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Ferguson signs 'millionaires tax' into law in Washington
KGW
Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill imposing a 9.9% income tax on earnings over $1 million in Washington, which goes into effect in 2028.
Oregon News
POLITICS
This Oregon Think-Tank Leader Says Concerns About High Taxes Are Overblown
Willamette Week / Oregon Journalism Project
Many Oregonians don’t realize it, but this state has a couple of small but influential policy shops quietly trying to shape the debate over taxes and the role of government. On one side is the Cascade Policy Institute, a conservative, libertarian think tank that argues for smaller government and market-driven solutions. On the other is the Oregon Center for Public Policy, where executive director Alejandro Queral and his small team produce a steady stream of research aimed at reshaping Oregon’s economy toward what they describe as “economic justice,” with a particular focus on low-income Oregonians.
After 3-week strike, classes are set to begin again at Portland Community College
The Oregonian | By Julia Silverman
Classes at Portland Community College will resume next Monday after faculty members and administrators hammered out a tentative agreement to end a three-week strike.
Central Oregon Community College classified union says workers are prepared to strike
KLCC | By Rebecca Hansen-White
The union representing classified workers at Central Oregon Community College says it’s prepared to strike as soon as Thursday if the administration does not agree to wage increases.
Readers respond: Oregon gaining with bipartisan collaboration
The Oregonian | Letter to the Editor
Thank you for sharing the collaboration between Republican Rep. Boomer Wright of Reedsport and Democratic Rep. Rob Nosse or Portland to save the Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay (“A hospital on Oregon’s coast was on the brink of catastrophe until an unlikely alliance stepped up,” March 18). When it feels like our political system is hopelessly divided, it’s heartening to know that our legislators are working together across party lines to benefit all Oregonians.
I was, however, dismayed by the characterization of this teamwork as “unlikely.” My experience is that our Republican and Democratic legislators often work together, and the general public thinks they don’t. For example, Republican Rep. Mark Owens of Crane and Democratic Rep. Ken Helm of Beaverton have long been collaborating on water issues. Republican Rep. Court Boice representing Oregon’s south coast and Democratic Sen. Kathleen Taylor of Portland work together on wildfire issues. Many bills in the recent short session passed with Republican and Democratic support. A couple of great examples include raising the lodging tax for wildlife conservation with HB 4134 and HB 4045, an anti-stalking bill known as Kristil’s Law.
Many rural Oregonians feel that urban dwellers don’t care about their issues. We could probably do a better job understanding the challenge of our rural neighbors. I volunteer with Braver Angels, a national organization that works to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic. This is exactly the type of cooperation Braver Angels welcomes, and articles like this one help foster understanding and connection.
Please keep highlighting positive collaborations, and let’s all think of them as productive and expected — not “unlikely.”
New Oregon pilot program helps foster teens build life skills before aging out
The Oregonian | By Libby Dowsett
A new program in Oregon aims to support teenagers in foster care before they age out of the system and risk falling through the cracks.
The initiative — a partnership between the Oregon Department of Human Services and the nonprofit New Narrative — centers on a home in North Portland designed to help 16- and 17-year-old foster youth transition to independent living.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Portland Trail Blazers solidifies sale to Tom Dundon
KOIN 6 | By Joey Vacca
The sale of the Portland Trail Blazers to an ownership group led by Tom Dundon has officially closed, the team announced.
This week the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the transaction.
Now Dundon’s group, Rip City Rising, is assuming majority control of the Blazers, as well as the Rip City Remix, and Rip City Management.
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
Portland's original protest frog ordered to stay away from ICE building after guilty plea
KGW | By Jamie Parfitt
Seth Todd, who was first to don the frog in protest against ICE, was arrested by Portland police in January for refusing an order to move out of the street.
EDUCATION
A pencil is running for Oregon governor, hoping to make a mark on education
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Alex Baumhardt
Schuberth, a literacy advocate and one of the founders of Oregon Kids Read, launched a write-in gubernatorial campaign as a pencil to raise awareness about persistent reading challenges among the state’s students.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Amazon will pay $20.5 million to settle Oregon data center pollution allegations
The Oregonian | By Mike Rogoway
Amazon agreed Tuesday to pay $20.5 million to settle allegations that its data centers in Morrow County contributed to nitrate pollution that has contaminated groundwater in the agricultural community.
Pacific Power, PGE raise residential electricity rates again for Oregon customers
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Alex Baumhardt
The Public Utility Commission on Tuesday approved rate increases for the two monopoly utilities that will take effect Wednesday.
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