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, The Herald and News, and BasinLife.com, and powered by Mick Insurance, your Local Health and Medicare agents. Call 541-882-6476.
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Patchy fog before 2pm, otherwise mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Calm winds. Overnight, patchy fog, partly cloudy with a low around 30 degrees.
Today’s Headlines
Representative Cliff Bentz, has announced he’s leading a legal filing with the U.S. Supreme Court against the Biden Administration. Bentz is leading a coalition of U.S. representatives and senators in filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court.
Bentz wants the Court to consider two cases. He says the cases are, “challenging the President’s misuse of the Antiquities Act to establish National Monuments.
Bentz says, “The Constitution makes it clear that Congress, not the President, makes our laws. The President’s job is not to make law, but to enforce them. Yet, in recent years, presidents have increasingly usurped congressional authority by using the Antiquities Act to ‘Monumentize’ millions upon millions of acres of public land rendering massive areas largely untouchable. This blatant disregard for the will of the people is an affront to the Constitution. In this brief we urge the Supreme Court to hear these cases and to make it clear that the President cannot circumvent Congress by rewriting our nation’s public land laws with the stroke of a pen. This is about upholding the Constitution, protecting our public lands from being left to burn up, and that they can be properly managed with the their best interest in mind.”
Bentz’s office says the amicus brief claims the Biden Administration has exercised Presidential Overreach, economic devastation when “The President’s monument designation cripples forest-dependent communities and exacerbates the wildfire crisis by severely limiting essential forest management practices,” and a Constitutional violation because the Constitution gives Congress power to regulate federal lands.
More than 50 people stood in the rain Tuesday afternoon to support the Klamath County Sheriff, who has been under fire from county officials.
In fact, nearly 12 weeks ago, county commissioners gave Sheriff Chris Kaber and his two sons serving in the sheriff ’s office a 90-day ultimatum: resign as sheriff or both sons will be terminated.
The decision was made public during a meeting held Sept. 27 during which county officials accused the sheriff of nepotism. In light of these recent events, some county residents have been showing their support for Sheriff Kaber and his family with signs posted throughout the county which say “Support Sheriff Kaber.”
Klamath County Commissioners Derrick DeGroot and Dave Henslee met with Sheriff Kaber and voted to revoke a resolution put in place five years prior which established an exception to the county’s personnel policy on employment of relatives. The 2018 exception allowed for the sheriff to hold his elected office while his son, Sgt. Ryan Kaber, retained his position at the sheriff’s office, having been employed there since 2008. The resolution also allowed the sheriff’s office to hire the sheriff’s other son Erick Kaber as a corrections deputy in February 2018 so long as Sheriff Kaber was not involved in the selection process. The resolution said that, as long as the sheriff is not in a position of supervising his sons and delegates supervision, the Kabers are not in violation of county policy.
As no agreeable solution has been found, the county’s ultimatum is expected to occur Dec. 27, leaving the already short-handed Klamath County Sheriff’s Office down another two officers. (more at HeraldandNews.com)
Community members are invited to bring undecorated Christmas trees to the Klamath County Fairgrounds on Saturday, January 6, 8 a.m. – noon.
Absolute Tree Care Service will chip trees in the parking lot, to the right of the entrance, in exchange for any donation to Friends of the Children – Klamath Basin.
Donations can be made with cash or check, at friendsklamath.org “Donate”. “With this event, we hope to encourage environmentally friendly tree disposal and support an organization that does so much for local youth,” said Rick Spicher, owner of Absolute Tree Care Service. Friends of the Children is a national nonprofit that creates generational change by empowering youth facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with professional mentors, called “Friends,” for 12+ years.
Friends of the Children – Klamath Basin was established in 2000. It has locations in Klamath Falls and Chiloquin and capacity to support 72 youth. Learn more at friendsklamath.org.
The Hispanic Health Committee’s leadership team cordially invites the community to attend our Winter Networking Luncheon on January 17th, 2024 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Klamath Community College’s (KCC) Building 7. (see attached bilingual flyer).
Admission is free and the event is open to anyone interested in creating better health and wellbeing for Klamath’s Latino community. At the luncheon we will review our progress to date, discuss future plans and do some fun networking. So bring your business cards and a plus-one!
