Oregon State Library eClips

____________________

OREGON UNEMPLOYMENT SLIPS TO 8.5 PERCENT IN APRIL AS JOBS INCREASE AND SUMMER HIRING LOOKS UP

(Portland Oregonian)Teenagers face better summer job prospects than they have since the recession, economists say, as Oregon adds jobs in key sectors while the unemployment rate inches down.
_________________________________________

OREGON’S ELECTRONICS RECYCLING ROSE IN 2011, DEQ SAYS, TOPPING 25 MILLION POUNDS

(Portland Oregonian)Oregonians recycled 25.9 million pounds of computers, monitors and televisions in 2011, the Department of Environmental Quality said Tuesday, up 7 percent from 2010.
_________________________________________

COASTAL COOS COUNTY TO PRACTICE TSUNAMI ESCAPE

(Portland Oregonian)Communities in coastal Coos County will host a voluntary Tsunami Evacuation Drill Thursday, May 31 at 2 p.m. The drills, to be held in Coos Bay, North Bend, Barview, Charleston and Empire, will follow new evacuation routes recently released by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries DOGAMI.
_________________________________________

MEDICAL COST OF OBESITY IN OREGON: $1.6 BILLION A YEAR

(Portland Oregonian)Obesity-related chronic diseases cost Oregon about $1.6 billion in medical expenses each year, the Oregon Health Authority estimates in a new report on the obesity epidemic
_________________________________________

WITH OREGON AGRICULTURE COMING OFF RECORD SALES YEAR, HERMISTON MAY GET NEW AG-BUSINESS CENTER

(Portland Oregonian)The East Oregonian Publishing Group is reporting that Hermiston may be in line for a new agriculture business center.
_________________________________________

ROSENBLUM’S MISSION: RECONNECT AG — OPINION

(Portland Oregonian)Following her sweeping victory in the Democratic primary for Oregon attorney general Tuesday, Ellen Rosenblum will sit down to a piled-high desk, full of challenges that have grown over recent months. Despite the themes of the past campaign, few of them will deal with marijuana.
_________________________________________

ELECTION RESULTS

(Portland Oregonian)Click this link for election results covered by The Oregonian.
_________________________________________

PATIENT DAMAGES PORTION OF OREGON STATE HOSPITAL

(Salem Statesman Journal)A patient at the Oregon State Hospital caused damage to the ceiling of its admission and stabilization unit Sunday night.

The male patient reportedly jumped up by using the wall as a springboard, punched through an acoustic tile and pulled down a portion of the metal grid, according to Rebeka Gipson-King, a spokeswoman for the state hospital.
_________________________________________

OREGON JOBLESS RATE DIPS TO 8.5%

(Eugene Register-Guard)-The state shaves a tenth of a point off unemployment, in line with the national trend-

Oregons unemployment rate ticked down to 8.5 percent in April, from 8.6 percent in March, mirroring the drop in the U.S. unemployment rate, which was 8.1 percent in April and 8.2 percent in March.
_________________________________________

TRUCKING GROUP SUES OREGON OVER 450% DMV FEE INCREASE

(Oregon Business Journal)The Oregon Trucking Associations Inc. is leading a lawsuit against the Oregon departments of transportation and administrative services over a proposed 450 percent increase in the fee for getting a DMV driving record.
_________________________________________

KITZHABER MOVES AHEAD WITH LOOK AT OREGON’S PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM

(Oregon Public Broadcasting)Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber hopes a newly revived public safety commission will lead to big changes in the state’s criminal justice system. The Democrat issued an executive order Monday that brings back to life a blue ribbon panel created by his predecessor, Ted Kulongoski.
_________________________________________

KITZHABER PLANS 2-DAY VISIT TO BEND, PRINEVILLE

(KTVZ Bend)Gov. John Kitzhaber will travel to Central Oregon later this week for two days of stops that include tours of Breedlove Guitars in Bend and the Facebook data center in Prineville.
_________________________________________

State Library eClips

* Mistakes, slow start plague Oregon anti-foreclosure program

* Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown’s office bungled enforcement of state election law in Portland schools case

* Oregon Guard pours energy into jobs-and-school effort for returning troops

* Oregon’s presidential primary could produce lowest turnout in modern state history

