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, March 3, 2025
Willamette Valley Weather
Stay updated with the National Weather Service for the latest information on evolving conditions.
Man Arrested for DUII After Crashing Vehicle into Home – Senior Occupant Had Left Room Just Prior to Crash
At 4:26 a.m. on March 2, a Toyota Tundra hit a house at Cal Young Road and Willagillespie Road. The passenger, a 26-year-old woman in her mid 20s was injured. All the home’s occupants were able to get out. Eugene Springfield Fire responded to the scene, checked the structure, and transported the woman to a local hospital.
After an investigation, the driver, 24-year-old Hector Raul Sandoval, was transported to Lane County Jail on charges that include two counts of Reckless Endangering, Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, Driving Under the Influence, and Reckless Driving. There was a large amount of damage to the truck and the residence. One of the residence’s walls was completely broken and the portion of the house that was crashed into was the bedroom.
The occupant, in her 70s, was not in that room at the time of the crash. The truck had landed on the owner’s bed and one of the posts for the residence went through the windshield and toward the headrest of the passenger seat. Case 25-03427
Water Assist Below Green Peter Dam
At approximately 1758 Sunday evening Sweet Home Fire was dispatched to the area below Green Peter dam for a water assist. Early reports indicated two fishermen were stranded on an island with water rapidly rising. The fishermen were found to not be in immediate danger; however, they were surrounded by higher river levels and were unable to make access back to shore.
Crews were able to create a plan and launch our boat at Sunnyside Park traveling up river to retrieve them. Crews accessed the fishermen and returned them to Sunnyside Park and then back to their vehicle. No injuries were reported. Sweet Home Fire responded with two command units, a medic unit, a rescue, the boat with two operators and wildland crew 21, with a total of 12 personnel.
This is a great reminder to all who visit this stretch of river that water levels can rise rapidly with little to no warning when the dam spill gates are opened.
We would like to thank our partners at LCSO for responding to the scene and Lebanon Fire District for ambulance coverage while crews conducted the rescue operation.
Corvallis Man Arrested on LCPD Warrant for Online Child Sex Crimes
On February 27th, 2025, 37-year-old Landry Johnson, of Corvallis, Oregon, was arrested by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office on a Lincoln County Warrant charging Johnson with the crimes of Luring a Minor and Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the Second Degree.
This warrant stemmed from Johnson engaging with three different profiles operated by Lincoln City Police Department Officers purporting to be children. Johnson sent graphic sexual images of himself to these purported children, led them in graphic sexual conversations, and made plans to meet at least one of them.
We want to thank both the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation. The Lincoln City Police Department continues our work to protect our kids from predators who target children for sexual exploitation.
Pedestrians stuck by vehicle, one dead and one hospitalized
Salem, Ore. — The Salem Police Traffic Team is investigating a deadly crash resulting in one person deceased and one person hospitalized.
Just after 2 a.m. on March 1, two adult pedestrians were struck by a pickup truck on Silverton Rd NE near Highway Ave NE. Both were transported to Salem Health where Raymond Dale, 77, died from his injures. The second pedestrian, Ephraim Dale, 49 of Salem, remains hospitalized with critical injuries. A third pedestrian, a 17-year-old female, was traveling with them and witnessed the crash.
Emergency personnel from both Salem Police and Salem Fire were heavily involved in managing this incident and the road remained closed for several hours.
The driver of the truck, Eugene Ensinger, 63 of Salem, stayed at the scene and the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation. — This is Salem’s third traffic fatality of 2025.
New Code Allowing the Placement of Rental RVs for Rural Lane County Properties
Beginning Thursday, February 27, properties in unincorporated Lane County (meaning outside city limits and urban growth boundaries) that are zoned Rural Residential may be able to add a rental recreational vehicle (RV) to their property.
