Off-Duty Commercial Airline Pilot Charged in Federal Court for Interfering with Flight Crew

PORTLAND, Ore.—An off-duty commercial airline pilot, who was arrested on Sunday after he attempted to shut down the engines of passenger plane in flight, has been charged in federal court.

Joseph David Emerson, 44, of Pleasant Hill, California, has been charged by criminal complaint with one count of interfering with flight crew members and attendants.

According to court documents, on October 22, 2023, Port of Portland police officers responded to a report of inbound aircraft that had diverted from its route between Everett, Washington, and San Francisco to Portland International Airport due to an inflight disturbance. Police dispatch reported that Emerson, an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot seated in a cockpit jump seat, had attempted to shut down the plane’s engines during flight.

After landing, responding officers interviewed the two pilots. The pilots recounted that, approximately halfway between Astoria, Oregon, and Portland, after engaging with them in casual conversation, Emerson attempted to grab and pull two red fire handles that would have activated the plane’s emergency fire suppression system and cut off fuel to its engines. After a brief physical struggle with the pilots, Emerson exited the cockpit.

Flight attendants placed Emerson in wrist restraints and seated him in the rear of the aircraft. During the flight’s decent, Emerson tried to grab the handle of an emergency exit. A flight attendant stopped him by placing her hands on top of his.

After landing in Portland, Emerson was arrested without further incident and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on multiple state charges of attempted murder and reckless endangerment. He remains in custody in Multnomah County on a federal hold pending his first appearance in federal court on a later date.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Port of Portland Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. https://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2023-10/6325/167448/23-mj-185_Emerson_Complaint_CERTIFIED.pdf

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington goes batty

Fat Bear Week is over, but you can still support wild animals in need. It’s time for the annual Bureau of Land Management Bat Beauty Contest, and your local Oregon bats are here to defend their crown.

Each October, the BLM hosts a beauty contest to find the most stunning bat photographed on BLM public lands across the county. The event begins on October 24 and ends on Halloween. It also coincides with International Bat Week to raise awareness about bat conservation and their essential role in the natural world.

Last year, the BLM named Barbara, a canyon bat from Lake County, the 2022 Bat Beauty Contest Winner. Barbara was photographed by Kate Yates, BLM wildlife biologist.

This year, BLM offices in Oregon/Washington will be placing their hopes on William ShakespEAR, a Townsend’s big-eared bat from Butte Falls, photographed by Emma Busk, BLM wildlife biologist.

“We feel confident that William will bring us home the crown,” said Donald Manuszewski, BLM-OR/WA Deputy State Director for Communications. “He has the most beautiful ears.”

As a Townsend’s big-eared bat, William’s ears measure about half his body. The species can be found throughout both Oregon and Washington and is very vulnerable to human disturbance. Its numbers are declining, causing the species to be named an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. In an effort to help, BLM wildlife biologists perform regular checks on Oregon caves to keep an eye on bat populations and monitor for symptoms of white-nose syndrome, which can kill hibernating bats.

Bats play an essential role in Oregon. All bats in the Pacific Northwest are insectivorous, meaning they rid our world of pests like mosquitos, beetles, and moths. Just one bat can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes in an hour!

“We hope the contest is fun, and we also hope it increases people’s appreciation of these creatures,” said Manuszewski. “Bats aren’t just beautiful, they’re also in need of our protection.”

Want to do your part? As we head into winter, avoid exploring mines and caves where bats may be hibernating. And this week, help us share information about our flying friends!

To cast your ballot for William, visit the Bureau of Land Management on Facebook (@BLMNational) or Instagram (@mypubliclands).

-BLM- The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Oregon Supreme Court To Decide GOP Senators’ Challenge To Walkout Penalties

Five Republican lawmakers say they can’t be barred from running for another term because they boycotted the Senate earlier this year. Now, Oregon’s top court will decide the true meaning of Measure 113.

The Oregon Supreme Court has accepted a legal challenge by five Republican senators who say they should be allowed to seek reelection despite walking away from the Legislature for six weeks this year.

The decision, announced Tuesday, means one of the more pressing legal questions in Oregon politics will be taken up by the state’s high court, rather than working its way through the appeals process. Impacted lawmakers – and those thinking of running for their seats – should have clarity before the March 12 deadline to file for office.

At issue is the actual meaning of Ballot Measure 113, the popular 2022 proposal that created new consequences for lawmakers who accrue 10 or more unexcused absences during a legislative session.

In news coverage, promotional materials and an official explanatory statement, the measure was touted as barring lawmakers who walk away to block legislative action from seeking reelection.

That’s the meaning that state elections officials have chosen to adopt. In a rule issued earlier this year, Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade announced that 10 conservative senators who walked away from this year’s legislative session would be prohibited from seeking reelection.

