The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Friday, February 7, 2025
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Albany Police Make Arrests in Targeted Scam
On Monday, February 3, 2025, an Albany resident reported to police that sometime around Christmas 2024, he believed he picked a virus up on his phone from advertisements on the Solitaire app he uses. After clicking on a link, he started receiving calls from a “Chris Wilson”, a purported employee from PayPal who was attempting to notify him that his personal information had been compromised.
The victim was later connected to other people, “Eddy Cooper” and “Mack Jones” that claimed they worked for Edward Jones financial department and advised the victim that he had “been hacked into” for $37,500.00. The suspect convinced the victim that he needed to deposit an equal amount of money from what was taken to “mirror” the amount taken so that the transaction could be voided.
The victim was instructed to take $10,000.00 to a Bitcoin Depot Kiosk. “Mack” had set up a Bitcoin account for him where he could scan the code on the kiosk to input and he deposited $10,000 while on the phone with “Mack.” The victim was advised to have the remaining balance at his residence to be picked up by a courier to complete the transaction. Thankfully, the victim became suspicious and contacted the Albany Police Department. Officers and detectives worked quickly with the victim to arrange a sting for the suspects for the following day, Tuesday, 02/04/2025.
At the arranged time, a white 2015 BMW X5, Washington License: CFT9253 arrived in the area, with the two suspects. An Asian male adult, known as “Tom” arrived to pick up the money. He provided the “passcode” to the undercover officer who verified the passcode. “Tom”, later identified as Yong Xue, was quickly taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. The suspects are Chinese nationals who had their consulate notified. The FBI and Assistant United States Attorney were contacted and are assisting in the investigation.
The following suspects are in custody at the Linn County Jail for the listed crimes:
-Xue, Yong (“Tom”) ,32 years old
Unknown Address, Tacoma, WA
Aggravated Theft I
Conspiracy to Commit-Aggravated Theft I
-(Driver) He, Zhen, 36 years old
Unknown Address, Tacoma, WA
Conspiracy to Commit-Aggravated Theft I
The Albany Police Department believes these two individuals could be involved in more fraud cases and are seeking anyone that recognizes one or both individuals with similar type interactions to contact the Albany Police Department at 541-917-7680. We would like to thank our officers, detectives and L.I.N.E. task force for completing a thorough investigation and promptly arresting two heinous scammers.
Scammers have bilked victims worldwide out of a staggering $1.03 trillion in the past year, according to the 2024 Global State of Scams report and is often underreported because people are too embarrassed or ashamed to report they are a victim of a scam. The Albany Police would like to encourage our residents to be alert for these scams and diligent in educating our community’s vulnerable adults.
Celebrate Lunar New Year at the February 7th First Friday ArtWalk
Eugene Springfield Fire responded to a reported house fire in the 5000 block of Jasper Rd in the unincorporated area South West of Springfield.
Firefighters were dispatched at 2:34 PM on February 6th to a reported fire with explosions and flames from the back of a home.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire from the back of the home and an attached storage building well involved in fired. Crews quickly knocked the fire in the home down an worked to extinguish the outbuilding that was a total loss. The area is without fire hydrants and had narrow access providing challenges to suppression efforts. There were no reported injuries and the cause is under investigation.
Semi-Truck Driver Guilty of Seven Counts of Manslaughter in Deadly I-5 Crash
A Marion County jury found the defendant, California resident Lincoln Smith (54 years), guilty of seven counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree for recklessly causing the deaths of seven people, and guilty of three counts of Assault in the Third Degree for recklessly causing serious physical injury to three other people, resulting from a crash he caused on I-5 on May 18, 2023. The jury also returned a guilty verdict on one count of Reckless Driving and a not guilty verdict on one count of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants.
The defendant was driving a semitruck on I-5 north of Albany and south of Salem when he went off the road and crashed into a passenger van and another semitruck that were parked along the shoulder of the highway. The passenger van contained 10 people at the time of the crash who were returning home from work and an additional person was outside of the vehicle at the time of the collision.
The deceased victims are:
Juan Carlos Leyva-Carrillo
Gabriel Juarez-Tovilla
Alejandra Espinoza-Carpio
Eduardo Lopez-Lopez
Luis Enrique Gomez-Reyes
Alejandro Jimenez Hernandez
Josue Garcia-Garcia
The injured victims are:
Jose Eduardo Solis-Flores
Maria Flores-Martinez
Ibis Torres Rangel
The defendant admitted to using methamphetamine and cocaine the night before the crash and tested positive for cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. In addition, his semitruck contained a bag of 16.6 grams of methamphetamine and various drug paraphernalia, including hypodermic needles and a small scale.
