The latest and most comprehensive coverage of local News, Sports, Business, and Community News stories in the Klamath Basin, Southern Oregon and around the state of Oregon from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM / 102.5FM and BasinLife.com, and powered by Mick Insurance, your local health and Medicare agents.
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Klamath Basin Weather
Today A 50% chance of snow showers, mainly after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. South wind 6 to 10 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Overnight, more snow flurries with a low around 21 degrees. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Wednesday A 50% chance of snow showers, mainly before 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. West southwest wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. A chance of snow showers overnight at times, with a low around 22. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday A 40% chance of snow, mainly after 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 39. South wind 13 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Snow expected overnight with a low around 32. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Friday Rain and snow possible in the morning hours turning to rain for much of the day, high of 43 degrees. Snow level 4200 feet. High near 43. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday A chance of snow before 1pm, then a chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 43.
Sunday A chance of rain and snow. Snow level 4500 feet rising to 5300 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47.
See Road Camera Views:
Lake of the Woods
Doak Mtn.
Hiway 97 at Chemult
Hiway 140 at Bly
Hiway 97 at GreenSprings Dr.
Hiway 97 at LaPine
Today’s Headlines
After a series of discussions between the City of Klamath Falls, Klamath County Government, and Kingsley Field over several years, the City of Klamath Falls was approved and selected as a site for a decommissioned F-15 from Kingsley Field to be placed in Veterans Park.
Interestingly, the F-15 was intended to go to another state, however, to save a large amount of money in shipping costs, operational costs in coordinating its relocation, etc. the City of Klamath Falls was moved up in its ranking and selected due to its proximity to Kingsley Field.
Veterans Park and the Veterans Memorial located within Veterans Park was always intended to be expanded. The mission of Veterans Park is to create a timeless tribute honoring and recognizing past and present men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The park will serve as a quiet reminder of the honor, courage and sacrifice of soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have served. Veterans Park will be a place set aside for honor, remembrance and reflection, demonstrating how the citizens of Klamath Falls cherish and embrace the sacrifice and dedication of all veterans and service members.
The F15 Static Memorial is an appropriate addition to Veterans Park as the City continues to expand on memorial monuments within the Park to honor those who served in uniform and the battles they fought to protect our nation’s freedoms.
There is a misconception that the City is spending $600,000 on the F15 Static Memorial. The decommissioned F15 is being provided to the City at no cost from the United States Air Force through cooperation with Kingsley Field and after many years of discussion and collaboration with Klamath County Government, both the City and the County have dedicated $300,000 to the F15 Static Memorial.
The Klamath Falls Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying several juvenile suspects that caused thousands of dollars in damages to property and cars across the city.
Klamath Falls PD says that at around 11:30 p.m. on March 2nd, officers responded to the 500 block of Main Street after a call came in stating that graffiti had been sprayed on several items in the area.
After their investigation, police determined that multiple juvenile suspects had caused thousands of dollars in damages to at least 20 different victims.
Since the suspects are minors, police are unable to post any photos or videos of the suspects.
Police are requesting residents who live near the downtown area, 9th Street, Klamath Union High School and along President Streets to check surveillance cameras for any footage that might help identify additional suspects.
Anyone with information should call the Klamath Falls Police Department at 541-883-5336 or the anonymous tip line at 541-883-5334.
Klamath Community College’s agriculture program is evolving to incorporate more modern technology and better understanding of global markets under direction of its new program lead, Isadora Peres De Souza.
Offering both an Agriculture Science Associate of Applied Science Degree and a one-year Farm and Ranch Manager Career Pathway Certificate, curriculum is structured around the study of soil cultivation, crop production, livestock care, plant science, raising fish, agriculture management, mechanization, and natural resource management.
These varied courses prepare KCC graduates for a wide variety of career opportunities related to agriculture. Under De Souza’s new leadership, the program is adapting to integrate international and community partnerships to merge understanding of the impact of local and global markets and environmental factors on the industry.
Further, De Souza hopes to utilize more modern technology such as soil sensors and drone technology within the program. Currently, the KCC Agriculture Program has close ties with Walker Farms, Masami Foods, and Basin Fertilizer, but De Souza hopes more local businesses and regional farms and ranches can partner with the college as well for educational, internship, and employment opportunities for agriculture students.
Hired in January, De Souza recently relocated to Klamath Falls from Mississippi. A Brazilian native, she has participated in exchange programs with the United States and Guatemala to study integrated pest management and phytotechnology (science and engineering to find solutions for plant growth), while also working as an entomologist and instructor for ongoing projects in Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, and Brazil.
De Souza is currently studying to receive a Doctorate of Philosophy in Agronomy from Mississippi State University. She already has a Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy and Master of Science in Entomology both from Federal University of Lavras (Brazil).
