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
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Willamette Valley Weather
Churchill High School Threat Being Investigated
Update: additional school threat received on January 3 — Eugene Police was contacted by 4J staff tonight and made aware of a continuation of the threats. They appear to have been made by the same source. Eugene Police and the FBI are continuing to investigate this.
At this point, investigators do not believe the threats are credible, but out of caution the department has been working with Eugene School District 4J officials to put safety protocols in place. The Eugene Police will have a presence at Churchill High School tomorrow, January 4. Since investigators are aware of the posts, we ask the public only to call the Eugene Police Non-Emergency Line if you have direct or additional information.
PREVIOUS INFORMATION: Updated January 2: School Threat Being Investigated
After investigating, detectives report the threat is not credible. To provide a greater sense of security, Eugene Police has staffing planned for a presence at Churchill tomorrow, as well as an officer to stop by the game tonight. Previous Information January 1 :On January 1, 2024, in the evening, Eugene Police Department became aware of a Reddit post of a threat directed at Churchill High School, that reportedly will occur on January 2. The Eugene Police Department, along with the FBI, are actively investigating.
The source of the threat originated from outside the state of Oregon. The Eugene Police Department has been in communication with 4J officials and safety protocols are in place. 4J school will not be in session on January 2, as it is still winter break for students. Central Lane 911 is currently being overwhelmed by calls reporting the original Reddit post. Since investigators are aware, we ask the public only to call the Eugene Police Non-Emergency Line if you have direct or additional information. EPD Case #24-00038
LCSO Case #24-0017 — Vehicle Owner Injured by Suspect of Vehicle Theft
On 01/01/2024 at about 9:49am, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1500blk of Maywood Ave. in Eugene regarding a Hit & Run vehicle vs. pedestrian crash that had just occurred. Upon arrival, deputies learned that a male victim was injured when attempting to intervene and stop another person from stealing his vehicle.
Deputies learned that the victim met the suspect the previous evening at an area restaurant. The victim and suspect were at a residence in the 1500lk of Maywood Ave. the following morning together when a dispute ensued between them. The victim reported that the suspect sprayed him with mace and menaced him with a knife before attempting to steal the victim’s truck. The victim tried to climb into the truck to intervene and fell to the ground, possibly striking his head as the suspect sped away. The truck was later recovered a short distance away.
The suspect in this case is described as a white male adult in his 40’s with a ‘pasty white’ complexion. He was thought to be over 6’1” in height with a slender build. He had a red beard or goatee with blond hair.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
Embezzlement Leads to Staff Layoffs and Eugene Weekly Halting the Presses
The Eugene Weekly faced an abrupt and devastating setback when it discovered a former employee had embezzled funds from the publication in December. The shocking revelation forced the paper to lay off its entire staff and suspend its print edition, casting a shadow over its longstanding commitment to local journalism and the four decades it has served this community. https://eugeneweekly.com/
Just days before Christmas, the editor, Camilla Mortensen, stumbled upon discrepancies in the newspaper’s financial records. An investigation revealed that a former employee, significantly involved in managing the paper’s finances, had diverted approximately $90,000 from the company’s account for personal use since 2022. Moreover, the paper grappled with unpaid bills totaling over $100,000, including obligations to its printer, spanning several months. The gravity of the situation deepened as employees discovered that funds earmarked for their retirement accounts had never been deposited.
The dire financial state led to an agonizing decision to terminate all ten staff members and cease the print edition of the paper. Eugene Weekly, founded in 1982 and circulating 30,000 copies weekly in Eugene, played a crucial role in disseminating news freely within the community.
Mortensen expressed profound dismay, particularly over the devastating timing of the layoffs, which occurred just before the holiday season. The suspected employee, employed at the paper for four years, has since been dismissed, and investigations by the Eugene police department’s financial crimes unit and forensic accountants hired by the paper’s owners are underway to unravel the extent of the financial mismanagement.
The closure of Eugene Weekly echoes a larger trend of dwindling local news outlets nationwide, exacerbating information voids within communities and contributing to societal polarization. Tim Gleason, former dean of the University of Oregon’s journalism school, underscored the repercussions of declining local news, highlighting its role in fostering community connections.
