In The News

Bend awarded $5 million federal grant to fuel affordable housing production

Bend Bulletin The city of Bend has received a $5 million grant intended to kickstart affordable housing supply, the federal government announced Wednesday. Awarded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the grant set the course for the city to identify and address policies that slow affordable housing

Wyden, Merkley, colleagues call on Postal Service to prepare for November election

KTVZ WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senator Ron Wyden said Thursday he is leading Senate colleagues including fellow Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley in calling on Postmaster General DeJoy and the U.S. Postal Service to share their plans to accommodate high volumes of mail expected in the upcoming 2024 general election in Oregon and nationwide.

President’s 2016 budget would reinstate timber payments

WASHINGTON — The 2016 budget released Monday by the White House calls for the reauthorization of timber payments, funds sage grouse conservation efforts and treats the largest wildfires as natural disasters. The spending initiatives are all familiar to Central Oregon. The Secure Rural Schools program, which compensated timbered counties for

Umatilla superintendent to join Merkley for State of the Union Address

Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley announced Friday that Umatilla Superintendent Heidi Sipe will accompany him as his guest to Washington, D.C., for the 2015 State of the Union Address, Tuesday. Merkley selected Sipe as his guest in recognition of the school district’s efforts to build a successful robotics program and for

Merkley to lead push for federal LGBT protection

WASHINGTON — Earlier this month, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., announced his intention to introduce sweeping anti-discrimination legislation that would provide federal protections for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender individuals. The bill, which Merkley plans to introduce sometime after the 114th Congress is sworn in Jan. 6, will be designed to

Monument expansion expected to increase tourism, protect resources

You won’t see a different cave or a new chateau at the Oregon Caves National Monument. But some are calling the expansion of the landmark, with legislation attached to a defense spending bill signed last week by President Obama, a monumental change. The monument will be nearly 10 times its original

Merkley outlines plans for LGBT civil rights bill

Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., joined Friday with Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian and Oregon LGBT leaders to announce his plan to push broad LGBT civil rights legislation in the next Congress.   Merkley laid out his rationale and plan for across the board protections for LGBT Americans and announced that

Walden, Merkley get Bowman Dam right

The designation of Bowman Dam near Prineville as “wild and scenic” reeked of nonsense. It earned its place in Valhalla as one of the worst jokes that the federal government has inflicted on Central Oregon. But thanks to the efforts of Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, and Sen. Jeff Merkley,

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