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, January 31, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Winter Weather Advisory in effect from January 31, 04:00 AM PST until February 1, 12:00 PM
Today
Rain and snow, becoming all rain after 4pm. Snow level 5300 feet and lowering in the evening hours. High near 42. Southwest wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Overnight, rain mixed with snow flurries, snow level at 5,000 feet and lowering into Saturday morning. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
See Road Camera Views around the Klamath Basin:
Lake of the Woods
Doak Mtn.
Hiway 97 at Chemult
Hiway 140 at Bly
Hiway 97 at GreenSprings Dr.
Hiway 97 at LaPine
Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines
A winter storm may bring several 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.
The WINTER STORM WARNING has been issued for the Cascades and Siskiyous above 5,000 feet.
A WINTER WEATHER ADIVSORY has been issued for South-Central Siskiyou County above 4,000 feet. Klamath and Lake Counties will likely be impacted all afternoon Friday through midday Saturday. The Klamath Basin could see 1-3 inches fall over the next 72 hours.
The winter storm will bring heavy rain, higher elevation snow and strong winds to our region tonight and continue to impact travels through Saturday.
Snow is expected above 4,000 feet with the heaviest snowfall and biggest travel impacts above 5,000 feet. This storm system will likely begin a stretch of active weather that’ll carry into next week. Travelers are urged to monitor weather and road conditions closely if planning trips through these areas over the weekend.
A man from Klamath Falls died in a motor vehicle crash Monday night on Highway 66.
William Matthew McFall, 45, was operating a Mini Cooper that exited the roadway unexpectedly and struck a tree Monday evening. Oregon State Police reported the initial investigation indicates the Mini Cooper crossed over the center line into the eastbound lane before leaving the road.
A Washington man was arrested this past weekend on attempted kidnapping charges in Klamath Falls and later released.
Casey Hood, 64, of Vancouver, Wash., was reportedly arrested by Klamath County Sheriff’s Office on South Sixth Street at 6:42 a.m. Saturday.
Initial reports by NewsWatch12 said Hood allegedly broke down the door of his girlfriend’s hotel room at the Days Inn and chased her for half of a mile. Klamath County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the information. Local 9-1-1 call logs list Hood as the caller who reported a verbal disturbance at the hotel around 5 a.m.
Law enforcement arrestedd Hood who was charged with first-degree burglary, domestic assault, second-degree kidnapping and second degree criminal mischief. His bail was set at $145,000. After Hood was arraigned Monday, he was released on his own recognizance. Shortly after his release, emergency call records from Monday show that Hood made another 9-1-1 call to law enforcement, reporting that his vehicle had been stolen. KCSO Sgt. Westley Packer said the vehicle has since been recovered by California Highway Patrol.
Four high schools in the Klamath County School District had graduation rates above 94% percent in 2024, and two of those – Lost River Junior/Senior High School and Bonanza Junior/Senior High School – had perfect graduation rates of 100%.
Henley High School at 99.2% continued its multi-year trend of graduation rates above 97% percent, and Mazama High School’s graduate rate of 94.6% is a significant 6.2 percentage point increase from 2023.
Chiloquin Junior/Senior High at 86.7% saw a 3.8 percentage point decrease from last year.
Gilchrist Junior/Senior High School saw a more than 20 percentage point drop from 2023, with a 69.2% graduate rate. Both schools had graduation rates above 90% in 2023. Schools with small cohorts can see large fluctuations in percentages from year to year.
Overall, the county school district’s four-year graduation rate in 2024 was 82.5 percent, up 2.6 percentage points from the year before and 0.7 percentage points above the state average of 81.8%, according to data released Jan. 30 by the Oregon Department of Education.
The district’s overall rate finally caught up with and surpassed its 2019 rate of 82.37%, which was recorded before the pandemic caused widespread school closures and a shift to online learning.
KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak said district schools with high graduation rates share a commitment to accountability, from administrators and teachers to students and parents. The district will continue its focus on academic rigor, CTE (career and technical education) and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs, student engagement, and meaningful relationships.
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.
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.

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
If ever a collection of Oregon high school students had odds stacked against them, it was the class of 2024.
They began their pivotal freshman year online, and about one in four ended that year behind on the credits they’d need to graduate. Most didn’t return to school buildings full time until they were sophomores, a school year during which pandemic-era restrictions lingered. About 40% of them missed at least 10% of school days that year and the next, state figures show.
Despite a steady rise in graduation rates over the last decade, however, Oregon still underperforms compared to other states. The average graduation rate nationally is 87.4% according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
And Oregon students’ mastery of reading and math skills, as measured by state and national exams, lags far behind pre-pandemic levels and ranks, in many cases, near the worst in the country. That’s particularly alarming for a state with relatively moderate student poverty and in which per-student spending has soared.
ROGUE RIVER, Ore. — A suspect is in jail and a victim is in the hospital after a hit and run crash Sunday night on a rural Rogue River roadway.
On Sunday, January 26 around 6PM, a vehicle struck a woman in the roadway in the 700 block of Queens Branch Rd. The woman was attempting to gain control of her horse at the time of the crash. The vehicle never stopped and fled the scene at a high rate of speed. The woman was transported to an area hospital with major injuries but is in stable condition. The horse was not injured.
