Rogue Valley News, Friday 3/6 – Oregon Chocolate Festival This Weekend, Time Change Sunday & Other Local and Statewide News Stories

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

Friday – March 6, 2026

Rogue Valley Weather

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

Here’s the overview of weather outlook, but be sure to check out what we’re predicting in your area: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/extended-forecast

For one weekend only, taste, learn, and indulge in all things chocolate and beyond!  Dive into a two-day chocolate lover’s paradise with artisan chocolatiers, winemakers, and flavor crafters from across the West Coast. Savor everything from dark to decadent blends, vote for your favorite makers, enjoy access to The Culinary Stage with live demos, and family-friendly fun all weekend long.

 Saturday: March 7, 2026
 Sunday: March 8, 2026

 oregonchocolatefestival.com/tickets/

 NEW! Early ACCESS HOUR tickets: 10AM (entry with pre-purchased tickets only, included with overnight packages )

 Main hours: 11AM – 4PM

 Single-day and weekend pass options available
*Kids 8 & under enter free to the two-day marketplace

 A sweet journey from bean to bar awaits!

 Overnight packages include festival weekend passes with early access:
 http://oregonchocolatefestival.com/oregon-chocolate…/

 Festival weekend kicks off Friday, March 6, with the Chocolate Maker’s Wine Dinner, plus Saturday’s Cocoa & Cocktails After Dark  and Sunday’s dreamy Chocolate Brunch, and more  (Special events sold separately)

 More info: oregonchocolatefestival.com/tickets/

2525 Ashland Street, Ashland, OR

https://www.oregonchocolatefestival.com/   

https://www.facebook.com/events/733478522884320/733478529550986

𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞-𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

At approximately 1:50 a.m. on March 4, officers responded to a report of shots fired at an apartment complex in the 800-block of Swing Lane in Medford. Upon arrival, officers discovered the apartment had been struck by multiple rounds. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Through the course of the investigation, officers identified a possible suspect and a vehicle believed to be involved in the incident. Utilizing Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, investigators located the suspect vehicle at approximately 9:45 a.m. in the parking lot of Walmart Supercenter (south location).

Officers deployed a drone to assist with surveillance and observed the suspect exiting his vehicle and walking toward the store. The individual was safely taken into custody before reaching the store and was arrested without incident.

The suspect, 33-year-old Bryce W. Kleinhanz, was transported to the Medford Police Department for an interview while detectives executed a search warrant on his vehicle, recovering evidence in this case. Kleinhanz was later lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree and Recklessly Endangering Another Person.

Investigators believe the suspect was known to the occupants of the apartment and that the shooting stemmed from a dispute between the involved parties.

There is no ongoing threat to the public and the firearm used in this incident has been recovered. This case remains under investigation, and no further information is being released at this time.

Mt. Ashland Ski Area Operations Close Again Due to Lower than Average Snowfall and Snowpack.

Mountain Operations Update: Ski Area Operations will pause (again ) at 4:00 pm today, 2/28, until we get sufficient snowfall.

Twilight is cancelled tonight

Our events this weekend (Diva Daze and Ladies Rail Jam) are cancelled.

Thank you in advance for your continued patience as we work with what Mother Nature provides and we will keep you all updated!

To go to the Mt. Ashland webcam, click here.

Internet Crimes Against Children teams work to arrest man for Luring Minor/Online Sexual Exploitation

𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗲𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:

In October 2025, the Builder’s Association of Southern Oregon (BASO) contacted the Medford Police Department regarding a potential employee theft. Representatives reported that former CEO Bradley Bennington was believed to have embezzled a significant sum of money from the organization over a period of years.

MPD detectives were provided the findings of a financial forensic audit conducted on behalf of BASO. Detectives reviewed the audit and conducted an independent investigation, which included serving numerous subpoenas at multiple banking institutions.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined that approximately $100,000 had been embezzled. Based on the evidence gathered, detectives determined that criminal activity had occurred. The case was subsequently briefed with the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.

On Thursday, February 26, 2026, MPD detectives contacted Bennington and lodged him at the Jackson County Jail on the following charges:

Aggravated Theft I (5 counts)

Theft I (2 counts)

Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card – Felony (3 counts)

Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card – Misdemeanor (4 counts)

Olsrud Family Confirms Plans To Sell Sherm’s Thunderbird Markets

The Olsrud family which has owned and operated Medford based Sherm’s Market since 1967 has confirmed they are planning to sell its four Southern Oregon grocery stores.

Message to Sherm’s customers

Sherm’s would like to confirm that our stores are up for sale. Our goal is to find that right partner that will keep the stores operating just as they have for many years. Serving the community and taking good care of our 500 plus employees. Steve Olsrud, who has run the company for almost 30 years, is 78 years old and has chosen to work on this succession plan to try and accomplish this. Steve’s desire is to keep the company operating in the same manner it has been operating for many years.

We plan on this company being around for many years.

We love this community and appreciate how very good you have been to us. The generations of families who have done business with us have just been amazing and it is very much appreciated.

Per Steve Olsrud it is business as usual.

Go Sherm’s

Sincerely,

Bob Ames

General Manager

Sherm’s Thunderbird Markets, Inc.

