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 31, 2025
Willamette Valley Weather


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Lane County Human Services Conducting Annual Point In Time Count

Lane County Human Services, in coordination with community partners, will be conducting the annual Homeless Point In Time (PIT) count this year on January 30th and 31st.
The PIT count is a one-night count of persons experiencing homelessness in our community and is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The annual PIT count assesses the number of people sleeping in emergency shelters and transitional housing programs, using food pantries, day and night access centers, churches, and those sleeping outdoors in cars, tents, parks, or other outdoor spaces not intended to be housing.
The PIT count is meant to serve as a snapshot of homelessness in Lane County in order to provide a sense of the general scope and state of homelessness. While the data collected are important for benchmarking and funding purposes, it’s important to recognize that the number of individuals experiencing homelessness is likely greater than is able to be captured in this snapshot.
This year, the primary data source will be the Homeless By Name List (HBNL), a report generated from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), a database which collects information about individuals who are experiencing homelessness who have interacted with service agencies throughout the County. As we know not all individuals engage with service agencies, street outreach teams will conduct a physical count of individuals who are unsheltered in Eugene/Springfield, as well as targeted rural areas of Veneta, Florence, Oakridge, Cottage Grove, and Junction City to get a more complete picture. This outreach is specifically targeted toward surveying individuals who are least likely to engage with services or to have already been counted through the HBNL.
Additionally, Lane County is a Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) Community, selected by HUD to test best and promising practices and implement a coordinated community plan to end youth homelessness. As part of this effort, LCHS will be taking extra steps to ensure youth who are experiencing homelessness are captured in the 2025 PIT count, including those who are unstably housed or couch surfing.
Lane County will host a Resource Fair on January 30th from 3-6pm at Youth Era, 44 W 7th Ave in Eugene to bring youth in to engage and complete a survey. Just as with the broader count, these surveys will be cross-referenced with our HBNL and, if the young person is not already captured, they will be included in our count, provided they meet HUD’s definition and parameters for submission in the PIT count. Those unstably housed or couch surfing will not be included in the data provided to HUD but will be captured in local data to inform our YHDP planning efforts. Youth surveyors will also be conducting youth-specific outreach in the metro and rural areas on the day of the count. This year’s youth PIT count strategies have been vetted and approved through the YHDP Youth Executive committee. — The full report from the PIT count will be made available in May, following final submission to HUD.
Western Oregon Women’s Basketball Players File $28 Million Lawsuit Claiming Coach Abuse

