UPDATE

As a result of this morning’s demonstration, 52 people were arrested for disorderly conduct. Two individuals were additionally charged with conspiracy and theft 2. All suspects are in custody at the Lane County Jail. 

Six vehicles were towed from the scene. 

Today’s incident required a significant law enforcement response. Responding agencies included: 

• Eugene Police Department – 31 officers; 1 transport van 
• Springfield Police Department – 22 officers; 1 transport van
• Lane County Sheriff’s Office – 20 deputies; 2 jail vans    
• Oregon State Police – 48 troopers 
• Oregon Department of Transportation Incident Response – 6 personnel 
• Springfield Fire Department and Eugene Fire Department  

OSP would like to thank area law enforcement agencies for their partnership and response to this incident. 

_______________________________________________________________________________

LANE COUNTY, Ore. 15 April 2024 – At approximately 10:00 a.m., Oregon State Troopers responded to I-5 southbound at milepost 194 in Eugene to reports of protesters blocking the interstate. Protesters blocked all southbound traffic lanes near the Barlow Bridge. 

Throughout the incident, demonstrators were given continuous lawful orders to disperse before dozens of people were arrested for disorderly conduct. At least one individual was discovered to be in possession of a firearm.

The interstate traffic was stopped for approximately 45 minutes. Southbound lanes are now open; however, law enforcement remains on the scene while observers continue to gather along the highway. 

Oregon State Police supports an individual’s right to lawfully protest and express concerns over world events. However, today’s actions put Oregon’s motorists in danger as well as the protestors who blocked the roadway.

At this time, future comments will be limited due to the ongoing criminal investigations. 

# # #

About the Oregon State Police

Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that is charged with protecting the people, wildlife, and natural resources in Oregon. 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) – This year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month theme, Doing Things Differently: Moving from the Challenge to the Change, emphasizes the importance of innovative prevention-based approaches to supporting children and families. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is committed to advancing programs that address poverty and other challenges families face that could put children at risk. 

As Governor Tina Kotek’s proclamation states, “Child abuse is a preventable public health issue, and Oregon's children and families deserve intentional, sustainable investments in their health and wellbeing.” 

Prevention-based approaches link families in Oregon to voluntary assistance programs from community organizations and ODHS such as food benefits, cash assistance and services for domestic violence survivors. The goal of prevention is to keep children safe by providing support that stabilizes families and prevents unnecessary child welfare involvement.  

To expand the agency’s child abuse prevention efforts, ODHS is working with the Doris Duke Foundation to establish the Opt-in for Families initiative in Oregon which will be supported by a $9 million investment by the foundation. The grant will help develop and test a pilot program serving families who have been the subject of reports to the ODHS Child Abuse Hotline but whose circumstances are not considered child abuse as defined in Oregon statute. Opt-in for Families will refer these families to voluntary programs for economic and other supports, evaluating their effectiveness in improving child safety and family stability. Similar programs that support families’ economic stability are being piloted in Klamath Falls and are being introduced throughout the state.  

As a result of these and other efforts, the number of children in foster care in Klamath County has dropped by 60 percent with a 72 percent drop in Tribal children in the system.  

April also marks the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline’s (ORCAH) fifth anniversary. ODHS centralized ORCAH in 2019 to change the former model of localized child abuse reporting, multiple hotline numbers and lack of operational coordination to an updated model based on national best practices. The new model has improved child safety, screening consistency and coordination with law enforcement, as well as employee retention.  

With centralization of the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline, wait times to report abuse reduced by an average of one minute, 59 seconds, down from the 2022 average wait time of two minutes, 42 seconds. The hotline team answered 6 percent more calls compared with 2022. Timely answering of calls ensures rapid response and Child Protective Services assessment to ensure child safety. Other key improvements related to child safety are detailed in the recent 2023 ORCAH annual report. 

In addition to centralizing the hotline, ODHS initiatives to prevent and address child abuse include family coaching programs and improved tracking of caseload ratios to ensure caseworkers have adequate time to connect families to prevention-related services. For more information on 2023 work to support children in families in Oregon, see the Oregon Child Welfare Assessment Findings Report published by Public Knowledge. 

Oregon needs everyone to contribute to preventing child abuse. Children and families are stronger when communities come together to support them before they reach crisis.  

“As individuals and as a community, we play a part in preventing child abuse. We encourage everyone to make a commitment this month to learn new ways to strengthen child and family well-being,” ODHS Child Welfare Director Aprille Flint-Gerner said. “Together, we can make a difference.” 

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, ODHS asks everyone in Oregon to be aware of help available to families to meet their basic needs which is critical in preventing conditions that can result in child abuse. This includes sharing information about food banks, unemployment benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) availability, and educational resources. ODHS values its collaboration with community organizations to prevent child abuse and ensure families in Oregon know about the resources available to help them.  

If you suspect a child is being abused, please contact the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). The Oregon Child Abuse Hotline receives calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  

More information for resources and support: 

• To learn more about food resources including SNAP visit NeedFood.Oregon.gov. 
• 211info.org (also by dialing 211) offers connection to local and regional resources for food banks, housing assistance, and mental health services. 
• Lines for Life, a nonprofit dedicated to substance abuse and suicide prevention: call or text 988. 
• Friends and neighbors can help break the social isolation some parents may experience or encourage parents to seek support when needed by calling the Oregon parent helpline: 971-221-5180. 
• Oregon Child Abuse Solutions: https://oregoncas.org/ 
• Prevent Child Abuse Oregon: https://preventchildabuseoregon.org/ 
• Oregon Association of Relief Nurseries: https://www.oregonreliefnurseries.org/ 

Other resources 

• ODHS Family Preservation information.    
• Summary of 2023 Child Welfare accomplishments.
• Announcement of Doris Duke Foundation grant.

About the Oregon Department of Human Services 

The mission of ODHS is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve well-being and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity. 

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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 at 10:00 a.m. May 16, 2024, in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST or Department) located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Samantha Kossa at (971) 209-8235.

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 the February 22, 2024, Meeting Minutes

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

    a) Steven Bellshaw; DPSST No. 22870
        Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory, Management, and Executive Police Certifications

    b) Emigdia Camas; DPSST No. 51141
        Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Police and Basic and Intermediate Corrections Certifications

    c) Anthony Christensen; DPSST No. 55811
        Basic Police Certification

    d) Summer Danneker; DPSST No. 58025
        Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Police Certifications

    e) Travis Grindle; DPSST No. 43070
        Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Supervisory Police Certifications

    f) Matthew McCandless; DPSST No. 55017
        Basic and Intermediate Police Certifications

4. Andy Ashpole; DPSST No. 47945; Newport Police Department
   Presented by Melissa Lang-Baco

5. Katelyn Bailey; DPSST No. 56238; Wasco County Sheriff’s Office
   Presented by Melissa Lang-Baco

6. Matthew Barbee; DPSST No. 47086; Tigard Police Department
    Presented by Melissa Lang-Baco

7. Carl Bell; DPSST No. 55552; Gladstone Police Department
    Presented by Melissa Lang-Baco

8. Shawn Carnahan; DPSST No. 39921; Columbia County Sheriff's Office
    Presented by Melissa Lang-Baco

9. Sean Considine; DPSST No. 64682; Central Point Police Department
    Presented by Melissa Lang-Baco

10. Robert Gorman; DPSST No. 36970; Oregon State Police
     Presented by Melissa Lang-Baco

11. Sterling Hall; DPSST No. 58719; Pendleton Police Department
     Presented by Melissa Lang-Baco

12. Paul Johnson; DPSST No. 39931; Klamath Falls Police Department
     Presented by Melissa Lang-Baco

13. Kevin Lanier; DPSST No. 57215; Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
     Presented by Melissa Lang-Baco

14. Quinn Lindley; DPSST No. 56901; Monmouth Police Department
     Presented by Melissa Lang-Baco

15. Proposed Rule Changes for Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 259-008-0500
     Agency Name Change Correction
     Presented by Jennifer Howald

16. Agency Update

17. Next Police Policy Committee Meeting – August 22, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.

APPLICANT REVIEW COMMITTEE

MEETING CANCELLED

Notice of Meeting Cancellation

The Applicant Review Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training meeting scheduled for April 24th, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., has been cancelled.
 

