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Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Widespread smoke, mainly before 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 11 to 16 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, hazy skies and smoke, with a low around 45 degrees.
Today’s Headlines
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Pollution Advisory…in effect until 5 PM PDT Tuesday.
Wildfires burning in the region combined with forecast conditions will cause air quality levels to fluctuate and could be at unhealthy levels.
At noon yesterday, the air quality index in Klamath Falls was unhealthy at 187. This alert may likely be further extended beyond Tuesday, but wind patterns are expected to change Monday night, and the area of the alert may change.
Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on the weather. People at risk include infants and young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people.
For additional information…please visit the web site at https://oregonsmoke.org (NWS)
The city of Klamath Falls says issues at a local downtown park have forced them to close the facility.
Due to recent vandalism, Sugarman’s Corner will be closed beginning August 29th so crews can start clean up work. At this time, it is unknown when the park will reopen.
The park is located at the corner of Main and 6th streets. Please contact Public Works with any questions at (541) 883-5363. (city of KF)
Water users in the Klamath Project may lose their remaining water allocations following a warning from the Bureau of Reclamation sent out last Friday.
The letter tells irrigators “… there is projected to be a shortfall in the Sept. 30 Upper Klamath Lake elevation of 4139.2 feet that was identified in the May 18, 2023, update to the 2023 Annual Operation Plan. This situation is likely to require a reduction in project water supply in order to minimize or eliminate the shortfall.”
The letter from Reclamation said the department will continue to explore actions to mitigate any reductions, but encourages contract holders to conserve their supplies.
Executive Director and Counsel for Klamath Water Users Association, Paul Simmons, said the promised water allocation for the Project was 260,000-acre feet for diversion this year. With water elevations now expected to fall below required levels, Klamath Project irrigators may lose what remains of the promised water supply.
Crops are already in the ground, and irrigators in the project are depending on that water, Simmons said.
The announcement from Reclamation did note, however, that alternative options to mitigate water supply shutoffs are being investigated. (Herald and News)
A 57-year-old Bonanza man was arrested after police discovered an illegal marijuana grow site on Golden Eagle Drive.
According to a news release from the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, police destroyed 32 marijuana plants and 42.5 pounds of processed marijuana.
“Evidence indicated that two greenhouses which had been used to grow marijuana were empty and recently harvested. The estimated value of the plants and dry marijuana combined was $308,000,” the release said.
The man was charged with Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana according to the press release.
On Aug. 23 and 24, police also discovered two more illegal grow sites in Klamath County — neither of these additional two had suspects on the property when police raided them. One of the sites, according to the release, was near Highway 140 and 38 Mile Road and discovered on Aug. 23. About $5.4 million worth of marijuana — 1,888 plants — were destroyed. On Aug. 24, police discovered a site on Gaur Lane near Bonanza, with 528 marijuana plants estimated at $3.05 million destroyed.
“(For the sites on Golden Eagle Drive and Gaur Lane), it appeared water had been trucked into the locations due to no water source being located on either property,” the release said. “
Anyone with information concerning illegal water deliveries is encouraged to report this to mjtipline@klamathcounty.org.” (Klamath County Sheriff’s Office/Herald and News)
Kingsley 173rd Fighter Wing jets to conduct night flying operations beginning Through Thursday, August 31st.
The 173rd Fighter Wing will conduct night flying operations through Thursday, Aug. 31st. Operations will take place between approximately 6:00pm-11:00pm.
Night flying is one part of the course curriculum for F-15C student pilots at Kingsley Field, the premiere F-15C schoolhouse for the United States Air Force.
Much of the training will occur in the military operating airspace to the east of Lakeview where the pilots can fly without lights. However, the local community will most likely hear the jets during take-offs and approaches to and from Kingsley Field.
Take-offs will occur after sundown and the jets will return approximately an hour-and-a-half later. Community members may contact the wing’s public affairs office at 541-885-6677 to express any concerns they have during this time. (173rd Fighter Wing press release)
Klamath County School District is offering Kindergarten Conversations for families the first week of school.
Kindergarten teachers will be calling parents and guardians the last week of August to schedule family conversations for the week of Sept. 5.
Kindergarten students will come with parents and guardians to meet their teacher and become familiar with their classroom. A phase-in approach to full-time kindergarten will begin the week of Sept. 11.
