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

Monday,  November 25, 2024

Rogue Valley Weather

Today’s high is expected to reach 52°F, with light rain possible this afternoon. Tonight will remain foggy with temperatures dipping to 38°F. Rain is likely after midnight, marking the start of a wet pattern for Thanksgiving week.

Looking ahead, Monday will bring steady rain and areas of dense fog, with a high of 50°F. Cooler temperatures on Tuesday will keep highs near 48°F, with partly cloudy skies breaking the rain. By Wednesday, expect sunny skies and highs near 48°F, providing relief before Thanksgiving on Thursday.

Travelers this week can expect calmer conditions, with temperatures warming slightly and minimal precipitation in the forecast. However, early-morning fog may linger through Saturday and Sunday, making vigilance crucial during holiday commutes.

Plan your Thanksgiving week accordingly and stay updated with local forecasts. Travelers should remain alert for fog advisories and allow extra time when driving during early hours. As always, check Trip Check when heading out.

Be Prepared for Winter Weather and Thanksgiving Travel

As winter storms and extreme weather events impact communities, Oregon residents are reminded to be prepared for potential power outages, the Oregon Public Utility Commission says.

Heavy snow, ice, and high winds can damage power lines and disrupt electricity, sometimes leading to extended outages. Weather conditions in specific geographies may also cause electric utilities to adjust system settings, which can result in more frequent or longer outages.

Prepare your home and business in case a winter storm leads to a power outage: Be two weeks ready – Gather food, medical supplies, batteries, pet supplies, and other essentials needed by family members during an outage or evacuation for up to two weeks.

Learn more about what supplies to consider. Charge your devices – Keep cell phones fully charged in anticipation
of an outage. Consider a car charger for phones and other electronic devices. And, Use generators safely – Never operate a generator inside your home or garage, or near windows or vents, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. https://www.oregon.gov/oem/hazardsprep/Pages/2-Weeks-Ready.aspx

Snow in Mountain Passes

Travelers should bring chains when headed over the Cascade, Willamette and Santiam Passes.

ODOT urges drivers to follow several key tips to stay safe:

• Turn on your windshield wipers and headlights
• Slow down and avoid cruise control
•  Increase your stopping distance and steer clear of standing water
• Carry chains and check road conditions before traveling
  using TripCheck.com or by calling 511.
• Pack an emergency kit with a flashlight, phone charger, warm clothes, food, and water in case you get
  stuck.
• Be aware of the dangers of black ice, which can be even more hazardous than snow.
• Drivers should always be prepared for sudden weather changes—especially in higher elevations.

Multiple winter storm warnings have been issued across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, urging people to avoid travel due to heavy snow expected in these states. In Oregon, warnings cover various counties, including portions of highways 97, 58, 230, 138, 62, 140, and 66. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Medford and Portland emphasized the potential for very difficult driving conditions and advised extreme caution if travel is necessary.

 Traveling on Forest Service Roads this week

Some winter driving tips:  Bring a map. Don’t rely on your phone for navigation or communication as coverage may be unavailable.  Drivers should exercise caution as Forest Roads may not be maintained for winter travel.  Winter weather can quickly alter driving conditions. Turn around if conditions warrant or your vehicle is not equipped to continue. Stay safe out there!

 

Medford-Ashland – Gas Prices

https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=OR

 

Barn Fire in Ashland Closes Roads This Morning

A barn fire closed Ashland roadways this morning around 3:30am. People were asked to avoid the area as firefighters worked to contain and mop up.

OR-273 at the intersection with Green Springs Highway OR-66 is closed so firefighters can access the barn. See closure updates here.

The barn was being used as a storage facility and there were no animals in the building during the time of the fire. No injuries are being reported. 

The fire is being mopped up, the barn is completely burned with damages to a nearby fence on the property.

There are no visible damages to the home or garage on the property as road delay continue.

Medford Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the Sunset Inn Motel just before 7:29 a.m. Sunday morning. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to one unit in the motel.

Deputy Fire Marshals are investigating the cause of the fire. Medford Fire credits their four-person staffing model for fire companies with helping firefighters control the fire in 15 minutes.

We invite our community and supporters to Step Up for Pollinators this giving season — and see your donation doubled! Several generous donors joined with the PPRV Board to create a $10,000 donation match fund, so every dollar you give up to $10,000 this year will be matched!

Your support is critical, now more than ever: Click here to make a tax deductible donation of any kind https://www.pollinatorprojectroguevalley.org/giving

$50 doubles to $100 to plant 5 native plants in a school garden.
$100 doubles to $200 to host a workshop and/or field trip with partner organizations.
$250 doubles to $500 to provide two days of place-based summer camp to teach kids about pollinators and plants.
$500 doubles to $1,000 to help us grow, design, plant, and maintain another pollinator garden.

Pollinators are critical for our local ecosystem, aiding in the reproduction of most flowering plants, including many of the foods we eat. Pollinator populations are declining locally as well as globally due to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change.
We – and the pollinators! – thank you for your support!

Feds Signal Key Approval for the Coquille Tribe’s Proposed Medford Casino

The milestone comes 12 years after the tribe began seeking a location in a more populous area. The Coquille need one more approval from the feds but don’t need the state’s blessing.

The Mill Casino is operated by the Coquille Tribe in North Bend.

In a decision that could have far-reaching implications for Oregon’s delicately balanced gambling market, the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs notified Oregon officials Nov. 20 that it would issue a final environmental impact statement supporting an off-reservation casino that the Coquille Indian Tribe wants to build in Medford.

After publishing its decision in the Federal Register, the bureau will open a 30-day public comment period. After that, the agency will produce a final document, a record of decision, or ROD, which typically—but not always—affirms the EIS.

Updated Nov. 21: Here is the communication from the BIA notifying the public of its intention to publish the EIS and providing the opportunity for public comment.

Since 2012, the Coquille Tribe has pursued the development of a second casino on property the tribe purchased in Medford, which is about 170 miles from its reservation in North Bend. The Coquille have an on-reservation casino, called The Mill, but have sought to generate more revenue with the Medford project.

Judy Farm, CEO of Tribal One, the economic development arm of the Coquille Tribe, says it rejects the state’s policy, noting that the Oregon Legislature’s Joint Committee on Gambling Regulation concluded in 2022 that it “could find no evidence that any one-tribe, one-casino policy by the federal government or state of Oregon has been formally adopted or exists in any written form.”

Farm also rejects the characterization of Medford as an “off-reservation casino.”

“Within the [1989] Coquille Restoration Act, Congress promulgated that any land taken into trust within the five counties would be reservation land,” Farm says. “This application is considered on-reservation due to adherence to this guidance.”

