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
Friday, March 28, 2025
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Undercover Detectives Arrest 39-Year-Old Jacksonville Man for Luring, Sexually Corrupting Local Teen via Snapchat
JCSO Case 25-1530MEDFORD, Ore. – A Jacksonville man is in jail today after attempting to lure and sexually corrupt a local teen. The suspect and the underaged victim connected via the Snapchat “Quick Add” feature. The child’s parents learned of the communications on March 22, intervened, and reported it to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO). Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) detectives took over the child’s Snapchat account and learned a local 39-year-old man was communicating sexually with the teen.
On March 26, the suspect arranged to meet with a SOCET detective posing as the teen. Undercover detectives from JCSO, SOCET, Oregon State Police (OSP), and Medford Police Department (MPD) positioned themselves at the suspect’s prearranged meet up location. The suspect arrived in the 2900 block of Crater Lake Highway in Medford, and detectives arrested him without incident at 7:28 PM.
The suspect, Anthony Nicholas Wheeler, 39, of Jacksonville, is charged with first-degree online sexual corruption of a child, second-degree online sexual corruption of a child, and luring a minor. He is lodged in the Jackson County Jail. JCSO detectives, OSP, and MPD assisted in the arrest and investigation. United States Marshals Service funded the operation.
SOCET is a joint inter-agency task force that started in June of 2020 to combat child exploitation. The task force consists of investigators from JCSO, Oregon Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations, as well as prosecutors from our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in Jackson and Josephine County. The case will be prosecuted by the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.
This case is a reminder of the importance for parents to be aware of what their child is doing online. The vigilance of this child’s parents led to a safe outcome but that is not always the case. Here are a few tips to help protect children online:
– Discuss internet safety and develop an online safety plan with children before they engage in online activity. Establish clear guidelines, teach children to spot red flags, and encourage children to have open communication with you.
– Encourage children to tell a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult if anyone asks them to engage in sexual activity or other inappropriate behavior.
– Immediately report suspected online enticement or sexual exploitation of a child by calling 911, contacting the FBI at www.tips.fbi.gov, or filing a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or www.report.cybertip.org.
For more information on keeping kids safe on the internet, go to https://www.justice.gov/…/keeping-children-safe-online. There is no further information available for release at this time.
Josephine County Public Health Officer Dr. David Candelaria confirmed four cases of rabies in foxes within the past week, an unusual spike for the county that elevates concern.
Dr. Candelaria said that rabies is typically found in bats, which are the reservoir for the virus in Oregon. A nine year old girl was bitten by a rabid fox and received treatment, while another person reported a bite to their shoe, with no exposure.
Dr. Candelaria emphasized that rabies is transmitted through saliva and can only cause infection through broken skin or mucous membrane contact. Rabies presents with severe and alarming symptoms related to its impact on the central nervous system. According to Dr. Candelaria, these symptoms can manifest in two primary ways: aggressively or passively. Common symptoms include fever, hydrophobia (a fear of water), pharyngeal spasms (spasms of the airway), and hyperactivity.
The disease progresses aggressively, ultimately leading to paralysis and death. Dr. Candelaria described it as “an inglorious way to go.” In dealing with wild animals, it is best to always keep a safe distance of at least 25 feet. The Sheriff’s office said the cases originated in the Selma and Cave Junction area. Residents there should be cautious and look out for strange behavior in wildlife. Since foxes are typically nocturnal, seeing one in the daytime out in the open should be cause for alarm.
Suspicious Death Investigation Catches Break, Skeletal Remains Found April 2024 Identified as Missing Person, Detectives Have Persons of Interest
Video Interview Available for Download: https://vimeo.com/1069394921?share=copy#t=0
and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1176100790826005
JCSO Cases 23-5639, 24-2046 — RURAL JACKSONVILLE, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives got a break in a suspicious death investigation and missing person case when skeletal remains were identified from a DNA comparison. The remains found outside Jacksonville in April of 2024 have been identified as Nathan Louis Merkel, 63, of Wimer. Merkel was reported missing in September of 2023. Next-of-kin has been notified. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.
JCSO detectives are investigating the case and believe Merkel died via suspicious circumstances. Detectives have identified persons of interest who are currently out-of-county in custody on unrelated charges. The suspects names will be released pending further investigation and charges. Detectives believe there is no danger to the public at this time. No additional information is available for release.
April, 2024 Skeletal Remains News Release: Skeletal Remains Found in Rural Jacksonville Area, Detectives Investigating Suspicious Death JCSO Case 24-2046
RURAL JACKSONVILLE, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives are investigating a suspicious death after skeletal remains were discovered Sunday, April 14 outside Jacksonville in the Applegate area. JCSO detectives and medical examiners responded to investigate. The rugged terrain and remote area required JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) to assist in recovering the remains. Due to the ongoing investigation, the exact location will not be released at this time.
Investigators are working to identify the subject and the cause and manner of death. Due to the advanced stages of decomposition, state medical examiners will conduct additional testing. This case is under further investigation with detectives following additional leads. No more information is available at this time.
Vehicle Strikes, Kills Bicyclist on Foothill Road in Central Point
JCSO Case 25-1564 CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – A vehicle struck and killed a bicyclist early this morning on Foothill Road near the intersection of Corey Road in rural Central Point. ECSO Dispatch received a 911 call from the involved driver at 4:44 AM. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies responded along with Jackson County Fire District 3 and Mercy Flights. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital and pronounced deceased at 5:42 AM. Next-of-kin has been notified. The decedent is Matthew Edward Davenport, 45, of White City. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.
Jackson County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team responded to investigate the incident. The preliminary investigation indicates a green 2021 Toyota 4Runner traveling southbound struck the bicyclist on the shoulder of Foothill Road. The driver is cooperating with the investigation and no criminal charges have been filed at this time.
