The latest news stories of interest in the Rogue Valley and the state of Oregon from the digital home of Southern Oregon, Wynne Broadcasting’s RogueValleyMagazine.com
Monday – January 19, 2026
Rogue Valley Weather
Air Stagnation Advisory Issued – National Weather Service
...AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST WEDNESDAY WITHIN THE VALLEYS IN JACKSON COUNTY... * WHAT...Poor air quality will continue. This is due to an inversion and stagnant air
conditions near the surface that will continue to trap pollutants Within the valleys in
Jackson County. * WHERE...Valleys in Jackson County. * WHEN...Until 4 PM PST Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Poor air quality may cause issues for people with respiratory problems. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Persons with respiratory illness should follow their physicians advice for dealing with
high levels of air pollution during periods of stagnant air.
https://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/oregon.php
Winter is here! Here’s the overview of our winter outlook, but be sure to check out what we’re predicting in your area: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/extended-forecast
- What: 38th Annual MLK Jr. Day Celebration.
- When: Monday, January 19, 2026, 12:00 PM (doors at 11:30 AM).
- Where: Historic Ashland Armory (overflow at Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Carpenter Hall).
- Highlights: Keynote by SOU President Rick Bailey, performances by local schools & choirs, community messages, and a livestream available.
- Donations: Food donations encouraged for the SOU Food Pantry.
- What: MLK Community Gathering.
- When: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 11 AM – 3 PM.
- Where: Grants Pass High School Performing Arts Center & Cafeteria.
- Highlights: Family-friendly event with storytelling, music, dance, activities, and community connection.
Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation Grants $795,000 to Non-Profits in Southern Oregon
The Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation celebrated its winter awards ceremony at Seven Feathers Casino Resort last week.
A foundation release said $759,930 was distributed to southern Oregon non-profit organizations that work to strengthen their communities.
The grants were awarded to groups in Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Coos, Klamath, Lane and Deschutes counties. With Thursday’s awards, the total amount of philanthropic giving by the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation reached $27,199,988, since it was founded in 1997.
The Mission of the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation is to offer assistance with youth education, strengthen youth and family, provide for positive youth development, and add to the quality of life for people in southwestern Oregon. Increasing emphasis upon basic needs and feeding hungry people has been part of the CCUIF mission in recent years. Awards are made semi-annually in January and June.
More information about the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation is available at: https://www.cowcreekfoundation.org/
Oregon Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Sell Cocaine Purchased from the Dark Web (Photo)
U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Oregon – 01/16/26 4:50 PM
MEDFORD, Ore.—An Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for attempting to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine purchased from the dark web.
Dominick Jeffrey Aragon, 32, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, in February 2025, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) task force intercepted a parcel addressed to Aragon’s residence containing approximately one ounce of cocaine. In March 2025, they intercepted a second parcel destined for Aragon at the same address that contained two ounces of cocaine.
The investigation continued into April 2025, when USPIS and RADE seized two additional parcels addressed to Aragon at an acquaintance’s residence that contained controlled substances.
At the time of these offenses, Aragon was on federal supervised release after completing a 15-month federal prison sentence for distributing cocaine.
On September 29, 2025, Aragon pleaded guilty to attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
This case was investigated by USPIS and RADE. It was prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and Olivia Mendez, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
RADE is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. RADE includes members from Oregon State Police, the Grants Pass Police Department, Josephine County Probation & Parole, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.
Grants Pass High School is expanding its automotive program, now in its third year, to give students more space for hands-on training.
Around 150 students learn the basics of car repair while working on staff and student vehicles. Automotive teacher Travis Rappleyea said it’s been difficult to manage working out of the small garage.
“If a job goes sideways on us, as they very frequently tend to do, then we’re down that space until we can get that vehicle out of here,” he said. “And that’s going to butt heads and interfere with all the other classes that we have going on.”
Rappleyea said having twice as much space means that students will have room to take on more complex jobs.
“When we finally got this outdoor expansion, we can actually work on our cars now as a whole group instead of just half and half,” said senior John Higgins. “And it adds two lifts, so people that need lifts have them.”
The expansion was completed over the winter break. Rappleyea said around half of the students are interested in pursuing auto repair as a career. There’s a mechanic shortage in the Rogue Valley and nationwide, so more mechanics are needed.
“There’s an average of — just in our Southern Oregon general area — 400 job postings a year for automotive technicians, or something very closely related,” said Rappleyea. “They typically stay posted anywhere from 40 to 90 days, so there’s a lot of opportunity.”
Rappleyea said he’s working with Rogue Community College to allow students to earn dual credits by completing RCC’s basic automotive maintenance class in high school.
The district funded the $750,000 expansion through a debt restructuring plan that it said cost taxpayers nothing.
Check the Mt. Ashland Ski Area Mountain Report page for updates. To go to the page, click here, or call the “snow phone” at 541-482-2SKI (2754).
To go to the Mt. Ashland webcam, click here.
Mt. Ashland Chairlift Replacement Project U
https://www.facebook.com/MtAshlandSkiArea
Southern Oregon PBS has announced that it will persist in its operations despite significant transformations occurring in public broadcasting across the nation, following the recent decision by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to dissolve after Congress removed all of its federal funding.
Last summer, Congress sanctioned a rescissions package that retracted approximately $1.1 billion in funding that had been previously designated for PBS and NPR via CPB.
At that time, Southern Oregon PBS CEO Phil Meyer cautioned that these cuts would lead to “drastic changes,” highlighting that CPB funding constituted around 37% of the station’s yearly budget. Currently, Meyer indicates that these changes are already in progress — but not in the manner that many had anticipated.
Consequently, Southern Oregon PBS has successfully avoided layoffs and service reductions that have affected various public media stations in other parts of the country.
Meyer notes that viewer contributions now represent approximately 88% of the station’s financial resources.
Southern Oregon PBS Still on The Air Despite Federal Funding Loss
Jackson County Grand Jury Indicts Woman on 88 Felony Animal Abuse And Neglect Charges
The Jackson County District Attorney’s Office announced that in the afternoon on January 13, 2026 the Jackson County Grand Jury indicted Jana Dene Tepper, 74, on one count of Aggravated Animal Abuse in the First Degree, 29 counts of Felony Animal Neglect in the First Degree, and 58 counts of Felony Animal Neglect in the Second Degree, for a total of 88 felony charges.
The charges follow a search warrant executed on January 6, 2025, at a residence in the 400 block of Crystal Drive in Eagle Point by the Eagle Point Police Department, where officers rescued 58 dogs and discovered 30 deceased dogs. Each charge corresponds to an individual animal found at the residence.