The next Applicant Review Committee meeting is scheduled for May 22nd, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.

The Oregon State Marine Board will convene its quarterly meeting in Astoria on April 24, 2024. The meeting will be held at the Astoria Public Library Flag Room, 450 10th Street, beginning at 8:30 am. Preceding the board meeting, agency staff and board members will take a boating facility tour of nearby access, first visiting the recently completed Westport Park mixed-use boating facility and ending with the Columbia River Maritime Museum. 

The Board agenda includes the following items:

• Director’s Report
• Key Performance Measures (KPMs) Update for the Legislature
• Agency Budget Overview
• Legislative Concepts
• Facility Grants for Board Approval

Public comments for this meeting will be accepted in writing or by attending the public comment portion at the beginning of the hybrid meeting. To provide oral testimony, register with Jennifer Cooper no later than 5 pm on April 21, 2024. Public comments will also be accepted in writing until the end of the day on April 21, 2024. Register to speak or send written comments t.cooper@boat.oregon.gov">o jennifer.cooper@boat.oregon.gov or by U.S. Mail to Oregon State Marine Board, Attn: Jennifer Cooper, 435 Commercial St NE Ste 400 Salem, OR 97301. 

To view the agenda and board materials and for a link to the meeting live stream, visit the agency’s Public Meetings page. Meetings are conducted using Microsoft Teams and viewing may require the installation of a free Teams app for mobile devices.

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(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Alyce Butrick, age 15, a child in foster care who was last seen in the Tigard area of Washington County on April 9, 2024, at 9 p.m. She may be with a person named Danny. She is believed to be in danger.

ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find Alyce Butrick and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see her.  

Alyce may be in the Portland-metro area, near NE 82nd Avenue. 

• Name: Alyce Butrick (sounds like “Alee-see”)
• Preferred Pronouns: she/her
• Date of birth: June 27, 2008
• Height: 5-foot-7-inches
• Weight: 150 pounds
• Hair color: Black
• Eye color: Brown
• Other identifying information: no known tattoos; she is Tongan and Alaskan Native
• Tigard Police Department (may be Washington County Sheriff's Office) case #24-0007162
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #2017024

Alyce is supposed to be taking medications but does not have them with her.

Sometimes when a child is missing, they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. 

SALEM, Ore. – April 15, 2024 – This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, an annual event that honors the essential role emergency response coordination professionals play in keeping the nation’s communities safe and secure. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has proclaimed April 14-20 as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in the state and encouraged all Oregonians to join in the observance.

Oregon has 43 standalone 911 centers known as Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) that serve as the first and single point of contact for people seeking immediate relief during an emergency. Nearly 800 dedicated telecommunicators across the state answer at least 2 million emergency calls annually for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services. These 911 professionals respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance during intense personal crises and community-wide disasters.

“Oregon’s 911 telecommunicators are heroes devoted to public safety and helping others. They work long hours, remaining calm in all types of situations and quickly constructing plans of action based on limited information,” said Oregon Department of Emergency Management State 911 Program Manager Frank Kuchta. “These individuals are lifelines in an emergency, and this annual observance honors their skills, dedication and commitment to helping Oregonians.”

Many 911 professionals are certified as Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMD) and receive training on how to process requests for medical assistance and how to dispatch medical providers. Some go on to receive specialty training in crisis intervention, law enforcement support and tactical dispatching, while others receive intermediate and advanced certifications and become leaders in the field. All 911 professionals work diligently behind the scenes to help people during emergencies ranging from mental health crises, car accidents, missing person reports, burglaries and domestic violence disturbances. 

Since early 2020, Oregon’s public safety telecommunicators have had the added responsibility of serving throughout a pandemic, historic wildfires, heatwaves, winter storms, floods and severe staffing shortages.

“On any given day, our public safety dispatchers have an incredibly stressful job; during the last several years, that’s been compounded as they’ve responded to unprecedented disasters in which they were the first to answer the call,” said Kuchta. “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week brings well-deserved attention and recognition to these invaluable professionals.”

The critical work of Oregon’s public safety telecommunicators directly supports the operations of federal, state and local government agencies, including emergency management, highway safety, and search and rescue. Oregon’s 911 program was established by the 1981 Oregon Legislature and is managed by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. Learn more at oregon.gov/OEM.

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Photo Caption: Oregon's 911 telecommunicators serve as the first and single point of contact for people seeking immediate relief during an emergency. (Oregon Department of Emergency Management)

Photo Caption: Oregon Governor Kotek proclaimed April 14-20 as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in the state and encouraged all Oregonians to join in the observance. (Oregon Department of Emergency Management)

Salem, OR—Midnight tonight, April 15, 2024, is the deadline to file tax year 2023 state and federal personal income tax returns and the Oregon Department of Revenue wants to remind taxpayers of the tools available to make the experience easier for both those who haven’t yet filed their 2023 return and those who have.

Through April 14, Revenue has processed 1.67 million of an expected 2.2 million returns and issued nearly 1.4 million refunds.

Free filing options

Revenue reminds those who haven’t yet filed, that filing electronically is the fastest way for taxpayers to get their refund. Oregon Free Fillable Forms performs basic calculations and is ideal for taxpayers who don’t need help preparing their returns and want the convenience of filing electronically. The IRS offers a similar option for filing federal taxes electronically.

New this year, the department is also offering Direct File Oregon, which allows taxpayers to file their Form OR-40 through Revenue Online. Direct File Oregon is not currently linked with the IRS Direct File. Taxpayers will need to file a separate federal return with the IRS before filing an Oregon return with Direct File Oregon through Revenue Online.

Information about other available free tax preparation tax preparation software is available on the Revenue website, along with a list of organizations providing free or reduced cost assistance.

What’s My Kicker? calculator

In 2024 Oregon is returning $5.61 billion in surplus revenue to taxpayers in the form of a “kicker” tax credit. Taxpayers will receive their kicker as part of their refund, or the kicker can reduce the tax they owe.

Taxpayers, who have not filed their 2023 return, should not guess at their kicker amount. They can determine the amount of their kicker using the What’s My Kicker? calculator available on Revenue Online. To use the tool, taxpayers will need to enter their name, Social Security Number, and filing status for 2022 and 2023.

Where’s my refund? tool and video

Taxpayers wondering about the refund on their 2023 tax year return, can use the Oregon Department of Revenue’s Where’s My Refund? tool to check its status and, if they want more information, watch a video outlining the refund timelines to better understand the process.

Doug, the new virtual assistant

The agency’s new virtual assistant Doug is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on Revenue Online to answer general tax questions. 

Doug, an avatar Oregon fir tree, is located in the upper right hand corner of the Revenue Online homepage.  With just a few clicks of the keyboard, users will be able to access instant, helpful, insightful answers. It's important to note that Doug does have some limitations. The virtual assistant is pre-programmed with answers to common questions, therefore, users with detailed questions pertaining to their unique circumstances are encouraged to consult their tax preparer or contact the department directly.

If you file a paper return

Taxpayers who haven’t yet filed their 2023 return and file a paper return should make sure it’s post-marked by today or place it in one of the drop boxes available on both the east and west sides of the Department of Revenue Building in Salem, or outside the DOR offices in Portland, Gresham, Eugene, Medford, and Bend.

DOR staff will be on hand in the atrium of the Salem headquarters building today until 5 PM to accept and stamp tax returns as having been filed timely.

Filing an extension. 

Individuals who are not able to file by midnight can file an extension directly with the Oregon Department of Revenue or with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If the IRS extension is granted, the Oregon extension is automatically granted. A timely filed extension moves the federal tax filing deadline and the Oregon filing deadline to October 15, 2024.

Taxpayers should only request an Oregon extension if they:

• Don’t have a federal extension.
• Owe Oregon taxes.
• Can’t file your return by April 15, 2024.

Remember that having a filing extension is not an extension to pay any tax owed. Taxpayers who can’t pay the full amount they owe, should pay what they can to avoid late payment penalties.

