Rogue Valley News, Wednesday 1/31 – Suspect In Medford Laundry Murder Now In Custody After Multiple Day Manhunt & Other Local and Statewide News…

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 31, 2024

Rogue Valley Weather

A National Weather Service (NWS) forecast precipitation map showed that the first storm could unleash more than 4 inches of rain on some areas. Northwest Washington, southwest Oregon and northwest California will face the worst of the rain.

Active Weather Alerts

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS
EVENING...
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...For the High Wind Warning, southeast winds 30 to 40 mph
with gusts up to 60 mph expected. For the Wind Advisory,
southeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected.

* WHERE...For the High Wind Warning, portions of southeast
Jackson County including Ashland and Interstate 5 at Siskiyou
Summit. For the Wind Advisory, higher terrain above 2000 feet
surrounding the Rogue Valley, as well as for portions of the
Rogue Valley including South Medford, Phoenix, Talent, White
City, Eagle Point, Butte Falls, and Prospect.

* WHEN...For the Wind Advisory, until 7 PM PST Wednesday. For the
High Wind Warning, until 7 PM PST Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds can blow down trees and power lines.
Power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult,
especially for high profile vehicles.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The strongest winds will be in southeast
Jackson County this morning.

* View the hazard area in detail at
https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr

Suspect In Medford Laundry Murder Now In Custody After Multiple Day Manhunt 

Update, 01/30/24 at 2:30PM

After multiple days of searching for the homicide suspect, Jesus Armando Pena Jr., the Medford Police Department is reporting that we have him in custody. Detectives and Officers have been following up on leads and tracking down the suspect for three days. We have used the Medford Police Department SWAT team for numerous operations including attempting contact with the suspect at a residence in the 800-block of Pennsylvania Avenue this morning at around 7:00 AM. The suspect was not located at the house, but investigators continued to develop information which led them to 379 Savage Creek Road, between Rogue River and Grants Pass. At around 1:44 PM on January 30, Jesus Pena Jr. was taken into custody by the Medford Police Department SWAT team. He was unharmed and surrendered peacefully.

Pena Jr. will be interviewed and then lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of Murder and other related charges.

Update, 1/28/24 at 5:30PM

Throughout the day of Sunday, Jan 28, MPD Detectives have been actively working this case and attempting to locate the suspect in the shooting that occurred on the evening of 01/27/23 at the Weldon’s Laundromat on Crater Lake Avenue. As a result of that investigation, two search warrants were served at different locations as detectives attempted to locate the suspect and possible evidence in this case. At about 8:00AM, detectives and members of the Medford Police Department SWAT team served a search warrant in the 400 block of Fairmount Street. The suspect was not located. Then, at 3:35PM, SWAT team members and detectives served another search warrant in the 1400-block of Thomas Road. Agan, the suspect was not located.

In attempts to locate the suspect in this case, we are releasing the name and photograph of the suspect in hopes that someone with information will call us.

SUSPECT:

Jesus Armando Pena Jr. (18 years old). Described as a Hispanic male, 5’7”, 175lbs, black hair, brown eyes, and a light mustache/goatee.

Photo #1 – Jesus Pena jr.

Photo #2 – Suspect photo from Laundromat

Pena recently escaped from Oregon Youth Authority custody and has only been in the Medford area a short while. He has warrants for his arrest. His whereabouts and clothing description are unknown. If you know where he is, or have information about this case, we are asking you to call dispatch at 541-770-4783 and reference MPD case number 24-1584.

The victim in this case has been identified as 51-year-old Justin William Keaton.

Original Release

On Saturday evening, January 27^th at about 5:50PM the Medford Police Department responded to the report of shots fired at a Laundromat in the 600-Block of Crater Lake Avenue. Patrol Officers were on scene within two minutes and discovered a male with multiple gunshot wounds inside the laundromat. This victim was pronounced deceased on scene. Detectives were called to the scene and have been working this case overnight.