The STAR Team consists of investigators from JCSO, Medford Police Department, Central Point Police Department, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. This case is under further investigation. There is no more information available for release at this time.
Organizers make the case for affordable housing project on Ashland school district property
A broad alliance of Ashland leaders continued their pitch Thursday for a proposed 90-plus unit affordable housing development that could boost enrollment at schools.
At the Ashland High Library, across the street from the proposed 4.18-acre project site at the southeast corner of South Mountain Avenue and East Main Street, about 70 people generally voiced support for the concept, though they had questions about the project’s complexity at what was billed as a listening session hosted by the Sunstone Housing Collaborative.
“Ashland has needed a project like this for 30 years,” said George Kramer, who was in the audience.
He said this project addresses a number of local goals for housing for school workers and families and also could improve the tax base.
Steven Essig, president of the Ashland chapter of Oregon School Employees Association, said this project would help people who work in Ashland schools live in Ashland.
He said a majority of the employees who work for the school district can’t afford to live here. “I make $38,000 (a year),” Essiq said. “My rent is $1,610 (a month).”
The proposed development, which would offer housing at around 60% of median income on average, would include ground floor commercial space for a childcare facility and community space, playground, and green spaces, in addition to apartments ranging from studio to three-bedroom housing.
The units will be available as rentals or potential ownership, depending on the housing unit, and a land trust will ensure the units remain affordable.
Preliminary drawings show a number of multi-story buildings in the project, including four-story buildings.
At this point, the development is still in the concept phase and no contracts or disposition and development agreements (DDAs) have been signed.
Making their case for the project are the Sunstone Housing Collaborative, established by two members of the Ashland School Board (Jill Franko and Dan Ruby); Portland-based Edlen & Co.; Ashland-based Arkitek: Design and Architecture; and Outlier Construction.
The housing development is intended for residents earning less than 120% of area median income, with a large share expected to be at 80% or less of median income, or a household earning $68,400 annually or less, according to statistics provided during the presentation.
Ashland resident Justin Donovan questioned whether the project would offer the benefits being touted. “It’s not guaranteed,” he said.
Kramer shot back, “It is guaranteed.”
Donovan said he thinks it’s a mistake that the school district would part with a 4.18-acre field for less than it could be sold for on the open market.
“Those are $3 million to $4 million fields —That’s where it falls off the rails.”
He suggested the project be located on a different property, suggesting land next to Willow Wind Community Learning Center at 1497 East Main St.
Greg Williams, who developed Verde Village in Ashland as affordable housing, said he he has seen first hand how difficult it is to build affordable housing in Ashland.
He said he didn’t see another property in Ashland that would be capable of this kind of development.
After the meeting, Williams responded to Donovan by saying that the property next to Willow Winds is outside the city’s urban growth boundary and bringing into city limits and rezoning it would add more complexity to the project and further delay it.
Ashland School Board Member Dan Ruby said the property value is not as important as the development of affordable housing.
“The value is not in the land, but in the increase in enrollment,” he said.
Ruby said the housing in the development is designed for families, though it would be open to all ages and backgrounds, and it is anticipated that people will only live in it for a short period of time while they are putting their kids through school.
Ruby said enrollment has been on a downward trend in Ashland since 2001, leading to the closure of two elementary schools, Briscoe and Lincoln.
“The root cause is the lack of affordable housing,” he said.
He said the development, which would place the land into trust, will ensure it remains affordable into the future, though he expects that families will only live in the housing for a relatively short period of time until their kids grow up.
“We don’t want housing where people are going to stay in it forever,” he said.
Krista Palmer, executive director of Sunstone Housing Collaborative, said the project would address another concern for local residents.
“We all recognize there is a severe lack of child care in Ashland,” she said.
Palmer said a collaboration with the Oregon Child Development Coalition will establish a child care center during the first phase of the project. The center will have early childhood learning for 20 children aged 3-5, and another area for 24 infants to toddlers
Another benefit to the project is addressing the need for about 150 students in the school district who do not have stable housing, Palmer said.
Ashland resident Chris Brown of Arkitek told the audience, “This isn’t a for-profit investment scheme.”
As a local soccer coach, Brown said he understands the concerns about losing a soccer field where the project is proposed, but he thinks there are opportunities to practice in other areas of town.
He said he has coached youth in the community who could not afford to play soccer.
“I paid out of pocket for some of the kids,” he said.
He said both he and his wife have invested considerable personal unpaid time in the design phase of this project.
Matt Edlen, a partner with Edlen and Co., said he and others have been “pushing, pushing, pushing” to answer the needs of the community to make the housing affordable, to provide accessibility for the disabled, including in the playground design, and to make it sustainable.
Fire resiliency is another important consideration in the design.
Edlen, who is the son-in-law of Greg Williams, said this is just the early phase of the design of project. If all goes well, construction could start in 2026 with people moving in around 2027.
Edlen said many more meetings will be held with the community.
He said the project will require different funding mechanisms, depending on the income levels that will be served. “We’re looking at a blended average of 60% of median income,” he said. (SOURCE)
Josephine Community Library District
Fatal Crash – Highway 199 – Josephine County
Oregon State Police – 03/21/25 2:44 PM
Josephine County, Ore. 21 Mar 2025- On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 5:23 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 199, near milepost 16, in Josephine County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Ford F-150, operated by Ethan Wayne Anderson (36) of Cave Junction, struck a pedestrian, Buck Carlos Gene Arby Ward (58) of Crescent City (CA), who was in the roadway for unknown reasons.
The pedistrian (Ward) was declared deceased at the scene. The operator of the Ford (Anderson) was reportedly not injured.
