35.51 F
Klamath Falls
February 14, 2025

Klamath Basin News, Monday 1/27/2025 – KF City Council Seeks To Improve Pedestrian/Commuter Corridor; Oregon Hospitals Operating At A Loss As Costs Rise; Oregon Trying To Stop Trump’s Illegal Deportations; Homelessness Up 24% In Oregon In A Year

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.

 

Monday, January 27, 2024

Klamath Basin Weather

Air Stagnation Advisory now thru Jan. 30, 6pm

Today
Sunny, with a high near 43. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Overnight, clear, with a low around 19. Light north wind.

Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 47. Calm wind. Overnight low around 22 degrees.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 49. Calm wind. Overnight, clar with a low near 19.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 48. Overnight, a chance of rain mixed with snow, snow level lowering to 4800 feet. Low near 29.
Friday
A chance of rain and snow before 10am, then rain likely. Snow level 4500 feet rising to 5400 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44.
Saturday
Rain. Snow level 5200 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43.
Sunday
Rain and snow likely. Snow level 4600 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44.
 

 

Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines

The Klamath Falls City Council seeks to improve pedestrian and commuter safety in the downtown corridor.

Discussed during a council work session held Tuesday was implementing curb extensions on downtown crosswalks that will allow easier crossing for pedestrians, providing them and motorists with greater visibility of each other and narrowing the roadways to slow down traffic.

Seeing more than 130 reported traffic accidents between 2015 and 2020, equating to an average of 1.9 crashes per month, the city of Klamath Falls conducted an analysis in partnership with the Oregon Department of Transportation in 2017 to look at ways of improving transportation safety in the downtown. 

Findings in the report included that average vehicle speeds were 27 mph and that 10% of drivers routinely exceeded 30 mph in the 20 mph zone and that by having wide lanes on Main Street encouraged the traffic speeding.

A separate analysis also found that the use of traffic signaling wasn’t necessary in the downtown area and their removal and replacement with stop signs at the intersections would improve safety and slow traffic. That prompted the city to do a trial run of the removal in 2023 that saw vehement backlash from the public and Main Street businesses.

With the solution of stop signs out of the question, the city’s public works department was tasked with brainstorming other ways to meet the goals of the council and has since implemented reflectorized backplates and pedestrian countdown timers.

Public works also found that the utilization of sidewalk curb extensions would be a feasible and practical resolution. A curb extension (also known as a bulb-out) is a traffic calming measure that widens the sidewalk for a short distance into the street, reduces the crossing distance and allows drivers and pedestrians better sight of each other when cars are parked on the road.

Called the squeeze effect, the narrowed roadway influences slower driving and studies have found that pedestrians crossing at a curb extension results in an added wait time for a vehicle to stop and let them cross. Coming in multiple styles and forms, public works settled on two styles for the council to decide on — an integrated style directly connected to the sidewalk and a separated style.

 

Last week’s Klamath County Economic Summit showed the county facing more promise than challenge, but that growth remains slow in the basin. 

“The direction we are going now is the direction we were dreaming about 10 years ago, and the numbers don’t lie,” Klamath County Commissioner Kelley Minty said.

An opportunity to see where Klamath County stands economically, the 2025 KCEDA Economic Summit held at the Ross Ragland provided a snapshot of Klamath County’s economic history and present while highlighting potentials that will make Klamath County stronger in the future ahead.

According to figures presented by state economist Nicole Ramos, Klamath County is trending in a positive direction led by historically low unemployment numbers and a strong labor force whereas Klamath County’s unemployment rate was stable at around 4% with a labor force greater than 29,000 individuals.

On average, it takes Klamath County 53 months to come back from major economic blows (such as the COVID-19 Pandemic or the Great Recession of 2008), about a year longer than in urban areas..  Part of the slower recovery time is due to the nature of shocks that have hit Klamath County, such as the housing crisis that impacted manufacturing in Klamath County. 

The use of Artificial Intelligence, or AI, by the American workforce today is increasing at a steady rate. Despite the usefulness of the advancing technology, more than half of American workers who use AI are reluctant to admit to the practice due, in part, to fears of being perceived as replaceable or belief of its use as having “cheated” in their work.

Water users in the Klamath Basin are also facing their share of ups and downs this coming year with exorbitant electric bills as well as half a dozen promising water conservation projects. Gene Souza, executive director of the Klamath Irrigation District, said that, following the removal of the four hydroelectric dams, the cost of running electric pumps to return excess flows to the Klamath River skyrocketed. 

