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
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Willamette Valley Weather
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
Quick Response Springfield Taco Bell Fire
A fire that broke out at a Taco Bell on 42nd Street and Main Street Tuesday, was quickly brought under control. The fire began at 3:05 p.m., causing traffic delays in the area.
At approx 3:04 pm on 1/13/26 Eugene Springfield Fire responded to a reported structure fire at Taco Bell @ 4198 Main Street in Springfield. An Employee reported a smell of smoke and possible fire in the HVAC unit. Employees evacuated people from the business and ESF Engine company 14 arrived three minutes after dispatch as part of a first alarm commercial response of four engines, two ladder trucks, two chiefs, an ambulance, and an EMS Officer.
Crews quickly located the fire in an HVAC unit in the roof, made access with a hoseline via ground ladder and extinguished the fire. Fire crews performed a primary search of the building, located the fire in the ductwork and plenum space in the kitchen area, isolated the fire to that area, secured electrical utilities, extinguished the fire, then performed extensive overhaul. ESF fire marshals office is on scene investigating. The fire was contained to the area of origin (roof HVAC and ductwork area), and there were no injuries reported.
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.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office arrests one for attempted murder
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports that on January 13, 2026, at 4:09 p.m., the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received multiple 911 calls from residents located in the 41700 block of Upper Berlin Drive, outside of Sweet Home, for a disturbance. It was reported that there was a physical fight, and one male was shot in the head.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and the Lebanon Fire Department were dispatched to the location where they contacted Jordan Nathaniel Stewart-Bennett, 23, and Joshua Arnold Storms, 50, both residents of the location. Nathaniel had a gunshot wound to his head and was transported to the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and is in critical condition.
Joshua Arnold Storms was taken to the Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital for a medical evaluation prior to being lodged in the Linn County Jail for Attempted Murder, Assault in the First Degree, and Unlawful Use of Weapon.
This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Detective Dakotah Hinrichs at (541) 967-3950.
Eugene Public Library · ¡Hablemos Español!
Practice your conversational Spanish at a friendly get-together Thurs., Jan. 15, 4 p.m. at the Downtown Library. All skill levels are welcome to join in supportive, casual conversation about everything from everyday life to cultural insights. Free!
Four Oregon Artists Each Receive $150,000 Over Two Years
Oregon Community Foundation, in partnership with Oregon Humanities, has named four Oregonians to the Fields Artist Fellowship, which awards $150,000 over two years to Oregon-based artists working to address issues within their communities through creativity and cultural expression.
- Amber Kay Ball (Portland)
- Yanely Rivas Maldonado (Salem)
- Talilo Marfil (Portland)
- Ernesto Javier Martínez (Eugene)
Ernesto Javier Martínez (he/him) is a queer Chicano/Puerto Rican writer, educator and filmmaker. He was born in Oakland, California, raised between Mexico and the United States, and currently lives in Eugene. He studied literature at Stanford and Cornell, becoming a university professor at the age of 28. Ernesto pivoted toward artistic work when he collaborated with illustrator Maya Gonzalez, authoring When We Love Someone, We Sing to Them, the first bilingual children’s book published in North America about a boy who loves a boy. This book earned two International Latino Book Awards and was selected for the American Library Association’s “Rainbow Book List.”
He began working as a screenwriter and filmmaker when he collaborated with Director Adelina Anthony, writing and producing his first short film, La Serenata, winner of 11 best film awards and distributed by HBO Max. He later contributed to beloved children’s television programs such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Sesame Street, and Lyla in the Loop, and co-wrote Daniel Visits a New Neighborhood: The Movie (PBS Kids), introducing a new Latinx family to the Emmy-winning franchise.
Ernesto’s work has earned him the Lambda Literary Award, Imagen Award, Spark Award for Oregon Artists, HBO Latinx Short Film Competition Award, and fellowships from the Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, and NALIP.
This support comes at a pivotal moment as Ernesto is finalizing his first live action feature film La Serenata and beginning bold new projects that challenge stereotypes and inspire hope. Ernesto plans to produce an animated TV pilot, The Boy Who Became a River, a fantasy adventure that honors migrant struggles and uplifts queer Latinx youth. The grant will help him create sustainable ways to develop content in Oregon, while building a local creative community.