However, despite the abrupt closure, the resilient Eugene Weekly staff, currently unpaid but undeterred, continues to labour in hopes of resurrecting the publication. They initiated a fundraising campaign through a GoFundMe page, garnering over $11,000 in just a day, showcasing the community’s support and the paper’s significance.
Todd Cooper, the paper’s art director, remains hopeful for the paper’s resurgence, expressing determination to revive and strengthen the publication’s foothold within the community. Amid uncertainties, there’s a collective aspiration among the staff that the paper will rise from this setback, sustain itself, and endure for many more years to come. (SOURCE)
CAHOOTS Crisis Assistance Temporarily Suspending Medical Care
CAHOOTS has reported that on January 1, 2024 they are temporarily suspending medical care, including vitals monitoring and wound care. They anticipate this suspension to last several weeks.
CAHOOTS will still respond to crises related to mental health, behavioral health, substance use, family disputes, resource gaps and more, they tell us.
CAHOOTS states they are actively working to resolve the issue, and will provide more information as things proceed.
Nurses with Sacred Heart Home Care Services Vote to Authorize a Strike
After months of negotiations, nurses say they are fed up with unfair treatment by PeaceHealth executives
(Springfield, Ore.) – During a news conference this morning, nurse leaders announced that a significant majority of the more than 90 registered nurses at Sacred Heart Home Care Services voted to authorize their bargaining team to call a strike. The strike authorization vote ran Dec. 27 and 28. The home health and hospice nurses are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA).
”For many years, the nurses at Sacred Heart Home Care Services were there to pick up the slack. We’ve taken on patients not only that no other home care company will take but cannot take because they do not have the nurses that have the expertise to take these patients that are coming out of the hospital,” said Jo Turner a hospice nurse and member of ONA’s executive committee at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services. “But as PeaceHealth continues to low-ball us and leave us without a contract, we’re losing the nurses we need to care for our most vulnerable community members.”
Nurses have been bargaining with PeaceHealth for almost a year and have been working under their old contract since it expired in April 2023. Despite their essential work, PeaceHealth continues to low-ball home care nurses with inequitable compensation offers. PeaceHealth is offering its home care nurses less than nurses at similar home health agencies and significantly less than PeaceHealth pays local hospital nurses–despite previously paying both home care and hospital nurses equally.
“We need wage equality to keep nurses and hire new ones. Nurses cannot afford to take a paycut to come work here. To recruit, retain nurses we need equality,” said Heather Herbert, a hospice nurse at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services. “I cannot stress enough we are not asking for more or special treatment, just what we have always had and the standard that all other PeaceHealth hospitals have had in Washington and Oregon.”
Nurses are calling for a fair contract that addresses PeaceHealth’s staffing crisis, raises safety standards, increases recruitment and retention of skilled nurses, and ensures all Oregonians have access to safe, affordable and accessible home health care.
“They are walking into a new situation every day because they care. They care about the patients, they care about our families and they care about the work they do,” said US Representative Val Hoyle. “We do need to recruit more nurses. We do need to retain those nurses which means good working conditions and fair pay so they don’t leave to other places where they can easily get paid more. And we need to respect the nurses we have and respect means paying them the same wage as other nurses get.”
If a strike is called, ONA will provide our community and PeaceHealth executives with a 10-day notice to allow PeaceHealth executives adequate time to connect our patients to alternate care options or to join us at the table and reach a fair agreement.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union that represents more than 17,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state, including 1,500 frontline nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center and Sacred Heart Home Care Services. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.
Operation Winter Survival Supply Stockpile Drive Need Ongoing
Lane County Health & Human Services, in partnership with the First Christian Church of Eugene’s Helping Hearts program and White Bird, today announced the launch of Operation Winter Survival Stockpile. The operation is an effort to create a stockpile through donations of clothing and other supplies that will help those in our community experiencing homelessness better brave the elements.
