Registration Opens for SOLVE’s Month-Long Spring Cleanup (Photo)SOLVE - 02/27/26 11:35 AM
Portland, Ore., February 27, 2026 – Registration is now open for the annual Oregon Spring Cleanup, in partnership with Portland General Electric. This year, SOLVE is expanding its largest spring volunteer initiative to span the entire month of April, turning Earth Month into coordinated action across Oregon and Southwest Washington.
The Oregon Spring Cleanup is SOLVE’s largest spring volunteer initiative, bringing together individuals, families, schools, businesses, and community groups to care for beaches, neighborhoods, parks, natural areas, and waterways. Projects include litter cleanups and habitat restoration efforts such as native plantings, invasive species removal, and mulching. In April 2025, the initiative supported 214 projects, engaging nearly 4,500 volunteers who removed 26,077 pounds of trash and cleared more than 22 acres of invasive species across Oregon and Southwest Washington.
With 65 events already open for registration, volunteers can sign up for projects taking place throughout April. SOLVE is aiming for 200+ projects across the region and continues to recruit additional event leaders to broaden statewide engagement. Expanding the initiative to a full month creates greater access and enables more communities to take part in coordinated Earth Month action.
“Earth Month is a powerful reminder that local action drives meaningful environmental impact,” said Kregg Arntson, Director of Community Impact at Portland General Electric. “Through our partnership with SOLVE, PGE deepens its commitment to helping Oregon’s vibrant communities become climate resilient communities.”
As global attention turns toward environmental awareness in April, the Oregon Spring Cleanup provides a way to translate that momentum into tangible results. Each project contributes to protecting natural spaces, improving neighborhood livability, and preventing litter from entering rivers and the ocean ahead of peak recreation season.
SOLVE is actively seeking additional event leaders to host cleanup or restoration projects in April. Whether returning hosts or first-time leaders, participants receive planning support, free supplies, disposal assistance, and volunteer recruitment tools. Hosting a project can be as simple as identifying a site in need and completing the new leader orientation at volunteer.solve.org/orientation.
How to Get Involved
- Volunteer: Browse the event calendar and register yourself or a group at volunteer.solve.org/oregon-spring
- Lead your own project: SOLVE provides all the necessary resources, including supplies and disposal funds, to make hosting a project easy for you.
- Encourage participation: Invite schools, workplaces, and community groups to take part in Earth Month action
The Oregon Spring Cleanup 2026 is made possible through the partnership with Portland General Electric and the generous support of Clean Water Services, Fred Meyer, Metro, Oregon State Park & Recreation, The Standard, AAA Oregon/Idaho, Intel, Kaiser Permanente, KOIN6, LAM Research, Lithia & Driveway, National Parks Recreation & Parks Association, and PepsiCo.
For more information or to register, visit solve.org/oregon-spring
About SOLVE
SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solve.org for more information or follow SOLVEPNW on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.
Senior Communications Manager | SOLVE
Portland, OR | Direct: 971.319.4503 | Main: 503.844.9571
Attached Media Files: Press Release: SOLVE's Spring Cleanup open for registration , SpringCleanup202-Portland-TomMcCall-Waterfront.JPG , SpringCleanup2025-PierParkPortland.JPG , SpringCleanup2024-Manzanita-Beach.jpg , SpringCleanup2024-Salem-PowersMarinePark.JPEG , Flyer: Celebrate Earth Month with SOLVE , Flyer: Oregon Spring Cleanup
Oregon Health Authority - 02/27/26 10:55 AM
Media toolkit: Watch a video highlighting two dental programs here
February 27, 2026
Media contact: Erica Heartquist, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov
Prevention on wheels: School-based dental programs reach rural Oregon students
PORTLAND, Ore. - As February marks national Children’s Dental Health Month, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is highlighting several dental programs that bring preventive care directly to the state’s students, helping children receive services early and reducing the need for emergency treatment later.
OHA is spotlighting the work of the Community Health Centers of Benton and Linn Counties, and the Healthy Kids Outreach Program (HKOP) through the Mercy Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CHI Mercy Health’s Mercy Medical Center, a member of CommonSpirit Health, for expanding school-based dental care in rural communities. Both organizations are certified by OHA.
In Roseburg and many surrounding areas of Douglas County, two HKOP mobile dental units travel to 38 schools from Oakland to Canyonville and down to Glendale, bringing care directly to children who might otherwise go without.
About half of families in Douglas County live at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline and roughly half of children do not have health insurance. As a result, some families turn to hospital emergency departments for urgent dental needs.
“We are tied to the hospital; we can evaluate what population is landing in the emergency room,” said Trina Simmie, RN, with HKOP through the Mercy Foundation. “When we first started, somewhere around 60 to 80 youth were landing in the emergency room with urgent abscesses or urgent needs.”
The program’s focus on prevention, a central theme of national Children’s Dental Health Month, aims to reduce those visits by identifying problems early and providing screenings, sealants, fluoride treatments and referrals.
In Corvallis, the Community Health Centers of Benton and Linn Counties also operate a dental van that serves 34 schools across rural communities.
Dental assistant Molly Perino manages the program and said reaching children early is critical. “It’s all connected,” she said. “It can affect kids in such a tremendous way, especially when they’re little. The earlier we get good habits and prevention started, the better off they are. A lot of our communities do not have fluoride in their water anymore, so this work is significant.”
Both programs collaborate with schools and local partners to remove barriers such as transportation, cost and provider shortages - challenges that are more pronounced in rural areas. Their work reflects OHA’s statewide focus during national Children’s Dental Health Month on prevention, education and improving access to care. Fostering healthy families and environments that promote health and well-being, (especially among communities most harmed by health inequities) is one of the goals of OHA’s 2025-2027 Strategic Plan.
Among the plan’s key strategies are implementing policies and procedures “that expand access to preventive health services and supports” as well as facilitating “equitable access to quality care.”
Program leaders emphasize that prevention not only improves children’s health but also reduces long-term costs for families and the health system.
“We really believe in prevention,” Simmie said. “Even though it’s not the money maker, it’s the money saver. It’s time to change our culture from putting out fires of chronic disease to one focused on prevention and the long game.”
For more on all of Oregon’s no-cost oral health programs in schools, visit this link.
