Oregon timber execs hope new Canadian duty leads to better times

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, center, accompanied by White House press secretary Sean Spicer, left, smiles while speaking to the media about a new tariff on Canadian lumber during the daily press briefing at the White House, Tuesday, April 25, 2017, in Washington. Oregon timber executives said Tuesday they will consider adding jobs, instituting new shifts, and investing more in existing Northwest mills as a result of a new 20 percent duty on Canadian softwood lumber announced by the White House.

Senators seek data on Americans caught up in surveillance

In this April 7, 2017, file photo, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Paul and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., are asking the nation's top intelligence official to release more information about the communications of American citizens swept up in surveillance operations.

Rogue Twitter account that criticized Trump at the centre of abuse of power probe

The U.S. Homeland Security Department's inspector general said on Friday he was investigating possible abuse of authority in a case that triggered a lawsuit against the department by Twitter Inc. Inspector General John Roth described the probe in a letter to Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who had asked for an investigation due to concerns about free speech protections. In a lawsuit on April 6, Twitter disclosed that it received a summons in March from the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, an agency within Homeland Security, demanding records about an account on the social media platform identified by the handle @ALT_uscis .

Federal ‘Witch Hunt’ Against Trump Critic On Twitter Sparks Investigation

The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security has launched an internal investigation into federal efforts to "unmask" the owner of a Twitter account critical of immigration policies. Inspector General John Roth informed Sen. Ron Wyden in a letter Friday that his office is conducting a probe to determine whether behavior by federal officials concerning the Twitter account was "improper in any way" or if there was an "abuse of authority."

Apartment developer/landlord vents about city housing policies

On March 23, Portland developer and property manager Tom Brenneke spoke at the grand opening of a 40-unit affordable housing complex in Lents. His company, Guardian Real Estate Services, built the project for the nonprofit Native American Youth and Family Center.

End federal prohibition of marijuana

The U.S. Justice Department is reviewing federal marijuana enforcement policy through the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the move Apr. 5, with the aim of ensuring "consistency with the Department's overall strategy on reducing violent crime and with Administration goals and priorities."

West Linn residents travel to D.C. to lend voice for the forgotten

Ninety percent of brain development occurs before the age of 5. Only 1 percent of the United States budget is typically allocated to foreign aid. The teens recited those facts, among many others, on behalf of the Save The Children Network in Washington D.C. at the annual Invest In Kids Advocacy Summit March 26-28.

More Travelers Are Being Asked For Their Cellphones And Passwords Entering U.S.

The number of people who have been asked to hand over their cellphones and passwords by Customs and Border Protection agents has increased nearly threefold in recent years. As the Trump administration considers steps to implement what the president has called extreme vetting of foreigners at the border, one aspect of security screening has already been amped up.

Is Congress encroaching on Americans’ Internet privacy?

At a time when American politics is perhaps more divided than ever, one issue has emerged that the vast majority of people, regardless of their political affiliation, can agree on: Internet privacy. On March 23, Republicans in the U.S. Senate voted along party lines - 50 to 48 - to eliminate proposed broadband privacy rules that would have required ISPs to receive explicit consent from consumers before selling or sharing their web browsing data, and other private information, with advertisers and other companies.

Government drops demand that Twitter identify user behind anti-Trump account

The legal battle between Twitter and the U.S. government ended Friday, after the Department of Homeland Security withdrew its demand that the tech company release information to identify an account holder whose tweets are critical of President Donald Trump on Twitter. The lawsuit threatened to become a major battle over free speech between Silicon Valley and Washington.

Twitter case shows breadth of US power to probe anti-Trump statements

A 3D-printed logo for Twitter is seen in this picture illustration made in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina on January 26, 2016. An attempt by U.S. authorities to identify an anonymous critic of President Donald Trump on Twitter has set off alarm bells among Democratic and Republican lawmakers and civil liberties advocates fearful of a crackdown on dissent.

In Trump era, Oregon pot industry leaders surprisingly chill about possible crack-down

Deanna Perkins of Clackamas wears a pair of sunglasses to show her support at Portland's 17th annual Global Cannabis March, May 7, 2016 in downtown Portland. Pot insiders say they're hopeful, in part because the administration has signaled its support of states' rights and in part because state-authorized medical marijuana programs have legal protection.

Related:Democrats call for Sessions’ resignation, special prosecutor on alleged Trump Russia ties

Senior House Democrats are calling on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign after revelations that the former Alabama senator did not disclose meetings he had with the Russian ambassador to the United States during his Cabinet confirmation hearing. "After lying under oath to Congress about his own communications with the Russians, the Attorney General must resign," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement released late Wednesday night, adding that "Sessions is not fit to serve as the top law enforcement officer of our country."

Democrats call on Jeff Sessions to quit over meeting Russian envoy

Washington: Senior Democrats are calling on US Attorney-General Jeff Sessions to resign after revelations that the former Alabama senator did not disclose meetings he had with the Russian ambassador to the United States during his cabinet confirmation hearing. "After lying under oath to Congress about his own communications with the Russians, the Attorney-General must resign," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement released late on Wednesday night, adding that, "Sessions is not fit to serve as the top law enforcement officer of our country."

Comey in middle of political fray over Trump and Russians

As a high-ranking Justice Department official in the George W. Bush administration, he clashed with the White House over a secret surveillance program. Years later as head of the FBI, he incurred the ire of Hillary Clinton supporters for public statements on an investigation into her emails.

Comey faces pressure as White House fights Russia reports

As a high-ranking Justice Department official in the George W. Bush administration, he clashed with the White House over a secret surveillance program. Years later as head of the FBI, he incurred the ire of Hillary Clinton supporters for public statements on an investigation into her emails.

White House adviser asked FBI to dispute Russia reports

White House chief of staff Reince Priebus asked a top FBI official to dispute media reports that President Donald Trump's campaign advisers were frequently in touch with Russian intelligence agents during the election, a White House official said late Thursday. The official said Priebus' request came after the FBI told the White House it believed a New York Times report last week describing those contacts was not accurate.