“Receiving the Fields Artist Fellowship is an incredible honor because it affirms the importance of telling stories that center queer Latinx youth. Too often, these voices are marginalized or erased, and this Fellowship gives me the resources and time to create work that celebrates their resilience, complexity and beauty. I’m excited to use this support to build imaginative worlds that inspire hope and belonging for the next generation.”~ Ernesto Javier Martínez
———— “These four people are amazing changemakers,” said Jerry Tischleder, Senior Program Officer for Arts and Culture at Oregon Community Foundation. “They have deep connections in their communities and are using creativity in vastly different and incredible ways to spark hope, inspiration and connection, and to raise voices that aren’t always heard. These investments come at times that will open doors for them in ways that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. It’s going to be amazing to see what they do.”
The Fellowship will support these creative individuals to advance their artistic practice and honor and sustain their commitment to create social change within their community. In addition to the $150,000 award, fellows will receive professional development, networking and community-building opportunities throughout the two-year term.
Community members across the state reviewed applications and interviewed finalists to select this cohort of fellows. The Fellowship term will begin in May 2026 and run through May 2028.
In addition to the four fellows, these other finalists will also receive a one-time award of $10,000.
- Oluyinka Akinjiola (Portland)
- Micah BlackLight Lael (Ashland)
- Chisao Hata (Portland)
- Anthony Hudson (Portland)
- Jose Antonio Huerta (Springfield)
- Fish Martinez (Siletz)
- Concepcion Samano (Falls City)
Artists of all disciplines and artistic media are eligible for the Fields Artist Fellowship, including writers, filmmakers, visual artists, multimedia artists, culture bearers and performance artists. Eligibility requirements include the following:
- At least five years of professional practice in an artistic discipline or combination of disciplines
- At least three years of residence in Oregon and the intent to reside in Oregon for the majority of the fellowship term (May 2026 to May 2028)
- Demonstrable evidence of artistic practice that can engage with community groups and organizations and/or address community concerns
Oregon Community Foundation, in partnership with Oregon Humanities, administers the program and convenes gatherings for the fellows. Funding is provided by the Fred W. Fields Fund of Oregon Community Foundation. This is the fourth cohort of Fields Artist Fellows, joining twelve previous recipients awarded in 2019, 2021 and 2024.
About the Artists
Amber Kay Ball (she/her) is a Citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Born in Portland, Oregon, she is a director, playwright, visual artist and community-based advocate. As a contemporary multi-practice artist, Amber uses theater, multimedia and beadwork as mediums for sharing stories, truths, laughter and joy. These mediums allow Amber to critically explore, honor and weave Native pasts, presents and futures in a just and liberated methodology. She is a co-founder of Native Playwrights PDX and works to support multigenerational Native theater-makers in the process of new play creation and direction.
Ball plans to use her Fields Fellowship to invest in time for new play development and creation, as well as share current works around Oregon with community. Her hope is to continue with more playwriting and theater making workshops to support more early career Native theater makers in sharing story and continuing advocating for our communities.
Yanely Rivas Maldonado (she/they) is a working-class printmaker, cultural worker and educator with ancestral roots in the mountains of Michoacán, Mexico — lands traditionally steward by the P’urépecha. Her art practice has been sowed in community and has flourished in the versatile soil of social justice movements and solidarity efforts she’s been a part of over the last decade. Their art is an offering and prayer for a world where we are all beautifully free and interconnected — living in good relationship with the lands, waters and beings that so graciously nourish our hearts. They create artwork to weave us across the continuum of past-present-future and to leave seeds of ancestral memory, resistance, joy and hope along the path back to center — back to home.
Yanely’s primary creative mediums are printmaking, digital illustration and social practice art. Over the last couple of years, she’s been deepening her art practice in traditional cultural arts including basket weaving, natural dyes, beadwork and gourd art.
Yanely plans to use the Fellowship as an opportunity to invest time in foundational arts training and creating a sustainable studio space for printmaking, natural dyeing and traditional crafts. The grant will support her vision to organize art 0fferings in her community and participate in a residency in Oaxaca, Mexico, while strengthening ties with cultural workers and bearers in the U.S. and Mexico.