The loudest opponent of the Medford project, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, however, said it had been informed of the BIA decision. That tribe operates a casino in Canyonville, about 70 miles north of the Coquille site in Medford. The Cow Creek have adamantly fought the Medford proposal and expressed frustration at Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the first Native American to hold that position, for moving it forward. (READ MORE)

 

 

Eagle Point School District Employee Arrested for Sex Abuse, Charges Unrelated to Her Position with School District

JCSO Case 24-5413 — EAGLE POINT, OR– An investigation into allegations of sex abuse has led to the arrest of an Eagle Point School District employee. After a month-long investigation, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) Special Victims Unit (SVU) detectives arrested the woman today, November 21, when she turned herself in at the Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect, Amanda Rose Leonardo, AKA Pody, 38, of Eagle Point, is charged with three counts of third-degree sexual abuse, luring a minor, tampering with physical evidence, and providing liquor to a person under 21. She is lodged in the Jackson County Jail. The identified victims were of high school age. The charges are unrelated to her position with Eagle Point School District.

SVU detectives are looking for the public’s assistance. If you have any information on the suspect, call the JCSO Tip Line at (541) 774-8333 and reference case number 24-5413. This case is under further investigation. There is no additional information for release at this time.

 

 

Oregon Environmentalists Take Legal Action to Stop BLM Removing Timber from Forest Near Grants Pass

Josephine County forest, Oregon | Credit: NRCS Oregon

A lawsuit to stop the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from increasing fire hazards with the removal of timber from an old-growth forest north of Grants Pass was lodged on Tuesday by environmentalists in the Medford District Court.

Also at threat is the Last Chance project to protect the threatened northern spotted owl, according to the lawsuit lodged by Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, Cascadia Wildlands, and Oregon Wild.

The environmentalists express alarm at the impact of forest treatments on thousands of acres critical to spotted owl habitats.

The plaintiffs claim that BLM acted ‘arbitrarily, capriciously and contrary to the federal Land Policy and Management Act’ when it authorized a timber sale on BLM-administered lands in Douglas, Jackson, and Josephine counties.

The timber sale will auction about 8,500 acres of forestland that environmentalists say will hurt efforts to increase forest resiliency.

In its report, the BLM says the commercial harvests will reduce the spread of wildfires through tree canopies and encourage the growth of larger and more fire-resistant trees.

BLM says provision has been made to retain large forest areas in northern spotted owl territory, and that the proposed commercial logging is intended to promote the ‘development of prime owl habitat.’

However, BLM does acknowledge that the project will delay the growth of forestland in northern spotted owl territory by up to two decades but insists that ‘active management…is the best way …to develop high-quality habitat.’

KS Wild spokesperson George Sexton says a table in the BLM environmental assessment report shows that nearly 2,000 acres of the forest will be subjected to hydrological effects – a term used to describe areas where water behaves in the same way it does on land devoid of trees.

Sexton says the reason why environmentalists decided to lodge the legal challenge is to stop BLM ‘from logging practices that remove old growth trees and increase fire hazard.’ Secondly, the lawsuit aims to persuade the BLM to join stakeholders ‘who are trying to increase forest resiliency and decrease fire hazard.’ (SOURCE)

 

 

Be alert for landslides across southwestern Oregon
Oregon Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries 

 

 

 

Grants Pass Christmas Parade

 

 

Grants Pass “Buy-A-Brick” Plaques On Sale For Owl Parking Plaza

Crater Lake Gets Snow – North Entrance Road and Rim Drive are CLOSED for the season.

Crater Lake got its first big snowstorm of the year Wednesday. If you were planning a late fall trip to Oregon’s
Crater Lake National Park today, you’re out of luck. All roads at the park were closed Thursday morning after a winter
storm dumped snow on the park and “equipment challenges” meant employees couldn’t immediately clear them.

The North Entrance Road and East & West Rim Drives are now closed for the season a few The roads will not open again until mid to late June or July 2025. All other roads are open.

According to a post on the park’s website, all park roads were temporarily closed to travel “while the snowplow
operators work to repair equipment and clear the roads.” he park had gotten just under 15 inches of snow in about 24 hours, according to Tim Daldrup, a meterologist with the National Weather Service in Medford.

The snow was expected to continue, though substantially lighter, for the next several days. But, said Dalrup, another storm is predicted late Sunday into Monday that could bring a foot or more of new snow to the area. Crater Lake National Park did not respond to say when they anticipated re-opening park roads. In general, the park is open all year, and snow is common. https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

 

 

Grants Pass 2024 Water Report Photo Contest

 

 

A Medford man facing a court arraignment for murder and attempted murder in Central Point is extending his arraignment to next month.

Central Point Police Department (CPPD) said its officers found a dead 42-year-old victim at the 300 block of South 4th Street around 7:30 a.m. Friday, reportedly a gunshot victim.  It said a few minutes later CPPD officers learned of a second shooting in the 500 block of Bush Street, approximately four blocks from the 4th Street scene, where a female victim was located in a vehicle on Bush Street, and she was taken to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

CPPD said officers from the Medford Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police located the lone male shooting suspect around 8 a.m. on foot in the 1000 block of North 5th Street in Central Point, where he was taken into custody.

45-year-old William Carl Frombach, Jr., had an arraignment scheduled today in Jackson County Circuit Court for one felony criminal count each of murder, attempt to commit any degree of murder or aggravated murder, assault, animal abuse and felon in possession of a firearm charges.

Jackson County District Attorney’s information accuses Frombach, Jr., of killing Devery Allen Bynam and attempting to kill Elizabeth Hadley last Friday, November 8, 2024.

In court this afternoon, the Court assigned a public defender to Frombach, Jr.’s case, and the public defender’s office requested a continuance of today’s hearing to December 12, 2024, before the murder suspect could enter his plea to the charges.

The Court today took no pleas, and Judge Paul Moser also set no bail for Frombach, Jr., keeping him in jail without bond.

 

 

Medford’s Parks & Recreation department is seeking bids for concession operations at Lithia & Driveway Fields in south Medford.

The City of Medford seeks proposals for a competitive bid process to operate concession services at Lithia & Driveway Fields (L & D Fields)! Go to the link below to view information about the bid process.

 

 

Marine Board Seeks Written Public Comments on Proposed Upper Rogue River Rules

 

 

 

Child Sexual Predator Eluded Capture in Idaho, Has Ties to Southern Oregon, He May Be Dressed as a Woman

– A fugitive with ties to the southern Oregon region is on-the-run after eluding capture Tuesday, October 22 in Idaho. Christian Bert Fischer, 42, is wanted in Florida for Traveling to Meet a Minor After Use of a Computer to Lure a Child.

Fischer is a white male, 5’10”, 200 lbs., has blonde hair and blue-colored eyes. He is also known to dress like a woman. Before heading to Idaho, Fischer was in the Portland area. This June and July, he was in Ashland, Lake of the Woods, and Wolf Creek.

U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) task forces throughout the country have joined the search, including the local Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF). If you have any information on Fischer’s whereabouts, contact the local USMS office at (541) 776-4277, the USMS Communication Center at 1-800-336-0102, or USMS Tips at www.usmarshals.gov/tips.

PNVOTF includes personnel from the U.S. Marshals, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and Central Point Police Department. The task force specializes in locating and arresting fugitives wanted for offenses including, but not limited to, murder, assault, sex crimes, failure to register as a sex offender, firearm violations, and probation violations.

