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. Call them at 541-882-6476.
Friday, Oct. 25, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Cloudy with gradual afternoon clearing, high near 67 degrees. Southwest calm wind to 5 mph. Overnight, clear with a low near 34.
Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines
At their Klamath County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting this week, they granted approval for a handful of county matters.
Klamath County Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) was granted approval for the use of grant funds exceeding $10,000 to purchase qualified emergency response items.DDS Director Heidi Gaither said the grant funding was awarded through the Oregon Department of Human Services.
In other county business, Community Corrections sought and received approval for an amendment to an agreementbetween the Corrections and First Watch Wellness to extend the contract establishing training provisions for staff for another three years.
Klamath County Public Health (KCPH) received approval to enter another intergovernmental agreement with Oregon Health Authority to receive $21,400 for reproductive health provisions for reproductive health care in corrections facilities. KCPH also received approval for a facility use agreement with the Crescent Community Club to offer a free vaccination clinic to the northern portion of Klamath County residents on Nov. 13.
Total cost will be $400. Woodsy Kitchen ARPA agreement increases from $105,000 to $135,000. Prior approved during an administrative meeting on Oct. 5.
The rail crossing at Portland Street near Crater Lake Parkway will be closed to all traffic.
Closure will be during daytime hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Tuesday, October 29, 2024 through Friday, November 15, 2024.
Detours will be in place to direct traffic around the construction zone. Please travel with caution in this area. For more information, please contact City Public Works at 541-883-5363.
Students at Bonanza Jr/Sr High School are taking classes this year in a renovated shop with new state-of-the-art equipment, including nine welding booths, a CNC plasma machine, a laser engraver, ShopBot CNC router, new construction tools, and an updated small project/drafting room.
Last year, the school was awarded two grants — $250,000 from the Oregon Department of Education to revitalize its Career and Technical Education programs and $228,000 from the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) Future Ready Oregon to start a pre-apprenticeship construction and carpentry program.
The funds were used to purchase the much-needed equipment and renovate the interior of the decades-old shop building. The shop floor plan was redesigned, allowing for better use of space and a small woodshop was created in one section.
This school year, students are reaping the benefits, learning workplace ready skills to use industry-standard equipment and tools.
In an advanced manufacturing class last week, students spent time figuring out how to program computer software to operate the new CNC plasma machine and an OMTech laser engraver cutting machine.
By the end of the class period, one student had fixed an issue that was reversing the laser design on the machine and another used the CNC plasma machine to create metal art with the words Bonanza Football.
In the shop’s loft area, another student was creating a mini baseball bat with the new wood lathe.
Construction and ag mechanics teacher Nick Sparks was hired fall 2023 to revitalize the school’s ag mechanics and construction programs. He has done that and more, said Jordan Osborn, principal of Bonanza Junior/Senior High School.
Today is the unveiling of Healthy Klamath’s Alleyway Activation Project.
Painted portraits of historic women of the Klamath Basin will adorn the exterior of a building in downtown Klamath Falls.
Artists from the area were selected to create renditions of the beloved local women on behalf of the third phase of Healthy Klamath’s Alleyway Activation Project. To beautify the downtown area, two sets of masterpieces have been hung the past two years.
The third set, titled “The Women of Klamath Falls,” is scheduled to be hung for permanent display beginning today, Friday, at 4PM, adorning the building at 925 Klamath Ave. The community is invited to attend the unveiling ceremony where the artists will be on site to discuss their creative works.
Click here for more information.
The City of Klamath Falls looks to tackle housing availability with proposed updates to development codes and housing production incentives.
As discussed during a work session meeting held on Monday, Klamath Falls city councilors met with city development services staff who spoke on the dire need for housing in Klamath Falls. Announced by the director, the state of Oregon will soon be setting housing targets for cities with populations over 10,000.
For Klamath Falls, that number is expected to be around 300 units per year, a figure that even across Klamath County has not been met since the 2006/2007 fiscal year. For fiscal year 2023/2024, countywide, 125 housing permits were issued with an estimated 30 of those having been built inside the city limits.
Using Bend as an example, one challenge that Klamath Falls is facing regarding homebuilding is that homes can be sold in other areas for more money. He said construction costs between Bend and Klamath Falls are fairly similar, but a house that sells for $400,000 locally could easily sell for $1 million in Bend. Recognizing this, the director proposed creating a $1 million housing reserve fund program that would be used to cover system development charges (SDC).
As explained by city planning manager Joe Wall, SDCs are a one-time impact fee required for all home-building projects that are used to fund community services, utility improvements and water treatment services. The cost of SDC can be anywhere above $14,500 depending on square footage, with apartments paying $8000 and up.