RSVP on Eventbrite using the QR code or this link: https://tinyurl.com/HHCWNL
We would like express our deep appreciation to generous co-sponsors KCC and Klamath & Lake Counties Council on Aging for making this event possible. For questions, email KDuarte@klamathcounty.org
The usual wear-and-tear inflicted on Oregon roadways each year requires never-ending maintenance and repairs for motorists to get where they’re going.
While dreams of impervious roads which require no maintenance is, for the foreseeable future, an impossibility, two Oregon Tech students are working to lengthen the usable lifespan of asphalt.
Serena Moha and Kacie Schmidt are civil engineering students working on completing both their bachelor’s and their master’s degrees in 2025. Inspired by the enthusiasm of their advisor, Professor and Department Chair Roger Lindgren, both students discovered an unexpected passion for the world of transportation engineering.
The students will be working with BalancedMixDesign, Moha said, explaining that BMD is “up-and-coming” in the asphalt industry. Though the students haven’t started their hands-on experiments yet, the two are eager to begin in the coming months. Moha’s research will focus on crack-resistance testing, which studies the resilience and longevity of asphalt after cracks begin to appear.
The experiments and research Schmidt plans to conduct will investigate rutting. (more at HeraldandNews.com)
Harbor Isles Tennis & Fitness Club, a local fitness center in Klamath Falls is under new ownership this week by the not-for-profit Sky Lakes Medical Center Foundation.
Harbor Isles Tennis & Fitness Club, located in the 2800 block of Front Street near Pelican School, belonged to JELD-WEN Inc., a global manufacturer based in Klamath Falls. According to a news release from Sky Lakes Medical Center, the fitness facility officially changed hands Monday morning.
The new owners plan to keep gym operations and memberships as-is and without interruption, the release said. Harbor Isles fitness instructor Kristen Leist said employees have been told that no immediate changes will be made to the club’s programming. Brittney Geraud, the current manager of Harbor Isles, said in she is personally excited for this “new chapter for Harbor Isles.”
The release assures that Sky Lakes is committed to maintaining the highest standards the community has come to expect at the facility by continuing to offer a wide range of programs, top-of-the-line equipment and a supportive environment for everyone to reach their fitness goals. (more at HeraldandNews.com)
Greetings from the City of Klamath Falls and their new Klamath Falls Transportation Safety Action Plan Project Team.
The City of Klamath Falls has started a public engagement campaign with this online survey to get community input on how to make our streets safer.
We hope you will take the time and provide us with your thoughts and opinions and respond to this survey.
The survey HERE is open until this Friday (12/22/23). Thank you.
Local performer and musician Dana Wirth will bring the magic of Christmas to life on the main stage at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Ross Ragland Theater.
According to Ross Ragland Theater’s Natalie Postles due to overwhelming demand, the show has been relocated from the Second Stage Series in the Ragland Cultural Center to the main stage in the Ragland’s auditorium.
The performance will include holiday music from timeless carols to heartwarming melodies. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Ragland Box Office Monday-Friday, noon to 5 p.m., by calling (541) 884LIVE, or by visiting their website at www.ragland.org.
A reminder that The Klamath Falls Lions club is selling See’s Candy for the Christmas Holidays as a fundraiser for their sight and hearing projects. See’s Candy will be available at Turn Thom Point S tires next to Bi-Mart, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday.
The Lions conduct vision screening for most students in Klamath County through the school districts, as well as providing glasses for students and others in need.
Lions collect used eye glasses to be recycled and provide a college scholarship to a graduating high school senior from a local school. For more information, call 541-591-6483.
All libraries in the Klamath County Library Service District will be closed on the following days this coming weekend on Sunday and Monday for observation of Christmas.
In addition all libraries will be closed on Sunday December 31st and Monday January 1st in observance of New Years. A reminder that no materials will be due on the days that the libraries are closed.