The case, prosecuted by Marion County Deputy District Attorneys David Wilson and Jessica Spooner before the Honorable Dan Wren, began Monday, January 27th. Jurors heard testimony from witnesses over a five-day period spanning from Tuesday, January 28th through Monday, February 3rd. The case concluded on Wednesday, February 4th when jurors heard closing arguments and began deliberations.
The jury deliberated for approximately nine and a half hours before returning a verdict the afternoon of Wednesday, February 5th.
The defendant remains in custody at the Marion County Jail.
Sentencing has yet to be scheduled before Judge Wren.
Manslaughter in the Second Degree is a Class B Felony and carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 75 months in prison for each count. Assault 3 is a Class C Felony and carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison for each count. The court will determine whether those sentences should run consecutively, but that is legally allowable under Oregon law for separate victims. Reckless Driving is a Class A Misdemeanor and carries a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail.
The Marion County District Attorney’s Office wishes to thank the Oregon State Police for their thorough and professional investigation of this tragedy.
Lane County Sheriff’s Office arrests two men during Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigations
Lane County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force — On February 6th, Lane County Sheriff’s detectives served a search warrant at residences in the 100 block of Lea Avenue and 2500 block of Willakenzie Road, Eugene. The suspect, Noah Alan Starkey-Gomes, 31, was contacted and arrested. Starkey-Gomes was lodged at the Lane County Jail on 2 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 1st Degree and 2 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 2nd Degree.
Detectives then served a search warrant at a residence in the 1000 block of Cinnamon Avenue, Eugene. The suspect, James Watson Gilbert, 42, was contacted and arrested. Gilbert 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 received assistance during these investigations from the Springfield Police Department, Eugene Police Department, Oregon State Police, 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 #24-6642, #24-6040
Freshly stolen Dodge Ram spotted and returned to owner
The victims of a stolen Dodge Ram got their truck back after a sharp-eyed officer quickly spotted the freshly stolen vehicle. At 1:30 a.m. on February 6, a Eugene Police officer heard a dispatch regarding a person’s vehicle that had just been stolen from McDonald’s, 55 River Avenue. He spotted the vehicle, a white Dodge Ram, in the 2400 block of McDougal Lane.
While the officer was getting turned around to take a closer look, it drove past him and he spotted multiple people inside and followed it. The driver pulled into the parking lot of WinCo Foods, 4275 Barger Drive. The officer radioed for additional units and performed a felony, high-risk stop.
The Dodge’s driver, Zachary Lee Neuroth, age 32, was taken into custody and transported to Lane County Jail on charges that include Unauthorized Use Vehicle, Burglary in the Second Degree, and Theft in the Third Degree. Case 24-02039
A passenger, Mario Nelson Iraheta, age 30, was found to have warrants and was taken into custody on those and transported to Lane County Jail. The Dodge Ram was returned to its owner. Case 25-02040
Man charged with Hit and Run in January Pedestrian-Vehicle Crash on E. 8th/Pearl
Eugene Police contacted a person of interest in a January 21 hit and run pedestrian crash at E. 8th Avenue and Pearl Street and he is being charged with Hit and Run Felony and Reckless Driving. Yesterday, 24-year-old Daquan Gabari Rucker, was contacted at Lane County Jail, where he was lodged on an unrelated case. He was charged with Hit and Run Felony and Reckless Driving for the crash, which injured a 46-year-old Eugene man.
On January 21, the involved vehicle was located in a nearby parking lot without the driver. A K9 was deployed to track the suspect, but he was not located at the time. EPD’s Major Collison Investigation team responded to investigate the crash, and an attempt to locate for Rucker was entered into the system. He was taken into custody on an unrelated case yesterday by Springfield Police. EPD Case 25-01188
The Oldest Shoes in the World on Display in Eugene
The oldest piece of identified clothing — sandals found in southern Oregon — are older than the volcanic eruption, some 7,700 years ago, that created Crater Lake.
You can see them, behind a glass case, at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History.
What do these sandals tell us about these people? “I think it reminds us that we’re all just human beings,” Connolly said. “When you look at this whole collection of sandals and sandal pieces, there are big ones and little ones and things that are worn through. There’s kids shoes. There are some that have a little charring on the toe flaps, and you can imagine sparks flying from a hearth fire and landing on grandma’s footwear. You can kind of imagine this family community.”