First quarter 2024 estimated payments due today

Today is also the due date for first quarter estimated payments. In most cases, taxpayers must make estimated tax payments for tax year 2024 if they estimate their tax after withholding and credits (including refundable credits) will be $1,000 or more when they file their 2024 Oregon return. Taxpayers can make their payments on Revenue Online or mail their payment with a voucher. Taxpayers mailing their payment should mail it separately from their return or other correspondence. Oregon Estimated Income Tax Instructions, Publication OR-ESTIMATE, can be found on the Revenue website. 
 

Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, see a list of approved tax preparation software products, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments. For questions not answered on our website, call 800-356-4222 toll-free (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 or email questions.dor@oregon.gov. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), we accept all relay calls. Due to the number of calls Revenue receives during tax season, you may experience extended wait times.

SALEM, Ore. — The Regional Forest Practice Committee for eastern Oregon will meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 19 in the Screen Shop, at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 3561 Klindt Dr., The Dalles. 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:

• ODF updates and member training requirements
• Updates and informing post-disturbance harvest rulemaking
• HCP update
• Planning and priority for guidance development
• Forest Practice Technical Guidance comment review

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.

JCSO Case 24-1981

WHITE CITY, Ore. - Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) and Fire District 3 responded to a fatal single vehicle crash in White City this afternoon. The crash occurred near the intersection of Avenue A and Atlantic Ave today at approximately 1:49 p.m.

The driver was pronounced deceased on scene. Next of kin has been notified. Our condolences go out to the friends and family of the deceased. We will not be releasing the name of the deceased at this time.

JCSO deputies and Medical Examiner detectives are investigating the crash. Preliminary details indicate a Toyota Tacoma was traveling at high speed in the 4000 block of Avenue A when it struck a parked semi truck and power pole, and caught fire. This case is under further investigation and there is no more information available at this time.

Ave A between Atlantic Ave and Kershaw Rd in White City is closed due to a motor Vehicle accident. Expect delays and use alternate routes. 

Clatsop County, Ore. 10 Apr. 24- On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 12:43 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a three-vehicle crash on Hwy-101, near milepost 13, in Clatsop County.

The preliminary investigation indicated southbound traffic was stopped for a vehicle attempting to turn left onto Turlay Ln. A southbound Toyota Sienna, operated by David Timothy Schalk Jr. (53) of Astoria, crossed the double yellow line and began passing the stopped traffic in the northbound lane.  The Toyota struck the northbound guardrail and was redirected back into the northbound lane where it struck a northbound Dodge Ram 1500, operated by Marti Ree Lindhorst (68) of Salem. The collision caused the Dodge Ram to roll into the southbound lane and collide with a Kia Soul, operated by Tara Lynne Ragan (55) of Astoria, which was stopped in the southbound lane.

The operator of the Toyota (Schalk Jr.) was injured and transported to a local hospital. 

A passenger in the Toyota, Kaleb Allen Shaffer (48) of Warrenton, was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Dodge (Lindhorst) was injured and transported to a local hospital.

The operator of the Kia (Ragan) and passenger, Wendy Lee Sides (53) of Seaside, were injured and transported to a local hospital. 

The highway was impacted for approximately 5.5 hours during the on-scene investigation. 

OSP was assisted by the Gearhart Police Department, Clatsop County Sheriff's Department, Warrenton Fire, and ODOT.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that is charged with protecting the people, wildlife, and natural resources in Oregon. 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.

Ave A between Atlantic Ave and Kershaw Rd in White City is closed due to a motor Vehicle accident. Expect delays and use alternate routes. 

Finalized rule to further promote responsible solar and wind energy development on public lands, including through 80% lower fees

WASHINGTON — The Biden-Harris administration today announced a series of historic milestones and actions to promote responsible clean energy development on public lands and help achieve President Biden’s goal of creating a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035.  

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today announced that the Department has now permitted more than 25 gigawatts of clean energy projects – surpassing a major milestone ahead of 2025 – enough clean energy to power more than 12 million homes across the country. This includes solar, wind and geothermal projects, as well as gen-tie lines on public lands that are essential for connecting clean electricity projects on both federal and non-federal land to the grid.

“Since Day One, the Biden-Harris administration has worked tirelessly to expand responsible clean energy development to address climate change, enhance America’s energy security and create good-paying union jobs. Surpassing our goal of permitting 25 gigawatts of clean energy by 2025 underscores the significant progress we have made in helping build modern, resilient climate infrastructure that protects our communities from the worsening impacts of climate change,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “The Interior Department will continue to advance projects that will add enough clean energy to the grid to power millions more homes and help ensure a livable planet for future generations.”

The Department today also announced a final Renewable Energy rule from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that will lower consumer energy costs and the cost of developing solar and wind projects, improve renewable energy project application processes, and incentivize developers to continue responsibly developing solar and wind projects on public lands. Consistent with the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to create high-quality jobs in the clean energy economy and support American manufacturing, the final rule includes additional incentives for use of project labor agreements and American-made materials.  

“Our public lands are playing a critical role in the clean energy transition,” said Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis. “Finalizing the Renewable Energy Rule is a significant milestone that will allow the Interior Department to continue leading the way on renewable energy while furthering President Biden’s commitment to building a clean energy economy, tackling the climate crisis, protecting lands and waters, promoting American energy security, and creating jobs in communities across the country.”

In addition, the BLM announced that two solar projects – the Arica and Victory Pass projects in California – are now fully operational, adding 465 megawatts of clean electricity to the grid. With these two projects coming online, more than 10 gigawatts of clean energy are currently being generated on public lands, powering more than 5 million homes across the West.

“Renewable energy projects like Arica and Victory Pass on public lands create good-paying jobs and are crucial in achieving the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. “Investing in clean and reliable renewable energy represents the BLM's commitment to addressing climate change. BLM personnel are working tirelessly to efficiently review and approve projects, with significant and thoughtful engagement from states, Tribes and other partners, to ensure we supply families and communities with clean energy that will lower costs and help tackle climate change.”  

Surpassed President Biden’s Goal of 25 Gigawatts by 2025 
The Department and BLM have worked diligently to review and approve dozens of new clean energy projects, including solar, wind, and geothermal projects, as well as interconnected gen-tie lines that are vital to clean energy projects proposed on non-federal land.

Today’s announcement that the Department has surpassed the goal to permit 25 gigawatts of renewable energy includes the approval of more than double the number of projects than were approved during the previous Administration. The Department has now permitted nearly 29 gigawatts of clean energy – enough to power more than 12 million homes across the country. In addition to specific project approvals, the Department has also leased eight new areas in Solar Energy Zones with the capacity to generate nearly 2.5 gigawatts of additional clean energy.  

As the Department continues its momentum to spur a clean energy future, the BLM is currently processing permits for an additional 66 utility-scale clean energy projects proposed on public lands in the western United States. These projects have the combined potential to create thousands of good-paying jobs, add more than 32 additional gigawatts of renewable energy to the western electric grid and power millions of more homes. The BLM is also undertaking a preliminary review of about 200 applications for solar and wind development, as well as more than 100 applications for solar and wind energy site area testing. The BLM continues to track this clean energy permitting progress through an online dashboard.  

These investments in a clean energy future help further the President’s Bidenomics strategy and Investing in America agenda, which are growing the American economy from the middle out and bottom up – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over half a trillion dollars in new private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating good-paying jobs and building a clean energy economy that will combat the climate crisis and make our communities more resilient.  

Finalized Renewable Energy Rule to Continue Responsible Development 
The Department today also announced the update of its renewable energy regulations to promote the development of solar and wind energy on public lands. The final Renewable Energy Rule will reduce capacity fees for these projects by 80 percent and facilitate development in priority areas by streamlining application review, delivering greater certainty for the private sector and the opportunity for more clean energy for American households.

The Energy Act of 2020 authorized the BLM to reduce acreage rents and capacity fees to promote the greatest use of wind and solar energy resources. The BLM initially reduced these fees through guidance in 2022. Today’s final rule codifies further reductions, improving financial predictability for developers pursuing long-term projects on public land.

The final Renewable Energy Rule will facilitate development in identified priority areas for wind and solar energy while maintaining appropriate flexibility to ensure a fair return for the use of public lands. It expands the BLM’s ability to accept leasing applications in these priority areas without first going through a full auction but retains the BLM’s ability to hold competitive auctions where appropriate.  

