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
Friday, February 23, 2024
Willamette Valley Weather
Home Care Nurses to Lead Candlelight Vigil to Close Historic Strike at PeaceHealth, Friday Feb. 23rd at 6PM
Nurses and elected officials are calling on PeaceHealth to commit to a fair contract agreement that improves community health and safety and addresses its staffing and care crises.
Striking home care nurses, elected leaders and community allies will hold a candlelight vigil near PeaceHealth’s offices in Springfield Friday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. The event will include speeches and media availability and marks the end of nurses’ limited duration strike at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services.
Home health and hospice nurses at PeaceHealth declared a 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).
WHAT: ONA-represented nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services will hold a candlelight vigil to discuss PeaceHealth’s pattern of health care cuts in Lane County; its impact on local patients and providers; and how nurses and allies can hold PeaceHealth accountable to our community.
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. 6 – 6:45 p.m.
WHERE: Intersection of MLK Jr./Beltline and Game Farm Rd. near PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Riverbend in Springfield, OR. Street parking is available nearby. However participants are encouraged to park at ONA’s strike headquarters and shuttle to and from the vigil. ONA strike headquarters is located at 1075 International Way, Springfield, OR.
WHO: Home health and hospice nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services, hospital nurses, doctors, patients, elected officials, and community allies.
WHY: PeaceHealth’s corporate executives in Washington have spent the last year low-balling home care nurses in contract negotiations—insisting they are worth less than PeaceHealth Sacred Heart hospital nurses at Riverbend and less than nurses at other home care agencies. PeaceHealth’s disrespect towards nurses and their patients has driven nearly a quarter of nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services to leave. Another one-third of nurses plan to leave if PeaceHealth continues shortchanging patients and providers. Fewer nurses means home-bound patients and their families suffer from care delays, receive fewer treatments and ring up costly hospital readmissions bills.
PeaceHealth’s failure to retain and recruit home care nurses has real impacts for vulnerable patients who are experiencing delays and a loss of service. PeaceHealth was only able to admit 57% of hospital-referred home care patients into its programs in a timely fashion in October. The national average is 95%.
Nurses began negotiating with PeaceHealth executives in February 2023 and have been working on an expired contract since April 2023.
Since receiving nurses’ strike notice Jan. 19, PeaceHealth has committed multiple unfair labor practices including refusing to meet and bargain in good faith with local nurses and for threatening to terminate health insurance for home care nurses and their families.
Coming off of a successful limited duration strike, nurses are again asking PeaceHealth executives in Washington to come to the table and reach a fair contract agreement that enables them to recruit and retain the highly skilled and valuable nurses who care for some of the most complex home care patients in the state.
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.
The 86th Oregon Logging Conference February 22-24, 2024
Lane Event Center #86thoregonloggingconference — https://www.facebook.com/OregonLoggingConference
Convicted Child Rapist Captured
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports that today at 3:37 p.m., Gary Louis Coomer, 51, of Sweet Home, was arrested on his outstanding arrest warrants. On January 12th, 2024, a jury found Gary Coomer guilty on charges of Sodomy in the First Degree, Rape in the First Degree, and two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.
The judge ordered him released and to return to court on February 15th for sentencing. When Coomer failed to appear, warrants were issued for his arrest.
Law enforcement officials from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Lebanon Police Department, and Sweet Home Police Department have been working together to apprehend Gary Coomer since he failed to appear for his sentencing. Law enforcement officials conducted surveillance, contacted known associates of Coomer, and tracked down all leads from the public.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office located Coomer hiding on a property east of Lebanon. Coomer was given commands to surrender to law enforcement but ignored those commands. Once a K-9 unit from the Lebanon Police Department arrived on scene and began giving commands to Coomer, he surrendered peacefully. Once Coomer was taken into custody, he complained of medical issues. Coomer was transported to the Lebanon Community Hospital to be evaluated. Once cleared, he will be taken to the Linn County Jail where he will be lodged without bail and wait to be sentenced at the Linn County Circuit Court.