If you go: Several examples of Fort Rock sandals are on display at University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, 1680 E. 15th Ave., Eugene. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, with late hours until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for children and seniors, $12 for a family of up to two adults and four children, and free for veterans, active-duty military, UO students, UO staff and children 2 and younger. Find more information at mnch.uoregon.edu. (SOURCE) Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oregonnaturalhistory
Lane County to Receive $17.4 Million for Housing in McKenzie River Valley
Lane County is preparing to receive $17,483,497 in federal funds to support housing solutions for renters displaced by the Holiday Farm Fire. These funds will help create affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities within and around the fire-affected area.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲:
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
Clusters of single-family homes A manufactured home park — We want to hear from Holiday Farm Fire survivors, McKenzie River Valley residents, recovery partners, and others interested in the recovery efforts! Your feedback will help shape how these funds are used.
𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗽𝘂𝘁:
Read the proposal summary: http://eepurl.com/i8QSRM
Send comments by March 11, 5:00 p.m.: matt.a.mcrae@lanecountyor.gov
𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟭:
Eugene – Harris Hall | 
11:00 a.m. Leaburg – Fire Station Community Building | 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Please share this with anyone who may be interested in shaping the future of housing in the McKenzie River Valley. For special accommodations, contact Megan Heurion at megan.m.heurion@lanecountyor.gov at least 48 business hours before the meeting.
Language assistance available upon request.
Lane County Sheriff’s Office · 
It’s getting cold and icy up in the mountains!
Monday, February 3rd, Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue volunteers responded to assist stranded motorists whose Subaru slid off a Forest Service spur road above Aufderheide Drive. SAR located the subjects and helped guide a tow truck to them.
Please follow these tips to stay safe when you explore the outdoors in our county:
Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.
Know conditions before you leave – rain in the valley can mean ice up high!
Be prepared to stay out overnight – even if you don’t plan to get out of your car.
Bring maps for offline navigation – cell service can be spotty!
Nearly every week, Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue volunteers assist our residents and visitors in all types of environments. Learn more about our Search & Rescue program or donate to their work at: http://www.lanecounty.org/…/volunteers/search_and_rescue
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.
Eugene Springfield Fire · The race is on!! We are collecting diapers to help the hundreds of families in our communities that are struggling to afford the basics currently.
We need your help to reach our goal of 3,000 diapers this month. For the month of February, we are collecting diapers for Lane County Diaper Bank. You can use the QR code on the flyer, OR go to the LCDB wish list at Walmart.com (https://www.walmart.com/…/99131937-06af-4350-aaed…) to have your donation delivered directly to the diaper bank. Or you can drop them off at the ESF Admin building – 1705 W 2nd Ave, Eugene, OR 97402
Springfield Utility Board Offers Generator Loan Programs to Enhance Customer Resilience
Although most power outages resolve quickly, major events like earthquakes, wildfires and winter storms can disrupt power for extended periods.
To assist customers with preparedness, Springfield Utility Board (SUB) is offering two new generator loan programs for its residential and small business electric customers.
“Having backup power, especially if you have a medical need, can provide peace of mind and additional safety while SUB crews work to restore power,” says Meredith Clark, community relations manager at SUB.
The new 0% interest loan programs are for portable generators and for generator transfer switches. Loans of up to $1,000 are available and customer’s repay the loan via their SUB bill.
Portable generators are particularly helpful for renters, and transfer switches assist those who want to integrate a generator into their home or business electrical system, Clark said. These devices allow customers to change the source of power from SUB’s system to an installed generator during an outage. Without a professionally installed transfer switch, the generator can back-feed electricity to SUB’s system through the main breaker and create a dangerous, even fatal, situation for line crews and customers.
SUB electric customers with a recent history of on time payments are eligible and encouraged to visit subutil.com for additional details, or to call SUB’s resource management department at 541-746-0963.
About Springfield Utility Board: Springfield Utility Board is committed to providing reliable, safe, and affordable utility services to our community. These new pilot programs are part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the resilience of our infrastructure and the safety of our customers during emergency situations. Springfield Utility Board
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 in an emergency.
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
How Healthy Are Oregonians’ Finances? Annual Scorecard Shows Households Are Earning More, Yet Many Families Are Still Struggling To Save And Make Ends MeetSurvey found that roughly half of Oregonians don’t have $500 to cover unexpected expenses
Median income has risen, the impact of inflation has slackened, and more Oregonians are saving for retirement and college, according to the 2025 Oregon Financial Wellness Scorecard, released today by the Oregon State Treasury.
However, the data also show that many Oregonians are in a precarious financial position, and are ill-equipped to weather even a modest economic shock:
- A majority of families say it’s difficult make ends meet each month, especially families with children at home;
- Almost half of Oregonians are so financially fragile that they do not have $500 saved to cover an unexpected expense; And
- More than a third of households can’t afford to save at all, after bills are paid each month – and the frequency of saving declined markedly in households with children where income was less than $75,000
Those are some of the more than 40 takeaways from the annual scorecard, which assembles data from state and federal sources including a statewide survey to help policymakers and the public better understand how pocketbook and economic factors affect Oregonians’ quality of life.