Klamath County maintains eleven sectors of industry ranging from manufacturing to retail, equating to an annual gross domestic product (GDP) of more than $3 billion. Not only that, Klamath County is ranked 10th (of 36) on the Oregon Hackman Index (an index that measures economic diversity using indicators such as GDP, and employment of a region relative to a reference region), beating out all other rural Oregon counties. Leading much of that diversification is KCEDA.

 

A high angle shot of a valley covered with snow under the dark cloudy sky

Tips for surviving the cold winter weather

Pacific Power reminds customers they can conserve energy by shifting usage during periods of high demand, helping with the reliability of our electricity service while also saving money on their bills.

  • Set the thermostat to 68°F when you’re at home. Lower the temperature by several degrees when you are away from home and at bedtime. 
  • Clean or replace furnace filters often.  
  • Weatherstrip exterior doors and caulk around window frames to seal air leaks. 
  • Close drapes and blinds at night to keep heat in.
  • Avoid use of portable space heaters.
  • Limit use of appliances like ovens, dishwashers and clothes dryers in the morning from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. 
  • Set your water heater to 120°F and use efficient showerheads. 
  • Turn off lights, computers and electronics when not in use. 

 

A Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience for people with special needs, aged 14 and older.

Friday, Feb. 7th is a worldwide event, hosted locally by various churches, made possible by the Tim Tebow foundation. One of those participating is First Presbyterian Church in Klamath Falls. Last year the event served 98 guests and their families. It was staffed by a crew of nearly 250 volunteers.

Pastor Richard Pfeil says they have plenty of volunteers to cover most duties, but they are still in need of about 40 “buddies”. Volunteer buddies accompany the guests throughout the night to ensure everyone is having a wonderful time.  Last year the event served 98 guests and their families. It was staffed by a crew of nearly 250 volunteers. Pastor Pfeil says they have plenty of volunteers to cover most duties, but they are still in need of about 40 “buddies”.

Volunteer buddies accompany the guests throughout the night to ensure everyone is having a wonderful time. Night to Shine happens Friday, February 7 at First Presbyterian Church in Klamath Falls. For more information, to volunteer, or to register for this free event, visit the church’s website.

 

The Ross Ragland Theater’s February schedule is filled with music, food and even a movie.

Performances begin on Feb. 7 with Dusty Leigh and Special Guests. Flamingo Fred will MC the show as host Dusty Leigh welcomes Wassla, Sethro, Va$h and Dream, and Sympho.

Headliner Leigh is far from your average performer. He started by combining the hardcore element of hip-hop with the wittiness of pop, and his style evolved into a genre he refers to as R&C — Rhythm and Country. The 31-year-old entertainer hails from Louisville, KY.

Dusty Leigh and Special Guests: Friday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at ten dollars.

Alli Walker, country singer-songwriter, brings her unique blend of country music and bagpipes to The Ross Ragland stage on Feb. 8.

Walker’s dynamic blend of traditional country sounds with pop/rock sensibilities positions her as a dedicated and innovative force in the evolving landscape of country music. Her willingness to push genre boundaries and think outside the box has led her to be recently nominated for a Canadian Country Music Award for Top Female Artist. Her dynamic and innovative fusion of traditional country elements with her Celtic background has become a signature part of her live performances, setting her apart in the Nashville scene. 

Finally, The Ragland Masquerade Education Fundraiser makes its elegant return on Feb. 22. The Masquerade and Youth Scholarship Fundraiser is a premier fundraising gala and social event that raises awareness of the need and benefits of keeping access to the arts education for K-12 students across the Klamath Basin and Southeastern Oregon.

This must-attend event is full of elegance, delicious food and live entertainment, all dedicated to supporting the Ragland in funding our seven revered education programs that help create arts education opportunities for students across the Klamath Basin.

The Ragland Theater education programs offer over 20,000 individual opportunities for arts education to all students in the Basin, K-12, each year.

 

The Klamath Chorale will begin regular weekly rehearsals for its 2025 spring concert season on Monday, Jan. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m., in the choir rehearsal room of Ponderosa Middle School.

“Made In America” is the title of the group’s spring concert, which will take place on Sunday, May 4, at the Ross Ragland Theater.

The program includes popular songs by important American composers, such as Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Henry Mancini and Burt Bachrach, among many others. The Klamath Chorale is the oldest and largest choral group in the Klamath Basin with up to 100 members. It was formed in 1979 and has presented two concerts each year for over 40 years.

