March 9, 2015 eClips Weekend Edition (2024)

HATE YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE PHOTO? OREGON LAWMAKERS MIGHT LET YOU RETAKE IT SOON (Portland Oregonian)

It haunts your wallet and your purse. It’s with you on your morning commute and rears its head when you go out for drinks.

The shame of having an awful driver’s license photo is nearly as old the automobile itself. The current law in Oregon isn’t very understanding: Most drivers are allowed to get a new one taken only every eight years.
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NOAA CRUISE OFFERS CLUES TO PUGET SOUND KILLER WHALES’ WINTER LIVES AT SEA (Portland Oregonian)

New information gleaned from a 21-day cruise with endangered killer whales off the Oregon and Washington coast could provide crucial information as federal officials consider expanding critical habitat for the sea mammals.
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KATE BROWN SIGNS BILL ABOLISHING COVER OREGON (Portland Oregonian)

Gov. Kate Brown on Friday signed bipartisan legislation dissolving Cover Oregon, the state’s troubled, would-be health insurance exchange.
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OF OREGON’S 31 WATER BOTTLERS, NONE AS CONTROVERSIAL AS NESTLE (Portland Oregonian)

Oregon is home to 31 bottled water companies, and only Nestl is controversial enough to flood state officials’ inboxes with protest emails.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Curt Melcher received so many in the wake of the Cascade Locks City Council’s vote to fast-track the approval process for a proposed Nestl bottling plant in the town, he filtered them into a special folder.
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RED TAPE MAY COME OFF OREGON’S COMPLICATED GOOSE HUNT; OR IT MAY SIMPLY END FOREVER (Portland Oregonian)

The world’s most complicated waterfowl hunt closes Tuesday in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Maybe forever.
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FEDS MUST CREATE CONSERVATION PLANS FOR LOWER KLAMATH, TULE LAKE WILDLIFE REFUGES (Portland Oregonian)

Federal fish and wildlife managers must complete a plan to ensure commercial activities at two Northwest federal wildlife refuges do not harm wildlife, a U.S. District Court judge has ruled.
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CHILD VACCINATION SHOULD BE A PARENT’S CHOICE — GUEST OPINION (Portland Oregonian)

I have listened to the debate going on in this country about vaccines. I have kept my opinion to myself. Now I am done being silent. I am not religious; therefore, the choices I make for my children are based on them living long, healthy lives.
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KEEPING TEENS, YOUNG ADULTS SAFE AT WORK: A FOCUS OF OREGON WORKPLACE CONFERENCE (Portland Oregonian)

Teenagers and other young workers are twice as likely to be injured as older ones, federal studies show, and the reasons are many: inexperience, lack of training, exposure to hazards in restaurants and other places where they commonly work.
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NORTHWEST AMONG TOP POLLUTERS PER CAPITA FROM WOOD-BURNING STOVES (Portland Oregonian)

Oregon, Idaho, and Washington residents are among the top polluters in the nation when it comes to fine particle emissions from burning wood to heat homes.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists Oregon, Idaho and Washington as seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively, in per-capita emissions.
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IN FREE-TRADE FIGHT, RON WYDEN EMERGES AS KEY NEGOTIATING FIGURE IN CONGRESS (Portland Oregonian)

Anti-free-trade activists have picketed U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden’s house in Portland, his wife’s townhouse in New York City and his Senate offices in D.C. and Oregon.
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STEVE DUIN: AT THE CAPITOL, THE DEMOCRATS REGROUP AND THE REPUBLICANS FUME (Portland Oregonian)

Dissonance? The state Capitol is always conflicted. Ginny Burdick and Ted Ferrioli share a room. There’s dissonance by design.
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FOR OREGON, 4 OIL TRAIN ACCIDENTS IN 3 WEEKS A REMINDER ‘THIS ISSUE IS NOT GOING AWAY’ (Portland Oregonian)

The accidents came in rapid succession.

