35.51 F
Klamath Falls
February 14, 2025

Klamath Basin News, Wednesday 1/29/2025 – KCSD Seeking Nominations for Crystal Apple Awards; Nominations; Kingsley’s 173rd Conducting Night Flights; White House Freezes Federal Funding Loans During Inquiries Of Waste, Fraud and Abuse; Mt. Shasta Man Arrested for Attempted Murder

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.

 

Wednesday, January 29, 2024

Klamath Basin Weather

Air Stagnation Advisory now thru Jan. 30, 6pm

Today
Sunny, with a high near 48. Calm wind. Overnight, clear, with a low around 20. 

Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Light south wind.  Expect slight chance of rain and snow between 10pm and 1am, then a slight chance of snow after 1am. Snow level 4300 feet, with a low around 31. South wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday
Rain and snow, becoming all rain after 1pm. Snow level 4300 feet rising to 5000 feet in the afternoon. High near 42. South southwest wind 9 to 14 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Rain overnight, snow level at about 5200 feet. Low near 34. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday
Rain. Snow level 5800 feet. High near 42. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Overnight, more rain expected, snow level 51 feet, low of 31.
Sunday
Rain and snow likely before 1pm, then rain likely between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of rain and snow after 4pm. Snow level 4700 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41.
Monday
Rain and snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38.
 

 

Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines

Klamath County School District Seeking Nominations for Crystal Apple Awards

Nominate a teacher, staff member for the Crystal Apple

Klamath County School District’s annual awards gala will be April 22 at the Ross Ragland

The Crystal Apple is given each year to eight KCSD staff who inspire and help students of all backgrounds and abilities. The winners receive their Crystal Apples during a gala at the Ross Ragland Theater. This year, the gala will be Tuesday, April 22.

A nominee can be a teacher, a counselor, a nurse or classified employee who has been with the district for at least three years. Community members are welcome and encouraged to submit nominations.

“This is an excellent opportunity for people to recognize and thank those special educators who make a positive impact on the lives of our students,” said KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak.

To be nominated, a staff member must:

  • Work for the Klamath County School District for at least three years
  • Inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities
  • Play an active and useful role in the community as well as the school

You can fill out and submit the nomination form online https://forms.gle/9cq2zNHfZ5KKgcWJ8 or print and fill out the form and submit it directly to Stephanie Bland, Klamath County School District, 2845 Greensprings Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 9760; blands@kcsd.k12.or.us. Links to the online nomination form are available on the KCSD website at www.kcsd.k12.or.us. All nominations are due no later than Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.

 

winter storm is forecasted to bring 12 or more inches of snow to the Cascade Mountains between Saturday and Monday, with significant snowfall probabilities for key mountain passes, according to the National Weather Service.

Government Camp on Hwy 26 has a 60-70% chance of receiving heavy snow, while Santiam Pass on Hwy 20 and Willamette Pass on OR 58 each have a 50-60% chance.

Travelers are urged to monitor weather and road conditions closely if planning trips through these areas over the weekend.

 

The Klamath Basin Refuges are starting a prescribed burn this week at the Lower Klamath Refuge.

Crews are burning about 724 acres southwest of Merrill. South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) says operations and smoke might be visible for a few days. SCOFMP is asking the public to avoid areas where prescribed burns are happening. These areas will have more fire crews, traffic and smoke and will have signage up.

 

The 173rd Fighter Wing out of Kingsley Field will be conducting some night flying operations this week.

On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, operations will be happening between 5 and 11 p.m.

The majority of this training will be conducted in the military airspace where pilots can fly without lights, located just east of Lakeview.  Kingsley Field is the premiere F-15C schoolhouse for the Air Force and night flying is one part of the course curriculum for student pilots.

Residents near Kingsley Field will most likely hear the jets during take-off and landing. Community members with questions or concerns can call the public affairs office at 541-885-6677.

 

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.

 

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. 
  •  
 

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.

 

Squibb Counseling and The Ross Ragland Theater are working together to bring Missoula Children’s Theater to Chiloquin.

A performance for the community will be held on Friday, February 14, 2025 at 5:30PM at Chiloquin Elementary School in the gymnasium. The Missoula Children’s Theatre is a non-profit organization based in Missoula, Montana.

The residency in Chiloquin is made possible by The Ross Ragland Theater with help from Squibb Counseling Services. Auditions will be held at Chiloquin Elementary for students Kinder through 6th. Students will audition on Monday for the performance on Friday. Participants will spend time during the school week rehearsing as well as learning acting fundamentals, participating in drama activities, and more. In one week, a full production will be produced!

