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, April 9, 2025
Rogue Valley Weather
US National Weather Service Medford Oregon
Wednesday will be warmer with more sun as high pressure builds in the area. Overall temperatures will be 5 to 10 degrees above normal! A front moves in Thursday, but there are timing differences on when this front arrives. For now, the forecast shows warmer temperatures Thursday as long as the front does not come in until later in the day.
Southern Oregon Head Start Centers Facing Shut Downs
Southern Oregon Head Start is preparing to shut down half of its operations this Friday and faces a complete closure by April 18 unless frozen federal funds are released. This crisis threatens to more than 900 children without critical services and impacts 367 staff members. 
According to staff roughly half of the organization’s services will cease on Friday. And if the quarterly federal funds are not disbursed by the following Friday, April 18, the entire Head Start program serving Jackson County will be forced to shut its doors completely. Southern Oregon Head Start has been operating solely on state funds for several weeks, but those resources are now exhausted, making the arrival of the expected federal payment critical for survival.
Last Friday Klamath Family Head Start reassured families with a letter that regional office changes have not disrupted their current grant funding or services in Klamath and Lake counties for this year.
The 72nd annual Medford Pear Blossom Festival kicks off on Friday!
This longstanding Rogue Valley tradition features a multitude of events, including the parade, street fair, tournaments, and more! For event details and street closures 
https://www.medfordoregon.gov/…/72nd-Annual-Pear…
Head On Collision
BLM Reopens Rogue River Trail
Medford, Oregon – The Bureau of Land Management is re-opening the Rogue River National Recreation Trail after crews created a path around a large landslide. Wildland firefighters from BLM’s Veteran Crew 10, along with BLM recreation staff, were able to clear the landslide and re-route the trail around a large boulder. The crews also removed several downed trees and addressed other issues along the first few miles of the trail.
The trail is rated as difficult due to the remote nature of the trail, tall cliffs, the potential for downed trees, landslides and high water in creeks. Hikers may still encounter smaller landslides, unstable footing, erosion of trail tread, and other storm-related impacts along the trail. If you find damage on BLM lands, please report it to the Medford District Office at 541-618-2200.
“The Rogue River Trail is beautiful this time of year and we worked hard to open it as quickly as possible,” said Justin Kelly, Grants Pass Field Manager. “Please watch out for additional hazards as you enjoy your public lands.”
The Rogue River National Recreation Trail traverses the wild section of the Lower Rogue National Wild and Scenic River along its entire length. Stretching 40 miles between Grave Creek and Big Bend, the trail offers some of southwestern Oregon’s most amazing landscapes and rewarding hiking experiences. Majestic steep canyon walls, cascading waterfalls, and glistening streams are just a glimpse of the magnificent scenery in the Wild Rogue Canyon.
Local Deputy District Attorney Selected as Oregon’s DUII Prosecutor of the Year
Looking to swim or take a boat tour at Crater Lake National Park? This summer is your last chance to do so for a while.
The National Park Service announced that the Cleetwood Cove Trail, the only allowed access to the lakeshore, is undergoing maintenance until summer 2029. The NPS said the project “proposes to rehabilitate the trail and related infrastructure to ensure safe access to the lake, provide needed visitor services, and to protect the environment.
Every year, thousands of park visitors hike this trail to gain access to lakeshore. The Cleetwood Cove Marina is the launch point for the concession-provided boat tours of Crater Lake and the park’s boats. This project proposes to rehabilitate the trail and related infrastructure to ensure safe access to the lake, provide needed visitor services, and to protect the environment. This project will address critical safety issues with the Cleetwood Cove Trail and Marina.
Work proposed includes, rehabilitation of the entire 1.1 mile trail including improvements to trail tread and retaining walls. Rockfall scaling and mitigation along identified high risk zones. Removal and replacement of the failed bulkhead/dock with a structurally stable marina. Replacing the outdated and undersized composting toilets located near the marina.
The planning, design, and compliance are completed for this project. The next step is solicitation of the construction contract. Construction is set to start in 2026, with trail closures planned for the duration of the 2027 and 2028 summer seasons. The NPS says boat tours will not be provided during this time. The renovated trail has a slated reopening of summer 2029.
Fraud Fighter Summit and Resource Fair Set for April 12 in Medford
– The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) and Oregon AARP are hosting the Fraud Fighter Summit and Resource Fair on Saturday, April 12, in Medford.