In July 2013, an oil train crashed in Quebec, killing 47 people. That November, another one exploded in Alabama. The next month, an oil train sparked a massive fireball in North Dakota. January: New Brunswick, Canada. In May: Lynchburg, Va.
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OREGON PRIMED FOR A DRONE REVOLUTION? SOME THINK SO (Portland Oregonian)

Some industry leaders think Oregon is the perfect spot for a drone revolution.
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DRONE COMPANY FIRST TO FLY FOR OREGON, NORTHWEST FARMERS (Portland Oregonian)

Robert Blair directs a point-and-shoot Canon toward a ficus tree in the DoubleTree by Hilton hallway.
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MOUNT TABOR RESERVOIR ADVOCATES ASK GOV. KATE BROWN TO INTERVENE (Portland Oregonian)

Floy Jones, an outspoken supporter of Mount Tabor’s reservoirs and a co-sponsor of the failed 2014 ballot measure to create an independent Portland Public Water District, has asked Gov. Kate Brown to intervene in the more than decade-old fight over the historic structures.
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KATE BROWN FINDS A CARETAKER BY APPOINTING JEANNE ATKINS AS OREGON SECRETARY OF STATE (Portland Oregonian)

Jeanne Atkins, a veteran Democratic aide and women’s rights advocate appointed by Gov. Kate Brown to be Oregon’s new secretary of state, said Friday that she won’t run in 2016 for a full four-year term in the office.
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KATE BROWN SIGNS CLASS-ACTION BILL: THIS WEEK IN NEW OREGON LAWS (Portland Oregonian)

Welcome to our rundown — updated weekly — of the bills Gov. Kate Brown either signed into law or let become law.
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OREGON CAVES, NEWLY EXPANDED MONUMENT AND PRESERVE, OPENS FOR SPRING BREAK (Portland Oregonian)

Oregon Caves will begin its first season with its new expanded boundaries on Saturday, March 21.
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JOHN KITZHABER LAWYERS ACT TO KEEP EMAILS FROM FEDERAL GRAND JURY (Portland Oregonian)

Former Gov. John Kitzhaber has managed through his attorneys to stall the state’s disclosure of thousands of his emails to a federal grand jury conducting an influence peddling investigation.
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CROWDFUNDING WORKS BEST FOR BOOTSTRAP BUSINESSES — OPINION (Portland Oregonian)

Crowdfunding sounds like an appealing idea. It gives the middle class a way to participate in formation of companies, as venture capitalists do when they back entrepreneurs or well-connected investors do when they participate in initial public offerings.
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REGULATING MEDICAL MARIJUANA WILL HELP RECREATIONAL MARKET SUCCEED — OPINION (Portland Oregonian)

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission last week told the Legislature what it needed in order to craft regulations for an accountable retail recreational marijuana market.
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‘NEW MOTOR VOTER’ BILL WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO THE BALLOT — GUEST OPINION (Portland Oregonian)

Oregon is a land of firsts: vote by mail, public beaches, the bottle bill. When there’s a problem, this state finds an answer and leads the way.
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TRADE PROMOTION BILL WILL HELP OREGON BUSINESSES — GUEST OPINION (Portland Oregonian)

Tim Leatherman was born and raised in Oregon. He grew up with a knack for inventing things, and while traveling abroad as a young OSU graduate, he found he needed a pliers-based, multi-purpose tool that didn’t seem to exist. This, he realized, was an opportunity to create a new product.
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A LIMITED CASE FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT — GUEST OPINION (Portland Oregonian)

Capital punishment is once again in the news in Oregon, with newly installed Gov. Kate Brown’s decision to maintain, for now, the moratorium on executions that ex-Gov. John Kitzhaber instituted.
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CHILD VACCINATION SHOULD BE A PARENT’S CHOICE — GUEST OPINION (Portland Oregonian)

I have listened to the debate going on in this country about vaccines. I have kept my opinion to myself. Now I am done being silent.
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‘CLEAN FUELS’ PROGRAM WILL DRIVE GMO EXPANSION IN OREGON — GUEST OPINION (Portland Oregonian)

Sitting on Gov. Kate Brown’s desk is a bill that could have repercussions in the agricultural community for years to come.
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SMALL BUSINESSES SHOULD BACK MINIMUM WAGE HIKE — GUEST OPINION (Portland Oregonian)

The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board gained cachet with entrepreneurs and their supporters with its Feb. 25 editorial “Bootstrap businesses trip on government regulations”, calling on cities to get serious about supporting small business start-ups.
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TOP 3 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE (Salem Statesman Journal)

The House Committee on Higher Education, Innovation and Workforce Development unanimously passed a bill that would give money to the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development to use for a grant program.
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THE WEEK AHEAD IN OREGONS CAPITOL (Salem Statesman Journal)

The House Committee on Transportation and Economic Development will hear four bills that would change the rules of the road.
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CAPITOL CHERRY BLOSSOMS BLOOM EARLY DUE TO WARM WEATHER (Salem Statesman Journal)

Sunshine, clear skies, unseasonably warm temperatures and pale pink cherry blossoms bursting with color all around Salem point to sure signs of spring.

