UPDATE: 10/22/24 3:00pm

Josephine County Search and Rescue, with assistance from Oregon State Police's airplane, Del Norte County Search and Rescue, and US Forest Service, successfully located Donald and Eric Pratt.  They are both safe. 

Donald Pratt

Age: 71

Sex: Male

Race: White

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 240

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Brown

Eric Pratt

Age: 39

Sex: Male

Race: White

Height:6'4"

Weight: 300

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Brown

On October 20, 2024, Donald and Eric Pratt went hunting.  Their vehicle was captured on cameras heading out to the Illinois Valley early that morning.  It is believed they went up Lone Mountain Rd in O'Brien and may be near the Sourdough Campground.  They are in a white Toyota pickup with a white canopy, Oregon plate 267 CZH.

Please contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with any information.

Phone: 541-474-5123

Case: 24-25041

POLICE POLICY COMMITTEE

MEETING SCHEDULED

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Police Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting on November 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167.

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training will be live streaming all public meetings via YouTube. Meetings will no longer be streamed on Facebook. To view the Police Policy Committee's live-stream and other recorded videos, please visit DPSST’s official YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.

1. Introductions

2. Approve August 22, 2024, Meeting Minutes

3. Administrative Closures Consent Agenda (The following items to be ratified by one vote) 
    Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

    a) Kevin Bare; DPSST No. 57118
        Basic Police Certification

    b) Mark Chase; DPSST No. 21133
        Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory, Management, and Executive Police Certifications

    c) Stephen Craig; DPSST No. 37427
        Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory Police Certifications

    d) Derek Domhoff; DPSST No. 55869
        Basic and Intermediate Police Certifications

    e) Christian Lopez; DPSST No. 59360
        Basic Police Certification

4. Joshua Boatner; DPSST No. 49403; Silverton Police Department 
   Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

5. Mark Chase; DPSST No. 21133; Gervais Police Department
   Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

6. Christopher Daugherty; DPSST No. 57782; Umatilla Tribal Police Department
    Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

7. Troy Gainer; DPSST No. 39919; Scappoose Police Department
    Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

8. Matthew McCandless; DPSST No. 55017; Toledo Police Department
    Presented by Melissa Lang-Bacho

9. Applicant Review Committee Nominations

10. Agency Update

11. Next Police Policy Committee Meeting – February 20, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law and it will be recorded. Deliberation of issues will only be conducted by Police Policy Committee members unless permitted by the Chair. Individuals who engage in disruptive behavior that impedes official business will be asked to stop being disruptive or leave the meeting. Additional measures may be taken to have disruptive individuals removed if their continued presence poses a safety risk to the other persons in the room or makes it impossible to continue the meeting.

Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is warning Oregonians about the prevalence of affinity fraud in the U.S. 

Generally, affinity fraud is a type of investment fraud and occurs when the fraudsters target victims based upon shared characteristics. These scammers often pose as or become members of the same group they intend to defraud, such as religious organizations, military organizations, ethnic groups, immigrant communities, or even professional organizations such as teachers’ unions. At its core, affinity fraud exploits the trust and friendship that exist in groups of people who have something in common. Fraudsters use a number of methods to get access to the group. A common way is by enlisting respected leaders from within the group to spread the word about the scheme. Those leaders may not realize it is actually a scam, and they may become unwitting victims of the fraud themselves. 

Due to the tight-knit nature of many groups, it can be difficult for regulators or law enforcement officials to detect an affinity scam. Victims often hesitate to report the fraud, and instead attempt to resolve the issue within the group. This is particularly true where the fraudsters have used respected community or religious leaders to convince others to join the investment.

In the area of investments, affinity fraud generally involves either a fake investment or an investment in which the fraudster lies about important details (such as the risk of loss, the track record of the investment, or the background of the promoter of the scheme). Many affinity frauds are Ponzi or pyramid schemes, in which money given to the promoter by new investors is paid to earlier investors to create the illusion of a successful investment. This tactic encourages new investors into investing in the scheme, and lulls existing investors into believing their investments are safe. 

While in many cases the invested funds are also used for the fraudster’s personal expenses and may fund lavish lifestyles, Ponzi schemes can evolve from what was originally legitimate investments. Often this occurs when the investment fails to perform as expected. In order to keep the investment going in hope that things will turn around, the perpetrator uses new investors’ money to pay off existing investors who may be growing suspicious. Eventually, when the supply of investor money dries up and current investors demand to be paid, the scheme collapses and investors discover that most or all of their money is gone. 

“The strength of affinity fraud lies in how it preys on trust within communities,” said DFR Administrator TK Keen. “We want Oregonians to ask tough questions about investment opportunities, especially if the offer sounds too good to be true. Unfortunately, these offers can sometimes come from familiar sources and have devastating consequences.” 

According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), here are a some tips to avoid becoming a victim of an affinity fraud scam: 

• Even if you know the person making the investment offer, be sure to research the person’s background, as well as the investment itself – no matter how trustworthy the person who brings the investment opportunity to your attention seems to be. Be aware that the person telling you about the investment may have been fooled into believing that the investment is legitimate when it is not.
• Never make an investment based solely on the recommendation of a member of an organization or group to which you belong. This is especially true if the recommendation is made online. An investment pitch made through an online group of which you are a member, or on a chat room or bulletin board catered to an interest you have, may be a fraud.
• Do not fall for investments that promise spectacular profits or “guaranteed” returns. Similarly, be extremely leery of any investment that is said to have no risks. Very few investments are risk-free. Promises of quick and high profits, with little or no risk, are classic warning signs of fraud.
• Be skeptical of any investment opportunity that you can’t get in writing. Fraudsters often avoid putting things in writing. Avoid an investment if you are told they do not have time to put in writing the particulars about the investment. You should also be suspicious if you are told to keep the investment opportunity confidential or a secret.
• Don’t be pressured or rushed into buying an investment before you have a chance to research the “opportunity.” Just because someone you know made money, or claims to have made money, doesn’t mean you will, too. Be especially skeptical of investments that are pitched as “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities, particularly when the salesperson bases the recommendation on “inside” or confidential information.

Two recent cases the SEC prosecuted were one involving a CEO operating multimillion dollar Ponzi scheme that targeted Filipino-American community and another involves the SEC freezing assets of investment adviser charged with defrauding elderly clients.

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of fraud can contact DFR’s consumer advocates at 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or .financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov">dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov. 

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About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and www.dcbs.oregon.gov.​​

La División de Regulación Financiera de Oregon advierte sobre fraude de afinidad 

Salem - La División de Regulación Financiera (DFR) advierte a los habitantes de Oregon sobre la prevalencia de fraude por afinidad en los Estados Unidos. 

El fraude de inversión por afinidad es un tipo de fraude que ocurre cuando un estafador se aprovecha de los miembros de un grupo que tienen algo en común. Los estafadores se hacen miembros o se hacen pasar por miembros del mismo grupo con la intención de defraudar. A menudo son grupos religiosos, militares, o grupos de comunidades étnicas o inmigrantes, incluso organizaciones profesionales como sindicatos de maestros. El fraude por afinidad explota la confianza y la amistad que existe dentro de los grupos de personas que tienen algo en común. Los estafadores usan varios métodos para obtener acceso al grupo. Una forma común es reclutar a líderes respetados dentro del grupo para difundir el plan de la inversión fraudulenta. Muchas veces el líder se convierte en víctima del plan del estafador. 

Debido a que estas comunidades son muy unidas, puede resultar difícil para los reguladores o los funcionarios encargados de hacer cumplir la ley detectar una estafa de afinidad. Las víctimas a menudo no denuncian el fraude, en cambio, intentan resolver el problema dentro del grupo. Esto es especialmente cierto cuando los estafadores han utilizado líderes comunitarios o religiosos respetados para convencer a otros de unirse a la inversión.

En el ámbito de las inversiones, el fraude por afinidad implica una inversión falsa o una inversión en la que el estafador miente sobre detalles importantes (como el riesgo de pérdida, el historial de la inversión o el historial del promotor del plan). Muchos fraudes de afinidad son esquemas Ponzi o pirámides, en las que el dinero entregado al promotor por nuevos inversores se paga a inversores anteriores para crear la ilusión de una inversión exitosa. Esta táctica anima a nuevos inversores a invertir en el plan y adormece a los inversores existentes haciéndoles creer que sus inversiones son seguras. 

Los esquemas Ponzi pueden evolucionar a partir de lo que originalmente eran inversiones legítimas. A menudo, esto ocurre cuando la inversión no rinde como se esperaba. Para mantener la inversión con la esperanza de que las cosas mejoren, el estafador utiliza el dinero para crear una ilusión de ganancias pagando a los nuevos inversores con los fondos depositados por inversores existentes.  Con el tiempo los inversionistas empiezan a desconfiar o la oferta de dinero de los inversores se agota y los inversores actuales exigen que se les pague, el plan colapsa y los inversores descubren que la mayor parte o la totalidad de su dinero se ha desaparecido porque el estafador se ha quedado con la mayor parte para uso personal  financiando así  un estilo de vida lujosa para el estafador.

“La fuerza del fraude por afinidad radica en cómo se aprovecha de la confianza dentro de las comunidades,” dijo el administrador del DFR, TK Keen. “Queremos que los habitantes de Oregon hagan preguntas difíciles sobre las oportunidades de inversión, especialmente si la oferta parece demasiado buena para ser verdad. Desafortunadamente, estas ofertas a veces pueden llegar de fuentes conocidas y tienen consecuencias devastadoras.”

Según la Comisión de Bolsa y Valores de Estados Unidos (SEC), estos son algunos consejos para evitar ser víctima de una estafa de fraude de afinidad:

• Incluso si conoce a la persona que le ofrece la inversión, asegúrese de investigar sus antecedentes y también la inversión, sin importar que tan confiable parezca ser la persona que le presenta la oportunidad de inversión. Tenga en cuenta que la persona que le habla de la inversión puede haber sido engañada y haber creído que la inversión es legítima cuando no lo es.

• Nunca realice una inversión basándose únicamente en la recomendación de un miembro de una organización o grupo al que pertenece. Esto es especialmente cierto si la recomendación se hace en línea. Una propuesta de inversión realizada a través de un grupo en línea del que usted es miembro, o en una sala de chat o un tablero de anuncios sobre un interés que usted tiene, puede ser un fraude.

• No se deje engañar por inversiones que prometen ganancias espectaculares o retornos “garantizados”. Del mismo modo, desconfíe mucho de cualquier inversión que se diga que no tiene riesgos. Son muy pocas las inversiones que están libres de riesgos. Las promesas de ganancias rápidas y elevadas, con poco o ningún riesgo, son señales clásicas que advierten   fraude.

• Desconfíe de cualquier oportunidad de inversión que no pueda obtener por escrito o que no pueda obtener comprobantes de la inversión. Los estafadores a menudo evitan poner las cosas por escrito. Evite una inversión si le dicen que no tienen tiempo para poner por escrito los detalles sobre la inversión. También debe sospechar si le dicen que mantenga la oportunidad de inversión confidencial o en secreto.

• No se deje presionar ni apresurar a comprar una inversión antes de poder   investigar la “oportunidad”. El hecho de que alguien que usted conoce haya ganado dinero, o afirme haberlo hecho, no significa que usted también lo hará. Sea especialmente desconfiado con las inversiones que se presentan como oportunidades “únicas en la vida”, en particular cuando el vendedor basa su recomendación en información “privilegiada” o confidencial.

Cualquier persona que crea que puede haber sido víctima de fraude puede comunicarse con los representantes de servicio al  consumidor de DFR al 1-888-877-4894 (sin costo) o .financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov">dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

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Acerca de Oregon DFR: La División de Regulación Financiera es parte del Departamento de Servicios al Consumidor y los Negocios , la mayor agencia de regulación de negocios y protección al consumidor de Oregon. Visite dfr.oregon.gov y www.dcbs.oregon.gov.

