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, February 19, 2024
Willamette Valley Weather
ONA Files Unfair Labor Practice Against PeaceHealth for Refusing to Meet with Nurses and Canceling Scheduled Mediation
PeaceHealth has refused to meet with home care nurses for a month.
(Springfield, Ore.) – The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) has filed an unfair labor practice charge against PeaceHealth for refusing to meet and bargain with local nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services. After receiving a strike notice Jan. 19, PeaceHealth unilaterally canceled a Jan. 23 meeting with nurses and a federal mediator and has refused to sit down with nurses for the last month. Local nurses have repeatedly offered to meet with PeaceHealth executives to reach a fair contract agreement to prevent or end a strike but PeaceHealth has declined.
Home health and hospice nurses at PeaceHealth declared a limited duration strike Feb. 10 – 24 to protect their community’s health and safety, combat care delays, secure equitable pay and address PeaceHealth’s staffing crisis at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services.
The more than 90 registered nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA).
“It’s disappointing that PeaceHealth executives would rather sit back and scroll Instagram than talk to the frontline nurses they count on. Our strike line is only 50 yards from their front door. We’re not hard to find. We’ll meet them anywhere, anytime,” said Jo Turner, a local hospice nurse and ONA chair at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services. “We love our patients, we love our jobs, and we’d love nothing more than to get a fair contract and get back to work. But we can’t talk to an empty chair. We need PeaceHealth’s executives to show up and prove they care about the people in our community the way nurses do.”
The National Labor Relations Act requires companies like PeaceHealth to bargain in good faith. “Section 8(a)(5) of the Act makes it an unfair labor practice for an employer ‘to refuse to bargain collectively with the representatives of its employees’” specifying that companies must meet with union representatives at reasonable times and reasonable intervals. ONA nurses and PeaceHealth had 40 contract negotiation meetings between Feb. 2023 – Jan. 2024.
However, the two sides have not met since Jan. 12 due to PeaceHealth’s ongoing refusal to negotiate with home care nurses.
The National Labor Relations Board adjudicates unfair labor practice charges and can impose financial and legal penalties on companies like PeaceHealth which break the law. ONA previously filed an unfair labor practice charge against PeaceHealth after it unlawfully threatened to cancel nurses’ health insurance.
ONA home health and hospice nurses at PeaceHealth are holding a limited duration strike Feb. 10 – 24. Nurses are not discouraging patients from seeking care during the strike, however PeaceHealth patients may experience delays, cancellations or substandard care as PeaceHealth refused to temporarily transfer patients to other home health agencies and is relying on scab workers from an out-of-state, for-profit company.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 18,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state, including more than 90 nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services and nearly 1,500 frontline nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.
Fatal pedestrian-vehicle crash on Beltline
At 11:45 p.m. on February 16, Eugene Police and Eugene Springfield Fire responded to a pedestrian-vehicle crash on eastbound Beltline Hwy., near the I-5 exit.
A motorhome’s driver reported they had been driving in the middle lane and hit a person in the roadway. The pedestrian is deceased and their identity is being withheld until family can be notified.
The motorhome’s driver stayed on scene and was cooperative. ODOT provided traffic control while EPD’s Major Collision Investigation team responded to the crash to investigate. Case 24-02397
DUII Traffic Stops Lead to Additional Charges
Several recent cases highlight the proactive work our deputies accomplish in between calls for service to keep our roads safe. This month deputies have already investigated 11 DUIIs total and assisted partner agencies with additional DUII arrests.
Please designate a driver or use a rideshare if you choose to drink. If you see a driver you think is impaired, please call 9-1-1!
02/15/24 – LCSO Case #24-0806 – DUII Apprehended by K9 Bruno
On Thursday night, a deputy attempted a traffic stop in the 4500 block of Franklin Boulevard. The vehicle drove into an RV park and the driver fled on foot. Eugene Police and Springfield Police responded with deputies and set a perimeter. K9 Bruno was deployed, and less than 10 minutes later he located the suspect, Cody Wallace Hanstad of Springfield. Hanstad showed signs of impairment and was arrested without further incident. He was lodged at the Lane County Jail on charges of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer (by foot), and Driving While Suspended – Misdemeanor.
