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, March 19, 2025

Wind Advisory in effect until 8:00PM this evening

Klamath Basin Weather

 

 

 

Around the State of Oregon

With spring break and summer travel season approaching, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) encourages people to make sure they are protected against measles.

Getting the MMR vaccine — for measles, mumps and rubella — is the most effective prevention tool against the highly contagious virus. 

Twelve U.S. states, including California, Texas and New Mexico, have reported cases of measles since Jan 1st.

While Oregon has no cases so far in 2025, last year the state recorded 31 confirmed cases — its highest measles count in more than 30 years — during an outbreak among unvaccinated people, including two children younger than 5. 

Measles typically starts with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. A rash usually follows, beginning on the face and spreading to the rest of the body. Symptoms begin seven to 10 days after exposure to a person with measles. Common complications of measles include ear infection, lung infection and diarrhea. Swelling of the brain is a rare but much more serious complication. 

About 20% of people who contract measles are hospitalized. In developed countries in recent years, one or two of every 1,000 measles cases have been fatal.  

Measles spreads through the air after a person with measles coughs, sneezes, or even breathes. People who are infected can be unknowingly contagious for four days before a rash appears and up to four days afterward.  That means someone with measles can be unaware they are infected and can easily spread the virus before noticing any symptoms. 

During the 2024 outbreak in Oregon, OHA worked with local public health officials to share information about specific locations where known measles cases had spent time so that members of the public were aware they may have been exposed to the highly contagious virus. 

 

Several Republican members of the Oregon House signed a letter to President Trump asking him to order voter identification and citizenship verification.

The request follows a mutiple clerical errors with Oregon’s Motor-Voter registration system that allowed at least 12-hundred people to be incorrectly registered to vote in the recent general election. Nine of those people voted.  Who knows how many others have voted in other elections and primaries over the past 10 tens years.

The DMV has made changes to correct the problem and the Secretary of State’s Office is slowly reviewing voter registrations from the DMV.

 

Coos Bay Man Faces Federal Chargers For Distributing Child Pornography

EUGENE, Ore.—A Coos Bay, Oregon man was arraigned in federal court today for possessing, distributing, attempting to produce, and producing child pornography.

Thomas Owen Barnett, 39, has been charged with attempting to use and using a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct and possessing and distributing child pornography.

According to court documents, between September and December 2023, Barnett is alleged to have knowingly and intentionally used a minor to engage in and record sexually explicit conduct. In September 2024, Barnett is further alleged to have used Kik and Instagram, online social media platforms, to engage in chats involving child sex abuse, seek opportunities to engage in child sexual abuse, and advertise the sale of child pornography. At times, Barnett posed as a young man or a minor female to persuade his victims to produce and exchange child pornography, including requests for sexually explicit materials depicting an infant.

Barnett made his initial appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a jury trial scheduled to begin on May 27, 2025.

Attempting to use a minor and using a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct are each punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison with a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence, distribution of child pornography is punishable by up to 20 years in prison with a 5-year mandatory minimum sentence, and possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. If convicted, Barnett also faces up to a lifetime term of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 for each count.

This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. 

 

Ontario Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Carjacking Victims at Gunpoint 

MEDFORD, Ore.—An Ontario, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison Friday for carjacking three victims at gunpoint.

Gregory Escobedo, Jr., 31, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.

The first 100 months of Escobedo’s federal sentence will run concurrent to a 180-to-360-month state prison sentence previously imposed in Canyon County, Idaho, and will be served in Idaho state prison. Escobedo will serve the remaining 80 months of his federal sentence in federal prison following the completion of his state prison sentence. Following his release from federal prison, Escobedo must also complete a three-year term of federal supervised release.

According to court documents, on March 3, 2021, at an apartment complex in Ontario, Escobedo ordered a victim to exit their vehicle at gunpoint and drove away in the stolen vehicle. The following day, Escobedo approached a vehicle parked on the side of the road and carjacked another victim while brandishing a firearm. The stolen vehicle was out of gas which caused Escobedo to quickly return to the vehicle he arrived in and flee the area.