Lane County Human Services Announces Winter Blanket Drive
Lane County Human Service Division, in partnership with The First Christian Church, Egan Warming Center, and St. Vincent DePaul, announced today a Winter Blanket Drive. The collaborative effort seeks to gather washable blankets suitable for winter use, sleeping bags, boots (sizes 8-12), sweatshirts (S/M/L), sweatpants (S/M/L), rain gear (S/M/L), tarps, and tents. The goal is to collect 500 blankets and other necessities to support those in need during the harsh winter conditions.The drive will take place February 26 through 29th, with drop-off donations accepted between 10 am and 2 pm at the First Christian Church at 1166 Oak Street, Eugene, OR 97401.
“All too often, our unhoused neighbors endure the brunt of winter’s harshest elements without adequate protection. This drive represents not just a collection of goods, but a gathering of community spirit to provide warmth and shelter,” said Lane County Human Services Program Services Coordinator, Maria Cortez
The blankets and supplies that are collected will be distributed to community members in need through direct service organizations. Specifically, Egan Warming Centers will use the blankets to help guests stay warm.
For more information about donating, please call the First Christian Church of Eugene’s Helping Hearts program at: 541-344-1425.
The Small Business Administration Opens Recovery Centers Related to Winter Storm
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is opening recovery centers in Lane County to help local businesses that were affected by the January winter storm.
Business owners can drop in to learn about SBA’s disaster loan program and get help completing the application.
**Eugene** – Lane County Public Service Building 
February 20, February 26, and February 27 
8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.*
*Springfield** – Springfield Public Library Meeting Room February 21 and February 28 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
**Cottage Grove** – Cottage Grove Library February 22 and February 29 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. –
Cottage Grove Community Center February 23 and March 1 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
There’s also a virtual help center for those who can’t make it to a recovery center. Details: https://www.lanecountyor.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=3585881&pageId=12717921&fbclid=IwAR18OVCBHkF_bEPhOHjbrifop1KvWUHwaaKuh0FI7hd6Cqvlfw9KSMU7iyY
02/19/24 – LCSO Case #24-0851 – Death Investigation on Sweet Creek Falls Trail
On Monday, February 19th around 11:30 a.m., a hiker in the Sweet Creek Falls area located a person down on the trail who was unresponsive. Fire personnel responded and determined the male was deceased. Investigating deputies identified the male as Adan Miranda-Gonzalez, 29, of Eugene.
They were later able to notify next of kin. Due to the hazardous trail, Lane County Sheriff Search & Rescue volunteers were called out to assist with transporting Miranda-Gonzalez back to the trailhead. The death does not appear suspicious at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office will never ask for money or compensation of any kind by telephone, text, or email.
Our community continues to be targeted by scammers identifying themselves over the phone as employees of the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. Scammers have in the past also used text and email. The scammers claim there are warrants, missed jury duty, or unsettled legal issues.
The scammers then ask for payment or personal information, often to avoid arrest. In some instances, the scammers appear to call from official phone numbers or provide fraudulent callback numbers with official-sounding voicemail inboxes.
If you are contacted by someone claiming to be a Lane County Sheriff’s Office employee and you think you are being scammed, please hang up and contact our dispatch center at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
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!
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.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden is urging the National Park Service to keep Crater Lake operations running as the federal agency weighs whether to dissolve a contract with the company that manages lodging, dining, retail and boat tours in the park.
Wyden’s letter comes one week after news that the National Park Service has threatened to terminate a contract with Philadelphia-based Aramark, which has operated in the Oregon park since 2018. Aramark, under its subsidiary Crater Lake Hospitality, is currently under contract through 2030.
On Thursday, Senator Wyden followed up with a letter to National Park Service Director Charles “Chuck” Sams III after NPS announced its intent to terminate the contract with Aramark due to an inability to live up to its contractual obligations.
In his letter, Senator Wyden states: “It is clear the National Park Service has acted with urgency and decisiveness to date in responding to my concerns by issuing a notice of intent to terminate the existing contract to the concessionaire responsible for these issues. As you move forward with this process, I ask that you take every available step to minimize impacts on visitors and park resources during the transition to a new concessionaire.