02/10/24-0693 – LCSO Case #24-0693 – DUII Stop Leads to Felon in Possession of Firearm Charge
A deputy initiated a traffic stop in downtown Eugene. The driver stopped near 2nd Avenue and Lincoln Street, and showed signs of impairment. After initially providing a false name, he was identified as Brandon Allen Hopkins of Eugene, who had a Coburg municipal warrant for his arrest and was a felon. The vehicle was impounded. During a search of the vehicle, deputies located a firearm and methamphetamine. Hopkins complained of medical issues and was transported to the hospital. Prior to Hopkins being cleared by the hospital for lodging at the jail, a shooting victim and witnesses came into the hospital, requiring the deputy’s attention. Hopkins was cited in lieu of custody for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine – Misdemeanor, and Driving While Suspended – Misdemeanor.
Eugene Police Find 16 Pounds of Meth While Investigating Home Reported By Neighbors
The Eugene Police Department states they found about $250,000 worth of illegal drugs during a search of a house after investigating several complaints from the neighbors.
According to Eugene Police Department, officers from the Street Crimes Unit, a division of EPD funded by the Community Safety Payroll Tax, served a search warrant at a home on Debra Sue Court in the afternoon of February 13. Police said the home had been the subject of several complaints from others in the neighborhood, and police investigations had developed suspicion about the place.
During the search, police said they recovered 16 pounds of methamphetamine, one pound of fentanyl, two firearms, more than $18,000 in loose cash, a stolen generator, and two bicycles, one of which was valued at more than $13,000. Police said the drugs had a total street value of about $250,000. Police have not yet released the name of the suspect as their investigation is still in progress.
SCAM ALERT! Pet owners in Lane County, BEWARE!
Scammers posing as Lane County Animal Services are preying on pet owners who’ve shared info about lost pets online. 
“Jack Richardson” claims your pet needs urgent care, demands CashApp payment 
, and threatens to withhold treatment.
This is a SCAM! Lane County Animal Services would NEVER:
Demand payment via CashApp or gift cards.
Withhold emergency care pending payment.
Contact residents via text without prior arrangement.
Details of the scam: Name: Fake “Jack Richardson” from Lane County Animal Services. 
Scammer’s Caller ID number: 541-623-9114. CashApp account: $LCanimalserv, with reference numbers like LCAS-174752.
HOW TO REPORT: Contact the FBI at www.ic3.gov to report cybercrime. For local reports, contact your local law enforcement agency. Spread the word and help keep pet owners from falling for this scam!
Western Oregon University to be featured in award-winning Amazon Prime show
MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University is featured on The College Tour, an award-winning TV series from Amazon Prime.
The series focuses on different colleges or universities in the United States in each episode and includes stories of multiple college students’ experiences. Host and Executive Producer of the series is Alex Boylan, who won the CBS series The Amazing Race and spent the last 20 years as an award-winning onscreen personality and producer.
Filming for Western’s episode took place last September and students were encouraged to audition for the episode. Ten were selected to be featured in the episode, each with unique backgrounds and stories. The episode is compiled into one 30-minute video and is also divided into ten segments, one per student. Each student collaborated on their segment’s script.
“I am excited that we now have the opportunity to share our unique story with a nationwide audience through this exceptional episode,” expressed President Jesse Peters. “Western holds a special significance, particularly for first-generation and historically underrepresented students and those seeking a personalized education that equips them for success in life.”
