Associated Press

May 14, 2008

SALEM, Ore. -- The secretary of state's office reports that voter turnout stands today at 22 percent. That's compared with 18 percent at the same point in May 2004.

The tight race between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama has led to a 27 percent turnout among Oregon Democrats. About 21 percent of Republicans have returned their votes and the turnout for people not affiliated with either party is 11 percent.

A spokesman for Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury says if he trends hold up, Democrats might have a 70 percent turnout, which is extremely high for a primary election. 

Associated Press

May 13, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Democratic race for U.S. senator in Oregon is still too close to call with a large number of undecided voters remaining in a new poll.

The statewide poll of 400 likely Democratic voters found more than two out of five were still undecided with less than a week until the Oregon primary.

Portland lawyer Steve Novick was slightly favored over Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley by those voters who had made up their minds. But the difference between them was so slim and the margin of error was wide enough in the poll to make it very close with so many undecided voters.

The statewide poll was conducted May 8-10 by Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall for the Portland Tribune and KPTV.

Associated Press

May 13, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A new poll shows Barack Obama with a huge lead over Hillary Clinton in Oregon as the state heads into the final week before its primary election votes are counted.

Obama led 55 percent to 35 percent over Clinton among Oregon voters surveyed, a lead considered nearly insurmountable.

The poll of 400 likely Democratic voters across the state has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 percentage points. The fact that Obama is favored by a percentage of voters well beyond that margin of error this close to the election suggests his victory in Oregon is nearly certain.

The statewide polling was conducted May 8-10 by Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall for the Portland Tribune and KPTV. 

Faris Tanyos & Associated Press

May 13, 2008

GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- Former President Bill Clinton was in Southern Oregon Tuesday, making stops in Roseburg, Grants Pass, and Klamath Falls.

It was the last of a three-day, 13-city, barnstorming tour through rural Oregon, a strategy that helped his wife, Senator Clinton, win the Pennsylvania primary. However, it does not seem to be doing as well in Oregon. A new poll for the Portland Tribune newspaper shows Senator Barack Obama leading Senator Clinton among likely voters in the May 20 Democratic presidential primary, 55 percent to 35 percent.

In Grants Pass, Clinton told a crowd of over 500 at the Rogue Community College Redwood Campus that his wife supports bringing back county timber payments. He said he believes Hillary Clinton would make a better president than he was. He outlined her plan for universal health coverage and lowering gas prices.

Bill Clinton's last visit to Southern Oregon was in March, when he spoke at North Medford High School. Klamath Falls campaign leaders say it's been over 20 years since a sitting president has visited the area, when Ronald Reagan came through in 1983.

Associated Press

May 12, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Senator Barack Obama's campaign says he will return to Oregon Saturday and Sunday.

No details have been released on where he is going to be. Obama was in Oregon to visit with voters last weekend as he continued his bid for the Democratic nomination. 

By Faris Tanyos

May 12, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Senator John McCain was in Portland Monday, where he took time from his campaign to speak with NewsWatch 12.  

The Senator discussed the declining salmon population, federal timber payments, and Oregon's education system.

By Faris Tanyos

May 5, 2008

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. -- Less than 48 hours after the North Carolina and Indiana primaries, and amidst calls for her to step out of the presidential race, Senator Hillary Clinton appealed to Southern Oregon voters Thursday night at a 'Solutions for America' rally at the Jackson County Fairgrounds.

In her speech, she addressed local issues.

"When I come to campaign in a state like Oregon, I do what I've always done, and that is (ask) 'what's happening in Oregon?' Now clearly, there are common problems across our country; the economy, healthcare, education, our standing in the world, ending the war in Iraq. You're gonna here about that anywhere. But you may not here about county payments, you may not hear about thinning out old growth forests," says Clinton.

She also stressed the importance of Oregon's primary.

"It's been 40 years since Oregon has had a primary this important, or this exciting. If you think back 40 years ago it was a pretty close primary. Nobody could tell who was gonna win, sometimes one candidate won, sometimes the other candidate won. Well that's where we are today. So 40 years later, I'm here to ask for your support so that we can turn this country around and make sure it starts working," says Clinton.

Clinton again challenged Barack Obama to a debate in Oregon. Both Clinton and Obama will campaign in Portland on Friday.

By Faris Tanyos

May 8, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore. -- Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton spoke at a rally at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Central Point Thursday night.

Before her speech, she took time to speak with NewsWatch 12's Andrea Pettes.

She touched on several issues affecting Southern Oregonians including the Klamath water crisis, health care, and county timber payments.

Associated Press

May 8, 2008

SALEM, Ore. -- Portland activist Steve Novick has passed the $1 million mark in fundraising for his U.S. Senate campaign.

He still trails Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley, who has raised $1.8 million so far.

The two Democrats have been spending much of their money on TV ads as the primary campaign enters its final weeks.

Campaign reports show that Merkley had $151,000 cash on hand at the end of April, compared with $66,000 for Novick.

The winner of the May 20th primary gets to take on Republican Sen. Gordon Smith, who has already raised $8.5 million, according to his latest filing. 

