Oregon
- www.opb.org Oregon Department of Corrections ends practice of charging prisoners for medical devices
The Oregon Department of Corrections will no longer garnish the wages of prisoners who need medical devices, like hearing aids or prosthetic limbs.
-
Proposed Oregon Corporate Tax to fund resident $750 rebate headed to ballot.
www.oregonrebate.org Oregon Rebate 2024The Oregon Rebate (IP 2024-017) is a ballot initiative qualifying for the November 2024 election to rebate every Oregonian (regardless of age, income, or status) about $750 every year, after increasing corporate taxes over $25 million in Oregon sales.
Full bill text: https://sos.oregon.gov/admin/Documents/irr/2024/017text.pdf
TLDR; Oregon corporate tax has a minimum rate of 1%. This ballot measure would raise it to 3% and give $750 to each Oregon resident (including children).
Get ready for an Uber/Lyft level of corporate ads and media spamming to try to sink this common sense bill.
-
OR US House reps mostly vote against FIT21 Act which would make it easier and safer to use crypto.
The bill was widely endorsed by the crypto and financial industries alike for providing much needed regulatory clarity. Looks like it passed anyways with rare bipartisan support and is now headed for the senate.
OR's house reps and how they voted
Salinas (D) - NO
Bentz (R) - YES
Blumenauer (D) - Abstain
Bonamici (D) - NO
Chavez-DeRemer (R) - YES
Hoyle (D) - NO
Axios article about the bill:
https://www.axios.com/2024/05/22/crypto-legislation-fit21-house-passes
Some other relevant background info: https://www.dlnews.com/articles/regulation/us-house-passes-sweeping-crypto-fit21-bill/
Vote record if you want to look up your rep: https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024226
Among other things, the bill establishes:
- Clear ways to determine if a crypto asset is a security or not, and a process for making that determination. If a crypto is a security, it is subject to many more regulations and laws which are needed to protect investors.
- Clear ways to determine is a crypto exchange is actually an exchange, money transmitter, or other entity subject to regulation and what those regulations are
- Which federal agency even has jurisdiction over crypto assets
- That sufficiently decentralized cryptos (like Bitcoin) are exempt from many securities regulations. This is because a decentralized cryptocurrency can't rugpull you or otherwise collude to harm whatever investments one has made in them. When you think about bad crypto scandals like FTX, exchange collapses, and other rug pulls, they are all a result of centralized actors taking advantage of the trust of others. Decentralized, trustless systems like Bitcoin do not have this flaw as one does not need to trust a select set of centralized actors to faithfully and transparently administer the system. There is no single entity or set of entities, for example, who can make new Bitcoin which is not meant to be minted according to the Bitcoin protocol or force the transfer of funds from one user to another.
- Likewise would exempt "decentralized exchanges" from securities regulations as there is no trusted centralized intermediary who can rugpull investors. One might use a decentralized exchange, for example, to swap BTC to ETH or another cryptocurrency. They are fast, transparent, and efficient.
Personally I vote straight D on the ballot, I was disappointed to see my reps vote against this bill and surprised to see Rs voting for it.
- www.opb.org Douglas fir die-off in Southern Oregon gives a glimpse into the future of West Coast forests
Douglas fir trees around Ashland are dying in the thousands. It’s one example of how our changing climate is affecting forests in the region.
-
The Moon is a mystery
I've lived in Keizer, OR for a bit over a year. It's just north of Salem, almost an hour south of Portland.
There is a local low power station that I have not yet figured out. I have done some research (albeit surface level) into it, but have been stymied at every turn.
I have no idea how they have funding for a fully ad-free radio station. I don't know why they have such a fantastic music selection 24/7. I don't know anything about it.
It's a mystery.
I thought I would share that mystery. You can listen online if you wish, but also listener beware, you have no idea what might come on next: https://themoon.fm/listen-now/
If anyone can find more information about why I cannot find a way to donate to this station, I'd love to hear it.
Sincerely, Crackhappy.
Edit: I contacted the station, and found out that you can donate, it's just not listed on the site at all. @TheMoonOfSalem is where you can send donations on Paypal/Venmo.
- itsgoingdown.org Eight Days for Gaza: A Report on the Occupation and Defense of the Portland State University Library
A day-by-day reflection and account of a recent campus occupation in solidarity with Palestine at Portland State University (PSU), in Portland, Oregon. Social media posts and photo from Alissa Azar on Mastodon. Day 1 – April 25 2024 The call went out around 3pm, Thursday the 25th, on a couple local ...
-
Subheading: If the trend continues through 2030, the state could lose its recently added sixth U.S. House seat, a think tank says.
> What does Oregon have in common with West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Louisiana? > > They all lost population in the year ended July 1, 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest estimates, along with California, Hawaii, Illinois and New York.
> Overall, Oregon’s population fell by 6,021 people, or 0.14%, to 4,233,358. That’s the seventh-largest loss in the nation, just behind high-cost California at -0.19% and ahead of Rust Belt Pennsylvania at -0.08%. > > The declines, though small, are dangerous for a state like Oregon, which has relied on in-migration for much of its economic growth.
