Willamette Valley News, Friday 1/24 – J.H. Baxter Wood Treatment Companies Plead Guilty to Hazardous Waste and Air Pollution Charges, Cottage Grove Police Department Gets New Patrol Vehicles & Other Local and Statewide News…

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, January 24, 2025

Willamette Valley Weather

Stay updated with the National Weather Service for the latest information on evolving conditions.

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

J.H. Baxter Wood Treatment Companies and President Plead Guilty to Hazardous Waste and Air Pollution Charges

The companies responsible for the J.H. Baxter wood treatment facility in Eugene, Oregon, and their president pleaded guilty today in federal court to hazardous waste and Clean Air Act violations and agreed to pay a total of $1.5 million in criminal fines.

The corporations — J.H. Baxter & Co. Inc. and J.H. Baxter & Co., A California Limited Partnership (collectively J.H. Baxter) — both pleaded guilty to charges of illegally treating hazardous waste and knowingly violating the Clean Air Act’s pollution control regulations. The companies’ president, Georgia Baxter-Krause, 61, of Deschutes, Oregon, pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements in violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal statute governing hazardous waste management.

According to court documents, J.H. Baxter used hazardous chemicals to treat and preserve wood at its Eugene facility. The wastewater from the wood preserving processes was hazardous waste.

To properly treat wastewater from its wood treatment process, J.H. Baxter operated a legal wastewater treatment unit to treat and evaporate the waste. For years, however, when J.H. Baxter had too much water on site, including process wastewater and precipitation, J.H. Baxter’s employees at the facility would transfer hazardous process wastewater to an available wood treatment retort to “boil it off,” greatly reducing its volume. J.H. Baxter would then remove the remaining waste from the retort, label it as hazardous waste and ship it offsite for disposal.

State and local regulators were not made aware of this process and J.H. Baxter did not have a permit to treat its hazardous waste in this manner, as required by RCRA. Additionally, J.H. Baxter’s facility was subject to certain Clean Air Act emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants, which required it to minimize air pollution emissions. However, employees were directed to open all vents on the retorts, allowing discharge to the surrounding air.

Oregon inspectors requested information about J.H. Baxter’s practice of boiling off hazardous wastewater. On two separate occasions, Baxter-Krause gave false information in response, which included information about the dates the practice took place and which retorts were used. The investigation determined that Baxter-Krause knew J.H. Baxter maintained detailed daily production logs for each retort. From approximately January to October 2019, J.H. Baxter boiled off hazardous process wastewater in its wood treatment retorts on 136 known days. Baxter-Krause was also aware that during this time J.H. Baxter used four of its five retorts to boil off wastewater.

On November 22, 2024, J.H. Baxter was charged by criminal information with illegal treatment of hazardous waste and knowingly violating the Clean Air Act’s pollution control regulations, and Baxter-Krause was charged with two counts of making false statements in violation of the RCRA.

As part of their plea agreements, the companies and Baxter-Krause have agreed to pay a total of $1.5 million in criminal fines. Baxter-Krause also faces up to two years in federal prison and three years of supervised release. They are scheduled to be sentenced on April 22, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane.

This case was investigated by the EPA Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, EPA Region 10, and the Oregon State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren for the District of Oregon, Trial Attorneys Rachel Roberts and Stephen J. Foster of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, and EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel Karla G. Perrin.

This case was an Environmental Crimes Task Force (ECTF) investigation. ECTF is an initiative in the District of Oregon that identifies, investigates, and prosecutes significant environmental, public lands, and wildlife crimes. ECTF leverages the resources and effort of federal, state, and local regulatory agencies and law enforcement to protect human health, safeguard natural resources and wildlife, and hold violators accountable. If you witness an event that may lead to an immediate threat to human health or the environment, please call 9-1-1. After alerting local emergency authorities, please also report incidents to the EPA’s Report a Violation website (https://echo.epa.gov/report-environmental-violations) or by calling the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802. —–
Attached Media Files: Change of Plea_Baxter

Cottage Grove Police Department Gets New Patrol Vehicles

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“We are thrilled to present to the Cottage Grove community our newest patrol vehicles. You may have spotted them around the city this past weekend, as they first hit the road Friday.”

Chief Chase, officers, and department members worked closely with Best Little Print House to create the new vehicle logos. We have brought back the light bars on these new Dodge Durango’s and made sure new graphics are highly visible and easily recognizable in the community. Eventually, the other patrol vehicles will have the same logo.

Egan Warming Centers in Lane County In Need of Volunteers

Egan Warming Centers in Lane County are setting up another night of activation.  Volunteers are still hard at work staffing the multiple warming centers after a lack of volunteers this week.

On Monday evening, one of the warming centers could not open because of staffing issues on the late-night shifts. The center was located at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, which serves the South Eugene community. John Craig is the Volunteer Shift Lead at the center and said although small, they are still a vital part of the Egan Warming Center network.

Because of the small size of the facility, officials felt it was better to utilize the volunteers that they already had at their larger locations than the smaller one. Director of Homeless and Shelter Services at St. Vincent De Paul Blaze Kenyon said the number of volunteers needed to provide a safe environment for the volunteers and the visitors was not met, hence the reasoning behind the closure.

“We didn’t have enough volunteers and staff to run it,” Kenyon said. “It has a small capacity anyways so we condensed the volunteers. We had to keep the other sites open.”

Kenyon said that they have already started finding ways to make the volunteering training easier while enticing long-term staff to continue working. He added that for the first time, they are paying the long-term volunteer leads who have invested time into their leadership roles at the centers.

“This is actually the first year that we have been paying some of our shift lead volunteers. They just have to go through the hiring process and those positions are posted,” Kenyon said. “Today we just revised a way to expedite the process where people will be able to come and help wherever they are needed and they’re going to be trained on the site.”

Until the winter season is over, volunteers are still encouraged to sign up and help as the weather continues to stay low. Scott Buttingheusen is one of the volunteers who has been working since the frigid temperatures have come into the area. Buttingheusen said it has been all go for himself and his other volunteers.

“The people respond to the weather change obviously, and not only is it cold but it’s extra cold once you get into the 20’s,” Buttingheusen said. You can find out how to help here: https://www.facebook.com/EganWarmingCenters

City of Corvallis Police Department –  · 📰 PRESS RELEASE UPDATE 📰

MARCH 2024 MURDER SUSPECT SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT

Yesterday, January 23, 2025, just over ten months after the murder of Vonetta Johnson and attempted murder of her sister Ciara Page, 54-year-old Jerry Bruce Mitchell Sr. plead guilty to the following charges:- Murder in the First Degree Constituting Domestic Violence- Attempted Murder in the First Degree- Unlawful Use of a Weapon- Felon in Possession of a Firearm- Animal Abuse in the First Degree

Mitchell received life imprisonment, with possibility of release to post-prison supervision after a minimum 30 years confinement at the Department of Corrections. This sentencing culminates almost a year’s worth of investigative work by the Corvallis Police Detectives Unit in cooperation with the Benton County District Attorney’s Office. We hope this sentencing can bring some closure to the friends and family of Vonetta Johnson.

