SALEM- A new joint agreement to save the northern spotted owl population was announced on Friday, amid some frustrations.

The Safe Harbor Agreement is a voluntary program designed to provide incentives for landowners and promote conservation efforts, as agreed upon by the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

PORTLAND- Nearly three weeks after the release of the last Chris Dudley advertisement attacking John Kitzhaber’s record as governor, the Kitzhaber campaign released their own ad on Thursday bringing into question Dudley’s experience for the job.

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SALEM- Following his unsuccessful bid to be the next governor of Oregon, former Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury has been appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski to a regional energy and conservation council.

The position is one of eight seats on the Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Planning Council, with two representatives from Washington, Montana, Idaho, and Oregon.

PORTLAND- A room full of impassioned arguments and frustrated people was the scene at Tuesday night’s town hall at the St. John’s Community Center.

Focusing on the foreclosure crisis, the town hall was hosted by State Representative Tina Kotek, D-North Portland, and included a guest appearance by Congressman Earl Blumenauer, D-Portland.

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.