Associated Press

May 7, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama will return to Oregon Friday and Saturday, a visit that will overlap with the Thursday and Friday appearance of his rival, Hillary Clinton.

The Obama campaign said Wednesday times and places would be released later. Obama made a strong showing in Tuesday's primaries, and political analysts have long thought he leads in Oregon.

It will be the second visit to Oregon for Clinton and the third for Obama. Former President Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea Clinton have also visited Oregon on Hillary Clinton's behalf.

Republican candidate John McCain plans a Portland stop on Monday.

Associated Press

May 6, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Back in 2000, 10,000 enthusiastic supporters packed Memorial Coliseum to hear presidential candidate Ralph Nader speak. They even paid $7 to get in.

Later that year, Nader won five percent of the Oregon vote. It wasn't enough to keep Al Gore from the winning the state, but enough to scare Democrats into hoping he wouldn't make the 2004 ballot. He didn't.

Nader is again running for president. Next week he makes his first 2008 campaign visit to Portland as part of a six-city West Coast tour.

It's unlikely that many Democrats will vote for Nader if he makes the ballot this time around and Nader understands the odds. But Nader says his campaign is figuring out how to qualify for Oregon's 2008 ballot. 

By Kelley Ashford

May 5, 2008

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. -- Senator Hillary Clinton will be in Southern Oregon Thursday May 8th. She is scheduled to speak in both Ashland and Central Point.

She will hold a small forum Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at the Ashland Springs Hotel. Following this, she will hold a 'Solutions For America' rally at the Jackson County Fairgrounds at 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Organizers say Bill Clinton is not expected to attend.

For more information go to www.hillaryclinton.com/centralpoint 

The Ashland Springs Hotel fundraiser event costs $250 per person. The hotel ballroom is only expected to hold 250 people.  For more information on this event, follow this link 

Associated Press

May 1, 2008

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama issued a set of Oregon-centric priorities today, that he says he'll pursue if he wins in November.

This, a week after his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, issued a 13-page "Oregon Compact."

Like Clinton, Obama says he would work to continue a program that provides federal payments to timber-dependent counties; give the state ultimate siting authority over liquefied natural gas terminals; and restore depleted salmon runs along the Pacific coast.

A spokeswoman for Clinton says Obama's Oregon blueprint is not as locally focused as Clinton's was.

But a spokesman for Obama says the Illinois Senator's plan includes issues that "affect people no matter where they live." 

Associated Press

April 30, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Democrats now make up nearly 42 percent of Oregon voters.

The growth is due to the last-minute voters who flocked to change their party affiliation or register for the first time to participate in the May primary.

The big draw is the presidential contest between Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but plenty of down-ballot races could benefit from the surge in registration.

The deadline to register or switch parties was Tuesday.

Ballots will be mailed to voters starting on Friday. Votes are counted May 20th.

According to the secretary of state's office, there were 845,196 registered Democrats in Oregon as of Wednesday, up by nearly 81,000 from January. During the same period, Republicans lost more than 4,500 voters, according to the secretary of state's count.

There are now 683,371 Republicans registered, or about 33.6 percent of the state's more than 2 million voters. 

Associated Press

April 29, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. -- With just three weeks to go until Oregon's primary, ad wars in Oregon's U.S. Senate race are heating up.

Democrat Steve Novick ran an ad this week that took direct aim at Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley's 2003 vote on a House resolution that expressed support for the troops, while acknowledging "the courage of President George W. Bush" in launching the Iraq war. In the ad, Novick tells voters he would never praise George Bush for invading Iraq.

Merkley has said he made his opposition to the war clear in 2003, and his vote in the then-Republican controlled chamber was intended only as a show of support for the troops. 

By Kelley Ashford

April 25, 2008

Oregon's primary is on May 20th.

If you aren't registered to vote, you have until Tuesday, April 29th to do so. For more information on how to register, head to the secretary of state's website at http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/

Ballots will be mailed out to voters between May 2nd and May 6th. 

Associated Press

April 23, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Pro-Palestinian activists are accusing Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley of a sudden change of sides in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Merkley last week released a position paper on the "U.S.-Israel Partnership" that Palestinian supporters saw as tilted toward Israel.

The paper followed the Democrat's return of a $2,300 contribution from a woman who had accused Israel of terrorism.

Merkley says his position on the conflict is a consistent one, preserve Israel's security and provide Palestinians with their own state.

Merkley is the speaker of the Oregon House and is seeking a win in next month's primary for a chance to unseat Republican Senator Gordon Smith. 

By Janet Kim & Faris Tanyos

April 22, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore. -- While Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama battled it out in Pennsylvania, their supporters in Southern Oregon were watching closely and made a final push for their candidate of choice.

Hillary Clinton's camp spent the day making phone calls to Pennsylvania voters before polls closed. 300 volunteers across Oregon contacted over 100,000 Pennsylvania voters.

Once Pennsylvania's polls closed, volunteers quickly changed gears and began contacting fellow Oregonians.

Obama supporters shifted their focus, preparing for Oregon's upcoming primary on May 20th.

Mail-in ballots are going out the first week of May. Voters need to be registered by April 29th. 