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U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Oregon - 02/26/26 5:42 PM
PORTLAND, Ore.— A Cameroonian national residing in Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced to federal prison today for fraudulently obtaining more than $172,000 in taxpayer money from emergency programs intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peter Igwacho, 65, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $182,225.15 in restitution.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between April 2020 and October 2021, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Igwacho filed at least five fraudulent applications for pandemic stimulus funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The information on those forms, in support of his request for stimulus funds, was fraudulent. The applications submitted by Igwacho were filed on behalf of a sole proprietorship that did not, in fact, have actual business operations, payrolled employees, or the reported gross revenues.
Further, upon receipt of the stimulus funds, Igwacho did not spend those funds on approved pandemic-related expenses but instead spent the money on personal expenses. The PPP and EIDL programs were designed to help small businesses facing financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On July 23, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count superseding indictment charging Igwacho with wire fraud.
On August 21, 2025, Igwacho was convicted of all three counts following a three-day jury trial.
This case was investigated by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. It was prosecuted by Robert Trisotto and Meredith Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit
https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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USAOR.PublicAffairs@usdoj.gov
Oregon Health Authority - 02/26/26 3:34 PM
February 26, 2026
Media contact: Jonathan Modie, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov
OHA, Clackamas County announce new measles exposure site
PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Clackamas County officials have identified another measles exposure location and are recommending people who believe they were exposed to talk to a health care provider about their risks.
People might have been exposed if they were at the following location at this date and time:
- Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, emergency department waiting room, 1500 Division St., Oregon City, between 9:57 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, and 12:22 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 26.
People who were at this location during these dates and time period should immediately contact a health care provider and let them know they may have been exposed to someone who has measles. The health care provider can determine whether you are immune to measles based on your vaccination record, age, or laboratory evidence of prior infection.
Facts about measles
Measles spreads through the air after a person with measles coughs or sneezes. People are contagious with measles for four days before a rash appears and up to four days afterward. The virus particles also can linger in the air for up to two hours after someone who is infectious has left the area.
Measles typically starts with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. A rash usually follows, beginning on the face and spreading to the rest of the body. Symptoms begin seven to 21 days after exposure to a person with measles. Common complications of measles include ear infection, lung infection and diarrhea. Swelling of the brain is a rare but much more serious complication.
Measles can be dangerous, especially among infants and children younger than 5 years old, adults older than 20 years, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems. In developed countries in recent years, one or two out of every 1,000 measles cases has been fatal. The measles vaccine is highly effective at providing protection, as two doses of the MMR vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles. The risk of severe disease from measles for people who are up to date on their vaccines is very low.
What to do if you suspect measles in your household
Public health officials urge people experiencing symptoms of measles not to arrive unannounced at a medical office if they:
- Have a measles-like rash, or
- Have been exposed to measles within the previous 21 days, AND
have any other symptom of measles (such as fever, cough or red eyes).
Whenever possible, individuals planning to seek medical care should first call a health care provider or urgent care center by telephone to create an entry plan to avoid exposing others in waiting rooms.
Learn more about measles at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/measles.aspx.
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U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Oregon - 02/26/26 2:56 PM
PORTLAND, Ore.—An owner and president of a collection of healthcare staffing companies was sentenced to federal prison today for willfully failing to pay over employment taxes to the IRS on behalf of the companies he owned and operated.
Jeffrey A. Kruse, 56, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay over $2.8 million in restitution.
According to court documents, Kruse was the founder, owner, and president of a collection of healthcare staffing companies that provided temporary staffing of medical and healthcare workers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Kruse was in charge of payroll for the businesses and responsible for collecting and accounting for and paying over to the IRS on a periodic basis employment taxes for the businesses’ employees. Kruse falsely underreported and underpaid his employment tax obligations by creating two sets of tax forms for his employees – a false set of tax forms that he sent to the government that underreported his employees’ compensation and the employment tax due, and an accurate set of tax forms that Kruse sent his employees for use in reporting their own tax obligations.
Kruse’s conduct caused a total tax loss of over $3.6 million.
On June 20, 2025, Kruse was charged by information with one count of willful failure to collect, account for, and pay over trust fund taxes.
On August 6, 2025, Kruse pleaded guilty to count one of the information.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew T. Ho prosecuted the case.
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USAOR.PublicAffairs@usdoj.gov
Medford Police Dept. - 02/26/26 2:53 PM
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Aggravated Theft I (5 counts)
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Theft I (2 counts)
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Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card – Felony (3 counts)
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Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card – Misdemeanor (4 counts)
Lieutenant Rebecca Pietila
Rebecca.Pietila@cityofmedford.org
541-774-2229
Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. - 02/26/26 2:06 PM
SALEM, Oregon--- The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Advisory Committee will meet March 10-11, 2026, at 9 a.m. to evaluate grant applcations from around the state for projects that support the development or improvement of recreational trails. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) administers this federally funded grant program.
The meeting is open to the public, but there will not be time for public comments during the meeting. The committee will evaluate 34 applications over the two days. Approximately $2 million of RTP grant funds are available.
The meeting will be held on Zoom. Meeting details, including the agenda and list of project proposals, are available here: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/Documents/RTP-Agenda-March2026.pdf.
After reviewing the applications, the RTP Advisory Committee will make funding recommendations to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission for review and approval at the Commission’s April meeting. Approved project proposals will then be sent to the Federal Highway Administration for final approval.
The RTP Advisory Committee consists of 10 members who represent various trail user groups and land managers. Eligible RTP applicants include local governments, state agencies, federal land management agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations.
RTP is an assistance program of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. The program provides funds to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized uses, including hiking, biking, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, paddling, snowmobiling, off-road motorcycling, all-terrain vehicle riding, four-wheel driving, or using other off-road motorized vehicles. Learn more about RTP here: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/Pages/GRA-rtp.aspx.
For more information contact Jodi Bellefeuille, program coordinator at 503-856-6316 or ellefeuille@oprd.oregon.gov">Jodi.bellefeuille@oprd.oregon.gov, or visit the RTP webpage on the OPRD website. If special accommodations are needed to attend the meeting, contact Jodi Bellefeuille at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.
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Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Oregon - 02/26/26 1:00 PM
Salem, Oregon — 2/26/2025 — Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Oregon, a leading early literacy nonprofit dedicated to ensuring young children have access to books at home, proudly announced today that it has mailed its 4 millionth book in Oregon, marking a major milestone in its mission to inspire a love of reading.
