Politics & Government

The City of Eugene wants to make its downtown public spaces better. It’s launched a “place-making” initiative which seeks the community’s input.

This November, Benton County residents will vote on a ballot measure that would implement ranked choice voting.

KLCC's Kira Hoffelmeyer has more.

The Corvallis Fire Department says a staff shortage is affecting its operations.

Lane County residents in unincorporated areas will vote on a measure to levy a local three percent tax on recreational pot in November.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names determined that 13 sites in Oregon’s Grant County would drop the word “squaw”.   This aligns with a 2001 state law banning the word for public areas.  Now as KLCC’s Brian Bull in Eugene reports, a county official hopes the federal government will allow two place names to be used over those proposed by local Indian tribes. 

Democrats meet in Philadelphia this week to nominate Hillary Clinton for President. Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley is a superdelegate to the convention, but he will not cast his vote for the former secretary of state.

Springfield residents will vote on two tax measures in November. One is a gas tax for street repairs. The other is a local tax on pot sales.

Most states require voters to head to their nearest polling place each election, but since 1998 Oregonians have voted by mail. However, a new Senate bill wants to extend the practice to the rest of the country.

The Eugene City Council and Lane County showed they were willing to work together on the downtown landscape at last night’s joint meeting.

Later this month, Democrats will gather in Philadelphia to formally nominate their presidential candidate. Oregon congressman Peter DeFazio is a superdelegate—he’s free to support any candidate. But, DeFazio will not attend the Democratic National Convention.

The Lane County Board of Commissioners wants more authority to challenge proposed ballot measures. Under current law, governments and citizens can challenge initiatives before they go to voters on what’s called the single-subject rule.

Wednesday House Democrats spontaneously staged a sit in on the floor of Congress demanding a vote on gun control legislations. KLCC spoke with Oregon congressman and Democrat, Peter DeFazio, who joined his colleagues in protest.

Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy traveled to China earlier this month to take part in a summit on climate change. She was one of 20 U.S. Mayors who were invited by the State Department.
Piercy says she was honored to take part in the summit, which included 40 Chinese mayors.

The Eugene City Council voted 5 to 3 Monday to use urban renewal funds for four downtown projects.

The City of Corvallis now has proportionately more Democrats than the City of Eugene, recently edging out the larger city. It's been a big, although gradual change.

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley visited the University of Oregon campus today (Tuesday). He spoke to constitutional law students about the Senate's refusal to hold hearings on the President's Supreme Court nominee. 

Voters in Cottage Grove could decide to tax marijuana sold in the city. Monday city councilors voted to place a 3-percent pot tax on the November ballot.

Tuesday, Lane County voters approved a property tax levy for Oregon State University Extension by 70 percent.

There were five candidates running for Eugene Mayor but it quickly came down to two. Elections results give Lucy Vinis the victory over closest competitor, Mike Clark. Early numbers showed (Tuesday) Vinis captured a majority of the votes, preventing a run-off in the general election.

Vinis celebrated with fellow Democrats at the Wild Duck in the University District in Eugene. The progressive candidate was happy with the turn-out.

As expected, presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump was the winner in Oregon's primary Tuesday.  Trump supporters gathered at a victory party in Eugene to watch returns.

Bernie Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton in Oregon’s Democratic Presidential primary, Tuesday night. About 200 supporters celebrated at Cozmic Pizza in Eugene.