 

Did you get help from FEMA, insurance, or others after the 2020 Almeda and South Obenchain Fires?

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

 

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) releases inaugural State of the State’s Housing Report for Oregon 

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) unveiled the first State of the State’s Housing Report for Oregon, providing an in-depth analysis of housing availability and affordability across the state. Drawing from comprehensive data on housing markets, economic trends, and demographic shifts, the report highlights the challenges Oregon residents face in affording high-quality housing.

27th Street Townhomes developed by Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity in Southeast Bend. / 27th Street Townhomes desarrollado por Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity en Bend.

“Being attentive to the things that add meaning to people’s lives requires reliable data,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “Data enables us to identify where our efforts are making an impact and where improvements are needed to make life better in ways that all people can feel and that we can measure. These data will aid in our collective efforts to deliver housing progress that communities deserve and demand.”

Oregon’s population grew by more than 753,000 residents, representing a 21% increase between 2004 and 2023. Housing construction was insufficient to keep pace with a rapidly increasing population. Oregon must add more than 500,000 housing units over the next two decades to begin addressing supply issues.

Home prices have far outpaced wage gains over the past decade in the for-sale market. For every dollar Oregonians earned in wage increases between 2013 and 2022, the median sales price of a home increased by $7.10. Communities of color continue to face significantly lower homeownership rates (49%) compared to their white counterparts (66%).

More than half of all renters in Oregon and a third of homeowners experience a housing cost burden, meaning that they spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. Approximately 242,000 households fall into the extremely low-income or very low-income categories. Oregon only offers approximately 113,000 housing units that are both affordable and available to them, resulting in a deficit of 128,000 units for these households.

“OHCS cannot solve the deeply entrenched issues facing the people of Oregon on its own,” said Megan Bolton, assistant director of research at OHCS. “There are factors beyond housing that impact the ability of individuals to thrive in today’s economy, and it will take coordination and collaboration with our federal partners, other state agencies, and cities, both large and small, to find ways to ensure housing stability for all Oregonians.”

OHCS expects to release a State of the State’s Housing Report every two years, with additional localized analyses in the years between each release. Reliable data enables the agency to identify where efforts are making an impact and where improvements are needed.

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. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.

Hunger Rates in Oregon on the Upswing

Hunger rates plummeted in Oregon in the years leading up to the pandemic, but then COVID hit and during the following two years, the number of Oregonians struggling to put food on the table rose, a recently released Oregon State University study found.

People lost their jobs and their sources of income shrank, creating thousands more malnourished Oregonians.

In 2023, nearly 13% of state residents — about 530,000 individuals — suffered from “food insecurity” in Oregon, according to a just-released Oregon State University analysis that looks at people’s inability to get enough food on the table in a predictable manner. That rate is lower than in the years following the Great Recession, but about two points higher than 2020, marking an increase of about 65,000 more people facing food insecurity during 2021 to 2023.

Renters, people who live alone, those with a lower education, rural residents and minority communities along with adults up to age 64 are more likely to face food insecurity.

With persistent food insecurity issues in Oregon, dozens of organizations like the Oregon Food Bank have stepped up their efforts to tackle the problem, partly in Washington D.C. More than 40 groups recently sent a letter to Oregon’s U.S. senators and representatives, urging them to oppose any reduction in food aid.

The groups are worried about the farm bill, a five-year program that covers agricultural subsidies, crop insurance and food aid like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Formerly known as food stamps, SNAP helps 680,000 Oregonians a year buy food to feed their families. The five-year farm bill expired last September and Congress has still not passed a new bill.

“Many Oregonians need these resources now more than ever,” Sarah Weber-Ogden, co-executive director of Partners for a Hunger-free Oregon, told the Capital Chronicle. “We need Congress to understand that these programs can’t withstand any reduction in funding or reach — they’re too essential.”

The Agriculture Committee in the Republican-controlled House passed a farm bill that would cut $30 billion from nutritional programs while a version introduced in the U.S. Senate would protect food aid. Neither is likely to make it to the finish line before the next Republican-dominated Congress is in session.

https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/XHC4J/1/

Historically high rates

Advocates say a cut in SNAP benefits, which are paid by the federal government, would particularly hurt Oregon.

Historically, Oregon has often had higher food insecurity rates than the rest of the country, something that has puzzled researchers, said Mark Edwards, an Oregon State University professor and lead researcher on the study. He pointed to the 1990s when the economy was booming, a time when presumably rates would be down.

But they weren’t, soaring above the U.S. average.

Edwards said the state experienced a big influx of people at the time and that prices rose, creating wider disparities among various groups of people.

“The fraction of people who were struggling in terms of paying rent was high in Oregon compared to a lot of states,” Edwards said. “So from early on, we’ve been thinking a lot about the role of housing and housing costs.”

Renters, who are subject to the whims of the marketplace, are the most at risk. Oregon law limits year-over-year rent increases to the lesser of 10% or 7% plus inflation, but that law doesn’t apply to buildings constructed in the past 15 years.

During the 2021 to 2023 period covered by the analysis, researchers found that nearly 23% of renters experienced food insecurity compared with nearly 7% of homeowners. Renters generally face higher poverty rates than homeowners and have traditionally had higher rates of food insecurity, the analysis shows. Edwards said he wasn’t surprised by that high rate, saying it could have been even higher without pandemic-era eviction protections and expanded federal food benefits.

“The safety net during COVID really did keep the problem from getting as bad as it could have been,” Edwards said.

But those protections are now gone.

The analysis says it remains to be seen how the priority put on building more housing, especially affordable homes, by Gov. Tina Kotek and the Legislature, with its allocation this year of nearly $380 million for housing, will affect food insecurity rates. Edwards said there’s no magic bullet for reducing hunger in a significant way, especially in a short period of time.

“It’s a hard thing to do to address in one budget,” Edwards said.

It will take months and maybe years for the money to make an impact, and the high cost of housing is not the only factor at play in food insecurity. The analysis shows that people without a high school education face the highest rates of food insecurity and that they’re going up, with nearly one-third of those without a diploma facing hunger from 2021 to 2023 compared to 17% for those with an associate’s degree and more than 6% for those with a bachelor’s.

Those who live alone — both men and women — experience higher rates of food insecurity than couples, but single mothers face the highest rates when looking at household composition: 28% in 2021 to 2023 compared with 15% for single women or 17% for single men.

High rates in rural Oregon

The analysis also found that rural residents experience higher rates of food insecurity than their urban counterparts — 21% compared with 12%. Although many people in the countryside have gardens and grow their own food, the vast majority of rural residents shop at grocery stores, Edwards said.

He doesn’t know exactly why rural folks in Oregon have faced a higher risk of food insecurity, but said it could be a combination of factors. They might not have easy access to state and federal benefits or might not have wanted to use them out of fear of being seen to need SNAP benefits, for example, or experiencing a stigma of going to a church food pantry.

Also during the pandemic, people were told to stay at home, which might have kept them away from food pantries, Edwards said.

