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, January 19, 2026
Willamette Valley Weather
Air Stagnation Advisory Issued – National Weather Service
...AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Light winds and limited air movement will lead to a period of stagnant air conditions. * WHERE...Central and Southern Willamette Valley, and Tualatin Valley. * WHEN...Until 4 PM PST Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Deteriorating air quality may cause issues for people with respiratory problems.
Winter is here! Here’s the overview of our winter outlook, but be sure to check out what we’re predicting in your area: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/extended-forecast
Opportunity to catch the Northern Lights may unfold over the Pacific Northwest tonight.
According to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, a strong geomagnetic storm is underway with the chance for the Northern Lights to extend south into Washington and Oregon.
The Northern Lights can be seen overhead when a surge of charged particles from the sun interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field. NOAA is forecasting a Kp index of 8 (on a scale of 0-9), which is strong enough to push the aurora well beyond typical northern viewing areas.
The aurora may appear as a faint green glow at first. The best way to see the aurora will be away from areas with light pollution. You’ll want to get away from the city and out to darker fields, parks, and hilltops. Look towards the north and from the horizon to overhead.
Eugene & Springfield: Marching Together
This year, Eugene and Springfield are coming together for a unified MLK Jr. March & Celebration!While there will not be a separate event in Springfield, we are proud to stand in regional partnership to honor Dr. King’s legacy rooted in community. To learn more, visit: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BCRkGc8hx/ Join us in remembering Dr. King and the values he championed: dignity, respect, community, and shared humanity.
Eugene, Oregon’s 2026 MLK Jr. Day featured major events around January 19th, including the Eugene-Springfield NAACP’s unified march from Autzen Stadium to The Shedd Institute, incorporating a Day Without Immigrants theme, alongside events like the UO MLK Awards and a LCC concert by Lizz Wright, focusing on community, service (tree planting), and reflection on justice and belonging. Key Events & Activities
- MLK March & Celebration (Jan 19): The NAACP hosted a unified march from Autzen Stadium, through Alton Baker Park, to The Shedd Institute, connecting with the “Day Without Immigrants” movement and collecting food donations.
- UO MLK Awards (Jan 22): University of Oregon celebrated individuals embodying Dr. King’s values with the theme “The Courage to Belong“.
- MLK Day of Service (Jan 17): The Holden Center organized volunteer tree planting along the Willamette River.
- MLK Reflection Breakfast (Jan 24): AARP Oregon and the NAACP hosted an intergenerational breakfast at the UO Ford Alumni Center.
- LCC Concert (Jan 28): Lane Community College featured singer-songwriter Lizz Wright as part of their MLK/Black History Month series.
Fire Crews Respond To Unusual Rescue In Eugene
Eugene Springfield Fire responded to an unusual rescue operation on near the University of Oregon Sunday afternoon.
Just 12PM on January 18th, ESF crews were called to a possible cardiac arrest in the area of 2000 Garden Ave in Eugene.
Bystanders walking along a Willamette River diversion, noticed a person 10-15’ down a crevice and called 911.
Arriving crews found an unresponsive individual pinned between a concrete diversion wall and large quarry stone. Several crews with a total of 20 personnel responded for staffing and specialty equipment to aid in the rescue. In all it took about one hour to remove the victim and transport them to RiverBend.
The victim a mid 30‘s male was transported in critical condition with a body temp of 76 degrees. If not for these attentive bystanders, the victim would not have survived much longer.
Albany Police Investigating Fatal Collision Involving Local Teen
The Albany Police Department is investigating a tragic incident that occurred on the evening of January 16, resulting in the death of a 16-year-old Albany resident.
At approximately 10:08 p.m., officers responded to a report of a vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash on SE 19th Avenue near SE Tudor Way. The pedestrian, identified as Paige Michael Charlene McClintock, sustained severe injuries and was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center by Albany Fire Department personnel. Despite lifesaving efforts, Paige later passed away.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the involved vehicle—a white 2005 Nissan Altima—was Paige’s older sister, 18-year-old Kirah Kristine McClintock. Kirah was located nearby and cooperated with investigators. At this time, impairment does not appear to be a contributing factor.
According to investigators, the collision occurred as Paige and another sibling were pushing a rolling tool chest in the roadway when the vehicle struck the toolbox and Paige. Kirah was following her sisters with the vehicle at a slow, walking speed. The Nissan Altima has been seized under a search warrant for further analysis.
This is an unimaginable tragedy for this family and our community, and our hearts go out to everyone affected. We ask for patience and support for the family, friends and first responders as we work to understand the circumstances.
Paige McClintock attended Albany Options School where she was an amazing student. Greater Albany Public Schools (GAPS) will have counselors and support team available as we navigate this tragedy together when students return next week.
The investigation remains ongoing. Please contact Albany Police Department Sergeant Eric Tress if you have information about the incident. 541-917-7680 APD Case Number 26-00274.
Body Recovered From Willamette River In Eugene
Eugene Police and Eugene-Springfield fire crews recovered a body from the Willamette River Sunday afternoon after bystanders reported a person submerged near the bank.
The call came in around 3:17 p.m. on Jan. 18 near the South Bank Path at milepost 1.5. Eugene Police Department patrol officers and a drone were also at the scene. Fire crews located the person and determined they were deceased. The Lane County medical examiner has taken jurisdiction and will continue the investigation.
Protestors Show Up After ICE Arrest Woman Just Standing Across From Eugene Federal Building
Protestors showed up in support of a woman who was arrested by ICE agents across the street from the old federal building In downtown Eugene.
Springfield Assault Suspect Apprehended in Coos County
Coos County, Ore. (Jan. 14, 2026)- Springfield assault suspect taken into custody.
On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 11:46 a.m., Oregon State Police received information regarding a possible sighting of Marcquis Andrew Lee White (33) who was wanted in connection with an assault that occurred on Monday, January 12, 2026, in Springfield. Bandon Police Chief Cory Dhillon was first to arrive at the location, near milepost 7 on Seven Devils Road, and identified where White had fled down a steep embankment into the brushline. Chief Dhillon was able to direct responding personnel from the Oregon State Police, Bandon Police Deparment, Coos County Sheriff’s Office, and Oregon State Police SWAT team, to White’s last known location. Oregon State Police SWAT personnel were able to locate White and take him into custody without incident.
White was transported to a medical facility for evaluation and will be transferred to the custody of the Springfield Police Department, and ultimately lodged in the Lane County Jail for crimes associated with Monday’s assault.
OSP would like to thank our law enforcement partners in Coos County and the United States Coast Guard for their dedication and persistence over the last 60 hours that led to the successful apprehension of White. For information related to Monday’s assault, contact the Springfield Police Department.
1/14/26 – LCSO Case 26-0214 – Deputies arrest two Junction City men stealing vehicles from Fox Hollow area
On January 14th at 6 a.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a property in the 32400 block of Fox Hollow Road, south of Eugene, for a report of suspects stealing vehicles. Deputies searched the property and found two men sleeping in a pickup. They appeared to have been in the process of loading one of the victim’s vehicles on to their trailer.
The men were detained. After additional investigation, Gary Allen Dawson, 38, of Junction City, was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail on the following charges: – Two counts of Criminal Trespass in the 2nd Degree – Three counts of Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle – Two counts of Attempted Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle
The second suspect, Nigel Anthony Solesbee, 27, of Junction City, was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail on the following charges: – Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Use of a Vehicle – Two counts of Criminal Trespass in the 2nd Degree – Two counts of Attempted Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle
A property crimes detective responded to assist. He applied for a search warrant for the involved suspect vehicle and a suspect property in the 95400 block of Noraton Road, north of Junction City. A firearm and additional stolen property were discovered during the search. The investigation is still active. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Dispatch at 541-682-4150 option 1. Reference case 26-0214.
