Rogue Valley News, Wednesday 12/11 – Shooting in Ashland, Series of Crashes Around Grants Pass & Other Local and Statewide News

The latest news stories of interest in the Rogue Valley and the state of Oregon from the digital home of Southern Oregon, Wynne Broadcasting’s RogueValleyMagazine.com

Wednesday,  December 11, 2024

Rogue Valley Weather

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM PST THURSDAY FOR THE ROGUE 
VALLEY...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected.

* WHERE...Southern portions of the Rogue Valley south of Medford.
This includes Interstate 5 from Phoenix to Ashland.

* WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 4 AM PST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

https://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/oregon.php

Ashland Oregon Police Department  — Shooting

APD Case #24-2457  —  Ashland, Ore. – A woman remains hospitalized and a man in jail following a shooting last night in the 40-Block of Alida Street.

Rural Metro Fire – Josephine County   · 

A series of crashes Tuesday afternoon and evening kept local First Responders busy around the outskirts of Grants Pass….

FORT VANNOY — A rollover near MP 3 of Upper River Road resulted in no injuries.

MURPHY — A rollover on Williams Hwy near Ridgefield resulted in the ejection of the driver who was sent to a Medford-area trauma hospital.

NORTH VALLEY — A crash on Camp Joy Road near Plumtree Lane resulted in no injuries.

Law Enforcement is investigating the cause of each crash.

One Killed in Myrtle Creek Shooting, Suspect in Custody
MYRTLE CREEK, Ore. – A 22-year-old Myrtle Creek man was arrested on suspicion of murder Saturday, December 7^th, 2024, after a disturbance with shots fired at the Rivers West RV Park in Myrtle Creek.

At about 1:35 pm, deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of the RV park, 333 Ruckles Drive, after receiving information about a physical disturbance and shooting.

Responders located a male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds just south of the park on Booth Ranch Road. He was later identified as Damion Sumner, 29, of Dillard. Deputies and a Myrtle Creek Police Officer provided Sumner aid, but he succumbed to his wounds and was declared deceased on scene.

Daniel Hetrick, 22, of Myrtle Creek was taken into custody nearby without incident. Hetrick has been charged with second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon and lodged at the Douglas County Jail.

The Douglas County Major Crimes Team was activated and continues to investigate. The team consists of detectives from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department, Oregon State Police, and members of the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. Cow Creek Tribal Police is also assisting in the investigation.

Ashland Oregon Police Department

APD is partnering with Ashland High School to help collect winter clothing and canned food donations for the AHS Winter Clothing and Food Drive.

Someone is making a local — and public — statement related to the murder of a national insurance company executive, and Medford police are looking for that graffiti suspect.

The words, “Deny, Defend, Depose” are mixed with the symbol for anarchy on a sound barrier wall in South Medford between Interstate 5 and Rogue Valley Manor. Those three words were found on ammunition used in a deadly New York shooting of national insurance company leader last week..

Goodwill Opens New Ashland Store

Goodwill’s new location doubles retail space and adds a Job Connection Center, which helps people develop their work skills

The store opened Thursday at 777 E. Jefferson Ave., less than a mile from the old store on Tolman Creek Road. The old store is now closed.

This doubles the previous store’s sales space and includes a Job Connection, a center that helps people in the community develop and upgrade their work skills. Previously, the Ashland Goodwill store sent people to the Job Connection in Medford some of their training. Having a center in-house will allow the Ashland store offer more internships.

The new Job Connection includes a learning lab and computers, plus trainers to help people enter or move up in the workforce.

The Grants Pass City Council approved a grant to fund the establishment of a low barrier homeless shelter in the city.

The shelter will be located at 10 and 220 Redwood Highway, where the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) currently operates. MINT will manage the shelter once it is operational.

Once fully functioning, the shelter is planned to accommodate up to 100 people, with an initial capacity of 50 individuals within the next six months. The city will purchase the buildings at an appraisal price of up to $200,000 each, and MINT will be required to operate the shelter for a minimum of ten years.

While the plan has generated some discussion, including concerns about the timeline, location, and condition of the buildings, it is seen as a step toward addressing homelessness in the city. The shelter will offer a low-barrier model, meaning it will be accessible to a broader range of individuals, and is expected to provide necessary resources to those in need.

The shelter is expected to help reduce homelessness in public spaces and offer vital support services.

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

The holiday season is upon us, 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.