* Oregon wolf gets first color photo

* Transportation panel meets in Keizer

* State honors pair of Keizer schools

* Worst day for state worker compensation claims

* Unusual state worker injuries

* Secretary of State donates computers

* Salem students win savings account

* Tuesday’s primary has interesting races — Opinion

* State’s health care plan promises rewards — Opinion

* Officials find invasive species

* Former state senator dies

* Oregon investigates tracking mileage for road tax

* Ore. court ruling could mean changes in DUII cases

* Creswell behind on city audits

* Its time to expand Oregon Caves National Monument — Guest Opinion

* Courts closed under bridge pending road repair

* Oregon’s bold experiment

* Area OSPoffice moving to new location just outside of Ontario

* Leading Oregon

* Boat Inspections Yield Results

* EOHEC Could Host Ag Business Program

* Wine country plate to debut Monday

* Why The Oregon Attorney General Race Has National Implications For Marijuana Laws

* Oregon mileage tax: State looks for simple way

* City outlines its issues with designation

____________________

MISTAKES, SLOW START PLAGUE OREGON ANTI-FORECLOSURE PROGRAM (Portland Oregonian) http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/05/mistakes_slow_start_plague_ore.html

A troubled state program to help homeowners avoid foreclosure has struggled to efficiently distribute more than $220 million in federal taxpayer money to deserving Oregonians.

_________________________________________

OREGON SECRETARY OF STATE KATE BROWN’S OFFICE BUNGLED ENFORCEMENT OF STATE ELECTION LAW IN PORTLAND SCHOOLS CASE (Portland Oregonian) http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/oregon_secretary_of_state_kate.html

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown’s office botched enforcement of a state elections law last year, prompting a judge to decide this week not to determine whether two public employees illegally promoted a May 2011 Portland school construction bond at taxpayer expense.

_________________________________________

OREGON GUARD POURS ENERGY INTO JOBS-AND-SCHOOL EFFORT FOR RETURNING TROOPS (Portland Oregonian) http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonatwar/2012/05/oregon_guard_pours_energy_into.html

When he was in Iraq, said Michael Sattem, “I had a lot of time to think about what I wanted to do.”

In this, he was not alone. Sattem, 24, was a first lieutenant in the Oregon Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion of the 116th Cavalry Regiment who came home to La Grande from Iraq last September.

_________________________________________

OREGON’S PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY COULD PRODUCE LOWEST TURNOUT IN MODERN STATE HISTORY (Portland Oregonian) http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2012/05/oregons_presidential_primary_c.html

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown on Friday predicted that voter turnout in Tuesday’s primary will be in the “low 40s,” which would be the lowest voter participation for the state’s presidential primary in modern history.

_________________________________________

OREGON WOLF GETS FIRST COLOR PHOTO (Salem Statesman Journal) http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120513/NEWS/305130024/-1/7daysarchives/Oregon-wolf-gets-first-color-photo

-OR-7 spotted with coyotes in northern California-

A young male wolf from Oregon that has won worldwide fame while trekking across mountains, deserts and highways looking for a mate has had what appears to be his first close encounter with people, and got his picture taken, to boot.

_________________________________________

TRANSPORTATION PANEL MEETS IN KEIZER (Salem Statesman Journal) http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120513/NEWS/305130017/-1/7daysarchives/Transportation-panel-meets-Keizer

The monthly meeting of the Oregon Transportation Commission will start at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 16, in Room B at Keizer City Hall, 930 Chemawa Road NE.

_________________________________________

STATE HONORS PAIR OF KEIZER SCHOOLS (Salem Statesman Journal) http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120513/NEWS/305130046/-1/7daysarchives/State-honors-pair-Keizer-schools

-Claggett Creek, Weddle get awards-

Two Keizer schools were recognized recently by the state for their progress in closing the academic achievement gap.

_________________________________________

WORST DAY FOR STATE WORKER COMPENSATION CLAIMS (Salem Statesman Journal) http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120513/NEWS/305130044/-1/7daysarchives/Worst-day-state-worker-compensation-claims

State workers filed 26 workers compensation claims based on injury or illness they suffered on January 8, 2004  the most injuries reported to SAIF on any single day during the past decade.