Pendleton, Oregon – The Oregon Heritage Commission will meet Nov. 3-4 in Pendleton and online. The agenda includes an update on Northwest Digital Heritage, discussion on recommendations from the draft 2024 Oregon Heritage Vitality Report, discussion on the 2026-2030 Oregon Heritage Plan process, and a presentation from the Oregon Cultural Trust.

This meeting is open to the public and there is an opportunity at the beginning of the meeting for public comment in person and online. For online attendance, registration is required. To view the full agenda and/or to register for the virtual meeting option visit here. 

Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling (503) 986‐0690 or emailing y.Newcomb@oprd.oregon.gov">Mary.Newcomb@oprd.oregon.gov at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting.

The Heritage Commission’s nine Governor appointed members represent a diversity of cultural, geographic, and institutional interests. The Commission’s nine advisory members include representatives from the Oregon State Library, Oregon State Archives, State Historical Records Advisory Board, Higher Education Coordinating Committee, Travel Oregon, Oregon Historical Society, Department of Education, State Historic Preservation Office, and the Department of Land Conservation and Development. 

The Commission is the primary agency for coordination of heritage activities in the state. This includes carrying out the Oregon Heritage Plan, increasing efficiency and avoiding duplication among interest groups, developing plans for coordination among agencies and organizations, encouraging tourism related to heritage resources, and coordinating statewide anniversary commemorations.

More information about the Oregon Heritage Commission is available online at www.oregonheritage.org and from Commission coordinator Katie Henry at 503-877-8834 or katie.henry@oprd.oregon.gov. 

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SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) invites all members of the media to tour the state Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) during the IronOR 24 exercise from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

This tour will provide an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the ECC in action during the IronOR 24 exercise and will offer insights into how Oregon is preparing to respond to a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.

Space is limited, so we encourage you to RSVP at your earliest convivence. We look forward to hearing from you.  

More about IronOR 24

This four-day exercise is designed to test Oregon’s capabilities and readiness in responding to a catastrophic Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) Earthquake.  

Building upon the Cascadia Rising 2016 exercise, which simulated the immediate response to a Cascadia up to day 3. IronOR 24, scheduled for October 28-31, 2024, will focus on continued operations Day 4 through Day 7 of the disaster response.

The exercise will evaluate the state’s ability to maintain operational coordination, ensure critical communication systems remain functional, and develop a strategy for human impacts during these critical days of response.

OEM has developed a dedicated online storyboard for IronOR 24, which serves as a central hub for exercise planning, updates and resources. This tool supports participating agencies and provides non-participating organizations with critical context about the exercise. 

Read more details about the exercise on the OEM Newsroom Blog.

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The Oregon Department of Emergency Management leads statewide efforts to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from emergencies. By fostering collaboration with partners and the community, OEM ensures that Oregon is ready to respond to any disaster. 

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University’s Multicultural Student Services and Programs (MSSP) hosted its annual Diversity Scholars recognition celebration for the 2024-2025 academic year dedicated to celebrating students’ academic excellence and commitment to diversity.

The Diversity Scholars Program provides academic and personal support to students who have been recognized for their academic excellence and their commitment to diversity. The MSSP organization provides opportunities to explore and participate in activities that allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and appreciation of diversity and inclusion.

Students eligible to become Diversity Scholars must have been awarded the Diversity Commitment Scholarship, which requires students to demonstrate ways they’ve promoted diversity in their community, or the David S. Brody Scholarship, geared toward first-generation students and members of embers of underrepresented ethnic minority groups.

"I am incredibly proud of our students for their commitment to achieving these scholarships,” said Anna Hernandez-Hunter, director of Multicultural Student Services & Programs. “Many of our Diversity Scholars are first-generation college students, embarking on a unique journey in higher education that will undoubtedly create a lasting, positive impact on their lives and their families."

The Diversity Scholars recipients are as follows:

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction. Where YOU belong.

Malheur County, Ore 20 Oct 24- On Sunday, October 20, 2024, at 9:34 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 84, near milepost 373, in Malheur County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a Chevrolet Silverado, operated by Traci Nichole Dripps (55) of Nampa (ID), was travelling eastbound in the westbound lanes when it struck a westbound Ford F-350, operated by Mason Allen Orme (32) of Huntington, head-on.

Oregon State Police had received a driving complaint about the wrong way driver approximately six minutes before the crash occurred and law enforcement was en route at the time of the crash.

The operator of the Chevrolet (Dripps) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Ford (Orme) was life flighted to an area hospital with serious injuries.

The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

OSP was assisted by Ontario Fire, Ontario Police Department, Malheur County Sheriff's Office, and ODOT.

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About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that protects Oregon's people, wildlife, and natural resources. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon. 

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is offering unlimited spots for partners and allies in Oregon to attend the Point Source Youth Innovation Summit. This conference will be held Jan. 14-15, 2025, in Portland.

Point Source Youth (PSY) is a national leader in supporting young people experiencing homelessness. The conference will bring together youth advocates, service providers, and leaders from across the country to share best practices for ending youth homelessness. This includes innovative strategies like Direct Cash Transfers and Youth Advocacy.

Larry Cohen, co-founder and executive director of PSY, shares, "We are excited to bring our Innovation Summit to Portland. This is a chance for funders, young people, and service providers to come together to find new ways to prevent and end youth homelessness. Our research shows that giving young people the support and cash they need can make a big difference in their lives. This summit will highlight how we can expand these impactful approaches."

Claire Seguin, director of ODHS Self-Sufficiency Programs, adds, "We are thrilled to bring this event to Oregon. Our Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (YEHP) team has been closely involved in these national efforts. This summit is a great opportunity to learn more about what’s working across the country and to strengthen Oregon’s commitment to ensuring every young person has a safe and supportive place to call home."

Register today and use the promo code OREGON100 at checkout for free registration.

For more information about youth work in Oregon, visit the ODHS Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program web page.

Umatilla County, Ore 19 Oct 24- On Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 9:15 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Interstate 84, near milepost 178, in Umatilla County.

The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Ford F150, operated by Christopher Ralph Knowles (56) of Cherry Valley (AR), left the eastbound lanes for unknown reasons, crossed the grass median and westbound lanes before striking a bridge support. The collision caused the vehicle to become engulfed in flames.

The operator of the Ford (Knowles) was declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was impacted for approximately 3.5 hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

OSP was assisted by Umatilla County Fire District 1 and ODOT.

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About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that protects Oregon's people, wildlife, and natural resources. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon. 

Update: The deceased suspect is identified as Francisco Campos (36) of Woodburn (OR).

Lincoln County, OR 19 Oct 24- Oregon State Police investigating deadly use of force in Lincoln County.

On Saturday, October 19^th,2024, at approximately 12:22 p.m., the Lincoln City Police Department responded to report of a domestic disturbance between a male and female at the Motel 6, located at 3517 NW Highway 101, in Lincoln City, OR. Officers responded to the motel, identified the suspect, and discovered outstanding warrants for his arrest. The occupants of the room also appeared to be associated with a stolen vehicle located in the parking lot of the hotel. 

At approximately 13:04 p.m., Lincoln City Police officers contacted the male suspect in the hotel room and he was noncompliant. During the contact, the suspect had two firearms in his waistband which he reached for and was shot by officers.

First aid was rendered at the scene and the suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The suspect's identification has not been released due to difficulties in making next of kin notification.

Per the Lincoln County Deadly Force Response Plan under Senate Bill 111, the Lincoln County Major Crime Team was activated for the investigation and the Oregon State Police has taken the role of the lead investigating agency. The Oregon State Police is being assisted by the Newport Police Department, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln City Police Department, the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office, and the Lincoln County Medical Examiner’s Office.

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About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that protects Oregon's people, wildlife, and natural resources. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon. 

MONMOUTH, Ore. — Western Oregon University and Xicha Brewing, the Pacific Northwest’s only Latiné brewery located in West Salem, Oregon, collaborated on a Western Oregon University-specific beer called Mi Familia, representing the familial and close-knit community that the university prides itself on and celebrating the Latiné community.

The Mi Familia Pilsner is a special brew created exclusively for WOU Athletics. This refreshing pilsner features Amarillo hops from Coleman Agriculture’s Alluvial Hop Farm in Independence—just ten miles from campus—combined with malt from Prairie Malt, ensuring a local touch in every sip.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Western Oregon University, which is poised to be the first four-year public institution with Hispanic Serving Institution designation in Oregon, to establish a scholarship supporting Latiné student-athletes,” said Ricardo Antunez, co-founder of Xicha Brewing. “This collaboration allows us to offer resources essential for their success.”

A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the beer will be donated towards supporting scholarships for Latiné student-athletes. Obtaining the Hispanic Serving Institution status will provide Western with additional grant funding opportunities to support Latiné student college success.

“We are excited to partner with Xicha Brewing to raise scholarship funds in support of our  Latiné student-athletes,” said Vice President of Advancement & Executive Director of the WOU Foundation, Katie Wojke. “This collaboration will help provide more resources and support necessary for our students’ success on and off the field. Together, we’re opening doors and creating a brighter future for the next generations of leaders.”

This Mi Familia Pilsner will be unveiled at Western’s homecoming football game (starts at 1:05 p.m.) on October 26 in the beer garden from noon onward and will also be on tap at Rookie’s Sports Tap in Monmouth. Homecoming events, including the football game, are open to the public. Get your homecoming football tickets today.

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction. Where YOU belong.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

Media Hotline: 503-813-6018  

YREKA, CA (October 21, 2024) — Pacific Power customers in California can expect to see a credit of $174.25 on their October electricity bill as part of California's efforts to fight climate change The California Climate Credit is a direct result of the State’s nation-leading Cap-and-Trade Program that requires polluters to pay for climate pollution. Credits are distributed in April and October each year. Credits appear automatically on your bill and are designed to help utility customers during the transition to a more sustainable future. 

The majority of Pacific Power’s proceeds are split evenly across each residential household and qualifying small business. About 20% of the total proceeds are used for clean energy and energy efficiency programs, administrative and outreach expenses and California Industry Assistance, which helps to keep manufacturers in California. 

The California Climate Credit is designed to help customers as the state transitions to a low-carbon future. Each year, the state issues a limited number of greenhouse gas emission allowances in line with California’s goal of reducing its overall emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.

Customers can call Pacific Power at 888-221-7070 for information about their bill and can learn more about the California Climate Credit at the CPUC website.

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ASHLAND, Ore. – The Oregon Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment were formally mobilized during a ceremony held at Raider Stadium on the campus of Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, Oregon, on October 20, 2024.

Nearly 205 Citizen-Soldiers will be part of a Multinational Force and Observers Mission in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. The unit’s primary mission will be to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and employ best efforts to prevent violation of any of its terms.

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Released imagery from ceremony: 

241020-Z-CH590-1005: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment stand in formation as their mobilization ceremony begins on October 20, 2024 on the campus of Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, Oregon. The 1-168th Infantry Regiment is scheduled to deploy to the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. The unit’s primary mission will be to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and employ best efforts to prevent violation of any of its terms. (National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

241020-Z-CH590-1046 and 241020-Z-CH590-1170: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon, delivers formal remarks to the Soldiers, family members and others in attendance as the presiding officer for the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment during their formal mobilization ceremony held on the campus of Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, Oregon on October 20, 2024. The 1-168th Infantry Regiment is scheduled to deploy to the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. The unit’s primary mission will be to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and employ best efforts to prevent violation of any of its terms. (National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

241020-Z-CH590-1133: Oregon Army National Guard senior leaders and members of the Official Party (left to right) Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, Battalion Commander, Brig. Gen. Eric J. Riley, Oregon Army National Guard Land Component Commander, and Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon, render a hand salute during the playing of the National Anthem as part of the mobilization ceremony held for the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment on October 20, 2024 on the campus of Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, Oregon. (National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

241020-Z-CH590-1140 and 241020-Z-CH590-1143: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, render a hand salute during the playing of the National Anthem as they take part in their formal mobilization ceremony on October 20, 2024 held on the campus of Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, Oregon. The 1-168th Infantry Regiment is scheduled to deploy to the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. The unit’s primary mission will be to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and employ best efforts to prevent violation of any of its terms. (National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

241020-Z-CH590-1188: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon, greets Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment in a receiving line following their formal mobilization ceremony held on the campus of Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, Oregon on October 20, 2024. The 1-168th Infantry Regiment is scheduled to deploy to the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. The unit’s primary mission will be to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and employ best efforts to prevent violation of any of its terms. (National Guard photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

Video B-Roll: https://dvidshub.net/r/zwdw7c

SALEM, Ore. – A mobilization ceremony for the Oregon Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment (1-186th) will be held at Raider Stadium on the campus of Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, Oregon at 11:00 a.m., on Sunday October 20, 2024.

