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 21, 2025
Willamette Valley Weather
Stay updated with the National Weather Service for the latest information on evolving conditions.
Police and FBI Investigating Gunfire Attack on Salem Tesla Dealership
A Tesla dealership in Salem had its windows shot out early Wednesday morning, kicking off a police investigation that includes assistance from the FBI.
While authorities did not say if they believe it was a targeted attack, the vandalism comes as protests across the country have sprung up in response to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Police received a report about the shooting at a dealership at 2755 Southeast Mission St. around 5 a.m., and officers arrived to find the windows damaged by bullets, Salem Police Department spokesperson Angela Hedrick said in an email.
No arrests have been made in connection with the incident, but the FBI is helping with the investigation, Hedrick said.
Hedrick added that a fire believed to be arson broke out at the same dealership on Inauguration Day; the fire damaged one car at the dealership but prompted a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI. (SOURCE)
World War II Memorial Plaques Stolen From Eugene Church Memorial
Two historic metal war memorial plaques were reported stolen from a memorial area at Bethesda Lutheran Church in the Bethel-Danebo area of Eugene on Wednesday. Church and community members are hoping these will be returned.
Pastor Tom Welch is urging the community to keep an eye out for the plaques. Some community members online are also chiming in, offering cash rewards for the return of the plaques no questions asked.
Pastor Welch says “The plaques that were stolen were metal, and those were World War II. And then the other one was up until 1953 and included post-war and Korea. We’ve placed calls to our closest scrappers, you know, and they all will keep an eye out. I think I suspect that the reputable ones will keep an eye out and the disreputable ones will say so. And it’s really up to them.”
Eugene Police Department confirmed they are aware of the theft and a case has been opened. Security cameras in the area could have possibly captured some of the theft, but Pastor Welch is still working to review the video.
Exhibit Opening Night — The Museum of Natural and Cultural History at the University of Oregon opens “Roots and Resilience—Chinese American Heritage in Oregon,”
Chinese immigrants helped shape Oregon’s history. Come discover the stories and resilience of early Chinese Americans.
Exhibit highlights over 150 years of Chinese contributions to the state
Opening Night —– Friday, February 21
5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Member Preview ——- 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Public Reception
Join us for a celebration of history and community, with special guests and performances. The first hour is reserved for museum members and invited guests; at 6:00 p.m. everyone is invited.
Included with regular admission; free for MNCH members and UO ID card holders. Show your Oregon Trail or other EbT card for an admission discount.
Exhibit Opening Weekend — Saturday, February 22, and Sunday, February 23
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. —– Enjoy our newest exhibit along with family-friendly activities, crafts, and refreshments.
Included with regular admission; free for MNCH members and UO ID card holders. Show your Oregon Trail or other EbT card for an admission discount.
Among the earliest non-Indigenous communities to settle in Oregon, Chinese immigrants made significant contributions to the state’s economy and culture, yet their stories have often gone unrecognized. Using archaeological discoveries around the state alongside personal histories, the exhibit sheds light on the experiences of Chinese people, the intense discrimination they faced, and their perseverance in shaping Oregon’s diverse industries, businesses, and communities.
“The history of Chinese immigrants in Oregon reflects the broader American immigrant experience—marked by struggle, resilience, and lasting contributions despite the institutionalized racism they faced,” said Todd Braje, executive director of the museum. “At the museum we are honored to share their stories, to learn from their histories, and to contribute to a more welcoming place for all people.”
The exhibit traces Chinese American communities across the state, showcasing artifacts recovered from archaeological digs at sites such as the Ah Heng mining site in the Malheur National Forest and a historic shop and restaurant in Eugene. Objects on display highlight the craftsmanship and expertise of Chinese workers who played vital roles in Oregon‘s railroad, mining, and canning industries. https://mnch.uoregon.edu/roots-and-resilience-chinese-american-heritage-oregon
Eugene Public Library — Winter Clothing Drive this Sun., Feb. 23, 1-4:30 p.m.!
Bring new or gently used winter clothing, including coats, gloves, hats, and boots to the Downtown Library for distribution at St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County‘s Egan Warming Centers. Thanks to the City of Eugene Government‘s Youth Advisory Council for creating this convenient way to help
Lane Arts Council is actively seeking six new board members to join us in cultivating belonging, learning and investment to engage all of Lane County in the transformative power of the arts. Applications due March 9th; details at lanearts.org.
Armed man arrested near hospital campus in Salem
Salem, Ore. — Just before 8:00 p.m. yesterday, February 18, Salem Police officers responded to the report of an armed man outside the Salem Health medical center. Security personnel reported a man was seen walking outside the hospital campus at Oak and Capitol STS SE, carrying what appeared to be a rifle.
Officers located the man, identified as Luis Angel Escobedo Castaneda, walking near the intersection of University and Leslie STS SE. Castaneda refused to comply with verbal commands from arriving officers and ran. A brief foot pursuit ensued that ended when Castaneda reached a fence. When Castaneda faced the officers, a portion of the firearm was visible in his waistband.
Castaneda continued refusing officer orders to comply and motioned repeatedly toward his waist. He surrendered only after the deployment of less lethal rounds and a police canine. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Officers seized a loaded rifle from the 25-year-old Castaneda. After receiving medical clearance, Castaneda was lodged at the Marion County Jail on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, interfering with a police officer, and second-degree disorderly conduct.
Castaneda, who is from Portland, is set to be arraigned today at the Marion County Circuit Court Annex.
Months-Long Investigation Leads to Recovery of Stolen Vehicles and Property, and Multiple Arrests
YONCALLA, Ore. — A months-long investigation in northern Douglas County has concluded with the successful recovery of numerous stolen vehicles and property, as well as multiple arrests. The investigation, which focused on a large-scale chop shop operation, involved deputies working to track down stolen vehicles and property.
