Alex Baumhardt

4 days ago | oregoncapitalchronicle.com | Alex Baumhardt

In an effort to modernize and streamline how state officials allocate what’s left of Oregon’s ground and surface waters, lawmakers are considering a slate of bills meant to get resource agencies collaborating on permitting reform, data collection and “management” rather than “regulation.”That’s according to primary water bill sponsors, state Reps. Ken Helm, D-Beaverton, and Mark Owens, R-Crane, the chair and vice chair of the House Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water Committee.

4 days ago | mckenzieriverreflectionsnewspaper.com | Alex Baumhardt

More than two years ago, Oregon settled with agrochemical giant Monsanto over the company’s alleged role in polluting waters of the state for more than 90 years with toxic chemicals harming humans and aquatic species. Now, Gov. Tina Kotek and the newly established Oregon Environmental Restoration Council will begin planning, investing and distributing that settlement money – $698 million – over the course of 50 years, using it to pay for environmental restoration and cleanup work across the state.

5 days ago | oregoncapitalchronicle.com | Alex Baumhardt

Literacy and civil rights advocates are calling on Oregon legislators to add targeted investment and accountability targets to Gov. Tina Kotek’s bedrock literacy initiative or risk wasting it. House Bill 3040 would re-up funding for the Early Literacy Success Initiative first passed in 2023, providing schools with an additional $100 million to spend on improving reading and writing outcomes through 2027.

5 days ago | theworldlink.com | Alex Baumhardt

New tariffs imposed on nearly all imports into the U.S. since April were struck down Wednesday by three federal judges in the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York City. The judges ruled in favor of Oregon and 11 other states in their suit, as well as several businesses who filed a tandem suit, and against Trump, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its leader, Kristi Noem, and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and its leader, Peter Flores over the tariffs.

1 week ago | oregoncapitalchronicle.com | Alex Baumhardt

More than two years ago, Oregon settled with agrochemical giant Monsanto over the company’s alleged role in polluting waters of the state for more than 90 years with toxic chemicals harming humans and aquatic species. Now, Gov. Tina Kotek and the newly established Oregon Environmental Restoration Council will begin planning, investing and distributing that settlement money – $698 million – over the course of 50 years, using it to pay for environmental restoration and cleanup work across the state.