1/15/26 – LCSO Case 25-5510 – Lane County Sheriff’s detectives arrest Eugene man for menacing, sex crimes against juveniles
On January 6th, 2026, Lane County Sheriff’s detectives were following up on an investigation into the abuse of juveniles in Lane County. They applied for and were granted search warrants related to the case. The warrants were for a residence and vehicles associated with the suspect, Francisco Yandel Gonzalez Martinez, 18, of Eugene.
On January 15th at 7 a.m., detectives stopped a vehicle at Barger Drive and Cubit Street, Eugene. They contacted and arrested Martinez. Detectives then went to the residence in the 2500 block of Primrose Street, Eugene, to serve the search warrant for the residence.
While at the location, a resident was uncooperative. Detectives detained the resident so that they could safely execute the warrant. Once the search warrant was complete, the resident that had been detained was released. Several community members unrelated to the investigation arrived on scene during the service of the search warrant.
Martinez was lodged at the Lane County Jail on the following charges: – Five counts of Using Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct – Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the 1st Degree – Ten counts of Sex Abuse in the 1st Degree – Two counts of Sodomy in the 2nd Degree – Two counts of Menacing
Lane County Seeks Survey Input to Help Stop Battery Fires and Improve Recycling
Waste Wise Lane County—a part of the Lane County Waste Management Division—is asking residents to take a short community survey to help prevent dangerous battery fires and improve battery recycling, disposal, and storage practices.
“It’s up to all of us to learn how to responsibly manage and dispose of batteries safely,” said Angie Marzano, Lane County Waste Reduction Program supervisor. “This is especially true for lithium-ion batteries, which can explode or burn when damaged. These ‘thermal events’—which are becoming more frequent as battery use increases – can pose serious risks to county employees, equipment, and facilities.”
The urgency is clear: Lane County’s Short Mountain Landfill experienced 49 lithium battery thermal events in 2025, up from 34 in 2024. These events present significant safety hazards and can damage critical infrastructure while increasing operational and environmental risks.
Residents are encouraged to take a quick, confidential survey before it closes January 19. Survey responses will help local experts understand current recycling knowledge and identify barriers residents face when trying to dispose of batteries properly.
Survey links:
- English: lcbattery.org
- Español: lcbateria.org
As an added incentive, $1 will be donated to BRING, a local nonprofit, for each completed survey.
About Waste Wise Lane County
Waste Wise Lane County—a part of the Lane County Waste Management Division—empowers residents, schools, and businesses with education, tools, and resources that can be used to reduce waste, conserve resources, and live more sustainably. For more information, visit lanecountyor.gov/wastewise.
Love is in the air this February – Lane County Clerk’s Office performing Valentine’s Day marriage ceremonies
The Lane County Clerk’s Office will help couples tie the knot or renew their vows on Valentine’s Day this year.
“What better day to marry your sweetheart than on Valentine’s Day?” said Lane County Clerk Tommy Gong. “All of us at the Clerk’s Office are excited to be able to offer couples the opportunity to schedule marriage ceremonies on the holiday this year.”
There are 32 slots available to schedule on a first come, first served basis. Ceremonies will be conducted in 30-minute intervals from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, at the County Clerk’s Office at 125 E. 8th Avenue, Eugene.
Four Clerk’s Office employees will officiate the marriages.
To schedule a ceremony, couples must first obtain a valid marriage license from the Clerk’s Office (125 E. 8th Avenue, Eugene). To obtain a marriage license, couples fill out the online Marriage License Application and then must visit the Clerk’s Office at least three days before the ceremony to complete the license process. Couples already married may consider renewing their vows on Valentine’s Day too; no new marriage license required.
The marriage license fee is $60 and a marriage officiated by the County Clerk is $117. Additional details, including license requirements and scheduling information, can be found on the Lane County Clerk’s website.
Eugene Police ask if You can you help identify owner of dog that bit a child at a store?
At 6:04 p.m. on January 5, Eugene Police received a call regarding a dog bite incident at 1675 West 18th Avenue. Numerous customers at the Albertson’s had called 911 to report a man had a dog inside of the store, and it had bitten a 3-year-old child.
Officers responded and found the dog and owner had left the location and gone north. Eugene Springfield Fire Department responded to evaluate the child. The family reported they were in the self-checkout and the child was standing between both parents helping scan items. The dog and the owner were behind them and the dog lunged and grabbed the child by the arm and dragged her.
The owner of the dog tackled the dog, and customers and employees also tried to intervene. Before this had occurred, the owner had been told to leave after the dog acted aggressively toward a one-year-old child. However, the owner did not immediately leave as directed. The owner is described as an unkempt man with long, frizzy brown/graying hair. If anyone has tips in this case, they are asked to call the police non-emergency line at 541.682.5111. Case 26-00230
By Name List will be Utilized in 2026 for Homeless Count
The 2026 Lane County Point in Time Count (PIT) will not be conducted this year. The practice of doing a Point in Time count began in 2005, with an annual requirement for conducting a sheltered count, and a biennial requirement for conducting an unsheltered count. At that time the count was the most reliable way of tracking trends related to homelessness and the Poverty and Homelessness Board chose to do the count annually. Thanks to technological and process innovations, the Lane County Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) system and its By Name List, has become a much more accurate, reliable and dynamic way to track trends on a monthly and yearly basis.
Over 30 agencies and 140 different programs enter data into the HMIS system on a daily basis. This equates to high system coverage and data quality. In fact, the OR-500 CoC has been primarily utilizing a modified version of the HBNL to conduct the PIT count since 2021. The only “street count” that has occurred since that time, with HUD’s authorization, is within targeted areas and completed by trained street outreach workers in order to identify those least likely to be included in the HMIS. In the past several counts, fewer than 130 people on average have been added to the primary count completed through HMIS. Community members are encouraged to review the By Name List Tableau pages to learn more about homelessness in Lane County.
Full unsheltered PIT Counts are required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on a every other year basis and are not a requirement of the State of Oregon. As Lane County conducted an unsheltered count in calendar year 2025, there is no requirement for Lane County to conduct an unsheltered PIT Count in 2026.
The sheltered count is required by HUD and is derived solely from HMIS and made up of data entered daily by local shelter and transitional housing programs. Lane County will submit the sheltered count as required. A 2027 unsheltered PIT Count is expected to occur. To learn more about the shelter beds and other programs in Lane County visit the Homeless Response System Inventory Tableau pages.
Lane County recruiting for task force that will develop new land banking program for housing production
A new seven-member task force will be responsible for creating the priorities and goals, measures of success, reporting standards, and other requirements for Lane County’s new housing land banking program.
“We desperately need housing in Lane County,” said Lane County Housing Production Manager Eric Mongan. “While Lane County Government doesn’t directly develop real estate, we can and should have a role in identifying buildable land that can be purchased and incentivized for housing development.”
The task force will create the framework for the program, which will then be adopted by the Board of County Commissioners. The program is funded with $2 million in Oregon Video Lottery funding.
Letters of interest must be submitted by February 9, 2026. The Board of County Commissioners will appoint five of the task force members in early March with the County Administrator selecting the remaining two members. The task force will begin meeting in March and is expected to hold between six and eight one-hour meetings over the course of several months. – More information and application materials are available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/HousingTaskForce.
NW Natural has released a multi language notice that will also go to every customer regarding how to best identify a NW Natural Utility Worker when they come to your home or are nearby.
