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

Wednesday,  February 19, 2025

Rogue Valley Weather

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

 US National Weather Service Medford Oregon

Significant snowfall is forecast over the Cascades through the day today. Snow levels of 5000 feet will still allow for 6 to 12 inches of snow to fall on the southern Oregon portion of the Cascades. Other areas above 5000 feet may see lower amounts, but hazardous travel conditions are still possible in these areas. Please use extra caution if traveling over higher terrain.

Protests Held on President’s Day All Across Oregon Against the Trump Administration

Protests in downtown Medford and at the Ashland Plaza brought out hundreds of people.

There were demonstrations in in Portland, Salem, Roseburg, Eugene, Florence, Coos Bay, and other towns across Oregon.

At least 500 people crowded all four corners of the Mill Street and 8th Avenue intersection in front of the Wayne L. Morse Federal Courthouse in Eugene on Monday

They were part of demonstrations across the country called 50501, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement. Portland’s demonstration was outside City Hall, and Salem’s protest was outside of the State Capitol. Hundreds of people took part in each of the demonstrations.

Train Crashes into Truck Abandoned on Tracks Outside Gold Hill, Suspects Arrested

JCSO Case 25-0862 — GOLD HILL, Ore. – A train hit an unoccupied truck abandoned on the tracks in rural Gold Hill this morning. On February 17 at approximately 9:25 AM, ECSO Dispatch received a report of a train striking a truck parked on the tracks. The truck accessed the tracks from a dirt road approximately one mile off of Gold Ray Road. There were no injuries reported and no one associated with the truck was on scene.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies responded to investigate and identified multiple suspects. Kenneth Luedtke, 45, and Caroline Allen, 78, both of White City, were cited for first-degree trespass, first-degree criminal mischief, and reckless endangering. Allen was also charged with driving while suspended.

Railroad employees are investigating the incident and identifying potential damages to the train and tracks. There is no further information available for release at this time.

Bitcoin Scams
Josephine Co. Sheriff’s Office

The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office receives numerous reports of people being scammed into buying Bitcoin.  The bad actors of these scams are very convincing.  Scams include, but are not limited to, PayPal, Norton Antivirus, LifeLock, pretending to be financial institutions and Law Enforcement.  Scammers may want access to your computer, claim you have warrants, or say a loved one is in trouble.  They may also provide convincing documents showing deposits into your accounts or give sob stories that they will get in trouble or lose their jobs.

We understand that hearing facts about your life, home or family can be unnerving and can aid in their attempt to appear legitimate. Much of your information is readily available online such as full names, birth dates, phone numbers, addresses and photos of your home.  Scammers use this information to make themselves believable.  Once they have convinced you that they are legitimate they will have you deposit money into a Bitcoin machine.  These machines are located at numerous locations such as grocery stores, mini markets and various other places.  The scammers may keep you on the phone while you are withdrawing money and depositing it into the machines.

If you are contacted by one of these scammers take note of these “red flags” and stop.  Talk to your bank, law enforcement or trusted friend before withdrawing money or making deposits.  If someone insists that Bitcoin or gift cards are the only form of payment that is accepted, then something is definitely wrong!

If you think there is a possibility of any truth to their claims against you, tell them you will call them back and hang up the phone.  DO NOT call back the number they provide.  Instead look up the business phone number yourself and call to verify any claims.  You can report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission here: ReportFraud.ftc.gov

𝗙𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽

On Saturday, just before 3:00 PM, our crews along with Jackson County Fire District No. 5 responded to a reported structure fire in the San George Estates community. The first arriving crew found light smoke coming from the residence and quickly located a small fire within the home’s furnace unit. Firefighters swiftly extinguished the fire, ensured the flames had not spread to the walls or crawlspace, and ventilated the home to remove lingering smoke.

Fortunately, the home had working smoke alarms, and no injuries were reported.

Investigators determined the fire was caused by a blower motor failure in the furnace unit. The unit’s age and lack of routine maintenance contributed significantly to the failure.

Fire Prevention Tip: We’d like to remind everyone to change HVAC filters regularly and schedule routine maintenance. Clogged filters and dirty heat exchange coils can restrict airflow, overwork the furnace, increase utility costs, and pose a fire risk.

THIS SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 22 2025 )

Dressed to impress, masked in mystery! Join Our Foster Kids for A Night in Black & White, the 9th Annual Masquerade Ball on February 22, 2025, from 6-10 PM. Enjoy a dazzling evening of dinner, drinks, games, auctions, and live music-all while supporting a great cause!

Tickets: $75 – Reserve yours now!
For tickets & questions, call 541-441-7458 or visit ourfosterkids.com

Get your tickets before they vanish!

Medford School District 549C —  𝐆𝐲𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞 𝐅𝐀𝐐𝐬

𝐖𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐/𝟏𝟐:

Engineers have assessed nearby buildings at North, no structural threats.

Additional fencing has been placed to expand the safety perimeter.

School will open Thursday, and we are confident in the safety of North Medford.

The cause is still under review; engineers are conducting a full assessment

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝?

On Friday afternoon, a crack was discovered in one of the trusses in the North gym. The gym was immediately evacuated and secured. MSD facility teams, Medford Fire, the City of Medford, and engineering crews responded quickly to reduce the snow load on the roof. Since then, athletic practices and PE classes have been relocated to other facilities.

