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 27, 2025
Rogue Valley Weather
Active Weather Alerts
...AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PST THURSDAY... ...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING... * WHAT...For the Air Stagnation Advisory, a strong inversion and stagnant air conditions near the surface will trap pollutants possibly leading to poor air quality. For the Cold Weather Advisory, very cold temperatures as low as 14. * WHERE...Central Douglas County, Eastern Curry County, Josephine County, and Jackson County, including Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass, Roseburg, Cave Junction, and all surrounding areas. * WHEN...For the Air Stagnation Advisory, until noon PST Thursday. For the Cold Weather Advisory, until 10 AM PST this morning. * IMPACTS...Poor air quality may cause issues for people with respiratory problems. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures.
Medford Firefighter Strike Teams Back Home
Death Reported at Mt. Ashland Ski Area
Mt. Ashland announced the death of a 76-year-old skier on Friday, January 24, 2025.
The skier died after colliding with a tree on Windsor Chairline, a Black Diamond-rated slope that runs below the ski area’s Windsor chairlift. The skier was reportedly wearing a helmet, according to a quote from Mt. Ashland ski patrol in the release.
“Our team is heartbroken by this loss,” writes Andrew Gast, General Manager of Mt. Ashland. “The Mt. Ashland community is tight-knit, and we share a deep bond with everyone connected to our mountain. We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated staff, Ski Patrollers, Ashland Fire and Rescue, and Mercy Flights for their swift and compassionate response. On behalf of our entire team, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends grieving during this difficult time.”
The name of the individual has not been released at this time. Our thoughts and condolences are with the skier’s friends and family during this time.
The 99-South corridor between Phoenix north to Glenwood Rd. is undergoing construction to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The construction project began in November of 2024, working to install sidewalks, widen the road, add pedestrian crosswalks and install bike-lanes. Construction is expected to continue until Spring of 2026. More details can be found here: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/projects/pages/project-details.aspx?project=22384
2 Alarm Structure Fire on Abbie Lane
Sunday, 01/26/2025, at 3:55am Jackson County Fire District #1 responded to a report of a structure fire in the 5500 block of Abbie Lane. Crews arrived to find a detached 50’x50’ shop fully involved. Due to the size of the fire a second alarm was quickly called.
Crews from Grants Pass Fire, Jackson County Fire District 3, Evans Valley Fire District #6, and Rural Metro Fire – Josephine County arrived to provide more man power to put out the blaze. There were no injuries as a result of this incident. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Siletz Celebrate Historic Land Back Deal at Table Rocks
A stretch of land in Southern Oregon with historical significance — including the likely location of a treaty signing and near the site of a massacre — is returning to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.
The Siletz announced the historic land return in November with the purchase of approximately 2,000 acres of privately owned land adjacent to the Table Rocks preserve, just north of Medford, Oregon.
“It’s the most historic piece of land that we could possibly get,” said Delores Pigsley, chairman of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.
‘Homelands within our homelands’
The Upper and Lower Table Rocks are central to many Takelma origin stories. Takelma is one of the prominent Native languages of Southern Oregon used by multiple Native nations, according to Robert Kentta, a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the tribal council treasurer.
The area is where the Treaty of Table Rock was signed, on Sept. 10, 1853, between the United States government and local Native nations, establishing a temporary reservation on the north side of the Rogue River that included the Upper and Lower Table Rock.
The treaty created the first confederation of Oregon tribes and was the first treaty signed by any Native nation in the West to be ratified by the U.S. Senate.
For the region’s tribes, this time period was marked by hostilities at the hands of the U.S. government and colonial settlers moving into Oregon Territory. Two years after the signing of the treaty, in October 1855, more than 20 Indigenous people, mostly women and children, were massacred while camping near Table Rocks. The Rogue River War ensued, in which numerous Native people were killed. After the war ended in 1856, much of the Indigenous population in southwestern Oregon was removed, with many Natives ultimately ending up on the “Coast Reservation,” now called the Siletz Reservation.
Referred to as the Rogue River Tribe of Indians by the U.S. government, the tribal confederation represented people who lived in the valleys of the upper Rogue River, with Table Rocks at the center. The area was primarily home to the Takelma, Latgawa, Shasta, Applegate (Da-ku-be-te-de) and Galice (Tal-dash-dan-te-de) people, according to the Siletz News.
“This is a historic moment that reconnects the Siletz Tribe to its ancestors, history and treaties signed near Table Rock,” Pigsley said in a media release. “It is a great honor to return this special land to Indian stewardship.”
Pigsley remembers drives to California with her father as a young girl. He would point out the window as they passed Table Rocks and talk about the significance for their ancestors.
Kentta has similar memories.
