Local Politics

Politics State Senate makes another try to pay for education

By DONNA GORDON BLANKINSHIP, Associated Press Published: Apr 4, 2013 at 3:46 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 4, 2013 at 3:46 PM PDT

People who have been clamoring for years for more money for Washington public schools got a taste of what they were asking for when a coalition of state senators released their budget proposal this week.

Politics State House issues 'no-frills' transportation budget

By JONATHAN KAMINSKY, Associated Press Published: Apr 4, 2013 at 3:55 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 4, 2013 at 3:55 PM PDT

The Washington state House released a scaled-back transportation budget proposal Thursday, with Transportation Committee chairwoman saying she plans to unveil a revised revenue package to pay for new projects next week.

Politics Report: Experimental police tactics backfired with anarchists (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Joel Moreno Published: Apr 4, 2013 at 9:54 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 4, 2013 at 9:54 AM PDT

Masked anarchists ran wild in Seattle's streets last May Day, and now nearly a year later we're learning why police command allowed the violence to run unchecked for so long.

Politics State eyes rules to ban marijuana at bars (Video)

By GENE JOHNSON Associated Press Published: Apr 3, 2013 at 2:07 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 3, 2013 at 5:38 PM PDT

Washington state officials said Wednesday it's not OK for bars to allow marijuana use, and they plan to take steps to address that.

Politics 'Bare bones' transportation budget plan relased by senators

By JONATHAN KAMINSKY,Associated Press Published: Apr 3, 2013 at 2:08 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 3, 2013 at 2:29 PM PDT

A bipartisan group of Washington state senators released a transportation budget proposal Wednesday that both sides call "barebones."

Politics Rejected at ballot box, Oregon pot advocates try lawmakers

By Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press Published: Apr 3, 2013 at 12:44 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 3, 2013 at 12:44 PM PDT

Proponents say the tide is quickly shifting in their favor after Colorado and Washington voters supported pot legalization initiatives last year.

Politics Governor signs tuition bill for young immigrants (Photo Gallery)

By Lauren Gambino, Associated Press Published: Apr 2, 2013 at 12:25 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 2, 2013 at 9:54 PM PDT

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has signed into law a bill allowing young illegal immigrants to pay resident tuition at the state's seven public universities.

Politics Does anyone enforce rules about the smell of medical marijuana? (Video)

By Dan Cassuto, KATU News and KATU.com Staff Published: Apr 2, 2013 at 10:30 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 at 1:54 PM PDT

A Southeast Portland couple says their neighbors’ medical marijuana plants are making them sick, and they want the city to step in and do something about it.

Politics Oregon bill: DMV could issue temp. driver's licenses to illegal immigrants

By KATU.com Staff Published: Apr 2, 2013 at 9:58 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 2, 2013 at 10:00 AM PDT

A bill that will allow the state Department of Motor Vehicles to issue short-term driver's licenses to people who can't show they are residents of the United States, including illegal immigrants, will be introduced today at the state Capitol in Oregon.

Politics Senator: Abortion insurance bill won't move forward

By JONATHAN KAMINSKY Associated Press Published: Apr 1, 2013 at 3:27 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 2, 2013 at 6:22 AM PDT

Despite a majority of Washington state senators having signed a letter in support of a measure requiring insurers to cover abortion, a key lawmaker said Monday that it will not advance from her committee.

Politics Senate approves bill banning school seclusion cells

By Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press Published: Apr 1, 2013 at 3:29 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 1, 2013 at 3:29 PM PDT

The Oregon Senate has voted to make it illegal for schools to isolate misbehaving children in so-called "seclusion cells."

Politics State pot consultant: Marijuana revenue estimates way off

By MANUEL VALDES Associated Press Published: Mar 30, 2013 at 9:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Mar 29, 2013 at 5:32 PM PDT

Washington state's marijuana consultant says revenue estimates of how much money legalization can bring have been way off.

Politics Key senator: Wash. lacks funds for illegal immigrants' college aid

By JONATHAN KAMINSKY, Associated Press Published: Mar 29, 2013 at 2:03 PM PDT Last Updated: Mar 29, 2013 at 2:03 PM PDT

A key Washington state lawmaker wrote in a Friday editorial that state funds are too scarce to extend need-based college aid to illegal immigrants, dimming the prospects of the measure supporters call the Washington Dream Act.

Politics Lawmakers consider reversing ban on Native American mascots (Video)

By KATU News Published: Mar 29, 2013 at 10:54 AM PDT Last Updated: Mar 29, 2013 at 11:24 AM PDT

Some lawmakers say the Oregon Board of Education went too far when it banned Native American school mascots.

Politics Gov. Inslee proposes extension of temporary taxes

By MIKE BAKER, Associated Press Published: Mar 28, 2013 at 12:41 PM PDT Last Updated: Mar 28, 2013 at 12:41 PM PDT

Gov. Jay Inslee unveiled on Thursday his budget proposal, a mix of extending temporary taxes and ending some tax exemptions to address both the state's projected budget deficit and a court-ordered requirement to put more money into the state's basic education system.