Willamette Valley News, Friday 3/28 – Lane County Sheriff’s Deputies Serve Search Warrants at Huge Illegal THC Lab, Amtrak Pulls Railcars From Service Due To Corrosion Concerns & Other Local and Statewide News…

The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s WillametteValleyMagazine.com

Friday, March 28, 2025

Willamette Valley Weather

Stay updated with the National Weather Service and NOAA for the latest information on evolving conditions.

Lane County Sheriff’s Deputies Serve Search Warrants at Huge Illegal THC Lab and Residences

UPDATE – During the service of the search warrants, detectives located the following items: – 2,725 pounds of THC extract – ½ pound of amphetamine – 50 pounds of psilocybin – 10 pounds of vacuum sealed marijuana During the investigation, Vu Hong Nguyen, 45, of Troutdale, and Arthur Scott Ingersoll, 64, of Eugene, were arrested and issued criminal citations in lieu of custody on charges of Unlawful Manufacture of Cannabinoid / Marijuana Item and Criminal Conspiracy. Additional charges are possible as detectives continue investigating and testing seized substances.

–3/26/25 – LCSO Case #25-0708On March 26th at about 8 a.m., Lane County Sheriff’s detectives and deputies served search warrants at: – A residence in the 2000 block of Musket Street, Eugene – A residence in the 1600 block of Taney Street, Eugene – A warehouse in the area of W. 11th and Arrowsmith Street, Eugene – A residence in the 800 block of SW Grant Way, Troutdale Detectives had conducted a months-long investigation based on evidence collected during prior investigations into illegal marijuana grows and THC manufacturing facilities. It was determined the manufacturing facility at the warehouse in this case was unlicensed, and the operators were selling product illegally out of state.

As witnessed previously in our area, THC extraction labs are extremely dangerous and can result in catastrophic and deadly explosions. The lab was made inoperable during the service of the search warrant. Deputies also located large containers of flammable and acidic liquids at the location, some of which had been spilled. City of Eugene Code Compliance will be following up with code violations discovered on the property.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on this case by the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT), Oregon State Police (OSP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and OLCC. This investigation would not have been possible without the ongoing grant funding from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission’s Illegal Marijuana Market Grant (IMMEG).

This grant was created in 2018 by the Oregon Legislature to assist local law enforcement agencies and district attorneys’ offices in their efforts to address the illegal marijuana market in Oregon. Thanks also to the Eugene Springfield Fire Department for their assistance in ensuring the manufacturing equipment and environment at the facility was safe for investigators. This is an ongoing investigation. Further details may be provided at a later time. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact LCSO at 541-682-4141 and reference case #25-0708.

Amtrak’s “Horizon” railcars have been pulled from service due to corrosion concerns, affecting nearly all trips on Amtrak Cascades daily service between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Eugene.

Amtrak is pulling its fleet of “Horizon” railcars from several lines, including the Amtrak Cascades route, after a routine inspection revealed safety concerns, according to a statement on its website Wednesday morning.

The rail service has scheduled buses to transport passengers on the impacted Cascades trips through the end of the month.  The “Talgo VI” railcars, which were previously used on the Cascades route, were pulled after derailing on a bridge over Interstate 5 in DuPont, Wash., in 2017. Three people were killed in the crash.

The Horizon cars were then brought in from the Midwest for the Cascades run, which moves up and down the I-5 corridor. But now they’ve been canceled due to the corrosion issue. The Cascades route is scheduled to get new “Airo” railcars in 2026. In a separate notice on its website Wednesday, Amtrak said a total of 70 passenger cars across the country are affected, including 26 cars on the Amtrak Cascades route.  In the short-term, buses have been secured to transport passengers to their destinations through March 30.

The Cascades route is a different route than the Coast Starlight and is unaffected as they use different railcars to transport passengers.  The Coast Starlight will remain on its current schedule with no changes whatsoever from Southern California to Seattle, including their stop in Klamath Falls.

Deputies arrest Eugene man for kidnap, assault after talking him down from roof

On March 26th at about 3 a.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in the 3600 block of Stark Street, Eugene, for a report of a dispute. Deputies are familiar with the residence, having responded to the address more than 60 times in 2024 alone.

A male at the location, Travis John Krebs, 34, of Eugene, had climbed onto the second story roof before deputies arrived. Despite his disorderly behavior, deputies were able to convince Krebs to climb down and go back inside as no crime had been committed.

At about 4 a.m., deputies responded to the address again after receiving additional calls. When they arrived, Krebs was again on the roof. Deputies learned through their investigation that in the time since deputies first responded, Krebs had assaulted two other residents at the location. He then forced them into a room and barricaded them inside before again climbing onto the roof.

Deputies again attempted to talk Krebs down from the second story roof, however his behavior began to deteriorate, and he threatened to jump. A deputy responded with a drone to maintain observation of Krebs as he moved around the roof. At one point, Krebs dismantled a metal chimney cover and threw it to the ground, almost striking a deputy.

A deputy assigned to the Lane County Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiation Team was called out to assist. After about an hour and a half, Krebs climbed down from the roof and was arrested without further incident. Krebs was lodged at the Lane County Jail for 2 counts of Assault in the 4th Degree and 2 counts of Kidnapping in the 2nd Degree.

3/27/25 – LCSO Case #25-1472 – Deputies arrest male for multiple charges after menacing, pursuit

On March 27th at about 5 a.m., deputies responded to a residence in the 88700 block of Territorial Road for a report of a dispute. Residents reported a male known to them, Joseph Spencer Gale-Smith, 30, of Eugene, came onto their property and threatened another resident with a taser.  

Deputies located Gale-Smith driving nearby in a silver 2003 Honda CR-V and attempted a traffic stop. Gale-Smith stopped his vehicle, but then continued driving after a deputy attempt to speak with him. Deputies pursued, until the vehicle turned south on Highway 99 from Clear Lake Road, towards Eugene.

A deputy then conducted a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT), forcing the vehicle off of the road and preventing it from driving into the city. During arrest, deputies found Gale-Smith was in possession of methamphetamine.  

Gale-Smith was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail without further incident on the following charges: – Menacing – Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon – Criminal Trespass in the 2nd Degree – Attempt to Elude Police by Vehicle – Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine (Misdemeanor) – Lane County Circuit Court warrant for a probation violation

Power Restored to South Springfield Customers Following Wind-Related Outage

Approximately 150 Springfield Utility Board (SUB) customers in the Harbor Drive area of south Springfield were without power Thursday after strong winds gusted through the area. 

Crews responded quickly and were able to restore service within an hour of initial outage reports.

“We appreciate our customers’ patience as our crews worked to safely restore power,” said Jeff Nelson, SUB’s general manager.

About Springfield Utility Board: Founded in 1950, Springfield Utility Board is a community-owned utility dedicated to providing safe, reliable, cost-effective water and electric services to the residents and businesses of Springfield. SUB is a not-for-profit entity, chartered under the City of Springfield and guided by a five-member, independently elected Board of Directors. As a public utility, SUB is focused on providing excellent customer service and quality work at competitive rates.

LCSO Case #25-1441 Deputies arrest driver in Cottage Grove after pursuit of vehicle stolen from Portland

On March 25th at about 1:30 p.m., the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received information a vehicle stolen from a business in Portland was in the area of London Road. The suspect had also burglarized the business. The company that owned the vehicle, a Scion xB SUV, was tracking it in real time by GPS.

