 Oregon Senator Peter Courtney of Salem passed away after battling cancer yesterday morning. He served a record 20 years as Senate president, retiring in 2023. Senator Bill Hansel says Courtney may have been from the other party, but he was a true friend. He said Courtney helped the Republican from Athena get a number of important bills passed for Eastern Oregon. In his final remarks to the Senate, Courtney urged lawmakers to be civil with each other, advising, quote, let us debate with respect and listen with open hearts, end quote.