Willamette Valley News, Monday 9/29 - EWEB Finishes Final Emergency Water Station, Wildfire Prompts Level 3 Evacuations in Northeast Corvallis & 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

Monday, September 29, 2025

Willamette Valley Weather

https://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/oregon.php

Drivers in western Oregon should prepare for a soggy commute as steady rain builds Monday and intensifies by Tuesday night. The wet weather will likely slow traffic on Interstate 5 through Eugene and Springfield, especially during the evening hours.

According to the National Weather Service, rain is likely Monday between 11 a.m. and noon, followed by heavier showers into the afternoon. Rainfall may total a quarter inch by Tuesday, with thunderstorms possible later in the week. Winds will shift south between 6 and 11 mph Tuesday, which could worsen driving conditions on open roadways.

Local residents should avoid unnecessary travel late Tuesday as heavier showers move in. Wet roads and low visibility could make evening driving hazardous, especially on Highway 126 toward Springfield and I-5 north toward Albany. Power outages are possible if thunderstorms develop midweek.

Wednesday’s forecast calls for additional showers, with thunderstorms also possible before noon. By Thursday, the pattern eases slightly, though lingering showers will keep conditions damp heading into Friday. The first days of October will feel cooler, with highs near 60 by Saturday.

EWEB Finishes Final Emergency Water Station

The final emergency water station has been officially installed in Eugene as part of the Eugene Water & Electric Board’s disaster preparedness plan.

People came and lined up at Kennedy Middle School Saturday morning to see where they can access water in case of earthquakes, wildfires, or other events that could disrupt or limit access to the city’s water system.

This latest station was made possible by a partnership between EWEB and 4J Schools. Timothy Morris, EWEB Commissioner for Wards 1 and 8, as well as 4J Superintendent Miriam Mickelson, gave remarks about residents and families now being better prepared for disaster preparedness before cutting a large red ribbon stretched in front of the new water filling station.

Initial plans called for five emergency water stations, “but due to community need two additional stations were added,” she said.

Other locations are the Eugene Science Center, Howard Elementary School, Prairie Mountain School, Amazon Park-YMCA, the Sheldon Fire Station, and the Lane Events Center and Fairgrounds.

As part of the event, organizers gave free 3-gallon containers to people and showed them how to use the filling station. All seven locations across the city of Eugene draw their water from underground wells. The intent is to provide individuals up to two gallons of water a day during an emergency. MORE INFO at EWEB: https://www.eweb.org/projects/emergency-water-stations

Wildfire Prompts Level 3 Evacuations in Northeast Corvallis

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, at approximately 3:00 PM, the Corvallis Fire Department and multiple cooperating agencies responded to a fast-moving wildland fire in the area of NE Granger Avenue and NE Pettibone Drive. The incident prompted Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations for residences in the immediate vicinity.

Fire crews acted quickly to contain the fire, and by approximately 4:15 PM, forward progress of the fire was successfully stopped. The swift and coordinated efforts of responding agencies were instrumental in preventing further spread and protecting both life and property.

Level 3 evacuations were issued for homes in the immediate vicinity of the fire. At this time, evacuation orders have been lifted.

No injuries were reported, and the only structure lost was a small outbuilding. Firefighters remain on scene conducting mop-up operations and monitoring for flare-ups. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Mutual Aid and Response – The Corvallis Fire Department received mutual aid from nearly all Benton County fire agencies, as well as neighboring departments from Linn, Lane, Marion, Polk, and Lincoln counties, and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). Their combined efforts ensured a rapid and effective response to a dangerous and dynamic situation. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office was in Unified Command with the Corvallis Fire and conducted emergency alerting and evacuations.

Statement from the Fire Chief – “We are extremely grateful for the support of our mutual aid partners and the cooperation of the community,” said Fire Chief Ben Janes. “This incident is a powerful reminder of the importance of regional collaboration and the need for continued community preparedness.”

Stay Informed – Community members are encouraged to stay informed through official communication channels and to sign up for emergency alerts via the Linn Benton Alerts Emergency Notification System https://sheriff.bentoncountyor.gov/linn-benton-alert/

Oregon Department of Forestry Awarded Community Wildfire Defense Grant for South Lane Wildfire Risk Reduction in the ODF Western Lane and South Cascade District

Two project proposals led by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), along with four other projects in Oregon, have been selected to be funded by the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG). In total, organizations in Oregon have received $28.5 million to fund six projects, all with the end goal of creating more wildfire resilient communities.

ODF’s project proposals focus on assisting communities in reducing wildfire risk through mitigation work, education, defensible space assessments, becoming a Firewise USA site and more. ODF is also a partner on two other state projects that have been selected for funding.

“Wildfire seasons across the west are lasting longer and causing more devastation than ever before,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “Federal resources are critical for protecting Oregonians and Oregon’s natural resources. These funds will support fuels reduction, defensible space, and other invaluable landscape and community resiliency projects.”

The ODF proposals that have been selected for funding are:

South Lane Wildfire Risk Reduction in the ODF Western Lane and South Cascade District – $2,624,890
This project will promote wildfire resilience in three disadvantaged Lane County communities, which have been identified as having high risk to catastrophic wildfire. The project will implement fuels reduction focused on private lands located in high density wildland urban interface (WUI) areas and support a wildfire prevention and education campaign, providing community members with educational materials promoting defensible space, wildfire awareness, and Firewise USA.
Cave Junction-Takilma-Illinois Valley Mira Fuels Mitigation Project in the ODF Southwest Oregon District – $2,359,909
This project actively engages private landowners, provides technical assistance, and expands prescribed fire training opportunities, strengthening community resilience while reducing hazardous fuel loads. The project targets overgrown ladder fuels, selectively thinning to a clearance height of 10 to 14 feet. These efforts reduce crown fire potential, helping prevent rapid fire spread through tree canopies. Another key objective of the Mira project is prescribed fire implementation. In collaboration with partners, the project will conduct community-led under burns, hands-on training workshops, and Certified Burn Manager (CBM) courses.

These efforts increase landowner participation in prescribed fire while reducing long-term dependence on mechanical fuel treatments. The project also enhances home and community protection through defensible space assessments and treatments, reducing fuels around structures and reinforcing fuel breaks along roadways and property boundaries. These firebreaks improve firefighter ingress/egress and provide critical suppression points during wildfire events. In total the project will support over 800 acres of hazardous fuels treatment, two CBM trainings, 100 defensible space assessments, two community workshops, four demonstrations under burns, and establish two new Firewise Communities.

“Building wildfire resilient landscapes and communities is such a critical need throughout Oregon,” said Kate Skinner, interim State Forester and director of ODF. “We’re eager to get our boots on the ground and put this funding to good use protecting Oregonians.”

The CWDG program helps communities, tribes, non-profit organizations, state forestry agencies and Alaska Native corporations plan for and mitigate wildfire risks as the nation faces an ongoing wildfire crisis. Scoring priority was given to project proposals that are in an area identified as having a high or very high wildfire hazard potential, benefit a low-income community and/or are in a community that has been impacted by a severe disaster within the past 10 years that increased wildfire risk.

For more information on funded proposals in Oregon and nationally, visit www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants/funded-proposals.

Lane County Board of County Commissioners Denounces Hate Flyers

The Lane County Board of County Commissioners strongly denounces the recent distribution of hateful flyers targeting our communities of color, and particularly our Latino community. These acts of intimidation and bias have no place in Lane County. We stand united in condemning these attempts to spread fear, division, and white nationalist ideology within our neighborhoods.

Let us be clear: white nationalism, racism, and xenophobia are not welcome here. These flyers are not just pieces of paper, they are symbols of a larger system of hate that we must all actively reject.

The targeting of our Latino neighbors is not isolated; it is part of a broader pattern of hate and exclusion that affects other historically marginalized communities. We must respond to these acts not with silence, but with solidarity.

As a Board, we reiterate our pledge to confront hate in all its forms and support communities who are targeted. We call on our residents to join us in actively rejecting racist rhetoric, reporting bias activity to the Oregon Department of Justice’s Hate & Bias Hotline at 1-844-924-2427, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with those under attack. Our safety and dignity are bound together.

There is no place for hate in Lane County.

RAVEN-Radical Assistance — They need an indoor space for the winter! Any ideas appreciated! They are providing food, basic need supplies and human connection to our neighbors in need.

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Survey asking for residents to weigh in on effects of wildfire and smoke in Lane County

Wildfire and smoke affect everyone in Lane County. Lane County Emergency Management is asking people to take a short survey to help local agencies better understand how residents experience the impacts of wildfire and smoke. The survey will help Lane County identify where it can improve our support for residents to prepare for, and live with, fire. The survey is available through October 17, 2025.