The final rule continues the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to creating American manufacturing jobs while helping to build a clean energy economy, including by providing financial incentives for developers to use project labor agreements and domestic materials. The BLM sought comment on these additional incentives in last year’s proposed rule and developed the final provisions following public feedback, including from labor unions and a wide range of clean energy industry stakeholders.  

Today’s rule also complements the BLM’s ongoing efforts to advance responsible clean energy development by updating the Western Solar Plan. The BLM is currently taking comment on a draft analysis of the Utility-Scale Solar Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, with the goal of streamlining the BLM’s framework for siting solar energy projects across the West in order to support current and future national clean energy goals, long-term energy security, climate resilience, and improved conservation outcomes.  

Announced California Solar Projects are Fully Operational 
In another step towards achieving President Biden’s vision of a fully carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, the Department today announced the Arica and Victory Pass solar projects are both fully operational. These projects, the first two approved under the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP), are located in eastern Riverside County, California. With the completion of these two solar projects, the BLM has also surpassed 10 gigawatts of renewable energy generation from projects on public lands.

The two projects represent a combined infrastructure investment of about $689 million, will generate $5.9 million in annual operational economic benefit, provide power to nearly 139,000 homes, and add up to 465 megawatts of clean energy generating capacity and 400 megawatts of battery storage. The Department issued final approval for construction of the Arica and Victory Pass solar projects in 2022.  

The DRECP is a landscape-level plan created in collaboration with the State of California for more than 22 million acres, focused on 10.8 million acres of public lands, in the desert regions of seven California counties that balances renewable energy development with the conservation of unique and valuable desert ecosystems and outdoor recreation opportunities. To approve these sites for renewable energy projects, the Department and the BLM worked with Tribal governments, local communities, state regulators, industry and other federal agencies.

The BLM today also announced the beginning of construction for the Camino Solar project in Kern County, California. The 44-megawatt solar photovoltaic facility is expected to power nearly 13,400 homes. The project will employ around 150 people during peak construction, include a 34.5-kV underground electrical collector line, and connect to the existing Southern California Edison Whirlwind Substation through the Manzana Wind Substation and associated 220 kV generation-tie line.

-BLM-

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    
Media Hotline: 503-813-6018  

YREKA, CA (April 11, 2024) — Pacific Power customers in California can expect to see a credit of $174.25 on their April electricity bill as part of California's efforts to fight climate change. The twice-annual California Climate Credit provides ratepayers with their share of the benefits of California’s Cap-and-Trade Program, which requires large industries that emit greenhouse gases to buy carbon pollution permits. 

The majority of these 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 to prevent leakage of emissions to other states. 

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.

A second credit in the same amount will appear on customers’ October bills.

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.

EDITORS: Dr. Paul Cieslak of OHA is available for interviews until noon today. Contact OHA External Relations at PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov to set something up.

April 11, 2024

Media Contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Babies, baby chicks don’t mix: OHA article highlights Salmonella risks of backyard poultry for newborns

PORTLAND, Ore. — Outbreaks of Salmonella infection linked to backyard poultry have been well documented, but a recent Oregon public health investigation highlights the risks of home chicken flocks for newborn babies.

An Oregon Health Authority (OHA) report in today’s edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) details an investigation into a case of salmonellosis – the disease caused by Salmonella bacteria – in a newborn whose parents kept backyard poultry.

OHA and Crook County epidemiologists investigated the case as part of a routine, multi-state review of backyard poultry-associated salmonellosis outbreaks reported to CDC from across the country during 2023.

According to the report, the baby boy was born at a hospital about 150 miles away from his parents’ home. The newborn was discharged with his mother to a relative’s home the day after his birth, but four days later was readmitted to a second hospital with bloody stool and lethargy, prompting health care providers to collect a stool sample for analysis. The sample tested positive for a strain of Salmonella known as Thompson.

Neither parent had symptoms of salmonellosis, nor had they been diagnosed with the disease. However, the baby’s father, who tended the family’s backyard poultry at the family’s home 150 miles away, was present at the hospital during the child’s birth and stayed with the child and the child’s mother at the relative’s home when the baby fell ill.

The newborn had not traveled to the home where the backyard poultry were kept during the time between his birth and his hospital admission for his illness.

Nearly a month after the newborn was admitted to the hospital with salmonellosis symptoms, state and county epidemiologists collected environmental samples from the chicken bedding in the family’s backyard poultry coop, where the child’s father had previously had contact. Two of the samples matched the Salmonella Thompson strain found in the child.

Paul Cieslak, M.D., medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA’s Public Health Division and co-author of the MMWR article, said epidemiologists don’t know the exact mechanism by which the newborn was exposed to the Salmonella Thompson strain. But it’s telling that the newborn’s family started keeping backyard poultry only about a month before the child’s birth.

“It’s possible one of the parents was shedding the organism even though they weren’t showing symptoms and exposed the baby during or after his birth,” Cieslak said. “The bacteria also could have been carried from the family home to the newborn on clothes, shoes or other belongings. Once it’s on surfaces, it can be transported and transmitted fairly easily.”

The case is a strong reminder about the importance of hygiene when tending backyard poultry, “especially when persons at risk for exposure are newborns and young infants whose intestinal flora and immune systems are still developing,” the article’s authors wrote. “In addition to adhering to recommended hygiene practices, families contemplating raising backyard poultry should consider the potential risk to newborns and young infants living in the household.”

The CDC has the following recommendations for backyard flock owners:

• Always wash hands with soap and water immediately after touching backyard poultry, their eggs or anything in the area where they live and roam. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available. Consider having hand sanitizer at your coop.
• Don’t kiss or snuggle backyard poultry, and don’t eat or drink around them. This can spread Salmonella germs to your mouth and make you sick. Keep your backyard flock and supplies you use to care for them (such as feed containers and shoes you wear in the coop) outside of the house. You should also clean the supplies outside the house.
• Always supervise children around backyard poultry and make sure they wash their hands properly Don’t let children younger than 5 touch chicks, ducklings or other backyard poultry. Young children are more likely to get sick from germs such as Salmonella.
• Collect eggs often. Eggs that sit in the nest can become dirty or break. Throw away cracked eggs. Germs on the shell can more easily enter the egg through a cracked shell. Rub off dirt on eggs with fine sandpaper, a brush, or a cloth. Don’t wash eggs because colder water can pull germs into the egg. Refrigerate eggs to keep them fresh and slow the growth of germs. Cook eggs until both the yolk and white are firm, and cook egg dishes to an internal temperature of 160°F to kill all germs.
• Call your health care provider right away if you have any of these severe symptoms:
  • Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F.
  • Diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving.
  • Bloody diarrhea.
  • So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down.
  • Signs of dehydration, such as not peeing much, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up.

The article’s lead author was Stephen Ladd-Wilson, Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Section, OHA. Other co-authors included Karen Yeargain, Crook County Health Department; Samuel Myoda, Ph.D., and Mansour Samadpour, Ph.D., Institute for Environmental Health Laboratories, Seattle; and Karim Morey, Oregon State Public Health Laboratory, OHA.

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EDITORS: Dr. Paul Cieslak of OHA is available for interviews until noon today. Contact OHA External Relations at PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov to set something up.

April 11, 2024

Media Contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

OHA study: No link between COVID-19 vaccine, cardiac deaths

Article published in CDC’s MMWR finds no deaths attributed to mRNA shots

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 vaccination is not linked to death from cardiac causes among previously healthy young people, according to an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The study, appearing today in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), examined nearly 1,300 deaths among Oregon adolescents and young adults – ages 16 to 30 – occurring over 19 months during 2021 and 2022. It found that none of the fatalities that happened within 100 days of receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose was attributed to vaccination.

The findings answer a question that’s lingered since early 2021 as state and federal public health agencies rolled out new mRNA vaccines during the pandemic: Do rare cases of myocarditis associated with COVID-19 vaccination put people at increased risk for cardiac death?

Study co-authors Paul Cieslak, M.D., and Juventila Liko, M.D., M.P.H., of OHA’s Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Section, say suggestions of an association between receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose and sudden cardiac death among healthy adolescents and young adults are not supported by the Oregon data they reviewed.