Eugene Police Department –   · Man arrested for Sex Abuse after harassing women

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On January 22, there were numerous calls for service involving a man in a van who was reported to have harassed women at locations across the city.

At approximately 8:32 a.m. Eugene Police received a call about a disorderly man at the Dari Mart, 111 West 1st Avenue, who was reported to have aggressively asked a woman for sex and groped her. When he was told to leave, the suspect moved his van outside of the store and continued to stare toward the victim.

At 8:59 Eugene Police were dispatched to E. 18th Avenue and Patterson Street after a report of a man chasing a woman, threatening to kill her. The woman had run into traffic form him and to get help. Bystanders came to her aid, and she accepted an emergency ride offer from one. Central Lane 911 dispatch advised the suspect in the call may be the same one from an earlier call, where the suspect groped a woman in the 100 block of Monroe Street and fled. The suspect was in a van and officers located it near W. 18th Avenue and Chambers Street. The driver, 35-year-old Kerry Michael Diamond, was taken into custody without incident.

During an investigation, officers found another case that occurred shortly before Diamond was taken into custody. A woman had called 911 about being flagged down by a woman running with her two dogs. The woman had been approached by a man matching Diamond’s description and did not comply with Diamond’s requests to release her dogs. The suspect is reported to have gotten out of his van and chased her. She didn’t have her phone at the time, and a bystander called for her. She later contacted police to report the incident.

Diamond lodged at Lane County Jail on a charge of Sex Abuse in the Third Degree, as well as three counts of Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Cases 25-01210 and 2501213

Oregon State Police investigating officer involved shooting – Marion County

MARION COUNTY, Ore. 23 Jan. 2025 — The Oregon State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Jan. 22, 2025, in Marion County. 

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 22, 2025, Salem Police officers were pursuing a wanted suspect near River Road and Gardenia Drive in Salem. The suspect, Shawn Lee Baker (42), fled into an apartment complex near the 3200 block of River Road North and toward a residential unit and was armed with a firearm. 

Two officers confronted Baker and shots were fired striking Baker. Additional officers from the Salem Police Department and Keizer Police Department were immediately on scene. Despite lifesaving measures by responding police and medics, Baker died at the scene. 

The involved officers have been identified as Salem Police Officers Chad Galusha and John Diaz. Galusha has been with the department for 16 years and Diaz for 23 years. As per standard protocol, both officers have been placed on administrative leave.  

 No police officers were injured in the incident.    

The https://co.marion.or.us/SO/Pages/SB111.aspx. Click or tap if you trust this link.”>Marion County Law Enforcement Officer Deadly Use of Force Plan under https://co.marion.or.us/SO/Documents/DeadlyPhysicalForcePlan.MC%207-2016.pdf. Click or tap if you trust this link.”>Senate Bill 111 has been initiated for this incident, and the Oregon State Police is conducting the primary investigation in coordination with the Marion County District Attorney’s Office. The Keizer Police Department and Marion County Sheriff’s Office are assisting in the investigation. Any further information will be released by the Marion County District Attorney’s Office at the conclusion of the investigation. 

Pedestrian struck, killed by bus in downtown Salem

Salem, Ore. — Just after 1:00 p.m. today, Salem Police and other emergency personnel responded to the intersection of Union and High STS NE on the report of a pedestrian struck by a Cherriots bus.

The preliminary investigation by the Salem Police Traffic Team indicates the driver of the transit bus was traveling westbound on Union ST and initiated a right-hand turn onto northbound High ST, striking a pedestrian in the crosswalk on the northeast corner of the intersection.

The bus driver brought the bus to a stop a short distance away from the intersection. The driver and occupants of the bus attempted to render aid to the pedestrian; however, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The pedestrian is identified as Joseph Eugene Chandler, age 68, of Salem.

The Cherriots bus driver, John Paul Valdez, age 63, of Albany, remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation.

The Traffic Team investigation continues, and as such, no citations have been issued or arrest made. Through traffic in the area was closed for approximately two hours for the investigation.

Oregon State Police and Linn County Sheriff’s Office partner for Hwy. 20 rescue

Joint news release with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office

LINN COUNTY, Ore. 22 Jan. 2025 –  Tuesday, at 9:15 a.m., an Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Trooper encountered a vehicle on the shoulder of Hwy. 20 near milepost 68 and quickly determined the person associated with the vehicle was lost and in distress. The 30-year-old female had left her vehicle for unknown reasons and walked up a nearby U.S. Forest Service road. 

Linn County Search and Rescue and an OSP Fish and Wildlife K-9 team responded to assist in the search. K-9 Scout tracked the individual and finally located her about a mile from the vehicle. Troopers remained with her, built a fire, and provided food and emergency blankets until search and rescue members arrived with a snowcat to transport her back to the highway.

Medics from the Sweet Home Fire Department then transported the individual to an area hospital for medical evaluation. 

While the rescue was underway, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office received two additional calls from motorists stranded on forest roads in the snow. Sheriff Michelle Duncan said, “This is a good reminder for motorists to always have a plan and adequate equipment if traveling or recreating in the snow.” She continued, “Always let a friend or family member know your destination and carry a cell phone or rescue beacon. It’s always a good idea to keep your car winter ready with safety items such as extra blankets or warm clothing, extra food and water, a first aid kit, and other survival items.”

Oregon State Police Captain Kyle Kennedy said, “Winter weather can be unpredictable and conditions can change quickly. This rescue was a great team effort and we are grateful this individual was quickly located and transported to safety.” 

Search & Rescue Assists With Rescue of Injured Driver After Crash

Early Tuesday morning, January 22nd, Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue responded to assist fire personnel with a rescue of a severely injured driver near the top of Wolf Creek Road, south of Veneta. The vehicle had rolled down a steep embankment. Specialized equipment was needed to safely move the patient up to the road and waiting ambulance.

Volunteers from Eugene Mountain Rescue (EMR), a group within the Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue that tackles high angle problems, set up a rope rescue system. Using a wheeled litter, they safely hoisted the patient to the road. Nearly every week, Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue volunteers assist our residents in all types of environments. Learn more about our Search & Rescue program at http://www.lanecounty.org/…/volunteers/search_and_rescue

Springfield Police Department Joins Law Enforcement Agencies Around Oregon to Enforce and Educate Child Safety Belt and Child Seat Laws

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Beginning Monday, January 27th and extending through Sunday, February 9th, the Springfield Police department will join law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon in utilizing federally funded enforcement hours to educate the public about safety belt and child seat laws including a law passed in 2017 increasing safety for children under age two.