The new summary – which shows both positive and concerning trendlines — is compiled by the Oregon State Treasury in partnership with the Oregon Financial Empowerment Advisory Team, a public-private partnership for which State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner serves as chair.
“The latest financial snapshot shows that Oregonians work hard, which is leading to higher incomes for many people,” said State Treasurer Steiner. “Innovative Oregon State Treasury programs such as OregonSaves are helping more people set aside money for retirement. But too many people and families barely get by each month. At Treasury, we’ll continue to promote financial empowerment and explore new tools to help Oregon families get ahead and thrive financially.”
Among the positive data points: More Oregonians were medically insured in 2023, and the latest data on retirement saving from the U.S. Census showed that more Oregon households were saving in 2022, and at a frequency higher than the national average.
Also, notably, Oregon household borrowing dipped slightly overall in 2023, according to data from the Federal Reserve.
Financial fragility — which describes the ability of people to handle an economic emergency — was substantially worse for women, for those with a high school education or less, and for families with children at home.
Overall, about half of Oregon households (49%) could not cover an emergency costing $500 or more from savings.
The Scorecard statistics are benchmarked to national figures. Several data categories are also broken down by demographics, by county, or by rural versus urban areas, helping to show that Oregonians experience financial challenges differently.
For instance, in rural counties homeownership rates are higher and so is the percentage of households who rely on public assistance. Some figures are also broken down by age, race, level of education and household income.
Convened to help guide efforts to improve financial wellness statewide, the Oregon Financial Empowerment Advisory Team brings together citizens, representatives of the financial sector, and liaisons from key state agencies that focus on financial education and consumer protection. Quarterly meetings are open to the public.
The advisory team also connects the public to financial resources in partnership with Oregon’s 211info network, and recognizes standout educators and champions annually with the Oregon Financial Empowerment Awards. Nominations are being accepted until March 1.
The Treasury Financial Empowerment Initiative helps inform the work of the Oregon Treasury Savings Network, which administers savings programs to help Oregonians to build long term financial security. Those are the Oregon College Savings Plan, for higher education and career training; Oregon ABLE Savings Plan, for disability-connected costs; and OregonSaves, which allows people to save for retirement if they don’t have a plan at work. (SOURCE)
Oregon congresswoman introduces ‘Stop Musk Act’ as state responds to federal chaos
Rep. Maxine Dexter’s bill would ban retaliation against federal employees who stand up to Elon Musk
New Oregon U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter didn’t anticipate that the first bill she introduced in Congress would be to prohibit unelected billionaire Elon Musk from retaliating against federal employees.
The pulmonary and critical care doctor ran for Congress to work on lowering prescription drug prices and expand access to behavioral health treatment, as well as addressing other issues she sees working with patients. But constituents in her east Portland district demanded action after Musk and people working for him seized control of federal administrative offices, gained access to the U.S. Treasury Department’s records of Americans’ personal financial information and dismantled the federal agency that distributes aid overseas.
In response, Dexter introduced the “Stop Musk Act,” her first bill. It’s just 43 words, spelling out that no federal employee can face retaliation for “resisting, circumventing or preventing Elon Musk or individuals he oversees from taking unlawful or unconstitutional actions relating to federal agencies.”
“It’s not what I had on my bingo card, but it’s definitely what is needed right now,” Dexter said. “And it’s absolutely in response to my constituents. Over 1,000 of them have called and specifically talked about Elon Musk needing to be stopped this week.”
Dexter’s proposal, which she acknowledged has next to no chance of passing in the Republican-controlled House, is among several actions Oregon’s Democratic congressional delegation have taken to oppose the Trump administration and Musk’s unprecedented power over federal agencies.
U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, a swing-district Democrat who like Dexter is in her first term, joined Oregon’s Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley at a rally outside the U.S. Treasury on Tuesday. She directed most of her comments toward Musk.
“Get your hands out my pockets!” she said. “Get your foot off the Constitution. Take your foot off my neck.”