Josephine Community Library District   

Visit Grants Pass and Williams every Tuesday or Wolf Creek every second Friday from 3–4 pm for K9 Reading Buddies. During this program, trained therapy dogs provide a non-intimidating environment for children to learn to read out loud. Young readers have the opportunity to explore language and books during this special storytime. josephinelibrary.org/youth-and-family/children/storytime

Pollinator Project Rogue Valley –  Hey, we are a quarter of the way to our 2024 Match!

Thank you to everyone who has generously Stepped Up for Pollinators this year! We can’t wait to color in ALL the bars for our $10,000 Match goal!

Please share with friends and neighbors to help us reach the Butterfly!

Grants Pass 2024 Water Report Photo Contest

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

– 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.

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/

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

 

Albertsons gives up on Kroger merger and sues the grocery chain for failing to secure deal

Kroger and Albertsons in 2022 proposed what would be the largest grocery store merger in U.S. history.

Albertsons is giving up on its merger with Kroger a day after it was rejected in two courts and it is suing the grocery chain, saying it didn’t do enough to secure regulatory approval for the $24.6 billion agreement.

The move came the day after two judges halted the merger in separate court cases. U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson issued a preliminary injunction blocking the merger Tuesday after holding a three-week hearing in Portland, Oregon. An hour later, Judge Marshall Ferguson in Seattle issued a permanent injunction barring the merger in Washington after concluding it would lessen competition in the state and violate consumer-protection laws.

Kroger and Albertsons in 2022 proposed what would be the largest grocery store merger in U.S. history. The companies said a merger would help them better compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon.

Under the merger agreement, Kroger and Albertsons — who compete in 22 states — agreed to sell 579 stores in places where their locations overlap to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a New Hampshire-based supplier to independent supermarkets that also owns the Grand Union and Piggly Wiggly store brands.

But the Federal Trade Commission sued to block the merger earlier this year, saying it would raise prices and lower workers’ wages by eliminating competition. It also said the divestiture plan was inadequate and that C&S was ill-equipped to take on so many stores.

On Wednesday, Albertsons said that Kroger failed to exercise “best efforts” and to take “any and all actions” to secure regulatory approval of the companies’ agreed merger transaction.

Albertsons said Kroger refused to divest the assets necessary for antitrust approval, ignored regulators’ feedback and rejected stronger divestiture buyers.

Kroger willfully breached the Merger Agreement in several key ways, including by repeatedly refusing to divest assets necessary for antitrust approval, ignoring regulators’ feedback, rejecting stronger divestiture buyers and failing to cooperate with Albertsons.

“Kroger’s self-serving conduct, taken at the expense of Albertsons and the agreed transaction, has harmed Albertsons’ shareholders, associates and consumers,” said Tom Moriarty, Albertsons’ general counsel, in a statement.

Kroger said that it disagrees with Albertsons “in the strongest possible terms.” It said early Wednesday that Albertsons was responsible for “repeated intentional material breaches and interference throughout the merger process.”

Shares of Albertsons rose more than 2% at the opening bell, while Kroger’s stock rose slightly. (SOURCE)

OHCS to add and preserve more than 400 affordable homes to serve seniors, youth, and BIPOC communities

Oregon Ranks First In The Nation For Rate Of Homeless Families

Among the grim statisticsin a recent housing report released by the state, one stuck out: Oregon ranks first in the nation for homelessness among families with children.

Why it matters: While the statistics are striking, homeless advocates say they are likely a vast underestimate of a problem that can be difficult to quantify.

By the numbers: Oregon’s rate of homelessness among children is 19.9 for every 10,000 kids, according to the report, which relied on point-in-time survey data, a census count conducted on one night.

• The second-ranked state, Hawaii, had a rate less than half that of Oregon, with 7.2 of every 10,000 kids experiencing homelessness.
• The national average was just 1.4.

Yes, but: Brandi Tuck, executive director of the nonprofit Path Home, has been working with homeless families for nearly two decades and says those numbers are likely deceptive undercounts.

• Homeless families are what Tuck called the “invisible homeless,” often hiding their status to protect their children, avoid the stigma of homelessness and maintain employment.

Friction point: Tuck noted that the 2023 point-in-time survey found 6,300 people experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County.

• But statistics from the Department of Education show nearly 3,500 students in the county experiencing homelessness.
• Imagining that each of those students has at least one parent — and possibly younger siblings not yet in school — shows the gravity of the undercount, Tuck said.