For more information, you can call the library at (541) 882-8894, or see the library’s events calendar at https://klamathlibrary.org/library-events-calendar. (HeraldandHews.com)
The annual holiday model train exhibit will open on Saturday at the Klamath County Museum. The show runs through Dec. 30 during museum hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
A variety of train layouts, including N, O, HO and G-scale model sets, will be displayed by the Klamath Rails Model Railroad Club.
A time set aside for families with special needs will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17.
Entry to the train show is free with regular paid admission to the museum. Admission fees are $5 for adults, and $4 for seniors, military and teens. Youth 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.
The museum will be closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
For more information, contact the museum at (541) 882-1000. (Herald and News)
Chiloquin, Ore. – Guided First Day Hikes led by rangers and volunteers are set for 31 Oregon State Parks on New Year’s Day—Monday, Jan. 1st, 2024.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is partnering with America’s State Parks for free guided First Day Hikes in state parks as we start the new year.
Here’s information about the hike hosted at Collier Memorial State Park:
- Join us for a brisk morning 3-mile hike along the Spring Creek and Williamson Rivers. At the halfway point, we will have snacks, hot and cold drinks, and a warming fire. We may see bald eagles and river otters.
- The path is hard packed dirt and gravel with uneven terrain and roots. Little to no elevation gain. Plan for possible snow and ice on the ground. Traction devices for shoes recommended.
- Please register for the hike online so we can plan for the snacks and beverages
- The hike starts at 11 a.m. Meet at the Cookhouse located on the west side of the highway north of the parking lot at the Collier Memorial Logging Museum, 46000 Highway 97 N.
- Friendly dogs are welcome on six-foot leashes.
- Participants should dress in layers, wear sturdy hiking boots, and bring water and snacks, as well as a camera or binoculars for wildlife viewing.
- For more information, call 541-783-2471 prior to Dec. 29.
If you have questions about access or to request any reasonable accommodations needed for your participation, please email Park Ranger Dave Padgett. Requests must be submitted by Dec. 29.
The $5 day-use parking fee is waived that day for all state parks that require a parking permit and are open.
Share photos of First Day Hikes via social media by using the hashtag #ORfirstdayhikes.
First Day Hikes is a national initiative to welcome the coming year in the outdoors, promote exercise and encourage connecting with nature. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has participated since 2012.
The Chiloquin Community is hosting the Chi-Town Winter Wonderland, Friday, Dec. 22nd.
The fun event will benefit the Chiloquin community to help ensure that every child has an opportunity to enjoy and the experience the spirit of giving during this holiday season. Attendees will enjoy hot cocoa and Christmas-themed treats to create a cosy and festive atmosphere.
Organizers are Tahnie Clark and Alethia Brown-David.
- If anyone would like to donate, it would be greatly appreciated for our Chi Community. We are also looking for anyone interested in setting up some type of little Xmas game inside the gym. This event will be on Friday, December 22, 2023, from 4 to 7 p.m.
- For information, please call Valerie at 541-882-8846, ext 3508
Around the state of Oregon
Oregon’s population declined for the second year in a row, new population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show.
Federal data released Tuesday estimate Oregon shed about 0.1% of its residents, or 6,021 people, in the year leading up to July 1, 2023. That comes after the state lost about 0.4% in the year before. While the Census Bureau has yet to release population numbers at the city and county level, the Portland State center estimates that Multnomah County gained 1,728 residents in the year ending in July 1, 2023.
The Portland State center’s city population numbers indicate that Portland added 4,015 residents, reflecting a 0.6% growth over the same time period. (more at oregonlive.com)
MEDFORD, Ore.—A man believed to reside in Yakima, Washington who was caught transporting more than 55 pounds of methamphetamine and more than a thousand fentanyl pills in Southern Oregon was sentenced to federal prison today.
Daniel Martin Ponce-Gonzalez, 39, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on June 19, 2021, law enforcement stopped a black sedan traveling north on U.S. Route 97 in Klamath County, Oregon. The driver, Ponce-Gonzalez, provided officers with a false name and fake identification documents. During the stop, officers observed signs of drug trafficking and obtained consent from Ponce-Gonzalez and a passenger to search the vehicle. Officers discovered a hidden compartment near the vehicle’s trunk containing more than 55 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately two pounds each of fentanyl pills and cocaine. Ponce-Gonzalez and his passenger were arrested without incident.
