Free Republic

Now tallying 21 counties among their ranks, supporters of the movement to carve an independent “State of Jefferson” out of Northern California plan to introduce a bill this session seeking sovereignty. Organizers on Wednesday turned in declarations for 15 counties, including Sutter, Placer, Nevada and El Dorado, asking the state to grant them permission to separate. Six others petitions – which were either passed by the county boards of supervisors or reflect signature-gathering drives – have already been filed. Jefferson proponents contend that their rural areas lack adequate representation in state government, which has led to over-regulation and environmental policies...

PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) — A small group of people from Hood River are interesting in making Eastern Oregon its own state. Consultant Paul Koch, 69, his partner Ernie DeRocher and DeRocher's wife, Rita Swyers, both 82, are pushing the effort. Koch said people in Eastern Oregon are fed up with how Salem has treated them. If they got their wish, the stateline would stretch from east of the Cascade Mountains to the Idaho border. Koch has done consulting and strategic planning work for Milton-Freewater, Baker City, the Umatilla County Special Library District and Blue Mountain Community College. He said during...