Oregon
Marijuana job lands Oregon Secretary of State in trouble
Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan is in sizzling water, with Republican lawmakers calling for her resignation and the Democratic governor searching for investigations as a result of Fagan took a consulting job with a marijuana agency.
The matter got here to a head Friday after Fagan’s workplace launched an audit of the state’s marijuana regulators, the Oregon Liquor and Hashish Fee. The audit referred to as for the OLCC to “reform” some guidelines for marijuana companies, saying they’re “burdens” when mixed with federal restrictions on interstate commerce, banking and taxation.
Fagan, a Democrat, recused herself from the audit as a result of she is a paid guide of an affiliate of marijuana retail chain La Mota, Fagan’s spokesman Ben Morris mentioned at a digital information convention concerning the audit’s launch.
La Mota’s co-owner has hosted fundraisers for prime Democratic Oregon politicians, together with Fagan, whereas the co-owner, her accomplice and their enterprise allegedly owe $1.7 million in unpaid payments and extra in state and federal taxes, in keeping with Willamette Week, a Portland newspaper.
Fagan did not seem on the information convention, which included her spokesman, deputy and the audits director. Information of the consultancy was first reported Thursday by Willamette Week.
Morris denied Fagan’s outdoors work represented a battle of curiosity and mentioned Oregon Authorities Ethics Fee tips particularly enable public officers to take care of personal employment.
However hours after the audit press convention, Republican legislative leaders, who’re within the minority within the Legislature, referred to as for Fagan to resign over the consulting job.
“This seems to be an ethics violation and if it is not then Oregon’s ethics legal guidelines are damaged,” Senate Republican chief Tim Knopp and Home Republican chief Vikki Breese-Iverson mentioned in a joint assertion.
Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, indicated she had issues afterward Friday.
“It is vital that Oregonians belief their authorities,” Kotek mentioned in an emailed assertion.
Kotek mentioned she was urging the Oregon Authorities Ethics Fee “to instantly examine this case” and requested the Oregon Division of Justice to look at the audit.
The audit questioned the OLCC’s requirement that marijuana companies hold their stash behind metal doorways and have 24-hour video surveillance programs. The OLCC ought to make marijuana laws extra like these governing distilled spirits, which the company additionally regulates, the auditors mentioned.
The audit additionally mentioned Oregon ought to put together for the U.S. authorities ultimately legalizing marijuana and place the state, with its big stockpiles of the drug, as a nationwide chief within the trade.
Oregon, lengthy recognized for its potent marijuana, can be competing with different pot-producing states — notably California, which additionally has an enormous oversupply — for the export market if marijuana is ever legalized nationally.
“Now’s the time for Oregon to arrange its system for a future when hashish is authorized nationally,” Oregon Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers mentioned on the information convention.
Oregon Audits Director Kip Memmott famous with a little bit of envy that Canada legalized marijuana and is “much more proactive in taking a look at the advantages financially.”
Oregon can prepared the ground within the U.S. in how pot is regulated, whereas additionally providing its high-end strains of marijuana, Memmott mentioned.
“We’ve sort of a signature commodity, together with … our timber and all the opposite nice issues that Oregon produces right here. And there is a actual alternative,” Memmott mentioned.
Oregon’s auditors reminded the OLCC to comply with its personal strategic plan to place the state as a nationwide chief by rising the variety of talking engagements at nationwide conferences, holding extra statewide conferences and championing a nationwide framework for hashish regulation.
OLCC Govt Director Craig Prins wrote in response that his company is eager to maneuver rapidly if, and when, interstate marijuana commerce is permitted.
Prins mentioned he expects “solely the best high quality merchandise from well-regulated programs, which have acknowledged testing, packaging, labeling, and traceability requirements, can be allowed on the market into different states.”
Oregon has for years prioritized these requirements, that are aimed toward defending shoppers, Prins mentioned.
A complete of 21 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized leisure use of marijuana, however activists see little probability of the present Congress shifting towards nationwide legalization. Nonetheless, there’s hope the Biden administration will enable pot commerce amongst states which have legalized it.
Trent Bray’s Oregon State Beavers picked up a huge win in Week 13, narrowly beating out Pac-12 rivals Washington State 41-38. Spirits were exceptionally high for the Beavers postgame as they snapped a five-game losing streak and stayed alive in the hunt for a postseason game.
Bray met with local media postgame to share his excitement for the result and where the Beavers found success in the victory. The full presser video is linked below. Bray speaks for the first eight minutes.
NOTES
– “I think tonight was just what I’ve seen from these guys all season long. Ups and downs but they just keep going back to work. They they believe in each other. It was just a great team win.”
-On finding success in simplifying the offense: “I think Gunderson and the staff did a great job of narrowing things down. What do we do well, how can we use guys…What we did with Jabari and how we used his legs helped us move the ball. So I think they just did a good job of narrowing it down and and, you know, less is more and I think that’s what we found tonight.”