“We are working with agencies across the region to update the Lane County Community Wildfire Protection Plan,” said Tiffany Brown, County Emergency Manager. “Wildfire and smoke have become a fixture on the landscape in Lane County for much of the year and updating our plan will help us better understand the risk and how to keep our communities safe from these hazards while allowing them to thrive into the future.”

The survey is available in English and Spanish:

The QR codes attached can also be used to access the survey in English and Spanish.

The survey is part of Lane County’s work with the Oregon Department of Forestry and other partners to update the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The plan was last updated in 2020.

A successful CWPP provides a community with a set of goals, actions and resources specifically designed to address the threat of wildfire. These goals, actions and resources can help:

Enhance public safety
Improve economic resiliency through the identification and protection of critical infrastructure and businesses at risk
Restore and protect ecosystem health
Raise public awareness about wildfire risks
Educate landowners of their shared responsibility in wildfire protection
Build new partnerships between local, state and federal firefighting agencies, community organizations and businesses

An up-to-date CWPP is also required before local communities can receive funding for hazard mitigation and recovery work through the National Fire Plan, FEMA mitigation grants and other resources.

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲!

The Property Value Appeals Board (PVAB) must fill at least 3 open seats. PVAB hears taxpayer appeals about property values — an important role in making sure values are accurate.

Must be a Lane County resident

Interest or background in real estate, finance, or property appraisal is helpful

Cannot work for Lane County or another local taxing district

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭. 𝟑 Paid training + $15/hour stipend during hearings (Feb–April 2026)Learn more and apply: LaneCountyOR.gov/appeals

More Than 90,000 People in Lane County Face Uncertainty as PacificSource Plans Medicaid Exit

PacificSource has said it will cut ties with Medicaid at the end of the year, saying the rates the state pays to cover people are simply too low. It’s still not clear what will happen to the nearly 92,000 people in the county who currently receive Oregon Health Plan coverage via PacificSource.

A demonstrator holds a sign reading “1/3 of Oregonians Depend on Medicaid” during a protest at Alton Baker Park in Eugene, April 12, 2025. Credit: Adon Eccles / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

Nearly 70% of people who rely on Medicaid for health care in Lane County may lose their current coverage through the insurer PacificSource in the coming months. That’s more than 90,000 members of the Oregon Health Plan, the state’s Medicaid program.

Lane County is experiencing the first fallout in Oregon as state leaders wrangle how to pay for the care of 1.4 million lower-income residents.

Oregon Health Authority — We know that many people in Lane County are hearing news about 2026 changes with a local Coordinated Care Organization (CCO), PacificSource, and are wondering what that means for their Oregon Health Plan (OHP) coverage.

Here’s the most important thing to know right now if you’re an OHP member: Your coverage has not changed. You do not need to do anything to stay covered at this time. We will continue to share updates as this work moves forward. If you’re an OHP member in Lane County or elsewhere and have questions, you can always visit https://tinyurl.com/OregonHealthPlan or call 1-800-699-9075 to learn more.

Lund Report: PacificSource mulls pullout from serving low-income Oregon Health Plan in Lane County

Springfield-based insurer says it can’t make the state’s proposed rates work, meaning it can’t sign a contract to oversee care for low-income people. It’s unclear if the state will extend the deadline to allow further negotiations, or if about 90,000 low-income people will face changes in how they get care.

PacificSource may “reluctantly” stop serving more than 90,000 members enrolled in the Medicaid-funded Oregon Health Plan in Lane County on Jan. 1, 2026 unless state health officials and the Kotek administration take further steps to staunch the insurer’s massive losses there, The Lund Report has learned.

However, the Springfield-based insurer will continue overseeing care for low-income OHP members in Marion, Deschutes, Hood River, Polk, Wasco, Crook, Klamath and Jefferson counties.

With a key deadline falling later on Thursday, the possible pullout from Lane represents the biggest potential change known so far to how the state delivers care to 1.4 million low-income Oregonians. State health officials are facing what some consider the biggest challenge in years to the integrity of the Oregon Health Plan, once considered a model for other states. When a care organization pulls out, it means their provider networks can be affected, threatening patients’ access to care and continuity of care.

The deadline in question —for care organizations to notify the state whether they accept the rates being offered to provide care—has been closely watched. Unlike how commercial health insurance works, Oregon operates the Oregon Health Plan largely by granting contracts to coordinated care organizations to oversee networks in geographic regions. It is among the states most reliant on managed care entities or insurers to provide care.

The Oregon Health Authority asked state lawmakers to set aside $66 million to boost the care organizations’ rates by 3.4% — despite cost trends of around 10% around the country and in Oregon. Then state health offiicals offered larger rate increases averaging 6.8%, sparking some of the care organization executives to say they would have to leave the program considering the massive losses they’ve been experiencing in recent years due to low payments from the state.

The state recently boosted the average hike to 10.2% and promised to make program changes to limit risk to the care organizations. Most care organizations are expected to accept the rates despite continued uncertainty over whether they’ll continue to lose money.

State hires companies to manage care regionally

In all, 11 organizations operate 16 regional networks around the state. Most of them enjoy a regional monopoly, almost like a franchise. In Lane County, however, PacificSource is not the only care organization to oversee Oregon Health Plan operations. The other one, Trillium Community Health Plan, is owned by Centene, a national for-profit Medicaid insurer that has been experiencing major financial challenges of its own.

“We are continuing our discussions with OHA and hope to arrive at a solution that allows us to continue to serve Lane County,” said Erin Fair Taylor, the vice president for Medicaid at PacificSource Health Plans. “However, we reluctantly submitted a notice to the state indicating our intent not to renew the 2026 Lane County CCO contract under the current proposed terms and rates.”

Negotiations have been under way for months, with the state promising to make changes to the program to lower risks to the care organizations. It’s unclear whether the state will extend the deadline to reopen negotiations with PacificSource. Oregon Health Authority officials have not responded to a request for comment on what they will do if a care organization pulls out.

“We did not come to this decision lightly, and we are deeply disappointed that we have not yet reached a path forward,” Fair Taylor added. “Our priority has always been to provide Oregonians with access to high-quality care. Unfortunately, after extensive discussions, it became clear that continuing participation under current terms would undermine our ability to effectively serve the people who rely on us and put the long-term sustainability of our organization at risk.”

She added, “We know this decision affects the lives of many Oregonians and we remain committed to working with the Oregon Health Authority, state leaders, and our partners to ensure members experience as smooth a transition as possible.”

The insurer is also pulling out of Health Share of Oregon, the care organization serving Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas Counties that is essentially a collaborative dominated by health plans and Care Oregon. Though PacificSource oversees care for 20,000 people in the region for Health Share, they are unlikely to notice much of a change. That’s because PacificSource partners with Legacy Health and its delivery network, which will continue to be part of Health Share.

“We will be working diligently with Legacy and Health Share to ensure a smooth transition,” Fair Taylor said. “This transition should not disrupt any members’ provider relationships or continuity of care.” https://www.thelundreport.org/content/pacificsource-mulls-pullout-serving-low-income-oregon-health-plan-lane-county

Lane County Emergency Management Promotes 6 Weeks of Readiness

Lane County Emergency Management is helping people be more prepared for disasters as part of a 6-week readiness campaign.

The campaign includes weekly readiness tips, events, and a new program to help residents let first responders know if they need help during a disaster.

“The ‘6 Weeks of Ready’ campaign runs through October and provides a simple, step-by-step approach to becoming more prepared,” said Lane County Emergency Manager Tiffany Brown. “Each week focuses on a different aspect of readiness, making it easier for individuals and families to build resilience before the next emergency. Whether someone is just getting started or already has a plan, the goal is to help everyone take their preparedness to the next level.”

Each week during the campaign, which runs through October, preparedness tips will be released online. The first week’s theme is stocking up and staying safe by building a go-kit and being ready to shelter in place. Other themes throughout the campaign include family communication plans, being prepared with kids and pets, and tsunami readiness, and more.

Lane County Emergency Management will also be participating in the Beat the Wave Disaster Preparedness Expo in Florence on October 11, which is being hosted by the West Lane Emergency Operations Group.

Finally, Lane County Emergency Management is rolling out its new HELP/OK sign program, which provides people with a free window sign that can be used to signal to first responders that they need help during a disaster.

“The HELP/OK sign program is a simple but powerful tool to strengthen community resilience,” said Brown. “During a disaster, every minute counts — and with these signs, first responders can quickly identify who needs assistance and who is safe. It’s a small step that can make a big difference.”

