The latest news stories and stories of interest in the Willamette Valley from the digital home of Southern Oregon, from Wynne Broadcasting’s WillametteValleyMagazine.com
Friday, April 24, 2024
Willamette Valley Weather
Lane County Sheriff’s Office Update on Recent Tragic Cases in Lane County including LCSO cases 24-2102 (Assist OSP on Amber Alert), 24-2110 (Hwy. 36 Homicide), and 24-2113 (Cinnamon Ave. Homicide).
LCSO Case #24-2110 – Death Investigation – Suspect arrested for murder in California
UPDATE – Suspect arrested for murder in California
Early this morning, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office was advised by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office in California that they arrested Kelley on our warrant for Murder in the Second Degree. He was arrested without incident and the involved vehicle was recovered. Kelley is being held pending extradition to Oregon.
We would like to thank the Oregon State Police, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, and many other partners who assisted on this case.
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On April 24th 2024, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a deceased adult female at a residence in the 28000 block of Hwy. 36 south of Junction City. Upon arrival, investigators observed the deceased had suspicious injuries that may have contributed to her death.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is looking for 49-year-old John Jay Kelley of Eugene. He is considered a person of interest at this time. Kelley is described as a white male adult with brown hair, green eyes, weighing approximately 220 pounds and standing approximately 5’08” tall. Kelley is possibly driving a silver 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV bearing Oregon license plate #532PMQ.
Kelley is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone aware of his whereabouts is asked to call 911 and avoid approaching or contacting him. The vehicle depicted is similar in make and model but not the actual vehicle driven by the person of interest in this case
4/24/24 – LCSO Case #24-2113 – Deputies and Eugene Police SWAT respond to dispute with shots fired
UPDATE 4/24/24 – Suspect lodged on manslaughter, assault charges
The female victim in this case passed away from her injuries. Her identity is being withheld at this time. Our deepest condolences go out to the victim’s family and friends.
Detectives identified the suspect as Izyk Paul Bartlett, 20, of Eugene. He was lodged in the Lane County Jail this evening on charges of Manslaughter in the First Degree, Assault in the Second Degree, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The investigation is ongoing.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Eugene Police Department, Coburg Police Department, Junction City Police Department, and Oregon State Police for their assistance on this case.
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On April 24th at about 3 p.m., deputies responded to reports of a dispute with shots fired in the 1000 block of Cinnamon Avenue, Eugene. Eugene Police officers in the area responded with Lane County Sheriff’s Deputies. A female was located at that scene with a gunshot wound. Investigators were quickly able to determine the identity of the suspect and located his vehicle in the 1000 block of Abbie Lane. Eugene Police SWAT responded and assisted in apprehending the suspect. All involved have been accounted for and there is no known continuing threat to the public related to this event. More information will be released as the investigation continues.
Search for AMBER Alert Murder Suspect from Washington Ends on I-5 North of Eugene
BREAKING NEWS: Authorities say a former police officer wanted for kidnapping his son after allegedly killing two people in Washington state yesterday has shot himself after a police chase ended on I-5 north of Eugene near the Coburg Road exit on Tuesday afternoon. All lanes of I-5 South just north of Eugene closed on Tuesday afternoon, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced.
ODOT said that the highway was closed at milepost 196 due to police activity. Officials encourage using an alternate route. Interstate 5 is blocked due to the large police response for a high-speed chase just north of Eugene related to an Amber Alert from Washington. Amber Alerts went out Monday night for the suspect.
In a press conference Tuesday evening, Oregon State Police said that a trooper parked along Interstate 5 just north of Eugene spotted Huizar’s car around 2:50 p.m. The trooper tried to stop Huizar, but he sped away. Another trooper joined the chase, which was interrupted when Huizar crashed into another vehicle and lost control.
Numerous law enforcement officers responded to the scene. The suspect reportedly crashed near Milepost 197 near Armitage Park. Police said shots were fired during the chase. Oregon State Police confirmed the driver, Elias Huizar, 39, shot himself in the head at the end of the pursuit.
Troopers and Huizar exchanged gunfire before Huizar again fled south, OSP said; there are no injuries reported from the exchange of gunfire.
South of Coburg, Huizar crashed into a commercial vehicle that had been stopped for another crash. Huizar’s vehicle spun into the median, OSP said, rendering it immobile. Troopers found Huizar dead from a gunshot wound to the head, and 1-year-old Roman unharmed.
His 1-year-old son is safe in police custody, while the suspect had killed himself, according to authorities. I-5 is severely backed up in both directions due to the police response, but one lane is open now.This is a developing story and we’ll bring you more details as we know them.
RELATED: Officials searching for former Yakima cop suspected of double homicide, child abductionHuizar is suspected of shooting and killing his ex-wife on Monday outside an elementary school in West Richland, about 3 1/2 hours outside Portland in the Tri-Cities area. The shooting happened just before 3:30 p.m. outside William Wiley Elementary, according to WRPD.
Police then served a search warrant at Huizar’s home and found the body of a second victim, WRPD said. The woman has not been publicly identified, but she was believed to be Huizar’s girlfriend.
OSP Statement regarding AMBER Alert suspect from Washington
Oregon State Police – 04/23/24 6:48 PM Amber Alert Press Conference: https://www.facebook.com/OSPsocial/videos/1916328708798968
UPDATE: Benton County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Possible Fatal Hit and Run
By fingerprints, BCSO detectives identified the female as Deborah Rosemary Haikkila, of Albany; she had not been reported missing.
BCSO asks the community to continue to call in tips on black Toyota Corolla Cross and similar vehicles with damage to the front passenger side to 541-753-8477.
April 25 @ 11:11 am
CORVALLIS, Ore. – BCSO investigators have identified the victim in this recent incident. The 29-year-old female’s name is being withheld pending contact of next of kin.
Investigators are seeking information on a newer model black Toyota Corolla Cross that may have been involved. The vehicle should have recent front-end passenger-side damage.
Please call 541-753-8477 or email entonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov“>BentonCoSheriff@bentoncountyor.gov if you have information that may lead detectives to the driver.
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April 24, 2024 @ 7:50 pm
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is currently investigating a possible hit and run involving a deceased unidentified female estimated to be between 20-40 years old.
The involved vehicle is currently unknown but could be a black Toyota, unknown model, with potential damage to the front passenger side.
The incident occurred on Highway 20 near Hyak Park, between Albany and Corvallis.
At about 3:00 p.m. today, law enforcement was notified of the deceased female by a local farmer. Investigators believe the incident took place sometime within the last couple of days.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact BCSO at 541-766-6858 or call their tip line at 541-753-8477(TIPS) to remain anonymous. Further details will be provided as they become available.