“We know access to affordable housing is a critical need throughout Lane County,” said Board of County Commissioners Chair David Loveall. “This new code, made possible by recent changes to state law, allows us to open up long-term housing opportunities in rural communities while at the same time providing guardrails to ensure that it doesn’t negatively affect the character of our rural areas.”
The new code was passed by the Board of County Commissioners in January. It can be found in Lane Code Chapter 16.290 (9).
To take advantage of this new program, properties must meet the following criteria:
- Only one RV is allowed on lots zoned Rural Residential in conjunction with a primary single-family dwelling.
- The single-family dwelling must be the primary residence of the property owner.
- No other dwelling units may exist on the property, including a temporary medical hardship or an ADU, and no portion of the single-family dwelling may be rented for residential tenancy. The property may not be in an urban reserves area.
- Rental RVs are not allowed in the regulatory floodplain.
- The RV must be licensed and ready for highway use.
- The RV cannot be used for vacation occupancy, meaning the stay must exceed 45 days.
- The property owner must provide essential services (sewage disposal, water, electric, and if required by applicable law, a drainage system) to the RV space.
- The RV must contain a toilet and sink or the property owner must make these facilities available to the tenant.
- The RV must be located on a paved or graveled parking pad.
- There are special setbacks of 30 feet from the RV and resource zoned properties.
- There must be a rental agreement between the owner of the property and the tenant of the rental RV and the RV must be owned or leased by the tenant.
Interested property owners can contact Lane County Land Management at 541-682-3577 or stop by the Customer Service Center at 3050 N. Delta Highway in Eugene between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday–Friday. More information is also available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/LMD.
Salem Police investigate officer involved use of deadly force incident near Kulongoski Army Aviation Training Center
–The Salem Police Department is conducting an officer use of deadly physical force investigation from an incident that occurred earlier today near the security gate at the Governor Ted Kulongoski Army Aviation Training Center off Turner Road in Salem, Oregon, on February 27, 2025.
The incident began when the Oregon State Police responded to an individual who provided a threatening note to the guard stationed outside the airfield. Specifically, the computer aided dispatch report available to the responding Trooper stated that a “male subject is at the guard shack in the front handed a note to RP [reporting party] saying I will give you 10 minutes to decide, something about laying down arms[.] This is the second time subj [subject] has appeared at the loc [location] in the last 3 days[.]” The trooper contacted the suspect outside the guard station. A confrontation ensued and shots were fired.
The suspect’s open knife was located at the scene. A photograph of the knife is attached to this release.
The suspect has been identified as Matthew Walter Wong, 22, of Salem, Oregon. He was declared deceased at the scene. At the time of his death, Mr. Wong had an active warrant for his arrest in Marion County Circuit Court case 24CR12276 for Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
The Marion County District Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the Salem Police Department, has contacted next of kin and are providing the decedent’s family services through a Marion County District Attorney’s Office family support liaison.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The involved law enforcement officer is Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Justin Oxenrider. He has been a Trooper with the Oregon State Police for 18 years. Senior Trooper Oxenrider is a K9 Trooper and his K9 partner was present and in the Trooper’s vehicle during the incident, however his K9 partner detects explosives and is not used for enforcement purposes.
In accordance with Marion County’s Law Enforcement Intentional Use of Deadly Physical Force Response Plan (“SB111 plan”), which outlines investigatory standards for deadly force investigations, the Salem Police Department was requested to conduct the use of deadly force investigation because they were not involved in the incident. Salem Police detectives are working with the Marion County District Attorney’s Office to complete the investigation.
Once the investigation is concluded it will be sent to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office for presentation to a Grand Jury. No further information will be released at this time to preserve the Grand Jury’s official inquiry, and all future information will be released by the Marion County District Attorney’s Office after the presentation to the Grand Jury.
Water Obstruction – Upper McKenzie River just below Belknap Hot Springs
There is an obstruction on the upper McKenzie River just below Belknap Hot Springs at an area known as Fish Rock. A large tree trunk and smaller debris are completely blocking the river. It cannot be passed safely, and there are no safe portage options. Please avoid this section of river or navigate with extreme caution.