The featured students are Brenda Rocio Martinez, from Woodburn, Justin Conklin, from The Dalles, Hunter Hall, from Portland, Nancy Montecinos, from Sisters, Hannah Rispler, from Gresham, Max Smoot-Brown, from Camas Valley, Keisha Taylor, from Aberdeen, Washington, Aneli Godinez-Martinez, from Hillsboro, Layla William, from Beaverton, and David Echevarria, from Caldwell, Idaho.
Meet the featured students which is now available on Western’s The College Tour website, and will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime on May 28, 2024, in season 11.
### About Western Oregon University — Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction. Together we succeed.
Become a temporary election worker and help democracy thrive
The Lane County Elections Office is hiring temporary election workers to assist with the May 21, 2024 Primary Election.
“Temporary election workers are critical to the success of elections,” said County Clerk Dena Dawson. “We want to build a more diverse pool of people that is representative of our community. Retirees are always welcome, but so are students, stay-at-home parents, gig workers, and anyone who just wants to learn more about elections or earn a few bucks.”
Available positions include customer service, data entry, ballot processing, and ballot collection. Some positions require a few weeks of availability and others only require a few days, or even just one night. Lane County does not use volunteers to conduct elections; all temporary election worker positions are paid.
Temporary election workers are hired before each election cycle. Another round of hiring will begin in August for the November 5 Presidential Election.
Detailed job descriptions, instructions, and more details for applying can be found at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/elections under the “Election Temporary Jobs” section.
Lane County Elections holding student contest to create “I Voted” coloring page
Local students, kindergarten through college, are invited to create an “I Voted” coloring page for the Lane County Elections Office.
Four winning entries will be used to create a coloring page that will accompany ballots for the November 5, 2024 Presidential Election.
“I’m excited about this creative way for Lane County voters to celebrate voting,” said Lane County Clerk Dena Dawson. “I can’t wait to see what students come up with and I hope we blow up social media in November with the colorful versions voters create.”
There are four categories for student submissions:
- Category 1: Kindergarten–5th Grade
- Category 2: 6th Grade–8th Grade
- Category 3: 9th Grade–12th Grade
- Category 4: College or vocational school students
Submissions are due by April 1, 2024 and may be provided by email, mail or in-person. All entries must be submitted on the official entry form and must be signed by a parent or guardian if the entrant is under 18 years old.
Submissions must be original artwork and on a plain white background with black outlines so voters can color the artwork in November and share on social media using #LaneCountyVotes.
The entry form and more detail about how to submit artwork can be found at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/elections under the “I Voted Coloring Contest” section.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek Uses Legos To Explain The State’s Housing Crisis
She posted a video on Instagram where she uses Lego built houses and Lego people to show how the lack of housing leads to bidding wars and higher prices that make buying a house impossible for many people. https://www.instagram.com/p/C3X9kHrI6p8/
“Right now, there are too many people who need an affordable place to live. SB 1537 is a critical step in the right direction, building more homes for Oregonians to live – brick by brick – to ease our housing crisis.”
She says 440-thousand homes are needed over the next 20 years to keep up with demand. The Governor supports a bill in the Legislature that would allow cities to expand urban growth boundaries to increase housing construction. The bill is opposed by groups that are fighting urban sprawl.
Oregon Senate Committee Votes To End Daylight Saving Time
A senate committee on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a plan that would do away with the state’s annual one-hour switch from standard to Daylight Saving Time.
Switching to standard time would mean earlier sunrises and sunsets in the summer. In Oregon, that would mean the sun would rise around 4:30 a.m. and set around 8 p.m. in June, instead of the current 5:30 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Oregonians living in the Pacific Time Zone would be able to continue using standard time for the entire year under SB 1548. Oregon would become the third state after Arizona and Hawaii to not observe Daylight Saving Time.
In 2019 a ruling that stated Oregon would only permanently adopt Daylight Saving Time if California and Washington also decided to do so by 2029. The Oregon House and Senate will now discuss the new bill on the floor before voting on it.