State of play: Scott Kerman, executive director of the Old Town nonprofit Blanchet House, said single mothers — who are often fleeing domestic violence or other trauma — face special challenges because the city has no women-only emergency shelters that offer day-of accommodations.

• “When a family shows up and says we have no place to sleep, it’s devastating to not have answers for them because the answers don’t exist,” Kerman told Axios.

Threat level: Tuck said the trauma of being homeless for children has lasting development and health impacts that could lead to housing insecurity later in their own lives.

• “They’re the pipeline of inflow into the homeless system for decades to come,” Tuck said.

What they’re saying: Roxy Mayer, a spokeswoman for Gov. Tina Kotek, told OPB the report “describes a stark reality.”

• “After decades of underbuilding, Oregonians face a housing affordability crisis that worsens homelessness and financially burdens too many Oregon families,” Mayer said.

The big picture: Tuck said the top priority should be to get as many families off the streets and into housing as soon as possible, but these families need services — case workers, rent assistance and child care — to maintain stability.

• “You can’t just put people in housing and expect them to be resilient or figure it out themselves,” Tuck said. “People need support.”
• Julia Comnes, a spokeswoman for Multnomah County, said the county funds a number of programs specifically aimed at preventing family homelessness, including eviction prevention, family shelters with private rooms and permanent supportive housing programs.
• (SOURCE)

Oregon’s Project Turnkey sheltered thousands as state tries to build more homes

Gov. Tina Kotek recently visited a shelter and affordable apartment complex in Clatsop County, with the state’s highest per capita homeless rate

Just before a tour of an Astoria homeless shelter late last month, Gov. Tina Kotek met with a single father living there with his children.

He’d been paying rent for five years in nearby Seaside when his landlord terminated his lease without giving a reason. The father and his children were homeless, in a remote coastal region of Oregon with the state’s highest per capita rate of homelessness. Until 2023, it had no permanent shelters even though more than one in 50 Clatsop County residents were homeless that year.

The father is among thousands of people statewide who’ve been at least temporarily housed through Project Turnkey, an Oregon program that turned $125 million into nearly 1,400 new shelter beds, mostly by buying and converting existing hotels and other vacant buildings into shelters like the one in Astoria.

Shelter units provided through Project Turnkey cost about half as much as the statewide average for affordable housing, and U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici has proposed congressional legislation to expand the program nationwide.

Kotek, who was speaker of the House for the first round of Project Turnkey, advocated for it in the Legislature. She still supports the program, among other options.

Her 476-page budget proposal, released Monday, includes a request for $217.9 million to maintain existing shelters but it has no funding to build new ones. Instead, her 2025-27 recommended budget prioritizes increasing rent assistance and eviction prevention to prevent more Oregonians from slipping into homelessness and efforts to permanently rehouse people.

“We don’t have all the money in the world, so I am still staying focused on (where) we’ve made commitments,” Kotek told reporters during her Astoria visit. “We have to sustain them. We have to continue to fund things through the next biennium. And I also want to build what we have started, which is a statewide system where there is a clear financial commitment with our local communities to say, ‘You’re going to provide a continuum of care for folks who are experiencing homelessness. We’re going to be there with you.’”

In Clatsop County, Kotek visited the Columbia Inn, a converted 21-room motel that opened in October 2023 with Project Turnkey funding and shelters around 50 to 60 people each night. She also toured the nearby Owens Adair apartments, which has 46 units for low-income seniors and will add 50 more through an ongoing construction project.

Both the shelter and the apartment expansion exist in part because of state action: Lawmakers allocated $2.8 million to help Clatsop County buy the Columbia Inn as part of its 2023 Project Turnkey expansion, and Owens Adair is able to add units on an adjacent lot in part because of legislative changes this year that allowed cities to adjust parking minimums in the interest of building more homes.

The Owens Adair apartments, in a historic hospital overlooking the Columbia River, have a waitlist of more than 300 people. The expansion will reduce that waitlist.

“It’ll help for sure,” said Hsu-Feng Andy Shaw, the county’s housing authority director. “It’ll help generations of people in Astoria.”

