interest
Published: February 4, 2026 20:54
The Oregon Public Employees Retirement System is set to take another massive bite out of public budgets starting in the 2027-29 budget cycle.
Corporate profits, consumer spending reverse Oregon’s deficit but budget challenges remain
Published: February 4, 2026 17:00
This is a developing story and may be updated. Oregon lawmakers meeting at the Capitol to balance the state’s budget are staring down a much rosier economic forecast than expected. Lawmakers will have about $106 million more revenue to work with in the…
99% of Oregon school districts have implemented a cellphone ban
Published: February 4, 2026 14:33
Oregon Public Broadcasting originally published this article. Last July, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek issued an executive order requiring all Oregon school districts to adopt policies banning cellphone use. Kotek gave school districts a Jan. 1, 2026, deadline.…
U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter to travel to Texas to visit detained Oregon child and family
Published: February 4, 2026 01:05
Para leer en español, haga clic aquí. U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter will travel to Texas to visit the family detained by federal immigration agents in January in Portland while seeking health care for their 7-year-old daughter. Yohendry de Jesús Crespo…
Oregon lawmakers poised to revive bill restricting National Guard deployment. How will it work?
Published: February 4, 2026 00:45
Oregon lawmakers have resurrected a bill aiming to restrict deployment of the Oregon National Guard for immigration enforcement and block other states’ guards from performing military duties in Oregon, framing their effort as a reinforcement of states’…
Trump doubles down on calling for the feds to take over state elections
Published: February 4, 2026 00:33
President Donald Trump restated a call Tuesday for federal control over election administration across the country, undermining the structure outlined in the Constitution that empowers states to run elections. For the second time in as many days, Trump…
Federal judge restricts agents’ use of tear gas, munitions against crowds at Portland ICE facility
Published: February 3, 2026 23:51
Federal agents at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland are temporarily barred from deploying less-lethal munitions and chemicals at protesters unless the agents are in “imminent threat of physical harm,” a federal judge ruled…
In farm-related Oregon policy, words matter
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/03/in-farm-related-oregon-policy-words-matter/
Published: February 3, 2026 21:31
If you were ever to meet my friend Carol, it would become immediately evident the immense pride she has in her family’s small dairy farm on the Oregon Coast. Carol’s family has spent generations caring for their land and their cattle. When conditions…
US House sends funding bill to Trump, setting up immigration enforcement debate
Published: February 3, 2026 20:08
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House cleared a government funding package Tuesday, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump, who is expected to quickly sign it and end the partial shutdown that began this past weekend. The 217-214 vote followed a…
Understanding the Oregon Legislature: How laws get passed — and how to participate
Published: February 3, 2026 14:00
Whether you’re wondering when the state will finally fix that pothole, whether new restrictions on artificial intelligence are coming or if tips will be taxed despite new federal policies, what happens at the Oregon Capitol has impacts on all Oregonians. …
EPA: Clean Air Act supports right to repair
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/02/repub/epa-clean-air-act-supports-right-to-repair/
Published: February 2, 2026 23:59
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a clarification letter Monday to manufacturers saying that the Clean Air Act does not prohibit independent repairs to offroad diesel equipment such as farm machinery. A news release from EPA said…
Noem: Body cameras to be deployed to immigration agents, starting in Minneapolis
Published: February 2, 2026 23:42
WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday that body cameras would be given to federal immigration agents across the country, starting in Minneapolis, where two U.S. citizens were shot and killed by agents in the Trump…
Oregon Dems propose partial split from federal tax code, preserving $291 million for state
Published: February 2, 2026 23:00
To prevent the state’s budget from hemorrhaging nearly $1 billion in revenue under federal tax changes during the next two years, Oregon Democrats in the state Legislature are proposing a strategy to selectively disconnect parts of the state’s tax code…
Oregon leaders commence legislative session as transportation, federal policy fights loom
Published: February 2, 2026 20:21
Oregon lawmakers opened the 2026 legislative session Monday with a clear rift between Democrats and Republicans over how best to spend their time sprinting to the finish line of the 35-day short legislative session. That work began in the newly renovated…
Judge blocks DHS policy to keep House Dems from visiting detention facilities unannounced
Published: February 2, 2026 18:50
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked a Trump administration policy that prevented members of Congress from making unannounced oversight visits at facilities that hold immigrants. The temporary restraining order from U.S. District…
Roads funding, budget deficit, protecting Oregon’s immigrants top 2026 legislative priorities
Published: February 2, 2026 14:00
Ninety lawmakers from across Oregon will gather today at the State Capitol in Salem to tackle a host of urgent issues, including balancing the state’s budget amid a looming deficit, keeping the state’s transportation department solvent, protecting…
‘We can get this done’: Oregon Republican candidates make first pitch for governor’s race
Published: February 1, 2026 04:39
PORTLAND— Three of Oregon’s top Republican gubernatorial candidates on Saturday offered some of the clearest insight yet into how they’d take the reins of the state’s highest office at their first forum together ahead of the May primary. The ex-Portland…
State lawmakers stand ready to help ICE — or impede it
Published: January 31, 2026 14:00
As lawmakers convene for this year’s state legislative sessions, immigration has surged to the top of the agenda. Across the country, dozens of bills touching on immigration enforcement, civil rights and the role of federal agents have been introduced this…
DOJ releases 3 million pages of Epstein files, taking in 180,000 images and 2,000 videos
Published: January 30, 2026 22:46
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice released more than 3 million pages of documents Friday related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The release, which in the 3 million pages includes more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, comes more…
Homeless Oregon youth got $1,000 a month for two years. Most found housing after.