The blockage coordinates are 44.19185, -122.06500. Marine Patrol deputies are coordinating with the U.S. Forest Service on a plan to mitigate the hazard. Visit www.oregon.gov/osmb for the latest information on water obstructions within Oregon.
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.
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.
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!
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
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
Wyden Announces Open-to-all Town Hall for Oregonians on March 4
Senator Wyden: “Rather than attend the State of the Union, I’m choosing to hear from residents in the best state of the union.”
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden announced he will co-host a live on-line town hall Tuesday night, March 4 with People’s Town Hall to offer all Oregonians the opportunity to ask questions, share their ideas and offer their views during the State of the Union speech.
“In this unprecedented time in American history, my top priority is making sure Oregonians from every corner of our state can keep weighing in directly with me,” said Wyden, who’s held 1,105 open-to-all town halls throughout Oregon in fulfillment of his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of the state’s 36 counties.“Rather than attend the State of the Union, I’m choosing to hear from residents in the best state of the union. That’s been my priority at more than 1,100 town meetings. And there’s no reason to make different choices this Tuesday.”
The on-line town hall on Tuesday, March 4 will begin at 6 pm PT (7 pm MT) and can be watched here on Facebook Live. Oregonians who want to ask a question during the virtual town hall can submit their questions in advance here.
“Senator Wyden has long led the way in town hall accessibility,” said Nathan Williams of People’s Town Hall, a town hall series from the founders of Town Hall Project.“At this crucial moment in our democracy, we encourage Oregonians from across the state — and political spectrum — to join this conversation with their senior senator.” https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFKAPSHvntYZDREE8cCJiiP3KEhHaAwNNv2r1zEwq6BxYDXQ/viewform
Search for Missing Child – Siletz, Oregon
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon
· Media Release March 2, 2025, 6:00pm — Search for Dane Paulsen – Update On Saturday March 1, 2025, at about 4:25pm , the Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a missing 2-year-old male (Dane Paulsen) from his residence near Milepost 21 on HWY 229, north of Siletz, Oregon.
A vehicle and an adult male, both of which were not known to the family, were noted near a bridge close to the residence approximately 30 minutes prior to the juvenile’s disappearance. Through a community tip, this vehicle and operator have since been located. Following further investigation, this subject and the vehicle are no longer a point of interest. We thank our community for sharing information and tips related to this investigation.
At the time of Dane’s disappearance, he was playing in the front yard of their residence and out of sight of his parents. Dane is friendly and fearless, and is comfortable around strangers and water, but cannot swim. Dane is known to love water and vehicles.
At this time, Dane is still missing. Investigators are following up on numerous leads, including investigating various leads provided by our community. We have multiple Search and Rescue Teams and Sheriff’s Posse, along with community volunteers, searching the area. Marine Teams and divers are searching the river. The Lincoln County Major Crime Team and the FBI are also assisting with investigative leads.
At this time, Dane’s disappearance does not meet the criteria to use the Amber Alert system. Our team will continue to share updates and information via FlashAlert and social media. There is no evidence at this time to suggest criminal actions are involved in this incident.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, including the enforcement division, Search and Rescue (SAR), and Mounted Posse, is being assisted by Oregon State Police, Lincoln City Police Department (PD), Newport PD, FBI, Siletz Valley Fire, Lane Co SO, Clackamas Co SO, Polk Co SO, Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit, Mary’s Peak SAR, and Region 3 K9.
So far, 382 acres have been searched and 283 miles have been covered. The following resources have been deployed in the initial 24 hours of Dane’s disappearance:-
- 88 Certified Searcher and Rescue Members
- 4 Watercraft
- 4 Divers
- 4 Drones
- 6 Human Trailing K9s
- 40 Investigators
- 138 Community Volunteers
- Family resources are being provided by the FBI’s Victim Services Division.