The city council was receptive to the pitched ideas with councilor Terra Russo having said that good housing is hard to find in Klamath Falls and to get people to stay and be dedicated to it, that home purchasing has to get more affordable.
The next step is for city development staff to meet and get approval from the city planning commission for their proposals before moving on as agenda items for future city council meetings and public comment.
For years, Klamath Lutheran Church on Crescent Avenue supported those in need by offering a monthly food pantry.
The pantry came to an end last spring due to a lack of resources — but with the support of interdenominational congregations, the pantry is back to serving families twice a month.
Klamath Lutheran, Hope Lutheran, Klamath Falls Friends Church and the Unitarian Universalists Fellowship of Klamath County (UUFKC) have come together to offer the new Klamath Interfaith Food Pantry on the last two Tuesdays of every month.
Anyone with a Klamath and Lake Counties Food Bank card can visit the pantry at Klamath Lutheran Church from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and pick out items for a food box up to 12 times in a year.
Volunteers and community members attended the pantry’s open house last Friday, giving people a chance to tour the facility and learn more about the organization’s work.
The Interfaith Food Pantry is open on the last two Tuesdays of every month from 5:30–7 PM at the Klamath Lutheran Church. The church is located at 1175 Crescent Ave, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.
Anyone interested in volunteering at the Interfaith Food Pantry should contact Warner by calling 541-281-5535. Volunteers can help with registrations, check-ins, filling food boxes or helping carry heavier boxes for families.
Your gas bill may be going down a bit next month thanks to adjustments made to Avista’s rates.
Avista provides natural gas services to more than 300,000 customers in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. As part of a yearly Purchased Gas Cost Adjustment or PGA with the Public Utility Commission of Oregon, the company asked for an overall decrease in natural gas revenues of close to $12.5 million.
Pending approval, Avista says a customer using an average of 47 therms per month could expect to see a bill decrease of close to 9% starting November 1.
The Klamath County Veterans Service Office will accept nominations for Klamath County’s Oldest Living Veteran.
The Nomination form will be open through October 31, 2024. To nominate a veteran stop by the Veterans Service Office, 3328 Vandenberg Rd. or call 541-883-4274.
The chosen Veteran will be honored on Monday, November 11, 2024 during the Veteran’s Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park.
Rocky Horror Picture Show
SATURDAY! Coming to The Ross Ragland Theater tomorrow, Oct. 26th…it’s the fun of the 11th Annual Rocky Horror Picture Show! at the Ragland Theater. A beloved, rowdy, nocturnal tradition, the Rocky Horror Picture Show has been tantalizing audiences for over 40 years. Be part of a decades-long tradition of crowd participation at the Ragland this weekend! GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!The Pumpkin Express rides again! The Pumpkin Express train takes place annually at the Klamath and Western Railroad (K&W), located at 36951 S. Chiloquin Road in Chiloquin.
The crews of the K&W trains transport kids of all ages to the K&W pumpkin patch. Here the kids can select their favorite 3- to 6-pound pumpkin. Pumpkins are sold for a nominal fee ($5). Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no charge for the train ride, but donations are gratefully accepted.
Win-R-Insulation, Inc. wants you to know of a special partnership with EnergyTrust of Oregon where you may be able to qualify for a FREE CEILING INSULATION PROGRAM.
Click here for full details: https://www.basinlife.com/2024/07/08/win-r-insulation-announces-free-ceiling-insulation-program-click-here-for-info/
Around the State of Oregon
Troopers seized more than a combined 10 pounds of suspected fentanyl and heroin in a traffic stop in Douglas County on Tuesday, Oregon State Police officials said.
According to Oregon State Police, a trooper stopped a vehicle for speeding on northbound Interstate 5 near Sutherlin. OSP said the trooper saw signs of criminal activity during the stop, and called in a drug detection K-9.
OSP said the dog detected traces of drugs in the car, and the vehicle was searched. According to OSP, the search of the vehicle turned up 5.8 pounds of fentanyl and 5 pounds of heroin which was suspected to also have traces of fentanyl.
The driver, Dago Rodrigo Rodrigues, 22, of Oakland, California, and the passenger, Mateo Marin Peraza, 20, also of Oakland, were arrested. They were sent to the Douglas County Jail on charges of unlawful possession and delivery of fentanyl and heroin.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning of an outbreak of E. coli infections that are being linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. Onions from California are suspected to be the cause of the sickness.
According to the CDC, 49 people from 10 states, including Oregon, have gotten sick from this strain of E. coli called O157:H7. The majority of people who fell ill were in Colorado and Nebraska, however the CDC says one person in Oregon also reported an E. coli infection after eating a Quarter Pounder. With the rest of the reports coming from Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin, the fast food chain has since temporarily removed any suspected ingredients at locations in the impacted states.