Sky Lakes Medical Center along with other community health partners used this past weekend to reconnect with the public.
Exhibits from organizations ranging from Healthy Klamath, Best Care, OIT Dental, Crystal Terrace, Klamath and Lake Community Action Services, Klamath Basin Behavioral Health, Klamath Watershed and many more lined the Exhibit Hall at the Klamath County Fairgrounds providing activities and information on various health aspects.
The Klamath County Public Health booth offered a “Jeopardy”-style activity where participants could select a category (stress and anxiety, vaping, alcohol, depression), answer the question and receive prizes.
A booth run by Sky Lakes Rehabilitation Services demonstrated an exercise on office ergonomics teaching the proper way to set up a computer workspace and stressing the importance of posture.
The Sky Lakes Medical Center Cardiopulmonary department had a demonstration involving the lungs. One healthy lung and one lung damaged from the effects caused by smoking hung on boards with tubes connected to a bike pump.
Sky Lakes Medical Center also provided vaccinations and free health screenings to the public during the event.
Klamath Union (KU) DECA returned from the Oregon DECA state conference with the title of Oregon DECA chapter of the Year for the fourth consecutive year.
A total of 30 KU DECA members attend the state competition, with 22 making the stage and earning a medal or trophy. 2023 was a year to remember. Let by 19 seniors, KU DECA earned five 1st place trophies, four 2nd place trophies, two 3rd place trophies, and 49 medals. 17 KU students will represent the basin in Orlando, Florida at the International DECA competition.
KU DECA President Abby Cook placed first in Project Management Sale Project and looks forward to competing in Orlando with her teammate Cassidy Bogatay. Senior Micah Gaede is also headed to Orlando. Gaede earned two trophies and a chance to compete in Marketing Communications. Senior Bell Riley ended the night with an exit speech to remember.
Riley was a 2022-23 Oregon DECA state officer. Riley spoke about friendship and the relationships DECA curates. Riley placed first in Hotel & Lodging and is also headed to Orlando. Juniors Alyse Perez and Brook Nelson won Sports & Entertainment Team Decision. Their role play focused on creating licensed products for a popular TV show. Senior Grace Keyser completed a Student Store certification project and earned Gold Level status. Keyser will join Connor Carlson and present on how they achieved Gold Level.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Oregon Community Trees (OCT) has awarded half its grants to help communities celebrate Oregon Arbor Month to three eastern Oregon cities – Klamath Falls, La Grande and Umatilla.
Along with Lincoln City, Newport and Sweet Home in western Oregon, the communities will share a total of almost $3,000. During the month of April, Oregonians across the state celebrate their community trees and the many benefits they bring.
“These grants help smaller communities achieve a lot of what they hope to do during Arbor Month, from planting trees to engaging youth in tree-related education and activities,” said Morgan Holen, Chair of OCT’s Grants Subcommittee.
To be eligible for a grant, a community must be a Tree City USA. To become a Tree City USA, communities must meet requirements for having basic tree-care policies and management in place. About 70 Oregon communities meet this standard.
Since 2014, OCT has awarded 56 grants to 39 different Oregon Tree City USA communities.
Klamath Falls is using the $500 it received from OCT to buy a reusable 3’ x 6’ mesh-type banner with grommets and a collapsible aluminum stand with carrying case. The banner willpromote the Klamath Tree League, the City’s Tree Advisory Board and Arbor Day celebration partnerto increase awareness of this local urban forestry education resource and advocate. Klamath Falls is also celebrating 20 years as a Tree City USA this year.
An opportunity to Give Back
The Assistance League of Klamath Falls is a nonprofit organization that has been providing clothes and other services to our students and families throughout the Klamath Basin. For the past 28 years, the Assistance League has clothed students from our 36 Klamath County and City schools by giving them an opportunity to receive new clothes from their “Operation School Bell” program.
This last school year, they clothed approximately 1,800 students. For more information on their other provided services to our students and families within the Klamath Basin visit: www.klamathbasinassistanceleague.org.
The Assistance League is needing a little help and it is time for us to come together as a Community and as a District, so Klamath Union High School Key Club will be organizing a Klamath Falls City School District wide fundraiser to give a little back. KU’s Key Club will be hosting a Coin Drive from March 20th through April 7th. Key Club has also challenged every KUHS Club and department to sponsor a student for $125.00 to be able to receive new school clothes next year. Let’s get creative Klamath Falls CIty Schools! Maybe you could host a coin drive as well, a bake sale, a car wash, a raffle or recycle cans/bottles. Check each Klamath Falls City School for their fundraising dates and details.
Every Klamath County School has been invited to participate in giving back to the Assistance League as well.