“Receiving this Fellowship is truly a blessing. It gives me the time and space to go deep into my art practice in a way that I haven’t been able to do before and in a way that feels sustainable and life-giving. I’m looking forward to all aspects of the journey and seeing what artistic seeds take root and bloom for me and my community long-term because of this opportunity.” ~ Yanely Rivas Maldonado
Talilo Marfil (he/him) is a West Bisayan immigrant, Filipino American hip hop artist and community leader focused on advancing youth voice, cultural preservation and equitable access to creative resources. For over a decade, he has developed and led arts-based programs with marginalized youth, including co-founding Ascending Flow in East Portland and helping develop Keys, Beats, Bars at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority. He is the founder of Peer Tribe Foundation, which supports artists and leaders creating measurable impact in their communities. Talilo’s work centers storytelling as a tool for healing, self-advocacy and change. In the city of bridges, he serves as a bridge between culture, community and creative opportunity.
Through this Fellowship, Talilo will expand his music career while using his platform to attract and reinvest resources through Peer Tribe Foundation. The grant will support cultural exchange in the Philippines, sustain hip-hop workshops for youth in correctional facilities, and launch a portable recording studio project in Oregon.
“Receiving this Fellowship means I can pour back into the communities that shaped me. I’m looking forward to honoring ancestral knowledge, expanding access to creative resources, and creating spaces where young people see their voices as powerful and necessary.”~ Talilo Marfil
About Oregon Community Foundation
Since 1973, Oregon Community Foundation has worked to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. Each year, OCF distributes more than $200 million in grants and scholarships in every county in Oregon in partnership with donors and volunteers. Individuals, families, businesses and organizations can work with OCF to create charitable funds to support causes important to them. To learn more, visit oregoncf.org.
About Oregon Humanities
Oregon Humanities connects people and communities through conversation, storytelling, and participatory programs to inspire understanding and collaborative change. More information about our programs and publications — which include Consider This, Conversation Project, Humanity in Perspective, The Detour podcast, Facilitation Training, and Oregon Humanities magazine — can be found at oregonhumanities.org. Oregon Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a partner of the Oregon Cultural Trust.
State’s First Measles Cases of 2026 Confirmed in Linn County
Health officials warn public about two locations where affected individuals spent time
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Linn County public health officials are investigating two cases of measles and want people to know about locations where they may have been exposed to the highly infectious virus.
The affected individuals developed measles symptoms—rash, fever, cough and runny nose—on Jan. 5. OHA is not identifying the individuals’ gender, age or county of residence.
People might have been exposed if they were at the following locations during these dates and times:
- Lebanon Community Hospital Emergency Department, between 8:53 p.m. Jan. 6 and 7 a.m. Jan. 7.
- Albany General Hospital Emergency Department, between 4:59 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. Jan. 7.
People who were at these locations during these dates and times should immediately contact their health care provider and let them know they may have been exposed to someone who has measles. The health care provider can determine whether they are immune to measles based on their vaccination record, age, or laboratory evidence of prior infection.
“Measles is here in Oregon and rates are increasing nationally, which is why we encourage everyone to make sure they’re protected by talking with their providers about being up to date on vaccinations,” said Howard Chiou, M.D., Ph.D., medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA’s Public Health Division.
Facts about measles
Measles spreads through the air after a person with measles coughs or sneezes. People are contagious with measles for four days before a rash appears and up to four days afterward. The virus particles also can linger in the air for up to two hours after someone who is infectious has left the area.
Measles typically starts with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. A rash usually follows, beginning on the face and spreading to the rest of the body. Symptoms begin seven to 21 days after exposure to a person with measles. Common complications of measles include ear infection, lung infection and diarrhea. Swelling of the brain is a rare but much more serious complication.
Measles can be dangerous, especially among infants and children younger than 5, adults older than 20, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems. In developed countries in recent years, one or two out of every 1,000 measles cases has been fatal.
The measles vaccine is highly effective at providing protection, as two doses of the MMR vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles. The risk of severe disease from measles for people who are up to date on their vaccines is very low.
What to do if you suspect measles in your household
Public health officials urge people experiencing symptoms of measles not to arrive unannounced at a medical office if they:
- Have a measles-like rash, or
- Have been exposed to measles within the previous 21 days, and have any other symptom of measles (such as fever, cough or red eyes).
Individuals planning to seek medical care should first call a health care provider or urgent care center by telephone to create an entry plan to avoid exposing others in waiting rooms.
Learn more about measles at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/measles.aspx.