“Since I was a kid, summertime or spring break, we might take a trip up the Rogue Valley and go up the Applegate River Valley where my great-grandfather was brought at the end of the Rogue River Wars,” Kentta said. “We have made trips as a family for going on 60 years, reconnecting there, but always as visitors where we had no foothold, no ownership, no place to call home there anymore. Now with this purchase, we have homelands within our homelands.”
The Siletz had long been in consultation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), The Nature Conservancy and others regarding the stewardship of the land.
Kentta first became aware of the property six or so years ago after having a conversation with staff at The Nature Conservancy. He brought the idea of purchasing the land to the tribal council, setting in motion the historic land deal.
The property was purchased directly from the previous landowner. The Nature Conservancy preserves a conservation easement on the land. The Siletz will continue to work closely with The Nature Conservancy and the BLM across the properties in the region to emphasize conservation and restoration.
“To me, land back means, in its purest form, its return of lands to a tribe,” Kentta said. “This is through purchase, and a significant amount paid out for the purchase. So for us, that is regaining of land back, but it’s not a settlement or apology for things that happened in the past.”
Expanding access to first foods
Moving forward, the tribe’s goal is to create opportunities for Siletz tribal members to access the historically significant land while safeguarding its character. The nation plans to work on preservation and restoration, focusing on protecting the natural area rather than developing it.
“There will be big opportunities for restoration and enhancement of the food plants themselves,” Kentta said. “[And] also enhancing tribal members’ access to use of and reconnection with those resources that we’ve been separated from.”
Kentta mentioned some important first foods of the region that he hopes will become a focus at the property, including camas, tarweed and yampah root. The land will also be used for other cultural purposes.
Chairman Pigsley spoke of her hope that future generations of Siletz people will be able to go up to the rocks, hearing important stories and learning about the plant and animal relatives all around. https://www.underscore.news/land/siletz-celebrate-historic-land-back-deal/ 
Large-Scale Drug Investigation Culminates in Arrests, Drug Seizures, and Multiple Search Warrants in Jackson County
For the past two years, the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement team (MADGE) has been investigating a local drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting significant quantities of narcotics into the area. In March 2024, the Jackson County Circuit Court authorized MADGE to begin digital surveillance of this organization, enabling investigators to identify individuals and relationships suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering. The investigation revealed that the organization, led by 40-year-old Carlos Diaz-Lourdes of Eagle Point, operated as a family-run enterprise importing narcotics into Jackson County from outside the region.
In November 2024, MADGE obtained six Title III wiretap orders to intercept communications among organization members. Using these wiretaps, investigators developed additional leads and identified more suspects.
Between January 16 and January 22, 2025, MADGE and its partner agencies carried out tactical operations throughout Jackson County, including the arrest of Carlos Diaz and the execution of 14 search warrants on residences and vehicles spanning from Prospect to Medford.
Key Arrests and Charges – The following individuals, identified as major contributors to the organization, were arrested and charged with drug trafficking and money laundering-related offenses:
- Carlos Diaz-Lourdes, 40, Eagle Point, Oregon
- John Steven Diaz, 32, Eagle Point, Oregon
- Steven John Diaz, 32, Los Angeles, California
- Eileen Diaz, 38, Eagle Point, Oregon
- Nyah Rayne Yeoman, 22, Medford, Oregon
- Mayra Miranda, 30, Medford, Oregon
- Brian Caro, 27, White City, Oregon
- Ryan Lyle Hall, 43, Prospect, Oregon
Additionally, 12 other individuals have been arrested, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office has filed multiple indictments related to this case.
Seized Items
During the investigation, MADGE seized approximately 10 pounds of narcotics, including:
- Methamphetamine
- Cocaine
- Fentanyl pills
- Iso-Fentanyl powder
- Heroin
Other seized items included $210,000 in cash and approximately 50 firearms, many of which were short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and ghost guns (firearms assembled without serial numbers).
Partnerships and Acknowledgments — The Medford Police Department recognizes the critical contributions of local, state, and federal agencies in dismantling high-level drug trafficking organizations. MADGE was supported in this investigation by:
- Oregon State Police
- Eagle Point Police Department
- Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
- Jackson County Community Corrections
- Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
About MADGE — MADGE is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that focuses on identifying, disrupting, and dismantling local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations. Using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach supported by prosecutors, MADGE works collaboratively with partner agencies. The task force is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and includes members from the Medford Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle Point Police Department, District Attorney’s Office, Parole and Probation, HSI, and FBI.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is a counter-drug initiative sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) that provides funding and resources to multi-agency enforcement efforts like MADGE.
This press release references Medford Police Case Number 24-1394. The investigation is ongoing, and additional arrests are anticipated.
Grants Pass Enforcing Camping Ordinance at 7th Street Resting Site
Oregon’s effort to recoup some of the millions of dollars wasted on what state officials say turned out to be defective modular housing for survivors of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires has so far yielded a small fraction of what the state spent.
