SALEM, Ore. - Oregonians have until mid-January to comment on a new Oregon Heritage Plan that sets many of the state's historic preservation priorities for the next five years.

No one would argue that Oregon is rich in history, but the median annual budget for the small museums around the state is less than that of a typical lower-income household, and many depend heavily on volunteers just to keep the doors open. According to Kyle Jansson, coordinator, Oregon Heritage Commission, more training for these caretakers is an important goal of the plan.

"The idea with these collections is that they're going to be around forever. So, our goal is to have people in communities knowledgeable about how to take care of paper, artifacts and everything else related to heritage," Jansson said.

Another goal is to promote the significance of the collections and explain what it takes to preserve them. Jansson said often, even the people who live in a community are unaware of its history, from famous residents of the past to what's in their local museums. The plan includes economic development goals for communities that can tap into their historic roots to boost tourism.

Jansson pointed out that history in Oregon is everywhere - from highways that used to be wagon trails, to food from century-old farms - but everyday life moves too fast for some people to notice.

"Unless we're able to get that into a message that key community leaders hear and that the public hears, the value of heritage is going to get lost in all the noise that we hear, day in and day out," he warned.

In many school districts, social studies and state history are now minor parts of the curriculum, he added, so another part of the Oregon Heritage Plan is reaching out to teachers to see what they need to incorporate history into other subjects.

The state is full of fascinating items from a colorful past - and more than 1,000 nonprofit groups around the state make that possible, he said.

"The Oregon Historical Society has a horse saddle that was used by Jackson Sundown during the Pendleton Roundup. It's a beautiful saddle and it's in great condition, a century after it was made - but that hasn't been by accident," Jansson said.

The draft Oregon Heritage Plan can be viewed on the Oregon Heritage Commission website, www.oregon.gov, and comments are being taken through Jan. 15.



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Cities and towns across Massachusetts hope to increase young voter turnout in local elections by lowering the voting age to sixteen or seventeen. Somerville, Northampton, Southborough and Concord are just a few of the municipalities which have attempted but failed to secure state approval.

State Sen. Becky Rausch, D-Norfolk, said allowing young people to vote on local matters helps ensure they'll keep voting throughout their lives.

"That voting power fosters a real sense of civic duty and does in fact encourage higher turnout rates among young adults," she said.

Opponents contend teenagers lack the ability or motivation to fully understand what's at stake in an election. But Rausch points to Takoma Park, Maryland, where the turnout rate for sixteen and seventeen-year olds exceeded that of any other age group for the first election in which they were allowed to vote.

Rausch is sponsoring legislation to allow Massachusetts' municipalities to lower their voting age for local elections without approval from the state legislature but it's been tabled for the session. She says it's just one of a few issues where home rule gets in the way of local autonomy. Still, she said young people are already engaged in local issues, often related to their schools, and many students hold jobs and pay local taxes.

"And they are active members of every community I represent, and they are both contributors to and beneficiaries of community and local government services," she continued.

Rausch added the effort is part of civics education, which was solidified as a centerpiece of K-12 education in Massachusetts in 2018, and which received a significant funding boost from the state legislature this past year.


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Minnesota is closing in on the 35th anniversary of a volunteer program for clearing litter and debris along highways and rest areas.

With spring in full bloom, officials call on residents to maintain this service.

In the early 1990s, Minnesota launched its Adopt a Highway initiative.

Last year, roughly two thousand church groups, community organizations, business teams, and individuals filled up more than 42,000 bags of trash.

The Department of Transportation's Spokesperson Anne Meyer said about 900 sections of state roadways are available for adoption this year.

By pitching in, she said volunteers allow MN DOT staff to focus on other needs.

"Filling potholes, fixing fences," said Meyer, "really keeping roadways safe."

She added that the program also saves taxpayers money.

People considering volunteering can adopt a roadway section or rest area for two years and clean it at least twice a year. There's also an option for a one-time clearing of garbage near a state highway.

The agency provides training, resources, and safety vests. The state observes the program's 35th anniversary next year.

Meyer encouraged drivers to use caution if they approach an area with volunteer crews at work.

"A lot of our volunteers do go out and pick up trash on the weekends," said Meyer. "So, that's a time to really be alert out there for those volunteers - to slow down, to give them space, to do their job safely. "

Meyer said areas outside Minneapolis and St. Paul tend to have more opportunities for highway adoption.

More details are on the department's website, including a list of local coordinators around the state.




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Concerns about potential voter intimidation have spurred several states to consider banning firearms at polling sites but so far, New Hampshire is not among them.

Only a dozen states and Washington, D.C., prohibit both open and concealed-carry weapons at voting locations.

Emma Brown, executive director of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said most of the bans were enacted after the 2020 election, when unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud took hold.

"The risk of gun violence at the polls is heightened," Brown contended. "Which means that legislation at the state level is even more critical than it ever has been."

Brown argued America's elections are free and fair, and prohibiting guns at polling sites and government locations is constitutional. Opponents countered the bans unfairly disarm law-abiding gun owners.

Recent surveys reveal election workers have faced increased threats and harassment since the 2020 election with one in three reporting some form of abuse. And nearly half of election workers said they are concerned for their colleagues' safety.

Brown pointed out armed intimidation tactics disproportionately target people of color and add to the growing exodus of election workers.

"This is a threat that we can't ignore," Brown stressed. "These attacks have also served as a deterrent to Black and brown election workers, who've historically been a really key part of ensuring that our democracy endures on Election Day."

As state legislatures consider banning guns at voting sites, legislation in Congress known as the "Vote Without Fear Act" would place a nationwide ban on weapons within 100 feet of a federal election facility, with exceptions for on-duty law enforcement and security personnel. It has been languishing in a House committee for a year.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.