While the specific ingredient with the E. coli contamination has not been identified, investigators are focused on slivered onions and beef patties, both listed as fresh ingredients by the CDC. The CDC reports 10 people have been hospitalized, one of which is a child as a result of complications with hemolytic uremic syndrome or HUS. One person has died.
The CDC says anyone experiencing symptoms of E. coli after eating a Quarter Pounder, should seek a health care provider.
A Umatilla County Circuit Court judge this week blasted the Oregon Department of Corrections for failing to respond to “a slew” of complaints against a prison guard whose apparent invitation to beat convicted sex offenders led one to suffer a traumatic brain injury.
Judge Robert W. Collins Jr.’s reprimand stems from a case filed by Richard M. Fay, 46. Fay was convicted in 2017 of sex crimes in Jackson County and is slated for release in 2027. At the time of the assault, he was housed at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton.
According to the judge’s opinion issued Tuesday, Fay suffered multiple serious injuries, including fractured ribs, a spinal cord injury and a brain injury that left him with “cognitive deficits” after a veteran prison guard, Jorge Morfin, essentially encouraged prisoners to beat Fay and other men serving time for sex offenses.
Three Oregon laboratories who certify the potency of marijuana before it lands in consumers’ pipes and bongs are under investigation for allegedly doctoring tests to show a stronger high.
That’s according to the Portland Business Journal, which first reported Wednesday that Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission regulators have taken the first step to shut down all three labs, which represent about a quarter of such facilities in the state.
Oregon requires pot to be tested for safe levels of pesticides, toxins and heavy metals before sale, but growers often focus on Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC, because higher levels trigger heightened effects in the user (and fetch a greater sale price).
The state commission has put labs under the microscope after learning that testers were sprinkling “kief,” essentially high-potency cannabis dust, on top of samples in order to boost their scores, according to the Business Journal.
A push to bring floating offshore wind technology to the Southern Oregon coast was gaining momentum but local tribes have sued the government.
The Oregon Department of Energy saw floating offshore wind playing a critical role in the state’s — and the region’s — renewable energy goals.
The Biden administration had ambitious national goals for developing offshore wind, and the Oregon Coast played a key role. For the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM, the years-long process of identifying areas for development and selecting potential bidders to see if the technology would work off the coast was coming to a close. And then, in a single week in late September — after years of effort, and less than three weeks before BOEM officials expected to choose a company to develop offshore wind — everything fell apart.
Tribes sued, seeking a delay and more information on impacts. Developers backed out. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek raised concerns. And on Friday, Sept. 27, BOEM called everything off.
Some say it was a combination of many factors — including upfront costs, a lack of market, concerns from local impacted residents, and a lack of state-level support — that led BOEM to cancel its October auction.
The Oregon State Marine Board voted in favor of new rules on the Upper Rogue River during their meeting this week.
The ruling is focused on addressing the issues stemming from non-motorized boaters — particularly the inexperienced ones — rather than imposing heavy restrictions on motorized boating. After an hour and a half of discussions, the board acknowledged the difficulty in balancing user access and safety.
There was a lot of public input about congestion and safety concerns on the river. The data shown doesn’t support the idea that motorized boats significantly contribute to these issues. The conflict comes from the interactions between different types of users. The new rules will not allow someone to use a motor that has more than 10 horsepower to travel between Fishers Ferry and Lost Creek Dam. There is a provision that will allow it between May 8 and Sept. 10 between Fishers Ferry and Dodge Bridge County Park.
Charter boats are not allowed to operate between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. with no more than 300 trips per year upstream of Table Rock Road bridge. It would also not allow to charter boats to operate upstream of Rattlesnake Rapids. Although board members approved the rule change, another public hearing is planned for January.
What Measure 118 on the ballot is all about
At least four progressive organizations that previously backed an Oregon ballot measure to hike taxes on businesses and divide proceeds among all Oregonians have withdrawn their support.
Voters will decide in November whether to approve Measure 118, which proponents say would give about $1,600 annually to all Oregonians by making corporations pay more.
Opponents across the political spectrum, citing analysis from state economic researchers, warned that it would raise prices and blow a hole in the state’s budget.
The measure, largely funded by wealthy Californians, earlier this month trumpeted endorsements from the Community Alliance of Tenants and Portland Tenants United, bringing its total number of endorsements to nine — but it counted endorsements from 11 groups in July, an archived version of the measure’s website shows.
Four progressive groups — the Oregon Working Families Party, the farmworkers union PCUN, Democratic Socialists of Eugene and LIUNA (Laborers Local 483) — quietly walked back their support in the past few months.
A national shortage of IV fluids forced OHSU to postpone 108 surgeries scheduled for this week.
Hurricane Helene knocked a North Carolina factory offline, owned by Baxter International. It produces about half the IV fluids used by hospitals around the country.