As part of its efforts to meet Kotek’s goal of building 36,000 homes per year, the Legislature ordered cities to fast-track housing permits and allocated money toward infrastructure improvements needed for housing. In coastal cities like Astoria, where the Columbia River and the Youngs Bay prevent growth in three directions, developable land for housing is even harder to find than in other parts of the state.  (READ MORE)

OHCS to add and preserve more than 400 affordable homes to serve seniors, youth, and BIPOC communities (Photo)
Oregon Housing and Community Services – 12/09/24 10:00 AM

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services is funding the creation, preservation, and rehabilitation of more than 400 affordable homes across the state. These homes will help fill the need for housing for Oregonians with low incomes, including seniors, youth, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

“We know there is more to do, but these are the types of community driven housing gains that are possible when we work together,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “Under Governor Kotek’s leadership, we remain relentless in getting things done that will make life better for the communities we serve.”

The Housing Stability Council approved $72.8 million to fund 421 homes through the agency’s Oregon Centralized Application (ORCA) process. Part of this funding will be used to rehabilitate the Rosemont Court in Portland, which will serve seniors. Another housing development funded is Blossom Gardens in Salem, which is under construction, will focus on serving refugee families. The funding will also preserve two manufactured home parks for homeowners who live at the Rimrock Court Cooperative in Madras and Surfside Mobile Village in Newport.

The Council approved the following housing development projects for funding:

• Blossom Garden Apartments, Salem, 90 homes
• Cesar Apartments, Portland, 47 homes
• Columbia View Apartments, Cascade Locks, 12 homes
• Rimrock Court Cooperative, Madras, 38 homes
• Rosemont Court, Portland, 100 homes
• Sierra West Apartments, Hillsboro, 56 homes
• Surfside Mobile Village, Newport, 33 homes
• Willow Park Apartments, Forest Grove, 45 homes

The Housing Stability Council also granted the Homeownership Division approval to update two programs to help spur development and purchase of homes for Oregonians with low incomes.

The Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) Homeownership changes include:

• A shift from determining loan amounts based on appraised land value to per-home subsidies.
• A shorter application for small projects.
• Soft set-asides to spur development by small, culturally specific, and emerging developers, and projects in underserved counties.

The Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit (OAHTC) Homeownership was expanded to support limited equity cooperatives, an innovative homeownership model with growing interest in Oregon. By offering tax credits to the developer’s permanent lender, OAHTC Homeownership reduces financing costs, and the savings are passed on to residents to ensure housing affordability for those earning 80% or less of the area median income.

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.

Bill Offering Wildfire Survivors Relief from Taxes and Fees Passes Congress

The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023, which is expected to be signed by President Joe Biden, will offer relief to survivors of wildfires dating back to 2015

After more than five years of waiting in some cases, wildfire survivors across the West will be relieved of paying federal income taxes on their recovery settlements and lawyers fees.

The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023 passed the Senate on Wednesday night, about six months after it was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives nearly unanimously. It had been stalled for months, tucked into opposing tax packages from Senate Republicans and Democrats.

The bill, which is likely to be signed by President Joe Biden, would exempt people who have survived a wildfire between 2016 and 2026 from paying federal income taxes on disaster recovery settlements and fees paid to lawyers that were received or paid between 2020 and 2026.

Victims elsewhere are also likely to benefit. The bill applies to the survivors of the East Palestine train derailment that occurred in Ohio in 2023, though they’ve largely been exempted from federal income tax on payments from Norfolk Southern due to intervention from the Internal Revenue Service.

The disaster act would also provide relief for natural disaster survivors since 2020 in the form of a casualty loss deduction. That means that those who only received partial payments from insurers on home damage and other residential property damage could deduct those uncovered losses on their federal income taxes without itemization.

Passage of the bill, introduced last year by a Florida Republican Rep. W. Gregory Steube, follows a public plea last month by a political action committee. American Disaster Survivors sponsored billboards asking for help in Idaho and Oregon to grab the attention of the two leaders of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee where the bill sat. Oregon’s senior U.S. senator, Democrat Ron Wyden, chairs the committee, and Idaho’s U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo is its ranking Republican member. The disaster PAC was founded by survivors of fires that burned towns in California during 2017 and 2018 and which are still only partially rebuilt.

The bill would sunset in 2026, according to Wyden spokesperson Hank Stern, because federal tax codes are coming up for negotiation in 2025 and there is not a lot of political will among Republicans to do long-term tax policy in the lame duck session before a new Congress and administration comes to power in January. Wyden said in a speech following the bill’s passage that it was necessary and long overdue.

“Their homes and their businesses are burned, their possessions and livelihoods gone, and finally, the federal government is showing some common sense,” he said.