On Tuesday morning, several beams broke under the weight of the snow, triggering an emergency response. When the collapse occurred, it severed the emergency response button (ERB) line, initiating messaging for a school lockdown. At no point in time was there an actual threat on campus, the lockdown was simply the result of the ERB going off. The lockdown was lifted shortly after.

At 10:47 a.m. Tuesday, the gym roof collapsed. Emergency services responded immediately, and thankfully, no injuries were reported. The gym is isolated from the rest of campus, and students were kept away from the area with fencing. Students were released early on Tuesday and school was canceled on Wednesday out of an abundance of caution and so crews could assess the damage.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞?

Since the collapse, we have expanded the security fencing around the perimeter, met with engineers, insurance and contractors to formulate next steps. We are working on a demolition plan to stabilize the structure so that it is safe for the engineer teams to complete their assessment. We will then determine if any areas are salvageable and develop a plan to rebuild. Concurrently, we are working to ensure all school gym activities have been relocated to alternate locations.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧?

We are awaiting the official engineering assessment, but engineers have informed us that typically there are multiple contributors to a collapse like this. Engineers estimate that approximately 700,000 pounds of snow accumulated on the roof. This weight may have exacerbated an existing structural weakness, leading to cracking in the glulam beam and, ultimately, the roof collapse. We will share more details once the final engineering report is complete.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐮𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐲𝐦?

At this time, there is no indication that the seismic upgrades contributed to the collapse. In fact, the improvements—such as lighter roofing materials, the removal of a cell tower, and reinforcement of the roofing diaphragm—likely helped the structure withstand the immense snow load for as long as it did. Once the building is stabilized and made safe, engineers will conduct a full assessment to determine all contributing factors and inform future repair plans.

𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞?

There is no evidence of an engineering failure in the building’s original construction. A thorough engineering review will be conducted once the structure is stabilized.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞?

Our priority was ensuring the safety of students and staff. Efforts to reduce the snow load and stabilize the structure included:

Deploying a shoring team as soon as possible.

Shoveling snow from the roof in areas where it was safe to do so.

Applying ice melt.

Used heat cords.

Working with Medford Fire to melt off the snow with water working from the drains out to ensure that no additional water load was added to the roof (the snow on the roof was never saturated with additional water, this only impacted a very small area around one drain and the beam fractured before this measure was attempted). This reduced the load on the roof and did not cause the collapse.

Using pumps to remove melted water and prevent pooling.

Hoping for the sun to come out and melt that snow!

These efforts were extremely dangerous due to the roof’s 200 ft by 200 ft size and the hazardous conditions incurred with the fractured beam.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤?

No. All other large-span structures in the district have been thoroughly inspected and are safe for continued use. There are no signs of structural damage.

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩?

Yes. The seismic upgrades played a crucial role in preventing a full scale collapse of the entire facility. The reinforced walls remain standing, which minimized the extent of the damage and the danger crews encountered.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦? 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞?

The district maintains millions of square feet of roofing, and large-scale snow removal is not a standard practice in our area for roofs. Our buildings are designed to handle typical snow loads, including the amount we experienced during the storm.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬?

Facility crews inspect roofs frequently to ensure drains are cleared and that there is no flashing damage, roof leaks, etc.

No one was injured, school officials said, and other campus buildings are not in danger of collapsing.

Tuesday morning, several beams in the gym broke under the weight of the snow; students were placed on short lockdown as a precaution. At 10:47 a.m., the roof collapsed; emergency services responded immediately, and no injuries were reported.

Classes were canceled after the gym’s roof at North Medford High School collapsed under the weight of around 700,000 pounds of snow, according to school officials.

According to the school’s website, a crack in one of the gym’s trusses was discovered Friday afternoon. The gym was then evacuated, with Medford Fire, the city of Medford and engineering crews responding to reduce the snow on the roof, including shoveling, spraying and using ice melt and heat-tape cords. Athletic practices and PE classes were relocated to other buildings.

North Medford High School said an estimated 700,000 pounds of snow had accumulated on the roof.

According to the school, the gym is isolated from the rest of the campus, and students are being kept away from the area as crews assess damage. Students were released early, and school is also canceled for Wednesday.

Other buildings on campus are not in danger, having been inspected with no signs of structural damage.

The school stated that there isn’t any evidence of an engineering failure in the original construction and that the “gym performed well for 60 years before the extreme snow load caused the trusses to fail.” However, an engineering review will be performed once the structure is stabilized.

The gym had recently undergone a seismic upgrade, which prevented a full structural collapse. The reinforced walls remain standing, school officials said.

According to a statement from the principal, Allen Barber, on the school’s website, experts will be assessing the safety around the gym’s perimeter and developing contingency plans if the areas remain inaccessible.

Jackson and Josephine Counties Have Highest Flu Rate in Oregon

The counties have more than 300 of the state’s approximately 1,000 positive influenza A cases.

The FluBites weekly surveillance report from the OHA shows that Region 5, which is made up of Jackson and Josephine counties, had the highest percent positivity at 31.4 percent the week of Feb. 2 to Feb. 8. The overall percent positivity in the state is 24 percent, up 0.4 percent from the previous week.

 

Pollinator Project Rogue Valley and The Crest at Willow-Witt Both Receive $25K Awards For Their Work in the Community

We are so thrilled to be on this awesome list of nonprofits creating positive change in Oregon! Many thanks to OBRC and Oregon Community Foundation for all of their amazing and much needed support to make Oregon a great state to live and bee! The BottleDrop is an awesome and important partnership, making a difference in many ways. We are grateful.