There has been reports of ICE agents disguising as utility workers to lure people out of their homes. Please stay aware.
“We are aware of reports of individuals impersonating utility workers in order to gain access to residents. Please note:
Our workers who show up at your home should either be wearing a uniform and a utility badge or wearing a badge that says “CONTRACTOR.” Their vehicles should be similarly marked with a NW Natural company logo and/or “CONTRACTOR.”
If someone comes to your house and asks for access to your home or for you to come outside:
- Our employees will never ask for immediate access to customers’ homes. They often will go to a back or side yard to access a meter.
- In most situations, if there is a reason a NW Natural employee would need to go inside a customer’s home (such as a safety check or inspection), they would have set this up with the customer in advance.
If you want to verify if someone at your home is a NW Natural employee or contractor, you can call our customer service line at 503-226-4211 or 800-422-4012. If you suspect an imposter, call 9-1-1 immediately.” https://www.nwnatural.com/…/2025-utility-and-contactor…
Habitat for Humanity to Start Pre-Application for New Springfield Homes Under Construction
On January 12th we will be opening the pre-application process for Habitat Homeownership in Fischer Village, Springfield.
Pre-applications will be available on January 12th at that time you will be able to download the file after 9am on, if you would like to pick one up at the Habitat office, please call to make an appointment 541-741-1707 or when the ReStore is open (Wed-Sat 11am-6pm & Sun 11am-4pm) you may pick one up at the cashiers area.
Orientations for the program will be held at the Habitat Central Lane office (1210 Oak Patch Road, Eugene) on the following dates. Orientations are not mandatory however there will be some questions and answers and that time. These orientations will last 30 minutes.
Tuesday January 13 6pm
Saturday January 17 10am
Wednesday January 21 6pm
Saturday January 24 Noon
Applicants for the homeownership program must earn between 40 to 80 percent of the area’s median income to qualify. This initiative underscores the organization’s commitment to fair lending and community engagement.
Ways to get your pre-application starting January 12th.
1. Download on our website (habitatlane.org)
2. Call and set up a time to drop in 541-741-1707
3. When you call you may ask to have the application emailed
4. Attend an orientation at our office (1/13 6pm, 1/17 10am, 1/21 6pm, 1/24 noon)
5. During ReStore business hours Wed-Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 11-4pmOur address is 1210 Oak Patch Road in Eugene
Survey asking residents how they protect themselves, their homes, and community from wildfire
Lane County Emergency Management is asking people to take a short survey to help local agencies better understand how households and communities are taking action at the household level to reduce wildfire risk. The survey is intended to help Lane County identify what actions people are taking in their community as well as the barriers that prevent households from acting. The survey is available through January 30, 2026.
The survey is available in English and Spanish:
- Take the Wildfire Risk Reduction Survey in English
- Completa la encuesta sobre reducción del riesgo de incendios forestales en español
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
- inform landowners and property owners 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. Please consider taking 15–20 minutes to weigh in and complete the survey!
Taking Another Look at What Happened to Fauna Frey
Fauna was grieving the recent death of her brother, Dallas, when she set off from Eugene in June of 2020 heading to Grants Pass on what her family believes was both a healing trip and a mission to deliver gifts, silver coins inherited from Dallas, to a few friends.
But somewhere between motel check-ins and checkouts, something went terribly wrong. Her Jeep was found months later. She was never seen again. http://bit.ly/4l63Dle
We will start resharing podcasts and articles. For starters here is a story from Danielle Denham that appeared in the June 29, 2025 edition of That Oregon Life. Ms Denham worked closely with us to insure that the facts she presented were accurate.
Check out the nine episodes of the podcast Nowhere to be Found, a comprehensive, in-depth, sensitive treatment of the details surrounding Fauna’s disappearance. Hear from Fauna’s father, John, and her friends. Posted in spring of 2022, Amanda Popineau shares Fauna’s journey and the mystery that surrounds it. Go to Nowhere to be Found Season Two: Episode One “Under A Half-Moon.” https://podcasts.apple.com/kg/podcast/s2e1-under-a-halfmoon/id1532686678?i=1000512098162
We want to remind people that Fauna’s father is offering a huge reward for information that brings Fauna home.
Please if you have any information no matter how big or small let us know by calling the anonymous tip line or emailing.
Tipline- 541-359-5638
Email – Helpfindfaunafrey@gmail.com
FOLLOW on FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/341658526970132
Too many seniors in Lane County spend their days in silence – without food, warmth, or a friendly face. You can change that and make a difference in our community.
Senior & Disability Services is urging residents to support the Senior Meals Program, which includes Meals on Wheels, by volunteering or donating. Volunteers play a crucial role in delivering meals, providing companionship, and conducting safety checks for homebound seniors.
“We are needing volunteers to step up across the county and help us deliver meals, help us package meals in order to meet the growing demand of Meals on Wheels across our community,” said Marisa Andrews, community program manager, Lane County Senior and Disability Services.
The organization is also participating in a national campaign by Meals on Wheels America to highlight senior isolation, inspired by the carol “Silent Night.” This campaign emphasizes the importance of community support, especially as demand for services rises amid federal funding cuts. See REEL: https://www.facebook.com/reel/707071019133999
Community members are encouraged to volunteer for Meals on Wheels or Café 60, ensuring these vital services continue. For those unable to volunteer, donations to the Senior Meals Program can help ensure no senior is left hungry or alone this season. Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LCOGSeniorAndDisabilityServices
Join the Senior Meals Program as a volunteer and help ensure no senior is left hungry or alone. Every meal delivered is more than food – it’s a lifeline. 
Sign up to volunteer today: https://bit.ly/3I8T7eP
Update on Lane County PacificSource,Trillium and OHP
PacificSource will no longer serve Oregon Health Plan members in Lane County starting in early 2026, citing financial unsustainability due to low per-member payment rates from the state.
Trillium Community Health Plans will absorb PacificSource’s over 90,000 members and become the sole Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) in the county. PacificSource will lay off 56 workers at its Springfield location at the end of 2025 as a result.
After Jan. 31, 2026, PacificSource members will be automatically moved to Trillium. If a current provider isn’t part of Trillium’s provider network, Trillium will send advance notice and help find a new provider. In some cases, members with out-of-network providers can still request authorization for specific covered services.
More information can be found at Oregon Health Authority’s website. For general questions, comments, or concerns, email CCOSpecialprojects@oha.oregon.gov
The Junction City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance locating a missing and possibly endangered person.
62-year-old Wade Felton Lloyd, of Junction City, was reported missing on November 20, 2025. Mr. Lloyd was last seen on November 16th in the area of Birch Street and 2nd Avenue in Junction City.
Mr. Lloyd normally stays close to the Junction City area, has close ties to his family, and his only transportation is an older motorized bicycle, which is also missing.
Mr. Lloyd is a slender white male, standing 6 feet tall with brown hair and hazel eyes. Mr. Lloyd is without his cell phone, wallet, and his medications.
The Junction City Police have exhausted all leads as to his whereabouts and is hoping that the community might recognize him or recall where they last saw Mr. Lloyd. If you have information regarding Mr. Lloyd or have seen him on or after November 16th, 2025, please call the Junction City Police Department at 541-998-1245.
Willamette Farm & Food Coalition – Fundraiser update!
Here’s where we’re at with our Healthy Food for All Fall Fundraiser. Thanks to 123 generous community members, along with donations from Mountain Rose Herbs, the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund, and everyone who supported our Apple Cider Press booth, we’ve raised $20,273.75 toward our $300,000 goal.
We’re getting so close to our first milestone of $25,000, and we need you to help us reach it, dear community! Every dollar keeps our food equity programs going strong in 2026.
