Rogue Valley News, Friday 10/4 – Art Along The Rogue Starts Today! New York Man Sentenced to 15 years in Federal Prison for Traveling to Southern Oregon to Sexually Abuse a Child He Met Playing an Online Video Game & 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

Friday,  October 4, 2024

Rogue Valley Weather

Wildfires continue to produce smoke in the Pacific Northwest. Breathe a little easier by keeping up to date on air quality conditions and concerns at Fire.AirNow.gov.

Seasonal Climate Forecast September – November 2024

https://www.oregon.gov/oda/programs/naturalresources/documents/weather/dlongrange.pdf

We’re not out of the woods just yet… DON’T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN – Fire  Season still in progress. Many people let their guard down because fall has arrived. Major fires can get started in October and November. Fire season will not end until we really hit full speed on the cooler weather, rain, and snow coming to stay. Until then, be vigilant and do everything you can to prevent the spark that could be the next serious fire.

Please take precautions to avoid sparking a human-caused fire, be familiar with evacuation levels, and have a go-kit ready in case you need to leave your home.” — We’ve had an unprecedented fire season already. Don’t be that spark that could lead to a tragedy! Check Conditions

Art Along the Rogue Starts Today!

Follow this link for complete details, including a dining guide, and link to a scavenger hunt: https://www.grantspassoregon.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3421

New York Man Sentenced to 15 years in Federal Prison for Traveling to Southern Oregon to Sexually Abuse a Child He Met Playing an Online Video Game

MEDFORD, Ore.—A New York man was sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for traveling to Southern Oregon to sexually abuse a child and capturing the abuse on video.

Brent Johnson, Jr., 26, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison and a life term of supervised release.

According to court documents, in August 2021, Johnson contacted a child through an online video game and, after exchanging phone numbers with the child, continued communicating with them via text messages and phone calls. Undeterred by the child’s age, in late 2021, Johnson traveled to Southern Oregon where he sexually abused the child and captured the abuse on video. In February 2022, the child’s mother contacted law enforcement after receiving text messages and images from Johnson.

On May 5, 2022, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a three-count indictment charging Johnson with sexually exploiting a child, distributing child pornography, and traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

On June 26, 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a child and distributing child pornography.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Long Island, New York, and Medford, and the Rogue River Police Department. It was prosecuted by Judith R. Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Medford Police Launch Public Crime Mapping Portal

Valley of the Rogue day-use area’s seasonal hours begin Oct. 1 

Next week, bring the whole family to tour the station, spray water from a fire hose, see our fire engines, and pick up fire safety tips.

Station 12: Tuesday, October 8 | 3 pm – 6 pm

Station 16: Wednesday, October 9 | 3 pm – 6 pm

This year’s theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You!”. Join us for these exciting events to learn more about keeping your home safe!

Medford Firefighters Local 824

Earlier this month, our department partnered with J.C. Penney and Dick’s Sporting Goods for a targeted retail theft enforcement operation. Thanks to a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, four individuals were arrested, and over $1,400 in stolen property was recovered!

Did you know? Confrontations between loss prevention employees and suspects are on the rise. Some suspects are arming themselves with pepper spray, knives, and even firearms to avoid capture. In response, local retailers are teaming up with MPD to proactively fight theft and ensure a safer shopping environment.

Businesses interested in joining these efforts can contact Lt. Don Lane at 541-774-2292.

Roadwork on Highway 99- part of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) five current road projects in Jackson County this week, is underway and will likely cause some disruption to traffic.

ODOT Work On Highway 99 At Birdseye Creek This Week

Work continues on Oregon Highway 99 from milepost 10.8 to 12.2 in ODOT’s Birdseye Creek, Foots Creek, and Millers Gulch Bridge replacement project.

This part of the Southern Oregon Seismic Bridge Retrofit Project project is projected to cost $11 Million and replace three 1920s-era bridges on the Rogue River Highway with structures better able to withstand earthquakes. The work is scheduled through June 2025.

While the project is ongoing, ODOT confirmed that the Birdseye Creek Bridge remains open but there are intermittent lane closures. Flaggers will provide traffic control as needed but drivers should expect brief delays and be on the lookout for workers on the road.

Jackson County Coleman Creek Bridge Replacement Project

Utility work from Glenwood to Coleman Creek at an estimated cost of $12 Million is continuing along Oregon 99 from milepost 10.2 to 11 this week. The ODOT said the work will improve safety and pedestrian and bicycle accessibility by widening Oregon 99 from East Glenwood Road to Coleman Creek Bridge.

Streetlights will also be added at four intersections. A new drainage system and several mid-block pedestrian crossings with flashing beacons are also part of the project.

As lines, wires, and pipes are being relocated drivers were asked to look for intermittent lane closures on weekdays throughout the work zone.

Oregon 99 Road Work Planned At Medford’s Big X Intersection

More work on the Oregon 99 projects is planned for the Oregon Highway 238 and Oregon High 62 at Medford’s Big X Intersection.

The work will cost $ 15.9 million and involves the replacement of Americans with Disability Act (ADA) ramps, repair to damaged areas of the road, repaving of travel lanes, rehabilitation of several bridge decks, improvement of drainage, and new traffic signal upgrades.

