Investigations

The Alfalfa Fire District and its Chief are reportedly under investigation by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Elections Division for potential violations of state election law related to advocacy for a local levy measure

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has vetoed House Bill 4177, rejecting a closely watched proposal to revise Oregon’s public meetings law and calling instead for a “collaborative fix” to address concerns from both local governments and transparency advocates.

State and county officials have confirmed that boundary change filings submitted by Alfalfa Fire District Chief Chad LaVallee improperly classified Juniper Acres properties as annexed into the district,

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek on Friday issued a formal notice that she is considering vetoing a controversial public meetings bill, citing concerns that portions of the legislation could weaken government transparency.

TDS Telecom President and CEO Ken Dixon is now directly addressing billing increases applied to certain “Price for Life” internet plans, after weeks of customer complaints and a multi-week investigation by the Prineville Review.

After some much needed sunlight on its operations, Travel Oregon is looking for a new chief executive—at a significantly lower salary.

The Ochoco West Water & Sanitary Authority (OWWSA) board is expected to consider a matter involving the Ochoco West Horse Coop at its meeting tonight, a development that again places attention on unresolved legal and governance questions surrounding the public body.

The Prineville Review has been investigating for a couple of weeks following numerous tips from Central Oregon residents who say their TDS internet bills unexpectedly increased despite being enrolled in so-called “Price for Life” or similar long-term promotional plans.

A local contractor with longstanding government ties and a history of ethics concerns involving federal contracts, used taxpayer funds to attend conferences at luxury resorts and to pay for meals for its governing board members.

A Crook County Circuit Court judge has entered a default judgment and injunction against the Ochoco West Water and Sanitary Authority (OWWSA), ordering the district to release public records after it failed to respond to a lawsuit filed last fall by the Prineville Review.