This accomplishment reflects years of collaboration between community partners, libraries, educators, and advocates who know that early access to books can profoundly shape a child’s future. In May of 2024 the State of Oregon launched the statewide expansion of the Imagination Library, offering matching funds to strengthen the work of local partners and boost both coverage and enrollment. As a result, in April 2025 the program reached full statewide coverage. Now, in 2026, more than one-third of the 4 million books mailed, 1,394,648 in total, have been mailed since the state joined the effort.
“It has been my joy to partner with the Imagination Library to get more books in the hands of kids by hosting read alouds across the state,” said Oregon First Lady, Aimee Kotek Wilson, of the many library events she has participated in to build awareness for this free resource for Oregon families. “Supporting early literacy initiatives like this is an investment in the bright future of our entire state.”
Started in 1995 by Dolly Parton, the Imagination Library was inspired by her father, who could not read or write—and by her belief that if you can read, you can do anything. The program first arrived in Oregon in 2007. It gifts free, high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children and their families from birth to age 5. Research consistently shows that children who grow up with books in the home are more likely to develop critical literacy skills and succeed academically.
“Oregon is choosing to be architects of the future. This achievement represents 4 million opportunities for families to share a story, spark imagination, and build early language and literacy skills,” said House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, who has championed the Imagination Library in the legislature. “Over time, these small, consistent interactions lay the groundwork for kindergarten readiness—and they help our youngest kids fall in love with reading.”
Early literacy remains a pressing issue in Oregon, where many children enter kindergarten without foundational skills. By delivering books directly to families, the Imagination Library of Oregon helps remove barriers related to cost and access, levelling the playing field and empowering families.
“Each book mailed is a reminder to families that they are supported, valued, and equipped to be their child’s first and most important teachers,” said Department of Early Learning and Care Director, Alyssa Chatterjee. “Over time, shared reading moments become routines, and those routines become habits that support school readiness and academic success.”
As the Imagination Library of Oregon looks ahead, the organization remains committed to expanding its reach, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that every child in Oregon has the opportunity to build their own personal library. Currently, 35% of all children under age 5 in the state are already enrolled, in many regions that number is over 50%. With sustained community support and strategic growth, the program will continue building a stronger future—one child, one book, and one personal library at a time.
For more information about the Imagination Library of Oregon or to enroll a child, visit imaginationlibrary.com/oregon.
State Director, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Oregon
LMcNichols@or.imaginationlibrary.com
Attached Media Files: 4_millionth_landscape.png , 4_millionth_1080p.png , 4_millionth_social_insta.png , 4_millionth_social_portrait.png , 4_millionth_social_square.png
U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Oregon - 02/26/26 11:28 AM
MEDFORD, Ore.—A licensed real estate broker pleaded guilty Monday after avoiding reporting requirements and drafting fake property leases when her client’s illegal marijuana grow was raided.
Tyra Foxx, 46, pleaded guilty to avoiding reporting requirements and obstruction of justice.
According to court documents, between January 2020 through November 2020, Foxx was a real estate broker for Jose Orozco and assisted with his purchase of agricultural properties to grow hemp and marijuana. When Orozco purchased these properties, Foxx made large cash payments to the property owners outside of escrow, and knowing RE/MAX did not accept cash payments, converted $100,000 into money orders and used a third-party broker’s trust account to transfer over $2 million dollars into escrow accounts.
On October 13, 2020, Foxx received $175,000 from Orozco to purchase agricultural property in Josephine County, Oregon. Foxx did not file a Form 8300 upon receipt of the funds as required, but instead, transferred the money to a client trust account at another real estate office. This caused a Currency Transaction Report to be filed in that real estate office’s name rather than Orozco’s name.
After learning that law enforcement had raided one of Orozco’s illegal marijuana grows, Foxx drafted fake property leases for Orozco and suggested he place phony construction liens to be levied on the property to prevent it from being forfeited by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
On February 23, 2026, Foxx was charged by an amended superseding information with avoiding reporting requirements and obstruction of justice.
On count one, Foxx faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $500,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. On count two, Foxx faces 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced on May 11, 2026, before a U.S. District Court judge.
Jose Orozco previously pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and is scheduled to be sentenced April 6, 2026, before a U.S. District Court judge.
The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team, HSI, and IRS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brassell is prosecuting the case.
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USAOR.PublicAffairs@usdoj.gov
Oregon Dept. of Consumer & Business Services - 02/26/26 11:03 AM
Salem – As rain and snow begin to fall more, now is a good time to talk to your insurance company or agent about flood insurance and landslide coverage, which are also called difference-in-conditions policies. Parts of Oregon are flood prone, and we have already seen landslides on the Oregon Coast in December, which destroyed three homes and damaged two others. The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) urges homeowners, businesses, and tenants to consider protecting their property and contents with comprehensive flood and landslide insurance. Most homeowners, renters, manufactured home, condominium, and business policies do not cover these perils.
Flood and landslide insurance provides peace of mind to property owners and renters, and protects them from the financial devastation that often accompanies natural disasters. Floods and landslides can cause extensive damage to homes and businesses, including structural damage and loss of personal property. With this additional coverage, property owners and tenants can focus on recovering and rebuilding, reducing their financial burden.
You can buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). There are also some private insurers that offer it as well. Flood insurance policies can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each customer, providing options for building coverage, contents coverage, and replacement cost coverage. When purchased, a typical flood insurance policy has a 30-day waiting period, so it should be purchased before flooding concerns.
“Typical homeowners insurance doesn’t cover damages from floods or landslides, and many people may not know that their home is not covered for these types of perils,” said TK Keen, Oregon’s insurance commissioner. “In Oregon, flood insurance is a separate policy that provides coverage for damages caused by flooding, and it is important for homeowners, businesses, and renters to evaluate whether to have this coverage to protect their property. Landslide insurance is a different policy that homeowners, businesses, and renters may also need to seek based upon the specific location of the property.”
DFR encourages property owners and renters to consider flood and landslide insurance as a crucial part of their disaster preparedness plan and to talk to their insurance company or agent.
“Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect your property from flooding or any kind of disaster,” Keen said. “With the right policy and coverage, you can have peace of mind knowing you are prepared.”