HELP/OK signs are available to download from the Lane County Emergency Management website or can be picked up for free during September and October at the following locations:

Lane County Government Offices

Assessment & Taxation (125 E. 8^th Avenue, Eugene)
Public Works Customer Service Center (3050 N. Delta Highway, Eugene)
Community Health Centers (map to all 8 locations)
WIC Office (151 W. 7^th Avenue, Eugene)
Communicable Disease Clinic (151 W. 7^th Avenue, Eugene)
Veteran Services (151 W. 7^th Avenue, Eugene)
Developmental Disabilities Services Reception (2513 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Eugene)
Reveille Housing (680 Tyler Street, Eugene)
Parole & Probation (2699 Roosevelt Boulevard, Suite A, Eugene)
Youth Services (2727 MLK Jr. Boulevard, Eugene)

Lane Council of Governments Offices

1015 Willamette Street, Eugene
3180 US 101, Florence
700 E. Gibbs Avenue, Cottage Grove
48310 E. 1^st Street, Oakridge

City Halls

Coburg City Hall (91136 N Willamette Street, Coburg)
Florence City Hall (250 US 101, Florence)
Dunes City (82877 Spruce Street, Westlake)
Springfield City Hall (225 Fifth Street, Springfield)
Creswell City Hall (13 S. 1^st Street, Creswell)
Veneta City Hall (88184 8^th Street, Veneta)

Fire Districts

Western Lane Fire District (410 9^th Street, Florence)
South Lane Fire & Rescue (233 E. Harrison Avenue, Cottage Grove)
Coburg Fire District (91232 North Coburg Road, Coburg)
McKenzie Fire Station (42870 McKenzie Highway, Walterville)
Pleasant Hill Goshen Fire Station (85880 First Street, Eugene)
Junction City Fire Station (1755 Juniper Street, Junction City)

Post Offices

Dorena Post Office (75694 Wicks Road, Dorena)
Swisshome Post Office (13297 Highway 36, Swisshome)
Deadwood Post Office (14701 Highway 36, Deadwood)

Other

Eugene Downtown Library (100 W. 10^th Avenue, Eugene)
Amazon Community Center (2700 Hilyard Street, Eugene)
Dorena School (37141 Row River Road, Dorena)
Oakridge Air (48513 Highway 58, Oakridge)
Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative (90680 Highway 99 North, Eugene)
Springfield Library (225 Fifth Street, Springfield)
LTD Eugene Station Customer Service Center (1080 Willamette Street, Eugene)
Mapleton Water District (88151 Riverview Avenue, Mapleton)

“We want to make it as easy as possible for everyone in Lane County to get a HELP/OK sign. You can pick one up at libraries, fire stations, and other public buildings across the county,” said Brown.

Lane County To Follow Oregon Health Authority Vaccine Guidance

Lane County Public Health and Community Health Centers of Lane County today announced they will follow the vaccine guidance of the Oregon Health Authority as provided by the Western States Health Coalition. These recommendations are as follows:

Influenza: All Lane County residents 6 months and older should receive an influenza vaccine

RSV: All babies age 8 months and younger, as well as children up to 19 months with risk factors; all adults 75 and older; and adults 50-74 years of age with risk factors, should receive the RSV vaccine

COVID-19:

All children age 6-23 months
All children age 2-18 years with risk factors, or if never vaccinated
All children in close contact with others who have risk factors
All who choose protection

Additionally, a prescription is no longer needed to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from your primary care provider or from a participating pharmacy.

The Community Health Centers of Lane County will be offering influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines to their patients based on the guidance listed above.

While these recommendations will open up access to vaccines and hopefully alleviate some confusion, there are still many questions about which insurance plans will cover which vaccines. Currently, the only information Lane County is able to confidently share on insurance coverage for vaccines is that all Oregon Health Plan members will be covered for the influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines based on the guidance listed above.

The Oregon Health Authority has advised it may take a few days for pharmacies to start vaccinating, due to COVID-19 stock & ensuring safe implementation of the new recommendations. If a Lane County community member does not know where to get a COVID-19 vaccine, they can check with their health plan, local pharmacy, or call 211 or visit 211info.org.

Foley Ridge Fire

For more information, visit the incident website: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incid…/orwif-foley-ridge-fire

U.S. Forest Service – Willamette National Forest

Emigrant Fire Update

Incident meteorologists are forecasting rain today and we expect similar conditions to continue through the week. For current conditions on the Emigrant Fire, visit the National Weather Service at https://tinyurl.com/emigrantweather.

Lane County Stormdrain Cleaning Assistance Program now accepting fall business signups

Lane County’s Stormdrain Cleaning Assistance Program (SCAP) is back this fall—and businesses have until October 31 to sign up.

This voluntary program, offered in partnership with Stormwater Protection Systems (SPS), helps businesses keep their stormdrains clean and working for a flat fee of just $70 per drain. Since launching in 2023, more than 580 stormdrains representing 182 businesses have already been cleaned.

Why It Matters – Stormwater often flows directly into rivers and streams, carrying pollutants from parking lots and roads—like heavy metals, oil, pesticides, and fertilizers. Regular stormdrain maintenance keeps waterways clean, reduces flooding, and helps protect the local environment.

Program Details

$70 per drain covers debris removal, power washing, and disposal of contaminated sediment.
Businesses are responsible for their privately owned stormdrains.
The program does not cover repairs, jetting, or oversized drains.

Lane County does not reimburse for this service; it is the responsibility of the business to pay for the service after the cleaning.

Act Now—Deadline October 31! — Lane County businesses must register this fall to lock in service before heavy rains arrive. Register at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/SCAP or email SCAP@LaneCountyOR.gov.

Win 2 Nights Lodging in Oakridge so you can enjoy “Oakridge Rocks The Park!”! Coming Oct 18th!

Click here to win 2 nights stay in Oakridge!

Click here for more info on the event.

FOOD For Lane County is collecting short, anonymous stories from community members about how SNAP or food pantry programs have made a difference in their lives.

The new federal law, known as the “Big Beautiful Bill” will cut SNAP benefits and impact 757,700 Oregonians. Your voice can help raise awareness and defend access to food for thousands of people in our community.
Responses are 100% ANONYMOUS. Please answer one or more of the prompts. https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=udJFysn31UqbRcPRJH0Ew4z62Go4_hdOgeuS7G3tEtpUN0lJNjhQNTdVTkYzMUhPOTFDU1JaQThTSy4u&fbclid=IwY2xjawMUv4NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFUNkRvb053V1hEekJ1NGxLAR4lSe3v8oKwHs-fEr3dB7K6mBieN_ty401pN-OwFrXFhirbDV4i1hJbypW7Bw_aem_gxYIVwPs5kYNC7mhRZR5tQ&route=shorturl

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=udJFysn31UqbRcPRJH0Ew4z62Go4_hdOgeuS7G3tEtpUN0lJNjhQNTdVTkYzMUhPOTFDU1JaQThTSy4u&fbclid=IwY2xjawMUwHVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFUNkRvb053V1hEekJ1NGxLAR4lSe3v8oKwHs-fEr3dB7K6mBieN_ty401pN-OwFrXFhirbDV4i1hJbypW7Bw_aem_gxYIVwPs5kYNC7mhRZR5tQ&route=shorturl

Every story helps us advocate for food access and fight hunger in our community.

These are some food resources for our area

Lane County to Open 2025–2026 Community & Economic Development Grant Program

Lane County’s 2025–2026 Community & Economic Development (CED) Grant Program solicitation will officially open for applications on September 3, 2025, with a submission deadline of October 8, 2025 at noon. Application materials are available now to give interested agencies a chance to prepare.

The CED Grant Program offers competitive funding to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and government entities that serve Lane County. The program supports projects and initiatives that strengthen our local economy, foster innovation, support entrepreneurs and small businesses, invest in workforce training, and revitalize Main Streets and downtowns across the region.

With a total of $200,000 available for the 2026 grant cycle, individual grant awards will range from $5,000 to $30,000. Priority will be given to proposals that:

grow employment or wages in key sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, technology, food and beverage, biosciences, and childcare;
support small businesses and entrepreneurs through technical assistance and incubation;
foster innovation and industry engagement; and
enhance Lane County’s downtowns and commercial corridors.

“We are really excited to launch this program again,” said Jason Harris, Community and Economic Development manager for Lane County. “These grants enable us to support innovative projects in our community that might not otherwise have funding. We encourage potential applicants to begin preparing their proposals and take full advantage of this year’s offerings.”