A deputy soon located the vehicle north of Cottage Grove and attempted a traffic stop. The driver fled in the vehicle. Since the vehicle was being tracked by GPS, the deputy stopped pursuing but followed the track being relayed to him as it entered Cottage Grove.

The vehicle then crashed into another vehicle in Cottage Grove at N. 9th Street and W. Woodson Place. When the deputy arrived on scene seconds later, witnesses directed him in the direction the suspect ran. He was quickly arrested.

The driver, Austin Taylor Williams, 28, of Portland, was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail for: – Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle – Attempt to Elude Police Officer by Vehicle – Attempt to Elude Police Officer by Foot – Failure to Perform Duties of a Driver – Property Damage – Four Multnomah County Circuit Court warrants for probation violations — Thanks to Cottage Grove Police Department and the bystanders in Cottage Grove for assisting the deputy in this case.

The University of Oregon Could Have Its first Faculty Strike

The United Academics at the University of Oregon says a year of bargaining has failed to produce a fair contract. The union represents nearly two-thousand full- and part-time faculty.

The union says some part-time faculty can barely afford to live in Eugene. They say enrollment is up and faculty should be fairly compensated.

The UO says they’re committed to a contract that fairly compensates faculty while ensuring long-term financial sustainability. The earliest a strike could occur is March 31st.

Lane Council of Governments (LCOG), Lane County Government, and Douglas Fast Net (DFN) jointly announce $8.5 million from the Oregon Broadband Office to complete the Lane and Douglas County Rural Reach Project to bring high-speed, reliable broadband internet to thousands of rural residents by 2026.

This funding will bring affordable and reliable, high-speed internet access to more than 1,900 homes across rural Lane County and parts of rural Douglas County. A total of 11 project sub-areas are slated for funding across both counties. Of the locations, 1,485 are currently unserved by “broadband” (i.e. they have no service, or service below 25 Mbps upload and 3 Mbps download). The project will begin in 2025. All awarded funds must be utilized, and projects must be operational by December 2026. Learn more at https://www.lcog.org/…/rural-reach-project-secures-85…

Police response to shots fired call in Barger Area

At 12:25 a.m. on March 25, Eugene Police officers responded to a reported dispute in the 2100 block of Amirante Street. Callers then reported shots fired at the location and several more officers responded in emergency mode to the area. Four males had been observed leaving the area in a white sedan. Officers canvassed the immediate area and located spent shell casings.

They also conducted a welfare check of the residents at the involved home. The residents reported being confronted by people outside the residence. One individual is believed to have fired a firearm into the air. Currently, the source of the shots is under investigation. There was no evidence the home or vehicles parked there had been impacted.

Officers who were canvassing the Barger area for the white sedan located a suspect vehicle in a parking lot on Empire Park and Barger Drive and it was occupied by four males, ranging in age from 16 to 18. They were detained without incident and officers completed a consent search. No firearms were located. Three of the four males associated with the vehicle were lodged for Disorderly Conduct, the fourth was cited in lieu of custody and released to a parent on scene. Case 25-04743

The City of Eugene’s controversial fire fee will now go to voters

The city announced Monday that it has verified more than 8,000 signatures on a petition filed earlier this month to place that fee on the ballot so voters had a say on the issue.

The City says because of the timing of the certification, it is expected to be on the November 4 ballot.

The fee was proposed in order to cover a near $11.5 million budget shortfall, putting in place an additional monthly fee of roughly $10 for homeowners and $34 for business owners to cover Eugene Springfield Fire’s budget.

Lane Events Center Hosting April 3 Open House for 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 and hosting an open house to explore initial concepts, discuss emerging values, and help shape a shared vision for the Lane Events Center.

Community Open House
Thursday, April 3 | 5–7 p.m.
Lane Events Center
796 W 13th Ave, Eugene, OR 97402
Convention Center, Meeting Room 4

“This is our first open house for the Master Plan and the feedback people give will help us keep refining our vision for the future and look for ways to make Lane Events Center an even more integral part of the community,” said Lane Events Center Manager Corey Buller. “We had a great response to our earlier survey and now we’re hoping to see a lot of neighbors and community members here on April third.”

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

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. https://www.laneeventscenter.org/

Lane County Government 

Our friends at Eugene Water & Electric Board are hosting an in-person and online Financial Preparedness for Disasters Seminar in April. Learn more about how to document your home, review your insurance coverage, and be better prepared to recover financially from a natural disaster.

EWEB and the City of Eugene are working together to enhance community resilience by helping residents “Be 2 Weeks Ready”—not just with emergency supplies, but financially, too.Whether you attend in person or online, this free seminar is an opportunity to take control of your financial future and gain peace of mind.Now is the time to take action and be financially prepared for disaster. The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation will share simple steps to help you recover more quickly and completely from disaster.

Learn how to create a home inventory, organize financial records, review your insurance coverage, and get the most out of the claims process.Planning ahead can minimize stress, reduce financial hardship, and make recovery smoother and more manageable. Take advantage of this opportunity to protect your financial future.

Join the event in person at:
EWEB Roosevelt Operations Center
4200 Roosevelt BLVD
Eugene, OR 97402Or register to attend virtually at:
https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/…/6c5e9c79-a82b…

Presented by the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. Hosted by Eugene Water & Electric Board

SPRING INTO ACTION: DONATE TO OPERATION REFILL THE STOCKPILE

Operation Fill the Stockpile at First Christian Church- where community members can drop off donations and enjoy refreshments.

Donations will be accepted Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 2 PM at First Christian Church. Items can also be purchased from the Amazon Wish List and shipped directly to 1166 Oak St., Eugene, OR 97401.

Lane County Health & Human Services, in partnership with First Christian Church, is calling on the community to Spring into Action by donating essential items for those experiencing homelessness. Operation Fill the Stockpile is an effort to collect much-needed clothing and survival gear to help our unhoused neighbors stay safe and warm during the colder months, as well as in the warmer months ahead.

“Spring is a time when many people clean out their homes and refresh their spaces. Instead of discarding unwanted items, consider giving them a second life by donating to those in need,” said Amy Wilson, Lane County Human Services Program Coordinator. “With unpredictable weather this time of year, these donations can be the difference between safety and hardship for those without shelter. Your generosity can make a life-saving difference for someone facing the elements.”

Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2XR33GS1ULV8Z?ref_=wl_share

Donated items will be distributed to local homeless outreach providers who directly support unsheltered individuals.

Everyone Village in Eugene accepts cans and bottles with no limit

Typically, BottleDrop redemption centers accept a daily maximum of 350 containers per person, but Everyone Village can accept as many as you have, whether it’s 50 cans or 5,000 cans.

Everyone Village, located at 3825 Janisse St., accepts unlimited cans and bottles three days a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They will be adding an additional day to the schedule in April.

REEL on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1136451074555235 FOLLOW: https://www.facebook.com/everyonevillage WEBSITE: https://everyonevillage.org

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/565852770 Sign up to receive Lane Alerts emergency alerts at www.LaneAlerts.org#NationalPreparednessMonth

Eugene Springfield Fire   · ESF’s Young Women’s Fire Camp is now accepting applications.

The camp will run from June 23rd – June 27th this year. The deadline for sign up is May 1, 2025. You can sign up on our website at: https://www.eugene-or.gov/2983/Young-Womens-Fire-Camp.

“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

Impact of federal grant cuts on OHA programs and Oregonians

–The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), abruptly terminated roughly $117 million in COVID-era grants and funding for Oregon Health Authority programs, an impact that will be felt immediately in all nine federally recognized Tribal communities and in every county in Oregon.

