Willamette Valley News, Monday 1/27 – Trainsong Community Meeting Addresses More Eugene Railyard Operation Concerns, Bushnell University Renovations Include New Bell Tower & 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

Monday, January 27, 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

Trainsong Community Meeting Addresses More Eugene Railyard Operation Concerns

Residents held a community meeting on Sunday, January 26th, in partnership with Active Bethel Community, River Road Community Organization and Trainsong, and the environmental advocacy group, Beyond Toxics. The community meeting on Sunday was held to discuss a planned leasing agreement that could put Union Pacific Eugene Yard under new management. This comes after Beyond Toxics helped block biofuels transfer station in the area recently.

Members of the railroad workers union Local 471 spoke about their concerns and objections to plans for Class I Union Pacific to lease local rail yards and tracks to Class III Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad. The deal would give full control over rail yard operations and maintenance to a small and under-resourced company, as well as eliminate 40 union jobs in Eugene.

The railyard continues to see Union Pacific locomotives along with an abundance of Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad Engines known as CORP a Class III railroad. The Genesee & Wyoming Railroad is Class II railroad that is the larger railroad that owns CORP.

Both are far smaller than the Class I category that is Union Pacific which has almost unlimited financial resources. Recently, news spread about an agreement that Unionized railroad workers say would force them to relocate or be laid off.

For more information: https://www.beyondtoxics.org/work/environmental-justice/west-eugene-community-health/justice-for-trainsong/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIEmtdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTfUI2ze4I02rWGLHo6AScAM2qx3obbphfcfbJi9un8_dIN4D5jA8JPi-g_aem_k-rYX886NgV1CVGQZmcr6A

The public is encouraged to submit their comments to the Surface Transportation Board by Friday Jan. 31st. In cooperation with Beyond Toxics, a guide to sending a submission can be found on their website. https://www.beyondtoxics.org/

Bushnell University– Renovations are currently happening inside and outside of Goodrich Hall at Bushnell University in including the construction of a new bell tower.

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After much anticipation, we were ecstatic today to welcome our magnificently crafted Goodrich Tower bells to Bushnell University. Traveling all the way from Virginia, these four bells will ring out to our campus community from atop the bell tower for several occasions, such as Chapel and Commencement.

We are incredibly thankful to our generous donors that gifted each handcrafted bell: Edwin M. “Ted” Baker, The Faye and Lucille Stewart Family, Linda Lee McKay Korth, and Ada Oi Lan Lee, our bell maker Ben Sunderlin from Virginia, and the teams that made the installation possible. Look forward to more updates on Goodrich Hall and Tower in the future!

Man arrested for Attempted Murder in stabbing

At 1:44 a.m. on January 26, Central Lane 911 received a call regarding a stabbing. Eugene Police responded and found the victim near Jackson’s Market at1080 W. 7th Avenue. The suspect had left the scene.

The victim, age 47, was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Eugene Police officers and a K9 worked the area, and EPD Violent Crimes Unit was called to the scene.

The suspect, Nicholas Matthew Arnold, age 41, was located and taken into custody without incident. He was transported to Lane County Jail on charges that include: Attempted Murder, Assault First Degree, and Unlawful Use Weapon. Case 25-01467 (January 26, 2025)

Arnold was also a suspect in a stabbing last week and when he was located today, he was lodged on Assault in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use Weapon (case 25-00933). And, he had a misdemeanor assault case from last year, 24-19599

Lebanon Man Escapes House on Fire

Lebanon Firefighters battled a blaze in the 31000 block of Fritz Ln on Saturday January 25, 2025, in the early morning hours. Dispatch reports of a resident’s house on fire, when the Battalion Chief arrived, he found the residence fully involved and a nearby shop as an exposure. The IC contacted the resident who narrowly escaped and was later evaluated by fire medics on the scene. When the first due engine arrived, they immediately went to work protecting the shop from the flames, while the second engine assisted in suppression and laying 800 feet of supply line to get the additional water, they needed to put out the blaze. Due to the rural location the IC called for an additional water tender from Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District, to aid in suppling enough water. Fire crews battled the blaze and were able to get it under control and out in approximately an hour. Crews remained on scene an additional 1-1/2 hour pulling tin and getting into buried hotspots throughout the building. Unfortunately, the residence was a total loss, but the homeowner and his dog did escape, and no other injuries were reported. The cause of the blaze is being investigated by the Lebanon Fire Investigation Team (LFIT).

