To our readers: Effective immediately, Oregon Capitol News is suspending publication.

For more than two years, the OCN news team has been reporting on stories from the state capitol and other places where elected officials affect our lives. They also built one of the nation’s premier government transparency websites (GovDocs) and investigated many stories of poor financial management in the public sector. It has been a privilege to provide this service, and we hope you are better informed as a result.

SALEM, Ore.- With around 100 employees, Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) handles several different issues involving businesses of all types and the people who work for them. Yet, many people have never heard of the agency and are unfamiliar with what it does.

The non-partisan, statewide race for labor commissioner has drawn two candidates: incumbent Brad Avakian and Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro.

SALEM, Ore.- Chief Judge David Brewer of the Oregon Court of Appeals released the Annual Court of Appeals Report Wednesday morning, stressing a need in the court for more judges.

“Even though for more than 90 percent of appellate litigants the Court of Appeals has the final word in their case, no new judges have been added to the Court in 35 years,” wrote Brewer.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Developers have received almost $350 million in assistance over the years in the form of low-interest or free loans from the Portland Housing Bureau for affordable housing units.

Almost the entire Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) loan portfolio was lent below inflation rates. Similar deals won’t be found at traditional lenders such as banks or credit unions, and for good reason

SALEM- A hearing on the future of Petition 50 ended Monday afternoon, but no ruling by Judge Mary James has been made yet.

Petition 50, which would put the power of redistricting in the hands of a non-partisan panel of retired judges, was spearheaded by former Rep. Kevin Mannix and Common Sense for Oregon.

TIGARD- The advocacy group Tualatin Riverkeepers held their Annual Legislative Kayak Race on Thursday afternoon, bringing in local politicians from across the Portland metro area.

Participants included State Representatives Margaret Doherty and Matt Wingard, as well as several Metro council members, county commissioners, mayors, and various political candidates seeking office this fall.

PORTLAND – TriMet and its employee union presented their final offers to each other on Wednesday after previous negotiations failed.

According to Jonathon Hunt, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), division 757, President-Business Representative, contract negotiations have stalled because of disagreements on healthcare and pensions. Under the final offer proposed by TriMet, new employees hired after April 1, 2012 and all employees who retire after April 1, 2012 would have significantly reduced benefits.

SALEM- Attorney General John Kroger joined with 12 other states Wednesday in an attempt to intervene to support the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of industrial greenhouse gas emissions.

“The science is clear. Global climate change harms public health, and the EPA is taking the right approach by focusing on the big sources of pollution,” Kroger said in a press release.

SALEM- As expected, the Legislative Emergency Board voted to restore $17.1 million in state funding to the Oregon Department of Human Services on Thursday.

In a press release sent out Thursday afternoon, Senate President Courtney, D-Salem, said, “We know it is absolutely the right thing to do to keep serving those who need help the most-especially our senior citizens and children with disabilities.

FOREST GROVE- State Senators Rick Metsger, D-Hood River, and Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro, met at the Forest Grove Town Hall to discuss business development in Oregon and what the State is doing to better the economy.

Both Metsger and Starr, who were leaders on the Senate Economic Development and Transportation Committee last session, stressed the importance of transportation on business development in Oregon.