TOP STORIES
Oregon Budget Proposal Targets Health, Housing — And Donald Trump
OPB
Gov. Kate Brown unveiled a $23.6 billion budget proposal Wednesday that plugs holes in state health funding, seeks to gain ground in an ongoing housing crisis, expands access to voting and sets aside millions for challenging the policies of President Donald Trump.
Brown’s budget focus: Schools, schools, schools
Portland Tribune
Revealing ambitions for her final term, Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday announced a record expansion of school funding, a revamping of the state approach to energy issues and readying for legal battle against the Trump administration.
Governor focuses on education, campaign finance reform
The Associated Press
Gov. Kate Brown has unveiled her budget and policy proposals for the next biennium, saying she wants to boost education funding, push campaign finance reform, ensure continued access to health insurance coverage and fund legal counseling for immigrants facing deportation.
Oregon Unions Join Nike In New Push For Tax Package In Legislature
OPB
Oregon’s public employee unions joined forces Tuesday with Nike and a group of long-term care providers to launch a new coalition aimed at pushing a major tax package through next year’s Legislature.
Central Oregon school districts support governor’s 180-school-day goal
Bend Bulletin
Gov. Kate Brown has made it clear: She wants a 180-day school year statewide, which would stretch the school year for most Central Oregon students by about two weeks. Administrators in the region’s six largest school districts agree the longer year would benefit students, but some are worried about what it would cost.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Oregon House Republicans’ New Leader Looking Beyond The 2019 Session
OPB
The new Republican leader in the Oregon House has no illusions about what the next two years hold for his caucus. Given the difficulty Republicans will face in pushing their policy objectives in a year when Democrats plan to take on education funding, carbon pricing, gun control and more, Wilson says his caucus will work toward another end: regaining seats in the next election.
Grants Pass Rep. Carl Wilson chosen as House minority leader
Salem Reporter
State Rep. Carl Wilson, a Republican of Grants Pass, was elected Monday to serve as House minority leader. Wilson said Tuesday he’s equipped to lead the smaller caucus with a “steady hand.”
Republicans maintain monopoly of Marion County Commissioners as Colm Willis wins
The Statesman Journal
Republican Colm Willis has defeated Democrat Bill Burgess for Marion County Commissioner Position 2 by less than three percent in the final results of the Nov. 6 election, which were certified Monday.He will join incumbent Republicans Sam Brentano and Kevin Cameron, who defeated Shelaswau Crier 50 percent to 44 percent in the Nov. 6 election, as Marion County Commissioners.
LOCAL
OSU climate change report a mixed bag for Central Oregon forests
Bend Bulletin
A new report produced by Oregon State University paints a surprisingly rosy picture for many Pacific Northwest forests in the face of climate change, but the impact on forests east of the Cascades is much more of a mixed bag.
Affordable housing controversy in NW Portland heads to City Council
The Oregonian/OregonLive
A neighborhood group has asked the Portland City Council to block a proposed affordable housing development in Northwest Portland, saying it’s too big for the surrounding historic district.
Salem bans carryout plastic bags in city
The Oregonian/OregonLive
The Salem City Council has banned plastic carryout bags throughout the city. The measure gives large stores such as Costco until April to comply while smaller businesses will have until September to follow the rules.
Teen suicide: Salem tackles taboo subject in wake of Sprague crisis
The Statesman Journal
Mental health professionals and school officials no longer view youth suicide as a private family matter but as a public health crisis. They are imploring parents to talk openly to their children and calling on teenagers to help create awareness.
Environmentalists sue over acidic ocean off Oregon coast
KATU
An environmental group is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, alleging that fossil fuel consumption has damaged Oregon’s marine waters by causing ocean acidification that’s killing off shellfish.
Pendleton chamber and downtown association join forces
East Oregonian
The Pendleton Downtown Association and the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce are moving in together, but they’re going to keep some of their assets separate.
Why the plan to end homelessness in Salem, Marion, Polk counties stalled for 10 years
The Statesman Journal
A decade ago, Salem-area leaders embarked on a mission — a 10-year plan to end homelessness. But as January 2018 arrived and the deadline neared, homelessness was worse.
NATIONAL
US, Portland home prices grow at slowest rate in years
The Oregonian/OregonLive
U.S. home prices rose at their slowest pace in nearly two years as the national housing hot streak cooled off. The trend follows the Portland area’s lead. Home prices grew 5.1 percent year-over-year, the slowest growth in six years.
Trump slams Fed chair, questions climate change and threatens to cancel Putin meeting in wide-ranging interview with The Post
The Washington Post
President Trump placed responsibility for recent stock market declines and this week’s announcement of General Motors plant closures and layoffs on the Federal Reserve during an interview Tuesday, shirking any personal blame for cracks in the economy and declaring that he is “not even a little bit happy” with his hand-selected central bank chairman.
OPINION
Opinion: Looking to Finland to improve Oregon’s schools
The Oregonian/OregonLive
Oregon is at a critical moment when it comes to education. As such, the opportunity to share learnings from Oregon at an international summit in Helsinki, Finland, was an opportunity we couldn’t miss.