April Baer

A Clackamas County woman indicted on felony charges of ballot tampering spoke out Thursday, saying she had no agenda to try to influence election results, and that she does not remember the moments when the alleged violations occurred.

Voters have chosen Charlie Hales as Portland's next Mayor. Unofficial results show Hales coasting to a 62 percent lead over Jefferson Smith, with a significant write-in vote at nearly 8 percent.

Portland City Council has unanimously approved fluoridating the city's water system. April Baer of Oregon Public Broadcasting reports, a challenge to the plan has already been set in motion. 

About a dozen signs dotted the room, with opposition slogans like "Public water, public vote." Several hecklers were thrown out.

Council members including Amanda Fritz said they felt some concerns raised by opponents were valid. 

President Barack Obama returned to Oregon yesterday for a brief campaign fundraising swing. When candidate  Obama swept through Oregon in 2008, a huge crowd packed Portland's waterfront for a sunny rally that became one of the memorable images of that year's campaign. But the closed fundraiser at the Oregon Convention Center was different kind of affair. From Oregon Public Broadcasting, April Baer reports.

Oregon's Board of Higher Education voted Friday to raise tuition for most students at state supported schools. The increases vary from place to place. And for Portland State University, for example, the adjustment means a 1.4 percent reduction in tuition and fees. But for Southern Oregon University, it's a 9.9 percent increase in tuition.

University system staff pointed out that the state has cut funding for higher education by 16 percent for the coming fiscal year.

Board members like Lynda Ciafetti say they saw few options.

The hand count continues for the wave of write-in ballots Republicans cast in Oregon's Attorney General and Treasurer's races. The party was not able to find a candidate willing to run in the primary, but suggested voters write in Tom Buchalfor AG and Tom Cox for Treasurer. Nineteen thousand Republican voters ultimately threw their support behind write-ins. Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown says the counties have twenty days to finish their tallies.

Results from Portland's Mayoral primary show a veteran city leader and a charismatic state legislator advancing to a November runoff.

Former City Commissioner Charlie Hales took a healthy lead early, finishing with 38 percent of the vote when the counting wrapped for the evening. State Representative Jefferson Smith and entrepreneur Eileen Brady engaged in a standoff, as vote tallies showed Smith consistently ahead by about five percentage points.

Results from Portland's Mayoral primary show a veteran city leader and a charismatic state legislator advancing to a November runoff. From Oregon Public Broadcasting, April Baer reports.

GOLD BEACH, Ore. -- Curry County Commissioners have rejected the state's plan to help put the county on a path to fiscal stability. From Oregon Public Broadcasting, April Baer reports the Commissioners say they can't support spending  $75,000 to pay for the committee that would work out a restructuring plan. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Oregon Senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, have secured their colleagues' support of several million dollars in aid to counties in timber country. As Oregon Public Broadcasting's April Baer reports, the Senate voted 86 to 12 in favor of an amendment to extend the Secure Rural Schools Act.