But five of those senators – Sens. Tim Knopp, Daniel Bonham, Suzanne Weber, Dennis Linthicum and Lynn Findley– have objected. In a legal challenge to Griffin-Valade’s ruling, they argue that the convoluted wording of the measure contained a loophole that went unnoticed last year. That wording, they believe, allows them to be reelected for one more term before penalties kick in.

The senators filed the challenge in the Oregon Court of Appeals but asked that the matter be put directly before the state Supreme Court. State attorneys defending Griffin-Valade in the matter agreed.

Supreme Court justices first signaled some uncertainty about whether they could fast-track a challenge to Griffin-Valade’s administrative ruling. They appeared to have cleared it up on Tuesday when the court announced it would accept the case – and adopt a speedy timetable. Oral arguments are set to begin Dec. 14th. (SOURCE)

Oregon’s Attorney General Leads Multi-State Lawsuit Against Meta for Alleged Harms to Youth Mental Health

Ellen Rosenblum, Attorney General, has filed a lawsuit against Meta, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company. This lawsuit, backed by attorneys general from 33 states, was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The suit alleges that Meta knowingly created harmful features on Instagram and other platforms, which have negatively impacted children and teenagers.

The lawsuit accuses Meta of misleading the public about the safety of these features for young users. It argues that Meta’s practices contravene state consumer protection laws and the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The attorneys general assert that these practices have harmed the physical and mental health of young people, leading to a youth mental health crisis.

The suit also alleges that Meta knowingly gathered data from young users, including those under 13, without parental consent. It accuses Meta of targeting these young users, whom they viewed as a valuable yet untapped user base. The company is alleged to have used tactics like infinite scrolling and frequent alerts to keep young users engaged.

The lawsuit claims that Meta knew these features could harm young people’s health, including their sleep. Yet, the company did not disclose this harm or take significant steps to alleviate it. Instead, Meta asserted that its platforms were safe for young users.

This lawsuit stems from a nationwide bipartisan investigation. Other states joining Oregon in the federal lawsuit include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Some states are filing lawsuits in their state courts, and Florida is filing a separate federal lawsuit.

Flu vaccination rates among health care personnel remain low

OHA data show rates slow to recover after big drop during pandemic

PORTLAND, Ore.—Influenza vaccination rates among Oregon’s health care personnel have not recovered from significant declines suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, new Oregon Health Authority (OHA) data show.

According to the Healthcare Worker Influenza Vaccination Dashboard published by OHA’s Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program, 64% of the state’s eligible health care workers from all facility types were vaccinated against the flu during the 2022-2023 flu season. This is similar to the 2021-2022 flu season rate of 63% — a concern for state officials trying to prevent the virus’s spread to people most at risk of severe illness and death.

The influenza vaccination rate among eligible health care workers had dropped by 25% between the 2019-2020 and 2022-2023 influenza seasons.

“Health care workers are the first line of defense in protecting vulnerable patients and preventing a severe respiratory virus season from becoming a catastrophic one,” said Rebecca Pierce, Ph.D., HAI Program manager. “That’s why influenza vaccination of health care workers is a key strategy for infection control in health care facilities.”

OHA requires annual reporting of health care worker influenza vaccination data from four facility types – ambulatory surgery centers, dialysis centers, hospitals (including inpatient psychiatric facilities) and nursing facilities.

Data are self-reported by facilities and include aggregate counts of health care workers, filterable by health care worker category; who received an influenza vaccination; who declined; who had a medical contraindication; or who had an unknown vaccination status. The Healthcare Worker Influenza Vaccination Dashboard displays influenza vaccination data filterable by facility type, county, and worker classification. The dashboard also shows trends by flu season and facility-specific data.

According to the 2022-2023 dashboard, hospitals reported the highest vaccination rates among workers at 69%, followed by ambulatory surgery centers at 67%; nursing facilities at 41%; and inpatient psychiatric facilities and dialysis facilities, both the lowest at 35%. Rates for dialysis centers and hospitals saw a slight increase from the 2021-2022 season but were still below the rates for prior flu seasons.

“Influenza vaccinations among health care workers were significantly impacted during the pandemic, which is likely reflective of historically low rates of influenza during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 flu seasons,” Pierce said. “However, flu transmission has returned to pre-pandemic levels. It’s important that we focus on rebuilding flu vaccination rates for this critical, front-line workforce.”

The proportion of eligible health care workers who declined flu vaccination has increased over the years. For the 2022-2023 flu season, 15% declined, compared to 11% for the 2021-2022 season. Additionally, a high proportion (21%) of health care workers reported having an unknown vaccination status, which may contribute to low vaccination rates – and illustrates the need for improvement in facility-level documentation of vaccination status.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services developed Healthy People 2020 with 10-year objectives for improving the health of all Americans, including showing progress toward a 90% influenza vaccination goal for the health care workforce. However, because Healthy People 2030 does not include a goal focused on increasing flu vaccinations among health care workers, Oregon continues to use the Healthy People 2020 goal as a way of directing public health action and showing where more support and education is needed.