The 2017 law, which extends the rear-facing requirement from the previous age one to age two, will better protect the child’s head, neck, and spine from potential crash injuries. This is because a rear-facing seat spreads crash forces evenly across the seat and child’s body while also limiting forward or sideways motion of the head. Additionally, A childover age two must continue to ride in a car seat with harness or in a booster until they reach age eight or 4’ 9” in height and the adult belt fits them correctly.

Help Create A New Strategic Plan For Lane County Online Survey

Lane County Government

Lane County is updating its three-year strategic plan for 2025–2027 and wants residents to give input through an online survey.

“Our Strategic Plan is the blueprint for where we focus our efforts to improve lives in Lane County,” said County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky. “We want feedback from our residents so we can be sure our priorities align with our communities’ needs and expectations.”

Community members are invited to take an online survey at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/StrategicPlan. It should take 10–15 minutes. Responses are anonymous.

This survey will help Lane County:

  • Understand its strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities as a community.
  • Identify areas where Lane County can better serve residents.
  • Shape a shared vision for the next three years and beyond.

Your feedback will directly influence Lane County’s strategic priorities, ensuring they align with the needs and aspirations of our residents.

The Strategic Plan was last updated in 2022 and focuses on four priority areas:

  • Safe, Healthy County
  • Vibrant Communities
  • Robust Infrastructure
  • Our People & Organizational Health

Examples of successful initiatives under the most recent Strategic Plan include renewal of the 5-year public safety levy; investment in new Permanent Supportive Housing projects through partnership with Homes for Good; progress toward the Lane Stabilization Center to increase behavioral health resources in our local community; and passing the levy to support investment in Lane County’s parks. — Review the current Strategic Plan at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/StrategicPlan.

Two women stabbed near W. 2nd and Madison

At 7:49 p.m. on January 11, Eugene Police officers responded to W. 2nd Avenue and Madison Street after two women in their 20s were reported to have been stabbed. Eugene Springfield Fire also responded and transported both victims to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The two women reported they were walking north on the west side of Madison Street. A man standing next to a large tree began to follow them. During this, he attempted to rob them, making punching motions toward them, stabbing them. The victims ran and hid inside one of their vehicles.

The suspect is described as a white male adult approximately in his 40s, 5`06” tall, with a medium build and broad shoulders. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, beanie, and black jacket and tan cargo pants. He had curly blonde, shoulder-length hair, and a brownish blonde beard. None of the victims recognized the man. Eugene Police Violent Crimes Unit is investigating the case. Case 25-00592

Federal Funding Of $30 Million Goes Towards Highway 126 Improvements Near Veneta and Elmira

Oregon U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (D-Ore.) said on Thursday that $30,259,024 in federal funding was allocated to construction work on a two-mile section of OR 126 between Huston Road and Lakeside Drive near Veneta and Elmira.

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Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) indicated that the decision was made to give rural Oregonians quality and dependable roads.

Officials indicated that the U.S. DOT’s Rural Surface Transportation Grant program, which is funding this project, was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support rural infrastructure projects nationwide, state officials said.

The federal funds will go towards roundabout construction, widening the road between the intersections from two to four lanes, construction of wider shoulders, a new left-turn lane at Lakeside Drive, and railroad crossing improvements at the Huston Road intersection. Rep.

Voyle confirmed that the funding is critical to improving the safety of the highway and ensuring the infrastructure remains dependable for Oregonians. She said, “The project is critical to ensuring safe driving conditions for motorists.”

City of Eugene Invites Proposals for New Affordable Housing

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The City of Eugene is seeking proposals for the creation of new affordable housing to be funded by $709,879 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF). The AHTF supports the development of housing affordable to low- and moderate-income residents in Eugene. Applications are open now, with a submission deadline of March 5, 2025.

About the Affordable Housing Trust Fund

The AHTF is funded by a 0.5% construction excise tax on new construction in Eugene and a contribution from the City’s General Fund. Since its inception, the fund has supported affordable housing developments that address local housing needs. In 2024, the City invested $1 million in three developments:

  • Rosa Village: 52 cooperative-ownership homes by SquareOne Villages.
  • The Lucy: 36 rental homes by Cornerstone Community Housing.
  • Williams Place: 10 transitional apartments for veterans, by St. Vincent de Paul.

Available Funding and Priorities

This year, $709,879 is available through the Request for Proposals (RFP). Proposed rental or home-ownership developments should:

  • Be located in Eugene city limits;
  • Include at least 4 dwellings;
  • Meet affordability and other criteria outlined in the application; and
  • Submit a letter of interest by February 5 and a complete application by March 5.

Preference will be given to developments that:

  • provide accessible housing for people with mobility and sensory challenges, 
  • demonstrate innovation through project design, financing, or management structure, 
  • are in areas underserved by Affordable Housing, and
  • serve populations disproportionately impacted by housing cost burden and historically excluded from housing opportunities. 

The full list of award criteria, priorities, and detailed application instructions can be found in the RFP available on the AHTF website.

Proposals will be reviewed, scored, and ranked by community representatives on Affordable Housing Trust Fund Advisory Committee. Recommendations will be presented to the Eugene City Council for final funding decisions.

For more information on the RFP process, visit the AHTF website. (https://eugene-or.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=6886)

🌨️ Help Us Keep Lane County Warm! ❄️

We’re launching the Cold Weather Shelter Drive to support our unhoused neighbors this winter. Donate new or gently used tents, blankets, sleeping bags, and tarps to ensure no one faces the cold alone.

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📍 Donation Locations: Visit our website for a full list of drop-off locations. http://www.ccslc.org/cwsd

Or donate directly at our Springfield Service Center:
Catholic Community Services
1025 G Street, Springfield, OR.

Together, we can make a difference! 💙 Call 541-345-3628 ext 1317 for more information

Lane County Government — Part of being prepared for an emergency is knowing how you will receive emergency alerts and life safety information. Lane County uses several tools to alert residents.

Watch the video below to learn more about those tools and decide which ones you will rely on in the event of an emergency or disaster. 👀https://vimeo.com/565852770Sign up to receive Lane Alerts emergency alerts at www.LaneAlerts.org#NationalPreparednessMonth

“When It Hits The Fan”: Podcast by Lane County Emergency Management

This month on Lane County Emergency Management’s 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐼𝑡 𝐻𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑛, Emergency Manager Tiffany Brown shares essential tips on what to do when staying home isn’t an option.