Nearly 205 Citizen-Soldiers will be part of a Multinational Force and Observers Mission in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. The unit’s primary mission will be to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and employ best efforts to prevent violation of any of its terms.

“Citizen-Soldiers from Southern Oregon have a rich tradition of stepping up when called upon,” said Oregon Army National Guard Col. Paul Dyer, commander (rear), 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. “The 1-186 Infantry proudly represents so many incredible communities from Roseburg to Ashland, and I cannot thank the local communities enough for their overwhelming support as the unit continues to add to their storied legacy.”

The 1-186th Infantry Regiment has previously mobilized to support both homeland and overseas missions to include: Security augmentation for the 2021 Presidential Inauguration in Washington D.C., COVID-19 operational support in Oregon, and federal deployments supporting Overseas Contingency Operations in the Horn of Africa from 2019-2020, in Afghanistan from 2014-2015, and in Iraq from 2009-2010.

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Oregon Military Department File Images: 

100424-A-5611R-0001: Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Gregory Day, Commander, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, leads his unit during a parade through Medford, Ore., on April 24, 2010. The unit demobilized during a ceremony following their 400-day deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the largest mobilization of Oregon Guard members since World War II. (File photo by Sgt. Eric Rutherford, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

191013-Z-YK984-0001: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment stand at attention for the mobilization ceremony on October 13, 2019 in Ashland, Oregon. The 1-168th Infantry Battalion is scheduled to deploy to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. (File photo by Capt. Jessica Clarke, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

200818-Z-CH590-0046: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers from the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team are greeted as they return home to the Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport, Ore., on Aug. 18, 2020, after their deployment in Africa. The Oregon Guardsmen are returning in groups throughout the month of August, and were assigned to Task Force Djibouti, Africa for nine months are part of the second largest mobilization of Oregon troops since World War II. (File photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

210324-Z-CH590-0038: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment prepare to depart Medford, Ore., for Washington D.C., on March 24, 2021. Approximately 75 Citizen-Soldiers from Oregon will help to support security efforts in the National Capital Region. (File photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

210820-Z-ZJ128-1004: Julie Hale, Director of Support Services, conducts a walk-through familiarization of Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center for a group of leaders from 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment Soldiers in Medford, Ore., on Aug. 20, 2021. The group mobilized as part of a statewide effort to help Oregon hospitals with support functions due to a reported increase in COVID-19 cases, and staff shortages. (File photo by Maj. Chris Clyne, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs) 

220217-Z-CH590-0050: Oregon Army National Guard Capt. Christopher Campbell prepares to cut the ribbon for the new Army National Guard recruiting facility in Medford, Ore., on Feb. 17, 2022. Members of the Chamber of Commerce, Major Randy Sparacino and others helped celebrate the official opening during the afternoon open house event. (File photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

Detectives with the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) have been investigating the recent alleged illegal activities of 50 year old Glenn Gearhart of Bell Gardens, California.  Detectives received information that Gearhart was a very dangerous individual who recently moved here from California, and he was in possession of several firearms, and was routinely selling large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the greater Roseburg area.  A check of Gearhart's criminal history revealed he is a multiple times convicted felon from California, with multiple convictions for crimes of violence, including with the use of firearms.  Gearhart has spent the bulk of his adult life in the California prison system.  

During the course of the investigation, detectives were able to corroborate much of this information, to include suspicion of high level drug trafficking activity and illegal firearms activity.  On Friday, October 18th, detectives obtained a search warrant for Gearhart, as well as the apartment he's been living in at 100 block of Page Road in Winchester.  

At approximately 4:40 PM, detectives located Gearhart leaving the residence in Winchester, driving a late model Jeep Cherokee.  Detectives asked for assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office to help get Gearhart stopped and detained.  Detectives had reason to believe Gearhart was in possession of illegal firearms and large quantities of narcotics, and was considered armed and dangerous.  Gearhart was reported to have made statements that if he is caught again he would go to prison for the rest of his life, and therefore he would not be taken alive.

Deputies attempted a traffic stop on Gearhart on NE Stephens St near Exchange Ave in Roseburg, with plans to conduct a high risk traffic stop.  Gearhart failed to yield to the deputies, and a pursuit ensued.  Gearhart led deputies on a pursuit through the north Roseburg area, driving onto Stewart Parkway, to Edenbower Blvd, then Aviation Drive, and back to Stewart Parkway.  Gearhart continued into the neighborhood areas around Alameda Street and Vine Street and eventually hit a curb causing damage to his vehicle.  Gearhart's vehicle was still somewhat functional and he continued to flee from deputies.  Gearhart turned onto Garden Valley from Vine Street and sideswiped an uninvolved vehicle near the intersection with NE Stephens St.  There Gearhart was slowed by traffic congestion and deputies had the opportunity to pin Gearhart's vehicle with patrol vehicles both in front, and behind.  Gearhart was confronted by multiple deputies, Roseburg PD officers, and DINT detectives.  Gearhart at first was non-compliant but he eventually gave up and was removed from the vehicle and taken into custody without further incident.  

During a search of Gearhart's vehicle, detectives found a Glock .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine, an illegal short barrel shotgun, an AR-15, a pump action shotgun, and a toy gun, along with a large sum of cash.  The Glock handgun returned as a stolen firearm from Los Angeles, California.  

Detectives returned to the residence in the 100 block of Page Road to search the residence.  There they contacted and detained 34 year old Hannah Fallert.  

A search of the residence revealed a large cache of narcotics to include:  608 grams (1.3 lbs) of suspected fentanyl, 734 grams (1.6 lbs) of suspected methamphetamine, 51 grams of cocaine, 369 dosage units of alprazolam, and 12.5 grams of psilocybin mushrooms.  

Glenn Gearhart was lodged at the Douglas County Jail on the following charges:

• Attempt to Elude Police Officer
• Recklessly Endangering Another Person (multiple counts)
• Reckless Driving
• Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Sch. II Contr Subst (Fentanyl)
• Unlawful Manufacture of Methamphetamine, and Sch. II Contr Subst (Fentanyl)
• Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Sch. II Contr Subst (Fentanyl), 
• Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Sch. II Contr Subst (Fentanyl) Within 1,000' of a School
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm (4 counts)
• Theft I by Receiving (Stolen Firearm)
• Unlawful Possession of a Short Barrel Firearm

Hannah Fallert was lodged at the Douglas County Jail on the following charges:

• Unlawful Possession of Sch. II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl)
• Unlawful Delivery of Sch. II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl)
• Unlawful Delivery of Sch. II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl) Within 1000' of a School

DINT is continuing the investigation into Gearhart's alleged distribution of controlled substances that may be related to an ongoing overdose death investigation. Additional arrests are anticipated. 

The Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach.  DINT is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and is composed of members from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department, Oregon State Police, Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, and the Bureau of Land Management.

The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including DINT.

MEDFORD, Ore.— A federal jury found a KlamathFalls, Oregon man guilty after he kidnapped and sexually assaulted two women, and held one in a cell he constructed in his garage.

Negasi Zuberi, 30, also known as Justin Joshua Hyche, was found guilty of kidnapping, transporting a victim for criminal sexual activity, and illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on July 15, 2023, while in Seattle, Zuberi posed as a police officer and used a taser and handcuffs to detain his victim in the backseat of his vehicle. Zuberi then transported the victim approximately 450 miles to his home in Klamath Falls, stopping along the way to sexually assault her.

When Zuberi arrived at his residence, he moved the victim from his vehicle into a cell he had constructed in his garage.The woman repeatedly banged on the cell door until it broke open and she escaped. The victim retrieved a handgun from Zuberi's vehicle, fled his garage, and flagged down a passing motorist who called 911.

The next day, on July 16, 2023, Reno Police Department officers and Nevada State Patrol officers located Zuberi in a parking lot in Reno, Nevada. After a short standoff, Zuberi surrendered to law enforcement and was taken into custody.

While investigating Zuberi's crimes, federal agents discovered that approximately six weeks prior to the kidnapping in Seattle, on May 6, 2023, Zuberi kidnapped and sexually assaulted another victim. While being held by Zuberi, his first victim observed stacked cinder blocks in his garage that he later used to construct the cell where he detained his second victim.

On August 2, 2023, a federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment charging Zuberi with kidnapping and transporting a victim with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Later, on February 15, 2024, a second kidnapping charge and charges for illegallypossessing firearms and ammunitionand attempted escape were added by superseding indictment.

Kidnapping is punishable by up to life in federal prison and transporting a victim across state lines with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity by up to 10 years. Illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and attempted escape are punishable by up to 15 years. 

This case was investigated by the FBI Portland Field Office, Klamath Falls Police Department, and Oregon State Police with assistance from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada;Klamath County District Attorney's Office; Reno, Nevada Police Department; Washoe County,Nevada District Attorney's Office; and Nevada State Police. It was prosecuted by Jeffrey S. Sweet, Marco A. Boccato, and Nathan J. Lichvarcik, AssistantU.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, with assistance from Appellate Chief Suzanne Miles, also of the Districtof Oregon.

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PLEASE NOTE: The venue for the Jackson County public hearings has moved to the following location:

1st Phoenix Community Center
The Fellowship/Dining Room
121 W. Second St.
Phoenix

SALEM, Ore. – Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) has published a draft Action Plan Amendment for a $422 million disaster recovery grant and is seeking public input on the changes. Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) is administered through a suite of programs, also known as “ReOregon,” that support individuals, households, and communities as they continue to recover from the 2020 Labor Day wildfires and straight-line winds.  

OHCS is seeking public comment on the draft Action Plan Amendment, which reallocates program funds to create additional opportunities for renters and expands recovery options for Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program applicants. A short summary of the key elements of the plan and the entire draft Action Plan Amendment is available for review on OHCS’ website at https://re.oregon.gov.  

"We know those who are of low incomes were disproportionately impacted by the 2020 Labor Day Disasters,” said OHCS Deputy Director Caleb Yant. "These proposed program changes will create new programs to provide more resources for renters and homeowners such as rental and down payment assistance, and counseling services.”  

Members of the public are invited to provide their input on the draft Action Plan Amendment through a 30-day comment period, during which OHCS will seek input through public hearings, online form, email, mail, or telephone. The hearings will include a short presentation by OHCS officials, followed by public feedback. Printed copies of the plan will be available by request. 

The public hearing schedule is as follows: 

For those who cannot attend in person, a virtual hearing on Zoom will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30. Please register to attend. 

“We strongly encourage members of the public, especially direct survivors of the wildfires, to provide their input on how these program changes may affect their recovery,” said Neil Barrett, external affairs officer for Disaster Recovery and Resilience at OHCS. “The most effective policies are the ones informed by those with lived experience.”  

All of the information presented at the public hearings will be available on the ReOregon website at re.oregon.gov. Spanish translation services will be available at all of the public hearings. Please email hcs_housinginfo@oregon.gov if you need special accommodations.  

In addition to providing comment at the hearings, the public will be able to do so by: 

• E-mail: hcs_housinginfo@oregon.gov
• Online form: 
  • English: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/595b3469a058469e9b296542f3b7251e 
  • Spanish: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/db5e76cc2e8947c1a73eeb3114eff277 
• Phone: 877-510-6800
• Mail: OHCS, 725 Summer St. NE, Suite B, Salem, OR 97301-1266

All comments must be submitted to OHCS no later than 11:59 p.m. Nov. 8, 2024. 

