Klamath Falls News - Locally owned news brand, reporting stories affecting citizens of the Klamath Basin.
Election Day is only one week away, and early ballot returns show that voter turnout so far is 124,056 higher than the prior high for a midterm election. Turnout at close of business on Tuesday, October 30 stood at 657,480, which is 123% of the prior high of 533,424 at this point in the 2014 election.
Read MoreSALEM, OR — Today, the Secretary of State released an audit of the Energy Trust of Oregon’s administrative expenses, which are generally reasonable. Auditors also identified ways the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) could strengthen its oversight of these expenses to increase transparency and accountability.
Read MoreSALEM, OR—Today, in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute, the US Supreme Court upheld Ohio’s method of removing voters from voter rolls for not participating in some elections.
Read MoreSalem, OR — Today, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson released an advisory report detailing the work of the Oregon Audits Division in using data analytics to assist with fraud investigations in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Read MoreOp-Ed Commentary by, Dennis Richardson, Oregon Secretary of State
Ballots for the 2018 Primary Election are now in the mail, and here are answers to 10 of the most frequently asked questions from Oregonians about the election.
1. If you believe you are registered to vote but have not received your ballot by May 4, call your local elections office.
2. You can track your ballot at oregonvotes.gov/myvote.
Read MoreThroughout 2017, Larry Morgan, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson’s “Citizen Engagement and Inclusion Coordinator,” has been vital in identifying issues and developing relationships with minority populations in Oregon.
Read MoreKlamath Falls News has received a statement from Oregon Secretary of State, Dennis Richardson on Governor Kate Brown's proposal for additional funding for the foster care system. Click to read the full statement.
Read MoreToday, Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson released an audit of the Oregon Department of Revenue (DOR). The audit found that DOR has accomplished its goals of implementing sufficient controls in their GenTax computer system to provide reasonable assurance that tax return and payment information remains complete, accurate, and valid.
Read MoreToday, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson made the following statement regarding unanimous findings by the Oregon Ethics Commission of 10 ethics violations by former Governor John Kitzhaber
Read MoreOregon's Recreational Marijuana Program was legalized by the voters in 2015. Responsibility for issuing permits, inspecting "grows," ensuring compliance, and all other aspects of the administration of the marijuana industry from "seed to sale" was placed on the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. The size and complexity of regulating the Oregon marijuana industry was grossly underestimated.
Read MoreToday, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson released an audit on the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Child Welfare management. The audit found that DHS has been slow and indecisive in responding to a growing foster care crisis, which has increased risks to the children the system was created to serve.
Read MoreSecretary of State Dennis Richardson released an audit that calls on state officials to do more to prepare Oregon for a catastrophic disaster. Auditors found that Oregon is vulnerable to a Cascadia earthquake and tsunami that is expected to have catastrophic consequences throughout the region...
Read MoreToday, Oregon’s Kid Governor Dom Peters was inaugurated in the Oregon State Capitol’s Senate Chamber.
“Thank you so much for electing me Oregon’s first Kid Governor,” said Dom in his first public address to Oregonians. “It has been an amazing experience so far, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”
Read MoreToday, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson released an audit of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Air Quality Permitting Program. Air quality permits regulate the types and amounts of air pollution businesses are allowed to emit based on federal and state pollution limits. The audit found a significant backlog in air quality permits. Untimely permits, combined with a current backlog of inspections, endanger the health of Oregonians and the state’s environment. DEQ should evaluate staffing and workloads among air quality permit writers and provide better guidance to both staff and businesses. The findings are outlined in the audit report entitled: “DEQ Should Improve the Air Quality Permitting Process to Reduce Its Permit Backlog and Better Safeguard Oregon’s Air.”
Read MoreIn a newsletter sent to Klamath Falls News, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson states the following:
Your Special Election Voters’ Pamphlet
The Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet for the January 23, 2018 Special Election was mailed statewide for delivery between December 27 and 29. I encourage you to study the arguments on both sides.
If you need to register to vote or update your voter information, you can do so on our website. The registration deadline for this election is January 2, and ballots must be received in your county clerk’s office no later than January 23. Please remind your friends and family how important it is to vote.
Read MoreThe Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has not focused on improving education for at-risk students in alternative and online schools and programs, though these programs account for nearly half the state’s high school dropouts, according to an audit released today by the Secretary of State’s office.
The alternative education audit follows an audit released Tuesday that examined Oregon’s low graduation rates and academically at-risk students in traditional high schools.
Read MoreToday, the Oregon Secretary of State’s Audits Division released an audit of the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). ODE provides oversight and support to individual schools and school districts in Oregon’s public K-12 education system. The audit found ODE should improve its practices and support to districts and schools to reduce the risk of students not graduating within four years. The findings are outlined in the report entitled: “The Oregon Department of Education Should Take Further Steps to Help Districts and High Schools Increase Oregon’s Graduation Rate.”
Read MoreToday (12/13/17), Secretary of State Dennis Richardson released an audit entitled, “Higher Education Coordinating Commission Needs to Address Weaknesses in Procurement Practices.”
The audit found that Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) agency is at risk of failing to procure goods and services in accordance with state laws and lacks a robust and effective procurement system.
Read MoreToday, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson announced revisions to the grassroots petitioning rule. This rule would prevent wealthy special interest groups from manipulating the initiative process through frivolous lawsuits on ballot titles designed to obstruct and delay signature gathering. Legal challenges often create delays of two to three months or even longer, which is unnecessarily burdensome for grassroots petitioners that do not have the resources to hire a signature gathering service.
Read More![Historic Early Turnout for Midterm Election [UPDTED]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b9f24c64b05fd6531db026/1541093872765-KV2229Z04MKS8FQ59PGF/85.jpg)