Nine former Division II Western Oregon women’s basketball players are suing their coaches and school, alleging abuse they say they suffered in the program.
The players are seeking $28 million and additional punitive damages. — The 58-page lawsuit filed Wednesday in Marion County Circuit Court claims coach Jessica Peatross and assistant DJ Marlow physically abused and bullied the players. The coaches called them “brats” or “babies,” caused multiple overuse injuries, bloody feet, and vomiting from excessive drills, threatened them after bringing their concerns to the athletic department, and forbade anyone who reported the abuse from rejoining the team this season, the suit says. Peatross and Marlow started at WOU in June 2023.
The athletic director, Randi Lydum, is also a defendant in the suit, which claims she misled the players by assuring them their complaints would be heard and taken seriously. The suit even says Lydum acknowledged that she had a poor track record with coaches because she had already fired a soccer and volleyball coach over abuse claims. But, the filing says, the coaches punished the players for being “dramatic” and “tattletales” by going over their head to Lydum, who didn’t resolve their concerns.
“She made me feel like I could confide in her,” player Ana McClave said of Lydum. “And she told me that everything that was happening was wrong, and that it would get fixed, and there would be solutions to the problem. But it only made it worse.”
WOU, president Jesse Peters, and dean of students Malissa Larson are also named as defendants. The suit says multiple parents reached out to Lydum and other school officials, but that led to reduced playing time for their daughters and no action.
“We received the lawsuit and are currently in the process of reviewing its contents,” a spokesperson for the university said in a statement to Front Office Sports.
Federal Funding Update From Lane County
Lane County is closely monitoring changes at the federal level and any effect they may have on the services we provide to our community. At this time, there are no changes to our services, including at our Community Health Centers of Lane County.
At Lane County, we are guided by values regularly reaffirmed over the past 25 years by the Board of County Commissioners as part of our strategic plan: integrity, excellence, equity and respect.
Lane County continues to comply with federal and state law. Please remember, state law prohibits local governments and law enforcement agencies from sharing information with federal agencies regarding immigration enforcement without a signed judicial order. Lane County continues to ensure all medical privacy laws are enforced to fullest extent of the law.
Patients of the Community Health Centers of Lane County are encouraged to keep existing appointments and continue making future appointments. For patients enrolled in a Medicaid health plan, all insurances are still available and paying for services. Telehealth services are available in many cases. If a patient has questions about their individual care, they should contact their provider directly or reach out to the call center at 541-682-3550.
As we continue to learn more about how current and future executive orders and rule-making might affect Lane County services, information will be available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/ServiceLevels. We remain committed to improving lives in our community.
Collision Leads to Discovery of Deceased Body
— Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit detectives are investigating the death of a Salem resident after Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies discovered a body in the wreckage of crash in Polk County.
At approximately 6:30 a.m. on Monday, January 27, Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a single-vehicle rollover collision in the 10000 block of Corvallis RD in Independence. The driver, identified as Tyler Andrew Holman, age 39 of Salem, was located with injuries and transported for medical care.
Deputies also discovered the body of a deceased woman. The circumstances at the scene suggested that she was not killed in the car accident, rather, her body was being transported at the time of the crash.
An autopsy performed by the Oregon State Medical Examiner determined that the woman’s cause of death was from a gunshot wound and manner of death to be homicide. The victim is identified as Ashley Jean Gandolfi, age 35.
The investigation into Gandolfi’s death led detectives to a residence in the 1600 block of Acacia DR S where Holman resides. Gandolfi and Holman were previously in a romantic relationship.
Holman was released from Salem Health today, January 30, and arrested on the following charges:
- Murder, second-degree
- Tampering with evidence
- Abuse of a corpse, second-degree
The investigation is ongoing and no other information is available for release.
Lane County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police arrest two men during Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigations

Lane County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force — On January 30th, Lane County Sheriff’s detectives and Oregon State Police detectives served a search warrant at a residence in the 900 block of W. 1st Avenue in Junction City.
The suspect, Ralph Anthony Pocza, 41, was contacted and arrested. Pocza was lodged at the Lane County Jail on 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 1st Degree and 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 2nd Degree.
Detectives then served a search warrant at a residence in the 26800 block of Petzold Road, southwest of Eugene. The suspect, Gregory John Shepherd, 60, was contacted and arrested. Shepherd was lodged at the Lane County Jail on 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 1st Degree and 10 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 2nd Degree.
Both of these search warrants stemmed from separate, unrelated investigations by the Lane County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, focusing on child exploitation. Currently there is no indication of any local victims involved in these cases, and the charges are for the possession of child pornography.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police received assistance during these investigations from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Oregon Department of Justice. These arrests are part of an ongoing effort by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable members of our community. The investigation is ongoing, and no further details are available at this time. LCSO Case #24-5540, OSP Case #SP24-238315
Vehicles Stolen from Community Supported Shelters

Update: The Mazda was found outside of Veneta last night!! Unfortunately, today we discovered that another CSS vehicle was stolen, the “Tweety” van used for our Loads of Hope laundry program.
The black service team vehicle is also still missing. Please keep an eye out!
2016 Dodge Grand Caravan Plate: 779PJG / ORCase #: 25-01641 Color: Black – 1988 Ford Econoline Van Plate: 065FHD / ORCase #: pending Color: White
Trainsong Community Eugene Railyard Operation Concerns
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/

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.
Trial Begins For Truck Driver Accused Of Killing Seven In Wreck On I-5
The truck driver accused of killing seven people in the accident that happened on May 18th, 2023 on Interstate 5 near Albany went on trial on Tuesday for the wreck.