🏠❌Tiffany dives into how to prepare your Go Bag, with everything you need to sustain yourself for 72 hours: water, medications, warm layers, and more. She also breaks down the 𝟲 𝗣𝘀 – the must-haves when you need to evacuate:👨‍👨‍👦🐱People & Pets 💊Prescriptions 📱Personal Computer 📜Papers 🖼️Pictures 💳Plastic (credit cards, important IDs)Get ready, stay informed, and make sure you’re prepared for anything! 🎧 Listen now: www.LaneCountyOR.gov/fan or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube

About Lane County Emergency Management – Lane County Emergency Management is committed to preparing the community for emergencies and disasters through education, planning, and response coordination. Listen at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/fan

White Bird Clinic | Eugene OR

White Bird Clinic – · Crisis intervention is a 24/7 need in our community, and CAHOOTS, as part of White Bird Crisis Intervention programs, responds.

White Bird CAHOOTS Springfield Coverage: 11 am – 11 pm, 7 days a week (541-726-3714) — Eugene Coverage: 24/7 (541-682-5111)

Starting in the new year, White Bird Dental Clinic will offer more walk-in clinic times. Currently, we offer walk-in clinics at 1415 Pearl St. every Monday and Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. In January, we will also add every other Friday at 7:30 a.m. Find more information at whitebirdclinic.org/dental

Operation Winter Survival Stockpile

Lane County Health & Human Services, in partnership with the First Christian Church 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. 

“Every winter those in our community who are without shelter are faced with life-threatening temperatures and weather,” said Maria Cortez, Lane County Human Services Program Coordinator. “These donations will be absolutely crucial to helping these community members stay warm and stay alive.”

After the donation drive, items can continue to be dropped off Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm. Items can also be purchased on Amazon and sent to 1166 Oak St., Eugene OR 97401. 

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.

For more information on Operation Winter Survival Stockpile, please contact Maria Cortez at  ia.Cortez@lanecountyor.gov“>Maria.Cortez@lanecountyor.gov

Youth Empowerment Programs, City of Eugene

Salt Creek Falls Trip teens wearing snowshoes

✨ Registration open for our FREE programs.
💡 Some programs are drop-in, so no registration is required—just show up and get involved!

For more information and links to register, visit our website: https://www.eugene-or.gov/4888/Youth-Empowerment-Program

Oregon Strike Teams Heading Home From Southern California

Following a two-week mobilization to Southern California to assist with the wildfire response, 17 of Oregon’s 21 strike teams will soon be heading home. The teams began the demobilization process Thursday morning. Two of the strike teams will start their drive back to Oregon on Thursday, while the remaining 15 will begin their journey to their home agencies on Friday. 

These strike teams were assigned to the Palisades and Eaton fires near Los Angeles and have spent the last two weeks working the fire lines and supporting the communities impacted by these disasters. In total, the Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilized 21 strike teams, 370 firefighters, and 105 fire engines and water tenders, marking the largest out-of-state deployment in the agency’s history. 

“I am immensely proud of the work firefighters from the Oregon fire service and the Oregon Department of Forestry have done over the last two weeks in California,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “Their dedication and professionalism have made a meaningful difference for the communities affected by these devastating fires. The willingness of our firefighters to step up and provide critical aid, often in challenging and dangerous conditions, is a testament to the strength and resilience of Oregon’s fire service.”

The Oregon State Fire Marshal has four remaining strike teams in California, two assigned to the Eaton Fire and two assigned to support initial attack efforts if any new fires start. There is no timeline yet for when the remaining strike teams will return to Oregon.
The strike teams sent to California by the State Fire Marshal were requested through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. This compact provides help during governor-declared emergencies or disasters by allowing states to send personnel, equipment, and supplies to support response and recovery efforts in other states. The strike teams’ expenses will be reimbursed directly by California.

Winning $328.5 Million Powerball Claimant Comes Forward, Fred Meyer Celebrates Win with $50,000 to Local Food Bank

A Powerball ticket worth $328.5 million was sold at a Fred Meyer in Beaverton.

The ticket matching all six Powerball numbers in Saturday’s $328.5 million Powerball jackpot was sold at the Fred Meyer store located at 15995 SW Walker Road in Beaverton. That store will receive a bonus of $100,000 for selling the jackpot winner. In celebration of this stroke of good luck, Fred Meyer is making a sizeable donation to a local food bank.

A ticket holder came forward on Wednesday to claim the prize. Because the Powerball game involves multiple states, it will take time before a winner can be announced and the prize money can be paid to the claimant. This jackpot win comes less than a year after a Portland man, his wife, and their friend won a Powerball jackpot worth $1.3 billion in April. 

“I’m thrilled to be celebrating another large Powerball jackpot win in Oregon,” said Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells. “The impact of a win like this not only benefits our state as whole but has a ripple effect in our local communities.” 

In honor of Fred Meyer’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact strategy — aimed at eliminating waste and ending hunger — the store will donate $50,000 to the Oregon Food Bank.

“Our partnership with Fred Meyer is vital in ensuring families don’t have to choose between essentials such as putting food on the table or a roof over their heads,” said Andrea Williams, Oregon Food Bank President. “Their support helps provide nourishing food that feels like home to our communities. We know that now is a moment when Oregon can lead the way in making sure our communities are supported and connected, because no one should be hungry.”

“Hunger and food insecurity are critical issues across the state,” said Fred Meyer President Todd Kammeyer. “We hope these funds will help feed families across the community as we work to end hunger in Oregon.”

Fred Meyer has sold other large Oregon Lottery prizes recently, including a $1 million Powerball in November 2023 and $7.9 million Megabucks win in November 2022. 

Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $16.5 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org.

Lincoln Co. Sheriff’s Office Child Luring Investigations Lead To Multiple Arrests

From late December to mid-January, Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office used decoy social media accounts for online child luring investigations.  During these investigations, Deputies posed as an underage child on various online social media platforms and were contacted by adults wanting to meet for sexual encounters.  

On January 15, 2025, 28-year-old Ruben Martinez Jimenez, of Newport, Oregon, was arrested and charged with the crimes of: Luring a Minor and Online Sexual Corruption of a child in the first degree. At the time of his arrest, Ruben was communicating with the decoy account, and arrived at a predetermined location to meet with the underage child for a sexual encounter. Ruben was arrested and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail without further incident.  

On January 16th, 32-year-old James Tybierius Kirk, of Siletz, Oregon, was arrested and charged with the crimes of Luring a Minor and Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the second degree. At the time of his arrest, James was communicating with the decoy account, and made a plan with the underage child to meet for a sexual encounter. James was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail without further incident. 

On January 21st, 43-year-old Adan Chavez-Pena, of Newport, Oregon, was arrested and charged with the crimes of: Luring a Minor and Online Sexual Corruption of a child in the first degree. At the time of his arrest, Adan was in communication with the decoy account, and arrived near the predetermined location to meet with the underage child for a sexual encounter. Adan provided Deputies with fictitious identification at the time of arrest. Adan’s true identity was determined by further investigation and fingerprints. Adan had multiple warrants out of Lincoln County issued from 2007 and 2008. Adan was charged with the additional crimes of: Giving False information, ID Theft, as well as two probation violation warrants charging possession of a controlled substance Methamphetamine, Give False info; Assault IV, Give False Info, and an indictment warrant charging ID Theft, Criminal Possession of Forged instrument. Adan was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail. 