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿!

We are building a team of community-based assessors to help us conduct home wildfire risk assessments in Jackson and Josephine County. These assessments can be done on a 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲, in areas across 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 that work best for you, and are 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 based on area/zones assessed.
𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱.

We currently only hold these 2-day assessor trainings 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 and space is limited, so don’t miss this opportunity to join the team!

You can learn more about our Home Wildfire Risk Assessment Program, what it means to become a Home Wildfire Risk Assessor, and how to apply on our website at firebrandcollective.org/assessor

Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center Terminating Contracts with Doctor Groups

Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center has notified a team of nine NICU doctors of contract termination. Also a decision to terminate pact with 28 hospitalists effective February 2027 comes weeks after reported contract termination for nine NICU doctors and Asante confirming changes planned in July 2026 for neonatology program.

In the second of two significant contract terminations in recent weeks, Asante officials have reportedly decided to part ways with a group of more than two dozen doctors providing in-patient care for adult patients at Rogue Regional Medical Center for nearly a quarter of a century. The effective date is early 2027,

Southern Oregon Hospitalists, which is housed in the lower level of the Medford hospital, was launched in 2003 for the sole purpose of providing in-patient care to hospitalized adults.  The specifics of the contract or offer a reaction to the loss of the long-term contract but confirmed contract termination and said members would cease to work inside the hospital effective 365 days from the written notice Feb. 5, or in early February 2027. T

he group of more than two-dozen doctors offered the following statement: “Southern Oregon Hospitalists, the largest hospitalist group in Southern Oregon, is proud of the patient care they have provided to the community as the exclusive hospitalist group at RRMC for over 20 years.”

Termination of the hospitalists’ contract came just seven days after a Jan. 29 staff meeting in which dozens of employees were reportedly notified that Asante officials had terminated the contract with nine neonatology doctors for the Medford hospital NICU.

Other concerns were raised in recent weeks when nursing staff reported that Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford temporarily shut down its intermediate care unit twice in December after ONA officials claimed Asante created a staffing shortage.

Asante is the largest health care provider and employer in nine counties in Southern Oregon and Northern California, providing medical care to 600,000 people throughout the region.

The Taste and See Cooking School will be having another health meeting Sunday, March 15, at 1 pm, at the North Valley SDA Better Living Center in Merlin.

We hope you’ll join us once again for a vegan lunch of delicious hearty soup, salad, crackers with dip, and desert (all organic). The cooking demo will show you how easy it is to make wholesome crackers and dip, as well as desert, and we’ll share all the recipes. Our health talk will discuss cancer, what it is, how to avoid it and alternative therapies. Hope to see you there at the Better Living Center, 106 Acorn Street, Merlin, Or. Registration is required. The event is free, but donations will be accepted. To register, please leave a telephone message for Kristin at 541-597-2300 with your name, phone number, and how many persons will be attending. NO TEXT MESSAGES, please. May God bless your continuing journey to healthful living.  https://www.facebook.com/events/26082334634767223/

The Medford Public Arts Selection Committee is inviting artists and teams from Jackson and Josephine counties to submit proposals for a new public mural in downtown Medford.

Theme: Connection

Size: Four 4×16-foot panels (256 square feet total)

Location: Bartlett–Middleford parking garage connection

Proposal deadline: April 12, 2026

Learn more https://www.medfordoregon.gov/…/Medford-Public-Arts…

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱!  Medford City Council’s Community Art Contest

Show us what community means to you and enter the Medford City Council’s Community Art Contest for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship and have your artwork displayed at City Hall!

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲: Community—share your perspective and civic pride

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: March 20, 2026

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲: $1,000 cash scholarship

𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗿𝘁: Displayed at City Hall

See more details and enter here https://www.medfordoregon.gov/…/City-Council%E2%80%99s…

New Blog: PIER Grant Round 2 Now Open!

We’ve just published a new blog to help small business owners in Jackson County understand everything about the second round of PIER Microenterprise Grants — including who qualifies, how to apply, and how this funding can support wildfire recovery.

Read the full blog here:

https://ivcdo.org/pier-grants-2026-launch-jackson-county…/

This post breaks down:

Eligibility details

Grant uses (up to $15,000)

Important deadlines

What support is available to help you apply

And if you’re planning ahead, we also share a link to the PIER Revolving Loan Fund, which offers low‑interest loans for fire‑impacted small businesses.

Let’s spread the word to those who can benefit most!

Britt Festival —  Getting Ready for Summer

We’ve got it all from international favorites to stand-up comedy! We’re bringing rock powerhouse KALEO, global ensemble Pink Martini, and a co-headlining evening with Los Lobos & Los Lonely Boys. You can also look forward to the return of crowd favorite The California Honeydrops, as well as an evening with Jim Gaffigan to add a comedic highlight to the season

Tickets for these shows are on sale NOW for select Britt Membership levels and will be available for purchase to the general public on January 30 at 10 AM Join as a member today to get early access to tickets!  https://britt.org/events/

Southern Oregon PBS Still on The Air Despite Federal Funding Loss

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) voted to dissolve itself, due to the recent rescission of federal funding  after nearly six decades of distributing funds to public media stations across the nation.