He and California House and Senate Democrats and Republicans who championed the bill said despite working in a bipartisan way to get it passed in the Republican-controlled House, Senate Republicans stalled progress.

“We’re going to be able to say to Westerners who’ve been hit by these big fires that they’re going to be able to go to bed tonight in the Western United States with a little relief that the federal government has finally come to its senses and made sure that they’re not going to have this additional tax burden,” Wyden said in his speech.

Spokespersons for the American Disaster Relief PAC said it would impact survivors of wildfire in many states.

“This has given a much needed glimmer of hope to millions of Americans across California, Oregon, Hawaii, Washington and Idaho who have been devastated by tragedy.”

Oregon Republicans also welcomed the bill, including state Rep. Christine Goodwin of Canyonville, who worked on a similar bill passed by Oregon’s Legislature.

“When I first wrote Oregon’s framework for wildfire disaster tax relief, I did so with the belief that government should not profit from the misfortune of its citizens. It took Rep. Jami Cate and I many years to get the bill over the line here in Oregon; I’m happy to see similar efforts happen so swiftly at the federal level.”

The state bill passed unanimously in the spring of 2024, ending state income taxation on settlements and lawyer fees for wildfire victims. That bill, Senate Bill 1520, was championed by survivors of the 2020 Labor Day Fires, including Sam Drevo, who survived the Santiam Canyon fire that burned down much of the city of Gates in the heart of the Santiam State Forest.

“On behalf of fire survivors everywhere, I am deeply grateful that this passed. I’m not super thrilled about the sunset, but it’s a huge step forward for fire survivors,” Drevo said.

He and his mom are still sorting out how much she was taxed on the settlement she received to help her rebuild her home in Gates that was completely wiped out by the fires.

“I know it’s going to be helpful, and to other people it’s going to be helpful. In general, it’s a huge thing to have this type of tax relief, especially in a situation where you lose everything,” he said. (SOURCE)

Designation of the Longest U.S. Highway as the “National Medal of Honor Highway”

– This week, U.S. Route 20, the nation’s longest road stretching from Newport, Oregon, to Boston, Massachusetts, will be officially designated as the “National Medal of Honor Highway” under legislation approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday. The 12 states along US Highway 20 account for about 62 percent of all 3,516 Medal of Honor awards presented since the Civil War.

The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor, presented by the President in Congress’ name. This section of U.S. Route 20 will honor 29 Medal of Honor recipients connected with Oregon who acted with “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of his life” during combat with an enemy of the United States thus receiving our nation’s highest award for military valor during 8 wars over a 108-year period.

I was honored to support this effort and am even more gratified to have my House colleague’s support to pass it in the House this week.

I would also like to mention a Central Oregon Veteran, Dick Tobiason, who set out on a mission 11 years ago to name Highway 20 in honor of our Medal of Honor Veterans. Tobiason is the chairman of the Bend Heroes Foundation, which he founded in 2010 with his son. Bend Heroes Foundation has been coordinating the designation of 11 more state Medal of Highways and has led the charge in getting U.S. Route 20 designated in Congress. Dick Tobiason has made it his life’s work to ensure that Veterans and their families get the recognition they deserve. His lifetime of service and dedication to the Oregon Veteran community have been instrumental in bringing this recognition to fruition. I salute his efforts, his tenacity, and his relentless advocacy on behalf of Oregon Veterans and their families.

A full copy of the legislation renaming U.S. Route 20 as “The National Medal of Honor Highway” can be found by clicking here. A link to my letter regarding the U.S. Highway, here. —- (SOURCE)

Oregon’s public universities and community colleges are calling for increased investment in higher education.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s proposed budget allocates more for higher education than the last biennium. But university and community college leaders say the budget doesn’t keep up with increased costs institutions are facing.

The leaders argue the inadequate funding could make higher education more expensive for Oregonians and slow down the state’s workforce development efforts.

The governor’s $138 billion budget, released earlier this week, is a guideline for state lawmakers ahead of next year’s legislative session. In her proposal, Gov. Kotek doubled down on her top three funding priorities: confronting Oregon’s homelessness and affordable housing emergency, K-12 education and addressing the state’s behavioral health care crisis.

“This is generally what we expected given the Governor’s collaboration with agencies during the development of Agency Request Budgets, the state’s revenue constraints and numerous pressing statewide priorities,” said Higher Education Coordinating Commission Executive Director Ben Cannon in a statement. Back in August, HECC commissioners sent a letter to the governor, objecting to the budget-setting process which led up to this week’s recommended budget.