But wait, did we skip a season?

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SALEM DEQ OFFICE MOVING (Salem Statesman Journal)

The Oregon Department of Environmental Qualitys Salem office is moving.
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DEADLINE EXTENDED TO COMMENT ON JORDAN COVE LNG PROPOSAL (Salem Statesman Journal)

The public has until April 3 to comment on a proposed air pollution permit for the controversial Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas terminal.
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LEARN TO CATCH STEELHEAD AT WORKSHOP ON NORTH SANTIAM (Salem Statesman Journal)

Learn steelhead fishing from the experts on March 21 during an Adult Steelhead Workshop on the North Santiam River.
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LOW CARBON FUEL STANDARD CREATES ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS — GUEST OPINION (Salem Statesman Journal)

After the Oregon House of Representatives spent five hours debating the merits of clean fuels, it became evident that two critical issues in the debate had never properly been discussed in the committee process.
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GOV. KATE BROWN APPOINTS JEANNE ATKINS AS SECRETARY OF STATE (Salem Statesman Journal)

Gov. Kate Brown has appointed Jeanne Atkins, former staffer for U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, as Oregon’s next secretary of state, Brown’s office announced Friday morning.

She will be sworn in Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the governor’s ceremonial office.
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OIL COMPANIES FILE LAWSUIT TO BLOCK STATE CLEAN FUELS PROGRAM (Eugene Register-Guard)

A consortium of oil companies on Friday asked the Oregon Court of Appeals to block the states low-carbon fuel standard, which lawmakers narrowly voted to implement earlier this week.
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PRIVATE EMAIL USE A SOURCE OF FRICTION IN MANY STATEHOUSES (Eugene Register-Guard)

-Many politicians are using their personal electronic devices for government business-

The types of transparency questions surrounding Hillary Clintons use of personal email to conduct business while secretary of state have led in recent years to access fights in state capitals throughout the country.
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FAMILY TREES (Eugene Register-Guard)

-Saplings at new state hospital to bear fruit in honor of loved ones-

Many of them represent a fond nod to the past. Altogether, they lead to something brand-new.

And in a few years, the 200 apple trees planted Saturday along the main driveway of Oregon State Hospitals soon-to-open Junction City campus will help feed hungry people in the community.

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KIDS DEATHS SPUR SAFETY PROPOSALS (Eugene Register-Guard)

-Springfield city leaders and residents will offer ideas to better safeguard pedestrians where 3 children died-

City officials are proposing a list of projects to improve safety on Main Street in the aftermath of last months crash that killed three children and critically injured their mother.
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SCENIC DESIGNATION SOUGHT FOR ROADWAY (Eugene Register-Guard)

-Officials say portions of state Highway 27 on the Crooked River deserve the extra attention-

One of the prettiest stretches of highway in the state may be soon getting a little more attention.
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STATE DETAILS HEALTH VIOLATIONS (Eugene Register-Guard)

-A report alleges that a mental health facility made mistakes with medication and allowed patient escapes-
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GOV. BROWN APPOINTS NEW SECRETARY OF STATE (Eugene Register-Guard)

-The former member of U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkleys staff succeeds Kate Brown for the next two years-

Gov. Kate Brown has turned to Jeanne Atkins, a former staffer for U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, to be her appointed replacement as Oregons secretary of state, eschewing a number of more high-profile candidates.
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WILDFIRE EXPERTS EXPECTING TOUGH 2015 (Eugene Register-Guard)

-The warm and dry conditions have left hillsides susceptible to lightning strikes, they say-

Fire bosses in Southern Oregon are bracing for a season that could start earlier, last longer and burn hotter than usual in a part of the world known for major summer fires.
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OUTCOME-BASED COLLEGE FUNDING DOING ITS JOB — GUEST OPINION (Eugene Register-Guard)

Oregons economic recovery finally is producing dividends for our community colleges. At the funding levels recommended by the Legislatures budget writers, we can expect to see a 26 percent increase in state funding on a per-student basis in 2015-17.
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A NON-POLITICAL CHOICE — OPINION (Eugene Register-Guard)