This section of the project involves work between Table Rock and Ohio Streets, Oregon 238 west to North Ross Lane and OR 62 east to the Biddle Road overpass. Night-time lane closures are expected and drivers should pay particular care between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Sunday night to Friday morning.

OR99 Work On Highway 140

Lake of the Woods Highway- Oregon Highway 140, has ODOT work scheduled at milepost 3.6 at White City for Rogue Valley rural intersection improvements.

The project will provide additional advanced warning and delineation to improve safety at three rural intersections in the Rogue Valley at a cost of $1 Million.

Drivers are requested to look out for intermittent daytime shoulder closures Monday through Friday this week on Highway 140 at Riley Road in White City.

RFP for Engineering for the Illinois Valley Fire District Hydrant Project

You can schedule an appointment directly with our Intake Specialists through our website  https://firebrandcollective.org/harp/

Visita la página de HARP en nuestro sitio web para pedir cita hoy mismo.

 firebrandcollective.org/harp/

Southern Oregon hosting workplace safety and health conference Oct. 15-17

Rogue Valley Humane Society  · Donations Always Needed to Help Community

Our Community Food Bank exists to help folks who need an extra helping hand during a difficult month to feed their pets. Our program has a limited budget and so we rely on generous members of our community to donate some of these goods to continue to help assist our community.

In 2023 we fed an average of 700 pets a month! This equates to approximately 70 – 40lb bags of food each month!  Many pets have benefited from the community’s generosity, and we can’t thank you enough for your kindness.

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.

It has been more than Four Years since 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. 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

 

It is National Fire Prevention Week and our friends at the NFPA have put out some great educational materials. During the entire month of October, our Fire Marshal’s Office team is providing 2nd grade classes with Fire Prevention Education and our crews will be visiting classrooms. We love an opportunity to interact with our community and spread awareness! #NFPA#FirePreventionWeek

Celebrate Fire Safety this October

– As the leaves change and cooler weather sets in, the Oregon State Fire Marshal and the Oregon fire service remind everyone of the importance of home fire safety. October is Fire Prevention Month, a time to focus on fire prevention and safety at home. This year’s theme, “Celebrate Fire Safety,” calls on Oregonians to take action to reduce fire risks and protect their loved ones.

In 2023, 2,518 home fires in our state resulted in $119.5 million in losses to homeowners. Cooking remains the leading cause of home fires, followed closely by home heating. Alarmingly, in 417 of those fires, no smoke alarm was present.

“Oregon’s first responders are unwavering in their commitment to protecting our communities by reducing home fires and preventing the devastating injuries they cause,” said Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple. “This Fire Prevention Month, we’re calling on all Oregonians to take proactive, life-saving steps to protect their families, their homes, and their future.”

There are several simple things Oregonians can do to lessen the chance of a home fire and increase safety:

• Install and maintain smoke alarms. Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas.
• Practice cooking safely. Never leave cooking unattended and always have a lid or cookie sheet nearby to smother small flames.
• Use heating equipment safely. Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from heating devices and always plug space heaters directly into the wall—never use extension cords.
• Create and practice a home fire escape plan. Make sure every family member knows at least two ways out of every room.
• Consider candle alternatives. Battery-operated candles reduce fire risk, but if you use real candles, always blow them out before leaving the room.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek proclaimed October as Fire Prevention Month. For more information about Fire Prevention Month, a link to the proclamation, and more tips to prevent the top causes of home fires in Oregon, visit our website.

Oregon Housing and Community Services earns two national awards for preventing homelessness and preserving affordable housing

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) response to the homelessness crisis and its innovative strategies to preserve affordable housing earn the state agency two coveted awards at the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) conference. OHCS received the Special Needs Housing: Combating Homelessness and the Rental Housing: Preservation and Rehabilitation awards.

OHCS ended the first year of the emergency homelessness response by surpassing the initial goals related to preventing homelessness, creating shelter capacity, and rehousing people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The state and housing partners created more than 1,000 shelter beds, rehoused over 1,400 households, and prevented more than 9,000 people from experiencing homelessness.

“In so many ways, housing is connected to the meaning of life. Making everyday life better for people and communities across Oregon begins with securing the fundamentals, like housing,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “Under Governor Kotek’s leadership, we are getting it done. We are grateful to our state and local partners that stepped up in a significant way to improve lives and strengthen Oregon.”

OHCS was also recognized for implementing innovative strategies to help keep rents at prices people can pay in housing developments where affordable rents are close to expiring. The agency created a first-of-its-kind Preservation Framework and Dashboard. The Preservation Framework wraps all preservation-related topics into one document. The Preservation Dashboard makes preservation data easily accessible to housing partners across the state and county.

“While affordable housing preservation does not tend to garner ribbon cutting ceremonies, having proactive and robust strategies to maintain affordability and addressing the physical needs of existing properties is directly connected to our shared housing goals,” said Bell.

OHCS created the Preservation Framework and Dashboard after meeting with many preservation partners and incorporating their thoughts and feedback.

Pictured above: Pioneer Park in Veneta, Oregon was preserved as affordable housing.About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)OHCS is Oregon’s housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. Visit OHCS’ website for more information.

