OPB News
After a week of consideration, a citizens panel of Oregon voters has emerged deeply divided over a medical marijuana ballot initiative. Measure 74 would allow medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon. The 24-member panel of randomly selected voters came out in favor of the measure by a 13-to-11 vote.
Next week, the U-S Supreme Court will hear a Washington case with implications across the country. The high court will consider whether citizen petitions are public or private. The case stems from the fight over petitions for Washington Referendum 71. That was the effort last year to repeal part of Washington’s gay domestic partnership law. Gay rights activists requested copies of the petitions so they could post information about the signers on the web.
Running schools in Oregon is one of the state’s big financial responsibilities. Building them is not. That could change under a ballot measure voters will see in May. Rob Manning reports on the constitutional change suggested in Ballot Measure 68. Oregon is full of schools in need of major repairs. Many could use 21st century electrical systems and energy upgrades.