At the time of this release, we are not releasing the name of the victim or the circumstances of the shooting as this is an active and ongoing investigation. We have been unable to contact next-of-kin.

There is no further information at this time and additional details will be released as they become available. We are urging anyone with information about this case to call the Medford Police Department through Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon at 541-770-4783.

UPDATE: White City Shooting Suspect Identified, Charged with Attempted Murder, Other Serious Crimes 

JCSO Case 24-0520

WHITE CITY, Ore. – The suspect arrested Monday night for a shooting in White City on Sunday is in the Jackson County Jail charged with attempted murder and other serious crimes. The suspect, Hector Cruz Orozco, 27, of White City, is charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. The victim has been flown to an out-of-area hospital for further treatment and remains in critical condition.

Through the initial investigation, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives discovered Orozco and the victim were at a mobile home in the 3700 block of Falcon Street on Sunday evening. They exited the residence and Orozco shot the suspect at close range and fled on a bicycle. JCSO deputies responded to the call for gunshots and someone calling for help at 6:51 p.m in the area of 29th Streetand Falcon Street, and Orozco was no longer on scene.

The next day, investigations led JCSO detectives to a house in the 7800 block of Laura Lane in White City. JCSO detectives served a search warrant with assistance from SWAT, K9, and the Crisis Negotiator Team. JCSO deputies took Orozco into custody Monday at 5:54 p.m.

This case is under further investigation. The Jackson County District Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case. There is no more information available for release at this time. Further information will come from the DA’s Office.

Medford Police Investigating Armed Robbery on Stewart Avenue 

At about 1:58 AM on Wednesday, January 31, the Medford Police Department responded to the report of an armed robbery that had just occurred at the Time Out Sports Bar in the 1200-block of Stewart Ave. Upon our arrival, the suspect had fled on foot. Officers learned that an unknown subject displayed a handgun and demanded money from the clerk, who was in the process of closing the business for the night. The suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Officers used a police K9 to track the suspect through nearby neighborhoods but were unable to locate them. We are releasing a photo from the businesses video surveillance system in hopes that a member of the public may have some information about the suspect’s identity. Please keep in mind that colors, height, and weight may be distorted in these photos. We do believe the suspect to be a younger white male of slim build. The suspect is wearing all dark clothing, a hood, gloves and a black and white face mask. He is wearing distinct Van’s brand shoes.

Anyone with information on this case can call Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (dispatch) at 541-770-4783 and reference MPD case number 24-1792.

Rural Metro Fire – Josephine County

  ·

HAPPENING NOW: (HUGO) — Rural Metro Fire and Grants Pass Fire have controlled a fire involving 2 RVs in the area of Three Pines Road at Jess Way. Explosions were heard. No injuries reported.

BODYCAM: Sheriff’s Deputy Observes Theft in Progress at White City 7-11, Stolen Vehicle Eludes, Crashes; Klamath Falls Juveniles Detained During Crime Spree 

Medford Police to Participate in Safety Belt Overtime Enforcement Program

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.

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.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-what-happened-fauna-frey-new-clues-uncovered-1827197?fbclid=IwAR3Z3Glru5lIgqiYXbs_nA1Fj8JuCIzM11OHSVHfwIucfq2f_G5y9y5bnmQ

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

New Study Shows Over Half Of Oregon Renters Are Cost-Burdened

Oregon is among the top dozen states in the U.S. with the highest percentage of cost-burdened renters, according to a new Harvard University Study highlighted in a KION 6 News article by Michaela Bourgeois on Jan. 29.

The study considers renters cost-burdened when paying more than 30% on rent and utilities. In the U.S., a third of renters are cost-burdened, and in Oregon around 50-57% are cost-burdened, along with California, New York, Florida, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Louisiana, and Hawaii.

The study found a record-high 22.4 million renter households were cost-burdened in the U.S. and 12.1 million of those paid over half of their income for housing. The study also found the income bracket from $30k to $74,999/year had their cost-burden increase the most from 2019; both income brackets higher (2.2%) and lower (1.5%) also had their cost-burden increase from 2019. Overall, there was an increase of 3.2% from 2019, increasing cost-burdened renters to 50%.