PBS, PBS KIDS and local stations like SOPBS are still here, and we’re still serving you with programming that informs, connects, and strengthens our community. And now, more than ever, we need the support of Viewers Like You to keep going strong.  Protect the future of SOPBS at https://donate.sopbs.org/sopbs/donate

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 · Donations Always Needed to Help Community

Our Community Food Bank exists to help folks who need an extra helping hand during a difficult month to feed their pets. Our program has a limited budget and so we rely on generous members of our community to donate some of these goods to continue to help assist our community.   In 2023 we fed an average of 700 pets a month! This equates to approximately 70 – 40lb bags of food each month!  Many pets have benefited from the community’s generosity, and we can’t thank you enough for your kindness.

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

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.

’50 States in 50 Weeks’ visits Oregon

“GMA” spotlights the great state of Oregon and all it has to offer, whether you’re an outdoor adventurer, movie buff or sports fan. https://abcnews.com/video/130562892/

“GMA” visits Mount Hood to explore the state’s natural beauty, rich history and vibrant communities, speaking with tribes and women preserving traditions through dance. https://abcnews.com/video/130563347/

Live Updates as 2026 Legislative Session Draws to a Close

After just more than a month of long meetings, sharp disagreements and hard-fought compromises, the Oregon Legislature must adjourn by 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Capital Chronicle reporters have been at the Capitol tracking the action since it started Feb. 2, and they’ll be here until the end. As things move more quickly in the last few days, we’ll use this live blog to keep Oregonians updated. https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/05/live-updates-2026-legislative-session-draws-to-a-close/

High School Students Compete for State Title at the 2026 Poetry Out Loud Oregon Finals Saturday 3/7

Recent Oregon Poet Laureate Anis Mojgani to give special performance at Historic Grand Theatre in Salem

SALEM, Oregon — The Oregon Arts Commission is proud to present the 2026 Poetry Out Loud State Championships. High school students from across Oregon will gather at the Historic Grand Theatre on March 7 to compete in a dynamic display of memorization, performance and literary interpretation.

WHAT: 2026 Poetry Out Loud Oregon State Championships

WHEN: Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Historic Grand Theatre, 187 High St. NE, Salem, OR 97301

The students advancing to Oregon’s 2026 State Contest are:

Alida Shi Lyons, Cleveland High School (Portland);
Ariana Morris, Redmond High School (Redmond);
Bena Rodecap, Grant High School (Portland);
Drishti Singh, Lakeridge High School (Lake Oswego);
Emma Keen, Oregon School for the Deaf (Salem);
Gabriel Hall, St. Stephen’s Academy (Beaverton);
Josiah Gaither, St. Stephen’s Academy (Beaverton);
Kaydence Pope, South Medford High School (Medford);
Molly Wheeler, South Medford High School (Medford);
Rain Obiesie, Lakeridge High School (Lake Oswego);
Samantha Faulkner, Trinity Academy (Portland).

VISUALS & MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

At the conclusion of the event (approx. 4 p.m.), media representatives are invited to:

• Conduct interviews with the newly crowned state champion.
• Take photos of the state champion with Oregon First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson and Oregon Arts Commission Chair Jason Holland.
• A media release, images and video announcing the winner will also be made available before 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 7.

A partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Oregon Arts Commission and jurisdictional arts agencies, Poetry Out Loud is a national program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and dynamic recitation competitions. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about literary history and contemporary life. The Oregon state champion will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National Finals for a chance to win the $20,000 grand prize. The winner’s school will also receive $500 for poetry materials. The runner-up will receive $100 and their school will receive $200 for materials.

RSVP — Media members planning to attend or requesting post-event interviews are asked to confirm their attendance by contacting Heidi Hagemeier, Arts & Culture Communications Coordinator, 971-518-0966, Heidi.Hagemeier@biz.oregon.gov by March 6.

### The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, arts programs and funding for nonprofits and artists through its grants, special initiatives and services. Nine commissioners, appointed by the Governor, establish policies and provide advisory support for public investment in the arts. The Arts Commission is part of Business Oregon in recognition of the vital role the arts play in supporting the economies, educational opportunities and vibrancy of communities throughout the state.

The Arts Commission is supported with funds appropriated by the Oregon Legislature, as well as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Oregon Cultural Trust. Learn more at oregonartscommission.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

ER Docs Being Ousted After 35 Years Are Not Going Quietly

For more than three decades, local physicians staffed emergency departments for an Oregon hospital system. In a few months, they will be replaced by an out-of-state corporate staffing firm.

Leadership at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield decided last month to put Atlanta-based ApolloMD in charge of the emergency department at the area’s only Level II trauma center, replacing Eugene Emergency Physicians (EEP) starting July 1.

Amid an outpouring of support for EEP from a leading medical society and the Congresswoman who represents the area, the move has also ignited a fierce debate about physician independence and patient safety and prompted an overwhelming vote of no confidence in the officials responsible for the decision.

