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
Friday, February 2, 2024
Rogue Valley Weather
David Grubbs’ Murder Investigation Remains Active
The Ashland Police Department’s investigation into the murder of David Grubbs on November 19, 2011 remains open and active. Recently two new detectives have been assigned to look into new leads that have come in.
This case remains important to David’s family, the community, and the Ashland Police Department. As detectives continue to pursue these new leads, anyone with additional information is encouraged to reach out to the Ashland Police Department at 541-488-2211.
The reward for information leading to an arrest on this case remains at over $21,000.
New Grants Pass State Representative Compared Supporting LGBTQ+ People To Supporting Child Abuse
The newest member of the Oregon House of Representatives claimed supporting LGBTQ+ people was akin to supporting child abuse and accused drag queens of pedophilia in months-old posts on his campaign website.
Dwayne Yunker, a real estate broker and city councilor from Grants Pass, was appointed in December to finish the term of former Rep. Lily Morgan, who resigned to become the city manager of Gold Hill. Yunker was already planning to challenge Morgan in the Republican primary, arguing she wasn’t conservative enough for the southern Oregon district.
Yunker’s campaign website includes a post from last August titled “No to Gay Pride Month,” explaining his decision to skip the beginning of a Grants Pass City Council meeting to protest a proclamation about June as Pride Month. He was a member of the council at the time.
The transgender community college student who accepted the proclamation said it was a step toward making Grants Pass a community where young LGBTQ+ people want to stay and raise families, instead of feeling like they need to escape. But the public comment portion of that meeting began with opposition to the proclamation, and Mayor Sara Bristol faced an unsuccessful recall vote for not “represent(ing) the conservative principles of the majority of her constituents.”
Yunker’s campaign post included claims that drag queens are pedophiles and events including family friendly drag shows or drag queen story hours are attempts to make pedophilia seem acceptable. He further declared that supporting Pride Month was akin to supporting child abuse.
“It is shocking that any adult would endorse this child abuse,” he wrote. “Therefore, on June 7, I did not attend the beginning of the Grants Pass City Council meeting. I will not be a part of or stand next to anyone who supports these abuses.”
He expounded on his objections to Pride Month in a subsequent post, titled “Shouldn’t Christians avoid politics?” In it, Yunker wrote that he considered a statement in the resolution that LGBTQ+ people face persecution to be spurious, or false.
And he claimed that LGBTQ+ people, who he referred to as “the ever-expanding alphabet movement,” discriminated against Christians.
“We cannot sit out afraid someone might call us right wing, homophonic (sic), or even Christian Nationalists,” he wrote.
Yunker didn’t respond to a call or email from the Capital Chronicle on Tuesday. House Minority Leader Jeff Helfrich, R-Hood River, defended Yunker’s right to express himself.
“While it may be hard for some leftists in Portland to understand this, many Oregonians – including members of the LGBTQ community – do not want children exposed to hyper-sexualized material that they are not developmentally able to understand,” Helfrich said in a statement. “Parents worry about the things their kids are seeing in public, in the classroom and on TV. Elected officials have every right to voice those concerns on behalf of the districts that they represent. Society must be able to have these discussions, and all of us must endeavor to do so respectfully and honestly.”
Kyndall Mason, executive director of Basic Rights Oregon, said in a statement that Yunker’s job requires him to serve all his constituents, including the LGBTQ+ Oregonians in his district.
“The uninformed, hateful and false ideas written in Rep. Yunker’s blog posts are deeply dangerous, and will direct more hate to these constituents and all trans and queer Oregonians,” Mason said. “While these posts were written before Yunker was appointed to his seat, we’re alarmed to learn that they are still on his campaign website, and are from less than a year ago.”
She added that the group is proud of the majority of lawmakers who have protected the state’s reputation as one of the strongest states for LGBTQ+ rights, and that she’s confident Yunker’s views are “on the very fringe” of the Legislature.
Oregon has long been a leader in LGBTQ+ political representation – Gov. Tina Kotek is one of the first lesbians to run a state, and she succeeded bisexual former Gov. Kate Brown. The state, particularly Portland and Eugene, have attracted LGBTQ+ people from across the nation for decades.
It’s unusual for the state’s elected officials to openly express such anti-gay or anti-trans rhetoric.
Legislative Republicans adamantly opposed a law passed last year to protect doctors who perform abortions or gender-affirming care from prosecution or civil liability as other states restrict or ban such care and strengthen requirements that health insurers cover reproductive health care and gender-affirming care, including treatments like facial feminization surgery and electrolysis that are now treated as cosmetic procedures. They also objected to a proposed constitutional amendment to repeal an unenforced ban on same-sex marriage and protect people from for their sexual orientation or gender identity.