Depending on where you live, your mortgage company may or may not require flood insurance. If they don’t require it, you can still apply for coverage. Not all insurance companies offer difference-in-conditions policies. If your current insurance company or agent does not write this coverage, ask an agent for recommendations. Always make sure you are working with a licensed insurance agent, which can be confirmed by searching here.
For more information on flood insurance and other natural disaster preparedness, check out DFR’s website.
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About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.
Oregon Employment Department - 02/26/26 10:01 AM
For Immediate Release: Feb. 26, 2026
Media Contact: Communications@employ.oregon.gov;
Anna Johnson, Senior Research Analyst, Anna.L.Johnson@employ.oregon.gov
Oregon Private Job Vacancies Flatten Out in 2025
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon private employers reported 58,500 job openings at any given time in 2025. This was essentially unchanged from the 57,800 job openings seen in 2024, according to new data from the Oregon Employment Department’s Job Vacancy Survey.
In research published today, senior research analyst Anna Johnson reports that the health care and social assistance industry saw the strongest level of hiring in 2025, with over a quarter of all vacancies coming from companies in that sector. Most job openings across the state tended to be for full-time and permanent positions. Vacancies with higher education requirements also had a greater likelihood for prior experience requirements, and higher average wages.
Oregon saw record high levels of job vacancies in the recovery from the pandemic recession in 2021 and 2022. Vacancies returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2024 and 2025. For the full analysis, see the article Oregon Private Job Vacancies: 2025 Job Vacancies Remained Flat.
About Workforce and Economic Research
The Workforce and Economic Research Division of the Oregon Employment Department develops and distributes quality economic and workforce information to help Oregonians make informed decisions and support a thriving economy. Staff collect data from state and federal records and surveys; analyze the available information; and share insights with the public in a variety of ways, including regular reports, publications, and the website, QualityInfo.org.
The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.
El Departamento de Empleo de Oregon (OED) es una agencia de igualdad de oportunidades. El OED proporciona ayuda gratuita para que usted pueda utilizar nuestros servicios. Algunos ejemplos son intérpretes de lengua de señas e idiomas hablados, materiales escritos en otros idiomas, letra grande, audio y otros formatos. Para obtener ayuda, por favor llame al 503-947-1444. Usuarios de TTY pueden llamar al 711. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a communications@employ.oregon.gov.
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U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Oregon - 02/26/26 9:33 AM
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal jury in Portland, Oregon, found Brandon Charles Nelson, 40, guilty yesterday of escape after failing to report to the Northwest Regional Re-entry Center (NWRRC) in Portland.
According to court documents, Nelson was convicted of felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 36 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. On Feb. 25, 2025, after violating his release conditions for a third time, Nelson’s supervision was revoked, and he was sentenced to 12 months in prison and 18 months of supervised release. While in custody at Victorville Federal Corrections Institute (FCI), Nelson met criteria for placement in a residential re-entry center and was referred to the NWRRC. He was approved to travel unescorted and required to report no later than Nov. 20, 2025. Nelson absconded and failed to report as directed and required. Victorville FCI reported Nelson as an escapee to the United States Marshals Service (USMS) on Nov. 21, 2025, and the USMS arrested him on Dec. 5, 2025, without incident.
On Dec. 16, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Nelson with escape from custody.
Nelson faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on June 8, 2026, before a U.S. District Court judge.
The USMS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arin Heinz prosecuted the case.
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USAOR.PublicAffairs@usdoj.gov
U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Oregon - 02/25/26 3:05 PM
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for sex trafficking three minor victims.
Eric Lamont Harris, 51, was sentenced to 292 months in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Harris began trafficking 15-year-old Minor Victim 1 in Spring 2022. Minor Victim 1 was a ward of the state and reported missing in March 2022. Harris began trafficking 16-year-old Minor Victim 2 in June 2022. In July 2022, Harris brought Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2 from Portland to Kennewick, Washington, with the intent that they engage in prostitution at a hotel he booked in Kennewick. After Minor Victim 2’s parents reported her missing, the FBI and Kennewick Police recovered Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2 in Kennewick. Harris met 17-year-old Minor Victim 3 in June 2022 and began trafficking her in August 2022.
Each victim lived with Harris while he trafficked them. Harris booked hotel rooms for the minor victims’ commercial sex dates, transported them to and from those dates, facilitated the posting of online escort advertisements featuring the minor victims, and received thousands of dollars’ worth of commercial sex proceeds from the minor victims.
On September 16, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an eight-count second superseding indictment charging Harris with transportation with intent to engage in prostitution, three counts of sex trafficking of a child, three counts of sex trafficking of a child – benefitting from participation in a venture, and sexual exploitation of children.
On November 6, 2025, Harris pleaded guilty to the eight-count indictment on the fourth day of his ten-day trial.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Portland Police Bureau, the Kennewick Police Department, and the Medford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charlotte Kelley and Robert Trisotto prosecuted the case.
This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
If you or someone you know are victims of human trafficking or have information about a potential human trafficking situation, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also submit a tip on the NHTRC website.
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USAOR.PublicAffairs@usdoj.gov
Oregon Dept. of Forestry - 02/25/26 2:27 PM
SALEM, Ore. — The Board of Forestry Governance Committee will meet virtually at 9 a.m. on Monday, March 2. To join, please use the Zoom video conference information found on the agenda.
The committee’s agenda includes:
- Finalize Board Policy Manual (BPM) language updates
- Finalize agenda development document
- Develop plan to update board governance performance evaluation
- Discuss adding a Roberts Rules/Meeting Protocol section to the BPM
- Plan our presentation for the Board of Forestry (BOF) meeting on March 4
- Schedule next meeting
Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-302-6344 or by email at oardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov">boardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov.
This standing board committee recommends policies (or policy changes) to the board pertaining to governance issues and processes including the oversight and management of the Board Policy Manual, orientation and training of new board members, the evaluation and improvement of the board, the repository of board materials, and oversight of the written conflict of interest policies, procedures, and review of annual or special statements of board members. Learn more about the committee.
Ore. Dept. of Public Safety Standards and Training - 02/25/26 1:55 PM
DPSST Telecommunications Curriculum Advisory Committee Membership Opportunity
The DPSST Telecommunications Curriculum Advisory Committee (TCAC) is currently seeking interested individuals for membership.
Who Should Apply?