Sheriff’s Deputies Rescue Infant and Toddler Abandoned in Woods by Suspect On-the-Run
JCSO Case 24-0935
JACKSONVILLE, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies rescued an infant and toddler after they were abandoned by a wanted suspect on-the-run this afternoon. The suspect, Justin Ryan Trompeter, 24, of Trail is wanted for fourth-degree domestic violence assault, third-degree robbery, first-degree theft, and reckless endangerment for an incident that occurred February 7 in Shady Cove. If you know of the suspect’s whereabouts, call ECSO Dispatch at (541) 776-7206. He is known to frequent the Shady Cove and Trail area.
While searching for the suspect, JCSO deputies discovered Trompeter was hiding with the children, ages 6 months and 1.5 years, deep in the surrounding Jacksonville woods. Deputies quickly located a vehicle at the top of Wagon Trail Drive with the two young children abandoned and alone in the car around 1:30 this afternoon. Trompeter had fled the scene before deputies’ arrival. The children were checked by Mercy Flights medics then turned over to Department of Human Services (DHS) personnel for safe keeping. New charges of first and second-degree child neglect are being added by the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.
Crime Stoppers Featured Case #24-04 – Wanted for Murder – Analiesa Golde
The Portland Police Bureau in conjunction with Crime Stoppers of Oregon is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a wanted murder suspect.
55 year old, Analiesa Golde is wanted for the murder of Philip Pierce, after Pierce was found deceased on January 26, 2024 inside a residence in southeast Portland. Golde’s whereabouts are currently unknown but it is believed she fled the Portland area. Golde was last seen driving a burnt orange, 2015 Toyota 4 Runner, with Oregon license plate 501HSB.
If anyone has information that could lead to the location and apprehension of Golde, they are requested to notify law enforcement immediately. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Oregon.
Crime Stoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 for information reported to Crime Stoppers of Oregon that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime, but tipsters must remain anonymous. Secure and anonymous tips can be left at www.crimestoppersoforegon.com, or you can visit the app store and download P3 tips for smartphones or tablets.
Oregon Officials Add Southern Resident Orcas To State’s Endangered Species List
The whales were first listed by the federal government in 2005 but their numbers have fallen since then
Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife Commission has decided to add a group of whales that forage along the Oregon Coast to the state’s endangered species list.
The commissioners voted unanimously to list southern resident orcas as endangered during its Friday meeting in Hillsboro. The vote followed a presentation by a fish and wildlife official calling for the animals to be listed and testimony from dozens of conservationists, biologists, teachers, anglers and residents, some of whom had traveled hundreds of miles.
Much of the testimony was fact-based and articulate, and one woman burst out in tears over the orcas’ plight. There was also insightful and moving testimony from seven students from Sunnyside Environmental School, a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school in southeast Portland.
“These orcas are at their lowest numbers in 30 years and because of the conditions they are in, 75% of orca pregnancies fail, on top of the 42% of calves that don’t survive. This further proves their need for protection” a 7th grader said. “When I grow up to be an adult, I want to be able to visit the San Juan Islands as I do now and see a pod of healthy and thriving orcas.”
“The southern resident whales are very intelligent creatures, and there’s so much we have to learn from them,” a 6th grader added. “For example, each pod of whales has its own unique dialect.”
The designation means Fish and Wildlife Department officials will have to try to help the orcas, such as by boosting declining salmon populations, but that could require more funding, said John North, a department Marine expert.
At least half of the Chinook salmon consumed by the orcas in the ocean originate in the Columbia Basin, according to Brady Bradshaw, an oceans campaign manager for the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity.
The department also will coordinate with state agencies to address other threats to orcas along the coast in a forthcoming management plan. They are harmed by chemical and oil spills and sounds and other disturbances from boats. The Center for Biological Diversity is advocating that the state establish mandatory and voluntary distances boats must keep from whales. (READ MORE)
Oregon Health Authority’s Slowness To Respond To Drug Crisis Stymies Expansion Of Care
Last August, the Oregon Health Authority asked treatment providers to identify “shovel ready” projects to help the state address the addiction crisis.