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office continues to encourage parents to monitor their children’s social media activity and to discuss the possible dangers of communicating with strangers online. These investigations are conducted in an effort to reduce criminal activity and to further enhance the safety of our community.

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians announced they have been rewarded with a three-year $1.56M grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support efforts to return sea otters to the Oregon & Northern California coasts!

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Through the America the Beautiful Challenge, CTSI and partners like the Elakha Alliance, CTCLUSI, Yurok Tribe, and Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation will lead this Indigenous-driven project: Bringing Xvlh-t’vsh Home. The grant will fund reintroduction planning, key studies, and building coastal support to restore this culturally significant keystone species.

🌊 Sea otters not only support marine ecosystems like kelp forests and estuaries, but their return marks a vital step in ecological and cultural restoration. Read full press release: https://www.elakhaalliance.org/siletz-tribe-receives…/

Oregon’s Nonfarm Payroll Employment Drops by 3,700 in December

In December, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 3,700 jobs, following a revised increase of 3,700 jobs in November. December’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+1,900 jobs) and government (+700). Declines were largest in leisure and hospitality (-1,900 jobs); manufacturing (-1,800); financial activities (-1,000); and retail trade (-900).

Health care and social assistance continued its rapid, consistent pace of hiring, adding 18,100 jobs, or 6.2%, in the past 12 months. Within this industry, social assistance added the most jobs, gaining 9,200 jobs, or 12.2%, since December 2023. The three health care industries each added between 3,300 and 4,400 jobs during that time.

December’s growth in government also capped off a year of strong performance. Its 7,000-job gain (+2.3%) was the second fastest growth over the year.

Leisure and hospitality cut 3,200 jobs in the past two months. It employed 204,000 in December, which was 3,000 below its average during January 2023 through October 2024.

Cutbacks of 1,500 jobs within semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing contributed most of the December employment reductions in manufacturing. Over the year, manufacturing dropped 2,500 jobs (-1.3%). Several durable goods manufacturing industries have shed jobs in the past 12 months: wood product manufacturing (-500 jobs, or -2.2%); machinery manufacturing (-300 jobs, or -2.2%); and transportation equipment manufacturing (-600 jobs, or -5.3%).

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1% in December and 4.0%, as revised, in November. The rate has consistently remained between 4.0% and 4.2% since October 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1% in December and 4.2% in November.

Oregon artist wins second place nationally in radon awareness poster contest

PORTLAND, Ore. — January is national Radon Action Month. Students across the Northwest are encouraged to get creative to help raise awareness about the dangers of radon gas by participating in the annual Northwest Radon Poster Contest.

Oregon’s first place winning poster (below) was created by 13-year-old Alexia Vallo from Medford, Ore. Alexia’s poster also took second place nationwide.

Radon Poster

Alexia will receive a $300 prize from The American Lung Association.

The poster contest serves to raise awareness of harmful effects of elevated indoor radon levels and promote testing and mitigation of radon gas.

Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that can build up in homes. Both old and new housing can have radon problems. Testing is the only way to know if a home has radon because it is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Long-term radon exposure to radon is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second-leading cause of lung cancer in smokers. 

Youths ages 9 to 14 who live in Oregon, Idaho and Washington are eligible to participate in the radon poster contest. They must either be enrolled in a public, private, territorial, tribal, Department of Defense or home school, or be a member of a sponsoring club, such as a scouting, art, computer, science or 4-H club. Only one entry per student is allowed. Find contest submission forms and rules at the Northwest Radon Poster Contest page.

The Northwest Radon Poster Contest is sponsored by Oregon Health Authority’s Radon Awareness Program, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Nez Perce Tribe, Spokane Tribe of Indians and Washington Department of Health’s Radon Program, in collaboration with the Northwest Radon Coalition and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10.

The American Lung Association announced the national radon poster winners this week. — For more information, contact the Radon Awareness Program at adon.program@state.or.us” style=”color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;”>radon.program@state.or.us or visit www.healthoregon.org/radon.

Woodburn Gas Station Hid High Prices – Charging Customers $6.70 per gallon

Drivers in Oregon feel scammed after visiting the gas station pumps at an ARCO in Woodburn and learning the store was charging double the state average for filling up their tanks. Now, there are a relatively widespread number of complaints

Most people know which stations near them have cheap gas prices. This is the case because they become familiar with the signs and perhaps pass by them often. However, according to KOIN News, an ARCO fuel station in Oregon hid its prices from buyers. However, once using the gas station pumps, the drivers learned that the store was charging far more than they expected. 

One driver, Jay Harries, had this to say about the lack of cheap gas prices, “You know, ARCO, historically, has reasonable prices — I assumed it would be a reasonable price.” He went on to say that he planned to spend $30 on fuel and only being able to get four gallons caught him off guard. Jay continued, “I was shocked, you know, honestly, and a little bit befuddled. And I felt like I had been kind off ripped off.”

Specifically, the ARCO station was charging customers $6.70 per gallon. As for why the drivers feel ripped off, they say this station, which usually has cheap gas prices, had the signs covered up. However, they do admit that the station displayed the prices at the pumps. Still, the store’s reputation caused many to begin fueling with the assumption that they weren’t charging double the state’s average. 

So far, there have been about 234 complaints to the Oregon Department of Justice from people who were looking for cheap gas prices. The Better Business Bureau has so far received 14 complaints, 12 of which they rejected. (SOURCE)

Providence’s Striking Continues

Despite negotiations currently underway, the ONA healthcare workers strike at multiple Providence locations across the state is now on day 13 with both sides continuing to blame the other.

The hospital system and 5,000 union represented frontline healthcare workers have returned to the bargaining table through federal mediators.

However, the union claims Providence is not taking negotiations seriously, offering what they call regressive proposals to supposedly punish caregivers for exercising their right to strike.

5,000 frontline caregivers from eight hospitals and six clinics across Oregon went on strike for reasons beyond fair compensation, but a systemic crisis affecting patient care, staffing safety, health insurance benefits, and healthcare delivery. At the core of negotiation will be key issues that include: 

  • Resolution of systemic unsafe staffing issues documented across facilities 
  • Addressing health insurance and benefits disparities 
  • Implementation of necessary patient safety measures 
  • Market-competitive wages that will attract and retain skilled healthcare professionals. 

