November 2021 - Page 2

By GARY A. WARNER/Oregon Capital Bureau Nicholas Kristof’s relationships formed over decades as a journalist are showing up in a strong wave of “red letter” giving to his campaign for governor of Oregon. The Oregon Secretary of State website lists campaign contributions from outside Oregon in all-red lettering. It’s an intentional highlight to make the items jump out amid long

 Special education teachers have been particularly hard to find this year, causing reduced class offerings and school days that could be a violation of students’ civil rights. (Malheur Enterprise/Rachel Parsons) By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle In a recent Senate Education Committee meeting dominated by conversations around school staff shortages, state Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D-Corvallis, said the loss of special

By PETER WONG/Oregon Capital Bureau When Selma Pierce died Dec. 1, 2020, after a car struck her while she was walking near their home in West Salem, Dr. William “Bud” Pierce took several days off before he resumed his medical practice in Salem. He was “shell-shocked” after his wife’s death, but received support from his staff and patients, “and this

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle The Oregon Legislature violated free speech rights when banned Realtors from passing so-called “love letters” from potential homebuyers to sellers, a federal lawsuit filed by a Bend real estate group contends. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Portland late last week, asks the court to block the new law from taking effect

The report found that Oregon lost more than 50% of its female school superintendents last year. Hiring bias and retention remain major issues.  Salem-Keizer superintendent Christy Perry is seen in the reflection of a mirror in her office. Despite overseeing a teacher workforce that is overwhelmingly made up of women, just 25% of Oregon superintendents are women. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Ruling joins earlier decision that redrawn legislative maps don’t unfairly favor Democrats By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon is closer to moving ahead with its new Congressional district and new boundaries for five others after a panel of judges ruled Wednesday that work to draw the new boundaries didn’t illegally favor Democrats. Most independent analyses have Democrats winning at least

 Rep. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, speaks during a legislative special session on Monday, Sept. 20. By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — House Minority Leader Christine Drazan plans to run for governor, becoming the highest-profile Republican official to enter an increasingly crowded race. Drazan, a two-term state representative from Canby, plans to officially launch her campaign before the end of the