Latest news with #OPB
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon schools get some relief from rising retirement costs amid tough budget season
The Oregon Public Employees Retirement System, or PERS, building in Tigard, Ore., on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019. (Bryan M. Vance / OPB) In a budget season rife with cuts and constraints, school districts have some good news. The Oregon Public Employees Retirement System, known as PERS, has announced a reduction in pension contribution rates for K-12 school districts. Agency leaders said the one-time move will provide much-needed budget relief to districts across the state for the 2025-27 biennium. 'Thanks to the support of Gov. Kotek and the Legislature,' Oregon PERS Director Kevin Olineck said, 'we were able to recalculate employer contribution rates and deliver real, measurable cost reductions for our school employers.' School districts, large and small, are facing another year of multi-million-dollar budget deficits. And they were expecting a big hit from PERS. Back in the fall, school leaders learned that the increase in PERS costs in the upcoming biennium was going to be more than Gov. Tina Kotek's initial budget increase for the State School Fund. In other words, despite her investing more in education, that money would be wiped out quickly by the rising costs of Oregon's retirement system. But in December, Kotek doubled the proposed increase in K-12 spending, which more than offset the PERS increase. Lawmakers further reduced the costs this spring by passing Senate Bill 849. The bill, introduced by Kotek at the request of PERS officials, changes how the state retirement agency distributes money from its School Districts Unfunded Liability Fund. That brought down the estimated retirement costs for schools from $670 million to just over $500 million. The changes from the bill reduce some of the burden on school districts to absorb rising retirement costs. Contribution rates for school employers will drop 1.68 percentage points as a result, reducing costs by about 6% over the next biennium. For school districts, this translates into $168 million in savings statewide — money that can now be used for other needs. It's not certain yet how these rates will continue or change for school districts in the next biennium. Analysts are already expecting an increase in 2027-29, followed by a significant decrease. But for now, the change is significant for local districts. In Portland Public Schools, for example, this change is expected to pay for dozens of teachers. That's a welcome development considering the state's largest school district had a $40 million budget gap when approving its budget for next school year. '[This bill] is estimated to reduce our expenditures in one year (by) about $7.6 million, which is equivalent to about 50 teaching positions,' explained Michelle Morrison, chief financial officer for PPS, when giving testimony to lawmakers in April. 'As you are aware, the School District Liability Fund has been kind of sitting and unable to offset our costs actively in the moment,' she said to lawmakers. 'So, this is an excellent opportunity, while those rate increases are significant, to put those dollars to work.' The Oregon School Employees Association, AFT-Oregon, the Oregon School Boards Association and the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators were among the supporters of the bill. It passed with only four dissenting votes in the Oregon Senate and unanimously out of the Oregon House. Louis De Sitter with the Oregon Education Association spoke to that in his testimony. 'I think the bipartisan nature of the bill,' he said, 'and the fact that both management and labor are so supportive of this, is indicative of a really good process, and a bill that we do believe will have a big impact for our districts across the state.' This article was originally published by Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Federal judge orders ICE not to remove trans migrant seeking asylum from Washington detention facility
A federal judge in Oregon on Tuesday issued an order barring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from removing a Mexican asylum seeker from a Washington detention facility, according to local reports. The migrant, a 24-year-old transgender woman identified as "O-J-M" in court documents, was arrested outside a Portland courtroom on Monday and transferred to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Baggio, a President Joe Biden appointee, also demanded that ICE provide the exact date and time of the removal from Portland and explain why it was deemed immediately necessary. Federal Judge Refuses To Reconsider Order To Facilitate Deportee's Return To Us Baggio's order was prompted after O-J-M's attorneys said they were not aware of their client's location and filed a habeas petition, a legal request asking a court to determine whether a person's detention or imprisonment is lawful. The migrant's attorney, Stephen Manning, of Immigrant Law Group, told Opb that O-J-M was processed into the Tacoma detention center, but he had not been granted access to her since her transfer. Read On The Fox News App Her attorneys said O-J-M was abducted and raped in Mexico because of her gender identity and sexual orientation and was seeking asylum on those grounds. "They threatened to kill