Over the weekend, U.S. Reps. Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas joined Merkley for town hall events in Newport, Philomath and Salem where they told crowds of hundreds that they were ready to fight. Dexter is planning more town halls and hopes to have Attorney General Dan Rayfield join her at one. Rayfield, who served with Dexter in the state House, is leading Oregon’s legal response to the Trump administration, including securing an indefinite block Thursday to a Trump executive order that attempted to repeal a constitutional guarantee that babies born in the U.S. to immigrant parents are automatically citizens, even if their parents are not. (SOURCE)
House Democrat leaves congressional DOGE caucus, saying Musk is ‘blowing things up’
Democratic Oregon House member says ‘it is impossible to fix the system when Elon Musk is actively breaking it’
Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Ore., said on Thursday that she is leaving the congressional Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus due to Elon Musk’s cost-cutting measures in the executive branch.
Hoyle made the announcement via a statement and said her intentions on the caucus were to serve as a good steward for her constituents’ tax dollars and to make the government more streamlined and efficient.
However, she said Musk’s actions, which are separate from the congressional caucus, have made that impossible, and she claimed DOGE’s work is to find funds to give tax breaks to billionaires at the expense of working people.
“It is impossible for us to do that important work when unelected billionaire Elon Musk and his lackeys [insist] on burning down the government—and the law—to line his own pockets and rip off Americans across the country who depend on government services to live with dignity,” she wrote in an accompanying statement.
The newly minted agency, a key promise of President Donald Trump‘s re-election campaign, is tasked with slashing government waste and providing increased transparency when it comes to government spending. It was created via executive order and is a temporary organization within the White House that will spend 18 months until July 4, 2026, carrying out its mission.
Hoyle said she was alarmed about Musk’s team accessing sensitive Department of Treasury payment systems. She also accused his team of using intimidation tactics to “terrorize the hard-working public servants” who deliver these services. (SOURCE)
Oregon Nurses Association Reaches Tentative Agreement with Providence Oregon Following Intensive Mediation
– After seven days of intensive mediation, initiated at the request of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and after 26 days on strike (and counting), the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) today reached a tentative agreement with Providence Oregon at the 8 registered nurse (RN) bargaining units currently on strike.
Those units include Providence St. Vincent, Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence Medford Medical Center, Providence Newberg, Providence Willamette Falls, Providence Milwaukie, Providence Hood River and Providence Seaside. (The hospitalists at St. Vincent Medical Center remain on strike and in negotiations.)
Broadly speaking, key provisions of the agreement include:
- Annual Step Increases & New Step 30: In 2026, nurses will receive annual step increases with a new Step 30 and additional fill-in steps added across all bargaining units.
- Wage Increases: Across-the-board increases over the life of the contract and increases for members upon ratification.
- Ratification Bonus: We were not able to achieve full retroactive pay. Instead, a portion of retro pay will be distributed as a bonus based on hours worked since contract expiration.
- No Changes to Contract Expiration Dates: We were not able to achieve contract alignments. Current contract expiration dates will remain unchanged across all Providence Oregon facilities.
- Break & Meal Penalty Pay: Nurses will automatically receive one hour of penalty pay for each missed break or lunch.
- Statewide Health Benefits Workgroup: A workgroup will be established to evaluate and make recommendations on health benefits and the feasibility of a statewide health benefits trust.
- Aetna Health Care Customer Service: A dedicated Aetna customer service team will be available for members to assist in navigating changes to employer-provided health insurance.
- Staffing: Contract language memorializing Oregon’s new staffing law and other hospital-specific benefits.
Ratification votes will open on Thursday, February 6 at 8 a.m. and close on Friday, February 7 at 4 p.m. (Note: Due to inclement weather, ratification vote times for Providence Medford will be Thursday, February 6 from 8 a.m. and closing Saturday, February 8 at 4 p.m.)
Nurses will remain on strike during the vote and will return to work if tentative agreements are ratified.
Note: ONA will not provide further comment until after the vote closes. 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.
Statewide harm reduction program gets $5.1 million from Opioid Settlement Board
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Opioid Settlement Prevention, Treatment & Recovery Board (Board) is directing $5.1 million toward the Save Lives Oregon harm reduction clearinghouse at Oregon Health Authority. This investment serves to continue the Board’s commitment to fill gaps across the substance use disorder continuum of care.
The Board recognized the importance of distributing life-saving overdose reversal medications, but also that more work remains to provide needed services to people seeking support and services for substance use disorder and overdose prevention.
The allocation represents 22% of the Board’s total allocation budget of $23.4 million for the 2025-27 fiscal biennium that begins July 1. Programs focused on primary prevention, treatment and recovery will receive similar percentages.
The Board also provided an additional $237,000 toward a previously approved recommendation of $830,000 for the expansion of culturally specific services in existing recovery community centers throughout the state, bringing the total allocation to more than $1 million for the current fiscal biennium.
The funding was awarded to OHA, which will administer the allocations. The Board’s decision can be viewed in a recording of its Feb. 5 meeting.