Later the same day, on March 4, 2021, in Caldwell, Idaho, Escobedo stole an unattended truck at a gas station. The owner pursued Escobedo, who eventually stopped the truck, and was confronted by the victim. Escobedo shot the unarmed victim in the chest and fled. The victim was taken to a hospital and survived. Shortly after the shooting, Escobedo was stopped by law enforcement and arrested.

On May 20, 2021, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a five-count indictment charging Escobedo with carjacking, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

On July 7, 2024, Escobedo pleaded guilty to two counts of carjacking.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Judith Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

 

A Wolf Creek man is in the Douglas County Jail on second-degree manslaughter charges after a pickup truck crash on Monday killed his daughter.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) said driver impairment is a factor in the crash. Deputies were sent to respond to a crash on ODF land bordering the 1200 block of Tunnel Rd in Glendale at about 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Mar. 11. DCSO said the truck, a green Ford F250, was occupied by the driver, 55-year-old Ian Anthony Fleming of Wolf Creek, when the crash happened.

Three juvenile girls were also reportedly in the truck at the time of the crash.  DCSO said the three girls were thrown from the truck as it rolled down an embankment, with all three sustaining injuries. Fleming got out of the truck and tried to get medical care for his daughter, who was seriously injured. 

Fleming borrowed a car to drive his daughter to the Tunnel Rd ambulance station, where Glendale Ambulance paramedics declared her dead. Paramedics took the other two girls to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford for treatment. DCSO said on Tuesday its detectives responded to the scene after deputies said Fleming had fled.

Detectives determined alcohol and drugs were a factor in the crash, arresting Fleming on charges of second-degree manslaughter.

 

An Oregon appeals court on Wednesday found that a gun control law approved by voters over two years ago is constitutional, reversing a lower court ruling from a state judge who had kept it on hold.

The law, one of the toughest in the nation, requires people to undergo a criminal background check and complete a gun safety training course in order to obtain a permit to buy a firearm.

It also bans high-capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds. Measure 114 has been tied up in state and federal court since it was narrowly approved by voters in November 2022. It was among the first gun restrictions to be passed after a major 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling changed the guidance judges are expected to follow when considering Second Amendment cases. 

A state judge in rural southeastern Oregon temporarily blocked the law from taking effect after gun owners filed a lawsuit claiming it violated the right to bear arms under the Oregon Constitution. Circuit Court Judge Robert S. Raschio then presided over a 2023 trial in Harney County and ruled that the law violated the state constitution. The Oregon attorney general’s office appealed the ruling.

 

Every year, the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony honors the state’s law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

This year’s ceremony will be held Tuesday, May 6th at 1 p.m. at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem.

The annual event commemorates the more than 190 fallen officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the state of Oregon since the 1860s. This includes law enforcement, corrections, and parole and probation officers from city, county, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies.

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training is proud to host the ceremony in partnership with the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Oregon Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation, and various statewide law enforcement associations.

 

Spring break at Portland International Airport starts on Friday.

Eight-hundred-20-thousand travelers are expected to move through the airport through Sunday, April 6th.

Travel is expected to be slightly higher than last year. Monday March 31st and Friday, April 4th are expected to be the busiest days. Security lines could be long, so they’re advising travelers to arrive two hours before their flight.

Parking is also anticipated to be full. You can check parking lot levels at FlyPDX.com.

 

The Oregon Department of Revenue has added features to the “Where’s My Refund” tool.

Users can learn more about the status of their refund, they can see when additional information is needed, and the website is easier to navigate. To use the tool, taxpayers need to create a login at Revenue Online.

https://revenueonline.dor.oregon.gov/tap/_/

 

Filing a tax return could net thousands in tax credits for low-income families

Salem, OR—Oregon’s newest refundable personal income tax credit put more than $39 million into the pockets of low-income families in its first year in 2024.

