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
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Willamette Valley Weather
Stay updated with the National Weather Service for the latest information on evolving conditions.
Winds Wreck Havoc Through Region – UO Student Suffers Severe Injuries From Falling Tree
The wind whipped through already soggy ground in the Willamette Valley, and although things were worse north and south in Oregon, many people experienced damage.
Prayers for all including the UO student who is still in hospital after tree fell on them at the campus.
Power outages happened and crews responded quickly. In Portland, over 60,000 people lost power thanks to brutal wind and rain. Gusts up to 50 mph knocked down trees and power lines all over the area. Meanwhile, the coast saw 2 to 4 inches of rain since Saturday, causing major flooding in some areas. And there was up to 10 inches of snow and 60 mph winds in the Cascades.
SUB Restores All Power to Wind-Affected Areas says the last 475 customers affected by the late morning windstorm had power restored. At the beginning of the wind event, when gusts reach 44 miles per hour in downtown Springfield, approximately 2,700 customers were without power after the storm toppled trees into power poles and blew limbs into power lines.
SUB encourages any customers still without power to reset their breakers. If the power problem persists, please call SUB at 541-746-8451.
Down power line caused 5th wheel fire
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At 12:32 Monday afternoon, Central Douglas Fire & Rescue (CDF&R) was dispatched to a power pole transformer blown from a down tree. Crews responded and were updated that a 5th-wheel trailer was now on fire. A tree had fallen through power lines onto the trailer. The first arriving engine reported a fully involved travel trailer with multiple structures threatened. Heavy winds were reported, along with additional hazards from overhead power lines.
An efficient response contained the fire to the fifth wheel and prevented it from spreading to multiple exposures. The fifth wheel suffered significant damage and is considered a total loss. No injuries were reported by the resident or the firefighters working at the scene.
CDF&R responded to this incident with three fire engines and one command unit, totaling eight personnel. Winston Police Department, Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Pacific Power, and Red Cross assisted crews and resident at the scene.
Another Fatal Pedestrian/Vehicle Crash – Highway 99 – Lane County
On Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 8:28 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Highway 99, near milepost 3, in Lane County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Acura MDX, operated by Jaidene Raie Torgison (18) of Creswell, struck a pedestrian, Gary Dale Obert (54) of Eugene, who was in the roadway.
The pedestrian (Obert) was declared deceased at the scene. The operator of the Acura (Torgison) and passenger, a juvenile male (17), were reportedly uninjured. — The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by ODOT.
Arrest Made in Attempted Arson and Attempted Assault Case
On Sunday, February 16, 2025 at approximately 4:45 AM, Corvallis Police Officers were dispatched to the 100-block of SW Madison Ave for the report of a person screaming about someone setting them on fire. Once officers arrived, they found the victim, who smelled strongly of gasoline or another similar accelerant. The victim stated while sleeping outside they woke up and saw Corvallis resident Larry G. Kiser Jr., 48 years old, hunched towards them and attempting to strike matches. Corvallis Police Detectives were called in to assist. Kiser Jr. and the victim were known to each other. The victim sustained no injuries.
Detectives learned that earlier in the evening of February 15, 2025, Corvallis Fire Department members were dispatched to a dumpster fire in the same block of SW Madison Ave. Though police were not called to the February 15th fire, detectives were able to confirm that the burned property from this dumpster fire belonged to the same victim. The suspect in both the February 15th and February 16th fires was Kiser Jr.
On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, detectives executed a search warrant and subsequently arrested Larry G. Kiser Jr. on the following charges:
Attempted Arson in the First Degree (ORS 164.325)
Attempted Assault in the First Degree (ORS 163.185)
Reckless Burning (ORS 164.335)
Menacing (ORS 163.190)
Recklessly Endangering Another Person (ORS 163.195)
Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree (ORS 164.354)
Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree (ORS 166.025)
Kiser Jr. was lodged at the Benton County Correctional Facility.
Further investigations are ongoing. Anyone with information regarding to this case is asked to contact Detective Rhoda Krause at (541) 766-6924 and reference Case Number 2025-01010.
Man arrested for Arson
Eugene Police officers responded to the Ballet Academy, 174 E 16th Avenue on February 22 after someone had tried to shove some burning materials through the mail slot of the location around 6:30 a.m. The location is a midrise apartment building.
