Quinton Smith

By BEN BOTKIN/Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM — Democrats in the Oregon Legislature want voters to amend the state constitution so equal rights protections include sexual orientation, gender identity or health decisions related to pregnancy. Senate Joint Resolution 33, introduced Wednesday in the Senate, would go to voters in the 2024 election if the Legislature passes it. The goal of the

By ELIZABETH MILLER and ROB MANNING/Oregon Public Broadcasting Oregon school districts and community organizations are hearing from the head of the state education department, that they shouldn’t plan on money from the state for summer programs this year. Oregon Department of Education Director Colt Gill wrote separately to school and nonprofit leaders Tuesday, sharing that advice. “Despite the broad support

By ZACH URNESS/Salem Statesman Journal Oregon’s top fire official said he advised utilities to shut down power lines to reduce the threat of wildfire ignitions during a historic windstorm Labor Day night of 2020, just hours before the Santiam Canyon and much of western Oregon burst into flames. In a deposition recorded earlier this month and provided to the court,

By ZACH DEMARS/Oregon Capital Chronicle BEND — The open space on Cathy and Kurt Springman’s 10 acres of land could offer a win-win — for their horses and a needy renter. In a perfect world, they’d fill some of that space with a tiny home just big enough to house one or two people. A potential tenant could get a