Within weeks, they submitted details on 16 residential projects that the state could fund. Many providers had already purchased or identified buildings, secured some funding from other sources and hired contractors or obtained cost estimates to renovate or expand existing facilities.
But they all are still waiting for a funding decision from the state, according to interviews and records obtained by the Capital Chronicle.
Providers need state money to respond to the crisis, with overdose numbers skyrocketing, hundreds dying every year and streets awash with fentanyl. Construction costs alone require a mix of funding sources, including from foundations and the community. State money is a critical part of most behavioral health and addiction projects – it can increase the size and the ability to treat more people – and nonprofits need quick responses to obtain permits, hire contractors and finalize plans.
Yet the health authority makes providers wait for decisions for months. Officials are slow to respond to requests; they cancel meetings and are slow to reschedule even when providers are ready to go and even though state lawmakers have earmarked millions of dollars to the Oregon Health Authority for more residential treatment facilities.
“What I hear from my members is the slow response and lack of clarity and untimely payment processes is very concerning to all of our members,” said Heather Jefferis, executive director of the Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, which represents providers. “They are at the point where they have to start thinking about: Can I proceed with the project that OHA has to offer because of these timeliness issues?”
A Capital Chronicle analysis of public records and interviews with behavioral health providers with potential expansions reveal an agency that’s slow to respond to the crisis, forcing providers to wait to finalize plans or move forward with scaled-down projects. (READ MORE)
Oregon Senate Passes Bill to Cap Insulin Cost At $35
The Oregon Senate on Tuesday passed Senate Bill 1508, which caps the price of insulin at $35 and prevents Oregonians with chronic illnesses and disabilities, who are covered by Medicaid and the Oregon Health Plan, from facing higher costs.
In recent years, the cost of insulin skyrocketed 55%. SB 1508 provides certainty and protection from the rising cost of insulin for Oregonians living on tight budgets, especially seniors, Sen. Deb Patterson (D – Salem) said in a news release.
The bill also stops the Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC) and Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (P&T) from using Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY)-based formulas to determine coverage for Oregonians on the Oregon Health Plan.
The QALY formula places a lower value on treatments that extend the lives of people living with chronic illnesses and disabilities, making it harder and more expensive for those individuals to get the care they need.
“No Oregonian should suffer because they can’t afford basic, life-saving medication,” said Patterson. “No Oregonian should have to ration their medication or choose between paying for prescriptions or basic necessities like food or housing. SB 1508 works to make sure that every Oregonian, regardless of their health or disability status, gets the care they need.”
SB 1508 is a key pillar of Senate Democrats’ Uniting Oregon Agenda, which aims to make all communities safer and healthier and lower rising costs for hard-working Oregonians. The bill now goes to the Oregon House of Representatives for consideration. (SOURCE)
Twelve Oregon high school students advance to March 9 Poetry Out Loud State Contest
Salem, Oregon – Virtual semifinals held this week identified the 12 Oregon high school students who will compete in Oregon’s 2024 Poetry Out Loud State Contest on Saturday, March 9. The State Contest, which will feature a presentation by former Oregon Poet Laureate Kim Stafford, is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. at Salem Public Library. The state champion will compete at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, scheduled for April 30 to May 2 in Washington D.C.
Poetry Out Loud is a recitation contest for high school students, organized in Oregon by the Oregon Arts Commission in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Participants memorize and present poems, practicing public performance skills while exploring the complexity of poetry.
The students advancing to Oregon’s 2024 State Contest are: Brooklyn Carr Heuer, West Linn High School; Cara Chen, Lakeridge High School (Lake Oswego); Maria Daniels, St. Stephen’s Academy (Beaverton); Tali Greenfield, Lakeridge High School (Lake Oswego); Traiton Kramer, Oregon School for the Deaf (Salem); Katie Lineburg, St. Stephen’s Academy (Beaverton); Arianna Morris, Redmond High School; Brayden Olsen, Oregon School for the Deaf (Salem); Kaydence Pope, South Medford High School; Misha Rana, West Linn High School; Mariah Reynolds, Redmond High School; and Bena Rodecap, Grant High School (Portland).
