skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Canada and Mexico impose tariffs in response to Trump's trade policies, 55 victims identified including 3rd military pilot in fatal D.C. midair collision, and lawmakers in Montana, Nebraska and Wisconsin address gender laws, crypto regulations and violence prevention.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

President Trump imposes tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Legal experts question Trump's use of executive orders, and mass deportations may start to take a toll in the southwest.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

As bird flu spreads, egg prices continue to soar, wildfires aren't stopping Americans from moving to wildfire-prone states, and post-pandemic infrastructure isn't just roads and bridges but also education, healthcare and economic opportunity.

Report: More OR women are running for office and winning

play audio
Play

Tuesday, November 5, 2024   

Oregon has the third highest percent of women in city government, according to a new report from Rutgers University.

It may be proof of the success of organizations working to support and encourage women to run.

Groups like Emerge Oregon and Vote Run Lead Action train women and nonbinary people to run for office - and win.

Emerge Oregon alums currently hold more than 100 elected positions on city councils, school boards and in the legislature.

Beyond campaigning and fundraising, women receive support to overcome gender-based barriers.

The group's outgoing director, Annie Ellison, noted that the political system wasn't designed with women - particularly women of color - in mind.

"This is a system that was built - like, pretty immaculately - to keep women and women of color out, even if it's not the intention now," said Ellison. "When do we have city council meetings? You know, most of these city council meetings are unpaid, and they're at 7:00 at night. If you're a caregiver, that's bedtime."

But research shows that female elected officials bring more money back to their districts, pass more bipartisan legislation, and get more done overall.

State Director of Vote Run Lead Action, Becca Phelps, said the challenge isn't just getting more women into office - it's keeping them there.

She said in the past few years, several women in the Oregon Legislature have had to leave prematurely or not run again, citing the low pay and added responsibilities of daily life.

This is where organizations can step in to fill these gaps - advocating for higher pay, helping with childcare and transportation costs, even providing emotional support.

"Sometimes," said Phelps, "it's that personal care of having a friend check in on you to see how you're doing when you're an elected leader."

After Tuesday's election, 15 graduates of Emerge Oregon programs may be in the Oregon House and four may hold seats in the Senate.

Ellison added that the biggest barrier women face in running for office is confidence.

"If he can do it, you can do it," said Ellison. "And here's how you're going to do it, and we're going to help you."




get more stories like this via email

more stories
Unhealthy concentrations of fine particle matter can threaten vulnerable groups like children, the elderly and people with heart or lung disease, according to the National Institutes of Health. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

By Elijah de Castro for Keen Sentinel. Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for New Hampshire News Service, for the Solutions Journalism Network-…


Social Issues

play sound

Elected officials in New York and nationwide joined an amicus brief filed by the Public Rights Project fighting President Donald Trump's executive ord…

Social Issues

play sound

The Trump administration this week reversed a decision to freeze federal loans and grants -- but only after it led to mass confusion among organizatio…


Legislation to increase fines for companies that violate child labor law to as much as $10,000 passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

New child labor laws went into effect in Virginia at the start of the year, but some advocates say more can be done. House Bill 100 took effect in …

Environment

play sound

A North Dakota legislative committee on Thursday took up a trio of bills about landowners' rights as states in this region are eyed for carbon-capture…

Provider organizations in the state, including the Mississippi State Medical Association and Mississippi Hospital Association, have been supporters of Medicaid expansion. (Pixabay)

Health and Wellness

play sound

As Mississippi lawmakers move forward with a potential Medicaid expansion, advocates said the state cannot afford further delays while thousands …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Florida residents who depend on Medicaid said they fear for their futures as lawmakers consider $2.3 trillion in federal cuts, which could force …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Service providers and advocacy groups in Ohio and across the country are facing uncertainty following recent executive orders that have thrown federal…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021