But the curious thing is that Oregon is an outlier in having higher food insecurity rates in rural areas.

“It didn’t happen all over the country,” Edwards said. “We’re still trying to figure out if there was something really unique about Oregon’s rural places that made it especially vulnerable.”

With the next legislative session around the corner, Oregon’s Hunger Task Force, which includes lawmakers, agency staff, advocates and people who’ve struggled with hunger, is working on a “roadmap” to address the state’s high food insecurity rates. The document, which is still in the works, will be presented to lawmakers during their three days of meetings next month, said Jacki Ward Kehrwald, the communications lead for the nonprofit Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon.

The document maps out three main principles — ensuring that food is affordable, easily accessible and culturally appropriate — and details a path forward that would bring together all facets related to hunger that need to work together to bring down food insecurity rates, said Weber-Ogden of Partners for a Hunger-free Oregon. (SOURCE)

Groundbreaking Dedication Event for Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Oregon State Capitol

The long-overdue Vietnam War Memorial was unveiled Friday on the grounds of the Oregon State Capitol with a centerpiece wall engraved with the names of 790 Oregonians who lost their lives in the war.

The names are listed under hometowns, from Albany to Yoncalla, in all capital letters.

Portland lost more service members than any Oregon city, its list of names consuming 2½ columns. Thirty-nine names are listed under Salem, including six marked with a diamond, meaning they are still considered missing in action because their remains have not been returned.

“They are not just names on granite,” Steve Bates, a member of the Vietnam War Memorial Fund, told the crowd during a dedication ceremony. “These 790 names represent a person, a story, and a family. These names represent those who were a son, a dad, a brother, an uncle, a nephew.”

Vietnam veteran Carlos Grant touches the engraved names of fellow service members who died during the war.

No female service members from Oregon are believed to have died in Vietnam.

The hourlong dedication ceremony included remarks from local veterans and state officials, including Gov. Tina Kotek, whose father was an Army veteran in the Korean War.

“We cannot forget the families of those veterans who didn’t make it home,” Kotek said. “And for those who did come home, I want you to know as your governor, I will have your back, and welcome home. We are here for you.”

The Vietnam War Memorial at the corner of Cottage and State Streets is unveiled and dedicated during a ceremony at the Oregon State Capitol grounds on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 in Salem, Ore.

The memorial, on the corner of Cottage and State streets, was built not just to honor the fallen but to provide a reflective and healing space for veterans, families and the public. More than 180,000 Oregonians served in Vietnam.

The column wall forms an L-shape, like its World War II counterpart to the north. This wall, though, is not solid. The columns have six to 12 inches of space between each, representing the fractured public opinion Americans had about the war, the fractured support service members received upon returning, and their fractured emotions.

Kotek called the memorial a sacred place, thanking and congratulating all the volunteers behind the project.

“The persistence and the dedication of so many people to conceive of and build such a beautiful memorial for veterans who felt left behind, here on the grounds of the State Capitol, is a monumental accomplishment,” she said.

To many, the memorial was long overdue. Oregon has other Vietnam memorials, including one in Portland, but Washington and California erected Vietnam memorials at their state capitols in the 1980s.

The Importance of the Memorial – The Vietnam War remains one of the most challenging and divisive periods in American history. Veterans returning from the conflict were often met with indifference or hostility, making this memorial an overdue recognition of their service. The memorial offers a space for healing and remembrance, honoring both the sacrifices of the fallen and the resilience of those who served. Steve Bates, President and co-founder of the Vietnam War Memorial Fund (VWMF), emphasized the emotional impact of this project. “This is about giving our veterans a place of rest and, for all of us, a place to heal,” Bates said. The memorial will not only commemorate the service of Vietnam veterans but also serve as a reminder of the war’s lasting impact on the state and its people.

Beyond its role as a place of remembrance, the memorial will also serve as an educational resource when Phase 2 is completed. Phase 2, the Exhibit Phase, aims to help future generations understand the human cost of war and the bravery of those who fought.

For more information, see a virtual tour or donate, visit ocvvm.com.  —- About the VWMF: Vietnam War Memorial Fund’s website at www.ocvvm.com. The Vietnam War Memorial Fund is a recognized 501(c)3 organization, and all donations are tax-deductible to the extent of applicable tax law. You can donate by sending a check to the Vietnam War Memorial Fund – P O Box 1448 – Boring, Oregon 97009 or by credit card at www.ocvvm.com.

New Oregon economic forecaster predicts higher revenue, higher kicker

Oregon’s new chief state economist estimates the state will have about $37.8 billion available to spend in the next two-year budget cycle after reworking how the state calculates its economic forecast.

The state’s also on track to pay out a $1.8 billion kicker to taxpayers in 2026. But new chief economist Carl Riccadonna, a former Wall Street analyst hired in September, is changing the way Oregon models its expected revenue with an eye toward more accurate forecasts that reduce the amount returned to taxpayers through Oregon’s unique kicker law.

Riccadonna and senior economist Michael Kennedy presented their first quarterly forecast to lawmakers Wednesday and previewed some of their findings on a call with reporters Tuesday evening. Under the new forecast, lawmakers could have nearly $6 billion more to spend in the upcoming 2025-27 budget cycle compared to the last one.

Riccadonna’s hiring followed years of record kicker payouts. Oregon’s unique tax credit kicks in whenever income tax payments in a two-year budget cycle are at least 2% higher than budgeted, sending the excess back to taxpayers when they file state income taxes the following year.

The state has sent kicker payments every two years since 2016, including a jaw-dropping $5.6 billion to taxpayers who filed in 2024. The latest forecast estimates a 2026 kicker of $1.79 billion, up from $1 billion in the September forecast.

“My mandate joining DAS back in September was to really get to the bottom of what’s happening here, and so what my team has done is kind of deconstruct and reconstruct a lot of the forecast models to figure out what was happening,” Riccadonna said.

Riccadonna and Kennedy attributed the high kickers — and corresponding decrease in funds available to lawmakers — to flaws in former state economist Mark McMullen’s economic model. It was too pessimistic and didn’t treat the kicker as a tax liability, they said.

“If you look back, as the kicker gets bigger and that difference gets bigger, the errors get bigger,” Kennedy said.  “You get this recursive effect where the errors are just going to get bigger and bigger as the kicker gets bigger, unless you go back to a world where liability in the model is really the real liability, and you don’t have this difference.”

Kennedy said the state’s prior revenue forecast model was also more pessimistic than necessary, including taking a national forecast provided by a vendor and adjusting it downward. That’s on top of what Riccadonna described as “pervasive pessimism” among economists that the post-pandemic economic boom would end in a recession, while he said it’s looking increasingly likely that Oregon and the country will instead have a soft landing — a gradual shift from high growth to a flatter economy.

Legislative leaders, governor react – The forecast estimates lawmakers will be able to spend up to $37.8 billion in the 2025-27 budget, well above the $31.9 billion general fund budget they approved in 2023. Gov. Tina Kotek is working on her budget proposal for lawmakers, who will spend the first six months of 2025 negotiating in public and private to pass a spending plan.