The 54-year-old truck driver accused of killing seven, Lincoln Smith, was driving on I-5 when he crashed into a van at full speed, pushing it into another semi truck. Seven of the 11 people inside of the van were killed in the crash. After the accident, Smith admitted to using drugs the day before the crash.
On Tuesday, January 28, Smith appeared in a Marion County courthouse on seven counts of manslaughter and three counts of assault.
“Mr. Smith chose to use methamphetamine the day before driving through the state of Oregon on I-5,” a prosecutor said in court on Tuesday, reported KGW8.
Smith’s attorneys argue that he was no longer under the influence at the time of the crash. They claim that he was fatigued and fell asleep while looking for a place to pull off of I-5 when the accident occurred.
“We intend to show that the state will not be able to meet their burden. That they will not be able to prove the mental state,” defense attorney Tiffany Humphrey said. Smith’s defense argues that if he must be found guilty, it should be for a lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide.
Click It or Ticket Campaign Gears Up
Oregon Department of Transportation has funded a high visibility seat belt enforcement event from January 27 through February 9 and Eugene Police will provide additional enforcement during that period.

The Eugene Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit is reminding drivers about the lifesaving benefits of wearing a seat belt and proper child safety restraints. The Oregon laws regarding child safety include requirements that children ride in a rear-facing safety seat until they are at least two years old. A child over 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. The requirements 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.
Seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers. Being buckled up during a crash helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle; being completely ejected from a vehicle is almost always deadly.
“Modern passenger cars and trucks are equipped with various advanced safety features. However, if a driver or their passengers are not properly restrained – using safety belt systems, child safety seats, and or belt positioning boosters – no amount of technology will keep an occupant safe,” said Sergeant Nate Pieske of the Eugene Police Traffic Safety Unit. ”An overwhelming amount of the serious injury crashes and deaths related to traffic crashes in this community could have been mitigated or prevented entirely had occupants been properly restrained during traffic crashes.”
The Eugene Police Traffic Safety Unit, Eugene Police patrol officers, and participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. In Eugene, the presumptive fine for a seat belt violation is $150.
For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot. Online Resources:• Car Seat Types: Determine whether your child fits best in a rear-facing car seat, forward-facing car seat, booster seat, or seat belt.• Car Seat Recommendations: Review NHTSA’s recommendations for the best car seat for your child’s age and size. • Find and Compare: Find and compare car seats with NHTSA’s handy car seat finder, which also searches specific brands.
Oregon Department of Transportation Seatbelts and Child Seats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFC2K2AfdJMMore ODOT information on safety belts and child seats at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TS/Pages/safetybelts.aspx
Springfield Police Department Joins Law Enforcement Agencies Around Oregon to Enforce and Educate Child Safety Belt and Child Seat Laws

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.
Eugene Public Library Foundation: Announcing the second annual Love Your Library Design Contest!

Show your love for Eugene Public Library through art. Submit a design that can be used on promotional materials in support of our library. This year, two youth categories have been added for artists ages 17 and younger!Visit mailchi.mp/eplfoundation/lylannouncement25 to learn more and enter by March 31. Please read the contest rules before entering.
OSLP Arts & Culture Center

· Our February 1st felting workshop filled up, so we are having another one! If you missed the chance to make sweet felted hearts this weekend, please join us on the 8th!All supplies included, no felting experience necessary. SIgn up at artsandcultureeugene.org/workshops
You can find out how to help here: https://www.facebook.com/EganWarmingCenters
Catholic Community Services of Lane County ·
Urgent Call for Donations 
Our **No-Cost Clothing Closet** is running low on supplies, and we need your help to keep serving our community! We’re looking for:
Gently used or new clothes for all ages and sizes
Coats, sweaters, sweatshirts
Socks, gloves
**Drop-off Location:** 1025 G Street, Springfield, OR
**Hours:** M – F 9a-12p
Every item you donate brings warmth, dignity, and hope to someone in need. Let’s make a difference together!
Please share this post to help us spread the word!