Lebanon Fire District responded with 22 personnel, on 3 engines, 2 fire-medics, 2 water-tenders, one heavy rescue and one rehab unit for firefighters as well as two chief officers. Lebanon Fire was assisted at the scene with a water-tender from Sweet Home Fire, Consumer Power and Linn County Sheriff’s Office. Linn County Road Department assisted with additional traffic control, as well as sanding the roadway after the incident due to the cold temperatures and ice forming from the water. Albany Fire Department assisted the citizens of Lebanon, by covering the districts additional 911 calls.

The Lebanon Fire District would like to remind residents to always follow safe home-heating instructions. Which includes, making sure there is ample space around wood stoves and fireplaces, burning dried, seasoned firewood and always keeping your chimney and flue cleaned regularly. The Lebanon Fire District has a free chimney brush program for residents to use and always remember the importance of working smoke alarms. For assistance with smoke alarms in your home or the chimney brush program, contact our Fire & Life Safety Division at (541) 451-1901. Be Safe.

Linn County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Male For Beating Dog

Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports yesterday, January 23rd, at 4:38 p.m., the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a call from a residence on South 9th Street in Lebanon where the caretaker of the property reported a dog was killed inside the residence. The caretaker reported the dog was in the house for security measures as the homeowner recently passed away.

The caretaker suspected Michael Healy, 36, of Lebanon, and son of the deceased, was involved and reported Healy leaving the property moments before reporting the incident. Healy went to the Lebanon Police Department to report being attacked by the dog and then returned to the scene where Deputies contacted him.

Deputies learned Healy, who did not live at the location, entered the house and struck the dog several times using a golf club causing its death. Healy reported being attacked by the dog but had no injuries and provided additional statements leading to his arrest. Healy was transported to the Linn County Jail where he was lodged on charges of Aggravated Animal Abuse I.

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

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

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.

Average gasoline prices in Eugene have risen 3.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.43/g Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 78 stations in Eugene.

GasBuddy

Prices in Eugene are 16.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 8.2 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 4.4 cents in the last week and stands at $3.650 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Eugene was priced at $3.18/g Sunday while the most expensive was $3.79/g, a difference of 61.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state Sunday was $2.94/g while the highest was $4.09/g, a difference of $1.15/g.

The national average price of gasoline has fallen 0.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.08/g Monday. The national average is up 6.5 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 1.8 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

Historical gasoline prices in Eugene and the national average going back ten years:

January 27, 2024: $3.35/g (U.S. Average: $3.10/g) | January 27, 2023: $3.64/g (U.S. Average: $3.50/g)
January 27, 2022: $3.88/g (U.S. Average: $3.36/g)| January 27, 2021: $2.63/g (U.S. Average: $2.41/g)
January 27, 2020: $2.90/g (U.S. Average: $2.50/g) | January 27, 2019: $2.71/g (U.S. Average: $2.25/g)
January 27, 2018: $2.84/g (U.S. Average: $2.58/g)| January 27, 2017: $2.53/g (U.S. Average: $2.27/g)
January 27, 2016: $2.01/g (U.S. Average: $1.83/g)| January 27, 2015: $2.14/g (U.S. Average: $2.03/g)

City of Eugene Invites Proposals for New Affordable Housing

artist rendering of a housing development from aerial perspective

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

Providence workers enter third week of strike as Oregon’s Congressional delegation presses for deal

Seven members of Oregon’s Congressional delegation are pressing Providence Health to reach an agreement with nearly 5,000 striking healthcare workers, marking escalating pressure on the hospital system as the work stoppage enters its third week.

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In a letter sent Friday to Providence leadership, the lawmakers urged the healthcare system to “engage in good faith bargaining” with doctors, nurses and clinical staff who have been on strike since Jan. 10.

The group includes Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with Democratic Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Maxine Dexter and Janelle Bynum.