From SNAP Match to Bucka Bucka Bucks, Little Lettuce, and Tribal Harvest Boxes, your support ensures fresh, local, nourishing food gets to the people who need it most. It also helps to fund emergency food distribution during the ongoing political and economic instability. Every little bit adds up. We need you. Donate today: https://www.zeffy.com/…/healthy-food-for-all-fundraiser
The many ways trees protect human health will be the focus of the 2026 Oregon Urban and Community Forestry Conference to be held June 4 in Eugene at Venue 252.
Registration for the conference—We Thrive When Trees Thrive—is now open at https://www.oregoncommunitytrees.org/2026-conference
This annual conference is put on by the non-profit organization Oregon Community Trees in partnership with the Oregon Department of Forestry and USDA Forest Service. It is open to anyone interested in urban tree issues and their impact on people and communities.
Keynote speaker will be Geoffrey Donovan, a natural resource economist with the private consultancy firm Ash and Elm Consulting, LLC. When he was a researcher based at the USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station, Donovan published a ground-breaking study that found each tree planted in Portland by the non-profit Friends of Trees was associated with significant reductions in non-accidental and cardiovascular human deaths. Donovan had access to years’ worth of tree planting data from Friends of Trees. Specifically, he used the planting data from the nearly 50,000 trees that organization had planted in Portland neighborhoods since 1990. Donovan was able to rule out other possible explanations for the lower death rate like race, education, and income, by using the statistical models using data from the American Community Survey. The findings were published in December 2022 in the journal Environmental International.
Continuing education credits will be available for conference attendees.
Opportunities to be a speaker, panelist or poster presenter are open until Jan. 31. Visitwww.oregoncommunitytrees.org/2026-conference to apply.
Early-bird registration pricing remains $150. Students can register for $80. Ticket includes entry, lunch, snacks, and networking social hour following the conference. Scholarships are available for those with an expressed financial need.
About Oregon Community Trees
The mission of this non-profit, Oregon-based organization is to promote healthy urban and community forests through leadership, education, awareness and advocacy. OCT serves as the advisory committee to the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program.
Lane County will participate by setting up donation barrels for staff to donate at Lane County owned properties.
“Food for Lane County is already seeing high numbers of pantry visitors at a time when our food supply has been limited due to federal program cuts. We want all Lane County residents to have the food and resources they need to thrive, and we’re very concerned about the welfare of our community if SNAP benefits aren’t available.” said Food for Lane County Director of Development and Communications, Rebecca Sprinson.
For individuals and families in need of food, please visit the FFLC food finder, at:
Those interested in donating can do so by visiting: https://www.foodforlanecounty.org/ways-to=give/donate or by calling 541-343-2822.
$18.95 can help feed 120 people.
Every weekend, the volunteer crew at Burrito Brigade rolls hundreds of delicious vegan burritos to help close the hunger gap here in Eugene. Each box of tortillas — just $18.95 — helps feed 120 neighbors.
Could you spare $18.95 to help? Even better — could you make it a monthly donation to keep those burritos rolling all year long?
Every dollar makes a difference in these times of need. Thank you for being part of the Brigade. 
Donate here: https://www.zeffy.com/donation…/we-rise-by-lifting-others Support our Mission: BurritoBrigade.org
Linn County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Homicide
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports that this morning, October 4, 2025, at 4:19 a.m., the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a 911 call for a crash near Peoria Road and Highway 34, near Corvallis in Linn County.
The Corvallis Fire Department arrived at the reported crash just prior to law enforcement’s arrival. As the Corvallis Fire Department began rendering aid to the single occupant of the vehicle, they observed injuries not related to the crash. The Corvallis Fire Department attempted lifesaving efforts, but the single occupant died at the scene of the crash.
Detectives from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and are currently investigating the death as a homicide. At this time, the name of the deceased is not being released, and no additional details are being shared to ensure the integrity of the investigation. If anyone has information about this case, please contact Detective Scott Tennant at (541) 967-3950.
RAVEN-Radical Assistance — They need an indoor space for the winter! And have a GoFund Me to Help
Hi Friends, the good people at RAVEN are diligently trying to find some indoor space to use for the winter. We would love to offer some respite from the weather along with the other basic needs that we are providing. Please help us find some under utilized space, preferably close to the downtown core, that we can use to take care of our neighbors in need. Any and all ideas are welcome! We appreciate all of your donations. We are always in need of operational funds, clothing, blankets & camping gear.
Any ideas appreciated for Indoor Space! They are providing food, basic need supplies and human connection to our neighbors in need. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572229470271
GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-raven-continue-services-for-vulnerable-neighbors?attribution_id=sl:ebb2169e-6901-4025-a221-274235ce05c0&lang=en_US&ts=1760736364&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link
Every story helps us advocate for food access and fight hunger in our community.
We’re receiving lots of questions about SNAP, and many offers of help from our incredible community. This post from Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) provides some helpful information about the potential delays to SNAP benefits. If you are a SNAP recipient with questions about your benefits, ODHS is your go-to. Their website is at https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/food/pages/default.aspx
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 — TransPonder is excited to be expanding!
We will be moving some of our programs and services to the new home of The Lavender Network, and our offices will be closed from November 3-7 to allow us time to do that. Staff will still be monitoring phones and emails and our Food Program will continue uninterrupted.
At our new Willamette location (1590 Willamette St.), you will find our Behavioral Health Program, the Legal ID Change Program, Resource Navigation, Sylvia’s Closet, and our free Lending Library.
We will also continue to have offices at our Maxwell location (440 Maxwell Rd.) which will house our Food Program, the Youth Empowerment Project, our Job Skill Program, administrative offices, and our community events.
We appreciate your patience as we embark on this new stage for TransPonder!
Check out the upcoming events, clubs, classes, groups, and gatherings in this week’s newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/…/transponder-happenings-sept14-sept20
Waste To Taste – Got an Extra Can or Two? Let’s Fill the Little Free Pantries Together!
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 hgiene 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
EWEB Emergency Water Stations
The final emergency water station has been officially installed in Eugene as part of the Eugene Water & Electric Board’s disaster preparedness plan.
This is where people can access water in case of earthquakes, wildfires, or other events that could disrupt or limit access to the city’s water system.
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.
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
Oregon Food Bank · Find free food sites near you using OregonFoodFinder.org.
If you can’t make it to a food location, someone else can pick up food for you.You will just need to print and fill out the Authorized Representative form at https://lnkd.in/dsskUpkQ, and have them take it with them to the food sites. You can find step-by-step instructions at https://lnkd.in/dVBRxn-A.
Worried about recent changes or losing assistance?
Here are resources that can help:
211Info: Dial 2-1-1 or visit the211Info food webpagefor information and referrals to more than 1,500 food resources across Oregon.
Oregon Food Bank: Use the Oregon Food Bank’s Food Finder Mapto find over 100 food pantries, free food markets or hot meal programs near you.
Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon (ADRC): Call 855-673-2372 or visit theADRC food webpage to find local meal programs and food boxes in your area.
Coast Guard OKs new I-5 bridge over Columbia River without movable span
Washington and Oregon will not have to build a bridge with a movable span to accommodate tall marine vessels when they replace the aging Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River, the U.S. Coast Guard decided on Friday.
Instead, the states can go with a less expensive fixed span that provides 116 feet of clearance above the river. The savings from this design will be welcome news for the states, which are confronting rising cost estimates for the multibillion-dollar project before construction is even underway.
Coast Guard officials informed elected leaders and transportation officials in the two states Friday that it issued a “preliminary navigation clearance determination” that is good for three years.
