Willamette Valley News, Monday 11/1 – Eugene Police Seek Public’s Help in Incidents Over the Weekend, Looking Glass Community Services Opens Alder House Youth Housing

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

Monday, November 1, 2021

Willamette Valley Weather

Today– Rain. High near 56. Calm wind becoming south southeast around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tuesday– A 20 percent chance of rain after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Light east southeast wind.

Wednesday– A 40 percent chance of rain after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Light southeast wind.

Thursday– Rain. High near 58. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday– A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.

Looking Glass Community Services Opens Alder House Youth Housing

Owners of a Eugene real estate company partnered with Looking Glass Community Services to help youth experiencing homelessness. The Alder House held its grand opening last week.

Brian and Kelly Ranstand, owners of Hybrid Real Estate, helped procure the Alder House which has nine apartments.

Eight of the units will provide stable transitional housing for youth aged 16 to 22. The ninth unit will be occupied by a Looking Glass staff member who helps youth living in Alder House.

“We will kind of wrap around them and provide supportive services, skill building groups, individualized case management, and basically everything that they need so that we can get them to a place where they’re ready to live independently,”said Maleigha Myers, the Homeless and Adjudicated Youth Director with Looking Glass.

Each of the rooms were decorated by Hybrid Real Estate agents who also helped with furnishing. While youth can have their rent covered for up to two-years, Looking Glass plans to help them become self-sufficient so they can get permanent housing. https://www.lookingglass.us/

Police Seek Info in Downtown Eugene Assault

Police are seeking witnesses after someone was assaulted in a Eugene alley on Friday.

The victim reported that a person armed with a sharp object attacked them at about 10 a.m. in the 900 block of Olive Street. Officers arriving to the scene found the victim, who was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Police said they found and detained a person of interest about 30 minutes after the attack, and the individual had a dog bite that was treated. A blade was recovered, police added. There is reportedly no ongoing threat to the neighborhood. If you have any information, contact detectives at 541-682-5170.

Police Seek Armed Suspect Last Seen Near UO Campus

Eugene Police are looking for an armed suspect last seen near the University of Oregon campus Friday night. 

At around 10:30 p.m. Friday, a suspect reportedly approached a male victim outside a home on East 18th Avenue and directed him out of his car with a handgun. Police said the suspect was unable to enter the car and left the area by foot.

Subsequently, police responded to another report near East 18th Avenue and Emerald Street of a suspect who allegedly stole a cell phone from another male victim.

Police believe the same suspect was involved in both incidents. EPD and UOPD officers tried to locate the suspect but were unable to find him.

The suspect is described as a dark-skinned, Caucasian male, mid 30’s, average build and a height of approximately 5’10” to 6′.  He was last seen wearing a blue-plaid jacket, dark blue or black pants, white shoes and black beanie, police said. If you have any information, contact detectives at 541-682-5170.

Injured Cougar on the Loose In Sweet Home

Sweet Home Police is reporting an injured cougar on the loose in the 2400 block of Ames Creek.

Police said around 9:15 p.m. a person driving in the area accidentally hit the cougar and it ran off.

Oregon reports 1,420 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 14 new deaths

There are 14 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 4,372. Oregon Health Authority reported 1,420 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 365,053.

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (4), Benton (24), Clackamas (112), Clatsop (6), Columbia (23), Coos (20), Crook (18), Curry (1), Deschutes (109), Douglas (30), Harney (10), Hood River (6), Jackson (82), Jefferson (21), Josephine (33), Klamath (37), Lake (3), Lane (99), Lincoln (13), Linn (82), Malheur (25), Marion (178), Morrow (1), Multnomah (213), Polk (26), Sherman (4), Tillamook (10), Umatilla (29), Union (7), Wallowa (2), Wasco (14), Washington (140) and Yamhill (38).

