The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Monday, February 24, 2025
Willamette Valley Weather
Wind Advisory Issued: 3:22 AM Feb. 24, 2025 – National Weather Service
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 4 AM PST TUESDAY... * WHAT...South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * WHERE...Greater Portland/Vancouver Metro, Central and Southern Willamette Valley, Lower Columbia River and Cowlitz River Valleys,and South Washington Cascade Foothills. * WHEN...From noon today to 4 AM PST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
Stay updated with the National Weather Service for the latest information on evolving conditions.
UPDATE **** LCSO Case #25-0923 – Lane County Sheriff’s Deputies Investigating Suspicious Deaths in Mohawk Valley Area
UPDATE 02/24/25 — The victims in this incident have been identified as 89-year-old Paul Allan Turner and 84-year-old Beverly Jean Turner. Both were found deceased with gunshot wounds.
Their son, 59-year-old Christopher Allan Turner, was also located on scene and detained. Throughout the course of the investigation probable cause was established that Christopher Turner was responsible for the deaths.
Turner was taken into custody and is facing two charges of Murder in the First Degree. This investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time.
——– Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in the 36000blk of McGowan Creek Rd. shortly after 3:00pm today. A caller had reported that there were people at the location believed to be deceased. Upon arrival, fire personnel were able to determine that two adults were deceased.
A third subject was located and detained by deputies as the investigation continues. There is not believed to be any ongoing threat to the community. More details will be released as they become available.
This investigation is in its early stages. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 opt. 1.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Logging Fatality
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports yesterday, February 20, 2025, at 3:07 p.m., Linn County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a 911 call requesting help for an immediate rescue in a remote forested area off Canyon Creek Road, east of Sweet Home. The caller reported a male was injured during logging operations.
The Sweet Home Fire Department and multiple deputies responded to the area and located members of the logging crew coming out of the area trying to get the victim, Christopher Butler, 32 of Dorena, to an area where he could receive medical attention. Unfortunately, Butler’s injuries were fatal, and he died before he could be transported to a hospital.
Deputies worked through the evening and this morning as they investigated the incident. At this time, there is no evidence of foul play or equipment malfunctions. Deputies will continue to investigate the incident and work with Oregon Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to determine the cause of this tragic accident.
The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce has filed a referendum petition challenging the Eugene City Council’s decision to implement a new fire service fee.
The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce is challenging the Eugene City Council’s decision to implement a new fire service fee without a public vote. The fee would see Eugene residents having new charges on their monthly bills starting in July after the Eugene City Council chose to implement a new fire service fee in a 5-3 vote, saying the new charge would minimize cuts in the city’s 2025-27 budget.
With projections for cost and revenue, the city budget has an $11.5 million gap, which the city manager and chief financial officer attributed to property tax value and collection rate and state funding growing slower than inflation, Oregon Public Employees Retirement System rates and personnel costs as contracts get renegotiated. Supporters say the fee is necessary to prevent deep cuts to city services, while opponents argue it should be put to a public vote.
The chamber said it believes “voters should have a voice in decisions that create permanent fees for core government services” and that instead of passing a new fee, the city should “create a sustainable financial plan that prioritizes core services while ensuring the city lives within its means.”
Chamber President Brittany Quick-Warner emailed chamber members to inform them that a survey showed 70% of respondents opposed the fee and supported the chamber’s efforts to get a new vote on the issue. The chamber has until March 13 to collect 5,817 valid signatures to qualify the fee for a citywide election.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
Oregon Lawmakers Target High Screening Fees and Deposits for Renters
With a lack of housing in Oregon, rents have soared.
Before they ever sign a lease, start packing boxes or line up moving day help, Oregonians hoping to move into a new rental home can spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on application fees and deposits.
Some Democratic Oregon lawmakers want to cut those costs. Lawmakers last week considered proposals to ban landlords from charging screening fees and charge landlords who take a holding deposit and then fail to actually rent the apartment, as well as a bill tenant advocates objected to that would allow landlords to charge monthly fees instead of a security deposit.
Nearly 37% of Oregonians rent their homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s higher than the national average, and renters are in the majority in cities including Eugene, Corvallis, Monmouth, Beaverton and Seaside.
And rents continue to increase. The real estate market Zillow pegs the average rent in February 2025 at nearly $1,800 monthly, up $30 from last year.
Rep. Annessa Hartman, D-Gladstone, introduced House Bill 3521 after hearing from renters across Oregon who lost hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars to holding deposits for apartments they couldn’t move into. In some cases, Hartman said, renters showed up to find homes rife with mold, broken plumbing or pest infestations but were told they would lose their deposit if they didn’t sign a lease. In other instances, renters found that the landlord accepted their deposit to hold the unit and then rented it to someone else.
