SALEM, Oregon, March 28 [Category: Education] -- The Oregon School Boards Association posted the following news: * * * Deadlines quicken hearing pace, but there is still time for voice of reason Legislative deadlines always change the session's pace. Big issues that have already moved out of committee are no longer under the spotlight as much (e.g., Senate Bill 916, unemployment insurance for striking workers) while the focus shifts to bills that need to move prior to the deadline or face a  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service has released the following public communication dated March 15, 2025, from Jennifer Watson, leader of Great Old Broads for Wilderness Zootown Broadband: * * * Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the future management of threatened grizzly bears. We are pleased that this rule making proposes continuing keeping grizzlies listed as threatened. Rapid changes in food sources for these bears as climate ch  more

SALEM, Oregon, March 28 [Category: Education] -- The Oregon School Boards Association posted the following news: * * * Legislature proposes statewide ban on cell phones in schools The Oregon Legislature stepped into the national debate on cell phones in schools with a hearing Wednesday, March 26, on House Bill 2251. Cell phones can be addictive distractions in class, and researchers say they are causing mental health problems in young people. Oregon law requires school districts to adopt   more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley Announces Early April Town Halls Event in Grant County marks his 600 th town hall since elected to the U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced today he will hold five town halls for Oregonians in early April, with in-person community conversations in Jefferson, Deschutes, and Crook counties on Saturday, April 5, followed by conversations in Grant and Whee  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- The U.S. Senate conducted seven committee hearings on March 27, 2025: * * * NOMINATIONS Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Troy Meink, of Virginia, to be Secretary of the Air Force, who was introduced by Senator Rounds, Michael Duffey, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, who was introduced by Representative Fitzgerald, Emil Michael, of Florida, to be Under Secretary for Res  more