The BottleDrop Fund was formed in 2018 as a partnership between OBRC and the Oregon Community Foundation to support organizations operating in the spirit of the Bottle Bill through annual grants.

This year, the following nonprofits across the state received funds to help support their work they’re doing to creative positive change in their communities. Pollinator Project Rogue Valley in Phoenix and The Crest at Willow-Witt Ranch in Ashland are both non-profits centered around ecological education.  You can follow and support on Facebook here:

Pollinator Project Rogue Valley

The Crest at Willow-Witt

 

City of Medford, Local Government   · 

We’re teaming up with the City of Ashland Oregon to identify local economic trends, opportunities, challenges, and future developments in the Rogue Valley.

Take the survey here https://survey123.arcgis.com/…/8d998820d69d4f63a8cc92d8…

Participants will be entered for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!

The survey is open now through February 23, 2025.

Please allow about 25 minutes to complete.

Informational Press Release on Immigration 

RELEASE DATE:  February 8, 2025

INCIDENT:  Informational Press Release on Immigration

INCIDENT DATE AND TIME:  February 8, 2025

REPORTING DEPUTY:  Sheriff Dave Daniel

DETAILS:  The purpose of this release is to inform Josephine County citizens on the status of immigration practices within Josephine County and state-wide law enforcement as it pertains to Oregon State Law and Federal Law.  While I will not speak for law enforcement across the state, I will close with my personal opinions as it pertains to immigration reform and the direction I believe the majority of Josephine County citizens wish the Sheriff’s Office will proceed.

First, I will explain the stance of Oregon State sanctuary laws as it pertains to actions law enforcement can and cannot perform under Oregon Revised Statutes section ORS 181A.8##.

In recent years, the Oregon Legislature enacted several immigration laws as it pertains to Oregon law enforcement’s directives.  Within the State of Oregon, law enforcement can:

1. Request information from ICE about a person named in ICE records for local criminal investigation.  ORS 181A.820
2. Arrest a person wanted under certain federal criminal  immigration statutes when there is a warrant signed by a federal judge (not just an ICE administrative subpoena).  ORS 181.A.820
3. Provide information to ICE about a person in custody if the information is available to the public or by subpoena from the courts.  ORS 181A.823
4. Ask a person about their country of origin for consular notification but only after telling them they do not have to answer and if they do, they are subject to deportation or other immigration consequences.

Within the State of Oregon law enforcement cannot:

1. Use any public facilities, property, agency moneys, etc., for the purpose of detecting or apprehending a person for ICE.  ORS 181A.826
2. Allow federal enforcement officials working on immigration issues into any portion of the agency or jail not open to the public. ORS 181A.826
3. Provide information to ICE or any federal agency working on immigration issues except in response to a court subpoena or if the information is available to the public.  ORS 181A.826
4. Investigate or question individuals for ICE. ORS 181A.826
5. Deny privileges, benefits or services to a person on parole, probation or in custody based on suspected immigration status. ORS 181A.823
6. Provide any information about a person in custody to ICE for immigration enforcement except pursuant to a court subpoena or if the information is available to the public.  ORS 181A.823
7. Make a civil arrest issued by an enforcement agent, absent a judicial warrant or order, in a court, or on grounds adjacent to the court or on their way to or returning from court absent a judicial warrant.

Note: A law enforcement official is subject to additional civil penalties not only by the state but also by civilians who wish to adjoin such actions. ORS 181A.820(6)

 

In response to these sanctuary statutes nationwide the Office of the Attorney General out of Washington, D.C. (federal) issued a memo on February 5^th, 2025 with the subject line reading “Sanctuary Jurisdiction Directives”.  For the full version, refer to this link: Sanctuary Jurisdiction Directives

Within that document, it focuses on three primary directives:

1. “End Funding to State and Local Jurisdictions That Unlawfully Interfere with Federal Law Enforcement Operations”
2. “Identify and Evaluate All Funding Agreements with Non-Governmental Organizations That Provide Support to Illegal Aliens”
3. “Pursue Enforcement Actions Against Jurisdictions That Facilitate Violations of Federal Immigrations Laws or Impede Lawful Federal Immigration Operations”

Lastly, while it is known that your elected Sheriff took an oath to “support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Oregon and enforce the laws therein”, these directives pit laws against one other.  I stand firm that an individual who has entered the United States illegally has committed a crime and believe emphasis should be placed on those who commit additional crimes while here illegally.

There exists a procedure for those who wish to enter the United States, and may do so legally.  Your Josephine County Sheriff’s Office has not been contacted by ICE in years, likely due to the state sanctuary laws listed above.  However, that may change, and ramifications of state statues or federal directives may be forthcoming.

I will not stand in the way or inhibit federal immigration practices.  I will attempt to walk a fine line, for now, in the attempt to avoid devastating financial impacts on our community.  That being said, I will not turn a blind eye to crime of any sort, no matter what the cost. The hope is that these two institutions can come to common ground so that your law enforcement professionals can avoid becoming either the “target” or the “martyr” from either institutions.  As for now, there appears to be no opportunities in the middle.

Jocosheriff@josephinecounty.gov

 

 

U.S. Senator for Oregon Jeff Merkley has announced his ‘Oregon Treasures Quest’ list for 2025, a collection of spots to visit in each county of the state.

