Grant Stringer News Today

Also: An Oregon town purchased a forest to fight wildfires.

The climate crisis has arrived in the American West. Let's meet it head on.

Lawmakers face a June 25 deadline to wrap up work and Senate Republicans have said they plan to boycott until that date. Conservative senators began boycotting floor sessions on May 3. Nothing has gotten done since.

The senators, nine Republicans and one Independent, began skipping floor sessions May 3, leaving key bills in limbo.

Kyle Hedquist and Kyle Black served more than 25 years each in Oregon prisons after pleading guilty to separate murders. Now they're fixtures in criminal justice policy talks at the state Capitol.

Oregon Republicans boycotted the state Capitol on Wednesday, testing for the first time a 2022 measure that punishes state lawmakers for walkouts. The boycott comes as Democrats advance an abortion and gender-affirming health care proposal and gun regulations scorned by conservatives.

Mike Erickson for Congress is suing Andrea Salinas for knowingly airing ads with false statements and misleading images. Seeks retraction and public apology.

Activists and education professionals say social media, the growing mental health crisis among youth, and behavioral issues spurred by the pandemic all play a part.