Associated Press

April 18, 2008

SALEM, Ore. -- So far, "undecided" has constituted the largest bloc of voters in most polls for Oregon's Democratic U.S. Senate race.

That may change now that contenders Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick are blanketing the airwaves with TV commercials.

Novick, an outspoken activist, has run humorous but edgy commercials that spoof his own physical characteristics, he's 4-foot-9 with a metal prosthesis for a left hand, and tout his progressive politics.

Merkley's TV commercial touts his efforts as Oregon House speaker to enact laws to crack down on predatory payday loan operations,

Eugene real estate broker Candy Neville isn't running any TV ads. 

By Ron Brown & Faris Tanyos

April 16, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore. -- On Wednesday morning the Clinton campaign opened it's own office on East Main Street in Medford.

Clinton's national campaign chairman arrived to cut the ribbon on the office.

The Clinton office is the second candidate office to open in  Medford this week. On Sunday, the Obama campaign also opened an office downtown.

Obama and Clinton held a 90-minute debate Wednesday night. Both campaigns held local viewing parties to watch the event.

Associated Press

April 8, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore.-- A new poll gives U.S. Democratic Senate hopeful Steve Novick a double-digit lead over Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley.

The poll, conducted for KATU-TV by SurveyUSA, reports that 23 percent of the 597 likely voters surveyed said they planned to vote for Novick. Merkley came in third in the automated poll, with 11 percent of voters. That put him in a statistical tie with Eugene anti-war activist Candy Neville, who was supported by 12 percent of voters in the poll.

40 percent of voters in the poll, which had a margin of error of 4.1 percent, said they were still undecided.

Novick's campaign manager said the poll reflected their momentum, but a spokesman for Merkley dismissed it, saying the results were not "legitimate."

Novick has double digit lead over Merkley. 

By Tim Conroy

March 31, 2008

President Bill Clinton will be wrapping up his Oregon tour today with stops in Portland, Salem and Bend.

Yesterday he addressed thousands of people at North Medford High School, after initally scheduling the speech at Hedrick Middle School.  The change had to be made after an overwhelming response from people who wanted to see the former President talk.

President Clinton spoke on many issues, including the economy.  He said the key to helping the economy is rebuilding the middle class and tapping into green energy to create new jobs. 

He says the cost of energy, health care and education are increasing and the government needs to step in.  He even touched on local issues like the loss of federal timber funds and how that is hurting several Oregon counties.

His wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, is still expected to make a trip to Oregon.

BY RON BROWN & FARIS TANYOS

March 20, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore. -- The first visitor to Southern Oregon of presidential caliber was, most likely, the president himself. In 1880, President Rutherford B. Hayes spent a night at the as-yet unfinished U.S. Hotel.

The presidential campaign of 1952 was a tense one for Republicans as Vice Presidential Candidate Richard Nixon was embroiled in controversy and was about to be dropped from the Eisenhower ticket. However, at a train stop in Grants Pass, he drafted what became known as his 'Checkers' speech. The speech saved his political future. A dozen years later, another republican candidate, Nelson Rockefeller, boosted his candidacy with a stop in Southern Oregon.

"Henry Cabot Lodge looked like he was gonna wrap up the nomination for the Republican party because he had won the New Hampshire Primary. He had Eisenhower's support and they we gonna declare, and the next thing was the Oregon Primary. And Nelson Rockefeller came out here and beat him and derailed the entire Lodge candidacy. And the reason he did was because when he came out here his slogan was, 'He cared enough to come!' Lodge didn't. Lodge lost," says SOU History Professor Jay Mullen.

In 1916 Woodrow Wilson's train stopped in Medford, although he didn't even acknowledge the Medford crowd. Instead he went on south for a ceremony at Hornbrook, much to the delight of Siskiyou County residents.

Senator John Kennedy was Grand Marshall of the Pear Blossom parade before his election in 1960. Jesse Jackson came through the Rogue Valley in his run for the White House in 1988. The following years saw Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr., and Bob Dole. The most recent stop came from George W. Bush and Vice Presidential Candidate John Edwards.

Oregon established the first presidential primary in 1910. By the 1912 presidential election, 12 more states had joined Oregon. By 1920, 20 states were holding presidential primary elections.

BY BROOKE ROSE

March 11, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore.  --  Tuesday was the last day for candidates to file to run for any open seats in Oregon's May election.

In Jackson County, there is an open seat for a county commissioner, position two.  Candidates who filed to run for the seat include: 

Scott Keith

John Morrison

Jim Olney

Morris W. "Bub" Saltekoff

Dennis C. W. Smith

Two candidates are applying for the Jackson County Assessor opening, including:

Dan Ross

Roy Wright

Five people are vying for Kathy Beckett's old seat as Jackson County Clerk, including:

Cheryl Avgeris

Colleen Roberts

Rick Schreffler

Karen Spoonts

Chris Walker

Two applicants will throw their hat in the ring for the position as Jackson County Surveyor, including:

Kerry K. Bradshaw

Darrell L. Huck

In Josephine County, several positions are up for reelection. 

