The latest news stories of interest in the Rogue Valley and the state of Oregon from the digital home of Southern Oregon, Wynne Broadcasting’s RogueValleyMagazine.com
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Rogue Valley Weather
Severe weather has caused Spectrum service outages again around the state. Get service updates, outage information and other helpful resources at Spectrum.net/stormcenter.
ODOT: SW OregonPostpone travel on mountain passes until conditions improve. Check TripCheck.com for updates.Oregon Power Outage MAP: https://poweroutage.us/area/state/oregon
Oregon Health Authority Acknowledges Asante Infection Spike Coincides With Alleged Drug Diversion
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has revealed healthcare associated infections spiked at Asante’s RRMC during the same time a nurse allegedly replaced patient’s pain medication with tap water.
We reported late last week that the Oregon Health Authority is not investigating the alleged drug diversion case at Asante at this time, but it is reviewing the situation.
The OHA says that it needs to review complaints at a facility, before determining whether or not it has jurisdiction to investigate. But it has confirmed to us that RRMC saw dozens of infection cases from 2022 to 2023, that were acquired at Asante’s signature hospital.
The OHA records these central line infections over a span of years. Asante acknowledged these healthcare associated infections, or HAIs, but the OHA is now providing the numbers that illustrate a spike.
From 2016 to 2021, the hospital would see one to three infections a year, save for 2020, the beginning of the pandemic, which had seven. But in 2022, the OHA reports that Asante saw 15 infections and then in 2023, another 14.
These years coincide with a period of time when sources tell us a nurse was replacing ICU patient’s fentanyl pain medication, with non- sterile tap water, which may have caused multiple deaths from infections. The OHA said it is taking this case seriously.
The OHA said it has different programs, like the Healthcare Associated Infections Program and Health Care Regulation and Quality Improvement Program to help assure that hospitals comply with these standards.
If the OHA does investigate, they will be looking to see whether Asante’s systems and processes meet the minimum requirements in federal and state law to protect patient health and safety.
Failure to meet those requirements have varying ramifications on the state and federal level, including even losing its license. (SOURCE)
–Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center Patient Deaths Investigations Continue
Reports that a nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center may have sparked fatal infections of patients by replacing fentanyl with tap water in their IV bags have sparked national attention.
For patients, the victims’ relatives, and others in Oregon health care, the reports are sparking questions as well. It now appears that the deaths linked to the Medford hospital occurred over a span of at least 12 months.
Hospital administrators and local law enforcement have not named the suspected employee and released few other details. No indictments have been filed publicly in the case.
Hospital Nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford Accused of Replacing Fentanyl with Tap Water Leading to at least 10 Patient Deaths and “Dozens of Patients” Harmed
The Federal Bureau of Investigation says it is involved with an investigation at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford. The FBI said it’s aware of allegations there under investigation by local police.
This after some sources say as many as ten people have died. Multiple hospital sources, who declined to be identified, confirmed dozens of patients injured by medication diversion — the act of replacing a medication with another substance. It is believed the fentanyl scheduled to be administered to the patients was then removed from the premises illegally.
Sources allege that a hospital nurse was removing fentanyl from IV bags and replacing it with tap water. The FBI said today it is supporting local police with their work.
Asante issued a statement during the weekend that, “We were distressed to learn of this issue. We reported it to law enforcement and are working closely with them.”
Multiple sources also say that water supplies in the Intensive Care Unit and Coronary Care Unit — which are in an older part of the hospital — are unsafe for use on patients, even for face washing. The hospital made numerous public statements during 2023 pertaining to infections and water quality issues.
OHA state agency is part of an investigation now at a Medford hospital, where local and federal law enforcement agencies are investigating allegations of nursing behavior that could have been deadly.
Medford Police have provided no more details. They only confirmed there’s an open investigation at the medical center.
𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸:
𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙥, 𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝: Never approach a cougar at any time for any reason.
𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙢: Face the cougar and never turn your back towards it. Do not run. Running encourages it to chase.𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙇𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚: Raise arms, hold small children, don’t bend over.