The Oregon Kids Credit, created by the Legislature in 2023, is a refundable credit for low-income people with young dependent children. For those with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $25,750 or less, the full credit is $1,000 per child for up to five dependent children under the age of six at the end of the tax year—a maximum benefit of $5,000. A partial credit is available for individuals and families with an MAGI up to $30,750.

So far in 2025, more than 22,000 taxpayers have claimed $25 million in benefits from the Oregon Kids Credit.

When combined with the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and the Oregon Earned Income Credit, it could help boost the tax refund for the lowest income families by a total of $13,770.

The EITC is for people with an adjusted gross income of up to $66,818 in 2024. Families may be eligible for a maximum refundable credit of $7,830 on their federal tax return, and a maximum Oregon EIC of $940 on their state tax return.

All three credits are fully refundable, meaning the portion of the credit that is larger than what a taxpayer owes can be refunded. Taxpayers may even be able to claim the credits and receive a tax refund if they don’t normally file a tax return.

To claim the credits, taxpayers must file a return. To assist taxpayers, Oregon offers several free filing options, including free fillable forms and the new Direct File Oregon. Taxpayers who need help filing their taxes can also find free assistance options on the agency website.

Families who are eligible for the Oregon Kids Credit are also likely eligible for the refundable Working Family Household and Dependent Care Credit (WFHDC), which helps low- to moderate-income families pay for the care of their dependents while they’re working, looking for work, or attending school.

For more information about the federal EITC, the Oregon EIC, the Oregon Kids Credit and other similar credits, go to the Tax benefits for families page.

Taxpayers filing their own 2024 income tax returns can get free assistance using the new combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon when Oregon Department of Revenue volunteers visit libraries across the state this tax season.

 

Oregon and nine other states recently achieved a collective goal of shifting new car buyers toward electric rather than gas-powered vehicles in an effort to reduce pollution and combat climate change.

The states have collectively registered 3.3 million new electric vehicles in the last 12 years, fulfilling a 2013 agreement to do so by 2025, according to a report shared Monday by the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, a Boston-based nonprofit association of state air pollution control agencies. 

Transportation was and remains the largest source of planet warming greenhouse gases in Oregon and the nation. When then-Gov. John Kitzhaber signed onto the 2013 agreement, just 300 electric vehicles were registered in Oregon.

Today, more than 100,000 electric vehicles have been registered in the state, according to the Oregon Department of Energy. That’s about 5% of all new cars registered in the state in the last decade.

 

Since the Oregon Legislature voted to ban single-use plastic grocery bags and limit plastic straws in 2019, most Oregonians have grown used to bringing their own bags to the store and asking for straws.

Now, lawmakers looking to stop plastic from piling up on the state’s beaches are turning their attention to other plastic utensils, condiment packaging and hotel-issued toiletries.

The Oregon Senate voted 22-8 on Tuesday to pass Senate Bill 551, which would expand the state’s plastic bag ban to cover takeout bags provided by restaurants and the thicker plastic bags some stores have offered since the original ban took effect in 2020.  The bill would also require customers to explicitly ask for plastic utensils, single-serving plastic packaging for condiments like ketchup, coffee creamer, jelly and soy sauce and plastic-packaged hospitality size shampoos, soaps and lotions, like they already must ask for straws.

Sen. Janeen Sollman, the Hillsboro Democrat behind the bill, said it will be good for the environment and for businesses that will save money by buying fewer plastic goods.  The proposal won support from all Democrats and four Republicans. Three of those Republicans — Sens. David Brock Smith of Port Orford, Dick Anderson of Lincoln City and Suzanne Weber of Tillamook — represent coastal districts, and Brock Smith said his experience on Oregon’s beaches contributed to his vote for the bill.

Sen. Todd Nash, R-Enterprise, lives far from the ocean but said he voted for the bill because of the timber industry. Other Republicans were less convinced. Sen. Kim Thatcher, a Keizer Republican who voted against the bill, said her dogs would look forward to it because they’d have easier access to saucy Chinese takeout that leaks out of folding boxes and can now be contained by a plastic bag.