The free event, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., will be at the Smullin Health Education Center, 2825 E. Barnett Road, in Medford. Doors open at 9 a.m. Parking is available on site and a light lunch will be provided.
Joining DFR and AARP will be representatives from the Federal Trade Commission and the Construction Contractors Board, who will provide insights on current scams. Attendees will learn tips on how to protect themselves against fraud.
They will hear from DFR Administrator TK Keen; Oregon AARP State Director Bandana Shrestha; Oregon AARP Director of Advocacy and Outreach Carmel Snyder; Construction Contractors Board Communications and Outreach Coordinator Tori Garcia; Federal Trade Commission Regional Director Chuck Harwood; and Doug Shadel, a national expert, author, and columnist on fraud prevention.
Keen will be speaking about spotting and recovering from scams and steps to follow while working with your insurance company. This information, which will accompany Garcia’s presentation, will provide consumers with tips and resources for scam and fraud avoidance, resources for recovery, and how to report.
“It is important for people to do their due diligence so that they do not become a victim of scams and fraud,” Keen said. “This is especially true when they are in a vulnerable position, including after a natural disaster. Unfortunately, not everyone who rushes in after a flood or fire is there to help.”
If you believe you may have been scammed related to an insurance or financial product or claim, DFR has resources to help you. Consumer advocates are available by calling 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or emailing .financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov“>dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov or .insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov“>dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov. More information is also available at dfr.oregon.gov/help.
Jackson County Gearing up to Welcome Visitors to Emigrant Lake This Summer – lake nearly replenished after several years of low water levels.
Steve Lambert, the Roads and Parks Director for Jackson County, shared exciting updates about the upcoming season, which promises a mix of outdoor recreation, new concessions, and renovated park facilities. The resurgence of the lake will also help the popular non-motorized watercraft rentals, including paddleboards and kayaks, which had struggled during the low-water years.
The county is actively seeking new business partners to provide food, beverage, and non-motorized watercraft rentals, a service that was previously offered when the lake had better water levels. The last concessionaire at Emigrant Lake was successful in offering rentals and lessons for paddleboards, and Lambert is optimistic about finding a new partner to continue this tradition.
In preparation for the influx of visitors, Jackson County has also been working on improving park facilities. New infrastructure, including replacement sidewalks, staircases and a renovated Oak Slope Tent Campground.
Fire codes force Ashland homeless shelter to close, city plans renovations
The building at 2200 Ashland St. was not designed for overnight sleeping, so it doesn’t meet fire codes, meaning it can only be open for 90 days. It opened in January.
That also means that even though 28 people can stay at the shelter overnight, half of them have to be awake.
Sam Engel, CEO of the homeless services nonprofit Rogue Retreat, which has been running the shelter, said this design had some hiccups and was hard for guests to understand.
“But then, simply, we had the opportunity to let 14 people sleep, or we had the opportunity to let 14 people sleep, and 14 other people come in, get warm, have a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, food, and then they could choose to stay or leave,” he said. “And we saw the value in taking advantage of that.”
Engel said preliminary numbers show Rogue Retreat got seven people into stable housing.
Rogue Retreat has been working with local partners to ensure people can receive services elsewhere once the shelter closes Tuesday at 9 a.m.
“People should sleep indoors if they want to, year-round, regardless of the weather conditions,” Engel said. “We’re worried about what people are going to do on the night of April 1 and beyond.”
Ashland has a night lawn where people can camp overnight, as well as the OHRA Center, the only 24/7, year-round shelter in the city, and all 72 of its beds are consistently full, with an ongoing waitlist.
However, the city has set aside money for fire code renovations at 2200 Ashland St. so it can be used as a shelter. The timeline for the project hasn’t been determined.
The building is an approximately 3,000-square-foot commercial use office space and needs additional exits, smoke detectors and a sprinkler system, among other things.
It originally opened as a homeless shelter in fall 2023 when the state was under an emergency order. But last spring, Ashland City Council declined over $2 million in state funding to keep it open. Councilors argued there was no long-term plan for the space.
Since then, the city has struggled to figure out what to do with the building while searching for more shelter options for homeless residents.
Housing Program Specialist Linda Reid said a request for proposals for the renovations has been issued, and the city hopes to get started as soon as possible.