The state paid an average of $170,700 per unit to purchase the two-bed, one-bath homes in 2021. In recent months, some of those homes sold at auction for an average of $37,200, or about 22 cents on the dollar, state records show.
Oregon is now suing the housing broker for the deal, Pacific Housing Partners, as well as the manufacturer, Nashua Homes of Idaho Inc., alleging construction defects and seeking nearly $11.8 million.
Rep. Pam Marsh, an Ashland Democrat whose district had been slated to receive many of the modular homes, also declined to comment on the auction. But she said state officials made the right decision to offload the units rather than attempt to repair problems, saying wildfire survivors had lost confidence in the housing.
Gaming Already Underway at Coquille Tribe’s Just-Approved Medford Casino Amid Lawsuit by Competing Tribes
The Coquille Indian Tribe didn’t waste any time offering video game gambling in Medford starting Sunday in the wake of a U.S. Department of Interior decision last week paving the way for a Class II-type casino.
“It’s been 12 years, and we’re not waiting any longer,” said Ray Doering, director of public affairs and compliance with Tribal One, part of the Coquille Tribe. “We wanted to establish that this is what we’re doing.”
The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, owners of Seven Feathers Casino and Resort in Canyonville, on Tuesday referred to the Coquille move as an operation that started “illegally in the dark of night.” (SOURCE)
Almost 90 non-profits in the region and several organizations that serve multiple counties are getting more than $750,000 from the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation (CCUIF).
CCUIF has awarded over $25 million across Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Coos, Lane, and Deschutes counties since it was established in 1997.
Carma Monorich of the Tribe says “The work of non-profit organizations is tireless and highly important to our communities. The Asante Foundation, Hearts with a Mission, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley, Rogue Valley Farm to School, and Rogue Retreat, to name a few, are each getting $10,000.
CASA of Jackson County is getting $12,000 to train new mentors for kids in foster care. Additionally, Medford’s Compass House is getting $7,500 to help support staff who work directly with mentally ill individuals.
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.
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’s going on five years now since Fauna Frey, 45, disappeared in Josephine County 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
Providence workers enter third week of strike as Oregon’s Congressional delegation presses for deal
Seven members of Oregon’s Congressional delegation are pressing Providence Health to reach an agreement with nearly 5,000 striking healthcare workers, marking escalating pressure on the hospital system as the work stoppage enters its third week.
In a letter sent Friday to Providence leadership, the lawmakers urged the healthcare system to “engage in good faith bargaining” with doctors, nurses and clinical staff who have been on strike since Jan. 10.
The group includes Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Maxine Dexter and Janelle Bynum.
“Nurses, doctors, and other Oregonians on the strike lines told us they are striking because they don’t have the resources to provide the quality of care that Oregonians deserve and expect,” the lawmakers wrote. “They’ve told us that the strike is not only for competitive wages and benefits, but also for safer staffing levels.”
The delegation emphasized the mounting costs of the prolonged dispute and urged a swift resolution.
“We know that the costs of this strike are significant,” the letter stated. “Providers are going without pay because they understand that working conditions need to change. Providence is paying significant amounts of money to hire and train replacement staff while the strike continues.”
Providence said in an email to KGW that negotiators are continuing to work closely with federal mediators. However, the current proposals from the union are not financially sustainable.
Providence has stated previously they believe, only the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) can decide to end the strike. The health corporation continues to anticipate a lengthy walkout.
ONA representing the striking workers, criticized Providence’s approach to negotiations.
“Providence is not currently approaching negotiations seriously, offering contracts that do not meet the needs of frontline caregivers and patients throughout Oregon,” the ONA said in a statement.
The strike affects 11 Providence bargaining units across Oregon, including doctors, certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners and other clinical staff.
“The Providence system is a critical part of Oregon’s health care infrastructure,” the delegation wrote. “It’s past time to agree on a fair contract–for the nurses, doctors, and other staff who care for Oregonians, and for all of those who receive care at Providence.” == Neither Providence or ONA have indicated when negotiations might resume.
Despite negotiations currently underway, the ONA healthcare workers strike at multiple Providence locations across the state is now on day 13 with both sides continuing to blame the other.
The hospital system and 5,000 union represented frontline healthcare workers have returned to the bargaining table through federal mediators.
However, the union claims Providence is not taking negotiations seriously, offering what they call regressive proposals to supposedly punish caregivers for exercising their right to strike.
5,000 frontline caregivers from eight hospitals and six clinics across Oregon went on strike for reasons beyond fair compensation, but a systemic crisis affecting patient care, staffing safety, health insurance benefits, and healthcare delivery. At the core of negotiation will be key issues that include:
- Resolution of systemic unsafe staffing issues documented across facilities
- Addressing health insurance and benefits disparities
- Implementation of necessary patient safety measures
- Market-competitive wages that will attract and retain skilled healthcare professionals.