All money will need to be collected by April 7th, counted and presented to the Assistance League during their Pickleball 2023 Blazing Paddles Tournament on April 15th at Harbor Isles.
If you would like to register to play or want more information visit: https://pickleballbrackets.com/ptd.aspx?eid=c10e1324-d24b-43b5-974a-90f4ea4f6f0d
Good luck! Make checks payable to the Assistance League.
To donate or for more information, contact Lisa Danskin – Klamath Union High School Key Club Advisor at Danskinl@kfalls.k12.or.us
The Assistance League of Klamath Falls is a nonprofit organization that has been providing clothes and other services to our students and families throughout the Klamath Basin. For the past 28 years, the Assistance League has clothed students from our 36 Klamath County and City schools by giving them an opportunity to receive new clothes from their “Operation School Bell” program. This last school year, they clothed approximately 1,800 students. For more information on their other provided services to our students and families within the Klamath Basin visit: www.klamathbasinassistanceleague.org.
Around the state of Oregon
Oregon will lift mask requirement for health care settings April 3rd, 2023
Change follows improvements in people hospitalized for respiratory infections, test positivity
Finally, workers, patients and visitors in health care settings will no longer be required to wear masks starting April 3, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced today.
OHA is rescinding provisions in Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 333-019-1011 that require workers in health care settings – such as hospitals, mobile clinics, ambulances, outpatient facilities, dental offices, urgent care centers, counseling offices, school-based health centers, complementary and alternative medicine locations – to wear masks. The requirement has been in effect since August 2021.
In addition, Executive Order 22-24 will expire on March 6, 2023. The emergency gave hospitals needed flexibility to respond to a surge in respiratory infections, including COVID-19, RSV and influenza.
The decision to end statewide health care mask requirements aligns with decisions in other states, including Washington.
Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA, said the lifting of Oregon’s health care mask requirement stems from data in recent weeks showing overall decreases in circulation of the three respiratory pathogens that triggered a surge in visits to hospital emergency departments and intensive care units last fall. As of today, COVID-19 test positivity is at 10% and is expected to continue dropping; influenza test positivity is at 1.2%; and RSV test positivity is at 1.6% (antigen tests) and 3.5% (molecular tests).
The month-long lead-up to the ending of Oregon’s health care mask requirement gives the health care system, local public health authorities and other health partners time to prepare for the change, including adjusting policies, training and procedures that ensure continued patient safety and access. It also gives members of the public, particularly populations at increased risk of severe disease—communities of color, tribal communities, rural communities, lower-income communities, those with underlying medical conditions, seniors, and parents of vulnerable infants – a chance to plan health care visits and protective measures.
People at higher risk for severe disease, or who live with someone at higher risk, should still consider wearing masks in health care or any settings, to better protect themselves and those most vulnerable around them. Some health care settings may continue to require masks even after the requirement is lifted.
Masks remain an effective way to reduce transmission of respiratory viruses. People are recommended to wear masks when they are sick, and individuals – particularly those with health conditions that put them at high risk for severe illness from a respiratory virus exposure–should continue to wear masks wherever they feel comfortable.
In order to protect themselves and their families and communities, people are strongly encouraged to stay up to date with vaccinations and boosters.
Despite being equipped with backcountry safety gear, an Oregon skier was killed in an avalanche last week in the Central Cascades, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said.
The 46-year-old man’s name has not been released, according to authorities.
After the man was swept away, his skiing partner called 911. Using the man’s avalanche beacon, the friend was able to locate the man’s body in the snow and attempted to perform lifesaving measures, which were unsuccessful, the sheriff’s office said in a press release.
Both skiers had avalanche beacons, shovels, helmets and avalanche probes, officials said. They had ventured into the steep caldera of Black Crater, just inside the Three Sisters Wilderness and about 25 miles northwest of Bend.
The sheriff’s search and rescue unit and the U.S. Forest Service were unable to recover the body Thursday because of the extreme avalanche danger and not enough light.
Meteorologists say the West Coast has seen “once in a generation” snowfall accumulations this winter.
Amtrak is resuming direct service between Portland and Canada this week. The Amtrak Cascades will leave Portland at 3:05 in the afternoon and arrives in Vancouver, B.C. at 11 p.m. The return train leaves Vancouver just before seven in the morning. Tickets start at 134 dollars.
Oregon’s Unemployment Rate was 4.8% in January
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.8% in January, matching Oregon’s revised 4.8% unemployment rates for October, November, and December 2022. The last time Oregon’s unemployment rate was more than 4.8% was in July 2021 when the rate was 5.1%.
In January, the U.S. unemployment rate was 3.4%, its lowest level in more than 50 years. Annual revisions to the data, released this month, indicate that Oregon’s unemployment rate was higher than originally estimated last year, and payroll employment growth was slightly slower.