Published: January 30, 2026 21:48
Direct cash assistance from the state is helping homeless Oregon youth find housing, according to the results of a pilot program that concluded last year. In February 2023, the Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program at the Oregon Department of Human…
All but one of Oregon’s top Republican gubernatorial candidates set to speak at Portland forum
Published: January 30, 2026 20:10
Three of Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s top potential Republican challengers are set to gather on Saturday for their first candidate forum together ahead of the May primary, with one notable absence. Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell, the ex-Portland…
With US Senate still tied up over spending deal, partial shutdown begins at midnight
Published: January 30, 2026 18:47
WASHINGTON — The federal government hurtled Friday toward a partial shutdown this weekend, even though Senate Democrats and President Donald Trump reached a deal that allows lawmakers more time to negotiate new constraints on immigration enforcement. The…
Should Oregon water down a bill to ban officers from wearing masks? Democrats are divided
Published: January 30, 2026 14:00
Two powerful Oregon Democrats are cautioning against lawsuits the state could run into as lawmakers attempt to regulate the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, pitting them against activists eager to fight in court to prevent federal agents from…
The Oregon Legislature’s three-dimensional road chess
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/01/29/the-oregon-legislatures-three-dimensional-road-chess/
Published: January 30, 2026 00:31
One of Oregon’s biggest needs, as the Legislature is about to consider in the short session that starts Monday, is financing maintenance and improvements of its transportation system. In most times, that would be a no-brainer, right? But over the last…
Stung by a court ruling, WA looks to clarify what is an ‘election’
Published: January 29, 2026 23:37
It may seem obvious that a registered voter in Washington can only vote once in an election. It’s not. Last month, a state appeals court overturned the felony conviction of a Lewis County resident found guilty of voting twice in November 2022 — once in…
Transportation, education and juvenile justice: Oregon SOS reveals new audits for the year
Published: January 29, 2026 22:19
Oregon’s beleaguered Department of Transportation, education funding for local school districts, the Oregon State Capitol’s seismic rehabilitation project and parole for youth involved in the juvenile justice system are among the state agencies and…
US Senate fails to advance spending package, with partial shutdown looming Friday night
Published: January 29, 2026 18:37
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate was unable to advance a funding package Thursday, pushing the federal government closer to a partial shutdown as Democrats press for restrictions on immigration enforcement. The 45-55 vote needed at least 60 senators to agree…
Oregon’s high school graduation rate inches up to record high
Published: January 29, 2026 14:00
Oregon high schoolers in the class of 2025 graduated at all-time highs for the state but still at a lower rate than recent national averages, according to the latest state data. Despite stubbornly small gains in student proficiency in key subject areas…
US Senate Dems demand mask ban, body camera requirement, IDs for immigration agents
Published: January 29, 2026 00:49
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democrats on Wednesday detailed the “common sense” changes they want to implement for federal immigration enforcement, saying reforms must be added to a funding package that needs to become law before the weekend to avoid a partial…
Oregon lawmakers can move transportation referendum date under conditions, SOS says
Published: January 28, 2026 23:01
Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Tina Kotek have less than one month to pass a bill if they want to move a transportation funding referendum from November to May, according to Oregon’s top election officer. Deputy Secretary of State Michael Kaplan in a…
These are the states where incomes grew the most, least in recent decades
Published: January 28, 2026 21:44
Household incomes have grown in nearly every state over the past 50 years, but a new study concludes that growth has been uneven across the country. An analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, released Tuesday from the Urban Institute’s Center for Local…
Oregon implements new rules for crab fishers to reduce whale deaths
Published: January 28, 2026 21:00
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is implementing temporary rule changes for Dungeness crab fishers in the 2025-26 season to restrict gear and areas where fishing can occur. Beginning April 1, crab fishers must comply with late-season whale…
Alex Pretti ‘had a way of lighting up every room he walked into’
Published: January 28, 2026 20:24
Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, was an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital before he was shot and killed by federal agents Saturday morning on Nicollet Avenue. Family and friends, as well as former coworkers and teachers, described him as…
Attack on US Rep. Ilhan Omar follows major uptick in threats against members of Congress
Published: January 28, 2026 18:52
WASHINGTON — U.S. Capitol Police investigated a drastic increase in threats against members of Congress and their staffs last year, looking into nearly 15,000 statements, behaviors and communications. The volume of investigations rose sharply from the…