How Can the Community Help: Although our teams will continue to work through the evening, community members are not encouraged to continue their search until daylight tomorrow.- Those that are interested in joining search efforts can go to the staging area and check in with the camp host at Elks Toketee Illahee campground at 20590 Siletz Hwy, Siletz, Oregon 97380.- Continue to report information that is relevant to Dane’s disappearance or may bring him home to the tip line: 541-265-0669 — Once again, we thank our community for their compassion and assistance. Our team and the community are working tirelessly to bring Dane home.
On March 1, 2025, at approximately 4:25 PM the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a missing 2-year-old child at a residence near milepost 21 on Siletz River Highway in Siletz, Oregon. Members of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Siletz Valley Fire, Oregon State Police, Newport Police Department, Lincoln City Police Department, and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue responded to the scene. Emergency personnel immediately began searching the residential property and surrounding areas on foot and air with the assistance of aerial drones. The drones have cameras and thermal imaging equipment.
The child, Dane Paulsen, was last known to be playing in the yard of the residence at the time of his disappearance. He was wearing a grey fuzzy hoody with ears, blue and white shoes, and black pants. Dane has brown hair and green eyes. (See attached photo.)
The Sheriff’s Office has also listed a late 90’s gold colored station wagon as a vehicle of interest. A vehicle matching this description was seen in the area before Dane went missing. The Sheriff’s Office is requesting anyone who may have information relating to Dane’s disappearance or information relating to a vehicle matching this description to call our Tip Line at 541-265-0669 or our non-emergency dispatch at 541-265-0777.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to acknowledge and thank the approximately 150 community members who responded and searched the surrounding area upon receiving information of Dane’s disappearance. The active search for Dane is ongoing.
Activists call for Oregon to dump $135M in Tesla stocks from pension fund
Tesla shareholders have endured a bumpier ride than drivers on Portland’s notorious unpaved gravel roads lately, given the stock’s dropping value.
Just ask the Public Employees Retirement System — better known as PERS, or the state pension fund.The PERS fund contains $135.3 million in Tesla stocks, which equates to a small but not yet infinitesimal 0.7% of the total fund. Tesla stock, meanwhile, has plummeted from a high of $480 a share in December to just under $300 as of Friday.
That 1% holding (rounding up) has angered local activists, who note that Tesla’s CEO, the billionaire Elon Musk, has seemingly become President Donald Trump’s most influential adviser, and is currently engaged in a purge of the federal workforce on Trump’s behalf.
“We want to liquidate the position now!” a user with the name O.K. Computermeyer said on Bluesky, a social media app that sprang up after Musk purchased Twitter and changed its name.
The post received 1,500 likes as of Friday, and comes as activists have launched weekly rallies outside a Tesla dealership in Portland’s South Waterfront. Authorities are still investigating a shooting that damaged several electric cars at a Salem Tesla dealership on Feb. 20.
This isn’t the first time politically motivated divestment campaigns have been directed at Oregon’s public retirement fund; prior campaigns have focused on coal and fossil fuels.
Treasury officials, for their part, say the fund’s investment strategy is “largely passive,” and bound by state law to maximize returns.
“(The fund) is a large, globally diversified portfolio with exposure to virtually every publicly traded company,” state treasury spokesperson Eric Engelson said in a statement Friday. “Our statutory obligation is to act in the best financial interest of our beneficiaries.” (SOURCE)
Oregon Launches Official Website to Commemorate America’s 250th Anniversary
The America 250 Oregon Commission is excited to announce the launch of Oregon’s official U.S. Semiquincentennial website, oregon250.org. In this digital space, the public can browse a community events calendar, explore online exhibitions, and access resources for getting involved in this nationwide commemoration. The site also includes links to all nine of Oregon’s federally recognized tribes.