The IV fluids in short supply include saline, electrolytes and dextrose. They are among the most common treatments hospitals give patients during surgeries, in intensive care, and in the emergency department.
OHSU Health interim CEO Joe Ness discussed the shortage with the OHSU board of directors’ finance and audit committee in a public meeting Friday. OHSU, he said, relies heavily on Baxter for IV fluids, making it one of the most impacted hospitals in the state.
Other local health systems, like Legacy Health and Kaiser, work with a different supplier, B. Braun. The next four to six weeks, according to Ness, will be the most difficult. Over the past few days and into early next week, OHSU has rescheduled roughly 25% of its surgical cases, according to spokesperson Sara Hottman.
A Central Point man has been sentenced to 22 years and nine months of prison time for four separate shootings in Salem in 2021 and 2022.
Kenneth Wayne Felton, 28, pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder, two counts of first-degree assault and one count of felon in possession of a firearm, court records state. The plea deal, and the subsequent prison sentence handed down by a Marion County judge on Oct. 11, marks the end of a years-long saga in which Felton shot multiple victims — sometimes in broad daylight — and fled from police, the Marion County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
On December 27, 2021, Felton and another person assaulted a victim in Salem, and then Felton shot at the person while the victim attempted to run away, officials say. A few days later, on December 30, Felton shot another person several times in his knees and legs at a business complex in Salem, district attorneys’ officials say.
Then, on Jan. 1, 2022, Felton fired multiple rounds at his then-partner during a heated argument in a Salem home, officials say. Officials did not say whether any of the bullets hit his partner.
As a previously convicted felon, Felton wasn’t legally allowed to own a gun at the time. He had been convicted of third-degree theft in 2015, and of possession of methamphetamine and a shotgun in 2016, according to court records.

JCSO Searching for Missing Woman
PROSPECT, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies along with Search and Rescue (SAR) are attempting to locate a woman missing out of Prospect since early Sunday morning, October 20.
April Larson is described as a 41-year-old white woman, 5’6” tall, weighing 120 lbs. She has purple and blue dyed hair with brown eyes.
April was last seen around 1:00 AM going for a walk in the 1st Street area of Prospect. She had a flashlight and is believed to be wearing dark clothing and blue shoes. April was with a friend visiting the area. It is believed that she does not know anyone in the area.
If you have any information on April’s whereabouts, call ECSO dispatch at (541)776-7206 and reference case 24-5775.
Authorities are warning the public about homemade spike strips and booby-trap devices being placed along U.S. Forest Service roads in southwestern Oregon.
People have reported encountering spiked boards on roads in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, with some hidden beneath leaves, making them nearly impossible to spot.
“We are saddened to report that someone has been ‘spiking’ Forest Service roads in the Taylor Creek and Shan Creek areas,” the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement on Facebook.
The agency said that, along with finding spikes, people have come across wires strung across roads and trails in the area.
Anyone with information about the spiked boards or other such items is urged to contact the Grants Pass Interagency Office at 541-471-6500 or the Wild Rivers Ranger District at 541-592-4000.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has joined Senate and House colleagues to urge the Department of Justice to act against major tax preparation companies illegally sharing protected and sensitive taxpayer information with Big Tech firms.
Last month, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration released an audit report confirming that four online tax preparation companies broke the law by sharing legally protected and sensitive taxpayer information with Big Tech firms without taxpayer consent.
Specifically, the report found that consent statements being used by the tax prep companies did not clearly identify the intended use of taxpayer data, a violation of Treasury regulations.
The IRS agreed with that assessment. Tax prep companies used pixels, computer code that tracks a user’s website activity, to obtain sensitive personal and financial information, including approximate income and refund amounts, for millions of taxpayers who filed their taxes online with these companies.
Meta then used that information for advertising and to train its AI algorithm. The U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration conducted a detailed review of four tax preparation companies, and found the companies did not obtain proper taxpayer consent for the release of their information.
The IRS recently announced the expansion of the highly successful Direct File program to 24 total states, including Oregon – making 30 million taxpayers eligible to file for free, securely, and directly with the IRS. However, many taxpayers still rely on private tax prep companies.
The letter was led by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Along with Wyden, the letter was also signed by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. House Representative Katie Porter (D-Calif.).
A L.A. man has been arrested for transporting more than 18 pounds of fentanyl, and 26 pounds of cocaine, as he was on his way to Portland, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s office says.
The Sheriff’s Office says that Tuesday, October 15, a Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant stopped 37-year-old Jose Felipe Ceyca Ramirez who consented to a search where a the Sergeant discovered 45.8 pounds of narcotics, including 18.5 pounds of fentanyl in the vehicle’s trunk.
That amount of fentanyl is enough to kill 4,202,600 people.