_________________________________________

UNUSUAL STATE WORKER INJURIES (Salem Statesman Journal) http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120513/NEWS/305130043/-1/7daysarchives/Unusual-state-worker-injuries

Each entry in the SAIF Corp. workers compensation database contains a short description of the injury. Most descriptions are wince-inducing  300 pound metal bar fell, breaking hip and leg  but others can be eyebrow-raising:

_________________________________________

SECRETARY OF STATE DONATES COMPUTERS (Salem Statesman Journal) http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120513/STATE/305130052/-1/7daysarchives/Secretary-State-donates-computers

Secretary of State Kate Brown has donated 15 computer processing units to the Salem-Keizer School District, where spending cuts have taken their toll on replacements.

_________________________________________

SALEM STUDENTS WIN SAVINGS ACCOUNT (Salem Statesman Journal) http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120513/STATE/305130053/-1/7daysarchives/Salem-students-win-savings-account

Five students and four Salem elementary schools will share in the rewards distributed by state Treasurer Ted Wheeler as part of a reading program promoting financial literacy.

_________________________________________

TUESDAY’S PRIMARY HAS INTERESTING RACES — OPINION (Salem Statesman Journal) http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120513/COLUMN0108/305120031/-1/7daysarchives/Tuesday-s-primary-has-interesting-races

Just five weeks have passed since I first wrote about Oregons primary in this column, and here it is upon us Tuesday.

_________________________________________

STATE’S HEALTH CARE PLAN PROMISES REWARDS — OPINION (Salem Statesman Journal) http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120513/OPINION/305130025/-1/7daysarchives/State-s-health-care-plan-promises-rewards

-Governor’s nationally recognized reform effort also is a huge gamble-

Oregons health-care transformation is under way, blessed by $1.9 billion of your federal tax dollars at work. Two events this past week illustrate the promise and perils of those reforms.

_________________________________________

OFFICIALS FIND INVASIVE SPECIES (Salem Statesman Journal) http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120512/NEWS/305120014/-1/7daysarchives/Officials-find-invasive-species

-Two out-of-state boats had zebra, quagga mussels-

In less than a week after opening for the inspection season, teams at a pair of boat inspection stations in Oregon found two of the most dreaded aquatic invasive species.

_________________________________________

FORMER STATE SENATOR DIES (Salem Statesman Journal) http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120512/UPDATE/305120025/-1/7daysarchives/Former-state-senator-dies

-Keith Burbidge was a union supporter-

Services are pending for Keith Burbidge, a railroad engineer who represented Salem in the Oregon Senate  and who played a role in Oregons 18-year-olds winning the right to vote.

_________________________________________

OREGON INVESTIGATES TRACKING MILEAGE FOR ROAD TAX (Salem Statesman Journal) http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120513/UPDATE/120513006/-1/7daysarchives/Oregon-investigates-tracking-mileage-road-tax

Oregons expected drop in fuel tax revenue is sending officials into new directions for assessing road user tax.

_________________________________________

ORE. COURT RULING COULD MEAN CHANGES IN DUII CASES (Salem Statesman Journal) http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20120512/UPDATE/120512009/-1/7daysarchives/Ore-court-ruling-could-mean-changes-DUII-cases

The Oregon Supreme Court has ruled that people suspected of drunken driving are not off the hook just because their blood-alcohol content is measured below the legal limit.

_________________________________________

CRESWELL BEHIND ON CITY AUDITS (Eugene Register-Guard) http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/28021687-41/state-audits-audit-late-creswell.html.csp

-The city administrator and mayor say finances are fine and the audits will soon be completed-

The city of Creswell is two years behind in completing state-required audits of its finances, the same oversight that allowed another Lane County city  Oakridge  to blow through $1.2 million in cash reserves without anyone knowing about it.

_________________________________________

ITS TIME TO EXPAND OREGON CAVES NATIONAL MONUMENT — GUEST OPINION (Eugene Register-Guard) http://www.registerguard.com/web/opinion/28010283-47/national-caves-monument-oregon-parks.html.csp

During my 35 years as a teacher in Oregon, I taught students about the history, culture and geography of the United States. This often included information about the national parks and their rich natural heritage.