And Sen. Noah Robinson, R-Cave Junction, said he opposes littering but loves plastic. Stores, restaurants and hotels should have the freedom to choose the products they think are best for their customers, he said.

 

Oregon State Representative Pam Marsh introduced a bill Tuesday that would create a fund to help those who lose their property to utility-caused fires. 

HB3917 would allow utilities companies to create a fund of $800 million that would pay property damage claims arising from wildfires caused by their equipment.  The fund will be managed by the Public Utilities Commission.

Another bill introduced by Marsh addressing utility companies’ roles in fire is HB3666, which requires utility companies to apply for a wildfire safety certification, meeting a requirement that she said isn’t currently set. If they meet the standard, the PUC will award them a wildfire safety certificate.

HB3917 doesn’t stop the ability to pursue civil action against a utility commission, but it does entail a caveat, that if you gain funds from a claim with the fund, you will not be able to pursue action against the utility provider.

 

Oregon Parks and Rec Dept is asking beachgoers to remember this is Western Snowy Plover nesting season.

Sensitive nesting areas are identified on maps for the southern and northern Oregon coast. Signs are also posted on trailheads, where visitors might be asked to stay on the wet sand and keep dogs out of the area.

Snowy Plover nesting season runs through September 15th, to help reverse the decline of the threatened species.

 

Oregon State Parks will hire more than 200 seasonal Rangers and Ranger Assistants for positions across the state for the 2025 season.

Hiring starts as soon as this month and runs through about June with new positions listed on a rolling basis on the website. The positions last anywhere from four to nine months. Most seasonal staff work April through September, but some start as early as this month or work as late as December. Seasonal staff help visitors access world-class experiences and ensure clean and safe park areas for everyone to enjoy.

Duties include janitorial work, landscape maintenance, visitor education and visitor services. Salaries start at $19.78 per hour for seasonal assistants and $23.21 for seasonal rangers. Both positions include comprehensive medical, vision and dental plans for employees and qualified family members. The positions also include paid sick leave, vacation, personal leave and 11 paid holidays per year.

Student workers, ages 16 and older, start at $19.77 or more per hour depending on experience. Several of Oregon State Parks’ top leaders started their careers as seasonal employees including all three Region Directors. Seasonal staff gain valuable skills working with experienced Rangers at parks around the state.

The first wave of openings include positions along the coast from Washburne to Cape Lookout; the Willamette Valley including Silver Falls and Detroit Lake; the Columbia River Gorge and Eastern Oregon including Wallowa Lake and Lake Owyhee. For more information about current openings, visit stateparks.oregon.gov.

If you have any questions or need additional assistance in accessibility or alternative formats, please email Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Recruiting OPRD.Recruiting@oprd.oregon.gov. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, committed to diversity and pay equity.

A bill to make Oregon one of a small number of states that have banned the sale of flavored tobacco drew passionate support but also very personal objections during a public hearing this week.

Proponents of the bill told a legislative committee that flavored tobacco “smells like candy” and addicts children as young as elementary school age while setting them on a path toward early death.

But opponents argued flavored tobacco, which often is ingested through vaping or packets that are sucked on, offers adults a less harmful alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes and the problem resides with stores that violate the law by selling it to Oregonians under age 21.

Chief among the bill’s opponents is Sen. David Brock Smith, a Port Orford Republican, who told the Senate Committee On Early Childhood and Behavioral Health that vaping flavored tobacco allowed him to kick a 30-year habit of smoking that was passed on to him from his dad.

Richard Burke, executive director of the 21+ Tobacco and Vapor Retail Association of Oregon, said banning flavored tobacco takes away “bodily autonomy” for adults and even the National Health Service in the United Kingdom has started a “Swap to Stop” program where it gives smokers vaping products in exchange for their traditional cigarettes. Burke also said a prohibition could create an underground trade.

Senate Bill 702 supporters who testified Tuesday were people of all ages, including parents, teens and doctors. They said not only do the fruity and sweet flavors hook youth under 21, the flavored tobacco impacts their ability to focus at school and be productive later in life.