We are confident that this investment will indeed save lives in Oregon by expanding our statewide capacity to provide naloxone and other live-saving services to people most in need,” said Board Co-Chair Annaliese Dolph. “But, in doing so, we recognize that this is not enough, and that additional and sustained investment is urgently needed to stem the tide of substance use disorder and overdose in Oregon. The Board calls on the Legislature to fulfill the Governor’s request for ongoing funding for Save Lives Oregon.”
Since July 2021, the State of Oregon has reached agreement on national lawsuits against several companies for their roles in the opioid crisis. Through these agreements, more than $600 million will be awarded to Oregon through 2039. Settlement funds from opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies are divided between the State of Oregon (45%) and local jurisdictions (55%).
The state’s share is deposited into the Opioid Settlement, Prevention, Treatment and Recovery (OSPTR) Fund as it becomes available. This fund is controlled by the 18-member OSPTR Board.
Throughout the current fiscal biennium ending in June 2025, about $98.5 million will be deposited into the OSPTR Fund. To date, more than $90 million has been allocated.
According to the Opioid Settlement Board’s annual report, published this week, Oregon allocated $74 million of the state portion of opioid settlement funds on locally based initiatives and programs across Oregon in the 2023-24 fiscal year (covering the period from July 1, 2023, through June 20, 2024).
The report showed nearly identical percentages allocated across the continuum of substance use services statewide.
Highlights of the spending this biennium include:
- 30% ($27.7 million) for the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon –equivalent to 30% of all funds anticipated this biennium. This 30% set-aside will continue throughout the life of the fund as additional settlement payments are deposited.
- 22% ($13.7 million) for the Save Lives Oregon Harm Reduction Clearinghouse to distribute naloxone and other life-saving supplies to organizations across Oregon.
- 22% ($13.7 million) to support primary prevention programs though counties and community based organizations, and to build up and strengthen the statewide substance use disorder prevention workforce.
- 21% ($13.08 million) to establish recovery community centers in counties with the greatest need and expand youth and culturally specific services in existing recovery community centers.
- 23% ($14.3 million) to add mobile and non-mobile medication units to existing Oregon opioid treatment programs (OTPs), and for Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) to provide training and technical assistance to jails to improve access to medications for opioid use disorder.
The OSPTR Board will next consider additional investments in research and evaluation.
To learn more about Oregon’s opioid settlement funds, visit oregon.gov/opioidsettlement
Oregon Lottery sends Shari’s restaurants to collections for $900,000 plus interest
The Oregon Lottery has sent Shari’s Cafe and Pies restaurant chain to collections for $900,000, a Lottery spokesperson confirmed Thursday.
In addition, Oregon Lottery Senior Communications Manager Matt Shelby confirmed a report that the Oregon Department of Revenue will tack on 9% interest.
Shari’s closed all its Oregon restaurants, including a handful in Central Oregon, last October after 46 years. Shari’s patrons could play video lottery games at the restaurants, with equipment supplied by the Lottery. Shortly after the closures, a lottery spokesperson told news outlets the following:
“Each week, our retailers deposit money into an account for what’s called our ‘draw’ or the revenue that’s due to us for Video Lottery play,” spokesperson Melanie Mesaros said. “When a retailer fails to pay their weekly electric fund transfer draw and the bank does not pay due to ‘non sufficient funds’ or NSF, they are required to pay us immediately or our equipment will be disabled.” Mesaros said the Lottery learned that Shari’s had an NSF on Oct. 16 and was unable to pay or provide a bond.
OpenAI looks to Oregon, other states for sites to build its Trump-backed Stargate AI data centers
The ChatGPT maker put out a request for proposals for land, electricity, engineers and architects and began visiting locations in Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
OpenAI is scouring the U.S. for sites to build a network of huge data centers to power its artificial intelligence technology, expanding beyond a flagship Texas location and looking across 16 states to accelerate the Stargate project championed by President Donald Trump.
The maker of ChatGPT put out a request for proposals for land, electricity, engineers and architects and began visiting locations in Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin this week.
Trump touted Stargate, a newly formed joint venture between OpenAI, Oracle and Softbank, shortly after returning to the White House last month.
The partnership said it is investing $100 billion — and eventually up to $500 billion — to build large-scale data centers and the energy generation needed to further AI development. Trump called the project a “resounding declaration of confidence in America’s potential” under his new administration, though the first project in Abilene, Texas, has been under construction for months.
Elon Musk, a Trump adviser and fierce rival of OpenAI who’s in a legal fight with the company and its CEO Sam Altman, has publicly questioned the value of Stargate’s investments.
After Trump’s announcement, a number of states reached out to OpenAI about welcoming additional data centers, Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s vice president of global affairs, told reporters Thursday.