“Having access to the severe weather stockpile is an indispensable resource for service providers in our county,” said White Bird Clinic Nest Program Interim Coordinator, Theresa Bordreau. “Having both hot and cold weather supplies, fills a much-needed gap for survival gear that are often in short supply. For any community member looking for ways you can support the most vulnerable in our community, I would encourage you to look at donating to this very important resource. It has been of great value to our clients here at the White Bird Clinic.”
Items can be dropped off on weekdays between 10 A.M. and 2 P.M. or by appointment. Items can also be purchased on Amazon and sent to First Christian Church at 166 Oak St. Eugene, OR, 97402.
The Operation’s Amazon Wish List can be found at: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2XR33GS1ULV8Z?ref_=wl_share
Distribution of items will be prioritized to homeless outreach providers such as CAHOOTS that come into direct contact with individuals who are unhoused and unsheltered. Preferred donation items include:
- Clothing such as rain ponchos, wool socks, thermal underwear, gloves, beanies and footwear
- Items like tents, blankets, hand warmers, tarps, gift cards, and laundry cards
- Tools such as flashlights, batteries, and other survival supplies
For more information on Operation Winter Survival Stockpile, please contact Maria Cortez at ia.Cortez@lanecountyor.gov“>Maria.Cortez@lanecountyor.gov
Investigations Into Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center Patient Deaths Continue
Hospital Nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford Accused of Replacing Fentanyl with Tap Water Leading to at least 10 Patient Deaths and “Dozens of Patients” Had Been Harmed
The Federal Bureau of Investigation says it is involved with an investigation at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford. The FBI said it’s aware of allegations there under investigation by local police.
This after some sources say as many as ten people have died. Multiple hospital sources, who declined to be identified, confirmed dozens of patients injured by medication diversion — the act of replacing a medication with
another substance. It is believed the fentanyl scheduled to be administered to the patients was then removed from the premises illegally.
Sources allege that a hospital nurse was removing fentanyl from IV bags and replacing it with tap water. The FBI said today it is supporting local police with their work.
Asante issued a statement during the weekend that, “We were distressed to learn of this issue. We reported it to law enforcement and are working closely with them.”
Multiple sources also say that water supplies in the Intensive Care Unit and Coronary Care Unit — which are in an older part of the hospital — are unsafe for use on patients, even for face washing. The hospital made numerous public statements during 2023 pertaining to infections and water quality issues.
OHA state agency is part of an investigation now at a Medford hospital, where local and federal law enforcement agencies are investigating allegations of nursing behavior that could have been deadly.
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) says today it’s “aware of reports of incidents at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford involving a nurse alleged to have tampered with pharmaceutical fentanyl used to treat severe pain and introduced tap water in patients’ intravenous lines. OHA also is investigating reports that the incidents led to health care-associated infections that severely injured, and may have caused the deaths of, several patients.”
OHA has a Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program that, “conducts HAI surveillance in Oregon health care facilities,” working with partners including health care facilities to respond to and contain potential HAI outbreaks.
• A nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Oregon is accused of replacing fentanyl with tap water, leading to the deaths of approximately ten patients.
• The tap water injections allegedly caused Pseudomonas infections, which can result in severe conditions like sepsis and pneumonia.
• The act of substituting medications, known as “drug diversion,” is a problem in the medical field, with fentanyl being one of the most commonly diverted drugs.
• No charges have been filed yet, but police are actively investigating the incident.
• The hospital has reported the issue to law enforcement, but details such as the exact number of affected patients have not been officially confirmed.
A nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford allegedly swapped medication with tap water, resulting in the death of approximately ten patients, NBC5 reported.
Sources say the nurse used tap water to cover up the hospital’s misuse of medication. Unnamed hospital sources said “dozens of patients” had been harmed by the replacement of their meds with another substance.
Citing several anonymous sources, NBC5 reported that at least ten patients at the Medford hospital were allegedly injected with tap water in an attempt to cover up a nurse’s misuse of fentanyl, a pain medication.
According to NBC5, sources within the hospital said that the tap water, which is not sterile, led to Pseudomonas infections.