In Oregon, nonfarm payroll employment rose by 9,900 jobs in January, following a gain of 5,600 jobs in December. Monthly job gains in 2022 averaged 5,600. The gains in January were largest in health care and social assistance (+2,200 jobs); professional and business services (+1,800); and leisure and hospitality (+1,400). The only major industry with a job loss in January was private educational services (-600).
Health care and social assistance expanded its workforce rapidly during July 2022 through January 2023. During that time, it added 4,500 jobs, to reach a total of 271,800 jobs. Prior to that there had been little net job change compared with early 2021. Over the most recent 12 months, social assistance was the component industry that grew the most, adding 5,000 jobs since January 2022.
Professional and business services continued its rapid expansion of the past more than two years. It added 13,000 jobs, or 5.0%, since January 2022. Job gains in this broad industry—that makes up 14% of Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll jobs—have been relentless and consistent throughout 2021 and 2022.
Leisure and hospitality rose in January, consistent with its steady expansion and partial recovery from the recession of nearly three years ago. It added 12,500 jobs, or 6.5%, in the 12 months to January. Despite these gains, it is still 10,600 jobs below its pre-recession peak reached in February 2020.
Private educational services slipped to 34,800 jobs in January, following stability since May 2022.
(GRESHAM, Ore.) – Frontline nurses working at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham filed for a union election to join the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) March 6.
The 370 nurses at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center care for diverse, fast-growing communities in East Multnomah and Clackamas Counties which have been historically underserved. Nurses are unionizing with ONA to protect patients’ access to safe, high-quality health care; restore respect for frontline workers; and gain a voice in decisions that affect their community’s health and welfare.
“Nurses advocate to protect our patients’ health and safety every day. We know our community puts its faith in us and we take that responsibility seriously. We’re focused on improving health care access and affordability for the people living here. Joining ONA is how nurses will win a real voice in hospital decision making and ensure our patients, providers and community get a fair shot,” said Teddy Glemser, an emergency department charge nurse at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center.
Nurses filed an election petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) which oversees private sector union elections. ONA will meet with the NLRB to confirm unit details and schedule an election date. ONA currently represents more than 300 frontline registered nurses at Unity Center for Behavioral Health in Portland and Legacy Silverton Medical Center in the Willamette Valley.
Nurses are also leading the campaign to save the Family Birth Center at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center. In January, Legacy executives announced they planned to close the center–sparking widespread opposition from local nurses, families, city councilors, state legislators and community advocates. The family birth center is the only hospital birthplace option in Gresham–Oregon’s 4th largest city–and the closest option for families in East Multnomah and Clackamas Counties. Doctors and nurses there deliver and care for more than 750 babies and families a year. Providers at the family birth center also provide emergency and non-emergency OB-GYN services and triage more acute OB-GYN patients than any other Legacy hospital.
Alejandrina Felipe was raised in Gresham and has spent the last 22 years caring for her community as a nurse at the family birth center at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center. She’s worried about what will happen to her patients after the center closes.“As a minority, I’ve always believed in the power of unionizing and the work immigrant leaders did to get basic rights. Therefore, as a registered nurse, I always wanted to be part of a union. I want my job as a nurse to be protected and to have a voice at the table when decisions are made that affect my employment and patient safety. I want to continue advocating for my community without fear of retaliation. I am learning firsthand the hardship of being displaced from a job I always felt safe and most of all not serving my East County community.”
“Executives downtown don’t know our community or its needs. Their decisions are setting up local families for failure,” said Jenni Suarez, a frontline nurse in the emergency department at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center. “We’re not just your nurses; we’re your neighbors. We put everything into caring for everyone who comes through our doors. Unionizing with ONA gives us a strong voice to fight for the care improvements our patients and community need.”
Nurses at Legacy are joining a wave of health care professionals who have filed to join ONA within the past month. The list includes doctors, midwives and other providers at Providence Women’s Clinic which operates six women’s health clinics across the Portland metro area and physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, social workers and counselors at Providence Home Health and Hospice who work throughout the Portland Metro, North Coast, Yamhill County and the Columbia River Gorge areas. Emergency department physicians working at Providence Medford Medical Center also filed union authorization cards with the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association (PNWHMA), a hospitalists’ union represented by the American Federation of Teachers (Local 6552) and serviced by the Oregon Nurses Association.
Legacy Health is a multi-billion dollar private health system which operates six hospitals, and more than 70 clinics in the Portland-Vancouver metro area and mid-Willamette Valley. While many companies posted losses during the pandemic; Legacy profited. It made more than $400 million in profits from 2020-2022 including nearly $100 million in taxpayer bailouts via the CARES Act. Prior to the pandemic, Legacy’s hospital profits averaged between $44 million to $79 million per year from 2007-2019. Legacy also holds more than $1 billion in its investment portfolio.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 15,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.