In the 2025-2027 biennium, the governor recommends $4.39 billion for the agency responsible for two main funding streams for colleges and universities: operating revenue to run the institutions and financial aid programs to help students afford the cost of college.

The proposal, a 6.4% overall increase from the last biennium, sets aside more than $25 million to build up education pathways that lead to behavioral health care jobs and nearly $29 million to expand select need-based grants, like the Oregon Opportunity Grant. (READ MORE)

Oregon approves largest solar + storage project in the US – The 1.2-GW Sunstone Solar project will start construction in 2026

The United States’ largest proposed solar project, Sunstone Solar, received its final discretionary approval from the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC). The approval was the final step in the state’s evaluation and public engagement process and authorizes project owner Pine Gate Renewables to proceed with constructing the 1.2 GW solar and 1.2 GW storage project.

“Oregon’s energy facility permitting process is one of the most rigorous in the entire country,” said Ben Catt, Chief Executive Officer of Pine Gate Renewables. “The recent unanimous permit approval is a testament to the way our team worked with stakeholders to provide a win-win for Oregon and the Morrow County community.”

Pine Gate worked extensively with Morrow County and agricultural organizations to create a program that aims to offset the project’s impact on the local agricultural economy. The first-of-its-kind initiative will invest over $1,000 per project acre into a county-managed fund for programs that support the local agricultural economy and improve the long-term viability and resilience of Morrow County’s wheat farms.

“The fight against the climate crisis depends on a variety of successful energy solutions like Pine Gate Renewables’ solar power and energy storage project in Eastern Oregon,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). “This is just another example of the important federal investments I fought for in the Inflation Reduction Act, and I will continue to advocate for tech-neutral solutions in our tax code that promote innovation and efficiency in Oregon and across the nation.”

Pine Gate is in discussions with customers and local utilities to purchase the electricity and environmental attributes of the energy produced by the project which will interconnect to the Bonneville Power Administration via the Umatilla Electric Cooperative system. The project will begin the engineering and procurement process in early 2025 ahead of phased construction starting in 2026.

“As a lifelong resident of Morrow County, I’m excited for Sunstone Solar to move forward so the local community can benefit from the economic opportunities that the project will bring,” said Ken Grieb, a wheat farmer and landowner in the project. “Pine Gate has demonstrated how large energy facility development can be done thoughtfully and collaboratively.”

Pine Gate owns and operates 17 other solar projects in Oregon. The company acquired the Sunstone Solar project from Gallatin Power Partners in 2022. (SOURCE)

Oregon Ecosystem Efforts Get $10M Federal Funding

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) America the Beautiful Challenge has awarded $10,105,326 in federal funding to support four projects that enhance Oregon’s ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts.

Oregon’s US Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the funding, part of a larger $122.4 million NFWF America the Beautiful Challenge initiative, will support 61 new conservation and restoration projects nationwide.

The initiative advances President Biden’s ongoing commitment to conserving American lands and waters by supporting locally led community conservation and restoration projects.

The goals of the NFWF projects are to plant trees, restore wetland habitats, improve wildfire resilience, and open streams for fish passage.

61 grants were announced across 42 states, three US territories, and 19 Tribal and Native Nations, and at least $8.7 million in matching contributions will generate, bringing the initiative’s impact on conservation to $131.2 million.

In Oregon, the funding was allocated to:

• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: $4.5 million to create a network of oak and prairie habitat in the Willamette River Basin, incorporating  Traditional Ecological Knowledge and improving access for Tribal members to culturally significant areas.
• Crook County Soil and Water Conservation District: $3.5 million to enhance sagebrush ecosystems. The project will benefit desert species like sage-grouse and pronghorn over 13,000 acres, apply herbicide to 7,000 acres of invasive annual grasses, and develop a local native seed supply inventory on over 100,000 acres. The project aims to improve grazing management while reducing the impact on wildlife.
• McKenzie Watershed Alliance: $1.5 million to restore 335 acres of floodplain and wetland habitat on the South Fork McKenzie River, creating a high-quality habitat for at-risk species.
• Heart of Oregon Corps: $605,326 to enhance watershed health and reduce wildfire risk in the Deschutes Basin. The Corps works with conservation projects of local youth crews.

The key role of community commitment in conservation efforts was highlighted by Wyden. Merkley, a key role-player in securing the funding, confirmed that the ecosystems, waterways, and wildlife are the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest.