Teachers will provide families with their student’s phase-in schedule during the family conversation. Kindergarten students will begin all-day school on Friday, Sept. 15. See the KCSD website or their Facebook page for more information. (KCSD press release)
The Oregon Department of Transportation will be redoing several ADA ramps in downtown Klamath Falls over the next few weeks. The work is anticipated to be completed by Sept. 8, 2023.
Minor sidewalk closures, the rerouting of pedestrians, and minor lane closures that route traffic travel to the center, right and left turn lanes are anticipated. (ODOT/Herald and News)
Klamath Falls and Klamath County road crews will be performing chip seal operations through Sept. 8, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Shasta Way, California Avenue, 3rd Street and other residential streets.
On-street parking will not be available during construction. Traffic control will be in place For any questions or concerns, please contact Joe Pridemore at (541) 883-5385.
On Aug. 28, chip seal crews will be at Mack, Independence, Marius, Oxbow, Denver and Walton streets.
Aug. 29, at Bartlett, Clinton, Avalon, Gary Sreet, Thompson, Cannon, Crosby and Gettle,
On Aug. 30, chip seal work will be one on Miller, Alva, Cheyne, Casa Way, Gary Sreet, Derby and Dayton.
Aug. 31, on Shasta Way (Austin to Madison).
The early morning broom crew begins at 4 a.m. on Aug. 29 at Mack, Independence, Marius, Oxbow, Denver and Walton, and on Aug. 30, at Bartlett, Clinton, Avalon, Gary Sreet, Thompson, Cannon, Crosby and Gettle.
On Aug. 31, Miller, Alva, Cheyne, Casa Way, Gary St, Derby and Dayton. On Sept. 1, Shasta Way (Austin to Madison). On Crest Street, from Clinton to Denver, expect daily lane closures.
There may be adjustments of work schedules due to weather or other items outside of the county’s control (breakdown of equipment, material/resource availability, etc.)
Please do not contact the county if you do not see work occurring, it could be finished already or will be rescheduled. Please drive slow through chip seal and paint stripe areas. This will reduce damage, and also reduce the probability of oil or paint getting on your vehicle. (Herald and News)
Klamath County Library has a new program intended to replace the canceled Social Justice Book Club.
Library Director Nathalie Johnston said the new program, named Real Reads, will offer similar topics of discussion as did the former book club.
However, in an effort to compromise with county commissioners, Real Reads will be moderated by the group themselves rather than a library staff member.
Commissioners have expressed concern about taxpayer-funded staff being involved in political discussions in the role of moderators. Johnston said Real Reads is set to begin Thursday, Sept. 7, and will be held every first Thursday of the month except for in December. Titles read by the members of the Real Reads book club will be selected by library staff instead of being selected from a list by participants, the director said.
Klamath County Library is in the process of drafting a novel library programming policy with the help of Oregon Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC). (Herald and News)
Basin residents, and those in the region, know when they start to see the strange vehicles and buses rolling through town toward Nevada….it’s time for Burning Man.
Heading to the concert and festival, Burners as they are known, from all over the world are pouring into the region beginning this weekend for the annual pilgrimage to the playa.
Burning Man 2023, which officially started Sunday, is expected to draw tens of thousands of people out to the Black Rock City. Reno airport officials said the Burning Man influx combined with Labor Day travel makes the last week of August and the first week of September the busiest time of the year at the airport.
Many travelers from Germany, Colombia and France are making their way through the Reno airport.
The census for Burning Man 2022 showed that over 16% of Burning Man attendees came from outside the United States for the annual counterculture festival. Local retailers, especially stores such as Wal-Mart and grocery stores in the Klamath Basin along with gas stations, see a significant increase in business due to the influx of people. (local sources/KRNV tv news)
Around the state of Oregon
CAL FIRE says the Happy Camp Complex in Siskiyou County is now 19,205 acres and 29% contained.
According to the morning update, 346 people are currently evacuated.
An evacuation shelter has been set up at the Kahishraam Wellness Center, 1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka. You can call 530-340-3539 for questions regarding the shelter.
A total of 1,609 structures are currently threatened by the Happy Camp Complex fires. Nine structures have been confirmed destroyed and two others damaged.
One fatality has been reported for the Happy Camp Complex.