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is AROUND-OR.png

Marketplace offers quality health coverage and financial help to thousands of Oregonians: People have until Dec. 15, 2021, to enroll in health insurance starting Jan. 1, 2022

OHIM logo

(Salem) – Big changes have come to eligibility for financial help with health insurance through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace this year. Many of the changes are carrying over to health coverage in 2022, which means Oregonians will see heavy reductions to their monthly premiums if they enroll through the Marketplace during open enrollment.

2021 brought a 46 percent reduction in average monthly premium for Marketplace-enrolled Oregonians after financial help. These extra savings brought the average monthly premium down to just $84 per month due to expansion of eligibility for financial help from the American Rescue Plan. 

Wading through health coverage options can be difficult. Health coverage experts throughout the state are available to help with applying for financial assistance and choosing private plans. Consumers can also browse plans and find out how much savings they are eligible for by going to OregonHealthCare.gov/WindowShop.

Oregonians who do not get health insurance through their job or a public program such as the Oregon Health Plan or Medicare may qualify for help paying for 2022 coverage at OregonHealthCare.gov. Though this year’s open enrollment deadline is Jan. 15, 2022, people who want their health coverage to start Jan. 1, 2022, must sign up by Dec. 15, 2021. Even if people are temporarily uninsured, they can sign up for help by the Jan. 15 deadline to get health insurance for next year.

“We’ve seen Oregonians enroll in health coverage for only $1 per month,” said Chiqui Flowers, administrator of the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. “If you previously applied and didn’t qualify for financial help, now is the time to try again. You will likely see significant savings on quality health coverage for 2022.” 

To apply, go to OregonHealthCare.gov before Jan. 15, 2022, and answer a few questions to get to the right application or search the directory of health coverage experts by selecting “Get Help” on the site. Health coverage experts are licensed insurance agents and community partners who provide local, one-on-one assistance at no charge to the client. This help is available virtually and over the phone, and in person following COVID-19 safety protocols.

The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, a part of state government, helps people get health insurance when they do not have job-based coverage, and do not qualify for the Oregon Health Plan or another program. The Marketplace is the state-level partner to HealthCare.gov. For more information, go to OregonHealthCare.gov.

Oregon Lowers the Unemployment Tax Rate for 2022

The Employment Department has good news for Oregon employers contributing to the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund. Oregon is lowering the payroll tax rate to an average rate of 1.97 percent (tax schedule three) for the 2022 calendar year. This is down from an average rate of 2.26 percent (tax schedule four) in 2021. House Bill 3389 allows Oregon to lower tax rates when other states are increasing UI tax rates and continuing to borrow funds.

In Oregon, the state deposits money collected from state payroll taxes into a trust fund that is used to pay UI benefits to unemployed Oregon workers. Oregon’s trust fund, which is on track to remain solvent through the next recession, is one of the healthiest in the nation. This is due to the “self-balancing” tax structure used to fund it. Oregon’s “self-balancing” tax structure is based on two major components:

  1. Movement between eight tax schedules: When the tax schedule changes, all employers move to that tax schedule for the year. Oregon’s schedules are designed to provide sufficient trust fund reserves to cover 18 months of a recession. Oregon lowers these taxes when the economy is poor and then raises them in times of recovery to replenish the trust fund. Schedule four is considered the equilibrium.
  2. Assigning individual employers a tax rate within the yearly tax schedule based on their unique ‘experience rating’: ‘Experience ratings’ are based on the number of former employees who go on to receive UI benefits. If an employer lays off a significant number of employees, their experience rating will go up, and their unemployment taxes will go up the following year.

Recognizing the hardships experienced by employers during the pandemic and the critical role they play in the state’s recovery, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 3389, and the Governor signed it into law on July 27, 2021. The law expands ongoing efforts to help employers affected by the pandemic, and it is projected to save Oregon employers $2.2 billion over the next 10 years. 