Youth have little trouble getting around Oregon’s age restrictions on sales by getting the products from adults or buying the products at stores that are lackadaisical about enforcement, proponents of the bill said.

 

Mt. Ashland is extending its 2024/2025 ski season with two bonus weekends in April, now remaining open April 19-20 and April 26-27.

Originally scheduled to close April 13, the Ski Area is enjoying a record-breaking season with 296 inches of snow and continued strong snow coverage, thanks to recent storms that added 30 inches in just four days.

During the bonus weekends, the Comer, Windsor, and Ariel chairlifts will run from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at a discounted rate. The Sonnet and Lithia chairlifts, along with the First Act Learning Carpet, will close April 13, and Group Lessons will end that weekend, though Private Lessons will remain available. 

Spring events will also be announced soon, and guests can stay updated on Mt. Ashland’s website and social media for the latest news. With two bonus weekends added, Mt. Ashland is set for one of its longest seasons in 30 years.

 

Britt Music and Arts Festival has announced the next slate of ten Britt shows for the 2025 summer season.

Britt is honored to host legendary country artist Wynonna Judd, pop sensation Natasha Bedingfield, world renowned blues and rock duo Taj Mahal & Steve Earle; not to mention other notable Britt first timers like Dirtwire with Special Guests Free Creatures and a much-anticipated performance from Tash Sultana. 

2025 will be a groundbreaking year at Britt, as it marks the first ever mariachi band performance at the venue. This milestone introduces a vibrant new cultural dimension, offering audiences an unforgettable fusion of traditional Latin music and the festival’s robust artistic legacy.

Tickets for several Britt shows are already on sale, including The California Honeydrops, DISPATCH, Brothers Osborne, The Buena Vista Orchestra, Mat Kearney and many others. Britt Festival Orchestra concerts are also available to the general public, including the two-night run of Jurassic Park In Concert with the orchestra playing the score live-to-picture.

All tickets are available at brittfest.org. Fans are urged to visit the website directly to ensure that their tickets are valid and the best possible price.

Tickets and more information can be found at brittfest.org, or from the Box Office at 541-773-6077 or in person at 216 W. Main St., Medford, Oregon. With this announcement, there will be a Member pre-sale before tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 28.

 

A pair of country stars is coming to one of Oregon’s biggest summer events, The Happy Canyon Kick-Off Concert, which is the opening to the Pendleton Round-Up.  The weeklong festival in northeast Oregon that’s anchored by one of the biggest and most popular rodeos in the country.

This year, the concert will be headlined by country singers Tracy Lawrence and Rodney Atkins, who will perform at the Happy Canyon Arena on Saturday, Sept. 6.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. March 14 at pendletonroundup.com.  Lawrence, who had more than a dozen chart-topping singles in the 1990s and 2000s, is coming off his “Ain’t My Last Rodeo Tour” and hosts a radio show, “Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence.” Atkins, who has also had several No. 1 singles, has been trickling out new songs in recent months, his first new solo work since 2019.

The rodeo portion of the Pendleton Round-Up will take place Sept. 10-13 this year. Tickets are on sale now.

 

BEND, OR — Spring break kicks off this Saturday, March 22 at the High Desert Museum with special programs, new exhibitions and summer hours, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

The popular indoor flight demonstration Sky Hunters returns to the E. L. Wiegand Pavilion in the Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center. Visitors experience powerful predators close up as raptors fly just overhead, showcasing the birds’ agility and grace while learning about their lives in the wild. The program is daily from Saturday, March 22 – Saturday, March 29 at 11:00 am and 1:30 pm and is first come, first served. Tickets are $7 and available at Admissions on the day of. Museum members receive a 20% discount. Sky Hunters is possible with support from Fly Redmond.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy daily talks about High Desert flora and fauna, free with admission. These include the Nature Walk at 10:30 am, Otter Encounter at 12:30 pm and Mammal Encounter at 3:00 pm.

On Saturday, March 22 and from March 25-29, the High Desert Ranch and Sawmill will be open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm with interactive talks about life in the High Desert. Experience history and jump in to lend a hand or ask about the many buildings and objects.