HAPPY CAMP COMMUNITY MEETING: A community meeting and fire operations update will be taking place Tuesday, August 29th at 5:30 p.m. at the Karuk Administration Gym located at 64236 Second Avenue, Happy Camp, CA 96039.
WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (9,080 acres, 2%), Malone (544 acres, 7%), Ufish (1,856 acres, 0%)
Firefighters on the west side of the Happy Camp Complex focused their efforts on strengthening containment lines and continuing progress from last night’s firing operations near Titus Peak. On the Elliot Fire, crews continued to patrol and extinguish remaining hot spots along the Highway 96 corridor. If conditions allow, strategic firing operations will resume tonight for the Malone and Ufish fires. Smoke from fires to the west continue to impact air quality and visibility for aircraft operations during the day.
EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,875 acres, 35%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,881 acres, 70%), Lake (199, acres, 5%)
Fire crews made good progress on securing containment lines on the Head Fire today, further protecting the community of Hamburg. The Scott Fire continues to hold near Scott River Road. CAL FIRE resources continue to work to improve the fire line and monitor the containment lines. The Lake Fire remains in its current footprint.
EVACUATIONS: View current Siskiyou County evacuation orders and warnings by visiting: community.zonehaven.com. Siskiyou County residents are encouraged to sign up for rapid emergency notifications using the CodeRED emergency alert system. https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/emergencyservices/page/codered-emergency-alert
An evacuation center has been established at the Kahtishraam Wellness Center, 1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka, CA 95097. Call (530) 340-3539 if you have questions regarding the shelter.
ROAD CONDITIONS: State Route 96 is now open. One-way traffic control remains in place in several areas while crews work to repair damaged infrastructure, remove debris, and stabilize slopes. Delays at the locations with one-way traffic control will be up to 15 minutes. The road will be closed to the public east of Seiad daily from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to facilitate fire traffic. For the exact locations of where this work is taking place, please use quickmap.dot.ca.gov. County road closures will be listed on the Siskiyou County Public Works website: https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/publicworks/page/closures-and-delays.
FOREST CLOSURE: Two closure orders have been implemented: Happy Camp Complex Emergency Fire Closure, No.05-05-23-06; Happy Camp Complex Emergency Fire Closure, No. 05-05-23-07. Please refer to https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices to view the orders and maps.
TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION (TFR): A TFR has been established over the fire area. Flight restrictions include the use of drones. The operation of drones under the TFR is prohibited.
PACIFIC CREST TRAIL: The Pacific Crest Trail is closed between the Shelly Fork Junction and Seiad as part of an area closure under Forest Order 05-05-23-07. It is suggested that northbound through-hikers exit the trail at Etna Summit and resume northward travel from Seiad.
AIR QUALITY: For information regarding smoke impacts and what you can do to protect yourself, visit: https://www.airnow.gov/
For additional information regarding the Happy Camp Complex, please go to the InciWeb page at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/
Six schools across Siskiyou County have delayed the first day of school in the wake of several wildfires and a mudslide on Everitt Memorial Highway.
According to the Siskiyou County Office of Education, Happy Camp High School, Mount Shasta High School, Happy Camp Elementary, Junction Elementary, Klamath River Elementary and Seiad Elementary are the schools affected. Mount Shasta High School is delaying its start due to the mudslide; all other schools listed the wildfires as the reason. (local sources)
Meanwhile, across the border, Oregon Department of Forestry says two firefighters were injured over the weekend on the Whiskey Creek Fire in Josephine County.
ODF says both firefighters were treated and released at a local hospital.
The Whiskey Creek is one of five lightning-caused fired that began Thursday evening. ODF says the Whiskey Creek Fire remains the largest at 30 acres near the west fork of Whiskey Creek.
The Thunder Ranch Fire, another lightning-caused fire that began Thursday, is southeast of Galice and is holding at just under 17 acres.
ODF says no homes are currently threatened on either one of these fires. No road closures are currently in place. (ODF)
A major fire is also burning in Douglas County near Roseburg.
Oregon Department of Forestry says the Tyee Ridge Complex, which began Thursday night, is now 2,897 acres and 5% contained.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office issued Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuations for Tyee Road at the intersection of Rock Creek Road to Fanchin Lane and all residents in between.
Level 2 “Be Set” evacuations are in place for all residents on Lighthouse Road In Tyee, Hubbard Creek Road from Millwood intersection to Melqua Road and all residents in between.
Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations are in place for the 10,000 block of Hubbard Creek Road to the intersection of Millwood Drive and all residents in between.
DCSO says a total of 72 structures are under Level 3 evacuation, and an estimated 125 people have evacuated.
Douglas County Emergency Management and the Red Cross have set up an evacuation shelter at the Oakland Elementary School at 499 NE Spruce Street in Oakland. Livestock can be housed at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Pets can be housed at Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center in Roseburg.
A Mt. Bachelor ski area guest using the zip line feature experienced a medical incident Thursday afternoon and died, Mt. Bachelor officials confirmed.
The zip line remained closed Friday and reopened on Saturday, according to Mt. Bachelor.
John Merriman, president and general manager at Mt. Bachelor, released the following statement Friday:
“Yesterday around 3:00 p.m., a guest at Mt. Bachelor experienced a medical incident on the zip line and was pronounced deceased by the medical examiner. Our entire team’s thoughts are with the guest and their family. We have closed the zip line today (Friday) out of respect for our guest and his family, as well as our team at Mt. Bachelor.”
The self-braking ZipTour system drops nearly 1,400 vertical feet over three stages of varying lengths. In total, they add up to 1.3 miles, making the zipline the steepest, longest and fastest zipline in the Northwest, according to Mt. Bachelor.
It opened in 2020 after years in development plans.
(oregon news)
Governor Kotek Discusses Managed Urban Homeless Camps During Oregon Tour
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek continued her multiday trip through Central Oregon last week holding meetings in several cities including at Redmond City Hall and visiting in afternoon at an under-construction homeless shelter.
“We’re spending a lot of time in Redmond on this trip,” said Kotek, who has been traveling through parts of rural Oregon since the legislative session ended June 25. “Deschutes County is not just Bend.”
The governor met with the Latino Community Association at City Hall, then had lunch with Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair, Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch and Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler. Kotek said the group talked about a range of issues in Central Oregon and the state, from housing to education and from economic development to St. Charles Health System possibly withdrawing from the Medicare Advantage program.
Kotek spent part of the afternoon at Redmond’s first proposed low barrier homeless shelter, run by the nonprofit Shepherd’s House Ministries and currently under construction off U.S. Highway 97. According to Dave Notari, director of development for Shepherd’s House, the new facility may be ready to open by early October. All the electrical work and the kitchen is finished, he said.
“We just need to start adding furniture and we’re there,” said Notari.
Kotek sat with Shepherd’s House staff and other service providers, which she said helped her gain perspective on the issue of homelessness in Central Oregon.
“We have been funding communities around the state with emergency resources to have more shelter capacity, more services,” she said. “And I have to say Central Oregon has a strong plan, strong partnerships that are really making things happen here. And my job as governor is just to be helpful, be supportive, make sure they can get done what they need to get done.”
Kotek has differed from local leaders, however, by rejecting their calls to allow homeless shelters outside urban growth boundaries around Bend, Redmond, Sisters and La Pine. In Redmond, city officials have said building managed camps and affordable housing developments outside city limits could help ease the crisis. Kotek argued that managed camps outside cities often leave people too far from other services.
“This isn’t about saying go far away,” she said. “This is about come in, get connected to services, let’s help get you get housed. This is about long-term stability. So being outside the urban growth boundary, far away, is not probably the best way to go about it.”
She also said that thinking of middle-income housing outside UGBs may not be the answer either.
“I think we have to be open to new ideas when it comes to the land supply,” said Kotek. “But what I do know is that it’s not just about land supply. Even if you have the land, you need to have the infrastructure. You need to have some resources to develop the land so it can be used for housing.”
Kotek also talked about the CORE3 project in Redmond spearheaded by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council. It would create a base of operations and emergency response center in the case of a large-scale regional disaster.
“I think it’s smart to think about it here in Redmond,” she said. “I think we have to figure out how to fund it long term. I’m definitely interested in the concept. I think we’re going to continue to deal with major wildfires. We’re going to have that major earthquake somewhere down the line, and Central Oregon’s going to be a key piece of that recovery. So I think we have to figure out how to get it done.”
Two weather systems of rainfall are expected to hit western Oregon this week, potentially bringing a major slowdown to what’s become a very busy wildfire season.
Moisture is forecast to arrive Tuesday and again on Thursday, said meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Portland and Medford.