Jeanne who? In the weeks since Kate Brown succeeded John Kitzhaber as governor of Oregon, speculation about who she would appoint to fill the vacancy she left as secretary of state has focused on a short list of names a list that did not include Jeanne Atkins.
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SAXTON ENDORSED FOR STATE’S TOP HEALTH JOB (Portland Tribune)

-Panel clears way for confirmation by Oregon Senate.-

Nominated by one governor, Lynne Saxton of Portland will proceed with the endorsem*nt of another governor as director of the Oregon Health Authority, one of the largest state agencies.
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WEST LINN CITY COUNCIL OPPOSES OC PROPOSAL (Portland Tribune)

-House Bill 2800 would give control of district to cities rather than county-

Eight months after the Tri-City Service District sued Oregon City over right-of-way franchise fees, the two bodies are poised for another fight this time over a legislative bill that would allow a city to assume duties and functions of a county service district when the majority of the districts residents are part of that city.
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COURTNEY: JUDGES SHOULD HAVE MORE AUTHORITY OVER RESTRAINING ORDERS (Portland Tribune)

-Violations result in deaths of at least three women in recent years, Senate president says.-

Senate President Peter Courtney wants to give judges more authority to enforce restraining orders, violations of which cost at least three women their lives in recent years.
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LACK OF SNOWPACK CREATES CONCERNS FOR STREAMS, FISH (Portland Tribune)

So far, authorities say it is too early in the year for the low amount of snow to be a concern to most people skiers excluded.

But the low snowpack hasnt just had an impact on businesses and snow sports enthusiasts who havent gotten much use out of their equipment. The lack of snow on the mountain also has affected the flow of local rivers, which in turn affects their residents: the fish.
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LAWMAKERS TAKE TIME TO HONOR LOCAL MUSICIANS (Portland Tribune)

Call it a tribute to Oregons musical history.

Fridays meeting of the House Rules Committee in Salem included a handful of measures honoring local musicians who died within the past few years: Jim Pepper who died in 1992, Obo Addy, Linda Hornbuckle and Janice Scroggins.
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INMATE FAMILY PROGRAM SHOULD BE SPARED — GUEST OPINION (Portland Tribune)

Stop worrying about things you cant control. Just focus on being a second-grader.

Thats what Nova, an inmate mother, said tenderly as she hugged her 7-year-old daughter, Malique, goodbye last spring at the end of their visit at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville.
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DON’T EXEMPT POT FROM LOCAL TAXES, LAWS — GUEST OPINION (Portland Tribune)

Last November, Oregon voters approved Ballot Measure 91 to decriminalize, with limitations, the consumption, production and sale of marijuana and marijuana-infused products.

Measure 91 was 38 pages long and prescribed many things that it would be incredulous to say most voters were fully conversant with when they voted. Among those provisions was an attempt to limit local control with respect to operations and taxation.
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HEED VOTERS’ WILL GOING FORWARD ON POT — GUEST OPINION (Portland Tribune)

Implementing licensed and regulated marijuana commerce is a major challenge and opportunity for the state of Oregon. We have the opportunity to severely curtail the illicit marijuana market and better protect children from illegal drug dealers, while creating thousands of jobs and generating millions of dollars in new revenue.
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EMAILS SHOW EX-GOV. JOHN KITZHABER MADE ONLY ONE PAID SPEECH WHILE IN OFFICE — BLOG (Willamette Week)

-Kitzhaber had asked ethics commission’s permission to earn extra money.-

In December 2012, then-Gov. John Kitzhaber took the extraordinary step of asking the Oregon Government Ethics Commission if could have permission to make paid speeches.
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OREGON LEGISLATURE CONSIDERING BILLS TO MANDATE INSURANCE FOR UBER AND LYFT — BLOG (Willamette Week)

-Cab companies backing the legislation; Uber wants lawmakers to wait-

The Portland cab industrys fight with ride app Uber is driving to Salem.