Ashland plans to use Community Development Block Grant funds for the project. Reid said the city has about $112,000 remaining from 2024 and anticipates receiving $105,000 in 2025.
While Reid said that money won’t be enough to address everything the building needs, installing the sprinkler system is the priority.
Meanwhile, Ashland still doesn’t have a shelter for inclement weather, such as smoke or cold.
Emergency Management Coordinator Kelly Burns said the city doesn’t have the money or capacity for that.
“We are potentially going to have a few more nights of cold weather in April,” he said. “We’re asking other community partners, maybe faith-based organizations, anybody that’s a nonprofit that is willing to step up and maybe bridge that gap for us.” (SOURCE)
Sharing for our friends at Salvation Army:
Help Fill Our Food Pantry – Your Donations Make a Difference! 
Most Needed Items:
Canned vegetables & fruits Rice & pasta Peanut butter & jelly Cereal & oatmeal Soup & canned proteins (tuna, chicken, beans)
Drop-off Location: 922 N. Central Avenue Medford, OR 97501
Hours: 9am-3pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
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.
Medford PoliceSave the date! 
Our Drug Take Back & Rogue Shred Event takes place on 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟵 𝗔𝗠 – 𝟭𝟮 𝗣𝗠 at the City Hall parking lot.
Drop off your unused, outdated and unwanted prescription drugs (no needles or any kind of inhalers). Please ensure that there are no leaking bottles and that the tops are on securely.
Got paper? Bring personal and confidential documents you would like to have shredded. Shred items are limited to the equivalent of three garbage bags full of items to be shredded.
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
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
ODF firefighters return home from North Carolina
– As the Black Cove Complex is turned back to the local district, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) 39 firefighters have begun the demobilization process and are returning home.
“This deployment was the best way we could say thank you.” Michael Curran, ODF Protection Division Chief, said. “Firefighters are so interconnected and being able to lean on each other when we need it is what makes us stronger.”
Over the weekend, 26 firefighters flew home, eight people will fly home today, and one individual will fly home on Tuesday. This will leave four ODF staff remaining in North Carolina to help close the Black Cove Complex.
The firefighters went to North Carolina under state-to-state mutual assistance agreements, which creates a reciprocal cache of resources. When wildfire activity is low in Oregon, like during spring, firefighters can be spared to help in places experiencing high levels of wildfire. Oregon can and has called on those same states to send firefighters and equipment when wildfire here exceeds local capacity. Most recently, Oregon gratefully welcomed an incident management team and other overhead positions from North Carolina in the 2024 fire season.
Through these mutual assistance agreements with other states, including Alaska, Hawaii and NW Canadian territories, states, provinces and territories can share resources with one another, creating a larger, comprehensive fire management system.
“The complete and coordinated system is there not just to benefit other states, but Oregon as well when peak season hits,” Curran said.
Oregon saw the benefit of these agreements this past fire season, in which ODF received resources from about 20 states and Canadian provinces/territories. The department is continuing to expand its state-to-state agreements nationwide to facilitate reciprocal resource sharing during heightened times of need.
Another Missing Woman in Oregon Who’s Car Has Been Found But She is Still Missing
Search and rescue teams are looking for a 29-year-old Klamath Falls woman reported missing out of Harney County last week. The Harney County Sheriff’s Office says Kaylee Birt was last seen leaving The Fields Station in Fields, Oregon around 8:30 a.m. on Friday.
Reports indicate Kaylee was on a trip from Klamath Falls headed to Iowa, driving a golden colored 2008 Chevy Malibu with Oregon whale license plate #GW21073.
According to an update from the sheriff’s office, her car was found in a remote part of Harney County on Sunday, but she has not yet been located.
Search efforts are resuming Monday morning with the assistance of Lake County Search & Rescue, local ranchers on horseback, side-by-sides and four wheelers, as well as Oregon State Police and Grant County Search & Rescue with K-9s.
Kaylee is described as 5 feet 2 inches and 120 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. She has green and brown glasses and was last seen wearing a long-sleeve green shirt and white sweatpants with a Christmas tree design on them. She has a tattoo on her right wrist of a lighthouse and another one on her foot of a Christian fish and cross with Romans 8:31 Bible verse.
Anyone who has seen Kaylee or knows where she might be is asked to call 911 or contact the Harney County Sheriff’s Office at 541-573-6156.