State struggles to recover more than $24 million from people responsible for wildfires

A partial list from the Oregon Department of Forestry shows it has collected $86,000 of $24 million it paid to fight several dozen wildfires that were maliciously or negligently ignited over the last two decades

Each year, the Oregon Department of Forestry responds to about 1,000 wildfires across the 16 million acres of land it protects. It investigates the cause of every fire, and if a person or group is found to have been negligent or malicious in starting or spreading a significant fire, the agency pursues reimbursement for its firefighting costs.

The agency has not been very successful in recouping those costs, according to a report discussed at a March meeting of the four-member Emergency Fire Cost Committee.

The account offered a rare glimpse into the scale of the costs and the efforts to recover them. But it only represented a snapshot of the problem, excluding a full list of all the fires the state is investigating or pursuing for reimbursement, Jessica Neujahr, a forestry spokesperson, said in an email.

“That larger list is not one we can share,” she said, due to ongoing litigation and privacy concerns.

The report showed the forestry department spent at least $24 million to respond to 36 significant fires caused or spread negligently or maliciously by people or groups since 2004, and that in pursuing reimbursement, it has collected just $86,000 from “responsible parties.”

Few people who have started significant wildfires have millions of dollars to reimburse the department and sometimes investigating who is responsible, or trying to collect the money, can become too costly, according to Tim Holschbach, chief of policy and planning with the department’s fire protection division.

In those cases, the department moves on.

“We don’t want the effort to exceed the payback,” Holschbach said. “It wouldn’t make sense for us to spend taxpayer money to pursue recovery from someone who can’t pay.”

With climate change, wildfire seasons are becoming longer and often more destructive, affecting communities, infrastructure and land needed for grazing and farming. This year’s season, which is expected to end this month, scorched nearly 2 million acres across the state, setting a new record. Some of the fires were quickly put out, but others burned for weeks. The primary cause of wildfires this year was lightning strikes.

The agency considers a “significant” fire to be one that costs over $5,000 to fight, with the agency pursuing those it considers to have started or contributed to the blaze either willfully or through negligence, Neujahr said.

The agency listed 36 fires since 2004 that were willfully or negligently set in its report to the committee. It has accepted $86,000 in settlements and restitution for 17 of the oldest fires and is actively trying to recoup at least $15 million for 19 that started since 2011. It is also investigating 21 significant fires that occurred between 2020 and 2023 in an attempt to recover at least some of the $88.5 million spent to snuff them out. Agency officials don’t yet know whether they’ll identify a culprit to pursue for reimbursement in each case, Neujahr said

The Legislature recently voted to send the forestry department $47.5 million in emergency funding to help pay bills from fighting the current fire season, which has already cost the state $250 million.

Deciphering the cause

In investigating fires, state forestry officials first identify the point of origin, according to Holschbach. If they discover a tree slashed with a big black scar, they know the cause was probably lightning, or if a burn barrel used to burn trash is nearby, they know humans were likely involved. But other investigations are more difficult.

If they determine that someone is responsible and identify the party, officials send them a letter outlining the costs and demanding payment. That person has 90 days to respond to the letter before interest on the bill starts to accrue. If the culprit refuses to pay, the forestry department notifies the Oregon Department of Justice to determine other methods of collecting, Neujahr said.

Investigations can take years depending on how many people and federal agencies are involved, or how complex the case is, Holschbach said. The agency’s investigation also has to be able to stand up in court.

“We treat every investigation as if we’re preparing for litigation,” Holschbach said, adding that people have become increasingly litigious.

“We have to be more careful in our documentation, and more complete than we ever have been, and doing that really slows things down. Not that we were reckless before, or didn’t have complete reports, but it’s just more complex,” he said.

Working with federal agencies can slow things down, too.

The agency is still waiting for the U.S. Forest Service to complete its investigation of the Two Four Two Fire in 2020 near the Williamson River Campground in Klamath Falls, which burned more than 2,000 acres. The state agency is also still waiting on the forest service to finish its part of the investigation on the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire near Eugene that burned more than 173,000 acres and was one of the largest wildfires in Oregon history.

Firefighting costs

Every two years, the state sets the forestry department’s firefighting budget. The agency also collects fees from owners of the private land it protects, about three-quarters of the total 16 million acres. Those fees go into the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund to help defer wildfire costs. It also helps to fight fires on federal land, and pays those costs upfront, but is reimbursed by the federal government.

Emergency fire costs that go beyond the biennial firefighting budget are paid by revenue from two sources, depending on the amount. Up to $20 million of emergency fire costs are split between the protection fund and Oregon’s general fund, which is used for a wide range of expenses and mostly comes from Oregon income taxes. Costs beyond $20 million are paid entirely by the general fund, Holschbach said.

When the department collects reimbursements, most of the money goes back to the general fund.

“The point of cost recovery is to take the burden off the taxpayer – off of Oregonians,” said Neujahr, the forestry department spokesperson. “If we can get that money back to the state, that’s the goal.”

But very little has been reimbursed. Agency officials said they drop investigations that become too complex and costly to pursue or when there’s little hope of recovering the money.

One example is the Sweet Creek Milepost 2 fire that started in Lane County in 2020 and cost more than $4 million to fight. In the end, the arsonist who was charged was only able to pay $154 to the forestry department.