To achieve 90% influenza vaccination coverage, Pierce said there are important steps health care facilities can take. Among public health recommendations is encouraging health care workers, including those not employed by the facility—contractors and volunteers—to get vaccinated at the beginning of every influenza season. Facilities can also host promotional activities, such as holding mass vaccination fairs, providing vaccines at no cost to employees, starting incentive programs, and documenting all health care workers’ vaccination status and requiring a declination form for health care workers who decline vaccination.

OHA has developed a toolkit for health care employers and workers to help them improve employee flu vaccinations rates at their facilities to protect patients, themselves and their families.

Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund helps nearly 1,300 households stay in their homes

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services announced it helped 1,295 households to date stay in their homes through the Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). OHCS remains committed to ensuring homeowners can afford to stay in their homes. The program offers federal temporary COVID-19 emergency mortgage relief intended to support homeowners who have experienced severe financial hardships due to the pandemic.

Jason Gist is one of the households who were able to keep their homes. Gist of Grants Pass lost his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then watched his savings dwindle away, but thanks to this program, he was able to stay out of foreclosure.

“The Homeowner Assistance Fund has made a profound difference in my life,” Gist said. “It’s not just financial assistance; it’s a lifeline for homeowners facing unprecedented challenges. I am grateful for their support and unwavering commitment to helping individuals like me navigate these uncertain times.”

Administered by OHCS, HAF provides up to $50,000 to help low- and moderate-income homeowners bring past-due mortgages and housing expenses current. Low-income homeowners may receive an additional $10,000 for up to six months of ongoing assistance with monthly mortgage payments and housing costs.

Geographically, about 500 of those homeowners helped live in rural areas. Count the Smiths of Klamath Falls among them.

“We were losing our home and we tried everything to get help,” Vickie Smith said. “And just before it got foreclosed, the HAF program stepped in and saved our home. Thank you to everyone who was involved with the program.”

OHCS will provide $72 million of assistance for Oregon households. Since opening a pilot program at the end of 2021, OHCS has approved assistance expected to total $44 million. OHCS has already scheduled over $35 million in payments for 1,295 households with an average award of about $27,000. OHCS is currently processing applications that have not been approved yet, for a projected $25 million of assistance. If each of these is approved and paid, about $3 million of funding would remain for about 111 new applications at the current average award.

OHCS designed eligibility criteria to serve the most at-risk homeowners and homeowners who are traditionally underserved or who are less able to recover, such as Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/x, Asian, and Pacific Islander households, as well as members of federally recognized Tribes.

“For many Oregonians, homeownership is an important part of building generational wealth. Although this program is one-time in nature, our goal is to help people afford to stay in their homes for the long term,” said OHCS Director Andrea Bell. “Even if homeowners are eligible, there’s no guarantee their application will be funded through HAF but there are other loss-mitigation options that depend on a homeowner’s mortgage and their servicer. Homeowners should evaluate all their options with the help of a certified housing counselor.”

Homeowners can get free help from certified housing counselors around the state to learn about budgeting tools and evaluation of options to keep their homes, such as modifications, adding deferred payments to the end of a mortgage, or HAF. Search the full list of free certified housing counselors by county at the OHCS website.

Visit the HAF Dashboard for more detailed information about HAF and other OHCS Homeownership programs.

Oregon Parks and Recreation To Discuss Drone Rules And Maps

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will livestream a virtual meeting Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. to present draft drone take-off and landing classification criteria to be used in future park drone use maps. The agency will then invite the public to share their views on the criteria from Oct. 23 through 5 p.m. on Dec. 29.

The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube for the public here.

Attendees who want to ask questions during the Q&A portion of the meeting must register beforehand here.

Although the formal rulemaking process for drone take-off and landing began in 2021, the agency temporarily stopped in April 2022 to form a work group and explore the matter in more detail.

The work group included various partners including conservation groups, drone users, state and federal agencies and met from June 2022 through the summer of 2023.

OPRD’s region resource and Geographic Information Services (GIS) staff, alongside park managers reviewed the draft criteria and applied them to three sample areas, one from each region of state parks.

Feedback will be reviewed by agency staff and the work group as part of a final report to the OPRD Director Lisa Sumption, who will then decide whether to direct staff to resume public administrative rulemaking or do more work on the proposals.

Individuals who require special accommodations to view the meetings should contact Jo Niehaus at least three days in advance of the meeting at 503-580-9210 or jo.niehaus@oprd.oregon.gov .