A reminder to patients from doctors, nurses and caregivers: If you are sick, please do not delay getting medical care. Patients who need hospital or clinical care immediately should go to receive care. We would prefer to provide your care ourselves, but Providence executives’ refusal to continue meeting with caregivers has forced us onto the picket line to advocate for you, our communities, and our colleagues. Going into a hospital or clinic to get the care you need is NOT crossing our strike line. We invite you to come join us on the strike line after you’ve received the care you need. Community members can visit www.OregonRN.org/PatientsBeforeProfits to sign a petition to support frontline healthcare workers, get updates and find out how else they can help.
ODF’s six strike teams return home from California after two-week assignment
SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) welcomes back 70 firefighters who’ve been assigned to the fires in Los Angeles County, California for the past two weeks. While in California, the six strike teams were split between the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire.
“We’re happy to help however we can when we receive the call from one of our partner states,” said Chris Cline, ODF’s Fire Protection Division Chief. “By strengthening our inter-state relationships and agreements, we can provide reciprocal support to one another by sending resources through faster channels.”
The firefighters went to California under state-to-state mutual assistance agreements, which create a reciprocal cache of resources all parties can access when needed. This is especially vital when local and national ordering systems are overtaxed. Partnerships like these are critical to quick, nimble response in today’s wildfire environment and can quickly bolster a requesting state’s capabilities.
“We call this the complete and coordinated fire system,” Cline explained. “The relationships built through deployments like these benefit Oregon when our fire season hits its peak.”
When wildfire activity is low in Oregon, like during winter, firefighters can be spared to help in places experiencing high levels of wildfire. Oregon can and has called on those same states to send firefighters and equipment when wildfires here exceed local capacity. Most recently, Oregon gratefully welcomed 21 firefighters from California to help fill middle management gaps during the 2024 fire season. Overall, Oregon brought in more than 500 people through agreements ODF has with more than 20 states and Canadian provinces and territories.
Additionally, sending ODF firefighters on out-of-state deployments helps them grow as firefighters. In addition to expanding their professional networks outside of Oregon, firefighters learn new suppression tactics and gain experience fighting fire in different environments. The skills and lessons learned brought back from these off-season deployments are then applied to better protect Oregonians, communities and our state’s natural resources.
Earthquakes Off the Coast of Oregon
A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck off the Oregon coast late Friday night, according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network: https://pnsn.org. The seismic event was recorded at 9:36 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located approximately 125 miles west of Coos Bay.
Authorities have reported no damage or injuries resulting from the earthquake, and no tsunami warnings have been issued.
While multiple sources have reported the event as a magnitude 4.7 quake, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) also documented a separate seismic occurrence earlier in the day. The USGS reported a magnitude 2.7 earthquake at 5:39 a.m. UTC (9:39 p.m. PST), centered approximately 190 kilometers (118 miles) west-southwest of Port Orford, Oregon. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), with coordinates recorded at 42.421°N latitude and 126.772°W longitude.
Officials are urging residents who may have felt the earthquake to report their experiences through the USGS’s “Did You Feel It?” program, which collects valuable data on ground shaking and regional impacts.
For additional details and to access interactive seismic activity maps, visit the official USGS and PNSN websites.
House Fire in Camas Threatens Nearby Homes and Forest
A house under construction in Camas was destroyed by a fire early Sunday morning while firefighters worked to protect several nearby homes, according to East County Fire & Rescue.
Just after 4:30 a.m., crews were sent to a residential fire on Northeast Livingston Mountain Circle. They found a 12,000-square-foot, single-family home under construction in flames, as well as nearby vegetation.
The wind had started several fires up to 1,500 feet from the initial house, threatening several other homes and the surrounding forest.
Oregon Courts Purge 47,000 Past Evictions From People’s Records
The Oregon state courts system has sealed about 47,000 evictions from Oregonians’ records, the Oregon Judicial Department said.
The department sealed the residential evictions from people’s records by mid-December to comply with House Bill 2001, a 2023 law the Legislature passed. The law was passed to address housing evictions that show up on people’s records and affect their ability to rent and access housing.
With the law, those 47,000 evictions do not show up in background checks and essentially disappear. In the past, those cases could have led to the denial of rental applications.
“This work will implement current protections under Oregon law,” said Sybil Hebb, director of legislative advocacy for the Oregon Law Center, which provides free legal aid to Oregonians for a variety of issues, including housing. “It will help a lot of people by removing barriers to housing stability, which is especially critical during this housing crisis.”
The law applies to cases where the court entered a judgment after Jan. 1, 2014. Evictions also have to meet other requirements and timelines. For example, if the court ordered the eviction but the tenant did not owe money, five years need to have passed.