Reports indicated that stolen vehicles were being transported to a residence located in the 200-block of Lower Crest Road in Yoncalla, where they were being disassembled as part of an organized operation. Deputies launched the investigation, which culminated in the execution of a search warrant on January 15, 2025.
During the search, deputies recovered 10 stolen vehicles, along with property that belonged to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
As the investigation progressed, additional stolen vehicles and equipment were identified. On February 8, 2025, deputies returned to the Lower Crest Road residence, where they uncovered a stolen Sureclean Northwest power washer buried on the property. The investigation then expanded to Lane County, where a stolen 1956 Porsche was recovered in Eugene. Further inquiries took deputies to Sweet Home, where they recovered a stolen 2024 Husqvarna 300 dirt bike and a 1995 Jeep CJ5.
The investigation resulted in several arrests, including:
Junior Victor Cullison (28) of Yoncalla — Facing charges of Possession of Stolen Vehicle x9, Trafficking Vehicle with Altered VIN x12, Criminal Mischief II, Theft By Receiving, Failure to Obtain Vehicle VIN, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle x6, and Aggravated Theft I — Motor Vehicle Parts/Accessories.
Travis E. McKown (45) of Yoncalla — Facing charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle x2 and Trafficking Vehicle with Altered VIN.
William “Willie” Spain, Jr. (42) of Eugene — Facing charges of Possession of Stolen Vehicle x4, Trafficking Vehicle with Altered VIN x4, Criminal Mischief I x4, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle x4, and Aggravated Theft I — Motor Vehicle Parts/Accessories.
Deputies believe additional arrests may occur as the investigation continues.
Anyone with information that could assist in the ongoing investigation is encouraged to contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 440-4471, referencing Case #25-0149.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Lane County and Linn County Sheriff’s Offices and Sweet Home Police Department.
LCSO Responds to Shooting on West 11th
On 2/17/25 The Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported shooting at a residence in the 27000 block of West 11th in Eugene. Deputy’s have contacted all parties involved and there is no on going threat to the community. Due to this being an active investigation there is no further information being released at this time.
Update: 2/17/25 Detectives with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office are conducting an investigation into the shooting that occurred early this morning. At this time everyone is cooperating with the investigation and the names of both involved are being withheld due to the investigation still ongoing. More information will be released when available.
A second investigation is currently being conducted on the same property for an illegal marijuana grow location. Detectives and Deputies from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office are actively serving a search warrant for this location. Due to this being an active investigation more information won’t be released until a later time.
Lane Events Center Launches Community Survey – Website to Kick Off Long-Range Planning Effort
Lane Events Center (LEC) is updating its Master Plan to help guide investment in the property over the next 10 to 20 years. The process, which will take place over the next six months, is beginning with a community survey.
The survey is open to everyone in Lane County and is available at www.LECMasterPlan.org through Monday, February 24. It is available in English and Spanish.
“We host hundreds of events every year and welcome people from across our community and the country,” said Lane Events Center Manager Corey Buller. “A master plan will help us continue to be a hub for our community, provide a gathering place, drive investment, and anticipate how we can best be a part of the community over the next decade.”
LEC is a multi-purpose site on 52 acres near downtown Eugene. It includes a 100,000 sq. ft. convention center, 18 rentable spaces and facilities, and 20 acres of outdoor event space. In a typical year, LEC accommodates up to 1,250 event days, drawing approximately 785,000 visitors to a variety of events including the Lane County Fair, trade shows, concerts, sporting events, community festivals, and educational programs.
The Master Plan process will help Lane County:
- Conduct an engagement process that gathers diverse perspectives and ideas
- Identify community needs, values, and priorities
- Shape a shared vision for Lane Events Center
- Develop community-guided designs concepts to bring the vision to life
There will be open houses to gather community input this spring. The proposed plan will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for possible adoption this summer.
Stay up-to-date by signing up for email updates at www.LECMasterPlan.org.
About Lane Events Center Master Plan
The Master Plan is a comprehensive, long-term planning document that provides a strategic framework for the development, improvement, and management of LEC. An updated master plan will help guide investment in the property and help us prioritize infrastructure updates. This plan will support LEC as it continues to grow and adapt, serving as a hub for events, programs and emergency services that reflect the evolving needs and priorities of our community.
Computer kiosks now available in Revenue regional offices to help taxpayers with free electronic filing
Oregon Dept. of Revenue
-Oregon taxpayers preparing their own taxes can now file their returns using computer kiosks set up in public spaces in Department of Revenue regional offices in Bend, Eugene, Gresham, and Portland during business hours.
The kiosks can be used to file taxes through the free fillable forms and Direct File Oregon e-file options.
Office located in Eugene
1600 Valley River Drive
Suite 310
Eugene, OR 97401-2160
Monday — Friday 8 a.m. — 5 p.m. (closed 12:30 p.m. — 1:30 p.m.)
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 computer kiosk offers a way to file electronically for those without a computer or those who fill out paper forms and want to transfer their data into one of the two available options to receive their refund sooner,” said Megan Denison, administrator of the department’s Personal Tax and Compliance Division.
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.
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!
Help Us Keep Lane County Warm! 
We’re launching the Cold Weather Shelter Drive to support our unhoused neighbors this winter. Donate new or gently used tents, blankets, sleeping bags, and tarps to ensure no one faces the cold alone.
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.
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
Hospitals urge passage of HB 2010-A to protect care for 1.4 million Oregonians, prevent further financial stress on hospitals
–Oregon’s hospitals are calling on the Oregon House Revenue Committee to pass HB 2010-A, legislation essential to protecting health care access for 1.4 million Oregonians who rely on the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and preventing further destabilization of hospitals.