The sudden loss of the funding, a year or more before some of the grants were scheduled to end, included, among other things:

• Five grants in OHA’s Behavioral Health Division that helped establish the 988 crisis line and were planned to fill critical gaps in community substance use treatment, prevention, and recovery services, especially for communities of color, young adults, and veterans.
• A grant that established an Equity Office in OHA’s Public Health Division and provided technical assistance and training to rural health care providers, Tribes, Local Public Health Departments and community-based organizations on how to improve health in communities experiencing health inequities.
• Multiple immunization-related grants in OHA’s Public Health Division to support vaccine-preventable disease work, including funding for clinics in local and Tribal communities where COVID-19 and other vaccines are offered, training to keep health care providers up to date, education for community partners on the importance of immunizations, help desk support for health care providers and the general public, information materials in multiple languages to meet specific community needs.
• Multiple grants in OHA’s Public Health Division that supported adding laboratory capacity, modernizing data systems, increased surveillance, testing and response to communicable diseases caused by respiratory viruses.

OHA officials earlier today notified local public health authorities, the nine federally recognized Tribes and community-based organizations and partners who receive the funds that the grants have ended. OHA will continue to engage in a full evaluation of the impacts of these terminations, including whether they are legal, and remains committed to improving the lifelong health of all people in Oregon.

ONA Condemns Trump Administration’s Plan to Gut the Department of Health and Human Services: “Oregonians Will Suffer”

— The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) strongly condemns the Trump administration’s announcement to eliminate 10,000 positions from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This is a calculated and catastrophic assault on the public health system that healthcare workers and patients across Oregon rely on every day. 

“This is not streamlining. This is sabotage,” said Tamie Cline, RN, ONA President. “Slashing the workforce at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the middle of overlapping public health crises will put lives at risk. Healthcare professionals in Oregon and across the country are already stretched thin, and this makes our jobs harder, our communities sicker, and our public institutions weaker.” 

The Trump administration’s plan would gut the CDC’s ability to respond to disease outbreaks, limit the NIH’s capacity to fund life-saving research, and hamstring the FDA’s oversight of food and drug safety. These federal agencies are essential partners in safeguarding public health and ensuring healthcare workers have the resources, data, and support needed to care for their communities. Weakening them is an attack on the health and safety of every person in this state. 

Some of the potential impacts of these reckless cuts include: 

• Disease Outbreaks and Emergency Response: Oregon received more than $8.4 million through the CDC’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness program in FY2023, funding over 100 positions that help the state respond to wildfires, floods, and disease outbreaks. Cuts to CDC staffing threaten this funding and leave Oregon less prepared to protect public health during emergencies. 

• Opioid Overdose and Suicide Prevention: The CDC allocated nearly $4 million to Oregon in FY2023 for opioid overdose prevention and nearly $1 million for suicide prevention. These programs fund naloxone distribution, peer recovery mentorship, and crisis intervention services; programs that may disappear if federal support and staffing are gutted. 

• Lead Poisoning Prevention: Oregon’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program received over $500,000 in federal funding to identify and eliminate lead exposure risks, particularly for low-income children. Cuts to CDC personnel jeopardize this funding and threaten to increase preventable childhood lead poisoning cases across the state. 

• Medical Research at OHSU: Oregon Health & Science University received $277 million from the National Institutes of Health in FY2024 to support research on cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other life-threatening diseases. Slashing NIH staff by over 1,000 positions could delay or reduce future grant opportunities, setting back life-saving research led by Oregon scientists. 

The consequences will be felt most acutely by those already struggling to access care; reduced access to mental health and addiction services in rural Oregon, stalled research on chronic diseases at Oregon’s top academic institutions, and delayed approval of critical medications and treatments. Healthcare providers will be left without the federal support we rely on to deliver safe, effective care. 

While most of Oregon’s congressional delegation has consistently stood up for healthcare workers and opposed these reckless cuts, U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz has remained silent. Silence is complicity. The Oregon Nurses Association calls on Rep. Bentz to publicly oppose this dangerous plan. Oregon cannot afford one more politician sitting on the sidelines while our public health infrastructure is dismantled. 

“Healthcare workers know what it takes to keep our communities safe,” Cline said. “We are calling this what it is: a dangerous, politically motivated effort to break public health in order to break public trust. And we will not let that happen without a fight.” 

ONA urges healthcare professionals, patients, and advocates across Oregon to raise their voices, contact their representatives, and demand that these cuts be stopped before more damage is done. 

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents a diverse community of more than 23,000 nurses, and health care professionals throughout Oregon. Together, we use our collective power to advocate for critical issues impacting patients, nurses, and health care professionals including a more effective, affordable and accessible healthcare system; better working conditions for all health care professionals; and healthier communities. For more information visit www.OregonRN.org.

Oregon Food Banks Face Shortages after Federal Administration Halts $500M in Aid

Oregon Food Bank to lose 4 million lbs of food deliveries from USDA amid federal cuts

Oregon foodbanks across the state will lose access to food shipments and leave more Oregonians hungry, advocates say, after the Trump administration suspended a national emergency food program.

The administration halted $500 million in food aid that was slated for U.S. distribution this year. The Oregon Food Bank, which distributes food aid to 21 regional foodbanks and some 1,200 distribution sites, had been allocated 30 truckloads of food beginning in April under the program and another 60 truckloads that would have been delivered from July through December.

Together, the shipments would have comprised some 4.2 million pounds of food – truckloads of chicken, milk, fresh and canned fruits and vegetables – that end up on the shelves of food pantries around the state and provide a vital lifeline for families and individuals struggling with food security.

The program provided almost one-fifth of the food the Oregon Food Bank distributed last year, plus administrative funding to support distribution costs.

The Oregon Food Bank has been receiving food under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s emergency food assistance program since 2023. In 2024, the value of those shipments was $14 million, and it received $1 million in funding to cover administrative costs. The value of this year’s canceled shipments is an estimated $6 million, plus an additional $1 million to support distribution.

The food banks were provided no official reason for the program’s suspension. Last fall, the Biden administration announced that it was investing another $1 billion in the program, said Shannon Oliver, the Oregon Food Bank’s director of operations. She said there was no reason at the time to think the incoming administration would change that. So the organization was caught off guard when it got a notice in February from Feeding America, a national network of food banks, that the program had been frozen, and its food orders disappeared from the program’s portal.

“As the person that’s in charge of making our food projections, I feel like I kind of have to be on the conservative side and assume that it’s not coming back,” Oliver said. “What’s keeping me up at night is how to potentially make this up.”

The supply disruption comes as the organization] is seeing a record level of demand amid severe inflation in food prices. Last year its network of food banks and distribution sites around Oregon and southwest Washington saw 2.5 million visits, a 31% increase from the previous year. According to Feed America, about one in eight Oregonians, and one in six children in the state, faces food insecurity.

“The amount we’re distributing right now is not keeping pace with increased pantry visits and increased need out in the community,” Oliver said.

She said it was highly unlikely that traditional donors and local suppliers could make up the gap. Many are being hit by the same chaotic forces that have come from the new administration’s economic and immigration policies, including tariffs, supply chain disruptions and the threat of immigration raids on growers.