_________________________________________

COURTS CLOSED UNDER BRIDGE PENDING ROAD REPAIR (Eugene Register-Guard) http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/28051982-41/bridge-joint-jefferson-washington-area.html.csp

-A metal plate installed as a fix comes loose and falls onto Washington-Jefferson Park-

The state has fenced off part of the basketball courts under the Washington-Jefferson Street Bridge in Eugene after an attempt by state employees to fix a joint between sections of the bridge resulted in a metal plate falling from underneath the bridge onto the courts 30 to 40 feet below.

_________________________________________

OREGON’S BOLD EXPERIMENT (Medford Mail Tribune) http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120513/OPINION/205130315/-1/NEWSMAP

May 13, 2012

Oregon has long been a leader in many arenas  public beaches, land-use planning, the bottle bill  and now, thanks to the hard work of state Sen. Alan Bates, D-Medford, Gov. John Kitzhaber and many others, the state is poised to lead the way on controlling government health care costs.

_________________________________________

AREA OSPOFFICE MOVING TO NEW LOCATION JUST OUTSIDE OF ONTARIO (Argus Observer) http://www.argusobserver.com/news/area-osp-office-moving-to-new-location-just-outside-of/article_a0dc240c-9b92-11e1-ae92-001a4bcf887a.html

May 11, 2012

The Oregon State Police Ontario Area Command office will be changing locations this upcoming week.

_________________________________________

LEADING OREGON (Argus Observer)

http://www.argusobserver.com/news/leading-oregon/article_fabb9176-9cb2-11e1-98e8-0019bb2963f4.html

May 12, 2012

Average pay per job in Malheur County, and Baker County, topped $30,000 for the first time last year, according to figures from Oregon Employment Department but that is not necessarily a reflection of the countys economic picture as much as job situations.

_________________________________________

BOAT INSPECTIONS YIELD RESULTS (Oregon Public Broadcasting) http://news.opb.org/article/boat_inspections_yield_results/

May 11, 2012

During last fall’s only local police sweep of motorists violating Oregon’s mandatory boat inspections for invasive species, more than two dozen boaters offered a bevy of excuses for why they blew past inspectors on Interstate 5 at the Ashland port of entry.

_________________________________________

EOHEC COULD HOST AG BUSINESS PROGRAM (Oregon Public Broadcasting) http://news.opb.org/article/eohec_could_host_ag_business_program/

May 12, 2012

The Eastern Oregon Higher Education Center in Hermiston could be the home of a new agriculture business program for Eastern Oregon University.

_________________________________________

WINE COUNTRY PLATE TO DEBUT MONDAY (Yamhill Valley News Register)

http://www.newsregister.com/article?articleTitle=wine-country-plate-to-debut-monday–1336832884–3438–

May 12, 2012

Starting Monday, Oregon drivers will be able to purchase wine country automobile license plates for an ongoing $30 surcharge.

_________________________________________

WHY THE OREGON ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE HAS NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS FOR MARIJUANA LAWS (U.S. News & World Report) http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/05/11/why-the-oregon-attorney-general-race-has-national-implications-for-marijuana-laws

May 11, 2012

A former federal prosecutor has raised the ire of marijuana activists who have mobilized against his campaign.

_________________________________________

OREGON MILEAGE TAX: STATE LOOKS FOR SIMPLE WAY (Corvallis Gazette-Times) http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/oregon-mileage-tax-state-looks-for-simple-way/article_bc63c23b-9cb6-5ffc-8d4e-0b127c4a90c7.html

May 13, 2012

Oregon is looking a new direction in its search for a way to collect a road user tax  in order to make up for an expected drop in fuel tax revenue: It wants to give people a choice among various private technologies and systems.

_________________________________________

CITY OUTLINES ITS ISSUES WITH DESIGNATION (Herald and News) http://www.heraldandnews.com/article_d92bcb50-9bfb-11e1-aee5-001a4bcf887a.html

May 11, 2012

The city outlined what it considers numerous problems with the Environmental Protection Agencys methodology that led to the proposal to add Agency Lake, Upper Klamath Lake, Link River and the Klamath River to Oregons list of water bodies that contain too much arsenic.