The following candidates have filed to run for county commissioner, position two: 

Harry Mackin

Frank Iverson

James O'Grady

Paul Walter

Rowdy Bates

G.D. Massey

Cliff Thomason

 Sandi Cassanelli. 

Josephine County Commissioner, position three is also open, the following candidates have filed to run for that spot:

Dwight Ellis

Craig Heiller

 Jack "Auto Doc" Brown, Jr.

Gary Thomas Albright

Allen Ehr

John E. Makepeace. 

Two people are running for the Josephine County Assessor position, including:

Constance "Connie" Roach

Robert Graper. 

Art Harvey is the only person applying for the Josephine County Clerk position. 

Two people are applying for the Josephine County Treasurer position, including:

John Harelson

Dale Mathews

Peter Allen is the only applicant for the Josephine County Surveyor job.

Three seats are open for reelection in Klamath County.

Three candidates have filed for the Klamath County Sheriff opening, including:

Tim Evinger

Peter Michael Shepherd

Steven Craig Stroot

Four Candidates have applied for Klamath County Commissioner, position three, including:

Susan Walker

Cheryl Lorraine Hukill

Donald Gruener

Justin Barker

Al Switzer is the only applicant for Klamath County Commissioner, position one.

BY JANET KIM & FARIS TANYOS

March 11, 2008 

MEDFORD, Ore. -- A high school student is trying to make voting easier for her peers. South Medford High School Senior Alix George is giving students a chance to register at school. She has been registering students 17-years-old and up as part of her senior project.

"I'm trying to get as many young people as I can to register to vote and really get involved in the decisions made for their future," says George.

Young voters are expected to have a big impact on this year's election. On Tuesday, George set up a booth during the school's lunch period. Her idea is to make the process easier for students by cutting out an extra step and an extra excuse not to vote.

So far George has signed up 200 students, half of her graduating class. While not every student was interested in registering, organizers still took the time to pass out informational websites to encourage students to start thinking about what they believe.

BY ASHLEY HALL

March 7, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore.  --  Petitioners are ready to hit the streets in Jackson County to ask voters to support a measure to form a heritage district.

Friday morning, the Heritage Political Action Committee got the petition approved by the Jackson County Clerk.  They will now have until early May to gather almost $20,000 signatures, although not everyone can sign the petition.

"You need to be a registered voter and the cities in Jackson County have consented to have the petition passed in them, ten of them.  The one exception is Shady Cove. So we cannot circulate, nor can anybody sign, who lives in Shady Cove," said Tam Moore, with "Our Heritage" Steering Committee.      

The proposed heritage district would ask for seven cents per $1000 of assessed value to support historical societies and preservation of historic buildings in Southern Oregon.  That's about $11 a year for the average homeowner.

BY KELLEY ASHFORD

March 5, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore.  --  One Southern Oregon woman is home after hitting the campaign trail.

Democratic Candidate Hillary Clinton is back on track in her bid for the White House after the senator took the Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island primaries.  In Texas, people came from all over the country to campaign for both Clinton and Barack Obama.

Darby Stricker had the opportunity to travel to San Antonio to work on the Clinton campaign.  She was part of a group invited by the Clintons to revise their campaign strategy after recent setbacks in the race.

"We knew, going in, that it was going to be a challenge.  The Obama campaign is organized, so the feeling was tense going in.  We were very anxious about it, but we got in there and we worked 14 hours a day.  We got into the neighborhoods, we made thousands of phone calls and we educated the people on how to caucus," said Stricker.

Darby says her group is calling the Texas campaign a success.

She flew back into Southern Oregon Wednesday afternoon and now has her sights set on bringing the Clinton campaign to Oregon.  Hillary Clinton's wins put her in a tight race with Senator Barack Obama.  Darby says that means it's a good possibility that Oregon's primaries will make a big difference in the race outcome.

Newswatch 12 election coverage

BY CHELSEA MULLER

February 26, 2008

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.  --  A proposed home rule charter will not make it on the Klamath County May ballot, but its supporters say they're still working to make it a reality.

Sponsors of the Klamath County Charter say they met last night, to discuss getting the measure on the November ballot.  They had gathered more than enough petition signatures to get the initiative on the May ballot but thousands were void because the certification by the circulator was not valid.

According to the county clerk's office, they'll have to go through the process all over again, collecting roughly 1400 signatures.  The home rule charter would make county commissioner seats non-partisan and would increase the seats from three to five.

BY KRIS NIELSON

February 25, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore.  --  The 2008 legislature ended one week early, but is leaving many people wondering if it was time well spent.  Some say the session could be called a success, but will need to be examined before it goes to the voters.

Many people are unaware the 2008 legislative session has ended.  Many people were unaware the 2008 legislature had even started.

Some voters say their elected officials will have to work hard to convince them it should be a yearly event.

It was a controversial February session in Salem.  Both republicans and democrats say the experimental session had its good and bad points.  Now, the decision to continue the yearly session could be in the hands of voters.

Many voters who did not know the 2008 legislature had happened.  Newswatch 12's Kris Nielson talked to several Medford residents over a three-hour period.   He says he found one person of the dozens he spoke with that was even aware the special session had happened.  That man happened to be an elected official and chose not to appear on camera.