- theintercept.com AIPAC and Republican Donors Raising Big Money for Maxine Dexter Against Susheela Jayapal in Oregon
A donor to Maxine Dexter’s congressional campaign in Portland, Oregon, tells The Intercept: “I give all my contributions through AIPAC.”
-
OR reps vote for and against bill to withhold funds from unis if they allow "anti-semitic" speech on campus. Bill faced bipartisan criticism as a restriction on free speech
Bill name: Antisemitic Awareness Act
Current status: Passed house, awaiting vote in Senate
Good explainer by US news https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2024-05-07/explainer-the-controversy-surrounding-the-antisemitism-bill
Article about 700 Jewish professors who opposed the bill https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4651826-jewish-professors-biden-antisemitism-legislation/
ACLU statement against bill: https://www.aclu.org/documents/aclu-urges-congress-to-oppose-anti-semitism-awareness-act
Vote tally: https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024172
Voted for bill: Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Salinas (D-OR), Bentz (R-OR)
Voted against bill: Val Hoyle (D-OR), Bonamici (D-OR), Blumenauer (D-OR)
If you feel passionately about this bill, contact your senators and Joe Biden who will have the final say if it passes the senate:
Jeff Merkeley (202) 224-3753
Ron Wyden (202) 224-5244
Joe Biden (202) 456-1111
- www.oregonlive.com Nathan Vasquez leads in matchup against Multnomah County DA Mike Schmidt, poll finds
The results “indicate strongly that Mike Schmidt has got real challenges, that there's an opportunity for Nathan Vasquez,” said pollster John Horvick.
-
30 taco vendors set for Northwest Taco Fest at Riverfront Park in Salem: What to know | Statesman Journal
www.statesmanjournal.com 30 taco vendors set for Northwest Taco Fest at Riverfront Park in Salem: What to knowThe family-friendly Northwest Taco Fest will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Riverfront Park on Saturday.
- itsgoingdown.org In Win for Community, Forest Defenders Stop Old Growth Logging After Three Week Blockade in Oregon
Report on successful blockade and tree-sit in so-called southern Oregon that stopped the logging of old-growth forest. For more background on the campaign, go here. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was pressured by activists to remove an area with ancient trees that was set to be logged as part o...
- itsgoingdown.org Report Back: A15 Blockade and Arrests in Eugene, OR
Report from so-called Eugene on the recent April 15th blockade in solidarity with occupied Palestine. Check out a roundup of April 15th actions here. Amidst a genocide in occupied Palestine, Eugene, OR joined the people of the world to make their demand clear: we want a free Palestine. Despite month...
- itsgoingdown.org BLM Responds to Heightened Pressure as Tree Sitters Celebrate Two Weeks of Continued Occupation
Report on ongoing Poor Windy tree-sit in Southern Oregon. For more updates, follow the Tree Sitter's Union Media Collective. In a sign that the agency is feeling growing pressure as a tree sit on a proposed timber sale enters its second week, the BLM unexpectedly cancelled the Baker's Dozen project,...
-
🇺🇲 Primary elections are coming up soon, you need to be registered by May 1 🇺🇲
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/14261766
> Are you tired of voting for the "lesser of two evils"? Wish you had a say in who you got to vote for? Well you can, if you vote in the primaries! Primary elections determine who will be on the ballot in the general election. If you want to vote in the primaries for a party, you must select that party on your voter registration. You can update your voter registration online. > > The next statewide primary election is May 21, which means you need to register and select a party by May 1 to participate in a closed primary. The sooner you register, the better off you will be. > > What positions can you vote on in primaries? > > * President > * Governor > * Attorney General > * Secretary of State > * Treasurer > * State Legislators > * Federal legislators (house and senate) > > Voting is one important way you can be politically active. There are many other ways as well. I hope you explore all your options and engage politically. Our political process has flaws, it's easy to look at things and think they are hopeless. But remember that apathy has never worked as a strategy to change anything for the better and probably never will :).
-
Kotek threatens to veto money for certain cities
www.opb.org Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek threatens to veto money for certain citiesThe governor said she wanted more information on specific infrastructure projects included in the housing package approved by the Legislature earlier this year.
- www.opb.org Grants Pass v. Johnson: Here's what led to key homelessness case before high court
The U.S. Supreme Court will soon decide if enforcement of regulations against homeless residents is cruel and unusual punishment
- www.opb.org Oregon governor signs bill criminalizing drug possession
On Monday, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed House Bill 4002, which both expands funding for substance abuse treatment and makes possessing small amounts of hard drugs a misdemeanor beginning Sept. 1.
- www.klcc.org Why Oregon schools' pandemic recovery lags behind much of the nation
Oregon schools are struggling more than others across the country to recover academic learning losses. Experts say one likely reason is a lack of statewide consistency in tutoring interventions.
- www.opb.org Oregon governor signs ‘recreational immunity’ bill protecting landowners from lawsuits
Oregon’s governor has signed a temporary stopgap to shield landowners — including local governments — from lawsuits when people are injured while using public trails.