The 56-page Harvard University study, “America’s Rental Housing 2024”, also includes Oregon as one of the states with the highest amount of rising homeless people. From 2015 until 2023, homelessness in Oregon has had an increase of 1,001-50,000 people, along with Washington, California, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Ohio and South Carolina.

With some good news, the study found the construction of multifamily units is the highest since the late 80s. The number of units under construction is around one million in the U.S. The study explains,

They go on to show that rents declined in 32 percent of markets in mid-2023 – not one market reported a decrease in mid-2022 by comparison.

The article shares how this new data correlates with the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, which found that

…54% of renters in the state do not have enough income left over from rent to cover basic living expenses.

Also, officials found that 40% of Portland renters are in this category. (SOURCE)

Hunger On The Rise In Oregon After Downward Trend Before The Pandemic

A quarter of a century ago, Oregon had one of the highest rates of food insecurity and hunger in the country. By 2019, the situation had greatly improved, and rates in the state dipped below the U.S. average.

Then the pandemic hit, and rates rose again. The latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that about 11% of Oregon households are food insecure, struggle to have enough to eat and often have to choose between paying rent, prescription or groceries. That means that 186,000 households, or 463,000 people, in Oregon have a problem securing enough food.

“We were making great progress in reducing food insecurity until the pandemic hit and progress reversed somewhat and is likely continuing this sort of unhealthy upward trend,” Mark Edwards, a professor at Oregon State University who studies food insecurity, said at a news conference last week.

The 2023 data is still being compiled, but he said the situation appears to be getting worse.

“I am hearing from our colleagues who provide emergency food that there remains extremely high and growing demand for emergency food assistance throughout the state,” Edwards said during the news conference.

With hunger growing, food advocates and a group of lawmakers on the Oregon Hunger Task Force called last week for the Legislature to enact in the upcoming session a number of measures to address hunger and the plight of low-income residents. The task force, which was created by the Legislature, is especially keen to get lawmakers to approve bills that would help students financially and help stem hunger among children.

From “Food Insecurity in Oregon During the COVID Public Health Emergency,” December 2023, by Mark Edwards and Julian McElhaney

That focus partly reflects the latest hunger data published by Edwards and a colleague last month. Their report shows that people of color, especially Native people and Hispanics, struggle more with hunger than white people, and that Asian Americans have the lowest rates of all. Among households, single mothers have the highest rates of food insecurity.

Renters also face hunger at a higher rate of hunger than those who own their homes, with about 20% of renters struggling with food insecurity compared with 5% of homeowners. And those without a high school diploma suffer much more from food insecurity compared with those with a bachelor’s degree or even a high school diploma.

From “Food Insecurity in Oregon During the COVID Public Health Emergency,” December 2023, by Mark Edwards and Julian McElhaney

There has been a huge improvement in the share of single mothers facing food insecurity in the past decade, and fewer renters scramble for enough food these days. But one category has failed to budge much: the urban-rural divide. About 20% of rural Oregonians have struggled to feed their families in recent years, about double the percentage of residents in urban areas. That surprised the researchers.

“The reasons for this divergence remain unclear, and the magnitude of this change in rural but not urban Oregon is surprising,” the report said. “If indeed these data accurately capture a disproportionate impact of the pandemic on rural Oregonians, this observation aligns with qualitative reports of the distinct challenges faced by rural social services during COVID, where volunteer, often older, staff at emergency food pantries were home-bound, or where schools struggled to deliver free/reduced price meals to children who would normally receive them in school may have lagged behind.”

Members of the task force, which was created by the Legislature and includes lawmakers from both parties, advocates and officials, hope the Legislature will approve $12.7 million to launch a free meal program in the summer for children in poor families.

They also want the Legislature to expand school meals for all. Officials at a news conference said the state has enough money to allow hundreds more schools to serve free meals regardless of the student’s ability to pay starting next fall. But the rules need to change to align with federal requirements.