The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation. Weather conditions (fog) is being considered a contributing factor in the crash. OSP was assisted by Illinois Valley Fire.
Concerts in the Park Returns to Riverside Park This Summer!
Explore the beauty of Roseburg trees by entering the 2025 Arbor Day Photo Contest!
Roseburg Parks and Recreation invites you to grab your camera and capture a photo of your favorite tree or trees in the Roseburg area – including the great variety found in city parks — and possibly get your photo featured in the Spring 2025 City Connection e-newsletter!
The online contest began Monday, March 17. The deadline to enter is 5 p.m. Friday, April 18, 2025. However, photos can be taken at any time in Roseburg, Melrose, Green, Lookingglass, Garden Valley and Winchester. Be sure to include the photo location in your entry.
“Spring is the perfect time to go tree hunting in Roseburg. The trees are blooming, everything’s turning green again, and it should make for some really interesting photos,” said Roseburg Recreation Coordinator Tracy David.
The top three photos will be announced on Arbor Day – Friday, April 25 – on the Roseburg Parks and Recreation Facebook page. The photos also will be highlighted in the City Connection e-newsletter later this spring. Sign up to get the City Connection e-newsletter emailed to your inbox: https://shorturl.at/4pYKV.
Learn more, including where to submit your photo online: https://shorturl.at/suCvP
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkVpBS_Y6Pw
Illinois Valley Fire District is Hosting a FREE Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training in April 2025 Illinois Valley Fire District
The Addictions Recovery Center (ARC) in Medford is expanding its services with a new facility which is currently under construction. This will add 24 residential treatment beds to the ARC’s East Main Campus. See Video and Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ARC541/videos/520525737735442
The City of Ashland has streamlined the ADU application process to enhance housing options. It now offers a complete set of pre-approved ADU plans that meet local building codes for free to Ashland property owners.
To get ADU plan approval in Ashland, the Ashland Planning Division offers a free consultation. At the meeting, a City Planner will review your site and provide valuable guidance on the permit application process. The meeting is geared towards helping you understand zoning requirements, building codes, and any other considerations for ADU projects. Find free City of Ashland ADU plans hereSheriff’s Office issues advisory about motorhome and possible link to missing Prospect woman Deenah Padgett
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
Impact of federal grant cuts on OHA programs and Oregonians
–The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), abruptly terminated roughly $117 million in COVID-era grants and funding for Oregon Health Authority programs, an impact that will be felt immediately in all nine federally recognized Tribal communities and in every county in Oregon.
The sudden loss of the funding, a year or more before some of the grants were scheduled to end, included, among other things:
- Five grants in OHA’s Behavioral Health Division that helped establish the 988 crisis line and were planned to fill critical gaps in community substance use treatment, prevention, and recovery services, especially for communities of color, young adults, and veterans.
- A grant that established an Equity Office in OHA’s Public Health Division and provided technical assistance and training to rural health care providers, Tribes, Local Public Health Departments and community-based organizations on how to improve health in communities experiencing health inequities.
- Multiple immunization-related grants in OHA’s Public Health Division to support vaccine-preventable disease work, including funding for clinics in local and Tribal communities where COVID-19 and other vaccines are offered, training to keep health care providers up to date, education for community partners on the importance of immunizations, help desk support for health care providers and the general public, information materials in multiple languages to meet specific community needs.
- Multiple grants in OHA’s Public Health Division that supported adding laboratory capacity, modernizing data systems, increased surveillance, testing and response to communicable diseases caused by respiratory viruses.
OHA officials earlier today notified local public health authorities, the nine federally recognized Tribes and community-based organizations and partners who receive the funds that the grants have ended. OHA will continue to engage in a full evaluation of the impacts of these terminations, including whether they are legal, and remains committed to improving the lifelong health of all people in Oregon.
ONA Condemns Trump Administration’s Plan to Gut the Department of Health and Human Services: “Oregonians Will Suffer”
— The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) strongly condemns the Trump administration’s announcement to eliminate 10,000 positions from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This is a calculated and catastrophic assault on the public health system that healthcare workers and patients across Oregon rely on every day.
“This is not streamlining. This is sabotage,” said Tamie Cline, RN, ONA President. “Slashing the workforce at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the middle of overlapping public health crises will put lives at risk. Healthcare professionals in Oregon and across the country are already stretched thin, and this makes our jobs harder, our communities sicker, and our public institutions weaker.”
The Trump administration’s plan would gut the CDC’s ability to respond to disease outbreaks, limit the NIH’s capacity to fund life-saving research, and hamstring the FDA’s oversight of food and drug safety. These federal agencies are essential partners in safeguarding public health and ensuring healthcare workers have the resources, data, and support needed to care for their communities. Weakening them is an attack on the health and safety of every person in this state.
Some of the potential impacts of these reckless cuts include:
- Disease Outbreaks and Emergency Response: Oregon received more than $8.4 million through the CDC’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness program in FY2023, funding over 100 positions that help the state respond to wildfires, floods, and disease outbreaks. Cuts to CDC staffing threaten this funding and leave Oregon less prepared to protect public health during emergencies.
- Opioid Overdose and Suicide Prevention: The CDC allocated nearly $4 million to Oregon in FY2023 for opioid overdose prevention and nearly $1 million for suicide prevention. These programs fund naloxone distribution, peer recovery mentorship, and crisis intervention services; programs that may disappear if federal support and staffing are gutted.
- Lead Poisoning Prevention: Oregon’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program received over $500,000 in federal funding to identify and eliminate lead exposure risks, particularly for low-income children. Cuts to CDC personnel jeopardize this funding and threaten to increase preventable childhood lead poisoning cases across the state.