Hlp 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.
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 – · 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
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

Grants Pass Homeless Policies Face New Court Challenge
After Grants Pass city officials shut down a homeless camp and restricted camping to one site, they face a lawsuit from five homeless residents and advocacy groups

Two advocacy groups and five homeless people sued Grants Pass on Thursday in a bid to force the southern Oregon city to change its restrictions on homeless camping that put people with disabilities and others in peril.
Disability Rights Oregon and the Oregon Law Center filed the emergency lawsuit in Josephine County District Court. It seeks an immediate temporary restraining order that prohibits the city from enforcing its current ordinances and policies towards homeless people. The city has limited homeless people sleeping outside to just one site, which is overcrowded and lacks drinking water. It also forces people, including those with disabilities, to pack up their tent and leave at 7 a.m. each morning before returning at 5 p.m., the lawsuit said. Violators face $75 citations.
The lawsuit comes almost seven months to the day after after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the city can impose criminal penalties on illegal homeless camping without violating constitutional provisions against cruel and unusual punishment.
The new case argues that Grants Pass does not follow requirements in Oregon state law. Last year, after the Supreme Court ruling, city officials designated two sites for homeless people to camp in August.
On Jan. 7, city officials decided to close the larger of two designated camping sites, which held about 120 tents. Only one site remains that can have about 30 tent sites at any time. And now, tents can only be there from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. each day.
“Putting the lives of people with disabilities at risk in the dead of winter because they don’t have housing is cruel and illegal,” said Jake Cornett, executive director & CEO of Disability Rights Oregon. “Without adequate shelter space available, forcing a person in a wheelchair or someone with a chronic illness to pack and move their belongings daily is not just impossible, it’s inhumane. Grants Pass’s dangerous actions must be stopped.”
Grants Pass city officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges the city’s policies violate state laws that prohibit discrimination based on disability. It seeks a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction that prohibits the city from enforcing its current ordinances for homeless camping. The lawsuit, if successful for plaintiffs, would force the city to adopt new ordinances that regulate camping and sleeping by homeless in a different way, with fewer restrictions and impacts.
For the homeless people named in the lawsuit, the impacts of the city’s policies are acute.

‘I’m a human being’
One of them is Janine Harris, 57, who suffers from arthritis, vertigo and chronic headaches. For years, she worked as a caregiver until health problems made her physically unable to do so.
Homeless now for four years, arthritis in her hips and knees forces her to use a cane.
“I’m not afraid of work,” she said. “I just can’t do it anymore. I’m physically unable to do it anymore.”
She is too weak to carry anything and has to use a wagon to cart her belongings around.
She never knows where she is going to stay.
To set up her tent, which is in storage, would take her an hour, so she’s more inclined to sleep without it.
“With my luck, it’d probably just be best to open up my cot and put the blankets on and pray I get no rain,” she said in an interview.
She asks Oregonians to remember people like her, who fell into homelessness through no fault of their own.
“I just want people to realize that I’m not a monster,” she said. “I’m a human being, and I have a right to be treated as one. I put my dues in. I’ve worked my ass off.”
Another plaintiff is Jeffrey Dickerson, 57, who worked in construction until 2006, when an aneurysm sidelined him and ended his career. Since then, he has bounced from homelessness on the streets, living with a friend and renting a room. With a $967 Social Security disability check each month, he cannot find an affordable place to live and has been homeless, most recently, for nearly a year.
He has chronic nerve pain in his hands and feet, arthritis in his neck and walks with a cane. Once, his cane was stolen when he left it outside his tent.
At the campsite, he awoke one morning ahead of the 7 a.m. deadline to pack up and found his tent’s zipper was frozen shut. He had to break it to get out. Outside the tent, he has to walk with his cane over gravel to reach the portable toilet.
He no longer has a tent and carries an olive green backpack. He keeps his sleeping bag stowed away out of sight.At night, he looks for somewhere to sleep, often outside the campsite. “I don’t see how they could let that happen,” he said. “It’s inhumane.” (SOURCE)

Governor Kotec Holds Press Conference Concerning Feds Shutting Off Oregonian’s Tax Payer Money That By Law Comes Back to the State for State Programs

You can see press conference here: https://www.facebook.com/GovTinaKotek/videos/1775986422971918