Without legislative action this session, OHP faces a $2 billion funding shortfall, threatening the benefits, services, and programs that support Oregon’s most vulnerable populations.
Some 97% of Oregonians are now insured–the highest rate in state history. OHP has been central to this achievement, covering one in three Oregonians, including 57% of the state’s children.
Oregon hospitals have long played a key role in helping fund OHP by supporting the hospital assessment, which–when combined with federal matching funds–accounts for nearly a quarter of OHP’s total funding.
“As we continue to monitor potential federal policy changes that could impact Medicaid programs nationwide, our top priority must be supporting and stabilizing the health care system and the programs that we have today,” said Becky Hultberg, president and CEO of the Hospital Association of Oregon. “Passage of HB 2010-A supports continued health care access for Oregon families, children, seniors, and rural communities while also preventing further stress on our financially fragile hospitals.”
Passing HB 2010-A is a critical step in preventing further destabilization of Oregon’s hospitals, about half of which are operating at a loss. Since early 2020, hospitals’ facility payroll costs alone have increased 43%, as they have continued to invest more in staff to meet patient needs. But without adequate payment from Medicaid and other health insurers, hospitals are struggling to keep services available, including emergency departments, labor and delivery units, behavioral health care, and specialty services like oncology. Some hospitals have already been forced to reduce or eliminate services, a trend that will only accelerate if funding is cut.
Oregon’s hospitals urge lawmakers to pass HB 2010-A to maintain health coverage and to help Oregonians access the care they need.
About the Hospital Association of Oregon – Founded in 1934, the Hospital Association of Oregon (HAO) is a mission-driven, nonprofit trade association representing Oregon’s 61 hospitals. Together, hospitals are the sixth largest private employer statewide, employing nearly 70,000 employees. Committed to fostering a stronger, safer, more equitable Oregon where all people have access to the high-quality care they need, the hospital association supports Oregon’s hospitals so they can support their communities; educates government officials and the public on the state’s health landscape, and works collaboratively with policymakers, community based organizations and the health care community to build consensus on and advance health care policy benefiting the state’s four million residents.
Increasing costs and impacts of regulation changes make planning for and planting 2.3M seedlings in Oregon state forests a challenge
Tillamook State Forest, Ore.–More than 6,100 acres of harvested timber areas in Oregon’s state forests are getting nearly 2.3 million seedlings planted this year. Planting is underway or soon to be started in the Tillamook, Clatsop, and Santiam, while planting on the Sun Pass and Gilchrist State Forests will start in May.
“Depending on weather, soil conditions, and planting crew availability each state forest typically gets their planting done in six-to-eight weeks,” said John Walter, Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) State Forests Silviculturist.
A long planning timeframe – Although the planting window is short, the planning and coordination to get those trees in the ground by ODF’s experts is much longer.
“We are looking at our seedling needs about two to three years out,” said Walter. “We come up with the number of seedlings needed and then contract with several nurseries to get them grown at the time we need them.”
It sounds simple enough; however, the way the timber sale contracts are set up makes coming up with an accurate number tricky.
“Winning bidders have two to three years to harvest that sale,” said Walter. “That means we may need to replant in that area after year one, two, or three. So how do we come up with the number of seedlings each year? We get with each ODF district folks and make a best guess based on past performance of the winning bidder, operator availability, and market conditions.”
One time rule changes challenging – Another issue this past year, especially for the Tillamook State Forest, was the implementation of the Private Forest Accord and the resulting changes to the Forest Practices Act (FPA). Some private landowners decided to harvest under the old rules. This created an increase in the demand for the limited number of timber operators.
“Nearly all the operators were working on private forestland last year,” said Nick Stumpf, Unit Manager for ODF’s Tillamook District. “In a normal year we would have 10-12 harvest operations, last year we had one.”
Private timber operators are the ones who run the harvest equipment and are typically contracted by the winning bidders of a state forest timber sale.
“For state forests our contracts already met or exceeded the requirements of the FPA changes in many areas so there was no rush to harvest on state sales,” said Stumpf. “The operators were focused on getting timber out of private lands before the rule changes. This one-time shift changed the prediction of how many seedlings we would need to plant in our district.”
Costs increase, revenue sharing static – Not only are they taking an educated guess at the number of seedlings needed, but they are also having to project the costs of the seedling itself but the labor and contract costs to plant them.
“Those combined costs used to be fairly consistent,” said Walter. “However, over the past five years or so those combine costs have climbed from around 50 cents a tree to more than $1 a tree.”
These cost increases are hard for ODF to manage since revenue from state forest timber sales is split, with the host counties getting approximately two-thirds while one-third is kept by ODF to manage the forests. However, ODF pays for all costs associated with managing state forestlands, including timber sales, post-harvest replanting, trail and campground maintenance and improvements, and improving wildlife habitat. So, when costs increase, like doubling planting costs, it takes funding away from other important work on state forestlands, as ODF must absorb those increases without being able to access more of the sales revenue.
Unique greatest permanent value management – Another cost and planning challenge when replanting is state forests are managed for a concept called greatest permanent value (GPV). GPV means that the approximately 745,000 acres of forestlands ODF manages across the state needs to provide for economic, environmental, and social benefits to Oregonians.
“GPV impacts how we plan and plant after a timber harvest,” said Zach Rabe, Tillamook District Operations Coordinator. “Most large private landowners plant 100 percent Douglas-fir, because it is typically the most valuable species here in Western Oregon. However, because of our GPV management goals, we plant about 70 percent Doug-fir and 30 percent other species. Our goal is to promote diverse and thus resilient forests to provide environmental benefits. We mimic what was likely the natural conifer mix of the forests to provide those environmental benefits like wildlife habitat. This mix also improves social benefits like clean water and seeing more than one species when you are on a state forest trail or road.”