And they’re asking lawmakers to approve  $6 million through  House Bill 4162, a student emergency needs package. Nick Keough, legislative director for the Oregon Student Association, said students are struggling to pay for textbooks, housing, transportation, health care and their living expenses.

“Financial aid programs and scholarships designed for low-income students fail to cover the bulk of their needs and do not reach the costs associated with attendance, such as food, housing, textbooks, transportation, etc.,” Keough said. “We are seeing a pretty dire situation, especially coming out of the pandemic.”

Other requests – from Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, the Children’s Institute and the Oregon Food Bank – include a $600,000 allocation for providers participating in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program and $10 million for the Oregon Food Bank.

The Legislature regularly allocates money to the food bank, which serves 21 regional food banks that work with more than 1,400 free food markets, pantries, meal sites and delivery programs. And the federal government supports the Child and Adult Care Food Program by paying participating child care centers, day care homes and adult day care centers to provide nourishing meals. Regional nonprofits participate by conducting three site visits a year, but that’s become untenable for many, especially in rural areas, according to officials from Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. They said a one-time infusion of cash would stabilize the program.

That program and more just need a bit more help to keep going, said Angelita Morillo, policy advocate for Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon.

“There are a lot of great structures that already exist in Oregon to address hunger-related issues,” she said. “A lot of them just don’t have the appropriate funding.” (SOURCE)

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)

Latest Data Show Overdoses Continue To Skyrocket In Oregon

As lawmakers prepare to tackle the state’s addiction crisis, new data from the Oregon Health Authority shows how dire the addiction crisis has become.

In 2019, 280 people died of a drug overdose in Oregon. Fatalities rose every year after, more than tripling by 2022, when 956 died. And last year, even more people died, according to preliminary data. Each month the number has been higher than the previous year, reaching 628 in June. The state is still compiling data for 2023, but if the trends continue, the total would reach 1,250 needless deaths from an overdose.

The number of patients seeking help in emergency departments and urgent care centers also rose last year to more than 300. The overdose trend is expected to continue this year.

“Oregon’s overdose fatality rate is expected (to) sharply rise over the coming year due to the saturation of fentanyl in Oregon’s illicit drug supply,” Jonathan Modie, a public health spokesman, said in an email.

Oregon is flooded with fentanyl in the form of fake blue pills that are designed to resemble oxycodone 30-milligram pills, or M30s. They’re cheap, often costing a dollar each, and they’re often mixed with other drugs to make them more potent, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency. There’s no way of knowing how much is in each pill, but 2 milligrams – enough to fit on the tip of a pencil – can kill. Many pills tested by the DEA contain much more than that, up to 5 milligrams, more than twice the lethal dose.

“Fentanyl is far more potent and fast acting than other opioids, which significantly increases a person’s risk of a fatal overdose,” Modie said.

Last year, the Legislature passed a law designed to make naloxone or Narcan, a nasal spray, more available. It allows law enforcement officials, firefighters and emergency providers to distribute and administer the drug and allows school administrators, teachers or other school employees to treat students without their parents’ permission.

In the event of an overdose, call 911. For more information about naloxone, click here.

Narcan is available over the counter in Oregon, and pharmacists can prescribe naloxone, enabling people to seek reimbursement from their insurance company.

Health authority officials said naloxone is more available today than two years ago, but they don’t know how widespread it is nor how many people’s lives have been saved. Save Lives Oregon partners reported more than 7,500 opioid reversals since 2020.

People can carry naloxone with them in Oregon and administer the drug to someone experiencing an overdose. Typical signs include unconsciousness, slow or no breaths or snoring or gurgling sounds. People’s lips and the inside of their mouths also can turn blue or gray, and they may be unable to talk.  (SOURCE)

Federal Charges Filed After International Parcel Leads to the Seizure of 16 Different Drugs and 42 Firearms from a Gresham Residence

PORTLAND, Ore.—A local man is facing federal charges today after authorities intercepted an international parcel he had ordered containing MDMA and quantities of at least 16 different drugs and 42 firearms were found in and seized from his Gresham, Oregon home.