Oregon joins lawsuit while state officials scramble to respond to Trump order freezing federal funds
Oregon is suing the Trump administration after it ordered an abrupt freeze of many federal payments, leaving state agencies unable to access reimbursements for Medicaid and child care programs and sending state officials scrambling to determine the total effect.
Gov. Tina Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield, both Democrats, announced the suit during a brief press conference Tuesday afternoon. Rayfield joined Democratic attorneys general across the country to file the suit in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island following a Trump administration memo directing all federal agencies to “temporarily pause” awarding or disbursing any federal funding that could be impacted by a host of recent executive orders by 2 p.m. Pacific time Tuesday.
“When federal funds that are meant to serve the most vulnerable are suspended or unavailable, that has an impact on Oregonians and it’s a dereliction of the federal government’s duty to protect Americans,” Kotek said.
A federal judge based in Washington, D.C., paused enforcement of Trump’s order until Monday in response to a separate lawsuit filed by a group of nonprofit agencies. And U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas condemned Trump’s move as an “illegal theft” of taxpayer dollars.
“With the stroke of his pen, President Trump is ordering an unprecedented steal that will take critical resources away from our police, firefighters, veterans, growers, and working families here in Oregon and across the country,” she said. “Oregonians will immediately feel the effects of Trump’s steal at a time when most folks are already struggling to pay the bills and put food on the table.” — (SOURCE)
Oregon Food Bank Says Hunger At Its Worst Since Great Depression
Newly released data shows hunger crisis in Oregon, underscoring urgent need for action

