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Oregon News
Oregon State Police lieutenant accused of making antisemitic remarks
The Oregonian | By Maxine Bernstein
An Oregon State Police lieutenant is under internal investigation, accused of making antisemitic remarks during a conversation with another supervisor, according to an email to state lawmakers.
The complaint named Lt. Casi Hegney, commander of the state police Capitol Mall patrol, and alleged she shared comments considered “well known hateful tropes” with a state police sergeant, according to the email.
Hegney remains on the job, Kennedy said.
“Lt. Hegney is not on administrative leave because the initial complaint did not warrant administrative leave,” he said. “However, the agency can change that decision with employees at any time during an investigation if the circumstances warrant doing so.”
POLITICS
Facing a dire budget year, Oregon lawmakers draw battle lines as legislative session begins
KGW | By Blair Best
Democrats, who control both chambers, rolled out a slate of bills dubbed divisive by their Republican colleagues, including some regarding gun laws, gender-affirming care and the state's unique "kicker" tax rebate.
Republicans argue that these bills pull focus from the state's most pressing tax: balancing a budget now short hundreds of millions of dollars after deep federal cuts.
"I will say I'm a bit frustrated," said House Minority Leader Lucetta Elmer, a Republican from McMinnville. "It's a short session, it's 35 days, and to see what we are looking at day one, some of these super controversial bills ... "
"Although we are constitutionally obligated to have a balanced budget, there are several other issues that pertain to the safety of our residents," said Rep. Lamar Wise, a Democrat representing Southeast Portland and North Clackamas.
Looming large on the agenda this session is the prospect of some solution to the Oregon Department of Transportation's nearly $250 million budget gap. Republicans have demonstrated that they will not sign onto any solution that would include tax hikes.
"It is a big one, and I think 250,000 Oregonians (are) weighing in to say, 'We cannot simply afford more,'" said Elmer, referring to the signatures gathered to get an anti-tax referendum on the ballot.
"There's no question that we can balance ODOT's budget with existing resources," said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr of Dundee.
Just one part of the ODOT conundrum is a vote on the Republican-led referendum, which froze previously approved tax and fee hikes. Democrats want to pass a bill to get that referendum expedited to May ballots and minimize the amount of time ODOT spends in uncertainty. Republicans broadly insist it should wait until November.
"Doesn't matter when it goes to the ballot, it's going to go down in flames," said Sen. Christine Drazan of Canby, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, referring to the tax and fee hikes. "So we should be balancing the budget assuming we don't have those dollars."
Oregon Democrats pitch partial disconnect from Big, Beautiful Bill
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo
Oregon Republicans have signaled they will not support disconnecting.
“Like all gut-and-stuff amendments introduced without public transparency, I will need time to review the language that has been posted," vice-chair of the Committee on Finance and Revenue Sen. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, wrote in an emailed statement.
"That said, policies that further hinder Oregon businesses from growing are not something I can support, and this approach appears inconsistent with the governor’s stated economic goals," he said.
Oregon Democrats unveil plan to close Trump tax ‘loopholes’, reduce budget deficit
The Oregonian | By Carlos Fuentes
Both Broadman and Nathanson said they are optimistic that the plan could even receive support from Republicans and business groups, who have generally been opposed to Oregon disconnecting from the federal tax law because of the extra administrative burden and because it could impose higher taxes on businesses.
“The business community sees what we are facing with the federal government essentially taking a billion dollars out of the budget,” Broadman said. “I’m optimistic that they’re going to understand that this is necessary to continue to invest in health care, education and public safety.”
However, the group Oregon Business & Industry vowed on Monday afternoon to “vigorously oppose” Democrats’ plan, introduced to the Legislature as Senate Bill 1507.
“We’ve been asking leaders to ‘do no more harm,’ and this would certainly dig our economic hole deeper,” the group’s president and CEO Angela Wilhelms said in a statement. She said lawmakers in particular should not cancel the state’s new business tax break “that would help businesses — especially small to midsized manufacturers — invest more now in their companies and employees."
Oregon Dems propose partial split from federal tax code, preserving $291 million for state
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Alex Baumhardt
Sen. Mike McLane, a Republican from Powell Butte and vice-chair of the Senate Revenue Committee, called out Democrats for introducing the proposal Monday as an amendment to a much more bare bones bill posted before the session started.
“Like all gut-and-stuff amendments introduced without public transparency, I will need time to review the language that has been posted. That said, policies that further hinder Oregon businesses from growing are not something I can support, and this approach appears inconsistent with the governor’s stated economic goals,” he said in an email.
Oregon Senate considers bill to ban drug outreach programs near schools
KPTV
A new bill being discussed in the Oregon Senate would ban drug outreach programs within 2,000 feet of schools, daycares or any licensed child care facilities.
Oregon lawmakers consider adding Hillsboro industrial land and, for data centers, even bigger tax breaks
The Oregonian | By Mike Rogoway
Senate Bill 1586 would line up 1,700 acres near Hillsboro for industrial development. Though the bill makes that land off limits to standalone data centers, it would authorize big new tax breaks for data centers that locate elsewhere.
On first day of session, Oregon lawmakers consider measure to protect victims of domestic violence
OPB | By Lauren Dake
Under Senate Bill 1550, if a death meets certain requirements, it would automatically trigger an investigation. If a person’s death was premature or untimely, or if the scene suggests suicide, overdose, an accident, or if they have a history of domestic violence, a deeper investigation would be required.
Understanding the Oregon Legislature: How laws get passed — and how to participate
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Mia Maldonado
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.
On Monday, the Oregon Legislature convened in Salem for a month-long legislative session, during which elected officials will pass state laws and decide which agencies and programs receive more funding— and which face cuts— in the state’s 2025-27 budget.
This year, Oregon’s mostly-Democratic legislature is expected to craft bills addressing the federal government’s immigration crackdown and Oregon’s cost of living, as well as a gap in the state’s budget caused by a new tax and spending law President Donald Trump signed in July.
How does that process work? Let’s start with the basics.
County Commissioners Weigh Preschool for All Reimbursement Rates
Willamette Week | By Joanna Hou
That spending affects financial modeling and such politically dicey topics as indexing the tax to inflation.
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
Tear gas at Portland ICE protest chokes children, seniors in crowd
The Oregonian | By Isabel Funk
Several thousand marched from Elizabeth Caruthers Park to the ICE facility on Saturday, Jan 31. Federal agents deployed tear gas and flash-bang grenades on the demonstrators when they arrived the building.
Caught on Camera: New video shows Border Patrol shooting in Portland
KOIN 6 | By Anthony Kustura
New video released Monday shows the January 8 traffic stop in Southeast Portland that led Border Patrol agents to shoot two people, marking the first publicly available footage of the incident.
2026 ELECTION
‘We can get this done’: Oregon Republican candidates make first pitch for governor’s race
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Shaanth Nanguneri
While Oregon has not elected a Republican to the governor’s mansion since the 1980s, some candidates saw an opportunity in the success of the recent Republican-backed transportation ballot referendum.
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