Multiple witnesses were on scene at the time of the crash and provided information to responding Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies and Rogue River Police Department officers. Later Sunday night, JCSO deputies received a report of a stolen vehicle in the nearby area. Evidence on scene led deputies to connect the reported stolen vehicle to the crash. After further investigation, deputies determined the involved vehicle was not stolen and the suspect had initiated a false report.
JCSO deputies arrested the suspect Tuesday, January 28 just after 6 PM. The suspect, Jason Allan Baker, 40, of Rogue River is charged with second-degree assault, felony hit and run, reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person, tampering with evidence, aggravated driving while suspended, and initiating a false police report. He is lodged in the Jackson County Jail. There is no further information available for release at this time.
The Oregon Department of Human Services is investigating an Aumsville children’s learning center after its employees allegedly left a two-year-old girl alone on a bus for about three hours on Monday.
The announcement comes days after the City of Aumsville opened a police investigation into the incident. Cassandra Robinson, the mother of the girl, previously told The Oregonian/OregonLive that Family Building Blocks’ Aumsville location had failed to take her daughter off a bus, leaving her strapped into a child safety seat with no coat in roughly 36-degree weather.
Oregon Department of Human Services’ Office of Training, Investigations and Safety is investigating the alleged incident, agency spokesperson Jake Sunderland said. Such investigations typically take about 60 days to complete.
Disability Rights Oregon along with the Oregon Law Center filed an emergency lawsuit Thursday against Grants Pass, attempting to stop the city from closing the J Street resting site.
According to a joint press release from the two organizations, the suit seeks to attain a restraining order to keep the city from “forcing homeless residents with disabilities to live in life-threatening conditions.”
They allege the city’s policy and practices violate Oregon laws, specifically when it comes to discrimination based on disability. The resting site on J Street was one of only two sanctioned camps for those experiencing homelessness in the City of Grants Pass.
With J Street closed, the only site left is limited to camping overnight. In addition to Disability Rights Oregon, the plaintiffs included in the lawsuit are five individuals, ranging in age from 47 to 66, all who live with disabilities.
A group of nine former women’s basketball players at Western Oregon University filed a lawsuit in Marion County Circuit Court on Wednesday, claiming retaliation from the school after they came forward with allegations of physical and verbal abuse from coaches last year.
Named in the suit are head women’s basketball coach Jessica Peatross; assistant coach D.J. Marlow; athletic director Randi Lydum, and the university president and dean of students. The nine players are represented by Portland lawyer Jason Kafoury and civil rights attorney Shenoa Payne.
The lawsuit seeks $28 million in damages for what players describe as bullying, verbal and physical abuse, and retaliation after they say they were kicked off the team for having aired their concerns. Ten of the 12 players from the 2023-24 team did not return, including the nine who later decided to join the lawsuit.
Oregon’s reading and math scores in 2024 were some of the lowest-ranked in the nation, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
According to a table from NAEP, Oregon had the fourth-worst average math scores in fourth graders, ahead of only Alaska, New Mexico and Puerto Rico. When it came to average reading scores in fourth graders, Oregon had the fourth-worst average scores, behind West Virginia, Alaska and New Mexico.
NAEP gave every state a score from 0 to 500 in all of its reports. For fourth grade mathematics, the average score in the U.S. among all states was 237.
Oregon performed eight scores below that, with a 229 score. This is above Alaska’s 226 and New Mexico’s 224. The state with the highest performance in fourth grade mathematics was Massachusetts at 246.
The national average among fourth grade reading scores was 214, with Oregon 7 points below at 207.
Oregon is only above West Virginia at 206, Alaska at 202 and New Mexico at 201. While Oregon’s scores are some of the lowest in the country comparatively, there has been a decrease in scores across the nation.
Students are also missing more school. The report said about 31% of fourth graders reported missing three or more days of school the month before taking the assessment. This was a decrease from 35% of students missing school in 2022, but still significantly worse than 24% in 2019.
A man is facing charges after allegedly engaging in threatening behavior with a replica gun near an elementary school in Newport.
Police arrested Timothy Bottorff Friday for the incident outside Sam Case Elementary School. Police say Bottorff was walking toward the school’s doors while carrying an airsoft pistol, yelling angrily and making aggressive movements. The incident caused the school to go into lockdown. Police say Bottorff tried to discard of a meth pipe and some methamphetamine while fleeing from police, who eventually caught up to him and arrested him.
Bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023.
And it appears there may be no relief in sight, given the surge in demand as Easter approaches. The average price per dozen nationwide hit $4.15 in December. The cause of the epidemic remains under investigation.
That’s not quite as high as the $4.82 record set two years ago, but the Agriculture Department predicts prices are going to soar another 20% this year.
Cage-free varieties — which are required in Oregon and Washington — are even more expensive. At a Portland Fred Meyer on Monday, the cheapest Grade A eggs available were store-brand cartons of a dozen priced at $7.49. (Lower-quality Grade B eggs, more often used in processed foods, were available for $5.29.)
Signs at many area grocery stores warn of rising prices and the potential for empty shelves.
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 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.
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 minor; vocalist 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 Tzigane. The 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.
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.
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.
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!