The Medical Center’s intensive care unit reported that up to nine or ten people caught infections and later died. The tap water that was used in the injections was reportedly not sterile and led to multiple infections of pseudomonas, which can be very dangerous to those with weak immune systems.
“It could cause sepsis, pneumonia, it could infect all the organs, so it could be a very severe infection,” said Dr. Robin Miller. The Asante Rogue Medical Center released a statement saying, “We were distressed to learn of this issue. We reported it to law enforcement and are working closely with them.”
As of press time, no one was arrested or charged, and Medford Police provided no more details. They only confirmed there’s an open investigation at the medical center.
OHA Ombuds Releases 2023 Six-Month Report
Ombuds to formally present its recommendations to the Oregon Health Policy Board January 9
Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) Ombuds Program, which serves as the advocate for Oregon Health Plan (OHP – Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program) members, released a report detailing top concerns from OHP members specific to child and youth mental health.
Established by legislation, the Ombuds Program provides recommendations and additional oversight internally to OHA Medicaid programs, and externally to Medicaid contractors. The program is independent of Medicaid implementation, operations or compliance.
The Ombuds Program also advocates for access to care and quality of care, as well as channeling member experience into recommendations for systems improvement. OHP members come to the Ombuds Program when they cannot get the support they need elsewhere after other avenues have not led to resolution. These issues often represent systemic concerns impacting other members.
The Ombuds 2023 Six-Month Report focuses on Child and Youth Community-Based Mental Health. The report highlights a central member story that illustrates the need experienced by many children and youth in Oregon for better access to local care, as well as data from the Ombuds Program and Oregon Health Authority. Based on these data and case stories, the report makes recommendations to improve mental health services and supports for children, youth and families across Oregon as follows:
- Require statewide networks. OHA should implement a statewide OHP network for both inpatient and outpatient mental health services by requiring coordinated care organizations (CCOs) and OHA fee-for-service (FFS) programs to contract with all willing outpatient and residential behavioral health providers for children and adults in the state;
- Prioritize funding of community-based children’s mental health services at amounts equal to or greater than investments in adult mental health funding and at least proportional to the number of young people in Oregon;
- Prioritize development and implementation of culturally specific services to eliminate the racial and linguistic disparities in accessing mental health services, follow-ups from emergency departments (EDs), and overrepresentation of youth of color in ED boarding;
- Strengthen peer workforce within children’s mental health;
- Speed up access to outpatient mental health services for youth accessing Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS);
- Fully implement Intensive In-Home Behavioral Treatment Services (IIBHT) within all CCOs and OHA’s FFS program;
- Fund and implement mental health respite care for each member’s entire lifespan;
- Create an independent Office of the Ombuds for Children and Youth in Oregon under the Governor’s Office to advocate for children, youth, young adults and families in need of services across multiple systems.
Each person who seeks Ombuds Program assistance deserves nurturing and support. The stories they share often illustrate challenges experienced by others. Each story teaches us how we can improve Oregon’s Medicaid delivery system and understand the impact of health inequities on Oregonians who receive or are eligible for the Oregon Health Plan.
The Ombuds Program will formally present its findings and recommendations from the Six-Month Report to the Oregon Health Policy Board Jan. 9, 2024.
Read the full report here. To refer a concern to the Ombuds Program, contact udsOffice@dhsoha.state.or.us“>OHA.OmbudsOffice@dhsoha.state.or.us, leave a message at 877-642-0450 or visit here.
Oregon Record $5.6 Billion Tax Kicker
This year, the state of Oregon has a record $5.6 billion tax kicker refund for Oregonians that have filed their 2022 personal income tax return. The 2022 return must be filed because that is the amount the kicker is based off.
The tax kicker refund can be claimed while filing the 2023 return. Those 2023 forms will have special instructions on how to claim that money.
Tax kickers are the result of a budget surplus in the state during a given biennium. The $5.6 billion kicker is 44.28% of all personal income tax paid to Oregon in 2022.
In order to calculate a personal kicker, multiply the amount paid for 2022 by 44.28%. The kicker can also be calculated online here.