In another fire – that was not included in the March report – the department recovered $200,000 after spending $37 million putting it out. The 2015 Stouts Creek Fire in Douglas County, which spread across 26,000 acres, was started by a guy mowing his lawn during a restricted period of hot and dry conditions. The department only recovered $200,000 because that was the limit on his homeowners insurance policy.

Many fires, like this one, could have been avoided with better judgment, Holschbach said.

“About 70% to 80% of fires are human caused, but most of those are not willful, malicious or negligent,” Holschbach said.

But they’re often expensive to put out – for the department and those found responsible.

Holschbach said those high costs are part of the reason the agency has launched campaigns to make the public more aware of mowing and debris burning restrictions.

“Don’t cause a fire. Don’t go there. Because you may end up paying for it,” he said. (SOURCE)

Smokey Bear’s message of Only You Can Prevent Wildfires is as important in Fall as any time of the year.

To drive home this point the USDA Forest Service has put together a fun and educational 4-part series called Smokey Bear Live. Read more about it at https://www.fs.usda.gov/about…/features/bear-all-seasons

Oregon wildfire season expected to last into mid-October

The bulk of the wildfires have burned through east Oregon grass and shrub, with about 25% of it in forestland, according to the Wildland Mapping Institute. More than one-third of all acres blackened have been on private land, and about 62% has been on federal land. Most wildfires are caused by humans, according to the interagency coordination center, but this year the bulk of blazes have started from natural causes, such as lightning.

The wildfires prompted Kotek to declare a statewide emergency and ask for federal help and regulatory flexibility for farmers and ranchers. She’s also invoked the Conflagration Act 17 times this year, with the latest invocation on Sept. 10 for the Service Fire in Wheeler County. The act unleashes resources to fight blazes that threaten lives, communities or key infrastructure. (SOURCE)

Preventing wildfires requires a collective effort from everyone—help mitigate the risk of human-caused wildfires and protect our forests and communities.

Monitor Fires in Oregon – Updated Daily

Large Fires in Oregon Past 2 Weeks 10/4/24 8:00am per INCIWEB

https://app.watchduty.org/

Please Help Prevent Wildfires!

In these dry conditions, a single spark can cause a lot of damage. Learn how you can prevent wildfires by visiting the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s wildfire prevention page.

After reforms, Oregon still struggles with shortage of public defenders

More than 3,500 people are out of custody but have no representation and about 160 without a lawyer are stuck in jail

Thousands of Oregonians face criminal charges and do not have an attorney to represent them.

About 160 of them are sitting in jail. Another 3,550 people are out of custody with no representation as they face charges. The figures underscore a persistent problem: Oregon has a shortage of public defenders, who represent people when they are charged in court and cannot afford an attorney. It’s a constitutional crisis because people have the right to an attorney when charged if they cannot afford one.

Without representation, cases are delayed or dropped – or defendants are not well represented. When an overworked public defender cannot thoroughly review police camera footage or other evidence, the defendant does not get an adequate defense.

In recent years, state lawmakers have tried to address that by restructuring the Oregon Public Defense Commission and temporarily raising the hourly rates of public defenders. In 2023, lawmakers put $96 million toward the crisis. But more work is necessary to shore up a frayed and complex system that often struggles to recruit and retain attorneys, both because of high caseloads and low pay.

New commission programs have increased the number of public defenders and more people are being represented, but little progress is being made.

“Despite numerous initiatives, the in-custody list remains consistent, while the out-of-custody list has grown,” Jessica Kampfe, executive director of the Oregon Public Defense Commission, wrote in a July report to Gov. Tina Kotek. “Thus, although the commission has taken steps to address the constitutional crisis, the problem remains significant and will only fully improve when we have adequate funding.”

Kampfe echoed the need for more money in a briefing with state lawmakers on the House and Senate judiciary committees last week.

Long-term goal

The commission aims to eliminate the number of in-custody people who lack representation by the end of March 2025 and end the out-of-custody backlog of unrepresented people by the end of March 2026.

In the short-term, the commission has a 90-day plan that includes redirecting eight trial attorneys the agency received for drug cases through House Bill 4002 to help with the backlog. The law created a new misdemeanor drug possession charge that took effect Sept. 1. The commission also wants to extend a temporary increase in hourly rates for attorneys, which would cost another $40 million for the rest of the current budget cycle.

Public defenders are paid and work through a variety of formats, such as contracts, nonprofit public defender organizations and the commission’s trial division.

Since 2023, the commission has opened three trial division offices throughout Oregon to help the backlog in different regions, including the Portland area, southern Oregon and the mid-Willamette Valley. With 14 attorneys, they have closed 180 cases and have another 359 open cases.

But overall, the plan is for the number of attorneys to grow, from the equivalent of 506 full-time attorneys now to 986 in six years. That’s another 480 attorneys, or an average of 80 annually.

For the next two years, the commission wants to hire 160 attorneys to work in a variety of ways, whether as state employees for the commission or attorneys who work on contract.

Through House Bill 4002, lawmakers intended for people to access drug treatment programs and avoid misdemeanor drug possession charges. But not everyone will access those programs, and more people will be charged because of the recriminalization of low-level drug possession.

When the bill was debated early this session, the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission analysis estimated it would lead to nearly 2,300 more convictions annually.