After the 30-day public comment period, feedback will be incorporated into the plan before OHCS submits it to HUD for review and approval, which can take up to 45 days. As required by HUD, OHCS will address all comments received.  

To learn more about ReOregon programs, visit re.oregon.gov or sign up to receive e-mail notifications. 

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.  

9 de octubre de 2024 

Cambio de sede en el condado de Jackson; Se solicita opinión pública para una propuesta de Enmienda Sustancial al Plan de Acción de los $422 millones para la recuperación de desastres

Se programan audiencias públicas para los días 22-24 y 28-30 de octubre

TENGA EN CUENTA: El lugar de celebración de las audiencias públicas del condado de Jackson se ha trasladado a la siguiente ubicación:

1st Phoenix Community Center
The Fellowship/Dining Room
121 W. Second St.
Phoenix

SALEM, Ore. – El Departamento de Vivienda y Servicios Comunitarios (OHCS, por sus siglas en inglés) ha publicado una propuesta de Enmienda al Plan de Acción para la subvención de recuperación de desastres de $422 millones y solicita opinión pública ante los cambios. 

El Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de Estados Unidos (HUD, por sus siglas en inglés) otorgo los fondos para la Subvención en Bloque para el Desarrollo de la Comunidad. El dinero se administra a través de un conjunto de programas, también conocidos como “ReOregon”, que apoyan a las personas, hogares y comunidades a medida que continúan recuperándose de los incendios forestales del Día del Trabajo de 2020 y los vientos en línea recta. 

OHCS solicita comentarios del público sobre la propuesta de Enmienda al Plan de Acción, que reasigna fondos del programa para crear oportunidades adicionales para los inquilinos y amplía las opciones de recuperación para los solicitantes del Programa de Asistencia y Reconstrucción para Propietarios de Vivienda. En el sitio web de OHCS, https://re.oregon.gov, se puede consultar un breve resumen de los elementos clave del plan y la propuesta completa de la Enmienda al Plan de Acción. 

“Sabemos que las personas con bajos ingresos se vieron desproporcionadamente afectadas por los desastres del Día del Trabajo de 2020”, dijo el subdirector de OHCS, Caleb Yant. “Estos cambios que estamos proponiendo crearán nuevos programas para proporcionar más recursos a los inquilinos y propietarios de vivienda, tales como asistencia para el alquiler y el pago inicial, y servicios de asesoramiento”. 

Se invita a los miembros de la comunidad a dar su opinión sobre la propuesta de Enmienda al Plan de Acción a través de un período de comentarios de 30 días. OHCS solicitará comentarios a través de audiencias públicas, formulario en línea, correo electrónico, correo postal o teléfono. Las audiencias incluirán una breve presentación de parte de funcionarios de OHCS, seguida de comentarios del público. Se podrán solicitar copias impresas del plan.

El calendario de audiencias públicas es el siguiente:

Para quienes no puedan asistir en persona, se llevará a cabo una audiencia por internet en Zoom de 6 a 8 p.m. el miércoles 30 de octubre. Por favor, regístrese para asistir.

“Animamos a los miembros de la comunidad, especialmente los supervivientes de los incendios forestales, a compartir su opinión sobre cómo estos cambios que estamos proponiendo para el programa pueden afectar su recuperación”, dijo Neil Barrett, oficial de asuntos externos para la División de Manejo y Recuperación de OHCS. “Las políticas más eficaces son las que se basan en las experiencias vividas”. 

Toda la información presentada en las audiencias públicas estará disponible en el sitio de internet de ReOregon, re.oregon.gov. En todas las audiencias públicas habrá servicios de traducción al español. Si necesita algún servicio especial, envíe un correo electrónico a hcs_housinginfo@oregon.gov. 

Además de presentar comentarios en las audiencias, el público podrá hacerlo a través de:

• Correo electrónico: hcs_housinginfo@oregon.gov
• Formulario en internet:
  • Inglés: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/595b3469a058469e9b296542f3b7251e
  • Español: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/db5e76cc2e8947c1a73eeb3114eff277
• Teléfono: 877-510-6800
• Correo Postal: OHCS, 725 Summer St. NE, Suite B, Salem, OR 97301-1266

Todos los comentarios deben enviarse a OHCS antes de las 11:59 p.m., 8 de noviembre de 2024. 

Después que termine el período de 30 días, los comentarios públicos recibidos se incorporarán al plan antes de que OHCS lo presente a HUD para su revisión y aprobación, lo que puede tardar hasta 45 días. Tal y como exige HUD, OHCS dará seguimiento a los comentarios recibidos. 

Para obtener más información sobre los programas ReOregon, visite re.oregon.gov o inscríbase para recibir notificaciones por correo electrónico.

Acerca del Departamento de Vivienda y Servicios Comunitarios de Oregon (OHCS)   

OHCS es la agencia de financiación de viviendas de Oregón. La agencia estatal proporciona apoyo financiero y de programas para crear y preservar oportunidades de vivienda a precio asequible y de calidad para los habitantes de Oregón con ingresos bajos y moderados. OHCS administra programas que proporcionan estabilización de la vivienda. OHCS ofrece estos programas principalmente a través de subvenciones, contratos y acuerdos de préstamo con organizaciones locales y proveedores comunitarios. Para obtener más información, visite: oregon.gov/ohcs.  

Jackson County, Ore 17 Oct 24- On Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 2:58 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy 140, near milepost 31, in Jackson County.

The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Chevrolet Colorado, operated by Fabiola Salcedo (42) of Dorris (CA), lost control and spun into the westbound lane where it was struck by a westbound Subaru Forester, operated by Danny Ray Ebert (74) of La Pine, on the passenger side.

The operator of the Chevrolet (Salcedo) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Subaru ( D. Ebert) and passenger, Phyllis Ann Ebert (77) of La Pine, both suffered minor to serious injuries and were transported to an area hospital.

The highway was impacted for approximately 2.5 hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is believed to be related to roadway conditions and speed.

OSP was assisted by Jackson County Fire District 3, Lakecreek Fire Department, and ODOT.

# # #

  
About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that protects Oregon's people, wildlife, and natural resources. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon. 

Klamath County, Ore 17 Oct 24- On Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 9:33 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Hwy 97, near milepost 272, in Klamath County.

The preliminary investigation indicated southbound Freightliner and trailer, operated by Usman Ahmad (36) of Sacramento (CA), struck a pedestrian, Christian Lee Cleven Corwin (38) of Klamath Falls, who entered the lane of travel.

The pedestrian (Cleven Corwin) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Freightliner (Ahmad) was not injured.

The highway was impacted for approximately one hour during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Klamath County Fire District 1, Klamath Falls Police Department, and ODOT.

# # #

  
About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that protects Oregon's people, wildlife, and natural resources. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon. 

(Updated to include correct link for online meeting)

CURRY COUNTY, Oregon— Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking to understand how Curry County residents and visitors would like to enjoy and conserve the 20 state parks in Curry County through an online survey and three public meetings this month.

This feedback is the first of several opportunities to provide input during the two-year process to update the Curry County State Parks Master Plan adopted in 2003. The master planning process is an opportunity to assess natural, cultural and recreation resources as well as management goals and community needs. 

The draft master plan is slated to be finished in late 2025 and will provide a 20-year vision with a menu of options that can be implemented over time as funds become available. 

The public is invited to share feedback on how they use state parks in Curry County now as well as opportunities for the future. Options to provide feedback include:

Online

• Survey runs now through Nov. 15: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QMBPQC5
• Online meeting noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28. Advance registration is required: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-ARfEKFsQXK9aJebLGgTHA

In-person meetings

• Noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Southwestern Oregon Community College, 96082 Lone Ranch Pkwy, Brookings
• 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Port Orford Public Library, 1421 Oregon St, Port Orford

During each meeting, OPRD will share information about the master planning process and offer opportunities for community feedback and questions. 

Oregon State Parks properties in Curry County include Cape Blanco, Humbug Mountain, Otter Point, Cape Sebastian, Pistol River, Samuel H. Boardman, Harris Beach, Crissey Field, Alfred A. Loeb and several others.

Once OPRD gathers this initial feedback, staff will incorporate it into the plan development. There will be additional opportunities to provide feedback during the planning phase and then again when the draft plan is available. 

The draft master plan will balance the feedback received from stakeholders throughout the planning process. The management goals, strategies and development concepts proposed will incorporate priorities and concerns heard throughout the process. 

Once the final draft master plan is complete, it will be be presented to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission for adoption.

For more details and information, follow the draft master planning process on our website: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/28dcf2137d3a4edfbe647ed660de3091

October 18, 2024

Media contact: Franny White, anny.l.white@oha.oregon.gov">franny.l.white@oha.oregon.gov, 971-349-3539

More insurers reward providers for health care quality, but many not meeting value-based payment goals

Medicaid insurers most likely to use value-based payments; 24% of insurers did not use them in 2022

SALEM, Ore. — While many Oregon insurers are increasingly rewarding health care providers for the quality of care they deliver, only about half of the state’s insurers are meeting the goals of an agreement that calls for adopting more value-based health care payments, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) analysis of insurance payment data indicates. Value-based payments tie the amount that health care providers earn for their services to the results their patients experience, including the quality, equity and cost of care.

“Paying health providers based on care quality is a key tool in improving health care,” said Ali Hassoun, interim director of the health policy and analytics division at OHA. “Focusing on health care quality helps patients receive better care at a more affordable price. I applaud insurers that adopt this innovative approach.”

Historically, health care providers have been compensated for the volume of health care services that they deliver through fee-for-service payments. Alternatively, value-based payments offer financial incentives for improving the quality — and ideally also the affordability and equity — of health care. There are several approaches to making value-based payments, they can broadly all improve health outcomes, reduce expensive emergency room visits, and ultimately save both insurers and patients money.

In 2021, OHA and Oregon Health Leadership Council announced that 40 organizations had agreed to voluntarily follow the Oregon Value-Based Payment Compact. More groups joined later; a total of 63 organizations have signed the compact to date. The document’s signatories represent the state’s major insurers, which cover about two-thirds of Oregonians. The voluntary compact calls for gradual increases in health insurance payments that are made under advanced value-based payment models. For example, it stipulates that the following percentages of insurance payments be advanced and value-based per year: 35% in 2021, 40% in 2022, and 70% by 2025. The most recent available data are for 2022.

The compact is part of broader efforts in Oregon to prevent health care costs from growing faster than wages and the economy. Through its Sustainable Health Care Cost Growth Target Program, OHA aims to limit annual health care spending increases to no more than 3.4% per person.

Payment data analysis described in a recent OHA brief shows that about half of Oregon health insurers met the compact’s interim goal of having 40% of all payments use advanced value-based models in 2022. OHA analysts also found that roughly half of insurers met the state’s cost-growth target goal of keeping spending within a 3.4% increase that same year. About 18% of insurers met both the value-based payment and cost-growth management goals, while about 24% did not use any value-based payment methods in 2022.

Related OHA analysis that was compiled into a report with an interactive, online data dashboard also found Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs), or insurers that cover Oregonians with Medicaid insurance, were most likely to use value-based payments. In 2022, 60% of CCOs used advanced value-based payment models, followed by 40% of insurers with Medicaid Advantage plans, and 33% of commercial insurers.

The report also notes that CCOs and Medicare Advantage insurers have increased their use of value-based payment models since 2019. During that same timeframe, the use of these models by commercial insurers and the state-managed Public Employees Benefit Board and Oregon Educators Benefit Board fluctuated.

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At 11:33 p.m. on October 17, 2024, Roseburg Fire Department personnel responded to a reported residential structure fire at 933 NE Grandview Drive.  A reporting party notified Douglas County Emergency Communications two residents were heard screaming from the back of the structure and were possibly still located inside the structure at the time of the 911 call. Dispatch notified responding units that it was unknown if all residents had evacuated the structure. 