“As spring approaches and the winter conditions moderate, visitors will begin returning to the park in large numbers to enjoy a wide range of activities. It is important that these visitors are able to find places to rest, get a bite to eat and learn about the history of this incredible place while planning their hikes, boat tours, and scenic rides around the caldera’s spectacular rim. These services must be maintained as they are essential to park safety and attracting the visitors from all over the world that support small businesses in the surrounding gateway communities.”
FBI-Portland Offers Sextortion Prevention Tips
FBI-Portland is ramping up efforts to prevent child sextortion, after seeing a massive increase in sextortion in recent years. “From out to Prineville, to Bend, to Medford to Eugene and here in Portland, to the coast. It is happening everywhere,” Supervisory Special Agent Travis Ostrem told parents during a Wednesday webinar.
The crime involving explicit images of children boils down to blackmail and there are two forms: Financial and Traditional. “Financial sextortion, where the predators are looking for monetary gain from the children, to stop them from sending images. We’ve also sextortion, which is the typical child exploitation of sexual images, where they’re asking for additional images.”
He urges parents to start talking with kids early about the dangers of sending any photos online. Predators target victims as young as 11. He also suggested parents monitor the apps children are using, set parental controls and know who kids are talking to online, “Technology is growing faster than we can control it. But you all can get ahead of it. Look out for your children.”
A similar webinar was offered last week to school administrators. “We’re trying to be proactive because we don’t want any more of these cases. If we can eliminate it, just like getting drugs out of the schools from our kids, eliminate sextortion,” said Ostrem. “Sextortion is on a massive rise. We’re seeing it throughout, not just the country but in Oregon too. In every portion of the state, if there is some type of wifi or cellular connection to the internet, children can be sextorted.” He notes Oregon cases have increased by 20%, and at least 20 resulted in the victim taking their own life. “One suicide is too many. One child being sextorted is too many. The damage that can do to mental health is horrible. What we see normally is one predator will target up to a hundred victims.”
FBI-Portland hosted a chat on X – formerly Twitter – Thursday at noon to answer more questions about protecting kids from sextortion. (SOURCE)
Office of Small Business Assistance Releases 2023 Annual Report and Reaches 10-Year Milestone
Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade released the 2023 Annual Report from the Office of Small Business Assistance (OSBA) today: https://www.oregon.gov/smallbusiness/Documents/202…
As the number and complexity of regulations and requirements grow, the OSBA continues to serve as a valuable resource for Oregon’s small businesses.
“Oregon aims to be a small business-friendly state, but there’s more we can be doing to help these businesses operate,” said Trevor Leahy, the Small Business Ombudsman. “The 2023 legislative session saw 60 new bills affecting small business passed into law. Part of what we do is communicate with small businesses on their terms to help them stay in compliance with these evolving rules and regulations.”
The OSBA is a resource for businesses and nonprofits in the state of Oregon with 100 or fewer employees. Businesses may contact the office if they feel they have been treated unfairly by, or have unresolved questions of, state agencies, boards, commissions and councils, or any unit of local government.
This year marks 10 years for the OSBA, having opened to the public in January 2014. Since then, the office has grown from one staff member to a team of five, has been to every county in Oregon, attended hundreds of public events, and helped over 14,000 small business customers.
“It’s such a privilege to be able to look back on ten years and see all the hard work the OSBA has done and the many ways it’s paid off,” said Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade. “Small businesses are an invaluable part of our local communities. I know the team looks forward to another 10 years of serving as the voice of small business in Oregon government.”
In 2023, OSBA helped a total of 2,624 customers connect with 96 units of government, including cities, counties, and state and federal agencies. Of all OSBA cases, 61% involved customers seeking information, with 1,239 inquiries about business registrations and the Secretary of State Corporation Division.
Representatives from the OSBA participated in 105 outreach events and visited 25 Oregon counties, accomplishing its goal to enhance and increase its visits across Oregon. The office participated in a major collaborative effort with the Oregon Employment Department and the Eastern Oregon Workforce Board to engage businesses in Eastern Oregon. Seven state agencies participated, covering nine communities and reaching nearly 300 employers in Eastern Oregon.
