SALEM, Oregon, Aug. 7 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Rayfield Approves Salem Health-Santiam Hospital Merger * Attorney General Dan Rayfield today approved the proposed merger between Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics and Santiam Hospital & Clinics, clearing the final regulatory hurdle for the $61 million deal to close. "This approval came through a careful, independent legal review, as required by the Legislature," said Attorney General Rayfield. "Oregonians deserve to know  more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities issued the following commentary on Aug. 7, 2026, by Rachel Jacobson, lead researcher of state climate policy on the State Fiscal Policy Team: * * * States Began Scaling Back Expensive Subsidies for Data Centers in This Year's Legislative Sessions, But More Work Is Needed Economic development shouldn't compromise a state's ability to collect revenue for essential services. In this year's state legislative sessions, some states sought to end subsidies for data centers for reasons more PR

SALEM, Oregon, Aug. 8 -- Gov. Tina Kotek, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Kotek Honors Klamath Falls Man Who Died Fighting Wrights Spring Fire * Salem, OR -Governor Tina Kotek today expressed her condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Jason Ensign, a Klamath Falls man who died while supporting firefighting operations on the Wrights Spring Fire in Klamath County. Ensign, 47, was operating a dozer to help fire crews construct fire lines when rapidly changing fire conditions overtook his equipment. " more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Senate Passes Padilla Bill to Extend Tax Relief for Wildfire Victims * Legislation to Remove Taxes on Los Angeles Wildfire Settlements to Become Law WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, the Senate unanimously passed the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act, which included a version of U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Tim Sheehy's (R-Mont.) bipartisan and bicameral Protect Innocent Vict more PR