The mix of tree types means ordering seedlings from nurseries is more complex than a one species order.
“We have to consolidate all the needs for each district and then come up with a list of the species and numbers of seedlings we need,” said Walter. “So again, we are trying to predict our seedling needs nearly three years out, so it is a best guess; however, we want to make sure we have enough seedlings, so we typically have leftover trees.”
Extra seedlings shared – Last year ODF had a lot of seedlings leftover after planting all ODF lands.
“We sold 580,000 seedlings to private and industrial landowners. We donated 20,000 to non-profits, mostly watershed groups, and gave about 60,000 seedlings to tribal governments,” said Walter. “We don’t want to come up short because that impacts future activities; however, we do not want these seedlings to go to waste so we try to make sure they all get used.”
Organizations that buy or receive free seedlings still must pay for the planting costs.
“We are still doing final calculations on how many trees we will plant this year, but like last year we will offer up the extras we do not use,” said Walter.
For more information on Oregon’s State Forests see: Oregon Department of Forestry : State forests : Forest resources : State of Oregon For information on recreational opportunities see: Oregon Department of Forestry : Recreation, education & interpretation : Recreation, education & interpretation : State of Oregon If you are a private small forestland owner and what more information on managing your forest see: Oregon Department of Forestry : Small Forestland Owner Office : Forest resources : State of Oregon
ODF proposes revised state forest implementation plans, opens 30-day comment period
SALEM, Ore.–The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) opens a 30-day comment period starting Thursday on proposed Implementation Plan revisions for the Astoria, Forest Grove, Tillamook, North Cascade, West Oregon, and Western Lane (including the Veneta and Southwest units) state forest districts. Implementation plans describe forest management activities such as timber harvest targets, road construction and maintenance, reforestation and young stand management, recreation, aquatic habitat restoration and protection strategies for species of concern.
The comment period begins Feb. 20 and ends March 21 at 5 p.m. The implementation plans are available on ODF’s website. Comments can be submitted online by using this form, emailing ODF.SFComments@oregon.gov, or mailing comments to ODF Public Affairs, 2600 State St., Salem, OR 97310.
State forests by law must provide social, economic, and environmental benefits to Oregonians, and are managed under long-range forest management plans, mid-range implementation plans, and annual operations plans.
At the direction of the Board of Forestry, ODF is continuing the development of a draft Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan and Forest Management Plan for Western Oregon State Forests. The draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is currently going through the National Environmental Policy Act process. Finalization of this process and issuance of Incidental Take Permits is expected to occur within fiscal year 2026. Revising the current implementation plans allows the agency to continue operations during this time of transition and further align with the draft HCP while focusing resources on developing a new forest management plan and accompanying implementation plans required to implement the draft HCP.
The revisions to the current Implementation Plans include new information on the district land base and forest resources, updated Species of Concern strategies and associated Forest Land Management Classification map, clarified timber harvest target descriptions, and changes to the mapped landscape design of the desired future condition. These changes align with Division policy, current Forest Management Plans and draft HCP objectives. In order to cover the HCP approval timeline, the new Forest Management Plan and new Implementation Plan development timelines, the revised Implementation Plans have been extended through June 30, 2027.
Lawsuit Aims to Protect Spring-Run Chinook Salmon in Pacific Northwest
— The Center for Biological Diversity and allies sued the National Marine Fisheries Service today for delaying Endangered Species Act protection decisions for spring-run Chinook salmon in Oregon, Washington and Northern California.
The Center, Native Fish Society and Umpqua Watersheds petitioned the Service in August 2022 to protect Oregon Coast Chinook salmon under the Endangered Species Act. In July 2023 the Center and Pacific Rivers petitioned to add Washington coast spring-run Chinook salmon to the list.
The Service was required to decide whether to protect the fish within one year after the petitions were filed. The Service found that federal protections “may be warranted” for the three salmon populations in 2023 but has made no further decisions.
“These iconic fish are at risk of disappearing from our coastal rivers forever if the Service doesn’t act quickly,” said Jeremiah Scanlan, a legal fellow at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Spring-run Chinook salmon badly need protections, but instead the agency has taken the lazy river approach and drifted past its own deadlines.”
Chinook salmon, also known as “king salmon,” are the largest of all Pacific salmon. Once abundant throughout the river basins of the Pacific Northwest, Chinook salmon populations have declined to a fraction of their historical size.
“Umpqua Watersheds has been tracking this population for decades and has never seen the wild spring Chinook population even close to its designated viability number for survival,” said Stanley Petrowski, a member of Umpqua Watersheds. “The science is clear. This unique ecologically significant species is going extinct.”
Spring-run fish are a variant of Chinook salmon, who return to rivers much earlier than the more abundant fall-run salmon. They return in the spring from the ocean to coastal freshwater rivers, staying for months in deep pools until they spawn in the fall. Spring-run Chinook have unique habitat requirements for migration, spawning and juvenile rearing. Their suitable spawning habitat is in mainstem rivers and tributaries, and these early returning fish have a special need for streams high in watersheds that stay cool enough during the summer so they can survive.
“The watersheds of Washington developed with and continue to need spring-run Chinook,” said Michael Morrison, chair of Pacific Rivers. “Protections for the imperiled spring-run Chinook will insure healthy watersheds for present and future generations.”
Threats to Chinook salmon include habitat destruction from logging and road construction, water diversions, interbreeding with hatchery-raised fish, overharvest in commercial fisheries and dams obstructing their return migrations.