Ms. Tepper is scheduled to appear for arraignment on the indictment today at 1:45 PM. She remains in custody at the Jackson County Jail with bail set at $100,000. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Madelyn Reese. Due to the pending criminal proceedings, no further details will be released at this time.
Former Grants Pass Employee Pleads Guilty to Multiple Felony Sex Crimes
On January 13, Timothy James Conway, a former Grants Pass City employee, pleaded guilty to 3 Class B-Felony sex crimes falling under Encouraging Child Sex Abuse 2nd Degree.
As part of the global plea offer, 17 counts will be dismissed. He pleaded guilty in Josephine County Circuit Court before Judge Mathew Galli and will be sentenced Monday, February 2nd at 10 a.m.
James Conway, the economic development specialist for the city, had been placed on leave in June pending the outcome of an employment investigation. This comes after the city learned of criminal charges filed against Conway.
“As stewards of public trust, City employees are held to the highest moral and ethical standards,” the city of Grants Pass wrote in a statement. “In the weeks ahead, the City will determine the most appropriate steps forward once an investigation has been completed.”
Umpqua Valley Audubon Society, Roseburg Library to host great horned owl presentation
Ashland Fire & Rescue is hiring Firefighter Paramedics!
City of Grants Pass, Local Government – Applications are being accepted for a position on the Committee on Public Art (CoPA) due to a term expiration. This is a three-year position.
CoPA works to engage the community and enrich public spaces by placing original artwork, creating a unique sense of place, enjoyment, and pride for all.
This committee also provides the Grants Pass City Council with information about public art, creates opportunities for the placement of art in public locations, and promotes collaboration between city departments, artists, architects, developers, and property owners.
Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A St., or by following the link below to apply online. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, February 6, 2026. The Committee will review applications on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Council will make the appointment at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
https://www.grantspassoregon.gov/…/City-Committee…
The City Of Talent Temporarily Shutting Off Its Flock Cameras.
There are law enforcement agencies nationwide that use automatic license plate readers from Flock, a safety technology company. Snapshots from these smart cameras can be used as a public safety tool to help track cars involved in crimes or in the event of an Amber Alert.
But the technology is controversial. Many are raising privacy concerns about how the camera data is stored and shared. Eugene and Springfield have recently cancelled Flock Camera after serious consideration.
U.S Senator Ron Wyden (D- OR) said Flock deceived state and local law enforcement customers about its sharing of their data with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies to crack down on immigration.
The city of Talent was granted funding to use the technology more than a year ago. Talent Mayor Darby Ayers-Flood said, “While this technology has already been helpful in supporting investigations in Talent, it has also become controversial nationwide due to concerns about data retention, alleged misuse of information sharing, and the potential for surveillance to extend beyond its original intent.”
Talent Police Chief Jennifer Snook decided to turn off the Flock surveillance cameras until these concerns can be addressed and until more information is gathered about how the technology can be used to support public safety.
The city will not use Flock technology until after the 2026 Oregon legislative session concludes. Ayers-Flood said Talent supports law enforcement and wants to ensure police are equipped with the tools they need. She said this will be an ongoing, open discussion with Talent residents about how the city can support their rights to privacy.
Wrong Way Driver Mitigation Construction Project in Southern Oregon
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) project hopes to mitigate wrong-way driver incidents along the interstate.
This project hopes to reduce the number of wrong way drivers at I-5 interchanges by evaluating each interchange connection and apply relatively low-cost treatments. These include increased signing and striping. At certain high-risk interchanges, other measures will be considered such as increased illumination, automated warning systems and overhead signing.
The agency said Southwest Oregon sees a higher percentage of wrong-way driver crashes compared to other areas of the state. Just two weeks ago NBC5 reported a 34-year-old Grants Pass woman died driving the wrong way on the interstate. ODOT said these incidents can result in serious injuries or fatalities and many involve impaired drivers.
The project began earlier in June, spanning from the California border to Northern Douglas County. It adds features like permanent signs, reflective pavement markings, flashing beacons at interchanges and more. ODOT’s Julie Denney said, “The work on this project is happening at night so you might see some exit closures, you might see some workers on the side of the road and if that happens, please give them space, slow down and watch your speed.”
ODOT said given the scope of the project, the work could continue till next fall. More information can be found here: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/projects/pages/project-details.aspx?project=21699
Sharing for our friends at Salvation Army
Help Fill Our Food Pantry – Your Donations Make a Difference! Hunger is a reality for many in our community, but together, we can make a change! Our food pantry is in need of non-perishable food items to help families struggling to put meals on the table. 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 Every can, box, and bag of food makes a difference in someone’s life. Let’s come together to fight hunger—because no one should go to bed hungry. .
Ashland Rolls Out Free Pre-Approved Plans to Spur Residents into Building Affordable Backyard Homes
Seeking to promote affordability and support residents’ diverse needs, the city of Ashland has encouraged its citizens to develop accessory dwelling units (ADUs) within the city and offers guidance on getting plans approved.
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 here
Rogue Valley Humane Society
Our Community Food Bank exists to help folks who need an extra helping hand during a difficult month to feed their pets. Our program has a limited budget and so we rely on generous members of our community to donate some of these goods to continue to help assist our community. In 2023 we fed an average of 700 pets a month! This equates to approximately 70 – 40lb bags of food each month! Many pets have benefited from the community’s generosity, and we can’t thank you enough for your kindness.
CSO Case 24-4928 PROSPECT, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives and Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel continue to search for a woman missing out of Prospect, Ore. since September 2024.
Deenah Padgett, 69, was reported missing on Sunday, September 8, 2024. She was last seen camping in the Prospect area on September 4, 2024. She is described as a white woman with brownish-red, partially gray hair, standing 4’8” tall and weighing 90-100 lbs. JCSO detectives and SAR personnel have searched the area extensively and are looking for the public’s help. If you see Deenah or know her whereabouts, immediately call ECSO Dispatch at (541) 776-7206 and reference case 24-4928. If you have any information that might help the investigation, call Detective Friend at (541) 864-8774.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) is asking for help identifying the owner a motorhome. It could be associated with a missing person from the Prospect area. JCSO says 68-year-old Deenah Padgett has been missing since August 30 from Prospect, described as a white woman, 4’ 8” tall, weighing approximately 95 pounds with brownish red/greying hair. JCSO issued an advisory this weekend asking anyone with information about the owner of the pictured motor home or Padgett’s whereabouts to call Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO) dispatch non-emergency phone number at 541-776-7206.
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.
This case remains important to David’s family, the community, and the Ashland Police Department. As detectives continue to pursue these new leads, anyone with additional information is encouraged to reach out to the Ashland Police Department at 541-488-2211. The reward for information leading to an arrest on this case remains at over $21,000.
