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, January 6, 2025
Rogue Valley Weather
...AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TUESDAY TO NOON PST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Strong valley inversions will result in weak winds, poor mixing and ventilation. This will result in stagnant air conditions that will trap pollutants near the surface. * WHERE...Central Douglas County, Eastern Curry County and Josephine County, Eastern Douglas County Foothills, and Jackson County. This includes the cities of Roseburg, Grants Pass, Cave Junction and Medford. * WHEN...From 10 AM Tuesday to noon PST Friday. * IMPACTS...Poor air quality may cause issues for people with respiratory problems. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Mixing and ventilation should be better at the south end of the Rogue Valley from around Talent to Ashland due to stronger SE winds.
Grants Pass Police Department – Shooting Incident Leads to Multiple Arrests Now
GRANTS PASS, OREGON On December 17, 2024, at about 2127 hours, Grants Pass Police Dispatch received multiple calls of shot being fired at an apartment complex in the 1400 block of Rogue River Highway. Within minutes of the call being received, police officers from the Grants Pass Police Department arrived on scene. Law enforcement from the Oregon State Police and Josephine County Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist, along with personnel from Grants Pass Fire/Rescue and American Medical Response.
It was quickly determined that the suspects had fled the scene in a vehicle. Police officers checked every apartment for victims and fortunately learned no one had been struck by the numerous gunshots. The initial investigation did conclude that six people in two different apartments could have been struck by gunfire if the trajectories had been slightly different. For that reason, the case became an Attempted Murder investigation.
Due to the violent behavior demonstrated in the incident, this case became the priority for the Grants Pass Police Criminal Investigation Division. Over the last two weeks, detectives and patrol officers have been working tirelessly to identify those responsible for the shooting. There were several hundred hours of manpower used to conduct interviews, collect evidence, and search for the suspects.
As a result of the extensive investigation, the four suspects were lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the following charges:
William Michael of Grants Pass – 32 years of age Six counts of Attempted MurderSix counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon
Joseph Treetop of Josephine County – 20 years of ageSix counts of Attempted MurderSix counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon
Easton Foley of Josephine County – 18 years of age Six counts of Attempted Murder Six counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon
Austin Shaw-Rideout of Josephine County – 18 years of age Six counts of Attempted MurderSix counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon
The Grants Pass Police Department would like to thank the United States Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Task Force (Medford Division), Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police Patrol, Oregon State Police Crime Lab, Rogue Area Drug Enforcement Team, and the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance. This was a collaborative effort, and we appreciate the partnerships with these agencies. Further inquires about the case should be directed to the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office.
Medford 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲
Eggs $7.42 per dozen at Walmart in Eagle Point
Josephine County welcomed three new elected officials this morning as they were sworn in by Judge Robert S. Bain at the Josephine County Courthouse.
Medford Housing and Community Development Public Survey
The city of Medford is seeking input from the local community about the housing and community development needs they consider the most important. To that end, the city has created an online survey that residents can take until January 19.
Survey feedback will help the city guide and update the Housing and Community Development Five-Year Consolidated Plan, which is designed to help identify the community’s priorities and needs.
The survey will also help establish goals and drive the city’s funding decisions for the next five years.
The survey asks for the community’s opinion on programs and projects that meet a higher need in the community, covering topics such as housing, infrastructure, neighborhood services, community services, jobs, special needs services, and more. The Medford Housing and Community Development needs survey can be found at the survey link here.
A car crashed into the wall of a building off Williams Highway and New Hope Road in south Grants Pass Sunday morning.
A car crash took place around 7 a.m. when a vehicle left the highway crashing into the buildings wall and roll-up door.
No injuries were reported. The driver of the car was found half a mile down the road on foot, denying any injuries.
The crash drew responses from The Oregon Department of Transportation, Grants Pass Police Department, Rural Metro Fire and other agencies. The building appeared to have not received any significant loss of structural integrity.
Residents near the 2600 block of Winona Road outside Grants Pass experienced a lengthy power outage early Sunday morning as a car crashed into a power pole and electrical lines.
