who has advised and run campaigns for leading Oregon Republican candidates, including former U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith and past GOP nominees for governor Chris Dudley and Knute Buehler, took to Facebook on Aug. 13 to explain why he'll vote for former Vice President Joe Biden in November., Lavey, president of the Portland lobbying and political consulting firm Gallatin Group, said he left the Republican Party two years ago because of his "disgust over the character and policy choices of Donald Trump.""Some days I am literally sick to my stomach about the latest Trump statement or action," Lavey...…who has advised and run campaigns for leading Oregon Republican candidates, including former U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith and past GOP nominees for governor Chris Dudley and Knute Buehler, took to Facebook on Aug. 13 to explain why he'll vote for former Vice President Joe Biden in November., Lavey, president of the Portland lobbying and political consulting firm Gallatin Group, said he left the Republican Party two years ago because of his "disgust over the character and policy choices of Donald Trump.""Some days I am literally sick to my stomach about the latest Trump statement or action," Lavey...WW…

Former U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) suffered a stroke Aug. 4, according to his employer, the National Association of Broadcasters.Smith, 68, served two terms in the Senate, from 1997 to 2009. A former state lawmaker whose family built a fortune as one of the country's chief providers of frozen peas and corn at Weston, Ore.-based Smith Frozen Foods, Smith lost a close race for reelection in 2008 to now-U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) by 49% to 46%.After leaving the Senate, Smith became president of the NAB, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and advocates for the television...…Former U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) suffered a stroke Aug. 4, according to his employer, the National Association of Broadcasters.Smith, 68, served two terms in the Senate, from 1997 to 2009. A former state lawmaker whose family built a fortune as one of the country's chief providers of frozen peas and corn at Weston, Ore.-based Smith Frozen Foods, Smith lost a close race for reelection in 2008 to now-U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) by 49% to 46%.After leaving the Senate, Smith became president of the NAB, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and advocates for the television...WW…

PORTLAND NEEDS WILLAMETTE WEEK. NOW WW NEEDS YOU. The need for strong, independent local journalism is more urgent than ever. Our readers rely on our comprehensive news reporting. However, COVID-19 has eliminated most of the revenue that funds our work. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. The Portland Business Alliance, the buttoned-down trade organization that represents the region's largest employers, today called for the federal government to pull the supplemental federal forces President Donald Trump's administration sent here as part of...…PORTLAND NEEDS WILLAMETTE WEEK. NOW WW NEEDS YOU. The need for strong, independent local journalism is more urgent than ever. Our readers rely on our comprehensive news reporting. However, COVID-19 has eliminated most of the revenue that funds our work. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. The Portland Business Alliance, the buttoned-down trade organization that represents the region's largest employers, today called for the federal government to pull the supplemental federal forces President Donald Trump's administration sent here as part of...WW…

Portland Fire & Rescue made an odd announcement at 7:25 on Sunday night: The bureau denied federal law enforcement officials had used its station houses—and said in future neither the feds nor the Portland Police Bureau would be welcome at its 31 stations strategically located throughout the city."Recently, a story has been circulated that federally contracted lawenforcement agents have been using Portland Fire & Rescue stations asstaging areas for operations against demonstrators," the fire bureau said in a statement. "PF&R would like to make it very clear that...…Portland Fire & Rescue made an odd announcement at 7:25 on Sunday night: The bureau denied federal law enforcement officials had used its station houses—and said in future neither the feds nor the Portland Police Bureau would be welcome at its 31 stations strategically located throughout the city."Recently, a story has been circulated that federally contracted lawenforcement agents have been using Portland Fire & Rescue stations asstaging areas for operations against demonstrators," the fire bureau said in a statement. "PF&R would like to make it very clear that...WW…