“Tenants should not have to choose between signing a lease for an unsafe home or losing a significant amount of money,” Hartman said.
Landlords who spoke to the House Housing and Homelessness Committee about Hartman’s bill strongly disagreed with it. John Baker, who said he spoke on behalf of Oregon Realtors, said passing it would stop landlords from providing tenants the “favor” of keeping an apartment off the market in exchange for a holding deposit.
“The possible response of this bill, if enacted, is to no longer provide the favor to the tenant to hold the property until they’re ready, physically as well as financially, but instead require immediate execution of deposits and documents which may not be convenient or possible by the prospective tenant,” Baker said.
Other landlords said they’d be penalized for situations outside of their control, such as a flood or delayed repairs that take a unit off the market. But Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland and chair of the housing committee, said that tenants also face unexpected circumstances and risk losing their holding deposits because of it.
“I’m wondering why a landlord should get special treatment aside from what a tenant gets when we have experiences outside of control of one party or another,” Marsh said. “It seems like the consequences should be equal.”
Ending application fees
Rep. Mark Gamba, D-Milwaukie, introduced House Bill 2967 to ban landlords from charging screening fees. It’s a problem that even affects lawmakers, Gamba said. Many rent apartments in Salem during the legislative session, and he talked to colleagues who shelled out money for application fees and are still waiting to get that money back.
Current law requires landlords to refund those fees within 60 days if they don’t run a background check. But they don’t always follow the law, leaving tenants to chase down that money, and when tenants apply to multiple apartments to up the odds of getting into a place, they can end up spending hundreds on screening fees.
“If you put out 50 bucks, 60 bucks, 70 bucks, you’re not going to be able to take the time to take six different landlords to small claims court to get back your 50 or 60 bucks,” Gamba said. “But that does add up.”
Adriana Grant, a policy associate for the Eugene Tenant Alliance, is also a low-income renter. She moved last year and spent nearly $500 on application fees, and she hasn’t been able to get most of that money back.
“Unfortunately, my priorities lie in ensuring that I have food security and other securities, not ensuring that I am following the trail of applications that I have put in,” she said. “For families struggling financially, these fees create a barrier to stable housing and push them into substandard conditions, limiting their access to better neighborhoods.
Landlords objected to Gamba’s bill as well. Jason Miller, legislative director for the Oregon Rental Housing Association, said eliminating fees would make it harder for landlords to process applications and harder for tenants to find housing.
“When applications are free, many individuals that know they will not meet the application criteria will apply anyways,” he said. “This will create a backlog when processing applications, and some qualified applicants will find themselves unable to find housing within their time frame, possibly becoming homeless while housing providers are dealing with the influx of under qualified applicants.”
It was mostly landlords, lobbyists and full-time tenant advocates who spoke during the meeting, but dozens of Oregon renters shared their own stories in written testimony published on the Legislature’s website. One, Whitney Donielson, wrote that she and her spouse have to pay $40 to $50 apiece in application fees each time they move.
“If we apply for more than one housing unit, it costs, at minimum, $100 to find a new place to live, and often more, since, with the tight rental market, it’s often necessary to apply to multiple units in order to secure a place to live,” Donielson wrote. “This does not include the financial strain of what often amounts to a nonrefundable security deposit, cleaning deposit, and first and last month rent, as well as other moving costs.”
Another, Salem resident Blake Claiborne, was skeptical that getting rid of application fees would lead to people submitting applications on a lark. The process of applying and paying thousands in fees and deposits with the understanding that a landlord will find any excuse to keep that deposit money is a nightmare, Claiborne added.
“The idea that so many of these opposing testimonies seem to focus on is that people will otherwise go around putting in housing applications ‘frivolously’ like it’s some kind of cool new TikTok prank, and I am genuinely confused whether any of them even truly believe that, and if so what they think other people do all day,” Claiborne wrote.
Tenant advocates object to fee instead of security deposit
Sen. Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, described his Senate Bill 158, which received a hearing Wednesday, as a way to help renters get their foot in the door. It would allow landlords to charge a monthly fee instead of a security deposit.
“A major reason why Oregonians struggle to find housing is that they simply cannot afford these high upfront costs,” Meek said. “Even for working families coming up with the first and last month’s rent, plus a security deposit, can be an overwhelming financial burden.”
But the bill doesn’t have a cap on the total fees charged. A tenant who pays a $25 monthly fee instead of a $1,000 security deposit would have spent less money after a year, but if that tenant stayed in an apartment for more than three years they would have spent more than someone who paid an upfront security deposit.