Few were aware 73 bills had passed, around-the-clock OSP patrol was approved, and millions of dollars will be spent to help senior citizen services.

Other voters say the news about the possible yearly session needs to more widely spread.  They say something that could change the way their tax money and elected official's time is spent should be advertised better.

"If it were important more people would know about it," said Oregon voter Robert Chongnee.

"I think if it's something that important then it should be broadcast, more people should know about it," said Dennis Easley.

These voters still have time to find out about the possible yearly sessions.  Some elected officials say they will propose a constitutional amendment in the 2009 legislature to call on voters for annual sessions.  One senator says he will take time to reflect on the February session and discuss with his constituents the pros and the cons before deciding if the three weeks were worth it.

Oregon is one of only six states in the country that holds legislative sessions every other year.

BY JANET KIM

February 25, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore. -- Southern Oregon legislators are back home after their experimental special session in Salem. The session lasted three weeks, ending before deadline. "The session was really very successful," says Democrat Senator Alan Bates, from District 3. "We finished about four or five days before our deadline, and we got our work done and got in and got out."

Bates says the annual session proved to be successful. With a $200 million shortfall, he says legislators corrected the budget.

Oregon State Police will have funding for 24-hour coverage. Hundreds of millions of dollars were allocated to Oregon universities. $23 million has been earmarked for senior citizen programs. And a new policy will crack down on subprime lending practices.

"We should shorten up the regular session to four or five months," says Bates. "And in the off year, a session to take care of these issues. I do think we proved we do need to do it."

Not all the issues were addressed however. The future of health care reform and full day kindergarten are still up in the air.

Some question whether this session was utilized properly. "We brought up things that were never to have been a contentious issue, that weren't suppose to have a politicized issue," says Republican Representative Sal Esquivel, from District 6. "There was a bunch of those brought forward and that wasn't the puprose of having a trial run for the annual sessions."

Esquivel says though he supports an annual session, he says limits need to be enforced.

BY CHELSEA MULLER

February 21, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore. -- Klamath County voters will not have the chance to vote on a new form of government. The county clerk announced late Thursday afternoon that the proposed home rule charter has been thrown out.

Last night, sponsors of the charter delivered well over the required petition signatures to the county clerk's office. Since then, the clerk and her staff have been verfiying the 208 petition pages. Supporters said they had 1,499 signatures. That's about 70 more than needed. Today, the county clerk says supporters collected roughly 1,600 signatures. Usually, that would provide enough room for error.

But NewsWatch 12 cameras were there as an opponent of the charter checked his own copy of the petitions. He found the error that has thrown out thousands of those signatures. "This is an entire page where the witness said on the 21st of January they saw all of these people sign this petition, and the first signature wasn't put on this page until the 5th of Februrary," says Joe Spendolini.

The county clerk says she's found the same error, but will not say how many signatures will be voided.

It appears many people did think enough signatures would be collected to put the charter on the ballot. Those opposed say they were already forming a political action committee to campaign against it. And an informative debate was already scheduled for next month.

BY SUSAN WHITE

February 18, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore. -- A special election next month could bring big changes to the city of Phoenix, but if you haven't registered yet to vote, you have just one more day. Voters in Phoenix, Talent and Medford will get ballots for the March 11 election.

Two of the three ballot items specifically deal with fire protection in Phoenix. Measures 15-81 and 15-82 are for county and city voters to decide whether the city should be annexed into Fire District 5.

Measure 15-83 is for voters in Medford to decide whether water services in the Kings' Highway District should be transferred to the city of Medford.

Again, if you're planning to vote on any of those measures, Tuesday, February 19 is the deadline for voter registration.

BY COLLEEN BORMANN

February 13, 2008

PHOENIX, Ore.  --  Fire District Five and the city of Phoenix are closer to joining forces.  The city's fire department has been contracting with District Five, but it's looking for a long term financial solution.

The city department is proposing voters from both, the district and the city, to vote to annex the city into the district.

"Number one objective: maintain city services in terms of people, equipment, and resources into the fire district as well as the city," said Fire District Five Chief Dan Marshall.

The rate is $3.19 per one-thousand dollars of assessed value for people living in the city. 

Voters will decide on the March 11 ballot.  If it's passed, it will go into effect July 1.

BY COLLEEN BORMANN

February 13, 2008

SALEM, Ore.  --  A new health care system in Oregon may soon be up to voters.  The Oregon House approved a resolution that would make health care a fundamental right for all Oregonians.

The health care system in Oregon has been an ongoing debate. Wednesday in Salem, House Joint Resolution 100 passed by just a two votes, which means voters could be in charge of the future of health care in the state.

The resolution would ask voters in Oregon if they think a health care system for every citizen should be created by a future legislature and, while supporters say it's a chance to fix the health care crisis by giving everyone access, some say they're worried it will take away from other major programs in the state, like education.

"By placing this type of bill to a vote without explanation it puts people at a disadvantage, if passed, it will have a tremendous impact on all other programs in Oregon," said Dennis Richardson, Oregon's District Four representative.