“Nurses, doctors, and other Oregonians on the strike lines told us they are striking because they don’t have the resources to provide the quality of care that Oregonians deserve and expect,” the lawmakers wrote. “They’ve told us that the strike is not only for competitive wages and benefits, but also for safer staffing levels.”

The delegation emphasized the mounting costs of the prolonged dispute and urged a swift resolution.

“We know that the costs of this strike are significant,” the letter stated. “Providers are going without pay because they understand that working conditions need to change. Providence is paying significant amounts of money to hire and train replacement staff while the strike continues.”

Providence said in an email to KGW that negotiators are continuing to work closely with federal mediators. However, the current proposals from the union are not financially sustainable.

Providence has stated previously they believe, only the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) can decide to end the strike. The health corporation continues to anticipate a lengthy walkout.

ONA representing the striking workers, criticized Providence’s approach to negotiations.

“Providence is not currently approaching negotiations seriously, offering contracts that do not meet the needs of frontline caregivers and patients throughout Oregon,” the ONA said in a statement.

The strike affects 11 Providence bargaining units across Oregon, including doctors, certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners and other clinical staff. 

“The Providence system is a critical part of Oregon’s health care infrastructure,” the delegation wrote. “It’s past time to agree on a fair contract–for the nurses, doctors, and other staff who care for Oregonians, and for all of those who receive care at Providence.” == Neither Providence or ONA have indicated when negotiations might resume.

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.   

ODF’s six strike teams return home from California after two-week assignment

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) welcomes back 70 firefighters who’ve been assigned to the fires in Los Angeles County, California for the past two weeks. While in California, the six strike teams were split between the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire.

“We’re happy to help however we can when we receive the call from one of our partner states,” said Chris Cline, ODF’s Fire Protection Division Chief. “By strengthening our inter-state relationships and agreements, we can provide reciprocal support to one another by sending resources through faster channels.”

The firefighters went to California under state-to-state mutual assistance agreements, which create a reciprocal cache of resources all parties can access when needed. This is especially vital when local and national ordering systems are overtaxed. Partnerships like these are critical to quick, nimble response in today’s wildfire environment and can quickly bolster a requesting state’s capabilities.

“We call this the complete and coordinated fire system,” Cline explained. “The relationships built through deployments like these benefit Oregon when our fire season hits its peak.”

When wildfire activity is low in Oregon, like during winter, firefighters can be spared to help in places experiencing high levels of wildfire. Oregon can and has called on those same states to send firefighters and equipment when wildfires here exceed local capacity. Most recently, Oregon gratefully welcomed 21 firefighters from California to help fill middle management gaps during the 2024 fire season. Overall, Oregon brought in more than 500 people through agreements ODF has with more than 20 states and Canadian provinces and territories.

Additionally, sending ODF firefighters on out-of-state deployments helps them grow as firefighters. In addition to expanding their professional networks outside of Oregon, firefighters learn new suppression tactics and gain experience fighting fire in different environments. The skills and lessons learned brought back from these off-season deployments are then applied to better protect Oregonians, communities and our state’s natural resources.

Earthquakes Off the Coast of Oregon

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck off the Oregon coast late Friday night, according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network: https://pnsn.org. The seismic event was recorded at 9:36 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located approximately 125 miles west of Coos Bay.

Authorities have reported no damage or injuries resulting from the earthquake, and no tsunami warnings have been issued.

While multiple sources have reported the event as a magnitude 4.7 quake, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) also documented a separate seismic occurrence earlier in the day. The USGS reported a magnitude 2.7 earthquake at 5:39 a.m. UTC (9:39 p.m. PST), centered approximately 190 kilometers (118 miles) west-southwest of Port Orford, Oregon. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), with coordinates recorded at 42.421°N latitude and 126.772°W longitude.

Officials are urging residents who may have felt the earthquake to report their experiences through the USGS’s “Did You Feel It?” program, which collects valuable data on ground shaking and regional impacts.

For additional details and to access interactive seismic activity maps, visit the official USGS and PNSN websites.