The upshot of the federal freeze, she said, will be fewer distributions to its regional food banks, smaller allowances and less choice for families visiting them, and the potential closure of some distribution and meal sites. (SOURCE)

Governor Kotek’s office has heard from thousands of Oregonians concerned with utility rate increases that have gone up for most by about 50% in the last five years.

Kotek detailed this and her own concerns in a March 20 letter to the three governor-appointed chairs and executive director of the Oregon Public Utility Commission, which is charged with regulating the rates of investor-owned, monopoly electric and gas utilities operating in the state.  She also laid out her expectations for the commission in the letter, including honoring the state’s climate commitments while considering requests for rate increases from utilities.

She asked that members provide information by Aug. 1 about their ability going forward to keep electricity and gas services affordable for Oregonians, handle the impacts of new heavy users such as data centers and ensure sound investments are being made in modernizing grid and distribution systems so Oregonians get reliable energy deliveries. 

Kotek acknowledged both electric and natural gas utilities have and continue to face increasing insurance costs from the threat of catastrophic wildfires, inflationary pressures and volatile fuel prices. Everyday customers face those challenges, too.  NW Natural, the state’s largest private gas utility, turned off gas to 376 Oregonians in 2024 – a 30% increase since 2023.

In the last five years, residential rates for customers of all three utilities have risen by about 50%, and the Oregon’s Public Utility Commission has approved rate hikes requested by the utilities nearly every year.

Governor Kotek wants to make it easier for housing developers to identify and build on the more than 3,500 acres of suitable-for-development land the state owns or manages.

The governor revealed an online map on Thursday aimed at making the state inventory of land more transparent. All told, more than 1.7 million acres are under Oregon state control, but about 360 parcels on the nearly 4,000 acres have been identified for possible housing development. 

Kotek has staked her political reputation on making housing more affordable in the state, which hasn’t happened at all. Much of her administration’s energy has been poured into what the governor once declared a “man-made” and “humanitarian disaster.”

Kotek has promised a significant increase in housing production goals; her goal is to move from the historical 22,000 units to 36,000 new housing units per year, an ease in permitting and a push to put hundreds more people into housing. The state has struggled to meet those goals.  The legislature opened the Housing Accountability and Productive Office to help local governments streamline their efforts, including the new website. The online map is cumbersome looking right now, but Deborah Flagan, with Hayden Homes, said finding land poses the greatest challenge for builders. Flagan was on a housing advisory council that recommended the idea. 

Another central piece of Kotek’s housing production plan also recently launched. The $75 million “revolving loan fund” went live last month. It’s aimed at helping cities and counties boost affordable housing stock. The idea is to create a program to help local governments offer interest-free loans to developers who are building moderate and affordable home projects but have a funding gap. The $75 million is the starting point and will be replenished once the loans are paid off.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was up once again for February despite some sectors like government of course, actually adding jobs. Last month saw an unemployment rate of 4.5% in our state. That’s four-tenths of a point above the national average. 

Sectors that saw the most gains were professional and business services, information, and government, which added more than 500 jobs.

However, construction, private educational services, and financial services all saw job decreases. Oregon’s 4.5% unemployment rate is the highest the state’s seen since August of 2021.

Oregon Senate passes bill for permanent standard time… or possibly permanent daylight saving time

The bill could switch Oregon to either permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time, depending on what the federal government and neighboring states do.

The Oregon legislature is once again flirting with the idea of getting rid of the twice-annual switching of the clocks. Senate Bill 1038, which passed the state Senate Tuesday, could set Oregon up to adopt either permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time, depending on what the federal government, Washington and California do. 

Speaking on the Senate floor Tuesday, bill sponsor Sen. Kim Thatcher explained that her priority is simply to lock the clocks, regardless of which timeframe comes out on top. She said the bill sets Oregon up to take whichever approach happens to work out sooner.

“I can’t say which of these would happen, but I do know that this bill gives us the highest percent chance of ditching the switch,” she said.

Under current federal law, states can choose to opt out of daylight saving time and remain on standard time year-round, but they aren’t allowed to implement permanent daylight saving time. Only Arizona and Hawaii have opted for permanent standard time; all others continue to switch the clocks.

Oregon first pursued a change in 2019 when the legislature passed a bill — also sponsored by Thatcher — to switch to permanent daylight saving time. The bill included two trigger conditions: it will only kick in if Congress changes the federal law and if Washington and California both decide to make the same switch. Washington quickly got on board with a similar bill, but so far, California and the federal government haven’t budged.

The idea of moving in the other direction emerged last year when Thatcher introduced Senate Bill 1548, which proposed a switch to year-round standard time, bypassing the need for federal approval. The bill initially didn’t include the California-and-Washington trigger either, but Thatcher added it to get the bill through the Senate — though it ultimately died in the House.

SB 1038 essentially combines the two prior bills; if the federal law changes and Washington and California switch to permanent daylight savings time within 10 years, Oregon will follow suit. And if the other two states instead decide to switch to permanent standard time within 10 years, Oregon will do likewise.

Thatcher said she took an all-of-the-above approach for SB 1038 because she heard differing opinions from other lawmakers last year about whether permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time would be the better strategy, but either way, no one wanted Oregon to be out of sync with Washington or California.

The bill passed 18-11; two senators who spoke in opposition said that they did not want to allow for the possibility of switching to permanent standard time because of negative impacts during the summer.

“A number of the emails that I received from folks shared that they are not comfortable with driving in the dark,” said Sen. Wlnsvey Campos. “These are folks that might otherwise be frequenting businesses, and so, this is a loss of revenue to them.”

Supporters generally said they had less of an opinion about which way Oregon goes, as long as it stays matched to its neighbors. Sen. Jeff Golden, whose district sits along Oregon’s southern border, said he’d heard a large amount of feedback from his constituents that convinced him to back Thatcher’s approach.

“There’s really a lot of consensus in my district on two points… one, let’s stop switching time. We don’t want to switch time anymore. It’s confusing; it’s disrupting; let’s go to one or the other,” he said. “And two, let’s be the same as California.”

Like its predecessors, SB 1038 would only apply to the part of the state that operates on Pacific Time. The majority of Malheur County at the eastern edge of Oregon operates on Mountain Time and would continue to do so even if the legislation takes effect. (SOURCE)

Big changes are coming to Mega Millions next month. Players will pay more for an increased ticket price but can also expect adjustments to prizes, higher starting jackpots and higher winning odds.

The new cost of a single-play Mega Millions ticket will rise from $2 per play to $5 per play, starting with the April 8 drawing.

Players who had won $2 in the old game will now take home $10, $15, $20, $25 or $50 under this game.  Those who had won $500 under the old rules will now take home $1,000; $1,500; $2,000; $2,500 or $5,000 in this new game. Non-jackpot prizes at every level are going up by 2X to 10X. 

These changes will take effect next week, according to a press release, after the last drawing on the current game April 4. The first drawings under the new system will begin April 8. It’s the second time in the game’s history that a price adjustment has been made, and the first since 2017.

Mega Millions is played in Oregon and 44 other states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Kroger Grocery is denying Albertsons’ claims that it didn’t do enough to ensure regulatory approval of the companies’ planned supermarket merger.

In court papers filed Tuesday in the Delaware Court of Chancery, Kroger said Albertsons disregarded the companies’ merger agreement and worked secretly with a partner, C&S Wholesalers, to try to force Kroger to divest more stores to C&S. Kroger also claimed that Albertsons was secretly planning to sue Kroger if the deal didn’t go through long before the merger actually fell apart in December.