Membership is open to anyone who enjoys singing together. Robin Schwartz has directed the chorale since 2009 while Bill “Slippery” Eaton has been the group’s accompanist for an even longer period. Seasonal dues of $30 per person help to defray the cost of purchasing music for its semi-annual concerts. Scholarships are available to high school students who wish to join the chorale.

For more information about the Chorale, call Charles Cossey, pro-duction coordinator, at 541-884-8484.

 

Around the State of Oregon

With changes from the Trump Administration, much is still unknown about immigration and the mass deportations promised by the new president. 

This week, President Trump signed several executive orders cracking down on illegal immigration. Over 3,000 serious criminals were removed from cities last week.

Actions are already being taken to protect the rights of immigrants, including a federal judge in Seattle issuing a temporary restraining order on one of Trump’s executive orders to limit birthright citizenship, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.”

Immigration is a complicated issue and even people who have done everything right are now at risk of deportation, according to some local city officials.

 

After over a year of deliberations, Thursday the Oregon State Marine Board voted in favor of a rule for motorized boats on the Upper Rogue River. 

Board members say after receiving thousands of testimonies, they could not vote in favor of the rule initially proposed. Instead, they voted in favor of a variation proposed by a board member.

The rule approved Thursday states that motorized boats over 15 horsepower cannot be used above Dodge Bridge County Park, on the main stem of the river between Fishers Ferry County Park and Lost Creek Dam. Additionally, charter boats cannot operate upstream of Table Rock Road Bridge and may only operate between Table Rock Road Bridge and Fishers Ferry County Park between May 8 and September 10.

The rule includes a recommendation from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to restrict a motor over 15 horsepower during low water flows to protect spring Chinook salmon. The board will review the new rules after a year.

 

Homelessness in Oregon continues to spread all over the state and increased 24 percent from 2023 to 2024.

A report from Portland State University based on the homeless point-in-time count found a 16 percent increase in the number of unsheltered homeless people.

That’s more than 11-hundred additional people living on the streets. Nearly 25-hundred shelter beds were added in Oregon. 21 out of 36 counties had an increase in shelter beds.

 

Oregon health officials called out three health care organizations this week for unreasonably driving up Oregonians’ medical costs.

The state in 2021 set a cap on annual spending growth for health care organizations at 3.4% per person, part of a regulatory bid to rein in rising health care costs.

The Oregon Legislature authorized the program in 2019 and updated the law in 2021. The Oregon Health Authority on Wednesday flagged three organizations for overshooting this limit between 2021 and 2022 without justifying the increase.

They include Eugene-based Oregon Medical Group and two insurers, Moda Health and UnitedHealthcare,  both of which managed Medicare Advantage plans. Optum and UnitedHealthcare did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.

 

A series of billboards went up alongside Interstate 5 heading into Salem on Monday — but they aren’t meant for most of the people who will see them. They’re for the eyes of state senators and representatives heading into the capital.

Instead of slogans for products, they bear a very specific political message, stating: “RELEASE EASTERN OREGON” and “WE CHOOSE IDAHO.”

The billboards’ origin: the Greater Idaho movement, which seeks to move the state lines to put Oregon’s rural eastern counties into Idaho.  Supporters of the grassroots campaign want to escape policies embraced by the Democratic majority in the Oregon Legislature that they say don’t align with their values. They’d rather be residents of conservative Idaho – but without having to leave their homes and established lives. 

Voters in 13 Oregon counties – including all of the ones abutting Idaho – have passed measures in the past few years directing county leaders to study moving the state boundary. Greater Idaho’s leaders say the change would “make both states better” – or at least make more residents of each state happier with the political status quo.

 

Oregon hospitals are operating at a loss or often with thin profit margins, with patients boarding in emergency rooms and rural facilities forced to consider closing maternity wards.

The space between net patient revenues and operating costs continues to rise, putting more than half of Oregon’s hospitals in the red, hospital officials said in a Wednesday press conference. The Medicaid-funded Oregon Health Plan, which insures more than one in three Oregonians, plays a role in the ongoing financial woes, said Becky Hultberg, president and CEO of the Hospital Association of Oregon.

Rising operating costs, primarily labor, are also a big driver in hospital expenses exceeding income, she said.  The association, which represents 61 hospitals in the state, wants the Legislature to work on adequately funding the state’s Medicaid program and take other steps, like making it easier for hospitals to discharge patients when they are ready to exit the hospital into other settings, like long-term care.

