SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and legislative leaders from both parties are scheduled to resume budget talks today. In a joint statement, they called discussions yesterday “productive and ongoing” and said they’d agreed to keep talking. Democrats have majorities in the House and Senate, but they’ll need Republican votes to get the new tax revenue they’re seeking. In exchange, Republicans want steeper cuts to public-employee pensions, which Democrats have resisted.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Portland General Electric has announced plans to develop a natural gas-fueled power plant in Boardman and a new wind farm in southeast Washington. The utility also said it would abandon plans to build a transmission line across the Cascades from Boardman to Salem and instead acquire transmission capacity from the Bonneville Power Administration.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The deputy director of the Oregon Military Department who is accused of inappropriate behavior will retire next month. Mike Caldwell has taken medical leave this month. The Oregonian reports an Office of Emergency Management employee accused Caldwell of making an inappropriate suggestion in person and by text last month at a state emergency preparedness conference.
WASHINGTON (AP) – An Oregon company is recalling a frozen berry mix sold to Costco and Harris Teeter stores after the product was linked to at least 34 hepatitis A illnesses in five states. The FDA said today that Townsend Farms of Fairview is recalling its frozen Organic Antioxidant Blend, packaged under the Townsend Farms label at Costco and under the Harris Teeter brand at those stores.