We already have strong representation from managers and supervisors and are looking to expand our membership to include line staff, coaches, and trainers from various agencies across the state, representing different agency sizes.
TCAC Overview and Member Responsibilities:
The TCAC operates as a subcommittee of the DPSST Telecommunications Policy Committee (TPC), with all members appointed by the TPC. Responsibilities include convening bi-annually or as needed by DPSST to review curriculum for Telecommunications and Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), Field Training Manuals, and EMD cards. Members, serving as subject matter experts (SMEs), will recommend updates and revisions based on these reviews.
Length of Service and How to Apply:
The commitment is for a minimum of two (2) years. Interested individuals are invited to submit a letter of interest to Kathy.Fink@dpsst.oregon.gov by March 10, 2026.
Applications will be reviewed, and selections will be made to create a well-rounded committee.
Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
Phone: 503-551-3167
E-Mail: juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust - 02/25/26 9:30 AM
Today, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust published its Fall 2025 Grants Report. The report announces:
-
112 total grants to Pacific Northwest nonprofits totaling $30,848,000.
-
This includes $7,393,000 through 29 grants to nonprofits serving the Oregon community.
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust is a private, nonprofit foundation that has invested more than $1.5 billion in nonprofits serving the Pacific Northwest since 1975. For details, please visit our website murdocktrust.org.
360.694.8415 // colbyr@murdocktrust.org
U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Oregon - 02/24/26 5:37 PM
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Gearhart, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today for secretly filming a minor victim while nude and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Joseph Tyler Biamont, 35, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, Gearhart Police discovered that Biamont was in possession of a thumb drive containing secretly recorded videos of the minor victim while nude. The videos were filmed from what appeared to be a dummy smoke detector above the victim’s bed, behind a teddy bear, and from Biamont’s cell phone, depicting the minor victim going to the bathroom, showering, and changing clothes. Biamont is visible in some of the videos. Investigators also found files of CSAM of other minor victims on Biamont’s thumb drive and videos of an adult victim nude in the bathroom.
On May 6, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a six-count indictment charging Biamont with sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography.
On count one, Biamont faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years to life of supervised release. On count six, Biamont faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years to life of supervised release. He will be sentenced on August 19, 2026, before a U.S. District Court judge.
As part of the plea agreement, Biamont has agreed to pay restitution to the victims.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office and the Gearhart Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Kelley is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
# # #
USAOR.PublicAffairs@usdoj.gov
Oregon Nurses Assn. - 02/24/26 5:27 PM
Oregon Senate Bill 1570 will hold federal immigration officers accountable inside hospitals, protect patients’ and providers’ rights, and ensure everyone can access healthcare without fearing for their safety.
(SALEM, Ore.) – Healthcare workers applauded Tuesday as the Oregon Senate voted to pass the Healthcare Without Fear Act, Senate Bill 1570, to ensure hospitals are places of healing and trust; not fear or intimidation. The Healthcare Without Fear Act ensures federal immigration agents are accountable to the same standards as state and local law enforcement inside hospitals; safeguards patients’ private health information; and improves Oregonians’ health and safety.
“This bill is not abstract policy—it is a promise. A promise that Oregon’s hospitals will be safe spaces. A promise that violence and intimidation have no place in healthcare settings. A promise that caregivers can do their jobs without fear. And a promise that all patients are treated with the dignity, humanity, and protection they deserve,” said ONA President Tamie Cline, RN.
The Healthcare Without Fear Act comes after recent federal policy changes have made hospitals, clinics, and schools targets for immigration enforcement actions from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In Oregon federal immigration agents shot two people in a hospital parking lot; arrested an entire family trying to take their sick 7-year-old daughter to the ER; and reportedly failed to follow protocols inside hospitals by entering restricted areas, exposing protected health information, and interfering with patients’ care.
Senate Bill 1570 requires hospitals to create policies around all law enforcement interactions, designate a point person to interface with law enforcement to reduce burdens on frontline caregivers, and clearly designate public and private spaces. It protects patients’ privacy by classifying immigration status and place of birth as protected health information and empowers healthcare providers to share information about immigration rights or legal services with patients and their families.
“Our patients do not feel safe seeking necessary and life-saving medical care. This injustice strikes at the heart of our healthcare system,” said ONA member Jayesh Palshikar, RN. “The Healthcare Without Fear Act will protect providers and patients, hold federal officers accountable to basic hospital standards and begin restoring trust in our healthcare system.”
Following today’s successful Senate vote, the bill will move on to the House Committee on Health Care.
More information on the Healthcare without Fear Act can be found at OregonRN.org/CareWithoutFear.
###
Kevin Mealy, Mealy@OregonRN.org, 765-760-2203
Attached Media Files: Oregon Nurses Association President Tamie Cline, RN, (center) stands with state legislators and supporters to announce the Healthcare Without Fear Act (SB 1570) during a press conference at ONA’s headquarters Jan. 30. , ONA healthcare providers and legislators gather in the State Capitol rotunda for a photo after testifying in support of the Healthcare Without Fear Act (SB 1570) Feb. 4.
Oregon Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries - 02/24/26 5:10 PM
The Governing Board of the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) will meet on Tuesday, March 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. This public meeting will be conducted as a teleconference.
The meeting agenda, including call-in information, is available at: https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/about/govboard/boardagenda_03_10_2026.pdf
The DOGAMI Governing Board sets policy, oversees general operations, and adopts a strategic plan every six years. The Board meets at least quarterly. As active members of their communities, Board members provide an important connection between Oregonians and DOGAMI’s mission of providing earth science information and regulation to make Oregon safe and prosperous.
###
Oregon Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries
office: 971.673.1537
email: dogami-info@dogami.oregon.gov
Oregon State Police - 02/24/26 4:13 PM
Polk County, Ore. (Feb. 24, 2026) - On Monday, February 23, 2026, at 9:51 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 22, at the intersection with Highway 51, in Polk County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Salem-Keizer Thomas school bus, operated by Chandra Jean Milkovich-Howard (33) of Turner, attempted a left turn onto southbound Highway 51. The school bus entered the path of an eastbound Honda Pilot, operated by Luke Richard Brittan (68) of Independence, causing a head-on crash.
The operator of the Honda (Brittan) was declared deceased at the scene.