A jam-packed week, full of fun and learning! Missoula Children’s Theater presents Alice in Wonderland, an original adaptation based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. The story begins with Alice and her older sister Margaret reading together. Suddenly, a White Rabbit appears from nowhere. Alice follows the rabbit to a strange and wonderful place. In the course of her adventures, Alice meets a cast of characters to help her along the way.

Through it all, Alice grows “curiouser and curiouser” as to where she is and even who she is. In the end, the answers she seeks are unimportant.

 

Around the State of Oregon

The Oregon Nurses Association and Providence Health Hospital have announced a joint statement today at about 12PM in regards to strike mediation talks.

The statement reads:  “At the request of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, the Oregon Nurses Association and Providence Oregon have agreed to have representatives from both sides re-engage in intensive, in-person mediation beginning today, January 29th, 2025, in an effort to end this strike. Both sides are engaging in every effort to get this dispute resolved as expeditiously as possible and get people back to work.”

Healthcare workers have been on the picket lines since Friday, January 10.  Over 5,000 nurses and 150 doctors walked off the job over staffing, and compensation, the union said.

 

In Mt. Shasta, 33-year-old Tyler Wade Myers was arrested this last weekend for attempted murder, stealing a car and burglary. 

On Saturday at 5:30 p.m., Mt. Shasta Police Department responded to a 911 call, with the victim saying her nephew broke into her home, strangled her, then stole her car. While first responders provided care to the victim, they received information that the stolen car was on Interstate 5 heading North. 

A “Be On the Lookout” (BOLO) alert was issued to neighboring law enforcement agencies. The car was later found on Interstate 5 near Walters Lane, just south of Yreka. Myers was arrested by officers from the California Highway Patrol, Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and Mt. Shasta Police Department.

Myers was booked into the Siskiyou County Jail and is being charged with attempted murder, theft of a motor vehicle and burglary.  Anyone with more information is being asked to contact the Mt. Shasta Police Department at 530-926-7540.

 

There’s a new sheriff in town and the Trump Administration is in eyes of  Oregon U.S. Senators for Oregon, Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden. Both are slamming the Trump Administration’s announcement to freeze federal funding, while the Administration opens up the books to see where taxpayer money is actually going.  

The White House stated yesterday: “To individuals at home who receive direct assistance from the federal government: You will not be impacted by this federal freeze.” 

Programs including Social Security benefits, Medicare, food stamps, welfare benefits and other assistance going directly to individuals will NOT be impacted under the pause, according to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. 

Liberal Democrat Senator Ron Wyden took to his social media Tuesday morning, writing “Trump doesn’t care if the economy crashes and communities suffer. His goal is to force you and your family to accept a lower standard of living while he and his friends get richer. Cutting support for law enforcement, schools, small businesses and firefighters is chaos by design.”

In another post, Wyden confirmed that as a result of Monday night’s freeze, Medicaid portals are down in all 50 states.  Wyden says he and his team are working to hold the Trump Administration accountable and ensure that Oregonians who depend on federal funding “aren’t left in the cold.”

The White House said yesterday any person or family receiving any direct aid, will not be changed or interrupted.  Medicaid fraud is a major problem, so it will be dealt with quickly according to government officials.

Another liberal Oregon Senator, Jeff Merkley, who is a ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, also blasting Trump’s decision to freeze funds, calling it a “clear violation” and “blatantly unconstitutional.”

In a press release Tuesday morning, Merkley wrote, “the President is not a king, and the laws Congress passes are not suggestions. The Trump administration must follow the law and immediately reverse this shameful order.” He went on to say that these funds provide the foundations for many of our needed facilities, from schools to hospitals to law enforcement and fire departments. Stay tuned.

 

New data highlights the hunger crisis in Oregon, underscoring an urgent need for bold action.

The new information comes from the Oregon Food Bank and reveals that hunger in Oregon is at its worst since the Great Depression. According to the report, in 2024 community members visited food assistance sites across the Oregon Food Bank Network 2.5 million times, that’s a 31% increase from the previous year.

Community members, legislators, and advocates gathered at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem Monday, to introduce the Food for All Oregonians bill or SB 611. It is part of the larger Immigrant Justice Package, which seeks to ensure every Oregonian, including immigrants and refugees excluded from federal programs like SNAP, has access to the resources needed to thrive.

