Salem-News.com Government articles

New Series on KPFK Features Voices of Land Defenders and Environmental Justice Advocates

Creative FRONTLINE airs on KPFK, from Producers Robert Lundahl and Tracker Quinone

(LOS ANGELES, Calif.) - The new series on KPFK features "voices from the frontline," from Producers Robert Lundahl and Tracker Quinone (Apache).

The mission of this collective is determined by the issues of development and inequity becoming more prominent, more destructive, and occurring now across California and the West, with little oversight.

Oregon Elections Division Rejects Kristof Candidacy

Kristof appeals decision regarding residency requirements for Office of Oregon Governor

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Oregon Elections Division notified the Nicholas Kristof campaign Thursday that it is rejecting his filing for Governor because he does not meet the constitutional requirements to serve.

"Today I filed with the Supreme Court my challenge to yesterday's Secretary of State decision," said Kristof.

Who has the President`s Ear?

As we face the future, nothing presents a greater danger than the threat of nuclear war.

(PORTLAND, Ore. / PeaceVoice) - Each Spring our country funds its priorities for the coming year.

This annual process gives us the opportunity for renewal as we address our critical needs.

Petition to Recall Governor Brown Lacks Necessary Signatures

No submission was received from the Oregon Republican Party.

(SALEM, Ore.) - At approximately 2 p.m. Monday afternoon, Michael Cross, Chief Sponsor of the “Flush Down Kate Brown” petition to recall Governor Brown delivered 9 boxes of petitions to the Oregon Secretary of State's office, together with a Petition Submission form SEL 339, attesting to a “Completed Petition Submission” "estimating 290,000" signatures.

However, the submission fell short of the 280,050 signatures necessary to trigger a recall vote.

Water Stations To Open in Salem and Turner

There are several sites to fill up your containers with good water.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Free drinking water will be available at multiple locations throughout Marion and Polk counties tonight. The water distribution operation is a cooperative effort between Marion County, City of Salem, and the Oregon Military Department.

Once they begin, the sites will operate around the clock until further notice. All bulk water distribution locations are pull-through. Residents must bring their own containers. There is a 5 gallon limit per vehicle.

SALEM: Water Advisory for Vulnerable Populations remains in Effect Until Further Notice

News Release from City of Salem

(SALEM, Ore.) - Based on test results received today, the City of Salem will be maintaining the Vulnerable Population Water Advisory until further notice.

Tap water is safe for consumption for healthy children over the age of six and healthy adults. Further information regarding water distribution and assistance will be released shortly in a separate update.

Praise for Passage of Oregon Bill to Implement Comprehensive Rape Kit Reform

Oregon SB 1571 addresses the embarrassing backlog of untested rape kits.

(NEW YORK) - DNA evidence is an invaluable investigative tool. When tested, rape kit evidence can identify an unknown assailant, confirm the presence of a known suspect, affirm the survivor's account of the attack, connect the suspect to other crime scenes, and exonerate the wrongly convicted.

Yet too often the decision is made not to test these kits. Right now, there are hundreds of thousands of untested rape kits sitting in police and crime lab storage facilities across the country. We don’t yet know the extent of the backlog in Oregon. But we are soon to find out.

Realities Behind the Iran Nuclear Agreement

Iran is not an aggressor nation, having invaded no other country for over 200 years.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - In a stratified society, the tiny fraction who comprise the ruling class must control perceptions of the much larger fraction under their control.

To do so they must tightly manage the conduits of information and its interpretation through endlessly repeated story lines that alternately generate and relieve public anxiety. Motivated by anxiety and reinforced by its reduction, we are herded along the path chosen by the rulers with only fleeting glimpses of reality.

Senate Passes Reforms to NSA Programs, Including End Secret Law Legislation

Reforms should help protect American citizens' privacy.

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Today, the U.S. Senate passed the USA Freedom Act, legislation that will enact reforms to sweeping NSA spying programs for the first time since those programs were put in place more than a decade ago.

The legislation includes a provision modeled on Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley’s “no secret law” bill that would put an end to secret interpretations of law made by the FISA Court.

Fully Disclose 9/11 Report

"Omission is the most powerful form of a lie." - George Orwell

(Saint James, MO.) - Dear Editor:
The real issue we Americans should pay attention to in upcoming weeks is the on-going effort yet again underway in Congress that is being driven by various politicians of both political parties to disclose the redacted 28 pages of the 9/11 Report that still remain classified. At the very least, doing so might provide some form of closure and relief for the families of 9/11 victims.

Further, the full disclosure may possibly open the door for more robust probing into what really happened on 9/11 and why.