HB 3389 provides three types of unemployment insurance (UI) tax relief for Oregon employers. First, it changes how the statewide UI tax schedule is calculated, extending the “look-back period” for the Fund Adequacy Percentage Ratio (FAPR) from 10 to 20 years, and omits calendar years 2020 and 2021 from the 20-year look-back period. The goal is to replenish the UI Trust Fund enough to withstand a significant recession, similar to the Great Recession. Without the adjustment of HB 3389, the state would have had to incorporate the pandemic recession into the ‘savings targets’ for the UI Trust Fund. The bill helped lower the anticipated tax schedule for 2022 from schedule four to schedule three.

For individual employers, HB 3389 keeps the same experience ratings used to determine their 2020 UI tax rates to determine their rate for 2022 – 2024. This protects employers from the impacts of the pandemic, when many had to either let their employees go or reduce their hours to meet statewide safety precautions. HB 3389 keeps their unemployment taxes from going up as a result. 

In addition, HB 3389 allows eligible employers to defer up to one-third of their 2021 UI tax liability until June 30, 2022, without accruing interest or penalties on deferred amounts. It also allows some employers to receive full or partial forgiveness of their deferrable liability based on how much their UI tax rate increased from 2020 to 2021.

The department will mail individual 2022 tax rate notices to employers on Monday, November 15, 2021. Any employer who has not received their notice by November 22, 2021, should contact the Employment Department Tax Section at OED_Taxinfo_User@oregon.gov or call 503-947-1488. Due to the projected high call volume, employers may receive a quicker response by emailing the department. More information is on our employer taxes webpage

Employers can request this information in a different language by sending a request to OED_Taxinfo_User@oregon.gov.

Oregon Dept. of Consumer & Business Services – Share your experiences about prescription drug prices

Division of Financial Regulation logo

Salem – The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services is asking for the public’s help before its third annual public hearing on prescription drug prices.

The department set up a brief survey – http://dcbspage.org/RxStories – for consumers to ask questions and share their stories about rising prescription drug prices.

Drug prices play a major role in health care decisions of Oregonians and the cost of prescription drugs have steadily increased in the past 10 years. The department wants to know what questions you have about the increase in prescription drugs and how has it affected you and your family.

The hearing is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8. 

The Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act (ORS 646A.689) directed the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services to establish a transparency program to accept reports and disclose certain information from prescription drug manufacturers, health insurance carriers, and consumers on drug prices.

The goal of the program, which is part of the Division of Financial Regulation, is to provide accountability for prescription drug pricing through the notice and disclosure of specific drug costs and price information from pharmaceutical manufacturers, health insurers, and consumers.

For more about the program, go to dfr.oregon.gov/drugtransparency. Information about how to participate in the virtual hearing will be available on this site, as well.

Habitat Conservation Plan Goes to Legislature

After nearly ten months of negotiations between private forestry representatives, small forestland owners, conservation leaders, and fishing organizations have resulted in a historic proposal for new protections for sensitive species on over 10 million acres of forestland in Oregon.

Governor Brown made the announcement on Saturday, October 30, stating that the proposal seeks to meet the federal standards for a statewide Habitat Conservation Plan. The framework of the agreement consists of riparian buffers for streams, rivers and bodies of water, steep slopes protection to minimize erosion and protect habitats, work on an approach moving forward to improve forest roads and work towards a path to make adjustments and adaptation to forest practices in the future.

The legislation will be brought forward to the Oregon Legislature to solidify the Private Forest Accords in statute. The State will bring forward the proposal for consideration by NOAA Fisheries and the US Fish and Wildlife Service as a Habitat Conservation Plan.

Oregon Leaders Request Declaration of Fishery Disaster

A delegation of Oregon leaders ⁠— including Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Kurt Schrader, and Peter DeFazio — wrote to the U.S. Department of Commerce urging them to declare a catastrophic regional fishery disaster. Three years of drought in a row have severely impacted the Pacific Northwest’s salmon populations.  