But most framed their opposition as concern over parental rights and fears that minors would make permanent medical decisions they’d regret in the future. Senate Republicans also suggested a compromise on the proposed constitutional amendment to only repeal the ban on gay marriage.
This year, some House Republicans have said they plan to introduce legislation during the session that begins Feb. 5 to bar trans people from using bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity and block trans girls from participating in girls’ sports. Neither measure is expected to go anywhere in the state Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats. (SOURCE)
Fatal Crash – Highway 199 – Josephine County
JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. 1 Feb. 2024 – On Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at approximately 12:24 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Hwy. 199 near milepost 39 in Josephine County.
The preliminary investigation indicated that a Chevrolet Avalanche, operated by John Anton Renner IV (59) of Brookings, was traveling southbound on Hwy. 199 near milepost 39 when the vehicle left the roadway for unknown reasons. The vehicle crashed into a group of trees and caught on fire.
The operator (Renner) was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The highway was impacted for approximately four hours.
OSP was assisted by the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois Valley Fire District, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
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 27th 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.
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.
Medford Police to Participate in Safety Belt Overtime Enforcement Program
Beginning Monday, January 29 through Sunday, February 11, Medford Police, along with law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon, will be participating in the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Safety Belt Overtime Enforcement Program. Law enforcement agencies will be using federally funded overtime to educate the public about safety belt and child seat laws including a law passed in 2017 increasing safety for children under age two.
ODOT crash data for 2021 shows lack of safety belt or child restraint use was a factor in 32% or 119 of a total 377 motor vehicle occupant fatalities. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading nationwide cause of death for children ages one through twelve-years-old. In 2021, 1,475 children under twelve were injured in Oregon traffic crashes, 16 percent were reported not using a child restraint system. It is estimated that car seats may increase crash survival by 71% for infants under one year old and by up to 59% for toddlers aged one to four. Booster seats may reduce the chance of nonfatal injury among four- to eight-year-olds by 45% compared to safety belts used alone.
In 2017 an Oregon law was passed requiring children to ride in a rear-facing safety seat until they are at least two years old. A child over age two must continue to ride in a car seat with harness or in a booster until they reach age eight or 4’ 9” in height and the adult belt fits them correctly. The 2017 law, which extends the rear-facing requirement from the previous age one to age two, will better protect the child’s head, neck, and spine from potential crash injuries. This is because a rear-facing seat spreads crash forces evenly across the seat and child’s body while also limiting forward or sideways motion of the head.
For help selecting or installing child car seats, consult the seat manufacturer’s instructions, your vehicle owner’s manual, or visit a local child seat fitting station listed at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats#inspection-inspection
Registration Open For Rogue Community College’s New Nursing Program Cohort
Jackson and Josephine counties (Jan. 17, 2024) – After receiving approval from the Oregon State Board of Nursing for a new Certified Nursing Assistant 2 (CNA2) program, Rogue Community College has opened registration for the first cohort that starts in February.
The program meets rigorous standards set by the Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) and enables students to advance from CNA1 to a CNA2 certification. It will provide students with thorough training that aligns with industry standards and helps them prepare for a successful and meaningful career in nursing.
Throughout the program, students will delve into essential topics such as how to collaborate with the healthcare team, nutrition methods, safety risks and emergency care, legal and ethical issues, physical and mental disease processes, observation and reporting, documentation, infection control and interpersonal skills. Students will also gain practical experience during 88 hours of training that will have online and in-person components.
Students will also have the opportunity to apply their skills in real-world scenarios during hands-on, supervised clinical training at a local healthcare facility located in Josephine or Jackson County.
The CNA2 program allows nursing students to gain specialized knowledge and skills that help them grow in their careers, discover new job opportunities and increase their earning potential.
The program positively impacts the local economy, as Southern Oregon has two large hospital systems—Providence Medford Medical Center and Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center—with a variety of employment opportunities available. For more information, email nursingassistant@roguecc.edu.
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
OHCS awards $20 million to boost affordable modular housing production in Oregon
SALEM, ORE. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) awards $20 million to modular housing developers to boost production of these homes throughout Oregon. The developers will prioritize supplying modular housing that is affordable to state and local governments following a wildfire or other disaster, low-income housing construction and middle-income housing construction.
“Oregon needs affordable and middle-income housing in all shapes and sizes,” said OHCS Director Andrea Bell. “Investing in the production capacity of modular homes is vital to increasing housing options particularly in rural communities.”
Housing is considered modular when building sections are built in a factory and then put together at the intended site. The modular method of housing development can help accelerate affordable housing production as it can lower construction costs and reduce construction schedules compared to traditional building methods.