her because O-J-M is a transgender woman," her habeas petition states, per OPB. "Fearing for her life, she fled and sought asylum in the United States in September 2023." Us Judge Accuses Trump Admin Of 'Manufacturing Chaos' In South Sudan Deportations, Escalating Feud Oregon sanctuary laws prevent it from having long-term immigration detention facilities, and -- aside from temporary holding cells at the Portland ICE office -- the nearest immigration detention center is the Tacoma facility. OPB reported that O-J-M sought asylum at a port of entry along the California-Mexico border, where she was arrested, detained and released. Since then, O-J-M has attended ICE check-ins and filed her formal asylum claim in February. In April, immigration officials began removal proceedings against O-J-M, the outlet reports, citing the migrant's attorneys. Manning told Willamette Weekly that his client had not committed a crime while in the U.S. During a mandatory court hearing for her asylum case in Portland on Monday, ICE attorneys moved to dismiss O-J-M's case entirely—effectively stripping her of both the case and the legal protections it provided. Afterward, ICE agents apprehended O-J-M. That led to Innovation Law Lab Attorney Jordan Cunnings, who also represents O-J-M, saying the arrest was a "dangerous attempt by ICE to circumvent due process, speed up deportations, and eviscerate the right to asylum." "This unethical behavior goes against the values we hold as Oregonians, ensuring that everyone is welcomed and included in our state," Cunnings said, per Koin. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said that the city "stands unwavering in its commitment to sanctuary policies," adding that Portland "will not obstruct lawful federal enforcement operations," per Willamette Weekly. Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE and Homeland Security for article source: Federal judge orders ICE not to remove trans migrant seeking asylum from Washington detention facility
Fox News
5 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Federal judge orders ICE not to remove trans migrant seeking asylum from Washington detention facility
A federal judge in Oregon on Tuesday issued an order barring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from removing a Mexican asylum seeker from a Washington detention facility, according to local reports. The migrant, a 24-year-old transgender woman identified as "O-J-M" in court documents, was arrested outside a Portland courtroom on Monday and transferred to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Baggio, a President Joe Biden appointee, also demanded that ICE provide the exact date and time of the removal from Portland and explain why it was deemed immediately necessary. Baggio's order was prompted after O-J-M's attorneys said they were not aware of their client's location and filed a habeas petition, a legal request asking a court to determine whether a person's detention or imprisonment is lawful. The migrant's attorney, Stephen Manning, of Immigrant Law Group, told OPB that O-J-M was processed into the Tacoma detention center, but he had not been granted access to her since her transfer. Her attorneys said O-J-M was abducted and raped in Mexico because of her gender identity and sexual orientation and was seeking asylum on those grounds. "They threatened to kill her because O-J-M is a transgender woman," her habeas petition states, per OPB. "Fearing for her life, she fled and sought asylum in the United States in September 2023." Oregon sanctuary laws prevent it from having long-term immigration detention facilities, and -- aside from temporary holding cells at the Portland ICE office -- the nearest immigration detention center is the Tacoma facility. OPB reported that O-J-M sought asylum at a port of entry along the California-Mexico border, where she was arrested, detained and released. Since then, O-J-M has attended ICE check-ins and filed her formal asylum claim in February. In April, immigration officials began removal proceedings against O-J-M, the outlet reports, citing the migrant's attorneys. Manning told Willamette Weekly that his client had not committed a crime while in the U.S. During a mandatory court hearing for her asylum case in Portland on Monday, ICE attorneys moved to dismiss O-J-M's case entirely—effectively stripping her of both the case and the legal protections it provided. Afterward, ICE agents apprehended O-J-M. That led to Innovation Law Lab Attorney Jordan Cunnings, who also represents O-J-M, saying the arrest was a "dangerous attempt by ICE to circumvent due process, speed up deportations, and eviscerate the right to asylum." "This unethical behavior goes against the values we hold as Oregonians, ensuring that everyone is welcomed and included in our state," Cunnings said, per KOIN. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said that the city "stands unwavering in its commitment to sanctuary policies," adding that Portland "will not obstruct lawful federal enforcement operations," per Willamette Weekly. Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE and Homeland Security for comment.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
University of Oregon's new global studies school receives record $25 million gift amid rising US international challenges