_________________________________________

___________________________________

State Library eClips

To subscribe/unsubscribe visit: http://library.state.or.us/services/awareness/eClips

Hosted by the Oregon State Library (503)378-8800

____________________

OREGON’S HEALTH CARE REFORMS GIVE ME HOPE FOR A CHANGE IN LONG-TERM CARE — GUEST OPINION

(Portland Oregonian)In his May 8 op-ed, “Oregon communities jump into health care reform,” Doug Riggs adds encouraging information to the conversation on Oregon’s new coordinated care organizations. Riggs talks about Gov. John Kitzhaber securing the funding “for a dramatic and ambitious reform of the health delivery system,” but what delights me the most is that communities are being asked to “incorporate social determinants of health, such as housing and employment, into the health model.”

_________________________________________

ANSWERS TO OREGON’S SCHOOL FUNDING PROBLEMS FROM SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS’ POINT OF VIEW — GUEST OPINION

(Portland Oregonian)Susan Nielsen’s commentary “During school cuts, a lesson from Clint Eastwood” April 29 called on Oregon’s adults to find answers so no more students have to ask the heartbroken question “What did we do to deserve this?” when budget cuts hit education. As school board members, we see a number of solutions that could reverse Oregon’s disinvestment in schools.
_________________________________________

HIRING PROCESS FOR OREGON’S NEW CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER SHOULD BE MORE TRANSPARENT — GUEST OPINION

(Portland Oregonian)Oregon has a national reputation for open government. We have open meetings laws, open records laws and a Legislature seen as less corrupt than many other state houses. This makes the selection process for Oregon’s new educational leader all the more reprehensible as Gov. John Kitzhaber and the Oregon Educational Investment Board make the choice in the backrooms, with no transparency.
_________________________________________

OREGON OFFICIALS TOUT BENEFITS OF VACCINATIONS WHILE KEEPING EYES ON WHOOPING COUGH

(Salem Statesman Journal)As Oregon public health officials closely watch the rash of whooping cough outbreaks in Washington, theyre urging people to protect themselves and infants against the potentially deadly disease.
_________________________________________

OREGON PRIMARY PARTICIPATION LIKELY TO SINK THIS YEAR

(Salem Statesman Journal)-Races are low-key, and there are no statewide measures-

In 2008, the Democratic presidential contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton drove a surge of new registered voters and helped Democrats break a 40-year-old record for primary participation.
_________________________________________

PRIVACY A CONCERN FOR SOME EMPLOYEES — OPINION

(Salem Statesman Journal)Folks who have ended up on Rep. Dennis Richardsons voluminous email address list without knowing it tend to react one way or the other when they find one of his missives in their inbox.
_________________________________________

REPORTS OF TEACHER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ON THE RISE

(KATU)Recently, it felt like every few weeks a new disturbing story was breaking about a teacher violating the public trust and crossing the line with students.

But is the sexual abuse of students actually happening more often? KATU News On Your Side Investigator Anna Canzano decided to dig deeper into the issue.
_________________________________________

OREGON ANTI-FORECLOSURE PROGRAM SHOWS SLOW START

(Corvallis Gazette-Times)A state program to help prevent foreclosures has struggled to efficiently distribute more than $220 million in federal taxpayer money to Oregon homeowners, the Oregonian newspaper reported.

_________________________________________

STATE PLAN CHANGES CHILDRENS AGENCY

(Herald and News)Gov. John Kitzhabers plan to overhaul early childhood programs has Klamath County officials concerned there will be less local control of funding for services like court appointed advocates and child abuse prevention.
_________________________________________

____________________

HOPING FOR AN INSURANCE REBATE? IN OREGON, YOU’RE LIKELY OUT OF LUCK

(Portland Oregonian)Late last month a study predicted that health insurers would pay out about $1.3 billion rebates to more than 15 million customers across the country, in some cases topping $500 per person.
_________________________________________

PROTESTER ARRESTED AFTER CLIMBING THE FLAGPOLE OUTSIDE OREGON’S CAPITOL

(Portland Oregonian)Oregon State Police arrested a protestor Thursday morning after he climbed the flagpole outside the state Capitol and hung a banner decrying plans to log a state forest.
_________________________________________

EXCESS WINTER STEELHEAD ARE BOUND FOR OREGON FOOD BANKS

(Medford Mail Tribune)-Fillets from about 1,200 fish at Cole Rivers Hatchery will be donated to Oregon’s hungry-

About 1,200 winter steelhead that Rogue River Basin anglers couldn’t catch for their dinners this past season will instead feed some of Oregon’s hungrier residents in the near future.
_________________________________________