An officer was able to identify the suspect as 59-year-old Lachlan Scott Proffitt. He was arrested around 9:21 a.m. on February 23 after being located at 2445 Hilyard Street. He was transported to Lane County Jail on a charge of Arson in the First Degree. Case 25-02988
UPDATE **** A man believed to have shot and killed his two elderly parents on Sunday has been formally arraigned on charges of murder, court records show. 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.
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
The Providence Strike Is Over: Historic Contracts Ratified at Eight Hospitals Across Oregon
(PORTLAND, Ore.) – In a major victory for the nearly 5,000 ONA-represented frontline nurses at Providence, all eight registered nurse (RN) bargaining units voted overwhelmingly to ratify their contracts and end the strike. The historic agreements come after 46 days on the strike line and more than a year of bargaining, and will set a new standard for wages, staffing, and patient safety at one of Oregon’s largest healthcare systems.
“These contracts represent a major victory for frontline caregivers, but more importantly it’s a victory for Providence patients and the communities we serve,” said Virginia Smith an RN from Providence Willamette Falls and leader of the ONA bargaining unit. “As RNs, we believe that these contracts will lead to greater recruitment and retention of frontline nurses as wages become more aligned with other health systems, and we have staffing language that will allow us to spend more time with the patients that need the most care.”
Key Highlights of the Contracts Include:
- Major Wage Increases: Nurses will receive substantial wage increases ranging from 20% to 42% over the life of the contract, with an immediate 16% to 22% raise upon ratification.
- Smarter Staffing for Safer Care: Patient acuity will now be factored into staffing plans, helping to improve nurse workloads and the quality of patient care.
- Retroactive Pay and Bonuses: For nurses at bargaining units with contracts that expired before December 2024, retroactive pay will cover 75% of all hours worked in 2024 (including education, meetings, PTO and vacation used for low census). Nurses at Providence Portland Medical Center and Providence Seaside will receive a $2,500 bonus.
- Unified Contracts for Stronger Solidarity: An overwhelming majority of contracts (10 bargaining units) now align with expiration or wage reopener dates within three months of each other; strengthening ONA’s collective voice.
- Stronger Health Benefits Advocacy: A new Statewide Health Benefits Workgroup will be established to evaluate current plans and explore the creation of a statewide health benefits trust, ensuring comprehensive coverage for nurses.
- Guaranteed Break & Meal Pay: Nurses will now automatically receive penalty pay–equal to one hour of wages–for every missed break or meal, with payment included in the next paycheck.
These hard-won contracts reflect the dedication and determination of ONA nurses who stood strong on the strike line in their fight for fair treatment, safe working conditions, and better healthcare for all Oregonians.
“This is a transformative victory, not just for Providence nurses but for healthcare workers the length and breadth of this country,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “These dedicated and determined frontline caregivers stood up for fair wages, safer staffing, and better care for their patients–and this contract proves that when we unite and fight, we raise standards for everyone. It underscores, once again, the power of solidarity and of collective action. I am proud to have had these workers’ backs, and the 1.8 million members of their national union salutes them.”
Nurses will return to work starting on the night shift of Wednesday, February 26.
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 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.
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.”
Following directives from President Trump, thousands of U.S. Forest Service employees have received termination letters in the mail last week, in some cases ending decades-long careers.
The firings are part of a wave of federal cost-cutting measures, which have caused uncertainty for many. Here in Southern Oregon the Siskiyou Mountain Club lost more than $400k of federal funds which had previously been assigned for trail maintenance work in the Marble Mountain Wilderness and along portions of the Pacific Crest Trail One former Forest Service employee who spent the last six years working in the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest said the termination came as a shock.
The lack of maintenance also raises concerns for fire danger in the coming years.
Medford Police used vehicle identification technology to respond to shots fired on Saturday, Feb. 22, leading to two arrests.
In a Facebook post on Monday, MPD said officers responded to reports of gunfire at around 11:58 p.m. on the 800 block of Archer Dr. Police found bullet impacts on the home, but no one was injured.
MPD said police used in-car video and automatic license plate reading technology in its patrol vehicles to identify the suspect vehicle as a Chevrolet Impala. This information was then put into the Flock camera technology system, alerting officers when a flagged vehicle is caught by one of more than 20 cameras throughout the city.