The president of the Oregon Food Bank delivered her first State of Hunger address at the state capitol this week. “We are in the worst rate of hunger and food insecurity, since the Great Depression,” said President of the Oregon Food Bank Andrea Williams.
She said that while the food bank distributed nearly 100 million meals, food is just a small part of addressing the hunger crisis. “We must also address the root causes of hunger. “These are the policies that keep people from having the access to resources that they need to thrive. Until we do that those lines will keep forming.”
Williams also introduced the introduction of Senate Bill 611, the Food for All Oregonians Bill.
Food for All Oregonians Coalition Introduces Bill as Part of Immigrant Justice Package
In a show of broad support, community members, legislators and advocates gathered at the Oregon State Capitol today to introduce the Food for All Oregonians bill (SB 611) as part of the larger Immigrant Justice Package. This legislation seeks to ensure every Oregonian — including immigrants and refugees excluded from federal programs like SNAP — has access to the resources we need to thrive.
The Food for All Oregonians coalition, comprised of over 160 organizations across the state, made clear the need to pass this legislation highlighting the critical contributions immigrants and refugees make to Oregon’s economy and food systems, despite being excluded from food assistance programs.
Andrea Williams, newly-appointed President of Oregon Food Bank, delivered her first State of Hunger Address, unveiling new data that shows hunger in Oregon is at its worst since the Great Depression. “The federal administration has issued executive orders threatening immigrant communities,” said Williams. “But that vision doesn’t reflect the Oregon we want for our kids. Oregon can and must lead by example by passing the Food for All Oregonians bill. This legislation sends a clear message that immigrants and refugees can call Oregon home and that we are committed to ensuring our communities have the resources needed to thrive — we are rising for all.”
The press conference featured a powerful lineup of speakers, including Senator Wlnsvey Campos, who is sponsoring SB 611 in the legislature. It also included Food for All Oregonians coalition member Andrea Vanessa Castillo from Oregon Latino Health Coalition and David Soria Garcia, Policy Leadership Council member and Tillamook community leader. Senator Wlnsvey Campos shared her support, saying, “This bill isn’t just about food — it’s about building a stronger, more equitable Oregon where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
Hunger persists at crisis levels, with 2.5 million visits to food assistance sites across the Oregon Food Bank Network in the last year alone — a 31% increase from the previous year. While Oregon Food Bank and its network distributed over 91 million meals worth of food, nearly 110 million pounds, Williams emphasized that food alone cannot solve hunger. “We must address the systems and policies that perpetuate hunger. Until we do, those lines at food pantries will keep forming,” she said.
Part of the Food for All Oregonians coalition, the Oregon Latino Health Coalition emphasized the importance of this effort. “Access to nourishing food is a fundamental aspect of health,” said Andrea Vanessa Castillo, Policy and Advocacy Manager at Oregon Latino Health Coalition. “Immigrants and refugees are vital — they help put food on the table for families across our state. Yet, they remain excluded from essential benefits like SNAP.”
The Food for All Oregonians bill (SB 611) for the second year in a row, continues to be one of the top three Policy Recommendations of the Oregon Hunger Task Force. “Tomorrow, we will present the Roadmap to End Hunger and our list of priority policy recommendations to legislators,” shared Chris Baker, Administrator of the Oregon Hunger Task Force. “This legislative session, the Oregon Hunger Task Force urges lawmakers to prioritize bills that will have an immediate and lasting impact on reducing hunger in Oregon’s most impacted communities.”
“As a mother, I think about the future I want for my two kids — a future where every family in Oregon has access to the resources they need, including immigrants and refugees,” said Williams. “The Food for All Oregonians bill is about creating that brighter future… because no one should be hungry.” https://www.oregonfoodbank.org/posts/food-for-all-oregonians-coalition-introduces-bill-as-part-of-immigrant-justice-package?fbclid=IwY2xjawIHLb9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQFNDtMA_0ABUXHVNaWdcOnWSepamhCnJcA0C98zIdqRy11lnGNvHlh6DA_aem_RlEZzVMbSo0c_4KgwtOK5Q
Recent OHA Findings Support Striking Caregivers’ Focus On Safe Staffing: Providence Has Been Failing On Staffing
— Recent findings from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) confirm what frontline caregivers at Providence hospitals have long been warning: Providence is failing to meet critical staffing requirements, putting patient care and worker safety at risk.
According to OHA’s investigations into multiple staffing complaints at Providence Portland Medical Center and Providence Seaside Hospital, OHA found multiple violations of Oregon’s hospital staffing laws, including failures to adopt required Nurse Staffing Plans (NSPs) in critical departments such as Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Cardiology, Critical Care, and Emergency Departments.
Providence recently stated, in a communication to staff, that “Providence ministries are complying with Oregon’s staffing law…We will not agree to additional contract requirements that differ from the law.” However, OHA’s repeated findings of violations of Oregon’s Safe Staffing Law tell a different story–one of a systemic and dangerous pattern of failing to follow even the most basic legal requirements.
OHA found that, at Providence Portland Medical Center, the hospital repeatedly failed to adopt legally-required Nurse Staffing Plans (NSPs) for critical units, including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Critical Care, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, and Labor and Delivery. In recent complaint investigations, OHA cited Providence for failing to adopt staffing plans on 8 units at Providence Portland Medical Center. This means that–according to nurses on those units and the Hospital Staffing Committee–those units are not staffed appropriately for safe and therapeutic patient care. This systemic failure has left caregivers without the necessary staffing guidelines to provide safe and effective care.
Additionally, the OHA investigation uncovered repeated violations in the Medical Oncology and Surgical Oncology units, where Providence failed to meet RN staffing levels across multiple shifts in June 2024, jeopardizing patient outcomes and staff well-being.
These violations in oncology units–where cancer patients require intensive and specialized care–demonstrate Providence’s ongoing disregard for legally-mandated staffing levels.
The pattern of non-compliance extends beyond Portland, as OHA also found that Providence Seaside Hospital failed to adopt required staffing plans for its Medical-Surgical (Med-Surg) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) departments by the June 1, 2024 deadline. Earlier this year, Providence was also found in violation at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center for submitting a staffing plan it created rather than a more detailed plan that was approved by the Hospital Staffing Committee.
This failure to meet basic legal obligations underscores why caregivers are fighting for stronger, enforceable staffing protections in their contracts; Providence has repeatedly demonstrated it cannot be trusted to adhere to existing regulations without additional safeguards in place.
The Oregon Nurses Association urges Providence to acknowledge their ongoing staffing failures and negotiate in good faith to provide meaningful staffing protections and stop obstructing hospital nurse staffing committees. Caregivers remain committed to fighting for the safety of their patients and the integrity of their profession.The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) Represents A Diverse Community Of More Than 21,000 Nurses, And Health Care Professionals Throughout Oregon. Together, We Use Our Collective Power To Advocate For Critical Issues Impacting Patients, Nurses, And Health Care Professionals Including A More Effective, Affordable And Accessible Healthcare System; Better Working Conditions For All Health Care Professionals; And Healthier Communities. For More Information Visit Www.OregonRN.org.
JOINT STATEMENT ON MEDIATION BETWEEN PROVIDENCE AND OREGON NURSES ASSOCIATION
At the request of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, the Oregon Nurses Association and Providence Oregon have agreed to have representatives from both sides re-engage in intensive, in-person mediation beginning January 29th, 2025, in an effort to end this strike. Both sides are engaging in every effort to get this dispute resolved as expeditiously as possible and get people back to work.
See Video from 1/31/25 here: https://www.facebook.com/OregonNursesAssociation/videos/1014312273856316