The driver allegedly swerved to miss hitting a deer and ended up taking down the pole. The driver denied any injuries when officers arrived on scene.
The road between Granite Hill and Jump-Off-Joe Creek road was closed as Pacific Power worked to make repairs and drivers were advised to seek an alternate route using I-5.
Tree Knocks Out Power in New Hope Road Area
Sheriff’s Office issues advisory about motorhome and possible link to missing Prospect woman Deenah Padgett
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) is asking for help identifying the owner a motorhome. It could be associated with a missing person from the Prospect area.
JCSO says 68-year-old Deenah Padgett has been missing since August 30 from Prospect, described as a white woman, 4’ 8” tall, weighing approximately 95 pounds with brownish red/greying hair.
JCSO issued an advisory this weekend asking anyone with information about the owner of the pictured motor home or Padgett’s whereabouts to call Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO) dispatch non-emergency phone number at 541-776-7206.
– 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?
https://firebrandcollective.org/harp/
Many pets have benefited from the community’s generosity, and we can’t thank you enough for your kindness.Hearts with a Mission, a program to help local seniors who need assistance, is seeking volunteers.
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
Why Egg Prices Are So High and Shortage in Oregon and Washington
For more than two years, farmers have fought a war with a fatal strain of hen flu that keeps disrupting U.S. egg supplies. At one factor, the lack sent the fee of a dozen regular eggs soaring to nearly $5. costs retreated quite, however, they continue to be volatile.
The modern-day consumer price index, or CPI, indicates that the price of eggs is up 37.5% from what it was a year ago. That’s an assessment of the trajectory of meal prices, which rose simply 2.4% within the past 12 months.
BLS facts tracking egg charges is going again as back to 1980, while big, Grade A eggs price $0.88 a dozen, not adjusted for inflation. Earlier than February 2022, the average value of a dozen had in large part stayed beneath $2 for the reason that March 2016. Then, the charge of eggs extra than doubled from the beginning of 2022 till hitting its height of $four.82 in line with a dozen in January 2023.
The pandemic and inflation play a position in growing egg fees, but the real perpetrator is an epidemic of H5N1, an extraordinarily transmissible and deadly strain of avian influenza, or hen flu. The outbreak started in early 2022 and quickly grew into the largest bird flu outbreak in U.S. history. As of Dec. 19, the virus has affected more than a hundred twenty-five million birds in the U.S. since January 2022, according to the Centers for Sickness Control and Prevention.
With so many birds lost to the virus, egg production is underneath regular tiers and might keep up with client demand. That dynamic ends in higher fees. And prices will remain volatile till producers can rebuild their flocks and increase egg production.
New hen flu cases remain pronounced through major U.S. egg producers. Up to now in December, outbreaks affecting more than 7.7 million egg layers were suggested at commercial egg facilities in Iowa and California, in keeping with the CDC. That provides to what’s been a robust resurgence of the virus this autumn. More than 6.8 million birds were suffering from outbreaks that were started in October and November at centers in Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah,h and Washington.
Wells Fargo Agri-food Institute sector supervisor Kevin Bergquist said egg costs improved in 2023 due to the aggregate seasonal rate increases during vacations and disruption in egg delivery due to hen flu.
According to Bergquist, fees during the last year have “usually” remained above 2023 expenses or even “regularly surpassed egg expenses from 2022, which changed into while HPAI stuck the egg market. “
The present-day strain of avian influenza is categorized as a low hazard to public health using the U.S. Facilities for Disorder Control and Prevention. In line with the Washington Kingdom branch of Agriculture, “no inflamed birds or eggs have entered the food delivery,” and there are currently no confirmed or suspected instances on dairy farms in Washington.
Eggs and roosters stay secure to devour, and cooking to an internal temperature of one hundred sixty-five tiers kills viruses, inclusive of avian influenza A.
Significant rate increases or the outright unavailability of eggs “should genuinely have an impact on protein consumption, particularly for families and individuals,” stated Simon, a registered dietitian nutritionist who reveals humans throughout all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds rely on eggs as a clean supply of protein.