The operator of the Thomas school bus (Milkovich-Howard) suffered reported minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital
The school bus was occupied by 2 adults and 30 students. One student suffered a reported minor injury and was transported to an area hospital.
The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation. An unsafe left turn is considered the primary cause of the collision. The Thomas operator was issued a citation for the unsafe left turn. The investigtion is on-going and will be forwarded to the district attorney when complete for consideration.
OSP was assisted by the Polk County Sheriff's Office and ODOT.
# # #
About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU)
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.
Oregon Dept. of Consumer & Business Services - 02/24/26 10:45 AM
Salem – In the fourth quarter of 2025, Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) consumer advocates helped recover more than $1 million for Oregon consumers. The fourth quarter consists of the last three months of the year. The $1,118,375 recovered brings the 2025 total to $7,039,774 – money that goes directly back to Oregonians.
Consumer advocates have extensive knowledge across many areas of regulation, including helping those experiencing difficulties with insurance, mortgages, banking products, securities, student loans, and a variety of other financial services regulated by DFR.
“The agency’s work to protect consumers by holding companies accountable to their customers helps to make Oregon more affordable for all of us,” Gov. Tina Kotek said.
The final quarter of last year saw 1,454 complaints come through DFR’s consumer advocates for a total of 5,663 complaints in 2025. Insurance complaints led the way in each quarter, with 935 in the last three months of 2025, while more than 3,700 insurance complaints came in throughout the year. Credit union complaints were the next highest of areas DFR regulated with 59 complaints for the quarter and 212 for the entire year. Advocates also received 254 insurance complaints that were not regulated by DFR.
Examples of consumer complaints successfully resolved by DFR advocates in the last three months of 2025 include:
- Following a dental trauma, a consumer was seen at an in-network emergency room and referred to an out-of-network specialist for follow-up care. The in-network doctor submitted a prior authorization for the specialist’s services, but the consumer did not understand that since the specialist was out-of-network, they would be responsible for the full bill, which totaled $12,000. The insurer denied the consumer’s appeal to pay the claim and waive the charges, so the consumer filed a complaint with DFR. During the insurer’s review, because the in-network emergency room provider requested prior authorization from an out-of-network provider instead of an in-network provider, the insurance company agreed to negotiate a single case agreement, which means the consumer will be responsible only for their in-network cost share.
- A consumer filed a complaint indicating a debt management service provider charged for services while he resided in Oregon when the provider was not licensed in the state. The service provider credited the consumer $3,176.48 for fees earned while he lived in Oregon.
- A consumer reported a hail loss in July 2025. The company’s estimate and the contractor’s estimate were significantly different. The two areas of concern were skylights and roofing materials. The consumer lived in a homeowner association that set requirements for the quality of materials used for building or repairs. Some differences appeared associated with those requirements and, based on the insurance contract, were not owed by the insurer. However, through the complaint process, the company reassessed these two areas of the repair estimate and made adjustments to properly reflect like kind and quality of the repair materials. Additional payments totaling $4,389.17 were issued.
- A consumer traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, to see a specialist for a rare type of cancer and ongoing treatment. During travel, an emergency occurred requiring the consumer to be hospitalized for a full month and to undergo multiple procedures. The provider had previously been in-network. However, the consumer’s employer recently changed insurers, and the provider was now out-of-network. The consumer was not aware there would be such a drastic difference in benefits. The consumer returned to Oregon as soon as they were able, but now had significant bills due of about $40,000. After corresponding with the insurer, the insurer agreed to retroactively approve continuity of care for the consumer, which allowed several large claims to be reprocessed as in-network. Partnering with the consumer and the insurer to verify outstanding balances and claim statuses, four separate previously out-of-network claims were able to be reprocessed, saving the consumer $38,800.75.
“Last year saw over 5,000 complaints come in to our consumer advocates, and they handled them professionally,” said Sean O’Day, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. “We have a dedicated group of employees who have a common goal of helping Oregonians navigate the often complicated world of insurance and financial services.”
Oregon Insurance Commissioner TK Keen said consumer advocates have a tough job and handle it professionally.
“I am very proud of our team of industry experts, who continue to put their knowledge to work for the benefit of Oregonians,” said Keen, who is also the DFR administrator. “Many of the cases they deal with are highly complex and take a lot of time to navigate. I am happy to see their hard work benefitting so many people in our state.”
Anyone who may need a consumer advocate can call 888-877-4894 (toll-free) or email .insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov">dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov for insurance-related issues and .finanicialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov">dfr.finanicialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov for financial-related issues.
Here is the list of complaints through 2025:
|
|
Quarter 1 2025 (January to March) |
Quarter 2 (April to June) |
Quarter 3 (July to September) |
Quarter 4 (October to December) |
Total for 2025 |
|
Banking |
12 |
12 |
9 |
15 |
48 |
|
Check casher |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Collection agency |
8 |
4 |
11 |
4 |
27 |
|
Consumer finance |
15 |
8 |
25 |
13 |
61 |
|
Credit services |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Credit union |
48 |
52 |
53 |
59 |
212 |
|
Debt buyer |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Debt management service provider |
1 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
12 |
|
Insurance |
857 |
812 |
869 |
935 |
3,473 |
|
Manufactured structure dealer |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
|
Money transmitter |
18 |
22 |
31 |
10 |
81 |
|
Mortgage banker/broker |
5 |
10 |
12 |
11 |
38 |
|
Mortgage servicer |
55 |
48 |
43 |
40 |
186 |
|
Other |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
|
Pawnbroker |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
|
Payday loans |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Pre-need provider |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Securities |
23 |
28 |
16 |
11 |
78 |
|
Student loan |
31 |
42 |
32 |
23 |
128 |
|
Title loans |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Virtual currency |
0 |
2 |
11 |
9 |
22 |
|
Not regulated by DFR: All other |
56 |
53 |
48 |
50 |
207 |
|
Not regulated by DFR: Banking |
17 |
13 |
3 |
10 |
43 |
|
Not regulated by DFR: Credit unions |
4 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
14 |
|
Not regulated by DFR: Insurance |
265 |
245 |
243 |
254 |
1,007 |
|
Total complaints: |
1,424 |
1,365 |
1,420 |
1,454 |
5,663 |
|
Recoveries |
$2,749,854 |
$1,275,220 |
$1,896,325 |
$1,118,375 |
$7,039,774 |
###
About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.