The Oregon Hunger Task Force says it plans to present SB 611 to legislators on Tuesday.

 

Oregonians who receive supplemental federal food benefits need to be more vigilant than ever against fraud, say officials. The word is, if their monthly benefits are stolen, they’ll be gone for good.

In the past, the federal government replaced benefits lost to fraud, but that policy changed late last year. The federal government is no longer replacing stolen benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

That could mean a total loss of tens of thousands of dollars in SNAP benefits in Oregon, primarily through “skimming,” according to officials from Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. That happens when a device is inserted into a credit card reader and steals financial information when the card is run through the reader.  Only a small minority lose their benefits this way.

Oregon has nearly 447,000 households receiving SNAP benefits. From Oct. 1 through Dec. 20, nearly 200 households had their benefits stolen, losing $77,000 in food aid. The average household receives $310 in SNAP benefits, which are not meant to foot an entire food bill, but the money is often crucial for those who need it. Jake Sunderland, press secretary for the Oregon Department of Human Services, said SNAP users should take several precautions to protect themselves from fraud:

  • Only manage your account through the ebtEDGE website or mobile app, which can be downloaded from the Apple App Storeor Google Play.
  • Freeze your card right away after each use and unfreeze it before you make purchases and block purchases made outside of Oregon or online through Cardholder.ebtEDGE.com.
  • Keep your PIN secret and cover the keypad when you enter it.
  • Check your account activity regularly and cancel your card immediately if you see purchases you didn’t make.

 

The Local Government Grant Program (LGGP) 2025 grant cycle is now open and accepting applications to help local government agencies fund everything from playground equipment and restrooms to splashpads and bike paths around the state.

This year approximately $15 million in funds are available in this competitive grant process.  The purpose of the program is to help local government agencies fund projects to acquire, develop and rehabilitate parks and public outdoor recreation areas and facilities.

Eligible applicants are cities, counties, metropolitan service districts, park and recreation districts and port districts.

The maximum awards range from $50,000 for small community planning grants up to $1 million for large projects. Learn more about applying for the grants at a live online workshop 9 to 10:30 a.m. Feb. 12. The workshop will help new and returning applicants navigate the application process and learn about the program. 

 

Attorneys for Lincoln Smith, the short-run trucker accused of seven counts of manslaughter in a deadly Interstate 5 crash, revealed their defense Tuesday as trial began in Marion County Circuit Court.

Authorities have long claimed that Smith, 54, was driving high when his Freightliner semitruck swerved onto the shoulder of I-5 just north of Albany and rammed into the back of a van carrying 11 farmworkers, killing seven of them. But defense attorney Tiffany Humphrey said Smith simply fell asleep at the wheel and was no longer feeling the effects of a chemical cocktail he’d inhaled with two unnamed hitchhikers the night before.

Smith lied repeatedly at the scene about using drugs — but then came clean from a hospital bed when a state trooper with his body camera rolling received permission to search Smith’s pockets. The trooper found a black vial containing “speed” — slang for methamphetamine — and Smith’s blood tests turned up evidence of that drug, plus cocaine, fentanyl and morphine, according to Deputy District Attorney Jessica Spooner.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office will not be releasing the name of the 76-year-old man who died Friday while skiing on Mt. Ashland.

The ski area said in a press release, the man tragically passed away after colliding with a tree on the Windsor Chair Line Friday morning. The trail is categorized as most difficult. Ski patrol arrived on the scene and the man was taken to the ski area’s medical room.

A Mercy Flights helicopter also arrived to assist in life-saving efforts, but the man succumbed to his injuries. Mt. Ashland Ski Area General Manager, Andrew Gast says he’s heartbroken by this loss and their team extends their condolences to grieving family and friends.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has a policy of not releasing the names of people who died in non-criminal cases.

 

(PORTLAND, Ore.) — Recent findings from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) confirm what frontline caregivers at Providence hospitals have long been warning: Providence is failing to meet critical staffing requirements, putting patient care and worker safety at risk.

According to OHA’s investigations into multiple staffing complaints at Providence Portland Medical Center and Providence Seaside Hospital, OHA found multiple violations of Oregon’s hospital staffing laws, including failures to adopt required Nurse Staffing Plans (NSPs) in critical departments such as Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Cardiology, Critical Care, and Emergency Departments.