An alliance of taxi companies is backing a bill in the Oregon Legislature that would require transportation companies like Uber and Lyft to carry commercial insurance at all times of operation.
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LOW SNOWPACK NOT KEY INDICATOR FOR AREA RESERVOIR LEVELS, CORPS SAYS (Albany Democrat Herald)

An alarming lack of snowpack in the Cascades could significantly affect this summers wildfire season, but at this point, officials with the Army Corps of Engineers arent worried about filling Foster and Green Peter reservoirs in time for summer recreation.
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FIFTH-YEAR PROGRAMS IN JEOPARDY (Albany Democrat Herald)

Karina Diaz-Lopez is in her first year at Linn-Benton Community College, on her way to becoming a dental assistant and the first college graduate in her immediate family
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LAKEVIEW BIOFUELS PLANT COULD BE RUNNING BY END OF 2016 (Bend Bulletin)

-Red Rock Biofuels hopes to start construction this summer or fall-

A long-discussed biofuels plant where woodland scraps would be turned into jet fuel is closer to being built in Lakeview.

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HINES COMPANY FINDS MARKET FOR JUNIPER (Bend Bulletin)

-Josephs Juniper mills the High Desert trees into fence posts-

On a 12-acre parcel just west of Burns, Gerard LaBrecque mills wood from perhaps the least popular tree in Oregon.

Everybody hated the junipers; everybody thought they were worthless, LaBrecque said. But one mans trash is another mans treasure.
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BILL SEEKS TO REGULATE GMO CROPS IN OREGON (Argus Observer)

Just a few months after losing a vote to label products with genetically engineered ingredients, proponents of non-GMO farming are moving to have genetically engineered seed and crops regulated.
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UNPAID LAYOFF BILL GETS HEARING (Oregon Business Report)

Presidents Day was no holiday for Oregon legislators, as they busied themselves pushing legislation certain to keep our states unemployment rate one of the highest in the nation. Apparently, our jobless rate is no longer an embarrassment to them.
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OREGON GROUPS SAY MODEST SENTENCING REFORMS HAVE CUT PRISON POPULATION GROWTH (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

A coalition including district attorneys, sheriffs, and justice reform groups is asking the legislature to triple funding for the Justice Reinvestment grant program. The program funds services like parole, drug treatment, transitional housing, and mental health.

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OREGON COULD ADOPT IMPEACHMENT PROCESS (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

A new resolution would enable state lawmakers to impeach the governor. Oregon is currently the only state without an executive impeachment process.
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BILL INTRODUCED TO OVERHAUL OREGONS POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING LAW (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Representatives in Salem introduced a bill this week that re-writes Oregons post-conviction DNA testing law.

Oregon, like most states, allows people who say they have been wrongfully convicted to request DNA testing of evidence that might prove their innocence.
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EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS GETS MORE LEGISLATIVE RESPECT (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Legislators in Salem appear to be getting more serious about the threat of a subduction zone earthquake along Oregons coast.

So far nine bills are under discussion.
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WHY CHINA’S POLLUTION COULD BE BEHIND OUR COLD, SNOWY WINTERS (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Its March. Its freezing. And theres half a foot of snow on the ground. When is this winter going to end?
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FEDERAL RULE TO EXTEND MEDICAL LEAVE TO SAME-SEX SPOUSES IN ALL STATES (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Legally married spouses in same-sex couples soon will be able to take unpaid time off to care for a spouse or sick family members even if they live in a state that doesnt recognize same-sex marriage.
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OREGON GMO AUTHORITY DEBATED (Capital Press)

-Oregon lawmakers are considering new regulations on cultivating GMOs.-

Critics claim proposed restrictions on growing biotech crops in Oregon would undermine voluntary coexistence efforts and spark new conflicts between farmers.
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OREGON WOLVES A CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORY, BIOLOGIST SAYS (Capital Press)

-With nine packs and six pairs that may grow to form more, Oregon’s gray wolf population is increasing at a healthy pace.-

With nine known packs and six start-up pairs identified, Oregons gray wolves are continuing to increase and are spreading from the northeast corner of the state, the states wolf program coordinator reported to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission Friday.
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NO SPRING CHINOOK SEASON ON DESCHUTES RIVER (KTVZ Bend)

-But anglers can expect fall Chinook season in August-

State fisheries managers announced Friday that the popular spring Chinook fishery on the Deschutes River will not open this year.