For cases with monetary awards, the judgement needs to be paid off, expired or discharged in bankruptcy court.
The law requires courts to start removing records that meet the criteria by the end of 2024.
As a result, judicial department staff manually reviewed about 160,000 evictions to determine eligibility.
The state still has a backlog of about 50,000 cases to review, with the goal of sealing eligible cases by the end of 2025.
New cases will be reviewed every year.
People can learn whether their past eviction was set aside and request a copy of their set-aside order on the judicial department’s eviction set-asides webpage. Tenants can glean more information about the eviction process and their rights at Oregon Law Help, a free legal information website from the Oregon State Bar. (SOURCE)
Oregon’s Federal Employees Ordered Back To The Office
Oregon has the fourth-highest share of federal workers who work remotely, which could cause an exodus after President Trump ordered all such employees to return to the office full time.
Why it matters: Trump’s return-to-office executive order is part of a broader effort to cut the size of the bureaucracy.
- Yes, but: Experts told Axios’ Emily Peck that the federal government will have a tougher time attracting and retaining talented employees.
By the numbers: Of the nearly 40,000 federal workers in Oregon, more than 17% said they worked from home at least once per week, per data from the U.S. Census.
- That’s well above the national average of 12.7%.
- It’s also higher than any other state or district except Maryland, Vermont and Washington, D.C.
What they’re saying: “Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome,” Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who stepped down from DOGE, wrote last year in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece.
Zoom in: It’s not just the federal government, either.
- Mayor Keith Wilson recently announced that roughly 700 city managers and supervisors would be required to work in-office, full time.
- That move came after Wilson originally said all 7,000 city employees would need to work in person, a position he backtracked from after receiving pushback from labor unions. (SOURCE)
Oregon health officials called out three health care organizations this week for unreasonably driving up Oregonians’ medical costs.
The state in 2021 set a cap on annual spending growth for health care organizations at 3.4% per person, part of a regulatory bid to rein in rising health care costs. The Oregon Legislature authorized the program in 2019 and updated the law in 2021.
The Oregon Health Authority on Wednesday flagged three organizations for overshooting this limit between 2021 and 2022 without justifying the increase. They include Eugene-based Oregon Medical Group and two insurers, Moda
Health and UnitedHealthcare, both of which managed Medicare Advantage plans. Optum and UnitedHealthcare did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians announced they have been rewarded with a three-year $1.56M grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support efforts to return sea otters to the Oregon & Northern California coasts!
Through the America the Beautiful Challenge, CTSI and partners like the Elakha Alliance, CTCLUSI, Yurok Tribe, and Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation will lead this Indigenous-driven project: Bringing Xvlh-t’vsh Home. The grant will fund reintroduction planning, key studies, and building coastal support to restore this culturally significant keystone species.
Sea otters not only support marine ecosystems like kelp forests and estuaries, but their return marks a vital step in ecological and cultural restoration. Read full press release: https://www.elakhaalliance.org/siletz-tribe-receives…/
Oregon’s Nonfarm Payroll Employment Drops by 3,700 in December
In December, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 3,700 jobs, following a revised increase of 3,700 jobs in November. December’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+1,900 jobs) and government (+700). Declines were largest in leisure and hospitality (-1,900 jobs); manufacturing (-1,800); financial activities (-1,000); and retail trade (-900).
Health care and social assistance continued its rapid, consistent pace of hiring, adding 18,100 jobs, or 6.2%, in the past 12 months. Within this industry, social assistance added the most jobs, gaining 9,200 jobs, or 12.2%, since December 2023. The three health care industries each added between 3,300 and 4,400 jobs during that time.
December’s growth in government also capped off a year of strong performance. Its 7,000-job gain (+2.3%) was the second fastest growth over the year.
Leisure and hospitality cut 3,200 jobs in the past two months. It employed 204,000 in December, which was 3,000 below its average during January 2023 through October 2024.
Cutbacks of 1,500 jobs within semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing contributed most of the December employment reductions in manufacturing. Over the year, manufacturing dropped 2,500 jobs (-1.3%). Several durable goods manufacturing industries have shed jobs in the past 12 months: wood product manufacturing (-500 jobs, or -2.2%); machinery manufacturing (-300 jobs, or -2.2%); and transportation equipment manufacturing (-600 jobs, or -5.3%).
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1% in December and 4.0%, as revised, in November. The rate has consistently remained between 4.0% and 4.2% since October 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1% in December and 4.2% in November.
Oregon joins lawsuit over Trump attempt to end birthright citizenship — Judge grants request to temporarily block Trump’s birthright citizenship order
A federal judge in Seattle on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.
U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour’s ruling in a case brought by Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Illinois is the first in what is sure to be a long legal fight over the order’s constitutionality.