He said, “We need to do everything we can to protect them as climate chaos threatens permanent habitat loss.”

Wyden also noted that groups and communities across Oregon have stepped up collaborative efforts to strengthen US lands and waters. He said, “I am excited to see how they will use these investments to ensure healthier, more resilient natural resources for generations to come.”

References – https://www.nfwf.org/programs/america…

Oregon Gov. Kotek’s $39.3 billion proposed budget has more for housing, homelessness, schools

Lawmakers will use Kotek’s budget as a starting point for crafting the next two-year budget

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek wants the state to spend more than $2 billion on homelessness and housing and send a record $11.4 billion to public schools as part of a budget focused on maintaining existing programs with little cash to spare for new initiatives.

Her total spending plan, including federal funding that the state doesn’t have much control over, is $137.7 billion for the two-year period from July 2025 to June 2027. Her proposed general fund and lottery funds budget, where Kotek and lawmakers have more discretion, is $39.3 billion. Infobox: Read Gov. Kotek’s budget highlights and full 476-page recommended budget.

That’s a sharp increase from the $33.5 billion general fund and lottery funds budget lawmakers approved in 2023, but it doesn’t reflect much new spending. Instead, the state is grappling with the same budgetary pressures as many Oregonians: Revenue is higher, but so are costs.

“People understand this from their own household budgets,” Kotek said at a press conference in Astoria last week. “While our economy is strong and wages are up, and people, if you just look at the numbers, are making more, their expenses are up. And in the case of the state, our expenses for health and human services have really grown, so the expenditure line is outpacing the money coming in the door.”

Initial reactions to her recommended budget were mixed, with some advocacy groups saying it didn’t go far enough and Republicans criticizing it as squandering money.

Her recommended budget doesn’t include layoffs or cuts to services, but it also has few new programs. When state agencies crafted their budget requests, Kotek limited them to a 1% increase over 2025-27 levels. She also asked them to prepare lists of where they could cut by 10% by focusing on core services and making sure to maximize federal funding.

“It was a hard exercise for some folks,” Kotek said. “But I believed, and do believe, that Oregonians, in this moment, would be better served by committing time and energy to practical considerations rather than well-meaning hypothetical wish lists. Developing my budget was an effort grounded in the reality of our state and our resources.” READ MORE: https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/02/oregon-gov-koteks-39-3-billion-proposed-budget-has-more-for-housing-homelessness-schools/

Oregon State Parks Offering Discounted Parking Passes – Give the gift of the outdoors and save this season with the Oregon State Parks 12-month parking permit sale during December.

Shoppers can buy the annual parking permits for only $25 (regularly $30) from Dec. 1 through Dec. 31. The permit is good for 12 months starting in the month of purchase at the 25 parks that currently charge for parking.

The annual permit is an even better option for frequent park visitors in 2025 when day-use parking fees will increase from $5 to $10 on Jan. 2, 2025.

Purchasing permits is easy. Visitors can buy them online at Oregon State Parks store. They’re also available at select park stores operated by friends’ groups, park visitor centers and local businesses throughout the state. For a complete list, visit stateparks.oregon.gov.

The daily parking fee is required at the 25 parks that charge for day-use parking unless visitors have a 12-month or 24-month parking permit or a same-day camping receipt. The parking fee does not apply to those who hike, bike or use public transportation.

The 24-month permit is $50 and is also available at OregonStateParkStore. The cost for the 12-month and 24-month permits is not currently increasing. The permits are transferable from vehicle to vehicle.

Oregon State Police announces winning entry in the “Name Our K-9” Contest

YouTube Video Link: Name Our K-9: Violet and Millie

Oregon State Sr. Trooper Scott Show needed an official name for his new drug-detection K-9. He had the idea to let Oregon elementary school students name the two-year-old female Belgian Malinois. On Oct. 17, 2024, OSP launched the “Name Our K-9” contest. At the time, no one knew we would end up with a very special name for one family.

After almost 800 entries and a week of online voting, the winning entry of “Millie” was selected. Receiving almost half the votes cast, the winning entry was submitted by five-year-old Violet of Winston in honor of her twin sister Millie, who unexpectedly passed away earlier this year.

Kylee Stewart, Violet and Millie’s mother, said, “Millie and Violet were inseparable. Although they were complete opposites, they shared a love of animals. When we came across the “Name Our K-9” contest, Violet knew she wanted to enter her sister’s name.”