Kroger said in Tuesday’s court filing that it should not be forced to pay Albertsons a $600 million termination fee as well as billions of dollars in legal fees.  

In a statement Tuesday, Albertsons said it was Kroger that failed to honor the merger agreement.

“Kroger’s self-interested conduct doomed the merger, and we are now focused on returning value to Albertsons’ shareholders to compensate for those losses,” Albertsons said.

Kroger and Albertsons first proposed the merger in 2022. They argued that combining would help them better compete with big retailers like Walmart and Costco. But the Federal Trade Commission and two states — Washington and Colorado — sued to block the merger last year, saying it would raise prices and lower workers’ wages by eliminating competition. It also said Kroger and Albertsons’ plan to divest 579 stores, C&S Wholesalers was inadequate to ensure competition, since C&S was ill-equipped to take on so many stores.

In December, judges in Washington and Oregon halted the merger in two rulings issued within hours of each other.

Albertsons said Kroger refused to divest more stores, even as it became clear that regulators weren’t satisfied with its plans. Albertsons said Kroger also should have sought other buyers beyond C&S to satisfy regulators’ concerns.

Undercover Detectives Arrest 39-Year-Old Jacksonville Man for Luring, Sexually Corrupting Local Teen via Snapchat

JCSO Case 25-1530MEDFORD, Ore. – A Jacksonville man is in jail today after attempting to lure and sexually corrupt a local teen. The suspect and the underaged victim connected via the Snapchat “Quick Add” feature. The child’s parents learned of the communications on March 22, intervened, and reported it to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO). Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) detectives took over the child’s Snapchat account and learned a local 39-year-old man was communicating sexually with the teen.

On March 26, the suspect arranged to meet with a SOCET detective posing as the teen. Undercover detectives from JCSO, SOCET, Oregon State Police (OSP), and Medford Police Department (MPD) positioned themselves at the suspect’s prearranged meet up location. The suspect arrived in the 2900 block of Crater Lake Highway in Medford, and detectives arrested him without incident at 7:28 PM.

The suspect, Anthony Nicholas Wheeler, 39, of Jacksonville, is charged with first-degree online sexual corruption of a child, second-degree online sexual corruption of a child, and luring a minor. He is lodged in the Jackson County Jail. JCSO detectives, OSP, and MPD assisted in the arrest and investigation. United States Marshals Service funded the operation.

SOCET is a joint inter-agency task force that started in June of 2020 to combat child exploitation. The task force consists of investigators from JCSO, Oregon Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations, as well as prosecutors from our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in Jackson and Josephine County. The case will be prosecuted by the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.

This case is a reminder of the importance for parents to be aware of what their child is doing online. The vigilance of this child’s parents led to a safe outcome but that is not always the case. Here are a few tips to help protect children online:

– Discuss internet safety and develop an online safety plan with children before they engage in online activity. Establish clear guidelines, teach children to spot red flags, and encourage children to have open communication with you.

– Encourage children to tell a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult if anyone asks them to engage in sexual activity or other inappropriate behavior.

– Immediately report suspected online enticement or sexual exploitation of a child by calling 911, contacting the FBI at www.tips.fbi.gov, or filing a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or www.report.cybertip.org.

For more information on keeping kids safe on the internet, go to https://www.justice.gov/…/keeping-children-safe-online. There is no further information available for release at this time.

Josephine County Public Health Officer Dr. David Candelaria confirmed four cases of rabies in foxes within the past week, an unusual spike for the county that elevates concern.

Dr. Candelaria said that rabies is typically found in bats, which are the reservoir for the virus in Oregon. A nine year old girl was bitten by a rabid fox and received treatment, while another person reported a bite to their shoe, with no exposure.

Dr. Candelaria emphasized that rabies is transmitted through saliva and can only cause infection through broken skin or mucous membrane contact. Rabies presents with severe and alarming symptoms related to its impact on the central nervous system. According to Dr. Candelaria, these symptoms can manifest in two primary ways: aggressively or passively. Common symptoms include fever, hydrophobia (a fear of water), pharyngeal spasms (spasms of the airway), and hyperactivity.

The disease progresses aggressively, ultimately leading to paralysis and death. Dr. Candelaria described it as “an inglorious way to go.” In dealing with wild animals, it is best to always keep a safe distance of at least 25 feet. The Sheriff’s office said the cases originated in the Selma and Cave Junction area. Residents there should be cautious and look out for strange behavior in wildlife. Since foxes are typically nocturnal, seeing one in the daytime out in the open should be cause for alarm.

Oregon public schools would have to consider installing a panic alarm system under a bill that unanimously passed the state House.

Alyssa’s Law is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a student who was killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2017. Schools that have installed these systems find that about 80 percent of the alerts are for medical purposes.

In 2023, the Oregon Legislature approved two-and-a-half million dollars to help pay for the systems. The bill now moves to the Senate.

The federal government would prioritize use of mass timber in construction projects under a bill in Congress.

Senators from Oregon and Idaho are leading the bipartisan effort to pass the Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act. Mass timber involves a process that makes wood strong enough for high rise construction, and more fire resistant.

The bill would make it a preference to use mass timber in federal construction projects.

A new bill in the Oregon legislature could result in a sales tax on beer, wine, and cider in Oregon.

House Bill 3197 proposes a 2% tax starting in 2026, eventually climbing to 8% in 2032. The tax would impact consumers at restaurants and at the grocery store. A majority of the funds collected, 85%, would go toward funding youth alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs. 

The Oregon Beverage Alliance opposes the tax, citing a Monitoring the Future survey that claims youth drinking and drug use is at an all-time low.  a spokesperson with the Oregon Beverage Alliance said. “Lawmakers should not be raising prices through a regressive sales tax on constituents when they’re already at record highs.

Additionally, the beer and wine sectors are seeing record closures with 70 breweries, taprooms, and brewpubs and 60 wineries and tasting rooms shuttering in the past two years as fewer people are drinking.”

Registration Now Open for the Annual Oregon Spring Cleanup

– Registration is live for the annual Oregon Spring Cleanup presented by Portland General Electric! With over 100 events already posted on the SOLVE website, now is the time to get involved. Litter cleanups and habitat restoration projects span Portland and SW Washington, the entire Oregon Coast from Astoria to Brookings, the Willamette National Forest, Southern Oregon—including Medford—and all the way to Baker City in Eastern Oregon.

The Oregon Spring Cleanup, celebrating Earth Month, takes place from April 12 to 22, 2025, culminating on Saturday, April 19. Individuals, families, community and corporate groups are encouraged to participate in this collective effort to keep our region clean and beautiful. Volunteers can sign up for existing projects or host their own events with support from SOLVE.

Longtime community partner, Portland General Electric continues to champion environmental volunteerism through SOLVE. As part of PGE’s commitment to environmental stewardship, they partner with SOLVE to bring communities together to provide clean and healthy environments for all.

“Earth Month is great reminder to take action and continue to enhance our communities,” said PGE’s vice president of policy and resource planning, Kristen Sheeran. “This Earth Month, we’re ready to roll up our sleeves with SOLVE and all of the volunteer partners to make a lasting impact on Oregon’s natural spaces.”