-On still having a chance to make a bowl game: “I think it’s it’s it’s big. We give ourselves an opportunity with the last game to go to the postseason, which is where everyone wants to be, and we got another great team we got to face but I think it’s a definitely a a good thing and a motivating thing.”
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Minutes after No. 12 Boise State knocked off Wyoming Saturday night, the Broncos’ next opponent — Oregon State — secured its biggest victory of the season.
A 55-yard Everett Hayes field goal with 20 seconds remaining lifted the Beavers to a 41-38 victory over Washington State in the unofficial Pac-12 championship game.
Oregon State (5-6), which had dropped five straight games following a 4-1 start, and Washington State (8-3) are competing as independents the next two years before Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State join the Pac-12 for the 2026 football season.
“Tonight was just what I’ve seen from these guys all season long: ups and downs, but they just keep going back to work,” first-year Beavers head coach Trent Bray said. “They believe in each other, and it was just a great team win. … We’ve been so close in so many games this last month or two. For them to be in that and pull it out and do it is huge.”
The Broncos (10-1, 7-0 Mountain West) and Beavers will face off at 10 a.m. Mountain time on Black Friday at Albertsons Stadium.
Oregon State won four of its first five games, but lost starting running back Jam Griffin and others along the way. A 42-37 defeat at Nevada began a streak of five consecutive losses that culminated in an embarrassing 28-0 shutout at Air Force last week.
The Beavers were out-gained 410-175 in Colorado Springs. One week later, Oregon State out-gained the high-flying Cougars 484-385.
“I think (offensive coordinator Ryan) Gunderson and the staff did a great job of narrowing things down,” Bray said. “What do we do well? How can we use guys? … Less is more, and I think that’s what we found out tonight.”
Idaho transfer Gevani McCoy started the first eight games at quarterback but was benched during a 44-7 loss at California. Ben Gulbranson, who went 7-1 as a starter during the Beavers’ 10-win 2022 season, started the San Jose State game but was unavailable against Air Force due to injury.
Gulbranson returned to the lineup Saturday and completed 22 for 34 passes for 294 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, including a pick-six that put Washington State up 38-31 in the fourth quarter. The junior bounced right back to lead a game-tying touchdown dive.
“I’m happy for Ben because he’s put in a lot of work and been through a lot his whole career,” Bray said of Gulbranson, who lost his starting job to transfer DJ Uiagalelei last year. “When it went bad, he didn’t hang his head, didn’t give up. He went right back and led the team down to score.”
The Beavers also used freshman quarterback Gabarri Johnson as a runner against Washington State. Johnson finished with six carries for 47 yards and a touchdown.
“I thought what we did with Gabarri and how we used his legs helped us move the ball,” Bray said.
Oregon State had scored just 20 combined points over its last three games before exploding for 41 Saturday night. Needing a victory for bowl eligibility, the Beavers would love to contain Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty and spoil Boise State’s College Football Playoff bye aspirations.
“We know we’ve got a big-time opponent coming to the Blue this Friday, and we’ve got to be ready,” Broncos head coach Spencer Danielson said. “We know we’re going to get everybody’s best. We got Wyoming’s best tonight, and I promise you we are going to get Oregon State’s best.”
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The Oregon Ducks clinched a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game after their win a week ago against the Wisconsin Badgers. As for who the Ducks will play, that will not be decided until next week.
Updated Potential Big Ten Title Matchups
Heading into the final week of the Big Ten regular season, there are still three potential teams that can meet the Oregon Ducks. Those teams would be the Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, and the Indiana Hoosiers.
The Buckeyes, Nittany Lions, and Hoosiers are all 7-1 in Big Ten play. If each were to win their final game of the regular season, Ohio State would get the nod to go to the Big Ten championship game. This is due to the fact that Ohio State handed each Penn State and Indiana their only losses of the 2024 season. The Buckeyes lone loss was at the hands of the Oregon Ducks.
Ohio State gave Indiana their first loss of the season in a 38-15 rout. Penn State held on for dear life against Minnesota and won 26-25.
Ohio State, Indiana, and Penn State all have a path heading into the final week. What are each team’s scenarios for meeting the Ducks in Indianapolis?
Ohio State Clinching Scenarios
For Ohio State, it is very simple. The Buckeyes just need to beat rival Michigan at home to clinch a spot in the Big Ten championship game. Win and they are in. However, if. Michigan were to shock the college football world and beat Ohio State on the road, there is still a path for Ohio State to get in. They would need Indiana and Penn State to both lose.
-Win vs. Michigan
OR
-Indiana and Penn State both lose
Penn State Clinching Scenarios
For Penn State, they need to win at home vs. Maryland. Additionally, they will need Ohio State to get upset at home by Michigan. The Nittany Lions don’t need to worry about the Hoosiers at all.
-Win vs. Maryland
AND
-Ohio State Loss
Indiana Clinching Scenarios
The Indiana Hoosiers need some help to get in after their defeat at Ohio State. The Hoosiers will not only have to win at Purdue, but for both Ohio State and Penn State to lose as well.
-Win at Purdue
AND
-Ohio State Loss
AND
-Penn State Loss
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