And unlike a security deposit, which a landlord can only keep if a tenant fails to pay rent or damages a unit, the bill has no requirement that a landlord return the fee. There’s also no guarantee that the fees tenants would pay would be used to address damages, as deposits do.
That’s why tenant advocates strongly opposed Meek’s bill. Timothy Morris, executive director of the Springfield Eugene Tenant Association, said a fee instead of a high deposit might sound great on the surface, but in practice it will hurt tenants and especially low-income tenants.
“But once you start looking into the details of the bill, its insidious nature becomes clear,” Morris said. “It’s ambiguous at best and lacks significant consumer protections.” (SOURCE)
Providence, nurses union reach new tentative deal in 6-week-long strike
Nurses would be paid more and receive compensation for missing breaks under a tentative agreement reached by Providence Health & Services and the Oregon Nurses Association that could end a six-week-long strike.
Providence and the union announced the new agreement, which comes after union members rejected another deal earlier this month, in separate news releases Friday. Providence said it reached the deal after three days of intensive bargaining.
“Providence is hopeful that ONA-represented nurses will ratify the tentative agreements that pave a solid path forward for us all,” said Jennifer Burrows, chief executive of Providence Oregon.
The union hailed the agreement as a milestone, saying it represents “a significant achievement for ONA nurses, marking a powerful step forward in their ongoing commitment to fair wages, safe staffing, and high-quality patient care.”
The strike, which started Jan. 10, is the longest in Oregon’s health care history. Nearly 5,000 nurses walked off the job at Providence’s eight hospitals in Oregon in Hood River, Medford, Milwaukie, Newberg, Seaside and Oregon City and two in Portland. The strike also included nurses, physicians and other staff at Providence’s six women’s clinics in the Portland area and hospital physicians at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in southwest Portland.
The physicians and clinic union members approved their deals but the nurses rejected the early agreement by more than 80%.
The Oregon Nurses Association said the bargaining units for seven of the hospitals recommend that union members back the agreements, while the team at Providence Medford was neutral.
The deal includes wage increases for nurses from 20% to 42%, with an immediate 16% to 22% raise upon ratification, the union said. It also includes step increases starting next year along with guaranteed pay for missed breaks or meal breaks.
It also includes retroactive pay for nurses whose contract expired last year or earlier. The contracts for each hospital expired on different dates — for example, the Providence St. Vincent contract expired Dec. 31, 2023.
Under the deal, nurses would receive the new rates for 75% of all hours worked without a contract in 2024, including for vacation days and paid time off, the union said. Obtaining retroactive pay has been a major sticking point.
The contracts for nurses at Seaside and Portland expired this past Dec. 31, so they would not be eligible for retroactive pay, but would receive a $1,750 bonus spread over two pay periods after ratification, plus another $750 within six months.
Nurses will vote on the agreement this weekend. If it’s ratified, nurses would return to work next Wednesday.
If adopted, the contracts would have a range of expiration dates, from Dec. 31, 2026 for St. Vincent, Newberg, Oregon City and Milwaukie and March 31, 2027 for Medford and Hood River. The contract for Providence Portland and Seaside nurses would expire Dec. 31, 2027.
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.
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 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.
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)
Oregon U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has introduced bipartisan legislation that would preserve coastal beaches in Oregon and nationwide by providing funding for state, local, and tribal governments to test, monitor, and identify recreational waters that are contaminated.
The reauthorize of the $30 million program would expand the eligible uses of this grant to include the ability to trace any contamination to its source, so that local governments can respond accordingly
“The Oregon Coast offers unmatched opportunities for visitors to make fond memories and for residents of one of America’s most iconic coastlines to live and work in and next to the Pacific Ocean,” Wyden said. “But the ongoing threat of pollution piling up on our coastal beaches every year demands commonsense solutions that help protect this treasure and keep Oregonians healthy. This bill accomplishes those goals by protecting, preserving, and improving our beaches in every corner of Oregon and America for generations to come.”
Wyden said that currently, there’s dedicated federal funding for monitoring and notifying beachgoers of contaminated coastal waters – but there is no money allocated towards identifying contaminated sites.
Wyden said the new bill, the BEACH Act, would reauthorize this $30 million program over the next four years to allocate funding for identifying contaminated beaches and trace the source of the contamination.
Wyden’s bill would also expand testing locations to include shallow recreational waters near the beaches, where children and seniors often play and swim, who are more at risk of experiencing health issues from contamination.
The legislation is endorsed by Environment America, Surfrider, the America Shore & Beach Preservation Association, and the Coastal States Organization.