There are a string of these cases in Oregon where the missing women’s vehicles are found, but they are still missing to this day.
Oregon could lose millions in childhood vaccine funding
Federal funds for childhood vaccines in Oregon could be cut by nearly $9 million, part of more than $2 billion in broader cancellations of pandemic-era federal public health spending, per government data.
Why it matters: Federal money helps fight preventable and sometimes deadly diseases like measles, which is now spreading in several parts of the country.
Zoom in: The cuts would amount to $8.9 million out of nearly $53 million total in public health grants awarded to the state by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
What they’re saying: “We’re talking about contractors losing their contracts and not being able to get paid, people who were working on vaccination programs not there anymore, and all of the supporting infrastructure that these funds provided evaporated in an instant,” says Josh Michaud, associate director for global health policy at health policy research and news organization KFF.
- States also get separate federal money for immunization efforts through programs like Vaccines for Children, Michaud notes — though many were counting on these grants as well.
Yes, but: A federal judge temporarily blocked the cuts last week after nearly two dozen states, including Oregon, filed a lawsuit against HHS. (SOURCE)
Red Cross Provides Flood Relief Services in Harney County
Our hearts go out to all Harney County residents who continue to deal with the effects of widespread flooding and who are bracing for the potential for more flooding. The American Red Cross wants to make sure that no one faces this heartbreaking crisis alone. Below are the ways we are supporting this disaster relief response.
SERVICES: The Red Cross has a shelter set up at the Harney County Fairgrounds at 69660 S. Egan Rd., Burns. We are providing services to residents inside the shelter and to people who come in RVs and park outside the shelter. So far, we’ve provided 86 overnight stays and continue to staff the shelter 24/7.
We have the capacity for 50 people inside and 60 outside and still have room for those who need to come.
Everyone is welcome and you do NOT have to stay in our shelters to receive our services. Anyone who needs support services, information, or a warm meal can stop by the Harney County Fairgrounds or call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).
We have opened a site to distribute clean up kits at 320 Snow Mountain Lane, Hines OR. We will be there daily from 9am to 4pm.
Cleanup kits that include:
- One mop
- One squeegee
- Two brooms, different sizes
- Two handles to use with mop/brooms/squeegee
- One scrub brush
- One sponge
- One mask
- One pair leather work gloves
- One pair blue nitrile gloves
- Three heavy-duty trash bags
- One quart bottle highly concentrated Bully II hard surface cleaner/degreaser
HOW YOU CAN HELP: The best way to support the work we are doing is by making a financial contribution. You can do so by going to www.RedCross.org/Cascades or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross cannot accept clothing, items or home cooked food.
Interested in volunteering? Join us! Go to www.RedCross.org/volunteer and sign up.
About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood and provides blood to 65 regional hospitals; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on social media at @RedCrossCascades. — American Red Cross – Cascades Region
Opposition packs hearing on Gov. Kotek proposal to update critical groundwater area protections
More than 500 letters of testimony were submitted in opposition to Senate Bill 1154, largely from people who fear it will let state agencies take their well water
Gov. Tina Kotek’s proposal to give state agencies more authority to intervene earlier in Oregon’s contaminated groundwater areas met massive opposition at its first public hearing.
Two rooms and two separate hearings were scheduled Tuesday to accommodate all of the people who went to the Capitol to offer testimony on Senate Bill 1154 during a meeting of the Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Committee. The bill was sent to the Senate Rules Committee without recommendation, where it will receive another public hearing in the weeks ahead.
Bill advocates say it would provide much-needed updates to the state’s Groundwater Quality Protection Act first passed in 1989. That act was meant to conserve groundwater resources and prevent contamination following well-testing across the state that showed many contained water with high levels of agricultural chemicals.
Chandra Ferrari, Kotek’s natural resources adviser, told lawmakers the current law is too vague, lacks a clear process for involving state and local agencies in remediating pollution and doesn’t do enough to protect groundwater from pollution before aquifers become critically impaired.
About 80% of Oregonians rely on groundwater for some or all of their drinking water, and one-quarter rely on private, at-home wells. About 90% of rural Oregonians rely on those at-home wells, according to Ferrari.
“It’s risky, it’s costly, it’s time-consuming to not effectively address contamination,” Ferrari told lawmakers. “We need to work harder to not hit these critical contamination thresholds, and we need to work smarter when we do. Our laws should facilitate us doing these things well.”