The America 250 Oregon Commission was created by Senate Bill 1531, signed into law on March 27, 2024, by Governor Tina Kotek. Chaired by the Oregon Historical Society’s executive director, Kerry Tymchuk, the 27-member commission has been tasked to coordinate and provide guidance for Oregon’s official observance of the United States Semiquincentennial. To date, the commission has met three times and has developed its mission and guideposts.
The mission of the America 250 Oregon Commission is “to coordinate, provide guidance, and ensure that Oregon’s official observance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States is inclusive and shares the histories of Oregon’s diverse populations, including the histories of the Indigenous peoples who have resided here since time immemorial.”
The commission’s official guideposts are:
- To inspire Oregonians to participate in the work of forming a more perfect union.
- To highlight the importance of civics and history education in building a better future.
- To highlight the work of Oregon’s many history and heritage organizations.
- To encourage a robust, thorough, and honest examination of our collective history.
- To celebrate the unique traditions, arts, and cultures of communities throughout Oregon.
- To honor the service and sacrifice made by Oregon’s veterans.
- To celebrate the power of place through Oregon’s remarkable landscapes and scenic beauty.
“As we commemorate our nation’s history at a time when Americans seem deeply divided, I believe that by celebrating our successes and honestly reckoning with our setbacks, we can improve and deepen public understanding of our history, increase public appreciation of service to our state and country, and inspire Oregonians to participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment,” said Kerry Tymchuk, chair of the America 250 Oregon Commission.
While guidelines for community event submissions are currently in development, the America 250 Oregon Commission encourages the public to explore two online exhibitions created in honor of the U.S. Semiquincentennial.
Oregon’s beauty and spirit are as diverse as its landscape and its people, and to celebrate the state’s bounty, the commission contracted with photographer Peter Marbach on two digital photographic exhibitions that showcase the essence of Oregon and its vibrant communities. The Power of Place highlights Oregon’s awe-inspiring landscapes, from its rugged coastline to its tranquil valleys and majestic peaks, many of which have remained unchanged for centuries. The Pursuit of Happiness shifts the focus to the people and communities of Oregon and the way we gather to celebrate the diverse cultures that define our state. Both exhibitions are being made into physical traveling exhibitions, which will soon be available to organizations and heritage sites statewide.
If you or your organization is interested in getting involved with the America 250 Oregon commemoration, please contact egon.250@ohs.org“>oregon.250@ohs.org or sign up for the official America 250 Oregon email list.
About the America 250 Oregon Commission – The mission of the America 250 Oregon Commission is to coordinate, provide guidance, and ensure that Oregon’s official observance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States is inclusive and shares the histories of Oregon’s diverse populations, including the histories of the Indigenous peoples who have resided here since time immemorial. Learn more at oregon250.org.
Company Petitions to Revive Jordan Cove LNG Project in Southern Oregon
On February 24, 2025, OA Partners LLC – a LNG transportation startup based in Arizona – filed a petition with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to retroactively revive the Jordan Cove LNG Terminal project in Coos County, Oregon.
The project was canceled in 2021 after failing to secure the necessary environmental permits and years of opposition from local residents.
The petition cites President Trump’s Executive Order to unleash American energy and expedite permitting for LNG export projects, and asks the court to waive Oregon’s state permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act.
If built, the Jordan Cove terminal would have been able to export up to 7.8 million metric tons of LNG every year; natural gas would have been supplied to the facility by a new 229-mile-long pipeline. (SOURCE)
Oregon will lose money for replanting trees after wildfires – $75 million in grants to help plant trees canceled in Trump’s anti-DEI push
The U.S. Forest Service has terminated $75 million awarded to the Arbor Day Foundation to help disadvantaged communities plant trees. All 105 of the foundation’s sub-awardees have suddenly lost funding. In New Orleans, a group working to replant the urban tree canopy after Hurricane Katrina’s devastation almost two decades ago now wonders if it can even survive.