Providence recently stated, in a communication to staff, that “Providence ministries are complying with Oregon’s staffing law…We will not agree to additional contract requirements that differ from the law.” However, OHA’s repeated findings of violations of Oregon’s Safe Staffing Law tell a different story–one of a systemic and dangerous pattern of failing to follow even the most basic legal requirements.

OHA found that, at Providence Portland Medical Center, the hospital repeatedly failed to adopt legally-required Nurse Staffing Plans (NSPs) for critical units, including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Critical Care, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, and Labor and Delivery. In recent complaint investigations, OHA cited Providence for failing to adopt staffing plans on 8 units at Providence Portland Medical Center. This means that–according to nurses on those units and the Hospital Staffing Committee–those units are not staffed appropriately for safe and therapeutic patient care. This systemic failure has left caregivers without the necessary staffing guidelines to provide safe and effective care. 

Additionally, the OHA investigation uncovered repeated violations in the Medical Oncology and Surgical Oncology units, where Providence failed to meet RN staffing levels across multiple shifts in June 2024, jeopardizing patient outcomes and staff well-being.

These violations in oncology units–where cancer patients require intensive and specialized care–demonstrate Providence’s ongoing disregard for legally-mandated staffing levels. 

The pattern of non-compliance extends beyond Portland, as OHA also found that Providence Seaside Hospital failed to adopt required staffing plans for its Medical-Surgical (Med-Surg) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) departments by the June 1, 2024 deadline. Earlier this year, Providence was also found in violation at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center for submitting a staffing plan it created rather than a more detailed plan that was approved by the Hospital Staffing Committee.

This failure to meet basic legal obligations underscores why caregivers are fighting for stronger, enforceable staffing protections in their contracts; Providence has repeatedly demonstrated it cannot be trusted to adhere to existing regulations without additional safeguards in place.

The Oregon Nurses Association urges Providence to acknowledge their ongoing staffing failures and negotiate in good faith to provide meaningful staffing protections and stop obstructing hospital nurse staffing committees. Caregivers remain committed to fighting for the safety of their patients and the integrity of their profession.

 

DPSST ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR KATHY MCALPINE

SALEM, Ore. — Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) Director Phil Castle announced today the appointment of Kathy McAlpine as the agency’s deputy director. She will assume the role following the retirement of current Deputy Director Bill Steele on Friday, Feb. 7.

McAlpine joined DPSST as director of the Professional Standards Division in January 2024. Before joining DPSST, McAlpine served for six years as the chief of the Tigard Police Department. Prior to that, she spent more than 30 years with the Tacoma Police Department in Washington, beginning as a patrol officer and retiring as an assistant chief.

During her time as Tigard’s police chief, McAlpine also served on the Police Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training (BPSST) and on the Applicant Review Committee of BPSST. She has also served on the boards of the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police and the Oregon Accreditation Alliance and is a past chair of the Washington County Law Enforcement Council.

“Kathy is a natural leader who is uniquely qualified to support DPSST’s mission of pursuing excellence in training and accountability for public safety professionals,” said Director Castle. “With her 37-year background in law enforcement, her service on the Police Policy and Applicant Review committees, and her outstanding leadership of the Professional Standards Division, Kathy is the ideal candidate to advance DPSST’s progress toward meeting its strategic goals.”

McAlpine will remain in charge of the Professional Standards Division until a new director of that division is hired, after which she will oversee DPSST’s Training Division and Fire Program.

 

The Oregon State Marine Board and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office are teaming up for the annual Swift Water Rescue training from February 2 — 7, 2025.

The on-water training for students will occur on the Bull Run, Sandy, Clackamas and Willamette Rivers.

The training is tailored for marine law enforcement who may encounter rescues in whitewater rapids, high water, and strong currents. Students also get to experience what it’s like being rescued, which can be very intense. 

“At any given time, first responders can face challenging conditions when water flows are high and fast,” says Eddie Persichetti, Marine Law Enforcement Training Coordinator for the Marine Board. “This training focuses on a variety of high-risk rescue situations with rapidly changing conditions to build the skills of rescue personnel. Our goal is to build confidence for both the responders and the persons being rescued.”

Students begin in the classroom, yet spend most of their time on the water, completing a variety of scenarios to practice skill-building.

“Clackamas Fire District #1 has been hosting this training for several years and without their continued valuable partnership, Swift Water Rescue Course may not happen,” says Persichetti. “We’d also like to thank our partnering agencies who assist in ensuring this training is a success.