But those opposed to the updates include more than 560 people and groups who submitted testimony in advance of the hearing, as well as several eastern Oregon state representatives, who say the bill would allow state agencies broader authority to do water and soil testing and monitoring on private property without landowner consent and that it could lead to state agencies cutting off water to some.
State Reps. Bobby Levy, R-Echo, and Greg Smith, R-Heppner, spoke in opposition to the bill at the hearing .
Smith said allowing state agencies to monitor and test private wells, or inspect potentially leaky septic systems, would violate his constituents’ property rights.
Levy called it an “unacceptable overreach of state power,” and a “persecution” of rural Oregonians.
“It grants broad, unchecked authority to state agencies, allows them to walk onto private property, dig up soil, impose arbitrary restrictions and suspend water use that is critical, not only to agriculture, but to basic human life,” she said, before applause erupted in one hearing room.
What the bill does
The updated Groundwater Quality Protection Act would establish thresholds for contaminants that automatically qualify them as critical groundwater management areas. It would also create a new designation for “groundwater areas of concern,” where contaminants are detected but a threshold for declaring the area in critical condition hasn’t quite been met.
The five governor-appointed members of the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission would designate “areas of concern” if contamination was growing or particularly threatening, and then the governor would appoint a response team made up of a mix of agency officials who would help local stakeholders create a “local voluntary implementation plan” for curbing pollution and alerting the public.
The groups and agencies would be required to provide regular reports to the Environmental Quality Commission, the governor and the Legislature in order to receive funding to execute their local voluntary implementation plan.
If the voluntary plan does not keep a basin from entering critical contamination thresholds, then state agencies could more directly intervene, including testing soil and water on private land for potential septic leaks and requiring some wastewater permit holders to conform to tighter regulations on where and how much nitrate-laden water they can release.
The bill also more clearly spells out which agencies are responsible for participating in action on groundwater management areas and what each agency is responsible for doing.
The Oregon Health Authority would be in charge of informing the public and helping with testing and providing safe drinking water; the Oregon Water Resources Department would be in charge of regulating water flows and rights; the Oregon Department of Agriculture would take on agricultural polluters and mitigating farm pollution; the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality would take on any changes needed to protect groundwater through industrial water permitting; and other agencies would be involved as needed, according to Ferrari.
As the law works now, there isn’t one sole agency responsible for groundwater quality protection in Oregon, Ferrari said, and no single agency is responsible for helping communities impacted by contaminated groundwater.
Decades-long problems
Since 1989, three critical groundwater management areas have been identified in Oregon. They are all still considered to be in critical condition due to nitrate contamination, almost entirely from agriculture, and none have seen vast improvement in the last two to three decades.
The Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area in northeastern Oregon, designated as critically impaired in 1990, has gotten worse under state supervision, and a volunteer committee established in 1997 to tackle problems has had little to no impact.
Thousands of residents in Morrow and Umatilla counties — mostly Latino and low-income — have lived and drunk from contaminated wells, which is dangerous because nitrates consumed over long periods can increase risks for cancer and birth defects. In September, Kotek and state agency officials released a comprehensive plan for curbing nitrate pollution in northeast Oregon that “will take decades” to achieve.
More than a dozen residents of Boardman who cannot drink their well water submitted testimony in support of Senate Bill 1154.
Kaleb Lay, director of policy research at the nonprofit Oregon Rural Action, said the bill could be improved in the Senate Rules Committee to get broader buy-in, but that updates to the Groundwater Protection Act are long overdue. It wasn’t until Morrow County declared a water emergency and Oregon Rural Action began a grassroots well testing campaign that the state became more directly involved.
“If we leave the law unfixed, it will simply stay broken. I would argue that every moment we spend on this bill is worthwhile,” Lay told lawmakers.
Ferrari said updates to the Groundwater Quality Protection Act would allow the state to intervene earlier to avoid situations such as that in the Lower Umatilla Basin.
“We know or have reason to believe there are contamination problems in other parts of the state that are not currently GWMAs (groundwater management areas). And also, we are still in the process, 30-plus years later, of undertaking costly and time consuming efforts to address contamination in the GWMAs that have been identified,” she told lawmakers. (SOURCE)
Oregon Employment Department Fixing Tax Document Problem — A mistake by the Oregon Employment Department means up to 12-thousand people who received unemployment last year might need to file updated tax forms.