PacificSource Community Solutions Extends $4 Million Loan to Lane County’s Homes For Good to Support Preconstruction of Affordable Housing
—PacificSource Community Solutions, part of the PacificSource family of companies that provides Medicaid services, has provided a $4 million low-interest loan to help Homes for Good Housing Agency increase the production of affordable housing across Lane County. The funding, sourced from PacificSource’s Lane County Coordinated Care Organization’s reserves, will support a wide array of pre-construction actions, including land acquisition, design services, cost estimating, and environmental reviews.
The loan terms include a low interest rate of 0.33%, to be repaid annually. This loan coupled with other Homes for Good funds that are dedicated to housing production will increase Homes for Good’s capacity to deliver affordable housing production to address the housing crisis in Lane County.
“This transformational loan is the result of a dynamic partnership between Homes for Good and PacificSource Community Solutions to address health disparities experienced by low-income Lane County residents by building more affordable housing. Access to flexible pre-development funding is crucial to increasing housing production in our community,” said Homes for Good Executive Director Jacob Fox.
PacificSource Community Solutions has been working closely with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) over the past several years on a plan to allow Coordinated Care Organizations to utilize cash reserves and execute a loan with a local housing entity to support housing efforts.
“OHA is proud to be part of this first-of-its-kind local partnership utilizing Medicaid reserves to support more affordable housing to people in Lane County and lift up the work that Homes for Good is doing,” said Dave Baden, deputy director for programs and policy. “Looking for ways to support local efforts through flexible policy and investing in health-related social needs like housing is vital to improving health outcomes in Oregon.”
“We extend our gratitude to the OHA for their instrumental role in facilitating this loan program, a pivotal initiative aligning with our overarching mission to enhance the well-being of our communities. Housing stands as a cornerstone of this endeavor, and their support underscores its critical importance in fostering thriving, resilient communities,” said Erin Fair Taylor PacificSource’s vice president of Medicaid plans. “Most importantly, these funds will help address social determinants of health needs for the community, provide housing security for low-income residents, and target housing development in areas with access to jobs, schools, health care, and transportation.”
About PacificSource Community Solutions: PacificSource Community Solutions is part of the PacificSource family of companies that provides Medicaid services to Central Oregon and the Columbia Gorge, as well as Lane, Marion, and Polk Counties.
Founded in 1933, PacificSource Health Plans is an independent, not-for-profit community health plan serving the Northwest. PacificSource has staff that live and work locally to serve our members throughout Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington. The PacificSource family of companies employs more than 1,900 people and serves over 600,000 individuals throughout the Greater Northwest. For more information, visit PacificSource.com.
About Homes for Good: Homes for Good is Lane County’s housing agency and our primary work is to help low-income residents with the logistics of affordable housing. At a higher level, we are neighbors united to get every Lane County resident who needs help, into a home. For more information visit HomesforGood.org.
Two Transported From River Rd Crash
Eugene Springfield Fire responded to a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of River Rd and Ruby Ave in North Eugene Thursday night. Two people were transported to the an area hospital with serious injuries. Expect delays for investigation and clean up.
Lebanon firefighters respond to house fire
Members of the Lebanon Fire District responded Wednesday evening to a reported house fire in the 100 block of Taylor Street.
Initial dispatch report was fire coming from vents in the kitchen. The Incident Commander arrived to find smoke coming from the residence. After preforming a walk around of building the IC declared an offensive attacked and ordered the first arriving engine to pull an attack line through front door and begin suppression efforts.
Once initial crews made their way through the structure, it was determined that the fire was coming from underneath the house. After making access underneath the house in the rear of the structure, firefighters quickly extinguished the fire.
The investigation found the cause of the fire undetermined. The Lebanon Fire District responded with 18 personnel on 4 Engines, 2 ALS medic units, 1 Ladder Truck, 1 Heavy Rescue and 3 Chief officers. The district was assisted by 4 patrol officers by Lebanon Police Department.
The Lebanon Fire District would like to remind the community of the importance of working smoke alarms and having a plan of escape in the case of a fire.
CAHOOTS and HOOTS Workers Rally for Wage Increase and Other Contract Issues
It has been more than a year since White Bird Clinic and its unionized crisis workers began negotiations and they still haven’t reached an agreement on a new contract.
CAHOOTS and HOOTS workers held a rally in downtown Eugene Frida calling for better pay and a speedy resolution at the bargaining table. They said their programs are losing staff and having trouble replacing them.
“Our wages are no longer competitive. They are no longer in line with industry standards,” said crisis worker Ashley Cakebread. “As a result, we are struggling to provide the high quality services that we want to offer to the community.”
The starting rate for CAHOOTS and HOOTS is $18 per hour, according to the workers. They say this has been stagnant since 2018, even as inflation has pushed up the cost of living in Eugene.
Crisis worker Berkley Carnine said some staff members have been forced to leave for better paying jobs, despite going through hundreds of hours of training with CAHOOTS.
“It’s incredible the amount of energy we put in, and skills that people develop,” said Carnine, “and then they can’t stay because they can’t afford to live in this town, pay all their bills, and work this job.”
With the resulting staffing shortages, crisis worker Chelsea Swift said it’s often impossible for remaining workers to take time off, even directly after they’ve experienced a traumatic event on the job.
The programs’ workers voted to join the Teamsters Local 206 in 2022. Collective bargaining on this contract began over 13 months ago.
“[The process] being so slow and drawn out has been demoralizing, and it feels we’re supposed to give up on some things that just get across the finish line,” Carnine told KLCC at Friday’s rally. “We’re here to say, no, we’re holding true to what we know we need.”
The workers’ bargaining unit is seeking a starting wage of $25 per hour. Swift said this would reflect the pay of Community Resource Officers, who have similar duties.
Right now, Cakebread said she’s making $19.31 per hour, despite working at White Bird for nearly ten years and helping to found the HOOTS program.
“I have been waiting for a wage increase for six years,” said Cakebread. “I would really like to know that my work is valued, that my experience is valued, that the 60 to 80 hour weeks that I have put into White Bird matter.”
Additionally, the workers are asking for assurance that CAHOOTS vans will be adequately staffed in the future, and are also seeking more worker benefits.
“We want to provide high quality, consistent services. We want to be there when you call, and we want to be there quickly,” said Cakebread. “And in order to do that, we need to be supported by our leadership.”
White Bird Clinic responded to KLCC with an emailed statement attributed to Executive Director Jeremy Gates. In it, Gates said leadership will continue to negotiate in good faith, and is confident about reaching a deal.
“The bargaining process requires us to keep much of the details at the table rather than in the public, but it’s important to note that we fully support our employees’ right to organize and negotiate,” wrote Gates. “Union organizing can be a catalyst for positive change.” (SOURCE)
Support CAHOOTS and HOOTS Workers Win a Fair First Contract NOW — PETITION
Did you know the $18/hr starting wage for CAHOOTS and HOOTS workers hasn’t changed since 2018? Sign this letter of support to help CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On the Streets) and HOOTS (Helping Out Our Teens in Schools) unionized workers win their first fair union contract with White Bird Clinic.