“According to information recorded on death certificates, among 1,292 deaths of persons 16 to 30 years of age from June 2021 to December 2022, none was found to have been caused by COVID-19 vaccination,” said Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations.

Of 40 deaths that occurred among persons who had received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose, only three occurred within 100 days after vaccination. However, two of the deaths were attributed to chronic underlying conditions, and the cause was undetermined for one. No death certificate attributed death to vaccination.

Cieslak noted there were 30 deaths among persons this age that were caused by COVID-19. Among these 30 decedents, he said, the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS) database had records for 22 (73%), only three of whom had received any COVID-19 vaccination.

“Studies have shown significant reductions in COVID-19-related mortality among vaccinated persons; during the first 2 years of COVID-19 vaccine availability in the United States, vaccination prevented an estimated 18.5 million hospitalizations and 3.2 million deaths,” Cieslak and Liko wrote in their report.

The researchers acknowledged two limitations in their findings.

First, they could not exclude the possibility of vaccine-associated cardiac deaths more than 100 days after COVID-19 vaccination. They also pointed out that published data indicate potential adverse events associated with vaccinations tend to occur within 42 days of vaccination.

Second, although nearly a million adolescents and young adults had received a COVID-19 vaccination during the period of the study, the research could not exclude a rarer event among vaccinees in this age group.

“Nevertheless,” Cieslak said, “it is clear that the risk, if any, of cardiac death linked to COVID-19 vaccination is very low, while the risk of dying from COVID-19 is real. We continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for all persons 6 months of age and older to prevent COVID-19 and complications, including death.”

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PORTLAND, Ore.—The owners of ConsoliDebt Solutions, LLC, a debt consolidation service that operated in Oregon and other locations between April 2019 and April 2024, have been indicted in federal court for knowingly and intentionally defrauding their customers.

Javier Antonio Banuelas Urueta, 54, and Dalia Castilleja Saucedo, 38, both residents of Oregon and Washington State, have been charged in a seven-count indictment with conspiring to commit and committing mail and wire fraud.

According to the indictment, from approximately April 2019 and continuing until their arrests, Banuelas and Castilleja are alleged to have devised and carried out a scheme whereby they used ConsoliDebt Solutions to collect money and property from various clients in exchange for purported debt consolidation or reduction services. Banuelas and Castilleja directed their clients to deposit funds directly into ConsoliDebt bank accounts, transfer funds to the company, or mail in personal checks, cashier’s checks, or money orders. 

Banuelas and Castilleja are further alleged to have used client funds to pay for various personal expenses such as car leases, loan repayments, residential rent, and various wire transfers.

Banuelas was arrested Tuesday in Portland, Oregon. He made his first appearance in federal court the same day and was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending further court proceedings. Castilleja is still at large.

Mail and wire fraud are punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison and three years’ supervised release per count of conviction.

Anyone with information about Banuelas, Castilleja, or ConsoliDebt Solutions, LLC, are encouraged to contact Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) by submitting a tip online at  https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form or by calling (866) 347-2423.

This case was investigated by HSI. It is being prosecuted by Rachel K. Sowray, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Portland, Ore., April 11, 2024 – The Oregon Spring Cleanup, presented by Portland General Electric, kicks off this Saturday. From April 13 to April 22, more than 100 volunteer opportunities are open for registration in celebration of Earth Day. Families, community members, neighborhood associations, and environmental enthusiasts are invited to participate in the biggest event on SOLVE's annual calendar. 

Everyone is invited to join SOLVE, event leaders, and partners from across the Pacific Northwest in a collective celebration of Earth Day. The SOLVE calendar showcases a variety of events throughout Oregon and SW Washington between April 13 and April 22, with the majority of events culminating on April 20. Diverse initiatives address specific environmental needs with opportunities ranging from beach cleanups to neighborhood and city litter pickups. Further activities include restoring natural habitats through native tree and shrub plantings, weed pulls, and mulching projects. Each project contributes to the enhancement of our shared surroundings.

With over 100 projects to choose from, the Oregon Spring Cleanup invites enthusiastic volunteers to contribute to a cleaner, greener, and brighter planet. Interested individuals can browse the map of projects to find events near them, learn about each opportunity, and sign up for a meaningful contribution to the environment. Participating in the Oregon Spring Cleanup provides an excellent opportunity to bond with family members, coworkers, and neighbors, while collectively contributing to preserving some of Oregon's most stunning locations.

As SOLVE anticipates another successful event, valued partner Portland General Electric, shares their commitment to the cause: " PGE proudly supports SOLVE's efforts to make our communities cleaner and greener. In 2023, our employees and their families volunteered with SOLVE for more than 220 hours. We're excited to join community members again this Earth Day to help improve our beautiful state." said Kristen Sheeran, Senior Director of Policy Planning and Sustainability, Portland General Electric.

Anyone who cannot attend an Oregon Spring Cleanup event this year can support SOLVE by individual giving. A donation of any size will help SOLVE host more events year after year and provide volunteers with free supplies, event leader training, and all the support they need to run a successful event.

For more information, please visit www.solveoregon.org/oregon-spring and be part of the collective effort to create a cleaner, greener planet.

Along with Portland General Electric, other event sponsors include Clean Water Services, AAA Oregon/Idaho, Fred Meyer, Metro, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, KOIN, The Standard, Swire Coca-Cola, Holman, Demarini-Wilson, TriMet, and PepsiCo.

About SOLVE 

SOLVE is a statewide non-profit organization that brings people together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots group to a national model for volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains tens of thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon and Southwest Washington to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas and to build a legacy of stewardship for our state. Visit solveoregon.org for more information. 

UPDATED with National Rivers Project link

PORTLAND, Ore, — Oregon river information is now more accessible than ever on the National Rivers Project’s recreational river map. In collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management, the River Management Society recently added or updated over 1,000 miles of Oregon rivers to the NRP website. This includes nearly 700 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers, iconic whitewater reaches, and beginner-friendly sections.

“Whether you want to paddle through Oregon’s high deserts and canyons or explore the rainforests and coastal waterways, the National Rivers Project is a really convenient first stop in the planning process,” says David Ballenger, BLM Oregon/Washington Recreation Lead.

The NRP website offers intuitive search features for both beginners and experienced paddlers. Users can sort sections by difficulty and recreational amenities such as fishing, camping and boat ramps. Each listing provides river access and permit details, with links to more information.

“Recreating on Oregon rivers gives people a stronger sense of stewardship,” says Lauren Pidot, BLM Oregon/Washington National Conservation Lands Program Lead. “Visitors are interested in protecting these public resources. We’re excited to help people more easily find these opportunities.”

Some of the recently added sections are very accessible with developed launches, while others are more wild and remote. BLM rangers remind boaters to check local weather conditions, water levels and permit requirements before departing on a river trip.

“All of our river and access information is sourced and reviewed by managing agencies, so boaters can feel confident when they begin their trip planning on our website,” says James Major, NRP Coordinator. “We want to give special thanks to BLM Oregon for their invaluable assistance on this project.”

-BLM- 

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. 

Tiller Trail Hwy closed at mile post 43 due to a motor vehicle accident. Expect delays and use alternate routes.

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Board of Forestry will meet April 24 for a planning retreat. The annual retreat offers the board and department leadership a chance to facilitate a final discussion about their shared strategic plan, the Vision for Oregon’s Forests and review the latest developments for the State Forests Trust of Oregon. 

No public comment or testimony will be accepted during the retreat. The public can attend in-person in the Tillamook Room, Building C, at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters, located at 2600 State St. in Salem or observe via a livestream on the department’s YouTube page.

During this informal annual retreat, board members will focus on:

• New Vision for Oregon’s Forests content
• Goals, strategy and feedback review
• State Forests Trust of Oregon update

View the agenda and retreat details. 

Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling ODF’s Public Affairs Office at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-945-7200 or by email at estryinformation@odf.oregon.gov">forestryinformation@odf.oregon.gov.

The Oregon Board of Forestry consists of seven citizens nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. Responsibilities include appointing the State Forester, setting management direction for state-owned forests, adopting rules governing timber harvest and other practices on private forestland, and promoting sustainable management of Oregon’s 30 million-acre forestland base. Read more information about the board.