House Fire in Camas Threatens Nearby Homes and Forest

A house under construction in Camas was destroyed by a fire early Sunday morning while firefighters worked to protect several nearby homes, according to East County Fire & Rescue.

A house under construction in Camas was destroyed by a fire early Sunday morning while...
A house under construction in Camas was destroyed by a fire early Sunday morning while firefighters worked to protect several nearby homes, according to East County Fire & Rescue.(East County Fire & Rescue)

Just after 4:30 a.m., crews were sent to a residential fire on Northeast Livingston Mountain Circle. They found a 12,000-square-foot, single-family home under construction in flames, as well as nearby vegetation.

The wind had started several fires up to 1,500 feet from the initial house, threatening several other homes and the surrounding forest.

Oregon Courts Purge 47,000 Past Evictions From People’s Records 

The Oregon state courts system has sealed about 47,000 evictions from Oregonians’ records, the Oregon Judicial Department said. 

The department sealed the residential evictions from people’s records by mid-December to comply with House Bill 2001, a 2023 law the Legislature passed. The law was passed to address housing evictions that show up on people’s records and affect their ability to rent and access housing. 

With the law, those 47,000 evictions do not show up in background checks and essentially disappear. In the past, those cases could have led to the denial of rental applications. 

“This work will implement current protections under Oregon law,” said Sybil Hebb, director of legislative advocacy for the Oregon Law Center, which provides free legal aid to Oregonians for a variety of issues, including housing.  “It will help a lot of people by removing barriers to housing stability, which is especially critical during this housing crisis.”

The law applies to cases where the court entered a judgment after Jan. 1, 2014. Evictions also have to meet other requirements and timelines. For example, if the court ordered the eviction but the tenant did not owe money, five years need to have passed. 

For cases with monetary awards, the judgement needs to be paid off, expired or discharged in bankruptcy court. 

The law requires courts to start removing records that meet the criteria by the end of 2024. 

As a result, judicial department staff manually reviewed about 160,000 evictions to determine eligibility.

The state still has a backlog of about 50,000 cases to review, with the goal of sealing eligible cases by the end of 2025. 

New cases will be reviewed every year. 

People can learn whether their past eviction was set aside and request a copy of their set-aside order on the judicial department’s eviction set-asides webpage. Tenants can glean more information about the eviction process and their rights at Oregon Law Help, a free legal information website from the Oregon State Bar. (SOURCE)

Oregon’s Federal Employees Ordered Back To The Office

Oregon has the fourth-highest share of federal workers who work remotely, which could cause an exodus after President Trump ordered all such employees to return to the office full time.

Why it matters: Trump’s return-to-office executive order is part of a broader effort to cut the size of the bureaucracy.

  • Yes, but: Experts told Axios’ Emily Peck that the federal government will have a tougher time attracting and retaining talented employees.

By the numbers: Of the nearly 40,000 federal workers in Oregon, more than 17% said they worked from home at least once per week, per data from the U.S. Census.

  • That’s well above the national average of 12.7%.
  • It’s also higher than any other state or district except Maryland, Vermont and Washington, D.C.

What they’re saying: “Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome,” Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who stepped down from DOGE, wrote last year in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece.

Zoom in: It’s not just the federal government, either.

  • Mayor Keith Wilson recently announced that roughly 700 city managers and supervisors would be required to work in-office, full time.
  • That move came after Wilson originally said all 7,000 city employees would need to work in person, a position he backtracked from after receiving pushback from labor unions. (SOURCE)

Oregon health officials called out three health care organizations this week for unreasonably driving up Oregonians’ medical costs.

The state in 2021 set a cap on annual spending growth for health care organizations at 3.4% per person, part of a regulatory bid to rein in rising health care costs. The Oregon Legislature authorized the program in 2019 and updated the law in 2021.

The Oregon Health Authority on Wednesday flagged three organizations for overshooting this limit between 2021 and 2022 without justifying the increase. They include Eugene-based Oregon Medical Group and two insurers, Moda
Health and UnitedHealthcare, both of which managed Medicare Advantage plans. Optum and UnitedHealthcare did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.

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 joins lawsuit over Trump attempt to end birthright citizenship — Judge grants request to temporarily block Trump’s birthright citizenship order

A federal judge in Seattle on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.