In Montana, an urban forester’s plan to plant hundreds of trees in a popular park is at a standstill. The money was part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s $1.5 billion for urban and community forestry. The foundation was told the nature of the work doesn’t align with the agency’s new priorities.
Arthur Johnson has lived in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward for nearly three decades, long enough to appreciate the trees that filter pollution from the big ships traveling the nearby Mississippi River and that offer shade on sweltering summer days.
When Hurricane Katrina roared through two decades ago, it wiped out 200,000 trees across the city, including many in Johnson’s neighborhood and several in his own yard. The city has struggled ever since to restore its tree canopy.
Those efforts will be set back by the U.S. Forest Service’s decision in mid-February to terminate a $75 million grant to the Arbor Day Foundation, which was working to plant trees in neighborhoods from Louisiana to Oregon that might not otherwise be able to afford them. The program is the latest victim of a drive by President Donald Trump’s administration against environmental justice initiatives.
For others who were set to get Arbor Day Foundation money, the loss is not existential but still devastating.
Jackson County, Oregon, was awarded a $600,000 grant to replant trees after wildfires in 2020 destroyed thousands of homes and charred more than 60,000 trees. The town of Talent lost two-thirds of its trees.
The nonprofit Oregon Urban Rural and Community Forestry, founded in the fires’ aftermath, fought for years to get a single dollar, recalled Mike Oxendine, the group’s founder and director.
The grant money from the Arbor Day Foundation was being used to help low-income and disadvantaged mobile home park residents — among the hardest-hit by the fires — identify and remove hazardous trees badly burned or killed, and replant trees for shade and cooling. (SOURCE)
DAS Office of Economic Analysis Presents the March Revenue Forecast
Oregon’s forecast remains strong
Salem, OR – Carl Riccadonna, state chief economist and Michael Kennedy, senior economist of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), presented the latest economic outlook and revenue forecast to a joint meeting of the Oregon Legislative Revenue Committees. The quarterly revenue forecasts serve to open the revenue forecasting process to public review and is the basis for much of the Oregon state government budgeting process.
What is different about this forecast? The Office of Economic Analysis provides quarterly forecasts for the State of Oregon’s major revenue sources, including all sources contributing to the General Fund (Personal and Corporate Income Tax, etc.), Lottery and the Corporate Activity Tax. In May of odd years, OEA’s revenue forecast establishes the resource levels for the next biennium’s adopted budget.
The March 2025 economic outlook is much like was presented in December 2024, with optimism toward a “soft landing” scenario but with widening variability in risk factors. Key points include:
- State economy is increasingly bound to national trends for growth and inflation
- Heightened sensitivity to trade tensions given geography and industry composition
- Labor conditions are healthy, but hiring has sputtered and breadth of job creation is weak
- Magnitude of demographic rebound will be critical to growth outcome
Revenue Forecast – The March revenue forecast projects the 2023-25 General Fund ending balance to be $2.59 billion, with revenues decreasing by $89 million and appropriations up $110 million since the December forecast.
In the 2025-27 biennium, General Fund available resources are forecast to increase by $350 million, and revenues increasing by $551 million from the December forecast. This results in a total of $38.2 billion projected available resources.
About the Office of Economic Analysis – The state chief economist oversees the Office of Economic Analysis within the Department of Administrative Services and provides objective forecasts of the state’s economy, revenue, populations, corrections population and Youth Authority population. These forecasts are used across state government, and by the public for a variety of reasons, notably to inform the state budgeting process. For more information about the Office of Economic Analysis and recent forecasts visit https://www.oregon.gov/das/oea/pages/index.aspx.
Oregon Lottery Spotlights Problem Gambling Awareness Month
Oregon Lottery is focused on increasing awareness of problem gambling and safer play in March — also known as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM). By participating in this annual, grassroots campaign, Oregon Lottery collaborates both locally and nationally to promote prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
This year’s theme, “Seeking Understanding,” focuses on increasing awareness of problem gambling as a serious but often misunderstood mental health condition. By fostering a deeper understanding of the issue, the goal is to encourage empathy, reduce barriers to treatment, and provide support to those affected by gambling-related harm.