The Oregon surplus credit, known as the “kicker,” is a way for state government to return some of your taxes to you when revenues are more than predicted. Every two years, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Office of Economic Analysis (OEA) determines whether there is a surplus and the amount to be returned to taxpayers as a kicker. If there’s a surplus, the kicker may be claimed on the return as a refundable tax credit or donated to the State School Fund. The kicker credit is available only on the return for an odd-numbered year. If there’s no surplus, or if the tax year is even-numbered, no kicker is available.
For the 2021-23 biennium, OEA has confirmed a kicker of more than $5.61 billion. Taxpayers will claim the kicker as a refundable credit on their 2023 tax return filed in 2024. To calculate the amount of the credit, taxpayers multiply their 2022 tax liability before any credits – line 22 on the 2022 Form OR-40 – by 44.28 percent. Taxpayers who claimed a credit for tax paid to another state would need to subtract the credit amount from their liability before calculating the credit.
For a list of other types of tax credits, visit our Oregon credits page.
$30 million available in Local Government Grant Program grants in 2024
The Local Government Grant Program (LGGP) has $30 million in grant funds available in 2024 to help local government agencies in Oregon fund everything from playground equipment and restrooms to splashpads and bike paths.
This is more than double the funds available last year and the most ever available in one grant cycle. The LGGP is a competitive grant program designed to help local government agencies fund projects to acquire, develop and rehabilitate parks and public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. Eligible applicants are cities, counties, metropolitan service districts, park and recreation districts and port districts.
The maximum awards range from $50,000 for planning grants to $1 million for large projects.
Learn more about applying for the grants at a live online workshop 9 to 10:30 a.m. Feb. 6. The workshop will help new and returning applicants navigate the application process and learn about the program. Register at: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/pages/GRA-lggp.asp…
A recording of the workshop will be available after Feb. 6 at https://oprdgrants.org/ (Select the Grant Programs drop-down menu, then select Local Government.)
Program grants are split into large, small and planning categories. Application deadlines vary by grant type:
• Large grant application deadline ($1,000,000 maximum award): April 1
• Small grant application deadline ($100,000 maximum award): May 1
• Planning grant application deadline ($50,000 maximum award): May 15
Local governments can apply online at oprdgrants.org. Applicants will need to set up an account when applying for the first time. The site also includes additional information about the LGGP including the grant manual, application instructions and program schedule.
The Lottery-funded grant program is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). The program has awarded more than $90 million in reimbursement grant funds since 1999.
The recent increase in grant funding is the result of yearly increases in State Lottery funds, which are allocated in part to state parks. Oregon voters generously approved making parks a recipient of Lottery dollars under the state constitution in 1999 and 2010.)
Language approved by voters in 2010 directs OPRD to more than double its funding for Local Government grants—from 12% of its lottery revenue to 25%—when the agency’s share of lottery revenue grows to $122 million or more in a biennium. It is projected to be $138 million in the current biennium. The OPRD budget does not include any general tax funds.
Man killed in New Year’s Day shooting — UPDATE
The suspect in the homicide of Ricardo Lopez-Cruz is now in custody.
Julio Cesar Sanchez-Sanchez, age 36 of Salem, turned himself in to Roseburg Police Department officers this afternoon. Sanchez is currently lodged at the Douglas County Jail pending transfer to the Marion County Jail on charges of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon.
With the suspect now in custody, all further inquiries into this investigation should be directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.
# # # Originally published 01/03/2024 | 2:30 p.m.
Salem, Ore. — On January 1, 2024 at approximately 3:15 a.m., Salem Police patrol officers responded to the call of a man with a gunshot wound outside the La Leyenda night club at 3260 Portland RD NE. Officers located a man in the parking lot deceased from a gunshot wound.
Detectives from the Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene to handle the investigation in the death of 29-year-old Ricardo Lopez-Cruz. As part of the investigation, detectives have arrested a Woodburn resident in connection with the case.