A huge egg contains about 6 grams of protein in step with serving and might serve as a key supply of vitamins which includes diet D and choline. Given their refrigerated shelf existence of three to 5 weeks, Simon encourages people to shop for eggs while they’re available. (SOURCE)
Train Derailment In Corvallis – Recovery Efforts Underway, No Injuries Reported
Corvallis, OR – January 4, 2025 – At approximately 12:08 PM Saturday, a train car operated by Portland & Western derailed in Corvallis, due to a structural failure of a train trestle in the Marys River resulting in one train car entering in the river and two additional train cars to become unstable. The train was carrying agricultural materials at the time of the incident. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported.
Emergency response teams, including local firefighters from the City of Corvallis Fire Department and local law enforcement from the Corvallis Police Department, are actively on the scene working to stabilize the situation and ensure public safety. Northwest Firefighters, an ecological recovery company, has been engaged in deploying containment booms in the nearby Marys River to filter any potentially leaked materials.
For the safety of emergency responders, recovery teams, and all personnel involved, we ask the public to avoid the area. Please follow all roadblocks, detours, and directions from local authorities as recovery efforts continue.
The City of Corvallis Fire Department, in coordination with Portland & Western and environmental recovery specialists, are committed to resolving the situation quickly and minimizing any environmental impact. Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Union Providers Respond To Providence And Demand To Bargain For All 5,000 Striking Caregivers
Oregon Nurses Assn. – – Earlier Friday, hospitalists, physicians, and nurse practitioners at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and Providence Women’s Clinic sent Providence executives an open letter (see below) in response to Providence’s misleading media statements about “reopening mediation” and invited Providence executives back to the table to bargain fair contracts for all 5,000 providers and avert Oregon’s largest healthcare worker strike.
Oregon Nurses and Doctors Message to Elected Officials: Providence Executives Endanger Patients by Illegally Refusing to Bargain; Workers Willing to Meet “Anytime, Anywhere”
On Thursday, the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) called on elected officials to intervene as Providence Health & Services continues illegally refusing to bargain with its healthcare workers; putting patients’ health and safety at risk ahead of a massive 5,000 healthcare worker strike Jan. 10.
ONA has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Providence, citing its illegal refusal to bargain and asking local, state, and national elected officials to urge Providence executives to return to the table in order to reach a fair agreement for all Oregonians.
Providence’s refusal to meet with its own workers is illegal and far out of step with its corporate peers. Other Oregon hospitals and health systems, including Kaiser Permanente and St. Charles Bend, successfully met with healthcare workers and resolved negotiated contracts in the final days before scheduled strikes in 2021 and 2023 respectively. In recent years, ten California hospitals and health systems have also reached similar agreements in the 10 days prior to strikes. Multiple hospitals and health systems in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois have all continued talks with frontline healthcare workers in the leadup to strikes and successfully reached agreements that prevented strikes from occurring.
Jan. 2, 2025
AN OPEN LETTER TO OREGON’S ELECTED LEADERS
Providence is putting patients at risk by illegally refusing to bargain with nearly 5,000 union-represented frontline caregivers.
On January 10, thousands of Oregon’s most trusted nurses, physicians and caregivers will lead an open-ended strike—the largest healthcare workers’ strike in state history. This unparalleled action will affect all 8 Providence hospitals in Oregon as well as 6 Providence Women’s Clinics. It will impact Oregonians throughout the Portland metro area, on the Coast, in the Gorge, in Southern Oregon and beyond.
For the first time in our state’s history, frontline nurses, physicians, nurse practitioners, and midwives throughout the Providence system have voted to stand together to win fair contracts that will give patients more time with their doctors and healthcare providers; promote safe staffing; end cuts to employees’ healthcare; and provide competitive wages and benefits to recruit and retain essential frontline nurses and caregivers.
Five thousand frontline healthcare providers are ready and willing to sacrifice to protect our patients and our colleagues—but striking is not our first choice.
Many nurses and healthcare professionals have been bargaining with Providence for more than 15 months and working without a contract for a year. We are disheartened by Providence’s stalling tactics but energized and ready to stand up for patients and communities across Oregon. We have offered to meet with Providence executives anywhere and anytime to negotiate a fair agreement and avert a strike.