The problem happened during the switch from the old computer system to Frances Online. Incorrect 1099-G forms were sent to some people who received unemployment benefits last year.
The Oregon Employment Department reports a review of approximately 12,000 tax forms containing inaccurate information is complete. Those 1099-G tax forms were sent out to people who received unemployment benefits in 2024 and were to be used in state and federal tax returns. OED said the errors impacted about five percent of all the 1099-G forms issued by the department.
“We’ve had more than 100 OED staff working through an intensive process of validating and reissuing forms in order to complete this work,” said OED Director David Gerstenfeld. “I appreciate all of the staff who are working on this for impacted Oregonians. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused some of our customers.”
The department is going through a process to identify all errors, validate tax forms and contact affected customers. The Oregon Employment Department has details on its website: https://www.oregon.gov/employ/NewsAndMedia/Press%20Releases%20Archives/2025-03-27-Errors-to-Unemployment-Insurance-Tax-Forms.pdf
Oregon AG Rayfield will host town halls about federal oversight in Eugene, Portland, Bend
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield plans to travel the state throughout the spring and summer hosting town halls about federal oversight, his office announced Tuesday.
Rayfield has sued the Trump administration at least 10 times since taking office, including a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for abruptly stopping $12 billion in public health grants to states.
“In my first three months in office, we’ve established clear priorities: challenging federal overreach, fighting back against corporate greed, and standing up for veterans, students, and working families,” Rayfield said in a statement. “These forums will create an ongoing dialogue with Oregonians about federal accountability and how we’re working to protect their rights.”
He also has joined Democratic members of Oregon’s congressional delegation and Legislature at their own town halls. In March, he traveled to Arizona to gather stories with three other Democratic attorneys general at a town hall in Phoenix.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes will join Rayfield at his second planned forum, on his 100th day in office on April 10. They’ll participate in an event at 6 p.m. in Portland, at a yet-to-be-announced location.
House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, will join Rayfield at 6:30 p.m. April 9 at the University of Oregon’s Prince Lucien Campbell building.
And he’ll host a meeting at 10 a.m. in Bend on May 3, with no location announced yet. Rayfield plans to host additional meetings throughout the summer, according to the Department of Justice.
Easter Bunny Express, April 19th! Get your tickets now
It’s spring, the flowers are blooming and the bunnies are hopping—time for a delightful spring train ride behind a steam locomotive!
Polson #2 is coming out of the Enginehouse to pull all three runs of the Easter Bunny Express Saturday, April 19. Trains leave at 1pm, 2:30pm and 4 pm. Come along to smell the flowers and take selfies with our Easter Bunny. Enjoy a scenic 45-minute ride along the Willamette River in Portland to Oaks Park and back.
Hop aboard the first ride of the season! Get your tickets at https://orhf.org/saturday-train-rides/.
ODHS issued $2.35 million in grants to improve emergency services for long-term care residents
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) issued four grants totaling $2.35 million to fund local pilot projects that provide innovative strategies to address the emergency medical services needs of older adults who live in long-term care facilities.
The grants are part of the Senior Emergency Medical Services Innovation Program, which was created when Oregon House Bill 2397 passed in 2021. Funding for the grants started in January 2025 and will continue through December 2026.
The four grant recipients are:
- Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue (TVF&R), which was awarded $758,000 to fund an Advanced Resource Medic (ARM) unit. This unit will be staffed with advanced practice paramedics and physician assistants who can respond to emergency calls from licensed facilities and provide the care needed to reduce unnecessary hospital visits for residents. TVF&R responds to about 45,000 emergency medical services calls a year and 14 percent of those are in care facilities.
- Eugene-Springfield Fire, which was awarded $1,233,000 to fund a Community Aid Response Unit. This team will respond to residents of licensed long-term care facilities and is equipped to stay on scene to provide services that take longer than a typical emergency response. This unit will also provide risk evaluation and education services to facilities.
- City of Lake Oswego, which was awarded $288,000 to fund Risk Reduction and Prevention and Education Programs for older adults in the community. The city fire department will hire a risk reduction specialist and will partner with licensed long-term care facilities to develop emergency plans. Lake Oswego will also work toward developing a master emergency plan that care facilities across the state can build from in preparing their own plans.