More details, including application materials and FAQs, are available now at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/CEDgrant or by contacting CED@LaneCountyOR.gov. Applications will be accepted via Lane County’s procurement site, Bidlocker, between September 3, 2025 and October 8, 2025.

Las solicitudes y aplicaciones también están disponibles en Español.

About Lane County Community and Economic Development
Lane County Community and Economic Development is your Oregon Video Lottery dollars at work! Community and Economic Development programs support building vibrant communities by partnering with local business support organizations, cities, special districts and economic development agencies to facilitate community development and create economic prosperity. This program fosters economic opportunity across Lane County with a specific focus on rural and unincorporated communities.

Oregon Department of Transportation – As the 2025-26 college football season nears, expect heavy traffic on the weekends of home games for University of Oregon and Oregon State University.

Expect all-day traffic congestion in the #WillametteValley on these dates as thousands of fans travel to and from the games. Remember, there are many ways to get around in Oregon! You can walk or roll, take a bus or train, or share a ride. Learn more, plan a trip, or find a ride at GetThereOregon.org.

Catholic Community Services of Lane County, Inc. (CCS) – Winter Warmth Drive – September & October

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As the cold months approach, too many of our neighbors don’t have the essentials to stay warm. You can help! We’re collecting new or gently used jackets, coats, gloves, socks, blankets, hats, and scarves to provide no-cost clothing to anyone in need. Every item makes a difference.

Drop your donations at our Springfield Community Service Center at 1025 G Street, or any of our collection bins this September and October and help spread warmth across our community. To find a collection bin near you, go to http://www.ccslc.org/wwd Together, we can ensure no one faces winter alone.Catholic Community Services of Lane County

Willamette Valley Crisis Care

Current and former CAHOOTS workers have started a new organization: Willamette Valley Crisis Care! Check ’em out on instagram (here) and facebook (here) and share the news that they’re ready to bring back CAHOOTS as CAHOOTS 2.0.

TransPonder

Check out the upcoming events, clubs, classes, groups, and gatherings in this week’s newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/…/transponder-happenings-sept14-sept20

Burrito Brigade needs to expand so we may better serve the food challenged and the best option is to buy our own building.

Waste To Taste – Got an Extra Can or Two? Let’s Fill the Little Free Pantries Together!

May be an image of text that says 'The Pantry is low Every can, box, and bag makes a difference. Our community pantry is running low, and we need your help to keep it filled. Non-perishables like pasta, rice, beans, canned veggies, and peanut butter are always needed. Toiletries and household essentials are welcome too. For a list of locations, visit: BurritoBrigade.org/pantries Here's how you can help'

Our Little Free Pantries are running low—and for some neighbors, these are their only source of food right now.If you’ve got: A few extra cans A box of pasta Unopened hygiene items Kid-friendly snacks…you can make someone’s day a little easier. Just place your donation directly into any Burrito Brigade Little Free Pantry around town. No sign-up, no questions—just community caring for community. Find a pantry near you: BurritoBrigade.org/pantries It’s a simple act with a big impact. Support our Mission: BurritoBrigade.org

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)

White Bird Clinic

This year marks 60 years of community health centers transforming care across the U.S. At White Bird Clinic, we’re proud to be part of this legacy – bringing whole-person care to our community’s most vulnerable neighbors for more than 50 years! From medical and dental services to harm reduction and crisis response, we’re here to meet people where they are.Learn more about community health at the link below: https://www.nachc.org/about-nachc/history-of-chc/

Whole Community News Report on CAHOOTS:

Since December of 2023, Eugene lost the University District hospital and the Hourglass Crisis Center, and as of last week, CAHOOTS. These were no-barrier treatment access points for our most vulnerable neighbors to receive care when experiencing a mental health crisis. READ MORE: https://wholecommunity.news/2025/04/20/public-comments-ask-city-not-to-lose-cahoots-too/

Contact for Services — Phone: CAHOOTS is dispatched within the Springfield urban growth boundary through the non-emergency number, 541-726-3714.

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

Oregon Food Bank

Hunger in Oregon is rising — and federal and state cuts to food assistance are making it worse. In 2024, visits to food programs grew 31%, yet resources to meet this need are shrinking.

Programs like SNAP, which help 1 in 8 Oregonians put food on the table, are facing deep cuts — leaving more families, children, veterans, and elders to make impossible choices between food, safety, and shelter.

We need policies that protect access to food for all our neighbors. Because no one should have to choose between staying safe and going hungry.

Food is available for those who need it and by entering your zip code at OregonFoodFinder.or -You can see each local program’s contact information, hours of operation and what kind of distribution it is.

We partner with 1,200+ free food markets, pantries and meal sites all across Oregon and Southwest Washington — and welcome anyone and everyone who needs food. OregonFoodFinder.org

Trump Deploys Troops to Portland.Vows ‘Full Force’

Trump sends the US military into Portland, Oregon with what appears to be “shoot to kill” orders : r/oregon

Oregon elected officials, community organizations, unions and other groups are urging President Donald Trump not to send federal troops to Portland, warning that such an action would ultimately harm the city’s economy and communities.

President Donald Trump said Saturday morning he will send troops to Portland, attempting an unprecedented use of U.S. military forces within the country.

In a brief post to his social media platform, Trump said he would have Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth order troops deployed to Oregon’s largest city.

Trump did not specify what legal justification he had to do so, what military branch would be used or other key details. The troops would be used to defend U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities from “domestic terrorists,” he said.

“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists,” Trump wrote on his social media platform. “I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”

A 19th-century law, the Posse Comitatus Act, generally forbids military members from conducting domestic law enforcement. Constitutional experts say the idea was one of the nation’s founding principles.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, said in a statement Saturday morning that she is reaching out to the White House and the Department of Homeland Security for more information.

“We have been provided no information on the reason or purpose of any military mission,” she said. “There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm. I ask Oregonians to stay calm and enjoy a beautiful fall day. We will have further comment when we have more information.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. National Guard said the branch had no information to share and deferred questions to the White House.

A White House official writing on background noted a recent history of protests at an ICE facility in Portland.

The local U.S. attorney has brought charges against 26 people since early June for crimes including arson and resisting arrest, official said. Neighborhood residents have also made noise complaints related to protests, the official said, adding that state and local officials have refused to intervene.

That description, though, did not correspond with the quiet scene at the facility as an Oregon Capital Chronicle reporter visited Saturday morning.

Oregon’s senior U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat, also posted a video of the undisturbed facility and told Trump, “we don’t need you here. Stay the hell out of our city.”

U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, a Democrat whose district includes much of Portland, blasted the announcement as “an egregious abuse of power and a betrayal of our most basic American values.”

“Authoritarians rely on fear to divide us. Portland will not give them that,” she wrote. “We will not be intimidated. We have prepared for this moment since Trump first took office, and we will meet it with every tool available to us: litigation, legislation, and the power of peaceful public pressure.”

‘Don’t take the bait’

A group of about a dozen local leaders — including Dexter, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat — assembled on short notice for a press conference Friday evening to discuss the potential deployment.

Merkley described it as a “don’t-take-the-bait press conference.”

“There’s a lot we don’t know,” he said. They’ve been given no details about how many troops are being sent, from what agency or branch of the government, and there’s been no coordination with the city of Portland, he said.

“Here is what I do know — the president has sent agents here to create chaos and riots in Portland, to induce a reaction, to induce protests, to induce conflicts. His goal is to make Portland look like what he’s been describing it as,” Merkley said. “Their point is to lead to an engagement. An engagement that could lead to violence.”

Wilson described the agents as already in Portland.

“They are here without clear precedent or purpose,” he said. “This is happening against the national backdrop of a federal government that may not even be open in a week’s time.”

Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said that as a sanctuary county in a sanctuary state, the county would not help enforce federal immigration laws without an order signed by a judge.

Escalation of military use

Deploying troops to Portland would mark a dramatic escalation, even for Trump, who has tested the legal limits of domestic military use.

He sent National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in response to protests against aggressive immigration enforcement there, despite the Democratic governor’s objections. And he ordered National Guard troops to assist police in Washington, D.C.

But the Los Angeles deployment responded to a specific circumstance, and the president holds power to deploy the National Guard in the District of Columbia because it is a federal territory.

Neither is true for Portland, where there has not been any evidence of violence at protests against the administration. The state government is dominated by Democrats.

The city did see extended protests in the summer of 2020 after the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Trump deployed federal agents then in what he said was an effort to protect the federal courthouse in downtown Portland. (SOURCE)

Oregon leaders say President Donald Trump did not consult with state and local officials or law enforcement agencies before announcing Saturday that he would deploy troops to what he described as the “war ravaged” city of Portland.