Currently, both spring-run and fall-run Chinook salmon are managed by the Service and state wildlife agencies as if they were the same population. But recent scientific studies show that spring-run fish are genetically distinct from the more abundant fall-run Chinook. The evolution of early-returning fish occurred in both salmon and steelhead trout millions of years ago. This difference in spawning-run timing is highly unlikely to occur again if these distinct populations are lost.
Early returning salmon are ecologically essential to the overall health of coastal Chinook populations, since they use colder water habitats further upstream than fall-run fish, making populations more resilient to climate change, extreme environmental conditions and human threats.
Spring-run Chinook salmon are also a preferred and primary food for Southern Resident orcas, which are themselves listed as endangered, having a population of only 73 individuals. Diminishing salmon numbers and smaller body sizes of spring Chinook means that fish-eating orcas must travel further and work harder to find sufficient food. Pacific Northwest orcas have suffered in recent years from malnourishment and reproductive failures.
The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.7 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
The Native Fish Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that cultivates a groundswell of public support for reviving abundant wild fish, free-flowing rivers, and thriving local communities across the Pacific Northwest.
The mission of Pacific Rivers is to protect and restore the watershed ecosystems of the West to ensure river health, biodiversity and clean water for present and future generations. (SOURCE)
Department of Revenue issues first income tax refunds in 2025
The Oregon Department of Revenue has begun distributing refunds for the 2024 tax year. Through February 17, the department has processed more than 400,000 tax returns. The first refunds of the year were issued Tuesday.
Each year the department employs a refund hold period as part of the agency’s fraud prevention efforts. The hold period has been completed and most taxpayers can expect to receive their refunds within two weeks of the date their return is filed. Some returns, however, require additional review and can take up to 20 weeks before a refund is issued.
Taxpayers can check the status of their refund by using the department’s Where’s My Refund? tool. The Department of Revenue recommends that taxpayers wait one week after they have electronically filed their return to use the Where’s My Refund tool.
The Where’s My Refund? tool has been updated for 2025, providing more information about the status of their return to taxpayers who are signed into their Revenue Online account. Taxpayers who don’t already have a Revenue Online account can create one by following the Revenue Online link on the department’s website. Taxpayers who don’t have a Revenue Online account can still use the Where’s My Refund? tool but won’t be able to see the updated features.
A video outlining the refund process and timelines is also available to help taxpayers understand the process.
The department also offered a list of do’s and don’ts for filing to help with efficient processing and avoid unnecessary delays.
Do file electronically and request direct deposit. 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.
Don’t send a duplicate paper return. Taxpayers should file just once unless they need to make a change to their return. Sending a duplicate return will slow processing and delay your refund.
Do make sure you have all tax records before filing. Having all necessary records is essential to filing a complete and accurate tax return and avoiding errors.
Don’t get in a hurry and fail to report all your income. If income reported on a return doesn’t match the income reported by employers, the return, and any corresponding refund, will be delayed. If taxpayers receive more or corrected tax records after filing a return, they should file an amended return to report any changes.
Do make sure you have a Revenue Online account. Before beginning the filing process, taxpayers should make sure their information is current in Revenue Online, the state’s internet tax portal. Those who don’t have a Revenue Online account can sign up on the agency’s website.
To get tax forms, check the status of their refund, or make payments, visit our website or email questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov.
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.
Governor Kotek and Oregon Housing and Community Services Launch Program to Build More Housing, Lower Costs
Zero interest loans will support the development of housing for middle class Oregonians
Thursday, Governor Tina Kotek and Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced the launch of Oregon’s Moderate Income Revolving Loan (MIRL) program. The program will provide zero interest loans to cities and counties for new housing units that do not have enough financing to start construction.
The funding is a tool cities and counties can use to boost housing construction, reducing housing prices and providing homeownership opportunities for moderate-income Oregonians.
“When Oregonians making a good wage can’t afford to live where they work, our businesses and communities can’t thrive. We have to work to make sure all Oregon families can afford a home with the urgency they deserve,” Governor Kotek said. “This program is an essential piece of the affordability puzzle, lending a hand to our local partners who need a little help to make the balance sheet make sense.”
“The heart of local governments is rooted in making everyday life better for their residents. Boosting housing support reinforces the importance and unity we ought to have about getting big things done, through locally driven housing solutions,” OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell said. “The Moderate Income Revolving Loan aims to empower cities and counties by providing loans to local governments, which can support developers to ensure housing prices are within reach to individuals and families who struggle to secure enough traditional credit or financing. With its revolving structure, repaid funds are reinvested to support others who need them to create new housing. No matter where they live in Oregon, people deserve a housing system that works for them.”
“Our cities and counties across Oregon need innovative tools to help with the cost of housing projects. The Moderate Income Revolving Loan fund is now one of those tools,” Senator Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City) said. “Thank you to Governor Kotek and Representative Marsh for partnering on this important legislation. I will continue to work across the aisle with my colleagues to solve Oregon’s most pressing issues.”
“In these days of high building costs, we’ve learned that middle income housing development often needs targeted subsidies to make projects pencil,” Representative Pam Marsh (D-Ashland) said. “The Revolving Loan Fund will provide the kind of sustained and strategic investment we need to get homes on the ground and Oregonians housed.”
Housing built under this program must rent or sell to families making lower than 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) during the lifespan of the loan, typically ten years. The fund is repaid with a fee in-lieu of property taxes, at no additional cost to the owner, which allows the state to repeatedly lend out the funds.
The MIRL program is part of a suite of tools in the Governor’s housing package, Senate Bill 1537 (2024), which allocated $75 million to the MIRL Fund. The bill also established the Housing Infrastructure Support Fund and the Housing Accountability and Production Office.