AMERICANS ELECT QUALIFIES FOR OREGON BALLOT

(Oregon Public Broadcasting)A new political group will appear on the Oregon presidential ballot this fall.
_________________________________________

PUBLIC RECORDS ACCESS BURDENS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

(Oregon Public Broadcasting)The recently completed State Integrity Investigation gave Oregon a failing grade for its policies pertaining to public records.
_________________________________________

OREGON LCFS WILL WEAKEN THE STATE’S ECONOMY

(Sacramento Bee)American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers President Charles T. Drevna issued the following statement in response to the state of Oregon’s decision today to move forward with development of a low carbon fuel standard

_________________________________________

EUROPEAN BUYERS SNAP UP OREGON SHRIMP

(The World)A small crew of Oregon fishermen and processors stormed the European shrimp market last month at the 20th annual European Seafood Exhibition held in Brussels, and found an enthusiastic welcome.
_________________________________________

OREGON GOES STATEWIDE WITH IPAD VOTING

(The Columbian)Oregon is taking its experiment with iPad voting to the whole state.
_________________________________________

____________________

OREGON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RECEIVES HISTORIC $150 MILLION GIFT FROM LATE BUSINESSMAN FRED FIELDS

(Portland Oregonian)The Oregon Community Foundation served up some historic news at its annual luncheon Wednesday at the Oregon Convention Center
_________________________________________

SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS GAIN AND SOME LOSE UNDER NEW OREGON ENROLLMENT LAW

(Portland Oregonian)West Linn-Wilsonville School District imported the equivalent of seven classrooms of students through the state’s new open enrollment law but most districts in the Portland area saw minor adjustments in student transfers
_________________________________________

OREGON WATER SUPPLY LOOKS GOOD FOR SUMMER, EXCEPT FOR PARTS OF EAST AND SOUTHEAST

(Portland Oregonian)Most of Oregon will have adequate water supplies this summer, according to the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
_________________________________________

DOES VIRUS-LADEN BAG GIVE PLASTICS INDUSTRY A NEW ISSUE IN OREGON LEGISLATURE?

(Portland Oregonian)You can bet that plastics-industry lobbyists were feeling more exhilarated than queasy when they read The Oregonian’s front page story Wednesday about the reusable grocery bag implicated in a norovirus outbreak that sickened seven Beaverton girls.
_________________________________________

$5 MILLION NEEDED FOR FORECLOSURE PLAN

(Salem Statesman Journal)-Funds would help launch state program-

Two state agencies plan to request about $5 million from the Legislature this month to fund a new foreclosure mediation program.
_________________________________________

LEGISLATOR CRITICIZED FOR EMAIL LIST AGAIN

(Salem Statesman Journal)-Richardson rips teachers’ union in latest newsletter-

A key Oregon state legislators continuing use of home email addresses to send unsolicited political messages is prompting renewed criticism from state employees and other members of the public.
_________________________________________

TOP DEM DEFENDS ELLIOT STATE FOREST LOGGING

(The World)Oregon’s Secretary of State is defending a decision to increase logging on the Elliot State Forest, despite continued cries by environmentalists that endangered species will lose valuable habitat.

_________________________________________

____________________

ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE ERODED SIGNIFICANTLY IN OREGON AND ACROSS THE U.S. SINCE 2000

(Portland Oregonian)More than 18 percent of Oregon adults skipped medical care because they couldn’t afford it in 2010, up from 12.7 percent a decade earlier.
_________________________________________

OREGON TO REAP $6 MILLION OVER ALLEGED UNLAWFUL DRUG MARKETING WITH PORTLAND LINK

(Portland Oregonian)Abbott Laboratories will pay $1.5 billion to settle criminal and civil federal claims the firm knowingly used questionable science to promote unapproved and ineffective uses for an anti-seizure drug.
_________________________________________

OREGON COMMUNITIES JUMP INTO HEALTH CARE REFORM BY FIGURING OUT COORDINATED CARE ORGANIZATIONS — OPINION

(Portland Oregonian)Oregon is set to receive a nearly $2 billion windfall from the federal government.
_________________________________________

OREGON’S NONPROFITS ARE A $13 BILLION INDUSTRY, ACCORDING TO FIRST EVER STUDY OF THE SECTOR

(Portland Oregonian)A new report confirms what the local nonprofit world has believed for some time: They’re major contributors to Oregon’s economy.
_________________________________________

HOW DOES SALEM COMPARE TO OTHER STATE CAPITALS?