"This will put Oregon an a very clear track that we will accomplish a plan, that we will find a way to find health care for every Oregonian," said District Five Representative Peter Buckley.

The illegal immigration bill was also passed Wednesday.  It means the DMV will require people getting a license to have a valid social security number.  Those supporting the bill say too many people are coming to Oregon to get their license since it's so easy.  However, those opposed say it's the wrong way to approach the illegal immigration problem and it will lead to more problems down the road. 

Resolution 100 is expected to go through senate next.  Voters could see the resolution as soon as the November ballot.  The governor is expected to sign the tougher drivers license restrictions into law.

BY CHELSEA MULLER

February 11, 2008

KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. --  Some Oregon lawmakers are trying to tackle meth abuse and its influence on other crimes during the special legislative session. Sponsores of one proposed senate bill say higher penalties for methamphetamine offenses would curb other crimes in the state.

Senator Doug Whitsett, a Klamath Falls native, is sponsoring a bill that would increase bail for people arrested for making, distributing or possessing certain amounts of meth. If passed, a minimum bail of $500,000 would be imposed for the offenses.

"We've seen too many of these revolving door arrests and releases that escalated to something like what happened in Klamath," said Senator Doug Whitsett, a republican representing the 28th district.

In August of last year, two people were killed and one other was injured in a Klamath Falls apartment. Matthew Avina Norris, 22, is charged with the crime and has a prior methamphetamine possession charge on his record.

"So, I really think we need to put a lid on that. We can't put everyone in prison obviously, that deals in methamphetamine but those that are dealing, manufacturing and distributing a large enough quantity to be up the food chain a little but need to be put away," said Whitsett.

"High correlation between methamphetamine abuse and other kinds of crime activity," said Klamath County Chief Deputy Deputy Attorney Dave Groff.

Groff is tackling meth abuse in the county through a task force. The task force's findings support Whitsett's bill, but Groff and the DA's office say it adresses just one portion of the problem.

"It takes law enforcement and prosecution , it also takes prevention and it takes treatment. All three and if you just put all your eggs in any one basket it's not gonna work," said Groff.

"So, Oregon is going to have to look at whether we're going to take this methamphetamine problem head-on with penalties and obviously treatment at the same time or they're not. Because unless we get serious about it, it's just going to get worse and worse," said Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb.

The bill is still working it's way through the legislature. A public hearing and work session have been scheduled.

BY CHELSEA MULLER

February 11, 2008

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- A southern Oregon Community College has plans to expand and is now looking for voter approval. Klamath Community College says enrollment is up, and the school needs to grow. So administrators are hoping to convince the public to pass a $12.4 million bond.

If passed, the bond would fund construction of a 35,000-square-foot building. It would be across the parking lot from the current buildings, on land already owned by the school.

Administrators says the school won't be able to offer any more programs without the extra space. For example, there is currently just one science lab on campus. It can serve 24 students at a time. Administrators say that is not enough to support courses they would like to offer at the school. "We're a natural resource-based community, but yet we don't have the ag science and animal science programs we'd love to have," says Gerald Hamilton, KCC's interim president. "With OIT's health addition, we'd be able to compliment that."

The state has granted the school $7.7 million, if it is able to raise at least that much through a bond. The additional money in this bond proposal will be used to pay off the college's existing debt from buying the campus and remodeling current buildings. The school says eliminating that debt will free up $450,000 a year to fund new programs slated for the new buildings.

BY ASHLEY HALL

February 11, 2008

MEDFORD, Ore. -- The person who led the fight to reopen Jackson County libraries is looking for a new role. Jim Olney is with the county ibrary foundation. This morning, he announced he is running for Jackson County commissioner.

Olney says his bid for C.W. Smith's seat is only partially in response to the library funding issues. He's also concerned with accessibility of Jackson County decisions. "(If) you went to Douglas, Josephine, Multnomah, all the counties in Oregon and went online to the commision, you can get a copy of the minutes and all the county commission meetings," he says. "So if you are not able to attend you can go through the minutes online and find out about the issues."

You can find out more about Olney's campaign at www.olney08.com. So far, he and the incumbent Smith are the only candidates for the position.

BY KRIS NIELSON

February 8, 2008

SALEM, Ore. --  Oregon's general fund is $183 million less than it was expected to be only three months ago.  That is according to the Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast released Friday.

Although the state's job growth is up 2.5 percent, the housing market, population growth, and the economy are expected to continue declining.  The March 2008 general fund is the latest victim to the subprime lending issues.

The national housing market is slowing economies across the country and dropping the state's source of revenue.  The nearly $200 million drop this quarter is prompting legislatures to look for more places to cut, or even out the budget.  But they say the budget is not in a state of emergency, and should be able to recover quickly from the recession.

"We should make judicious cuts, be careful what we do, be thoughtful.  We should not ask for new revenue.  We should not go to the rainy day fund.  Those issues are not there now as far as I'm concerned and I don't think anyone is going to go there," said Senator Alan Bates, a democrat representing District Three.

The revenue forecast shows Oregon is following the national economy trend.  The state's population increased 1.5 percent and the report shows that number will remain there until the state's economy and ability to attract job seekers increases.        