CAHOOTS medics and crisis workers have been proudly supporting their fellow community members on the streets and in the houses, schools, businesses, shelters, hospitals and healthcare offices of every neighborhood in Eugene since 1989. CAHOOTS later expanded service into Springfield in 2015 and soon founded its sister program HOOTS in 2017. These programs provide free crisis intervention, mental health and medical aid to whoever is in need (for CAHOOTS that’s an average of 20,000+ calls a year; HOOTS provides 28 clinics in 12 high schools).
Today, their workers need your support. Show your commitment to sustaining workers and protecting the integrity of the CAHOOTS model that has been called “the gold standard”* for alternative response models nationally. Sign here to ensure crisis workers and medics who are dedicating their lives towards helping others win a living wage. Learn more about our campaign
https://www.change.org/p/support-cahoots-and-hoots-workers-win-a-fair-first-contract-now
Lane County mowers are gearing up and need roadsides clear of obstructions, including signs
Drivers on rural County-maintained roads will see mowers clearing the road rights-of-way of grass and brush beginning this month.
“Mowing helps us reduce fire danger and make sure that drivers have clear lines of sight on County roads,” said Chad McBride, Lane County vegetation supervisor. “It’s really helpful when people keep things like fences and signs out of the right-of-way. They slow us down, damage our equipment, generate complaints about the cluttered landscape, and don’t belong there in the first place.”
In the coming weeks, County staff will remove any signs in the rights-of-way in preparation for mowing.
“During big election years, the number of signs placed illegally alongside roads explodes and it makes it more difficult to mow roadsides efficiently,” said McBride. “This year, we’ll do a sweep ahead of the mowers to remove signs.”
Property owners can help prepare by ensuring they have not placed anything in the mower’s path in the road right-of-way.
- Political and other signs. No political signs, business signs or other types of signs belong in the road right-of-way. Signs may be removed and stored for 30 days at Lane County Public Works before being destroyed. Signs placed near a rural road must be on private property and behind any utility facilities (poles, closures, etc.) or sidewalks.
- Rocks. Rocks over 3 inches in diameter and other fixed objects must be removed from the right-of-way.
- Fencing. Derelict fencing can be both a hazard and a high-cost obstacle for mowers. Fencing that has fallen into the road right-of-way can become entangled in the equipment, or can make it impossible to clear the affected area of grass and brush.
- Ornamental vegetation or other plantings. Plants in the right-of-way, especially those that grow large and aggressively, will be removed. Plants in the right-of-way will be mown to the lowest level practical in order to provide the longest-lasting effect.
By keeping items out of the right-of-way, residents can avoid unnecessary expense and hassle, save taxpayer money by saving Public Works personnel from having to remove signs and other items, and help protect neighbors and visitors from accidents.
In rural areas, the road right-of-way is typically from the pavement to the fence or private property line (anywhere the maintenance vehicles would drive). In the unincorporated parts of Eugene or Springfield, the right-of-way is the planting area between the sidewalk and curb.
Drivers are allowed to pass the mowers on the left when it is safe to do so but oncoming traffic takes precedence.
Road Construction: Green Hill Road
| Road Name: | Green Hill Road |
| Location: | Green Hill Road Bridge – #039C51 (South of Barger Drive over Amazon Creek) |
| Begin Construction: | Milepost 3 |
| End Construction: | Milepost 3.5 |
| Dates and times: | 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, April 11 to June 30, 2024 |
| Reason for construction: | Bridge rail repairs. There will be one lane closure and traffic will be controlled by flaggers. |
| Alternate routes: | Royal Avenue, Barger Drive, and Bodenhamer Road |
Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue now recruiting youth volunteers!
We are looking for teens 14 and up (by June 1st) who have positive attitudes and want to serve their community. Volunteers must be willing to respond any time day or night, often in bad weather and extreme conditions. Teens who attend our SAR academy will become Oregon State SAR Certified, and receive training in medical care, orienteering, outdoor survival, and other important skills.
Learn more at our open house on Tuesday, April 9th at 6:00 p.m. in Harris Hall, 125 E 8th Ave., Eugene. We will hold an additional open house on April 25th as well. Questions? Need more info? Email our team at LCSOsar@lanecountyor.gov.
April 30th is the deadline for people registering to vote in Oregon for the first time or for those who wish to change party affiliation.
The upcoming May 21st election is a closed-party primary election for registered Democrats and Republicans.
That means that Democrats will be voting for Democrat and nonpartisan candidates and measures and Republicans will be voting for Republican and nonpartisan candidates and measures.
Non-affiliated and all other voters will be voting on nonpartisan candidates and measures.
Oregon Online Voter Registration: https://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/registration.aspx?lang=en
One year after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, Oregon among top states keeping people covered
More than one million people are keeping their Oregon Health Plan benefits due to Oregon’s efforts to expand coverage options
SALEM, Ore. — With more than 90 percent of the state’s 1.5 million renewals complete, more than 4 out of 5 Oregonians are keeping their Oregon Health Plan (OHP) or other Medicaid benefits.
During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), which ended one year ago in April 2023, the federal government allowed states to keep people on Medicaid benefits. This ended when the pandemic emergency ended, so over the last year Oregon has been making sure everyone on OHP is still eligible.
At this point in the PHE unwinding process:
- Just 1,078 members, about 0.07 percent, still need to respond to renewal requests 9,573 members, about 0.65 percent, have responded to their renewal but are awaiting state action on the response.
- The remaining renewals, about 8.72 percent of the total, will occur over the summer.
Oregon’s 81.8 percent renewal rate continues to be the third highest in a national comparison of state renewal rates by KFF, a nonpartisan health policy organization. Oregon’s high renewal rates are due to proactive efforts by the state to keep people covered, including extended response timelines, and adding the upcoming OHP Bridge program for adults with higher incomes.
Members who have not received a renewal yet should:
- Keep their address and contact information up to date.
- Check their mail or ONE Online account for their renewal letter.
- Do what the renewal letter asks as soon as possible. Anyone concerned they missed their letter should get help with their renewal via one of the ways to find help listed below.
- Members who did not respond to renewals can still re-open their case three months after it closes if they are still eligible, and they can reapply at any time.
Although most people are keeping coverage, approximately 240,000 people will lose or have reduced medical benefits and need to consider other coverage options.
- People who do not have coverage through an employer or Medicare may be able to enroll through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace and get financial help. Most people who enroll through HealthCare.gov qualify for this help.
- The Marketplace is sending information to people who are no longer eligible for OHP benefits, advising of other potential coverage options.
- People who have recently lost OHP benefits can enroll anytime until November 30, 2024, or within 60 days of their benefits ending.
