Oregon officials who recently blocked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from receiving undercover state license plates won’t extend the restrictions to all federal law enforcement, including other agencies that assist immigration enforcement operations.

The post Gov. Tina Kotek won’t expand restrictions on undercover Oregon plates to agencies helping ICE appeared first on Lincoln…

Kacey KC, the first woman to appointed to lead the Department of Forestry on a permanent basis, sees wildlife and habitat conservation as critical to the work of a department tasked with protecting forests from drought, disease and climate change, and fighting fire.

The post New state forester gets to work, says ‘zero tolerance’ for issues that led to predecessor’s ouster appeared first on…

Gov. Tina Kotek has ordered state transportation officials 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.”

The post No undercover license plates for ICE, Gov. Kotek orders appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

In its first meeting since Oregon voters rejected a gas and payroll tax increase to pay for roads and transit services, Gov. Tina Kotek’s transportation workgroup seemed less focused on finding new funding mechanisms for the state’s transportation agency than on public messaging.

The post After Oregonians reject gas tax, governor’s transportation workgroup fixates on messaging, not math appeared…

Oregonians voting may face a showdown between two familiar faces in the governor's race this November: State Sen. Christine Drazan versus Democratic incumbent Gov. Tina Kotek. Kotek is easily winning her crowded primary while Drazan's leading competitor, state Rep. Ed Diehl of Scio, is trailing her 44% by 13 points.

The post Drazan holds strong lead in Republican primary for governor appeared…

The confidential draft proposes significant changes to Oregon’s tax system, which the document calls an unbalanced “one-and-a-half legged stool,” overly reliant on income taxes and a distorted property tax system and lacking a sales tax.

The post Confidential draft recommendations from Kotek’s Prosperity Council suggest tax cuts, reforms appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Oregon’s housing supply increased modestly between 2020 and 2025, with the biggest growth in central Oregon, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released on Thursday, but progress lags far behind the state’s lofty goals.

The post Oregon’s housing supply increased only about 5% between 2020 and 2025 appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Oregon is officially the first state to create a long-term plan to replace Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood if Congress permanently cuts off those funds, lawmakers and health officials said at a ceremonial bill signing.

The post Oregon governor signs laws to backfill Planned Parenthood funding, strengthen shield law appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

One of Gov. Tina Kotek’s top economic advisers suggested that a new economic prosperity effort the governor championed last year could include a reduction in the state's corporate tax on commercial activity above $1 million.

The post Rival-turned-adviser hints Kotek’s prosperity council to chip at Oregon corporate activity tax appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Oregon’s wildfire season started early this year and is expected to last into October, enhanced by historic heat, drought and a potentially early El Niño weather pattern that could further stir up temperatures and lightning storms into the fall, fire officials say.

The post Oregon faces longer fire season due to historic heat, drought, fire experts warn appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Six new Oregon housing laws aim to make it easier for cities and developers to build housing and prioritize affordable housing for families and older Oregonians.

The post Oregon governor signs housing bills addressing affordability, urban growth boundaries appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Portland Public Schools (PPS) is dealing with a major budget crunch—a situation that, former school board member Andrew Scott says, shouldn’t come as a surprise. “We’ve known for a long time that costs for education are growing faster than the funding that school districts receive from the state, and that’s been something that, when I […]

The post With Portland Public Schools’ Budget in Peril,…

Oregon school districts would no longer be able to shorten the school year to cut costs, avoid layoffs or plug budget holes under a new order from the state’s governor.

The post Gov. Kotek issues order prohibiting Oregon districts from reducing school days to cut costs appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

A federal judge in Oregon ruled that a state law requiring insurance plans to cover abortions and contraception violates the rights of Oregon Right to Life under the U.S. Constitution.

The post Federal court rules Oregon law requiring insurance to cover abortion, contraception partly unconstitutional appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Gov. Tina Kotek signed a bill Thursday that will functionally hike taxes by more than $300 million. A campaign to refer that bill back to voters kicked into gear immediately.

The post Republicans are vowing to send another Oregon tax bill to the ballot appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has signed eight bills into law defending immigrant rights as the Trump administration ramps up federal immigration enforcement.

The post Oregon governor signs slew of bills protecting immigrants amid federal crackdown appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Oregon's Climate Protection Program, created under former Gov. Kate Brown, superficially resembles climate plans in other states but unlike others is not accountable while being very expensive.

The post Oregon’s climate protection plan costs far more than other state plans — and is far less accountable appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

A leading Oregon business group is urging Gov. Tina Kotek’s economic advisers to act with greater ambition if they want to attract businesses into the state and reignite the state’s economy.

The post Oregon business leaders urge Gov. Kotek to think bigger with prosperity council effort appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Oregon communities are making way for 9,100 acres of new data centers, including the state’s first “exascale” project — a gargantuan multibillion-dollar installation the size of 1,000 football fields that Amazon hopes to build near the small city of Boardman.

The post Oregon communities envision 9,100 acres for new data centers, quadrupling the industry’s footprint appeared first on Lincoln…

A former head of the Oregon School Boards Association says the governor could reverse Oregon's poor reading scores by mandating that new elementary school teachers pass an exam in the science of reading.

The post Former school leader says Gov. Kotek could fix Oregon’s reading problem appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

Members of Kotek's Prosperity Council oppose a bill that just passed the Legislature, saying it would hurt businesses.

The post Business leaders warn Kotek against bill that would make tax change appeared first on Lincoln Chronicle.

President Donald Trump excluded Democratic governors from a traditional bipartisan meeting at the White House and disinvited several others, includingi Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, from a black-tie dinner for the National Governors Association.