Taking Another Look at What Happened to Fauna Frey
Fauna was grieving the recent death of her brother, Dallas, when she set off from Eugene in June of 2020 heading to Grants Pass on what her family believes was both a healing trip and a mission to deliver gifts, silver coins inherited from Dallas, to a few friends.
But somewhere between motel check-ins and checkouts, something went terribly wrong. Her Jeep was found months later. She was never seen again. http://bit.ly/4l63Dle
We will start resharing podcasts and articles. For starters here is a story from Danielle Denham that appeared in the June 29, 2025 edition of That Oregon Life. Ms Denham worked closely with us to insure that the facts she presented were accurate.
Check out the nine episodes of the podcast Nowhere to be Found, a comprehensive, in-depth, sensitive treatment of the details surrounding Fauna’s disappearance. Hear from Fauna’s father, John, and her friends. Posted in spring of 2022, Amanda Popineau shares Fauna’s journey and the mystery that surrounds it. Go to Nowhere to be Found Season Two: Episode One “Under A Half-Moon.” https://podcasts.apple.com/kg/podcast/s2e1-under-a-halfmoon/id1532686678?i=1000512098162
We want to remind people that Fauna’s father is offering a huge reward for information that brings Fauna home.
Please if you have any information no matter how big or small let us know by calling the anonymous tip line or emailing.
Tipline- 541-359-5638
Email – Helpfindfaunafrey@gmail.com
FOLLOW on FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/341658526970132
Fauna Frey Vanished Without A Trace In Josephine County
It’s been more than five years since the disappearance of a Lane County Woman, who was last seen in Grants Pass. Back in June of 2020, Fauna Frey disappeared. Police said the 45-year-old left her home in Dexter to drive to Grants Pass to visit her brother’s friend after her brother had recently passed away. The last place she was seen was at the Big 5 in Grants Pass. Investigators said her car was found in the Galice area months later. The circumstances of Fauna’s disappearance remain unclear and her case is currently classified as missing. Her case remains unsolved. Fauna’s disappearance has been featured on multiple investigative podcasts, including Nowhere to be Found, Here One Minute, Gone the Next, and Detective Perspective, each trying to fill the silence left by law enforcement. New listeners continue to discover her story, hoping a fresh set of eyes or a single loose memory might be the key to finding Fauna.
Have Information on Fauna Frey? Please Speak Up!
If you know anything, no matter how small, please contact:
- Josephine County Sheriff’s Office
- Tip line: (541) 359-5638
- Email: FindFaunaFrey@gmail.com
Currrently there is a $50,000 CASH REWARD for information leading to the location of Fauna Frey. LARGE CASH REWARDS are being offered for any other relevant information, such as any objects that could be identified as Fauna’s, i.e. her wallet, keys, or Indian/Buffalo .999 silver bullion coins. Find Fauna Frey Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/341658526970132
You can find food in your community at this link
Our network of food banks and pantries provides free food and groceries across Oregon. No proof of income or documentation required.
https://www.oregonfoodbank.org/
If you can’t make it to a food location, someone else can pick up food for you.You will just need to print and fill out the Authorized Representative form at https://lnkd.in/dsskUpkQ, and have them take it with them to the food sites. You can find step-by-step instructions at https://lnkd.in/dVBRxn-A.
Worried about recent changes or losing assistance?
Here are resources that can help:
211Info: Dial 2-1-1 or visit the211Info food webpagefor information and referrals to more than 1,500 food resources across Oregon.
Oregon Food Bank: Use the Oregon Food Bank’s Food Finder Map to find over 100 food pantries, free food markets or hot meal programs near you.
Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon (ADRC): Call 855-673-2372 or visit theADRC food webpage to find local meal programs and food boxes in your area.
Coast Guard OKs new I-5 bridge over Columbia River without movable span
Washington and Oregon will not have to build a bridge with a movable span to accommodate tall marine vessels when they replace the aging Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River, the U.S. Coast Guard decided on Friday.
Instead, the states can go with a less expensive fixed span that provides 116 feet of clearance above the river. The savings from this design will be welcome news for the states, which are confronting rising cost estimates for the multibillion-dollar project before construction is even underway.
Coast Guard officials informed elected leaders and transportation officials in the two states Friday that it issued a “preliminary navigation clearance determination” that is good for three years.
The approval “will eliminate the only stoplight on Interstate 5, put an end to commute interruptions, and save millions in construction costs,” said U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington.
“The vast majority of the maritime community agrees that the new bridge design will not only allow river commerce to continue but also improve safe passage down the river,” added Cantwell, the senior Democrat on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which oversees the Coast Guard.
Cantwell had pressed Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, Commandant of the Coast Guard, for a decision by Jan. 16.
“This is the right decision for our economy, and for commuters who use this bridge every day,” Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, said in a statement issued by the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. “A fixed span bridge has overwhelming support from the maritime industry, businesses and community groups.”
Oregon’s Democratic Governor Tina Kotek, in the same news release, said the bridge replacement program now has “the clarity it needs to advance and position us to build a safer, multimodal river crossing and corridor that will serve both states for generations.”
Washington state Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, said he was “really excited to see that the Coast Guard listened to the communities. We’re one step closer to getting this bridge replaced.”
Liias, the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, said this is “a really critical decision point” that allows planners to drill down on what the bridge might look like and the costs.
Not everyone cheered Friday’s news.
“I’m disappointed. The Coast Guard’s job is to protect navigation not only for today but for the future,” said Washington state Rep. John Ley, R-Vancouver, an ardent project foe. With a decision that will lead to less clearance under the bridge, “you are truly restricting marine traffic in a big way.”
The existing bridge rests on wooden piles in potentially unstable soils and is in danger of collapse in a major earthquake. One span is over a century old. Its design is known as a movable span. When tall vessels travel under it, traffic is stopped and a section is lifted to create a clearance of 178 feet. It is lowered once the vessel has passed through.
A fixed span has always been the official first choice of Washington and Oregon. Supporters of the project predict fewer crashes, faster commutes and more transit options when the new bridge is done.
While Friday’s announcement answers one major question, others, such as what the bridge will cost, when construction will begin and when traffic will finally drive on it, remain unknown.
Program managers are looking to get federal government sign-off on an environmental review and a record of decision so contracts can be negotiated this year. Once rolling, construction is expected to last until at least 2032.
Compensating companies
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington and former Oregon senator Mark Hatfield first discussed the need for replacing the bridge in 1992, though it wasn’t until roughly 20 years ago that preliminary engineering and environmental work started.