Britt announces the first set of Britt Presents concerts for 2023
JACKSONVILLE, OR — Britt Music & Arts Festival is excited to announce the first installment of Britt Presents music & comedy concerts for the 2023 summer season.
The first of two season announcements, this group of shows features a wide array of musical artists, including first-time-to-Britt country artists Kelsea Ballerini and Elle King, plus returning artists Diana Ross, Shakey Graves, Old Crow Medicine Show, Cake, Los Lonely Boys, The Head And The Heart, Pink Martini, and annual fan favorite, Michael Franti & Spearhead.
For Beatles fans, RAIN – A Tribute to the Beatles is also returning to the Britt main stage. On April 6, Britt will announce more concerts for the 2023 Britt Presents season.
With this announcement, there will be a Member pre-sale before tickets go on sale to the general public, which is coming at 10:00 AM on Friday, March 24. Donor & Patron Members can now order tickets online.
Tickets for the “Best of Britt” dinner and auction are already on sale and include premium seats to the Pink Martini concert. Tickets to the concert only for Pink Martini featuring China Forbes will go on sale to the public at 10:00 AM on March 24th. Tickets for the Britt Festival Orchestra Season, the Best of Britt fundraiser and Rebelution: Good Vibes Summer Tour are already on sale at Brittfest.org.
Tickets and more information can be found at Brittfest.org, or you can call or visit the Box Office at 541-773-6077 or 216 W. Main St., Medford, Oregon.
The 2023 concert line-up:
June 11: Shakey Graves
June 19: Diana Ross
June 25: Kelsea Ballerini
July 6: Old Crow Medicine Show
July 18: Elle King
August 3: An Evening with RAIN – A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES
August 5: An Evening with CAKE
August 6: Los Lonely Boys – The Brotherhood Tour
August 9: Michael Franti & Spearhead
August 10: The Head And The Heart
August 24: Pink Martini featuring China Forbes & Best of Britt
August 27: Good Vibes Summer Tour 2023
Inspired by its intimate and scenic hillside venue, Britt Music & Arts Festival provides diverse live performances, an incomparable classical festival and dynamic education programs that create a sense of discovery and community. Since its grassroots beginnings in 1963, the non-profit organization has grown from a two-week chamber music festival to a summer-long series of concerts in a variety of genres, including a three-week orchestra season, and year-round education and engagement programs. For more information, visit www.brittfest.org.
Oregon Senator Wyden and Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
Here it comes. Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 12th, and Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and a bipartisan group of senators want to make it permanent.
And again U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Senate colleagues from both parties have reintroduced legislation that would end the antiquated and annoying practice of changing clocks twice a year.
“It’s time to put a stop to the twice-a-year time-change madness. Science and common sense show that more year-round daylight would improve our health, help kids spend a bit more time enjoying outdoor after school activities, and encourage folks to support local businesses while on a sunny stroll in their communities,” Wyden said. “I’m all in to get the Sunshine Protection Act passed into law at last.”
The bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, if enacted, would apply to states that currently participate in DST, which Oregon and most states observe for eight months out of the year. Standard Time, from November to March, is only observed for four months out of the year. The bill would simply negate the need for Americans to change their clocks twice a year, and could have benefits for the nation’s health and economy.
Oregon Senate Passes Bill Focusing On Students With Disabilities & Their Right To Education
The Oregon State Senate has voted “overwhelmingly” to enforce students with disabilities’ right to attend school full-time.
According to a press release sent out by the Office of Senator Sara Blouin, Senate Bill 819, if fully passed, will require informed and written parental consent before a student can have a shortened school day. It also would require the Oregon Department of Education to enforce the law and empowers the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission to investigate and hold superintendents accountable for refusing to restore equal access to schools for students with disabilities.
The press release also stated that roughly 1,000 students with disabilities in districts across the state are denied a full school day and in some cases, receive as little as 25 minutes a week of instruction for years on end.
If SB 819 is signed into law, beginning on March 27, parents of these students can file a written objection to their student’s shortened day schedule. The district must return the student to full time school within 5 school days. Failure to do so can lead to loss of state school funds and discipline for the responsible administrator.
“Students with disabilities have had the right to full time public education since the 1970s. It is inexcusable that many districts routinely deprive students of the chance to learn reading, math and social skills by shutting the schoolhouse door in their faces,” said Senator Sara Gelser Blouin (D-Corvallis).
“Today, the Oregon State Senate sent a clear message: There is no excuse for school districts to violate the civil rights of students with disabilities, and the Oregon Department of Education is expected to enforce state and federal law. With rapid action from the House and Governor, Oregon students will be able to realize the promise of a free and appropriate public education next month.”
