The distance from the building did nothing to encourage cooperation or, at the very least, cool tempers.

The Oregon Legislature reached the halfway point of its session this week with the completion of the chamber of origin deadline.

The policy committees are racing against the clock to advance bills before completing the chamber of origin deadline on Tuesday.

Lawmakers spent the vast majority of their time on the floor reading a single, uncontroversial bill updating the name of a state agency.

The shutdown of the Oregon House creates additional complexity as tensions over the session were already running high.

The temperature in the building is growing hotter by the day as measures continue to move toward the floors.

Although lawmakers are only eight weeks into their legislative session, tensions are just beginning to leave their mark on the legislative process.