Ceyca Ramirez was arrested for possession of controlled substances for sale and transportation of controlled substances. He is booked in the Siskiyou County Jail.
Dec. 21st will be the deadline to mail holiday packages thru U.S.P.S.
If you’re using the U.S. Postal Service for shipping, here’s what you need to know.
For delivery by Christmas Day in the contiguous United States, USPS recommends that packages are sent no later than December 21. That’s for Priority Mail Express service, which is faster and usually costs more.
Less expensive options, like First-Class Mail and Ground Advantage service, must go out by December 18. For packages sent to Alaska or Hawaii, First-Class Mail must go out by December 18 and the cutoff for Ground Advantage service is December 16. A complete list of holiday mailing and shipping dates can be found on the U.S. Postal Service website.
OREGON DIVISION OF FINANCIAL REGULATION WARNS OF “INVESTMENT AFFINITY FRAUD SCAMS”
Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is warning Oregonians about the prevalence of affinity fraud in the U.S.
Generally, affinity fraud is a type of investment fraud and occurs when the fraudsters target victims based upon shared characteristics.
These scammers often pose as or become members of the same group they intend to defraud, such as religious organizations, military organizations, ethnic groups, immigrant communities, or even professional organizations such as teachers’ unions. At its core, affinity fraud exploits the trust and friendship that exist in groups of people who have something in common.
Fraudsters use a number of methods to get access to the group. A common way is by enlisting respected leaders from within the group to spread the word about the scheme. Those leaders may not realize it is actually a scam, and they may become unwitting victims of the fraud themselves.
Due to the tight-knit nature of many groups, it can be difficult for regulators or law enforcement officials to detect an affinity scam. Victims often hesitate to report the fraud, and instead attempt to resolve the issue within the group. This is particularly true where the fraudsters have used respected community or religious leaders to convince others to join the investment.
In the area of investments, affinity fraud generally involves either a fake investment or an investment in which the fraudster lies about important details (such as the risk of loss, the track record of the investment, or the background of the promoter of the scheme).
Many affinity frauds are Ponzi or pyramid schemes, in which money given to the promoter by new investors is paid to earlier investors to create the illusion of a successful investment. This tactic encourages new investors into investing in the scheme, and lulls existing investors into believing their investments are safe.
While in many cases the invested funds are also used for the fraudster’s personal expenses and may fund lavish lifestyles, Ponzi schemes can evolve from what was originally legitimate investments. Often this occurs when the investment fails to perform as expected. In order to keep the investment going in hope that things will turn around, the perpetrator uses new investors’ money to pay off existing investors who may be growing suspicious. Eventually, when the supply of investor money dries up and current investors demand to be paid, the scheme collapses and investors discover that most or all of their money is gone.
“The strength of affinity fraud lies in how it preys on trust within communities,” said DFR Administrator TK Keen. “We want Oregonians to ask tough questions about investment opportunities, especially if the offer sounds too good to be true. Unfortunately, these offers can sometimes come from familiar sources and have devastating consequences.”
According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), here are a some tips to avoid becoming a victim of an affinity fraud scam:
- Even if you know the person making the investment offer, be sure to research the person’s background, as well as the investment itself – no matter how trustworthy the person who brings the investment opportunity to your attention seems to be. Be aware that the person telling you about the investment may have been fooled into believing that the investment is legitimate when it is not.
- Never make an investment based solely on the recommendation of a member of an organization or group to which you belong. This is especially true if the recommendation is made online. An investment pitch made through an online group of which you are a member, or on a chat room or bulletin board catered to an interest you have, may be a fraud.
- Do not fall for investments that promise spectacular profits or “guaranteed” returns. Similarly, be extremely leery of any investment that is said to have no risks. Very few investments are risk-free. Promises of quick and high profits, with little or no risk, are classic warning signs of fraud.
- Be skeptical of any investment opportunity that you can’t get in writing. Fraudsters often avoid putting things in writing. Avoid an investment if you are told they do not have time to put in writing the particulars about the investment. You should also be suspicious if you are told to keep the investment opportunity confidential or a secret.
- Don’t be pressured or rushed into buying an investment before you have a chance to research the “opportunity.” Just because someone you know made money, or claims to have made money, doesn’t mean you will, too. Be especially skeptical of investments that are pitched as “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities, particularly when the salesperson bases the recommendation on “inside” or confidential information.
Two recent cases the SEC prosecuted were one involving a CEO operating multimillion dollar Ponzi scheme that targeted Filipino-American community and another involves the SEC freezing assets of investment adviser charged with defrauding elderly clients.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of fraud can contact DFR’s consumer advocates at 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or dfr.financialserviceshelp@
Oregon health officials are planning to tap into federal health care money to help low-income residents avoid homelessness during serious medical crises.