- www.opb.org Oregon’s First Lady gets new state-funded adviser amid departure of Kotek’s top aides
Oregon Department of Administrative Services staffer Meliah Masiba has been appointed adviser for the “Office of the First Spouse” starting March 25.
- www.opb.org Oregon Fish & Wildlife expert says quagga mussels will be catastrophic for fish and water systems
The effects of the invasive quagga mussel, which only grows to the size of a thumbnail, extend beyond the natural ecology and into the built environment. The costs of removing and keeping clusters of the thumbnail-sized mussel out of pipes could cost the state billions.
- www.opb.org Oregon Supreme Court considers ‘misleading marketing’ case against Tillamook creamery
The lawsuit claims Tillamook misled consumers. The creamery disagrees with the allegations and says it's never tried to hide its farming practices or where it sources its milk.
- www.theguardian.com Stargazer’s paradise: Oregon area named world’s largest dark sky sanctuary
Certification awarded for 2.5m acres offering pristine views of night sky, with hopes for expansion to 11m acres
> With clear skies and sparse trees, the Oregon outback has long been regarded as a stargazers’ paradise. Now the region is home to the world’s largest dark sky sanctuary, offering pristine views of the night sky across 2.5m acres.
> ...becoming the largest of 19 sites around the world with the same designation. The sanctuary covers Lake county in south-eastern Oregon, a remote area roughly half the size of New Jersey, and could eventually expand to include more than 11m acres.
- www.nbcnews.com How a small city in Oregon could shape the way major U.S. cities handle homelessness
The Supreme Court will hear arguments next month over city and state rules meant to limit homeless encampments.
- www.oregonlive.com Oregon bill to clear way for more addiction, mental health treatment centers passed both chambers, then died anyway
Oregon desperately needs more mental health and substance use treatment centers. But a bill that would make them easier to open died in the session.
-
Privately owned, for-profit Hillsboro Hops baseball team allocated $15.2 million by state, Bend's non-profit High Desert Museum awarded $0 as it and other arts orgs struggle to stay afloat.
www.oregonlive.com Legislature wraps up work after session focused on housing creation, drug policy, campaign finance limitsOn Thursday, key budget bills to deliver substantial increases in some programs and a host of lawmakers’ pet community projects gained approval in both the House and Senate.
-
OR's Right To Repair Bill Passes House & Senate, sponsored by Eugene's reps!
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/12797292
> Bill SB1596 has passed the house and senate and was sponsored by two Eugene reps: House Rep Holvey and Senatator Prozanski. > > "Oregon has joined the small but growing list of states that have passed right-to-repair legislation. Oregon's bill stands out for a provision that would prevent companies from requiring that official parts be unlocked with encrypted software checks before they will fully function." - Ars Technica > > It now awaits a signature from Tina Kotek, if you are passionate about this bill, you can contact her here: > > https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/share-your-opinion.aspx > > Bill info and votes: > > https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Measures/Overview/SB1596
-
How a new approach in Oregon helps students realize they are 'college material'
www.opb.org How a new approach in Oregon helps students realize they are ‘college material’Corequisite education flips traditional remediation in higher education on its head. Some education advocates in Oregon are looking to make it a mainstay in the state’s community colleges.
-
Which OR House of Reps Voted to Reverse M110 (HB4002)
From here, the bill will go to the senate where it is expected to pass.
Here's how to find your rep:
https://geo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=fd070b56c975456ea2a25f7e3f4289d1
Here's how to find out how your rep voted:
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Measures/Overview/HB4002
TLDR all voted for this bill except:
Rep Cate (R, Dist 11, Linn County)
Rep Gamba (D, Dist 41, Milwaukie, Oak Grove, Northern Clackamas County)
Rep Chaichi (D, Dist 35, Aloha)
Rep Nguyen (D, Dist 48 Damascus and South East Portland)
Rep Pham K (D, Dist 46, SE PDX)
Rep Yunker (R, Dist 3, Josephine County)
Rep Diehl (R,Dist 17, East Salem and Turner to Detroit and Idanha)
Rep Cramer (R, Dist 22, Woodburn, North Salem, Gervais, Brooks, and Labish Village) (not present)
- arstechnica.com CenturyLink left customers without Internet for 39 days—until Ars stepped in
After over a month with no fix, service restored hours after Ars contacted ISP.
> When a severe winter storm hit Oregon on January 13, Nicholas Brown's CenturyLink fiber Internet service stopped working at his house in Portland.
> It took about 39 days for CenturyLink to restore broadband service to Brown and even longer to restore service to one of his neighbors. Those reconnections only happened after Ars Technica contacted the telco firm on the customers' behalf last week.
> Brown's situation was almost exactly like one we wrote about in August 2023. In that case... CenturyLink left 86-year-old Minnesota resident Helen Marie Plourde without home Internet and phone service for over a month.
This makes me glad my mom was able to dump CenturyLink a year ago.
-
People: "The concession stand at Crater Lake is sub-par and isn't representing Oregon well". Ron Wyden: "Unacceptable"
Context: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-demands-federal-review-of-crater-lake-concessionaire-contract
Bless this man 🙏🙏🙏