“What we will be looking at and I think what we have to be considering is what is that impact and how do we address that?” said Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. (SOURCE)

Oregon will team with IRS to offer free income tax e-filing option

Salem, OR—Oregon resident taxpayers preparing their own tax returns in 2025 will have the option to electronically file both their federal and state income tax returns using the combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon, the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue announced today.

“The Direct File Program is a game-changer for taxpayers,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “This free filing option is an equitable opportunity to save Oregonians time and money, regardless of their income.”

The IRS and US Treasury Department announced an expansion of the types of returns that can be filed using IRS Direct File beyond what was available in the pilot program during the 2024 tax filing season.

During the pilot last year, IRS Direct File covered limited tax situations, including wage income reported on a W-2 form, Social Security income, unemployment compensation and certain credits and deductions. For the 2025 filing season, IRS Direct File will support Forms 1099 for interest income greater than $1,500, retirement income and the Form 1099 for Alaska residents reporting the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend. (See the attached graphic for more on who will be able to use IRS Direct File in 2025.)

In the 2024 tax season, more than 140,000 taxpayers in 12 states filed their federal tax returns using the limited pilot program while nearly 7,000 Oregon taxpayers filed their state returns using the free, state-only Direct File Oregon option.

The IRS estimates that 30 million US taxpayers will be able to use IRS Direct File in 2025, including 640,000 Oregon taxpayers who will be able to e-file both their federal and state returns for free.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced in May that it would make IRS Direct File a permanent option for taxpayers and invited all 50 states to participate to create a seamless free filing system for both federal and state taxes. Oregon was the first of 12 new states to accept the invitation from the IRS in June.

“Connecting Direct File Oregon with the IRS Direct File option beginning next year will give Oregon taxpayers a seamless way to electronically file both their federal and state income tax returns—and do both for free,” Oregon Department of Revenue Director Betsy Imholt said.

Oregon’s Income Growth is the 6th Fastest in the Nation

Oregon average incomes are growing at a rate of the sixth-fastest in the nation and have never been higher, even after accounting for inflation, says former state economist Josh Lehner.

Lehner was commenting on data released in an American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau which reveals that Oregon is extending its trend of declining poverty with average annual household income pegged at $81,160, or 3.1% higher than the national average.

Writing a poverty and progress report in the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, Lehner says the incomes of typical state households have never been higher, growing by 6% before inflation in 2023, and 2.1% in real, or inflation-adjusted terms.

The average income earned by Oregonians from 2019 to 2023 increased by 19.5% in nominal terms. This figure reflects an increase of just 2.8% in real terms because of surging inflation. Oregon has the 21^st-strongest inflation rate in the country.

Another state trend in recent years has been the narrowing gap in racial income disparities. Lehner says the growth of household income has been the strongest among Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC).

He says wages have been the biggest component driving household income, with average earnings of full-time workers rising 5.3% before inflation. Earnings have increased on average by 5.1% annually since 2019.

The strongest household income gains have been recorded in the Bend metro and the Rogue Valley, while Portland metro area is at or near the income gains seen elsewhere.

Overall, the 2023 survey shows that Oregon household incomes are continuing to rise, although poverty rates among some groups, in some locales, are much higher than statewide. (SOURCE)

Wyden Introduces Sweeping Court Reforms to Restore Public Trust as Supreme Court Faces Legitimacy Crisis

 — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced the introduction of new legislation to restore balance among the three branches of government, increase transparency to improve public trust in America’s courts, and modernize the courts to ensure greater access to justice for more Americans.

In the wake of recent rulings upending decades of precedent and evidence of unethical behavior, Wyden’s Judicial Modernization and Transparency Act would modernize the courts by expanding the Supreme Court to 15 justices over three presidential terms, prevent political inaction from bottling up nominations to the Supreme Court, and restore appropriate deference to the legislative branch by requiring a supermajority to overturn acts of Congress, among other modernizing provisions to improve access to justice.

The bill would also implement much-needed reforms to bring more accountability to the Supreme Court recusal process and improve transparency around potential financial conflicts and other unethical behavior.

“The Supreme Court is in crisis and bold solutions are necessary to restore the public trust,” Wyden said. “More transparency, more accountability and more checks on a power hungry Supreme Court are just what the American people are asking for.”

The bill modernizes the federal judiciary by:

• Expanding the Supreme Court to 15 justices.
  • The expansion is staggered over a total of 12 years with a president getting to appoint one nominee in the first and third years of each presidential term.
• Establishing a new supermajority threshold to overturn acts of Congress on a constitutional basis at both the Supreme Court and Circuit Court level.
• Requiring that relief granted by lower courts in cases seeking to invalidate an act of Congress expire upon the issuing date of an opinion by the Supreme Court.
• Establishing a new process for Supreme Court nominations that are not reported out of committee within 180 calendar days to be automatically placed on the Senate calendar.
• Expanding the number of circuit courts to 15 and returning to the practice of assigning one Supreme Court justice to oversee each circuit.
• Expanding the number of circuits by splitting the Ninth Circuit and establishing a new Southwestern Circuit.
• Expanding the number of Circuit Court and District Court judgeships to improve access to justice.