- Medical Research at OHSU: Oregon Health & Science University received $277 million from the National Institutes of Health in FY2024 to support research on cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other life-threatening diseases. Slashing NIH staff by over 1,000 positions could delay or reduce future grant opportunities, setting back life-saving research led by Oregon scientists.
The consequences will be felt most acutely by those already struggling to access care; reduced access to mental health and addiction services in rural Oregon, stalled research on chronic diseases at Oregon’s top academic institutions, and delayed approval of critical medications and treatments. Healthcare providers will be left without the federal support we rely on to deliver safe, effective care.
While most of Oregon’s congressional delegation has consistently stood up for healthcare workers and opposed these reckless cuts, U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz has remained silent. Silence is complicity. The Oregon Nurses Association calls on Rep. Bentz to publicly oppose this dangerous plan. Oregon cannot afford one more politician sitting on the sidelines while our public health infrastructure is dismantled.
“Healthcare workers know what it takes to keep our communities safe,” Cline said. “We are calling this what it is: a dangerous, politically motivated effort to break public health in order to break public trust. And we will not let that happen without a fight.”
ONA urges healthcare professionals, patients, and advocates across Oregon to raise their voices, contact their representatives, and demand that these cuts be stopped before more damage is done.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents a diverse community of more than 23,000 nurses, and health care professionals throughout Oregon. Together, we use our collective power to advocate for critical issues impacting patients, nurses, and health care professionals including a more effective, affordable and accessible healthcare system; better working conditions for all health care professionals; and healthier communities. For more information visit www.OregonRN.org.
Oregon Food Banks Face Shortages after Federal Administration Halts $500M in Aid
Oregon Food Bank to lose 4 million lbs of food deliveries from USDA amid federal cuts
Oregon foodbanks across the state will lose access to food shipments and leave more Oregonians hungry, advocates say, after the Trump administration suspended a national emergency food program.
The administration halted $500 million in food aid that was slated for U.S. distribution this year. The Oregon Food Bank, which distributes food aid to 21 regional foodbanks and some 1,200 distribution sites, had been allocated 30 truckloads of food beginning in April under the program and another 60 truckloads that would have been delivered from July through December.
Together, the shipments would have comprised some 4.2 million pounds of food – truckloads of chicken, milk, fresh and canned fruits and vegetables – that end up on the shelves of food pantries around the state and provide a vital lifeline for families and individuals struggling with food security.
The program provided almost one-fifth of the food the Oregon Food Bank distributed last year, plus administrative funding to support distribution costs.
The Oregon Food Bank has been receiving food under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s emergency food assistance program since 2023. In 2024, the value of those shipments was $14 million, and it received $1 million in funding to cover administrative costs. The value of this year’s canceled shipments is an estimated $6 million, plus an additional $1 million to support distribution.
The food banks were provided no official reason for the program’s suspension. Last fall, the Biden administration announced that it was investing another $1 billion in the program, said Shannon Oliver, the Oregon Food Bank’s director of operations. She said there was no reason at the time to think the incoming administration would change that. So the organization was caught off guard when it got a notice in February from Feeding America, a national network of food banks, that the program had been frozen, and its food orders disappeared from the program’s portal.
“As the person that’s in charge of making our food projections, I feel like I kind of have to be on the conservative side and assume that it’s not coming back,” Oliver said. “What’s keeping me up at night is how to potentially make this up.”
The supply disruption comes as the organization] is seeing a record level of demand amid severe inflation in food prices. Last year its network of food banks and distribution sites around Oregon and southwest Washington saw 2.5 million visits, a 31% increase from the previous year. According to Feed America, about one in eight Oregonians, and one in six children in the state, faces food insecurity.
“The amount we’re distributing right now is not keeping pace with increased pantry visits and increased need out in the community,” Oliver said.
She said it was highly unlikely that traditional donors and local suppliers could make up the gap. Many are being hit by the same chaotic forces that have come from the new administration’s economic and immigration policies, including tariffs, supply chain disruptions and the threat of immigration raids on growers.
The upshot of the federal freeze, she said, will be fewer distributions to its regional food banks, smaller allowances and less choice for families visiting them, and the potential closure of some distribution and meal sites. (SOURCE)
Governor Kotek’s office has heard from thousands of Oregonians concerned with utility rate increases that have gone up for most by about 50% in the last five years.
Kotek detailed this and her own concerns in a March 20 letter to the three governor-appointed chairs and executive director of the Oregon Public Utility Commission, which is charged with regulating the rates of investor-owned, monopoly electric and gas utilities operating in the state. She also laid out her expectations for the commission in the letter, including honoring the state’s climate commitments while considering requests for rate increases from utilities.
She asked that members provide information by Aug. 1 about their ability going forward to keep electricity and gas services affordable for Oregonians, handle the impacts of new heavy users such as data centers and ensure sound investments are being made in modernizing grid and distribution systems so Oregonians get reliable energy deliveries.
Kotek acknowledged both electric and natural gas utilities have and continue to face increasing insurance costs from the threat of catastrophic wildfires, inflationary pressures and volatile fuel prices. Everyday customers face those challenges, too. NW Natural, the state’s largest private gas utility, turned off gas to 376 Oregonians in 2024 – a 30% increase since 2023.
In the last five years, residential rates for customers of all three utilities have risen by about 50%, and the Oregon’s Public Utility Commission has approved rate hikes requested by the utilities nearly every year.
Governor Kotek wants to make it easier for housing developers to identify and build on the more than 3,500 acres of suitable-for-development land the state owns or manages.
The governor revealed an online map on Thursday aimed at making the state inventory of land more transparent. All told, more than 1.7 million acres are under Oregon state control, but about 360 parcels on the nearly 4,000 acres have been identified for possible housing development.