“Portland’s doing just fine, and I made that very clear to the president this morning,” Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said at an afternoon press conference in downtown Portland along the Willamette River. “Our city is a far cry from the war ravaged community that he has posted about on social media and I conveyed that directly to him.”

As of Saturday afternoon, it appears a deployment of federal officers to the area has so far been limited to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility south of downtown Portland, where armored trucks were seen Friday evening going in and out of the building.

The Democratic governor said she reached out to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Trump on Saturday morning, after she learned of the potential deployment from Trump’s Truth Social post. She said she told Noem and Trump, in brief and separate calls, that any federal military deployment to police the city is not welcome.

Kotek was joined by several local and state leaders, including Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, two Portland-area U.S. members of Congress, Reps. Andrea Salinas and Suzanne Bonamici, both Democrats, and Portland Police Chief Bob Day.

Day said the federal agents do not have to share their operational plans with local law enforcement.

“I do know that there are more federal law enforcement officers here designated to provide security for the buildings and, in their mind, try and provide a higher level of security for their staff and employees,” Day said.

He reiterated that the Portland Police Bureau, in a sanctuary county in a sanctuary state, does not engage in immigration enforcement.

There have been ongoing protests outside of the Portland ICE field office since June, and despite them being mostly nonviolent, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has brought federal charges against 26 protestors for crimes including arson, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.

It was a quiet morning on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025 at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility south of downtown Portland. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Trump in his social media post did not specify what legal justification he had to deploy troops to Oregon, what military branch would be used or other key details. The troops would be used to defend U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities from “domestic terrorists,” he said.

A 19th-century law, the Posse Comitatus Act, generally forbids military members from conducting domestic law enforcement. Kotek said she is coordinating with state Attorney General Dan Rayfield to see if any legal response is necessary.

“We will be prepared to respond if we have to,” Kotek said about a potential lawsuit against the federal government.

Kotek said she has not heard from any other state governors about their National Guard troops being called upon by Trump to be deployed to Oregon. Kotek, as head of the Oregon National Guard, has said repeatedly she would not deploy Oregon troops. She said she has been in touch with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom to learn from their experiences with Trump’s federal troop deployments. The White House shelved plans to send the guard to Chicago after Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson made clear they would not cooperate, and Trump’s advisors warned it would draw legal challenges.

Oregon House minority speaker Christine Drazan, R-Canby, said in an email statement that she supports the federal military deployment.

“The ICE facility in Portland has been subject to months of dangerously chaotic protests that have put residents and federal agents in harm’s way. The governor’s assertion that there is no national security threat and the mayor’s assertion that everything is fine is tone-deaf,” she said.

Kotek said the federal intervention is counter-productive and more likely to incite than quell any violence. Renewed calls for protest at the facility at 4 p.m. Sunday were circulating on social media Saturday.

“Any federal takeover with military troops in our state is a threat to communities across Oregon. It violates our right to govern ourselves. It interferes with local law enforcement’s ability to fulfill their mission, and frankly, it drains taxpayer resources that could be better spent elsewhere,” Kotek said. “Again, I communicated that to the president directly: Oregon is our home. It is not a military target. Any deployment would be an abuse of power and a misuse of federal troops.” (SOURCE)

When asked whether he was still sending troops to Portland, which he described as “War ravaged” in a social media post Saturday, Trump said his administration would make a decision on that “pretty soon.”

“Well, I mean, we’re certainly looking at it,” Trump said. “You can’t have that. We don’t want that. They’re attacking our ICE facility and they’re attacking other federal buildings.”

Later Sunday, the Trump administration did make the decision to deploy troops to the state, federalizing 200 Oregon National Guard members, effective immediately, for 60 days. The state of Oregon and the city of Portland filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration in response.

During a Sunday morning phone interview with NBC White House Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor, though, Trump made some remarks that seemed to indicate he might be backing off his military plan for Portland.

Trump referenced a weekend conversation with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, and he alluded to being told by Kotek that the reality in Portland is different from what’s being portrayed to him.

“I spoke to the governor, she was very nice,” Trump said. “But I said, ‘Well wait a minute, am I watching things on television that are different from what’s happening? My people tell me different.’ They are literally attacking and there are fires all over the place…it looks like terrible.”

Kotek said she told Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday morning that troops are not needed, and she believes Trump does not have the authority to deploy the military to Portland.

“We can manage our own local public safety needs,” Kotek said. “There is no insurrection, there is no threat to national security.”

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said the ‘necessary’ number of troops needed that Trump referred to in his social media post is “zero.”

A Pentagon spokesperson told the AP on Saturday that the Department of Defense would provide information and updates when available. On Sunday, it was the Department of Defense that sent the memo to Kotek informing her of the deployment of Oregon National Guard members.

Since June 2025, more than two dozen people have been arrested in connection with protests outside Portland’s ICE building on the south waterfront.

Most of the arrests occurred in the first month. The protests have generally decreased in size over time with reduced levels of confrontation, and law enforcement has maintained a watchful security presence at the building.

“This is an American city, we do not need any intervention,” Wilson said at a Saturday news conference. “This is not a military target.”

Still, in his interview Sunday with NBC, Trump referred to his yearslong perception of Portland as justification for his recent statements.

“They are attacking our ICE and federal buildings all the time,” Trump said. “You know, this has been going on for a long time. This has been going on for years in Portland. It’s like a hotbed of insurrection.”

On Saturday, a spokesperson for the Oregon National Guard, Lt. Col. Stephen Bomar, said in an email to the Associated Press that “no official requests have been received at this time” for Guard support. “Any requests would need to be coordinated through the Governor’s office,” he added.

Of the criminal cases, most are still ongoing. Three individuals pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of ‘failure to obey a lawful order’ and received 6 months of probation and fines. Another case was dismissed by federal prosecutors.

Others facing more serious charges, including felony offenses for assaulting federal officers, are set for trial later this year or in early 2026. Most of the arrests have led to misdemeanor charges, per a KGW analysis of court records. (SOURCE)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth moved to mobilize 200 members of the Oregon National Guard into federal service in the city of Portland for 60 days.

The governor’s office received a memo from the U.S. Department of Defense at 9:05 a.m. Sunday. It indicated the Oregon members are among 2,000 to be mobilized nationwide “to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other U.S. Government personnel who are performing Federal functions.”

Page 1 of Department of Defense memo on Portland deployment

The memo said the chief of the National Guard Bureau will coordinate details of the mobilization with the Oregon National Guard’s adjutant general, along with the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and commander of the U.S. Northern Command.

Protests outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland have been consistent but small. Arrests outside the Portland ICE building have dropped throughout summer.

Kotek, along with other leaders, has said no troops are necessary in Portland and made the case to President Donald Trump in a phone call Saturday. She said Sunday she didn’t know when troops might be mobilized in Portland, or exactly how many.

“I am no longer in charge of the members (of the Oregon National Guard) that he will be calling up,” Kotek said.

Kotek and Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said Sunday the state had filed a lawsuit to block the deployment. (SOURCE)

Oregon sues Trump administration over unlawful federalization of National Guard.

REEL: https://www.facebook.com/reel/822383606886616

May be an image of text that says '"Keeping our communities safe is my top priority and it's clear that it's not the President's This is nothing more than an attempt to incite people. We will not be baited into the President's unhinged political games that put community safety at risk. Oregon will continue to stand firm in our values of community, accountability. and local control. And if the federal government oversteps, we are prepared to defend the rights of Oregonians." DAN RAYFIELD Attorney General'

Health insurance premiums to rise for thousands of Oregonians in 2026 unless Congress intervenes

Nearly 35,000 Oregonians who buy insurance through the state’s Affordable Care Act market will lose all financial help if enhanced tax credits aren’t extended

More than 111,000 Oregonians who buy health insurance through the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace will pay significantly more for their plans next year unless Congress intervenes, and nearly 35,000 will lose all financial help paying for monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

That’s because congressional Republicans did not renew in their tax and spending bill passed this summer a pandemic-era enhanced tax credit meant to help lower the cost of plans for more than 24 million Americans and businesses who buy insurance through states’ Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces.

The credits expire at the end of the year unless Congress extends them. While Republicans hope to pass a stop-gap spending bill by Tuesday to avoid a government shutdown, Democrats have said they won’t consider any bill that does not extend the credits.

Without the credits, the average Oregonian buying health insurance through the marketplace will pay $127 to $456 more per month in 2026, depending on their income level, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Anyone making over 400% of the federal poverty level — that’s about $62,000 a year for a one-person household, $84,000 for a two-person household and $128,000 for a four-person household — would no longer receive the enhanced tax credits.

