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Monday, March 24, 2025

Klamath Basin Weather

 

 

Around the State of Oregon

A canine sergeant aided in the seizure of 50 pounds of narcotics in Northern California.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) Northern Division Canine Sgt. Robbie was called in during an enforcement stop around 8:40 a.m. Thursday morning. CHP stated in a post on Facebook that law enforcement called Sgt. Robbie in “after noticing several indicators of criminal activity.”

“K-9 Robbie conducted an exterior sniff of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of the odor of narcotics,” the statement reads. “A subsequent probably cause search of the vehicle was conducted.” CHP reported finding 48 pounds of methamphetamine and 2 pounds of fentanyl.

 

Oregon’s 197 school districts will get nearly $77 million in additional funding this year from revenues generated from leases and industry permitted on state lands.

That’s a record payout from the Common School Fund and $2.5 million more than schools received from the fund in 2024, officials from the Oregon Department of State Lands announced Thursday. It is $12 million more than districts received from the fund three years ago, in 2022. All districts receive funding based on the number of students they serve. The average district in 2025 will get about $390,000 — enough to hire about five teachers, according to calculations from the Department of State Lands. 

The state’s largest district, Portland Public Schools, will get about $6.6 million. Smaller districts, such as the 2,100-student Ontario School District in eastern Oregon, will get about $300,000. Districts typically receive their first payments in February and their second in July.

The Common School Fund has been around for more than 160 years, when Congress decided to allocate nearly 3.4 million acres of land to the newly established state of Oregon to be used to earn money for schools. The state sold much of the land. Today, just about 20% of the original allotment remains producing revenue for schools through land leases to farmers and ranchers, tribal governments, logging companies and other businesses.

Those lands contribute about $7 million dollars a year to the Common School Fund, which is invested by the Oregon State Treasury. The fund today is worth nearly $2.4 billion, but just about 3.5% of the fund is distributed to schools annually..

 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Oregon man was arrested by the FBI yesterday in Portland after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment this week charging him with transporting a minor with the intent to have the child engage in criminal sexual activity.

According to court documents, in 2019, Steven Fox, 59, moved from Pendleton, Oregon, to Anchorage, Alaska. At some point that year, Fox allegedly presented himself as a long-lost “uncle” to a family with two minor daughters and began caring for the minors.

Court documents further allege that in January 2020, Fox transported the minors from Alaska to Oregon. Fox started sexually abusing one of the minors, who was 9 years old, almost immediately after leaving Alaska.

Fox is charged with one count of transportation of minors. The defendant is scheduled to make his initial court appearance today at 1:30 p.m. PST before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. If convicted, he faces between 10 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated this case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Pendleton Police Department and FBI Portland Field Office. If anyone has information concerning Fox’s alleged actions, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office (907) 276-4441 or anonymously at tips.fbi.gov.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers and Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon.

 

A new bill on the Oregon house floor is taking wide swings at allocating funding to pay for anticipated wildfire costs in the next biennium including a proposed surcharge on bottles and cans.

State Representatives John Lively and Bobby Levy introduced HB 3940, a bipartisan proposal aimed at funding wildfire prevention and suppression in Oregon. The bill creates new provisions, directing multiple funding sources towards the State Fire Marshal’s office to make up for a projected shortfall of about $300 million.

Sources include insurance and forest harvest taxes, the Oregon Rainy Day Fund, and a 5¢ surcharge on each beverage container sold in the state. Representative John Lively from Springfield says not every recommendation from the bill is meant to pass, but rather a combination of solutions.

Ashland Senator Jeff Golden says his own plan to hold back Oregon’s Kicker would help fund wildfire needs if HB 3940 doesn’t get through the legislature, or fails to raise enough money. The bill was sent to the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment, but has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing.

 

Protect Your Property: How to File a Flood Insurance Claim and What You Need to Know

As spring rains and seasonal flooding continue to increase the risk of water damage across Oregon, it’s critical for homeowners and renters to understand the process of filing a flood insurance claim and how to protect their financial future. 

