@miamaldonado
State government reporter @oregoncapitalchronicle.com, formerly at @idahocapitalsun.com 🥔 ➡️ 🦫 @vocesinternship.bsky.social alum | NAHJ 🇲🇽🇵🇾 | obsessed with my pup 🐶 DM me to send tips, or email mmaldonado@oregoncapitalchronicle.com
BREAKING: U.S. District Judge Amy Baggio on Friday granted a preliminary injunction sought by residents of Gray's Landing by the Portland ICE facility. This bars federal agents from using tear gas and other chemical munitions at a level that is "likely to reach" the affordable housing complex.
Several bills in Oregon lawmakers' Democratic immigration justice package did not advance. That includes bills to let the state withhold money from the federal government and a bill to prohibit state contractors from helping transport people for deportation.
At least 8 bills meant to strengthen Oregon's sanctuary law and immigrant protections are headed to Gov. Tina Kotek's desk for a signature.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/17/o...
Senate Bill 1548 was an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the production of individual edibles with more than 10 milligrams of THC, targeting edibles that are meant to be divided into several servings. oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/06/o...
BREAKING from our DC bureau: Kristi Noem out as DHS secretary; Trump to tap Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/05/r...
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump says he's replacing Homeland Security Secretary Noem with GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin.
“This is one of the nicest things I’ve ever had to work on,” Girod told lawmakers on the state’s budget-writing Joint Ways and Means committee Tuesday afternoon.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/05/o...
"Ultimately, my concern is for the privacy rights of Idahoans who have registered to vote, as secured under Idaho law,” Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane wrote to the Justice Department in a Feb. 26 letter. #idpol
Update: Gov. Tina Kotek late Monday signed Senate Bill 1599 into law, clearing the way for the gas tax referendum to take place on the May primary. oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/02/o...
This dance, the Payaso de Rodeo, is like the Mexican cha-cha slide, btw, in the sense that it's a dance most people in the community know. 🤠
Oregon tenants whose landlords leak confidential information such as their immigration status or medical records could soon have a pathway to collect up to twice their monthly rent as a form of recourse.
The bill’s passage marks one of the largest trials for Oregon’s mostly Democratic legislature as they try to balance ODOT's massive budget shortfall while contending with criticism from Oregonians urging them to prioritize affordability.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/02/o...
Legislative budget writers propose leaving more than 130 transportation jobs vacant, spending less on services and supplies and moving around not-yet-promised money to rebalance Oregon’s budget and close a large funding gap at the transportation department.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/01/t...
A Republican Idaho lawmaker on Friday proposed bills that would make significant changes to a law he pushed for two years ago that forced Idaho public and school libraries to move materials deemed harmful to children, or face lawsuits.
Federal agents in Oregon have detained and shot immigrants in hospital parking lots, accessed confidential emergency medical service logs from behind nurses’ desks and interfered with nurses while they care for patients — some with shackled ankles as agents stood guard in exam rooms. buff.ly/InvyecL
The filing deadline for the May 19 primary election is in just a few weeks. As our team plans primary coverage, we want to hear from you. What do you want to know from candidates to cast an informed vote?
buff.ly/P8zZnoH
A bill to regulate ICE in hospitals is halfway to becoming law after the Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 1570 last night. It must pass the Oregon House of Representatives next before it can head to the governor’s desk.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/25/o...
Kotek says there's a bipartisan agreement on short-term transportation funding that avoids layoffs but didn't share details when OPB's @dirquez.bsky.social pressed her. This is the most recent public document, a suite of options including potential layoffs.
olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/D...
Kotek says she expects a roughly 1% cut to state expenditures this year, pending the #orleg passing a measure to partially disconnect from the federal tax code that would result in about $300 million in revenue.
People who threaten public officials could face prison time under a bill the Oregon Senate passed 18-11 Tuesday. oregoncapitalchronicle.com/briefs/orego...
After several delays and an encroaching Wednesday deadline, a proposal to reschedule the date of a gas tax referendum to May finally passed the Oregon Senate. oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/23/o...
Her motion also failed.
That motion failed after 30 minutes of debate. It was a clear attempt by Republicans to delay the bill from advancing.
Now Sen. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, motioned to move the bill to the rules committee.
Brock Smith's motion isn't shocking. Republicans vowed to do everything in their power to stop Oregon Democrats from moving the date of the referendum.
Sen. Brock Smith, R-Port Orford, just motioned to move the day the Senate takes up the referendum bill to March 8, which is the last day of the legislative session. He said this would allow for more public input.
Time is running out for Democratic lawmakers wanting to move a referendum on gas taxes to an earlier date. They have until Wednesday to get the bill past both chambers and signed by Gov. Tina Kotek. oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/20/c...
Senior reporter @alexbaumhardt.bsky.social spent last week helping out the @minnesotareformer.com in her hometown of the Twin Cities. She reflects on what she learned there — and what it could mean for Portland. buff.ly/fcEH2zK
Deputy Attorney General Benjamin Gutman in November argued the tariff case before the Supreme Court. oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/20/r...
