The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is on track to regain control over civil legal matters on its tribal land. Gov. Tina Kotek in late May signed a proclamation to return civil jurisdiction to the Tribes, aiming to undo a 73-year federal law that took away federal legal resources from most tribes located […]
Oregon lawmakers passed more than 50 new laws during the legislative session earlier this year which are scheduled to go into effect on Friday. Many focus on codifying state and local powers to respond to President Donald Trump’s directives, as well as addressing cost-of-living issues. Democratic leaders in both the Oregon House and Senate explained […]
Despite passing some of the nation’s first laws barring federal law enforcement agents from concealing their identities, Oregon and Washington have yet to receive the same response from the Trump administration as other Democratic states. The U.S. Department of Justice sued California last year over a law criminalizing the use of masks by federal and […]
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has appointed her chief of staff to temporarily lead the state’s transportation agency. Chris Warner, who has worked with Kotek since 2023, will serve as the Oregon Department of Transportation’s interim director until the agency finds its next director. He is taking over Lisa Sumption’s interim position so she can return […]
Last week, petitioners hoping to ban fishing and hunting in Oregon reached a milestone in their attempt to change state law. Initiative Petition 28, led by Portland-based animal rights activists, aims to expand animal cruelty laws and criminalize injuring, breeding or killing animals except in cases of self-defense or for veterinary care, such as spaying, […]
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek ordered state transportation officials Monday to cease issuing undercover license plates to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, citing “repeated violations of state and federal law by ICE agents and the need to protect community trust and public safety.” “ICE agents have repeatedly engaged in illegitimate activities, causing unwarranted chaos, sowing […]
The Trump administration sued four Democratic-led states Wednesday over the states’ refusal to grant undercover license plates to federal agents, marking the latest escalation between state sanctuary policies and the federal government’s aggressive deportation campaign. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the lawsuits against Oregon, Washington, Maine and Massachusetts in a press release, framing the […]
Oregon won’t resume issuing undercover state license plates to federal law enforcement agencies, a top Oregon transportation official told the Trump administration late last week. The Oregon Department of Transportation on April 15 temporarily suspended issuing new undercover license plates to “all federal agencies” in order to ensure its program run by Driver and Motor […]
Two-time Republican gubernatorial hopeful Christine Drazan pulled no punches as she launched her general election campaign in Portland last week, warning of a “bruising” incoming race against her political rival and incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek. “I’m committed to fixing what’s broken in our state,” the state senator from Canby said at a waterfront dock […]
Oil prices have doubled since Oregon’s top economists last met with reporters and lawmakers to discuss the state’s economic outlook, creating a “new economic reality.” The latest forecast, which economists Carl Riccadonna and Michael Kennedy previewed for reporters Tuesday evening ahead of a Wednesday meeting with the House and Senate revenue committees, is a sharp […]