As a result of the Governor’s and the Legislature’s efforts, by July 2025, the state will have financed 2,800 affordable housing units and provided infrastructure for over 25,000 affordable and market rate housing units. The Governor’s 2025-2027 budget continues to build on that progress to increase Oregon’s housing supply in every part of the state.
Oregon Building Codes Division launches innovative housing option for attached stacked duplexes
Salem — The Oregon Building Codes Division has adopted new residential code provisions that will allow the construction of attached stacked two-family dwellings (i.e., duplexes) under the residential specialty code, the division announced.
This innovative code change will allow stacked duplexes to take advantage of existing code provisions for townhouses. It allows for a slightly different configuration that permits the total number of dwelling units to be doubled, while maintaining reasonable safeguards and unit compartmentalization.
“Addressing the housing affordability crisis means looking under the hood for every fix we can find,” Gov. Tina Kotek said. “I appreciate the Oregon Building Codes Division’s creative work. This change will give more Oregon families access to more affordable housing options.”
Developers and builders will be able to use the residential code to stack two dwelling units vertically, while being attached to other stacked dwelling units horizontally. This will result in denser housing, as well as provide more options for smaller lots and infill. This housing type was previously allowed only under application of the structural specialty code’s multifamily path, which is generally more costly and complex than application under the residential code.
“This provides another tool in the toolbelt for the construction industry to meet Oregon’s housing needs. It will allow for creating more units in a simpler, more streamlined way while still ensuring safeguards are afforded in design,” said Alana Cox, administrator of the Building Codes Division. “The governor has called for an all-hands-on-deck approach and we have been working with the Residential and Manufactured Structures Board, industry partners, and local governments to come up with innovative solutions.”
The Building Codes Division adopted temporary rules on Jan. 31 to enact the code provisions and will be permanently adopting the new code provisions on April 1. More information, including the code change, is available at https://www.oregon.gov/bcd/codes-stand/Documents/23orsc-stacked-amend.pdf.
### About Oregon BCD: The Building Codes Division administers the statewide building code, which provides uniform standards that ensure newly constructed residential and commercial buildings are safe for people to occupy. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit oregon.gov/bcd and dcbs.oregon.gov.
Oregon is home to 4 of the top 5 smokiest cities nationwide
Northwest researchers find Medford, Grants Pass and Bend had the most wildfire smoke from 2019-2023.
Over the past five years, more than 36 million acres of land have burned in wildfires across the United States. But the impacts of those wildfires reached far beyond the areas actually touched by fire: wildfire smoke carried hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles, affecting millions of people downwind.
Just ask residents of Medford, Grants Pass and Bend, the top three smokiest cities in the country from 2019 to 2023.
Researchers including Dan Jaffe and Haebum Lee at the University of Washington Bothell have developed a new way to quickly determine the number of days communities across the country experienced higher than normal levels of smoke. They combined particulate readings from air quality stations on the ground with satellite imagery.
In addition to Medford, Grants Pass and Bend, several other Oregon cities made their top 10 list: Klamath Falls (#5), Roseburg (#6) and Eugene/Springfield (#10). The smokiest city in Washington was Yakima (#15).
Particulate pollution comes from numerous sources: car and truck exhaust, power plants and other industry, wood stoves, and agriculture. In all of these Oregon and Washington cities, the particulate from wildfire smoke (PM 2.5) comprised at least 30% of the total particulate pollutants residents were exposed to each year.
The tiny particulates found in wildfire smoke are so small that they can be absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs. They can cause minor and serious respiratory issues and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
To try to determine the health impacts of wildfire smoke on communities, the researchers also looked at the number of emergency room visits caused by asthma in different communities. From 2019-23, they linked an estimated 42,500 ER visits to smoke exposure. The analysis showed that high-population metro areas in the Eastern U.S. ranked highest (in the number of individual cases) for these kinds of smoke-related health impacts.
In both Portland and Seattle metro areas, about 15% of all asthma-related ER visits could be attributed to wildfire smoke.
The new research was presented at the American Geophysical Union annual meeting in Washington, D.C. (SOURCE)
Trump Layoffs Put Power Grid at Risk
200 employees at the Bonneville Power Administration took the Trump Administration’s buyout offer, 90 new job offers have been rescinded and 400 probationary employees could be laid off.
Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley say cutting 20 percent of the agency’s staff puts the power grid at risk. The BPA is a power marketing agency that operates on revenue it generates, and not tax dollars. They say the greatest impact will be on rural areas that buy power from the BPA.
Cuts to federal wildfire crews could have ‘scary’ consequences
President Donald Trump’s moves to slash the federal workforce have gutted the ranks of wildland firefighters and support personnel, fire professionals warn, leaving communities to face deadly consequences when big blazes arrive this summer.
“There’s going to be firefighters that die because of this, there will be communities that burn,” said Steve Gutierrez, a union official who served 15 years as a firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service.
Gutierrez now serves as a labor relations representative with the National Federation of Federal Employees, which represents government workers. He said thousands of wildland firefighters have had their jobs thrown into limbo by Trump’s government-wide hiring freeze.
Brian Fennessy, chief of the Orange County Fire Authority and president of the California Fire Chiefs Association, echoed that concern. “The public needs to know they’re at risk,” Fennessy said. “If the public knew all of this, they would lose their minds.”
Federal agencies depend on an army of seasonal firefighters to fill their ranks during the months when wildfires are most active. Scott, a Forest Service firefighter with six years of experience in the Western United States, who asked to be identified by a pseudonym to avoid retaliation, is among those whose role has been thrown into uncertainty.