Unfortunately, Providence executives are refusing to continue negotiations with us—making a resolution impossible and putting patients at risk. Refusing to meet with their workers to bargain is in direct violation of federal law and out of step with their peers; including Oregon hospitals and health systems like Kaiser Permanente and St. Charles Bend which worked hard to negotiate successful contracts and avert strikes during 10-day strike notice periods. We have filed an unfair labor practice charge against Providence with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for illegally refusing to bargain, however an NLRB decision will likely come too late to bring Providence back to the table.
As Oregon’s elected leaders, we call on you to urge Providence executives to return to the bargaining table and come to a fair agreement. If they refuse, we ask you to deny Providence public funds for illegal strikebreaking efforts—including hiring unlawful strikebreakers, locking out healthcare workers, and illegally refusing to bargain. Taxpayer dollars cannot support illegal activities that endanger patients while enriching executives.
Make no mistake. Oregon’s healthcare providers would rather be at the bedside caring for patients than in the streets striking for them. But we will do what is necessary to reach a fair agreement that delivers on its promises to patients, providers and our communities. Together, we can hold Providence accountable and ensure every Oregonian receives the care they deserve.
The Klamath Falls man convicted after imprisoning two women in separate kidnapping events in a homemade cell has elected to represent himself at his sentencing hearing.
Negasi Zuberi, 30, submitted a complaint before the court stating his legal team had “sabotaged” his case.
This was not Zuberi’s first attempt to dismiss his attorneys, having previously attempted to do so prior to trial on similar complaints. In both events, U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane warned the defendant of the risk he’d run by representing himself.
Convicted on all charges — which includes four federal charges, including two kidnapping charges, transportation and four counts of felon in possession of firearms and ammunition — Zuberi faces a possible lifelong prison sentence as well as up to $2 million in fines.
But last month, McShane approved Zuberi’s request, stating that he “knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently” made that choice. At trial, Zuberi attempted to make a statement regarding his disapproval of his representation, but the court cut him short.
McShane said, “Their case is only as good as the facts and their client. In this case, they had very little facts to work with and a very difficult client.”
Since the verdict was delivered, Zuberi has been provided a court-appointed defense investigator to assist in procuring trial documents prior to his sentencing on Jan. 17.
At the end of December, Zuberi filed multiple motions (all of which are under seal due to the inclusion of victim information) to review discovery for all seven counts, alleging corruption, prosecutorial misconduct and unconstitutional prosecution.
Zuberi argued that, because the cinderblock cell was destroyed shortly after its discovery, the U.S. government had no case against him.
His legal team later attempted to claim that the structure built in the garage of his rental home was a music studio.
But evidence procured and presented at trial included handcuffs, leg shackles, cell phone jammers and hand-written descriptions of his plan titled, “Operation Takeover.”
President Biden Approves Oregon Major Disaster Declaration
Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Oregon and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires from July 10 to August 23, 2024.
Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the wildfires in the counties of Gilliam, Grant, Umatilla, Wasco, and Wheeler.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Ms. Yolanda J. Jackson of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2025/01/01/president-joseph-r-biden-jr-approves-oregon-major-disaster-declaration/#:~:text=declared%20that%20a%20major%20disaster,10%20to%20August%2023%2C%202024.
Oregon Health Authority Issues Warning After 2 Children Die From Flu
The Oregon Health Authority released concerning stats on this flu season, including multiple deaths and hundreds of hospitalizations. Officials are now urging people to protect themselves.
The new report reveals that two children died in Portland from the flu in December, and hundreds of others were hospitalized.
Nearly 500 people in three counties – Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington – were hospitalized for the flu this season, which is over three times more than hospitalizations last year.
“We’ve seen our pertussis vaccination rates slip over the past few years. It hasn’t been huge, but it’s definitely down. As you probably know, we would like 100% of people to be vaccinated,” said Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA’s Public Health Division. The data shows that fewer and fewer people are getting flu shots. The exact number is down 4% from last year and it has been steadily dropping since 2022.
Body of missing Oregon king tides photographer found
The body of a North Bend man who has been missing since December 15 was found Sunday morning, officials said.