The approval “will eliminate the only stoplight on Interstate 5, put an end to commute interruptions, and save millions in construction costs,” said U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington.
“The vast majority of the maritime community agrees that the new bridge design will not only allow river commerce to continue but also improve safe passage down the river,” added Cantwell, the senior Democrat on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which oversees the Coast Guard.
Cantwell had pressed Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, Commandant of the Coast Guard, for a decision by Jan. 16.
“This is the right decision for our economy, and for commuters who use this bridge every day,” Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, said in a statement issued by the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program. “A fixed span bridge has overwhelming support from the maritime industry, businesses and community groups.”
Oregon’s Democratic Governor Tina Kotek, in the same news release, said the bridge replacement program now has “the clarity it needs to advance and position us to build a safer, multimodal river crossing and corridor that will serve both states for generations.”
Washington state Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, said he was “really excited to see that the Coast Guard listened to the communities. We’re one step closer to getting this bridge replaced.”
Liias, the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, said this is “a really critical decision point” that allows planners to drill down on what the bridge might look like and the costs.
Not everyone cheered Friday’s news.
“I’m disappointed. The Coast Guard’s job is to protect navigation not only for today but for the future,” said Washington state Rep. John Ley, R-Vancouver, an ardent project foe. With a decision that will lead to less clearance under the bridge, “you are truly restricting marine traffic in a big way.”
The existing bridge rests on wooden piles in potentially unstable soils and is in danger of collapse in a major earthquake. One span is over a century old. Its design is known as a movable span. When tall vessels travel under it, traffic is stopped and a section is lifted to create a clearance of 178 feet. It is lowered once the vessel has passed through.
A fixed span has always been the official first choice of Washington and Oregon. Supporters of the project predict fewer crashes, faster commutes and more transit options when the new bridge is done.
While Friday’s announcement answers one major question, others, such as what the bridge will cost, when construction will begin and when traffic will finally drive on it, remain unknown.
Program managers are looking to get federal government sign-off on an environmental review and a record of decision so contracts can be negotiated this year. Once rolling, construction is expected to last until at least 2032.
Compensating companies
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington and former Oregon senator Mark Hatfield first discussed the need for replacing the bridge in 1992, though it wasn’t until roughly 20 years ago that preliminary engineering and environmental work started.
Because the height of the bridge could affect ship traffic on the Columbia River, the U.S. Coast Guard is one of the federal agencies with sway over permitting.
There’s been concern about how the Coast Guard might act since 2022, when it responded negatively to an initial permit request, saying a fixed span would “create an unreasonable obstruction” for taller vessels for the service life of the bridge.
But it didn’t say “no.” Instead, it outlined concerns and gave the two states time to respond.
That came in October when the two states and the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program submitted an updated Navigation Impact Report reiterating the argument that a fixed span bridge “is the best design option” and would continue to provide access for 99% of river traffic.
Washington and Oregon also told the Coast Guard that they are prepared to pay $140 million to four businesses that would be directly affected by the lower bridge height because they own or operate vessels that navigate the Columbia River, or manufacture products shipped under the interstate bridge.
Agreements were negotiated with each company. The two states cited the pacts in their effort to convince the Coast Guard that the agency’s navigation concerns had been resolved.
The affected companies are Thompson Metal Fab, Inc. and Greenberry, which are fabricators, JT Marine, a marine shipyard services company, and Advanced American Construction, a company that partners with Vigor Marine Group on marine construction.
Records obtained by the Standard show the two states agreed to pay $89,990,000 to Thompson, $46.9 million to Greenberry, $2.2 million to Advanced American Construction and $2 million to JT Marine.
State and project officials view the payments as cost-effective because a movable span would be more expensive to build, by an estimated $500 million to $1 billion before inflation. Money to the companies would only be paid if contracts are signed and construction begins.
John Rudi, chief executive officer of Thompson Metal Fab, sent a letter to the Coast Guard in December endorsing a fixed span.
“The agreed mitigation will preserve the jobs and manufacturing capability in Clark County and the Portland Metro area,” he wrote. “We are also members of the community and recognize the need for a bridge as proposed by IBR.”
Friday’s decision is the second time the two states secured Coast Guard support for a fixed-span. It happened in 2013 when the undertaking was known as the Columbia River Crossing. The project also had a record of decision from the federal highway and transit administrations, allowing it to proceed.
Political opposition and funding challenges stalled the project at that time. Both the earlier approvals from the federal government have since lapsed.
Rising price tag
For the past couple years, project planners have said the price tag for replacing the bridge ranges from $5 billion to $7.5 billion, with the likely figure of around $6 billion. And they’ve said constructing a movable span would be $500 million more than a fixed-span.
In September, legislators said they anticipate the total could reach $10 billion based on rising costs with other projects.
Project planners have been recalculating the estimate for months.
Joe Cortright, a Portland economist and project critic, said earlier this month that the revised expense could range between $12.2 billion and $17.7 billion based on public records he obtained and shared with reporters.
Funding is coming from several sources. Each state has committed about $1 billion. Tolls — which will be imposed in both directions on the existing bridge starting in 2027 and managed by Washington — are relied on for a minimum of $1.2 billion. Oregon has a moratorium on any tolls other than the bridge.
Federal grants totaling $2.1 billion were awarded last year under the Biden administration.
Planners are pursuing $1 billion from the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Program. This would help pay for a 1.9-mile extension of light-rail from North Portland to a future station near Evergreen Boulevard in Vancouver, Washington. A decision on that funding isn’t expected until the project is further along.
The question of cost should become clearer in the coming weeks, Liias said.
“We know it will be more than the resources we have,” he said Friday. “We will have to figure out how we phase it.”
He has previously said work may need to be delayed for some of the nearly 30 separate items — from new bus shelters to off-ramp improvements — in this endeavor.
Finding the money is going to be a long-term challenge, Ley said.
“At the end of the day, whether the price is $12 billion or $14 billion or $17 billion, the two states do not have the money,” he said. “I don’t know how they can get it.”
Oregon Capital Chronicle reporter Mia Maldonado contributed to this report.
Correction: This story was updated to correct the spelling of John Rudi’s name.
This story was originally produced by Washington State Standard, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Oregon Capital Chronicle, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. — (SOURCE)
Supreme Court tariffs decision could shape Oregon’s economic outlook after steady 2025
If the Supreme Court strikes down some tariffs without backup revenue source, it could mean higher costs for Oregonians after nearly avoiding a downturn last year.
Oregon’s economy held up better than many expected in 2025, even as fears of a recession dominated much of the year, according to state Chief Economist Carl Riccadonna.
He said job growth has started to return, especially in the service sector, and state tax revenues have stayed steady — a sign that people are still working and spending. Those trends, he said, suggests Oregon “muddled through” a challenging year, avoiding a major downturn, and could see improvement in 2026.
President Donald Trump’s tariffs were a major source of uncertainty last year, but Riccadonna said their impact on everyday Oregonians was more muted than predicted. While manufacturing has taken a hit as companies adjust to higher costs and shifting supply chains, many consumer prices did not rise as sharply as feared. In some cases, he said, foreign companies lowered their own prices to stay competitive, easing the burden on shoppers.
Looking ahead, Riccadonna said tariffs could still affect household finances in less obvious ways. If the Supreme Court strikes down some tariffs without a replacement source of revenue, the federal government may need to borrow more to pay for the tax cuts, which could push interest rates higher. That would mean higher costs for mortgages, credit cards and auto loans.