Each of Oregon’s 36 counties has a location on the list. Here are the locations selected this year for counties in southern Oregon.

In our region, he lists the following locations:

Jackson County: Oregon Shakespeare Festival.   Josephine County: Oregon Caves. Klamath County: Crater Lake National Park. Curry County: Cape Blanco State Park & Lighthouse.  Lake County: Fort Rock.

As a part of the Oregon Treasures Quest challenge, anyone who visits 10 sites in 10 counties is an Oregon Ranger. Visiting 25 sites in 25 counties makes you an Oregon Trailblazer and visiting 36 sites in 36 counties makes you an Oregon Explorer.

Anyone participating in the challenge should send a selfie of each location along with your name, the date of the picture and the name of the location to oregontreasuresquest@merkley.senate.gov.

The Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) announces its 2025 season, with three weeks of exciting outdoor programming in historic Jacksonville, Oregon, June 12 – 28, 2025.

Under the leadership of four guest conductors, Damon Gupton (June 12-13); Chia-Hsuan Lin (June 15-18); Roberto Kalb (June 21-23); and Normal Huynh (June 26-28) the Orchestra’s 63^rd season highlights a feature film alongside beloved classical favorites.

The season features seven extraordinary guest artists: pianist Clayton Stephenson performing Ravel’s Concerto in G Major; violinist William Hagen performing Korngold’s Concerto in D Major; violinist Tessa Lark and cellist Wei Yu performing Brahms Double concerto for Violin & Violoncello in A minor; vocalist Sun-Ly Pierce performing Ravel’s Shéhérazade; pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko performing Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 3 in D minor; and violinist Simone Porter performing Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto in D and Ravel’s Tzigane. The season will begin with two evenings of Jurassic Park in Concert whereJohn Williams’ score will be performed live-to-picture by the full orchestra in one of the most beloved films of the 20^th Century.

Britt Music & Arts Festival shares extraordinary live performances and arts education experiences that inspire discovery and build community, anchored at the Britt hill amphitheater. Since its grassroots beginnings in 1963, the non-profit organization has grown from a two-week chamber music festival to a summer-long series of concerts in a variety of genres, including a three-week orchestra season, and year-round education and engagement programs. For more information, visit www.brittfest.org

 

The Jackson County Expo announced its 2025 summer concert lineup taking the stage during the Jackson County Fair in July.

According to the Expo, musical acts including Outlaw Mariachi, Jo Dee Messina, and a Taylor Swift tribute will take the stage in Central Point this summer.

The Jackson County Fair runs from July 15 through July 20. Fair tickets start at $12 and include lawn seats at the Bi-Mart Amphitheater.

Concert ticket prices start at $25 and go on sale to the public on Tuesday. Fair admission is included with the purchase of a reserved seat.

Full 2025 Jackson County Fair Concert lineup:

Tuesday, July 15 – Outlaw Mariachi

Wednesday, July 16 – Jo Dee Messina

Thursday, July 17 – Kansas

Friday, July 18 – Skillet

Saturday, July 19 – Are You Ready For It? A Taylor Experience

For more information or to purchase a ticket, visit the Jackson County Expo’s website: https://attheexpo.com/fair/

Oregon Housing And Community Services Awards Funding To Jackson County Wildfire Survivor To Buy A New Home

Oregon Housing and Community Services

First recovery grant from the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program

— A Jackson County wildfire survivor is in a new home after becoming the first homeowner to receive funding from the ReOregon Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP). The program’s funding comes from the federal $422 million Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery to help Oregonians and communities recover from the 2020 Labor Day Disasters.

The new three-bedroom, two-bath manufactured home is a chance to start fresh and get back a sense of normalcy. “I can finally breathe again,” said Joan, which is not the homeowner’s real name as they did not want to be identified. “I’m safe. I’m secure… It’s hard to explain, but I finally feel like I can hit the un-pause button. I can finally begin where I left off.”

HARP, a federally funded program launched in 2024, provides qualified homeowners whose properties were damaged by the wildfires and straight-line winds in fall 2020 with financial assistance to repair, rebuild, or replace their homes. This homeowner chose the Home Purchase Pathway, which allows eligible survivors to buy a stick-built or manufactured home that is already installed.

“This is exactly what these funds were meant to do,” said Shannon Marheine, director of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS). “Although we know it’s taken longer than anyone hoped, this is just the first of many recoveries that will come from all of the hard work that OHCS, our partners, and the survivors themselves have put in over the years.”

OHCS has received hundreds of HARP applications for assistance from every county affected by the disasters, and staff continue to review them for eligibility.

“There were so many friendly and supportive people from start to finish with the HARP application,” Joan said. “The professionalism and communication were appreciated and supportive. They were always in touch and leading me to the next step.”

To read more about Joan’s story, visit https://apps.oregon.gov/oregon-newsroom/OR/OHCS/Posts/Post/A-wildfire-survivor-story-of-loss-support-and-recovery-in-her-own-words.

OHCS encourages survivors of the 2020 Labor Day Disasters, who have not yet applied, to fill out an eligibility questionnaire at https://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/disaster-recovery/reoregon/harp/Pages/harp-eligibility-questionnaire.aspx.

To learn more about HARP and other ReOregon programs, visit re.oregon.gov, sign up to receive e-mail notifications, or contact the Call Center at 877-510-6800 or 541-250-0938.

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)

OHCS is Oregon’s housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.