“It’s sort of become what everyone wishes the small, independent groups could have done when corporate medicine groups come in to take over: fight back,” Sarah Coleman, MD, a partner at EEP for 24 years, told MedPage Today.

In a late February vote of 367 medical staff members, 98% said they would prefer to retain EEP and 93% voted no confidence in PeaceHealth leaders James McGovern, MD, the chief hospital executive, and Kim Ruscher, MD, chief medical officer. In a separate vote conducted by the nurses association, 98% of those who voted expressed no confidence in the leadership team.

Those votes came after all 41 EEP members — 32 physicians and nine physician assistants — pledged to not work for ApolloMD.

“We’re very vocal in the fact that we do not want to work for a corporate medicine group,” Coleman said.

The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) voiced its support for EEP, stressing in a letter to PeaceHealth that it believes local physician practice ownership is best for all stakeholders — most importantly, patients — and raised concerns about ApolloMD’s reported prior ties to the private equity firm ValorBridge.

AAEM President Robert Frolichstein, MD, called the dispute “a national trend, not an isolated situation” and a reflection of a broader shift toward corporatization.

“Unfortunately, this is no longer rare,” he told MedPage Today. “Across the country, independent physician groups are increasingly being replaced by large national staffing companies. These conflicts are becoming a defining issue in emergency medicine.”

In a Feb. 25 letter to PeaceHealth President and CEO Sarah Ness, Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Ore.) urged reconsideration, saying the clinicians’ institutional knowledge “cannot be replaced overnight by a corporate contract with an out-of-state leadership team.”

The local EEP clinicians “are directly invested in the community because they live here. They care about the people here because they are the people here,” said Rory Smith, RN, an Oregon Nurses Association member who works in the RiverBend emergency department alongside the affected physicians. “If we struggle with an ER [emergency room] that’s overburdened and, God forbid something happens to one of their family members, they have to come to our ER. So it matters to them.”

Nevertheless, ApolloMD is moving forward with backing a new local physician group, Lane Emergency Physicians, to provide care at RiverBend, company spokesperson Kimberly Johnson told MedPage Today. The Oregon Secretary of State’s records show Lane Emergency Physicians LLC was registered Feb. 9 and shares ApolloMD’s Atlanta mailing address.

“Our priority is to ensure uninterrupted, high-quality emergency care for the community,” Johnson said, adding that the company hopes to retain current EEP physicians. “Our door remains open to the current physicians and advanced practice clinicians who would like to join.”

Coleman said PeaceHealth’s reasons for bringing in ApolloMD in the first place are unclear.

PeaceHealth has already previously faced scrutiny over how it handles physician dissent. It was sued by Ming Lin, MD, an emergency physician who was fired early in the COVID-19 pandemic for speaking out about safety concerns at a PeaceHealth facility in Washington. That lawsuit was settled in September 2024 under confidential terms, Lin’s San Francisco-based attorney Jason Fellner told MedPage Today.

“I think they don’t want doctors who are independent and are willing to speak out about concerns about patient care,” Coleman said. “They keep saying there’s nothing about our care that has been the problem. They keep saying it’s not a financial decision. But nobody can get a really straight answer about why [ApolloMD is coming in].”

She also expressed skepticism toward ApolloMD’s qualifications. The firm “had never set foot in our departments and did not actually present a specific plan,” she said. Rather, it “just told [PeaceHealth] that they would assess the situation and make suggestions about improving the processes.”

MedPage Today reached out to PeaceHealth multiple times but did not immediately receive a response.

In a Feb. 26 interview with local radio station KLCC-FM, however, McGovern said the change was prompted by a dramatic increase in patient volume — jumping from 210 per day to roughly 240 in about 18 months — due to fewer primary care options, an aging population, and the late 2023 closure of the emergency department at another PeaceHealth facility, its Sacred Heart Medical Center University District hospital in Eugene, Oregon.

He said ApolloMD manages emergency departments that see more than 150,000 patients a year — nearly double RiverBend’s current volume of about 80,000 — and will reduce wait times.

“What we felt we needed in a partner going forward was a strong ability to do process improvement,” McGovern told the radio station. “ApolloMD has that.”

PeaceHealth is a Vancouver, Washington-based not-for-profit health care system that owns and operates hospitals in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. The relationship between EEP and PeaceHealth’s emergency departments in metropolitan Eugene spans 35 years. It started at University District and grew to include RiverBend when it opened in 2007. A smaller facility in Cottage Grove, roughly 20 miles south of Springfield, was added a decade later. That contract ends in May, Coleman said, while the one at RiverBend runs through June.

“We have never had an issue with a contract until this most recent time,” Coleman said.

Coleman said her group had already warned system leaders that closing Eugene’s University District emergency department would cause a volume increase at RiverBend that would be difficult to manage. “And true to that case,” she said, “the volume has been difficult to manage.”

It remains to be seen how many new clinicians will be arriving for the challenge at the RiverBend ED. McGovern had noted that ApolloMD has “59 physicians and physician assistants in the pipeline” and stated that recruiting will not be a problem.

Coleman said ApolloMD is already looking for physicians with Oregon licenses, offering locums up to $385 per hour — “much higher than the contract terms that they offered us,” she said — with sign-on bonuses of up to $20,000 for those who commit to a full year. “They are, basically, casting a wide net across the country to see if they can convince people to sign on.”