In the following excerpt, Riccadonna breaks down the Supreme Court’s decision on tariffs affect Oregonians and what it might mean for the larger economy. The transcript has been edited for clarity. This interview was filmed on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. https://www.kgw.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/straight-talk/supreme-court-tariffs-decision-could-shape-oregons-economic-outlook-after-steady-2025/283-7bae1989-51a8-48ac-819b-181a9e8f4452
Oregon Governor Kotek taps Republican rival to boost business relations
Oregon Public Broadcasting first published this article. —– In December, Gov. Tina Kotek announced that Oregon was open for business. For help, the Democratic governor is turning to a Republican who might be best known for shutting down the Legislature.
Kotek announced Wednesday that she is hiring former state Sen. Tim Knopp as her new chief prosperity officer.
The former longtime lawmaker from Bend will be tasked with meeting Kotek’s goal of finding ways to ease burdens on businesses and stem a recent tide of job losses.
“To be successful, this role demands a unique set of skills — an entrepreneurial spirit, a systems thinker, and equal parts pragmatism and persistence,” Kotek said in a release Wednesday. “Tim is going to be a great part of my team, and I am grateful that he has agreed to step up and serve Oregonians.”
Beginning next week, Knopp will work in Kotek’s office alongside other staff, earning $191,658 a year. But it wasn’t long ago that he was a major thorn in the governor’s side.
During the 2023 legislative session, he led Senate Republicans on a six-week walkout that all but shut down legislative action and raised the prospect lawmakers would not be able to pass a budget on time.
As a result of that boycott, Knopp was barred from seeking reelection in 2024. He currently works as executive vice president of the Central Oregon Builders Association, a role he will depart to join the governor’s team.
“When the Governor calls on you to drive prosperity for Oregonians across the state, grow the economy, and support Oregon businesses, the answer is yes,” Knopp said in a statement. He did not respond to inquiries from OPB.
Kotek announced her business prosperity initiative in early December, on the eve of announcing her reelection bid.
The effort includes a 16-member “prosperity council,” tasked with recommending public policy changes that can make it easier to build and grow businesses in Oregon, and juice the state’s reputation for business nationwide. Kotek announced members of that council last week. It will meet in private.
A recent study from CNBC ranked Oregon 39th in the country in terms of overall business environment — far lower than the state’s showing in previous years. Kotek said she want’s to get the Beaver State into the top 10.
In his new role, Knopp will work alongside the prosperity council, but also look for actions the governor can take on her own to assist businesses.
Kotek’s selection has drawn widespread surprise in business circles this week, with some privately expressing skepticism at the choice. Knopp doesn’t have an extensive background in economic development.
Outward signs suggest Kotek struggled to fill the prosperity officer role. The governor initially pledged to announce a hire by New Year’s Day, but four members of the state’s business lobby told OPB inquiries to several possible candidates were not successful. A spokeswoman for Kotek declined to comment on who the governor sought for the job. (SOURCE)
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek is advocating for the implementation ofchip-enabled EBT cards for SNAP.
Skimming devices have been employed to unlawfully obtain card information, and chip-enabled cards are significantly harder to replicate. Two months prior, Kotek announced a hunger emergency following the cessation of federal SNAP benefits. Kotek asserts that the suspension of benefits compelled state agencies to collaborate with local and tribal governments, food banks, and community providers, which contributed to bridging existing gaps.
Implementing Trump’s tax law to cost Oregon $114 million in SNAP investments
Lawmakers met at Oregon Capitol ahead of the 2026 legislative short session
The Oregon Department of Human Services says it needs $114.6 million from the state’s general fund to fill gaps in its 2025-27 budget because of cuts and other changes to federal food assistance.
The long-awaited funding request comes after Oregon lawmakers in 2025 set a two-year budget days before President Donald Trump signed a major tax and spending law in July that drastically changed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, by adding work requirements, limiting benefits for noncitizens, creating more eligibility checks for people enrolled in the program and increasing the administrative cost burden for states.
The timing left lawmakers scrambling to respond to unforeseen budget changes affecting the one in six Oregonians who rely on SNAP.
The department’s funding request has support from Gov. Tina Kotek, who on Tuesday reflected on the results of her 60-day food emergency during the government shutdown that left thousands of Oregonians without access to their SNAP benefits. She directed $5 million to Oregon’s statewide food bank network and $1 million to the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon. The state received a $6 million match from Oregon Disaster Funders Network.
“We acted quickly to help get emergency food to families, restore SNAP benefits as soon as the courts allowed, and support the community organizations that step up every day to feed people,” Kotek said in a statement. “That leadership saved lives — and it sets the standard for how Oregon will continue to respond.”
Despite the state’s quick response to the disruption of benefits, Oregonians are already seeing the impacts of the new federal law.
“We have households who saw reduced benefits because of changes in utility cost calculations, legal asylees and certain refugee populations lost SNAP eligibility entirely and work requirements expanded from six counties to all 36 counties across the state — increasing verification compliance demands on both clients and the state,” said Nate Singer, the agency’s eligibility program director.
Singer, alongside other Oregon Department of Human Services staff, gave lawmakers a breakdown of what federal SNAP changes may cost Oregon ahead of the 2026 legislative short session.
Oregon now has to split SNAP benefit costs with feds
The agency is requesting $39 million for the 2025-27 budget cycle to invest in improving the state’s SNAP payment error rate.
SNAP benefits previously were 100% federally funded, but the new law requires any state with a SNAP payment error rate above 6% to pay between 5% and 15% of benefit costs beginning October 2027. Oregon’s error rate in 2024 was 14%, and it’s mostly because of people not reporting their incomes on time and receiving either too much or too little in benefits, Singer said.
The agency has consulted with states with low error rates and experts to make a plan to lower its own and minimize its financial liability, Oregon Department of Human Services Deputy Director Dana Hittle told lawmakers.
“The resulting plan focuses on the operational basics, such as call center performance management of teams, improving training for staff and communications to clients, as well as integration of artificial intelligence and other technology solutions to streamline and improve processes,” Hittle said.
It would need an estimated $450 million in the 2027-29 budget if the state’s error rate doesn’t improve.
Administrative cost sharing
The agency is requesting $54 million to cover the increase in SNAP administrative costs the state must pay from 50% to 75% beginning October 2026. This amount is meant to cover the change in the 2025-27 budget cycle.
The agency is requesting $142 million for the 2027-29 budget cycle.
“This means a significant increase in general fund obligations just to maintain core operations for us,” Singer said. “These are your eligibility, workers that process and do hearings, call centers, customer supports, our vendor contracts, system maintenance — all these areas shift the cost from the federal government to the states significantly
Investing in SNAP card security
To address increasing reports in electronic benefit transfer SNAP cards, the state will seek $7.1 million from the general fund to support transitioning SNAP cards to chip-enabled cards to strengthen security against skimming and fraud.
There’s been more than 10,600 instances of validated theft of benefits worth $4.1 million since 2023, according to the agency.
“At its core, this budget request is about helping Oregonians meet their basic needs, food on the table and access to health care and services,” Hittle said. (SOURCE)
Klamath County teachers ratified what leaders are calling their best contract in decades, winning some measures that teachers in the district have been fighting to achieve for more than 20 years.
As county teachers celebrated their victory Monday evening at Henley Elementary School, they said that the win came in the eleventh hour — and that the movement from their district puts more heat on Klamath Falls City Schools going forward.
“We won our strongest contract with the best raises in 20 years by staying united until the end and refusing to give up on the belief that we could secure a contract that would address turnover in our District,” said PJ Gonyaw, a fifth grade teacher at Klamath County Public Schools and co-president of the Klamath County Education Association. “We were stuck on finances up until 20 minutes before the end of our final session, when we finally got the good news that our District had stepped up and decided they do value us and were going to figure it out.”
