On a hot summer day in Oklahoma in 2008, a train mostly carrying general freight – oats, corn, beer, lumber and grain – ran off the rails near Luther, northeast of Oklahoma City. Eight cars filled with crude oil and one with methanol derailed, erupted in a fiery mushroom cloud
The state opened doors for students with disabilities when it decided to recognize those earning modified diplomas as graduates — not just completers — who are now eligible for federal financial aid. “It’s really big news,” said Ashland High School Principal Michelle Zundel, who attended sessions in Salem on the
WASHINGTON – Skewed economic policies are a driving factor for economic inequality in the United States. That’s the opinion of witnesses at a hearing held by the Senate subcommittee on economic policy Sept. 17 chaired by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. Areas of significant difference in policy were taxes and deficits, trade and globalization,
A couple years back, student debt surpassed credit card debt in the U.S. U.S. Senator Merkely supports a bill that would allow students with high interest loans to refinance them. The bill was filibustered last session, but Merkley hopes to revisit it. “I view college as a public good that
The Senate advanced a bill Monday that would amend the Constitution to allow Congress and states to impose limits on campaign fundraising and spending. Both of Oregon’s senators, Democrats Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, voted in favor of invoking cloture, which forces a vote on the motion to proceed after
The Senate barely does anything these days — except approve judges that could shape the law for a generation. Since Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) changed Senate rules in November to ease President Barack Obama’s approval of most nominees, Democrats have churned through confirmations of dozens of new judges —
At 1,253 miles long, the Columbia River winds its way through the Pacific Northwest. The river and its tributaries touch seven states; people have lived along its banks and drawn their livelihoods from the river since prehistoric times. Seemingly as long and winding these days is getting important bills through
NEW YORK, Aug 17 – Just over a year ago, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley was looking for a place to make a bold statement about his latest crusade: taking Wall Street’s traders to task for gaming commodity markets. His office telephoned Bruce Kehe, marketing director at Portland’s Hopworks Urban Brewery,
As a biomedical researcher, I’m frustrated by lax control of chemicals. Federal law still allows chemicals to be used in products from toys to pizza boxes without sufficient data on their effects on human health. As a result, new chemicals are introduced into use at a pace far beyond the
A group of Democratic senators demanded that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) improve the quality of patents approved in order to avoid costly legal battles later. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) sent a letter Wednesday to
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