Cost, McGovern emphasized in the radio interview, was not a factor. “There is no expectation that we’re going to do this for less money going forward,” he said.

Coleman agreed with that assessment — but for a different reason. “It seems insane to me that Apollo could do it for just as cheap, given that they have to pay executives, and they have a large management company they have to pay for,” she said.

She disputed Johnson’s claim that clinicians recruited nationally to RiverBend “will live and work in the communities they serve,” noting that the offers she has seen are for locum work, not permanent positions. https://www.newsbreak.com/medpage-today-359398486/4523559664750-these-er-docs-are-being-ousted-after-35-years-they-re-not-going-quietly

Employment Department Shares Plan to Improve Customer Service and Strengthen Oregon’s Workforce System

The agency outlines 101 prioritized actions and long-term initiatives, many already underway

The Oregon Employment Department (OED) has released a comprehensive report on its ongoing effort to improve customer service and strengthen Oregon’s public workforce system. The action plan meets expectations outlined by Governor Tina Kotek and demonstrates progress already underway under Director Andrew R. Stolfi.

“Oregonians deserve the best customer service we can provide to make sure they have what they need, especially in times of employment transition,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “The department is taking these issues head on, and the action areas identified in the director’s report will help get us there.”

At the Governor’s direction, OED conducted a review of the customer experience across Unemployment Insurance (UI), Paid Leave Oregon (Paid Leave), Contributions & Recovery (C&R), WorkSource Oregon (WSO), and the Frances Online system. The resulting Customer Service and Workforce Strategies Action Plan includes a prioritized list of 101 customer-focused action steps that fall into four main categories:

• Customer service improvements
• Organizational improvements
• Improvements to Frances Online
• Improvements to the public workforce system

The actions range from high-impact, short-term initiatives to long-term system changes, with the following projects as the highest, most immediate priorities:

• Use AI-assisted tools to improve customer service and employee workflows for faster resolution of common and complex issues.
• Review and simplify all customer-facing communications so customers better understand OED’s processes and can more easily receive benefits.
• Equip WorkSource Oregon centers with additional tools to help customers navigate UI claims.
• Improve how the agency collects and analyzes data to support well-informed goal setting, process improvement, and accountability.
• Create an online live claim status tracker so customers know where they are and what to expect at each step of the process for Paid Leave Oregon and UI.
• Consolidate Title I and Title III Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) administration and funding within OED to improve efficiency and accountability within Oregon’s public workforce system.

“This action plan reflects OED’s deep commitment to improving the services we provide,” OED Director Andrew R. Stolfi said. “It draws from our strengths and is centered on the customer experience, which is where our focus will remain.

When Stolfi joined OED as director, the Governor asked him to lead a thorough review of the agency and develop a comprehensive plan to improve customer service and advance OED’s workforce development mission. In pursuing this directive, OED gathered extensive feedback from across the state through surveys, focus groups, and interviews with more than 5,000 customers, 850 employees, and 240 frontline staff. That feedback revealed clear, consistent themes across programs and communities, including the need for clearer, faster, and more predictable service for Paid Leave and UI customers, and simpler processes and clearer guidance for employers that engage with OED’s business services.

“Our goal was to identify what is working, where barriers exist, and what improvements will make the greatest difference for the people and businesses we serve,” said Director Stolfi. “You can draw a direct line between the feedback we received and the actions outlined in this plan.”

A plan summary, a categorized list of prioritized actions, and the full action plan are available on the OED website. OED will continue to share progress updates and engage with customers, partners, and the public as we move forward.

“We’ve already started working on many of these projects, and Oregonians should expect to see many changes and improvements in the coming months,” Stolfi said. “Customer service is our top priority, and we will not rest until every Oregonian gets the services they expect in a timely manner.”

The agency has already improved in some key customer service metrics. For example, from July 2025 through January 2026 in Unemployment Insurance, the average time to answer a call was 22 minutes faster than the same seven-month period the prior year, despite a 13.6 percent increase in initial claims filed. The Paid Leave program has also reduced the average time it takes for staff to decide on a claim by 5.8 days, despite a 17.6 percent increase in application volume. This indicates improvements in operational efficiency, even while more Oregonians are using these programs.

“We are encouraged by the progress we’ve already made but recognize that we must continue improving in order to provide the level of customer service Oregonians deserve,” Stolfi said. “This plan lays out exactly how we’ll do that.”

About the Oregon Employment Department – The Oregon Employment Department (OED) provides economic stability to Oregon communities by providing vital services to both businesses and workers.  OED supports businesses with finding qualified job candidates, labor market information, tax incentives and support, and retaining talent through economic downturns. OED promotes employment through wage replacement benefits during unemployment and significant life events, job placement, training, and useful career information. Learn more at employment.oregon.gov.

The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.