On Tuesday evening, January 2, with the assistance from the Woodburn Police Department, Guadalupe Ortiz Cervantes was taken into custody without incident. The 34-year-old Cervantes was lodged at the Marion County Jail on charges of hindering prosecution. She is due to be arraigned at the Marion County Criminal Court Annex today at 2 p.m.
The Salem Police Department extends its thanks to the officers of the Woodburn Police Department for their assistance in the apprehension of Cervantes. At this time, the investigation into the January 1 homicide continues, and no further information is being released.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Make Arrests in Tangent Burglaries
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports that her detectives arrested three people in connection to a string of thefts and burglaries in the Tangent area of Linn County that occurred in November of 2023.
Detectives worked with investigators from the Benton and Polk County Sheriff’s Offices who were investigating crimes that were similar in nature to the Linn County Crimes. On December 1, 2023, investigators served a search warrant in the 32000 block of Birdfoot Drive in Tangent and obtained evidence of the suspects’ criminal conduct. On December 7, 2023, investigators served an additional search warrant in the 15000 block of Monmouth Highway in Polk County and recovered property that had been stolen from the Linn and Benton County areas. Investigators also recovered property believed to be stolen but has not been reported to law enforcement yet.
On December 14, 2023, Linn County Detectives arrested Tyler Morgan Goolsby, 27, of Monmouth, Jonathan Alan Goolsby, 24, of Tangent, and Cassey Rose Schwindt, 23, of Tangent, in connection to a burglary that occurred in the Tangent area in late November of 2023. Both Tyler and Jonathan Goolsby were arrested for Burglary in the Second Degree, Theft in the First Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree. Cassey Schwindt was arrested for Aid and Abet Burglary in the Second Degree, Aid and Abet Theft in the First Degree, and Aid and Abet Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree.
Investigators believe the suspects committed other crimes in the Tangent area that have not been reported and additional charges are likely. Investigators were able to determine the suspects used scooters and bicycles for transportation as well as traveled on foot to commit the crimes. Investigators were also able to determine the suspects transported the stolen property using a black 2013 Chrysler 200 sedan.
Anyone who had a theft or burglary, or may have surveillance video related to these investigations in the Tangent area in November of 2023, and has not reported it yet is asked to contact Detective Matt Wilcox of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 967-3950.
Oregon 988 Coordinated Crisis Services Tax begins in January 2024
Starting January 1, 2024, a 988 Coordinated Crisis Services Tax will be added to the existing Oregon Emergency Communications (911) Tax. The new tax was implemented by the Oregon Legislature with the passage of House Bill 2757.
The 988-tax rate will be 40 cents per subscriber line of telecommunications or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, or device with access to the 988 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis system, and 40 cents for each prepaid wireless service or product retail transaction. These are the same transactions subject to the existing 911 Emergency Communications Tax. This tax rate will be effective for all billings or purchase of prepaid wireless service beginning January 1, 2024.
The new 988 tax does not apply to services provided under the plan of assistance established under Section 6, Chapter 290, Oregon Laws 1987; Oregon Lifeline.
The existing E911 return will be modified to include the 988 tax. The frequency of filing a return and submitting payment will follow the same timelines as the existing 911 schedule and will therefore not change the current 911 schedule.
For more information regarding the Emergency Communications and Coordinated Crisis Services Tax programs and how these tax revenues are used, visit the Department of Revenue’s website.
Questions? Email us at SPA.help@dor.oregon.gov.
Many new consumer protection laws go into effect Jan. 1, 2024
Salem – When the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, 2024, many new laws immediately take effect. The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR), part of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) – the state’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency – is releasing an easy-to-follow guide on new consumer protection laws. https://dfr.oregon.gov/news/news2023/Pages/20231227-Many-new-consumer-protection-laws.aspx
Oregon DMV Raising Fees In 2024 To Cover Operating Costs
It will cost more to take a drivers’ test next year in Oregon. A number of fees are going up in 2024 under new legislation.
The increases are a result of legislation passed this year (House Bill 2100) designed to help DMV recover costs and temporarily avoid service reductions, ODOT says.
A behind-the-wheel test will increase from $9 to $45. Other fees are going up by a dollar or two.The increases are a result of legislation passed this year (House Bill 2100) designed to help DMV recover costs and temporarily avoid service reductions, ODOT says.