The director of the Oregon Department of Transportation says his agency is willing to sit down with lawmakers and go through its budget, as lawmakers discuss a request from Gov. Tina Kotek to give the agency an additional $1.75 billion to focus on road maintenance and operation.
Kris Strickler said ODOT’s budget issues largely stem from declining gas tax revenues – as people switch to electric vehicles or more fuel-efficient cars – and inflation. The legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee will put together a funding package for ODOT.
Democratic legislative leaders on the committee said nothing is off the table — including hiking gas taxes, increasing vehicle registration fees, or coming up with new taxes and fees altogether. Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis and Sen. Bruce Starr, both Republicans, are co-vice chairs on the committee. They are pushing their colleagues to prioritize a line-by-line budget review of ODOT to see if there are places to trim or reduce ODOT’s responsibilities to allow the agency to focus on road maintenance and operations before debating tax increases. Strickler said his agency would do that for lawmakers and has “nothing to hide.”
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.
Wyden at ENR Hearing: Musk’s Business Dealings in China and Workforce Purge at BPA Threaten National Security
WATCH: Wyden’s Exchange with University of Oregon’s Presidential Chair in Science, Dr. Richmond Here
— During a hearing held in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., underscored that Elon Musk’s business dealings in China pose a serious threat to national security.
According to public reporting, Elon Musk is running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as a federal employee while remaining Tesla’s largest shareholder. Public filings indicate Tesla invested billions of dollars in China and annually produces nearly 1 million cars at a factory in Shanghai on land owned by the Chinese government.
“According to public reporting, Tesla’s contract allows the Chinese government to revoke Tesla’s lease on the land at any time if it determines doing so is in the public interest,” Wyden said. “Now, on this committee, every one of us works for the AMERICAN public interest. And given that is our highest priority, I intend to come back and ask further questions about this in the days ahead.”
Senator Wyden also questioned Dr. Geraldine Richmond, Presidential Chair in Science at the University of Oregon and former Under Secretary for Science and Innovation at the Department of Energy, on the national security consequences of Musk’s decision to make drastic and abrupt workforce cuts at the Bonneville Power Administration. Dr. Richmond emphasized that these cuts would undermine the grid’s safety and drive up energy prices for working families across America.
Last week, Senator Wyden demanded answers from the Trump administration in a letter regarding Musk’s workforce cuts at the Bonneville Power Administration. (SOURCE)
The Oregon Legislature is considering a bill that would give the Public Utility Commission another way to limit price increases by utilities.
Currently, the PUC evaluates a rate increase request based on the merits from the utility. Under the bill, the PUC would also be required to consider the economic impact based on unemployment, cost of living and income level of customers if the increase results in at least a two-and-a-half percent boost in the utility’s revenue.
-The $328.5 million Powerball jackpot from Jan. 17 has been claimed by a 79-year-old man in Beaverton.
According to a news release from the Oregon Lottery, Abbas Shafii bought the winning ticket from the Beaverton Fred Meyer on Southwest Walker Road. He is taking the lump sum payout, which is $146.4 million. “I am overjoyed to have won the Powerball and plan to use my prize to travel, invest and share my good fortune with non-profit organizations that are close to my heart,” Shafii told the Oregon Lottery.
Fred Meyer, which gets a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket, is also sharing its prize with a nonprofit. The store announced that it will donate $50,000 to the Oregon Food Bank, the lottery said.
Condé Nast Traveler names 2 places in Oregon as most beautiful in America
Condé Nast Travele released its 50 Most Beautiful Places in America, and names two Oregon destinations on the list.
Cannon Beach named one of the 50 most beautiful places in America
Condé Nast Traveler named Cannon Beach as one of the most beautiful places in America, calling it an “essential pit stop off Highway 101” and “one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.”
The beauty of Cannon Beach is well known in Oregon, and somewhat famous outside the state due to movies like “Twilight” and “The Goonies” being filmed there. Most recognizable, and specifically noted by the magazine, is the 235-foot Haystack Rock that towers over the Pacific Ocean tides.
Crater Lake named one of the 50 most beautiful places in America by Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler recognized Crater Lake as one of the most beautiful places in America, noting that its pristine waters and depth give the lake its beauty.
Not only is Crater Lake the deepest lake in the America, with depths reaching up to 1,943 feet, or 592 meters, according to the National Park Service, but the magazine pointed out the lake’s “clarity and intense blue hue” caused by hundreds of years of glacial runoff and precipitation.
Crater Lake National Park also was recently recognized for the view of its night sky and was named one of the best U.S. national parks for stargazing. (SOURCE)
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.
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