Coughenour called the order “blatantly unconstitutional.”
“I have difficulty understanding how a member of the bar could state unequivocally that this is a constitutional order,” the judge told the Trump administration’s attorney. “It boggles my mind.”
Coughenour’s decision came after 25 minutes of arguments between attorneys for Washington state and the Department of Justice.
On Tuesday, Attorney General Nick Brown, along with peers in Oregon, Arizona and Illinois, sued the Trump administration over the order. Shortly after filing the lawsuit, the states asked Coughenour to grant a 14-day temporary restraining order stopping the executive action from taking effect nationwide.
In Oregon, Attorney General Dan Rayfield welcomed the ruling, saying it protects the rights of all children in the state.
“Today was a huge victory,” Rayfield said in a statement. “In terms of the next steps, this temporary restraining order preserves the status quo for now. In the meantime, the states in the other birthright citizenship case in Massachusetts are also arguing for a preliminary injunction.”
Eighteen other states filed a similar lawsuit in federal court in Massachusetts.
Trump signed the executive order shortly after he was sworn into office on Monday. It would end birthright citizenship for babies born to a mother and father who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
Brett Shumate, of the Department of Justice, argued the rush for an emergency pause is unwarranted because the order doesn’t go into effect until Feb. 19. He called the state’s motion “extraordinary.”
Attorneys for the state acknowledged the temporary restraining order is extraordinary, but warranted. Washington would lose federal dollars used to provide services to citizens and officials would be forced to modify those service systems.
The order is “causing immediate widespread and severe harm,” said Lane Polozola, of the Washington attorney general’s office. “Citizens are being stripped of their most foundational right, which is the right to have rights.”
Addressing reporters after the hearing, Brown said while the executive order doesn’t go into effect for nearly a month, it forces states to start preparing now for the change.
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution codified birthright citizenship in 1868. It begins: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
The executive order focuses on the “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” phrase.
“The Fourteenth Amendment has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States,” Trump’s order reads. “The Fourteenth Amendment has always excluded from birthright citizenship persons who were born in the United States but not ‘subject to the jurisdiction thereof.’”
Polozola called this interpretation “absurd,” saying children without legal immigration status are still subject to U.S. law. He added birthright citizenship is a right that is “off limits.”
Legal precedent has long backed up birthright citizenship. In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the concept when justices ruled Wong Kim Ark, a man born in San Francisco to Chinese parents, was a U.S. citizen.
In 2022, about 153,000 babies were born to two parents without legal immigration status across the country, including 4,000 in Washington state, according to the lawsuit filed this week.
Coughenour has been a federal judge for decades. Republican President Ronald Reagan nominated him for the bench in 1981.
Brown called Thursday’s hearing “step one.”
“But to hear the judge from the bench say that in his 40 years as a judge, he has never seen something so ‘blatantly unconstitutional’ sets the tone for the seriousness of this effort,” Brown said.
Video and audio recording were not allowed in the courtroom Thursday.
Looking forward, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals would have jurisdiction over the case. Democratic presidents appointed a majority of the circuit court’s judges. Appeals could eventually land the dispute before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Shumate said the case will almost certainly end up there. But Brown said he’s taking it “one step at a time.”
“I see no reason why in a court of appeals, or even the United States Supreme Court, would reach a different decision than was reached today,” Brown told reporters.
A court hearing on a preliminary injunction to pause the executive order while litigation is ongoing is set for Feb. 6.
In court filings this week, state officials, academics and nonprofit leaders explained how the order could have detrimental effects on Washington, including losing federal reimbursements for a variety of social programs.
Tom Wong, an assistant professor at University of California, San Diego, retained by the state, wrote the order will create a “permanent underclass of people who are excluded from U.S. citizenship and are thus not able to realize their full potential.”
Congressional Republicans on Thursday introduced legislation to restrict birthright citizenship. The bill would amend federal immigration law to only allow children to be U.S. citizens if one of their parents is a citizen, a green card holder or a legal immigrant serving in the military.
The Bootleg Fire 3 years ago is still being studied by many forest officials, lobbyists and other groups.
A large Oregon forest meant to offset planet warming emissions was badly burned three years ago in that summer’s wildfire, and the project had to be pulled from a carbon credit market that aims to fight against climate change.
Now, its owners want to re-enter some of those burned acres into California’s carbon market, which generates credits based on the amount of emissions stored by trees.
When trees are burned, they release some of those stored emissions, but the owners, Green Diamond Resource Company, maintain that the scorched land still offers some climate benefits.
The move would mark a first, and it worries critics. They say that the land is already in an area ripe for wildfires, and they’re concerned that re-enrolling high-risk land would set a precedent that could undermine carbon crediting markets, which mark one approach to curtailing harmful emissions.