OHCS created the Modular Housing Development Fund to distribute the $20 million allocated through House Bill 2001 in the 2023 legislative session. The agency worked quickly to get funds out the door, opening applications for funding in November 2023. There were 17 eligible applicants, and the agency intends to award funding to the following four:
| Organization | Amount | City |
| Blazer Industries, Inc. | $5 million | Aumsville |
| Intelifab, LLC | $5 million | Klamath Falls |
| Pacific Wall Systems, Inc. | $5 million | Phoenix |
| Zaugg Timber Solutions, Inc. | $5 million | Portland |
“Thank you to the Oregon legislature and applicants. OHCS remains committed in being a partner in the collective journey to increase housing production across Oregon so everyone can have a safe, stable, and healthy place to call home,” said Bell.
Four Suspected Drug Traffickers Face Federal Charges After Law Enforcement Seize 370 Gallons of Liquid Heroin
PORTLAND, Ore.—Four suspected drug traffickers with apparent ties to a Mexico-based transnational criminal organization are facing federal charges today after they were caught transporting nearly 370 gallons of liquid heroin.
Marco Antonio Magallon, 44; Luis Deleon Woodward, 26; and Jorge Luis Amador, 25, all of Yakima, Washington, and Santos Alisael Aguilar Maya, 32, whose place of residence is unknown, have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and possess with intent to distribute heroin.
According to court documents, on January 24, 2024, as part of an ongoing, multi-agency drug trafficking investigation, law enforcement obtained information that several individuals working for a transnational criminal organization were transporting a large load of illegal narcotics into the District of Oregon. Late in the evening of January 24 and in the early morning hours of January 25, 2024, investigators observed a rented moving truck driven by Amador and an accompanying red pickup truck traveling west on Interstate 84 near Bonneville, Oregon. Investigators observed the vehicles travel together to a motel in Tigard, Oregon, making one brief stop in a commercial parking lot in Beaverton, Oregon.
Later on January 25, investigators executed federal search warrants on the defendants’ motel room and two vehicles. They located and seized eight 55-gallon barrels containing approximately 370 gallons of a liquid narcotic inside the moving truck and two loaded handguns inside the motel room. All four defendants were arrested without incident. Investigators transported the seized narcotic, which weighed approximately 1.4 metric tons, to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) narcotics room. Lab tests later confirmed the barrels contained liquid heroin.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), WCSO, and the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team (WIN). It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
WIN is a Washington County, Oregon-based High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force that includes members from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Beaverton and Hillsboro Police Departments, Oregon National Guard Counter Drug Program, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, and HSI.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Oregon Senate Republicans Cannot Run For Office Again After Walkout Per Ruling Mandates
Oregon Senate Republicans who participated in a historic 2023 walkout will not be allowed to run for office again, the Oregon Supreme Court announced Thursday morning.
In 2023, nine Oregon Senate Republicans walked off the job for 42 days in protest of a bill that protected abortion rights and gender-affirming health care.
Following this walkout, the Oregon Secretary of State ruled participating senators would be unable to run for office immediately after the current term due to Measure 113.
Voted-approved Measure 113 mandates that “any state legislator who accrues 10 or more unexcused absences during a legislative session shall be disqualified from holding legislative office” immediately following the current term.
The nine senators petitioned against the Secretary of State’s upholding of the measure following the walkout.
The Republicans argued that Measure 113’s wording was ambiguous when voted upon by voters, and did not support the secretary’s interpretation and enforcement of the rule after the walkout.
The Supreme Court states that it is upholding the secretary’s interpretation and that the Republicans who participated in the walkout will be unable to run for office again.
The court says that “the ballot measure history uniformly supported the Secretary’s interpretation,” and that “the ballot title and the voters’ pamphlet expressly and repeatedly informed voters that the disqualification would occur immediately following the legislator’s current term.”
The court concluded that voters would have understood the disqualification to apply to the term of office immediately following the term in which a legislator accrued 10 or more unexcused absences.
This means nine Republicans and one Independent senator who staged the record-long six-week legislative walkout in 2023 cannot file for re-election in 2024 or 2026.
Raymond James to pay nearly $200,000 in penalties and restitution for overcharging commissions to Oregon investors
Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) joined a multi-state settlement alleging that Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. charged unreasonable commissions to retail customers on small-dollar transactions.
As a result of a coordinated investigation by state securities regulators, the group concluded that from July 1, 2018, to July 17, 2023, Raymond James charged unreasonable commissions on more than 270,000 equity trades and transactions nationwide resulting in overcharges of $8.25 million.
In Oregon, Raymond James charged unreasonable commissions totaling $96,550.83 to Oregon investors in 2,740 transactions. As part of the settlement, Raymond James will pay restitution and interest of $109,349.94 directly to the affected Oregon investors and a $75,000 civil penalty to the State of Oregon.