Democratic legislative leaders and Kotek welcomed the new forecast, saying it proved the state’s economy remains strong and resilient. But they also noted that the state still faces a difficult budget cycle, without the federal COVID relief money that provided a buffer in recent years and with a transportation funding deficit and uncertainty at the federal level.

“While this positive economic forecast is welcome news and makes the start of the legislative budgeting process a little easier, we are still entering into a very tight budget cycle,” said Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego. “Current critical services must be maintained and legislators will need to make smart choices about how to sustain prior one-time investments to address the important needs facing every corner of Oregon.”

During a press conference with tribal leaders Wednesday, Kotek said changes to how the state models revenue will help with stability in future years.

“I think the truing up of the calculation of the new chief economist is really going to be helpful to provide stability when we’re trying to do budgeting every two years, and I think his assumptions around the recalculations made a lot of sense to me,” she said.

Republicans, meanwhile, expressed concerns about lower kicker payments if the state more accurately models revenue.

“The kicker is the people’s money, and it should remain so,” said Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale and a member of the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee. “While this biennium’s kicker appears secure, changes to the revenue model could lead to smaller refunds in the future, and we need to ensure taxpayers are treated fairly.”

House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, said state economists have an obligation to accurately estimate revenue levels.

“Although the current forecast is strong and our reserves are healthy, potential changes at the federal level create uncertainty,” she said. “Oregonians should know that even if there is instability at the federal level, here in Oregon there are responsible, focused leaders who will be steady hands at the wheel. We are prepared to use available resources to deliver on what Oregonians need most.”

And incoming House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, D-Canby, said while the state budget might be doing well, family budgets are still stretched thin from years of inflation.

“Besides plenty of general fund revenues to pay for critical services, the state has deep reserves and an ending balance of over $2.7 billion,” she said. “This is a lot of money from Oregonians, for government to use wisely, to meet its duty to Oregonians themselves. It’s time for government to do its part by improving efficiency, strengthening transparency and providing excellent service. This is not the time for politicians to ignore agency failures, and then push new fees or increased taxes.” (SOURCE)

Oregon DMV now offers 8 language options for online driver’s license test

Oregon’s DMV has expanded its online driver’s license test to include six more languages, coinciding with the digital option’s one-year anniversary.

The online test, which is for non-commercial driver’s licenses, was created in October 2023. Initially available in English and Spanish, the test can now be taken in Arabic, Chinese (simplified Mandarin), Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese.

In its first year, 22,642 customers successfully passed the knowledge test online, while 66,195 passed at DMV offices.

The DMV says the online option offers the convenience of taking the test at home, with no difference in fees compared to in-office testing.

“ODOT and DMV are committed to delivering great customer service to all Oregonians,” said DMV Administrator Amy Joyce in a press release. “We’ve continued to modernize our services by adding six languages to our online knowledge testing, allowing more Oregonians to take the test in the comfort of their own home and in their preferred language.”

To take the test online, a desktop or laptop computer with a mouse, keyboard, and functioning webcam is required. Touchscreen devices like phones or tablets are not supported. Additionally, teens under 18 must have an adult 21 years or older supervise their test. Passing the test online allows individuals to know their results before visiting a DMV office, potentially saving multiple trips if they do not pass initially.

After passing the online test, individuals must visit a DMV office with identity documents and pass a vision screening to receive a permit or schedule a drive test, depending on their age. More information on the online test can be found on the DMV’s WEBSITE.

Pacific Power warns customers about billing scams

– Heading into the holiday season, Pacific Power is reminding customers to be vigilant about fraudulent communications from scammers posing as utility representatives. This activity tends to increase during this time of year.

Customers can protect themselves from these types of schemes by being aware of the following facts:

• Scammers will often tell you that your service is scheduled to be interrupted in the next 30-60 minutes.

Fact: Pacific Power will not contact any customer demanding immediate payment to avoid disconnection of service the same day.

• Fraudsters may ask you to purchase a prepaid card and tell them the card information over the phone.

Fact: Pacific Power does not ask customers to make payments by purchasing a prepaid card. You and other customers can always choose how you would like to make your payments.

• Be suspicious of anyone who approaches you by phone, email, text or in person and demanding on-the-spot payment.

Fact: Pacific Power will not demand immediate payment for damaged or broken electrical equipment or any other service.

• If you receive one of these calls, ask the caller to state your account number and compare it with the number listed on your bill.

Fact: Pacific Power customer service employees will always have your correct account number.

• Scammers increasingly have used text messages as a means of targeting victims.

Fact: Pacific Power will not demand payment via text message. Pacific Power encourages customers to set up their online billing profile at Pay My Bill (pacificpower.net) where they can pay bills and review statements.

Scammers may use a sophisticated deceptive tactic that makes it appear to caller ID systems that the call is coming from Pacific Power when it is not. Hang up and call Customer Service directly.

Remember, if you still have concerns about the legitimacy of a call, you can always call our published customer service number, 1-888-221-7070. Pacific Power is asking customers to report information about any scam calls received, including the phone number the person is calling from and any information that may help to track down the fraudsters.

About Pacific Power – Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 800,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. The company supplies customers with electricity from a diverse portfolio of generating plants including hydroelectric, natural gas, coal, wind, geothermal and solar resources. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with 2 million customers in six western states. For more information, visit PacificPower.net.

Oregon’s U.S. Rep. Chavez-DeRemer Pickedfor labor secretary

The Republican. one of two Oregon Latinas in Congress, was an early Trump backer but did not mention him much in her unsuccessful bid for a second term

Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who cultivated a closer relationship with some labor unions than most Republicans and narrowly lost her bid for a second term in Congress earlier this month, is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Labor Department.

Trump on Friday praised Chavez-DeRemer, the daughter of a Teamster who sought endorsements from unions in her unsuccessful reelection campaign, for building relationships with business and labor.

“I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand Training and Apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs,” Trump said in a statement. ‘Together, we will achieve historic cooperation between Business and Labor that will restore the American Dream for Working Families.”

Chavez-DeRemer thanked him in a social media post, writing “Working-class Americans finally have a lifeline with you in the White House. It’s time to bring our economy to new heights and secure a prosperous future for all hardworking Americans.”

She narrowly won election in 2022 in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, which stretches from Bend across the Cascades to the suburbs of Portland. Democratic President Joe Biden won the district by 9 points in 2020, and Democratic state Rep. Janelle Bynum — who twice beat Chavez-DeRemer in state legislative races and will be Oregon’s first Black member of Congress — defeated Chavez-DeRemer by 2.4 points this year.

Chavez-DeRemer operated as a moderate Republican during her nearly two years in federal office, frequently citing an analysis that rated her the second-most bipartisan member of Congress.