Joseph Neill vanished after going to take pictures of the king tides, which surged that weekend along the Oregon coast. North Bend police, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard and a host of volunteers searched for him in the days and weeks afterward. His car was found near Jordan Point, across the bay from North Bend.
On 01/05/2025, around 9:25 AM, North Coos Dispatch received a call from the Clausen Oysters farm off North Bay Road of a possible deceased person found in Haynes Inlet during the ebb current (outgoing tide).
The deceased person was reportedly found to be on the southern beach area of Haynes Inlet, east of the bridge of Hwy-101 which is near the intersection of North Bay Rd, in North Bend.
Coos County Sheriff’s Office Deputies quickly responded, meeting with the reporting party and discovered the safest access to the scene would require a boat. With the help of the Clausen Oysters staff, they provided the Deputies with transportation to the scene utilizing one of their boats. Upon completion of the body recovery, the Chief Deputy Medical Examiner was requested to respond.
After further investigation, the decedent was identified as Joseph C. Neill.Mr. Neill had been missing since December 15th, 2024, when his personal items had been located on the railroad bridge which spans the Coos Bay at Jordan Point, approximately 1.5 miles west of where Mr. Neill was located.
North Bend Police Department was updated on the findings and Mr. Neill’s family has been notified.CCSO would like to thank the staff of Clausen Oysters for their assistance. The staff at Coos County Sheriff’s Office extends our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Mr. Neill during this difficult time.
Braga Fresh Issues Voluntary and Precautionary Advisory Due to Possible Health Risk – 12-ounce bags if Market Broccoli Florets
Braga Fresh is voluntarily issuing a precautionary advisory of a single production lot of washed and ready-to-eat 12oz Marketside Broccoli Florets with best if used by date Dec 10, 2024.
This product is past its best if used by date and is no longer in stores, but consumers may have frozen the item for later use. Consumers who have this product in their freezers should not consume and discard the product.
This advisory is being initiated due to possibility of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The potential for contamination was discovered during random sampling by Texas Health & Human Services from a Texas store location where one of multiple samples yielded a positive test result.
To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this product.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The specific product involved are 12oz bags of Marketside Broccoli Florets sold at Walmart stores identified by having a UPC code 6 81131 32884 5 on back of bag, with Best if Used by Date Dec 10, 2024, and Lot Code: BFFG327A6 on front of bag. All potentially affected products are past their expiration date and no longer for sale. This voluntary advisory does not apply to any other Marketside or Braga Fresh produced products.
Consumers who have this product in their possession should not consume and discard the product. The only products involved in this advisory can be identified with the following details:
Marketside Broccoli Florets 12oz Bag
| Store: | Walmart |
|---|---|
| Distributed to select stores in: | AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, MT, NV, OH, OK, OR, TX, UT, WA, WY |
| Product UPC Code: | 6 81131 32884 5 |
| Lot Code: | BFFG327A6 |
| Best If Used by Date: | Dec 10, 2024 |
| Pack Size & Packaging: | 12-ounce, bag |
Consumers: with additional questions may contact 877-456-7445: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm PST or email WeCare@bragafresh.com.
St. Helens High Choir Teacher Accused of Sexual Abuse Back in Custody
St. Helens High School choir teacher Eric Stearns is back in custody facing a new indictment with additional sex abuse charges after six additional alleged victims were identified, according to a Columbia County prosecutor. Stearns, 46, turned himself in Saturday afternoon to the Columbia County Jail after police showed up to his home earlier in the day when he wasn’t home.
The new 18-count indictment, filed in court Friday afternoon, alleges sexual abuse of 12 different people, starting
as far back as January 2015 and in some cases continuing through early this school year. He was placed on leave from his job in mid-November. He’s accused of touching students’ lips, necks, buttocks and chests, according to the indictment.
The 18-count indictment now charges Stearns with 13 counts of second-degree abuse, four counts of third-degree sexual abuse and one count of first-degree sexual abuse.
New funding is making it easier than ever for Oregon farmers to become certified organic.