The Chinook salmon population has been steadily losing value, going from $6.3 million annually from 2013-2017 to $1.4 million in 2020.  

“[T]he challenging impacts of climate change, increased drought, and changing ocean conditions complicate the recovery of salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest,” lawmakers wrote. “Federal support for this industry is critical while local, state, and federal partners continue to work toward long-term solutions.”   

“In addition to the economic activity generated by this industry, salmon are an important part of the cultural heritage of Pacific Northwest tribes, generate recreational activity, and are a treasured natural resource across the state.” 

Rancher Suing Construction of Lithium Mine

A Nevada rancher suing to block construction of the largest lithium mine in the U.S. says the government’s environmental assessment of the project relies on a baseline set by a consultant for the mining company with a conflict of interest that trivializes potential harm to water resources and wildlife near the Oregon line.

Bartell Ranch LLC wants a U.S. judge to order the Bureau of Land Management to provide documents, contracts and internal communications with all third-party consultants the agency used to reach its conclusion that Lithium Nevada Corp.’s mine won’t affect threatened species or significant scientific, cultural or historic resources.

The ranch filed a lawsuit in February challenging plans for the Thacker Pass mine it says would rob the ranch of its precious water rights. The case has been consolidated with lawsuits subsequently filed in U.S. District Court in Reno by conservation groups and tribes alleging the mine would destroy critical sage grouse habitat and damage sacred tribal lands that were the site of a massacre in the 1860s.

Time To Renew Expired Oregon Licenses, IDs, And Vehicle Registration Ends December 31st

Time is running out to renew expired vehicle registration, driver licenses, and ID cards in Oregon before a year-end rush and the looming possibility of citation, the Oregon Department of Transportation reminded on Thursday.

Oregon has had a moratorium in place, started during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, that kept law enforcement from citing for expired documentation. That moratorium ends December 31, and ODOT warns that it’s best to take care of any issues as soon as possible, before the rush sets in.

Starting in November, the DMV will mail about 300,000 Oregon residents who have expired vehicle registrations, urging them to renew before the end of the year. This mailing is in addition to the usual reminder that the DMV sends a few weeks before your vehicle’s tags expire.

There will not be a second reminder for expired licenses, permits and ID cards.

“You might receive a reminder in the mail even if it doesn’t seem to apply to you,” DMV Administrator Amy Joyce said. “Did you sell your car? If you didn’t notify DMV, we might still show you as the owner. Protect yourself from parking tickets and towing charges: go on-line and notify us of the sale.”

The current moratorium was passed by the legislature this year, but it is the last in a series of grace periods granted to give Oregonians more time to renew at the DMV while COVID-19 restrictions impact availability.

Oregon has added more online feature through the DMV to cut down on the in-person visits required. Before you go to a DMV office, visit DMV2U to see if you can get your service online – or make sure you have what you need to bring to an office.

“To help Oregonians get DMV services during the pandemic, we’ve added many new online options,” Joyce said. “We have caught up with the COVID-19 backlog enough that about half our visits to field offices are by appointment, and the other half are standby.”

“Going forward, customers will continue to have the option of making an appointment online through DMV2U or dropping by, as well as more choices online,” Joyce continued. “Anytime you need a DMV service, check DMV2U first and see if you can save yourself time and a trip.”

Also, starting in May of 2023, you will need a federally recognized form of identification to fly. This includes passports, but will otherwise require a Real ID-compliant identification card. This needs to be done in-person at a DMV location.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/

Related posts

Willamette Valley News, Wednesday 1/5 – Several Vehicle Crashes Around Region Due to Weather, ODOT Warns About Driving Conditions

Renee Shaw

Willamette Valley News, Wednesday 10/4 – Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts on Today at 11:20 am, and Other Local and Statewide News…

Renee Shaw

Willamette Valley News, Wednesday 2/16 – Three Dead in Mapleton Shooting, Springfield’s Main Street Safety Project Public Hearing

Renee Shaw