Shop and shop owner agree to pay criminal fines and complete terms of probation

EUGENE, Ore.—A Lane County, Oregon, diesel repair shop and its owner pleaded guilty today in federal court to knowingly and intentionally tampering with pollution monitoring devices on at least 184 vehicles in violation of the Clean Air Act.

Diesel & Offroad Authority, LLC, located in Veneta, Oregon, and its owner and operator, Christopher Paul Kaufman, 38, a resident of Veneta, pleaded guilty to tampering with pollution monitoring devices.

As part of their plea agreements, Diesel & Offroad Authority and Kaufman have agreed to pay $150,000 each in criminal fines and serve three years terms of probation. 

“Diesel & Offroad Authority and its owner put profits over our community’s health and safety by amplifying diesel engines’ noxious fumes,” said Nathan J. Lichvarcik, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eugene and Medford Branch Offices. “We will continue working closely with our partners at EPA to hold accountable businesses that violate our nation’s environmental protection laws.”

“The defendants in this case illegally tampered with the onboard diagnostics systems and removed the emissions control components from hundreds of diesel trucks,” said Special Agent in Charge Lance Ehrig of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA CID) in Oregon. “The pollution that results from vehicle emissions can lead to serious health conditions and has been linked to increased respiratory disease and childhood asthma. This guilty plea demonstrates that EPA will vigorously prosecute those who violate laws designed to protect our communities from harmful air pollution.”

According to court documents, beginning in at least 2018 and continuing through 2022, Diesel & Offroad authority tampered with and disabled emissions control systems of at least 184 diesel vehicles in violation of the Clean Air Act. Diesel & Offroad Authority charged its customers approximately $2,300 each for the emissions modifications and collected more than $378,000 for the unlawful services over an approximately four-year period.

As owner of Diesel & Offroad Authority, Kaufman oversaw and participated in the illegal modification of vehicles, including by procuring various automotive parts used in the process and engaging in and directing employees in the removal of emissions control equipment.

On March 12, 2024, Diesel & Offroad Authority and Kaufman were charged by federal criminal information with violating the Clean Air Act by tampering with pollution monitoring devices.

Diesel & Offroad Authority and Kaufman will be sentenced on July 17, 2024.

This case was investigated by EPA CID. It is being prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

If you witness an environmental event that may lead to an immediate threat to human health or the environment, please call 9-1-1. After alerting local emergency authorities, please also report incidents to the EPA’s Report a Violation website (https://echo.epa.gov/report-environmental-violations) or by calling the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.

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MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University’s men's and women's+ rugby clubs have qualified for the Rugby 7s Collegiate National Championships. 

This is the first time both teams qualified in the same year, and the first time Western’s women's+ team has made it to the Rugby 7s national championships. The national tournament will be held in Boyds, Maryland between  April 26 - 28. 

To assist with travel costs, both teams are holding the following fundraisers. 

In-person fundraisers: 

• Friday, April 12, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.,  stop by the Werner University  Center on Western’s campus to purchase a Western Rugby t-shirt, hoodie, sweat pants, or Rugby ball. All forms of payment are accepted. Due to construction, please check out our updated parking routes.
• Sunday, April 14, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., stop by Les Swab in Independence for a $15 car cleaning. All forms of payment are accepted.

Online fundraisers:

• 50 percent of popcorn proceeds go to the women's+ rugby club.
• Donate to the women's+ rugby club
• Donate to the men's rugby club 

Western is currently the only institution across all divisions to have both men’s and women’s+ teams qualify this year.

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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.  Together we succeed.

SALEM, Ore. – To boost the number of firefighters across Oregon before wildfire season, the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced it has awarded $6 million in grants to 191 local fire agencies across the state. 

The 2024 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant program is in its third year. Local agencies in the Oregon structural fire service were eligible to apply for up to $35,000. The funding will allow agencies to bring on additional firefighters or increase on-duty hours during the 2024 fire season. A list of agencies awarded funding can be found here.

The 2023 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant program was integral to the success in protecting communities, adding more than 1,500 paid firefighters to the Oregon fire service. These added resources allowed agencies to attack fires and keep them small and away from communities and added capacity to respond to other calls, ultimately saving lives. Read about the successes here.

“The staffing grant program has been a huge success for the Oregon fire service and our district,” Sublimity Fire District Chief Alan Hume said. “It allowed us to staff our station during the busiest time of the year, which we previously couldn't do. This resulted in quicker responses with adequate staffing for not only our district, but our neighboring agencies. Last year we had several fires in our area with the potential to develop into larger, extended duration fires. We were able, as region, to keep those fires smaller.”

“This grant has provided us the ability to respond to all requests for emergency services, including automatic and mutual aid requests in our district,” Crooked River Ranch Rural Fire Protection District Chief Sean Hartley said. “This program is instrumental in keeping fires in our community small and allowed us to respond to multiple calls for service at the same time.”

This 2024 Wildfire Season Staffing Grant program is part of a multi-pronged approach to combat wildfire in Oregon. Over the last three years, the OSFM has made strategic investments to modernize the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System and help communities become more wildfire adapted. 

This grant is part of the OSFM’s Response Ready Oregon initiative. The OSFM is looking for sustained funding for this program and is exploring all options to continue this highly successful grant in 2025 and beyond.

ABOUT RESPONSE READY OREGON

The OSFM’s Response Ready Oregon initiative was created to help boost capacity and modernize wildfire response within the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System (OFMAS). The goal of Response Ready Oregon is to keep fires small and away from communities, reducing costly conflagrations.

(Salem) – Forest fires, heat domes, landslides, floods, drought, pandemics -- all natural disasters that kill thousands of people and destroy billions of dollars of property and habitat each year. That’s why it’s important that each community builds up its resilience to these hazards. 

Now, there is help for Oregon’s many communities. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM) has a $10 million grant called the Resilience Hubs and Networks Grant to give out to eligible people and organizations. The funding comes from the 2023 Oregon Legislature to build resiliency within communities. 

“This grant money is part of a long-term goal of having our communities create resiliency so they can prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. With this grant a community can design what they need to be resilient,” Ed Flick, OREM Director said.

“Applicants could be just about anyone -- schools, cities, counties, non-profits, Tribes -- if they can show how the funding would benefit their community. We’d like to get grant dollars out to populations and areas of Oregon that are not as prepared for climate impacts. Many rural and frontier communities don’t have the tools and resources as larger cities,” Jenn Bosch, OREM Grants Program Administrator, said. 

"A Resilience Hub is a living, breathing part of the community already, such as a community center, a Boys and Girls Club, something that is part of their daily life, like a food bank. It’s place they would think to go to get help, such as shelter in an emergency. What they can apply for is very open,” Bosch said. 

The things people and groups could apply for includes almost anything that would build and strengthen the communities’ resilience, such as medical supplies, child care, emergency communications equipment, generators, training, water purification, vehicles and more. It also includes things communities can apply for called “typed packages.” These packages are those big containers often used for storage, called Conex boxes. OREM will pack the Conex containers with emergency supplies specific to sheltering in-place or enduring a disaster until further relief arrives, and OREM will deliver to that site. 

The network part of the grant is to help communities communicate and share resources more effectively. 

“The goal is to break down silos. Here’s an example of what this is - Government doesn’t generally set up shelters – it’s the churches, non-profits and community groups. But often they don’t know what the group down the street is doing. We’re asking them to work together to apply for the grant. Let’s say church is opening shelter but they don’t have food, but in working together with other community groups, they would then know the food bank might have food ready to supply to them,” Bosch said.  

Last July through December, Bosch with Spencer Karel, OREM Policy Chief, and partner in the grant process, traveled Oregon on a listening tour. They met in-person or virtually with more than 80 community groups, ODHS programs, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Energy and other state agencies. 

“We wanted to hear from them. It was an amazing opportunity to build the grant and really make it work for the communities. A Resiliency Hub in Grants Pass will look different than one in Wheeler, and those will also look different from one in Tillamook. We’re hopeful that the applications will reflect the broad need,” Bosch said. 

She stressed that applying for this grant is easy. The application is a like a survey that the applicant can fill in what they are requesting, with six essay questions. OREM is also partnering with Portland State University to assist applicants that need help completing their application. Information about this help can be found on the OREM website. 