While firefighters were responding to the residential fire, two Roseburg Police Department officers arrived on scene of the fire.  An officer heard a scream at the back of the structure and was able to locate the two occupants at the back of the home.  The occupants were able to escape the burning structure out the backside of the structure.

Upon arrival on scene, firefighters found a single story, residential structure with heavy fire and smoke coming from the residential structure, as well as a carport and the front engine compartment of a vehicle located in the driveway. 

Firefighters conducted a primary and secondary search, extinguished the fire, and completed extensive overhaul.   The home, carport, and vehicle all sustained structural, smoke, and water damage.  The displaced family included two adult residents.  Personnel from Adapt were able to assist the displaced residents with temporary housing.  Unfortunately, one family cat did not survive the fire.

A fire investigator was on scene and the exact cause of the fire is under investigation. Thirteen firefighters assisted with firefighting operations.  Other agencies assisting with the fire included Umpqua Valley Ambulance, Central Douglas Fire & Rescue, Roseburg Police Department, Adapt, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and Pacific Power. 

The Roseburg Fire Department would like to remind everyone of the importance of working smoke alarms and ensuring you have the appropriate number of smoke alarms installed in the home.  Remember to make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area and in every bedroom.  Roseburg Fire Department recommends that homeowners consider a home fire sprinkler system for increased protection.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Robert D. Joiner, died the morning of October 17, 2024. Joiner was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) in Salem and passed away in at a local hospital. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

Joiner entered DOC custody on October 3, 2006, from Grant County with an earliest projected release date of April 6, 2027. Joiner was 71 years old. Next of kin has been notified.

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of approximately 12,000 men and women who are incarcerated in 12 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

OSP is a multi-custody prison located in Salem that houses approximately 2,000 adults in custody. OSP is surrounded by a 25-foot-high wall with 10 towers. The facility has multiple special housing units including disciplinary segregation, behavioral health, intermediate care housing, and an infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care. OSP participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including the furniture factory, laundry, metal shop, and contact center. It provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, work-based education, work crews, and pre-release services. OSP was established in 1866 and, until 1959, was Oregon’s only prison.

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October 18, 2024

Media Contact: Amy Bacher, acher2@oha.oregon.gov">amy.bacher2@oha.oregon.gov

Tribal communities in Oregon will now be able to cover traditional health care practices through the Oregon Health Plan

Salem, OR –  The Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon, in partnership with OHA, have received approval for traditional health care practices to be covered through the Oregon Health Plan (OHP/Medicaid) and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

American Indian and Alaska Natives experience higher health disparities and a lower life expectancy than most other populations. There is a direct correlation between historical trauma and negative health outcomes. Better understanding of where ongoing health disparities stem from, acknowledges the true history of the nation and state.

Honoring Tribal Traditional Healing Practices with the Tribes of Oregon demonstrates a commitment by the state and federal government to support Tribes for improving health in tribal communities utilizing their own Tribal Based Practices.

“It is long overdue that we recognize and provide true support for traditional health care practices and providers in Oregon’s tribal communities,” said Emma Sandoe, Oregon’s Medicaid director. “This will help improve the quality of care, healthy outcomes and access to culturally appropriate health for tribal communities in the state.”

Tribes in Oregon, tribal entities and other academic advisors have met regularly since 2003 to gather information about indigenous practices within tribal communities that improve life and health outcomes. OHA has recognized those as Oregon Tribal Based Practices and supported Tribes to utilize those practices, in many areas of health, with contracts and grant funding. It has been a long-standing goal to have some of those practices become Medicaid reimbursable. Because of those efforts, Oregon has become one of the first four states in the nation to receive a first-ever approval to cover traditional health care practices provided by Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities, Tribal facilities, and the Urban Indian Organization (UIO).

Julie Johnson, a member of the Ft. McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, and OHA’s Tribal Affairs Director stated, “This is a great day for Tribal Health Programs! Our ancestors gave us the strength to endure survival for thousands and thousand of years, utilizing our traditional medicines, our cultural ways of life, our teachings of healing and wellness. We are grateful for our partnerships with the Nine Tribes in Oregon and our Urban Indian Health Program. They are the experts in our tribal communities, and we will continue to look to our elders, cultural keepers and tribal leaders to guide this work to improve health in Oregon.”

OHA will work closely with tribal partners toward implementation. Other states among the first to be approved include Arizona, California and New Mexico.

For additional information about Oregon’s approval, please visit the approval on Medicaid.gov.    

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Salem – Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has proclaimed Oct. 21-25 as Community Bank Week. The week honors local banks and their employees for their economic and civic contributions in communities across the state.

Oregon community banks provide more than 4,800 family wage jobs through more than 325 branch and loan offices throughout the state. Community banks play an essential role in promoting the economic health and prosperity of the state, making over half of the bank loans made to small businesses. In some communities, they are the sole provider of banking products and services and sometimes the largest employer. Community banks donate millions of dollars each year to nonprofits and local organizations.

“Community banks are an integral part of Oregon’s overall economy through their community giving, dedication as good neighbors, and above all, their critical role in providing reliable financial services to Oregonians,” said Gov. Kotek. “We recognize community banks for their ongoing commitment to the economic vitality of local communities in Oregon.”

“Our state banks play a vital role in Oregon’s economy and continue to support small businesses and agriculture in Oregon, as well as provide banking services and create thousands of jobs,” said TK Keen, administrator for DFR. “State banks are also invested in their communities through their significant volunteer hours, food drives, and shred events. ”

State-chartered banks throughout Oregon are celebrating Community Bank Week in their local neighborhoods. To learn more about Oregon's state-chartered banks, go to https://www.oregonbankers.com/local.html.

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About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon's largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit www.dcbs.oregon.gov and dfr.oregon.gov.

October 17, 2024

Media contacts:

Erica Heartquist, OHA, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Marc Siegel, ODE, c.siegel@ode.oregon.gov">marc.siegel@ode.oregon.gov

Stephanie Condon, ADPC, stephanie.condon@oha.oregon.gov

State agencies release synthetic opioid prevention lessons, updated fentanyl toolkit for Oregon schools

Lessons and Toolkit help districts educate students about fentanyl and opioid dangers, and develop policies and practices for substance use prevention and response

PORTLAND, Ore.— As fentanyl keeps showing up in a variety of drugs on the illicit market, state agencies are continuing their effort to help Oregon educators engage with students about the drug’s dangers – and preventing and responding to fentanyl overdoses – with the release of synthetic opioid prevention lessons and an updated Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools.

“The dangers of fentanyl have no age boundaries,” Gov. Tina Kotek said. “We must support the critical role that schools play in substance use prevention and intervention for students. The updated lesson plans and toolkit are a result of multiple state agencies coming together to collaborate on how we can best protect young Oregonians, and I’m grateful for their work on these vital resources.”

Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Education and the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission partnered on these opioid/fentanyl prevention and intervention resources. This cross-agency collaboration with school and community partners to prevent substance use among youth and young adults will continue with the release of additional instructional materials and professional learning resources throughout the school year.

“Responding to the opioid crisis requires all hands on deck,” said ADPC Director Annaliese Dolph. “Leaders in government, healthcare, education and other fields all have a role to play when it comes to helping Oregon’s young people understand and navigate the risks of substance use. Equipping educators with the resources to have those conversations with students – particularly about synthetic opioids – is an essential piece of the puzzle.”

School-based drug education plays important role in youth overdose prevention

School-based prevention efforts such as health education, plays an important role in preventing and delaying first use of drugs and interrupting the development of substance use-related problems affecting youth and their families.

During Oregon’s 2023 legislative session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 238, requiring OHA, the State Board of Education via ODE, and ADPC to co-develop curricula supplements on the dangers of synthetic opioids and legal protections in place for people who report substance use or who seek medical treatment for drug or alcohol overdoses.

“The lesson plans and Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools are just two elements of a larger, comprehensive effort to improve fentanyl awareness and, more broadly, prevent harmful substance use among Oregon’s young people – a priority that OHA, ODE and ADPC collectively share,” said OHA Director Sejal Hathi, M.D.

Required Synthetic Opioid Prevention Lessons

ODE collaborated with OHA and ADPC to develop the required lessons per Senate Bill 238. These lessons are available on the ODE Health Education webpage and incorporate: 

• Youth-designed approaches with space for dialogue, relevant information, and Oregon data.
• Research-based practices that emphasize the importance of promoting strengths-based norms rather than shame or fear-based tactics, skills-based learning over awareness-raising, and connecting to broad prevention efforts within the school and community.
• Alignment with the 2023 Oregon Health Education Standards.

Beyond these required lessons, House Bill 5204 (2024) provided funding to ODE for additional curriculum supplements on the dangers of synthetic opioids. ODE will be sharing these resources along with professional learning opportunities in the year to come. ODE will be seeking feedback regarding the lessons for continuous improvement during this pilot year.

“These lesson plans help empower our students with the most up-to-date information to protect themselves and their friends from harmful substances,” ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams said. “I want to thank the Oregon Legislature for providing us with the framework in Senate Bill 238 and our partners at the Oregon Health Authority and the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission for all their work collaborating on the lesson plans and toolkit that will save lives in Oregon. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with school and community partners to prevent substance use among youth and respond to the evolving substance use landscape in Oregon.”

Updated Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools, access to overdose reversal medication

The updated 2024 Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools offers resources schools can use to educate the community about the impact of fentanyl and opioids; develop school policies and practices to prevent and respond to opioid overdoses; and build community partnerships for a comprehensive substance use prevention and intervention approach. The updates to the original 2022 toolkit include additional resources based on developing science and practices in substance use prevention and intervention, and recently passed state legislation that requires districts to share information to parents about opioid overdose reversal medications.

In addition to the updated toolkit, schools have access to naloxone through the Save Lives Oregon Harm Reduction Clearinghouse. Naloxone can save lives by reversing an opioid overdose. As of September 2024, about 125 school districts and Education Service Districts have requested and received naloxone kits. Each kit includes a wall-mounted naloxone box and eight doses of nasal naloxone.

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Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) will be hosting an Innovation Hub on Monday, Oct. 28, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The event will be held virtually due to logistical issues. It was originally scheduled to be at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland. This year’s theme is “Can innovative technologies make green finance better?”

The virtual event will be hosted by Nicole Ferroux, a senior policy advisor at DFR and Innovation Hub liaison, and will include two panel discussions: Artificial Intelligence and Green Finance, and Blockchain and Green Finance. After the two panel discussions, DFR Administrator TK Keen will host an executive chat with Washington State Department of Financial Institutions Director Charlie Clark. Their discussion will center on regulating the use of innovative technologies in green finance.

“We are always looking for ways to encourage innovation in Oregon, particularly green finance innovations that help us combat climate change,” Keen said. “Our Innovation Hub has allowed us to keep numerous conversations with stakeholders on green finance and green innovations going, and the OMSI event is another avenue for engagement on this important topic.”

The first panel includes Jon Down, professor at the University of Portland and founder of Gen AI Corp.; Josh Cole, business operations lead at Modernist Financial; and Kirsten Anderson, deputy administrator at the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation.

The second panel includes Alex Murray, assistant professor of management and director of the Intelligent Futures Lab at the University of Oregon; Mike Zajko, co-founder of Lattice Capital; and Brooke Pollack, founder and managing partner at Hutt Capital.

What does this year’s theme, “Can innovative technologies make green finance better?” really mean?

“Green finance, which includes any financial product or service created to encourage the development of a more sustainable economy, has come under some deserved scrutiny in recent years,” Ferroux said. “Greenwashing scandals, questions regarding the longevity of the financial outcomes associated with these products, and a variety of regulatory issues have raised the question of whether green finance will continue to grow or will shrink away as a fad. This year’s event explores whether innovative technologies – namely artificial intelligence and blockchain technology – can help industry and regulators overcome these challenges to move this sector forward.”