El Departamento de Empleo de Oregon (OED) es una agencia de igualdad de oportunidades. El OED proporciona ayuda gratuita para que usted pueda utilizar nuestros servicios. Algunos ejemplos son intérpretes de lengua de señas e idiomas hablados, materiales escritos en otros idiomas, letra grande, audio y otros formatos. Para obtener ayuda, por favor llame al 503-947-1444. Usuarios de TTY pueden llamar al 711. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a communications@employ.oregon.gov.

To square Oregon’s budget, lawmakers say many state agency jobs must go unfilled

Oregon’s budget writers warned that the state’s current $128 million deficit will worsen in the years ahead due to federal changes

Legislative budget writers propose leaving more than 130 state jobs vacant, spending less on services and supplies and moving around not-yet-promised money within public agencies to rebalance Oregon’s budget and close a large funding gap at the transportation department.

The moves should cover the state general fund’s remaining $128 million deficit during the next 18 months, and the nearly $289 million deficit at the Oregon Department of Transportation, sparing the agency from hundreds of layoffs. Federal tax changes passed by congressional Republicans during the summer that stymie some state revenues and add costs, and a lack of action on sustainable transportation funding during the 2025 long session, contributed to the dual deficits.

“We can do this budget for a little while,” Sen. Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton and co-chair of the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee, said about the transportation budget at a Friday media briefing.

But both the transportation department and the general fund will need long-term fixes to sustainable revenue streams in the years ahead, she said.

“This is not a good budget,” Lieber continued about the transportation budget. “This is a very, very, very difficult budget, because it’s taking services away from Oregonians in a very real way.”

The changes are detailed in amendments to Senate bills 1601, 5701, 5702, 5703 and House bills 5203 and 5204 — released Sunday. Public hearings on the omnibus spending proposal will be scheduled early in the next week, according to Lieber and Ways and Means co-chair Rep. Tawna Sanchez, D-Portland.

Although lawmakers just eight months ago passed a $39 billion two-year budget for the state during the long legislative session, they need to rebalance spending in the current short session. That’s due in largest part to revenue losses and added costs anticipated from the federal tax and spending cut megalaw passed by congressional Republicans during the summer.

Oregon is one of a few states that automatically replicates changes in federal tax law at the state level, rather than selectively choosing provisions to mirror. That will, however, change slightly under a bill passed last week that allowed some disconnections to federal code, clawing back a net $291 million in tax revenue for the state in the next 18 months. READ MORE: https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/03/01/to-square-oregons-budget-lawmakers-say-many-state-agency-jobs-must-go-unfilled/

Oregon Lottery Supports Problem Gambling Awareness Month

Oregon Lottery is focusing on collaboration and enhanced community outreach to increase awareness of problem gambling in March – also known as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM). By participating in this annual grassroots campaign, Oregon Lottery works with local and national partners to promote available prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

This year’s theme, “Caring Communities, Stronger Futures,” emphasizes a collective responsibility for preventing gambling-related harm and a community-driven approach to awareness and support.

“We really connected to this year’s theme,” said Stacy Shaw, who leads Oregon Lottery’s Safer Play Program and is on the board of the Oregon Council on Problem Gambling (OCPG). “We see our biggest impacts when we collaborate broadly to reach our players and develop resources and tools for Oregonians impacted by gambling issues.”

The Oregon Gambling Research Center, a division of the OCPG, recently completed a research study that highlighted the important role communities play in supporting Oregonians.

“Problem Gambling Awareness Month reminds us that gambling-related harm affects individuals, families, and communities, and that prevention and support are critical to recovery and healing,” said Glenn Yamagata, executive director of OCPG. “Our research shows the importance of strengthening these community pathways to reduce harm and create meaningful, lasting change.”

Oregonians can access online tools and connect with free, professional counseling year-round by going to the OPGR website. The website provides a wide variety of resources designed to help people wherever they are on their help seeking journey. This includes free access to EVIVE – a first of its kind digital health app, offering solutions for quitting, moderating, or simply playing safer. New this year to anyone affected by gambling is GamFin, a free financial counseling and online community that offers support.

Since 1992, one percent of Oregon Lottery revenue has funded problem gambling treatment and prevention efforts throughout Oregon. Since that time, over $155 million in Lottery funds has supported those services.

About the Oregon Council on Problem Gambling — The Oregon Council on Problem Gambling is the state affiliate to the National Council on Problem Gambling. Its purpose is to promote the health of Oregonians by supporting efforts to minimize gambling-related harm. Board members include individuals from the gaming industry, the treatment and prevention field, the recovery community, and state and county administrators.

About Oregon Lottery — Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned more than $17.5 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery or to read the Responsible Gaming Impacts Report, visit www.oregonlottery.org.

BLM February 2026 timber sales bring in over $8.3 million

The Bureau of Land Management sold 27.6 million board feet of timber across 1,255 public acres in Oregon, for a total of $8,327,275, and indicates a strong demand in American lumber manufacturing by exceeding total appraised values by over $3 million. This timber will feed local mills and support jobs in local communities.

The Coos Bay District sold the Eckley Empanada timber tract (1.8 million board feet, 105 public acres) to Harveys’ Selective Logging, Inc., of Creswell, Ore., for $$142,228.

The Medford District sold the Thom Bone timber tract (6 million board feet, 585 public acres) to Estremado Logging Inc. of Gold Hill, Ore., for $458,766.