People over 400 percent of the FPL have always been able to access the Marketplace, but have been ineligible for financial help. The enhanced premium tax credits only extended eligibility for premium tax credit to people at incomes over 400 percent of the FPL.

The credits were introduced in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan, a COVID-19 stimulus package, and expanded income eligibility and access to marketplace plans, doubling by 2025 the number of Americans able to buy health insurance through states’ ACA marketplaces.

The credits increased the income ceiling for credit eligibility. Previously, households earning more than 400% of the federal poverty level annually could not get financial help from the tax credits. Under the enhanced credits, households above 400% of the federal poverty level have out-of-pocket premiums capped at 8.5% of their household income.

If Congress does not extend the credits, premiums for Americans enrolled in health plans through ACA marketplaces will rise an average of 75% next year, according to analysis from KFF, a health policy organization.

Premiums differ based on age and geography, and the rises would impact more young, low-income, urban enrollees, as well as enrollees in rural areas with moderate incomes. Average premiums in rural areas are expected to rise 90%, according to the Congressional Budget Office, leaving about 4 million more Americans uninsured next year.

Republicans have argued that Congress can debate extending the enhanced tax credits in November or December, but open enrollment for the ACA marketplace plans opens in November.

Without the certainty that they can afford higher premiums if the credits expire, many will choose not to enroll at all and go without health insurance in 2026, said Oregon state Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner at a Thursday news conference hosted by Americans for Responsible Growth, a national advocacy group that works with state financial leaders.

Steiner, a physician who served as the state Senate’s chief budget writer before becoming treasurer, said that the rising premiums will have cascading effects through Oregon’s economy. That’s in part because many small business owners, who must by law provide employees with health insurance, buy that coverage through the state’s ACA marketplace and will have to pay higher premiums without the tax credits.

“They’re going to lay off people because they can’t afford payroll. That, in turn, will result in decreased revenues from both corporate and personal income taxes, which will have a huge impact on our state’s bottom line, since we are one of the few states without a sales tax,” she said.

It will also create conditions, she said, where people will go without insurance, avoid and delay getting medical help, and skip or be unable to work as their conditions deteriorate.

“Good health care is good for business. Businesses depend on healthy employees who come to the workplace ready and able to do their jobs, not call out sick, or be less productive because of their illnesses,” she said. (SOURCE)

Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Wyden presses U.S. Treasury secretary to release Epstein financial files

Wyden has been investigating disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s financial transactions for years and calling for more transparency from federal agencies

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, speaks to reporters following a weekly Democratic policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on April 8, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

For several hours on Valentine’s Day in 2024, staff from Oregon U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden’s office and the Senate Finance Committee sat in a room in the U.S. Treasury Department reviewing, thousands of suspicious financial transactions made by deceased and disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The transactions totaled more than $1 billion and included payments to women from eastern European countries where many of Epstein’s alleged victims are from. Along with Wyden’s team, staff from the offices of Republican Sens. Mike Crapo of Idaho and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee reviewed the documents, according to Wyden. Spokespersons for Crapo and Blackburn did not respond to requests for comment from the Capital Chronicle.

Treasury officials did not allow the staffers to make copies of the documents, only to take handwritten notes.

“And because you can’t take that stuff out of the room I asked, particularly, if the Republicans would be willing to join me in a subpoena that would get the rest of the information that was crucial, and they wouldn’t do that,” Wyden said. “And that was during the Biden years.”

Suspecting that there was and is far more financial information regarding Epstein in the treasury’s possession than they were shown, Wyden is introducing a bill that would force current U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to use his legal authority to turn over everything.

On Sept. 10, he introduced the Produce Epstein Treasury Records Act to compel Bessent to turn over all Epstein-related treasury records to Senate investigators. Wyden has asked Bessent twice, in March and June, to provide the files to the Senate Finance Committee to no avail. He has been unable to get the majority vote needed for the committee to issue a subpoena for the files, Wyden policy director Keith Chu said in an email.

The bill is the latest in a now three-year investigation Wyden and his staff have undertaken to understand Epstein’s sex trafficking network through his financial transactions with some of the world’s largest banks and powerful men.

“I’ve long felt that my biggest opportunities have been when I followed the money,” Wyden said.

An unnamed spokesperson for the U.S. Treasury it’s complying with the House Oversight Committee’s request earlier this month to receive some of the suspicious activity reports.

‘It’s about the truth’

The reports are confidential and held by the treasury department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network called FinCEN. Although banks are supposed to report the activity in real time, the largest bank working with Epstein, JPMorgan, did not provide the reports to treasury until late 2019, after Epstein was arrested and charged with sex trafficking and died by suicide in a New York jail cell.

Wyden said the transactions show at the very least that the banks and the Internal Revenue Service were “asleep at the switch.”

“I want to find out what in hell kept these agencies from doing some audits,” he said.

Wyden first started looking into Epstein’s finances in 2022, connecting them to billionaire Leon Black, the co-founder of private equity firm Apollo Global Management. In 2023 and 2024, Wyden said he pushed “very, very hard to get the Biden people to do more,” and that then-Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s agency felt that they were providing him and Senate Finance members with more transparency when they allowed staff to see the suspicious activity reports, even if just for several hours.

“The reason that we got to do it is that we accepted their limits. You had to come in. You got it for a relatively short period of time, there were restrictions. That was kind of real pick and shovel stuff, getting what we got,” he said.

Calls for more transparency from the treasury and the Department of Justice following its investigation into Epstein have come from people across the political spectrum. Kentucky Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie said Wednesday that he will soon have the 218 signatures needed to force a vote in the House vote on releasing federal investigative files on Epstein.

Wyden said it’s become a major concern to many of his constituents in Oregon.

“Oregonians come up to me at the checkout line at Fred Meyer, when I’m walking on the street, basically saying: ‘keep it up,’” he said. “They know that I’ve been asking Trump people, that I’m asking Pam Bondi repeatedly, and people want answers,” he said.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in July said the Justice Department had wrapped its investigation into Epstein and found no evidence of a so-called client list, but has selectively released investigative files that were largely already public.

“I’m going to stay at it until the truth comes out. This has nothing to do with red and blue. It’s about the truth,” Wyden said. “There were huge sums of money — billions of dollars — moving around. So I want to make sure all the financial underpinnings come out.” (SOURCE)

Oregon lawmakers are holding interim committee hearings in Salem from September 29 to October 1, 2025, to address the impact of federal budget reductions.

Legislators are concerned that federal cuts could affect essential state programs, leading them to make difficult financial decisions in the next session. Key details on the hearings:

Purpose: The meetings are informational hearings where legislators and the public will discuss the repercussions of recent federal cuts. The topics covered will include impacts on state agencies, emergency management, health care, and education.
Budget shortfall: Recent federal tax changes could cause Oregon to lose hundreds of millions in tax revenue. For instance, a new federal law could divert nearly $900 million in state revenue to taxpayers over two years, impacting critical services like the Oregon Health Plan and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Officials’ statements: House Speaker Julie Fahey emphasized the importance of these hearings for understanding the “onslaught of cuts and rollbacks”. Senate President Rob Wagner stated that the information gathered will help lawmakers make difficult decisions while preserving critical services for Oregonians.
Potential actions: While these specific hearings are for gathering information, lawmakers are exploring options to address the budget issues. This could involve modifying Oregon’s tax code to break its link with federal tax law changes, potentially necessitating a special legislative session.
Where to find information: Full agendas for the hearings and details on how to stream the sessions can be found on the Oregon Legislative Information System’s website (OLIS). https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025S1

Oregon Heritage Commission launches public survey to learn how Oregonians participate in and value heritage activities across the state

The Oregon Heritage Commission is updating the Oregon Heritage Plan to strengthen heritage efforts across the state and lay the foundation for the Commission’s priorities over the next five years. To help inform the plan, the Commission has launched a statewide public survey to understand the heritage values that Oregonians hold and how they participate in heritage-related activities across the state.

The survey is open to the public until October 27 and is available in English and Spanish.

“This public survey is an opportunity to learn how Oregonians across the state engage with Oregon’s story through places, traditions, cultural materials, experiences, and more. We want to hear why these resources are important to Oregonians and what would make them more accessible,” said Commission Coordinator Katie Henry.

In addition to the public survey results, the plan will be informed by discussions with Oregon’s heritage preservation community and the results of the results of the 2024 Oregon Heritage Vitality Study. For more information on the planning process, please visit this Oregon Heritage Website.