She also sought support from unions, garnering endorsements from more than 20 of them. Most of those endorsements came from small local unions, though she received the sole endorsement of Teamsters Joint Council No. 37, which represents roughly 20,000 workers in various industries across Oregon, Idaho and southwest Washington.  (READ MORE)

Reward of up to $25,000 Offered in Ballot Box Fire Case

The FBI’s Seattle Field Office is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person responsible setting incendiary fires at two ballot boxes in Vancouver, Washington, and one in Portland, Oregon. The FBI’s Seeking Information poster can be found here: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/ballot-box-fires

On October 8, 2024, between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m., an unknown individual placed an improvised incendiary device on a ballot drop box in Vancouver, Washington. Subsequently, on October 28, 2024, between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m., improvised incendiary devices were placed on ballot drop boxes in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.

A surveillance camera captured images of an early 2003 to 2004 Volvo S-60 sedan, dark in color, with dark wheels and a light-colored interior, driven by the suspect believed to responsible for these crimes. The vehicle does not have a Volvo logo on the front grill. At the time of the October 28, 2024, incidents, the vehicle also displayed a fraudulent temporary Washington license plate on the rear and no front license plate. The plate, which is not associated with a Volvo, may no longer be on the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle is described as a White male, approximately 30 to 40 years old with thinning hair. It is believed that he may have some experience with metal work and welding.

Anyone with information is asked to call your nearest FBI office, provide information online at tips.fbi.gov, or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). FBI – Oregon

Holiday Express Steams Up Nov. 29

The countdown is on! The first day of the highly anticipated Holiday Express is almost here, and it’s your chance to ride a train pulled by a historic steam locomotive—an unforgettable experience like no other.

Santa’s nearly ready—list checked, elves prepped, lights sparkling, and candy canes in hand. The only thing missing is YOU!

Get your tickets now for this beloved annual tradition. Create lasting memories with friends and family aboard the Holiday Express. Rides begin Nov. 29 and run every Friday – Sunday through Jan. 4.

Special Offer: Get 10% off select rides from Nov. 29 to Dec. 8! But don’t wait, tickets are selling fast.

Be part of the magic this holiday season. Reserve your seat today! Oregon Rail Heritage Center

100,000 Electric Vehicles Registered In Oregon Now

Oregon’s push for a greener future got a major boost earlier this year when the state surpassed 100,000 registered electric vehicles. The milestone will mean fewer emissions from the transportation sector and across Oregon.

Representatives from the Oregon Departments of Energy, Environmental Quality, and Transportation gathered at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland today to celebrate the milestone with a press conference.

Directors from each agency and OMSI President and CEO Erin Graham spoke about the state’s progress to electrify transportation and reduce emissions from transportation, which account for about 35 percent of the state’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

Oregon crossed the 100,000 registered electric cars, SUVs, and light trucks threshold in July 2024, according to DMV registration data. As of August 2024, there are about 102,400 registered EVs throughout the state. That number includes both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles.  READ MORE

Boeing Will Lay Off Over 2,500 Workers Amid Turnaround Effort

The job cuts, part of a 17,000-strong employee reduction, will hit workers in Washington, Oregon, South Carolina and Missouri.

Boeing will lay off more than 2,500 workers in the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, South Carolina and Missouri, according to federally required filings posted on Monday and a union official, as part of the debt-heavy U.S. plane maker’s plan to cut 17,000 jobs, or 10 percent of its global workforce.

Nearly 2,200 layoff notices went to workers in Washington and another 220 in South Carolina, the two states where Boeing builds commercial airliners. Boeing declined to comment on the layoffs on Monday.

The aerospace giant started telling affected U.S. workers on Wednesday that they will stay on Boeing’s payroll until Jan. 17, to comply with federal requirements to notify employees at least 60 days prior to ending their employment.

News that Boeing would send out the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) in mid-November was widely expected. Another round is expected in December. Boeing could also use workforce attrition, selective hiring and sales of subsidiaries to reduce workforce.

Boeing shares gained 2.6 percent to close at $143.87 on Monday, and stayed flat in midday Tuesday trading.

In October, Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, said the company does not intend to “take people off production or out of the engineering labs.” Industry-watchers have been waiting for the WARNs for some indication of how the layoffs could affect workers in the company’s key manufacturing hubs.

However, several hundred engineers and production workers were among those who received pink slips last week.

The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace said 438 of the union’s members at Boeing received layoff notices last week, including 218 engineers and 220 technicians.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District Lodge 837 in St. Louis said Boeing sent notices to 111 members, most of whom made wing components for the 777X.

Who is being laid off seems to vary between sections within Boeing, several non-union workers who received WARNs told Reuters.

One engineer in Boeing Defense, Space & Security said all but two or three members of his 12-person team were let go, while another said she was the only one of her roughly 20-person team to receive a WARN. Both said they provide vital support for production and design engineers, but they are not considered to work in production.

The notices come as Boeing tries to restart production of its strongest-selling 737 MAX, after a weeks-long strike by more than 33,000 U.S. West Coast workers halted output of most of its commercial jets. (SOURCE)

 

Free Fishing Days in Oregon Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 29-30

Make fishing part of your Thanksgiving weekend plans with friends and family. Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30.

No fishing/shellfish licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag, Columbia River Basin Endorsement or Two-Rod Validation) are required those two days. Both Oregon residents and nonresidents can fish for free.

All other fishing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions. See the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for rules and remember to check for any in-season regulation updates too, especially for salmon and steelhead fishing. Click on the zone where you want to fish to see regulation updates.

The Recreation Report is updated weekly and features the best bests for fishing for the upcoming week. Depending on water levels and conditions, fishing could be good for Chinook or coho salmon; again be sure to check regulations first because not all rivers are open. Trout will also be stocked the week before Thanksgiving at several popular lakes in the Willamette Valley.

For beginners, Easy Angling Oregon is a great guide to getting started fishing in Oregon, https://myodfw.com/articles/easy-angling-oregon-introduction. And if you live near Portland, Bend, Medford, Roseburg or in Lane County, there are lots of nearby options.

Prefer to crab or clam instead? MyODFW.com has all the information you need to get started clamming or crabbing. Remember to check ocean conditions and take safety precautions—always clam with a friend and never turn your back on the ocean.

Call the ODA Shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or check their Shellfish Closures page before you go clamming or crabbing. The Oregon Department of Agriculture regularly tests shellfish and closes areas when naturally occurring biotoxins get to levels that make crabs and clams unsafe to eat.

Currently, crabbing is open in bays, beaches, estuaries, tide pools, piers and jetties along the entire Oregon coast. Crabbing is closed in the ocean due to the annual closure from Oct. 16-Nov. 30 each year.

As of mid-November, razor clamming is closed from Cascade Head to the California border due to high levels of the marine biotoxin domoic acid, but closures may change by Thanksgiving Weekend so check before you go. (SOURCE)

Triple your impact: Pacific Power will match your contribution to Oregon Energy Fund 2-for-1

 

Pacific Power is making it simple to make a difference in communities by helping struggling neighbors stay warm this winter. For every dollar that you donate, Pacific Power will match your donation to the Oregon Energy Fund with $2 more.