Fewer immigrants are seeking Oregon health care benefits under Trump
Published: January 28, 2026 14:00
Thousands fewer people are receiving health care through a Medicaid-like Oregon program that’s open to income-eligible people regardless of immigration status than were six months ago, state data shows. Two years after its launch, the Healthier Oregon…
Federal judge ends oft-used exemption to environmental review for logging on federal land
Published: January 28, 2026 01:03
A 34-year-old rule exempting some commercial logging projects on federal lands from environmental review is unlawful, a federal judge recently ruled. Judge Michael McShane in the U.S. District Court in Medford earlier this month struck down the exemption,…
Governor’s goal of getting Oregon on CNBC’s Top 10 States for Business is misguided
Published: January 27, 2026 23:44
What should Oregon strive for when it comes to economic policy? According to Gov. Tina Kotek’s recently released Prosperity Roadmap, a key goal should be for Oregon to be among the top 10 states in the CNBC America’s Top States for Business index, which…
Here’s the list of US House Democrats who want to impeach Kristi Noem
Published: January 27, 2026 21:19
WASHINGTON — A growing number of U.S. House Democrats are pushing for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s impeachment after another fatal shooting of an American citizen by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis this month. At least 164…
US Sen. Mark Kelly’s lawyers say Pentagon attempting to violate his constitutional rights
Published: January 27, 2026 20:10
WASHINGTON — Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly’s lawyers on Monday urged a federal judge to block the Defense Department from downgrading his retirement rank as a Navy captain and his pay for telling U.S. troops they aren’t required to follow illegal…
Democratic AGs stress importance of citizen-generated evidence in challenging ICE
Published: January 27, 2026 14:14
PORTLAND, Ore. — Keith Ellison held up his cellphone. The Minnesota attorney general was onstage in an Oregon theater in front of hundreds of people, accompanied by four of his Democratic peers from other states, to mark a year of coordinated legal…
Oregon’s U.S. Rep. Bynum pitches patchwork ‘K-30’ plan to tackle generational affordability issues
Published: January 26, 2026 23:53
WEST LINN, Ore.— At a library in suburban West Linn, nursing students, millennial parents and recent high school graduates told their congresswoman they are struggling to reach a slate of traditional educational, professional and personal milestones due to…
Congress hurtles toward partial shutdown after Alex Pretti killing in Minneapolis
Published: January 26, 2026 22:31
WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday urged Senate Democrats to advance the government funding package that must become law before the weekend to avoid a partial shutdown, rejecting their proposal to remove the Homeland…
Rare Merkley, Trump agreement on housing investments
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/01/26/rare-merkley-trump-agreement-on-housing-investments/
Published: January 26, 2026 21:44
Bet you couldn’t come up with a controversial topic which finds President Donald Trump and Oregon’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley on the same side. Well, more or less. And not only one, but one with implications for the Oregon Legislature. But here we…
WA leaders prepare for possibility of immigration crackdown
Published: January 26, 2026 21:15
Washington’s governor on Monday painted a dire outlook of how clashes between federal immigration authorities and the state could unfold if a crackdown similar to the one in Minnesota hit here. Gov. Bob Ferguson said he could envision members of the…
Chris Dudley says he will run for Oregon governor, growing GOP field
Published: January 26, 2026 19:58
Chris Dudley, the ex-Portland Trail Blazer who came closer than any Republican in decades to winning an Oregon governor’s race, said Monday that he will run for the position once again, entering an increasingly crowded field for the upcoming May primary.…
US Senate Dems probe effect of Trump administration child care cutbacks on rural families
Published: January 26, 2026 19:03
WASHINGTON — Several U.S. Senate Democrats launched an investigation into how the Trump administration’s child care funding cuts and policy changes are affecting rural families, in a Sunday letter provided exclusively to States Newsroom. Sens. Elizabeth…
Deadly shooting in Minneapolis could lead to partial government shutdown over ICE funding
Published: January 26, 2026 13:54
A partial federal government shutdown appeared Sunday to unexpectedly be on the horizon, after another fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis led key U.S. Senate Democrats to say they will oppose a spending package that includes…
Another person in Minneapolis shot and killed by feds
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/01/24/repub/another-minnesotan-shot-and-killed-by-feds/
Published: January 24, 2026 17:45
Federal immigration officers shot a third person in Minneapolis in as many weeks on Saturday. Brian O’Hara said federal agents killed a 37-year-old man whom officials believe is a U.S. citizen who lives in Minneapolis. Video of the shooting was captured…
Footage, documents at odds with DHS accounts of immigration enforcement incidents
Published: January 24, 2026 14:24
