Oregon

Municipal issuers in the Far West sold $38.7 billion in bonds during the first six months of 2020, 8.8% more than they did the year before.

State lawmakers closed a $1.2 billion budget hole during a 15-hour special session, but they may need to return in the absence of federal coronavirus aid.

Brown convened the special session for budget talks, but also anticipated talk on policy items, like police reform.

A COVID-19-driven decline in lottery revenue led Oregon postpone a $302 million bond sale because the deal wouldn't meet an additional bonds test.

Oregon's $320.4 million of taxable GO bonds were 7.7 times oversubscribed in some maturities.

Kate Brown also joined with the other governors and officials of the western states to urge Congress and the Trump administration to approve $1 trillion in aid.

Issuers in the Far West sold $85 billion of municipal bonds in 2019, a 23% increase from 2018.

House Speaker Tina Kotek agreed to slow momentum on the state's cap-and-trade bill to prevent a Republican walkout.

Kate Brown said that's how much the state's wildfire council estimates it will cost annually to adequately deal with the wildfire threat.

At Jefferson High School, the community wants more seats in its historic auditorium. Students and parents at Southeast Portland's Cleveland High want to build classrooms, and possibly a performing arts center, on top of the parking lot behind the Burgerville on Powell Boulevard.