 

Josephine Community Library District

Tax season help is here! From February 4 to April 11, get free assistance with your tax questions and filing at the Grants Pass Library with Josephine County VITA. Call 541-223-9597 or visit joco-freetaxes.com to learn more or schedule an appointment.

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

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

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

 firebrandcollective.org/harp/

Rogue Valley Humane Society  · Donations Always Needed to Help Community

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

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

David Grubbs’ Murder Investigation Remains Active

 The Ashland Police Department’s investigation into the murder of David Grubbs on November 19, 2011 remains open and active. Recently two new detectives have been assigned to look into new leads that have come in.

It’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

 

Department of Revenue issues first income tax refunds in 2025

The Oregon Department of Revenue has begun distributing refunds for the 2024 tax year. Through February 17, the department has processed more than 400,000 tax returns. The first refunds of the year were issued Tuesday.

Each year the department employs a refund hold period as part of the agency’s fraud prevention efforts. The hold period has been completed and most taxpayers can expect to receive their refunds within two weeks of the date their return is filed. Some returns, however, require additional review and can take up to 20 weeks before a refund is issued.

Taxpayers can check the status of their refund by using the department’s Where’s My Refund? tool. The Department of Revenue recommends that taxpayers wait one week after they have electronically filed their return to use the Where’s My Refund tool.

The Where’s My Refund? tool has been updated for 2025, providing more information about the status of their return to taxpayers who are signed into their Revenue Online account. Taxpayers who don’t already have a Revenue Online account can create one by following the Revenue Online link on the department’s website. Taxpayers who don’t have a Revenue Online account can still use the Where’s My Refund? tool but won’t be able to see the updated features.

A video outlining the refund process and timelines is also available to help taxpayers understand the process.

The department also offered a list of do’s and don’ts for filing to help with efficient processing and avoid unnecessary delays.

Do file electronically and request direct deposit. 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.

Don’t send a duplicate paper return. Taxpayers should file just once unless they need to make a change to their return. Sending a duplicate return will slow processing and delay your refund.

Do make sure you have all tax records before filing. Having all necessary records is essential to filing a complete and accurate tax return and avoiding errors.

Don’t get in a hurry and fail to report all your income. If income reported on a return doesn’t match the income reported by employers, the return, and any corresponding refund, will be delayed. If taxpayers receive more or corrected tax records after filing a return, they should file an amended return to report any changes.

Do make sure you have a Revenue Online account. Before beginning the filing process, taxpayers should make sure their information is current in Revenue Online, the state’s internet tax portal. Those who don’t have a Revenue Online account can sign up on the agency’s website.

To get tax forms, check the status of their refund, or make payments, visit our website or email  questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov.

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.

OREGON’S U.S. ATTORNEY TERMINATED BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

Trump removes remaining U.S. attorneys, including Oregon’s

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon referred to Wight as the “former U.S. Attorney” in its announcement of the news

Oregon U.S. Attorney Natalie Wight was fired by the White House as President Donald Trump vowed to continue his reshaping of the U.S. Department of Justice.

“I want to thank our Oregon communities and our exceptional public servants for helping to keep Oregon a safe and beautiful place to live,” Wight said in a statement. “I am immensely proud to have worked side by side with such dedicated Oregonians.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon referred to Wight as the “former U.S. Attorney” in its announcement of the news.

Wight, like all U.S. attorneys, was a presidential appointee. It’s typical for incoming administrations to request the resignations for most, if not all, U.S. attorneys appointed by the former president.

In this case, it appears they were fired en masse by the sitting president.

Earlier Tuesday, President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that he had “instructed the termination of ALL remaining ‘Biden Era’ U.S. Attorneys.”

“We must ‘clean house’ IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence,” Trump added. “America’s Golden Age must have a fair Justice System – THAT BEGINS TODAY!”

Wight was highly respected by her colleagues and became the top federal law enforcement official for the state after years as a federal prosecutor.

She was confirmed as U.S. attorney for Oregon by the U.S. Senate in September 2022. Under Wight’s tenure, she prioritized fentanyl enforcement and partnerships with local police and sheriffs. She was also the first Black person and the second Asian American to serve as the district’s U.S. attorney.

Wight grew up in Oregon and graduated from Cleveland High School in Portland before obtaining her law degree from the University of Notre Dame.

She has spent her career working for the federal government, first as a lawyer for the Federal Bureau of Prisons before becoming a federal prosecutor in California. In 2012, Wight became an assistant U.S. attorney in Oregon, where she worked on both civil and criminal prosecutions.

“I am proud of the Office’s dedication to protecting Oregon’s youth, supporting law enforcement, and maintaining strong agency partnerships,” Wright said in a statement that announced her departure. This story was originally published by Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Trump Layoffs Put Power Grid at Risk

200 employees at the Bonneville Power Administration took the Trump Administration’s buyout offer, 90 new job offers have been rescinded and 400 probationary employees could be laid off.

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley say cutting 20 percent of the agency’s staff puts the power grid at risk. The BPA is a power marketing agency that operates on revenue it generates, and not tax dollars. They say the greatest impact will be on rural areas that buy power from the BPA.

Cuts to federal wildfire crews could have ‘scary’ consequences

President Donald Trump’s moves to slash the federal workforce have gutted the ranks of wildland firefighters and support personnel, fire professionals warn, leaving communities to face deadly consequences when big blazes arrive this summer.

“There’s going to be firefighters that die because of this, there will be communities that burn,” said Steve Gutierrez, a union official who served 15 years as a firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service.