“This victory shows that educators should stick to their convictions — and that districts that respect us will pay us like they do,” said Jen Todd, a middle school ELA teacher in Klamath County Public Schools and co-president of the Klamath County Education Association. “Budgets reveal priorities. We hope that Klamath Falls City Schools follows the example that Klamath County Schools just set and finally makes movement to offer their educators more than poverty wages. If they don’t, they’ll quickly lose their educators to other Districts that do value them.”
One of the largest non-economic victories was securing comp time for elementary teachers, who sometimes have to take on an entire second class when substitutes aren’t available — something for which they have fought for more than 10 years.
The Oregon Education Association noted, “Klamath Falls City Schools, a separate district but one that watches moves by the County school district closely, pays their lowest paid educators poverty wages under $16 an hour. Classified educators there earning poverty pay demanded mediation shortly before the holidays, after Klamath Falls City Schools cancelled Christmas for their employees by refusing to settle a contract with living wages.”
Klamath County educators and Klamath Falls City Schools educators have bargained in close coordination throughout their negotiations, including using the same expert bargainer, Del Mallory.
“This is an instance of two districts in the same community that both insisted for nearly a year that they cannot budge on their financials — yet Klamath County did anyway, and revealed once again that ‘will’ and ‘won’t’ are simply a matter of values and political will,” said Del Mallory with the Oregon Education Association, who has helped lead financial analysis for both districts.
“The financial reality is that Klamath Falls City Schools gave tens of thousands of dollars to their highest paid non-classroom administrators just weeks ago. Their refusal to pay living wages to their lowest paid employees is a values issue, not a budget issue. They could settle this in their first day of mediation if they made the organizational choice to value their lowest paid employees.”
Southern Oregon PBS has announced that it will persist in its operations despite significant transformations occurring in public broadcasting across the nation, following the recent decision by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to dissolve after Congress removed all of its federal funding.
Last summer, Congress sanctioned a rescissions package that retracted approximately $1.1 billion in funding that had been previously designated for PBS and NPR via CPB.
At that time, Southern Oregon PBS CEO Phil Meyer cautioned that these cuts would lead to “drastic changes,” highlighting that CPB funding constituted around 37% of the station’s yearly budget. Currently, Meyer indicates that these changes are already in progress — but not in the manner that many had anticipated.
Consequently, Southern Oregon PBS has successfully avoided layoffs and service reductions that have affected various public media stations in other parts of the country.
Meyer notes that viewer contributions now represent approximately 88% of the station’s financial resources.
DNA testing identifies remains found on Washington beach as former Oregon mayor
Advanced genetic testing helped to close a 20-year-old cold case after the body was discovered.
Human remains that washed up on a beach in Taholah, Washington in 2006 have been identified as former Oregon mayor, Clarence Edwin “Ed” Asher.
Asher was a long-time resident of Fossil, Oregon, who previously served as the town’s mayor. He was declared dead in September, 2006 — presumed to have drowned in Tillamook Bay during a crabbing trip.
When Asher’s remains were discovered in November, investigators were only able to identify him as an adult man, according to a report from the crowd-funded DNASolves database. Eventually, Asher’s remains were recorded as the Grays Harbor County John Doe.
In 2025, the Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office and the King County Medical Examiner sent their evidence to Othram Inc., a private lab specializing in genome sequencing. Othram compared the DNA sample to others in hopes of finding possible relatives, eventually locating a potential family member.
A DNA sample from that relative matched up with the DNA profile that Othram got from Asher’s remains, conclusively identifying who he was.
“Critical funding to enable forensic genetic genealogy testing in this case was made possible by Governor Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, and the Washington State Legislature. We are so grateful for their support in providing this funding,” DNASolves wrote. Asher’s identification is reportedly the 43rd case in Washington that Othram has helped with. (SOURCE)
Oregon Health Authority seeks new members for Oversight and Accountability Council
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is seeking applicants to serve on the Oversight and Accountability Council (OAC), a Council established by Ballot Measure 110 in 2020. The OAC is a public body of the state of Oregon that advises the Oregon Health Authority on the grant program described in ORS 430.389
Members of the OAC serve four-year terms. Members may be eligible for a stipend to compensate them for their time engaged official duties of the OAC. OHA is seeking new members in the categories described below:
- An academic researcher specializing in drug use or drug policy
- A representative of a coordinated care organization
To apply, submit an application here by 11:59 pm, January 30, 2026.
A team at OHA will review applications and inform applicants of appointments by Feb 13, 2026.
For questions or more information, email HRN@OHA.oregon.gov” style=”color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;”>BHRN@OHA.oregon.gov or contact Karli Moon at li.moon@oha.oregon.gov” style=”color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;”>Karli.moon@oha.oregon.gov or 971-240-8690.
Oregon Attorney General Files Lawsuit Over Insulin Price Gouging
In a bold move to combat the exorbitant costs of insulin, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has launched a lawsuit seeking a hefty $900 million in damages. The defendants, a trifecta of the largest insulin manufacturers—Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Eli Lilly—and a trio of influential pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—Express Scripts, CVS Caremark, and Optum, stand accused of conspiring to inflate the prices of this life-saving medication. According to a statement from the Oregon Department of Justice (ODOJ), this lawsuit is a significant step toward alleviating the financial burden imposed on Oregon patients and families.
Filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, the lawsuit unfolds a narrative of alleged collusion where insulin manufacturers and PBMs have caused prices to surge, in order to ensure PBMs’ formularies included their products. “This is about more than insulin prices – it’s about the crushing cost pressures families are facing and the very real harm that comes when corporations exploit people who have no choice but to pay,” Attorney General Rayfield mentioned on ODOJ. Allegations suggest that to secure favorable formulary positions, drug makers raised list prices and compensated PBMs with significant rebates and fees, which turned inflated prices into mutual benefits.
Furthermore, the complaint alleges that the defendants acted intentionally to exclude more affordable insulin alternatives from formulary lists. By doing so, they essentially trapped consumers in an ecosystem of high-cost medications, pushing aside any opportunity for patients to seek out cost-effective options. This duplicitous conduct has led to insured and low-income Oregonians struggling, having to resort to risky measures like rationing insulin, using expired products, or even skipping meals for blood sugar management.
The lawsuit also sheds light on the ODOJ’s ongoing efforts to unravel and rectify the web of complexities behind prescription drug costs. As the pioneers of a healthcare renaissance struggle to make medications affordable, Attorney General Rayfield has given a face to a crusade to bring justice and generate wide-reaching impacts on how prescription drugs are priced and sold. “We are working to bring the cost of prescription drugs down for working families, using the tools we have to hold these powerful companies accountable. Oregonians can expect more action in the near future,” Rayfield declared on the ODOJ Website, signifying a promise of more actions soon to unfold in this ongoing regulatory saga.
This landmark lawsuit is grounded on alleged breaches of Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act. It aims not just to penalize those behind the inflation of drug prices but also seeks restitution for affected consumers, the forfeiture of illicit profits, and extensive damages. Oregonians burdened by the soaring cost of insulin could see a pivotal turn if the court sides with the state and demands an end to the alleged scheme that has for too long preyed on their pockets and well-being. (SOURCE)
OPRD seeks public input on proposed rules for UAS use in Oregon State Parks
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking public feedback on proposed rules governing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) takeoff and landing in Oregon’s state parks and along the ocean shore.
The proposed rules establish where and how UAS may take off and land on state park property, to balance recreational opportunities with protection of natural, cultural, scenic and recreational resources.