To achieve certification, farmers must go three years without using synthetic additives such as fertilizers or pesticides. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Oregon has launched the Organic Transition Initiative to provide financial and technical support.
Ben Bowell, director of education and advocacy for the group Oregon Tilth, noted the funding is especially valuable because the transition can be costly.
“During that time they have to be farming as organic farmers but they are not able to access an organic crop premium,” Bowell pointed out.
Farmers can also get support through the initiative to develop organic systems for fertilization, building soil and controlling weeds.
Bowell explained the initiative is one of a three-part national USDA Organic Transition Initiative. This five-year program provides mentorship from experienced organic farmers, technical assistance and an organic market development program. He emphasized with the three programs, the combined $300 million investment in organic farming is historic.
“Right now is an amazing time to consider transitioning to organic in terms of all of the support that’s available,” Bowell stated.
Erica Thompson, farm operations manager for the U-pick blueberry farm Blueberry Meadows near Corvallis, which has been in her family since 1993, is a little over a year into the three-year process. She said figuring out a new fertility program and disease management has been a challenge, along with understanding the application and documentation process.
Thompson added working with the Organic Transition Initiative has been helpful. “Being part of it has really solved or like is in the process of solving all my questions and uncertainties,” Thompson observed.
Along with farmers, support is available for ranchers and forest landowners looking to go organic. Applications for the current round of funding are due Jan. 17. (SOURCE)
A push for Oregon’s ‘right to repair’ law to include wheelchairs
Oregon’s right to repair law, which increases consumers’ ability to repair their own electronics, takes effect this week.
The law requires manufacturers to provide access to replacement parts, tools, manuals, as well as digital keys needed so people can fix their own devices.
Charlie Fisher, state director of the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group, helped author the law. He said it needs to go further, which is why, along with disability justice advocates, he is pushing for wheelchairs to be included. Fisher pointed out the current process for getting wheelchairs fixed is overly complicated and takes months.
“Just simple barriers that shouldn’t exist are really what we’re trying to address in this wheelchair right to repair law,” Fisher explained. “It just seems like common sense.”
Fisher noted Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, will introduce two bills this year to expand the right to repair law. One bill would add protections for wheelchairs, the other would simplify the repair process when going through Medicaid.
Wren Grabham, a disability justice activist, has been working on the bills and said additions to the law would require wheelchair manufacturers to post their manuals and allow a person to fix their chair without voiding their warranty.
Grabham noted when she was 16, her electric wheelchair began shutting off and giving an error code. Because there was no public manual for the chair, she did not know what the code meant or if the chair was safe to keep driving. Grabham added fixing it included getting insurance approval, so it took a long time.
“I had to pretty much use an old chair that didn’t fit me for six months,” Grabham recounted.
Grabham emphasized even simple, routine fixes, like getting a new tire or battery for her chair, take months because she has to prove new parts are needed.
“Even though it’s something that we could fix in a weekend, if we were able to actually get the parts to fix them,” Grabham stressed.
The Public Interest Research Group’s research found being able to fix phones, computers and appliances instead of buying new ones will save the average Oregon household more than $300 a year. (SOURCE)
Thirty inmates have been released early from the Coos County Jail after budget constraints forced a reduction in capacity.
The jail’s bed count was cut from 98 to 49 after voters rejected Measure 6-217, which would have funded staff and operations through a tax levy. Released inmates faced charges ranging from misdemeanors to felony property crimes and parole violations. Officials say future releases are likely, prioritizing the detention of inmates with the most severe charges.
On Jan. 1 several new laws went into effect in Oregon
Several new laws are now in effect across Oregon, addressing issues like public safety, healthcare, and environmental concerns.
These include penalties for drug use on public transit, a “right to repair” law for electronics, and a cap on insulin costs at 35 dollars per 30-day supply for insured residents. Other measures aim to enhance school bus safety with stop-arm cameras and boost transparency with recorded school board meetings.
The sale of fluorescent light bulbs became illegal on January 1, 2025, to encourage Oregonians to switch to energy-efficient LED lighting.
Additionally, Oregon plans to divest from coal companies and increase voter pamphlet translations to ten languages per county.