For more information about the event, including the Zoom and registration links and the bios of each speaker, visit the DFR website.

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About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

UPDATE
A suspect in this case has been identified; no further tips are needed. We appreciate the public's assistance and thank everyone who turned in tips.

NORTHEAST OREGON, 11 Oct. 2024—The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help to identify a suspected poacher. The individual was hunting in Northeast Oregon over the Labor Day weekend and is believed to be associated with a white late-model GMC or Chevy full-size, four-door pickup truck with tinted windows. 

The suspect shot a mature bull elk with archery equipment and began recovering the meat. However, when an Oregon State Trooper arrived in the area, the individual left the area without taking any portion of the elk, leaving all the meat and the antlers behind. The subject did not return while troopers were on scene for several hours salvaging what they could of the meat.

Potential charges include failing to retrieve edible portions of wildlife and waste of wildlife. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sr. Trooper Kris Davis via the TIP line at 1-800-452-7888 or OSP (677) from a mobile phone. Tips may also be submitted to TIP@osp.oregon.gov.  Individuals with information may remain anonymous. 

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators 

The Turn In Poachers (TIP) program is a collaboration among the Oregon State Police, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Wildlife Coalition, Oregon Outfitter and Guides Association, and the Oregon State Marine Board. 

The TIP program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuing a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of big game mammals.  

Preference Point Rewards
5 Points: Bighorn Sheep
5 Points: Rocky Mountain Goat
5 Points: Moose
5 Points: Wolf
4 Points: Elk
4 Points: Deer
4 Points: Pronghorn Antelope
4 Points: Bear
4 Points: Cougar

The TIP program also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of the following fish and wildlife species. Cash rewards can also be awarded for habitat destruction, illegally obtaining hunting or angling licenses or tags, lending or borrowing big game tags, spotlighting, or snagging.

Cash Rewards

Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) cash rewards:
$2,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, or Moose 
$1,000 Elk, Deer, or Antelope 
$600 Bear, Cougar, or Wolf
$300 Habitat destruction 
$200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags
$200 Unlawful lending/borrowing big game tag(s)
$200 Game Fish & Shellfish
$200 Game Birds or Furbearers
$200 Spotlighting
$200 Snagging/Attempt to Snag

Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC) Cash Rewards:
$500 Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey
$500 Cougar, Bobcat, Beaver (public lands only), Black bears, Bighorn Sheep, Marten, Fisher, Sierra Nevada Red Fox
$1,000 Species listed as “threatened" or “endangered" under state or federal Endangered Species Act (excludes fish)

Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA) Cash Rewards:
$200 Acting as an Outfitter Guide for the Illegal Killing of Wildlife, Illegally Obtaining Oregon Hunting or Angling Licenses or Tags, or Illegally Offering to Act as an Outfitter Guide as defined in ORS 704.010 and 704.020.

How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity: 
TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or OSP (677)
TIP email: TIP@osp.oregon.gov (monitored Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
For more information visit: www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/fw/Pages/tip.aspx

# # #

About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that protects Oregon's people, wildlife, and natural resources. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon.

(Salem) – October’s Safe Sleep Awareness Month is an opportunity to educate families about sleep practices that can prevent sudden unexpected infant death. Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), which includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), is the leading cause of injury death in infancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 3,400 infants die from SUID each year, with numbers in Oregon averaging about 40 per year. 

Many parents from a range of cultural backgrounds sleep with their babies at some point during their child’s infancy. However, SUID rates for American Indians, Alaskan Natives and Non-Hispanic Black infants are more than twice those of white infants, pointing to persistent racial and ethnic disparities. To address these disparities, all Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Child Welfare caseworkers receive training on how to engage families in discussion about safe infant sleep in a culturally responsive manner. When appropriate, caseworkers are encouraged to connect families to culturally responsive organizations and Tribes across the state such as the Healthy Birth Initiatives, Well Mama, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and others to help parents make informed decisions and reduce risk.

“Safe sleep is a priority at ODHS Child Welfare, because education and awareness can save lives,” Child Welfare Director Aprille Flint-Gerner said. “When we work with culturally responsive community partners and build trust with families, we can be more effective in improving infant safety.” 

A national public health awareness campaign sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics reduced sleep-related infant deaths by 60 percent in the 1990s, but decreases have plateaued since 2000. ODHS works with the National Partnership for Child Safety, as well as state and other national partners, to promote updated recommendations in the Safely to their First Birthday practice and policy brief such as breastfeeding and ensuring infants sleep on their backs separately from caregivers in a crib to prevent risk of suffocation. Bed-sharing increases the risk of infant death by five to 10 times compared to infants who sleep in their own safe space. ODHS Child Welfare case managers can provide portable cribs with bassinet attachments that allow infants to be in their own space while remaining close to caregivers. About 500 portable sleep spaces are distributed by ODHS Child Welfare every year with over 2,800 provided since 2020.

Other resources offered through ODHS partners include support for lactation counseling, information on donor milk banks, and support for substance use problems. Infants who breastfeed are less likely to die from sleep-related infant death. While reasons for this are unclear, research suggests the increased wakefulness of breastfed infants may play a role. Human breast milk is less filling than formula, causing infants to wake up more frequently to feed. This can prevent them from falling into deep sleep which makes it harder to wake up if they stop breathing.

Oregon has a cross-system approach to reviewing fatalities and has become a leader in supporting other jurisdictions across the country to promote safe sleep. Education and training have shown results, with a decrease in infant fatalities reviewed by the ODHS Critical Incident Review Team (CIRT). As of October, there have been three infant deaths assigned for review by the ODHS Critical Incident Review Team. One of those deaths involved high-risk sleep practices while the other two are still pending investigation. In 2023, eight child fatalities reviewed by the ODHS Critical Incident Review Team were infants. Of those, six had high-risk sleep practices. In 2022, all 14 infants reviewed by the CIRT had high-risk sleep practices present at the time of the infant’s death. 

Key safe sleep recommendations:

• Use ABCDs of safe sleep to remember the key recommendations, which stands for babies safely sleeping: Alone, on their Back, in a Crib, and with caregivers who Don’t Smoke. 
• Use a crib, bassinet or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. Avoid sleeping on a couch or armchair or in a seating device, like a swing or car safety seat (except while riding in the car). 
• Keep loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, bumpers and other soft items out of the sleep space. 
• Breastfeed if possible and avoid smoking.

“We strive to reduce infant fatalities, and a big part of that is sharing this information so that all families are aware of what they can do to create a safe sleep environment and prevent the tragic loss of a child,” ODHS Child Welfare Director Aprille Flint-Gerner said. 

Resources

• To learn more about safe sleep practices and preventing sudden unexpected infant death, visit the Oregon Health Authority’s Safe Sleep for Babies information or the American Academy of Pediatrics website.
   
• Sign up for Bright by Text for prenatal and parenting tips specific to your child’s age. Text messages are available in Spanish and English.

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SALEM, Ore. - The Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal deployed an incident management team to North Carolina Thursday morning to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The storm caused catastrophic flooding to the western side of the state and cut off many communities from vital services. The North Carolina Emergency Operations Center says 90 people are still missing and many communities remain inaccessible.

The team is led by Incident Commander Ian Yocum and includes an operations section chief, plans section chief, and three logistics section chiefs. The six-person team will be working in Yancey County, northeast of Asheville. 

“I want to thank those who are headed to North Carolina to help in their time of need. We certainly understand how critical help can be when communities are devastated by a disaster on such a wide scale,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “I’ve been in contact with North Carolina State Fire Marshal Bryan Taylor who is appreciative of Oregon’s support. We can all be proud to work alongside those who continue to answer the call for assistance, especially after the many wildfire deployments our teams were on this summer.”

The Oregon State Fire Marshal incident management teams are no stranger to helping with hurricane recovery efforts. In 2022, a team, also led by Yocum, was deployed to Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

The team will be deployed to North Carolina until October 30 and will return to Oregon the next day. The Oregon State Fire Marshal has three all-hazard incident management teams trained in emergency response and recovery. The teams typically respond to wildfire and are equipped to handle a wide range of disasters. Learn more about the teams here.

The team was ordered through the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, the nation’s all hazard national mutual aid system. The compact provides help during governor-declared emergencies or disasters by allowing states to quickly send personnel, equipment, and supplies to support response and recovery efforts in other states.

SALEM COUNTY, Ore. 16 Oct. 2024 – There's a new furry recruit at Oregon State Police. She's excited to join her handler on Oregon's highways, and we need your help to give her an official name that is paw-some! 

Oregon youth, kindergarten through 5th grade, send in your ulti-mutt name for our fur-ever friend. The winning entry will be recognized with a round of a-paws and other fun prizes. 

Contest Rules:  

• Complete an entry form between Oct. 17-27, 2024.
  • https://bit.ly/OSP_K9Contest
• The contest is open to Oregon youth from kindergarten through 5^th grade. 
• One entry per student.
• Five names from the submitted entries will be selected to move forward for statewide voting.
• The student with the winning name entry will get to meet the K-9 and other recognition from OSP. 
• The school with the most participants will also be recognized by OSP. 

Who's ready fur some treats!

Learn more about our new K-9: https://youtu.be/3naO1tVKz2M

The K-9 is a two-year-old female Belgian Malinois from Blackwood Canine who is certified through the Oregon Police K-9 Association as a drug detection dog. She and her handler, Sr. Trooper Scott Show, are assigned to the Albany Patrol Office for drug detection along Interstate 5 and throughout the state.  

Sr. Trooper Show said, “I’m excited to have Oregon youth involved in naming our K-9. Kids come up with the best animal names and I’ll be happy with whatever they choose.” 

The contest opens at noon on Oct. 17, 2024, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 27, 2024. Entries must be received via OSP’s online entry form: https://bit.ly/OSP_K9Contest. 

# # #

 
About the Oregon State Police\
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that protects Oregon's people, wildlife, and natural resources. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon. Name Our K-9 Contest

Baker County, Ore 16 Oct 24- On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 9:20 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Interstate 84, near milepost 310, in Baker County.

The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Toyota T100, operated by Zachary Edward Schuringa (34) of Denver (CO), lost control, overcorrected into the median, and rolled before coming to rest. A passenger, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle during the rolling event.

The operator of the Toyota (Schuringa) was seriously injured and transported to an area hospital.

The passenger, Charlie Ann McDowell (29) of Lakewood (CO), was declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

OSP was assisted by ODOT.

# # #

  
About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that protects Oregon's people, wildlife, and natural resources. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon. 

October 17, 2024

Media contact: Franny White, anny.l.white@oha.oregon.gov">Franny.l.white@oha.oregon.gov, 971.349.3539

OHA sets 2025 rates for Oregon Health Plan care coordination, finds CCO profits narrowed after 2022

SALEM, Ore. – Oregon Health Authority (OHA) will pay 3.1.% more per month in 2025 for coordinated care organizations (CCOs) to provide Medicaid benefits to eligible Oregonians. As a result, OHA will pay an average of $529.89 per-member-per-month next year for CCOs to coordinate the medical, dental and behavioral health care services for most of the state’s Medicaid enrollees.

“CCO rates provide reliable funding that ensures eligible Oregonians can continue to access quality, comprehensive health care through Medicaid,” said OHA Director Sejal Hathi, M.D., M.B.A. “This funding anchors the important care coordination that CCOs provide as pandemic-era supports end and more people use health care services.”

In Oregon, Medicaid provides health coverage to about 1.4 million people, including low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities, regardless of their immigration status. Medicaid is administered by states according to federal requirements, and the program is jointly funded by states and the federal government.

OHA contracts with CCOs to coordinate health care for those who receive insurance through the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), the state’s Medicaid program. CCOs coordinate care for the vast majority of OHP members, or about 1.3 million people.

The per-member-per-month payments that OHA pays CCOs, also called CCO capitation rates, are updated annually based on CCO financial data. OHA developed 2025 capitation rates after analyzing CCO financial performance for 2023, the last year for which full financial data is available.