The updated plan is expected to be open for public comment in early 2026. The final plan is expected to be adopted by the Heritage Commission in April 2026 at the 2026 Oregon Heritage Conference in Woodburn.

About the Oregon Heritage Commission
The Oregon Heritage Commission is a group of leaders from across the state that works collaboratively to champion resources, recognition, and funding for preserving and interpreting Oregon’s past. Founded in 1995 by the Legislature, the Heritage Commission is comprised of nine gubernatorial appointments and nine ex-officio members. The Commission is designated in ORS 358.570-595 as the primary agency for coordination of heritage activities in Oregon. More information on the Commission’s website.

Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Announce Bill to Restore NOAA’s Extreme Weather Database, Keep Americans Informed of Natural Disasters

Bill would reverse the Trump Administration’s reckless decision to terminate database which has recorded cost of natural disasters since 1980

—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would reverse the Trump Administration’s reckless decision to terminate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) extreme weather database which has been vital to keeping families, researchers, and policy makers informed on the cost of natural disasters.

The Measuring the Cost of Disasters Act would require NOAA to restore and maintain the Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database, which collects and makes public information on natural disasters resulting in at least $1 billion in damage each year in the United States.

“Whether it’s wildfires in Oregon or flooding in Texas hill country, deadly weather events have become a way of life for too many Americans,” Wyden said. “While Donald Trump forces his anti-science agenda on the American people and kneecaps federal emergency response, I’m all in to help communities better prepare for and respond to natural disasters. I’m proud to cosponsor the Measuring the Cost of Disasters Act to restore critical information for states and communities to do just that.”

“Oregonians know all too well the threat of climate chaos, which is fueling increasingly frequent and severe weather events that threaten our homes, businesses, and way of life,” said Merkley. “Trump’s move to terminate NOAA’s extreme weather tracker will just add to the devastation communities face. Having a complete understanding of the cost of natural disasters allows us to make smarter decisions about how to make our infrastructure more resilient to protect our communities. I’ll keep fighting for Oregonians to have the resources needed to respond to extreme weather and ensure that we have the data to act.”

Since 1980, NOAA has maintained a database of all weather disasters in the United States totaling at least $1 billion in damage. The Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database has been essential in tracking how an exponential increase in climate-driven natural disasters over the last two decades has raised costs associated with disaster recovery. The database has also helped communities and lawmakers more effectively allocate resources before extreme weather events.

In 2024, the United States experienced 27 individual weather and climate disasters over $1 billion in damages, totaling more than $182.7 billion—the fourth highest on record behind 2017, 2005, and 2022. As the severity and cost of natural disasters continue to rise, research tracking the type and frequency of extreme weather events is crucial to ensuring the efficient allocation of resources and effective resilience strategies.

However, in May 2025, the Trump Administration discontinued the Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database as part of its efforts to destroy programs and research related to climate change. Cancelling this publicly available database threatens emergency preparedness, undercuts science research vital to fighting climate change, and weakens national and community-level efforts to reduce the cost of disasters.

The legislation was introduced by U.S. Senator Peter Welch, D-Vt. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.. —– A full text of the bill is here.

Oregon health officials have submitted personally sensitive information regarding certain Medicaid patients to the federal government as part of a spending investigation — a decision that comes after months of intense discussion concerning privacy and the potential misuse of health data by federal authorities.

Earlier this month, the Oregon Health Authority provided the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services with a report that included data on every adult who accessed emergency Medicaid services from April to June.

This information encompassed Medicaid identification numbers, dates of birth, and Medicaid eligibility categories associated with citizenship status — however, it did not include immigration status, patient names, or addresses.

State officials had been reluctant to release the data since CMS made the request in June, expressing concerns about how federal officials might utilize the information and emphasizing the privacy issues for Oregon’s immigrant communities. Nevertheless, the state health authority ultimately acquiesced under legal pressure to prevent the loss of federal funding for the Oregon Health Plan, the state’s Medicaid program that offers health coverage to 1.4 million low-income individuals and people with disabilities.

Oregonians who possess EBT cards must take measures to prevent the theft of their card number and PIN.

According to the Oregon Attorney General’s Office, there has been a 50 percent rise in the amount of money stolen from EBT accounts. They suspect that a traveling group is installing skimmers on card devices in retail locations.

These skimmers are frequently located in discount stores and small markets. EBT cardholders are advised to utilize the app to activate their card solely when making a purchase and to deactivate it afterward. It is also important to inspect card devices for any overlay skimmers.

Additionally, if the card device displays a yellow security sticker, ensure that it does not appear to be compromised. INFO: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/benefits/pages/protect.aspx

PLEASE Help Prevent Human-Caused Wildfires

In total, more than 345,000 acres have burned this year across the state. That’s compared to nearly 2-million acres that burned during the 2024 season.

9/28 – 11 pm #OregonFires 25#evacuations #fires #prescribedburning #controlledburn #RxBurn #lowairquality5 FIRES in EVALUATION MODE:25 Oregon Wildfires – many are silent fires between 1 to 3 acres. These silent fires can quickly turn into dangerous fires. Please stay alert and ready. There is prescribed/ controlled burning going on in Oregon at this time. The map shows those fires in green. The air quality in #lanecounty #curry #deschutescounty #shermancounty and #cooscounty has worsened. FOLEY RIDGE FIRE – #lanecounty 7 Miles East of McKenzie Bridge 497 ACRES – 56% containment DOWNGRADED TO LEVEL 1 EVACUATION ( Be Ready) KELSEY PEAK FIRE #josephinecounty #currycounty 1039 ACRES – 97% containment. DOWNGRADED to Level 1 ( Be Ready) #currycounty – (last update 10 days ago)PINNACLE FIRE 2184 ACRES –#currycounty 10% containment LEVEL 3 EVAC GO NOWLEVEL 2 (Be Set) and LEVEL 1 (Be Ready) EVACUATION- Rogue River Trail under emergency closure.BACKBONE FIRE – 2543 ACRES #currycounty 4% containment – LEVEL 3 GO NOW LEVEL 2 ( Be Set) LEVEL 1 (Be Ready) EVACUATION – Rogue River Trail under emergency closure MOON COMPLEX FIRE – 17,316 ACRES #cooscounty #currycounty10% contained LEVEL 3 EVAC GO NOW LEVEL 2 ( Be Set) LEVEL 1 (Be Ready) – There is a temporary shelter open at the Gold Beach Library at 94341 3rd St, Gold Beach, OR. Silent Fires and Evacuations can change very quickly, so please stay alert and safe.

https://geo.maps.arcgis.com/…/a6c8f8e58ad642f4813732233…—————————————————CLINK FOR FIRES

https://experience.arcgis.com/…/6329d5e4e13748b9b9f7f3…/ —————————————————-CLINK FOR FIRES National Interagency Fire Center

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/—————————————————

9/25 – ALERT: Effective immediately, the Wild and Scenic section of the lower Rogue River will be closed due to increased fire activity from the Moon Complex.

Alert graphic notifying that the lower Rogue River is closed.

There is now active fire behavior on both sides of the river and predicted significant weather events. This emergency closure is being enacted for firefighter and public safety. All recreational use of the Wild Section (Grave Creek to Foster Bar) of the river will be prohibited until conditions improve. The BLM Oregon & Washington Medford District will not issue permits until it is safe to do so. We understand the impact this closure has to the river recreation community.

If you have a permit during the closure period, please contact the BLM permit office at (541) 618-2408 or email BLM_OR_MD_Rogue_River_Mail@blm.gov.The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management are working in coordination with Northwest Incident Management Team 13 to mitigate fire-related risks along the river. The permitting agencies will re-open the river as soon as possible. Please respect this closure area and check back for updates. For updates and additional information on the Moon Complex, follow https://www.facebook.com/SWORFireInfo or check Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident…/orrsf-moon-complexTo see the official closure order and map, visit the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Alerts page.

State fire marshal mobilizes resources as conflagration invoked for Moon Complex Fire

The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing four task forces and its Green Incident Management Team to the Moon Complex in Curry County. The lightning-caused fire grew significantly Friday, pushed by strong winds, and is threatening homes and critical infrastructure near the communities of Agness and Illahe. In total, six structural task forces are mobilized to fire.

The Curry County Sherrif’s Office has levels 2 and 3 evacuation notices in place for several areas around the fire. Please follow the local sheriff’s office for evacuation information.

The state fire marshal resources will join two task forces sent through Immediate Response on Saturday morning, mobilized from Rogue Valley and Lane County.

“Challenging weather conditions yesterday pushed the fire into new areas and local resources need extra help protecting people, homes, and critical infrastructure,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “This is a good reminder that we are still in fire season and ask everyone to stay aware and do everything they can to prevent sparking a wildfire.”