The system arriving Tuesday is the lighter of the two, with 0.1 to 0.2 of an inch possible, with more likely in the mountains. Northwest Oregon should get at least some rain, while southwest Oregon is unlikely to see as much.
The big question centers on Thursday’s storm, which is forecast to be heavier and could bring a quarter to a half inch of rain.
During National Preparedness Month in September, the Red Cross urges everyone to prepare for worsening extreme weather affecting the Cascades Region, which saw an earlier start to wildfire season this year compared to last.
Severe weather like this is part of a worsening national trend in which the American Red Cross has responded to nearly twice as many large disasters across the country as it did a decade ago.
As rapidly intensifying, weather-related events pose serious challenges to its humanitarian work and the people it serves, the Red Cross has announced an ambitious national plan to take urgent action. With more climate-driven disasters upending lives and devastating communities, the organization is racing to adapt its services and grow its disaster response capacity across the country, while also funding new international programs on climate response and preparedness, as well as minimizing its own environmental footprint.
Here in the Cascades Region, this includes recruiting and training more volunteers to respond to disasters locally and across the country, as well as advancing community partnerships through a special disaster resilience program.
The Red Cross has seen a significant shortfall in blood and platelet donations over the last month, making it hard to keep pace with the need for blood products.
Blood and platelet donations that go uncollected due to climate-related events, such as hurricanes, wildfires and extreme heat, can put further strain on the national blood supply. As extreme weather events are worsening, the Red Cross is seeing that translate into more blood drive cancellations. In 2022, over 1,300 blood drives were canceled due to weather — about 23% higher than the average of the prior nine years.
On August 24, 2023, a federal jury in Portland found a convicted felon from Salem, Oregon guilty of illegally transferring a machine gun.
Daniel Matthew Kittson, 61, was convicted of one count of illegally transferring a machine gun.
He was found not guilty of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. According to court documents, in December 2019, a special agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) learned that an individual, later identified as Kittson, possessed and was attempting to sell a Russian PPSh-41, a machine gun capable of firing approximately 900 rounds per minute.
After identifying Kittson, investigators learned that he had prior felony convictions for attempted murder, first degree manslaughter, and felon in possession of a weapon, making it illegal for him to possess any type of firearm.
In early January 2020, investigators communicated with Kittson on two separate occasions to arrange a controlled purchase of the machine gun and, on January 10, 2020, completed the transaction. Following their purchase, investigators tested the firearm and confirmed that it was indeed a functional machine gun.
On March 9, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Kittson with illegally possessing and transferring a machine gun and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
On May 28, 2021, Kittson was arrested without incident by the U.S. Marshals Service and was released following his first appearance in federal court. In June 2022, Kittson absconded his pretrial supervision. Three months later, on September 27, 2022, he was located and arrested in Crook County, Oregon in possession of a firearm and small quantities of methamphetamine and heroin. Illegally transferring a machine gun is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison.
Kittson will be sentenced in December 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Karin J. Immergut. (US attorney’s office press release)
In a Strange Incident, Two Trucks Fall Into The Columbia River Near Biggs Junction in Same Spot at Separate Times Prompting Closure Of I-84
Interstate-84 westbound is set to close from early this morning, Monday morning, at Biggs Junction.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced this closure. It follows two semi-trucks, at separate times, falling into the Columbia River. Drivers are advised to consider other routes during this scheduled closure, starting from 7 A.M and stretching from Biggs Junction to Celilo.
The first semi-truck, carrying two trailers, hit a deserted vehicle parked on the freeway before plunging into the river late Friday. Miraculously, the driver swam to safety without injuries. Another semi-truck, carrying empty fuel tankers, slipped off the freeway into the river as emergency responders attended the previous incident. Authorities believe driver fatigue possibly contributed to this second accident, with the driver also escaping injury.
Efforts are underway to extract the trucks from the river. Still, it is unclear how long this process will take considering the demanding nature of the operation. ODOT calls on drivers to stay alert and consider alternative routes, such as Old Highway 30/OR 206, during the recovery period.
Lightning storms swept through the state from northern California all the way to southern Washington since Thursday. These storms have started over 50 fires in the region, but thankfully Oregon’s Department of Forestry, the U.S Forest Service and local agencies have extinguished most of the fires before they can spread.