“Nobody planned for there to be this much meaning behind naming the K-9,” said Sr. Trooper Show. “To have our dog end up with a name that’s got some significance and is meaningful to this family is really wonderful.”

K-9 Millie is certified through the Oregon Police Canine Association as a drug-detection dog. She and Sr. Trooper Show are assigned to the Albany Patrol Office for drug interdiction along Interstate 5 and throughout the state. As an ongoing tribute, OSP will recognize K-9 Millie’s drug seizures, when possible, with a special nod to the little girl who inspired her name.

“On behalf of myself and the entire Oregon State Police family, it is an honor to be part of this special memorial to Millie Melton,” said Superintendent Casey Codding. In recognition for winning the naming contest, Violet received a letter and certificate from Superintendent Codding and an OSP uniform patch. She also received a Belgian Malinois plushie personalized with the OSP logo and the name “Millie” generously donated by Hero Industries.

OSP is continuing to recognize the contest finalists with presentations to students across the state. We send a heartfelt thank you to the 778 students who submitted entries in the “Name Our K-9” contest. “K-9 teams play an important role in keeping our communities safe and it was exciting to have so many students participate in the contest in such an engaging and meaningful way,” said Superintendent Codding.

Contest finalists:

• “True” submitted by Michael B. from Creswell Christian Academy in Creswell.
• “Showtime” submitted by KariAnn G. from Eastwood Elementary in Roseburg.
• “Pearl” submitted by Bailey P. from Jefferson Elementary in Medford.
• “Mable” submitted by Mrs. Moles’s second-grade class from Prairie City Elementary in Prairie City.
• The school with the most entries: Hillcrest Elementary in North Bend.

About the Oregon State Police
The Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that protects Oregon’s people, wildlife, and natural resources. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon. 

Ways to get and give help this holiday season

‘Tis the season for connection and caring for one another. But we also know this time of year can be challenging for many families. So whether you need a little extra support, or are looking for ways to give back to your community, we’ve got some suggestions to make the holiday season special.

Ways to get holiday help:

1. Visit the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) holiday resources webpage

Our 2024 holiday resources webpage has a list of local organizations that can provide hot meals, toys, winter clothes and more for families and individuals this holiday season. The page is available in English and Spanish, and you can sort the list by county to find resources in your area.

2. Connect with 211info

Not seeing anything near you on our list? Dial 2-1-1 to connect with someone who can guide you to the support you need. You can also visit 211info.org, enter your zip code, and search for “Holiday Gifts/Toys,” “Christmas Baskets,” or “Christmas Meals.”

3. Reach out to your local ODHS office

We’re here to help! Our local office staff often know about upcoming events and resources in your community. We can also help you learn more about services that be accessed year-round, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Oregon Health Plan (OHP), and more.

Ways to give holiday help:

1. Donate to ODHS or a community organization

ODHS partners with many community organizations that collect donations, like food, clothes, and toys, that support children in foster care, older adults, families in need, and more. For 2024, we’ve compiled a list with some of the ways you can donate to help the families ODHS serves. Don’t see anything on the list in your area? Contact your local ODHS office for more suggestions. You can also make a financial contribution to ODHS and specify how you want it to be used by emailing dhs.volunteerservices@odhs.oregon.gov.

2. Volunteer

Your time is one of the most valuable gifts you can give. At ODHS, we have several temporary volunteer opportunities this holiday season for things like wrapping donations, delivering gifts, and helping at holiday parties for children in ODHS care. Email dhs.volunteerservices@odhs.oregon.gov to learn about holiday openings or to get involved longer-term. If that’s not for you, we also recommend reaching out to local nonprofits or community centers with missions you believe in to see how you can help.

3. Build community connections

Sometimes, the best way to give back is by simply showing up. Attend local events, check in on your neighbors, and spread the word about the ways to get help that we listed above. A little kindness and connection can go a long way!

The Salvation Army out of Monmouth says it received a very special gift in one of its red kettles this season.

In Polk County, an anonymous donor dropped in a gold coin apparently worth $3,000. That’s according to a local jeweler where the Salvation Army took it to get appraised. The good deed-doer dropped the rare coin in a kettle at a Bi-mart. The Salvation Army says the one-ounce coin is over a hundred years old.

The organization says it hopes the act of kindness will inspire others to donate what they can, so the non-profit can make the season bright for those in need.

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.

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