Bates says the state of the budget and the economy are two more reasons legislatures should continue to hold annual sessions in Salem.  He says the extra time gives legislatures the chance to fix problems sooner.

BY TIM CONROY

February 8, 2008

SALEM, Ore. --  Land use debates in Oregon draw very passionate reactions.  Land use drives voters to elections, an example is Measure 49 which passed in the fall.

This issue costs Oregon millions of dollars and brings out an emotional response from landowners and environmentalists.  It is also an issue for republicans who say the democrats in charge took funding away from the Big Look Committee which is trying to chart the best course for land use in Oregon.

Many people move to Oregon for quality of life.  Oregon's strict land use laws are meant to keep beautiful views intact and regulate where new buildings go.  The Big Look Committee is asking everyone in Oregon if they think land use laws should change.

"Four-year program to see what was appropriate for land planning over 30 years," said Oregon Senator Alan Bates, a democrat representing District Three.

Bates says the committee wasn't doing the best job asking people living in every part of the state what they want to see with land laws. So, the Ways and Means Committee took funding away.  Some republicans say the cut was hidden in a larger budget.

"We unknowingly defended that committee and never got the results out before Measure 49 came out. I think it would've tilted the whole ballot measure," said Representative Sal Esquivel, a republican with District 6.

Bates says not so fast.  He says the committee wasn't doing it's job, so a message needed to be sent.

"This was about efficiency and functioning well. It wasn't about politics or ballot measures because the report is due a year from now," Bates said.

Republicans disagree and have made fully funding the Big Look Committee a top priority this month.

"At the end of last session, the funding was eliminated which was a political move to stop progress from being made," said Representative Dennis Richardson, a Republican with District 3.

"I'm sorry it became partisan cause it shouldn't have. Republicans and Democrats both believe in efficient government," Bates said.

Bates says the Big Look Committee is now on track to get the results the legislature wants.  He says the money was restored last month and the house and senate will likely approve the funding during the session.

"That funding needs to be restored," Richardson said.

"It's done, the money is there. They can go forward," said Bates.

The Big Look Committee has about two years left.  It is made up of people from every part of Oregon.  Southern Oregon is represented by Cameron Krauss of Grants Pass.  Today's state revenue forecast shows lawmakers will have $200 million less to spend then expected.

It won't effect the Big Look Committee, but it will affect the budget.  Bates thinks not as many things will get funded like extra OSP troopers.

Complete details will take time, but don't expect to see everything lawmakers talked about before the session started.

BY JENNIFER SEEKER

February 7, 2008

SALEM, Ore. --  Oregon State Police could soon be out on the state's highways 24 hours a day.  That's if a proposal up for debate in Salem is passed during this month's session. 

Close to 100 bills could be considered but, for many, round-the-clock state police coverage is a priority.  A funding plan is at the center of debate.

The Oregon State Police is just half the size it was 30 years ago, even though the state population has ballooned in that time.  Meanwhile, timber payments expired and some counties were forced to slash public safety budgets.

"Our counties' budgets are in bad, bad shape. The state police provide a very vital law enforcement presence in our counties so this is going to assist our counties to making sure we're safe," said Peter Buckley, Oregon's District 5 representative.

At least 139 more troopers are needed to provide around-the-clock coverage. The state legislature approved the addition of 100 more troopers in the 2007 session and during this session; they are expected to okay funding for the additional 39 troopers.          

"We gave them 100 and they're probably half-way through those and we give them another 39 or 40. This is very doable for the state police," said District 6 Representative Sal Esquivel.

The proposal will cost $3 million but it will take time to get those 39 troopers trained and on the roads across Oregon.  OSP has stringent requirements and a just fraction of applicants are able to pass the test and actually become troopers, which complicate the shortage even more.  Still, OSP leaders say they need the funds to even get started filling their ranks.

"I talked to the superintendent last week and he told me he certainly would be able to use the money. Hopefully this isn't politics as usual," said Senator Doug Whitsett, a republican representing District 28.

That's all that could stand in the way, at this point, as lawmakers hash out how to fund the troopers.  But, they all insist, they will put politics aside during this short session for the benefit of public safety.

"We need to be like CPAs, we need to get in here and we need to do our budgetary process," said Esquivel.  "We shouldn't spend a lot of time like today mired down in political issues, we need to get in and out for the people of Oregon."

State legislators still disagree about how to fund the additional troopers.  They are arguing over whether to give a lump sum to OSP or to put the money in a reserve that could be tapped into as needed.  Still, they do expect to find common ground on this issue.

BY TIM CONROY

Feburary 6, 2008

SALEM, Ore. -- When you ask lawmakers what their priorities are this session, it doesn't matter if they are a Republican or Democrat. You hear this: "Subprime mortgage is a priority." Three bills introduced in Salem deal with mortgages and foreclosures.

Southern Oregon lawmakers want to protect homeowners, but Republican Sal Esquivel, who sells real estate, says they need to be careful. "If we aren't careful with the subprime, what we are going to do is break the system," says the District 6 Representative.