A reminder to patients from doctors, nurses and caregivers: If you are sick, please do not delay getting medical care. Patients who need hospital or clinical care immediately should go to receive care. We would prefer to provide your care ourselves, but Providence executives’ refusal to continue meeting with caregivers has forced us onto the picket line to advocate for you, our communities, and our colleagues. Going into a hospital or clinic to get the care you need is NOT crossing our strike line. We invite you to come join us on the strike line after you’ve received the care you need. Community members can visit www.OregonRN.org/PatientsBeforeProfits to sign a petition to support frontline healthcare workers, get updates and find out how else they can help.   

Over $1.4 million is coming to Oregon, in order to help homeless veterans secure affordable housing.

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden made the announcement of $1,449,067 in funding on Tuesday. As the funding will come from federal housing assistance.

“These federal housing vouchers will help homeless veterans across Oregon, helping us deliver on the promise of necessary resources and support for those men and women who wore the uniform.” said Senator Merkley.

The federal investment from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program will be distributed as follows:

  • Housing Authority of Washington County: $615,090
  • Housing Authority of Clackamas County: $321,675
  • Housing Authority of the City of Salem: $233,001
  • Northwest Oregon Housing Authority: $103,535
  • Marion County Housing Authority: $57,656
  • Housing and Urban Renewal Agency of Polk County: $39,660
  • Central Oregon Regional Housing Authority: $39,234
  • Housing Authority of Lincoln County: $39,216

“Too many of these heroes struggle to find affordable housing in Oregon, and I’ll keep fighting to deliver critical resources to help ease the burden on veterans searching for a place to call home.”

Oregon joins lawsuit over Trump attempt to end birthright citizenship

Washington, Arizona and Illinois are also part of the case, while other Democratic states filed a separate lawsuit

Oregon joined Washington, Arizona and Illinois on Tuesday in suing President Donald Trump and several cabinet officials over his attempt to withhold citizenship from babies born in the United States to immigrants.

For more than 150 years, the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has guaranteed that all people born in the country are citizens.

Hours after he took office on Monday, Trump signed an executive order to reinterpret that amendment to exclude from citizenship any children born to undocumented immigrants or to people who are legally in the country on a temporary basis, such as with a student, work or tourist visa.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield Trump’s attempt to “sidestep” the Fourteenth Amendment a “clear violation of the United States Constitution.” 

“If allowed to stand, this order would break decades of established law that has helped keep kids healthy and safe,” said Rayfield. “While the President has every right to issue executive orders during his time in office, that power does not extend to instituting policies that infringe on our constitutional rights.”

Rayfield, a Democrat elected in November, signed onto a lawsuit led by newly elected Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and filed in the U.S. District Court in Western Washington. The Democratic attorneys general of Arizona and Illinois joined the suit, which requests a temporary restraining order blocking Trump’s executive order from taking effect.

The suit follows a separate, similar complaint filed earlier Tuesday by 18 Democratic states, the District of Columbia and the city and county of San Francisco in federal district court in Massachusetts. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin were part of that lawsuit. 

Both lawsuits argue that Trump’s order will result in tens of thousands of children losing rights and the ability to access services, and that states would lose federal funding they now rely on to provide essential services including foster care and basic health care for low-income children. 

Fourteenth Amendment — In Oregon, for instance, about 2,500 children were born in 2022 to mothers who lacked legal status, and about 1,500 of those children were born to parents who both lacked legal status, the lawsuit said. Those children would remain citizens under Trump’s order, which isn’t retroactive, but babies born after Feb. 19 would not. 

“The individuals who are stripped of their United States citizenship will be rendered undocumented, subject to removal or detention, and many will be stateless — that is, citizens of no country at all,” the Western states’ lawsuit said. “They will lose eligibility for myriad federal benefits programs. They will lose their right to travel freely and re-enter the United States. They will lose their ability to obtain a Social Security number (SSN) and work lawfully. They will lose their right to vote, serve on juries, and run for certain offices. And they will be placed into lifelong positions of instability and insecurity as part of a new underclass in the United States.” 

Much of the 85-page court filing describes the history and precedent of the Fourteenth Amendment, one of the three Reconstruction amendments passed in the wake of the Civil War to expand voting rights and citizenship to formerly enslaved people. The Fourteenth Amendment spells out that anyone born or naturalized and subject to its jurisdiction — i.e. not the child of a foreign diplomat or an enemy combatant —  in the U.S. is a citizen, with no further action required. 

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld that interpretation in an 1898 case, United States v. Wong Kim Ark, cited in the lawsuit. It held that Wong, born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a citizen because he was born in the U.S. and thus could not be barred from returning to the U.S. because the Chinese Exclusion Acts passed by Congress to prevent Chinese laborers from coming to the country could not apply to citizens. 

Registering to vote — The suit also notes that a U.S. birth certificate has long been considered adequate proof of citizenship for the Social Security Administration and for state-run voter registration. 

Arizona, one of the plaintiffs, is the only state in the country that requires proof of citizenship to register to vote in state elections — all others follow the federal requirement that potential voters swear under penalty of perjury that they’re citizens. If being born in the U.S. is no longer a guarantee of citizenship, the state would need to develop a new and more complex set of procedures to determine which voters are eligible, the lawsuit said. 

Oregon’s automatic voter registration system, likewise, uses birth certificates as proof of citizenship. If someone brings a U.S. birth certificate to Driver and Motor Vehicle Services to apply for a driver’s license or state-issued ID, state workers send their information to the Secretary of State’s Office to register that person to vote. 

The states also argued that stripping citizenship from newborn babies would place a financial burden on states. The federal government covers much of the cost of health care for low-income children who are citizens through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. But the states that sued pick up costs for all or some health care for undocumented children who would be eligible for Medicaid if they were citizens. 

In Oregon, for instance, the Oregon Health Plan covers all children and teens younger than 19 and whose families earn up to about three times the federal poverty level, regardless of immigration status. If thousands of children are blocked from citizenship, the state’s costs would increase. 

The states also anticipate losing federal funding for foster care and spending more to train health care workers to collect citizenship information from parents at a child’s birth, the lawsuit says. 

Rayfield has joined other lawsuits, including intervening last week in suits seeking to preserve federal gun regulations and health insurance for children of undocumented immigrants. Gov. Tina Kotek has requested that the Oregon Legislature increase his office’s budget by $2 million in anticipation of more federal litigation against Trump policies.  (SOURCE)

The Bootleg Fire 3 years ago is still being studied by many forest officials, lobbyists and other groups.

A large Oregon forest meant to offset planet warming emissions was badly burned three years ago in that summer’s wildfire, and the project had to be pulled from a carbon credit market that aims to fight against climate change.

Now, its owners want to re-enter some of those burned acres into California’s carbon market, which generates credits based on the amount of emissions stored by trees.

When trees are burned, they release some of those stored emissions, but the owners, Green Diamond Resource Company, maintain that the scorched land still offers some climate benefits.

The move would mark a first, and it worries critics. They say that the land is already in an area ripe for wildfires, and they’re concerned that re-enrolling high-risk land would set a precedent that could undermine carbon crediting markets, which mark one approach to curtailing harmful emissions.

