Author: Andrew Rogers

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission has voted unanimously to extend its investigation into Greg Smith’s salary increases at the Columbia Development Authority (CDA) by up to 30 days. The decision was made during a special open session on Tuesday, December 9, allowing investigator Casey Fenstermaker additional time to collect final materials and interviews for the board. The investigation, which opened in June, initially reached its 180-day deadline. Fenstermaker provided a summary of her draft report to commissioners, focusing on a 2024 federal grant. She had conducted interviews with Smith and CDA board member JD Tovey on December 8, but was…

A winter storm sweeping across Western Oregon and Southwest Washington has triggered flood warnings and power outages, as officials warn of rising rivers and hazardous conditions. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain through Wednesday, with waterways continuing to rise into Thursday. The National Weather Service issued several flood watches and warnings for the coast and other flood-prone areas. Rivers, creeks, and streams draining from the Coast Range, Willapa Hills, and Cascades are at risk of overflowing. Local authorities have urged residents in low-lying areas to prepare for potential flooding. Clackamas County officials highlighted Johnson Creek, which is forecast…

A man shot by an Oklahoma City police officer in September has died from his injuries, the police department confirmed Monday. The victim, 45-year-old Jason Redshirt, was shot by Sgt. Christopher Skinner after an incident in southwest Oklahoma City. Police reports say the incident occurred around 3:10 a.m. on September 24. Skinner responded to a call about a disturbance in a residential neighborhood. When he arrived, officers found Redshirt outside a home. According to the department, Redshirt allegedly used racial slurs and shouted at Skinner. The officer initially attempted to deescalate the situation. When Redshirt approached aggressively, Skinner used pepper…

Rep. John Waldron of Tulsa is stepping down as chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, just six months after taking the position. Waldron announced his resignation in a social media post, saying he had been pushing himself too hard and needed to focus on personal reasons. He will continue serving in the state legislature and is up for re-election in 2026. Waldron has balanced multiple roles, including being an educator in Tulsa, serving as an elected representative, leading the party, and being a father. The combination of these responsibilities ultimately became too demanding. He took the top party position in…

An Indiana appeals court has ruled that detailed records about abortions must stay private. The panel said the forms that doctors file after each procedure are private medical records. The decision marks a major point in the growing Indiana Abortion Privacy debate, which has been active since the state began limiting access to abortion in recent years. The ruling supports an earlier order made by a judge in Marion County. That judge blocked the release of the reports after two doctors filed a lawsuit. The forms are known as terminated pregnancy reports. They include details about each procedure. Doctors across…

Indiana prosecutors are working to stop a proposed constitutional amendment they say could weaken fair decision-making across the state. The move has sparked a broad Indiana Prosecutor Debate, as lawmakers and prosecutors share very different views on how to handle misconduct and public safety. The pushback grew this week when the state’s leading prosecutors released their own ideas for new laws. They say these steps would support public safety without adding political pressure to the criminal justice system. Wabash County Prosecutor Bill Hartley said the work of a prosecutor is not about party labels. He said that when prosecutors meet,…

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a review of nearly 1,000 cities across the state to ensure compliance with a new property tax law, his office said Tuesday. The law prevents cities from raising property taxes beyond the previous year if they fail to meet financial transparency requirements. Paxton’s initiative targets a majority of Texas’ roughly 1,200 cities, including Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, and Waco. His office requested financial documents and other information but did not allege any wrongdoing in its announcement. In Waco, officials confirmed they received Paxton’s letter on November 21 and submitted all requested…

Michigan lawmakers are working on a new job creation package aimed at boosting employment and supporting economic growth. Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, and GOP House Speaker Matt Hall said they want the plan completed before the end of the year. The initiative is designed to address employment challenges and provide new opportunities for workers across the state. While specific details have not been released, lawmakers emphasized collaboration across party lines to deliver results quickly. Governor Whitmer highlighted the need for innovative strategies to create jobs and strengthen local economies. “Michigan families deserve opportunities to thrive,” she…

Fanatics has launched its prediction market platform, Fanatics Markets, in Georgia and South Carolina. The platform allows residents to trade contracts based on sports, politics, entertainment, and other cultural events, even though sports betting and gambling remain illegal in both states. Unlike traditional betting, Fanatics Markets works through contracts. Users purchase contracts that pay out only if their predictions come true. This approach is designed to let fans engage with events while offering a chance to earn profits for correct forecasts. Jay Trikha, owner of Savannah Taphouse on Broughton Street, said fantasy teams are already very popular among his patrons.…

Texas has launched a new plan to bring Turning Point USA chapters to high schools across the state. The initiative aims to open the right-wing organization’s clubs in every public high school campus. Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Turning Point USA Senior Director Josh Thifault announced the program at the Governor’s Mansion on Monday. The officials did not explain how schools would be required to start the clubs. However, Abbott warned that schools blocking the initiative could face “meaningful disciplinary action.” “Any school that stands in the way of a Club America program should be reported immediately…