- City of Albany, which was awarded $68,500 to fund a Care Facility Response Safety Program to train facility staff on using lifting devices and responding to falls.
The Senior Emergency Medical Services Innovation Program is within the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD). In addition to funding pilot projects, its work is focused on promoting quality emergency medical services for older adults while also ensuring efficiency and encouraging community-based responses to challenges.
“Each of these pilot projects represents a step forward for our state as we look to meet the needs of older adults and use community emergency response resources effectively,” said Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, Ph.D., Director of the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities, which administers the Senior Emergency Medical Services Innovation Program.
The grants issued were awarded through a competitive Request for Proposal process managed through OregonBuys. Funding for the pilot project grants is provided through APD’s Quality Care Fund.
Time is running out: Tax Day is almost here
But with just days before taxes are due, April 15, more than 1 million Oregonians have yet to submit their tax year 2024 returns.
“Taxpayers are slightly ahead of the pace from 2023, the most recent non-kicker year. We still expect to see a rush of returns as we get closer to Tax Day,” said Megan Denison, Personal Tax and Compliance Division administrator with the Oregon Department of Revenue.
“Our best advice for taxpayers is to get their returns in as soon as possible.”In addition, to filing sooner rather than later, the department offers the following information for taxpayers who still need to file their state return.
File electronically – E-filing is the fastest way for taxpayers to get their tax refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks. Taxpayers should file just once. Sending a paper return through the mail after e-filing will a delay a refund.
Free filing options – Revenue provides several options for taxpayers to e-file their returns for free. Oregon Free Fillable Forms performs basic calculations and is ideal for taxpayers who don’t need help preparing their returns and want the convenience of filing electronically. The IRS offers a similar option for filing federal taxes electronically.
New this year, taxpayers can file their federal return directly with the IRS using IRS Direct File and their Oregon return directly with the state through Direct File Oregon for free. Videos are available to show how to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon.
Information about all available free tax preparation software options is available on the Revenue website, along with a list of organizations providing free assistance.
Where’s my refund? tool and video – Revenue has issued nearly 850,000 refunds already this year, most within two weeks of filing. Taxpayers wondering about the refund on their tax year 2024 return, can use the Oregon Department of Revenue’s Where’s My Refund? tool to check its status and, if they want more information, watch a video outlining the refund timelines to better understand the process.
Filing an extension – Individuals who are not able to file by April 15, 2025 can file an extension directly with the Oregon Department of Revenue or with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If the IRS extension is granted, the Oregon extension is automatically granted. A timely filed extension moves the federal tax filing deadline and the Oregon filing deadline to October 15, 2025.
Only request an Oregon extension if you:
- Don’t have a federal extension.
- Owe Oregon taxes.
- Can’t file your return by April 15, 2025.
Remember that having a filing extension is not an extension to pay any tax owed. Taxpayers who can’t pay the full amount they owe, should pay what they can to avoid late payment penalties.
Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, see a list of approved tax preparation software products, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments. For questions not answered on our website, call 800-356-4222 toll-free (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 or email questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), we accept all relay calls. Due to the number of calls Revenue receives during tax season, you may experience extended wait times.
Even as April 15 Tax Day approaches – if you don’t owe, you have more time to file to get your refund
Salem, Ore. – Here comes the April 15, 2025 deadline to file your taxes — but wait, there’s good news. If you don’t owe any taxes, you have three years to file your tax return without any penalty and still get your refund. Plus, thanks to the Oregon Department of Human Services Tax Infrastructure Grant Program, there are many places to get free help in filing your taxes.
For many people, particularly those with lower incomes or who work part-time or seasonally, a refund is due thanks to withholding and refundable tax credits.
But why wait three years if you are due a tax refund? Don’t let the April 15 deadline stop you from getting your tax return this year. It may be too late to find an appointment before April 15, but many free tax filing places take some time off after April 15 and then start up again in May and work through October 15.
Also, it is fairly common to get a letter two or three months after filing your taxes from the Oregon Department of Revenue or the Internal Revenue Service asking for more information. The free tax filing services can help you respond to the letter including translating into other languages if needed.
Learn more about credits, deadlines and where to find free help: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/Pages/tax-help.aspx
The Tax Infrastructure Grant Program funds culturally relevant or culturally specific organizations, Tribal governments and rural community organizations to help educate and provide free tax filing help for people with low incomes. Help is available in multiple languages. The grant money is also used to increase the number of certified tax preparers in Oregon.