Because the height of the bridge could affect ship traffic on the Columbia River, the U.S. Coast Guard is one of the federal agencies with sway over permitting.
There’s been concern about how the Coast Guard might act since 2022, when it responded negatively to an initial permit request, saying a fixed span would “create an unreasonable obstruction” for taller vessels for the service life of the bridge.
But it didn’t say “no.” Instead, it outlined concerns and gave the two states time to respond.
That came in October when the two states and the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program submitted an updated Navigation Impact Report reiterating the argument that a fixed span bridge “is the best design option” and would continue to provide access for 99% of river traffic.
Washington and Oregon also told the Coast Guard that they are prepared to pay $140 million to four businesses that would be directly affected by the lower bridge height because they own or operate vessels that navigate the Columbia River, or manufacture products shipped under the interstate bridge.
Agreements were negotiated with each company. The two states cited the pacts in their effort to convince the Coast Guard that the agency’s navigation concerns had been resolved.
The affected companies are Thompson Metal Fab, Inc. and Greenberry, which are fabricators, JT Marine, a marine shipyard services company, and Advanced American Construction, a company that partners with Vigor Marine Group on marine construction.
Records obtained by the Standard show the two states agreed to pay $89,990,000 to Thompson, $46.9 million to Greenberry, $2.2 million to Advanced American Construction and $2 million to JT Marine.
State and project officials view the payments as cost-effective because a movable span would be more expensive to build, by an estimated $500 million to $1 billion before inflation. Money to the companies would only be paid if contracts are signed and construction begins.
John Rudi, chief executive officer of Thompson Metal Fab, sent a letter to the Coast Guard in December endorsing a fixed span.
“The agreed mitigation will preserve the jobs and manufacturing capability in Clark County and the Portland Metro area,” he wrote. “We are also members of the community and recognize the need for a bridge as proposed by IBR.”
Friday’s decision is the second time the two states secured Coast Guard support for a fixed-span. It happened in 2013 when the undertaking was known as the Columbia River Crossing. The project also had a record of decision from the federal highway and transit administrations, allowing it to proceed.
Political opposition and funding challenges stalled the project at that time. Both the earlier approvals from the federal government have since lapsed.
Rising price tag
For the past couple years, project planners have said the price tag for replacing the bridge ranges from $5 billion to $7.5 billion, with the likely figure of around $6 billion. And they’ve said constructing a movable span would be $500 million more than a fixed-span.
In September, legislators said they anticipate the total could reach $10 billion based on rising costs with other projects.
Project planners have been recalculating the estimate for months.
Joe Cortright, a Portland economist and project critic, said earlier this month that the revised expense could range between $12.2 billion and $17.7 billion based on public records he obtained and shared with reporters.
Funding is coming from several sources. Each state has committed about $1 billion. Tolls — which will be imposed in both directions on the existing bridge starting in 2027 and managed by Washington — are relied on for a minimum of $1.2 billion. Oregon has a moratorium on any tolls other than the bridge.
Federal grants totaling $2.1 billion were awarded last year under the Biden administration.
Planners are pursuing $1 billion from the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Program. This would help pay for a 1.9-mile extension of light-rail from North Portland to a future station near Evergreen Boulevard in Vancouver, Washington. A decision on that funding isn’t expected until the project is further along.
The question of cost should become clearer in the coming weeks, Liias said.
“We know it will be more than the resources we have,” he said Friday. “We will have to figure out how we phase it.”
He has previously said work may need to be delayed for some of the nearly 30 separate items — from new bus shelters to off-ramp improvements — in this endeavor.
Finding the money is going to be a long-term challenge, Ley said.
“At the end of the day, whether the price is $12 billion or $14 billion or $17 billion, the two states do not have the money,” he said. “I don’t know how they can get it.”
Oregon Capital Chronicle reporter Mia Maldonado contributed to this report.
Correction: This story was updated to correct the spelling of John Rudi’s name.
This story was originally produced by Washington State Standard, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Oregon Capital Chronicle, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. — (SOURCE)
Supreme Court tariffs decision could shape Oregon’s economic outlook after steady 2025
If the Supreme Court strikes down some tariffs without backup revenue source, it could mean higher costs for Oregonians after nearly avoiding a downturn last year.
Oregon’s economy held up better than many expected in 2025, even as fears of a recession dominated much of the year, according to state Chief Economist Carl Riccadonna.
He said job growth has started to return, especially in the service sector, and state tax revenues have stayed steady — a sign that people are still working and spending. Those trends, he said, suggests Oregon “muddled through” a challenging year, avoiding a major downturn, and could see improvement in 2026.
President Donald Trump’s tariffs were a major source of uncertainty last year, but Riccadonna said their impact on everyday Oregonians was more muted than predicted. While manufacturing has taken a hit as companies adjust to higher costs and shifting supply chains, many consumer prices did not rise as sharply as feared. In some cases, he said, foreign companies lowered their own prices to stay competitive, easing the burden on shoppers.
Looking ahead, Riccadonna said tariffs could still affect household finances in less obvious ways. If the Supreme Court strikes down some tariffs without a replacement source of revenue, the federal government may need to borrow more to pay for the tax cuts, which could push interest rates higher. That would mean higher costs for mortgages, credit cards and auto loans.
In the following excerpt, Riccadonna breaks down the Supreme Court’s decision on tariffs affect Oregonians and what it might mean for the larger economy. The transcript has been edited for clarity. This interview was filmed on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. https://www.kgw.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/straight-talk/supreme-court-tariffs-decision-could-shape-oregons-economic-outlook-after-steady-2025/283-7bae1989-51a8-48ac-819b-181a9e8f4452
Oregon Governor Kotek taps Republican rival to boost business relations
Oregon Public Broadcasting first published this article. —– In December, Gov. Tina Kotek announced that Oregon was open for business. For help, the Democratic governor is turning to a Republican who might be best known for shutting down the Legislature.
Kotek announced Wednesday that she is hiring former state Sen. Tim Knopp as her new chief prosperity officer.
The former longtime lawmaker from Bend will be tasked with meeting Kotek’s goal of finding ways to ease burdens on businesses and stem a recent tide of job losses.
“To be successful, this role demands a unique set of skills — an entrepreneurial spirit, a systems thinker, and equal parts pragmatism and persistence,” Kotek said in a release Wednesday. “Tim is going to be a great part of my team, and I am grateful that he has agreed to step up and serve Oregonians.”
Beginning next week, Knopp will work in Kotek’s office alongside other staff, earning $191,658 a year. But it wasn’t long ago that he was a major thorn in the governor’s side.
During the 2023 legislative session, he led Senate Republicans on a six-week walkout that all but shut down legislative action and raised the prospect lawmakers would not be able to pass a budget on time.