Spring break visitors will also be able to experience the Museum’s temporary exhibitions. The new, original exhibition Patterns at Play: Fractals in Nature in the Brooks Gallery features interactive play and soft music to immerse visitors into the repeating patterns of nature. Fractals start with one simple shape, such as a triangle. When that triangle is repeated over and over, either smaller or larger, the result is a more complicated pattern that can scale.

Visitors can create their own patterns and watch as fractals dance on the walls, and two lighted tables will delight littles and their caregivers alike with hands-on shape-building. Bean bags encourage relaxation while fractal patterns dance across a wall-sized video screen. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/fractals.

Another exhibition open now is Frank S. Matsura: Portraits from the Borderland.

Featuring 20-plus enlarged photographs of Indigenous families from the 1900s, the exhibition shares the story of Frank S. Matsura, a Japanese-born photographer who immigrated to Okanogan County in Washington state in the early 1900s. He set up a studio in the area and began photographing the local Indigenous communities, providing history a nuanced and detailed view of life during a time of transition.

The exhibit includes period artifacts and objects from the Museum’s own collection as well as from the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane, Wash. Video documentaries explain the history and the photography, while also highlighting young leaders of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Generous support for the exhibition is provided by Art Bridges. It was organized by the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture and was curated by Michael Holloman and Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture Associate Curator of Special Projects Anne-Claire Mitchell. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/matsura.
 

Other temporary exhibitions include Neighbors: Wildlife Paintings by Hilary Baker. The exhibit, located in the Desertarium Gallery, features more than a dozen of Baker’s artworks. Baker, who grew up in Los Angeles during the latter years of Hollywood’s Golden Age, spent most of her childhood exploring the hills and canyons near her home. She searched for animal bones and other evidence of wildlife amid the pavement and backdrop of Los Angeles. The exhibition explores the complex relationship between manmade spaces and native wildlife in a crisp, graphic painting style. The exhibition closes on Sunday, April 6. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/hilary-baker.

Blood, Sweat & Flannel, an original exhibition, explores what flannel through the ages. From a rugged lumberjack of the 1800s to a classic grunge band of the 1990s, this unique experience invites visitors to dig deeper into the stories behind the fabric. Today, flannel is produced from various materials, including wool, cotton and even synthetic fibers. exhibition features imagery, tactile elements and even an audio interactive element that bring to life the experiences of those who wore flannel during each era. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/flannel.

And Forest at Night reveals the sights and sounds of the forest when the moon is high and the stars are out. An immersive and interactive exhibition, Forest at Night takes visitors on a virtual tour, featuring insects, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. In addition to showcasing the wonders of the night, the exhibit also delves into the pressing issue of light pollution and how artificial light disrupts the nighttime ecosystem. Visitors may gaze up at twinkling stars and learn about the constellations that guide migrating birds on their way through the High Desert. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/forest-at-night.

More information on visiting the High Desert Museum is available at highdesertmuseum.org/visit-bend-oregon.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert.

 

The long-delayed deadline for REAL ID is now just three months away. There’s a chance that full enforcement may get gradually rolled out, but May 7, 2025, is the changeover deadline.

Starting then, state-level ID cards, such as driver’s licenses, won’t be accepted for federal purposes, namely getting through airport security, unless it’s REAL ID-compliant. If you plan to catch a domestic flight on or after May 7, you will be required to use a REAL ID. A little gold or black star in the upper right-hand corner is one of the easiest ways to know you’re holding a REAL ID.

In Oregon, it’s a black star. A REAL ID is an identification card that serves all of the same purposes of a standard drivers’ license or state-issued identification card. A federally-mandated switch to REAL ID for federal purposes, such as flying domestically, was originally signed into law by Congress in 2005.

The purpose is to establish “minimum security standards for license issuance and production,” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website. The law, established four years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, came in response to federal calls for higher security standards in the U.S. Originally, the law mandated the switch to REAL ID by 2008, but it has been pushed back for various reasons due to logistical hurdles and later the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

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