“We want to make sure the people who generally don’t apply for or get grants feel like they have a fair opportunity to potentially receive a grant this time – small, rural, frontier areas especially,” she said. 

So far there are more than 65 applicants for the grant money. Applications close April 30. 

Just to sum up why this grant money to create resiliency is important for communities throughout Oregon, Bosch said, “It saves lives and saves money.” 

To learn more about the Resilience Hubs and Networks Grant and to find the application, visit: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/emergency-management/Pages/resilience-grants.aspx.

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(Yreka, CA) - Please join us for an online discussion about the important steps Pacific Power has taken to prepare for wildfire season, protect its electrical grid and keep customers safe.

PacifiCorp (Pacific Power & Rocky Mountain Power) has a long history of planning for and defending against wildfires across the six western states we serve. Protecting our customers and communities while providing safe, reliable power is our highest priority. Join us for this webinar to learn about our comprehensive wildfire mitigation plan.

When: April 10, 2024

Where: California Pacific Power Wildfire Mitigation Webinar Tickets, Wed, Apr 10, 2024 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite

What: PacifiCorp representatives will share progress on wildfire mitigation work, including systems hardening, enhanced vegetation management and expanded situational awareness.

About Pacific Power

Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to 800,000 customers in 243 communities across Oregon, Washington and California. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, serving two million customers in six western states as the largest regulated utility owner of wind power in the West. PacifiCorp's long-term resource plan results in a 70% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2030 and a 100% reduction by 2050. For more information, visit pacificpower.net. 

PRIVATE SECURITY/INVESTIGATOR POLICY COMMITTEE

MEETING CANCELLED

Notice of Meeting Cancellation

The Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training meeting scheduled for May 14^th, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. has been cancelled.

The next Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for August 20, 2024, at 1:30pm.

Josephine County, Ore. 8 Apr. 24- On Monday, April 8, 2024, at 6:05 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Hwy 260, near milepost 20, in Josephine County.

The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Dodge Ram 2500, operated by David Scott Anderson (39) of Wilderville, left the roadway for unknown reasons, struck trees, and overturned. 

The operator of the Dodge (Anderson) and passenger, Shelby Mckenzie Spliethof (28) of Wilderville, were both declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation. 

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About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that is charged with protecting the people, wildlife, and natural resources in Oregon. 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.

                                     Spring into action: Give blood or platelets with the Red Cross 

Make an appointment now to help save lives during National Volunteer Month

Portland, OR (April 9, 2024) — During National Volunteer Month in April, the American Red Cross asks donors to help protect the blood supply by making and keeping blood or platelet donation appointments in the weeks ahead. Donors of all blood types – especially type O blood donors and those giving platelets – are needed now to keep the blood supply strong enough to support critical patient care this spring.

The Red Cross depends on thousands of volunteer blood donors to collect about 12,000 blood donations every single day. With no substitute for blood and no way to manufacture it, volunteer donors are essential in transfusion care. Blood drives and donation centers also depend on the generosity and valuable time of those who make it possible for the Red Cross to help people in need. 

Spring into action – book a time to give lifesaving blood or platelets now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Those who come to give April 8-28, 2024, will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice, plus be automatically entered to win a $7,000 gift card. There will be two lucky winners. See RedCrossBlood.org/Spring for details. 

Upcoming blood donation opportunities April 10-28

April 10 

Blood Donation Center, 3131 N Vancouver Ave., Portland, OR, 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Koin Tower, 222 SW Columbia St., Portland, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Eastmoreland Golf Course, 2425 SE Bybee Blvd., Portland, OR, 12:30 PM - 5:30 PM

April 11

Prescott Apartments, 1450 N Prescott St., Portland, OR, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

OHSU Rood Family Pavilion, 3410 S Bond Ave., Portland, OR, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

April 14

Blood Donation Center, 1174 Progress Drive Suite 102, Medford, OR, 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

April 15

Sunset Presbyterian Church, 14986 NW Cornell Rd., Portland, OR, 1:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Elks Lodge 1989, 3464 SW 106th Ave., Beaverton, OR, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Fred Meyer Store, 3805 SE Hawthorne, Portland, OR, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

King's Way Christian Schools, 3606 NE 78th St., Vancouver, WA, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Lausmann Annex, 200 S Ivy St., Medford, OR, 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Crater High School Upper Gym, 4410 Rogue Valey Hwy., Central Point, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Pilot Butte Station, 425 NE 15th St., Bend, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

April 16

OHSU Beaverton, 15700 SW Greystone Ct., Beaverton, OR, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd., Portland, OR, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, 4040 Sunset Dr., Lake Oswego, OR, 1:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3550 W 18th Ave., Eugene, OR, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Eagle Point High School, 203 N. Platt St., Eagle Point, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

April 17

LDS - Mtn View Ward, 1260 NE Thompson, Bend, OR, 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

April 19

Pioneer Place, 700 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Smile Station, 8210 SE 13th Ave., Portland, OR, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Reedwood Friends Church, 2901 SE Steele St., Portland, OR, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Blood Donation Center, 1174 Progress Drive Suite 102, Medford, OR, 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Ascension Lutheran Church, 675 Black Oak Dr., Medford, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

April 22

Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110, Bend, OR, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

April 23

Tektronix Fitness Center, 14053 SW Karl Braun Dr., Beaverton, OR, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Willamette View, 12705 SE River Rd., Milwaukie, OR, 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

VA Medical Center Portland, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd., Portland, OR, 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM

April 24

Cleveland High School, 3400 SE 26th Ave., Portland, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Westside Community Church, 18390 SW Farmington Rd., Beaverton, OR, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Keller Williams Realty, 9755 SW Barnes Rd., Portland, OR, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

April 25

Baja Fresh, 17805 SW 65th Ave., Lake Oswego, OR, 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Marquis Companies, 4560 SE International Way, Portland, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Beaverton Library, 12375 SW 5th St., Beaverton, OR, 11:30 AM - 4:30 PM

April 28

Platelet Donation Center, 3131 N Vancouver Ave., Portland, OR, 6:30 AM - 1:15 PM

Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter your zip code to find additional blood donation opportunities near you.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass^® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Amplify your impact − volunteer! 

Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience. 

Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for either position, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday. 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood and is the primary blood supplier to 65 hospitals throughout Washington and Oregon; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

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Salem – A two-day event in Pendleton will offer employers and workers multiple learning opportunities that will help them make their job sites safer and healthier. Topics include everything from how to improve your safety culture and worker well-being to safety committees and how to address the most common chemical hazards in your workplace.

The 16th annual Blue Mountain Occupational Safety and Health Conference, which will be held June 3-4 at the Pendleton Convention Center, will also feature learning sessions in Spanish. Employers are encouraged to take advantage of those sessions by sending staff members who would prefer to gain important safety and health knowledge in Spanish.

The conference is a collaborative effort by Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (Oregon OSHA) – a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services – Oregon SHARP Alliance, and employers and employees in northeast Oregon.

On Tuesday, June 4, the keynote presentation, “Dominoes, Just Don’t Watch Them Fall,” features safety motivational speakers Brad and Delores Gardner of Helping Hand Presentations. More than a decade ago, Brad lost his right arm in a workplace accident. The accident did not have to happen. The couple will share their story to help people prevent such tragedies and to inspire them to see safety in a new light. 

The two-day event, which includes several pre-conference workshops, offers an extended slate of topics in Spanish. On Monday, June 3, workers who prefer to learn important safety and health information in Spanish will have many topics to choose from. Topics include hazard identification, slips, trips, and falls, fall protection, chemical safety, lockout/tagout, and machine guarding.   

Additional conference topics include:

• Introduction to Occupational Medicine
• I’m on the Safety Committee, Now What?
• Critical Incident Stress Management
• Oregon OSHA’s Heat and Wildfire Smoke Rules
• Worker Well-Being in Five Easy Steps
• What Is Your Safety Culture? How Do You Take It to the Next Level?
• Situational Thinking
• Safe Forklift Operations: Managing a Successful Program
• Is It Luck or Is It PSM? The Elements of Process Safety Management

Registration for the pre-conference workshops on Monday, June 3, is $50. Registration for the conference on Tuesday, June 4, is $115, which includes lunch. To register, go to safetyseries.cventevents.com/blue24.