“All of the student performances were enthusiastic and heartfelt, which made selecting the finalists to move on to the state competition a challenge,” said Tiffany Harker, the Arts Commission’s arts education/Poetry Out Loud coordinator.
The State Contest will be held in Loucks Auditorium at Salem Public Library (585 Liberty Street SE). It is free and open to the public.
Please note: Student photos and bio information available upon request.
The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding and arts programs through its grants, special initiatives and services. Nine commissioners, appointed by the Governor, determine arts needs and establish policies for public support of the arts. The Arts Commission became part of Business Oregon (formerly Oregon Economic and Community Development Department) in 1993, in recognition of the expanding role the arts play in the broader social, economic and educational arenas of Oregon communities. In 2003, the Oregon legislature moved the operations of the Oregon Cultural Trust to the Arts Commission, streamlining operations and making use of the Commission’s expertise in grantmaking, arts and cultural information and community cultural development.
The Arts Commission is supported with general funds appropriated by the Oregon legislature and with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust. More information about the Oregon Arts Commission is available online at artscommission.oregon.gov
Oregon Kids Credit offers big boost for lowest-income families
Free filing assistance available to help taxpayers claim their credits
Salem, OR—A new state tax credit could provide up to $5,000 for Oregon’s lowest income families who file an Oregon state income tax return.
The Oregon Kids Credit, created by the Legislature last year, is a refundable credit for low-income people with young dependent children. For those with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $25,000 or less, the full credit is $1,000 per child for up to five dependent children under the age of six at the end of the tax year—a maximum benefit of $5,000. A partial credit is available for individuals and families with an MAGI up to $30,000.
When combined with the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and the Oregon Earned Income Credit, it could help boost the tax refund for the lowest income families to more than $13,000.
The EITC is for people with an adjusted gross income of up to $63,398 in 2023. Families may be eligible for a maximum refundable credit of $7,430 on their federal tax return, and a maximum Oregon EIC of $891 on their state tax return.
All three credits are fully refundable, meaning the portion of the credit that is larger than what a taxpayer owes can be refunded. Taxpayers may even be able to claim the credits and receive a tax refund if they don’t normally file a tax return.
To claim the credits, taxpayers must file a return. To assist taxpayers, Oregon offers several free filing options, including free fillable forms and the new Direct File Oregon. Taxpayers who need help filing their taxes can also find free assistance options on the agency website.
Families who are eligible for the Oregon Kids Credit are also likely eligible for the partially refundable Working Family Household and Dependent Care Credit (WFHDC), which helps low- to moderate-income families pay for the care of their dependents while they’re working, looking for work, or attending school.
To encourage Oregonians to save for college and job training, the Education Savings Credit for Oregon 529 Plan contributions allows single filers to receive a refundable credit of as much as $170 ($340 for joint filers) if they contribute to an Oregon College Savings Plan account before tax day. The refundable tax credit is also available for contributions to an Oregon ABLE Savings Plan account, which empowers people experiencing disabilities to invest and build financial security without jeopardizing their eligibility for vital state and federal benefits.
For more information about the federal EITC, the Oregon EIC, the Oregon Kids Credit and other similar credits, go to the Tax benefits for families page.
Taxpayers can dial 2-1-1 or visit the Oregon Department of Revenue website to find free tax preparation sites by using our interactive map. For more information on the EITC, visit https://www.eitc.irs.gov/. For questions about Oregon taxes, call the Department of Revenue at 503-378-4988.
Refunds distribution has begun
The annual refund hold that is part of the agency’s fraud prevention efforts has been completed and the department began issuing the first refunds of the 2024 tax season Monday.