The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Oregon Food Company Recalls Trader Joe’s Salad With Chicken Products
GH Foods NW, a Clackamas, Oregon-based company, is recalling around 106 pounds of Trader Joe’s ready-to-eat salad with chicken products citing misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service or FSIS announced.
The product contains wheat, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.
The recall involves 9.2 oz. plastic clamshell packages containing “TRADER JOE’S LEMON CHICKEN & ARUGULA SALAD” with “BEST BY 03/06/23” and lot code GHNW 059-06.
The affected products bear establishment number “P-46987” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The ready-to-eat lemon chicken & arugula salad products were produced on February 28 and shipped to Trader Joe’s locations in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
The agency noted that the recalled items are labeled with the correct top label but an incorrect bottom label, which contains the ingredient statement for a Broccoli Slaw and Kale Salad with White Chicken Meat product, which does not contain wheat
Clackamas, Oregon- based GH Foods NW, LLC is recalling around 106 pounds of Trader Joe’s ready-to-eat salad with chicken products citing misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service or FSIS announced.
The product contains wheat, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.
The recall involves 9.2 oz. plastic clamshell packages containing “TRADER JOE’S LEMON CHICKEN & ARUGULA SALAD” with “BEST BY 03/06/23” and lot code GHNW 059-06.
The affected products bear establishment number “P-46987” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The ready-to-eat lemon chicken & arugula salad products were produced on February 28 and shipped to Trader Joe’s locations in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
The agency noted that the recalled items are labeled with the correct top label but an incorrect bottom label, which contains the ingredient statement for a Broccoli Slaw and Kale Salad with White Chicken Meat product, which does not contain wheat.
The recall was initiated after the producing establishment notified FSIS that the product had the incorrect ingredient statement label on the bottom of the package.
However, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.
FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators, and urged them to throw away the products or return to the place of purchase.
Felony Hit-and-Run Suspect Arrested After Crashing into Multiple Cars on Hwy 62
JCSO Case 23-1227 WHITE CITY – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies responded to call from ECSO Dispatch for a hit-and-run driver that crashed into three separate vehicles today around 11:18 a.m. The crashes occurred northbound on Crater Lake Highway between Vilas Road and the White City Rogue Valley Expressway entrance. The suspect and two victims received minor injuries from the crashes and were transported to a local hospital for medical care. The suspect fled the scene of the final crash on foot but was captured by a JCSO deputy responding to the call. The suspect is believed to have been suffering from a mental health crisis during the time of the crashes.
The suspect, Melissa Ann Krevitskie, 29, of Pennsylvania, was cited and released to the care of medical staff due to injuries sustained and her apparent mental health crisis. She is charged with felony hit and run, two counts of third-degree assault, four counts of reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and two counts of hit-and-run property damage. Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Transportation, Fire District 3, and Mercy Flights responded to assist. The case is under further investigation.
Governor Kotek Urges Legislature To Give $7.5 Million To Oregon Food Bank As COVID Benefits End
As hundreds of thousands of Oregonians face a 40% decrease in their food budgets, Gov. Tina Kotek has urged the Oregon Legislature to give millions to the Oregon Food Bank. The Oregon Food Bank offers an assortment of food, including frozen vegetables like these beans.
The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, covers more than 720,000 Oregonians. When the COVID pandemic hit in spring 2020, the federal government increased monthly SNAP benefits, to an average of $450 per household each month.
Find food —- To find food resources go to or call:
- Needfood.oregon.gov
- Foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org
- www.caporegon.org/find-services
- www.211info.org (211)
The emergency funding ended in February, slicing aid to households receiving benefits to an average of $270 per month. Local food pantries and the Oregon Food Bank, which serves 1,400 free food markets, pantries, meal sites and delivery programs, have been preparing for increased demand .
Kotek, who started her career as an advocate at the Oregon Food Bank, sent a letter to the chairs of the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee this week asking for an immediate $7.5 million allocation to the Oregon Food Bank for food purchasing.
“Without an immediate investment, Oregon Food Bank will be forced to reduce the level of food support it provides to its regional food banks, and local food pantries will be unable to feed Oregonians who need help,” Kotek wrote.
The proposed $7.5 million is included in a 42-page amendment to the Legislature’s “budget rebalance” bill, a wonkish measure the Legislature passes every two years to reconcile the state’s accounts. The bill will be considered by a subcommittee of the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee on Friday and by the full Legislature later this month.
Oregon Food Bank CEO Susannah Morgan told the Capital Chronicle the money would be enough to ensure the nonprofit can purchase enough food through the end of June. The food bank is also anticipating more federal aid later this spring or summer, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture spends $2 billion announced last fall to buy domestically produced food for food banks and school meal programs.