On August 5, 2021, Ponce-Gonzalez was charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine. Later, on March 3, 2022, a federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment charging Ponce-Gonzalez with one count of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with assistance from Oregon State Police (OSP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Water woes continue as the California State Water Resources Control Board took action yesterday to protect the salmon, unanimously extending the region’s expired emergency drought measures.
Ground and surface water for farms will be restricted for another year if flows in the Shasta and Scott rivers dip below minimum thresholds. State officials say these measures are likely to kick in next year.
Water board chair Joaquin Esquivel said action is needed because “a fish emergency” remains on the rivers. “Time isn’t our friend,” he said at a previous meeting in August. “There is an urgency.” The water board also is investigating the possibility of permanent requirements to keep more water in the rivers, after the Karuk Tribe and the fishing industry petitioned the state for stronger protections. That decision, however, could take years.
Fatal Crash on Highway 101 in Clatsop County
On Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at approximately 11:16 a.m., the Oregon State Police (OSP) responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 101 near milepost 3.5 (Astoria-Megler Bridge) in Clatsop County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound 2001 Acura CL, operated by Jean Ormiston (81) of Ocean Park Washington, crossed the centerline for unknown reasons. A northbound 2011 Ford Van, operated by Scott Sargeant (63) of Ilwaco, WA, collided head-on with the Acura.
The operator of the Acura (Ormiston), was declared deceased on scene. Two juvenile passengers of the Acura were transported to a local hospital, one with major injuries.
The operator of the Ford (Sargeant) and his passenger, Eric Sargeant (62) were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, however, heavy area fog reduced visibility and may have been a contributing factor. Additionally, it was also determined that Ormiston was likely not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash. The investigation has revealed that the other driver and all involved passengers were likely wearing their seatbelt at the time of the crash.
The highway was affected for approximately 4 hours during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by Washington Department of Transportation, Astoria Fire Department, Astoria Police Department and Oregon Department of Transportation.
A Grants Pass, Oregon medical doctor and his general medical practice have paid $115,000 to settle allegations by the United States regarding the physician, on behalf of himself and his practice, submitting medical reimbursement claims to Medicare, TRICARE, and the Veterans Health Administration.
Wendell Heidinger, 60, and Optimal Health of Southern Oregon, LLC (Optimal), paid $115,000 to the United States. The United States contended that, between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020, Dr. Heidinger and Optimal submitted claims for reimbursement to Medicare, TRICARE, and VHA coded as “evaluation and management” when frequency specific microcurrent treatments were primarily provided. Medicare considers FSM as an investigational treatment for which it does not provide coverage or payment.
Medicare is a public health insurance program administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). TRICARE is a civilian health care program administered by the Defense Health Agency (DHA), a joint, integrated combat support agency within the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). VHA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, is the largest integrated health care system in the United States and provides primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services to American veterans.
This settlement was the result of a coordinated investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon; HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and DHA.
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and a bipartisan group of 52 other attorneys general today announced a $700 million agreement with Google in their lawsuit about Google’s anticompetitive conduct with the Google Play Store.
Google will pay $630 million in restitution, minus costs, and fees, to consumers who made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023 and were harmed by Google’s anticompetitive practices. Google will pay the states an additional $70 million for their sovereign claims.
People eligible for restitution do not have to submit a claim – they will receive automatic payments through PayPal or Venmo, or they can elect to receive a check or ACH transfer. More details about that process will be forthcoming. The agreement also requires Google to make their business practices more procompetitive in a number of important ways. The attorneys general sued Google in 2021 alleging that Google unlawfully monopolized the market Android app distribution and in-app payment processing.
Specifically, the States claimed that Google signed anticompetitive contracts to prevent other app stores from being preloaded on Android devices, bought off key app developers who might have launched rival app stores, and created technological barriers to deter consumers from directly downloading apps to their devices. The states announced a settlement in principle on September 5, 2023, and today released the finalized terms of that deal.
According to informal data gathered by Healing Advocacy Fund, a nonprofit that advocates for legal psilocybin programs in Oregon and Colorado, at least 715 people have accessed services in Oregon since the program officially launched this year.