“It’s just going to be a disaster for the wildfire response this season,” he said. (READ MORE)
Providence, Oregon Nurses Association to return to bargaining table as nurses strike enters sixth week
Providence and the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) will return to the bargaining table this week as the historic nurses strike stretches into the sixth week. Mediation is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Nearly 5,000 unionized nurses from eight Providence hospitals around the state have been on strike since Jan. 10. They’re asking for competitive wages, and better working conditions and staffing levels at hospitals.
Mediation is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18 and Wednesday, Feb. 19, ONA announced in a news release Monday morning.
“As nurses from all eight Providence hospitals across Oregon, we remain united and steadfast in our commitment to this strike. We will not stop until we have a contract that prioritizes frontline nurses and the patients we serve,” said Virginia Smith, a registered nurse from Providence Willamette Falls and leader of the bargaining team.
“As ONA has shared publicly, the parties are returning to the bargaining table with the assistance of the federal mediators tomorrow and Wednesday,” Providence said in a statement.
The update comes as more elected officials have weighed in. On Monday, 11 Portland city councilors signed a letter expressing support for the health care workers and urging Providence leadership to quickly resolve the strike.
“The well-being of our entire community is at stake. This is both a public health and public safety concern,” the letter said, in part. It went on to say, “The status quo is not working. We urge you to return to the bargaining table and engage in good-faith negotiations that lead to real, lasting solutions.”
On Monday afternoon, KGW spoke with two city councilors who signed the letter: Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane and Councilor Mitch Green.
“Heading into the 6th week of this strike, it it really felt like it was time for us, as Portland City Councilors to weigh in. We all have been hearing from our constituents, and at this point it’s not just about affecting the jobs of community members, but really this is also about the safety and the care of our community members,” said Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane, from District 3.
“We’re not really looking to be passive on the sidelines when a major employer in the region that’s responsible for public health and safety is in a dispute with their employees,” said Councilor Mitch Green, from District 4. “Remember, in 2020, when we were banging pots and pans and thanking our essential workers. They’ve been there the whole time and you thank them by showing up in a contract and giving them the resources they need so we can recruit, retain and fairly pay nurses.”
Gov. Tina Kotek issued a statement on Jan. 10 urging both sides to immediately resolve their disagreements. Ahead of the strike, multiple Oregon lawmakers signed a letter pushing for Providence and ONA to reach a deal and avoid a walkout.
Last week, Providence sent a message to striking health care workers, informing them that they must return to work by Feb. 28 to keep their health benefits. The suspension of benefits applies to anyone who doesn’t return to work, meaning St. Vincent hospitalists, who voted to ratify their contract on Feb. 8 but are striking in solidarity with St. Vincent nurses, would also lose their coverage.
“The punishing nature of being denied a fair contract, being driven to a strike and then compounded with the punishment of this threat of cutting off health insurance is really unsafe and unacceptable,” said Koyama Lane.
Striking nurses from all eight hospitals previously rejected Providence’s latest offer. Both ONA and Providence said they will not provide public comment during mediation. (SOURCE)
OSP leading homicide investigation- Lake County
Lake County, Ore 20 February 2025- Oregon State Police, as part of the Lake County Major Crimes team, leads investigation into Lakeview homicide.
On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 3:44 p.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police assisted the Department of Human Services Child Welfare with the service of a court ordered protection order. The protection order was for a 17-year-old juvenile reported to be living at 300 Block of South G Street in Lakeview.
The mother of the juvenile, Amanda Edwards (38), and mother’s boyfriend, Nathaniel Cullins (31) were detained after law enforcement made entry into the residence. Law enforcement conducted a search and located the juvenile deceased on the property.
The Lake County Major Crime Team was activated to investigate the juvenile’s death. The Lake County Major Crime Team consists of the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon State Police. Oregon State Police is leading the investigation.
Law enforcement believes there is no active threat to the community.
Edwards was lodged at the Lake County Jail for the following crimes:
- Criminally Negligent Homicide
- Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree
- Abuse of a Corpse in the Second Degree
- Tampering with Physical Evidence
Cullins was lodged at the Lake County jail for the following crimes:
- Criminally Negligent Homicide
- Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree
- Abuse of a Corpse in the Second Degree
- Tampering with Physical Evidence
- Unlawful Use of a Weapon
Anyone who has information regarding this investigation and has not been contacted by police is encouraged to contact the Oregon State Police Southern Command Center at 541-883-5711 and reference Case # SP25-054507. No additional information will be released at this time.
Man Found Deceased in Depoe Bay Harbor Identified
On October 20th, 2024, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Depoe Fire District and the United States Coast Guard responded to a deceased person floating in the Depoe Bay Harbor. Responders located and removed the person from the harbor, however, could not immediately determine the person’s identity.
The investigation led the Sheriff’s Office to a vehicle, registered out of New Jersey, abandoned for multiple weeks at a nearby gas station, and learned the vehicle was registered to 31-year-old Duncan Grundman. Through open-source internet searches, Deputies located a next of kin for Duncan living in Maryland. The next of kin was able to provide details regarding Duncan’s history, including concerns about mental health issues and previous Law Enforcement contacts in Colorado.
The Boulder County (CO) Sheriff’s Office provided information on a recent incident in which Duncan’s roommates located a concerning note left by Duncan approximately one week before his vehicle was reported as abandoned at the gas station. The note indicated Duncan may intend to harm himself.
The investigation confirmed Ducan’s identity by comparing a pair of prescription glasses to social media photos and analysis of a cell phone located on his person. The cell phone contained photos of personal identification and Duncan’s vehicle insurance card. Additionally, the Lincoln County Medical Examiner’s Office was able to match tattoos found on Duncan’s body to his tattoos in photos on social media. Duncan’s next of kin have been informed of his death.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office would like to express our condolences to Duncan’s family and encourages anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts to contact the National Suicide Hotline at 988 or Dispatch at 541-265-0777 (non-emergency) or 911 (emergency).