According to ODOT, statutory fees recovered by Oregon’s DMV have not kept pace with the actual cost to deliver services. Most DMV fee increases over the last 20 years have gone to transportation projects at the city, county, and state levels, not to DMV operating costs.
Godfrey encourages people to use the DMV’s website for more of their transactions. She said things like registration renewal are easily done online instead of in person.
Manage State Benefits with the Oregon ONE Mobile app
People can now securely manage their medical, food, cash and child care benefits through the State of Oregon from the convenience of their mobile devices using the new Oregon ONE Mobile app. People first will need to apply for benefits online, in person at a local office or over the phone.
The app is available for free in the Apple and Android app stores. It is an official State of Oregon app created by the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). The app’s development was partially funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“At ODHS we are committed to meeting people in Oregon where they are with as many ways as possible to manage their benefits, check application status and share needed documentation, like when they get a request for information during a renewal,” said Nathan Singer (he/him), director of the ODHS Oregon Eligibility Partnership. “People can now manage their benefits in-person, by mail, by fax, by telephone, online and on their mobile phone using the Oregon ONE Mobile app, which is available in English and Spanish.”
Interview with OEP Director Singer available on YouTube
Oregon ONE Mobile app video on YouTube
New Oregon ONE Mobile app video link
- Create a ONE Online account.
- Access their existing ONE Online account.
- Report changes to household information including address, contact information and income.
- Upload requested documents using a smartphone camera.
- Get updates on application status and check if it is approved, denied, or pending, and what actions might need to be taken.
- See and download notices that were mailed.
- Find the next renewal date for their benefits.
- Get important, time-sensitive alerts and notifications about benefits on mobile devices.
- View benefit issuance history for food and cash payments.
People who serve as Authorized Representatives for people with benefits are also able to use the app.
How to manage your medical, food, cash and child care benefits:
- By phone at: 1-800-699-9075. All relay calls accepted.
- Online at: benefits.oregon.gov
- Through the free Oregon ONE Mobile app available on Apple and Android app stores
- In person at an office near you: Find an office.
- In your language: Help in Your Language
- By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309
- By fax at: 503-378-5628
Resources to help meet basic needs
- Find food resources in your community: needfood.oregon.gov.
- Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
- Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
- Find local resources and support by contacting your local Community Action Agency: www.caporegon.org/find-services/
- Oregon Department of Human Services help center
About the Oregon Department of Human Services – The mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve well-being and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity.
About the Oregon Eligibility Partnership – The Oregon Eligibility Partnership (OEP) is part of the Oregon Department of Human Services. OEP supports state staff who determine eligibility for people applying for and receiving medical, food, cash and child care benefits. It also manages the ONE Eligibility System used to process applications and deliver benefits to eligible individuals and families in Oregon. One in three people in Oregon receive benefits through the ONE Eligibility System. OEP administers the ONE Eligibility system in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC).###
Visitors can book same-day online reservations statewide starting in 2024
SALEM, Ore— Visitors hoping to camp last minute will soon have the chance to view and book same-day campsite openings online statewide starting Jan. 1, 2024.
Previously, most sites required booking 24 hours or more in advance of arrival when reserving online. Same-day online reservations started as a pilot project at two coastal parks and expanded last summer to all 17 coastal state park campgrounds.
“Same-day reservations at the coast gave those traveling the peace of mind that there was a place ready for them when they arrived,” said Coastal Region Director Dennis Comfort.
When the program expands statewide, it will include a total of 40 park campgrounds across Oregon. Some parks switch tent and RV campsites to first-come-first served during the winter and those sites will start offering same-day online reservations in the spring. Visitors can check park webpages for seasonal information on specific parks at https://stateparks.oregon.gov/
Eleven campgrounds will remain first-come-first served year-round: Jackson F. Kimball, Goose Lake, Bates, Cascara, Catherine Creek, Hilgard Junction, Jasper Point (except for the cabin), Minam, Red Bridge, Smith Rock and Ukiah-Dale.