The Oregon Health Authority, which runs the psilocybin program, does not currently collect data from people participating in the program. That will change in 2025 when the Oregon Psilocybin Services section of the health authority will start to collect some aggregated data from service centers as required by Senate Bill 303, which passed in June.
While Oregonians passed the legal psilocybin framework in 2020, the law allowed the state to spend two years developing the system. Oregon released the first draft rules for the psilocybin program in February of 2022. In late 2022, the state started licensing facilitator training programs, and in January of 2023 began accepting applications for licenses for workers, facilitators, manufacturers, laboratories and service centers, as required by the new law. (Oregon Live
Bureau of Land Management interns are available for interviews regarding their experiences with BLM, and to let other students know about the benefits of starting a federal career with a paid student internship.
Bureau of Land Management officials have extended the period to apply for paid student internships! Eligible students can now apply through Monday, January 8, 2024.
After a successful push to hire more than 100 student interns across the country last year, BLM leaders are again in search of 100+ enthusiastic students looking for paid internships in the federal government. Jessica Schooley and Scott Truman were hired during the first “100 Interns” campaign. They are currently kicking off their federal careers as part of the BLM survey team in eastern Oregon.
Applying for internships with the federal government is a little different than applying for other jobs, so BLM leaders recently hosted two workshops to help interested students. Internships are available in a variety of career fields and functions, including Civil engineering, Public affairs, Information technology, Survey, Administration, Land law examiner and Natural resources. Other positions include Land surveyor, Wildland fire, Geographic information systems, Human resources, Grant management. Contracting and Budget Environment protection.
Federal Judge Rejected Request From Oregon Republican State Senators Who Boycotted The Legislature To Be Allowed On The Ballot After Their Terms End
U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken issued the decision Wednesday rejecting a request from Oregon Republican state senators who boycotted the Legislature to be allowed on the ballot after their terms end.
State Sens. Dennis Linthicum, Brian Boquist and Cedric Hayden were among the plaintiffs who filed the federal lawsuit to challenge their disqualification from running for reelection under Measure 113. The voter-approved constitutional amendment, which passed by a wide margin last year, bars legislators from seeking reelection after 10 or more unexcused absences.
Each of the three senators racked up more than 10 absences during a record six-week walkout that paralyzed the 2023 legislative session. The boycott stemmed from bills on abortion, transgender health care and guns.
The lawmakers sought, among other things, a preliminary injunction to prevent the secretary of state’s office from enforcing their disqualification from the ballot. The office in September disqualified Linthicum and Boquist from the 2024 ballot, court filings show. Hayden’s term ends in January 2027.
The senators argued that walkouts are a form of political protest protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
“The Senators were punished solely for exercising their First Amendment rights,” their attorneys said in court filings.
Aiken disagreed with their claims in her opinion.
“However, these walkouts were not simply protests — they were an exercise of the Senator Plaintiffs’ official power and were meant to deprive the legislature of the power to conduct business,” she wrote.
“Their subsequent disqualification is the effect of Measure 113 working as intended by the voters of Oregon,” she added.
The Oregon Senate and House of Representatives must have two-thirds of their members present in order to have a quorum and conduct business. In recent years, Republicans have protested against Democratic policies by walking out of the Legislature and denying a quorum in a bid to stall bills.
The federal suit named Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade and Democratic Senate President Rob Wagner as defendants. The senators claimed, among other things, that Wagner violated their First Amendment right to freedom of expression and their Fourteenth Amendment right to due process by marking their absences as unexcused.
Attorneys from Oregon’s justice department representing Griffin-Valade and Wagner argued the First Amendment does not protect legislators’ refusal to attend legislative floor sessions.
“Under Oregon law, a senator’s absence has an important legal effect: without the attendance of the two-thirds of senators needed to achieve a quorum, the Senate cannot legislate,” they wrote in court filings.
The federal court decision was issued one day before the Oregon Supreme Court heard a separate challenge to the measure. In oral arguments before the state’s high court in Salem Thursday, a lawyer for a different group of Republican state senators argued that confusion over the wording of the constitutional amendment means that legislators whose terms end in January can run in 2024.