The bill increases transparency to improve public trust by:

• Requiring all justices to consider recusal motions and make their written opinions publically available. Any justice would be recused from a case upon the affirmative vote of the justices.
• Requiring the public disclosure of how each justice voted for any case within the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
• Requiring the IRS to initiate an audit of each justice’s income tax return (and any amended return) as quickly as practicable after it is filed. Within 90 days of filing, the IRS would be required to publicly release the returns and provide an update on the status of the audit. Every 180 days thereafter, the IRS must update the public on the status of the audit. It will also release the ultimate findings of the audit.
• Requiring those nominated to the Court to include their most recent three years of tax returns in their publicly-available financial disclosure filings. In the case that a nominee does not disclose the tax returns within 15 days after nomination, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts would be instructed to obtain the tax returns from the Secretary of the Treasury and make them public. The Secretary of the Treasury is instructed to redact certain personal identity information.

A one-pager summarizing the bill is here.

A section-by-section of the legislative text is here.

The legislative text is here.

In July, as part of his ongoing efforts to reform and restore fairness to our country’s judicial system, Wyden introduced legislation to restore much-needed checks on Donald Trump’s radical right-wing Supreme Court by providing Congress with new authority to overturn judicial decisions that clearly undermine the congressional intent of laws following the Loper Bright decision. He also also introduced legislation to bring an end to the controversial practice of “judge shopping,” in which plaintiffs cherry-pick judges they know will hand down favorable rulings, leading to sweeping rulings that wield undue power over millions of Americans.

Red Cross Volunteers from Oregon and SW Washington on Their Way to Hurricane Helene
American Red Cross – Cascades Region

Support communities in the path of the storm by making a financial donation or scheduling an appointment to give blood

Thousands of people are dealing with the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene and American Red Cross disaster workers are with them, providing comfort, support and relief.

More than 4 million customers – as many as 12 million people – are without power across impacted states. The danger isn’t over and people in affected areas are urged to heed the utmost caution before venturing outside. Helene is now a tropical storm threatening parts of the Southeast with dangerous flooding, damaging winds and tornadoes.

Thousands of people affected by Hurricane Helene need help now. Your donation enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) to make a financial donation or to schedule a blood donation appointment. Individuals can also text the word HELENE to 90999 to make a donation.

RED CROSS RESPONSE In just the past 48 hours, the Red Cross has opened or supported more than 140 shelters for nearly 9,400 individuals who have evacuated their homes. Red Cross teams managed 50 of these shelters overnight and supported more than 80 partner shelters with staff and supplies

The Cascades Region in Oregon and SW Washington has sent 10 volunteers already with more lining up to go.  Just like volunteers from across the country who came to Oregon to support our wildfire evacuations this summer, our volunteers will be there as long as we are needed.

As deadly flooding continues and threatens additional communities, even more people will urgently need our support. Red Crossers are working closely with community partners and state and local officials to ensure help is available where needed.

Nearly 500 disaster workers are on the ground helping with hundreds more on their way. The Red Cross has also deployed numerous emergency response vehicles to help where needed. When it is safe to do so, Red Cross disaster responders will travel throughout affected communities, assessing the damage and distributing meals and relief supplies.

CANCELED BLOOD DRIVES Helene has canceled blood drives throughout Georgia and the Carolinas causing more than 1,000 blood donations to go uncollected, and this number is growing.

As communities feel the effects of Helene, patients are fighting their own battle. Some of these patients urgently need closely matched blood donations to weather their health crises. If you’re in a safe area, you have the power to be a lifeline.

Please schedule a blood donation appointment now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to help restock the shelves.

FIND A SHELTEREvacuation shelters are open across the region. You can find evacuation shelters on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).You can also find shelters by following your local Red Cross and local emergency officials on social media, or by monitoring local news. If you need assistance finding or going to a shelter in the Big Bend region, call 800-729-3413 for help.

CLIMATE CRISIS Helene could be the start of a series of back-to-back storms that threaten the U.S. as additional systems form in the Atlantic.Experts report Hurricane Helene was able to grow and become more destructive because of hotter-than-average ocean temperatures caused by the climate crisis, which is bringing more frequent and intense disasters that upend lives. In response, the Red Cross is providing food, shelter and recovery support on a nearly continual basis.

Find safety steps for different emergencies ꟷ including hurricanes and power outages ꟷ here.

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; 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.

Oregon legislature takes up noncitizen voter registration issue in first hearing

A DMV review found that 1,259 people may have been mistakenly registered through Oregon’s automatic voter registration system without providing proof of citizenship.

Eligible residents who receive driver licenses or state ID cards are automatically registered to vote in Oregon, but in 2021 the state started allowing noncitizens to obtain driver licenses. According to ODOT, the mistake happened when DMV staff accidentally selected the wrong option on a computer menu when listing applicants’ identifying documents.

“This was truly a clerical error. We have a drop-down menu of documents that people can provide to prove their identity and age in DMV transactions, and that menu defaulted to U.S. passport or U.S. birth certificate,” said DMV administrator Amy Joyce.