“Problem Gambling Awareness Month is a critical time to highlight the realities of gambling addiction and break down the stigma that often prevents individuals from seeking help. In Oregon, it provides an opportunity to recognize the impact of gambling-related harm and ensure that those affected receive the support and resources they need,” said Glenn Yamagata, executive director Oregon Council on Problem Gambling (OCPG). “This year’s theme, ‘Seeking Understanding,’ aligns with OCPG’s mission to foster awareness, compassion, and meaningful access to care.”
Oregonians can access online tools and connect with free, professional counseling year-round by going to the Oregon Problem Gambling Resource (OPGR) website. In 2024, Oregon Lottery worked with the Oregon Health Authority to enhance the OPGR website with additional resources designed to reduce stigma and reach more people at more points on their help seeking journey. This included a link for free access to EVIVE — a first of its kind digital health app, offering solutions for quitting, moderating, or simply playing safer.
“This year’s PGAM theme really resonates for us,” said Stacy Shaw, who leads Oregon Lottery’s Safer Play Program and is an OCPG board member. “We know that stigma is one of the biggest barriers to treatment, and we’re working to normalize both safer play and help seeking in our marketing outreach.”
Since 1992, one percent of Oregon Lottery profits have funded problem gambling treatment and prevention efforts throughout Oregon. Since that time, over $148 million in Lottery funds has supported those services.
About the Oregon Council on Problem Gambling – The Oregon Council on Problem Gambling is the state affiliate to the National Council on Problem Gambling. Its purpose is to promote the health of Oregonians by supporting efforts to minimize gambling related harm. Board members include individuals from the gaming industry, the treatment and prevention field, the recovery community and state and county administrators.
About Oregon Lottery – Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned more than $16.5 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery or to read the Responsible Gaming Impacts Report, visit www.oregonlottery.org.
March Is “Home Improvement Month” at Oregon Construction Contractors Board
The Construction Contractors Board (CCB), the state agency that licenses contractors in Oregon, follows a mission to protect consumers from unlicensed contractor activity. This is a time of year when homeowners and consumers plan home improvement projects. To support consumers at this time, CCB is making this month “Home Improvement Month”.
For home improvement month, CCB has created a webpage where consumers can find helpful information to support them during their home improvement project. On this page, CCB addresses topics like why checking the license is important, signs of an unlicensed contractor scam, and how to report unlicensed contractors. Consumers can see the webpage at: https://www.oregon.gov/ccb/Pages/Home-Improvement-Month.aspx
During the month of March, CCB will also offer three free webinars to the public on different topics.
Door-to-Door Sales Webinar: What to Do When the Home Improvement Comes to You – March 4, 2025, 11:00 — During this talk about door-to-door sales, the CCB presenter will explore the question: when is it a scam and when is it legit? Speakers will discuss how to protect yourself from scams and hire the right contractor for you.
Fire Hardening Webinar – March 18, 2025, 11:00 — In this webinar, Building Codes Division will present about how to harden your home against fires. A speaker from the Oregon State Fire Marshal will present on creating defensible space. At the end, CCB will present on how to hire a contractor to do the work.
Choosing a Real Estate Agent, their Duties to You, and What to Do If Things Go Wrong Webinar – March 27, 2025, 11:00 — This presentation will feature a speaker from Oregon’s Real Estate Agency (REA), providing tips for choosing an agent and what to do when things go wrong. At the end, CCB will present on working with contractors to repair a home during the buying and selling process.
Anyone who would like to attend can register on CCB’s Home Improvement Month webpage.
“Empowering consumers through education is a core mission of the CCB,” said Chris Huntington, CCB Administrator. “CCB’s Home Improvement Month line-up of educational webinars and resources are designed to help consumers go into a construction project with the knowledge they need to help them protect their most valuable investment.”