“Part of our hope for the summer would be that the federal commodities will start flowing in at a higher rate again as we are finishing up spending the additional very welcome grant from the state of Oregon,” Morgan said.
The legislative Emergency Board gave the food bank $5 million last September, but that money’s gone. Like consumers who have grappled with higher prices at grocery stores in recent years, the Oregon Food Bank is paying more for food than it did before the COVID pandemic.
“Pre-pandemic, a 40,000-pound truckload of peanut butter, a whole lot of peanut butter, would have cost $32,000,” Morgan said. “It’s now costing us over $40,000.”
Morgan said the food bank hasn’t seen an increase in demand because of the end of expanded SNAP benefits, but that officials expect increases in the second or third week of March. People typically ask for food assistance when SNAP benefits run out part way through the month, she said.
Eighteen states, mostly Republican-run states in the South, Midwest and Mountain West, already opted out of the additional federal funding. Food banks in those states reported a surge in demand when the extra benefits ended.
Morgan said the most important thing Oregonians can do is make sure their friends, family and neighbors know how to find resources at oregonfoodfinder.org . After that, the food bank is seeking monetary donations , which go further than food donations because the food bank buys food by the truckload and can turn $1 into three meals worth of food. Volunteering time at a local food pantry or regional food bank also helps, she said.
“This grant from the state of Oregon is amazing and really will help us get through June,” Morgan said. “The need will not go away in July. Our neighbors will still need help in July.”
Advocates From Oregon Urge President Biden To Issue An Executive Order Protecting Beavers On Federal Public Lands
A group of scientists, nonprofit organizations and advocates from Oregon and around the country have asked President Joe Biden to issue an executive order protecting beavers on federal public lands.
Their letter was sent to the White House on Monday, signed by over 200 scientists, wildlife experts and activists. It says beavers are important for fighting climate change, biodiversity loss and water shortages.
Oregon’s state animal, beavers were once common here and across the continent. Scientists estimate that there were as many as 200 million beavers in North America before colonization. Widespread trapping in the 19th century brought beavers to the brink of extinction in many areas, and though they have recovered somewhat, current estimates are around 15 million, a reduction of more than 90%.
Beavers are natural engineers. They build dams, slowing down and spreading water that would otherwise run off – and that makes them a natural ally for Biden’s climate agenda, said Suzanne Fouty, a retired U.S. Forest Service hydrologist who co-authored the letter.
“It turns out that wetlands, which beavers are capable of creating very effectively, are a tremendous carbon storage zone,” she told the Capital Chronicle.
Wetland soil can store up to 10 times more carbon than the same amount of forest soil, and up to 35 times more than grassland, the letter said. Carbon in the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels is the primary driver of climate change, and scientists say we have to both reduce our emissions and pull more carbon out of the atmosphere to stabilize the climate.
Beyond storing carbon, wetlands created and maintained by beavers have been shown to improve water quality, improve and expand fish and wildlife habitat and act as natural firebreaks during wildfires. They also help to mitigate the effects of drought like the one that’s affected the West for several years.
The letter proposes an executive order with three parts: a near-total ban on beaver trapping on federal public land, a directive to land management agencies to prioritize beaver conservation and funding to federal agencies to expand beaver numbers. It said money should be allocated to the U.S. Forest Service, the federal Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management along with the Civilian Climate Corps, a climate-focused jobs program that was cut from the Inflation Reduction Act to pass the Senate in 2021.
Until now, beaver management has been left mostly to state wildlife agencies, but the letter’s authors claim that these agencies, funded primarily by hunting, trapping and fishing licenses, are more beholden to hunters and trappers than to the public or the wildlife. The letter mentions Oregon as an example of a state which has been unable to adequately protect beavers, noting that attempts at regulation have failed in both the state Legislature and Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in the last three years.
“Beaver hunting and trapping is open in most states right now,” Adam Bronstein, Director for Oregon and Nevada at the Western Watersheds Project, told the Capital Chronicle. “In a lot of cases, there are no quotas and no seasons.” This means that managers have no way to set sustainable limits on trapping, and scientists have no reliable count of how many beavers are being taken off of public lands.
Many of the co-signers of the letter are Oregonians and leaders of Oregon-based nonprofit organizations, including representatives of several local Audubon societies, the Urban Greenspaces Institute and WaterWatch of Oregon. Professors, retired and active, from both Oregon State University and University of Oregon, joined the effort. Several fishing advocates signed the letter as well, including David Moskowitz from the Conservation Angler and Bob Rees of Northwest Guides and Anglers Association, highlighting the value that beavers can provide to healthy fish habitat.