Starting Nov. 1, the Medicaid-funded Oregon Health Plan will offer housing assistance for people at risk of losing their homes due to a chronic health condition or serious medical event, such as a hospitalization or a broken leg.
The new initiative is backed by $1 billion from federal Medicaid. The Oregon Health Plan provides health coverage for more 1.4 million residents, according to state officials. The housing benefits could include up to six months of utility and rent assistance, as well as medically necessary home modifications, like wheelchair ramps, heavy-duty cleaning or pest control.
The initiative aims to keep those residents housed during serious medical events, such as hospitalizations or injuries that prevent them from working. The benefits are not for low-income residents currently experiencing homelessness, nor is it intended to respond to emergency shelter needs, according to state officials.
Salem, Oregon — The State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council will meet at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. The meeting will take place remotely via the internet on Microsoft Teams and is open to the public. The agenda and handouts will be posted on the council’s website.
- What: Meeting of the State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council
- When: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Where: Join a Microsoft Teams Meeting by ID | Microsoft Teams
- Meeting ID: 241 010 564 262
- Passcode: LqpdrQ
- Phone: +1 503-446-4951 Phone conference ID: 247 192 377#
- Who: State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council
The State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council is established by Governor Kotek’s Executive Order 23-26, Establishing a State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council.
The purpose of the Council is to recommend an action plan to guide awareness education, and usage of artificial intelligence in state government that aligns with the State’s policies, goals and values and supports public servants to deliver customer service more efficiently and effectively. The recommended action plan shall include concrete executive actions, policies and investments needed to leverage artificial intelligence while honoring transparency, privacy, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Meetings of the State Government Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council are open to the public.
Public comment may be made during the meeting. Sign-up for public comment is required as spots are limited. Sign-up closes Monday, Oct. 28 at 1:00 p.m. Written comment will also be accepted. Written comment can be submitted by mail to the Council Support Office, 550 Airport Rd SE Suite C, Salem, OR 97301 or online via the office form.
Medford Police Roundup and Arrest Many in Annual National Family Violence Warrant Sweep
Last week was busy as the Medford Police Department Domestic Violence Task Force worked with agencies throughout Jackson County, as well as agencies across the country, to arrest persons with outstanding family-violence related warrants.
Locally, 15 arrests were made during the sweep, on a variety of charges.
Jackson County Sweep Stats:
23 total Law Enforcement Personnel Participated
4 Victim Advocates assisted with victim services.
Attempted Warrant Services – 73 total
Successful Warrants Served – 15 subjects arrested
Participating Agencies –
Medford Police Department
Ashland Police Department
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
Talent Police Department
Jackson County Parole and Probation
Community Works
This nationwide collaborative effort helps raise awareness of the problem of family and domestic violence in our communities. It also demonstrates to offenders that they will be held accountable for their violence. The Medford Police Department is dedicated to holding those who commit domestic violence accountable. MPD employs a full time Domestic Violence Officer along with hosting an in-house Domestic Violence Advocate employed by Community Works.
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office says that the operator of the Hellgate Jetboat Excursions boat was at fault for a boat crash this summer.
The crash happened in the Rogue River just outside of Grants Pass on Aug. 4, when a private jet boat and Hellgate Jetboat Excursions boat collided two miles downriver from Robertson Bridge. Five people were taken to the hospital with injuries. In JCSO’s report, which was released today, they said “excessive speed and operator error contributed to this incident from both parties.” However, the report said boats traveling downstream have the right-of-way and upstream boats should move to the right to let the downstream boat pass.
“The commercial boat was travelling up stream and would be responsible to give way to the downstream boat,” the report said. “Based on my training and experience, the Hellgate operator had ample amount of time to stop and [therefore] is responsible for the crash.”
JCSO and the U.S. Coast Guard conducted two separate investigations. The U.S. Coast Guard still has to release their report.
Celebrate Fire Safety this October
As the leaves change and cooler weather sets in, the Oregon State Fire Marshal and the Oregon fire service remind everyone of the importance of home fire safety. October is Fire Prevention Month, a time to focus on fire prevention and safety at home.
This year’s theme, “Celebrate Fire Safety,” calls on Oregonians to take action to reduce fire risks and protect their loved ones.
In 2023, 2,518 home fires in our state resulted in $119.5 million in losses to homeowners. Cooking remains the leading cause of home fires, followed closely by home heating. Alarmingly, in 417 of those fires, no smoke alarm was present.
“Oregon’s first responders are unwavering in their commitment to protecting our communities by reducing home fires and preventing the devastating injuries they cause,” said Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple. “This Fire Prevention Month, we’re calling on all Oregonians to take proactive, life-saving steps to protect their families, their homes, and their future.”