### About the CCB – The CCB is the state agency licensing over 42,000 contractor businesses. Anyone who is paid to repair, improve or build a home must be licensed. Learn more about how to have a successful project at www.oregon.gov/ccb.
Oregon has thousands of federal jobs across the state, and state economists are shedding light on what areas will be hit the hardest amid federal layoffs. In the first quarter of 2024, Oregon had a total of 28,750 federal jobs and the sector made up 1.5% of the state’s employment.
While it remain unclear how many job and which agencies would see cuts due to the Trump administration’s efforts to scale back government spending, impacts of job revenue loss may be felt more heavily in rural areas according to a report from Oregon State Employment Economist.
The report notes that across Oregon, federal jobs pay 36% more than the average wages, but the gap is even more pronounced in rural areas. It is unclear which agencies would be impacted, the memo excludes the US Postal Service, the Military and Federal Law Enforcement. It directs agencies or components that provide direct services to citizens (such as Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ health care) to delay implementation of staff cuts until the plans are approved.
Though the Oregon Employment Department does not have a count of how many federal workers have applied for unemployment benefits so far, they’re tracking and preparing.
In Oregon, there are more than 29,000 people in the state who work for the federal government — including 7,000 in the U.S. Postal Service; 6,400 in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and 3,400 in the U.S. Forest Service. Department leaders say they are ready to help, no matter how Oregonians lose their jobs. The earliest the department thinks it will see those numbers will be in late March.
The Oregon Employment Department will also be looking for other workers affected by funding cuts in groups that rely on federal dollars, like researchers at universities and other organizations. But specifically for federal workers, there is a page on the Oregon Employment Department website meant to help them go through the process if they lose their jobs.
Join Us for the 2025 Women in Public Safety Event hosted by Portland Police Bureau. 
Explore exciting career opportunities in law enforcement! Whether you’re a recent graduate, considering a career change, or simply curious about public safety, this event is for everyone—people of all ages are welcome!
Date: Saturday March 8, 2025 
Time: 10 AM – 2 PM Location: PPB Training Facility, 14912 NE Airport Way, Portland, Oregon 97230
Meet representatives from over 20 metro agencies and discover the diverse paths available in public safety. Bring your friends, family, and anyone interested in learning more about a fulfilling career serving the community!
Join us for an inspiring day filled with information, networking, and empowerment. We can’t wait to see you there!
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.
An Eagle Point man is dead after hitting a semi-truck head-on near milepost 6 on Highway 138W in Douglas County early Wednesday morning.
Oregon State Police’s preliminary investigation shows that a Ford Escape, driven by 38-year-old Carl Gregory Miller, was traveling eastbound just before 5 a.m. when it veered into the westbound lane and hit a Kenworth semi-truck head-on.
Police say the Ford immediately burst into flames. Other drivers in the area were able to pull Miller from the burning SUV, however, he died at the scene. The driver of the semi-truck was uninjured. OSP says the highway was impacted for approximately five hours. The agency also believes fatigue may have been a factor in the crash.
Last Thursday, members of the Klamath Falls Police Department responded to 2328 Biehn Street on a report of a shooting. The reporting party reported he was shot in the chest.
When officers arrived on scene, life-saving measures were attempted, however, Jai Jackson had succumbed to his injuries. Witnesses reported the shooting transpired after a physical fight between Jackson and two suspects who have been identified as 20-year-old Malacky Rodgers and 20-year-old Garin Riddle Jr.
After the shooting, both Rodgers and Riddle Jr. fled the scene. The Klamath County Major Crime Team was activated and is currently investigating this incident. If any members of the community have additional information regarding this investigation, we encourage you to call the Klamath Falls Police Department at (541)883-5336 and contact lead detective, Det. Joe Reed. If you want to remain anonymous, you can call the anonymous Tip Line at (541) 883-5334.
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