ODOT initially announced on Sept. 13 that it had discovered 306 cases, and then announced Monday that the number had grown to 1,259 after a full review. In an FAQ ahead of the hearing, ODOT said the full review included all licenses and ID cards issued after Jan. 1, 2021, the day the DMV started allowing noncitizens to apply, totaling about 1.4 million records. REAL ID licenses were not included because they go through separate federal verification.

The data entry mistake doesn’t necessarily mean that all of the 1,259 people were not U.S. citizens, ODOT added — it just means the documentation they provided at the DMV to obtain a license did not include proof of citizenship, so it shouldn’t have been forwarded to the Secretary of State’s office to be added to the voter rolls.

ODOT and elections officials previously announced that only 10 of the people had actually submitted a ballot in any election over the past four years, and one of them was subsequently confirmed to have been a U.S. citizen at the time they voted.

At the hearing, elections director Molly Woon said her office is still checking the other nine and she expected to have final results by the end of the day, but added that the office has already confirmed that none of them voted in elections that were close enough that their votes could have affected the outcome. If the elections division finds that any of them were not citizens at the time they cast their ballots, their cases could be referred to the Oregon Department of Justice.

The Secretary of State’s office immediately deactivated the voter registration of the first 306 people and has now done the same with all 1,259 cases, Woon said, but added that they will all be notified of the change by the end of this week and given instructions for how to reactivate their voter registration if they can prove their citizenship.

Joyce and ODOT director Kris Strickler said the DMV has already updated its software to display the identification drop-down options in alphabetical order and added a confirmation pop-up if U.S. passport or U.S. birth certificate is selected. A manager in each DMV office is also now double-checking every transaction at the end of each day.

Most of the lawmakers on the committee appeared satisfied with ODOT’s remedial measures, with the bulk of the critical questions focused on why the agency didn’t detect the clerical error until an outside group intervened. (SOURCE)

Oregon State Parks to increase camping, parking and reservation fees for 2025

SALEM, Oregon— Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is increasing its camping, parking and reservation fees to keep pace with the rising cost of utilities, operations and maintenance.

Most of the increases range from $2 to $5 depending on the fee.

The park system has experienced record visitation as well as the impacts of rising costs and inflation. Utility costs for example have increased by 28% over the last 4 years, but most fees have remained the same. Depending on the fee, the last increase was anywhere from seven to 15 years ago for base fees.

“We know that raising fees by any amount can be challenging for visitors, and we don’t make this decision lightly. We try to keep costs and fees as low as possible to minimize the impact while still fulfilling our commitment to stewardship and recreation,” said OPRD Director Lisa Sumption.

Oct. 15, 2024: OPRD will increase its base camping fees for the first time since 2017. The increase applies to all camping reservations for 2025. Starting on October 15, 2024, all reservations made for 2025 stays will include the fee increase.

Increases in base rate by site type:

• $2 increase for misc. sites (includes teepees, meeting halls and other facilities)
• $3 increase for tent sites (includes horse tent sites, horse group sites, group tent) and primitive sites (includes overflow, fly-in and walk-to-sites)
• $4 increase for RV sites (includes full hookup, electrical, horse RV and group RV sites)
• $5 increase for cabins and yurts (includes rustic, mini, totem, and deluxe sites)

(Seasonal rate increases were adopted in 2020. The seasonal adjustments will be added to the new base rates. As in previous years, summer rates are $2 more for tent sites, $3 more for RV sites and $5 more for cabins/yurts.)

Jan. 1, 2025: OPRD will increase its reservation fee from $8 to $10 per site starting Jan. 1, 2025. This fee has not been increased since 2010.

Daily parking permit fees will increase from $5 to $10 at the 25 parks that charge a fee for day-use parking. Parking permit fees were last increased in 2009. The annual parking permit and the two-year permit fees remain the same at $30 for the annual permit and $50 for the two-year permit.

July 1, 2025: OPRD will expand the 25% out-of-state surcharge for RV campsites (required by state law) to all site types for out-of-state campers.

New camping rate ranges replace the existing ones. These ranges set the lowest and highest fees that OPRD can charge over time. It gives OPRD’s director the ability to change fees in the future as needed. The last rate range update was adopted in 2018.

OPRD has three main sources of funding: a little less than half comes from constitutionally dedicated lottery funds, about 15% comes from recreational vehicle license plate fees and roughly 35% comes from park fees from visitors. OPRD is not funded by taxes.

OPRD does offer a few resources and programs to help increase access to Oregon State Parks.

• Most Oregon State Parks offer free day-use parking. Current exceptions include this list of 25 parks online.
• We also have special access passes for free camping and day-use parking permits for:
  • Oregon foster parents, guardians and parents who have adopted Oregon foster children.
  • U.S. veterans with a service-connected disability.
  • Active duty U.S. military on official leave.

Next month, OPRD will open public comment on a proposal designed to give OPRD’s director more flexibility to decide which parks charge for day-use parking. The proposal would require day-use parking permits at all parks unless otherwise noted. The director would have the authority to waive the permit requirement as needed. There are no plans to charge at all parks, and OPRD would consider any changes carefully.

OPRD will continue to explore options in the future that reduce cost as a barrier while earning needed revenue to maintain our parks and manage congestion.

Measures On The Ballot For Oregon’s 2024 Election

Oregon voters will decide whether to receive a $1,600 annual rebate through an increase in the corporate sales tax via a ballot measure that has received fierce pushback from lawmakers, local businesses and labor unions alike.