Riley James Hinds, 38, has been charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, on January 9, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Los Angeles International Airport seized an inbound package from the Netherlands containing approximately 2.5 pounds of MDMA. The package, addressed to “James Settler,” an alias used by Hinds to open a mailing box at a UPS Store in Gresham, was handed over to special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Portland for further investigation.

On January 26, 2024, investigators arrested Hinds and executed a federal search warrant on his residence. Investigators located and seized quantities of at least 16 different narcotics in Hinds’ residence including MDMA, Adderall, counterfeit Oxycodone, cocaine, ketamine, marijuana, psilocybin, ayahuasca, LSD, opium, morphine, DMT, mescaline, peyote, GHB, 5-MeO-DMT, and a mixture of unidentified pills. They also located and seized various drug processing tools and packaging materials, 42 firearms, four firearm suppressors, two unfinished ghost guns, and six sets of body armor.

Hinds made his first appearance in federal court Monday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

This case was investigated by HSI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Portland Police Bureau Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit (PPB-NOC), and the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Interdiction Task Force (HIT) with assistance from CBP. It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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

Governor Kotek Reestablishes Task Force on Oregon Tribal Cultural Items

Governor Tina Kotek announced today that she is reestablishing the Task Force on Oregon Tribal Cultural Items.

The task force was first created in 2017 to obtain information relating to cultural items currently held in storage or on display at Oregon state agencies, state universities, colleges, and public schools. In 2019, Oregon was the first in the nation to report its survey findings of tribal cultural items, but the task force’s work has been paused since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Tribes should have access to information about cultural items held in storage or on display at state agencies, state universities, colleges, and public schools,” Governor Kotek said. “It is time to renew this important work and continue to strengthen our essential government-to-government relationships with the nine sovereign tribal nations.”

The task force will consider a process for soliciting information from state public institutions and agencies about items they may have in storage or on display associated with Oregon Tribes. It will also develop next steps for determining the provenance, the appropriate custodian, and the appropriate storage or display of such items.

The task force will submit an annual report to the Governor beginning in 2025.

The Governor’s Tribal Affairs Director, in partnership with the Legislative Commission on Indian Services, will convene the Task Force. The Members of the Task Force will be appointed at a later date, but will include:

• The Governor’s Tribal Affairs Office Director or other designee;
• Any additional member of the Governor’s staff as directed by the Governor;
• A representative of the State Historic Preservation Office, appointed by the Governor upon recommendation of the Director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department;
• A state agency director, appointed by the Governor;
• A representative of the Legislative Commission on Indian Services, as appointed by the Commission;
• A representative from each of the nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon, as appointed by each Tribe’s respective Tribal Chairs, Councils, or Boards;
• One or more representatives of one or more public universities or colleges, appointed by the Governor;
• One or more representatives of primary or secondary Oregon public schools, appointed by the Governor.
• Additional members, as invited by the Governor.

The reestablished task force has been created through the signing of Executive Order 24-06, which replaces Executive Order 17-12.

Mailing Error in Sending Tax Form 1099-G

On January 26, 2024, the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) announced that a mailing error occurred while sending the tax form 1099-G to those who received benefits from the Unemployment Insurance program in 2023. This error impacted 32,960 out of 122,245 mailings, meaning some individuals may have not received a tax form 1099-G at all, and others may have received an additional form not belonging to them.

A machine error caused a subset of those tax forms to go into envelopes already containing a tax form 1099-G. DAS was first notified of this error during the ongoing printing and mailing process for tax form 1099-G and called for an immediate halt, which prevented the majority of these forms from being impacted. For More Information: https://unemployment.oregon.gov/1099g-mailing-error#:~:text=This%20error%20impacted%2032%2C960%20out,a%20tax%20form%201099%2DG.