The Northwest Oregon District sold the Gopher Broke timber tract (7 million board feet, 223 public acres) to Boise Cascade Wood Products of Willamina, Ore., for $2,499,716; and the John Boy timber tract (8 million board feet, 167 public acres) to Rosboro Company, LLC, of Springfield, Ore., for $3,913,070.

The Roseburg District sold the Muley Mount timber tract (5 million board feet, 175 public acres) to Scott Timber Company of Roseburg, Ore., for $1,313,495.

The BLM plans to hold seven sales during March 2026 to offer 56.9 million board feet of timber across 1,939 public acres in Oregon.

The BLM manages 58 million acres of forests, including 2.4 million acres in western Oregon of some of the most productive forests in the world, and is committed to supplying a reliable, secure, and resilient domestic supply of timber. BLM forestry supports economic security, reduces risks from wildfire, conserves fish and wildlife habitat, and decreases costs of energy production. Local communities rely on jobs that come from BLM forests, and timber from public land feeds local industry.

Each year, the BLM forestry program’s sales support approximately 2,000 jobs nationally and generate more than $1 billion for local economies.

More than 20 percent of BLM-managed lands are forest and woodland ecosystems. The BLM ensures the health and resilience of these public forest lands as well as the availability of traditional forest products, such as timber. In fiscal year 2025, the BLM offered 301 million board feet of timber under new sales, good neighbor agreements, and stewardship contracts.

Recent federal changes are expanding work requirements for some Oregonians who receive SNAP food benefits. State agencies are encouraging recipients to get free job search and training help through WorkSource Oregon.

The Oregon Department of Human Services and Oregon Employment Department say more SNAP recipients must now show they are working, looking for work, or in training to keep their benefits.

The new rules apply to more people than before, including some adults up to age 64 and some households with older children. Some recipients will also need to meet these requirements for longer than three months.

SNAP Director Amya Hoffman says many people may already qualify through jobs, volunteering, or other activities. Free help is available through WorkSource Oregon, which has 37 centers across the state. For more info, go to WorkSourceOregon.org.

Residents of Keno gathered to talk about a proposed large-scale solar project planned for their area.

The project, backed by the Klamath Falls Energy Center, would cover about 8,600 acres, making it the second-largest solar farm in Oregon. It would be located roughly 1.5 miles northwest of Keno.

The meeting was organized by Klamath County commissioner candidate Elvina Contla, who pointed out that a separate solar project proposed by Diamond Solar would require only 2,000 acres—less than a quarter of the land needed for the Klamath Falls Energy Center project. Contla described the larger proposal as an unprecedented industrial expansion into timberland.

The project’s parent company, Denmark-based Orsted, submitted a Notice of Intent to the Oregon Department of Energy on December 22, 2025, as part of the application process for site certification. Another public meeting is scheduled for March 5 at 5:30 p.m. in Klamath Falls at The Spot, located at 1111 Main Street.

The land designated for the project is owned by Green Diamond, a forest products company operating across multiple states. To make way for the solar installation, the area would be cleared of trees and vegetation to install millions of solar panels.

Community members raised several concerns during the meeting, including wildfire risks, potential impacts on the water table, and disruption to local wildlife. The project is planned as a 400-megawatt solar power facility, with an additional 400 megawatts of battery storage capacity.

While the facility is expected to use relatively little water once operational, construction could require up to 45,000 gallons of water per day. Although no official timeline has been set, similar projects suggest construction could take between one and three years.

ATRIO Health Plans is currently facing financial challenges, with an outstanding debt of nearly $60 million owed to Asante for services that have already been provided.

Note: This situation has resulted in a notable alteration in network status for ATRIO members. As stated by Asante, starting January 1, ATRIO’s Medicare Advantage coverage will be considered out of network with Asante.

Members are required to take action before March 31 to prevent any disruption in their care, as new routine appointments will not be accessible after this date, with certain exceptions.

Heather Rowenhorst, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Asante, highlighted their dedication to the community, noting that the non-payment from ATRIO has necessitated challenging decisions.

“This decision underscores our commitment to our communities to ensure the sustainability of Asante and health care in southern Oregon,” Rowenhorst remarked.

Members affected by this change have until March 31 to switch their Medicare Advantage plans. Asante provides resources to assist members in continuing care with their existing providers.

Oregon State Parks to hire seasonal Park Rangers, Park Ranger Assistants

Oregon State Parks is hiring seasonal Park Rangers and Park Ranger Assistants for positions across the state for the 2026 season.

Hiring starts as soon as this month and runs through June with new positions listed on a rolling basis on the website. The positions last anywhere from four to nine months. Most seasonal staff work April through September, but some start as early as this month or work as late as December.

Seasonal staff help visitors access world-class experiences and ensure clean and safe park areas for everyone to enjoy. Duties include janitorial work, landscape maintenance, visitor education and visitor services.

Salaries start at $20.28 per hour for seasonal assistants and $23.79 for seasonal rangers. Both positions include comprehensive medical, vision and dental plans for employees and qualified family members. The positions also include paid sick leave, vacation, personal leave and 11 paid holidays per year. Student workers, ages 16 and older, who are enrolled in high school start at $20.27 or more per hour, depending on experience.