Pacific Power customers who receive their bills by mail will find they include an Oregon Energy Fund contribution envelope in November. Customers who pay their bills electronically can send a check or enroll in the fixed donation program. To enroll in the fixed donation program, customers can call Pacific Power toll-free at 1-888-221-7070 or Donate to Energy Assistance (pacificpower.net).

This program allows customers to donate any dollar amount, starting at $1 per month, which is then incorporated into their monthly bill. Fixed donations will also be matched 2-for-1 by Pacific Power.

Donations may be tax-deductible and are forwarded directly to the Oregon Energy Fund, which verifies eligibility and allocates funds to those in need. All funds donated are used to assist families in need within the same county in which the donor resides.

“Pacific Power’s commitment to supporting household stability is bolstered by compassion, collaboration and innovation,” said Brian Allbritton, executive director of the Oregon Energy Fund.

“Studies have shown that more than a quarter of Oregonians struggle to pay their bills each year,” said Albritton. “From Oregon Energy Fund’s start in 1989, Pacific Power has been an important partner in bringing emergency bill payment assistance to thousands of vulnerable Oregonians, helping make them healthy and safe while keeping their lights on.”

Last year, donations from Pacific Power’s customers, employees and the company helped 2,995 individuals in need throughout Oregon, including 1,482 adults, 503 seniors, 464 people with disabilities and 1,010 children. This year, Pacific Power will match up to $144,000 in donations.

Customers who need bill assistance can speak with Pacific Power representatives at 1-888-221-7070 who can help with payment plans that work for their individual needs, while directing them to agencies that may be able to help. https://www.pacificpower.net/about/newsroom/news-releases/2024-Oregon-Energy-Fund.html#:~:text=PORTLAND%2C%20Ore.,Energy%20Fund%20with%20%242%20more.

Oregon begins rollout of new housing benefits for eligible OHP members with health conditions

SALEM, Ore. – Starting today, Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members with specific health conditions may qualify for new, first-in-the-nation benefits to keep their current housing and access other housing services.

The housing benefits include rent assistance for up to six months, utility set-up and payments for up to six months, home modifications and upgrades for health or safety reasons (e.g., grab bars, ramp installation, pest control), and rental navigation services. Unlike other state and local prevention services, eligible members can request these benefits ahead of receiving an eviction notice.

Not all OHP members will qualify for these new benefits. To qualify, OHP members must meet specific requirements, including at least one of the following health conditions: a complex physical or behavioral health condition; a developmental or intellectual disability; difficulty with self-care and daily activities; experience of abuse or neglect; be 65 years of age or older; be under the age of six; currently pregnant or gave birth in the past 12 months; or repeated use of emergency room or crisis services.

OHA Director Dr. Sejal Hathi, MD, MBA, said, “Oregon’s health inequities are inextricably linked to our state’s housing crisis. Individuals and families who become homeless face a significantly higher risk of mortality and higher rates of behavioral and physical health conditions – even as they report poorer access to care. These Medicaid benefits can help stop that cycle and, in a model for the rest of the country, make it possible for Oregonians to maintain their current housing, connect with providers and access additional resources that support their well-being.”

Oregon received permission from the federal government to test whether and how addressing health-related social needs improves health outcomes. While other states have launched similar benefits, Oregon is the first in the nation to roll out rent assistance as a statewide Medicaid benefit for eligible OHP members.

“Housing plays a pivotal role in our physical and mental wellbeing. And yet, so many of our neighbors are living paycheck to paycheck, where an unexpected issue can lead to a loss of income and loss of a home,” said Emma Sandoe, Medicaid Director at Oregon Health Authority. “These benefits are one more tool to keep Oregonians housed during short-term disruptions and prevent negative health outcomes of homelessness.”

Of renters across Oregon, 22% have extremely low income, with $30,560 being the average income limit for a four-person household. Adults living with housing insecurity, including threat of eviction, are 19% more likely to lack access to a primary care provider and 35% more likely to postpone preventative health care even if they have chronic health conditions. Evictions and loss of housing can lead to negative health outcomes including:

• Increasing an individual’s risk for physical and mental health conditions
• Making an individual’s existing health condition worse
• Creating barriers to accessing medical care, medications and food

“Housing is a critical driver of health outcomes, significantly impacting social mobility and economic opportunity,” said Oregon Housing and Community Services Executive Director, Andrea Bell. “Stable housing serves as a catalyst for expanding access to preventive care, while reducing the monumental costs associated with emergency care. This is what transformative, integrated care looks like.”

Starting this month, housing providers are contracted to begin connecting with eligible members and delivering these new benefits across the state. Housing benefit applications may take up to two weeks to be reviewed. If approved, additional time may be needed to provide the benefit. These turnaround timeframes will depend on the capacities of individual CCOs and housing service providers as well as the volume of housing applications received. OHA is working closely with CCOs to continue to expand the network over the next year.

Fostering healthy families and environments is one of the five pillars to achieving OHA’s strategic goal of eliminating health inequities in Oregon by 2030. The housing benefits are one of several new health-related social needs benefits Oregon is piloting to meet this goal. In March, the state launched climate benefits including air conditioners, air filters and other equipment to keep eligible members healthy amid extreme weather events. Nutrition benefits will be available for eligible OHP members starting in January 2025.

OHP members interested in receiving housing benefits can work with their health plan (coordinated care organization or Open Card), health care provider or a local OHP community partner to see if they qualify and apply.

OHP members should contact their coordinated care organization (CCO) to learn more. OHP Open Card members can call 1-888-834-4304 or email ORHRSN@acentra.com. If an OHP member is not sure which plan or CCO they are in, they can call the OHA Client Services Unit at 1-800-273-0557 or email Ask.OHP@odhsoha.oregon.gov.

For OHP members who are currently unhoused, resources may be available through 211. — For more information about these benefits, visit the OHP housing benefits web page.

Bureau of Land Management recreation managers are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to fill host positions at six unique locations for the 2025 summer recreation season.

Volunteer hosts play a critical role at BLM recreation sites. They are the primary, daily connection between public land users and BLM staff.  Hosts also assist BLM staff to open and close sites each day, manage campground and shelter reservations, answer visitor questions, encourage visitor rule adherence, and generally maintain the sites.

A paved RV pad is provided at each site for host volunteers. Sites have varying degrees of amenities from full electric, water, and sewer hook-ups to completely primitive sites with only public potable water access. The selected volunteer(s) must provide their own trailer, motorhome, RV, or tent set-up.

Each host will receive a modest daily stipend to off-set some living costs and incidental expenses. Hosts are expected to live on site during the region’s busiest recreation season, typically from April through September. (The start date for the selected host at Sharps Creek will likely be earlier in the year.)

For more information and to apply for these volunteer opportunities, please visit Volunteer.gov. If you have further questions, contact Kendra Barat at kbarat@blm.gov 

Oregon Aging and People with Disabilities offers free help for Medicare Open Enrollment

(Salem) — Medicare Open Enrollment for the 2025 plan year begins Oct. 15 and remains open through Dec. 7, 2024. Medicare beneficiaries seeking to compare or change their existing Medicare plan can receive free help from the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS).