“Our division is pleased to be a part of this multi-state action to protect Oregon investors and hold Raymond James accountable for charging unreasonably high commissions,” said DFR Administrator TK Keen. “Protecting investors from unfair practices is a charge we take seriously. This settlement is a reminder that our division will hold companies accountable if they breach the trust of their customers.”
In addition to the fine and restitution, as part of the settlement, Raymond James agreed to change and enhance its policies and procedures to ensure that all commissions are fair and reasonable and completed a review to assess the efficacy of the changes it made.
The consent order can be found on our website.
### About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and www.dcbs.oregon.gov.
Public notice and request for comment on Medicaid waiver renewals and public notice about Fee-for-Service Selective Contracting 1915 (b) (4) Waiver
(Salem, Ore.) — The Oregon Department of Human Services’ (ODHS) Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) seeks public comment on the renewal applications for three current Medicaid model waivers:
- Medically Involved Children’s Waiver
- Medically Fragile (Hospital) Model Waiver
- Behavioral (ICF/IDD) Model Waiver
These are standard waiver renewals that happen every five years. The revisions will not affect the services individuals receive. The number of individuals served by each waiver will remain the same. The renewals include administrative updates to the waivers’ effective dates, service projections and methods used to complete quality assurance activities. The effective dates will be July 1, 2024.
You can read the drafts of the three renewal applications via the links above or those on the ODDS website. Print versions of this notice are posted in local Community Developmental Disabilities Programs and Support Services Brokerages.
If you are interested, we invite you to submit feedback and comments on these waiver renewals. Here are two ways to do this:
- Send an email to s@odhsoha.oregon.gov“>odds.waivers@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
- Send written comments addressed to ODDS Medicaid waiver/State Plan analyst, 500 Summer Street NE E-09, Salem, OR 97301.
Deadline: To considered, we must receive your feedback by March 1, 2024.
Please note: This public comment period is not related to the Children’s Extraordinary Needs Waiver. ODDS submitted that waiver’s application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last month.
Oregon Wins Appeal of Prisoners’ Vaccine Prioritization Lawsuit
The ruling clears former Governor Kate Brown from liability just weeks after a separate Ninth Circuit panel concluded she can be disposed in the lawsuit.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday sided with Oregon in a lawsuit brought by current and former state prisoners who seek damages because they were given lower priority than prison guards to receive Covid-19 vaccines.
The appellate panel unanimously agreed that former Governor Kate Brown and the former director of the Oregon Health Authority, Patrick Allen, who were responsible for the state’s response to the pandemic in 2020, were shielded from liability for the inmates’ claims under the U.S. Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act.
The ruling reverses a federal magistrate judge’s denial of the two defendants’ motions to dismiss the claims against them.
“The PREP Act’s provisions extend immunity to persons who make policy-level decisions regarding the administration or use of covered countermeasures,” U.S. Circuit Judge Jennifer Sung, a Joe Biden appointee, said in the court’s decision.
An attorney for the plaintiffs didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Congress passed the PREP Act in 2005 to encourage the development and deployment of medical countermeasures, including vaccines, during times of crisis by limiting legal liability from administrating such countermeasures, according to the ruling. The statute gives covered people immunity from lawsuits and claims for damages that result from the implementation of the relevant countermeasures.
This immunity also extends to claims for civil rights violations by state officials, the panel said.
The PREP Act recognizes that protecting public health in the middle of a pandemic inevitably requires hard choices, said Roy Kaufmann, a spokesman for Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum.
“We appreciate that the Ninth Circuit has agreed with us that the federal courts are not a forum for second-guessing the state’s decisions about vaccine priority,” Kaufmann said. “We will continue to vigorously defend the state’s power to address emergencies.”
Thursday’s decision in favor of Brown comes just weeks after a separate Ninth Circuit panel had ruled in a split decision that the former governor should be deposed by the prisoners’ lawyers.
The lawsuit, filed in April 2020, was brought by six inmates at Oregon Department of Corrections facilities and the representative of a deceased prisoner’s estate. They seek damages for Eighth Amendment violations incurred due to the policies of Brown and other state officials the plaintiffs say failed to protect them from the spread of Covid-19.
“During the pendency of the lawsuit, thousands of people housed at ODOC facilities have been infected with Covid-19,” the inmates wrote in their sixth amended complaint, adding that at least 44 inmates had died.
The suit seeks relief for two classes: one composed of prisoners who contracted Covid-19 and another made up of those who died from the virus or from Covid-related complications.
The other two judges on the Ninth Circuit panel were U.S. Circuit Judge Johnnie Rawlinson, a Bill Clinton appointee, and U.S. Circuit Judge Carlos Bea, a George W. Bush appointee. (SOURCE)
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.