In 2024 Oregon is returning $5.61 billion in surplus revenue to taxpayers in the form of a “kicker” tax credit. Taxpayers will receive their kicker as part of their refund, or the kicker can reduce the tax they owe.
Most refunds are issued within two weeks, but returns that need more review may take up to 16 weeks before a refund is issued. Taxpayers can check the status of their refund by using the department’s Where’s My Refund? tool on Revenue Online. A video outlining the refund process and timelines is also available to help taxpayers understand the process.
New grant promotes home improvement options for low-income housing to qualifying organizations
PORTLAND, Ore.— A new funding opportunity from Oregon Health Authority (OHA) promotes safe and long-lasting homes by offering qualifying groups support toward repairing and rehabilitating low-income housing.
The first round of this funding opportunity from OHA’s Healthy Homes Grant Program (HHGP) aims to improve health and safety, maximize energy efficiency and extend usable life of both rented and owned low-income residences across Oregon.
Possible repairs include, but aren’t limited to:
- Structural renovations for improving home access, such as wheelchair ramps.
- Upgrades to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
- Mold and mildew abatement.
Renovations can help protect people from extreme heat and cold, and keep indoor air clean from wildfire smoke, asthma triggers and allergens. Older and very young people and people with pre-existing health conditions are all at higher risk of health impacts from these hazards.
The new grant money can also help pay for mitigation efforts against radon, an invisible gas that builds up in homes and puts people’s health at risk through prolonged exposure. Because hiring qualified contractors for this work can be expensive, this grant offers additional support for these services.
“With radon mitigation usually costing an average of $2,000 depending on the house, we recognize that hiring a contractor isn’t affordable for everyone,” said Brett Sherry, program manager for the Healthy Homes & Schools Unit at OHA’s Public Health Division. “Supporting eligible organizations through this grant – especially those serving underrepresented groups such as people of color, American Indian and Alaska Native communities – creates more options for low-income residents looking to improve their home’s safety.”
This funding opportunity was designed in collaboration with the Interagency Taskforce on Healthy Homes, the Rules Advisory Committee and community partners statewide.
Details on eligibility requirements are available on HHGP’s Request for Grant Application webpage. Qualifying groups are asked to submit their ‘Intent to Apply’ by Feb. 23 at 3 p.m., before sending a complete application April 9 at 3 p.m.
Oregon Blue Book Cover Photo Contest Underway
The front cover of the 2023-2024 Oregon Blue Book showcases a hillside covered in beautiful balsam root and lupine flowers at Rowena Crest, captured by Oregon photographer Micah Lundsted of Eugene. The book’s back cover shows an image of three rockfish made at the Oregon Coast Aquarium by Dale George of Grants Pass.
Which images will cover the 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book? The Oregon Blue Book cover photo contest kicks off today, giving amateur photographers the chance to submit their photos to answer that question. Photo contest winners will be selected in October 2024 by Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade.
“Choosing the cover photos for the Oregon Blue Book is an honor,” said Secretary Griffin-Valade. “The images are a chance to see our beautiful state through the lens of the many talented amateur photographers who live in Oregon.”
The contest is open to Oregon residents of any age who earn less than half their income from photography. Images must be Oregon related and should be submitted in the portrait, rather than landscape, orientation. Two images will be selected for the cover: one for the front and one for the back. Visit the Oregon Blue Book Photo Contest guidelines for more information: https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/about-conte…
Images can be submitted through the Oregon Blue Book website portal or via U.S. mail. The deadline to submit photos for consideration is October 27, 2024. Contact the Oregon Blue Book Managing Editor at Oregon.Bluebook@sos.oregon.gov with questions or for additional information.
DETAILS
What: 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book Cover Photo Contest
Who: Amateur photographers who live in Oregon
When: February 7, 2024-October 27, 2024
Where: Submit online or through U.S. Mail
Why: Photo on the cover of the 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book
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.