In 2021, the Bootleg Fire burned a quarter of the 435,000-acre Klamath East carbon project. In response, the California Air Resources Board removed the project from its carbon offset market last year because it could no longer meet its promise of capturing and storing the hundreds of thousands of metric tons of carbon dioxide that was promised.
But recently Green Diamond asked the board to enroll four new forest carbon offset projects in the same area of southern Oregon — including 48,000 acres of the former Klamath East project that burned in the Bootleg Fire. Though a first, the re-enrollment would not be against the rules of California’s government-regulated carbon market, said officials at the California Air Resources Board, provided the trees are not double counted. This means the carbon capture power of previously registered trees cannot be included in the new plan.
The new projects have not been approved but the request is raising concerns among watchdogs who fear it would compromise the integrity of California’s carbon market and encourage the development of projects in areas with a high fire risk and low climate benefit.
Half of hospitals throughout Oregon are operating in the red, because of underfunding by Medicaid.
Becky Hultberg, executive director of the Hospital Association of Oregon, says the Oregon Health Plan underpaid hospitals a billion dollars in 2023 and that continues. They want the Legislature to approve more funding. Lawmakers will have a difficult time coming up with the extra money, because it faces its own budget trouble. The Trump Administration is also considering cuts to Medicaid.
Oregonians looking to renew their vehicle registration and get new tags can now do so at a handful of Fred Meyer stores around the state
The self-service express kiosks from Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services are designed to give Oregonians another way to renew their registration besides at a DMV office, online or by mail, according to a news release.
The kiosks are located in Fred Meyer locations in Salem and Eugene as well as in Beaverton, Bend, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Medford, Oak Grove and Tualatin. A location in Portland is coming soon and the DMV said it plans to offer more kiosks around the state in the future.
In Salem, the kiosk is at the Fred Meyer located at 3740 Market St. NE and allows users to pay by cash, credit or debit card. In Eugene, it’s located at the Fred Meyer at 3333 W 11th Ave. and will only allow payment via debit or credit card.
“We see these kiosks as a way to improve customer service, access and equity,” DMV administrator Amy Joyce said in the news release. “This program is the latest effort aimed at improving the DMV experience for our customers.”
The kiosks are ADA-accessible and registration renewal can be completed in English and Spanish. Users will be charged a $4.95 vendor fee for each transaction.
Customers will need to bring identification (license, permit, or ID card), insurance information and registration renewal notice. — Vehicle registration cards and license plate stickers will be printed after the transaction.
Registration Is Now Open For The Bob Ross-inspired Happy Little (Virtual) 5K Run for the Trees
Oregon Parks Forever — Inspired by American painter and PBS television personality Bob Ross’ love of the outdoors, Oregon Parks Forever is sponsoring a virtual 5K race to help plant trees in Oregon’s parks & forests. Registration is now open for the 2025 Run for the Trees at www.orparksforever.org.
Participants can run, walk, hike, skate, paddle or roll to complete their 5K anywhere outdoors anytime between April 19 and 27 (covering Earth Day and Arbor Day). Participants are encouraged to register by April 1 to ensure that your swag arrives before the event week. If you register after April 1, you may not receive your swag before race week. Registration will close on April 15.
For $36 per person, each participant will receive a keepsake Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number and a finisher’s medal. All Oregon race proceeds support tree planting and forest protection efforts in Oregon parks. Ten trees will be planted in Oregon for each registration.
Gather your friends, family and/or colleagues and create your own walk or run. Make it fun!
Initially, the “Happy Little Trees” program began with a partnership between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Bob Ross Inc., with hundreds of volunteers helping to plant “happy little trees” at locations hard-hit by invasive pests and tree diseases. The partnership quickly expanded to include the Run for the Trees / Happy Little (Virtual) 5K.
As the Happy Little 5K gained popularity, more states have joined the effort. Now in its fifth year, the Happy Little 5K has expanded its reach to include ten other states. Together, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland and Virginia will “lock arms” as they help raise awareness and funding for stewardship efforts in each state’s parks.
“We are thrilled to partner with Bob Ross, Inc. and these other ten states on the Happy Little 5K concept as a way to honor the late Bob Ross and create a legacy event to plant trees,” said Seth Miller, Executive Director of Oregon Parks Forever.”
Oregon Parks Forever joined this event as an expansion of our efforts to fund the replanting of trees killed by wildfires, heat domes and invasive insects. Over the past three years, Oregon Parks Forever has been able to fund the replanting of more than 800,000 trees across Oregon.
“The official Bob Ross 5K is probably our most favorite initiative,” says Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Company. “It’s the perfect blend of everything Bob held dear; nature, taking care of the environment, and happy trees too of course. He would have been so pleased to see how it’s getting so popular around the world.” — Learn more about the program at http://www.orparksforever.org
IRS Direct File, Direct File Oregon Will Be Available When Income Tax Return Processing Begins January 27
Salem, OR— Free electronic filing through the combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon will open January 27 when both the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue begin processing e-filed 2024 federal and state income tax returns. Paper-filed return processing will begin in mid-February.