How to Get Involved

• Sign up: Find a volunteer event near you and register yourself or a group at volunteer.solveoregon.org/
• Lead your own event: SOLVE provides all the necessary resources, including supplies and disposal funds, to make hosting a project easy for you.
• Join the challenge: Rally your school, company, or community group to take part in the Trash Bag Challenge. Participants challenge others to either join an existing SOLVE cleanup or lead their own, sparking friendly competition and community pride – solveoregon.org/challenge

Supply Hubs: Making Coastal Cleanups More Sustainable

At SOLVE, we make it easy to lead a cleanup event. This year, new coastal supply hubs provide an additional way to access event materials, making it even easier to host litter cleanups along the Oregon Coast.

Through a partnership with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) and generous support from Knife River, SOLVE has established seven supply hubs along the Oregon Coast. These hubs—located at Cape Lookout, Fort Stevens, Port Orford Heads, South Beach, and Sunset Bay within OPRD parks, along with Heart of Cartm in Nehalem and Washed Ashore in Bandon—are stocked with supplies to support cleanups of up to 20 volunteers, reducing the shipment of single-use plastics to these areas.

Join the Trash Bag Challenge

New this year, SOLVE is also launching the Trash Bag Challenge, inviting schools, businesses, community groups, and organizations to challenge others to either join an existing cleanup or lead their own. This initiative is designed to spark friendly competition and community pride while making a tangible difference in local areas.

The Oregon Spring Cleanup 2025 is made possible by the generous support of Portland General Electric and other event sponsors, including AAA, CareOregon, Clean Water Services, Fred Meyer, Holman Enterprises, KOIN 6, The Oregonian, Lam Research Corporation, Metro, Lithia Driveway, Intel, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Swire Coca-Cola, The Standard, and PepsiCo.

For more information and to sign up, visit www.solveoregon.org/oregon-spring and be part of the collective effort to create a cleaner, greener Oregon.

About SOLVE 

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information. 

Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs

No veteran should be without a place to call home, and the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is committed to ending veteran homelessness in our state.

The new ODVA Houseless Veterans Program collaborates with federal, state, county, and Tribal agencies, veteran services offices, and community homeless service providers to meet the urgent and unique needs of Oregon’s diverse veteran communities challenged with housing stability.

In addition to advocating for Oregon veterans experiencing or at risk for houselessness, the program provides direct service to veterans and their families seeking federal and state veterans’ benefits, including access to local VA health care, documentation of service, as well as other available state benefits, and local homeless services organizations and low-income assistance programs.

If you or a veteran you know is dealing with homelessness, contact the ODVA Houseless Veterans Coordinator today at houselessvets@odva.oregon.gov or visit https://ow.ly/V4EH50VnL93 to learn more.

A bill limiting Oregon landlords from increasing rentals more than once a year is under consideration by lawmakers.

Tenants Must Be Given Three Months Notice

If passed, Senate Bill 722 will ensure tenants are given a three-month notice of increases and that rent hikes do not exceed the legal percentage limit set by Oregon state law, linked to the Consumer Price Index.

Landlords exceeding the legal limit will face penalties, while tenants can sue for three months rent plus additional damages where applicable. Every month of violation will be considered a separate offense.

The lawsuit claims that RealPage is an intermediary algorithm that exploits sensitive rental data, enriching compliant landlords by tenants paying inflated prices.

A public hearing of Bill 722 will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 6 March, at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.

At present, newly built apartments are exempt from rent control for the first 15 years of operation. SB 722 wants to reduce the exemption period from 15 to seven years to allow tenants in newer apartment complexes to receive rent increase protection sooner.

Landlords will be prohibited from using AI software to set rentals and vacancy rates.

The bill will allow tenants to form committees to address issues at their residences. Landlords must meet with the committee within 10 to 30 days of a request. Meetings will be allowed up to twice annually unless both parties agree otherwise.

The chief sponsor of Bill 722 is Oregon Senator Chris Gorsek, who wants to safeguard tenants from losing the roof over their heads.

It originates from a lawsuit against RealPage, a rental pricing software package, by Oregon and seven other states last year.

A new bill on the Oregon house floor is taking wide swings at allocating funding to pay for anticipated wildfire costs in the next biennium including a proposed surcharge on bottles and cans.

State Representatives John Lively and Bobby Levy introduced HB 3940, a bipartisan proposal aimed at funding wildfire prevention and suppression in Oregon. The bill creates new provisions, directing multiple funding sources towards the State Fire Marshal’s office to make up for a projected shortfall of about $300 million.

Sources include insurance and forest harvest taxes, the Oregon Rainy Day Fund, and a 5¢ surcharge on each beverage container sold in the state. Representative John Lively from Springfield says not every recommendation from the bill is meant to pass, but rather a combination of solutions.

Ashland Senator Jeff Golden says his own plan to hold back Oregon’s Kicker would help fund wildfire needs if HB 3940 doesn’t get through the legislature, or fails to raise enough money. The bill was sent to the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment, but has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing.

State Agencies Issue Unpaid Toll Scam Alert

The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) are warning residents of a new scam.

“Scammers posing as DMV and ODOT are texting cell phones about unpaid toll fees,” a release from the two state agencies states. “The messages vary, but essentially claim you have a past due toll balance that must be paid immediately to avoid DMV fines or having your license suspended. These are fake messages and phishing scams trying to get payment information from unsuspecting Oregonians.”

ODOT officials said the agency does not have a toll program.

DMV does send text messages for actions initiated by the customer, but the messages never include links to verify personal information, according to the DMV.

“For example, when a customer establishes a DMV2U account, a security code may be sent by text to establish verification,”? the release states. “Customers may also receive a DMV appointment reminder or cancellation notice by text.”

DMV officials recommend that if you receive such a fraud text, you immediately delete the text message and block the number.

“Clicking on a suspicious text message or payment link will take you to a website where you are at a high risk of getting your personal and financial information stolen,” the state agencies warn. “ODOT and DMV staff members are unable to provide technical assistance with a customer’s phone.”

How the scam works

• Urgency and threat. The texts often create a sense of urgency, claiming unpaid tolls and threatening fines or penalties if you don’t pay immediately.
• Links to phishing sites. They include links that, if clicked, lead to fake websites designed to steal your personal and financial information.
• Impersonation. Scammers impersonate ODOT or other tolling agencies, making the texts seem legitimate.

How to protect yourself

• Don’t click links. If you receive a text about unpaid tolls, do not click on any links or provide any information. 
• Verify with ODOT directly. Contact ODOT through their official website or phone number to confirm if you owe any tolls. 
• Report the scam. Contact the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392 or file a complaint online. You can also file a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Federal Trade Commission. 
• Be cautious of suspicious texts. Be wary of any text message that demands immediate action or asks for personal information or payment. 
• Delete the text: Once you’ve reported the scam, delete the text message and block the number to prevent further potential harm.

If you click a link or provide your information

• Secure your personal information and financial accounts. 
• Dispute any unfamiliar charges.

You can also verify a message’s legitimacy by contacting ODOT directly at 1-888-Ask-ODOT and DMV directly at 1-855-540-6655. For more information about fraud prevention, visit Oregon DMV.

Suspicious Death Investigation Catches Break, Skeletal Remains Found April 2024 Identified as Missing Person, Detectives Have Persons of Interest

Video Interview Available for Download: https://vimeo.com/1069394921?share=copy#t=0

JCSO Cases 23-5639, 24-2046 — RURAL JACKSONVILLE, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives got a break in a suspicious death investigation and missing person case when skeletal remains were identified from a DNA comparison. The remains found outside Jacksonville in April of 2024 have been identified as Nathan Louis Merkel, 63, of Wimer. Merkel was reported missing in September of 2023. Next-of-kin has been notified. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

JCSO detectives are investigating the case and believe Merkel died via suspicious circumstances. Detectives have identified persons of interest who are currently out-of-county in custody on unrelated charges. The suspects names will be released pending further investigation and charges. Detectives believe there is no danger to the public at this time. No additional information is available for release.