U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour’s ruling in a case brought by Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Illinois is the first in what is sure to be a long legal fight over the order’s constitutionality.

Coughenour called the order “blatantly unconstitutional.”

“I have difficulty understanding how a member of the bar could state unequivocally that this is a constitutional order,” the judge told the Trump administration’s attorney. “It boggles my mind.”

Coughenour’s decision came after 25 minutes of arguments between attorneys for Washington state and the Department of Justice.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Nick Brown, along with peers in Oregon, Arizona and Illinois, sued the Trump administration over the order. Shortly after filing the lawsuit, the states asked Coughenour to grant a 14-day temporary restraining order stopping the executive action from taking effect nationwide.

In Oregon, Attorney General Dan Rayfield welcomed the ruling, saying it protects the rights of all children in the state.

“Today was a huge victory,” Rayfield said in a statement. “In terms of the next steps, this temporary restraining order preserves the status quo for now. In the meantime, the states in the other birthright citizenship case in Massachusetts are also arguing for a preliminary injunction.”

Eighteen other states filed a similar lawsuit in federal court in Massachusetts.

Trump signed the executive order shortly after he was sworn into office on Monday. It would end birthright citizenship for babies born to a mother and father who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

Brett Shumate, of the Department of Justice, argued the rush for an emergency pause is unwarranted because the order doesn’t go into effect until Feb. 19. He called the state’s motion “extraordinary.”

Attorneys for the state acknowledged the temporary restraining order is extraordinary, but warranted. Washington would lose federal dollars used to provide services to citizens and officials would be forced to modify those service systems.

The order is “causing immediate widespread and severe harm,” said Lane Polozola, of the Washington attorney general’s office. “Citizens are being stripped of their most foundational right, which is the right to have rights.”

Addressing reporters after the hearing, Brown said while the executive order doesn’t go into effect for nearly a month, it forces states to start preparing now for the change.

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution codified birthright citizenship in 1868. It begins: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

The executive order focuses on the “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” phrase.

“The Fourteenth Amendment has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States,” Trump’s order reads. “The Fourteenth Amendment has always excluded from birthright citizenship persons who were born in the United States but not ‘subject to the jurisdiction thereof.’”

Polozola called this interpretation “absurd,” saying children without legal immigration status are still subject to U.S. law. He added birthright citizenship is a right that is “off limits.”

Legal precedent has long backed up birthright citizenship. In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the concept when justices ruled Wong Kim Ark, a man born in San Francisco to Chinese parents, was a U.S. citizen.

In 2022, about 153,000 babies were born to two parents without legal immigration status across the country, including 4,000 in Washington state, according to the lawsuit filed this week.

Coughenour has been a federal judge for decades. Republican President Ronald Reagan nominated him for the bench in 1981.

Brown called Thursday’s hearing “step one.”

“But to hear the judge from the bench say that in his 40 years as a judge, he has never seen something so ‘blatantly unconstitutional’ sets the tone for the seriousness of this effort,” Brown said.

Video and audio recording were not allowed in the courtroom Thursday.

Looking forward, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals would have jurisdiction over the case. Democratic presidents appointed a majority of the circuit court’s judges. Appeals could eventually land the dispute before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Shumate said the case will almost certainly end up there. But Brown said he’s taking it “one step at a time.”

“I see no reason why in a court of appeals, or even the United States Supreme Court, would reach a different decision than was reached today,” Brown told reporters.

A court hearing on a preliminary injunction to pause the executive order while litigation is ongoing is set for Feb. 6.

In court filings this week, state officials, academics and nonprofit leaders explained how the order could have detrimental effects on Washington, including losing federal reimbursements for a variety of social programs.

Tom Wong, an assistant professor at University of California, San Diego, retained by the state, wrote the order will create a “permanent underclass of people who are excluded from U.S. citizenship and are thus not able to realize their full potential.”

Congressional Republicans on Thursday introduced legislation to restrict birthright citizenship. The bill would amend federal immigration law to only allow children to be U.S. citizens if one of their parents is a citizen, a green card holder or a legal immigrant serving in the military.

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.

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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.

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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