University of Oregon receives record $25 million for global studies amid rising US challenges University of Oregon 's new global studies school receives record $25 million gift amid rising US international challenges The University of Oregon has received a record-setting $25 million donation from Jordan Schnitzer and the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, marking the largest private contribution ever made to its College of Arts and Sciences . The funding will be used to elevate the university's global studies and languages programs and to prepare students for leadership roles in international affairs. Announced on May 6 at a press conference in Portland, the donation comes at a time of increasing global instability and significant cuts to US international aid programs. As reported by OPB, university officials emphasized that the funding will help expand the university's global education initiatives, enabling students to develop critical skills for navigating complex global challenges. A transformative gift for global education According to the University of Oregon, this is the largest gift ever dedicated to its College of Arts and Sciences, where about two-thirds of all undergraduate students are enrolled. As part of the announcement, the college's global studies school will be renamed the 'Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages.' The gift is intended to support a wide range of initiatives, including the recruitment and retention of top-tier faculty in global studies and languages. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025 Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo A new tenure-track scholar will be hired, and the donation will help launch a new undergraduate major focused on international relations. The program is designed to take an interdisciplinary approach to global issues and prepare students for careers in foreign service, NGOs, think tanks, international business, and public service. Positioning the US for future global leadership Schnitzer expressed his vision during the May 6 press conference, stating that the goal is to equip the next generation with the knowledge and passion to address both local and global challenges. 'If there's anything that'll help make a difference down the road, it's having informed young people that realize they need to wake up every day and have the passion to make the world a better place,' Schnitzer said, as quoted by OPB. This investment arrives at a pivotal time for US global engagement. Portland-based Mercy Corps recently reported that cuts to the US Agency for International Development are forcing the organization to eliminate more than two-thirds of its federally funded programs, as noted by OPB. New initiatives and national significance The Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages will also house a newly established Center for Global Futures. According to the University of Oregon's press release, the center plans to host a lecture series, annual conferences, a scholars-in-residence program, and an annual Harold Schnitzer Scholar Prize to recognize outstanding contributions to global research. University President Karl Scholz described the donation as a critical boost to the university's mission. 'We're never about teaching our students what to think, but how to think,' he said. 'And the Schnitzer School is a wonderful locus for that kind of work to happen,' as reported by OPB. Professor Aneesh Aneesh, who teaches global studies at the university, emphasized the importance of this initiative. 'Caught between the forces of globalization and still-resilient communal loyalties, every society is facing contradictory pulls on its social fabric,' he stated. He added that graduates from the Schnitzer School will help lead the way in a divided world, according to OPB. This historic donation is expected to increase graduate student support, enhance teaching and research efforts, and expand the doctoral student population in global studies—offering a timely investment in the future of US global leadership. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letter: Tell you rep you're not a fraudster
Fraudulent — I saw that word come up in several interviews. Once with our Rep. Cliff Bentz and Oregon Public Broadcasting's 'Think Out Loud' with David Miller. When Mr. Miller pressed Mr. Bentz a little more about what cuts to Medicaid would do to the folks on the Oregon Health Plan, Mr. Bentz said: If Oregonians are kicked off the plan, it's because the deserve it and are fraudulently participating. Google: OPB interview with Cliff Bentz for full interview. Next interview on YouTube 'All in Podcast' with Howard Lutnick, secretary of Commerce, said the only people who would call in if their Social Security check didn't come in would be fraudulent people. Next on YouTube, Bret Baier with Elon Musk and some of his Department of Government Efficiency team claimed 40% fraud in Social Security because people call in and change their bank information. Ed Weir, former Social Security manager, on YouTube has some truth to say on that subject. So I'm hoping if you have ever been helped by Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security, please call our representative and let him know you are not a fraud. Please join the peaceful rallies/protest/town halls going on across this great nation, including the one for our Veterans at ' Luann Horn Hermiston