Esquivel says only one half of one percent of the homeowners in Oregon lost their home to foreclosure in 2007. That's much lower than the national average. But many homeowners are seeing payments rise and might need help. "I think there are specific things that can be done for folks who are way outside the box," says Republican Senator Doug Whitsett, from District 28.

Some foreclosures aren't pretty. One problem is predatory foreclosures. That is when a company takes advantage of a vulnerable homeowner. One bill before the legislature would change that. "There are some areas nothing short of predatory that should be closed," says Whitsett.

Another issue is fixing the tax code When a home is foreclosed upon and debt is forgiven, the owner must pay Oregon state taxes. Representative Dennis Richardson says that needs to stop. "The feds have changed, the state has not," says the Republican from District 3. "It has to be changed so we are in harmony with the feds on that kind of relief."

One theme runs through the legislature: this isn't just a problem in Oregon. "There will be discussions on it, but truly it is national," says Richardson. "For one state to do something significant is very difficult."

But they will try. And what legislators can't fix this month, they will continue to work on. "I think the interim committee should continue to work to the 2009 session before that part is addressed," says Richardson.

BY CHELSEA MULLER

February 5, 2008

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. --  The Klamath Falls Police Department is closer to finding a new home. 

The city council is in the final stages of buying the old armory building from the state.  The city says it has the money to buy the building but will need help funding the remodel.  The council is expecting higher roadwork costs in the future. 

A ballot measure is being drafted for the May ballot, asking voters to approve about $7 million for the remodel.

 "Council is, I think, committed to move forward on both fronts and if we can get help from the voters, it will make it easier to do," said Klamath Falls City Manager Jeff Ball.

 "I think it's a great location, I think it's a great resource," said Klamath Falls Police Chief James Hunter.  "We can refurbish an older building, make it to current standards and save some money in doing so."

Surveys sent out with utility bills have shown a majority of the public support the plan.  The community can also see the plans at an open house on Wednesday.  It's scheduled from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Armory Building on Shasta Way.

BY RON BROWN

February 5, 2008

YREKA, Calif. -- One of the big prizes for candidates in today's Super Tuesday voting is California. In Siskiyou County, about half the voters are choosing to vote by mail, rather than risk snowy roads to get to a polling place. Last fall, when election officials realized February weather could discourage some voters, they encouraged voters to vote by mail instead. "Actually, I'm a litte bit disappointed in the turnout," says Siskiyou County Clerk Colleen Setzer. "I think it's low. We have so far had about a 50 percent return rate on our vote-by-mail ballots." She says she expects about a 55 percent overall turnout.

Seven Yreka-area precincts voted at the election center. But more than half of the ballots cast in this primary from Siskiyou County will come by mail, and the clerk says she thinks it may be about time for California to think about voting by mail in every election. "Eventually I'd like to see us go to vote by mail," says Setzer. "(But) I'd like to make it a little bit less onerous than the current legislation." The legislation under consideration in Sacramento could make Siskiyou County a pilot project for vote by mail.

Voters who talked to NewsWatch 12 seemed happy California is back in the primary election limelight. "They get it all in one time and then it's all over," says Richard Meixner, who was voting Tuesday morning.

"We get to make a difference this time around," says voter Dean Mott. "This time it's fair."

In addition to presidential candidates, there are seven initiatives on the California primary ballot. Polls close at 8:00 tonight, when counting will begin.

BY TIM CONROY

February 4, 2008

SALEM, Ore. -- Getting a driver's license in Oregon is harder, starting today. Governor Ted Kulogoski ordered the DMV to make sure the person applying for the license has a valid social security number. The legislature is now expected to make that order law. That has many in Oregon upset, and today they protested in Salem.

The capitol was buzzing as legislators arrived for an experimental annual session. But the new session was overshadowed by protests from groups on both sides of the immigration debate. Hundreds of people against new rules making it harder to get a driver's license in Oregon took their concern to the state capitol and the legislators there who can change it. They were joined by a group that says tougher restrictions on drivers' licenses are necessary.

"Definitely a step in the right direction," says Rick Hickey in reference to the tighter law. He is with the group Oregonians for Immigration. "The legislators can change it and make sure it is sealed in concrete."

They're trying to collect enough signatures to put their cause on the ballot, but the hundreds rallying for more rights say they aren't the ones people should fear. "I'm just not sure I see the threat that the folks on the steps are seeing," says Sarah Loose, who describes herself as a supporter of immigrant rights. "I don't see our immigrant community, our brothers and sisters, as a threat to Oregon."

Organizers of both rallies say the timing is conincidental. They didn't mean to be here on the same day, gut state police have a heavy presence to make sure nothing happens

Organizers of the protest against the tougher license restriction say it will lead to more unlicensed drivers. Some legislators are listening to both sides, but think Oregon needs to be stricter when it comes to giving the right to drive and the ID it brings with it. "I know of a man in Guatemala that showed off his Oregon license," says District 4 Representative Dennis Richardson. "Another man said, 'We know Oregon. We go there to get a license and then go to other states because it is so easy to get a license in Oregon.' That has to stop."

The legislature has two bills that would require drivers to prove they are in the United States legally before getting a driver's license. But there's no way to know if they will come up for a vote before the session ends.