“We’ve got lots of partners in the community,” said ODF public information officer, Bryan Longoria, “we’ve got a lot of folks out here and we’re out working hard trying to keep these fires as small as we can.”
The fires are more difficult to fight due to the nature of lightning fires. Many lightning fires occur in remote areas that would otherwise be left out of the way. This makes it harder for firefighters to try to extinguish fires. Engines don’t typically reach them and it can be a hike for them with all of their gear to even reach the edge of the fire. With the smoke from surrounding pre-existing fires there has been a struggle with aviation helping to fight the blazes due to low visibility.
Just south of the Oregon border along Hwy 199, the Diamond, Holiday, Kelly, and Prescott fires along with multiple other fires in the area have been grouped together in the “Smith River Complex.” The fires have now spread into Southern Oregon. This is along the route from Grants Pass to the coast.
Red Cross Opens Shelter For Smith River Complex Fire
The Red Cross has set up a shelter at Rogue Community College, Redwood Campus in Grants Pass for people evacuated by the Smith River Complex Fire southwest of Obrien in Josephine County.
Anyone who needs shelter from this wildfire should go to the college at 3345 Redwood Hwy, Grants Pass, OR 97527 or call 1-800-Red Cross.
Preparedness info can be found here: https://redcrossblog.org/disaster/
State Offers Help To The 552,000 Oregonians With Student DebtThe Oregon Division of Financial Regulation has released the state’s first analysis of residents’ student loan debt, and recommendations for how the governor and Legislature could help lighten the burden for current and former college students.
The report was conducted following the passage of Senate Bill 485 in 2021. The law called for changes to loan service renewal, declared an emergency and required an annual report.
The first of those annual reports states that the U.S. Department of Education owns $1.48 trillion in debt, which is 84% of the total student loan market, and guarantees an additional $143 billion of Federal Family Education Loan Program and Perkins loans. Since 2007, the federal student loan portfolio has grown more than 300%.
About 44 million Americans currently have student loan balances, compared to 28 million in 2007.
In Oregon, the report found, about 552,000 residents are student loan borrowers, with an average debt of $37,900.
Ombuds offers help, answers – SB 485 required the Department of Consumer and Business Services to appoint a student loan ombuds who could help members of the public with complaints or inquiries about student loans. The department’s first ombuds began working in June 2022.
As of June 1, 2023, the ombuds had received 34 complaints and 104 contacts from the public.
Borrowers most commonly asked the ombuds about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives the remaining balance of student loans for full-time employees of governments or nonprofits who have been making qualifying payments for 10 years.
In March 2020, as part of a COVID-19 response, the U.S. Department of Education paused federal student loan repayment and collections. Interest was not accrued. These paused payments also counted toward PSLF, earning credit as though monthly payments were made. This pause will end Sept. 1.
In addition, there have recently been several announcements and changes to student loans that have caused some confusion.
- In April 2022, the U.S. Department of Education announced “Fresh Start,” an executive action to pull seven million student loan borrowers out of default.
- In August 2022, the Biden administration announced a plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for eligible Pell Grant recipients. In November, the Sweet v. Cardona lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education led to a settlement, resulting in the promise that it must approve about $6 billion in debt forgiveness for 200,000 borrowers.
- The Federal Student Loan Literacy Act, which was introduced in 2022 but did not receive a vote, would have created a federal funding source for community groups to apply toward their work with student loan borrowers.
In 2022, the Oregon ombuds started a PSLF waiver awareness campaign. As of March 31, 8,770 Oregonians had been forgiven more than $557 million in student loan debt. This is up from $216 million for 3,480 Oregonians nine months earlier.
The ombuds expects PSLF will continue to be a common topic for loan borrowers who reach out. For more information on PSLF, visit studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service.
Other common inquiries over the past year to the ombuds were about misinformation from debt loan servicers, collection mistakes and referrals from the Oregon Department of Justice.
Plans for next year – The ombuds’ first goal for the upcoming year is to continue building out the state’s borrower education program, which is intended to offer information and resources to those with student loans.
“The lack of funding sources for coaching leaves many borrowers not knowing where to turn,” the report states. “To further borrower education, the student loan ombuds is hoping to expand the range of available presentations, record short videos, and gather more short-term and long-term policy recommendations.”