On Sunday, Feb. 23 at about 2:30 p.m., Flock technology found the flagged Chevrolet Impala near N Foothills Rd. and Hillcrest Rd. in Medford. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office then found the car near N Foothills Rd. and Delta Waters Rd.
Police arrested the driver of the Impala, 24-year-old Cameron J. Tinsen of Medford, without incident. Police also stopped another car believed to be traveling with the Impala. The passenger of the second car was a 17-year-old male who attempted to walk away but was apprehended and found to have been carrying a rifle and handgun.
Tinsen was lodged in the Jackson County Jail, and the 17-year-old male was lodged at the Juvenile Detention Center. Both are facing charges of unlawful use of a weapon, reckless endangering and first-degree attempted assault.
A Lakeview woman appeared in court Tuesday afternoon after being accused of causing the death of her 17-year-old son.
38-year-old Amanda Joy Edwards and her boyfriend, 31-year-old Nathaniel Cullins, are facing charges of criminally negligent homicide, second-degree abuse of a corpse and first-degree criminal mistreatment. Cullins is also being charged with unlawful use of a weapon. Lake County Circuit Court documents say Edwards “did unlawfully and knowingly withhold necessary and adequate food, physical care and medical attention” from her son.
The state is also saying Edwards’ charges are connected or part of a plan. Edwards’ bail is set at $750,000. The Lake County Major Crime Team started an investigation last Tuesday, Feb. 18 into a juvenile death on the 300 block of South G St in Lakeview. NewsWatch 12 found a memorial outside 329 S G St on Monday for 17-year-old Thomas Strong, whose death was announced by the Lake County School District last Tuesday.
A Bend couple and their daughter have been placed in custody after hiding out at a hotel in Coos County, after being indicted on a sweep of child abuse charges, including attempted murder.
A nationwide warrant for their arrest had been issued, law enforcement thanks the public with their assistance in locating the trio, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said. After a lengthy investigation, a grand jury in Deschutes County indicted the family on a combined total of 28 charges, relating to alleged abuse of a minor relative.
Sarah Session, 33, has been charged with 19 of those counts, which includes attempted murder, assault and criminal mistreatment. The alleged crimes took place between June 2023 and February 2024, when the child was under the age of 10. The 33-year-old was professionally responsible for the child who has specialized education and training required for care, which the court documents said Session disregarded.
On multiple occasions, Session allegedly knowingly caused harm to the child through physical injury by hitting them on the head or leg, and in some cases, involving a curtain rod and window stopper. In one instance, Session is accused of compelling the child to eat their own vomit in fear of physical harm, according to the court documents. Other charges relate to Session’s allegedly withholding medication, treatment and food. In many instances, the court documents call Session’s actions “deliberately cruel.”
A judge on Monday ordered fired St. Helens High School choir teacher Eric Stearns to remain in jail pending trial, finding he poses a danger of “sexual victimization to the public.”
The ruling came after an hourlong detention hearing for Stearns, arraigned on an amended indictment that now alleges he abused a total of 16 people from 2015 through this school year. They include current students, former students, a teacher from theSt. Helens School Districtand a fellow church member.
Circuit Judge Brandon Thompson said he considered that the allegations span decades while Stearns held a position of authority and involved more than a dozen people, ranging in age from 15 to adults in their 20s. Thompson was assigned to the case after Columbia County Circuit Judge Nickolas Brajcich recused himself to avoid any appearance of bias following concerns raised by Stearns’ defense lawyer, who argued Brajcich was dishonest during a closed-door conference in his chambers.
A multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections has been linked to Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The outbreak has resulted in 38 reported illnesses across 21 states, with 37 hospitalizations and 11 deaths. At least one case has been reported in Washington. The FDA was first notified of the outbreak on Nov. 25, 2024. The investigation revealed that many of the affected individuals resided in long-term care facilities prior to falling ill. The FDA’s traceback investigation identified that these facilities had received shipments of the implicated frozen shakes.
The CDC reported that the outbreak includes cases dating back to 2018, with 20 cases occurring in 2024 and 2025. Of the 38 people for whom information is available, 34 were either living in long-term care facilities or hospitalized before becoming sick. The FDA has confirmed that certain Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes are being voluntarily recalled.
The agency is collaborating with the recalling firms to address the situation. The affected products have a Best By date of 2/21/25 to 2/21/26.
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