(Salem Statesman Journal)Salem might be one of a kind, but its also one of 50.
_________________________________________

NO NEED TO LEASH ODFW HEAD — OPINION

(Baker City Herald)So much for the old adage about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.
_________________________________________

NEW STATISTICS SHOW NUMBER OF UNVACCINATED KIDS INCREASING

(KATU)As of May 3, Oregon had 156 reported cases of whooping cough, including three in the Riverdale School District in Multnomah County.
_________________________________________

____________________

PRIVATE COLLEGES PLAY A BIG PART IN THE FUTURE OF OREGON HIGHER EDUCATION — OPINION

(Portland Oregonian)Our governor and Legislature are taking significant steps to ensure that Oregonians are equipped with the education they will need to contribute and prosper in an increasingly competitive, global economy.
_________________________________________

PUBLIC INVITED TO GIVE INPUT ON THIRD BRIDGE ACROSS WILLAMETTE AT OPEN HOUSE

(Salem Statesman Journal)The need for a third bridge across the Willamette River in the Salem area has been discussed for many years.
_________________________________________

STATE WORKER NOTEBOOK: UNION RELEASES REPORT CARD FOR STATE’ LEGISLATORS

(Salem Statesman Journal)The political season is upon us, so its no surprise that various organizations have started issuing their report cards on this bienniums crop of Oregon state legislators.
_________________________________________

OREGON’S PREVIOUS PUBLIC PENSION REFORMS IN 2003 PLACE IT AHEAD OF OTHER STATES

(Salem Statesman Journal)Oregon tackled public pension reform back in 2003, placing it a decade ahead of the states now grappling with the issue.
_________________________________________

OPEN ENROLLMENT STIRS DEBATE, PRO — OPINION

(Eugene Register-Guard)Why should families and students who do not have sufficient funds be excluded from being able to choose the school that best fits their childrens needs?
_________________________________________

OREGON LOOKS TO FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR PRISON HEALTH

(KVAL)The state of Oregon is hoping its efforts to revamp health care will help it get access to federal dollars to pay for medical expenses for some prison inmates.
_________________________________________

____________________

AT AN OREGON VENEER PLANT IN WILLAMINA, A TRICKLE OF WOOD PRODUCTS JOBS MAY SIGNAL A SLOW REBOUND

(Portland Oregonian)The international markets didn’t register a ripple, but on April 9 Arnie Swan drove 25 minutes from his home and reported to work at Boise Cascade’s veneer plant.
_________________________________________

KITZHABER SAVES OREGON BUDGET AND HIS REPUTATION IN HEALTH CARE DEAL WITH OBAMA ADMINISTRATION

(Portland Oregonian)Saving Oregon’s fragile state budget along with Gov. John Kitzhaber’s reputation, the Obama administration agreed to a complicated deal that retools the way medical care is delivered to the poor while funneling $1.9 billion to the state over the next five years.
_________________________________________

KITZHABER’S DEAL WITH THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION: A 21ST CENTURY VERSION OF BRINGING HOME THE BACON

(Portland Oregonian)It would be easy to scan the headline about Gov. John Kitzhaber’s $1.9 billion agreement with the Obama administration on Medicaid funding and see it as another example of a local politician bringing home the bacon in the form of a nice federal grant.
_________________________________________

MOLALLA STUDENTS LEAD MISSION TO KEEP NATIVE AMERICAN MASCOT

(Portland Oregonian)Three Molalla High School students are on a campaign to fight the Oregon Department of Education’s proposal that schools eliminate their Native American mascots, and they have invited members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to audit the school’s representations.
_________________________________________

A HEALTHY VICTORY FOR OREGON — OPINION

(Portland Oregonian)You could say Gov. John Kitzhaber and Health Authority Director Bruce Goldberg had a successful week in Washington, D.C., where they secured $1.9 billion in federal money for Oregon over the next five years. But the big winners in this are all Oregonians, whose state will have a working budget next year and whose Medicaid clients will continue to drive down medical costs.
_________________________________________

AT JUSTICE, MANY ISSUES, FEW ANSWERS — OPINION

(Portland Oregonian)It is now less than two months before the premature end of John Kroger’s time as Oregon attorney general, and possibly also the end of his political career, which once seemed limitless. Voters choosing the next attorney general should analyze the course of the departing one.
_________________________________________

FEDERAL AID FOR PRISON HEALTH?