In 2021, the Bootleg Fire burned a quarter of the 435,000-acre Klamath East carbon project. In response, the California Air Resources Board removed the project from its carbon offset market last year because it could no longer meet its promise of capturing and storing the hundreds of thousands of metric tons of carbon dioxide that was promised.

But recently Green Diamond asked the board to enroll four new forest carbon offset projects in the same area of southern Oregon — including 48,000 acres of the former Klamath East project that burned in the Bootleg Fire. Though a first, the re-enrollment would not be against the rules of California’s government-regulated carbon market, said officials at the California Air Resources Board, provided the trees are not double counted. This means the carbon capture power of previously registered trees cannot be included in the new plan.

The new projects have not been approved but the request is raising concerns among watchdogs who fear it would compromise the integrity of California’s carbon market and encourage the development of projects in areas with a high fire risk and low climate benefit.

Half of hospitals throughout Oregon are operating in the red, because of underfunding by Medicaid.

Becky Hultberg, executive director of the Hospital Association of Oregon, says the Oregon Health Plan underpaid hospitals a billion dollars in 2023 and that continues. They want the Legislature to approve more funding. Lawmakers will have a difficult time coming up with the extra money, because it faces its own budget trouble. The Trump Administration is also considering cuts to Medicaid.

Oregonians looking to renew their vehicle registration and get new tags can now do so at a handful of Fred Meyer stores around the state

The self-service express kiosks from Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services are designed to give Oregonians another way to renew their registration besides at a DMV office, online or by mail, according to a news release.

The kiosks are located in Fred Meyer locations in Salem and Eugene as well as in Beaverton, Bend, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Medford, Oak Grove and Tualatin. A location in Portland is coming soon and the DMV said it plans to offer more kiosks around the state in the future.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2MrLwl_0yHoapM700

In Salem, the kiosk is at the Fred Meyer located at 3740 Market St. NE and allows users to pay by cash, credit or debit card. In Eugene, it’s located at the Fred Meyer at 3333 W 11th Ave. and will only allow payment via debit or credit card.

“We see these kiosks as a way to improve customer service, access and equity,” DMV administrator Amy Joyce said in the news release. “This program is the latest effort aimed at improving the DMV experience for our customers.”

The kiosks are ADA-accessible and registration renewal can be completed in English and Spanish. Users will be charged a $4.95 vendor fee for each transaction.

Customers will need to bring identification (license, permit, or ID card), insurance information and registration renewal notice. — Vehicle registration cards and license plate stickers will be printed after the transaction.

Registration Is Now Open For The Bob Ross-inspired Happy Little (Virtual) 5K Run for the Trees


Oregon Parks Forever 

Inspired by American painter and PBS television personality Bob Ross’ love of the outdoors, Oregon Parks Forever is sponsoring a virtual 5K race to help plant trees in Oregon’s parks & forests.  Registration is now open for the 2025 Run for the Trees at www.orparksforever.org.

Participants can run, walk, hike, skate, paddle or roll to complete their 5K anywhere outdoors anytime between April 19 and 27 (covering Earth Day and Arbor Day).   Participants are encouraged to register by April 1 to ensure that your swag arrives before the event week.  If you register after April 1, you may not receive your swag before race week. Registration will close on April 15.

For $36 per person, each participant will receive a keepsake Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number and a finisher’s medal. All Oregon race proceeds support tree planting and forest protection efforts in Oregon parks.  Ten trees will be planted in Oregon for each registration.

Gather your friends, family and/or colleagues and create your own walk or run. Make it fun!

Initially, the “Happy Little Trees” program began with a partnership between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Bob Ross Inc., with hundreds of volunteers helping to plant “happy little trees” at locations hard-hit by invasive pests and tree diseases. The partnership quickly expanded to include the Run for the Trees / Happy Little (Virtual) 5K.

As the Happy Little 5K gained popularity, more states have joined the effort. Now in its fifth year, the Happy Little 5K has expanded its reach to include ten other states. Together, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland and Virginia will “lock arms” as they help raise awareness and funding for stewardship efforts in each state’s parks.

“We are thrilled to partner with Bob Ross, Inc. and these other ten states on the Happy Little 5K concept as a way to honor the late Bob Ross and create a legacy event to plant trees,” said Seth Miller, Executive Director of Oregon Parks Forever.”

Oregon Parks Forever joined this event as an expansion of our efforts to fund the replanting of trees killed by wildfires, heat domes and invasive insects.  Over the past three years, Oregon Parks Forever has been able to fund the replanting of more than 800,000 trees across Oregon.

“The official Bob Ross 5K is probably our most favorite initiative,” says Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Company. “It’s the perfect blend of everything Bob held dear; nature, taking care of the environment, and happy trees too of course. He would have been so pleased to see how it’s getting so popular around the world.”

Learn more about the program at  www.orparksforever.org.

IRS Direct File, Direct File Oregon Will Be Available When Income Tax Return Processing Begins January 27

Salem, OR— Free electronic filing through the combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon will open January 27 when both the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue begin processing e-filed 2024 federal and state income tax returns. Paper-filed return processing will begin in mid-February.

The IRS estimates that 640,000 Oregon resident taxpayers preparing their own tax returns in 2025 will have the option to electronically file both their federal and state income tax returns for free by filing directly with the IRS and the state.

Taxpayers are encouraged to use the IRS Eligibility Checker to see if they qualify to file directly with the IRS and the state.

E-filed returns will be processed in the order they are received. However, as in years past, the department won’t be issuing personal income tax refunds until after February 15. A refund hold is part of the department’s tax fraud prevention efforts and allows for confirmation that the amounts claimed on tax returns match what employers and payers report on Forms W-2 and 1099.

E-filing is the fastest way for a taxpayer to get their refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund two weeks sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks.

The department reminds taxpayers that taking a few easy steps in the next few weeks can make preparing their 2024 tax return easier in 2025.

Free filing options open January 27 — In addition to IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon, other free filing options will also open January 27. Free guided tax preparation is available from several companies for taxpayers that meet income requirements. Free fillable forms are available for all income levels. Using links from the department’s website ensures that both taxpayers’ federal and state return will be filed for free.

Free and low-cost tax help — Free tax preparation services are available for low- to moderate-income taxpayers through AARP and CASH Oregon. United Way also offers free tax help through their MyFreeTaxes program. Visit the Department of Revenue website to take advantage of the software and free offers and get more information about free tax preparation services.

Voluntary self-identification of race and ethnicity information — New for 2025, Oregon taxpayers and Oregonians can voluntarily provide information about their race and ethnicity on Form OR-VSI when they file their 2024 taxes. Providing this information may be done separately from a tax return through Revenue Online. The information will be confidential. It can only be used for research purposes to analyze potential inequities in tax policy. The new option is a result of Senate Bill 1 in 2023.