- For more information and ways to get help signing up for Marketplace, Medicare, or employer coverage, see “What to do if OHP is ending” below.
On Feb. 13, 2024, the federal government approved a revised plan for Oregon’s remaining 126,000 post-pandemic renewals.
Many of these renewals were affected by a federal request for more than 30 states to review automated renewal processes or restorations of some Oregon Supplemental Income Program Medical (OSIPM) benefits. A May 2024 technical update to Oregon’s ONE Eligibility system will enable Oregon to use the new automated process for the remaining renewals.
Renewal letters will be sent to members in four waves between June and September. Members will still have 90 days to respond, and 60 days’ advance notice before any termination or reduction in benefits. This means the final responses would be due in December 2024, and the final closures will happen in February 2025.
Data about pandemic unwinding renewals appears in the Medical Redeterminations Dashboard. The dashboard data and these press releases will not include renewals for OHP members who have already renewed early in the unwinding process, who are coming up for renewal again. Over time, Oregon is switching to renewing most OHP members every two years instead of annually.
April OHP renewal data — As of March 19, 2024, 1,317,810 people have completed the renewal process. This represents 90.6 percent of all OHP and Medicaid members.
- 1,077,765 people (81.8 percent) were renewed and kept their benefits.
- 226,042 people (17.2 percent) were found ineligible.
- 14,003 people (1.1 percent) had a reduction in their benefits. Most of these members lost full OHP but were able to continue Medicare Savings Programs that help pay their Medicare costs.
Find help renewing your benefits
- Learn more about how to renew your Oregon Health Plan medical coverage.
- Call the ONE Customer Service Center at 800-699-9075. All relay calls are accepted, and help is available in multiple languages. Wait times are lowest between 7 and 8 a.m.
- Visit or call a local Oregon Department of Human Services office. People can find their local office at https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/Pages/office-finder.aspx.
- Visit a community partner for free, in-person help. To find one near you visit OregonHealthCare.gov/GetHelp (English) or orhim.info/ayuda(Spanish).
What to do if your OHP is ending:
- First, review the case summary in your letter to make sure the information used to make the decision was correct. If that information has changed, notify the state via one of the options above If the information on file for you is correct and you disagree with the decision, you can request a hearing. Learn more about hearings.
- Explore options through an employer. If you, your spouse, or a parent are working, you may be eligible for health coverage through that employer. Talk to your manager or Human Resources department to see if you qualify. You will have a special enrollment period to enroll mid-year due to loss of OHP benefits.
- If you have or are eligible for Medicare: For help understanding and choosing the right Medicare options, go to https://OregonHealthcare.gov/GetHelp to find an insurance agent or a counselor at the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance Program (SHIBA). You can also call SHIBA at 800-722-4134.
If you need to sign up for Medicare for the first time, contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) at 800-772-1213 to enroll by phone or find a local office. You can also enroll in Medicare online at ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up.
- Nearly 80 percent of Oregonians qualify for financial help through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. Visit OregonHealthCare.gov/WindowShop to answer a few quick questions, find out how much you can save and find out how much coverage may cost you. You can also call the Marketplace Transition Help Center at 833-699-6850 (toll-free, all relay calls accepted).
- Need free local help finding other coverage? Visit OregonHealthCare.gov/GetHelp to find professional help near you.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) are committed to transparency and will continue to send monthly information about medical coverage among Oregonians as the agencies continue to track the programs. Check our ONE Eligibility Operations Dashboards for more frequent updates on medical renewal data and wait times for callers to the ONE Customer Service Center.
Medford Police Turn Over Asante Criminal Investigation Results to District Attorney
The Jackson County District Attorney’s Office says today it has received the results of Medford Police Department’s criminal investigation of allegations of deadly drug diversion at a Medford hospital.
It says this afternoon it received Medford Police Department’s (MPD) results of its investigation into claims that a former Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center (Asante) nurse diverted medication intended for patients, replacing it with hospital tap water that caused deadly in-hospital infections.
The Jackson County District Attorney’s Office (JCDA) says it has MPD’s results which investigated the claims of criminal theft and misuse of controlled substances by the former Asante nurse. MPD has said that Asante administration reported the possible drug diversion in December. In prior online postings, it disclosed that it had experienced serious infections in numerous patients.
MPD’s investigation started in December. JCDA says today it “involved the review of tens of thousands of documents, including medical records, and interviews with dozens of witnesses.”
Chief Deputy District Attorney Patrick Green is reviewing the investigation results.
Green said today, “I would like thank the Medford Police Department for its diligent and meticulous work on this complex and expansive investigation. I want to assure the community that I am working hard to review the results of the investigation expeditiously. If charges are filed, I will remain the lead prosecutor and assign two other senior prosecutors as co-counsel to assist with the prosecution. I share the community’s concern with this case and will ensure it remains a top priority going forward.”
JCDA says, “Given the ongoing nature of this investigation and the possibility of future pending criminal charges, the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office will not be releasing further facts regarding this investigation.”
Asante’s media liaison Abby (has refused to share a last name) told NewsWatch 12 today it “cannot comment on personnel matters” when asked about both the criminal investigation and reports that Asante’s chief executive officer left that position this week.
NewsWatch 12 confirmed that one of at least three Asante CEOs was removed from his position and from the building, escorted by three security personnel, and we’re awaiting a response from MPD about its work on the investigation. Green said he has no further information he can provide. (SOURCE)
EUGENE, Ore.—An Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in a conspiracy to torture, mutilate, and murder monkeys, and then produce and distribute videos of those acts in exchange for money raised by an online animal abuse group.
David Christopher Noble, 48, of Prineville, Oregon, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
“The victims in this case cannot speak for themselves, but the impact of the grotesque violence brought upon them is unmistakable. At the direction of David Noble and his co-conspirators, the producers of these animal abuse videos not only killed monkeys but did so in a way that extended their pain and suffering as long as possible,” said Nathan J. Lichvarcik, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eugene and Medford Branch Offices. “Today’s sentence should make it clear to others engaged in this heinous conduct that they will be held responsible for their crimes.”
“David Noble’s depraved actions not only inflicted unspeakable agony upon innocent creatures but also tainted the very essence of humanity’s moral fiber,” stated Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Under Noble’s direction, the production and distribution of grotesque animal abuse videos represented a dark descent into the abyss of cruelty and exploitation. Today’s sentencing underscores our unwavering commitment to holding individuals like Noble accountable for their reprehensible crimes against compassion and decency.”
According to court documents, from January 2022 through February 2023, Noble conspired with others in the District of Oregon and elsewhere to send multiple online payments to co-conspirators overseas to fund the production of videos depicting the torture, mutilation and murder of monkeys. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Noble administered an online group wherein members would raise funds to produce, discuss ideas for, and share animal abuse videos.