Report all sightings to ODFW by calling 541-826-8774.Arrests Made in Bias Crime at Ashland Jewish Center
On December 14, 2023 members of the Ashland Police Department responded to the Chabad Jewish Center for a report of vandalism. Video evidence recovered from the scene and surrounding businesses showed three people approach the Chabad Jewish Center, one of them throwing eggs at the center while yelling “Heil Hitler.”
APD posted video evidence of the incident on social media and the suspects were identified almost immediately.
The primary suspect was identified as Zachary Demarest, 18, of Corvallis Oregon. Another suspect was identified as Jacob Wilhelm, 18, of Blackfoot Idaho. The third person in the video was identified, but is not implicated in the commission of a crime, and is therefore not being named.
All three people were, at the time of the incident, students at Southern Oregon University. As such they left the area for winter break shortly after this incident was reported. The two students charged are no longer enrolled at SOU.
APD detectives continued this investigation when the new term started, and students returned to campus.
Demarest, who video showed as being the person throwing the eggs and yelling “Heil Hitler,” was contacted and told to turn himself in to the Ashland Police Department. Demarest did so on January 19, 2024, and was lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree (Class C Misdemeanor) and Bias Crime 2nd Degree (Class A Misdemeanor).
Also on January 19, 2024 Wilhelm was contacted and charged with Bias Crime 2nd Degree and Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree via a misdemeanor criminal citation, with a court date of February 7, 2024. Wilhelm’s involvement in this incident consisted of him encouraging Demarest’s criminal behavior, which makes him responsible as a co-conspirator.
The Ashland Police Department appreciates the cooperation and assistance of Southern Oregon University in investigating this case.
The Ashland Police Department will investigate all complaints of bias crime and work with the Jackson County District Attorney’s office to prosecute to the fullest extent possible given the evidence presented.
Supreme Court Will Hear Grants Pass Homeless Camping Case
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case that originated in Grants Pass and could set a precedent for how cities around the nation are able to respond to homeless camps.
The case, Grants Pass v. Johnson, centers on a lawsuit by a group of homeless people against city restrictions on outdoor sleeping. The outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision in the case wouldn’t have a major impact in Oregon, according to Ed Johnson, lead counsel at Oregon Law Center, which is representing plaintiffs in the case. That’s because Oregon passed a state law in 2021 that blocks cities from punishing people sleeping outside on public property.
Under the state law, cities are allowed to enact “objectively reasonable” restrictions on the time, place and manner of outside camps. For instance, the city of Beaverton adopted a new law allowing camping on public rights-of-way between 9 p.m. and 7:30 a.m., and Bend passed a new law banning camping in residential areas and requiring people to move locations at least 600 feet every 24 hours.
The Oregon law, championed by now-Gov. Tina Kotek during her time as speaker, was a response to an earlier decision in the Grants Pass case and the 2019 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Martin v. Boise, which prohibited governments in the nine Western states under the court’s purview from punishing homeless people for sleeping outside when cities didn’t have adequate shelter space available.
The Grants Pass case began as a challenge to a local law that prohibited homeless people from using blankets, pillows or cardboard boxes to protect themselves from the elements while sleeping outside. A three-judge panel on the Ninth Circuit concluded that punishing people who lack shelter amounts to cruel and unusual punishment and violates the Eighth Amendment.
“At its most basic level, the case is about whether cities can punish people for existing outside when they have nowhere else to go,” Johnson said.
The case coincides with rising homelessness throughout the country, particularly on the West Coast. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development last month announced that more than 650,000 people nationwide were homeless in January 2023, a 12% increase since the year prior. More than a third of the nation’s homeless population was in Washington, California and Oregon, which had more than 20,000 homeless residents at the time of the count.