To read the Annual Report, visit the Office of Small Business Assistance website. Print copies are available upon request by emailing Business.SOS@sos.oregon.gov or calling 844-469-5512
Oregon permanent standard time bill survives after Senate splits
Supporters agreed to amend the bill to say Oregon will only end daylight saving time if and when Washington and California do the same
An effort to switch Oregon to permanent standard time will live to see another day after hitting a temporary roadblock on Tuesday when the state Senate split evenly on the bill.
It takes 16 “yes” votes to pass a bill in the 30-member Senate, and Sen. Kim Thatcher’s Senate Bill 1548 had just 15 senators on board when it first came up for a vote on Tuesday.
That set the Keizer Republican and other supporters on a mission to change a colleague’s mind or find a compromise in the minutes before the Senate adjourned for the day and dashed all hopes for ending the twice-annual clock change.
Several hushed, intense conversations later, Thatcher and Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, D-Portland, had a solution: Instead of trying to have Oregon lead the way on switching to standard time and hoping other West Coast states would catch up, supporters agreed to amend the bill to add a trigger clause clarifying that Oregon would only ditch daylight saving time if and when Washington and California do the same.
Thatcher told the Capital Chronicle she came prepared with a motion to reconsider the bill if it failed because many of her colleagues hadn’t made up their minds. Three of the senators who unanimously voted it out of a committee last week ended up voting against the bill on the floor.
“I did not know where it was gonna land,” she said. “I tried to get that intel and it was just that nobody knew where they were.”
For Thatcher, who five years ago pushed a bill to switch to permanent daylight time, it was a clear choice. There isn’t the same momentum around moving to daylight time as there seemed to be in 2019, and permanent daylight time would require an act of Congress while states can move to standard time on their own.
An effort stalled in Washington this year, but bills are alive in California and Idaho, where a bill was introduced late last week.
“We can ditch the switch for real this time,” Thatcher said.
A broad-ranging debate in the Oregon Senate covered religious freedom, interstate commutes, health concerns, school start times and Arizona. The majority of the opponents – 12 of the 15 – are Democrats, but so are co-sponsors Steiner, Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego and Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem.
Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, represents a vast section of eastern Oregon including Malheur County, which is on Mountain time and would have ended up two hours ahead of the rest of Oregon if the bill passed as drafted. Findley supported it.
But Sen. Bill Hansell, the Athena Republican who represents northeast Oregon, had the same concerns as Sen. Michael Dembrow, a Democrat who represents north Portland. Hansell said his constituents, many of whom do business in Washington and go to Walla Walla, Washington, for services that aren’t available in smaller eastern Oregon cities, want to make sure they stay in the same zone as Washington.
Dembrow sees the same issue on a larger scale in Portland, where thousands of people commute between Portland and Vancouver or southwest Washington each day.
“What that means is that for two-thirds of the year, Portland will be an hour different from Vancouver and southwest Washington,” he said. “All of those people – there are thousands of people who live in southwest Washington and commute to Oregon, or vice versa, are going to have to change their watches twice every day.”
Public health, religious concerns
Steiner said switching to permanent standard time takes a stand for public health and religious freedom. Steiner is Jewish, and her religion includes morning prayers that can’t be recited until after sunrise. Permanent daylight time would make it all but impossible for Jewish people to congregate and say prayers in the morning, she said.
Steiner’s also a doctor, and she noted that medical research indicates changing clocks is bad for mental and physical health. She urged senators to move forward with adopting year-round standard time, saying Oregon could lead the way.
“Once we’ve done it and we’ve demonstrated the benefits and we’ve demonstrated our commitment to this, I think we’ll see Washington and California and a lot of other states picking up the mantle sooner,” Steiner said.
Most states observe daylight saving time, but Hawaii and most of Arizona are on standard time year round. Indiana didn’t start observing the twice-yearly time change until 2006.
Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, reminded colleagues that they heard a lot about Arizona while discussing economic development and the semiconductor industry last year.
“If I recall correctly, I think that economic horsepower state beating us out for economic development is the state of Arizona, and they’re on standard time,” Boquist said. “Let’s be like Arizona. Let’s get more economic development, let’s get more people moving here. I don’t know if this helps, but it sure didn’t hurt in Arizona.”
Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D-Corvallis, said switching to standard time might make more sense in southern states that don’t see the same swings in daylight hours. Portland is dark for nearly 16 hours a day in December, while the sun is out for more than 15 hours in peak summer. Her constituents and her brother have strong feelings about ending the annual switch, which Gelser Blouin said her brother calls “abuse of clocks.”
Gelser Blouin said she understands arguments for keeping standard time for students who need to get to school safely. The sun has been rising earlier and earlier for the past few weeks, and by March 9, the last day before daylight saving time begins, it’ll rise around 6:30 a.m. The following Monday, the sun won’t rise until 7:30 a.m. But Gelser Blouin said the real problem to fix is early school start times.
“With apologies to my brother, my no vote will once again support ‘abuse of clocks,’” she said. (SOURCE)
The Oregon House has passed a bill that would allow school districts to install cameras on school bus stop arms to catch drivers that don’t stop.
On one day last year, Oregon school bus operators reported over 14-hundred drivers violated red stop lights on their buses. The bill would give school districts a tool to catch violators, if they want to install the cameras. It’s not a requirement.
The bill also extends the deadline to retrofit buses with new, cleaner burning diesel engines. Supply chain issues are making it impossible to meet the deadline of next January. It would be extended by one year. The bill passed the House unanimously and moves to the Senate.
After a case of bubonic plague was confirmed in Oregon earlier this week, some people may wonder if there’s a danger of the disease spreading in the US.
The Oregon resident, who was the first to contract the infection since 2015, reportedly caught the infection from a pet cat, according to state health officials.
Experts shared with Fox News Digital what people should know about the infectious disease — including how to recognize symptoms, seek out treatment and prevent infection in the first place. (READ MORE)
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 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.
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
ODFW Announces Stamp Art Competitions
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is making a call to area artists to compete in one, or all three, of ODFW’s 2025 stamp art competitions.
The winning artist in each contest receives a $2,000 award and their winning artwork is used to produce collector’s stamps and other promotional items, sales of which benefit Oregon’s fish, wildlife, and their habitats.
For more information on contest rules and to order stamps and art prints, visit: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/stamp_contest/index.asp.
Entries will be accepted beginning Aug. 30 through Sept. 27 by 5 p.m., at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife headquarters, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr., SE, Salem, OR 97302.
Entries can be mailed or hand delivered. If you hand-deliver your entry, call ahead to make arrangements at 503-947-6314.
Here’s a look at the three categories:
Habitat Conservation Stamp
Art entries must feature a “Strategy Species” identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy in its appropriate habitat. Not all species in the strategy are eligible, so use the qualifying list of species.
See contest rules and entry form for more information and a list of eligible species at
https://www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy/habitat_conservation_stamp.asp.
Waterfowl Stamp Contest
Art entries must feature one of the following species in its natural habitat setting: Ring-necked Duck, White-winged Scoter, or Barrow’s Goldeneye.
See contest rules and entry form for more information at
https://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/waterfowl/contest/index.asp.
Upland Game Bird Stamp Contest
Art entries must feature California Quail in its natural habitat setting.
See contest rules and entry form for more information at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/upland_bird/contest/index.asp
Artists should not the highlighted new for 2025 information in the contest rules and the final page for packaging tips.
A panel will judge artwork based on artistic composition, anatomical accuracy of the species and general appeal.
Collector’s stamps, art prints and other promotional materials are produced from first-place artwork. Proceeds from product sales are used for habitat improvement, research surveys and conservation projects.
Interested artists are encouraged to visit ODFW’s stamp art competition website for more information on the contests and to view entries from previous years. https://www.dfw.state.or.us/stamp_contest/index.asp
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