Why it matters: If Measure 118 passes, every Oregonian would receive an annual check, regardless of age or income, starting next year.

• The rebate would be paid for by a 3% gross receipts tax for all companies doing business in Oregon that make more than $25 million annually in sales.
• If passed, the new tax would generate $1.3 billion in revenue for the 2023-25 biennium, according to the Legislative Revenue Office.

The intrigue: This would be separate from the “kicker.”

Catch up quick: The measure is one of five initiatives Oregonians will vote on this November that could alter how the state governs its elections, businesses and elected officials’ salaries.

Here’s a brief look at the other four measures.

Measure 115 would amend Oregon’s constitution to allow the Legislature to impeach statewide elected officials — if both the House and Senate reach an affirmative two-thirds vote.

• Right now, Oregon is the only state without an impeachment doctrine.

Measure 116 would establish a commission to study and set the salaries and compensation for statewide elected officials.

• The yearly base pay for Oregon lawmakers is around $35,000. The study would look at all elected offices, including governor, secretary of state, judges, district attorneys, as well as state senators and representatives.

Measure 117 would establish ranked choice voting for federal and statewide elected offices.

• Portland voters will participate in the city’s first-ever ranked choice election this fall, while Multnomah County voters will use the system in November 2026.

Measure 119 would essentially make it easier for cannabis workers to unionize by requiring cannabis retailers, processors and labs to submit a labor neutrality agreement with a union in order to request or renew their operating license.

The bottom line: The last day to register to vote in order to participate in the Nov. 5 election is Oct. 15. (SOURCE)

DAS Publishes Oregon Annual Maximum Rent Increase for 2025

Salem, OR- Today, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) published the annual maximum rent increase allowed by statute for calendar year 2025. The DAS Office of Economic Analysis has calculated the maximum percentage as 10.0%.

Implemented in 2019, Oregon law requires DAS to calculate and post to its website by Sept. 30, the maximum allowable annual rent increase percentage for the following calendar year. Per statute, the Office of Economic Analysis calculates this amount as seven percent plus the annual 12-month average change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, West Region (All Items), as most recently published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor, or 10%, whichever is lower. Only one rent increase may be issued in any 12-month period.

The allowable rent increase percentage for the 2025 calendar year is 10.0%. This applies to residential rental units 15 years and older. DAS will calculate and post the percentage for the 2026 calendar year by Sept. 30, 2025.

Since implementation in 2019, the rate has held around nine or 10%, with the exception of 2023 prior to July 6. The mid-year change was due to a change in the law that capped the rent increase at 10%.

Information about the maximum annual rent increase percentage, as well as the provisions of ORS 90.323 and 90.600 (statutes governing rent increases), can be found on the OEA website: https://www.oregon.gov/das/OEA/Pages/Rent-stabilization.aspx.

The Department of Administrative Services and the Office of Economic Analysis cannot provide legal advice. Those in need of legal advice should contact an attorney. Questions about the percentage calculation itself may contact OEA.info@das.oregon.gov.

OSP asking for the public’s help to locate wanted man —  Oregon State Police

Suspect wanted for sex crimes in Oregon and Alabama

– Oregon State Police and the Mobile (Alabama) Police Department are seeking the public’s help to locate Adam Renk (39) who is wanted in both states for sex crimes against child victims.

On June 21, 2024, OSP detectives responded to a sexual abuse disclosure made by a minor. The minor disclosed Renk as the perpetrator. Renk has since been indicted on multiple crimes against a child victim under the age of 12. He is charged with Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree, Sodomy in the First Degree, and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

As part of their investigation, OSP detectives learned Renk had been charged in another case involving a minor victim in Mobile, Alabama. The Alabama charges include Child Sexual Abuse and Torture involving an 11-year-old victim. The victims in the two states are not related. Alabama law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Marshals Service are attempting to locate Renk who posted bond in Alabama and was released from pre-trial custody.

Renk was last seen leaving Alabama on August 7, 2024. He has ties to Oregon and Wasco County. He is believed to be traveling in a converted Ford Ambulance that is now painted two-toned white over gray. Renk is a white male, 6 ft. 1 in. tall, 175 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information about Renk’s whereabouts or information about possible additional victims is asked to contact the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-506-2580 or OSP Detective Cassie Bantz through dispatch at 800-442-0776 or by dialing OSP (677) on a mobile phone.

Portland Listed in the Top Five U.S. Cities for UFO Sightings

Top UFO Hotspots in the U.S: Where to Watch the Skies

Our fascination with UFOs taps into our innate curiosity about the unknown. According to the Pew Research Center, 65% of Americans believe that intelligent life exists on other planets. The luck and rarity of an UFO sighting further fuels our obsession and curiosity.

We’ve created a one-stop guide to reveal where in the U.S. you’re most likely to spot a UFO. By analyzing data from the National UFO Reporting Center, we were able to find the most common months, locations, and times you are most likely to see a UFO, sourcing data going all the way back to 2013. — Extraterrestrial adventure may be in your own backyard. You can use this tool to find where you can increase your odds of spotting an UFO in each state: https://www.betus.com.pa/casino-guide/usa-ufo-encounter-2024/

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