In Noble’s messages to the group, he expressed his enjoyment of videos depicting the torture and murder of long-tailed macaques, which members of the group, including Noble, referred to as “rats.” In one message to the group sent in June 2022, Noble expressed that the only thing he did not like in abuse videos was when the torturers “kill the rats too quickly,” and he further expressed a desire that they “keep it alive make it suffer make sure it knows to fear you and that you end its existence at any time.” In another message, Noble claimed “the noises they make from pain and abuse are some of my favorite sounds.”
In 2006, Noble, a former United States Air Force officer, was dismissed from the Air Force and ordered to serve six months in military custody following a court martial for fraud and an unprofessional relationship. In early February 2023, following the investigation in this case, investigators executed a search warrant on Noble’s residence and found approximately 50 videos depicting animal abuse, along with several firearms and ammunition.
On May 18, 2023, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Noble with conspiring to engage in animal crushing and creating and distributing animal crush videos, creating animal crush videos, and illegally possessing a firearm as a dishonorably discharged person.
After his home was searched, Noble relocated from Prineville to Henderson, Nevada, and, on June 13, 2023, was arrested in Henderson. The next day, he made his first appearance in federal court in Las Vegas and was ordered detained pending his transfer to Oregon. On July 21, 2023, after arriving in Oregon, Noble was again ordered detained based on the nature of his offenses, including the extreme violence associated, and his possession of firearms.
On January 10, 2024, Noble pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in animal crushing and creating and distributing animal crush videos.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and prosecuted by William M. McLaren and Adam E. Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), in partnership with Neighborhood Partnerships (NP), announce $11.5 million in funding to support the Individual Development Account Initiative statewide.
An Individual Development Account (IDA) is a matched savings account, where the money participants save is multiplied up to five times by the program. As Oregonians face inflation and rising housing costs, IDAs provide a crucial resource for those with lower incomes to address financial needs such as down payment savings, higher-education costs, microenterprise investments, emergency savings, and investment in other wealth-building assets, supported by financial education and literacy.
IDAs are offered by a statewide network of community organizations, housing authorities, schools, and colleges.
“The Oregon Individual Development Account Initiative serves as a powerful example of collaboration between state governments and community-based organizations to build more inclusive, resilient, and equitable communities across the state,” said Andrea Bell, OHCS executive director. “The additional investment underscores the state’s commitment to facilitate solutions that advance social and economic mobility.”
To date, the IDA program has empowered more than 17,000 Oregonians in 35 of the state’s 36 counties, distributing $68 million in matching dollars to savers. Through its network of providers, the Initiative makes IDAs accessible to Oregon residents who have been excluded from opportunities to build lasting financial stability, including residents from Black, Native American, Latinx, and Asian communities throughout the state.
“As the longtime administrator of the Oregon IDA Initiative, Neighborhood Partnerships and our network of community-based partners are thrilled to receive an additional $5 million from the Legislature, which will be used by Oregonians with lower incomes to increase the power of their own savings to reach self-determined financial goals, including first-time homeownership, higher education, and entrepreneurship,” said Luke Bonham, IDA program manager.
This funding is being distributed through fiduciary organizations to aid Oregonians in achieving their financial goals through matched savings. The addition of $5 million in General Funds allows a two-phased funding approach in 2024-25 to help support the IDA Initiative’s continued growth and success. The approach aims to increase reach in underrepresented counties, graduate BIPOC savers at rates that promote racial equity in asset building.
For more information about the IDA Initiative and how to get involved, please visit https://oregonidainitiative.org/.
About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) — OHCS is Oregon’s housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.
Two Arrested By Lincoln County Law Enforcement For Luring Minors
On April 18th, 2024, Lincoln City Police, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Newport Police, Toledo Police, and Oregon State Police conducted joint investigations into Child Luring crimes in Lincoln County. During the investigations, officers posed as underage children on various online social media platforms and were contacted by two separate adult men who were offering to meet up for a sexual encounter. The following arrests were made during the course of these investigations:
Jagdeep Singh, age 23 of Salem, was arrested after attempting to meet with a child for sex at an undisclosed location in Lincoln City. Singh was charged with Luring a Minor and Online Sex Corruption of a Child 1st Degree, and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail.
Alec Adams, age 27 of Depoe Bay, was arrested after offering to meet with a child for sex at an undisclosed location in Lincoln County. Adams was charged with Luring a Minor and Online Sex Corruption of a Child 2nd Degree, and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail.
The Lincoln City Police would like to express our thanks to all the local law enforcement agencies who took part in this joint operation working together in partnership to keep all of our Lincoln County citizens safe. A special thank you is also sent out to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Lake Oswego Police Department for their assistance with the operation.
The Lincoln City Police wants to encourage parents to monitor their children’s social media activity and discuss with them the possible dangers of communicating with strangers online. These investigations are conducted in an effort to reduce criminal activity and to further enhance the safety of our community.
Early-Morning Burglary Investigation Leads to Arrests in Rural Central Point, Deputies Seize Guns, Drugs, Cash
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies arrested two suspects yesterday after an early-morning burglary in rural Central Point. Yesterday morning, a JCSO Community Service Deputy took a report from ECSO Dispatch just after 8 a.m. of a burglary in the 5700 block of Upton Road. Through the investigation, JCSO deputies identified several suspects and tracked them to an address in the 100 block of Laurelhurst Street, also in rural Central Point.
JCSO deputies obtained a search warrant for the property and identified a female suspect on scene. During the initial search of the property, deputies located an additional suspect hiding under a shed. The man did not respond to commands to come out and barricaded in the crawl space. After a lengthy standoff, deputies persuaded the man to give up through the use of pepper spray and a K9.
JCSO Criminal Investigations Division (CID), and Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) detectives responded to assist in the arrest and search of the property. During the search, investigators discovered 10 firearms including a stolen pistol, and an AR-style rifle with no serial number. Deputies also found body armor, an illegally-manufactured silencer, methamphetamine, heroin, Butane Honey Oil (BHO), 35 lbs. of processed cannabis, and 58.3 grams of fentanyl. Deputies also uncovered nearly $19,000 in cash.
The first suspect was Kelli Margaret Hernandez, 44, of Medford. She was arrested for conspiracy to commit second-degree burglary, and hindering prosecution. She was booked and lodged at the Jackson County Jail.
The second suspect was Mickey Ray Galatz, 28, of Central Point. He was arrested on 15 charges related to the incident, in addition to five outstanding warrants. The new charges include second-degree burglary, first and second-degree theft, second-degree criminal mischief, second-degree trespass, interfering with a peace officer, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of body armor, possession of a prohibited firearm, unlawful possession of methamphetamine, unlawful distribution of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of heroin, and unlawful distribution of heroin. For the fentanyl Galatz was charged with unlawful possession of a schedule II-controlled substance – substantial quantity, and unlawful distribution of a schedule II-controlled substance. The outstanding warrants include probation violations for felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of felony unlawful possession of heroin, attempting to elude police by vehicle, and a Klamath County warrant for first-degree burglary and first-degree aggravated theft. Galatz is lodged in the Jackson County Jail.