Bronstein points out that beaver trapping is only one use that actively competes with the other services that wetlands with beavers can provide. In Oregon, fewer than 200 people actively trap and hunt beavers to sell their fur or because some landowners consider them pests. Others hunt them recreationally. “Public lands belong to all Americans, and wildlife is in our collective trust,” says Bronstein. “We want our public lands to provide the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people.” (SOURCE)
Experts Gather In Portland To Discuss Offshore Wind Power In Oregon
Sometime in the not-too-distant future, Oregon’s coast could be home to some massive new structures.That wind energy future was the subject of the Northwest Offshore Wind Conference, held over two days this week in downtown Portland, where nearly 300 of the country’s top experts in the field came together to take stock of the process.
Wind turbines, some close to 1,000 feet tall and capable of producing up to three gigawatts of power, are planned for two areas about 12 miles offshore. There’s a long way to go before the blades start spinning and generating electricity to power Oregon homes, but the decisions being made now will shape what the projects will look like when they are constructed in the years to come.
“You’ve got national labs, universities, regulators, stakeholders and a fair amount of supply chain folks who are starting to realize there’s enormous opportunity here if they position themselves well,” said Jason Busch, executive director of the Pacific Ocean Energy Trust, a nonprofit that sponsored the conference. Industry leaders say offshore wind development will be a key piece of the puzzle for Oregon to hit 100% renewable energy production in the future.
The process of siting, permitting and constructing offshore wind turbines is not a short one. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management began looking at areas off the west coast several years ago and identified two areas in Oregon waters that would be suitable, off the coast of Coos Bay and Brookings.
The coast off of southern Oregon and Northern California is known for having some of the highest potential for wind energy production due to strong, reliable and consistent wind.
Federal regulators have been analyzing the two plots, referred to as “call areas,” which encompass more than a million acres, with the intention of identifying the best areas to offer to lease to developers through an auction early in 2024.
One of those developers is Deep Blue Pacific Wind. Peter Cogswell, government affairs director for the company, said it was more than just wind quality that drew him to Oregon.
“What makes Oregon unique is that first you have a world-class resource off the Southern Oregon coast,” Cogswell said. “You combine that with Oregon’s historic strong support for clean energy policies and decarbonizing our electric supply, and there’s a lot to like about offshore wind and how it fits into that environment.”
Offshore wind power will also be a necessary addition to the northwest power generation portfolio as Oregon works toward its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040.
“A lot of people like to think of offshore wind as kind of an either/or while comparing it with land-based renewables, but the reality is, is that we need everything,” Cogswell said. “If Oregon is going to achieve its 100% clean energy goals and some of its other decarbonization goals, offshore wind is a critical part of achieving that.”
Offshore wind is already in use around the world, including off of the east coast of the U.S. with more than 6,000 turbines providing clean electricity.
Wind power on the west coast comes with some unique challenges compared to other areas. East coast turbines can be anchored to the ocean floor in the relatively shallow waters off the eastern seaboard, but the continental shelf off the Oregon coast drops off to deeper waters much more quickly, so the turbines will need to be mounted on floating platforms like at some European installations.
That’s only one of the challenges facing developers hoping to tap into the power of Oregon wind. Large infrastructure upgrades would be needed at the deep water ports in Coos Bay, and high voltage transmission lines would need to be built to bring all that power onshore.
Wind energy proponents point to all of those challenges as sources for new jobs, but there are other potential hurdles to overcome before offshore wind energy becomes a reality in Oregon.
Fishermen worry that the towers could interfere with their livelihoods. Environmental advocates are concerned that vulnerable marine species could be put further at risk. Tribal groups fear that their cultural resources could be put in jeopardy and that they won’t be given the chance to offer any meaningful input on the siting of the turbines.
In an op-ed for the publication CalMatters, Frankie Myers, vice chairman of Yurok Tribe, wrote that Indigenous people have often been ignored when outsiders come to extract resources from their lands.
“Offshore wind presents an opportunity to develop the clean energy America needs,” Myers wrote. “But unless offshore wind truly engages with the Native American tribes that suffered the impacts from previous natural resource extraction, it will be as dirty as the rest of them.”
And all those potential conflicts are one of the reasons that winning the lease auction is just the beginning of a lengthy process. After that, developers will go through a roughly 7-year period of environmental impact studies, site analysis and surveys of the areas where they plan to build.
That extended period will also provide ample opportunity from all the groups that will potentially be impacted by the development to have input on the process.
Busch said he hopes that the conference in Portland this week will provide a chance to address the concerns of fishermen, environmentalists and tribal members early in the planning process.
“We have something called the Oregon Way, and that means that people have to come to the table and have a dialogue and build trust about how we deal with the controversial or difficult decision making,” he said. (SOURCE)
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