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Her grandmother brought Juneteenth to Oregon, and she’s determined to honor her legacy

76 years after Clara Peoples founded Oregon’s celebration marking slaves’ emancipation, Janelle Jack ensures the festivities continue This story was updated June 17 to add that a new law now makes Juneteenth a federal holiday. C lara Peoples was working ...

16 Jun 2021 - Ann-Derrick Gaillot
Oregon poised for eviction crisis when rent comes due July 1

Tenants who can't pay when the eviction moratorium ends can apply for assistance, but it likely won't arrive soon enough June 17 update: The Oregon House on Thursday amended and passed Senate Bill 278, which would protect renters from eviction i ...

16 Jun 2021 - Tom Henderson
Oregon bill might protect structures from tsunami, but residents’ safety is paper thin

The state has done little to protect its coastal communities from catastrophe B ack when Oregon’s positive cases of COVID-19 could still be counted on two hands, Jay Wilson, the former chair of Oregon’s Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission (the earth ...

26 May 2021 - Chris May
Cancellation of popular program for Oregon prisoners prompts action in the Legislature

The pandemic resulted in a devastating pause to trauma-responsive treatment for women. The Senate has passed a bill that could prevent it from happening again. W hen Oregon prisons closed to all visitors in an attempt to keep COVID-19 out last spring, one ...

12 May 2021 - Hanna Merzbach
Why Rep. Tawna Sanchez hasn’t shied away from controversial legislation

The legislator from Portland talks to Street Roots about how she's addressing issues such as addiction and justice for Indigenous Oregonians On a warm spring Tuesday last week, Oregon Rep. Tawna Sanchez (D-Portland) presented a history lesson on Chri ...

12 May 2021 - Brian Oaster
Proposed ‘wildlife council’ would be a publicly funded marketing agency for Oregon’s hunting, fishing industry

Critics say a bill with ties to an out-of-state organization and a pro-hunting PAC ignores the voices of conservationists who don’t hunt or fish State lawmakers are considering a bill that would create an Oregon Wildlife Council. But it’s not what it seem ...

5 May 2021 - Brian Oaster
Bills we’re tracking that affect Oregon’s migrant farmworkers

The 2021 Legislature is discussing overtime pay, the state's sanctuary law, and other issues affecting the low-income Latino community Some of the bills affecting migrant farmworkers and the low-income Latino community include: Low-income farmworker ...

5 May 2021 - Street Roots
Opinion | Inequity is ingrained in Oregon land-use policy. Let’s fix that.

House Bill 2488 would codify environmental justice principles, but lawmakers are already limiting its scope Lisa Arkin is the executive director at Beyond Toxics. The Eugene-based nonprofit centers and uplifts voices that are most affected by pollution an ...

21 Apr 2021 - Lisa Arkin
Even as Oregon uses Indigenous practices to fight wildfires, tribes are largely excluded from policymaking

Native representation in decision-making processes is meager compared to business interests’ Another wildfire season is already underway, with fires burning around Klamath Falls. Drought conditions across 85% of Oregon have threatened a worse fire season ...

21 Apr 2021 - Brian Oaster
With cap-and-trade off the table, here’s how Oregon lawmakers are tackling climate change

Legislators are taking a sector-by-sector approach this session, but is it enough? O ver three decades after the Oregon Legislature set its first target to address global warming, the state has failed to put a dent in its greenhouse gas emissions. Creepin ...

21 Apr 2021 - Chris May