As a growing number of encounters between civilians and Department of Homeland Security agents — including the widely scrutinized fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis — are scrutinized in court records and on social media, federal officials are…
Immigration agents detain family taking 7-year-old child to Portland hospital
Published: January 23, 2026 23:23
Para leer en español, haga clic aquí. Federal immigration agents in Portland detained a 7-year-old girl and her parents last week on their way to the hospital, according to a GoFundMe page in Spanish created by family relatives. Yohendry de Jesús Crespo…
Trump to block foreign aid for transgender care, Vance tells anti-abortion rally
Published: January 23, 2026 20:32
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration plans to expand a policy that blocks foreign aid dollars from going to organizations that discuss, refer or perform abortions to also include groups that address transgender health care or have policies on diversity,…
8 weeks under siege in Minnesota
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/01/23/repub/8-weeks-under-siege-in-minnesota/
Published: January 23, 2026 19:27
Frank has a hard time explaining to his 8-year-old daughter why they rarely leave their home in the Twin Cities. Why she can’t go to school, and why he can’t work. “The only thing we tell her is that soon everything will be over. Everything will be over…
Gov. Kotek taps interim Oregon public defense head for permanent position
Published: January 23, 2026 19:20
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek on Friday chose one of the state’s most experienced criminal justice analysts to take full control over the Public Defense Commission as the state moves closer to stemming its shortage of public defense attorneys. The governor said…
With rental registries, cities try to track housing and hold bad actors accountable
Published: January 23, 2026 14:15
As many people struggle to afford housing and tenant populations grow in some regions, more cities are turning to official registries to answer questions about their rental housing market. Who owns this rental property? Are they up-to-date on matters of…
‘Just a start’: Kotek, industry leaders inch closer to reforms for Oregon business climate
Published: January 23, 2026 01:21
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek kicked off her plan Thursday to jump-start Oregon’s economy alongside some of the state’s top business and industry leaders as the state continues to battle unemployment and slow economic growth. The 16 members of Kotek’s “Prosperity…
Many Dems refuse to vote to fund ICE as US House passes 4 spending bills
Published: January 22, 2026 22:53
WASHINGTON — The House Thursday passed four appropriations bills to fund the government and avert a partial shutdown, but Democrats largely objected to spending on the Department of Homeland Security amid aggressive immigration enforcement in communities…
Oregon Democratic leaders push to move transportation referendum to May
Published: January 22, 2026 18:51
Democratic leaders in the Oregon Legislature want to move a statewide vote on transportation taxes from November to May. After submitting enough signatures to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office, petitioners with the Republican-led No Tax Oregon…
Gov. Tina Kotek picks Nevada state forester as first woman to lead Oregon Forestry Department
Published: January 22, 2026 17:27
After a year-long search, Gov. Tina Kotek has chosen Nevada’s state forester to take the helm of the Oregon Department of Forestry. Kacey KC would be the first woman to permanently hold the director’s position in the 115-year-old agency’s history. The…
States, cities are hard-pressed to fight violent ICE arrest tactics
Published: January 22, 2026 14:28
State leaders who want to curb the increasingly violent arrest tactics of immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis and elsewhere are struggling to push back. They’ve promised civil rights legislation that could offer alleged victims another route to…
Democratic attorneys general in Oregon hint at election integrity fight ahead of 2026 midterms
Published: January 22, 2026 05:05
PORTLAND, Ore.— Five Democratic attorneys general who have waged high-profile legal battles against the federal government had a clear message on Wednesday ahead of the upcoming midterm elections: The fight against President Donald Trump’s administration…
New labor coalition hopes to spur job growth to meet Oregon’s clean energy targets
Published: January 21, 2026 23:18
ARLINGTON, Ore. — On the side of a rural highway in north central Oregon sandwiched between rolling hills of volcanic rock and high desert dotted with livestock, solar and wind farms, about two dozen members of Oregon construction, electrical and…
Republican transportation referendum leader announces bid for Oregon governor
Published: January 21, 2026 21:10
STAYTON, Ore.— One of the leaders behind the effort to block increases to Oregon’s gas tax has entered the race for governor. Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, shared the announcement with his supporters Wednesday evening at Stayton’s Snow Peak Brewing. The crowd of…
Trump announces ‘framework of a future deal’ on Greenland, relents on 8-nation tariffs
Published: January 21, 2026 18:26
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced in a social media post Wednesday that he and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte brokered a possible agreement on Greenland, though Trump provided few details or a timeline. Trump’s comments came just hours…
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