This case is under further investigation with deputies following additional leads. There is no more information for release at this time.
U.S. Supreme Court Appears To Lean Toward City of Grants Pass In Complex Homelessness Case
Homeless rights activists hold a rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on April 22, 2024 in Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson and Smith v. Spizzirri, a dispute over the constitutionality of ordinances that bar people who are homeless from camping on city streets. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — A majority of U.S Supreme Court justices Monday seemed inclined to side with an Oregon town’s law that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, in a case that could have broad implications for local ordinances related to homelessness across the country.
During oral arguments in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, conservative justices said that policies and ordinances around homelessness are complex, and indicated it’s a policy question that should be left up to local elected representatives rather than the courts.
“Why do you think these nine people are the best people to judge and weigh those policy judgments?” Chief Justice John Roberts asked, referring to the Supreme Court.
Taking a much different tack, the three liberal justices said that Grants Pass officials went too far and targeted homeless people with fines for the basic human need to sleep when they camped outside.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor grilled the lawyer for Grants Pass on how the city law essentially criminalized homelessness.
“You don’t arrest babies who have blankets over them, you don’t arrest people who are sleeping on the beach, as I tend to do if I’ve been there a while. You only arrest people who don’t have a second home, is that correct?” Sotomayor said.
The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in northwest Oregon that argues its ordinance is a solution to the city’s homelessness crisis.
An attorney representing a group of homeless people argued that they are involuntarily without housing because there are limited shelter beds for the number of homeless people in the area. The lawyer also said the ordinances criminalize homelessness through fines and potential jail time for camping or sleeping in outdoor spaces.
The town of nearly 40,000 has about 600 people who are homeless and the only nonprofit that can provide shelter can house only up to 100 beds, according to a brief submitted by the nonprofit, Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mission.
‘Cruel and unusual punishment’ —- The justices are being asked to decide whether the enforcement of that local ordinance on regulating camping on public property violated the “cruel and unusual punishment” clause of the Eighth Amendment.
Theane Evangelis, the attorney representing the city, argued that the city is going after the conduct of unhoused people, rather than the status of homelessness.
“We can look at the law and it has a conduct element — the conduct is establishing a campsite,” she said.
The attorney representing the plaintiffs, Kelsi B. Corkran, argued that the ordinance is a violation of the Eighth Amendment by inflicting punishment for the status of being homeless.
“Although the city describes its ordinances as punishing camping on public property, it defines campsite as any place a homeless person is while covered with a blanket,” she said. “The city interprets and applies the ordinances to permit non-homeless people to rest on blankets and public parks, while a homeless person who does the same thing breaks the law.”
Corkran is representing Gloria Johnson and John Logan, who are both homeless.
Effects across the United States — The case could not only have implications for the city in Oregon where the case originated, but for cities across the U.S., particularly in the West, that have similar ordinances and are grappling with an increasing homelessness crisis.
There are nearly 327,000 people who are homeless in the country, according to most recent U.S. Census data. States with the highest population of homeless people per 10,000 people include California, Oregon, Washington and Montana, according to five-year estimates in the American Community Survey.
Outside the court, advocates gathered to show their support of the injunction that bars the city ordinance from taking place.
“Homelessness is a result of systemic issues such as a lack of affordable housing, exorbitant rents, and a shortage of well-paying jobs,” Sarae Lewis, a spokesperson for Community Solutions, said in a statement. “Arresting and fining people for sleeping on the streets is ineffective, keeps people homeless for longer, and distracts from real solutions like those we see working in communities across the country.”
Community Solutions, a nonprofit that works to end homelessness, was joined by other organizations that advocate for people without homes such as the National Homelessness Law Center and the National Coalition for the Homeless.
History of the case — The city is appealing to the Supreme Court after lower courts ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, Johnson and Logan, who are homeless residents of Grants Pass.
A federal judge blocked the city’s ordinance that prohibited people from camping and sleeping in parks and on public property. Grants Pass also barred people who are homeless from using blankets, pillows or other material to protect themselves from the weather while sleeping outside.
If that ordinance was violated, it carried a $295 fine that, if not paid, increased to more than $530. Repeat offenders could also be jailed for up to 30 days.
A three-panel judge on the 9th Circuit determined in 2022 that the city has such strict restrictions on anyone sleeping outdoors that it led to a ban on being homeless.
That decision relied on a 2018 case, Martin v. City of Boise. The case involved homeless plaintiffs who sued the city of Boise, Idaho after it fined them under a camping ordinance.
The 9th Circuit found that the city’s ordinance violated the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment because it imposes criminal penalties for homeless people sleeping outside or on public property when they do not have access to a shelter.
On Monday, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson noted that the state of Oregon enacted a statute that codified the Martin case, saying city regulations “of this nature have to be objectively reasonable as to time, place and manner, with regards to people experiencing homelessness.”
“It seems like the state has already precluded Grants Pass from doing the sort of thing it’s doing here,” Jackson said to Evangelis.
Evangelis said that the new law was not similar to the Martin case and that the city ordinance also takes into consideration the safety of the community.
“They protect the health and safety of everyone and it is not safe to live in encampments,” she said. “It’s unsanitary. There are the harms of the encampments themselves on those in them and outside.”
City’s argument — Evangelis argued that the court of appeals was wrong in its interpretation, as well as the plaintiffs, who cite a 1962 Supreme Court decision in Robinson v. California.
In that case, the Supreme Court deemed that a state cannot criminalize someone for their status of being addicted to drugs because it violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on “cruel and unusual punishment.”
That case barred the criminalization of narcotics addiction, but not the conduct of the crime that someone who is addicted to drugs might participate in, such as using, buying, selling or possessing drugs.
Evangelis argued that the Grants Pass law is “so far removed from what was at issue in Robinson that it just isn’t implicated here.” She said that the city’s ordinance does not criminalize the status of homelessness.
Justice Samuel Alito said that the Robinson case “presents a very difficult conceptual question.”
“The point is that the connection between drug addiction and drug usage is more tenuous than the connection between absolute homelessness and sleeping outside,” he said.
Evangelis said that the case the plaintiffs are making is that camping or sleeping outside and being homeless are “two sides of the same coin.”
“It’s collapsing the status that they claim into the conduct,” she said. “So we think the conduct here is very clear, because it applies generally to everyone. The law does not say on its face, ‘It is a crime to be homeless,’ I just want to make that clear.”
Justice Elena Kagan asked if under Robinson, the status of homelessness could be criminalized.
“I don’t think that homelessness is a status like drug addiction,” Evangelis said.