Members of the Legislature's Joint Emergency Board today exchanged conflicting legal opinions and strong views on the legality of a new $62 million allocation of federal CARES Act money to tLawmakers met remotely to continue the allocation of more than $1.6 billion in federal relief funding. The Cares Fund generated the most heat of any of the topics the 20-member board tackled today in a Zoom meeting.After a brief discussion of how the fund would work—it would provide cash relief to families and small businesses by the end of this fiscal year, through grants administered by two nonprofits,...…Members of the Legislature's Joint Emergency Board today exchanged conflicting legal opinions and strong views on the legality of a new $62 million allocation of federal CARES Act money to tLawmakers met remotely to continue the allocation of more than $1.6 billion in federal relief funding. The Cares Fund generated the most heat of any of the topics the 20-member board tackled today in a Zoom meeting.After a brief discussion of how the fund would work—it would provide cash relief to families and small businesses by the end of this fiscal year, through grants administered by two nonprofits,...WW…

In a narrowly split decision, the Oregon Supreme Court voted 4-3 today to waive the July bar exam for 2020 graduates of Oregon's three law schools.The decision came in response to a request earlier this month by the deans of the University of Oregon, Lewis & Clark College and Willamette University law schools for "diploma privilege," which allows graduates to become members of the bar without passing the bar exam."There are very real concerns for our graduates in preparing for the exam," the deans . "All students in our three law schools had to finish their law...…In a narrowly split decision, the Oregon Supreme Court voted 4-3 today to waive the July bar exam for 2020 graduates of Oregon's three law schools.The decision came in response to a request earlier this month by the deans of the University of Oregon, Lewis & Clark College and Willamette University law schools for "diploma privilege," which allows graduates to become members of the bar without passing the bar exam."There are very real concerns for our graduates in preparing for the exam," the deans . "All students in our three law schools had to finish their law...WW…

Mayor Ted Wheeler and Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell spoke this afternoon at the corner of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Killingsworth Street about the attack last night on the Portland Police Bureau's nearby North Precinct and a number of adjacent businesses, which officials say are owned by people of color.Wheeler said that when protesters nailed and barricaded doors shut and set the North Precinct on fire with people inside the building, they moved from the realm of legitimate protest to reckless criminality."Last night was about arson, destruction and...…Mayor Ted Wheeler and Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell spoke this afternoon at the corner of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Killingsworth Street about the attack last night on the Portland Police Bureau's nearby North Precinct and a number of adjacent businesses, which officials say are owned by people of color.Wheeler said that when protesters nailed and barricaded doors shut and set the North Precinct on fire with people inside the building, they moved from the realm of legitimate protest to reckless criminality."Last night was about arson, destruction and...WW…

Oregon City Mayor Dan Holladay kicked off a special emergency meeting of his city's five-member commission last night with a remarkable announcement: He'd asked a sergeant from the city's police department to give him a breath test for alcohol before the meeting began."I blew a point-zero-zero," Holladay said. The second-term mayor explained he'd been dealing with medical issues that cause him to slur his words and didn't want anyone to think he'd been drinking.His commission colleagues and many constituents could not have been angrier at Holladay if he'd shown up smashed for the...…Oregon City Mayor Dan Holladay kicked off a special emergency meeting of his city's five-member commission last night with a remarkable announcement: He'd asked a sergeant from the city's police department to give him a breath test for alcohol before the meeting began."I blew a point-zero-zero," Holladay said. The second-term mayor explained he'd been dealing with medical issues that cause him to slur his words and didn't want anyone to think he'd been drinking.His commission colleagues and many constituents could not have been angrier at Holladay if he'd shown up smashed for the...WW…

The Oregon Health Authority today reported 146 new cases of COVID-19, the highest one-day total since the pandemic began and the first time the state has reported more than 100 new cases in a day.The new number includes a large workplace outbreak, OHA said: 61 cases at a Pacific Seafood processing plant in Lincoln County. (That brings the number of cases linked to that facility to 65.)State officials had warned Oregonians that the case count would probably go up as the state gradually reopened for business and testing increased.OHA alluded to those factors in a statement accompanying...…The Oregon Health Authority today reported 146 new cases of COVID-19, the highest one-day total since the pandemic began and the first time the state has reported more than 100 new cases in a day.The new number includes a large workplace outbreak, OHA said: 61 cases at a Pacific Seafood processing plant in Lincoln County. (That brings the number of cases linked to that facility to 65.)State officials had warned Oregonians that the case count would probably go up as the state gradually reopened for business and testing increased.OHA alluded to those factors in a statement accompanying...WW…