There are several simple things Oregonians can do to lessen the chance of a home fire and increase safety:
- Install and maintain smoke alarms. Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas.
- Practice cooking safely. Never leave cooking unattended and always have a lid or cookie sheet nearby to smother small flames.
- Use heating equipment safely. Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from heating devices and always plug space heaters directly into the wall—never use extension cords.
- Create and practice a home fire escape plan. Make sure every family member knows at least two ways out of every room.
- Consider candle alternatives. Battery-operated candles reduce fire risk, but if you use real candles, always blow them out before leaving the room.
For more information about Fire Prevention Month, a link to the proclamation, and more tips to prevent the top causes of home fires in Oregon, visit our website.
78 Active Wildfires Still Burning Across the state of Oregon

Preventing wildfires requires a collective effort from everyone—help mitigate the risk of human-caused wildfires and protect our forests and communities.
Monitor Fires in Oregon – Updated Daily

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/state/oregon
The Oregon Ducks Ranked No. 1 in College Football

The Ducks are No. 1 with 1,523 points and 59 of 61 first-place votes in the AP poll and the same spot with 1,323 points and 51 of 53 first-place votes in the coaches poll after defeating Purdue 35-0 Friday night at Ross-Ade Stadium. It’s the first time Oregon is No. 1 in each of the polls since Nov. 11, 2012.
It’s the ninth time the Ducks have been No. 1 in the AP poll and the 10th time in the coaches poll, with all other instances taking place during the 2010 season.
This week, the Ducks will have a top-25 matchup. The No. 1 team in the nation faces No. 21 Illinois at home on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30PM, Pacific time.
Thousands of Oregon seniors are set to lose their health plans as some Medicare Advantage carriers cut their offerings in response to rising costs.
Moda Health and Summit Health will end their Medicare Advantage plans in Oregon in 2025. Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Aetna and PacificSource are also removing some Advantage plans from the menu next year.
In all, more than 12,000 Oregon seniors will need to find new coverage options for 2025, based on data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
In Oregon, Curry, Harney, Lake, Umatilla and Union counties will no longer have Medicare Advantage offerings at all. That means residents of La Grande, Umatilla, Lakeview, Burns, Brookings, Hermiston and Pendleton will have original Medicare as their only option. Many Oregon counties will have fewer options in 2025 than this year. Those who live in Coos County, for example, will only have one Medicare Advantage plan option next year, down from seven in 2024.
State agencies release synthetic opioid prevention lessons, updated fentanyl toolkit for Oregon schools
Lessons and Toolkit help districts educate students about fentanyl and opioid dangers, and develop policies and practices for substance use prevention and response
— As fentanyl keeps showing up in a variety of drugs on the illicit market, state agencies are continuing their effort to help Oregon educators engage with students about the drug’s dangers – and preventing and responding to fentanyl overdoses – with the release of synthetic opioid prevention lessons and an updated Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools.
“The dangers of fentanyl have no age boundaries,” Gov. Tina Kotek said. “We must support the critical role that schools play in substance use prevention and intervention for students. The updated lesson plans and toolkit are a result of multiple state agencies coming together to collaborate on how we can best protect young Oregonians, and I’m grateful for their work on these vital resources.”
Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Education and the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission partnered on these opioid/fentanyl prevention and intervention resources. This cross-agency collaboration with school and community partners to prevent substance use among youth and young adults will continue with the release of additional instructional materials and professional learning resources throughout the school year.
“Responding to the opioid crisis requires all hands on deck,” said ADPC Director Annaliese Dolph. “Leaders in government, healthcare, education and other fields all have a role to play when it comes to helping Oregon’s young people understand and navigate the risks of substance use. Equipping educators with the resources to have those conversations with students – particularly about synthetic opioids – is an essential piece of the puzzle.”
School-based drug education plays important role in youth overdose prevention
School-based prevention efforts such as health education, plays an important role in preventing and delaying first use of drugs and interrupting the development of substance use-related problems affecting youth and their families.
During Oregon’s 2023 legislative session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 238, requiring OHA, the State Board of Education via ODE, and ADPC to co-develop curricula supplements on the dangers of synthetic opioids and legal protections in place for people who report substance use or who seek medical treatment for drug or alcohol overdoses.
“The lesson plans and Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools are just two elements of a larger, comprehensive effort to improve fentanyl awareness and, more broadly, prevent harmful substance use among Oregon’s young people – a priority that OHA, ODE and ADPC collectively share,” said OHA Director Sejal Hathi, M.D.
Required Synthetic Opioid Prevention Lessons
ODE collaborated with OHA and ADPC to develop the required lessons per Senate Bill 238. These lessons are available on the ODE Health Education webpage and incorporate:
- Youth-designed approaches with space for dialogue, relevant information, and Oregon data.