Griffin-Valade, the secretary of state, is also a defendant in that lawsuit. Earlier this year, she said the boycotting senators were disqualified from seeking reelection in 2024. She directed her office’s elections division to implement an administrative rule to clarify the stance. She said the rule reflected the intent of voters when they approved the measure last year.
All parties in the suit are seeking clarity on the issue before the March 2024 filing deadline for candidates who want to run in next year’s election.
The Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP) will be the first assistance available directly to 2020 Labor Day disaster survivors administered by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).
The program is part of ReOregon, which is funded by a $422 million Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HARP assistance will help low- and moderate-income homeowners who still need to repair, rebuild, or replace their homes. Those who have already completed repairs or rebuilding may be reimbursed in a future phase of HARP, if funds are still available.
In Jackson County ACCESS, NOWIA Unete Center for Farmworker Advocacy, and Firebrand Resilience Collective (Remake Talent), and Unite Oregon in Jackson County and the Lincoln County Long Term Recovery Group will be assisting with the outreach work. While OHCS and its partners continue to prepare to launch an application portal, survivors can help make the process as smooth as possible by ensuring they have the right documentation before they apply.
HARP applicants will need the following information: Proof they owned the damaged or destroyed home, and it was their primary residence; Records of damage from the 2020 Labor Day Disasters; Proof of current income; Record of any insurance or other recovery funds you received and Personal identification (ID) for all household members over the age of 18.
OHCS recognizes how challenging this disaster has been and wants to work with survivors to ensure they have the resources they need to apply to the appropriate ReOregon program. The federal rules governing CDBG-DR are extensive and include significant documentation requirements for any beneficiary households.
Oregon State Police Traffic Stop Near Albany Results in Major Drug Seizure
A traffic stop in Linn County last week led to a major drug seizure including methamphetamine, heroin, a loaded firearm, and cocaine.
On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, an Oregon State Police trooper initiated a traffic stop on Interstate 5 just south of Highway 34 near Albany after observing a traffic violation. The trooper contacted the single occupant of the vehicle and obtained legal authority to search the vehicle. As a result of the search, the following items were seized:
- 42 pounds of methamphetamine
- Seven pounds of heroin
- A loaded pistol
- A small amount of cocaine
Allan Alexis Medina of Puyallup, WA, was arrested for several crimes related to the seizure. The investigation is ongoing and no additional information is available for release at this time.
A new law in Oregon will let drivers pass a slow-moving cyclist in a no-passing zone.
Starting Jan. 1, vehicles traveling at less than half the speed limit will be considered road obstructions. Therefore, drivers in no passing zones will be allowed to cross into the left lane of the roadway to get around them.
Eugene resident Richard Hughes, a self-described bicycle advocate, requested the law. It was formally introduced by Sen. Floyd Prozanski of Eugene and Rep. Tom Andersen of Salem. It was approved during the 2023 legislative session with no votes in opposition in either chamber.
Hughes said it’s unnerving for cyclists when drivers trail them for miles on rural roads.
When travelling at over 35 mph, Oregon drivers must also maintain enough distance while passing to avoid a falling cyclist. (Oregon news)
Some Oregonians who applied for benefits through the state’s new paid family- and medical-leave program are reporting frustrating delays receiving their checks, technical issues during the application process and long wait times to speak to customer service representatives.
The program has been inundated with fraud attempts, contributing to the problems.
A state dashboard shows that program officials have processed more than 28,000 applications, about 80% of what they’ve received, and paid out nearly $104 million so far. There are about 7,000 applications still waiting to be processed, although a portion of those claims are new or could be fraudulent.
A significant number of Oregonians facing benefit delays say they have run into issues with the state’s identity verification process, a step officials put in place to combat the large number of fraudulent application attempts. (Oregon news)
Today, the USDA Forest Service published a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on the proposal to amend the 17 land management plans of the Northwest Forest Plan that provide direction for the management of those national forests and grasslands.
The process will be informed by robust engagement with stakeholders across all affected geographies to address urgent land management concerns including wildfire resilience, climate change adaptation, and greater tribal inclusion in the plan.