According to Rod French, district fish biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, managers are predicting a very poor return of both hatchery and wild fish this season.
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NEW MONTH, OLD STORY: ORE. SNOWPACK AT RECORD LOWS (KTVZ Bend)

-Impacts widespread, from fish to cities-

Oregons mountains continue to experience record low snowpack levels, according to snow survey data from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service reported Friday.
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MAGISTRATE: AGENCY TOO SLOW WITH KLAMATH REFUGES PLAN (KTVZ Bend)

A federal magistrate has found the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service needs to speed up work on overdue plans for managing wildlife refuges in the Klamath Basin.
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S. OREGON EXPECTS TOUGH FIRE SEASON: ‘IT SEEMS INEVITABLE’ (KTVZ Bend)

Fire bosses in Southern Oregon are stepping up preparations for a fire season that could start early, burn hot and last a long time.
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AG WON’T LET KITZHABER LAWYER REVIEW EMAILS (KTVZ Bend)

The Oregon Department of Justice is denying a request that former Gov. John Kitzhaber’s lawyers be allowed to review his private emails before they’re turned over to federal investigators.
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LET’S DEBATE THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP — HISTORY’S LARGEST TRADE DEAL — BEFORE OKING IT — GUEST OPINION (Los Angeles Times)

This spring, President Obama and Republican leaders in Congress want to use an outdated process used to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement more than 20 years ago a rule called fast track to force through trade deals without a real debate or any amendments. And fast track would be used to speed passage of the giant Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, trade deal.
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STEPS AGAINST JUVENILE SEX TRAFFICKING — OPINION (New York Times)

The impression that Americas sex-trafficking problem mostly involves young people smuggled from overseas has given way to broad recognition of a cruel homegrown reality: the tens of thousands of juveniles who are exploited each year by traffickers in this country.
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HOW OREGON HOPES TO REGISTER NEARLY EVERY LAST ELIGIBLE VOTER (Washington Post)

Oregon is poised to add an estimated 300,000 voters to its rollsand potentially hundreds of thousands more in the years to comein what the state says would be a first-of-its-kind law.
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ARE WOLVES GOOD FOR BUSINESS? — BLOG (OregonBusiness)

Economic progress and environmental protection should go hand in hand. Many Oregonians, including myself, have built businesses founded on the idea that we do best when we balance growth with sustainability.
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HOUSE PASSES BILL REQUIRING ERS TO DOCUMENT FORCED SECLUSION OF MENTAL PATIENTS (The Lund Report)

HB 2363 puts Oregon Health Authority administrative rules into statute in an effort to minimize the use of non-therapeutic isolation of patients who come to emergency rooms during a mental breakdown but are locked in a room while receiving minimal treatment. Some Republicans objected to micro-managing the administrative process with a new law.
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LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM BENEFITS URBAN AREAS MORE THAN RURAL (The Lund Report)

Because the program re-established in 2013 is so focused on serving the Medicaid program, new providers in urban areas that have clinics focused heavily on the Oregon Health Plan are much more likely to receive help than new rural providers. Less than one-third of the recipients are practicing in the states hinterlands.
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DRUG COMPANIES BACK AGAIN TO PROTECT PATENTS FOR BIOLOGICS AND INSULIN (The Lund Report)

SB 147, as heard by the Senate Health Committee, would lift an expiration date on a law that restricts pharmacists ability to prescribe biosimilars, or generic alternatives to complex biological drugs.
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ANCIENT TOOL UNEARTHED IN EASTERN OREGON (Spokesman-Review)

-Agate scraper might be oldest found in West-

Archaeologists have uncovered a stone tool at an ancient rock shelter in the high desert of eastern Oregon that could turn out to be older than any known site of human occupation in western North America.
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OREGON EXAMINING BILL TO GET WORKERS TO SAVE MORE (KLCC)

Oregon lawmakers are considering legislation which would require workers who don’t currently have a savings plan set up, to set aside money for retirement.
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GRAPH OF THE WEEK: ESTATE TAXES — BLOG (Oregon Office of Economic Analysis)

Death and taxes, right? Literally, in this case. In all seriousness, Oregons estate and inheritance tax is one that our office has trouble with in recent years.
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SAVING LIVES, MONEY AND RESOURCES, 10 PERCENT AT A TIME (Street Roots News)

In 2013, Oregon lawmakers changed our public safety course, putting us on track to create safer, healthier communities. The Justice Reinvestment Act HB 3194 of 2013 averted our need to start building a new prison in Oregon, saving taxpayers an estimated $300 million over the next five years.
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DIRE SITUATION FOR GROWERS IN E. OREGON (KTVB Boise)

As we told you last week, the snow survey shows that most of the Treasure Valley should have an acceptable water year. But, in Eastern Oregon and Owyhee County, where agriculture is such an important part of their economy, it’s a much different and a more dire situation.
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