Kagan said that homelessness is a status, because “it’s the status of not having a home.”
Evangelis said she disagreed with that because being homeless is a fluid experience that could change from day to day.
Jackson said that the city’s ordinance seemed to punish the basic need for sleep.
“What’s happening is you’re only punishing certain people who can’t afford to do it privately,” she said.
Corkran argued that if someone is violating the city ordinance, and is told to leave but they have no place to go, that means that person is homeless.
“So again, homelessness is not something you can do, it’s just something that you are,” she said. READ MORE: https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-supreme-court-appears-lean-215843827.html
Report: As health care costs increase, Oregon patients are paying more in deductibles and copays
Oregon Health Authority furthers commitment to helping make healthcare more affordable across state
(PORTLAND, Ore. –) According to an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) report out today, the amount that Oregonians with commercial and Medicare Advantage insurance paid in deductibles, copays and co-insurance increased more than 17 percent from 2015 to 2022. As health care costs continue to grow, the amount that people with health insurance pay for their care – known as patient responsibility or patient cost sharing – is also rising.
On average, in 2022, people in Oregon with commercial health insurance were responsible for 13.4% of their total health care costs, and people with Medicare Advantage insurance were responsible for 9.1% of their total health care costs. This does not include how much people pay for their health insurance premiums.
Over the past several years, patient cost sharing increased by 17.4% for commercially insured Oregonians and 17.7% for those with Medicare Advantage insurance. That growth was driven primarily by increasing deductibles in the commercial market and co-insurance for prescription drugs in the Medicare Advantage market.
At least 28 percent of Oregonians were considered underinsured in 2021, meaning that even though they have health insurance, it was too expensive for them to use.
“Too many Oregonians are struggling to afford their health care, even as more than 95 percent of people in the state now have health coverage,” said OHA Director, Dr. Sejal Hathi. “This report provides more information about how much people in Oregon are paying for health care and the reasons for those cost increases. Health insurance should open the door to care, but instead, we know that even moderate increases in cost sharing can thwart access for those who need it most. OHA will continue to work both to rein in health care costs and to protect and expand access to care.”
What is Patient Cost Sharing? — When an individual or a household buys healthcare insurance, they agree to a certain set of arrangements for services are covered by the health plan and how much of the cost the health plan will pay. The portion of the cost of covered services that the patient is responsible for is “patient cost sharing.”
Unlike health insurance premiums, which are paid to the health plan whether any services are used or not, cost sharing only applies when services are used. Examples of patient cost sharing are deductibles, copays and co-insurance.
Report Findings — The report shows that people in Oregon with commercial health insurance paid for 13.6% of their total health care costs on average in 2022, with more than half of that going toward deductibles. Commercial deductibles grew 31.9% between 2015-2022, faster than the growth in commercial co-insurance (19.2%) and copays (4.3%).
This is in part due to the increase in number of people who have a high-deductible health plan. People with high deductible health plans are responsible for 22.9% of their total health care costs, even though their average annual health care costs were lower.
The report also shows that in 2022, people in Oregon with Medicare Advantage insurance paid 9.1% of their total health care costs, on average. More than 60 percent of Medicare Advantage cost sharing was in the form of copays and less than 5 percent was paid in deductibles.
In the commercial market, almost 40% of the cost sharing in 2022 was for professional services like a doctor’s visit. In the Medicare Advantage market, almost 40% of the cost sharing in 2022 was for prescription drugs, with people paying increasingly more in co-insurance for specialty drugs.
For More Information — OHA presented preliminary findings on patient cost sharing in an educational webinar in March. The recording from that webinar is available online here. View the patient cost sharing analysis webinar slides here.
The Cost Growth Target Advisory Committee meets each month to discuss and plan strategies for increased health care affordability.
Explore the patient cost sharing data in an interactive online dashboard and find the full patient cost sharing report online here.
The Oregon Cheese Festival is coming to the Expo in Jackson County.
The event will allow residents to sample artisan cheese from across the region. There will also be specialty food, beer, wine and cider available. The Cheese Festival starts Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. for anyone 21
and older. It will also be open on Sunday for all ages from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Tickets are $25 and $35 at the door. MORE INFO: https://www.oregoncheesefestival.com/
EPA Announces Oregon Department of Energy to Receive $86M to Deliver Residential Solar
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Oregon Department of Energy has been selected to receive $86,600,000 through the Solar for All grant competition to develop long-lasting solar programs that enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from distributed residential solar. This award is part of the historic $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which was created under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to lower energy costs for families, create good-quality jobs in communities that have been left behind, advance environmental justice, and tackle the climate crisis.
The Oregon SFA Coalition (OSFAC) will leverage existing solar technology incentives and support platforms through a coordinated program delivery system, designed specifically to meet the needs of low-income households and residents of disadvantaged communities in Oregon. Together, OSFAC members will enable solar installations at single-family households with little to no upfront customer cost and provide point of sale rebates for multifamily buildings that provide tangible benefits to low-income residents. The program will also support financial and technical assistance to develop Consumer Owned Utility Territories’ Community Solar projects in areas outside of OCSP coverage, as well as workforce development activities. This diversified approach will maximize use of existing resources and the breadth and diversity of households served throughout the state.
“President Biden committed to making the largest investment in our nation’s history to combat global climate change. Our announcement today ensures every community has a green energy future,” said EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller. “This funding will be used to supercharge the deployment of solar power in communities, create jobs, make our power grid more resilient, and lower the cost of energy for every household.”
The grant to the Oregon Department of Energy is among 49 state-level awards EPA announced today totaling approximately $5.5 billion, along with six awards to serve Tribes totaling over $500 million, and five multistate awards totaling approximately $1 billion.
“The Oregon Department of Energy is thrilled to be part of a coalition bringing significant solar dollars to our state,” said ODOE Director Janine Benner. “While past programs have helped expand access to solar for many Oregonians, it has been a challenge to lower the costs enough to ensure low-income households and other disadvantaged communities could participate. Solar for All can make this happen.”
A complete list of the selected applicants can be found on EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Solar for All website. READ MORE: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-oregon-department-energy-receive-86m-deliver-residential-solar-lowering#:~:text=SEATTLE%20(April%2023%2C%202024),to%20deploy%20and%20benefit%20from
ODOT Reminding The Public That Political Signs Posted Incorrectly Will Be Removed
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) would like to remind the public that political signs posted incorrectly will be removed.
During election season ODOT tells us they receive complaints from the public and candidates regarding the improper placement of political signs on the state highway rights of way, where only official traffic control devices are allowed. Improperly placed signs can distract drivers and block road safety messages.
Wrongly placed signs will be taken down and held at a nearby ODOT district maintenance office for 30 days. To reclaim signs, go here to find the nearest ODOT maintenance office.