As a result of that boycott, Knopp was barred from seeking reelection in 2024. He currently works as executive vice president of the Central Oregon Builders Association, a role he will depart to join the governor’s team.
“When the Governor calls on you to drive prosperity for Oregonians across the state, grow the economy, and support Oregon businesses, the answer is yes,” Knopp said in a statement. He did not respond to inquiries from OPB.
Kotek announced her business prosperity initiative in early December, on the eve of announcing her reelection bid.
The effort includes a 16-member “prosperity council,” tasked with recommending public policy changes that can make it easier to build and grow businesses in Oregon, and juice the state’s reputation for business nationwide. Kotek announced members of that council last week. It will meet in private.
A recent study from CNBC ranked Oregon 39th in the country in terms of overall business environment — far lower than the state’s showing in previous years. Kotek said she want’s to get the Beaver State into the top 10.
In his new role, Knopp will work alongside the prosperity council, but also look for actions the governor can take on her own to assist businesses.
Kotek’s selection has drawn widespread surprise in business circles this week, with some privately expressing skepticism at the choice. Knopp doesn’t have an extensive background in economic development.
Outward signs suggest Kotek struggled to fill the prosperity officer role. The governor initially pledged to announce a hire by New Year’s Day, but four members of the state’s business lobby told OPB inquiries to several possible candidates were not successful. A spokeswoman for Kotek declined to comment on who the governor sought for the job. (SOURCE)
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek is advocating for the implementation of chip-enabled EBT cards for SNAP.
Skimming devices have been employed to unlawfully obtain card information, and chip-enabled cards are significantly harder to replicate. Two months prior, Kotek announced a hunger emergency following the cessation of federal SNAP benefits. Kotek asserts that the suspension of benefits compelled state agencies to collaborate with local and tribal governments, food banks, and community providers, which contributed to bridging existing gaps.
Implementing Trump’s tax law to cost Oregon $114 million in SNAP investments
Lawmakers met at Oregon Capitol ahead of the 2026 legislative short session
The Oregon Department of Human Services says it needs $114.6 million from the state’s general fund to fill gaps in its 2025-27 budget because of cuts and other changes to federal food assistance.
The long-awaited funding request comes after Oregon lawmakers in 2025 set a two-year budget days before President Donald Trump signed a major tax and spending law in July that drastically changed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, by adding work requirements, limiting benefits for noncitizens, creating more eligibility checks for people enrolled in the program and increasing the administrative cost burden for states.
The timing left lawmakers scrambling to respond to unforeseen budget changes affecting the one in six Oregonians who rely on SNAP.
The department’s funding request has support from Gov. Tina Kotek, who on Tuesday reflected on the results of her 60-day food emergency during the government shutdown that left thousands of Oregonians without access to their SNAP benefits. She directed $5 million to Oregon’s statewide food bank network and $1 million to the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon. The state received a $6 million match from Oregon Disaster Funders Network.
“We acted quickly to help get emergency food to families, restore SNAP benefits as soon as the courts allowed, and support the community organizations that step up every day to feed people,” Kotek said in a statement. “That leadership saved lives — and it sets the standard for how Oregon will continue to respond.”
Despite the state’s quick response to the disruption of benefits, Oregonians are already seeing the impacts of the new federal law.
“We have households who saw reduced benefits because of changes in utility cost calculations, legal asylees and certain refugee populations lost SNAP eligibility entirely and work requirements expanded from six counties to all 36 counties across the state — increasing verification compliance demands on both clients and the state,” said Nate Singer, the agency’s eligibility program director.
Singer, alongside other Oregon Department of Human Services staff, gave lawmakers a breakdown of what federal SNAP changes may cost Oregon ahead of the 2026 legislative short session.
Oregon now has to split SNAP benefit costs with feds
The agency is requesting $39 million for the 2025-27 budget cycle to invest in improving the state’s SNAP payment error rate.
SNAP benefits previously were 100% federally funded, but the new law requires any state with a SNAP payment error rate above 6% to pay between 5% and 15% of benefit costs beginning October 2027. Oregon’s error rate in 2024 was 14%, and it’s mostly because of people not reporting their incomes on time and receiving either too much or too little in benefits, Singer said.
The agency has consulted with states with low error rates and experts to make a plan to lower its own and minimize its financial liability, Oregon Department of Human Services Deputy Director Dana Hittle told lawmakers.
“The resulting plan focuses on the operational basics, such as call center performance management of teams, improving training for staff and communications to clients, as well as integration of artificial intelligence and other technology solutions to streamline and improve processes,” Hittle said.
It would need an estimated $450 million in the 2027-29 budget if the state’s error rate doesn’t improve.
Administrative cost sharing
The agency is requesting $54 million to cover the increase in SNAP administrative costs the state must pay from 50% to 75% beginning October 2026. This amount is meant to cover the change in the 2025-27 budget cycle.
The agency is requesting $142 million for the 2027-29 budget cycle.
“This means a significant increase in general fund obligations just to maintain core operations for us,” Singer said. “These are your eligibility, workers that process and do hearings, call centers, customer supports, our vendor contracts, system maintenance — all these areas shift the cost from the federal government to the states significantly
Investing in SNAP card security
To address increasing reports in electronic benefit transfer SNAP cards, the state will seek $7.1 million from the general fund to support transitioning SNAP cards to chip-enabled cards to strengthen security against skimming and fraud.
There’s been more than 10,600 instances of validated theft of benefits worth $4.1 million since 2023, according to the agency.
“At its core, this budget request is about helping Oregonians meet their basic needs, food on the table and access to health care and services,” Hittle said. (SOURCE)
Klamath County teachers ratified what leaders are calling their best contract in decades, winning some measures that teachers in the district have been fighting to achieve for more than 20 years.
As county teachers celebrated their victory Monday evening at Henley Elementary School, they said that the win came in the eleventh hour — and that the movement from their district puts more heat on Klamath Falls City Schools going forward.
“We won our strongest contract with the best raises in 20 years by staying united until the end and refusing to give up on the belief that we could secure a contract that would address turnover in our District,” said PJ Gonyaw, a fifth grade teacher at Klamath County Public Schools and co-president of the Klamath County Education Association. “We were stuck on finances up until 20 minutes before the end of our final session, when we finally got the good news that our District had stepped up and decided they do value us and were going to figure it out.”
“This victory shows that educators should stick to their convictions — and that districts that respect us will pay us like they do,” said Jen Todd, a middle school ELA teacher in Klamath County Public Schools and co-president of the Klamath County Education Association. “Budgets reveal priorities. We hope that Klamath Falls City Schools follows the example that Klamath County Schools just set and finally makes movement to offer their educators more than poverty wages. If they don’t, they’ll quickly lose their educators to other Districts that do value them.”