April, 2024 Skeletal Remains News Release: Skeletal Remains Found in Rural Jacksonville Area, Detectives Investigating Suspicious Death JCSO Case 24-2046

RURAL JACKSONVILLE, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives are investigating a suspicious death after skeletal remains were discovered Sunday, April 14 outside Jacksonville in the Applegate area. JCSO detectives and medical examiners responded to investigate. The rugged terrain and remote area required JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) to assist in recovering the remains. Due to the ongoing investigation, the exact location will not be released at this time.

Investigators are working to identify the subject and the cause and manner of death. Due to the advanced stages of decomposition, state medical examiners will conduct additional testing. This case is under further investigation with detectives following additional leads. No more information is available at this time.

Vehicle Strikes, Kills Bicyclist on Foothill Road in Central Point

JCSO Case 25-1564 CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – A vehicle struck and killed a bicyclist early this morning on Foothill Road near the intersection of Corey Road in rural Central Point. ECSO Dispatch received a 911 call from the involved driver at 4:44 AM. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies responded along with Jackson County Fire District 3 and Mercy Flights. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital and pronounced deceased at 5:42 AM. Next-of-kin has been notified. The decedent is Matthew Edward Davenport, 45, of White City. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

Jackson County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team responded to investigate the incident. The preliminary investigation indicates a green 2021 Toyota 4Runner traveling southbound struck the bicyclist on the shoulder of Foothill Road. The driver is cooperating with the investigation and no criminal charges have been filed at this time.

The STAR Team consists of investigators from JCSO, Medford Police Department, Central Point Police Department, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. This case is under further investigation.  There is no more information available for release at this time.

Incredible Orca Encounter In Depoe Bay Filmed Monday by the crew of Whale Research Eco Excursions

https://www.facebook.com/DiscoveringDepoeBayOregon/videos/3960855430862891

Oregon Heritage Released 2024 Oregon Main Street Annual Report

– Oregon Heritage just released the 2024 Oregon Main Street Annual report. A copy of the report can be found on the Oregon Main Street website: www.oregonmainstreet.org. 

The report highlights the collective impact of communities participating in the Main Street Track of the Oregon Main Street Network in 2024, including over $24 million in private sector investment, 168 net new businesses, 1,652 net new jobs, and over 293 building rehab projects. In addition, volunteers contributed almost 34,000 of volunteer hours to make their communities better places to live, work, shop, and experience. The cumulative impact since 2010 is also included in the report. 

The report also features community spotlights on projects and activities happening on Main Street in Oregon including the HRVI building restoration project in Chiloquin which was a recipient of a $200,000 Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant in 2022 and is nearing completion. 

Currently, there are over 100 communities in Oregon participating in one of the different levels of the Oregon Main Street Network: Accredited Main Street, Designated Main Street, Affiliated Main Street, Connected Communities, or as part of one of the Rural Regional Main Street hubs. There isn’t a fee to participate in the Oregon Main Street Network. 

Oregon Main Street (OMS) is part of Heritage Programs in Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. OMS is designed to assist with the revitalization of historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts, promote economic development, and encourage historic preservation. The program uses an approach that advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of central business districts based on their assets, unique architecture, personal service, local ownership and entrepreneurship, and sense of community. 

The Oregon Department of Revenue has added features to the “Where’s My Refund” tool.

Users can learn more about the status of their refund, they can see when additional information is needed, and the website is easier to navigate. To use the tool, taxpayers need to create a login at Revenue Online. https://revenueonline.dor.oregon.gov/tap/_/

OHA urges people to check immunity against measles; get vaccinated

As cases appear in other states, including neighboring California, Oregon health officials recommend measures to stay safe

With spring break and summer travel season approaching, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) encourages people to make sure they are protected against measles. Getting the MMR vaccine — for measles, mumps and rubella — is the most effective prevention tool against the highly contagious virus. 

Twelve U.S. states, including California, Texas and New Mexico, have reported cases of measles since Jan 1. While Oregon has no cases so far in 2025, last year the state recorded 31 confirmed cases — its highest measles count in more than 30 years — during an outbreak among unvaccinated people, including two children younger than 5. 

Cieslak addresses common questions about measles, symptoms, the vaccine and more here: https://covidblog.oregon.gov/measles-what-you-should-know/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

More CDC recommendations can be found here. 

Increasing awareness and education about primary prevention, public health risks and preventive health services are among actions OHA is taking as part of its 2024–2027 Strategic Plan. 

The plan further supports expanding access to vaccines and other health resources for children, parents and families in all communities in Oregon.   — To learn more about measles and to receive daily status updates of measles outbreak data, visit OHA’s Measles and Rubeola web page. 

Oregon Humane Society Warns about Scam Regarding Medical Bills for Your Lost Pet

Scammers are targeting the owners of lost pets pretending to be the Oregon Humane Society, the real Oregon Humane Society said on Friday.

In a so-called “spoofing” scam, the callers tell pet owners that their missing pet is injured and needs medical care. Then they demand payment.

“This scam preys on vulnerable people who are searching for their lost pet, which makes it particularly cruel,” Laura Klink, public information officer for the Oregon Humane Society said in a news release.

The calls even look like they are coming from the Oregon Humane Society’s main number, Klink said.

The humane society uses online payment portals including ezyVet and PayJunction, Klink said, so it’s a red flag if the caller asks for money through services like Zelle or Venmo.

If pet owners are concerned they’re being targeted by this scam, they should hang up and call the Oregon Humane Society directly at (503) 285-7722, Klink said.

Spring Whale Watch Week at the Oregon Coast ends Sunday

OREGON COAST, Oregon— Oregon State Parks will host Spring Whale Watch Week along the Oregon Coast Saturday, March 22 through Sunday, March 30.

Trained Oregon State Park volunteers and rangers will be stationed at 14 sites along the Oregon Coast to help visitors spot whales and their calves and answer questions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily March 22-30.

The sites are some of the best places to watch for whales on the Oregon Coast.  Cape Foulweather will not be included this year because it is closed due to construction.

“Spring is a great time for whale watching because the gray whales are usually closer to shore on their return trip, typically around a mile or so out, and they might have calves in tow,” said Park Ranger Peter McBride.

An estimated 19,260 gray whales are expected to swim past Oregon’s shores from late winter through June as part of their annual migration back to Alaska.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced an end to an Unusual Mortality Event impacting gray whales in 2023. Since then, the estimated population has increased by roughly 30% from 14,530 in 2023 to 19,260 last year, according to NOAA. The numbers are on the rise overall, but the calf count is still low as the population continues to rebound.

Whale Watch Week provides an opportunity to see not only the gray whales but other coastal wildlife including birds and other marine mammals with help from trained volunteers and rangers.

A map of volunteer-staffed sites is available online on the official event webpage: https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=thingstodo.dsp_whaleWatching

The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 22-30. Visitors to the center can enjoy interactive whale exhibits and take in the panoramic ocean views. Binoculars are provided. Rangers from Oregon State Parks will also be on hand to answer questions about the whales.