Several of Oregon State Parks’ top leaders started their careers as seasonal employees, including all three Region Directors.

“We are focused on developing an engaged workforce by partnering with staff on career development, investing in skill building and fostering a culture of belonging. Whether you’re here for a season or your entire career, you make a difference in protecting and promoting Oregon’s special places,” said interim Director Stefanie Coons.

Seasonal staff gain valuable skills working with experienced Park Rangers at parks around the state. Positions are available in Oregon’s coastal areas, scenic valleys, and mountain regions, offering opportunities to work in some of the most beautiful places in the Pacific Northwest.

For more information about current openings, visit https://bit.ly/oregonparkjobs. If you have any questions or need additional assistance in accessibility or alternative formats, please email Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Recruiting D.Recruiting@oprd.oregon.gov“>OPRD.Recruiting@oprd.oregon.gov.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, committed to diversity and pay equity.

Beginning on March 30, 2026, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will discontinue the waiver of parking fees at an additional 22 day-use parks.

Currently, a day-use parking permit costs $10 for residents of Oregon and $12 for out-of-state visitors, and it is valid for the entire day of purchase at any state park in Oregon. Access to the parks remains complimentary for those who walk, bike, or utilize public transportation.

Visitors arriving by car can present valid parking by displaying a current hangtag from camping at an Oregon State Park or a valid 12 or 24-month parking permit. Additionally, visitors who acquire parking permits online or through parking QR codes can link their license plates to the valid payment.

At present, OPRD mandates a day-use parking permit at 46 parks and waives parking fees at over 150 parks throughout the state. The selection of the 22 additional parks was based on the amenities and features that necessitate maintenance and operation, including restrooms, trails, paving, irrigation, boat ramps, and more.

The revenue from parking fees contributes to the maintenance and operation costs, ensuring that these facilities remain available for all visitors.

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 1^st 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

UNDER PRESSURE: A VOLCANIC EXPLORATION, AN EXHIBITION FROM OREGON’S HIGH DESERT MUSEUM, SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON THE RUMBLING GIANTS AMONG US

(BEND, Ore.) — For millions of years, volcanoes have been the most powerful force in nature. And for many in the West, the impact of volcanoes is forever tied to the May 18, 1980, eruption of Washington’s Mount Saint Helens. The science, spectacle, and significance behind these massive peaks will soon be at the center of an immersive new exhibition, “Under Pressure: A Volcanic Exploration,” which will run from Feb. 7, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027, at the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service recipient High Desert Museum in Bend, Ore.

On the heels of the Museum’s recent “Sensing Sasquatch” exhibition – which won the Western History Association’s prestigious 2025 Autry Public History Prize and earned national praise for exploring the Indigenous perspectives of what many call Bigfoot – comes the latest groundbreaking exhibition from the High Desert Museum. Under Pressure will take visitors on an educational, insightful, and thought-provoking journey into the forces that make volcanoes among the most majestic and often misunderstood natural wonders of the world, while exploring their individual stories and temperaments.

“From cultural and historical significance to the 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens, the Pacific Northwest and High Desert have a particularly long, complex, and symbiotic relationship with volcanoes,” says Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D., High Desert Museum executive director. “We live in their shadows, recreate on their slopes, and admire their beauty, but it’s the volcanoes’ ability to simultaneously cause destruction and creation that evokes feelings of awe. Under Pressure will provide an immersive and deep exploration.”

Under Pressure: A Volcanic Exploration, a groundbreaking new exhibition from Oregon’s High Desert Museum.

WHEN:            Feb. 7, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027

WHERE:          High Desert Museum (Spirit of the West Gallery)

59800 US-97, Bend, OR 97702 (map HERE)

COST:              Free with Museum admission or membership

Active U.S. military and their families, as well as Tribal members, are FREE with ID

Among the highlights that visitors to Under Pressure can expect to encounter include:

• Engage the senses through interactive displays and exhibits, including volcanic rocks and a volcanic hazard map, to learn about cutting-edge volcano research.
• Hear stories and learn the significance of volcanoes to the people of the High Desert region.
• Get to know 4-6 individual volcanoes through biographies that explain the similarities and differences between them.
• Learn about present-day volcano hazards and how lava flows.
• Understand the technologies that scientists use to detect volcanic activity, which allow us to live among volcanoes while also enjoying their many benefits.

“These geologic giants exist all around us, come in all shapes and sizes, and tell a story of our past, present, and future,” says Whitelaw. “With 350 million people living near an active volcano worldwide, the more we understand about volcanoes, the better we can exist alongside them.”

Under Pressure: A Volcanic Exploration opens to the public on Feb. 7, 2026, and runs through Jan. 3, 2027, in the High Desert Museum’s Spirit of the West Gallery. For additional information on exhibitions or to start planning your experience, visit highdesertmuseum.org.

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

Find the mental health support you need

           Click to see all resources https://oregonhealthnews.oregon.gov/find-the-mental-health-support-you-need/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

    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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