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Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. For more information, go to osha.oregon.gov.

The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon's largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, go to www.oregon.gov/dcbs/.

The Travel Information Council and its volunteer Oregon Heritage Tree Committee are pleased to announce the 2024 Oregon Heritage Tree Award winners. 

“The award recipients have done an exceptional job engaging communities about the importance of trees and raising awareness about Oregon’s history told through trees and forests,” said Oregon Heritage Tree Committee Chair Craig Leech. “The recipients range from volunteers to professionals who use their time and talents to better our communities.”

Maynard Drawson Memorial Award

The Maynard Drawson Memorial Award was created to honor a native of Oregon and a veteran of World War II who was best known as a tree advocate. Drawson led a campaign in the 1970s to preserve the Valley of the Giants, and in 1995 helped launch the Oregon Heritage Tree Program, the first state-sponsored heritage tree program in the country. This award recognizes exceptional, meritorious, and extraordinary work promoting the appreciation of trees over an extended period. 

2024 Winner

1. Phyllis Reynolds of Portland for being a founding member of the Portland Heritage Tree Program, a published author, including two editions of Trees of Greater Portland and Hoyt Arboretum, It’s Story, a long-time urban Forestry Commissioner for the City of Portland, and close friend of Hoyt Arboretum. Phyllis has inspired generations of tree advocates through her books and volunteerism.

Heritage Tree Heroes of the Year Award

The Heritage Tree Heros of the Year Award recognizes individuals and groups who are engaging communities through education about the importance of trees and raising awareness about Oregon’s history told through trees and forests. 

2024 Winners:

1. Giana Bernardini of Philomath for being the driving force behind the creation of the City of Philomath’s Heritage Tree Program.
2. Nancy Broshot of Oregon City for leading the revision of municipal code to remove the arborist report requirement for Heritage Tree status and making the program more accessible to community members.
3. Mike Oxendine of Talent for his tireless commitment to assisting heritage tree projects including Hiroshima Peace Tree plantings and assessing heritage tree health.

Award winners will be honored at local events in April during Arbor Month. 

The Oregon Heritage Tree Program is the first state-sponsored heritage tree program in the country. It was established in 1995 to increase public awareness of the important contribution of trees to Oregon’s history and the significant role they play in the quality of our daily life. The program is administered by the Oregon Travel Information Council and a committee of dedicated volunteers from across the state. For more information regarding the Heritage Tree program visit www.oregontic.com/oregon-heritage-trees. 

Medford, Ore. — Bureau of Land Management leaders are thrilled to introduce Serena Richelle as the 2024 Artist-in-Residence at Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Richelle is a gifted scientific illustrator. She combines science and art to raise awareness about the relationships that exist between species, their importance, their endangerment, and what we can do to preserve them.

The prestigious Artist-in-Residence program invites talented creators to immerse themselves in the breathtaking natural beauty of the monument and create works that celebrate its unique landscapes, wildlife, and cultural heritage.
 

“I am so excited by the opportunity to be inspired by and make art about the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument’s unique ecology,” said Richelle. “This is a dream come true and I look forward to every part of this adventure.”
 

Richelle will spend two-weeks in the Monument this June. She’ll be surrounded by the lush forests, rugged mountains, and pristine waters that define this remarkable landscape. She will have the opportunity to explore the monument, sketch, paint, and create in an environment that inspires creativity. You can follow Richelle on Instagram @serena_richelle. 
 

As part of her residency, Richelle will host a public presentation. Additional information about the presentation will be available in the coming weeks. Samples of Richelle’s completed artwork will become part of CSNM’s collection, contributing to the ongoing dialogue about the intersection of art, conservation, and public lands.
 

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The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

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On Apr. 4, Oregon’s 4^th Congressional District Representative, Val Hoyle, visited the Benton County Commissioners and Sheriff, to celebrate federal funding totaling almost $2 million for two important projects that are a part of the $14.6 million Hoyle helped secure for her district.

Hoyle first toured the Monroe Health Center, an important healthcare resource in rural Benton County. With federal funding secured through Hoyle's efforts, the out-of-date rural health center will receive an upgrade to deliver essential services in a more modern and efficient setting. Lacey Mollel, the interim executive director for the Community Health Centers of Benton & Linn Counties, expressed gratitude for the support and funding, recognizing its potential to enhance patient care.

Hoyle's advocacy shows a commitment to empowering local voices and ensuring that federal resources address the unique needs of each community. During the visit, Hoyle emphasized the importance of tailoring federal support to align with local priorities.

Federal funds will also strengthen public safety in Benton County. 

Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall detailed plans for enhanced communication infrastructure, crucial for navigating emergencies and ensuring community well-being emphasizing the pivotal role of federal support in bolstering emergency response capabilities.

Hoyle said she sees these projects as more than just infrastructure upgrades. They symbolize the power of local engagement and collective action. By aligning federal investment with community priorities, Hoyle and local leaders are paving the way for meaningful change and empowerment at the grassroots level.

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Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices. This document is available in alternative formats and languages upon request. Please call Cory Grogan at 541-745-4468 or email pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov

Salem, Ore. - The Oregon National Guard’s Camp Rilea Training Center, near Warrenton, is scheduled to host active-duty Army rotary wing night training missions, April 10-19, 2024. The visiting unit is located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in Tacoma, Washington.

Army rotary wing aircraft are scheduled to conduct intermittent nighttime air operations on Camp Rilea’s Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training site in order to maintain pilot and crew proficiency necessary to support real world military operations.

“We strive to be good neighbors in the communities in which we both live and serve,” said Maj. Steven Maughan, Camp Rilea Range Officer, “we appreciate the continued support when it comes to fulfilling our federal mission, as a training center, to support military readiness in the Pacific Northwest.”

While night flying operations will conclude by midnight each night on Camp Rilea, training may continue throughout the night in surrounding areas.

Camp Rilea Range Operations Range Status, to include scheduled life fire ranges and night operations, can be found on the Oregon Military Department website at https://www.oregon.gov/omd/rilea/Pages/Range-Operations.aspx

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CANNON BEACH, Oregon — The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission will convene April 23 and 24 in Cannon Beach, Oregon. 

On April 23, commissioners will hold a work session on recreational grants and authorities of the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission 1 to 4 p.m.

On April 24, commissioners will convene an executive session at 8:30 a.m. at Tolovana Inn, 3400 S Hemlock Street, to discuss acquisition priorities and opportunities and potential litigation. Executive sessions are closed to the public. A business meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the same location and will be open to the public.

Anyone may attend or listen to the business meeting; instructions on how to listen will be posted on the commission web page prior to the meeting. The business meeting includes time for informal public comment related to any items not on the agenda. Registration is required to speak at the meeting if attending online, and is available online at bit.ly/registerapr2024commission. The deadline to register to speak at the meeting virtually is 5 p.m. April 19. No advance registration is required to speak in person at the meeting. Time per speaker is limited to three minutes. Please submit written public comments by 5 p.m. April 19 to is.havel@oprd.oregon.gov">chris.havel@oprd.oregon.gov. 

The full agenda and supporting documents are posted on the commission web page. Notable requests: 

• Request to approve legislative concepts: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/CAC/Documents/2024-04-3a.pdf
• ATV Committee Member Appointment: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/CAC/Documents/2024-04-6a.pdf
• Request to approve grant recommendations for Recreational Trails Program and Land and Water Conservation Fund (federal grant programs administered by OPRD): https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/CAC/Documents/2024-04-6b.pdf and https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/CAC/Documents/2024-04-6c.pdf
• Request to approve Recreation Hub contract: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/CAC/Documents/2024-04-6d.pdf
• Request to open rule making on technical correction of Maupin scenic waterway boundary description: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/CAC/Documents/2024-04-9a.pdf

Anyone needing special accommodations to attend the meeting should contact Denise Warburton, commission assistant, at least three days in advance: burton@oprd.oregon.gov">denise.warburton@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-779-9729. 

The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission promotes outdoor recreation and heritage by establishing policies, adopting rules and setting the budget for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The seven members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. They serve four-year terms and meet several times a year at locations across the state.