Kotek has staked her political reputation on making housing more affordable in the state, which hasn’t happened at all. Much of her administration’s energy has been poured into what the governor once declared a “man-made” and “humanitarian disaster.”
Kotek has promised a significant increase in housing production goals; her goal is to move from the historical 22,000 units to 36,000 new housing units per year, an ease in permitting and a push to put hundreds more people into housing. The state has struggled to meet those goals. The legislature opened the Housing Accountability and Productive Office to help local governments streamline their efforts, including the new website. The online map is cumbersome looking right now, but Deborah Flagan, with Hayden Homes, said finding land poses the greatest challenge for builders. Flagan was on a housing advisory council that recommended the idea.
Another central piece of Kotek’s housing production plan also recently launched. The $75 million “revolving loan fund” went live last month. It’s aimed at helping cities and counties boost affordable housing stock. The idea is to create a program to help local governments offer interest-free loans to developers who are building moderate and affordable home projects but have a funding gap. The $75 million is the starting point and will be replenished once the loans are paid off.
Oregon’s unemployment rate was up once again for February despite some sectors like government of course, actually adding jobs. Last month saw an unemployment rate of 4.5% in our state. That’s four-tenths of a point above the national average.
Sectors that saw the most gains were professional and business services, information, and government, which added more than 500 jobs.
However, construction, private educational services, and financial services all saw job decreases. Oregon’s 4.5% unemployment rate is the highest the state’s seen since August of 2021.
Amtrak’s “Horizon” railcars have been pulled from service due to corrosion concerns, affecting nearly all trips on Amtrak Cascades daily service between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Eugene.
Amtrak is pulling its fleet of “Horizon” railcars from several lines, including the Amtrak Cascades route, after a routine inspection revealed safety concerns, according to a statement on its website Wednesday morning.
The rail service has scheduled buses to transport passengers on the impacted Cascades trips through the end of the month. The “Talgo VI” railcars, which were previously used on the Cascades route, were pulled after derailing on a bridge over Interstate 5 in DuPont, Wash., in 2017. Three people were killed in the crash.
The Horizon cars were then brought in from the Midwest for the Cascades run, which moves up and down the I-5 corridor. But now they’ve been canceled due to the corrosion issue. The Cascades route is scheduled to get new “Airo” railcars in 2026. In a separate notice on its website Wednesday, Amtrak said a total of 70 passenger cars across the country are affected, including 26 cars on the Amtrak Cascades route. In the short-term, buses have been secured to transport passengers to their destinations through March 30.
The Cascades route is a different route than the Coast Starlight and is unaffected as they use different railcars to transport passengers. The Coast Starlight will remain on its current schedule with no changes whatsoever from Southern California to Seattle, including their stop in Klamath Falls.
Oregon Senate passes bill for permanent standard time… or possibly permanent daylight saving time
The bill could switch Oregon to either permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time, depending on what the federal government and neighboring states do.
The Oregon legislature is once again flirting with the idea of getting rid of the twice-annual switching of the clocks. Senate Bill 1038, which passed the state Senate Tuesday, could set Oregon up to adopt either permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time, depending on what the federal government, Washington and California do.
Speaking on the Senate floor Tuesday, bill sponsor Sen. Kim Thatcher explained that her priority is simply to lock the clocks, regardless of which timeframe comes out on top. She said the bill sets Oregon up to take whichever approach happens to work out sooner.
“I can’t say which of these would happen, but I do know that this bill gives us the highest percent chance of ditching the switch,” she said.
Under current federal law, states can choose to opt out of daylight saving time and remain on standard time year-round, but they aren’t allowed to implement permanent daylight saving time. Only Arizona and Hawaii have opted for permanent standard time; all others continue to switch the clocks.
Oregon first pursued a change in 2019 when the legislature passed a bill — also sponsored by Thatcher — to switch to permanent daylight saving time. The bill included two trigger conditions: it will only kick in if Congress changes the federal law and if Washington and California both decide to make the same switch. Washington quickly got on board with a similar bill, but so far, California and the federal government haven’t budged.
The idea of moving in the other direction emerged last year when Thatcher introduced Senate Bill 1548, which proposed a switch to year-round standard time, bypassing the need for federal approval. The bill initially didn’t include the California-and-Washington trigger either, but Thatcher added it to get the bill through the Senate — though it ultimately died in the House.
SB 1038 essentially combines the two prior bills; if the federal law changes and Washington and California switch to permanent daylight savings time within 10 years, Oregon will follow suit. And if the other two states instead decide to switch to permanent standard time within 10 years, Oregon will do likewise.
Thatcher said she took an all-of-the-above approach for SB 1038 because she heard differing opinions from other lawmakers last year about whether permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time would be the better strategy, but either way, no one wanted Oregon to be out of sync with Washington or California.
The bill passed 18-11; two senators who spoke in opposition said that they did not want to allow for the possibility of switching to permanent standard time because of negative impacts during the summer.
“A number of the emails that I received from folks shared that they are not comfortable with driving in the dark,” said Sen. Wlnsvey Campos. “These are folks that might otherwise be frequenting businesses, and so, this is a loss of revenue to them.”
Supporters generally said they had less of an opinion about which way Oregon goes, as long as it stays matched to its neighbors. Sen. Jeff Golden, whose district sits along Oregon’s southern border, said he’d heard a large amount of feedback from his constituents that convinced him to back Thatcher’s approach.
“There’s really a lot of consensus in my district on two points… one, let’s stop switching time. We don’t want to switch time anymore. It’s confusing; it’s disrupting; let’s go to one or the other,” he said. “And two, let’s be the same as California.”
