In The News

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

Oregon senators seek wildfire funds

WASHINGTON — As wildfires continue to burn across Oregon, Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden wrote to Senate leaders Tuesday, urging them to give a vote to the Obama administration’s supplementary budget request, which includes $615 million in emergency wildfire suppression funds. The Oregon Democrats were joined by 10 other

Merkley bill targets Hobby Lobby court ruling

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., fought back against last week’s Supreme Court decision in the case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby by announcing Wednesday that he is cosponsoring legislation that would restore employees’ access to birth control coverage. “It’s unacceptable that the Supreme Court has put contraceptive coverage in jeopardy for

Merkley: Seize ‘the American dream’

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley asked Clatsop Community College’s Class of 2014 Friday to stand up if they were first-generation college students. Promptly, more than half of those graduating were out of their seats. Merkley, a first-generation university student and now a senator facing re-election in five months, promised to fight

Merkley Urges Fed to Restrict U.S. Bank Ownership of Commodities

(Bloomberg) — Senator Jeff Merkley called on the Federal Reserve to prohibit U.S. bank-holding companies from engaging in physical commodities. Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, sent a letter to the Federal Reserve urging the regulator to prohibit banks from owning physical commodities. In cases where the Fed permits banks to engage

Senators Tell Obama: Fed Nominees Should Aim to Take On Wall Street

The White House has been getting an earful in the past year from members of the Senate Banking Committee, who haven’t been shy about suggesting criteria for nominees at the  Federal Reserve. On Wednesday, Sens. Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) continued with such unsolicited advice, sending

Senators introduce Klamath Basin agreement bill

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers from Oregon and California introduced legislation in the Senate on Wednesday that formalizes the Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement struck last month. Under the deal, users above Upper Klamath Lake agree to reduce their water consumption, allowing an extra 30,000 acre-feet to flow into the lake. In

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