Ore. Dept. of Public Safety Standards and Training - 02/24/26 10:23 AM
BASIC CORRECTIONS FIREARMS
WORKGROUP MEETING
SCHEDULED
Notice of Scheduled Meeting
The DPSST Basic Corrections Firearms Workgroup will meet at 10:00 am on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in in Conference Room C-210 at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Julie Collinson at julie.collinson@dpsst.oregon.gov and (503) 510-5530 or Jennifer Howald at .howald@dpsst.oregon.gov">jennifer.howald@dpsst.oregon.gov and (503) 551-3258.
The meeting will be recorded and posted on the DPSST YouTube page after the meeting: https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST
Agenda Items:
1. Introductions
2. Review of the Basic Corrections Firearms Survey Results
Presented by DPSST Staff
3. Discussion and Next Steps
4. Next Workgroup Meeting – TBD
Administrative Announcement
This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law. This meeting will be digitally recorded and posted on the DPSST YouTube page after the meeting. The meeting will also be recorded in the form of written minutes. Discussion of issues will only be conducted by workgroup members. Please be mindful of comments and side conversations.
Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
Phone: 503-551-3167
E-Mail: juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov
Oregon Dept. of Forestry - 02/24/26 8:38 AM
SALEM, Ore. — The Emergency Fire Cost Committee (EFCC) will meet at 10 a.m. on March 3, 2026, in the Tillamook Room, Building C, Oregon Department of Forestry at 2600 State Street in Salem. To join virtually, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda.
The committee’s agenda includes:
- Harvest tax allocation for fiscal year 2027 (FY27) district budgets
- Weather update
- Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund (OFLPF) fiscal year 2025 (FY25) ending balance and current financial status
- Status reports on EFCC work groups
- Fiscal year 2025 (FY25) audit report
- Administrative Branch/Protection Division/Administrator reports
The meeting is open to the public to attend in-person or virtually via Teams. Public comments will be accepted near the end of the meeting. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-881-8292 or by email at na.m.hobbs@odf.oregon.gov">lorna.m.hobbs@odf.oregon.gov.
The Emergency Fire Cost Committee (EFCC) oversees the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund (OFLPF), established by the Oregon Legislature as a fund with the purpose of providing funds for fiscal year budgets of forest protection districts, investments in supplemental fire prevention, detection or suppression resources that enhance fire protection in the state and issuing loans to the Oregon Department of Forestry or forest protection associations that relate to wildfire costs. View more information on the EFCC webpage.
Oregon Health Authority - 02/23/26 2:14 PM
February 23, 2026
Media Contact: Kim Lippert, erly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov" rel="noopener" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Kimberly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov, 971-323-3831
Application deadline extended for OAC Council
SALEM, Ore. - Oregon Health Authority is seeking applicants to serve on the Oversight and Accountability Council (OAC), a Council established by Ballot Measure 110 in 2020. The OAC is a public body of the state of Oregon that advises the Oregon Health Authority on the grant program described in ORS 430.389
Members of the OAC serve four-year terms. Members may be eligible for a stipend to compensate them for their time engaged official duties of the OAC. OHA is seeking new members in the categories described below:
- An academic researcher specializing in drug use or drug policy
- A representative of a coordinated care organization
Application extended: To apply, submit an application here by 11:59 pm, March 15, 2026.
A team at OHA will review applications and inform applicants of appointments by March 31, 2026.
For questions or more information, email HRN@oha.oregon.gov" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">BHRN@oha.oregon.gov ,or contact Karli Moon at li.moon@oha.oregon.gov" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Karli.moon@oha.oregon.gov or 971-240-8690.
# # #
Oregon Housing and Community Services - 02/23/26 12:54 PM
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) celebrate the grand opening of the Baker Building in Astoria. Developed by Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare and Edlen & Company, this Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) development will provide 32 affordable homes for people who have mental health and substance use disorders, including at least nine units for individuals living with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI).
“Every Oregonian deserves the dignity and stability of a safe place to call home,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “This is the kind of coordinated, community-based solution we need more of across our state that pairs stable housing with the behavioral health services people need to recover and thrive.”
Earlier this year, Gov. Kotek extended the homelessness state of emergency and refocused the state’s efforts to focus on helping individuals experiencing homelessness who are struggling with mental health and addiction. While not a result of the recent executive order, this project, is an example of what the recent executive order is focused on building more of around the state. Notably, the project is named after Amy Baker, the governor’s behavioral health initiative director, who worked in a former capacity to bring more focus and attention to addressing the community’s need in the region.
“When we invest in Permanent Supportive Housing, we’re delivering community driven solutions that center both dignity and affordability, said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell.
The Baker Building represents the first large-scale Permanent Supportive Housing project developed by Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare (CBH) in Clatsop County and marks a major step toward addressing chronic homelessness through integrated housing and behavioral health solutions in the region. The project is expected to welcome residents by late March.
“Having homes prioritized for people living with serious mental illness and offering services on site lowers systemic barriers and provides them with the opportunity to live with autonomy and stability, while also being part of a community,” said OHA’s Behavioral Health Division Director Ebony Clarke. “Investment in the Baker Building is part of OHA’s priority to ensure equitable access to behavioral health services in all corners of the state.”
CBH, Clatsop County’s local mental health authority and safety net provider, will deliver on-site services, including mental health and substance use disorder treatment, medication management, peer support and psychiatric care. Most Baker Building staff transitioned from a low-barrier shelter in Seaside that closed in late 2025 due to budget reductions, preserving critical expertise while expanding long-term housing capacity.
“The Baker Building demonstrates the potential of integrating housing and behavioral health care as complementary components of a unified solution rather than as competing priorities,” said Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare Executive Director Shyra Merila-Simmons. “This project provides 32 safe and stable homes with on-site behavioral health services, enabling individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, serious mental illness, and substance use disorders to focus on recovery, community engagement, and long-term stability. This housing community is a step in the right direction for Clatsop County."
The Baker Building was funded through a combination of state, federal, and local partnerships. CBH received $2.7 million from House Bill 5024 and $2.1 million from House Bill 5202 during the 2021-23 biennium to support the behavioral health infrastructure and services connected to the project. OHCS invested $6 million in PSH development funds and will provide ongoing project-based rent assistance for most units, along with PSH services funding for all units. Additional funding came from the Oregon Health Authority and Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization (CPCCO).
