Klamath Basin News, Wednesday, 4/15 -Klamath with 26 Covid-19 Cases, Oregon Reports 50 New Cases with 1633 Total, Two New Deaths

The latest news stories in the Klamath Basin and around the state of Oregon from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM/102.5FM, BasinLife.com and The Herald & News.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Klamath Basin Weather

Today
Sunny, with a high near 64.   Overnight low of 35.

Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 63. Windy at times.

Friday
Sunny, with a high near 67.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 67.

Sunday
A slight chance of rain at times with a high near 65.

Today’s Headlines

Klamath County Public Health (KCPH) officials report another case of COVID-19 in the area, bringing the total to 26.

The total includes 11 active cases and 15 recoveries. In addition to these positive lab results, there have been 965 negative tests in Klamath County.

Oregon is in its third week of the “Stay home. Save lives” executive order by Governor Brown. With the warmer days and longer daylight hours, many people are wanting to spend time outside. This can be done while observing social distancing.

Klamath Public Health reminds you it is important that community members continue to stay home, practice social or physical distancing of six feet, disinfect surfaces, and frequently wash their hands. Now that COVID-19 is in the community, these actions are urgent to prevent further spread.

For more information and COVID-19 updates, visit www.publichealth.klamathcounty.org/coronavirus.

Around the Southern Oregon region, here are today’s Covid-19 positive cases:

Klamath County  26

Jackson County  47

Josephine County 19

State of Oregon reports 2 new COVID-19 deaths, 50 new COVID-19 cases

COVID-19 has claimed two more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 55, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 7PM yesterday evening.

Oregon Health Authority also reported 50 new cases of COVID-19 as of 8 a.m. today bringing the state total to 1,633.

The new COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (1), Clackamas (3), Deschutes (1), Douglas (3), Jefferson (1), Klamath (1), Lane (1), Marion (9), Multnomah (22), Tillamook (1), Washington (5), and Yamhill (2) .

A case previously reported in Columbia County was reclassified to negative based on revised test results, reducing the cumulative statewide total by 1 case. To see more case and county-level data, Oregon Health updates its website once a day: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.

Oregon’s 54th COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old man in Multnomah County, who tested positive on April 1 and died on April 12 at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 55th COVID-19 death is an 88-year-old woman in Benton County, who tested positive on April 11 and died on April 13 at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. She had underlying medical conditions.

Governor Brown finally appeared in front of cameras for the first time in more than a week, yesterday, and held a press conference introducing a framework for reopening the state of Oregon to get public life and business in the state moving soon, while maintaining healthy communities.  

The governor stated that in order to begin reopening communities, Oregon must first slow the growth of COVID-19, as well as acquire adequate personal protective equipment to protect health care workers and first responders.  Most of what she said didn’t move the needle forward on getting the state moving again, and the press was waiting for the meat of the message which she finally somed up “when these prerequisites are met”:

-“Ramping up COVID-19 testing capacity in every region of Oregon”

– “Developing robust contact tracing systems to track and contain COVID-19 cases”

– “Establishing a quarantine and isolation program for new cases”

So, the initial order of “stay at home” remains in effect.  Her final message sent out came in a memo to Oregonians:

“We all want to get back to work and return to normal life as quickly as possible. But the truth is: the best path forward is a cautious one — a path that proceeds gradually, carefully, and incrementally… As we prepare in the months ahead to get Oregon back to work, we must remember the importance of doing so in a smart and deliberate fashion that keeps us moving forward instead of sending us backward.”

Governor Kate Brown

State of Oregon Employment Numbers

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in March, which was the same as in both January and February. The U.S. unemployment rate rose from 3.5 percent in February to 4.4 percent in March, showing the leading edge of job losses related to the pandemic as closures began to take hold around the country.

Oregon’s labor force data for March showed little impact from the spread of the coronavirus, since the March unemployment rate is based on people’s activity during the week that included Sunday, March 8th through Saturday, March 14th.

The monthly unemployment rate is always based on a person’s employment status for the week that includes the 12th of each month. And, in general, if a person works for even a part of the reference week, then they are counted as employed (and thus not counted as unemployed).

By mid-March, these estimates were based on data collected prior to the majority of the COVID-19 impacts in Oregon; therefore, most of the changes to jobs and unemployment counts will be reflected in the release of the April data. In March, there were 69,400 unemployed Oregonians, which remained near the lowest number in more than 40 years.

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs has received updated information related to COVID-19 at the Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon, which includes a change in status for one of its residents. 

On April 4, a resident who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 passed away. The Home’s medical director had determined the resident, who had other underlying terminal medical conditions, had recovered from COVID-19. The resident’s recovery had been included in the number of recovered cases that ODVA announced a day prior.   

Since that time, public health authorities have classified the resident’s death to be COVID-19 related. This determination brings the total COVID-19 related deaths within the Lebanon Home to four.

The Northwest Credit Union Association reminds you to be smart about your stimulus check, if receiving one. Millions of Americans will receive Economic Impact Payments from the U.S. Government as early as this week.

For eligible consumers, the money will be deposited directly into their accounts at their financial services providers. How can they use that money safely, and in a way that benefits their financial health? Northwest credit unions recommend that consumers:

  • Prioritize! Focus on the things that keep a roof over your head, feed the family, and keep the utilities and Internet on. In fact, your local utility companies and communications providers may be waiving some fees to help you at this time.
  • Talk. If you or a member of your family has lost a job, contact your credit union. Talk about your financial needs and find out what services are available to help you. As not-for-profit cooperatives, credit unions are providing options to members such as low-to-no interest emergency loans, and the ability to skip mortgage and car payments for as long as 90 days.
  • Save. If you’re getting a stimulus check, try to save a little. Putting away $100 to $200 now will help you when bills come due later in the month or in the coming months.
  • Don’t hoard cash. Your money is safer on deposit in your credit union than in your pocket. If your money is lost or stolen it can’t be replaced, but accounts in federally insured credit unions are guaranteed, up to $250,000.
  • Protect your money. The scammers know millions of Americans are getting stimulus checks. Be on guard for suspicious emails, texts or phone calls asking for your personal information.
  • Pay taxes. The deadline for filing and paying your 2019 taxes has been extended to July 15. Your stimulus check might help to pay that bill.
  • Support. Some of your local restaurants are able to stay in business by offering take out food. Use a little bit of your stimulus check to pick up dinner for the family or buy a gift certificate to use when dining rooms are open again.