(Salem Statesman Journal)-Under reform, Oregon might be reimbursed for claims through MedicaidState aims to corral costs and improve care-

Oregons health care overhaul could play an unexpected role in how the state funds medical expenses for some prison inmates.

_________________________________________

STATE TO GET $1.9 BILLION IN AID TO REVAMP HEALTH CARE

(Salem Statesman Journal)One of Gov. John Kitzhabers priorities took a big step forward Thursday when he secured $1.9 billion in federal money to reshape how the state delivers health care at less cost to 600,000 low-income Oregonians.
_________________________________________

OREGON GETS HEALTH PLAN FUNDS

(Eugene Register-Guard)-The governor secures $1.9 billion in federal money over five years to revamp the states version of Medicaid-

A hastily scheduled trip to Washington, D.C., ended in success for Gov. John Kitzhaber Thursday as he secured key federal financial backing for the revamp of the Oregon Health Plan that was approved by the state Legislature earlier this year.
_________________________________________

STATE CUTS ITS LOSSES ON HIGHWAY

(Eugene Register-Guard)-A firm will keep about $160 million for a contentious uncompleted project-

Oregon officials announced Thursday that they have terminated the builder that has been battling the state over ballooning costs and landslide problems on a project to repair an infamous 10-mile stretch of Highway 20.
_________________________________________

OREGONS NURSERY, GRASS BUSINESS GREENING UP

(Eugene Register-Guard)-After being hit hard by the housing bust, growers say sales are picking up but margins are lower-

After getting trampled in the Great Recession, Oregon farmers who produce nursery crops and grass seed finally are seeing better days.
_________________________________________

ITS SLOW, BUT ITS GROWTH

(Eugene Register-Guard)-A UO economists measure of the state economy suggests gradual improvement-

Oregon is likely to see continued, albeit slow, growth in the coming months, according to a University of Oregon index that tracks Oregon economic activity.
_________________________________________

A PARTNER IN HEALTH REFORM — OPINION

(Eugene Register-Guard)-Oregon wins a $1.9 billion vote of confidence from feds-

Worries followed Gov. John Kitzhaber to Washington, D.C., this week when he unexpectedly cleared his schedule for meetings with the Obama administrations top health care officials.
_________________________________________

HOW BUYING HEALTH CARE IS LIKE BUYING WINE — OPINION

(Eugene Register-Guard)I hope Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has a successful visit to Washington, D.C., this week. Hell spend most of his time lobbying for rule changes that will allow Oregon to experiment with new ways to optimize Medicare and Medicaid funds. Again.
_________________________________________

AGENT ORANGE DUMP SITE IS OREGON DESERTS TOXIC LEGACY– BLOG

(Oregon Public Broadcasting)One of the most toxic dumps in Oregon remains in legal limbo.

A deal cut by the state with the company that owns the site has now been dropped. And the Department of Environmental Quality has no plans or money to clean it up.
_________________________________________

OREGON LICENSES FIRST POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIST

(Oregon Public Broadcasting)Timothy Sipe has become the first sleep expert to be licensed by the state. Sipe is an employee of Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles.

Sipe is a polysomnographic technologist. That means he can provide diagnostic testing, treatment, education and care for people suffering from sleep disorders.
_________________________________________

NEW LAW HELPS PROTECT THE ELDERLY

(KATU)People who abuse the elderly will no longer get to hide their crimes in Oregon.

A new law to fight elder abuse is now in effect. Under the previous law, a person guilty of elder abuse could have the crime expunged from their record.
_________________________________________

STATE ALLOWS FOREIGN ID CARDS

(KEZI)Governor John Kitzhaber recently announced a new policy allowing Oregon police to accept Mexican identification cards.

_________________________________________

GOVERNOR PROCLAIMS MAY ‘WINE MONTH’ IN ORE.

(KPIC)Raise your glasses, it’s officially Wine Month in Oregon.

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber signed a proclamation earlier this year, declaring May of 2012 Wine Month.
_________________________________________