One of the largest non-economic victories was securing comp time for elementary teachers, who sometimes have to take on an entire second class when substitutes aren’t available — something for which they have fought for more than 10 years.
The Oregon Education Association noted, “Klamath Falls City Schools, a separate district but one that watches moves by the County school district closely, pays their lowest paid educators poverty wages under $16 an hour. Classified educators there earning poverty pay demanded mediation shortly before the holidays, after Klamath Falls City Schools cancelled Christmas for their employees by refusing to settle a contract with living wages.”
Klamath County educators and Klamath Falls City Schools educators have bargained in close coordination throughout their negotiations, including using the same expert bargainer, Del Mallory.
“This is an instance of two districts in the same community that both insisted for nearly a year that they cannot budge on their financials — yet Klamath County did anyway, and revealed once again that ‘will’ and ‘won’t’ are simply a matter of values and political will,” said Del Mallory with the Oregon Education Association, who has helped lead financial analysis for both districts.
“The financial reality is that Klamath Falls City Schools gave tens of thousands of dollars to their highest paid non-classroom administrators just weeks ago. Their refusal to pay living wages to their lowest paid employees is a values issue, not a budget issue. They could settle this in their first day of mediation if they made the organizational choice to value their lowest paid employees.”
Oregon Health Authority seeks new members for Oversight and Accountability Council
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is seeking applicants to serve on the Oversight and Accountability Council (OAC), a Council established by Ballot Measure 110 in 2020. The OAC is a public body of the state of Oregon that advises the Oregon Health Authority on the grant program described in ORS 430.389
Members of the OAC serve four-year terms. Members may be eligible for a stipend to compensate them for their time engaged official duties of the OAC. OHA is seeking new members in the categories described below:
- An academic researcher specializing in drug use or drug policy
- A representative of a coordinated care organization
To apply, submit an application here by 11:59 pm, January 30, 2026.
A team at OHA will review applications and inform applicants of appointments by Feb 13, 2026.
For questions or more information, email HRN@OHA.oregon.gov” style=”color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;”>BHRN@OHA.oregon.gov or contact Karli Moon at li.moon@oha.oregon.gov” style=”color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;”>Karli.moon@oha.oregon.gov or 971-240-8690.
Oregon Attorney General Files Lawsuit Over Insulin Price Gouging
In a bold move to combat the exorbitant costs of insulin, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has launched a lawsuit seeking a hefty $900 million in damages. The defendants, a trifecta of the largest insulin manufacturers—Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Eli Lilly—and a trio of influential pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—Express Scripts, CVS Caremark, and Optum, stand accused of conspiring to inflate the prices of this life-saving medication. According to a statement from the Oregon Department of Justice (ODOJ), this lawsuit is a significant step toward alleviating the financial burden imposed on Oregon patients and families.
Filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, the lawsuit unfolds a narrative of alleged collusion where insulin manufacturers and PBMs have caused prices to surge, in order to ensure PBMs’ formularies included their products. “This is about more than insulin prices – it’s about the crushing cost pressures families are facing and the very real harm that comes when corporations exploit people who have no choice but to pay,” Attorney General Rayfield mentioned on ODOJ. Allegations suggest that to secure favorable formulary positions, drug makers raised list prices and compensated PBMs with significant rebates and fees, which turned inflated prices into mutual benefits.
Furthermore, the complaint alleges that the defendants acted intentionally to exclude more affordable insulin alternatives from formulary lists. By doing so, they essentially trapped consumers in an ecosystem of high-cost medications, pushing aside any opportunity for patients to seek out cost-effective options. This duplicitous conduct has led to insured and low-income Oregonians struggling, having to resort to risky measures like rationing insulin, using expired products, or even skipping meals for blood sugar management.
The lawsuit also sheds light on the ODOJ’s ongoing efforts to unravel and rectify the web of complexities behind prescription drug costs. As the pioneers of a healthcare renaissance struggle to make medications affordable, Attorney General Rayfield has given a face to a crusade to bring justice and generate wide-reaching impacts on how prescription drugs are priced and sold. “We are working to bring the cost of prescription drugs down for working families, using the tools we have to hold these powerful companies accountable. Oregonians can expect more action in the near future,” Rayfield declared on the ODOJ Website, signifying a promise of more actions soon to unfold in this ongoing regulatory saga.
This landmark lawsuit is grounded on alleged breaches of Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act. It aims not just to penalize those behind the inflation of drug prices but also seeks restitution for affected consumers, the forfeiture of illicit profits, and extensive damages. Oregonians burdened by the soaring cost of insulin could see a pivotal turn if the court sides with the state and demands an end to the alleged scheme that has for too long preyed on their pockets and well-being. (SOURCE)
OPRD seeks public input on proposed rules for UAS use in Oregon State Parks
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking public feedback on proposed rules governing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) takeoff and landing in Oregon’s state parks and along the ocean shore.
The proposed rules establish where and how UAS may take off and land on state park property, to balance recreational opportunities with protection of natural, cultural, scenic and recreational resources.
Public comments on the proposed rule changes will be accepted beginning January 1, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. and can be submitted:
- Online:
- By email:
- By mail:
- Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Attn: Robert Ellison
725 Summer St. NE, Suite C
Salem, OR 97301
- Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
A public hearing will be held to allow members of the public to provide testimony.
- Virtual hearing
January 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_X3ChSlJkTE-Y3FRh3WIy-Q
The draft rules focus on regulating takeoff and landing locations, which are within the department’s authority, while recognizing that UAS flight is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Under the proposal, UAS use would generally be limited to designated areas for drone operations, with additional requirements for commercial or research purposes.
The proposed rules were developed in response to Senate Bill 109 (2021), which directed OPRD to create a regulatory framework that provides recreational UAS access while protecting sensitive park resources and minimizing conflicts with other visitors.
OPRD convened a Rule Advisory Committee made up of recreation user groups, conservation organizations, natural resource specialists, commercial operators and other stakeholders. The committee reviewed draft rules and provided recommendations that helped shape the proposal now open for public comment.
Once the public comment period closes, OPRD staff will review all feedback, revise the draft rules as appropriate, and present a final proposal to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission for consideration later in 2026.
If adopted, the rules would be implemented in phases, allowing the department to adapt management strategies over time, based on resource conditions, visitor use and operational experience.
For over 30 years the Yachats Lions Club has held an annual Crab Feed event in Yachats, Oregon. The annual trek to Yachats to eat Dungeness crab is a tradition for families and groups from across Oregon, Washington and beyond.