Western states have far higher rates of unsheltered homelessness than other areas, with more than two-thirds of California’s homeless population and nearly two-thirds of Oregon’s lacking shelter. The 2023 data predates last year’s investments in shelters and rehousing, which added more than 1,000 new shelter beds. (SOURCE)
Asante Settled Medicare Fraud Allegations at Medford Hospital
The health system now at the center of a local police investigation recently resolved a lengthy federal probe into a whistleblower lawsuit claiming fraudulent billing
The Medford hospital now at the center of a local police investigation recently resolved a lengthy federal probe into a whistleblower lawsuit claiming fraudulent billing
Weeks before local police launched an investigation into reports of alleged drug diversion and potentially related patient deaths at Asante Rogue Medical Center, hospital management quietly settled litigation stemming from a federal Medicare fraud probe.
In 2022, the hospital received 57% of its revenue from government programs including Medicare and Medicaid, or $642 million in all, according to the most recent financial report submitted to state regulators. (READ MORE)
Fauna Frey, 45, disappeared in Oregon on a road trip, June 29, 2020, following her brother’s death —
https://original.newsbreak.com/@ada-e-1668135/3304227455096-fauna-frey-45-disappeared-in-oregon-on-a-road-trip-june-29-2020-following-her-brother-s-death
PART 2 – Newsweek Podcast Focusing on The Disappearance of Fauna Frey From Lane County
Here One Minute, Gone the Next —– PART 2 – Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel joins investigative journalist Alex Rogue to speak with Here One Minute, Gone the Next about the disappearance of Fauna Frey, the growing friction between citizen investigators and law enforcement, and the lack of resources in missing persons cases. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-disappearance-of-fauna-frey-pt2-feat-sheriff/id1707094441?i=1000630100040
PART 1 – John Frey joins Newsweek to discuss exclusive details about the case of his missing daughter that until now have been unavailable to the general public.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Fauna Frey, call the anonymous tip line at 541-539-5638 or email FindFaunaFrey@gmail.com.
Help Find Fauna Frey #FindFaunaFrey FACEBOOK GROUP
Oregon Jury Awards $85 Million To 9 Victims Of Deadly 2020 Wildfires
An Oregon jury awarded $85 million Tuesday to nine victims of wildfires that ravaged the state in 2020, the latest verdict in a series of legal proceedings that are expected to put the utility PacifiCorp on the hook for billions of dollars over its liability for the deadly blazes.
“We are so proud of the strength and resilience of our clients, and thankful to the jury for holding PacifiCorp accountable for what happened on Labor Day 2020 — something it will never do itself,” Nick Rosinia, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, said in a statement.
PacifiCorp expects post-verdict rulings and insurance payments to bring its share of the verdict to just under $80 million, the company said in a statement.
“The 2020 wildfires were undeniably tragic,” it said. “PacifiCorp has settled and will continue to settle all reasonable claims for actual damages under Oregon law. … The growing threat of wildfires to communities and businesses is bigger than any one company or industry.”
The fires were among the worst natural disasters in Oregon’s history, killing nine people, burning more than 1,875 square miles (4,856 square kilometers) and destroying upward of 5,000 homes and other structures.
Last June a jury found PacifiCorp liable for damages for negligently failing to cut power to its 600,000 customers despite warnings from top fire officials, saying its power lines were responsible for multiple blazes. PacifCorp has appealed.
That jury awarded around $90 million to 17 homeowners named as plaintiffs in the case, with damages to be determined later for a broader class that could include the owners of about 2,500 properties, as estimated by plaintiffs’ attorneys.
The damages awarded Tuesday were the first in cases brought by that broader class, with additional trials expected in February and April.
PacifiCorp also agreed last month to pay $299 million to settle a lawsuit brought by 463 plaintiffs who were harmed by separate devastating wildfires in southern Oregon over Labor Day 2020. (SOURCE)
New lawsuit filed against three utility companies for Holiday Farm Fire devastation
Four law firms out of Oregon and California are representing 238 victims of the Holiday Farm Fire and are asking for $232 million in damages.
Travel in Oregon Still Challenging
While Medford, Klamath Falls, and Roseburg seemed to skip the worst of this week’s ice storm activity, it wreaked havoc in cities like Bend, Eugene, Salem, Portland and all along the Columbia River Gorge and Oregon Coast.