The Oregon Health Plan, which covers 1.3 million people, pays 56 cents for every dollar of care provided to patients on Medicaid, Hultberg said. In 2023, that underpayment was $1 billion. However, association officials said they realize it would take time to fix the problem but they’d like action on it this session.

The group supports a range of proposals this session that would aid their finances and access to health care. They include items in Gov. Tina Kotek’s budget proposal. She is calling for an extra $35 million in general funding for hospital maternity rates, a $4 million increase in graduate medical education funding and another $25 million in payments for hospitals with high levels of patients who are uninsured or on Medicaid.

 

Employment in Oregon Struggles. In December, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 3,700 jobs, following a revised increase of 3,700 jobs in November.

December’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+1,900 jobs) and government (+700). Declines were largest in leisure and hospitality (-1,900 jobs); manufacturing (-1,800); financial activities (-1,000); and retail trade (-900).

Health care and social assistance continued its rapid, consistent pace of hiring, adding 18,100 jobs, or 6.2%, in the past 12 months. Within this industry, social assistance added the most jobs, gaining 9,200 jobs, or 12.2%, since December 2023. The three health care industries each added between 3,300 and 4,400 jobs during that time.

December’s growth in government also capped off a year of strong performance. Its 7,000-job gain (+2.3%) was the second fastest growth over the year. Leisure and hospitality cut 3,200 jobs in the past two months. It employed 204,000 in December, which was 3,000 below its average during January 2023 through October 2024.

Cutbacks of 1,500 jobs within semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing contributed most of the December employment reductions in manufacturing. Over the year, manufacturing dropped 2,500 jobs (-1.3%). Several durable goods manufacturing industries have shed jobs in the past 12 months: wood product manufacturing (-500 jobs, or -2.2%); machinery manufacturing (-300 jobs, or -2.2%); and transportation equipment manufacturing (-600 jobs, or -5.3%).

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1% in December and 4.0%, as revised, in November. The rate has consistently remained between 4.0% and 4.2% since October 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1% in December and 4.2% in November.


The state of Oregon is suing the federal government over President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.

It dates back centuries and under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution that states “all children born in the U.S. are citizens”. It’s also something no other country in the world does.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield says the President’s executive order is a violation of the Constitution. Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois are filing the lawsuit. It seeks an injunction to prevent the order from taking effect until it can be decided in court. Stay tuned as this issue will likely head to the U.S. Supreme Court.

 

You can start filing income taxes on January 27th. Both the IRS and Oregon Department of Revenue will start accepting tax returns.

The IRS estimates 640-thousand Oregonians will be able to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon free tax software. Use the IRS Eligibility Checker on its website to see whether you qualify for the free software. Refunds aren’t issued until after February 15th for fraud protection. The IRS website has information free tax help.

 

You can nominate your kids’ favorite teacher for the Oregon Education Department’s 2025 Teacher of the Year.

Nominations are being accepted through February 6th for teachers Pre-K through 12th grade. The winner is the face and voice of educators across the state.

Candidates first run for regional teacher of the year and then the statewide honor.

 

You’ll need a Real ID to fly domestically, starting in May of 2025, that’s unless you have a passport or enhanced driver’s license issued by several states.

The deadline is May 7, 2025, but you probably don’t want to wait until the last minute to get your Real ID. You can apply for your Real ID driver’s license or ID card through your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Real IDs are marked with a star on the top of the card. Real IDs will also be needed to access certain federal facilities. Congress mandated the real IDs in 2005 on the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.

 

The Britt Festival Orchestra has announced its 2025 season from June 18 to June 28. 

According to a news release from Britt Festival, the following artists will be performing: 

  • Pianist Clayton Stephenson
  • Violinist William Hagen
  • Violinist Tessa Lark and cellist Wei Yu
  • Vocalist Sun-Ly Pierce
  • Pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko 
  • Violinist Simone Porter “Concertgoers are invited to attend free pre-concert talks at the Sam & Hannelore Enfield Stage in the Performance Garden. Each talk begins at 7:00 PM and features a discussion about the performance of the evening,” the release said. “Come and enjoy a full Britt experience at every BFO concert.” Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Feb. 24, the release said. There won’t be a member pre-sale. Residents can click here or visit the Britt Box office at 216 W. Main St in Medford from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, or calling 541-773-6077. 