1/13/26 – LCSO Case 26-0192 Deputies respond to morning dispute in Glenwood
On January 13th at 7 a.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a physical dispute at E. 14th Avenue and Lexington Avenue in Glenwood. Deputies contacted several involved people and witnesses, and reviewed surveillance video from a nearby business.
When deputies arrived, they initially detained a male identified by witnesses as being involved. He was determined not to be involved, but was arrested for being in possession of methamphetamine. Through their investigation, deputies determined several people engaged in a physical dispute in the street.
During the incident, a male swung a backpack which struck a woman holding a baby. A handgun fell out of the backpack and was recovered by others. Eventually the male fled the area. Only minor injuries were reported.
Witnesses reported the male may have ran to a nearby house. Deputies contacted the residents, none of whom were identified as the involved male. Deputies are working to identify the male who was in possession of the handgun. He is described as a white male adult with brown shoulder-length hair and a receding hair line. He was last seen wearing dark colored clothing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lane County Sheriff’s Office at 541-682-4150 option 1, and reference case 26-0192. Thanks to Springfield Police Department for their assistance on this incident.
Junction City Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $487K in COVID-19 Relief Funds
A Junction City business owner has entered a guilty plea for embezzling nearly half a million dollars in COVID-19 relief funds, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon confirmed yesterday. Fifty-year-old Jodi Aliece Jennings, who owned three companies, was admitted to wire fraud after wrongfully obtaining federal loans designed to assist small businesses during the pandemic crisis.
Between April 2020 and January 2022, Jennings sought and secured one Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) Advance and six Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans for her businesses – Meridian Redevelopment, J Jenn Enterprises Inc., and J2 Investments, according to court documents obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. Despite claims that these enterprises were operational and sustaining payroll during the health crisis, investigations revealed these assertions to be false; instead, Jennings redirected the funds to personal use.
Jennings is reported to have defrauded the SBA and lenders out of $487,386.75, an amount that includes principal, interest, SBA-paid lender fees on the PPP loans, and the EIDL advance. Back in June 2023, Jennings was indicted by a federal grand jury on nine counts of wire fraud in Eugene.
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
State of Lane County Address
Lane County’s annual State of the County Address took place on Monday, January 5, at 10:00 a.m. in Harris Hall in Eugene. Board of County Commissioners Chair David Loveall took a look back at 2025 and help usher in the new year at Lane County Government.
Local band the WINKS performed. Erika Martinez Robison sang the National Anthem, and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office lead with the presentation of colors (flag ceremony). You can watch it here: https://lanecounty.ompnetwork.org/embed/sessions/332124/state-of-the-county-address-january-5-2026?display_mode=year
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.
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.
Agency says work requirements will increase staff demand
The agency is requesting $13.8 million to address the work requirement changes under the law.
The federal law tightens restrictions on who qualifies for exemptions from the SNAP work requirements. For example, it removed exemptions for former foster youth, unhoused individuals and veterans and adults ages 50 to 65. It also narrowed benefits for noncitizens.
The requested amount would support IT system upgrades, outreach and staff resources to manage an increased workload for staff who process applications and determine household benefit levels.
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)
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)
Governor Kotek Issues Executive Order to Extend Homelessness EmergencyFocus on helping individuals experiencing homelessness who are struggling with mental health and addiction
Salem, OR — Friday, Governor Tina Kotek extended Oregon’s state of emergency on unsheltered homelessness, sharpening the focus on mental health and addiction as ongoing conditions that continue to threaten public health, safety, and economic stability across the state, constituting an emergency.
“We have helped thousands of people move from the streets into shelter, from shelter into homes, and prevented thousands more from experiencing homelessness in the first place,” Governor Kotek said. “But we must maintain the momentum and strengthen our focus on the intersection of homelessness, mental health, and addiction. This effort will be supported by my administration’s work to expand treatment beds and strengthen the behavioral health workforce. Working together, we can continue to reduce rates of unsheltered homelessness.”
“Every Oregonian deserves to live a dignified life—one where they have the freedom and security of knowing they can afford to have a place to call home,” said Oregon Housing and Community Services Executive Director Andrea Bell. “Through local and state partnerships, we remain vigorously committed to materially making everyday life better and improving the trajectories of families, neighborhoods, and entire generations.”