The first round of stimulus checks is going to more than 50 million consumers who have direct deposit information on file with the Internal Revenue Service or with the Social Security Administration. In the coming months, other consumers may receive hardcopy checks. More information on who is eligible can be found here

We hope this information will be helpful to you in guiding your audience. If you need subject matter experts on financial services that are available, please contact us.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission said liquor sales reached record levels for the month of March, in the state. 

With restaurants and bars shuttered to patrons looking to have a drink in a social setting, Oregonians turned to their local liquor stores to make up for it home. According to the OLCC, sales at liquor stores reached almost $66 million in distilled spirits during March, the agency said — a nearly 20 percent increase over March for 2019, and the highest of any March on record.

“The upsurge in sales from agent-operated liquor stores is attributed to changes in consumer behavior due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” the OLCC said. “Specifically, liquor consumption has shifted from sit-down bars and restaurants to consumers purchasing distilled spirits by-the-bottle for at home consumption.”

U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that a Beaverton, Oregon man has been charged for his role in one of the largest tax evasion schemes ever prosecuted in the District of Oregon.

In this multiyear scheme, contracting companies, subcontracting companies, and their employees evaded more than $65 million in employment and income taxes owed to the IRS.

Victor Hugo Lopez-Diaz, 38, was charged by criminal information with one count of conspiring to commit tax evasion and two counts of filing false tax returns.

“Evading the payment of Medicare, Social Security, and income taxes harms every citizen,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “All business owners and their employees must file accurate tax returns with the IRS and pay all taxes required by law. Those who fail to do so will face significant consequences, including criminal prosecution, prison, and monetary penalties.”

“Employers that willfully concoct elaborate schemes to evade paying employment taxes will be held accountable by the Internal Revenue Service,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Justin Campbell. “This type of fraud does not go unnoticed by our investigators. Fraud of this variety not only impacts honest taxpayers, but significantly impacts honest competitors who follow the rules. Businesses that seek an unfair competitive advantage by cheating the Treasury of payroll taxes will always be a high priority for IRS-Criminal Investigation.”

According to court documents, from at least 2014 through February 2018, Lopez-Diaz and his conspirators are alleged to have successfully evaded their personal and employment tax obligations by cashing approximately $185 million in payroll checks at a co-conspirator’s check cashing business; using the cash to pay construction workers under the table; and filing false corporation, payroll, and individual tax returns.

Lopez-Diaz and some of his co-conspirators established subcontracting companies to facilitate their tax evasion conspiracy. Along with the owners and operators of local contracting companies, they knowingly hired unlicensed work crews, paid them cash under the table, and evaded payroll taxes by not putting the workers on their regular payroll systems.

Individuals, organizations, and projects that have made outstanding contributions to preserving Oregon heritage will receive Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards.

Awards recognize action over and above the call of duty. “The award recipients represent the extraordinary efforts to preserve Oregon’s heritage,” said Beth Dehn, coordinator for the Oregon Heritage Commission. “They also serve as models for others on how to develop new ideas, approaches, and innovations.”

The recipients are:

 Astoria YMCA Restoration Project, for excellence in façade restoration of a nearly abandoned building and honoring the building’s civic roots in reuse. 

— Black Butte Cupola Restoration Project, for a collaborative historic preservation effort between Friends of the Metolius and Deschutes National Forest to restore and preserve the 1922 look-out structure.

— Brookside Pioneer Cemetery,* for creating a cemetery preservation plan, documenting conditions, and repairing over 121 headstones to their original upright positions.

 Janice Dilg, scholar, public historian, and history builder who uncovers diverse voices of resistance, particularly related to Oregon’s women’s history.

 David Ellis, for a distinguished 50-year career preserving Oregon’s archaeological, ethnohistoric, and historic resources and encouraging Tribal participation in cultural resources management.

— Eileen Fitzsimons, for dedicated statewide work on heritage projects preserving Oregon’s history, including devotion to historic trails, the Oregon Quilt Project, and local history.

 Oregon Chinese Diaspora Project, a grassroots Federal/State/Local partnership in public archaeology helping to rewrite the role of the Chinese diaspora and Chinese Oregonians in the history of the state.

 Don Peting, founder of PNW Field School and central figure at UO Historic Preservation Program for 40 years who has created a ripple effect through those he has taught.

— Racing for Change- The Eugene Story, a partnership between Oregon Black Pioneers and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History that prioritized community outreach and input to tell a local story about race relations in Eugene. 

— Phyllis Zegers, a dedicated volunteer who has researched over 3,360 unclaimed cremated remains in the custody of the Oregon State Hospital and assisted in reuniting approximately 573 urns with family members.

*Sally Donovan Award for Historic Cemetery Preservation

The Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards are a project of Oregon Heritage, part of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. This year’s awards were planned to be presented in conjunction with the Oregon Heritage Conference on April 24, 2020. The event has been canceled in response to COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. Oregon Heritage is committed to honoring the hard work and accomplishments of the award winners and will announce an award event once it is confirmed.

Klamath Falls News from partnership with the Herald and News, empowering the community.

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