Red Flag laws allow family members or law enforcement to petition a judge to temporarily remove guns from a person who is seen to be a risk to themselves or others,

It's a thorny issue, especially in the West where hunting can clash with regulations. What are your thoughts? Email us at gobrien@heraldandnews.com

Last weekend President Trump Tweeted out that four progressive Democratic Congresswomen of various ethnic backgrounds should "go back" to the countries they came from. Should he apologize for such a comment, or is it Trump just being Trump, and not to be taken seriously? Send emails to gobrien@heraldandnews.com

House Bill 2270 passed out of the House Committee on Revenue last week to raise cigarette taxes by $2 per pack. It now goes to the Joint Committee on Tax Expenditures before getting a floor vote. Republicans are largely opposed to the idea, and the tobacco lobby has worked hard against it. If it goes to the ballot, voters can approve it with a simple majority.

Republicans were a no-show for a multibillion education tax vote, shutting down the Oregon Senate Thursday for a third consecutive day. The Senate has tried to vote on a proposed tax on businesses six times in the past three days. Each time, Republicans denied the chamber enough members to go through with a formal vote.

Teachers across the state are planning a May 8 walkout to bring attention to much-needed funding for schools.