Progress to date addressing homelessness in Oregon — The Governor first declared a homelessness state of emergency on January 10, 2023, in regions that experienced increases of 50 percent or more in unsheltered homelessness between 2017 and 2022. The emergency has since been extended through multiple executive orders, including Executive Order 25-01 issued on January 7, 2025.
From January 2023 through September 2025, emergency actions resulted in 6,286 new and maintained shelter beds, the rehousing of 5,539 Oregonians experiencing unsheltered homelessness, and prevention assistance for 25,942 households.
Despite this progress, a significant share of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness also live with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, traumatic brain injuries, or other behavioral health conditions. These co-occurring challenges often lead to repeated interactions with emergency rooms, psychiatric facilities, jails, and crisis systems, underscoring the need for sustained, integrated housing and health care solutions.
“Through daily work serving people experiencing homelessness, we see every day how closely homelessness is tied to untreated mental health and addiction,” said Scott Kerman, former executive director of Blanchet House for more than six years and someone deeply committed to people experiencing hunger, homelessness, and addiction. “Extending the state of emergency with a clear focus on these needs is critical. Housing saves lives, and stability and success occur when people also have access to treatment, care, and ongoing support. The Governor’s continued commitment to integrated housing and behavioral health solutions reflects what providers on the ground know to be true: lasting progress requires meeting people where they are and addressing the whole person.”
New goals focused on helping unhoused people struggling with behavioral health challenges — Under the extended emergency order, the state of emergency applies to the Metro Region Continuums of Care, Central Oregon, Eugene and Springfield Lane County, Medford and Ashland Jackson County, Salem Marion and Polk Counties, Linn County, Clatsop County, and Malheur County.
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management will continue coordinating the state’s emergency response, while Oregon Housing and Community Services and the Oregon Health Authority will advance long-term solutions. The new goals outlined in the order include rehousing an additional 1,400 households, preventing homelessness for more than 8,000 households, investing $20 million made available during the 2025-2027 biennium to support intensive Permanent Supportive Housing, expanding behavioral health capacity, and improving coordination between housing and health care systems.
The Governor’s action also releases $19 million from previously allocated funds for expanding community capacity to serve individuals connected with the justice system who are unable to aid and assist in their own defense. These immediate investments bring 36 transitional housing beds to Clackamas County and 72 additional beds consisting of secure and non residential treatment facilities.
The emergency order takes effect immediately and remains in place through January 10, 2027, unless modified or terminated earlier. Governor Kotek will reassess the order every two months to ensure it reflects current conditions and progress.
“REACH supports Governor Kotek’s decision to extend Oregon’s homelessness state of emergency and her continued leadership in strengthening the systems needed to keep people housed,” said Margaret Salazar, CEO of REACH Community Development. “As an affordable housing provider, we know that housing alone is not enough for individuals with serious behavioral health needs; it must be paired with coordinated, ongoing services to succeed. The Governor’s commitment to expanding intensive Permanent Supportive Housing, improving transitions from hospitals and treatment settings into housing, and further aligning housing and health care systems will help ensure that people can stabilize, remain housed, and avoid cycling through crisis systems. This extension reflects both the progress made and the reality that sustained, integrated solutions are still urgently needed.” — Text of EO 26-01 can be found here.
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)
Governor Kotek Issues Statement in Response to Shooting Involving Federal Officers
Portland, OR – Governor Tina Kotek issued the following statement in response to news that two people were shot and injured by federal agents in Portland’s Hazelwood Neighborhood.
“We are all shaken and outraged by another terrible, unnecessary violent event instigated by the reckless agenda of the Trump administration, this time in our own state, in our largest city, coming just one day after the tragedy in Minnesota.
“While details remain limited, one thing is clear: when a president endorses tearing families apart, and attempts to govern through fear and hate rather than shared values, he fosters an environment of lawlessness and recklessness.
“I am aligned with Mayor Wilson: the priority right now is a full, completed investigation, not more detentions. The Attorney General, district attorneys, and I have been clear about our concerns with the excessive use of force by federal agents in Portland, and today’s incident only heightens the need for transparency and accountability. Oregonians deserve clear answers.
“There are those who want to cause chaos. But Oregonians know how to stand up and speak out, peacefully. We must remain united in peaceful opposition to efforts to tear our communities apart and turn against one another. We will not take the bait.
