Warm Springs radio station KWSO gets nearly $160,000 infusion from FEMA
Central Oregon Daily A community radio station owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs is getting a financial infusion from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA is granting $158,749 to KWSO-FM. This will be used to upgrade the station’s broadcast transmissions and warning systems, which are needed
Oregon leaders call on U.S. government for help, flexibility to help ranchers
Oregon Capital Chronicle The wildfires this season have scorched a record 1.5 million acres, forcing ranchers to move their cattle as flames approached while also fighting fires to save their homes This summer’s historic wildfires in Oregon have taken a toll on ranchers and their more than a million cows and
Klamath Community College receives grant to aid veteran students in obtaining commercial driver’s licenses, safety training
Herald and News Oregon’s U.S. senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced this week the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding Klamath Community College and Linn-Benton Community College a combined total of $265,829 to grow their commercial driver’s license (CDL) programs. A CDL is needed for careers operating large
Policy changes needed to reverse economic inequality in U.S.
WASHINGTON – Skewed economic policies are a driving factor for economic inequality in the United States. That’s the opinion of witnesses at a hearing held by the Senate subcommittee on economic policy Sept. 17 chaired by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. Areas of significant difference in policy were taxes and deficits, trade and globalization,
Senator Merkley Pushes for a Bill to Reduce Student Debt
A couple years back, student debt surpassed credit card debt in the U.S. U.S. Senator Merkely supports a bill that would allow students with high interest loans to refinance them. The bill was filibustered last session, but Merkley hopes to revisit it. “I view college as a public good that
Senate advances campaign finance amendment
The Senate advanced a bill Monday that would amend the Constitution to allow Congress and states to impose limits on campaign fundraising and spending. Both of Oregon’s senators, Democrats Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, voted in favor of invoking cloture, which forces a vote on the motion to proceed after
How going nuclear unclogged the Senate
The Senate barely does anything these days — except approve judges that could shape the law for a generation. Since Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) changed Senate rules in November to ease President Barack Obama’s approval of most nominees, Democrats have churned through confirmations of dozens of new judges —
In Our View: Restoring the River
At 1,253 miles long, the Columbia River winds its way through the Pacific Northwest. The river and its tributaries touch seven states; people have lived along its banks and drawn their livelihoods from the river since prehistoric times. Seemingly as long and winding these days is getting important bills through
PROFILE-Oregon lawmaker will not let Fed forget to tackle commodities
NEW YORK, Aug 17 – Just over a year ago, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley was looking for a place to make a bold statement about his latest crusade: taking Wall Street’s traders to task for gaming commodity markets. His office telephoned Bruce Kehe, marketing director at Portland’s Hopworks Urban Brewery,