- Research-based practices that emphasize the importance of promoting strengths-based norms rather than shame or fear-based tactics, skills-based learning over awareness-raising, and connecting to broad prevention efforts within the school and community.
- Alignment with the 2023 Oregon Health Education Standards.
Beyond these required lessons, House Bill 5204 (2024) provided funding to ODE for additional curriculum supplements on the dangers of synthetic opioids. ODE will be sharing these resources along with professional learning opportunities in the year to come. ODE will be seeking feedback regarding the lessons for continuous improvement during this pilot year.
“These lesson plans help empower our students with the most up-to-date information to protect themselves and their friends from harmful substances,” ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams said. “I want to thank the Oregon Legislature for providing us with the framework in Senate Bill 238 and our partners at the Oregon Health Authority and the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission for all their work collaborating on the lesson plans and toolkit that will save lives in Oregon. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with school and community partners to prevent substance use among youth and respond to the evolving substance use landscape in Oregon.”
Updated Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools, access to overdose reversal medication
The updated 2024 Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools offers resources schools can use to educate the community about the impact of fentanyl and opioids; develop school policies and practices to prevent and respond to opioid overdoses; and build community partnerships for a comprehensive substance use prevention and intervention approach. The updates to the original 2022 toolkit include additional resources based on developing science and practices in substance use prevention and intervention, and recently passed state legislation that requires districts to share information to parents about opioid overdose reversal medications.
In addition to the updated toolkit, schools have access to naloxone through the Save Lives Oregon Harm Reduction Clearinghouse. Naloxone can save lives by reversing an opioid overdose. As of September 2024, about 125 school districts and Education Service Districts have requested and received naloxone kits. Each kit includes a wall-mounted naloxone box and eight doses of nasal naloxone.
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck off the Oregon coast Thursday at 4:58 p.m. The temblor happened in the Pacific Ocean, about 75 miles from Coos Bay, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
25 people so far have responded to the agency’s online form asking if they felt the quake. There have been no reported injuries. Earthquakes are common off the Oregon coast, though this latest one is a little larger than most.
A 5.0 earthquake, if it occurs on or near land rather than out on the open seas, is expected to cause some damage. Last week, a 2.4 magnitude earthquake about 36 miles off the coast from Depoe Bay, a 2.3 magnitude earthquake 14 miles off the coast from Port Orford, and a 3.4 magnitude quake about 129 miles off the coast from Bandon.
With the national elections on November 5 approaching, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is reminding campaigners and their supporters that political signs are not permitted on state highway right-of-ways.
Only official traffic control devices are allowed in these right-of-way areas, as ODOT says improperly placed signs can distract drivers and obstruct road safety messages. ODOT stated that any signs found in violation will be removed and held at a nearby district maintenance office for 30 days.
To reclaim them, individuals should contact the nearest ODOT maintenance office. “Signs are prohibited on trees, utility poles, fence posts, and natural features within highway right-of-ways,” ODOT said. They are also banned within view of designated scenic areas.
Snap Benefits provided through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are set to increase this week.
The Cost of Living Adjustment impacts the maximum allotments for those who receive SNAP, commonly known as food stamps. The changes last a year until Sept. 30, 2025. SNAP eligibility depends on household income and assets and is adjusted yearly.
Some 42.1 million people – roughly 12.6% of people in the U.S. – benefited from SNAP each month in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The average benefit was $211.93 per month. State-by-state participation rate ranges from a low of 4.6% in Utah to 23.1% in New Mexico.
Just in time for Halloween, the Bureau of Land Management office in Ashland is back with its annual bat beauty contest. It coincides with International Bat Week. It raises awareness about bat conservation and the essential role bats play in the environment. You’ll find the bat photos on the BLM’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
M&Ms are topping the list of Oregon’s most popular Halloween candy this year. That’s according to online sweets seller CandyStore.com, which uses order data from each region to determine the most popular candies. Reese’s Cups came in second place, and candy corn ranked third. The National Retail Federation says Americans will spend about three-and-a-half-billion dollars on candy by the end of the month.
FALL BACK ONE HOUR…starts Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.
In a little less than a month, it will be time to set your clocks back to standard time.
Daylight saving time will end at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. Most devices these days will adjust automatically to the time change, but don’t forget to set any traditional clocks back by one hour.
Despite several efforts to end seasonal time changes, we will be falling back in November and springing forward in March for the foreseeable future. Oregon, Washington and California have all made multiple attempts to permanently switch to either standard or daylight saving time — but none of the efforts have stuck.
Changing to daylight saving time requires congressional approval — and that approval doesn’t appear to be likely, despite bipartisan efforts to allow states to make the change.
Thanks for reading the the news on BasinLife.com from Wynne Broadcasting.
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