Winter weather is far from done in Oregon as freezing rain, heavy snow and high winds continued in several corners of the state.
The safest place to be during winter road conditions is at home. Our crews want to give a heartfelt thank you to every person who decided not to travel this weekend. Staying off the roads gives our crews and emergency responders the space to get where they need to go.
Road and weather conditions can change quickly and make travel difficult or impossible. For the latest state highway information and to see current closures, visit Tripcheck.com. For the latest weather, visit the National Weather Service website.
If you must travel, be prepared – Safety is our priority – for travelers and our road crews. If you decide to travel, plan extra time for your journey and carry emergency supplies. Delays and closures are happening statewide. Expect to encounter chain restrictions.
Give snowplows and emergency crews extra space to do their work, and never pass a snowplow on the right. Our crews are working hard to clear roads, but their job becomes more difficult when disabled cars and trucks block traffic.
For more winter weather driving tips, see our winter travel news packet.
To see images from this winter event from across Oregon, see our January 2024 Flickr album.
Watches, Warnings or Advisories for Oregon https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/or.php?x=1
Oregon Lawmakers Poised to Make Drug Possession a Crime Again
Three years after Oregon became the first U.S. state to decriminalize low-level drug possession, the state is on track to reverse parts of its groundbreaking measure.
On Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers unveiled a proposal that would recriminalize possessing small amounts of drugs—a move that’s been criticized by harm reduction and criminal justice reform advocates.
The proposed amendments to Measure 110, released by the Oregon Legislature’s Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response, will make possessing small amounts of controlled substances a class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days of jail time or a $1,250 fine. But people will be able to negate those charges by completing a deflecting program, involving a behavioral health screening and contact with a case manager.
Under the state’s current decriminalization policy, those offenses are considered class E violations, which come with a fine of up to $100 that is waived if a person undergoes a health screening, which includes calling a hotline.
“With this proposal, we are braiding together the public health and public safety systems to create as many effective pathways to treatment and recovery as possible through proven, evidence-based solutions,” said Representative Jason Kropf, a Democrat, in a statement about the new plan.
The legislation, which will be introduced as an amendment when the legislative session begins on Feb 5, comes about two weeks after Oregon House Republicans announced their own bill to toughen up the state’s drug laws, including making low-level possession a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail or a $6,250 fine.
Recriminalizing low level possession will put an additional strain on public defenders, and mandating treatment when there’s already a severe shortage of treatment beds will be counterproductive, she added.
The joint committee proposal claimed it would make it easier for people to obtain medications to treat opioid use disorder and would set up a new grant program for drug treatment programs. (READ MORE)
Oregon Struggles With Nursing Teacher Shortage at 21 Nursing Schools Statewide
Oregon lawmakers from both parties, including one democrat from Oregon, are working together on new laws to help increase the number of nursing teachers.
In the U.S. house, they’ve proposed the nurse faculty shortage reduction act. This act would give $28.5 million each year for five years to nursing schools. The money is to keep and bring in more teachers. Right now, there aren’t enough nursing teachers in Oregon and other places. A report by the American association of colleges of nursing showed that in 2021, almost 92,000 people who could have studied nursing were turned away because there weren’t enough teachers and other problems.
In Oregon, there are 21 schools where you can study nursing at the associate’s or bachelor’s level. A study by the Oregon longitudinal data collaborative, a group that researches education, found out that in 2020, only four of these schools could take more than half of the people who qualified.
“Current capacity is not meeting the needs of Oregon’s prospective qualified nursing students,” it said.
This lack of teaching capacity has led to not having enough nurses. The Oregon board of nursing says there are over 84,000 registered nurses and more than 6,000 licensed practical nurses in the state, but not all are working. They think Oregon could use about 21,600 more registered nurses to take care of patients. (READ MORE)
AARP grant ‘unique’ opportunity to fund community projects in Oregon
A program that funds ideas for improving communities is now open to applications. The AARP Community Challenge grant program is accepting applications until March 6th for projects that can be enacted quickly to make cities more livable for people of all ages.