Bird Flu Alert: Northwest Naturals Recalls Feline Raw & Frozen Pet Food Due to HPAI Contamination
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is alerting pet owners that samples of Northwest Naturals brand two-pound turkey recipe raw and frozen pet food tested positive for a H5N1 strain of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus.
Testing conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) and the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (ODVL) at Oregon State University confirmed a house cat in Washington County contracted H5N1 and died after consuming the raw frozen pet food. Tests confirmed a genetic match between the virus in the raw and frozen pet food and the infected cat.
“We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food,” said ODA state veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz. “This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not exposed to the virus in its environment, and results from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and infected cat were exact matches to each other.”
Northwest Naturals, a Portland, Oregon-based company, is voluntarily recalling its Northwest Naturals brand two-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw & frozen pet food. The recalled product is packaged in two-pound plastic bags with “Best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1. The product was sold nationwide through distributors in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MI, MN, PA, RI and WA in the United States, and British Columbia in Canada.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and local public health officials are monitoring household members who had contact with the cat for flu symptoms. To date, no human cases of HPAI have been linked to this incident, and the risk of HPAI transmission to humans remains low in Oregon. Since 2022, OHA has partnered with ODA through a One Health approach to investigate human exposures to animal outbreaks of avian influenza. (SOURCE)
You’ll need a Real ID to fly domestically, starting in May of 2025, that’s unless you have a passport or enhanced driver’s license issued by several states.
The deadline is May 7, 2025, but you probably don’t want to wait until the last minute to get your Real ID. You can apply for your Real ID driver’s license or ID card through your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Real IDs are marked with a star on the top of the card. Real IDs will also be needed to access certain federal facilities. Congress mandated the real IDs in 2005 on the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.
AmeriCorps NCCC Partnership Boosts Oregon’s Emergency Response
Join us in strengthening Oregon’s resilience by hosting an AmeriCorps NCCC team to support your community’s disaster response and recovery efforts!
Oregon is taking a significant step forward in enhancing its emergency response capabilities through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between OregonServes and the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). This strategic partnership represents a collaborative effort to bolster statewide disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
For more information on this partnership contact: Jennifer Denning Disaster Services Coordinator, OregonServes Jennifer.l.denning@hecc.oregon.gov.
What is AmeriCorps NCCC?
AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, team-based program for young adults aged 18-26. Members commit to a term of national service, which can include critical disaster response and recovery services. Through this partnership, NCCC teams will be integrated into Oregon’s disaster preparedness framework, offering vital support before, during, and after disasters.
Key Benefits of the Partnership:
This partnership brings several critical advantages to Oregon communities, including:
- NCCC teams work on a variety of projects filling critical gaps in local resources.
- NCCC members collaborate with local communities to strengthen response efforts, thereby accelerating recovery and repopulation of residents.
- NCCC teams focus on ensuring that underserved and vulnerable populations receive critical resources and assistance during emergencies, bridging equity gaps in disaster response and recovery.
- By integrating local resources with national service members, this partnership enhances Oregon’s capacity to build resilient communities.
Key Dates:
Nationally, NCCC Disaster Service Applications are received throughout the year. For purposes of the NCCC-OregonServes MOU, Pacific Region teams or Summer of Service can serve during these timelines (precise dates will vary year-to-year):
- November 1 – December 16
- January 8- April 16
- April 24 – July 23 (Traditional program applications due, February 7, 2025)
- Summer of Service June 20 – August 1
How to Apply to Be a Disaster Response AmeriCorps Volunteer:
First, download the application instructions below. Then, complete the Service Project Application for Disaster Response. No Project Concept Form is required.
Please note: Download the following document directly to your computer. Open and complete the document using Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat.
Applications and questions should be submitted to: NCCCPRTerritory2@americorps.gov.
Want to Make Your Organization a Project Sponsor?
Nonprofit and faith-based organizations, government entities, public schools, and universities, as well as tribal and native nations are eligible to apply. Organizations complete an application detailing the need and project design and NCCC will review submissions and make a final determination. To learn more about AmeriCorps NCCC and how to apply, please visit the AmeriCorps NCCC webpage.
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.
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