All Whale Watch Week visitors are encouraged to dress for the weather, to bring binoculars and to follow beach safety guidelines such as remaining out of fenced areas, knowing the tide schedule and keeping an eye on the surf at all times. Go to https://visittheoregoncoast.com/beach-safety/ for a list of safety tips.

For more information about coast parks and campgrounds, visit stateparks.oregon.gov.

Visitors are encouraged to share their photos and videos from Spring Whale Watch on social media using #OregonStateParks and #ORWhaleWatch.

Northwest Digital Heritage reaches one million digital records of cultural heritage collections available to view online

– People around Oregon and the world now have free access to search over one million digitized photographs, letters, documents, and more from around the Pacific Northwest. These historic and cultural materials are available in Northwest Digital Heritage, a website that searches the collections of over 300 regional libraries, museums, and cultural heritage organizations.

Northwest Digital Heritage is an online search portal that gathers records from the online collections of libraries, museums, universities, historical societies, and other organizations in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. The site was created in 2021 through a partnership between the Oregon Heritage Commission, State Library of Oregon, and Washington State Library. 

Items available through Northwest Digital Heritage span topics, from football and women’s suffrage to Tribal treaties, Black history and culture, Crater Lake, and much more. The content has proven valuable to educators and students doing classroom projects, genealogists researching family connections, scholarly researchers, historians, cultural heritage organizations making exhibits, and other lifelong learners. 

The over one million materials include over 60,000 photos from Oregon State Archives’ Oregon Scenic Images Collection, 20,000 items from the Oregon Historical Society Research Library, 5,000 records from the Harney County Library, 13,000 images from the Salem Public Library, and nearly 2,000 materials from the Five Oaks Museum in Washington County. 

The collections in Northwest Digital Heritage are also included in the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), which helps bring this unique and local Northwest content to a national audience. More than 5,000 institutions throughout the nation have contributed over 50 million records to the DPLA to date. 

“Being able to search one million records for primary sources documenting the human experience in the Pacific Northwest is an incredible opportunity for those interested in history,” says Katie Henry, Oregon Heritage Commission Coordinator. “The three Northwest Digital Heritage partners know these are only a fraction of cultural materials held by hundreds of organizations across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. We look forward to working with existing and new partners to continue growing this incredible resource.” 

In addition to helping make this resource available, the Oregon Heritage Commission, State Library of Oregon, and Washington State Library assist heritage organizations across the Pacific Northwest. Such assistance includes:

• Training, resources, information, and guidance on digitizing and making collections accessible online;
• Grants and funding opportunities; and
• Hosting organizations’ online collections.

Northwest Digital Heritage is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon and Washington State Library. To learn more visit https://www.northwestdigitalheritage.org.

Every year, the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony honors the state’s law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

This year’s ceremony will be held Tuesday, May 6th at 1 p.m. at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem.

The annual event commemorates the more than 190 fallen officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the state of Oregon since the 1860s. This includes law enforcement, corrections, and parole and probation officers from city, county, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies.

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training is proud to host the ceremony in partnership with the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Oregon Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation, and various statewide law enforcement associations.

Registration is closing soon for the Bob Ross-inspired Happy Little (Virtual) 5K

Oregon Parks Forever — 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.

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.  You must register by April 1^st in order to get your shirts and medal before the event.

Participants can walk, run, 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.  This year, the trees will be planted in the Santiam Canyon.

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 eleven other states. Together, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland, Virginia and Tennessee 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 eleven 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 is joining 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 two 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.

Indigenous Speakers Series Returns to the Museum in April with Three Inspiring Events

BEND, OR — This coming April, explore identity, cultures and how to live the good life when the High Desert Museum’s Indigenous Speaker Series returns. Promising a vibrant showcase of Indigenous voices, the series features an array of Indigenous artists, storytellers, scholars and more who share their unique perspectives with the community.

“We are honored to once again collaborate with Indigenous knowledge holders to bring vital conversations to our visitors,” said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “The April events are a continuation of an effort to elevate Indigenous voices to share the issues and cultures of the High Desert.”

The three April events explore topics such as identity, creativity, community and portraiture. Two of the events are connected to an exhibition open now at the Museum, Frank S. Matsura: Portraits from the Borderland. Featuring 20-plus enlarged portraits taken by Matsura of Native peoples in the early 1900s, the exhibition provides visitors a unique look at life in Okanogan County in Washington state during a time of transition. The exhibition originated at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane, Wash.

On April 1, Michael Holloman (Colville Confederated Tribes), a Washington State University associate professor and a curator of the original exhibition, will lead a panel discussion that looks deeper into Matsura’s life. “Frank S. Matsura: His Life and Portraits” also includes film and media scholar Glen Mimura and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Beth Harrington. The event will consider Matsura’s experiences as a Japanese-born photographer and his nuanced imagery of Native communities. Tickets are $5, with a 20% discount for Museum members and free entry for Tribal members. For tickets, visit highdesertmuseum.org/matsura-portraits. 

Then, on April 25, the Museum will host LaRonn Katchia (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs), the director of Pathfinders, for a discussion of the short film. Katchia, a Warm Springs/Wasco/Paiute filmmaker and storyteller, will be joined by Thyreicia Simtustus, Kahmussa Green and Kiahna Allen (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs), who are featured in the film. Part of the Matsura exhibition at the Museum, the film explores how the three young leaders are finding their own paths in balancing Native and non-Native worlds. Tickets are $5, with Members receiving a 20% discount and free entry for Tribal members. For tickets, visit highdesertmuseum.org/pathfinders. 

In between those two events, on April 17, the Museum will host Chris La Tray, Métis storyteller and award-winning author of Becoming Little Shell. La Tray will discuss the Anishinaabe word Mino-bimaadiziwin, meaning “the good life.” The concept emphasizes the importance of community well-being and living in harmony with the world around us. At its simplest, it is living a life in balance, but how?

Montana’s Poet Laureate from 2023-2025, La Tray is a descendent of the Pembina Band of the mighty Red River of the North and a member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. His first book, One-Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large, won the 2018 Montana Book Award and a 2019 High Plains Book Award. The event includes light refreshment and a no-host bar. Tickets are $12, with members receiving a 20% discount and free entry for Tribal members. For tickets, visit highdesertmuseum.org/the-good-life.

The Indigenous Speakers Series is made possible by The Roundhouse Foundation, with additional support from Author’s Unbound for the April 17 Chris La Tray event. For more information and to purchase tickets for Indigenous Speakers Series events, visit highdesertmuseum.org/indigenous-speakers-series.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

The long-delayed deadline for REAL ID is now less than 2 months away. There’s a chance that full enforcement may get gradually rolled out, but May 7, 2025, is the changeover deadline.

Starting then, state-level ID cards, such as driver’s licenses, won’t be accepted for federal purposes, namely getting through airport security, unless it’s REAL ID-compliant.

If you plan to catch a domestic flight on or after May 7, you will be required to use a REAL ID. A little gold or black star in the upper right-hand corner is one of the easiest ways to know you’re holding a REAL ID.

In Oregon, it’s a black star. A REAL ID is an identification card that serves all of the same purposes of a standard drivers’ license or state-issued identification card. A federally-mandated switch to REAL ID for federal purposes, such as flying domestically, was originally signed into law by Congress in 2005.

The purpose is to establish “minimum security standards for license issuance and production,” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website. The law, established four years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, came in response to federal calls for higher security standards in the U.S. Originally, the law mandated the switch to REAL ID by 2008, but it has been pushed back for various reasons due to logistical hurdles and later the COVID-19 pandemic.

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