Grants Pass Police Arrest 2 Juveniles for Kidnapping and Other Serious Felonies

Following an extensive investigation involving numerous victims, Grants Pass Police Detectives, assisted by patrol officers, served a search warrant early Thursday in the Northwest area of Grants Pass. This resulted in the arrest of two juvenile males, ages 14 and 15. Their identities are confidential at this time based on their juvenile status.
The pair was arrested for a lengthy list of severe felonies and misdemeanors, including 1st Degree Kidnapping, Strangulation, 2nd and 3rd Degree Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Menacing, and Criminal Conspiracy. One of the juveniles was additionally arrested for 1st Degree Theft.
Both male juveniles were lodged at the Josephine County Juvenile Justice Center following their arrest.No further details can be released at this time as the investigation remains ongoing.
Homicide Investigation in Depoe Bay
On January 30, 2025 at approximately 10:17 AM deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of gunshots from the Four Winds Inn, a motel located at 356 N. Hwy 101 Depoe Bay, OR. Further reports were called into the 911 center during the deputies’ response. Deputies arrived within minutes and learned the suspect, Brennon Michael Neal, age 29 from Depoe Bay, had fled the scene in a vehicle.
At the scene, deputies discovered the business owner, Sarabjit Singh, adult male age 44, of Depoe Bay was deceased from multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies learned the suspect was driving a dark grey colored sedan and alerted surrounding agencies.
At approximately 11:16 AM Sergeant Aaron Pitcher with the Toledo Police Department located the vehicle on Hwy 20 traveling east bound. After several units arrived to assist, a traffic stop was attempted and the vehicle fled from law enforcement. The vehicle traveled with varying speed for approximately 35 miles before being struck by spike strips. The vehicle traveled for several miles on damaged tires. Oregon State Police assisted in this event with a vehicle redirect maneuver which successfully stopped the vehicle.
Brennon Neal was the sole occupant of the vehicle and taken into custody without further incident. Singh’s next of kin have been notified.
This case is under investigation. Any further details or media releases will be conjunction with the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the following partners: Lincoln City Police Department, Toledo Police Department, Oregon State Police, Newport Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, and Corvallis PD.
The Oregon Department of Human Services is investigating an Aumsville children’s learning center after its employees allegedly left a two-year-old girl alone on a bus for about three hours on Monday.
The announcement comes days after the City of Aumsville opened a police investigation into the incident. Cassandra Robinson, the mother of the girl, previously told The Oregonian/OregonLive that Family Building Blocks’ Aumsville location had failed to take her daughter off a bus, leaving her strapped into a child safety seat with no coat in roughly 36-degree weather. Oregon Department of Human Services’ Office of Training, Investigations
and Safety is investigating the alleged incident, agency spokesperson Jake Sunderland said . Such investigations typically take about 60 days to complete.
Officials warn SNAP users to prevent fraud
Oregonians who receive supplemental federal food benefits need to be more vigilant than ever against fraud, officials say: If their monthly benefits are stolen, they’ll be gone for good.

