Oregon governor, more lawmakers call for Rep. Hernandez to resign KATU Staff
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Governor Kate Brown called for Oregon State Representative Diego Hernandez to step down on Friday, amid sexual harassment allegations and outcry for his resignation from at least 27 other lawmakers.
Rep. Hernandez is accused of violating the Legislature s anti-harassment policy several times.
On Friday, the governor made a point to call on Hernandez to resign ahead of her COVID-19 briefing. The governor cited a new report and investigation that found that Hernandez created an intimidating and hostile work environment for several woman. Gov. Brown called those who have come forward with their allegations brave and courageous.
$4.2 million grant to convert Ashland hotel into shelter for those hit by COVID, fires
File photo
ASHLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) The Oregon Community Foundation announced Thursday that Options for Helping Residents of Ashland has been selected to receive the first Project Turnkey grant of $4.2 million in state funds to purchase and transform an Ashland motel into the new OHRA Center – a resource center and facility to safely shelter community members negatively impacted by wildfires and COVID-19 pandemic.
In November, the Oregon Legislature’s Emergency Board allocated $65 million in state funding to purchase financially distressed motels across the state to deliver safe shelter in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and wildfires. These properties may ultimately be converted into long-term housing. OCF is administering the funds and convening a statewide community advisory committee to select qualified applicants to ‘Project Turnkey.’
Suburban, Bend districts will shrink in revised maps
A delay in U.S. Census data prods lawmakers to seek extension of July 1 deadline.
State legislative districts on Portland s west and east sides, plus Central Oregon, will have to shrink in the next redrawing of boundary lines because their population growth exceeded the average in the past decade.
Members of the Senate Redistricting Committee also were told that federal census data, the basis for redrawing the district lines, will be released a month after the state constitutional deadline of July 1. Democratic and Republican committee leaders, plus their counterparts in the House, asked the Legislature s lawyers to seek an extension from the Oregon Supreme Court.
A 2020 file photo of an envelope containing a 2020 census letter. The COVID-19 pandemic and lawsuits around the every-ten-years population count is delaying the release of census results this year, creating challenges for Oregon lawmakers.
Drawing new legislative and congressional districts every 10 years is among the Legislature s key duties. This year it might miss its chance.
Oregon lawmakers are scrambling to retain control over how legislative and congressional districts are redrawn this year after the U.S. Census Bureau revealed it could not provide data in time to meet the state’s deadlines.
The once-a-decade process of drawing new district maps happens after the completion of each new census, and is a significant power for the state Legislature. It helps dictate which political party steers Oregon for the next 10 years.