A couple in Central Oregon was found dead after being caught in an avalanche while skiing the day after another person was killed in a separate avalanche in California.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the couple who lost their lives in the avalanche while enjoying the Central Oregon backcountry,” said Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp in a statement . “Their long history in our community and the lives they touched are a testament to the spirit and resilience that make Central Oregon such a special place to live. “
On Tuesday, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported avalanche burial near Broken Top, Oregon, around 185 miles southeast of Portland, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Two bodies were recovered at the scene.
Authorities believe the couple was skiing when the avalanche occurred, according to the Central Oregon Avalanche Center.
“We extend our deepest condolences to all who loved the couple who tragically lost their lives while doing what they loved,” the center wrote in a statement . “As longtime residents of Central Oregon, they have touched many lives, and their legacy will continue to live on in our community.” The victim’s identities will not be released at this time, police said.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit recovered the couple from Trail 8 on snow-covered Forest Service Road 370, between the Bend Watershed and Broken Top area in an area known as Happy Valley.
“The avalanche occurred at 6,700 ft. on a South facing slope,” according to the Avalanche Center. The avalanche was rated as a D2, according to the center.
D2 avalanches are typically the length of a football field and are capable of burying, injuring or killing a person, according to Avalanche.org.
Police asked people to stay away from the area and to know that avalanche danger in the Central Cascades area “is moderate to considerable.”
“Please use extreme caution when recreating in the areas and check coavalanche.org for more information, including forecasts and observations,” police said.
Bed Bugs a Growing Problem in Oregon
Bed bugs are invading homes across Oregon. Many cities are facing a serious bed bug crisis. These tiny pests are causing trouble for families, businesses, and travelers. Let’s explore the five cities battling this problem.
Bed bugs spread easily through clothes, furniture, and luggage. Warmer temperatures help them multiply quickly. Many people don’t notice them until the infestation becomes severe.
1. Portland: The Worst-Hit City in Oregon
- Portland ranks high in bed bug reports.
- Hotels, apartments, and public places are infested.
- Travel and tourism increase the spread of bed bugs.
2. Eugene: Rising Cases of Bed Bug Infestations
- Many rental homes report bed bug issues.
- College dorms and public spaces are common infestation areas.
- Improper pest control methods lead to repeat problems.
3. Salem: Families Struggling with Bed Bugs
- Households report growing bed bug cases.
- Used furniture sales spread infestations.
- Residents spend thousands on pest control.
4. Gresham: High-Risk Area for Bed Bugs
- Bed bugs are found in hotels and motels.
- Public transport helps spread these pests.
- Many residents face difficulty in complete removal.
5. Hillsboro: Increasing Reports of Infestations
- Rising apartment infestations cause major concerns.
- Lack of awareness worsens the problem.
- Local authorities struggle with control measures.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs in Your Home
- Check hotel rooms before unpacking your luggage.
- Wash and dry clothes at high temperatures after travel.
- Avoid buying second-hand furniture without proper inspection.
- Regularly clean and vacuum mattresses, carpets, and furniture.
Effective Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
- Use heat treatment to kill bed bugs at all stages.
- Hire professional exterminators for severe infestations.
- Seal cracks and crevices to prevent further spread.
- Use mattress encasements to stop bed bug hiding spots.
Bed bugs remain a major issue in many Oregon cities. People must stay alert and take action quickly. Proper prevention and professional help can keep homes and businesses safe from infestations.
New Edition of the Oregon Blue Book Highlights John Day Fossil Beds and the Great Comet of 2024
Every odd-numbered year since 1911, the Oregon Secretary of State’s office has published the Oregon Blue Book, our state’s official almanac and fact book. Each edition of the book features beautiful, new cover images of Oregon captured by the winners of the Oregon Blue Book Cover Photo Contest.
The 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book front cover features a stunning capture from the Painted Cove in the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, near Mitchell. Photographer Matt Straite of Keizer made the image which he titled, “The Many Sides of Oregon.” The back cover includes an amazing astrophotography shot titled “Comet/C2023 A” by Nathan Rohde of Shady Cove.
“The Oregon Blue Book is an invitation to learn more about Oregon, engage with your neighbors, our government and our state’s history. It helps us understand what it means to be an Oregonian. The artists who’ve created these cover images captured some of that spirit, and I’m thrilled they’re a part of my first Oregon Blue Book as Secretary of State,” said Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read.
“So many people look right past the desert areas of the state, but there is so much beauty there,” said Straite. “I have always been drawn to images that show the work of mankind in nature, particularly when that work has been added to help others see the nature, like the work of the Civilian Conservation Corp. The way this trail bends at the end is such a strong draw to want to explore more.” Straite also said that he shot this image from the boardwalk, which is there to take people through the sensitive clay hills without harming them.
Nathan Rohde’s image of Comet/C2023 A3, also known as the “Great Comet of 2024” was made near his home. He said he’s always been fascinated by astrophotography and loved trying to capture the Milky Way and the Aurora, but after seeing posts online of other peoples’ images of the comet, he thought he could capture it too: “Living in Southern Oregon affords access to some relatively dark areas. On a tall clearing not far from Lost Creek Lake, I got set up about an hour before sunset and began scanning the sky with my lens fully extended. About 45 minutes after sunset, conditions were perfect and the pictures started coming through!” Rohde said the rolling hills in the foreground were an excellent way to provide scale and accentuate the sky.
The 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book is available for presale purchase now at bluebook.oregon.gov/shop. These limited-edition books are $30 for the hardcover and $18 for the paperback, plus shipping and handling. A downloadable copy of the full cover for use by the media can be found in Oregon Blue Book Assets and Information here.
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.
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