About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)
OHCS is Oregon's housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of low and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.
About the Oregon Health Authority
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is at the forefront of lowering and containing costs, improving quality and increasing access to health care in order to improve the lifelong health of Oregonians. OHA is overseen by the nine-member citizen Oregon Health Policy Board (http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OHPB/) which is working toward comprehensive health and health care reform in the state.
OHA includes most of the state's health care programs, including Public Health, Health Policy and Analytics, Health Systems Division, and Oregon State Hospital. Incorporating the state's health care programs within one agency gives the state greater purchasing and marketing power to begin tackling the issues of cost, quality, and access to care.
HCS.mediarequests@hcs.oregon.gov?
OHA Media Contact: Kim Lippert
Kimberly.L.Lippert@oha.oregon.gov
Oregon Health Authority - 02/23/26 10:30 AM
February 23, 2026
Media Contact: Amy Bacher, acher2@oha.oregon.gov" rel="noopener" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">amy.bacher2@oha.oregon.gov
Oregon Health Authority welcomes new Principal Ombuds
SALEM, Ore. – Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is welcoming Brooke Emery as the agency’s new Principal Ombuds. She is responsible for leading the Ombuds Program at OHA. Emery is stepping into the role after Ellen Pinney, who helped build the Ombuds Program, retired last December after 15 years of service.
Like Pinney, Emery brings a wealth of experience and a strong dedication to serving people in Oregon. Most recently, she served as a Policy Analyst in the CCO Services Unit within OHA’s Medicaid Division. Her prior leadership roles include positions at Lane County Developmental Disabilities Services, the Lane Council of Governments and Senior and People with Disabilities.
Emery’s career began as a Service Case Manager and progressed through roles in Adult Protective Services, Disabilities Unit management and as Program Manager for Medicaid Services. She was later promoted to Deputy Director of Senior and Disability Services where she oversaw all Medicaid and Older Americans Act programs
“I am honored to step into this role and continue advocating for Oregon Health Plan members across the state,” said Emery. “I believe deeply in the power of listening to people’s experiences and using that insight to drive meaningful change.”
About the Ombuds Program at OHA
OHA has a team of staff who advocate for Oregon Health Plan (OHP / Medicaid) members. These staff are called ombudspersons and they help find solutions for and report issues on behalf of members who have difficulty getting care. The Ombuds Program operates independently within OHA to prioritize member concerns and recommend needed improvements.
Backed by data
The Ombuds team records all feedback from OHP members. They track the types of benefits (like dental or mental health care) that members have issues with and the specific problem (like quality of care or billing). The program will share 2025 data and recommendations for improvements in reports to the Governor and Oregon Health Policy Board in early 2026.
Ombuds Program Goals
In her role as Principal Ombuds, Emery will build upon Pinney’s efforts to ensure access and quality of care for OHP members. These efforts include:
- Partnering with the Oregon Disabilities Commission and OHP members to improve access to durable medical equipment (DME), which includes things like medically necessary motorized wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs and blood sugar monitors.
- Addressing complications with follow-up related to Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) housing benefits by working with coordinated care organizations (CCOs) to connect members to housing providers.
- Mentoring and developing a team of eight dedicated ombudspersons.
Who Should Contact the Ombuds Program
The Ombuds Program is available to OHP members who have concerns about OHP or Medicaid that they’re unable to solve with their CCO. Members can also contact the Ombuds Program to share a success.
Ombuds can be reached toll free at 877-642-0450 or via email (udsOffice@odhsoha.oregon.gov" rel="noopener" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">OHA.OmbudsOffice@odhsoha.oregon.gov).
Members may find they can resolve their issue before contacting ombuds by speaking with either their CCO or OHP Client Services. Members can contact their CCO by visiting OHA’s CCO contact web page. They can reach Client Services at 1-800-273-0557 for answers and other resources.
Learn more about the Ombuds Program at OHA
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Jackson Co. Sheriff's Office - 02/22/26 1:32 PM
JCSO Case 26-0904
ASHLAND, Ore. - The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) is investigating a single-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of two teenagers early Sunday morning. On February 22, at approximately 12:44 a.m., JCSO deputies responded to a motor vehicle crash in the 1350 block of East Nevada Street in rural Ashland. Upon arrival, emergency personnel located an Audi A6 that had struck a tree.
The car was occupied by five 17-year-old juveniles. Tragically, the driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. Jackson County Fire District 5 and Ashland Fire & Rescue personnel conducted a complex extrication to remove the remaining occupants from the vehicle. The Ashland Police Department (APD) responded to assist with the investigation.
Mercy Flights transported the four remaining occupants to a local hospital with critical injuries. Shortly after arrival, a passenger was pronounced deceased. The three remaining occupants continue to receive care at the hospital and are in stable condition.
The families of those involved have been notified. Out of respect for their privacy during this extremely difficult time, the names of the juveniles are being withheld. All five occupants were students at Ashland High School. The Ashland School District has been notified, and grief counseling resources are being coordinated for students and staff.
Ashland School District Superintendent Dr. Joseph Hattrick shared the following statement:
“This is a devastating tragedy for our entire community. As a district, we are committed to surrounding our students, staff, and families with compassion, stability, and care in the days ahead. We will be providing counseling support through local and regional support teams for as long as necessary. We ask our community to hold these families close in your thoughts and to honor their privacy as they navigate this profound loss.”
Ashland High School Principal Francisco Atanes added:
“Our hearts are shattered by this unimaginable loss. These students were valued members of our school community, and their absence will be deeply felt in our classrooms, on our campus, and throughout our town. Right now, our focus is on caring for our students, staff, and families as we grieve together and support one another.”
The preliminary investigation indicates the car was traveling eastbound on East Nevada Street at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control prior to a 90-degree curve, causing the car to leave the roadway and strike a tree. The impact caused catastrophic damage to the vehicle.
The case is being investigated by the Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team, a specialized unit dedicated to investigating fatal and complex serious injury collisions. The team operates through a collaborative interagency agreement between JCSO, Medford Police Department, APD, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.
JCSO extends our deepest condolences and prayers to the families, friends, and the entire Ashland community affected by this tragedy.
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JCSO Public Information Officer (PIO)
LewisAJ@jacksoncountyor.gov
Desk: 541-864-8773
Cell: 541-531-8203