Gutierrez now serves as a labor relations representative with the National Federation of Federal Employees, which represents government workers. He said thousands of wildland firefighters have had their jobs thrown into limbo by Trump’s government-wide hiring freeze.

Brian Fennessy, chief of the Orange County Fire Authority and president of the California Fire Chiefs Association, echoed that concern. “The public needs to know they’re at risk,” Fennessy said. “If the public knew all of this, they would lose their minds.”

Federal agencies depend on an army of seasonal firefighters to fill their ranks during the months when wildfires are most active. Scott, a Forest Service firefighter with six years of experience in the Western United States, who asked to be identified by a pseudonym to avoid retaliation, is among those whose role has been thrown into uncertainty.

“It’s just going to be a disaster for the wildfire response this season,” he said. (READ MORE)

Providence, Oregon Nurses Association to return to bargaining table as nurses strike enters sixth week

Providence and the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) will return to the bargaining table this week as the historic nurses strike stretches into the sixth week. Mediation is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Nearly 5,000 unionized nurses from eight Providence hospitals around the state have been on strike since Jan. 10. They’re asking for competitive wages, and better working conditions and staffing levels at hospitals.

Mediation is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18 and Wednesday, Feb. 19, ONA announced in a news release Monday morning.

“As nurses from all eight Providence hospitals across Oregon, we remain united and steadfast in our commitment to this strike. We will not stop until we have a contract that prioritizes frontline nurses and the patients we serve,” said Virginia Smith, a registered nurse from Providence Willamette Falls and leader of the bargaining team.

“As ONA has shared publicly, the parties are returning to the bargaining table with the assistance of the federal mediators tomorrow and Wednesday,” Providence said in a statement.

The update comes as more elected officials have weighed in. On Monday, 11 Portland city councilors signed a letter expressing support for the health care workers and urging Providence leadership to quickly resolve the strike.

“The well-being of our entire community is at stake. This is both a public health and public safety concern,” the letter said, in part. It went on to say, “The status quo is not working. We urge you to return to the bargaining table and engage in good-faith negotiations that lead to real, lasting solutions.”

On Monday afternoon, KGW spoke with two city councilors who signed the letter: Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane and Councilor Mitch Green.

“Heading into the 6th week of this strike, it it really felt like it was time for us, as Portland City Councilors to weigh in. We all have been hearing from our constituents, and at this point it’s not just about affecting the jobs of community members, but really this is also about the safety and the care of our community members,” said Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane, from District 3.

“We’re not really looking to be passive on the sidelines when a major employer in the region that’s responsible for public health and safety is in a dispute with their employees,” said Councilor Mitch Green, from District 4. “Remember, in 2020, when we were banging pots and pans and thanking our essential workers. They’ve been there the whole time and you thank them by showing up in a contract and giving them the resources they need so we can recruit, retain and fairly pay nurses.”

Gov. Tina Kotek issued a statement on Jan. 10 urging both sides to immediately resolve their disagreements. Ahead of the strike, multiple Oregon lawmakers signed a letter pushing for Providence and ONA to reach a deal and avoid a walkout.

Last week, Providence sent a message to striking health care workers, informing them that they must return to work by Feb. 28 to keep their health benefits. The suspension of benefits applies to anyone who doesn’t return to work, meaning St. Vincent hospitalists, who voted to ratify their contract on Feb. 8 but are striking in solidarity with St. Vincent nurses, would also lose their coverage.

“The punishing nature of being denied a fair contract, being driven to a strike and then compounded with the punishment of this threat of cutting off health insurance is really unsafe and unacceptable,” said Koyama Lane.

Striking nurses from all eight hospitals previously rejected Providence’s latest offer. Both ONA and Providence said they will not provide public comment during mediation. (SOURCE)

Oregon pilot project to bring medication treatment for opioid use disorder to emergency care

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is launching a six-month pilot program in partnership with the Oregon Public Health Institute (OPHI) and the Public Health Institute Bridge Center (Bridge Center) to improve the accessibility and uptake of addiction care in emergency care settings in Multnomah and Marion counties.

The program will train emergency responders to assess patients and provide medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in the field, before transporting them to the hospital to bridge them to ongoing care. It will also equip emergency departments in these counties with the training, tools, and hands-on support to implement and improve 24/7 addiction services — using an evidence-based model that has dramatically increased both access to and ongoing engagement in addiction care in other states.

This pilot builds on the work of the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, the Oregon Health Leadership Council, and OHSU’s Improving Addiction Care Team (IMPACT) program, as well as several local government, EMS, and hospital partnerships to establish and support emergency settings as critical points of entry into treatment for patients struggling with opioid use disorder.

“Millions of people with substance use disorders visit emergency departments every year, yet only a minority are connected to evidence-based addiction care. Even fewer are initiated on life-saving treatment in the field, even though this has been demonstrated as a novel overdose reduction strategy associated with a several-fold increase in ongoing care,” said OHA Director Sejal Hathi, M.D., MBA. “We are grateful to partner with the Bridge Center and OPHI to institutionalize this model and increase access to low-barrier opioid use disorder care in Oregon.”

OHA has dedicated $300,000 to the project. The Bridge Center and OPHI have dedicated $140,000 in additional leveraged resources, including resources from the Opioid Response Network (ORN) to support emergency departments.

In addition to providing medication-based treatment for opioid use in emergency rooms, the program will develop referral links to care for community-based medication assisted treatment.