Stacy Larsen, communications director for AARP Oregon, said the program has a track record for supporting communities of all sizes.
“They deliver really unique support to rural communities. Since the beginning of the program in 2017, 46% of the grants distributed in Oregon have been to rural communities,” Larsen said.
Since its start in 2017, the program has invested $16.4 million in more than 1,300 projects nationwide, including 28 in Oregon. The program is open to local nonprofits and governments. A webinar for interested applicants will be held on the AARP website on January 31st at 11 a.m.
Applicants can apply in three different grant areas. Those include capacity-building microgrants, demonstration grants and flagships grants, which allow for the most creativity and flexibility. Larsen has some tips for those applying.
“The applicants who can demonstrate that they are addressing a clear need, that brings positive change to make their communities more livable for residents of all ages, and that they’re addressing disparities for people of color or other historically marginalized groups will find themselves rising to the top,” she explained.
Selected projects must be completed by December 15th. (SOURCE)
Customers who want to stall the effects of a price increase on Forever Stamps have this week to act before the cost goes up to 68 cents each.
The cost of the stamps, as well as the cost of many other services offered by the U.S. Postal Service, will increase on Sunday, Jan. 21.
The price of Forever Stamps, now 66 cents each, will climb to 68 cents. That’s the stamp used for letters up to 1 ounce.
The postal service said it will not change the additional-ounce price. It will stay at 24 cents. But other charges — for certified mail, post office box rental fees, money order fees and the cost to purchase insurance when mailing an item — will climb.
- Letters, metered, 1 ounce: Increase from 63 cents to 64 cents
- Domestic postcards: Increase from 51 cents to 53 cents
- International postcards: Increase from $1.50 to $1.55
- International letter, 1 ounce: Increase from $1.50 to $1.55
The rate changes will be the second in six months.
Red Cross: Emergency blood shortage may delay medical procedures — American Red Cross – Cascades Region
Winter storms across Oregon and Washington forced more than 70 blood drives to be canceled, according to the Red Cross Cascades Region. The Red Cross stated in a press release that this “resulted in the loss of nearly 2,100 liters of blood.” In addition to these cancellations, road closures and icy conditions have made it difficult to transfer supplies to collection sites.
The Red Cross is also seeing an emergency blood shortage. January is usually a slow month for donations but with the emergency shortage and the winter weather, hospitals are in desperate need for donations.
The Red Cross is urging the public to donate blood if they can.
Donors urged to give now as nation faces lowest number of blood donors in decades —- Donors have the chance to help save lives, win trip to Super Bowl LVIII
The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and blood and platelet donors are urged to make a donation appointment to help alleviate the shortage and help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not put on hold.
Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%. When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations – such as the nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations the Red Cross experienced between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone – can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion. Blood products are currently going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in, and in recent weeks, the Red Cross has had to limit distributions of type O blood products – among the most transfused blood types – to hospitals.
“Small changes in blood donor turnout can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of an emergency blood transfusion,” said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross. “More challenges may lie ahead as the potential for severe winter weather and seasonal illness may compound the dire blood supply situation. Donors of all types – especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets – are urged to give now.”
Don’t wait – to make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets and help tackle the emergency blood shortage. Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Super Bowl.
Who donations help
Sandy Thornton, of Dallas, Oregon, knows firsthand how important a readily available blood and platelet supply is. Sandy battled a rare form of cancer called Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Myleo Fibrosis. She received numerous blood and platelet transfusions until eventually needing a stem cell transplant.
“There are people who cannot get a stem cell transplant, which means they face a lifetime of platelet or blood transfusions. That’s their life. Blood is a lifesaver no matter how you look at it. It’s not just about when disasters happen, it’s when people get sick,” shares Sandy.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood and is the primary blood supplier to 65 hospitals throughout Washington and Oregon; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