The company’s request for proposals calls for sites with “proximity to necessary infrastructure including power and water.”
AI uses vast amounts of energy, much of which comes from burning fossil fuels, which causes climate change. Data centers also typically draw in large amounts of water for cooling.
OpenAI’s proposal makes no mention of whether it intends to prioritize renewable energy sources such as wind or solar to power the data centers, but it says electricity providers should have a plan to manage carbon emissions and water usage.
“There’s some sites we’re looking at where we want to help be part of the process that brings new power to that site, either from new gas deployment or other means,” said Keith Heyde, who directs OpenAI’s infrastructure strategy.
The first Texas project is in a region Abilene’s mayor has described to The Associated Press as rich in multiple energy sources, including wind, solar and gas. Also describing it that way is the company that began building the AI data center campus there in June — the same two “big, beautiful buildings” that Altman showed off in a recent drone video posted on social media.
Crusoe CEO Chase Lochmiller said that wind power is central to the project his company is building, though it will also have a gas-fired generator for backup power.
“We try to build data centers in locations where we can access low-cost, clean and abundant energy resources,” Lochmiller said. “West Texas really fits that mold where it’s one of the most consistently windy and sunny places in the United States.”
Lochmiller said he expects the Trump administration, despite the president’s opposition to wind farms, to be pragmatic in supporting wind-powered data centers when it is “actually the cheapest way to access energy.”
The other states where OpenAI is actively looking include Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. Heyde said the company only plans to build “somewhere between five to 10” campuses in total, depending on how large each one is.
OpenAI previously relied on business partner Microsoft for its computing needs, but the two companies recently amended their partnership to enable OpenAI to pursue data center development on its own. (SOURCE)
Oregon Check Casher Sentenced to Federal Prison for Payroll Tax Scheme Involving $177 Million
PORTLAND, Ore.–A Tualatin, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for conspiring to defraud the United States and filing false currency transaction reports.
David Katz, 48, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $44,877,254 in restitution to the IRS.
According to court documents and trial testimony, from January 2014 through December 2017, Katz, as president of Check Cash Pacific, Inc., conspired with others in the construction industry to defraud the United States by facilitating under-the-table payments to construction workers. To carry out the scheme, sham construction companies were created and used to cash more than $177 million in payroll checks at different Check Cash Pacific locations. The cash was used to pay construction workers under-the-table, with no taxes being withheld or reported to the IRS.
Construction companies would notify Katz when they planned to bring checks into one of his check cashing locations so that Katz could ensure he had enough cash on hand to complete the transaction. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of payroll checks were cashed daily and Katz was aware that at least one of his co-conspirators used a false name and social security number. Acting as compliance officer, Katz allowed hundreds of false regulatory reports to be filed knowing they contained the fake identity.
For his role in the scheme, Katz received a 2% commission on each transaction which, in total, amounted to more than $4 million. Over the course of their conspiracy, Katz and his co-conspirators prevented the IRS from collecting more than $44 million in payroll and income taxes due on the cash wages.
On December 2, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a five-count indictment charging Katz with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and four counts of filing false currency transaction reports with FinCEN. On June 12, 2024, a federal jury in Portland found Katz guilty of all charges.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Robert S. Trisotto and Andrew T. Ho, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
St. Helens school board fires teacher accused of sexual abuse
Choir teacher Eric Stearns faces 18 charges of sexual abuse. He was put on leave after his first arrest in November but had not been officially fired. — The St. Helens school board has officially fired Eric Stearns, one of two teachers at the center of a sexual abuse scandal that has roiled the district and the town. Stearns was put on administrative leave after being arrested in November, but he wasn’t formally dismissed until a special board meeting Wednesday night.
Stearns posted bail after his first arrest but was arrested again in January on additional charges and was ordered held without bail. He is currently in jail, facing what is now a total of 18 charges of sexual abuse against 12 people. The case was recently delayed after the original judge recused himself in response to a complaint from Stearns’ lawyer.
The scandal began with the arrest of Stearns and retired teacher Mark Collins on Nov. 12 following what police described as a two-month investigation into allegations of “historic sexual abuse” at St. Helens High School.
School principal Dr. Katy Wagner and district superintendent Scot Stockwell were subsequently put on leave and announced to be under investigation for — and in Wagner’s case, charged with — misconduct for failing to report sexual abuse allegations against teachers. A total of 10 staff are now on leave.
The district announced last week that it had named Dr. Karen Fischer Gray as acting superintendent for the remainder of the current school year, following the departure of initial interim superintendent Dr. Steve Webb, who had been hired in November on a three-month contract. Dr. Charlotte Ellis has also been appointed as acting principal at the high school.