Signs are prohibited on trees, utility poles, fence posts and natural features within highway right-of-ways, ODOT tells us. They also are prohibited within view of a designated scenic area.
State highway width rights of way can vary considerably depending on the location. Check with your local ODOT district maintenance office to determine whether placing a sign is on private property or highway right of way. Local municipalities may also regulate the placement of political signs.
Political signs are allowed on private property within view of state highways with the following restrictions:
- Signs are limited to 12 square feet but can be up to 32 square feet with a variance from our Oregon Advertising Sign program
- Signs cannot have flashing or intermittent lights, or animated or moving parts
- Signs must not imitate official highway signs or devices
- Signs are not allowed in scenic corridors
- No payment or compensation of any kind can be exchanged for either the placement of or the message on temporary signs, including political signs, which are visible to a state highway
For more information go to ODOT’s Outdoor Advertising Sign Program.
Oregon Secretary of State releases 2024 Civic Engagement Toolkit
Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade released a civic engagement toolkit today, aimed at helping organizations do voter registration and voter turnout work in the 2024 elections.
The tools included in the 2024 toolkit are official, non-partisan, research-backed and free to use with or without attribution to our office.
Download the 2024 Civic Engagement Toolkit here.
Museum receives $500,000 National Endowment for the Humanities award
BEND, OR — The High Desert Museum will receive $500,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities, one of 10 in the nation selected for funding for the exceedingly competitive Public Humanities Projects: Exhibition category, the agency announced Tuesday.
The funding will support the Museum’s revitalization of its permanent exhibition dedicated to the Indigenous cultures of the region. By Hand Through Memory opened in 1999, supported in part by NEH funding. Hand in hand with Native partners, the Museum has been working on a new version of the exhibition for several years.
This award is the second grant for the project: In 2019, NEH awarded the Museum $45,000 to support the planning of the renovation. The agency also awarded the Museum $500,000 in 2023 to support an associated expansion of the Museum, bringing the total commitment to the Museum’s future to $1,045,000.
“For more than four decades, the High Desert Museum has set the gold standard for showing and telling both Oregonians and visitors our state’s history,” U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said. “Indigenous history is essential to that mission, and I’m gratified this Central Oregon treasure has secured such a significant federal investment to enable it to update and expand the permanent exhibition devoted to Native perspectives and experiences.”
“We’re immensely grateful to NEH and Senators Wyden and Merkley for this transformational investment,” said High Desert Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “The revitalized exhibition will be centered in Native voices and knowledge, sharing the rich stories of Indigenous communities throughout the Plateau region. The NEH funding is vital for realizing our vision.”
The Museum is presently working on exhibition design with Ralph Appelbaum Associates, a firm that has handled museum projects ranging from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History in Washington, D.C. to the First
Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, an effort sharing the stories of the 39 Tribes in Oklahoma that opened in 2021.
The exhibition renovation is part of the long-term vision for the future of the Museum, which includes more capacity for educational programming, immersive experiences to bring visitors into the forest canopy, a permanent art exhibition space and a gathering space for Museum events. The Sisters-based Roundhouse Foundation helped launch work on this vision with a $6 million gift in 2021.
The Museum opened in 1982. Founder Donald M. Kerr envisioned the space as an immersive experience that highlights the wonder of the High Desert, often saying that its mission is to “wildly excite and responsibly teach.” He also intended for the Museum and its programs to spark dialogue and bring people together in conversations about what they want for the region’s future.
Today, the Museum shares up to nine rotating temporary exhibitions, serves more than 8,600 participants with school field trips, and provides free and reduced-price admissions to more than 25,000 visitors. It welcomed more than 216,000 visitors in 2023.
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency that supports cultural institutions in their efforts to facilitate research and original scholarship, provides opportunities for lifelong learning, preserves and provides access to cultural and educational resources, and strengthens the institutional base of the humanities throughout the nation.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM:
The HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Oregon Offers Electric Car Rebates Again – Apply Now Until June 3rd
Due to high demand and limited funding, OCVRP will be open for a short time in 2024. Vehicles must be purchased or leased between April 3, 2024, to June 3, 2024, to be eligible for a rebate.
Applicants have six months from their date of purchase or lease to apply. Low- and moderate-income households can prequalify for the $5,000 Charge Ahead rebate by completing the application now at https://apps.oregon.gov/DEQ/Voucher/apply.
Oregon to Honor Fallen Law Enforcement Officers May 7th, 2024
Every year, the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony honors the state’s law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. This year’s ceremony will be held Tuesday, May 7 at 1 p.m. at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem.
The annual event commemorates the more than 190 fallen officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the state of Oregon since the 1860s. This includes law enforcement, corrections, and parole and probation officers from city, county, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies.
The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training is proud to host the ceremony in partnership with the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Oregon Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation, and various statewide law enforcement associations.
LCSO Case #24-1671 – Missing Person from west Eugene
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is looking for 39-year-old Brian John Fierke. He last had contact with his family on March 26th, 2024. Deputies, detectives, and Sheriff’s Search & Rescue have searched extensively for Fierke without success.
Fierke is described as a white male adult, standing approximately 6’4” tall and weighing about 185 pounds. Fierke has brown hair and blue eyes. He may have brown facial hair.
Anyone with information about Fierke’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150, option 1, and reference LCSO Case #24-1671.
Missing child alert — Jerrica Landin is still missing and is believed to be in danger
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Jerrica Landin, age 17, a child in foster care who went missing from Portland, Oregon on Aug. 21. She is believed to be in danger.
ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find Jerrica and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see her.
Jerrica may be in Portland or Eugene in Oregon. She may also be in Washington in Vancouver, Seattle or the Tri Cities.
Name: Jerrica Landin
Pronouns: She/her
Date of birth: Oct. 24, 2006
Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 130 pounds
Hair: Reddish brown
Eye color: Brown
Other identifying information: Jerrica has a tattoo of a heart on her neck below her right ear. She often dyes her hair red, pink and purple.
Portland Police Bureau Case #23-803125
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #1489518
Sometimes when a child is missing, they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.
Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.
PART 2 – Newsweek Podcast Focusing on The Disappearance of Fauna Frey From Lane County
Here One Minute, Gone the Next —-– PART 2 – Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel joins investigative journalist Alex Rogue to speak with Here One Minute, Gone the Next about the disappearance of Fauna Frey, the growing friction between citizen investigators and law enforcement, and the lack of resources in missing persons cases. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-disappearance-of-fauna-frey-pt2-feat-sheriff/id1707094441?i=1000630100040
PART 1 – John Frey joins Newsweek to discuss exclusive details about the case of his missing daughter that until now have been unavailable to the general public.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Fauna Frey, call the anonymous tip line at 541-539-5638 or email FindFaunaFrey@gmail.com. — Help Find Fauna Frey #FindFaunaFrey FACEBOOK GROUP
