SALEM, Ore.- Governor John Kitzhaber announced Monday morning that Margi Hoffman would be joining his staff as the governor’s energy policy advisor.

Hoffman currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Oregon Operations for Strategies 360, an advocacy and public affairs firm in Portland.

SALEM, Ore.- Two days after Oregon’s latest revenue forecast showed the state down an additional $35 million, the legislature’s Ways and Means Committee met to consider a key bill intended to transform the way health care services are delivered.

A work session was held during the Friday meeting regarding Senate Bill 1580. The bill, if passed, would provide legislative approval of Oregon Health Authority proposals for coordinated care organizations.

SALEM, Ore.- When he was campaigning for office in 2010, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber pledged to make the state’s entire education system more comprehensive.

Kitzhaber took one more step towards making that vision a reality on Wednesday, Feb.1, as he testified before the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee on the first day of the legislature’s 2012 session.

SALEM, Ore.- A new proposal under consideration during the State Legislature’s February session would mean a shake-up for the Oregon State Board of Education.

Senate Joint Resolution 201, introduced by Senator Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg, is a proposed amendment to the Oregon Constitution which would restructure how the Oregon State Board of Education is chosen and of what its membership would consist.

SALEM, Ore.- Oregon took its next step toward education reform Monday with the submission of a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

According to Governor John Kitzhaber’s office, states may seek waivers if they implement “rigorous and comprehensive state-developed plans” to help improve educational outcomes for students and the quality of instruction, as well as close achievement gaps and increase equity.

SALEM, Ore.- Lawmakers will gather in the state capitol next week to prepare for their first official interim session.

The legislators’ biannual February meeting in even years became official last year when voters approved a brief session to occur between years with regular-length legislative sessions.

PORTLAND, Ore.- Protesters from the Business Enterprise Consumer Committee met outside the Oregon Commission for the Blind on Friday, demanding that new leadership be instated for the commission.

CLICK TO SEE THE VIDEO REPORT

SALEM, Ore.- Governor John Kitzhaber announced Friday that he is appointing Patrick Allen as the new head of the Department of Consumer and Business Services.

Allen has served in the department since 2003. Most recently, he worked as acting administrator of the Building Codes Division. Previously, he worked in the department as the manager of the Office of Regulatory Streamlining.

SALEM, Ore.- In a letter to the newly confirmed Oregon Education Investment Board, Governor John Kitzhaber laid out several policy changes for which he would like the board to create proposals in the upcoming legislative session.

SALEM, Ore. – Testifying before the Oregon Board of Forestry on Thursday, Governor John Kitzhaber challenged the Board to better meet the state’s goals for the economy, the community, and for conservation.

Kitzhaber told the Board that the state forest must not be managed in a vacuum, but it must be viewed in the context of the entire forest landscape, which includes federally and privately owned forests.