During the Medicare Open Enrollment period, people with Medicare can make changes to their health plan or prescription drug plan, pick a Medicare Advantage plan or choose Original Medicare. The ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities’ (APD) Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program is available to help Oregonians understand their Medicare options and benefits, provide enrollment guidance and help people detect and avoid Medicare scams. Additionally, there are some key changes coming to Medicare in 2025 that APD’s SHIBA program counselors can assist people in understanding including:

• The new Manufacturer Discount Program which addresses the coverage gap, also known as the “donut hole;”
• The lower maximum to pay for covered drugs. The maximum amount for 2025 will be $2,000;
• Coverage for weight loss drugs when doctors prescribe them for people who meet certain conditions;
• Expanded coverage for family caregiver services through the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model; and
• Increased access to mental health services by allowing more providers to bill Medicare for services.

“Our APD SHIBA team is devoted to helping people prepare for open enrollment and understand changes,” said Jane-ellen Weidanz, who oversees SHIBA as APD Deputy Director of Policy.

Oregonians who need help navigating Medicare open enrollment are encouraged to call SHIBA at 800-722-4134 (toll-free) or learn more by visiting the SHIBA website at SHIBA.Oregon.gov. The 2025 Oregon Guide to Medicare Insurance Plans will be available on the SHIBA website in the coming days and will be translated to multiple languages.

SHIBA certified counselors can also help people report scams to Medicare and educate people on how to avoid Medicare scams or fraud. According to the Senior Medicare Patrol, common scams include promising free durable medical equipment, such as knee braces and catheters, or offers of free genetic testing. The ultimate goal for the scammer is to get the beneficiary’s Medicare number to commit Medicare billing fraud. “SHIBA counselors are committed to ensuring Oregonians have the information they need to avoid becoming victims of fraud and report scams or suspected Medicare fraud,” said APD Director Dr. Nakeshia Knight-Coyle.

Help from SHIBA is available over the phone and through virtual and in-person appointments. Because high call volume during Open Enrollment may result in longer than usual wait times, Oregonians are also encouraged to access free resources on the SHIBA website such as Medicare frequently asked questions, an agent locator tool, a list of free virtual and in-person Medicare presentations and videos to help people understand their Medicare options. People who need Medicare help in a language other than English, including sign language, can call 833-685-0841 or send an email to odhs.languageaccess@odhsoha.oregon.gov; after placing a request, a translator will reach out in the requestor’s preferred language to provide assistance in communicating with SHIBA.

About the Oregon Department of Human Services – The mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve wellbeing and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity.

About the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program – The Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program is part of the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities. It is a statewide network of certified counselors volunteering in their community to help all Oregonians make educated Medicare decisions. SHIBA offers free, objective, confidential and local one-on-one health insurance counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and their families.

Media contest invites Oregon high school students to promote young worker safety; entries due Feb. 21, 2025

Salem – High school students across Oregon are encouraged to put their video or graphic design skills on display by competing for cash prizes as part of a larger cause: increasing awareness about workplace safety and health for young workers.

The 2025 media contest, organized by the Oregon Young Employee Safety (O[yes]) Coalition, calls on participants to create an ad – through a compelling graphic design or video – that grabs their peers’ attention and convinces them to take the Young Employee Safety Awareness online training.

Participants get to choose the key message, theme, or tagline they believe will go furthest in capturing their audience and moving it to act. The target audience? Teen workers or teens who are preparing to work for the first time. The contest is now open for submissions. To compete, participants may submit either a graphic design or a video that is no more than 90 seconds in length.

Participants are expected to choose their key message, theme, or tagline in a wise and positive manner, including constructive and effective messages and language.

The top three entries in each of the two media categories will take home cash prizes ranging from $300 to $500. In each category, the first-place winner’s school, club, or organization will receive a matching award. Moreover, O[yes] will use the best of the submissions as ads in its ongoing efforts to improve on-the-job safety and health protections for teens.

While they carry out their projects, participants must ensure the health and safety of their team. No one should be endangered while creating their video or graphic design project.

The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. 

Participants are encouraged to submit entries online. Submissions may also be mailed on a USB thumb drive or delivered in person.

For more information about the entry form and rules, contest expectations, and resources – including previous contest winners  – visit the O[yes] online contest page.

The contest sponsors are local Oregon chapters of the American Society of Safety Professionals, Construction Safety Summit, Central Oregon Safety & Health Association, Hoffman Construction Company, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Oregon OSHA, SafeBuild Alliance, SAIF Corporation, and the Oregon Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Alliance.

### About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state’s workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

About the Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition (O[yes]): (O[yes]) is a nonprofit dedicated to preventing young worker injuries and fatalities. O[yes] members include safety and health professionals, educators, employers, labor and trade associations, and regulators. Visit youngemployeesafety.org.

Lend Your Voice to Shape the Future of Emergency Management in Oregon!

SALEM, OR – November 19, 2024 – The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) invites all Oregonians to participate in shaping the future of emergency management across the state. On February 11, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., OEM is hosting its second annual town hall where community members and partners from all backgrounds can provide input and feedback on the agency’s 2023–2025 Strategic Plan and the OEM Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) plan.

The Strategic Plan serves as a blueprint for OEM’s commitment to delivering excellent customer service and building resilience within Oregon’s communities. The IDEA plan guides emergency management practices that address the needs of all communities, fostering equitable outcomes and inclusive resilience statewide.  Feedback from this town hall will help guide OEM’s efforts to improve emergency preparedness, response and recovery in ways that serve every community across the state—before, during and after a disaster.

The town hall is open to everyone, and no prior emergency management experience is required. Closed captioning will be available, and a video and audio transcript of the event will be accessible upon request after the event.

Event Details:

Event: Oregon Department of Emergency Management’s second annual strategic planning and IDEA town hall
Date: February 11, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Meeting will be virtual; link will be sent as event nears.  

Your feedback is critical in helping OEM serve Oregon’s diverse communities better and to foster an inclusive approach to emergency preparedness and resilience. We look forward to hearing from you at this important event.

For more information or questions, please contact Bobbi McAllister at obbi.mcallister@oem.oregon.gov“>bobbi.mcallister@oem.oregon.gov.

Tips To Purchase a Permit to Cut Your Christmas Tree From an Oregon National Forest

The holiday season is right around the corner, which means the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree is on. For those looking to bring home a real tree, permits are available now for all Oregon national forests.

Christmas tree permits are available for purchase online at recreation.gov (with an added $2.50 processing fee charged by the website) and at local U.S. Forest Service offices or from local vendors.

Permits are $5 each, and each permit allows the cutting of one Christmas tree. Households can purchase a maximum of five permits.

For downloadable maps of tree-cutting areas and a list of local vendors selling tree permits, go to bit.ly/WNFtree .

Fourth-grade students can receive a free tree permit by getting their Every Kid Outdoors pass and entering the voucher or pass number when prompted on Recreation.gov or by visiting a Forest Service office.

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