This is the eighth time the Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked in 2025.

Preventing wildfires requires a collective effort from everyone—help mitigate the risk of human-caused wildfires and protect our forests and communities.

Monitor Fires in Oregon – Updated Daily

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/state/oregon

Please Help Prevent Wildfires!

Learn how you can prevent wildfires by visiting the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s wildfire prevention page.

Support Wildfire Relief by Recycling

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There are 2 ways to donate:

Online with funds from your Green Bag account: https://bottledrop.com/…/obrc-emergency-fund-online…/

In-person by bringing your redeemable beverage containers to any full-service BottleDrop Redemption Center

All funds raised (and matched) will be split between the following nonprofits providing wildfire relief in Oregon: Oregon Chapter of the WFF , Red Cross Cascades Region, and United Way of the Columbia Gorge.Learn more: BottleDrop.com/Wildfire

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Time is running out to visit and experience Crater Lake. The Cleetwood Cove Trail, which is the sole route to the lake, is currently open but will be closing for up to three years for reconstruction.

An treetop view of the Cleetwood Cove section of Crater Lake with boat dock trail. — Cleetwood Cove Trail

Crater Lake’s Cleetwood Cove Trail, the park’s only access to the lake’s shore, will close in summer 2026 for a three-year rehabilitation project and will remain closed until at least 2029, meaning this is the last opportunity to access the lake from the trail. The project will address safety hazards, improve the trail and marina, and upgrade facilities, but the rest of the National Park will remain open for visitors to enjoy lake overlooks, forests, and other trails. What to Expect

The Trail’s Closure: The Cleetwood Cove Trail will be closed for reconstruction starting in the summer of 2026 and is expected to be closed for three years, with the project scheduled to be completed by 2029.
Why It’s Closing: The closure is necessary for major safety improvements, including rockfall scaling to remove hazardous rocks, and to address erosion on the trail.
New Infrastructure: The project will also include replacing the damaged marina with a new floating dock and pier, as well as upgrading restrooms and adding a ticket booth for boat tours.
Limited Access: During the construction period, there will be no access to the lake shore from this trail, and consequently, no swimming or boat tours.
Park Still Open: While the trail and lake access will be restricted, Crater Lake National Park itself will remain open to visitors, with 24-hour access.
What to Do Instead: Visitors can still enjoy other parts of the park by exploring lake overlooks, hiking other trails through the forest, and discovering hidden waterfalls.
More Information: For the latest updates and details on the rehabilitation project, visit the official Crater Lake National Park website. https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm

Oregon Lottery Commission Adopts Rules for Winner Anonymity and Ticket Discounting

This weekend, a new law will require the names and addresses of Oregon Lottery winners to be anonymous. Previously, a winner’s name was public record under Oregon’s public records law. Under House Bill 3115, Oregon Lottery may not publicly disclose a winner’s name and address without the winner’s written authorization.

Today, the Oregon State Lottery Commission approved rules to implement the new law passed during the recent legislative session. Under the rules, Oregon Lottery may release other public information about a prize win such as the city in which the winner resides, the retailer that sold the winning ticket, the game played, and the prize amount. A winner may authorize Lottery in writing to use their name and photos but otherwise, Lottery will not release a winner’s name and address.

House Bill 3115 also prohibits the purchase or sale of a winning lottery ticket in response to a cottage industry of so-called “discounters.” The discounters buy winning tickets for less than their value from players, then cash them in for the prize amount. While some players choose to sell their tickets to avoid driving to an Oregon Lottery payment center, others may do so to avoid having their prize garnished for outstanding child support or public assistance overpayments, as required by Oregon law.

Under rules adopted by the Oregon State Lottery Commission, Lottery officials will evaluate prize claims to determine if the tickets were bought, sold, or claimed in violation of the law. If a winning ticket is found to be in violation, Lottery will deny the prize claim and confiscate the ticket.

You can find FAQs regarding winner anonymity on the Oregon Lottery’s website.

Celebrating 40 years of selling games since April 25, 1985, Oregon Lottery has earned more than $16.5 billion for economic development, public schools, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org.

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.

Staying Informed During a Communications Outage: Best Practices for the Public

Disasters can damage critical infrastructure, leading to temporary outages in cell service, internet, and power. When communication systems go down, it’s vital to be prepared with alternate ways to get emergency information and stay connected. Here’s how you can prepare and respond:

Have a Battery-Powered or Hand-Crank Emergency Weather Radio

Why it matters: Emergency radios can receive Emergency Alert System (EAS) broadcasts via AM/FM or NOAA Weather Radio frequencies—even when cell towers and the internet are down.
Note: Emergency radios do not receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) like cell phones do. Tip: Pre-tune your radio to your local emergency broadcast station (e.g., OPB in Oregon or NOAA frequencies).

Turn On WEA Alerts on Your Phone

Make sure Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are enabled in your phone’s settings. These alerts include evacuation orders, severe weather warnings, and other urgent notifications.
WEA messages are sent through cell towers—if cell service is out, WEA alerts will not be delivered. This is why having backup methods like a radio is essential.

Charge Everything in Advance and Have Backup Power

Charge phones, power banks, laptops, and rechargeable flashlights before fire weather conditions worsen.
Consider solar-powered chargers or car chargers as backups.
If you are sheltering in place, a generator (solar or gas powered) is helpful.

Know Your Evacuation Routes in Advance

Save printed or downloaded evacuation maps in case you can’t access GPS or navigation apps.
Most mapping services (like Google Maps or Apple Maps) offer the ability to “Make maps available offline.” Download your area in advance so you can navigate even if cell towers or internet access are down.
When in doubt, call 511 or visit the TripCheck.com website if you have cell service.
Don’t wait for a notification—if you feel unsafe, evacuate early.

Print or Write Down Critical Contacts and Info

Phone numbers of family, neighbors, and local emergency contacts.
Address of evacuation shelters, veterinary services (for pets/livestock), and medical facilities.
Your own emergency plan, including meeting locations.
Have copies of vital documents in your go-bag and take video of your property (inside and out) for insurance claims later.

If Calling 9-1-1 Over Wi-Fi or Satellite, Check Your Location Settings

If you call 9-1-1 using Wi-Fi calling or a satellite-connected phone (like an iPhone or Android), your location might not be automatically visible to dispatch. Instead, it may rely on the emergency address saved in your phone’s settings.

Update this emergency address when you travel or relocate—especially in evacuation zones or rural areas.
Most importantly, always tell the dispatcher exactly where you are—include your address, landmarks, road names, or mile markers to help first responders reach you quickly.

**Sign Up for Alerts Before There’s an Outage**

Register for OR-Alert and your county’s local alert system.
Follow your local emergency management officials’ and bookmark resources like: wildfire.oregon.gov.

Prepare for Alert Delays or Gaps

Know the three levels of evacuation:
- Level 1 – Be Ready
- Level 2 – Be Set
- Level 3 – GO NOW
If you hear a siren, see a neighbor evacuating, or witness fire behavior increasing—take action even if you haven’t received an alert.

Be Your Own Info Network

Check on neighbors, especially seniors or those with disabilities.
Post printed signs with updates for those passing by.

In rural areas, community bulletin boards or fire stations may serve as local information points.

Support and Restoration in Progress
To help maintain emergency communications during this incident, OEM deployed eight Starlink terminals under the guidance of ESF 2 and the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC). A Communications Technician (Jeff Perkins) was also deployed to assess connectivity needs on the ground. These Starlink terminals have been providing service to the Lake County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Oregon State Police (OSP), Warner Creek Correctional Facility, and will soon support the town of Lakeview, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Lakeview Ranger Station. OEM’s Regional Coordinator (Stacey) is also on-site supporting the Lake County EOC. Coordination has been strong across local, state, and private sector partners. *** Update: As of 7/10/25 at 1:47 PM, fiber service has been restored.

Reconnect When Service Returns

Once communications are restored, check official websites:
- Oregon.gov/oem
- Your county emergency management page
- TripCheck.com for road conditions
Share verified info—not rumors—on social media or community pages.

Prepare for Delays in Restoration

Communication may come back in phases. Damage to fiber lines or cell towers can take time to repair.
Continue using backup methods and stay alert for updates via radio or in-person notices.

Final Tip:

In an emergency, CALL 9-1-1 to report life-threatening danger, not for general information. Use local non-emergency numbers or go to physical information points if needed. You can find more tips for preparing in OEM’s Be2Weeks Ready toolkit.

https://www.oregon.gov/osp/missing/pages/missingpersons.aspx

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