 

 

It was a quiet Friday morning for the employees of a Beaverton Fred Meyer – until 8:30 a.m, when news suddenly broke that the store had sold the winning Powerball ticket with a $328.5 million payout.

The Oregon Lottery said in a statement that the store — located at 15995 SW Walker Road — will receive a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.  The lottery also announced that a ticket holder came forward Wednesday to claim the prize, but added that “it will take time” to confirm the winner and publicly reveal the person. 

Fred Meyer has sold other winning tickets in Oregon recently, including a $1 million raffle ticket in March 2024.

It’s been 25 years since the music group Phish played a show in the Rose City — a number most local fans won’t let you forget. But the time to reset the clock is finally near, with the rock band scheduled to play its first Portland concert of the 21st century in April.

Phish, the American jam band formed in 1983, will play the Moda Center Sunday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. The stop is part of the band’s 2025 West Coast tour, which includes two shows each in Seattle and San Francisco and ends with three nights at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl. 

General public ticket sales start at noon on Friday, Feb. 7 at Ticketmaster, though fans can request pre-sale tickets on the Phish website through 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 3. Phish played its most recent Portland on Sept. 12, 1999, at horse racing (and occasional outdoor concert) venue Portland Meadows, which shut down in 2019.

 

Fifty-two organizations will receive $5,000 Arts Build Communities grants in fiscal year 2025, totaling $260,000 for projects that address community issues or needs through the arts.

The Oregon Arts Commission’s Arts Build Communities program is committed to promoting arts access for underserved audiences and targets broad geographic impact throughout the state.

One example of the funded projects is Gather:Make:Shelter’s Monograph Project, touring exhibitions that feature the work of Oregon-based artists with current or former experiences with houselessness.

In recent years, the Arts Build Communities program has generated more than $600,000 in additional community investment, much of it representing salaries paid, as well as products and services purchased in the funded communities.

These grants are made possible through a funding partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Recipients here in Southern Oregon include the Ashland High Arts Advocates, to support the SAM Project, which partners with local performing and fine artists, teachers and the Ashland School District to match students with arts mentors.

While the SAM Project is open to all K-12 students, it specifically reaches out to and prioritizes students who are low-income, have specific needs or are members of underserved populations. Funds will be used to cover expenses such as mentor stipends, equipment and materials, marketing and operational support.

The Ashland new play festival, to support the 2025 playwriting competition and festival, which fosters new work by diverse emerging and established playwrights, directly engaging the Ashland community. Each year, 70 volunteers help to blind-review 350 scripts to identify finalists. The Artistic Director and team (100% BIPOC) select four to five winners, with at least 50% by BIPOC authors. The plays are presented in staged readings by professional directors and actors, drawing more than 3,000 attendees over one week.

Finally, The Cave Junction farmer’s market, supportin a theater class (March-September 2025) and performance of The Great Melt at the farmers market site. Participating youth will explore how to mitigate climate issues, such as increasingly frequent high temperatures and poor AQI quality days.

Youth will create a visual story around the real-life impact of climate change. Requested funds will pay for Art Educators and purchase supplies.

 

Thanks for reading the the news on BasinLife.com from Wynne Broadcasting.

Ready to Advertise? Let us get the word out for your business!  We offer more local advertising opportunities than any one in the Klamath Basin. 
Call BasinLife.com at 541-363-7503. Or email us today at INFO@BasinLife.com with your name, business, and what you’re looking for. We’ll customize a plan fit for your budget.

You can receive Daily Radio Mentions across our 6 stations, Articles, direct link Banner Ads, floating Banner Ads on hundreds of article pages daily, Social Media Posts and also available are Email Blasts to thousands of local residents.

We can also keep you updated with the latest smart digital marketing strategies for 2025 for your business. BasinLife.com is still the best value in the Klamath Basin for advertising, as we enter into our 9th year promoting businesses in Southern Oregon.

For information or prices on plans, simply call us today at 541-363-7503 or email us at Info@BasinLife.com.  Let us keep your business top-of -mind!

Must Read

Pet Ready for Adoption, ” Lady ” at Klamath Animal Shelter on Washburn Way

Christina Conway

Leah Ghielmetti of Crater Lake Realty – Discover Your Place to Live With A Knowledgeable Agent for Buying & Selling of Homes and Property

Brian Casey

Triple J Deli – Great Sandwiches, Boba Tea, Smoothies, Cheesecake!

Brian Casey