Local Politics

Politics Day after fluoride defeat, future of battle unclear (Video)

By Lincoln Graves KATU News and KATU.com Staff Published: May 22, 2013 at 5:24 PM PDT Last Updated: May 22, 2013 at 5:24 PM PDT

But both sides were short on specifics Wednesday, the day after Portlanders decisively defeated a proposal to add fluoride to the water. But the logical step is for each side to cast a wider net.

Politics 2 Ore. timber counties reject public safety levies

By Jeff Barnard, Associated Press Published: May 22, 2013 at 4:07 PM PDT Last Updated: May 22, 2013 at 4:07 PM PDT

Voters in two Oregon timber counties with the lowest property taxes in the state — Curry and Josephine — turned down tax increases Tuesday that would have funded law enforcement, but a jail levy passed in a third, Lane County.

Politics Portland rejects fluoride but both sides may meet again (Video)

By Steve Benham KATU.com Politics Editor Published: May 21, 2013 at 4:53 PM PDT Last Updated: May 22, 2013 at 6:49 PM PDT

Fluoride advocates admitted defeat Tuesday night after unofficial election results showed Portlanders strongly against adding fluoride to the city’s drinking water. But there were indications new battle lines may be drawn in the future.

Politics Beaverton will get some teachers back after levy passes

By KATU.com Staff Published: May 21, 2013 at 9:01 PM PDT Last Updated: May 22, 2013 at 10:22 AM PDT

This levy will restore 150 teaching positions. Even though it won’t bring the district back to its previous levels, district officials said on Tuesday night that they’re on the right path.

Politics Inslee signs Facebook job password protection bill

By Manuel Valdes, Associated Press Published: May 21, 2013 at 7:13 PM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 7:13 PM PDT

Washington became the fifth state this year to sign into law protections of social media passwords at the workplace and job interviews.

Politics WA's undercover license pgm now has legislative approval

By Rachel La Corte, Associated Press Published: May 21, 2013 at 6:50 PM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 6:50 PM PDT

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday signed into law a measure giving legislative approval to a state program that has already issued hundreds of fake driver's licenses and license plates to law enforcement and government agencies.

Politics Ore. bill expands tasting spots for distilleries

By Lauren Gambino, Associated Press Published: May 21, 2013 at 6:11 PM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 6:11 PM PDT

A bill that would give Oregon distillers more opportunities to market and sell their spirits earned final approval from the state Senate Tuesday, and now heads to the governor's desk.

Politics Timber counties unhappy about stalled federal subsidies

By Jeff Barnard, Associated Press Published: May 21, 2013 at 5:48 PM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 5:48 PM PDT

Timber counties in western Oregon are unhappy that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is taking so long to send out $2 million in federal subsidies withheld under the mandatory budget cuts known as sequestration.

Politics Fact or fiction? Examining rumors about a statewide fluoride effort (Video)

By Bob Heye, KATU News Published: May 21, 2013 at 5:24 PM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 5:25 PM PDT

The votes haven’t been counted yet, but already there’s speculation that no matter what Portland voters decide, Oregon’s biggest cities could still have their drinking water fluoridated.

Politics Oregon House backs Hatfield statue in US Capitol

By Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 10:52 PM PDT Last Updated: May 21, 2013 at 10:01 AM PDT

The Oregon House voted Monday to pull a statue of Oregon pioneer Jason Lee from a prominent place in the U.S. Capitol and replace it with one of the late Mark Hatfield, one of the most influential politicians the state has seen.

Politics Inslee signs $8.7 bil. transpo budget, debate over CRC continues

By Rachel La Corte, Associated Press Published: May 20, 2013 at 6:48 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 8:04 PM PDT

Gov. Jay Inslee signed off on an $8.7 billion transportation budget Monday that puts money toward maintaining state roadways and continues spending on existing big-ticket projects.

Politics Did state employees help pro-fluoride advocates on state time? (Video)

By Shellie Bailey-Shah KATU Problem Solver and KATU.com Staff Published: May 20, 2013 at 6:29 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 6:29 PM PDT

The leading group opposed to fluoridating Portland's water plans to call for an official investigation by the secretary of state into the state agency that strongly supports community fluoridation.

Politics 'Your Voice, Your Vote': Weighing all sides of the fluoride debate (Video)

By KATU News Published: May 20, 2013 at 1:59 PM PDT Last Updated: May 20, 2013 at 3:25 PM PDT

This Tuesday Portland voters will decide if fluoride will be added to the city's water supply. It's been a high-profile issue the past few months with both sides loudly making their cases. Before you drop off your ballot we want to give you one more opportunity to hear from supporters and opponents of the fluoride measure.

Politics Health official felt pressure from pro-fluoride group about dental data, email says (Video)

By Erica Nochlin, KATU News and KATU.com Staff Published: May 19, 2013 at 12:38 PM PDT Last Updated: May 19, 2013 at 12:43 PM PDT

Days before Portlanders decide whether to add fluoride to the city’s drinking water, newly released internal emails have an anti-fluoride group calling for a state investigation.

Politics Dems cast aside proposed tax increases, PERS cuts to move budget

By Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press Published: May 17, 2013 at 6:38 PM PDT Last Updated: May 17, 2013 at 6:41 PM PDT

The Democrats in charge of writing a new state budget said Friday they're casting aside proposed tax increases and public-employee pension cuts and will begin advancing early pieces of a spending plan for the next two years.