“The Bridge Center is thrilled to partner with the Oregon Public Health Institute and OHA to make life-saving addiction medications more available to Oregonians struggling with substance use disorder,” said Arianna Campbell, Senior Director of the Bridge Center. “When emergency medical services and emergency departments are equipped to provide immediate, low-barrier care, communities gain access to critical treatment and support that is otherwise unavailable to far too many people.”

The project also aligns with the Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission’s recommendations for increasing access to treatment for opioid use disorder in their September 2024 Preliminary Report. These include:

• Establishing a statewide program that supports care linkages across the substance use disorder treatment continuum, such as during key care transitions that occur when individuals leave emergency departments with ongoing substance use disorder needs.
• Promoting engagement and availability of technical assistance to accelerate the adoption of evidenced based practices, such as access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), throughout the care continuum.

“No corner of Oregon is untouched by the opioid crisis. Research shows that when patients receive medication for opioid use disorder in an emergency setting, they are more likely to avoid overdose, stay in treatment, and reach long-term recovery,” said Emily Henke, Executive Director of the Oregon Public Health Institute. “The Oregon Public Health Institute is proud to partner with the Bridge Center, OHA, and local communities to make this life-saving care more accessible–because every Oregonian deserves to recover.”

A couple in Central Oregon was found dead after being caught in an avalanche while skiing the day after another person was killed in a separate avalanche in California.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the couple who lost their lives in the avalanche while enjoying the Central Oregon backcountry,” said Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp in a statement . “Their long history in our community and the lives they touched are a testament to the spirit and resilience that make Central Oregon such a special place to live. “

On Tuesday, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported avalanche burial near Broken Top, Oregon, around 185 miles southeast of Portland, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Two bodies were recovered at the scene.

Authorities believe the couple was skiing when the avalanche occurred, according to the Central Oregon Avalanche Center.

“We extend our deepest condolences to all who loved the couple who tragically lost their lives while doing what they loved,” the center wrote in a statement . “As longtime residents of Central Oregon, they have touched many lives, and their legacy will continue to live on in our community.” The victim’s identities will not be released at this time, police said.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit recovered the couple from Trail 8 on snow-covered Forest Service Road 370, between the Bend Watershed and Broken Top area in an area known as Happy Valley.

“The avalanche occurred at 6,700 ft. on a South facing slope,” according to the Avalanche Center. The avalanche was rated as a D2, according to the center.

D2 avalanches are typically the length of a football field and are capable of burying, injuring or killing a person, according to Avalanche.org.

Police asked people to stay away from the area and to know that avalanche danger in the Central Cascades area “is moderate to considerable.”

“Please use extreme caution when recreating in the areas and check coavalanche.org for more information, including forecasts and observations,” police said.

Bed Bugs a Growing Problem in Oregon

Bed bugs are invading homes across Oregon. Many cities are facing a serious bed bug crisis. These tiny pests are causing trouble for families, businesses, and travelers. Let’s explore the five cities battling this problem.

Bed bugs spread easily through clothes, furniture, and luggage. Warmer temperatures help them multiply quickly. Many people don’t notice them until the infestation becomes severe.

1. Portland: The Worst-Hit City in Oregon

• Portland ranks high in bed bug reports.
• Hotels, apartments, and public places are infested.
• Travel and tourism increase the spread of bed bugs.

2. Eugene: Rising Cases of Bed Bug Infestations

• Many rental homes report bed bug issues.
• College dorms and public spaces are common infestation areas.
• Improper pest control methods lead to repeat problems.

3. Salem: Families Struggling with Bed Bugs

• Households report growing bed bug cases.
• Used furniture sales spread infestations.
• Residents spend thousands on pest control.

4. Gresham: High-Risk Area for Bed Bugs

• Bed bugs are found in hotels and motels.
• Public transport helps spread these pests.
• Many residents face difficulty in complete removal.

5. Hillsboro: Increasing Reports of Infestations

• Rising apartment infestations cause major concerns.
• Lack of awareness worsens the problem.
• Local authorities struggle with control measures.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs in Your Home

• Check hotel rooms before unpacking your luggage.
• Wash and dry clothes at high temperatures after travel.
• Avoid buying second-hand furniture without proper inspection.
• Regularly clean and vacuum mattresses, carpets, and furniture.

Effective Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

• Use heat treatment to kill bed bugs at all stages.
• Hire professional exterminators for severe infestations.
• Seal cracks and crevices to prevent further spread.
• Use mattress encasements to stop bed bug hiding spots.

Bed bugs remain a major issue in many Oregon cities. People must stay alert and take action quickly. Proper prevention and professional help can keep homes and businesses safe from infestations.

New Edition of the Oregon Blue Book Highlights John Day Fossil Beds and the Great Comet of 2024

Every odd-numbered year since 1911, the Oregon Secretary of State’s office has published the Oregon Blue Book, our state’s official almanac and fact book. Each edition of the book features beautiful, new cover images of Oregon captured by the winners of the Oregon Blue Book Cover Photo Contest.

The 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book front cover features a stunning capture from the Painted Cove in the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, near Mitchell. Photographer Matt Straite of Keizer made the image which he titled, “The Many Sides of Oregon.” The back cover includes an amazing astrophotography shot titled “Comet/C2023 A” by Nathan Rohde of Shady Cove.