Use Revenue Online to verify payments — Taxpayers can verify their estimated payments through their Revenue Online account.

Through Revenue Online, individuals can also view letters sent to them by the department, initiate appeals, make payments, and submit questions. Visit Revenue Online on the Revenue website to learn more.

Those who don’t have a Revenue Online account can sign up on the agency’s website.

To check the status of their refund after February 15, or make payments, taxpayers can visit Revenue’s website. You can also call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), we accept all relay calls.

Department Of Revenue Volunteers Will Help Taxpayers Use Direct File Oregon To E-file Their Taxes For Free At Libraries Across The State

Salem, OR—Oregonians looking for assistance in electronically filing their taxes for free, could find help as close as their local library this tax season.

Volunteers from the Oregon Department of Revenue will be traveling to libraries in 17 different communities across the state in February, March, and April to assist taxpayers in using the free combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon to complete their returns.

The one-day tax help clinics are planned at libraries in:

BandonNorth Bend
BurnsPrineville
CoquillePendleton
CorneliusRoseburg
The DallesSalem
Klamath FallsSeaside
LebanonSweet Home
McMinnvilleToledo
 Tualatin

Dates, times, and addresses for each clinic can be found on the Free Direct File assistance at local libraries webpage.

Last year, more than 140,000 taxpayers in 12 other states filed their federal tax returns using a limited IRS Direct File pilot program while nearly 7,000 Oregon taxpayers filed their state returns using the free, state-only Direct File Oregon option.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced in May that it would make IRS Direct File a permanent option for taxpayers and invited all 50 states to participate. Oregon was the first of 13 new states to accept the invitation from the IRS in June creating a seamless free e-filing system for both federal and state taxes.

With the two direct file systems connected, the IRS estimates that 640,000 Oregon taxpayers will be able to e-file both their federal and state returns for free in 2025.

The department believes that offering free assistance will help maximize the number of Oregonians who choose to use the new free option and make it possible for many who don’t have a filing requirement to file and claim significant federal and state tax credits for low-income families.

For example, the IRS estimates that one in five Oregon taxpayers eligible to claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit are not doing so. One Oregon organization estimates that the unclaimed credits have totaled nearly $100 million in recent years.

Taxpayers should use the IRS eligibility checker to see if they’ll be able to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon. Eligible taxpayers should set up an IRS online account and an account with Oregon’s Revenue Online before they come to an event. Taxpayers attending an event should bring the following information with them.

Identification documents

  • Social security card or ITIN for everyone on your tax return
  • Government picture ID for taxpayer and spouse if filing jointly (such as driver’s license or passport)

Common income and tax documents

  • Forms W2 (wages from a job)
  • Forms 1099 (other kinds of income)
  • Form SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefits)

Optional documents to download

  • Canceled check or bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
  • Last year’s tax return

Taxpayers can signup for the new “Oregon Tax Tips” direct email newsletter to keep up with information about tax return filing and how to claim helpful tax credits. 

You’ll need a Real ID to fly domestically, starting in May of 2025, that’s unless you have a passport or enhanced driver’s license issued by several states.

The deadline is May 7, 2025, but you probably don’t want to wait until the last minute to get your Real ID. You can apply for your Real ID driver’s license or ID card through your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Real IDs are marked with a star on the top of the card. Real IDs will also be needed to access certain federal facilities. Congress mandated the real IDs in 2005 on the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.

Media contest invites Oregon high school students to promote young worker safety; entries due Feb. 21, 2025

Salem – High school students across Oregon are encouraged to put their video or graphic design skills on display by competing for cash prizes as part of a larger cause: increasing awareness about workplace safety and health for young workers.

The 2025 media contest, organized by the Oregon Young Employee Safety (O[yes]) Coalition, calls on participants to create an ad – through a compelling graphic design or video – that grabs their peers’ attention and convinces them to take the Young Employee Safety Awareness online training.

Participants get to choose the key message, theme, or tagline they believe will go furthest in capturing their audience and moving it to act. The target audience? Teen workers or teens who are preparing to work for the first time. The contest is now open for submissions. To compete, participants may submit either a graphic design or a video that is no more than 90 seconds in length.

Participants are expected to choose their key message, theme, or tagline in a wise and positive manner, including constructive and effective messages and language.

The top three entries in each of the two media categories will take home cash prizes ranging from $300 to $500. In each category, the first-place winner’s school, club, or organization will receive a matching award. Moreover, O[yes] will use the best of the submissions as ads in its ongoing efforts to improve on-the-job safety and health protections for teens.

While they carry out their projects, participants must ensure the health and safety of their team. No one should be endangered while creating their video or graphic design project.

The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. 

Participants are encouraged to submit entries online. Submissions may also be mailed on a USB thumb drive or delivered in person. 

For more information about the entry form and rulescontest expectations, and resources – including previous contest winners  – visit the O[yes] online contest page.

The contest sponsors are local Oregon chapters of the American Society of Safety Professionals, Construction Safety Summit, Central Oregon Safety & Health Association, Hoffman Construction Company, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Oregon OSHA, SafeBuild Alliance, SAIF Corporation, and the Oregon Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Alliance.

### About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state’s workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

About the Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition (O[yes]): (O[yes]) is a nonprofit dedicated to preventing young worker injuries and fatalities. O[yes] members include safety and health professionals, educators, employers, labor and trade associations, and regulators. Visit youngemployeesafety.org.

https://www.oregon.gov/osp/missing/pages/missingpersons.aspx

Oregon’s Missing Persons

Many times you’ll see postings without case numbers or police contact. There is rarely a nefarious reason why (the nefarious ones are pretty obvious). Usually the loved one tried to call to report their missing person and they are either refused or told to wait a day or two by people who are unaware of SB 351 and the laws that they are bound to when answering the phone. Many people don’t bother calling LE if their loved one is homeless or in transition because they believe LE won’t care. The biggest myth is the 24 hour rule.

In Oregon we don’t have those rules and an officer or person answering the phone is not allowed to decide. The law decides. We have Senate Bill 351 and it states that the police CANNOT refuse a request for any reason and they must begin working on it within 12 hours. The person making the report does not have to be related to missing person either.

Here is SB 351 written by families of the missing here in Oregon in conjunction with Oregon law enforcement officers. This should be common knowledge, please make it this way. https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/…/SB351/Introduced

SafeOregon Oregon State Police are reminding parents and students of the SafeOregon hotline.

It takes reports of potential threats against students and schools. The tips can be made anonymously. They can include safety threats, fights, drugs, weapons on campus, cyberbullying and students considering self-harm or suicide. A technician reviews the reports and assigns them either to police or school administrators. Tips can be made by phone, text, email or on the website https://www.safeoregon.com

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