The district hired a third-party investigator to look into the scandal in December, and an investigative report was initially set to be released last month but was delayed by a few weeks due to what a district spokesperson described as the investigator identifying a need to conduct additional interviews. (SOURCE)
An Oregon House bill would allow retailers to legally scan ID for people buying tobacco or alcohol, regardless of their age.
The legislation follows a pair of lawsuits challenging the practice, claiming universal ID checks were against existing state law and an invasion of privacy.
In September, KGW reported on the growing number of retailers who implemented universal ID checks for alcohol or tobacco products. Jonathan Polonsky, CEO of Plaid Pantry, said the policy of carding everyone eliminated any guesswork and kept the company in compliance with state and local requirements. Oregon law prohibits the swiping of a driver’s license except under certain circumstances, including the sale of age-restricted products if there is any reasonable doubt that the person is 21. Reasonable doubt exists if the person appears to be under the age of 26, according to Oregon Administrative Rules.
House Bill 2055 is headed to the House Judiciary Committee. Even if it is adopted, the bill won’t settle the existing lawsuits over ID checks because it’s not retroactive.
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)
State lawmakers are considering banning winners of large prizes in the Oregon Lottery from reselling their tickets in order to block schemes that enable tax evasion and uncollected child support payments.
The sales practice has spawned a cottage industry of so-called lottery discounters who operate around the state. They annually buy millions of dollars in winning tickets – mostly video lottery and keno tickets with prizes above $1,500 – from their original winners at steep discounts. Then they claim the face value of the prizes when they present the tickets at lottery payment centers in Wilsonville and Salem.
As detailed in an investigation published last summer by The Oregonian/Oregon Live, the scheme enables tax evasion. It allows some winners to avoid past due child support and other debts to the state that would otherwise be garnished from their prizes. It can incentivize sketchy operators to manipulate winners into selling tickets. And in some states, it has been linked to money laundering.
JACKSONVILLE, OR — The Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) announces its 2025 season, with three weeks of exciting outdoor programming in historic Jacksonville, Oregon, June 12 – 28, 2025.
Under the leadership of four guest conductors, Damon Gupton (June 12-13); Chia-Hsuan Lin (June 15-18); Roberto Kalb (June 21-23); and Normal Huynh (June 26-28) the Orchestra’s 63rd season highlights a feature film alongside beloved classical favorites.
The season features seven extraordinary guest artists: pianist Clayton Stephenson performing Ravel’s Concerto in G Major; violinist William Hagen performing Korngold’s Concerto in D Major; violinist Tessa Lark and cellist Wei Yu performing Brahms Double concerto for Violin & Violoncello in A minor; vocalist Sun-Ly Pierce performing Ravel’s Shéhérazade; pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko performing Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 3 in D minor; and violinist Simone Porter performing Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto in D and Ravel’s Tzigane. The season will begin with two evenings of Jurassic Park in Concert whereJohn Williams’ score will be performed live-to-picture by the full orchestra in one of the most beloved films of the 20th Century.
Britt Music & Arts Festival shares extraordinary live performances and arts education experiences that inspire discovery and build community, anchored at the Britt hill amphitheater. Since its grassroots beginnings in 1963, the non-profit organization has grown from a two-week chamber music festival to a summer-long series of concerts in a variety of genres, including a three-week orchestra season, and year-round education and engagement programs. For more information, visit www.brittfest.org
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.
The Oregon Department of Revenue is encouraging all workers with income in 2024 to check their EITC eligibility.
The Department of Revenue is working with other state agencies and community partners to encourage taxpayers to learn more about this credit and find out if they’re eligible for the credit, which is celebrating its 50th year in 2025. The IRS estimates that nearly 25 percent eligible Oregon taxpayers are not claiming the EITC. One Oregon organization says that adds up to an estimated $100 million in unclaimed credits. While many are unaware of the EITC and other credits, another hurdle is the need for free help filing tax returns. Free tax filing assistance is available at sites across the state.
The Earned Income Tax Credit is a federal tax credit for people for making up to $66,819 in 2024. Families may be eligible for a maximum refundable credit of $7,830 on their federal tax return, and a maximum Oregon Earned Income Credit of $940 on their state tax return. Certain taxpayers without children may also be eligible for these credits. Individuals may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Oregon EIC, and other credits, even if they are not required to file. To receive the refundable credits, however, they must file a federal and state tax return.
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
Willamette Valley News, Monday 3/6 – Man Stranded In Willamette National Forest Uses Drone To Call For Help, OSP Asks for Public’s Help in Credit Card Theft Investigation