The ombuds will also be recommending policy changes to the Legislature. Short-term policy change goals include:
- More specific regulations for loan servicing.
- More protections for borrowers.
- Requiring people to be notified when they are eligible for loan forgiveness.
Long-term policy change goals include:
- Increasing supports to reduce the cost of college.
- Holding student loan servicers accountable for misinformation.
- Push for more student loan advocates at the university level.
For more information about the Student Loan Servicing Program, visit: dfr.oregon.gov/help/student-loan-help. For more information on federal student aid, visit studentaid.gov/. — (SOURCE)
The Oregon Employment Department provided updates on the new Paid Leave Oregon program.
Paid Leave Oregon aims to give workers and employers opportunities to take time for their families and personal needs. Applications opened earlier this month and the meeting, today gave more insight into how it works.
The program recognizes three types of leave: Family, Medical and Safe leave. If you’re eligible, you can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave, over a 52-week period.
It works through paying into the program, that’s called your ‘contribution rate’ which is one percent of your gross wages. If you work for a large employer, they are required to help you pay 40 percent of this amount.
At the meeting, staff behind the program say they are making sure each application is thoroughly reviewed.
Paid Leave Oregon director, Karen Humelbaugh said, “We received 4,631 applications and we have approved two thus far, which might seem small but it’s due to ramping up of processing, ID verification behind the scenes and thoroughly making sure we’ve trained our staff with real and complex claims.
Those who are eligible, can take paid leave as soon as September 3rd. You can see specific qualifications and the step-by-step process on their website: https://paidleave.oregon.gov
Portland man wins $3.8 million Oregon Megabucks Jackpot!
Salem, Ore. – Carl Meinig, 80, of Portland, is the latest winner of Oregon’s Game Megabucks, claiming a ticket for the $3.3 million jackpot. The winning ticket was sold on August 1, 2023 for the drawing the following day.
Meinig purchased the ticket at Plaid Pantry on 11010 SE Foster Road in Portland. The store earned a $33,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. Plaid Pantry employees were presented with a check from Oregon Lottery to celebrate the win on Friday.
“Plaid Pantry is thrilled to learn one of our most popular stores in SE Portland sold the recent $3.3 million Megabucks ticket,” said Plaid Pantry CEO Jonathan Polonsky. “Profits from the sale of lottery tickets are reinvested back into our locally owned business for growth and to better support our associates. It’s one of the ways we stay true to our vision of being ‘Employee Built, Customer Inspired.’ Congratulations to the winner from our team of more than 700 Plaid associates!”
Oregon’s Game Megabucks has some of the most favorable big prize jackpot game odds in the world. The jackpot resets to $1 million after someone wins.
The Oregon Lottery recommends that you sign the back of your ticket to ensure you can claim any prize. In the event of winning a jackpot, players should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Players have a year to claim their prize.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned more than $15.5 billion for economic development, public schools, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org.
The Shaniko Hotel Reopens
If you’ve driven between Klamath Falls and the Washington border using Highway 97, you’ve driven through Shaniko, Oregon.
After 16 years of closure, the Shaniko Hotel, located in Oregon’s famous ghost town, has reopened, this time under the management of the town’s volunteer firefighters.
If that sounds like an unusual arrangement, well, nothing in Shaniko is usual. Shaniko remains a functioning municipality with about two dozen full-time residents. They practically take turns running the city.
Consisting of a handful of buildings dating to around 1900, Shaniko most likely survives because of its location along U.S. 97, which still brings traffic past the town.
Staff will tell you the hotel is definitely haunted, and it’s hard to tell if that’s because of actual spirits or a sales tactic. It does make an overnight stay more exciting.
While the town is small, Julianne Herman, secretary of South Wasco Fire & Rescue (and also employee of the hotel, and also Long’s girlfriend), said the town’s handful of firefighters responded to about 80 calls last year. Most of those were medical calls and highway crashes (such as the semi-truck that barreled through two buildings next to the Shaniko Hotel last fall.)
Visitors might notice a small blue rubber ball in one of the hotel hallways. Staff says this ball seemingly moves around on its own, played with by an unseen girl whom they call Amelia. Room 14, they said, is supposedly haunted by a woman named Nettie.
Thinking about an overnight stay? Shaniko is 215 miles north on U.S. Highway 97 from Klamath Falls. https://www.shanikohotel.com/
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