Like its predecessors, SB 1038 would only apply to the part of the state that operates on Pacific Time. The majority of Malheur County at the eastern edge of Oregon operates on Mountain Time and would continue to do so even if the legislation takes effect. (SOURCE)
Incredible Orca Encounter In Depoe Bay Filmed Monday by the crew of Whale Research Eco Excursions
https://www.facebook.com/DiscoveringDepoeBayOregon/videos/3960855430862891
Big changes are coming to Mega Millions next month. Players will pay more for an increased ticket price but can also expect adjustments to prizes, higher starting jackpots and higher winning odds.
The new cost of a single-play Mega Millions ticket will rise from $2 per play to $5 per play, starting with the April 8 drawing.
Players who had won $2 in the old game will now take home $10, $15, $20, $25 or $50 under this game. Those who had won $500 under the old rules will now take home $1,000; $1,500; $2,000; $2,500 or $5,000 in this new game. Non-jackpot prizes at every level are going up by 2X to 10X.
These changes will take effect next week, according to a press release, after the last drawing on the current game April 4. The first drawings under the new system will begin April 8. It’s the second time in the game’s history that a price adjustment has been made, and the first since 2017.
Mega Millions is played in Oregon and 44 other states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Kroger Grocery is denying Albertsons’ claims that it didn’t do enough to ensure regulatory approval of the companies’ planned supermarket merger.
In court papers filed Tuesday in the Delaware Court of Chancery, Kroger said Albertsons disregarded the companies’ merger agreement and worked secretly with a partner, C&S Wholesalers, to try to force Kroger to divest more stores to C&S. Kroger also claimed that Albertsons was secretly planning to sue Kroger if the deal didn’t go through long before the merger actually fell apart in December.
Kroger said in Tuesday’s court filing that it should not be forced to pay Albertsons a $600 million termination fee as well as billions of dollars in legal fees.
In a statement Tuesday, Albertsons said it was Kroger that failed to honor the merger agreement.
“Kroger’s self-interested conduct doomed the merger, and we are now focused on returning value to Albertsons’ shareholders to compensate for those losses,” Albertsons said.
Kroger and Albertsons first proposed the merger in 2022. They argued that combining would help them better compete with big retailers like Walmart and Costco. But the Federal Trade Commission and two states — Washington and Colorado — sued to block the merger last year, saying it would raise prices and lower workers’ wages by eliminating competition. It also said Kroger and Albertsons’ plan to divest 579 stores, C&S Wholesalers was inadequate to ensure competition, since C&S was ill-equipped to take on so many stores.
In December, judges in Washington and Oregon halted the merger in two rulings issued within hours of each other.
Albertsons said Kroger refused to divest more stores, even as it became clear that regulators weren’t satisfied with its plans. Albertsons said Kroger also should have sought other buyers beyond C&S to satisfy regulators’ concerns.
Oregon public schools would have to consider installing a panic alarm system under a bill that unanimously passed the state House.
Alyssa’s Law is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a student who was killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2017. Schools that have installed these systems find that about 80 percent of the alerts are for medical purposes.
In 2023, the Oregon Legislature approved two-and-a-half million dollars to help pay for the systems. The bill now moves to the Senate.
The federal government would prioritize use of mass timber in construction projects under a bill in Congress.
Senators from Oregon and Idaho are leading the bipartisan effort to pass the Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act. Mass timber involves a process that makes wood strong enough for high rise construction, and more fire resistant.
The bill would make it a preference to use mass timber in federal construction projects.
A new bill in the Oregon legislature could result in a sales tax on beer, wine, and cider in Oregon.
House Bill 3197 proposes a 2% tax starting in 2026, eventually climbing to 8% in 2032. The tax would impact consumers at restaurants and at the grocery store. A majority of the funds collected, 85%, would go toward funding youth alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs.
The Oregon Beverage Alliance opposes the tax, citing a Monitoring the Future survey that claims youth drinking and drug use is at an all-time low. a spokesperson with the Oregon Beverage Alliance said. “Lawmakers should not be raising prices through a regressive sales tax on constituents when they’re already at record highs.
Additionally, the beer and wine sectors are seeing record closures with 70 breweries, taprooms, and brewpubs and 60 wineries and tasting rooms shuttering in the past two years as fewer people are drinking.”
Registration Now Open for the Annual Oregon Spring Cleanup
– Registration is live for the annual Oregon Spring Cleanup presented by Portland General Electric! With over 100 events already posted on the SOLVE website, now is the time to get involved. Litter cleanups and habitat restoration projects span Portland and SW Washington, the entire Oregon Coast from Astoria to Brookings, the Willamette National Forest, Southern Oregon—including Medford—and all the way to Baker City in Eastern Oregon.
The Oregon Spring Cleanup, celebrating Earth Month, takes place from April 12 to 22, 2025, culminating on Saturday, April 19. Individuals, families, community and corporate groups are encouraged to participate in this collective effort to keep our region clean and beautiful. Volunteers can sign up for existing projects or host their own events with support from SOLVE.
Longtime community partner, Portland General Electric continues to champion environmental volunteerism through SOLVE. As part of PGE’s commitment to environmental stewardship, they partner with SOLVE to bring communities together to provide clean and healthy environments for all.
“Earth Month is great reminder to take action and continue to enhance our communities,” said PGE’s vice president of policy and resource planning, Kristen Sheeran. “This Earth Month, we’re ready to roll up our sleeves with SOLVE and all of the volunteer partners to make a lasting impact on Oregon’s natural spaces.”
How to Get Involved
- Sign up: Find a volunteer event near you and register yourself or a group at volunteer.solveoregon.org/
- Lead your own event: SOLVE provides all the necessary resources, including supplies and disposal funds, to make hosting a project easy for you.