Our annual Yachats Lions Club Crab Feed is DINE-IN on Saturday, January 31, 2026! After selling out in 2025, the 2026 Crab Feed will now offer 4 seatings, 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm at the Yachats Lions Hall and 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm at the Yachats Commons.
Meals purchased will consist of “All you can eat Dungeness crab“, fresh locally baked bread, coleslaw, baked beans, and soda for $50.
Crab Feed 2026 Tickets – All You Can Eat
The $50 per person meal tickets are available for sale online at https://yachatslionsclub.org/ You can select the seating and order as many meals as you like. For more information please send an email to YachatsLionsCrabFeed@gmail.com.
Lion David O’Kelley, coordinator of the popular Crab Feed, says “We are very pleased to be offering the fund-raiser as we have done for so many years.” We get great support from the community and local businesses in Yachats, Waldport and Newport. South Beach Fish Market cooks and cleans the best tasting local crab you have ever eaten.
With our motto of “WE SERVE” among the many services we provide eyeglasses and exams, hearing aids and exams, eye screening in Lincoln County schools, pancake breakfasts, crab feed, lunch bunch, speaker series, peace poster and flag day events in our schools, and ommunity use of our clubhouse. Through community donations to the Yachats Lions Thrift Store our sales allow us to donate to local, student scholarships, food pantries, school programs, projects, and upkeep of the clubhouse.
In addition, donations are made to Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing as well as Lions Club International Foundation. Lions Club International is the world’s largest service club organization with a network of 1.4 million men and women in more than 200 countries and geographical locations. We serve where we live, as well as globally, and we have fun doing it.
The proceeds for this fund-raising event are for Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation.
The future of the recently approved gas tax increase in Oregon remains uncertain as the Secretary of State examines nearly 200,000 signatures submitted by the organization No Tax Oregon.
Should a sufficient number of signatures be validated, voters will have the opportunity next November to determine whether to repeal the gas tax and other transportation-related fee hikes enacted by the legislature. Proponents of the taxes argue that the revenue is essential for road maintenance and to avert job reductions at the Oregon Department of Transportation. State officials are required to finalize the signature verification process by January 29.
Oregon has enhanced its online voter registration system in anticipation of a crucial election season, enabling eligible voters without a state-issued ID to register digitally for the first time.
Voters can access the system via sos.oregon.gov by navigating to the voting section of the website.
Applicants lacking an Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles number can now indicate this directly on the form and proceed with the online registration process. These users are required to provide their name, residential address, date of birth, the last four digits of their Social Security number, and an uploaded image of their signature.
This modification arises from House Bill 4133, which was enacted by lawmakers in 2022. Previously, online registration was restricted to voters whose identity and signature had already been authenticated through the DMV. Individuals without qualifying identification were obligated to fill out a paper registration form, which was subsequently processed by county elections offices.
State election officials indicate that this update aims to modernize the registration system and eliminate obstacles for eligible voters, including those who no longer drive, have never possessed an Oregon driver license, or encounter difficulties registering by mail.
The Oregon DMV has now implemented a local preference system for rural customers who are scheduling behind-the-wheel drive tests for Class C driver licenses, which is the standard license for passenger vehicles.
Becoming effective on January 1st, Senate Bill 9 mandates that DMV field offices located in 20 rural counties prioritize applicants who either reside within the same county, are within 50 miles of a DMV field office, or live in one of the two counties that do not have a DMV office.
This legislation benefits customers residing in Baker, Clatsop, Crook, Curry, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler counties. It is important to note that the DMV does not conduct drive tests in Gilliam, Morrow, Sherman, or Wheeler counties.
Customers from these counties have the option to schedule a local-preference drive test at any rural DMV office that provides this service.
Raise Funds to Plant Trees in Oregon
Registration is open for the Bob Ross-inspired Happy Little (Virtual) 5K
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 18 and 26 (covering Earth Day and Arbor Day). Participants are encouraged to register by April 1 to ensure that your swag arrives before the event week. Last year, we had to close registration early due to higher than anticipated participation, so register as soon as possible. If you register after April 1, you may not receive your swag before race week. Registration will close on April 15, or earlier if more participants sign up than we have available swag.
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’s tree plantings will be placed 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 sixth year, the Happy Little 5K has expanded its reach to include fifteen other states. Together, all sixteen states will help raise awareness and funding for stewardship efforts in each state’s parks.
“We are thrilled to honor Bob Ross and continue our efforts to plant at least One Million Trees in Oregon.” said Seth Miller, Executive Director of Oregon Parks Forever. “To date, we have funded the planting of 850,000 trees.”
“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.”
Participants can register at www.orparksforever.org.
For more information, contact Seth Miller at 503/966-1053 or seth@orparksforever.org
The Oregon Department of Revenue will open the application period in January 2026 for the Agricultural Employer Overtime Tax Credit.
Paying overtime to agricultural workers became a requirement of employers in Oregon as of January 1, 2023. In 2025, agricultural workers are paid overtime after they work 48 hours in one work week. If an employer paid overtime, they may qualify for a refundable personal or corporate income tax credit, regardless of the size of the business.
The tax credit for employers is a percentage of overtime premium pay paid as wages.
All applications must be submitted no later than February 2, 2026.
The 2025 filing period marks the third year since eligible employers have been able to apply for the tax credit.
Applications can only be made through the department’s Revenue Online website. Qualifying agricultural employers who have not applied for the tax credit previously need a Revenue Online account to apply during the application period. No paper applications will be accepted. We have published a new video to help customers with their Revenue Online applications.
DOR encourages employers to prepare in advance to ensure an easier and faster filing experience. DOR’s webpage provides guidance for how to apply, documentation you may need, program information, and frequently asked questions to help employers apply for the tax credit.
For general questions about the Agricultural Employer Overtime Tax Credit, email: Ag.Overtime@dor.oregon.gov.
Tax practitioners with other tax or customer account questions are encouraged to contact a dedicated practitioner specialist by email at prac.revenue@dor.oregon.gov, or by phone at 503-947-3541.
NW Natural Warms Up Winter with “Fireside Friends” Pet Photo Contest
Customers are invited to share photos of their pets for a chance to win a prize; NW Natural is also supporting The Pongo Fund
NW Natural is inviting customers to warm up this winter and celebrate their pets with the launch of the Fireside Friends Sweepstakes. The contest offers the chance to win a prize while also supporting a local charity.
Running now through February 1, 2026, the sweepstakes welcomes customers to share photos of their furry friends enjoying the warmth and comfort of a natural gas fireplace for the chance to win a $200 Chewy gift card.
NW Natural has also pledged a $1,000 donation to The Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank, which helps support people and their pets throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.