The state’s 16 CCOs collectively had a 2.2% consolidated operating margin in 2023, taking in a total of $173 million net operating income that year, according to a brief that OHA released this summer. While most CCOs had a net profit in 2023, four operated at a loss.

New, preliminary analysis also suggests that CCOs may experience lower profit margins this year. OHA analysts have calculated that Oregon CCOs collectively had a 1.3% consolidated operating margin through June 30, 2024, taking in a total of $50 million net operating income. Five CCOs reported having an operating loss during the first half of 2024 as part of the risk-based contracts. Full analysis of 2024 CCO financial performance will be released in 2025.

Recent CCO operating margins may have peaked at 4.6% in 2022, when fewer people accessed routine health care services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the apparent 2022 peak was comparatively lower than the highest-recorded 7.5% operating margin that CCOs collectively experienced in 2014, when the Affordable Care Act expanded Medicaid eligibility.

Other key CCO financial performance data from 2023 include:

• CCOs collectively spent 89% of their total revenue on member services in 2023.
• CCO total per-member-per-month spending on member services increased 3% annually from 2022, reaching an average of $428.90 per-member-per-month in 2023.
• CCO spending on substance use disorder and behavioral health care combined increased 22.5%. This growth was largely fueled by Oregon’s focus on both areas, including the passage of Oregon House Bill 5202 in 2022, which increased Medicaid behavioral health reimbursement rates on average by 30% for providers who work primarily in Medicaid.
• CCOs spent a total of $20.2 million toward the Supporting Health for All Through Reinvestment (SHARE) Initiative. For the first time in 2023, the SHARE Initiative began requiring CCOs to spend a portion of their net income or reserves on services to address health inequities and social determinants of health.
• CCO spending on health-related services, which improve health quality but aren’t covered by traditional Medicaid, hit a new high of $121 million – nearly double the amount spent in 2022.

The 2025 CCO capitation rates reflect new initiatives that will roll out in the coming months, including:

• Financial incentives for increasing dental care access for Medicaid patients in 2025. CCOs will facilitate additional payments for dentists who provide some preventive services to OHP members, and also pass along annual incentive payments to dentists who increase the number of OHP members they serve.
• Compensation for supporting OHP members’ health-related social needs beyond standard Medicaid benefits. For example, addressing housing and nutrition needs will be reimbursable for the first time in November 2024 through the state’s Medicaid 1115 Demonstration Waiver.
• Increased reimbursement for hospitals with more than 50 beds that provide psychiatric in-patient services.

While OHA normally aims to increase CCO capitation rates 3.4% annually, the 2025 rate increase has been set at 3.1% due to state funding constraints. OHA will continue to monitor CCO access to care data and measures to ensure members are able to receive timely, high-quality care.

Oregon Revised Statute 414.593 requires that CCO expenditures be made fully transparent and available to the public. Financial statements for all 16 CCOs can be found here.

On Wednesday, October 16^th, 2024, the Medford Police Department Domestic Violence Task Force worked with agencies throughout Jackson County, as well as agencies across the country, to arrest persons with outstanding family-violence related warrants.

Locally, 15 arrests were made during the sweep, on a variety of charges. 

Jackson County Sweep Stats:

23 total Law Enforcement Personnel Participated

4 Victim Advocates assisted with victim services.

Attempted Warrant Services – 73 total

Successful Warrants Served – 15 subjects arrested

Participating Agencies –

Medford Police Department

Ashland Police Department

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office

Talent Police Department

Jackson County Parole and Probation

Community Works

This nationwide collaborative effort helps raise awareness of the problem of family and domestic violence in our communities. It also demonstrates to offenders that they will be held accountable for their violence. The Medford Police Department is dedicated to holding those who commit domestic violence accountable. MPD employs a full time Domestic Violence Officer along with hosting an in-house Domestic Violence Advocate employed by Community Works.    

JCSO Case 24-5698

MOUNT ASHLAND, Ore. - Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies along with Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel are investigating an abandoned backpack located in the Grouse Gap Warming Shelter off the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) near Mt. Ashland. JCSO deputies and SAR teams are conducting a search of the area.

If you have lost your pack in that area or can identify the owner of the pictured pack please call the ECSO Dispatch non-emergency number at (541) 776-7206 and reference case 24-5698.

On Friday, Oct. 11 at 3:23PM, Medford Police Department responded to a fatal hit-and-run involving a vehicle and a bicyclist on South Pacific Highway.

Just prior to this collision, witnesses had called in to report the involved vehicle driving erratically and officers were responding to that report when the vehicle was reported to have drifted out of the lane of travel and struck the bicyclist. The driver of the vehicle did not stop but rather continued into a nearby parking lot where Medford Police Officers quickly located it and contacted the driver.

Despite officers' immediate response and attempts at life-saving measures on the bicyclist, 41-year old Jimilee “Jason” Thomas,  was pronounced deceased at the scene by responding medical personnel. 

The Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team was activated to assist with the investigation. After a lengthy and time intensive investigation, the team was able to determine that the driver of the vehicle (36-year-old Cassie Jane Cavagnaro) was believed to have been ingesting an inhalant (Dust-Off) just prior to the accident. The white van that Cavagnaro was driving left the roadway striking Thomas, who was legally operating his electric bicycle in the south-bound bike lane of S. Pacific Hwy. Cavagnaro then fled the scene and was contacted nearby. 

Cassie Jane Cavagnaro was lodged on a probation violation at the Jackson County Jail, and today, October 16, 2024,  the following charges were added:

-Manslaughter in the First Degree

-Manslaughter in the Second Degree

-DUII – Inhalant, Reckless Driving

-Recklessly Endangering Another Person

-Hit and Run – Felony. 

This case is being prosecuted by the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. 

We would like to extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the friends and family of the deceased. MPD Case Number 24-16747.   

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for stealing more than $147,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits from the Oregon Employment Department (OED).

Matthew Kemp, 41, was sentenced to six months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. Kemp was also ordered to pay $147,294 in restitution to the OED.

According to court documents, between July 2020 and January 2021, Kemp devised and carried out a scheme whereby he used the personal information of 17 people, including their dates of birth and social security numbers, to fraudulently apply for pandemic unemployment insurance benefits. Some individuals knew Kemp had used their personal information because he had promised to obtain benefits on their behalf while others were unaware.

To ensure the benefits went to him instead of the named applicants, Kemp requested the benefits be paid out by check or prepaid debit card, and put his own mailing address, email address, and phone number on the claims. If there was a delay or issue in processing his various fraudulent claims, Kemp called the OED and impersonated the named applicant to ensure he got (in his words) “my money.” 

On February 7, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a seven-count indictment charging Kemp with mail fraud, bank fraud, and theft of government funds. On June 14, 2024, Kemp pleaded guilty to theft of government funds.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG). It was prosecuted by Meredith D.M. Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

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SALEM, Ore. — The Regional Forest Practice Committee for northwest Oregon will meet at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24 at the ODF Forest Grove Office, 801 Gales Creek Road, Forest Grove, OR 97116. To join virtually, please use the Zoom video conference information found on the agenda. To provide public comment, please email estresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov">forestresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov. 

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Division updates
• Operator of the Year discussion and voting
• Forest Practice Technical Guidance (FPTG) development and stream flow permanence update
• E-Notification System (FERNS) changes
• Forest resources training strategy
• Compliance monitoring update

The public may attend in-person or online via Zoom. Public comments will be accepted. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 72 hours before the meeting by emailing estresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov">forestresources.committees@odf.oregon.gov.

Regional Forest Practices Committees are panels of citizens – mandated under Oregon law – that advise the Oregon Board of Forestry on current forestry issues and forest management approaches. In 1971, the legislature enacted Oregon’s Forest Practices Act which includes three Regional Forest Practices Committees, serving the Eastern, Northwest, and Southwest regions of the state. Under Oregon law, a majority of the committees’ members must be private forest landowners and logging or forest operations companies.

Oregon’s forests are among the state’s most valued resources, providing a balanced mix of environmental, economic, and social benefits. View more information on the RFPC webpage.

Governor Tina Kotek has officially proclaimed October 21-25, 2024 as Community Bank Week in Oregon, recognizing the essential role community banks play in supporting the economic vitality and growth of Oregon's local communities.

In her proclamation, Governor Kotek highlights the significant contributions of community banks, which have served the state for well over a century. These banks provide crucial financial services through over 325 branches and loan offices statewide, while employing more than 4,800 Oregonians in family-wage jobs. Community banks are not only integral to the financial health of Oregon’s small businesses—making over half of all bank loans to this sector—but are also important partners in local economic development efforts.

“Community banks are an integral part of Oregon’s overall economy through their community giving, dedication as good neighbors, and above all, their critical role in providing reliable financial services to Oregonians," said Governor Kotek. “We recognize community banks for their ongoing commitment to the economic vitality of local communities in Oregon.”

“We commend Governor Tina Kotek for her proclamation of ‘Community Bank Week in Oregon’ and for recognizing the vital role community banks play in fostering economic growth and supporting local communities across our state,” said Scott Bruun, president and chief executive officer of CBO and the Oregon Bankers Association.

The Community Banks of Oregon (CBO), which represents banks headquartered in the state of Oregon, encourages all Oregonians to join in this observance of Community Bank Week and take a moment to acknowledge the positive impact community banks have on their local economies, businesses, and families.

Members of CBO will be celebrating Community Bank Week by giving back to the communities they serve. Some of the activities include volunteering at local nonprofits, hosting food drives and offering free shred events where community members can have their sensitive documents securely destroyed and recycled.

For more information about Oregon Community Bank Week or to learn more about how community banks contribute to Oregon’s economy, please visit www.oregonbankers.com/local.

About the Community Banks of Oregon
Community Banks of Oregon (CBO) serves banks headquartered in Oregon. The principal mission of CBO is to support and promote community banking in Oregon. CBO advocates for community banks, provides a forum to address issues unique to community banks and promotes community banks through initiatives like Oregon Community Bank Week. More information is available at www.oregonbankers.com/local.

Tillamook County, Ore 16 Oct 24- Oregon State Police seeking public assistance in locating missing Vancouver (WA) man.

On Monday, October 7, 2024, Daniel Berry Neasbit (60) was reported missing to Oregon State Police. He was living out of his vehicle at the time of his disappearance. Neasbit's vehicle, a Blue Dodge Dakota bearing Washington license plate B82634R, was located on Hwy 101 near 31205 Hwy 101 N with a flat tire. He was not located with his vehicle.

Neasbit was last seen on October 2nd in the Nehalem area and last spoken to on October 3rd. Neasbit is described as a 60 year old male with brown hair, blue eyes and approximately 5'6" and 155 pounds. He may be clean shaven or have a grey beard about an inch long. 

Any person with information relating to Neasbit's whereabouts are asked to contact the Oregon State Police at 503-375-3555 or OSP from a mobile device and reference case #SP24329296.

# # #

  
About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that protects Oregon's people, wildlife, and natural resources. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon. 

SALEM, Ore. — The State Forests Advisory Committee will meet in the Tillamook Room, Building C, Oregon Department of Forestry, 2600 State Street in Salem on Friday, Oct. 25 at 9 a.m. A virtual option will be available via Zoom video conference, which can be found on the agenda. To provide public comment, please contact Emily Shook at 503-945-7363.

Agenda topics include:

• Fiscal Year 2024 accomplishment reports
• Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Operations Plan (AOP) public comments summary
• Implementation Plan (IP) revisions
• Forest Management Plan (FMP) modeling scenarios
• Peer Support Program
• Charter review
• Appointment renewals and recruitments

The meeting is open to the public to attend in-person or virtually via Zoom. Public comments will be accepted near the start of the meeting. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 72 hours before the meeting by contacting Emily Shook at 503-945-7363.