Learn more about how to be safe on the water by visiting the Oregon State Marine Board at Boat.Oregon.gov.

 

While the Oregon Cascades are buried beneath heavy snow and glaciers this time of year, new research is showing something big brewing under the surface.

Researchers have discovered an aquifer that was much bigger than they ever expected. “It is all locked up in fractures in the bedrock but it’s what we call active groundwater, meaning it’s constantly flowing,” said Leif Karlstrom, who is volcanologist and professor of earth science at the University of Oregon and a part of the research team.

 Karlstrom — along with researchers from Oregon State University, Duke and the U.S. Forest Service — are trying to map out how much water is stored beneath the volcanic rocks of the Cascades. It was widely known for decades that there was an aquifer in the Santiam Pass region between Eugene and Bend. What they didn’t know was just how big it was. 

Researchers discovered the aquifer to be nearly three times the capacity of Lake Mead, a reservoir that covers parts of Nevada and Arizona. It also supplied water to those two states and California.

Thanks to research from decades ago, it allowed them to get a better understanding of the aquifer’s scale. So, what does it mean to have 19 cubic miles of water running under the crest of the Cascades? Currently, not much. But it could have implications for water resources in the region as drought and hot weather limit snowpacks and water availability.

 

JACKSONVILLE, OR — The Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) announces its 2025 season, with three weeks of exciting outdoor programming in historic Jacksonville, Oregon, June 12 – 28, 2025.

Under the leadership of four guest conductors, Damon Gupton (June 12-13); Chia-Hsuan Lin (June 15-18); Roberto Kalb (June 21-23); and Normal Huynh (June 26-28) the Orchestra’s 63rd season highlights a feature film alongside beloved classical favorites.

The season features seven extraordinary guest artists: pianist Clayton Stephenson performing Ravel’s Concerto in G Major; violinist William Hagen performing Korngold’s Concerto in D Major; violinist Tessa Lark and cellist Wei Yu performing Brahms Double concerto for Violin & Violoncello in A minorvocalist Sun-Ly Pierce performing Ravel’s Shéhérazade; pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko performing Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 3 in D minor; and violinist Simone Porter performing Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto in D and Ravel’s TziganeThe season will begin with two evenings of Jurassic Park in Concert where John Williams’ score will be performed live-to-picture by the full orchestra in one of the most beloved films of the 20th Century.

Britt Music & Arts Festival shares extraordinary live performances and arts education experiences that inspire discovery and build community, anchored at the Britt hill amphitheater. Since its grassroots beginnings in 1963, the non-profit organization has grown from a two-week chamber music festival to a summer-long series of concerts in a variety of genres, including a three-week orchestra season, and year-round education and engagement programs. For more information, visit www.brittfest.org

 

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

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.

 

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. 

 

The private foundation of Nike co-founder Phil Knight booked another year of accelerated giving in 2023 as its philanthropy expanded beyond universities and Oregon nonprofits to a presidential foundation and an antipoverty group.

 According to a report, The Knight Foundation gave away more than $190 million in 2023, its third consecutive year of at least $150 million in philanthropic gifts.

 

The foundation had more than $5 billion in assets at the end of 2023, up from $3.8 billion a year earlier, according an annual report filed late last year with the Oregon Department of Justice, which collects the documents as part of its oversight of the state’s charities. 

The Knight Foundation remains the largest grant-making organization in the state. Phil Knight rarely discusses his philanthropy and did not respond to a message sent through Nike.

 

 

Sauerkraut maker Randy Gogolin, who named his company the Pickled Dad, couldn’t keep sample trays filled Saturday at Fermentopia, an event focused on the creativity and tradition of fermented foods and beverages held Jan. 25-26 in the southern Oregon city of Phoenix.

More than 800 people attended the first day of Fermentopia’s debut, and Gogolin and other sellers hope the pop-up market becomes an annual event.

Gogolin was one of 30 makers selling pickled vegetables, tangy sourdough breads, savory miso, zesty hot sauces and bubbly ciders inside the civic center surrounded by a natural wetland area and downtown businesses.

As planned, the first Fermentopia extended beyond the civic center to the Oregon Cheese Cave steps to the north and Moxie Brew Kombucha to the south along the city’s revitalized Main Street. Admission to Fermentopia was $5 and included tastes at every table, from Rogue Creamery cheese to Whistling Duck Farm’s lemon dill sauerkraut and fermented drinks called kvasses.

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.

 

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