Congress should ‘seize the moment’ and legalize marijuana after Canada: Ron Wyden

Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat, said Congress should follow Canada 's lead and federally legalize marijuana, citing economic benefits being reaped north of the border by retail weed sales starting Wednesday. "Congress should seize the moment, do the right thing and end the federal prohibition on marijuana once and for all by responsibly regulating and taxing cannabis like any other legal substance," Mr. Wyden said on the eve of Canada 's recreational marijuana law taking effect.

In Oregon hazelnut country, tariffs unsettling

Additional 25% levies imposed by China in response to Trump administration's moves will make it difficult for local growers to compete Driving through the Willamette Valley in Oregon, which extends from Portland in the north to Eugene in the south, one can see hazelnut trees as far as the horizon. The area cultivates 99 percent of the hazelnuts grown in the United States on more than 29,560 hectares, yielding a harvest worth $90 million annually for Oregon.

Senate passes flood insurance extension hours before deadline

The Senate passed a four-month extension to the National Flood Insurance Program Tuesday, less than a day before the program was set to expire. The bill, which had originated in the House, will now go to President Trump, who has until midnight to sign it to avoid a lapse in the program.

White House tweets draw ire over their political content

The White House is using its official Twitter handle to target Democratic lawmakers who have criticized President Donald Trump's immigration policies, drawing complaints that government resources are being used to undercut potential 2020 presidential rivals. The White House Twitter handle, which has more than 17.3 million followers, falsely accused California Sen. Kamala Harris on Monday of "supporting the animals of MS-13," a violent gang that the president has sought to eradicate.

White House uses Twitter account to push back at…

The White House is using its official Twitter handle to target Democratic lawmakers who have criticized President Donald Trump's immigration policies, drawing complaints that government resources are being used to undercut potential 2020 presidential rivals. The White House Twitter handle, which has more than 17.3 million followers, falsely accused California Sen. Kamala Harris on Monday of "supporting the animals of MS-13," a violent gang that the president has sought to eradicate.

The Latest: Wyden: Immigration policy ‘makes zero sense’

The Latest on a visit by Democratic members of Oregon's congressional delegation to a federal prison where immigrants from Latin America are being held : Democratic members of Oregon's congressional delegation visited a federal prison where immigrants from Latin America have been transferred and blasted the Trump administration for separating parents from children. Sen. Ron Wyden said Saturday afternoon that "what we saw over the last hour demonstrates that the Trump 'zero tolerance' policy makes zero sense and shows zero understanding of American values" Around 120 immigrants from Mexico and Central America are reportedly being held at the prison, located 20 miles northwest of Salem, the state capital.

Merkley, Wyden to visit Oregon prison housing immigrants

Democratic members of Oregon's congressional delegation plan to visit a federal prison in Oregon where immigrants from Latin America have been transferred and an attorney seeking to represent the immigrants says they have been denied access to lawyers. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Reps.

Voters in 4 states set primary matchups for November midterms

Midterm primaries in Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Idaho and Oregon cast their ballots Tuesday night, giving a peek at the candidates who will be up for several Congress and Senate seats in November. In Pennsylvania, six women won their primary challenge, including four Democrats and one Republican, making it all but certain that the state's all-male congressional roster will end in November.

Ag groups express opposition to amendments to Farm Bill

INSURANCE ARGUMENT: A monster hail storm that hit Kansas on the night of May 14 provides an illustration of why farmers so strongly support crop insurance. This field in Scott County was just one of many that were wiped out in the storm, which destroyed thousands of acres of wheat.

Walden Tours Bend Kombucha Facility

Congressman Greg Walden toured Humm Kombucha's new northeast Bend facility Friday, to draw attention to a proposal he's supporting, which would change federal beverage regulations. Currently, alcoholic beverages are designated as those with .5% alcohol by volume , which often includes fermented drinks like kombucha.

Medical marijuana seen at risk following move by Sessions

When U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions green-lighted federal prosecutions of marijuana lawbreakers, the vast majority of U.S. states that allow some form of medical marijuana were unexpectedly placed at risk of a crackdown and are warily watching developments. Forty-six states - including Sessions' home state of Alabama - have legalized some form of medical marijuana in recent years, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Oregon politicians push back against federal pot enforcement

An Oregon congressman who is one of a chief backer of legalized marijuana is urging a fight against U.S. Attorney General Jeff Session's plan to open the gates to federal enforcement of laws against marijuana. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat who co-sponsored an amendment that prevents the Justice Department from interfering with states' medical marijuana programs, called the move outrageous.

10 African Americans named Rhodes scholars, most ever

In this Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, file photo, Cadet Simone Askew, of Fairfax, Va., who has been selected first captain of the U.S. Military Academy Corps of Cadets for the upcoming academic year, answers questions during a news conference, in West Point, NY. Askew earned another prestigious honor Sunday, Nov. 19, when she was one of 32 Americans awarded Rhodes scholarships to study at Oxford University in England.

GOP blocks Dem efforts to boost tax benefits for parents

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., left, joined by Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., questions House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, about tax relief provisions for disaster victims as the panel begin the mar... . Volumes of tax regulations are stacked on the dais as the House Ways and Means Committee begins the markup process of the GOP's far-reaching tax overhaul, the first major revamp of the tax system in three decades, on Cap... .

Members of Congress sued over rainbow ‘pride flags’

U.S. Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, has vowed to fight a federal lawsuit attempting to force him and three other congressional colleagues to remove "Pride Flags" from their Washington, D.C., offices. The lawsuit was filed July 18 in Washington by Chris Sevier, who describes himself in the lawsuit as a "former judge advocate general, combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, D.C. lobbyist, overseas missionary, whistleblower and recording artist."