Quinton Smith

By KAYLEE TORNEY/Investigate West A state work group studying how Oregon civilly commits people experiencing serious mental illness gave 51 recommendations to lawmakers to consider for the 2025 legislative session. The recommendations, backed by the group representing several state agencies and nonprofits, aim to make the process more accessible, more effective and more equitable. One of the group’s members, the

By ALEX BAUMHARDT/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Following steep declines in school attendance in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, Oregon students are slowly beginning to show up more regularly to class and a growing number of ninth graders are on track to graduate on time. The number of Oregon kids regularly attending classes is not back to pre-pandemic levels

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — This spring, fresh off visiting Oregon’s 36 counties in her first year in office, Gov. Tina Kotek set out to visit each of Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes. On Wednesday, almost two months after the last of those visits, Kotek and leaders of six of the nine tribes reflected on the experience and

By NATALIE PATE and TIFFANY CAMHI/Oregon Public Broadcasting Two strikes continued Wednesday in the Albany-Corvallis area, with a settlement in one and and ongoing tensions with two others. The most promising developments are at Benton County, where workers reached a tentative deal on a contract and return-to-work agreement late Tuesday evening. AFSCME represents more than 300 county workers, spanning multiple departments. As

By JULIA SHUMWAY/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Oregon’s new chief state economist estimates the state will have about $37.8 billion available to spend in the next two-year budget cycle after reworking how the state calculates its economic forecast. The state’s also on track to pay out a $1.8 billion kicker to taxpayers in 2026. But new chief economist Carl Riccadonna,