“I am grateful to the first responders who have been on the frontline of today’s events. The state will continue to support Portland, and stand united with Minnesota
Border Patrol agents shot 2 people in East Portland during ‘targeted traffic stop,’ DHS says
In a statement, Mayor Keith Wilson called for a halt on ICE operations in Portland, asking Portlanders to show up with “calm and purpose” after the shooting.
U.S. Border Patrol agents shot two people during an attempted traffic stop in East Portland on Thursday afternoon. Police found a man and a woman injured after they drove away from the scene of the shooting and called for help.
The shooting comes just days after an incident in Minneapolis where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good during a similar interaction, as she was behind the wheel of an SUV.
In both instances, the Department of Homeland Security claimed that the drivers tried to harm federal law enforcement officers with their vehicles.
According to a statement from the Portland Police Bureau, officers responded at 2:18 p.m. to Southeast Main Street near I-205, the location of Adventist Health Portland, for a report of the shooting. Officers confirmed at the scene that federal agents were involved in the shooting, which happened in the hospital parking lot.
At 2:24 p.m., police learned that a man who had been shot was calling to request help near Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside. Portland police officers responded and found a man and a woman with apparent gunshot wounds.
PPB said they applied a tourniquet and called for emergency medical assistance. Both patients were taken to the hospital, and PPB said their conditions are unknown. Police confirmed they were connected to the shooting involving federal agents.
“We are still in the early stages of this incident,” said Chief Bob Day. “We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more.”
In a statement, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said that both of the people shot were affiliated with the gang Tren de Aragua:
“At 2:19 PST, U.S. Border Patrol agents were conducting a targeted vehicle stop in Portland, Oregon. The passenger of the vehicle and target is a Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring and involved in a recent shooting in Portland. The vehicle driver is believed to be a member of the vicious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. When agents identified themselves to the vehicle occupants, the driver weaponized his vehicle and attempted to run over the law enforcement agents.
“Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired a defensive shot. The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene. This situation is evolving and more information is forthcoming.”
According to two law enforcement sources familiar with the matter who spoke with NBC News reporters Andrew Blankstein and Jonathan Dienst, the stop on Thursday was part of a special operation detachment in something called “Operation Oregon.” (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.
Oregon recorded the highest proportion of inbound movers in the country last year, as indicated by a recent survey, suggesting that the state’s population decline may be nearing its conclusion.
Interstate moving company United Van Lines published its yearly moving survey, which illustrates migration trends throughout the United States.
Oregon led the rankings for the percentage of inbound movers, with 64.5% of individuals relocating to the state, while 35.5% departed. (New Jersey maintained its position as the state with the highest outbound moves for the eighth consecutive year, according to United Van Lines, with 62.3% of movers leaving the Garden State.)
United Van Lines based its findings on over 100,000 shipments to perform the nationwide survey, as stated by a spokesperson. In Oregon, the research encompassed around 2,000 shipments and survey participants.
The future of the recently approved gas tax increase in Oregon remains uncertain as the Secretary of State examines nearly 200,000 signatures submitted by the organization No Tax Oregon.
Should a sufficient number of signatures be validated, voters will have the opportunity next November to determine whether to repeal the gas tax and other transportation-related fee hikes enacted by the legislature. Proponents of the taxes argue that the revenue is essential for road maintenance and to avert job reductions at the Oregon Department of Transportation. State officials are required to finalize the signature verification process by January 29.
Oregon has enhanced its online voter registration system in anticipation of a crucial election season, enabling eligible voters without a state-issued ID to register digitally for the first time.
Voters can access the system via sos.oregon.gov by navigating to the voting section of the website.
Applicants lacking an Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles number can now indicate this directly on the form and proceed with the online registration process. These users are required to provide their name, residential address, date of birth, the last four digits of their Social Security number, and an uploaded image of their signature.
This modification arises from House Bill 4133, which was enacted by lawmakers in 2022. Previously, online registration was restricted to voters whose identity and signature had already been authenticated through the DMV. Individuals without qualifying identification were obligated to fill out a paper registration form, which was subsequently processed by county elections offices.
State election officials indicate that this update aims to modernize the registration system and eliminate obstacles for eligible voters, including those who no longer drive, have never possessed an Oregon driver license, or encounter difficulties registering by mail.
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
