OR budget talks get heated as Republicans respond to Kitzhaber’s ultimatum

By   /  May 20, 2013  /  Northwest, Northwest WatchBlog, Oregon, WatchBlog  /  No Comments

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By Shelby Sebens | Northwest Watchdog

Is it getting hot in here?

Budget talks are getting heated in Salem as the fight between Democrats who want more taxes and Republicans who are pushing for pension reform rages on. The political lines have been drawn and now the elected officials are taking their frustrations out through press releases.

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Cops seek expanded role for red-light cameras in crime fighting

By   /  March 26, 2013  /  Featured, News, Northwest, Oregon  /  7 Comments

Should Oregon police, seen here at an incident in Roseburg, have more leeway with red light camera photos to catch criminals?

By Shelby Sebens | Northwest Watchdog
PORTLAND – Police in Oregon and Washington want to expand the reach of red light cameras to catch the really bad guys – murderers, child abductors, armed robbers.
Both state legislatures are considering proposals that would eliminate provisions in the state laws that keep police from using the cameras for anything [...]

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Oregon GOP wants to extend ‘Nike tax’ provision to all

By   /  March 25, 2013  /  Northwest WatchBlog, Oregon, WatchBlog  /  No Comments

JUST DO IT: Nike wants assurances from the state of Oregon that its taxes are going to remain stable. (AP photo)

By Shelby Sebens | Northwest Watchdog
PORTLAND – Oregon Senate Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at extending a tax certainty that was given to Nike during a special session in December to businesses of all sizes.
The proposal, Senate Bill 819, would allow the governor to negotiate to give tax certainty to any sized business that makes [...]

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Who’s eyeballing Oregon’s red-light cameras?

By   /  March 22, 2013  /  Accountability, Featured, law enforcement, News, Northwest, Oregon  /  1 Comment

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UPDATED at 6:22 p.m. March 22
By Shelby Sebens | Northwest Watchdog
PORTLAND – Red light cameras at intersections across Oregon have their eyes on you.
But who has eyes on them?
As camera programs continue to ticket red light runners, a state law intended to keep them in check lacks teeth, a review of camera evaluation reports by [...]

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OR Lawmakers fear I-5 bridge would eat funding for rural transportation projects

By   /  February 21, 2013  /  Featured, News, Northwest, Oregon  /  No Comments

Could money for the I-5 bridge project mean fewer dollars for the rest of the state?

By Shelby Sebens | Northwest Watchdog
PORTLAND — Oregon lawmakers are pushing ahead with legislation to allocate $450 million for a new bridge from Portland to Vancouver.
But what about the rest of the state?
State officials say there’s enough transportation money to pay down the debt service on the project the first two years. After 2016 , [...]

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