Taxpayers are encouraged to use the IRS Eligibility Checker to see if they qualify to file directly with the IRS and the state.
E-filed returns will be processed in the order they are received. However, as in years past, the department won’t be issuing personal income tax refunds until after February 15. A refund hold is part of the department’s tax fraud prevention efforts and allows for confirmation that the amounts claimed on tax returns match what employers and payers report on Forms W-2 and 1099.
E-filing is the fastest way for a taxpayer to get their refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund two weeks sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks.
The department reminds taxpayers that taking a few easy steps in the next few weeks can make preparing their 2024 tax return easier in 2025.
Free filing options open January 27 — In addition to IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon, other free filing options will also open January 27. Free guided tax preparation is available from several companies for taxpayers that meet income requirements. Free fillable forms are available for all income levels. Using links from the department’s website ensures that both taxpayers’ federal and state return will be filed for free.
Free and low-cost tax help — Free tax preparation services are available for low- to moderate-income taxpayers through AARP and CASH Oregon. United Way also offers free tax help through their MyFreeTaxes program. Visit the Department of Revenue website to take advantage of the software and free offers and get more information about free tax preparation services.
Voluntary self-identification of race and ethnicity information — New for 2025, Oregon taxpayers and Oregonians can voluntarily provide information about their race and ethnicity on Form OR-VSI when they file their 2024 taxes. Providing this information may be done separately from a tax return through Revenue Online. The information will be confidential. It can only be used for research purposes to analyze potential inequities in tax policy. The new option is a result of Senate Bill 1 in 2023.
Use Revenue Online to verify payments — Taxpayers can verify their estimated payments through their Revenue Online account.
Through Revenue Online, individuals can also view letters sent to them by the department, initiate appeals, make payments, and submit questions. Visit Revenue Online on the Revenue website to learn more.
Those who don’t have a Revenue Online account can sign up on the agency’s website.
To check the status of their refund after February 15, or make payments, taxpayers can visit Revenue’s website. You can also call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), we accept all relay calls.
Department Of Revenue Volunteers Will Help Taxpayers Use Direct File Oregon To E-file Their Taxes For Free At Libraries Across The State
Salem, OR—Oregonians looking for assistance in electronically filing their taxes for free, could find help as close as their local library this tax season.
Volunteers from the Oregon Department of Revenue will be traveling to libraries in 17 different communities across the state in February, March, and April to assist taxpayers in using the free combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon to complete their returns.
The one-day tax help clinics are planned at libraries in:
| Bandon | North Bend |
| Burns | Prineville |
| Coquille | Pendleton |
| Cornelius | Roseburg |
| The Dalles | Salem |
| Klamath Falls | Seaside |
| Lebanon | Sweet Home |
| McMinnville | Toledo |
| Tualatin |
Dates, times, and addresses for each clinic can be found on the Free Direct File assistance at local libraries webpage.
Last year, more than 140,000 taxpayers in 12 other states filed their federal tax returns using a limited IRS Direct File pilot program while nearly 7,000 Oregon taxpayers filed their state returns using the free, state-only Direct File Oregon option.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced in May that it would make IRS Direct File a permanent option for taxpayers and invited all 50 states to participate. Oregon was the first of 13 new states to accept the invitation from the IRS in June creating a seamless free e-filing system for both federal and state taxes.
With the two direct file systems connected, the IRS estimates that 640,000 Oregon taxpayers will be able to e-file both their federal and state returns for free in 2025.
The department believes that offering free assistance will help maximize the number of Oregonians who choose to use the new free option and make it possible for many who don’t have a filing requirement to file and claim significant federal and state tax credits for low-income families.
For example, the IRS estimates that one in five Oregon taxpayers eligible to claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit are not doing so. One Oregon organization estimates that the unclaimed credits have totaled nearly $100 million in recent years.
Taxpayers should use the IRS eligibility checker to see if they’ll be able to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon. Eligible taxpayers should set up an IRS online account and an account with Oregon’s Revenue Online before they come to an event. Taxpayers attending an event should bring the following information with them.
- Social security card or ITIN for everyone on your tax return
- Government picture ID for taxpayer and spouse if filing jointly (such as driver’s license or passport)
Common income and tax documents
- Forms W2 (wages from a job)
- Forms 1099 (other kinds of income)
- Form SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefits)
Optional documents to download
- Canceled check or bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
- Last year’s tax return
Taxpayers can signup for the new “Oregon Tax Tips” direct email newsletter to keep up with information about tax return filing and how to claim helpful tax credits.
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.
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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