The goal of same-day online reservations is to offer campers the flexibility to travel last minute when sites are available while giving them the security of knowing they have a site when they arrive. Same-day online reservations also have the potential to give park staff more time to offer interpretive opportunities, improve park facilities and increase time interacting with visitors.
“The transition to same-day reservations at Nehalem Bay State Park was nearly seamless and has been generally well received by guests,” said Park Manager Ben Cox.
Starting Jan. 1, 2024:
- Tent and RV campers can make a same-day online reservation up until 11:59 p.m. on the day they arrive by visiting https://oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com. Yurt and cabin reservations must be made before 6 p.m. the day of arrival due to the staffing required to assist with keys or codes.
- All visitors can make reservations by calling (800) 452-5687 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Visitors can also make same-day online reservations at parks statewide using mobile devices where they have cell reception or where Oregon State Parks’ free, limited Wi-Fi is available. Wi-Fi is provided at most parks for reservations only and is not guaranteed to be available 24/7. Signs at the park have login information. Since internet connectivity varies by park, it’s best to reserve campsites before arrival.
- Visitors can still pay with cash or checks at the park by finding a ranger or following posted instructions, which could include using self-registration envelopes only if instructed to do so. Ranger availability is limited depending on time and location.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will waive the $8 reservation fee for all same-day reservations.
If you have any questions about the new option, please contact the information center at k.info@oregon.gov“>park.info@oregon.gov. For more information about the option, please visit our online FAQs.
Missing child alert — Jerrica Landin is still missing and is believed to be in danger
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Jerrica Landin, age 17, a child in foster care who went missing from Portland, Oregon on Aug. 21. She is believed to be in danger.
ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find Jerrica and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see her.
Jerrica may be in Portland or Eugene in Oregon. She may also be in Washington in Vancouver, Seattle or the Tri Cities.
Name: Jerrica Landin
Pronouns: She/her
Date of birth: Oct. 24, 2006
Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 130 pounds
Hair: Reddish brown
Eye color: Brown
Other identifying information: Jerrica has a tattoo of a heart on her neck below her right ear. She often dyes her hair red, pink and purple.
Portland Police Bureau Case #23-803125
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #1489518
Sometimes when a child is missing, they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.
Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.
PART 2 – Newsweek Podcast Focusing on The Disappearance of Fauna Frey From Lane County
Here One Minute, Gone the Next —-– PART 2 – Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel joins investigative journalist Alex Rogue to speak with Here One Minute, Gone the Next about the disappearance of Fauna Frey, the growing friction between citizen investigators and law enforcement, and the lack of resources in missing persons cases. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-disappearance-of-fauna-frey-pt2-feat-sheriff/id1707094441?i=1000630100040
PART 1 – John Frey joins Newsweek to discuss exclusive details about the case of his missing daughter that until now have been unavailable to the general public.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Fauna Frey, call the anonymous tip line at 541-539-5638 or email FindFaunaFrey@gmail.com. — Help Find Fauna Frey #FindFaunaFrey FACEBOOK GROUP
Missing Yachats Man’s Vehicle Found in North Lane County
On 08/25/2023, Dustin Steyding was reported missing to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office after he left work on 07/22/2023 and hadn’t been located since. Dustin was living and working in the Yachats area.
Dustin was reported to be in good physical condition, having previously worked as a hot shot firefighter in New Mexico. Dustin is very experienced in the woods and commonly goes out for hikes to stay in shape. Without means to locate Dustin, Deputies entered Dustin as a missing person in a national database.
On 09/04/2023, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Dustin’s family after they located his vehicle on Keller Creek Rd, just outside of Lincoln County in Lane County. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputies contacted the vehicle and determined it had been at the location for some time. Deputies were unable to determine Dustin’s direction of travel from the vehicle.
The vehicle having been located in Lane County, Lincoln County Deputies contacted the Lane County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and arranged for their response the next day to started searching the area. After two days of searching, no clues to Dustin’s have been found.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Dustin Steyding should contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 541-265-0777 and reference case number 23S-07321.