The State Forests Advisory Committee (SFAC) includes citizens and representatives of timber, environmental and recreation groups. SFAC provides a forum to discuss issues, opportunities and concerns, and offer guidance to ODF on the implementation of the Northwest Oregon State Forests Management Plan. The plan provides guidance for managing 616,000 acres within the Tillamook, Clatsop and Santiam State Forests, and several scattered state-owned forest tracts in Benton, Polk, Lincoln and Lane counties through a balanced approach to generate revenue while preserving environmental and social benefits. View more information on the SFAC webpage.

2024 Board on Public Safety Standards & Training

 and Policy Committee

Open Vacancy – Recruitments

The Board on Public Safety Standards & Training (BPSST) and established Policy Committees have open vacancies looking to be filled. The current vacancies are as follows:

BPSST: All Board applications must be submitted through Workday.com

• Representative of the collective bargaining unit that represents the largest number of individual workers in the DOC
• One member who is a district attorney recommended to the Governor by the Oregon District Attorneys Association

Policy Committees: All Policy Committee applications must be submitted by December 19, 2024.

Telecommunications Policy Committee:

• One person representing the public who has never been employed or utilized as a telecommunicator

Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee:

• One person representing the public who has never been employed or utilized as a private security provider or investigator
• One person representing the retail industry

Fire Policy Committee:

• One person recommended by and representing community college fire programs

To inquire about a vacancy, please visit Department of Public Safety Standards & Training : Board on Public Safety Standards & Training and Policy Committees : Boards and Committees : State of Oregon.

If interested in applying for a Policy Committee position, please complete and submit the Policy Committee Interest Form found under the ‘Board and Committee Resources’ section of the website listed above.

If interested in applying for a BPSST position, please complete the online application at Workday Board and Commission Opportunities. (Please note that an account may need to be created if not already in Workday)

For further information regarding the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training or its respective Policy Committees, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

Thank you,

DPSST Board & Committees Staff

October 16, 2024

Media contacts: Jonathan Modie, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Rates of influenza vaccination among health care workers stay low

Recovery from drop during pandemic continues slow pace, OHA data show

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon continues to see low influenza vaccination rates among health care personnel following significant drops during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new Oregon Health Authority data.

The Healthcare Worker Influenza Vaccination Dashboard, published by OHA’s Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program, shows that 61% of the state’s health care workers from all facility types were vaccinated among those eligible during the 2023-2024 flu season. This is slightly lower than the 2022-2023 flu season rate of 63% -- and concerning for state officials trying to prevent the virus’s spread to people most at risk of severe illness and death.

The influenza vaccination rate among eligible health care workers had dropped 24% between the 2019-2020 and 2023-2024 influenza seasons – from 85% to 61% -- and marks the fourth consecutive year of decreasing influenza vaccination rates among health care personnel.

“Health care worker influenza vaccination rates remain low and have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Flu activity is returning to pre-pandemic levels, but we have not seen the same for health care worker influenza vaccination rates,” said Dat Tran, M.D., the HAI Program’s medical director. “It is important that we focus on increasing flu vaccination rates for this critical, frontline workforce.”

Broadcast-quality video clips of Dr. Tran speaking about rates of influenza vaccination among health care workers is available at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/media-resources.aspx.

OHA requires annual reporting of health care worker influenza vaccination data from four facility types – ambulatory surgery centers, dialysis centers, hospitals (including inpatient psychiatric facilities) and nursing facilities.

Data are self-reported by facilities and includes aggregate counts of health care workers, grouped by health care worker category; who received an influenza vaccination; who declined; who had a medical contraindication; or who had an unknown vaccine status. The Healthcare Worker Influenza Vaccination Dashboard displays influenza vaccination data filterable by facility type, county, and worker classification. Trends by flu season and facility-specific data are also shown.

According to the 2023-2024 dashboard, ambulatory surgery centers reported the highest flu vaccination levels among workers, with rates at 67%, followed by hospitals at 66%, nursing facilities at 37%, dialysis centers at 45% and inpatient psychiatric facilities the lowest at 24%. Dialysis centers were the only facility type that saw an increase from the 2022-2023 rates, but they were still below the rates for prior flu seasons.

The percentage of eligible health care workers who declined vaccination has increased over the years, reaching 18% for the 2023-2024 flu season, which is up from 15% for the 2022-2023 season. Additionally, a high proportion of health care workers reported having an unknown vaccination status (21%), which may contribute to low vaccination rates – and illustrates the need for improvement in facility-level documentation of vaccination status.

In 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services developed Healthy People 2020 with 10-year objectives for improving the health of all Americans, including showing progress toward a 90% influenza vaccination coverage goal for the health care workforce. However, Healthy People 2030 does not include a goal focused on increasing flu vaccinations among health care workers, so Oregon is continuing to use the Healthy People 2020 health worker vaccination goal as a way of directing public health action and showing where more support and education is needed.

To achieve 90% vaccination coverage, Dr. Tran said there are important steps health care facilities can take. Public health recommendations include encouraging health care workers, including those not employed by the facility—such as contractors and volunteers—to get vaccinated at the beginning of every influenza season. Facilities can also host promotional activities, such as holding mass vaccination fairs, providing vaccines at no cost to employees, starting incentive programs, and documenting all health care workers’ vaccination status and requiring a declination form for health care workers who forgo vaccination.

“We know our state’s health care workers want to protect their patients and prevent a potentially catastrophic outbreak of influenza, which can be deadly for vulnerable people, such as older adults and those with chronic conditions or who are immunocompromised,” Dr. Tran said. “We need health care workers to step up and get vaccinated.”

OHA has developed a toolkit for health care employers and workers to help them improve employee flu vaccinations rates at their facilities to protect patients, themselves and their families.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
October 16, 2024

CONTACT INFORMATION:
umenauer@employ.oregon.gov">Gail Krumenauer, State Employment Economist
(971) 301-3771
Video and Audio available at 10 a.m.
David Cooke, Economist 
(971) 375-5288

Oregon’s Employment Situation Sees Little Change in September

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.0% in August and September and has been in a tight range between 4.0% and 4.2% since October 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was little changed at 4.1% in September from 4.2% in August.

Other labor force indicators also reflected stability. Oregon’s labor force participation rate was 63.0% in September, the same as in each of the prior four months. Prior to that it generally rose slowly over the past four years, from 62.0% in September 2020, indicating a larger share of Oregonians working or seeking jobs. Meanwhile, Oregon’s labor force was stable during the past five months, remaining close to 2.19 million people. 

In September, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment gained 800 jobs, following a revised increase of 900 jobs in August. September’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+700 jobs). Declines were largest in construction (-1,500). None of the other major industries experienced a monthly change of more than 600 jobs.

In the past 12 months, health care and social assistance (+15,100 jobs, or 5.2%) grew rapidly, while government (+5,700 jobs, or 1.8%) added the second most jobs. Only three other major industries—other services; wholesale trade; and transportation, warehousing, and utilities—grew since September 2023, each adding 1,400 jobs. 

The other nine major industries declined during the past 12 months. The five industries that cut more than 1,000 jobs were retail trade (-7,000 jobs, or -3.4%), professional and business services (-5,000 jobs, or -1.9%), construction (-4,000 jobs, or -3.4%), leisure and hospitality (-2,500 jobs, or -1.2%), and financial activities (-2,200 jobs, or -2.1%).

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the September county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, Oct. 22, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for October on Thursday, Nov. 14.

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The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) invites everyone to participate in the Great Oregon Camp-In, October 18-20. This hands-on event is designed to empower individuals, families and communities to prepare for living after disasters. You can participate at whatever level you want. Spend a few hours, or a few of days, developing your emergency plan and practicing daily activities in your home.

Participants are encouraged to share photos and videos of their activities on social media with the hashtag #GreatOregonCampIn2024. We have compiled a list of Great Camp-in Activities on the OEM blog. As well as information on how to Make Preparedness Fun for kids and less scary for everyone.

For families with young children, the Great Oregon Camp-In is an excellent opportunity to make preparedness a fun learning experience.

Here are some tips:

• Discuss the importance of being prepared in an engaging way.
• Provide age-appropriate activities that don’t require electricity, like coloring books and puzzles.
• Involve kids in setting up your campsite and in meal preparation.

For More Information:
To learn more about the Great Oregon Camp-In access the Be 2 Weeks Ready webpage. Together, let’s make Oregon a more prepared and resilient community!

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It is the mission of Oregon Emergency Management to proactively develop emergency response, risk reduction and disaster recovery programs to better serve Oregonians during times of disaster. OEM prioritizes an equitable and inclusive culture of preparedness that empowers all Oregonians to thrive in times in crisis. The agency leads collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters. For more information about the OEM, visit oregon.gov/oem. You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille, or a format you prefer. For assistance, email licinfo@oem.oregon.gov">OEM_publicinfo@oem.oregon.gov or dial 711. 

ROSEBURG, Ore. – A Sutherlin woman died of an apparent suicide while in custody at the Douglas County Jail.

On Monday, October 14, 2024, at approximately 5:40 pm, a deputy discovered a female adult in custody (AIC) unresponsive in a holding cell from an apparent suicide attempt. Deputies immediately summoned emergency services and began life saving efforts. The AIC, identified as 38-year-old Katrina Nicole Robertson of Sutherlin, was transported by ambulance but could not be revived.

“My heartfelt condolences are extended to Ms. Robertson’s family,” Sheriff Hanlin said. “The safety and security of those in our custody is of utmost importance to me as Sheriff. In the interest of providing an independent investigation into this tragedy, I have requested the assistance of an outside agency. I wish to thank the Roseburg Police Department for assuming this investigation and conducing a thorough review of the facts.”

Any further information will be released by the Roseburg Police Department. 

October 16, 2024

Contact: Amy Coven (503-943-0164, amy.coven@oha.oregon.gov)

Health coverage comparison tool now provides more ways to compare options, potential savings in Oregon

OregonHealthCare.gov unveils enhanced Window Shopping tool ahead of 2025 open enrollment period

With open enrollment for 2025 fast approaching on Nov. 1, the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace is launching a revamped version of its widely-used Window Shopping tool. This timely upgrade offers Oregonians an even easier way to explore their health coverage options and maximize potential savings.

Open enrollment is the only time of year for individuals not covered through their job, the Oregon Health Plan, or Medicare to enroll in Marketplace health insurance.

New data from the Oregon Health Insurance Survey¹ reveals that 97% of Oregonians now have health coverage. For 2024², over 80% of applicants who sought financial help through the Marketplace were eligible for assistance—highlighting the increased accessibility of affordable health insurance for Oregon families.

The updated Window Shopping tool at OregonHealthCare.gov provides a streamlined, user-friendly experience in both Spanish and English. Based on location, age, and income, the tool estimates potential savings and directs users to the appropriate health coverage, whether that’s the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) or a Marketplace plan. This year’s enhancements also include more detailed information on coverage for gender-affirming care, a benefit included in all Marketplace plans for 2025.

The tool continues to offer quick comparisons of health plans, detailed previews of out-of-pocket costs, and checks for provider, facility, and prescription drug coverage—giving users a full picture before enrolling.

All Marketplace health plans include a robust range of essential health benefits, from preventive care to naturopathy, chiropractic, and acupuncture, many of which are covered before meeting deductibles. The only way to be sure a doctor or prescription is covered is to check – the Window Shopping tool gives Oregonians an easy way to do that.

“Anyone looking for health coverage should visit OregonHealthCare.gov to preview 2025 plans,” says Chiqui Flowers, director of the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. “We’re committed to helping Oregonians feel confident about their health insurance choices, and this tool makes the process easy.”

For those seeking personalized help, licensed insurance agents and trained community groups are available to guide Oregonians through the enrollment process at no cost. Visit OregonHealthCare.gov/GetHelp to connect with an expert and take the stress out of signing up for health coverage.

¹Oregon Health Insurance Survey Health Insurance Summary. Published Sept. 2024 by Oregon Health Authority Health Policy and Analytics. https://orhim.info/3TKbpWl

²Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace 2023 Annual Report. Published April 2024. https://orhim.info/2023ExecSummary