In the past, the federal government replaced benefits lost to fraud, but that policy changed late last year. The federal government is no longer replacing stolen benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
That could mean a total loss of tens of thousands of dollars in SNAP benefits in Oregon, primarily through “skimming,” according to officials from Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. That happens when a device is inserted into a credit card reader and steals financial information when the card is run through the reader.
Only a small minority lose their benefits this way. Oregon has nearly 447,000 households receiving SNAP benefits. From Oct. 1 through Dec. 20, nearly 200 households had their benefits stolen, losing $77,000 in food aid.
The average household receives $310 in SNAP benefits, which are not meant to foot an entire food bill, but the money is often crucial for those who need it.
Jake Sunderland, press secretary for the Oregon Department of Human Services, said SNAP users should take several precautions to protect themselves from fraud:
- Only manage your account through the ebtEDGE website or mobile app, which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
- Freeze your card right away after each use and unfreeze it before you make purchases and block purchases made outside of Oregon or online through Cardholder.ebtEDGE.com.
- Keep your PIN secret and cover the keypad when you enter it.
- Check your account activity regularly and cancel your card immediately if you see purchases you didn’t make. (SOURCE)
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.
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.
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
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 Available – Income Tax Return Processing Began 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:
Bandon | North Bend |
Burns | Prineville |
Coquille | Pendleton |
Cornelius | Roseburg |
The Dalles | Salem |
Klamath Falls | Seaside |
Lebanon | Sweet Home |
McMinnville | Toledo |
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.
- 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.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Sites Open in Oregon: Program Provides Free Tax Prep to Thousands of Older Adults

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is providing free preparation now through April 15 throughout Oregon. Started in 1968, Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program and has served more than 80 million people. For the 2024 tax season, nearly 28,000 volunteers helped almost 1.7 million taxpayers, 965,000 of whom were adults over 50 with low income. Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS, and AARP membership is not required.
“During the 2024 tax season, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers completed over 19,400 federal returns and 18,500 state returns in Oregon with refunds of nearly $39 million,” said AARP Oregon State Director Bandana Shrestha. “Even modest refunds can make an impact on financial resilience, especially for vulnerable older adults. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide helps put money back in the pockets of Oregonians every year by making sure they don’t miss out on the credits and deductions they have earned.”
Tax-Aide volunteers provide free tax preparation and filing services to all with a focus on adults with low to moderate income. Volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to ensure they understand the latest changes to the U.S. Tax Code.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers a variety of options to better meet the needs of taxpayers. Access to the different types of assistance varies by location.
- In-Person Service: Tax preparation is completed by an IRS-certified Tax-Aide volunteer on-site in one visit.
- One-Visit Scan: Tax documents are scanned at the Tax-Aide site and then Tax-Aide volunteers prepare the return remotely.
- Two-Visit Scan: Tax documents are scanned at the Tax-Aide site and then volunteers prepare the return remotely. During a second visit, taxpayers work with a volunteer to finalize their return and obtain a printed copy for their records.
- Drop-Off Service: Tax documents are left at the Tax-Aide site with a volunteer and the return is prepared remotely. During a second visit, taxpayers work with a volunteer to file their return and obtain a printed copy and their original documents.
- No Site Visit Required (Internet Access Required): Taxpayers upload tax documents to the IRS-provided software. Tax-Aide volunteers prepare the return remotely and work with the taxpayer to file the return electronically.
- Online Coaching: Taxpayers prepare their own return and receive online support from a volunteer to help them along the way.
- Facilitated Self-Assistance: Taxpayers schedule an appointment at a Tax-Aide site to work with a volunteer to complete and file their own return.
- Self-Preparation: Taxpayers prepare their own return using a software product that has been made available through the Tax-Aide website.
Users can find their nearest Tax-Aide location and assistance options through the Tax-Aide site locator. The site locator features a Tax-Aide chat bot that can help book an appointment, answer questions about the program, and transfer the conversation to a live agent if needed or requested. For more information, including which documents to bring to the tax site, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669)

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

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