While the plan has guided important progress over the past three decades, changed ecological and social conditions are challenging the effectiveness of this plan. This action launches the public process of amending the Northwest Forest Plan with a 45-day public comment period.
The Notice of Intent identifies changed conditions driving the need to amend the plan. The process will focus on five key areas: wildfire resilience, climate change adaptation, tribal inclusion, sustainable communities, and conservation of old growth ecosystems and related biodiversity. Amending or otherwise strengthening the effectiveness of the Northwest Forest Plan can incorporate the latest science and help forests adapt to social, economic, cultural and ecological changes.
The Forest Service intends to preserve the elements of the plan that are working well.
In the Rogue Valley, Rogue X – a new event center complete with water slides, a swimming pool, basketball courts and more — will open its doors to the public on Jan. 6th, 2024.
Medford city officials toured the facility on Tuesday as crews made their finishing touches.
On one side of the facility, guests will find the event center. Here, there are courts for multiple sports, bleachers and plenty of room for other large events.
On the other side of the facility, guests will find the aquatic center. The pool happens to be the largest competition pool in the region. Complete with two slides, the aquatic center was designed for people of all ages.
The 140,000 square-foot facility cost the city $76 million and has been in the works since 2018. The city told NewsWatch 12 there are already 41 events scheduled to take place at Rogue X in 2024.
Not only is Rogue X expected to be a popular recreation destination for local families, but the city is hoping to see the facility boost the local economy.
Medford already has the west coast’s largest outdoor sports complex just off of Highway 99 between Medford and Phoenix. Over a dozen baseball, softball, and soccer fields and a full fledge football stadium, all with artificial turf, The US Cellular Sports Park has tournaments 50 out of 52 weeks a year in various sports. Several new motels have been built near the area since that opening.
Rogue X will open on January 6. Rosenthal said it’s a public facility but recommended guests purchase passes online. (kdrv 12)
Get $5 off annual Oregon State Park parking permit in December
Give the gift of the outdoors and save this season with the Oregon State Parks 12-month parking permit sale during the month of December.
The permit hangtag once again features whimsical designs from Portland artist El Tran. Holiday shoppers can buy the annual parking permits for only $25, which is a $5 savings starting Dec. 1 and running through Dec. 31. The permit is good for 12 months starting in the month of purchase.
Purchasing permits is easy. Buy them online at the Oregon State Parks store (use the drop down menu to pick your favorite design). Parking permits are also sold at some state park friends’ group stores and select local businesses throughout the state. For a complete list of vendors, visit stateparks.oregon.gov.
Parking costs $5 a day at 25 Oregon state parks unless you have a 12- or 24-month parking permit or a same-day camping receipt. The 24-month pass is $50 and is also available at store.oregonstateparks.org. The permits are transferable from vehicle to vehicle.
A national auto travel organization says U.S. travelers are gearing up for the second busiest year for holiday travel.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) says today it expects 115,000,000 Americans, including 1.6-million Oregonians, to travel from home for the holidays.
AAA of Oregon’s projection of 115.2-million traveling Americans amounts to 33.8% of the population, whom it says will travel 50 miles or more for Christmas and New Year holidays.
AAA says this figure is a 2.2% increase from last year and the second-highest holiday travel volume since 2000 when AAA began tracking holiday travel, only behind 2019, the nation’s last pre-pandemic holiday season.
AAA says while aout 90% of travelers, or 104,000,000 will drive to holiday destinations, “Air travel sets a new record this holiday season, with 7.5 million Americans including 156,000 Oregonians taking to the skies.”
AAA expects peak traffic days to be December 23rd and 28th and, “Some metro areas could see travel times that are up to twice as long as normal.” It forecasts that traffic also will be heavier than usual Saturday, December 30th, when many people will be heading back home from their holiday destinations or traveling for New Year’s Eve. Another day with higher than normal volumes will be Tuesday, January 2nd, as people drive home from their New Year’s destinations.
AAA also expects 930,000 calls for service, including 15,000 Oregonians, at the roadside during the holidays for dead batteries, lockouts, flat tires and extrications. (AAA Oregon)
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