“The Oregon Blue Book is an invitation to learn more about Oregon, engage with your neighbors, our government and our state’s history. It helps us understand what it means to be an Oregonian. The artists who’ve created these cover images captured some of that spirit, and I’m thrilled they’re a part of my first Oregon Blue Book as Secretary of State,” said Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read.

“So many people look right past the desert areas of the state, but there is so much beauty there,” said Straite. “I have always been drawn to images that show the work of mankind in nature, particularly when that work has been added to help others see the nature, like the work of the Civilian Conservation Corp. The way this trail bends at the end is such a strong draw to want to explore more.” Straite also said that he shot this image from the boardwalk, which is there to take people through the sensitive clay hills without harming them.

Nathan Rohde’s image of Comet/C2023 A3, also known as the “Great Comet of 2024” was made near his home. He said he’s always been fascinated by astrophotography and loved trying to capture the Milky Way and the Aurora, but after seeing posts online of other peoples’ images of the comet, he thought he could capture it too: “Living in Southern Oregon affords access to some relatively dark areas. On a tall clearing not far from Lost Creek Lake, I got set up about an hour before sunset and began scanning the sky with my lens fully extended. About 45 minutes after sunset, conditions were perfect and the pictures started coming through!” Rohde said the rolling hills in the foreground were an excellent way to provide scale and accentuate the sky.

The 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book is available for presale purchase now at bluebook.oregon.gov/shop. These limited-edition books are $30 for the hardcover and $18 for the paperback, plus shipping and handling. A downloadable copy of the full cover for use by the media can be found in Oregon Blue Book Assets and Information here.

Child sextortion cases in Oregon surge 857% since 2020

The number of sextortion and online solicitation reports in Oregon has skyrocketed 857% over the past five years, the Oregon Department of Justice announced Tuesday to mark Safer Internet Day.

The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) said that increase happened from 2020-2024 based on cyber tips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

• 2020: 197
• 2021: 233
• 2022: 288
• 2023: 409
• 2024: 1,886

Mark Williamson, asst. chief criminal investigator with ICAC, explained how sextortion happens. A child is “friended” on social media sites by someone — usually using a fake identity — who gains their trust. They form a relationship beyond friendship and that person asks the child to send them explicit photographs. Then, the person will demand money from the child, with the threat of releasing the explicit photos to everyone on that child’s social media friends list.

Oregon DOJ says, in most cases, the children keep it a secret because they are too embarrassed to tell their families and unsure of what to do.

Oregon lawmakers approved additional funding for ICAC last year, allowing it to quadruple in size, Oregon DOJ said. That allowed ICAC to clear out a large backlog of cases.

“Our investigators are dedicated to combating online threats,” Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement. “They are working with investigators across the country, and around world in some cases, to get justice for these kids and their families.”

Resources:

• 10 Best Practices for Internet Safety Programs
• How to get nude pictures of minors removed
• What children or families should do if they become a victim of sextortion

 Download PDF

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

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:

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.

Identification documents

• 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.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Sites Open in Oregon: Program Provides Free Tax Prep to Thousands of Older Adults

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is providing free preparation now through April 15 throughout Oregon. Started in 1968, Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program and has served more than 80 million people. For the 2024 tax season, nearly 28,000 volunteers helped almost 1.7 million taxpayers, 965,000 of whom were adults over 50 with low income. Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS, and AARP membership is not required.

“During the 2024 tax season, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers completed over 19,400 federal returns and 18,500 state returns in Oregon with refunds of nearly $39 million,” said AARP Oregon State Director Bandana Shrestha. “Even modest refunds can make an impact on financial resilience, especially for vulnerable older adults. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide helps put money back in the pockets of Oregonians every year by making sure they don’t miss out on the credits and deductions they have earned.”

Tax-Aide volunteers provide free tax preparation and filing services to all with a focus on adults with low to moderate income. Volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to ensure they understand the latest changes to the U.S. Tax Code.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers a variety of options to better meet the needs of taxpayers. Access to the different types of assistance varies by location.

• In-Person Service: Tax preparation is completed by an IRS-certified Tax-Aide volunteer on-site in one visit.
• One-Visit Scan: Tax documents are scanned at the Tax-Aide site and then Tax-Aide volunteers prepare the return remotely.
• Two-Visit Scan: Tax documents are scanned at the Tax-Aide site and then volunteers prepare the return remotely. During a second visit, taxpayers work with a volunteer to finalize their return and obtain a printed copy for their records.

• Drop-Off Service: Tax documents are left at the Tax-Aide site with a volunteer and the return is prepared remotely. During a second visit, taxpayers work with a volunteer to file their return and obtain a printed copy and their original documents.
• No Site Visit Required (Internet Access Required): Taxpayers upload tax documents to the IRS-provided software. Tax-Aide volunteers prepare the return remotely and work with the taxpayer to file the return electronically.
• Online Coaching: Taxpayers prepare their own return and receive online support from a volunteer to help them along the way.

• Facilitated Self-Assistance: Taxpayers schedule an appointment at a Tax-Aide site to work with a volunteer to complete and file their own return.
• Self-Preparation: Taxpayers prepare their own return using a software product that has been made available through the Tax-Aide website.

Users can find their nearest Tax-Aide location and assistance options through the Tax-Aide site locator. The site locator features a Tax-Aide chat bot that can help book an appointment, answer questions about the program, and transfer the conversation to a live agent if needed or requested. For more information, including which documents to bring to the tax site, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669)

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