How to Enter:
NW Natural customers can enter the sweepstakes via social media in two simple steps:
- Follow @nwnaturalgas on Instagram or Facebook. (Media can find some of the wonderful pet photos that have already been posted by customers on both platforms!)
- Post a photo of their pet(s) cozying up by their natural gas fireplace and tag @nwnaturalgas or use the hashtag #nwnaturalgas.
The contest is open now and entries will be accepted until February 1, 2026. For full terms and conditions visit nwnatural.com/FiresideFriends
About NW Natural
NW Natural is a local distribution company that currently provides service to approximately 2 million people in more than 140 communities through approximately 806,000 meters in Oregon and Southwest Washington with one of the most modern pipeline systems in the nation. NW Natural owns and operates 21.6 Bcf of underground gas storage capacity in Oregon. It is the largest natural gas utility in Oregon and one of the state’s oldest companies.
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.
Staying Informed During a Communications Outage: Best Practices for the Public
Disasters can damage critical infrastructure, leading to temporary outages in cell service, internet, and power. When communication systems go down, it’s vital to be prepared with alternate ways to get emergency information and stay connected. Here’s how you can prepare and respond:
Have a Battery-Powered or Hand-Crank Emergency Weather Radio
- Why it matters: Emergency radios can receive Emergency Alert System (EAS) broadcasts via AM/FM or NOAA Weather Radio frequencies—even when cell towers and the internet are down.
- Note: Emergency radios do not receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) like cell phones do. Tip: Pre-tune your radio to your local emergency broadcast station (e.g., OPB in Oregon or NOAA frequencies).
Turn On WEA Alerts on Your Phone
- Make sure Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are enabled in your phone’s settings. These alerts include evacuation orders, severe weather warnings, and other urgent notifications.
- WEA messages are sent through cell towers—if cell service is out, WEA alerts will not be delivered. This is why having backup methods like a radio is essential.
Charge Everything in Advance and Have Backup Power
- Charge phones, power banks, laptops, and rechargeable flashlights before fire weather conditions worsen.
- Consider solar-powered chargers or car chargers as backups.
- If you are sheltering in place, a generator (solar or gas powered) is helpful.
Know Your Evacuation Routes in Advance
- Save printed or downloaded evacuation maps in case you can’t access GPS or navigation apps.
- Most mapping services (like Google Maps or Apple Maps) offer the ability to “Make maps available offline.” Download your area in advance so you can navigate even if cell towers or internet access are down.
- When in doubt, call 511 or visit the TripCheck.com website if you have cell service.
- Don’t wait for a notification—if you feel unsafe, evacuate early.
Print or Write Down Critical Contacts and Info
- Phone numbers of family, neighbors, and local emergency contacts.
- Address of evacuation shelters, veterinary services (for pets/livestock), and medical facilities.
- Your own emergency plan, including meeting locations.
- Have copies of vital documents in your go-bag and take video of your property (inside and out) for insurance claims later.
If Calling 9-1-1 Over Wi-Fi or Satellite, Check Your Location Settings
If you call 9-1-1 using Wi-Fi calling or a satellite-connected phone (like an iPhone or Android), your location might not be automatically visible to dispatch. Instead, it may rely on the emergency address saved in your phone’s settings.
- Update this emergency address when you travel or relocate—especially in evacuation zones or rural areas.
- Most importantly, always tell the dispatcher exactly where you are—include your address, landmarks, road names, or mile markers to help first responders reach you quickly.
Sign Up for Alerts Before There’s an Outage
- Register for OR-Alert and your county’s local alert system.
- Follow your local emergency management officials’ and bookmark resources like: wildfire.oregon.gov.
Prepare for Alert Delays or Gaps
- Know the three levels of evacuation:
- Level 1 – Be Ready
- Level 2 – Be Set
- Level 3 – GO NOW
- If you hear a siren, see a neighbor evacuating, or witness fire behavior increasing—take action even if you haven’t received an alert.
Be Your Own Info Network
- Check on neighbors, especially seniors or those with disabilities.
- Post printed signs with updates for those passing by.
In rural areas, community bulletin boards or fire stations may serve as local information points. Support and Restoration in Progress To help maintain emergency communications during this incident, OEM deployed eight Starlink terminals under the guidance of ESF 2 and the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC). A Communications Technician (Jeff Perkins) was also deployed to assess connectivity needs on the ground. These Starlink terminals have been providing service to the Lake County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Oregon State Police (OSP), Warner Creek Correctional Facility, and will soon support the town of Lakeview, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Lakeview Ranger Station. OEM’s Regional Coordinator (Stacey) is also on-site supporting the Lake County EOC. Coordination has been strong across local, state, and private sector partners. *** Update: As of 7/10/25 at 1:47 PM, fiber service has been restored.
Reconnect When Service Returns
- Once communications are restored, check official websites:
- Oregon.gov/oem
- Your county emergency management page
- TripCheck.com for road conditions
- Share verified info—not rumors—on social media or community pages.
Prepare for Delays in Restoration
- Communication may come back in phases. Damage to fiber lines or cell towers can take time to repair.
- Continue using backup methods and stay alert for updates via radio or in-person notices.
Final Tip:
In an emergency, CALL 9-1-1 to report life-threatening danger, not for general information. Use local non-emergency numbers or go to physical information points if needed. You can find more tips for preparing in OEM’s Be2Weeks Ready toolkit.
Oregon’s Missing Persons
Many times you’ll see postings without case numbers or police contact. There is rarely a nefarious reason why (the nefarious ones are pretty obvious). Usually the loved one tried to call to report their missing person and they are either refused or told to wait a day or two by people who are unaware of SB 351 and the laws that they are bound to when answering the phone. Many people don’t bother calling LE if their loved one is homeless or in transition because they believe LE won’t care. The biggest myth is the 24 hour rule.
In Oregon we don’t have those rules and an officer or person answering the phone is not allowed to decide. The law decides. We have Senate Bill 351 and it states that the police CANNOT refuse a request for any reason and they must begin working on it within 12 hours. The person making the report does not have to be related to missing person either. Here is SB 351 written by families of the missing here in Oregon in conjunction with Oregon law enforcement officers. This should be common knowledge, please make it this way. https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/…/SB351/Introduced
Oregon State Police are reminding parents and students of the SafeOregon hotline. It takes reports of potential threats against students and schools. The tips can be made anonymously. They can include safety threats, fights, drugs, weapons on campus, cyberbullying and students considering self-harm or suicide. A technician reviews the reports and assigns them either to police or school administrators. Tips can be made by phone, text, email or on the website https://www.safeoregon.com
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