- Join the challenge: Rally your school, company, or community group to take part in the Trash Bag Challenge. Participants challenge others to either join an existing SOLVE cleanup or lead their own, sparking friendly competition and community pride – solveoregon.org/challenge
Supply Hubs: Making Coastal Cleanups More Sustainable
At SOLVE, we make it easy to lead a cleanup event. This year, new coastal supply hubs provide an additional way to access event materials, making it even easier to host litter cleanups along the Oregon Coast.
Through a partnership with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) and generous support from Knife River, SOLVE has established seven supply hubs along the Oregon Coast. These hubs—located at Cape Lookout, Fort Stevens, Port Orford Heads, South Beach, and Sunset Bay within OPRD parks, along with Heart of Cartm in Nehalem and Washed Ashore in Bandon—are stocked with supplies to support cleanups of up to 20 volunteers, reducing the shipment of single-use plastics to these areas.
Join the Trash Bag Challenge
New this year, SOLVE is also launching the Trash Bag Challenge, inviting schools, businesses, community groups, and organizations to challenge others to either join an existing cleanup or lead their own. This initiative is designed to spark friendly competition and community pride while making a tangible difference in local areas.
The Oregon Spring Cleanup 2025 is made possible by the generous support of Portland General Electric and other event sponsors, including AAA, CareOregon, Clean Water Services, Fred Meyer, Holman Enterprises, KOIN 6, The Oregonian, Lam Research Corporation, Metro, Lithia Driveway, Intel, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Swire Coca-Cola, The Standard, and PepsiCo.
For more information and to sign up, visit www.solveoregon.org/oregon-spring and be part of the collective effort to create a cleaner, greener Oregon.
About SOLVE
SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information.
Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs
No veteran should be without a place to call home, and the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is committed to ending veteran homelessness in our state.
The new ODVA Houseless Veterans Program collaborates with federal, state, county, and Tribal agencies, veteran services offices, and community homeless service providers to meet the urgent and unique needs of Oregon’s diverse veteran communities challenged with housing stability.
In addition to advocating for Oregon veterans experiencing or at risk for houselessness, the program provides direct service to veterans and their families seeking federal and state veterans’ benefits, including access to local VA health care, documentation of service, as well as other available state benefits, and local homeless services organizations and low-income assistance programs.
If you or a veteran you know is dealing with homelessness, contact the ODVA Houseless Veterans Coordinator today at houselessvets@odva.oregon.gov or visit https://ow.ly/V4EH50VnL93 to learn more.
A bill limiting Oregon landlords from increasing rentals more than once a year is under consideration by lawmakers.
Tenants Must Be Given Three Months Notice
If passed, Senate Bill 722 will ensure tenants are given a three-month notice of increases and that rent hikes do not exceed the legal percentage limit set by Oregon state law, linked to the Consumer Price Index.
Landlords exceeding the legal limit will face penalties, while tenants can sue for three months rent plus additional damages where applicable. Every month of violation will be considered a separate offense.
The lawsuit claims that RealPage is an intermediary algorithm that exploits sensitive rental data, enriching compliant landlords by tenants paying inflated prices.
A public hearing of Bill 722 will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 6 March, at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.
At present, newly built apartments are exempt from rent control for the first 15 years of operation. SB 722 wants to reduce the exemption period from 15 to seven years to allow tenants in newer apartment complexes to receive rent increase protection sooner.
Landlords will be prohibited from using AI software to set rentals and vacancy rates.
The bill will allow tenants to form committees to address issues at their residences. Landlords must meet with the committee within 10 to 30 days of a request. Meetings will be allowed up to twice annually unless both parties agree otherwise.
The chief sponsor of Bill 722 is Oregon Senator Chris Gorsek, who wants to safeguard tenants from losing the roof over their heads.
It originates from a lawsuit against RealPage, a rental pricing software package, by Oregon and seven other states last year.
A new bill on the Oregon house floor is taking wide swings at allocating funding to pay for anticipated wildfire costs in the next biennium including a proposed surcharge on bottles and cans.
State Representatives John Lively and Bobby Levy introduced HB 3940, a bipartisan proposal aimed at funding wildfire prevention and suppression in Oregon. The bill creates new provisions, directing multiple funding sources towards the State Fire Marshal’s office to make up for a projected shortfall of about $300 million.
Sources include insurance and forest harvest taxes, the Oregon Rainy Day Fund, and a 5¢ surcharge on each beverage container sold in the state. Representative John Lively from Springfield says not every recommendation from the bill is meant to pass, but rather a combination of solutions.
Ashland Senator Jeff Golden says his own plan to hold back Oregon’s Kicker would help fund wildfire needs if HB 3940 doesn’t get through the legislature, or fails to raise enough money. The bill was sent to the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment, but has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing.
State Agencies Issue Unpaid Toll Scam Alert
The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) are warning residents of a new scam.
“Scammers posing as DMV and ODOT are texting cell phones about unpaid toll fees,” a release from the two state agencies states. “The messages vary, but essentially claim you have a past due toll balance that must be paid immediately to avoid DMV fines or having your license suspended. These are fake messages and phishing scams trying to get payment information from unsuspecting Oregonians.”
ODOT officials said the agency does not have a toll program.
DMV does send text messages for actions initiated by the customer, but the messages never include links to verify personal information, according to the DMV.
“For example, when a customer establishes a DMV2U account, a security code may be sent by text to establish verification,”? the release states. “Customers may also receive a DMV appointment reminder or cancellation notice by text.”
DMV officials recommend that if you receive such a fraud text, you immediately delete the text message and block the number.
“Clicking on a suspicious text message or payment link will take you to a website where you are at a high risk of getting your personal and financial information stolen,” the state agencies warn. “ODOT and DMV staff members are unable to provide technical assistance with a customer’s phone.”