Public comments on the proposed rule changes will be accepted beginning January 1, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. and can be submitted:
- Online:
- By email:
- By mail:
- Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
Attn: Robert Ellison
725 Summer St. NE, Suite C
Salem, OR 97301
- Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
A public hearing will be held to allow members of the public to provide testimony.
- Virtual hearing
January 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_X3ChSlJkTE-Y3FRh3WIy-Q
The draft rules focus on regulating takeoff and landing locations, which are within the department’s authority, while recognizing that UAS flight is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Under the proposal, UAS use would generally be limited to designated areas for drone operations, with additional requirements for commercial or research purposes.
The proposed rules were developed in response to Senate Bill 109 (2021), which directed OPRD to create a regulatory framework that provides recreational UAS access while protecting sensitive park resources and minimizing conflicts with other visitors.
OPRD convened a Rule Advisory Committee made up of recreation user groups, conservation organizations, natural resource specialists, commercial operators and other stakeholders. The committee reviewed draft rules and provided recommendations that helped shape the proposal now open for public comment.
Once the public comment period closes, OPRD staff will review all feedback, revise the draft rules as appropriate, and present a final proposal to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission for consideration later in 2026.
If adopted, the rules would be implemented in phases, allowing the department to adapt management strategies over time, based on resource conditions, visitor use and operational experience.
For over 30 years the Yachats Lions Club has held an annual Crab Feed event in Yachats, Oregon. The annual trek to Yachats to eat Dungeness crab is a tradition for families and groups from across Oregon, Washington and beyond.
Our annual Yachats Lions Club Crab Feed is DINE-IN on Saturday, January 31, 2026! After selling out in 2025, the 2026 Crab Feed will now offer 4 seatings, 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm at the Yachats Lions Hall and 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm at the Yachats Commons.
Meals purchased will consist of “All you can eat Dungeness crab“, fresh locally baked bread, coleslaw, baked beans, and soda for $50.
Crab Feed 2026 Tickets – All You Can Eat
The $50 per person meal tickets are available for sale online at https://yachatslionsclub.org/ You can select the seating and order as many meals as you like. For more information please send an email to YachatsLionsCrabFeed@gmail.com.
Lion David O’Kelley, coordinator of the popular Crab Feed, says “We are very pleased to be offering the fund-raiser as we have done for so many years.” We get great support from the community and local businesses in Yachats, Waldport and Newport. South Beach Fish Market cooks and cleans the best tasting local crab you have ever eaten.
With our motto of “WE SERVE” among the many services we provide eyeglasses and exams, hearing aids and exams, eye screening in Lincoln County schools, pancake breakfasts, crab feed, lunch bunch, speaker series, peace poster and flag day events in our schools, and ommunity use of our clubhouse. Through community donations to the Yachats Lions Thrift Store our sales allow us to donate to local, student scholarships, food pantries, school programs, projects, and upkeep of the clubhouse.
In addition, donations are made to Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing as well as Lions Club International Foundation. Lions Club International is the world’s largest service club organization with a network of 1.4 million men and women in more than 200 countries and geographical locations. We serve where we live, as well as globally, and we have fun doing it.
The proceeds for this fund-raising event are for Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation.
The Oregon DMV has now implemented a local preference system for rural customers who are scheduling behind-the-wheel drive tests for Class C driver licenses, which is the standard license for passenger vehicles.
Becoming effective on January 1st, Senate Bill 9 mandates that DMV field offices located in 20 rural counties prioritize applicants who either reside within the same county, are within 50 miles of a DMV field office, or live in one of the two counties that do not have a DMV office.
This legislation benefits customers residing in Baker, Clatsop, Crook, Curry, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler counties. It is important to note that the DMV does not conduct drive tests in Gilliam, Morrow, Sherman, or Wheeler counties.
Customers from these counties have the option to schedule a local-preference drive test at any rural DMV office that provides this service.
Raise Funds to Plant Trees in Oregon
Registration is open for the Bob Ross-inspired Happy Little (Virtual) 5K
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 1st 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 18 and 26 (covering Earth Day and Arbor Day). Participants are encouraged to register by April 1 to ensure that your swag arrives before the event week. Last year, we had to close registration early due to higher than anticipated participation, so register as soon as possible. If you register after April 1, you may not receive your swag before race week. Registration will close on April 15, or earlier if more participants sign up than we have available swag.
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’s tree plantings will be placed 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 sixth year, the Happy Little 5K has expanded its reach to include fifteen other states. Together, all sixteen states will help raise awareness and funding for stewardship efforts in each state’s parks.
“We are thrilled to honor Bob Ross and continue our efforts to plant at least One Million Trees in Oregon.” said Seth Miller, Executive Director of Oregon Parks Forever. “To date, we have funded the planting of 850,000 trees.”
“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.”
Participants can register at www.orparksforever.org.
For more information, contact Seth Miller at 503/966-1053 or seth@orparksforever.org
The Oregon Department of Revenue will open the application period in January 2026 for the Agricultural Employer Overtime Tax Credit.
Paying overtime to agricultural workers became a requirement of employers in Oregon as of January 1, 2023. In 2025, agricultural workers are paid overtime after they work 48 hours in one work week. If an employer paid overtime, they may qualify for a refundable personal or corporate income tax credit, regardless of the size of the business.
The tax credit for employers is a percentage of overtime premium pay paid as wages.
All applications must be submitted no later than February 2, 2026.
The 2025 filing period marks the third year since eligible employers have been able to apply for the tax credit.
Applications can only be made through the department’s Revenue Online website. Qualifying agricultural employers who have not applied for the tax credit previously need a Revenue Online account to apply during the application period. No paper applications will be accepted. We have published a new video to help customers with their Revenue Online applications.
DOR encourages employers to prepare in advance to ensure an easier and faster filing experience. DOR’s webpage provides guidance for how to apply, documentation you may need, program information, and frequently asked questions to help employers apply for the tax credit.
For general questions about the Agricultural Employer Overtime Tax Credit, email: Ag.Overtime@dor.oregon.gov.
Tax practitioners with other tax or customer account questions are encouraged to contact a dedicated practitioner specialist by email at prac.revenue@dor.oregon.gov, or by phone at 503-947-3541.
NW Natural Warms Up Winter with “Fireside Friends” Pet Photo Contest
Customers are invited to share photos of their pets for a chance to win a prize; NW Natural is also supporting The Pongo Fund
NW Natural is inviting customers to warm up this winter and celebrate their pets with the launch of the Fireside Friends Sweepstakes. The contest offers the chance to win a prize while also supporting a local charity.
Running now through February 1, 2026, the sweepstakes welcomes customers to share photos of their furry friends enjoying the warmth and comfort of a natural gas fireplace for the chance to win a $200 Chewy gift card.
NW Natural has also pledged a $1,000 donation to The Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank, which helps support people and their pets throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.
How to Enter:
NW Natural customers can enter the sweepstakes via social media in two simple steps:
- Follow @nwnaturalgas on Instagram or Facebook. (Media can find some of the wonderful pet photos that have already been posted by customers on both platforms!)
- Post a photo of their pet(s) cozying up by their natural gas fireplace and tag @nwnaturalgas or use the hashtag #nwnaturalgas.
The contest is open now and entries will be accepted until February 1, 2026. For full terms and conditions visit nwnatural.com/FiresideFriends
About NW Natural
NW Natural is a local distribution company that currently provides service to approximately 2 million people in more than 140 communities through approximately 806,000 meters in Oregon and Southwest Washington with one of the most modern pipeline systems in the nation. NW Natural owns and operates 21.6 Bcf of underground gas storage capacity in Oregon. It is the largest natural gas utility in Oregon and one of the state’s oldest companies.
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.
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