Where to get free help filing taxes
- 211Info: Call 2-1-1 or email help@211info.org for a list of all the free tax filing help.
- Oregon State University; vita@oregonstate.edu; 541-737-3371; Corvallis, Bend, Eugene OSU VITA website: https://business.oregonstate.edu/volunteer-income-tax-assistance
- Western Oregon University; wouvita@wou.edu; 503-751-4132; Monmouth, Independence, Falls City; WOU VITA website: https://wou.edu/business-economics/volunteer-income-tax-assistance-vita/.
- CASH Oregon: info@Cashoregon.org; 503-243-7765; Portland, Beaverton, Gresham
- Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO); TAX@irco.org; 971-427-3993; Portland, Ontario
- Centro de Servicios Para Campesinos; biec@Centrodspc.org“>debbiec@Centrodspc.org; 503-982-0243; Woodburn
- Latino Community Association; info@latinocommunityassociation.org;
541-382-4366; Bend, Redmond
- Moneywise Oregon; dan@moneywiseoregon.org; 541-670-5054; Coos Bay, Roseburg
The Oregon Department of Revenue has added features to the “Where’s My Refund” tool.
Users can learn more about the status of their refund, they can see when additional information is needed, and the website is easier to navigate. To use the tool, taxpayers need to create a login at Revenue Online. https://revenueonline.dor.oregon.gov/tap/_/
The Oregon House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill on Thursday to change the eviction process of squatters by homeowners.
House Bill 3522 allows the removal of squatters using the standard eviction process, known in Oregon as Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED), without any proof of forced entry or an existing landlord-tenant relationship. If the bill passes, a lease doesn’t need to be in place for homeowners to follow the standard eviction process.
“Our homes are our citadels and we need to protect what is rightfully ours,” Rep. Boomer Wright, a Republican representing Coos Bay and the chief co-sponsor of the bill, said in a statement.
Without HB 3522, state law requires property owners to take civil legal action against the squatter in a process known as ejectment, which chief co-sponsor Rep. Hai Pham said “costs individual homeowners thousands of dollars in costs and often takes months to process.”
“We need to give immediate relief to property owners and more tools to remove unauthorized occupants,” Pham, a Democrat representing South Hillsboro and West Beaverton, said. The bill is now moving to the Senate for consideration.
Seeking public comment on proposed changes to day-use parking permits
SALEM, Oregon—Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking public comment on a proposal to expand the 25% out-of-state camping surcharge to parking permit fees and eliminate the two-year parking permit.
The out-of-state camping surcharge was enacted by state law in 2022 for RV campsites, and OPRD expanded it to all site types for out-of-state campers for stays beginning July 1, 2025.
The proposed rule change would add the 25% out-of-state surcharge to parking permit fees. Based on current rates, out-of-state visitors would pay $12.50 per day or $37.50 for an annual parking permit. If approved, the change would begin July 1, 2025.
Oregon residents would continue to pay the same parking permit rate of $10 per day or $30 for an annual permit.
The proposed rule change would also eliminate the sales of 24-month parking permits starting in 2026. Existing permits would be honored until they expire. The 12-month annual permit will continue to be sold.
These changes would help parks more consistently implement the surcharge as well as track annual revenue and budgets for parks in the future. It’s part of an ongoing effort to help keep pace with rising costs while continuing to provide exceptional outdoor experiences.
Public comments on the proposed rule change will be accepted through 5 p.m. April 30, 2025:
- Online: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx
- Mail: OPRD Department, attn: Katie Gauthier, 725 Summer St NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301
- Email: D.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov“>OPRD.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov
A public hearing will also be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, 2025:
- Register to attend the virtual hearing at: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__1Zw_JurTy-PYpxWhGra2w#/registration
Once the public comment period ends, the proposal with any incorporated updates is slated to go to Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission in June for possible adoption.
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 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.
Every year, the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony honors the state’s law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
This year’s ceremony will be held Tuesday, May 6th at 1 p.m. at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem.
The annual event commemorates the more than 190 fallen officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the state of Oregon since the 1860s. This includes law enforcement, corrections, and parole and probation officers from city, county, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies.
The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training is proud to host the ceremony in partnership with the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Oregon Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation, and various statewide law enforcement associations.
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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