How the scam works
- Urgency and threat. The texts often create a sense of urgency, claiming unpaid tolls and threatening fines or penalties if you don’t pay immediately.
- Links to phishing sites. They include links that, if clicked, lead to fake websites designed to steal your personal and financial information.
- Impersonation. Scammers impersonate ODOT or other tolling agencies, making the texts seem legitimate.
How to protect yourself
- Don’t click links. If you receive a text about unpaid tolls, do not click on any links or provide any information.
- Verify with ODOT directly. Contact ODOT through their official website or phone number to confirm if you owe any tolls.
- Report the scam. Contact the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392 or file a complaint online. You can also file a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Federal Trade Commission.
- Be cautious of suspicious texts. Be wary of any text message that demands immediate action or asks for personal information or payment.
- Delete the text: Once you’ve reported the scam, delete the text message and block the number to prevent further potential harm.
If you click a link or provide your information
- Secure your personal information and financial accounts.
- Dispute any unfamiliar charges.
You can also verify a message’s legitimacy by contacting ODOT directly at 1-888-Ask-ODOT and DMV directly at 1-855-540-6655. For more information about fraud prevention, visit Oregon DMV.
Indigenous Speakers Series Returns to the Museum in April with Three Inspiring Events
BEND, OR — This coming April, explore identity, cultures and how to live the good life when the High Desert Museum’s Indigenous Speaker Series returns. Promising a vibrant showcase of Indigenous voices, the series features an array of Indigenous artists, storytellers, scholars and more who share their unique perspectives with the community.
“We are honored to once again collaborate with Indigenous knowledge holders to bring vital conversations to our visitors,” said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “The April events are a continuation of an effort to elevate Indigenous voices to share the issues and cultures of the High Desert.”
The three April events explore topics such as identity, creativity, community and portraiture. Two of the events are connected to an exhibition open now at the Museum, Frank S. Matsura: Portraits from the Borderland. Featuring 20-plus enlarged portraits taken by Matsura of Native peoples in the early 1900s, the exhibition provides visitors a unique look at life in Okanogan County in Washington state during a time of transition. The exhibition originated at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane, Wash.
On April 1, Michael Holloman (Colville Confederated Tribes), a Washington State University associate professor and a curator of the original exhibition, will lead a panel discussion that looks deeper into Matsura’s life. “Frank S. Matsura: His Life and Portraits” also includes film and media scholar Glen Mimura and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Beth Harrington. The event will consider Matsura’s experiences as a Japanese-born photographer and his nuanced imagery of Native communities. Tickets are $5, with a 20% discount for Museum members and free entry for Tribal members. For tickets, visit highdesertmuseum.org/matsura-portraits.
Then, on April 25, the Museum will host LaRonn Katchia (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs), the director of Pathfinders, for a discussion of the short film. Katchia, a Warm Springs/Wasco/Paiute filmmaker and storyteller, will be joined by Thyreicia Simtustus, Kahmussa Green and Kiahna Allen (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs), who are featured in the film. Part of the Matsura exhibition at the Museum, the film explores how the three young leaders are finding their own paths in balancing Native and non-Native worlds. Tickets are $5, with Members receiving a 20% discount and free entry for Tribal members. For tickets, visit highdesertmuseum.org/pathfinders.
In between those two events, on April 17, the Museum will host Chris La Tray, Métis storyteller and award-winning author of Becoming Little Shell. La Tray will discuss the Anishinaabe word Mino-bimaadiziwin, meaning “the good life.” The concept emphasizes the importance of community well-being and living in harmony with the world around us. At its simplest, it is living a life in balance, but how?
Montana’s Poet Laureate from 2023-2025, La Tray is a descendent of the Pembina Band of the mighty Red River of the North and a member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. His first book, One-Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large, won the 2018 Montana Book Award and a 2019 High Plains Book Award. The event includes light refreshment and a no-host bar. Tickets are $12, with members receiving a 20% discount and free entry for Tribal members. For tickets, visit highdesertmuseum.org/the-good-life.
The Indigenous Speakers Series is made possible by The Roundhouse Foundation, with additional support from Author’s Unbound for the April 17 Chris La Tray event. For more information and to purchase tickets for Indigenous Speakers Series events, visit highdesertmuseum.org/indigenous-speakers-series.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM:
THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Registration is closing soon for the Bob Ross-inspired Happy Little (Virtual) 5K
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.
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. You must register by April 1st in order to get your shirts and medal before the event. Participants can walk, run, 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. This year, the trees will be planted in the Santiam Canyon. 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 eleven other states. Together, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland, Virginia and Tennessee 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 eleven 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 is joining 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 two 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 www.orparksforever.org.
The long-delayed deadline for REAL ID is now less than 2 months away. There’s a chance that full enforcement may get gradually rolled out, but May 7, 2025, is the changeover deadline.
Starting then, state-level ID cards, such as driver’s licenses, won’t be accepted for federal purposes, namely getting through airport security, unless it’s REAL ID-compliant.
If you plan to catch a domestic flight on or after May 7, you will be required to use a REAL ID. A little gold or black star in the upper right-hand corner is one of the easiest ways to know you’re holding a REAL ID.
In Oregon, it’s a black star. A REAL ID is an identification card that serves all of the same purposes of a standard drivers’ license or state-issued identification card. A federally-mandated switch to REAL ID for federal purposes, such as flying domestically, was originally signed into law by Congress in 2005.
The purpose is to establish “minimum security standards for license issuance and production,” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website. The law, established four years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, came in response to federal calls for higher security standards in the U.S. Originally, the law mandated the switch to REAL ID by 2008, but it has been pushed back for various reasons due to logistical hurdles and later the COVID-19 pandemic.
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