If you are a flood insurance policyholder, follow these important steps to begin filing your flood claim: 

Steps to File Your Flood Claim: 

1. Start a claim: Contact your flood insurance company or agent as soon as possible to start your claim. Have your policy number ready and report the damage. 
2. Prepare for your inspection: Take photos and videos of all damaged property before removing or repairing anything. This documentation will help support your claim. 
3. Work with your adjuster: A flood insurance adjuster will be assigned to inspect your property. Be sure to ask questions and provide any additional documentation requested. 
4. Document your loss and receive payment: Keep a detailed list of damaged items including descriptions, replacement costs, and receipts if available. Once the adjuster finalizes your claim, you will receive your payment based on the terms of your policy. 
5. Make repairs: Use your claim payment to make necessary repairs and keep all receipts for future reference. Be cautious of contractors offering fast fixes—always verify credentials. 
6. Understand your claim payments: Learn more about how your claim payments are determined and what’s covered under your flood insurance policy. Visit: https://www.fema.gov/blog/facts-and-myths-about-flood-insurance 

Don’t Have Flood Insurance? Now’s the Time to Consider It 

Flooding can happen anywhere, not just in high-risk areas—and just one inch of water can cause thousands of dollars in damage. Flood insurance is a smart way to protect your home and belongings from the financial impact of flooding. 

Check with your current insurance agent to see if they offer flood insurance. If they do not, contact the National Flood Insurance Program at 877-336-2627 (toll-free) or visit www.floodsmart.gov/flood-insurance/providers to find a provider near you. 

 

 

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek is releasing data on the Emergency Homelessness Response project.

State benchmarks released Wednesday show that the goals of the project have already been exceeded. As part of the state’s emergency declaration in January 2023, the state, Oregon Housing and Community Services, along with rural communities joined forces to provide housing and other supportive services across the state.

So far the state says over 1,000 new shelter beds have been created, more than 1,400 households have been rehoused, and more than 9,000 households have been prevented from slipping into homelessness. Over 450 partner agencies helped ensure that all three major benchmarks were exceeded.

 

The University of Oregon could face its first strike by faculty.

The United Academics at the University of Oregon says a year of bargaining has failed to produce a fair contract. The union represents nearly two-thousand full- and part-time faculty. The union says some part-time faculty can barely afford to live in Eugene. They say enrollment is up and faculty should be fairly compensated.

The U-of-O says they’re committed to a contract that fairly compensates faculty while ensuring long-term financial sustainability. The earliest a strike could occur is March 31st.

 

The Oregon Department of Education is closely following changes at the U.S. Department of Education. President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that’s aimed at dismantling the federal agency.

He says test scores are on the decline and states should be responsible for school operations. The Oregon Department of Education released a statement saying they’re monitoring developments and working with the Governor Kotek’s office and the Oregon Department of Justice to assess potential impacts.

They’re working to keep the best interests of students and schools at the forefront of any discussions.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry has released its report on the cause of the Santiam Canyon Fires in 2020.

There were a total of 19 fire reports. Twelve of them were caused by Pacific Power equipment, but the investigators found they were all put out by residents or firefighters.

The fires that caused the damage were started by embers from the Beachie Creek Fire that was burning in the Cascades. Investigators interviewed over 180 witnesses during the investigation.

On Wednesday last week, Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 199, near milepost 16, in Josephine County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Ford F-150, operated by Ethan Wayne Anderson (36) of Cave Junction, struck a pedestrian, Buck Carlos Gene Arby Ward (58) of Crescent City (CA), who was in the roadway for unknown reasons.  The pedestrian (Ward) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Ford (Anderson) was reportedly not injured. The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation. Weather conditions (fog) is being considered a contributing factor in the crash. OSP was assisted by Illinois Valley Fire.

 

Concerns about the killings of livestock, including calves and sheep, by gray wolves, especially in areas near rural ranch homes, has spurred Modoc County Supervisors and Modoc County Sheriff Tex Dowdy to become increasingly outspoken.

“Wolves have no fear of humans because there’s nothing we can do,” said Modoc County Supervisor Ned Coe, who notes wolves are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act and by a similar endangered species act in California.

People who kill wolves are subject to penalties, including arrest. Coe introduced a resolution cited the dangers and impacts of wolves that was unanimously approved by supervisors earlier this month.

While he noted the killing of livestock has occurred over a broad area of northeastern California, he sponsored a resolution “confirming the existence of a local emergency in Modoc County due a significant threat to public safety due to depredation by gray wolves in close proximity to rural residents.” It also requests intervention by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to “consider euthanizing or relocating problem wolves to protect livestock losses and ensure the safety of the general public in affected communities.” 

The resolution is similar to one passed earlier this year in neighboring Lake County, Oregon, where there were eight confirmed and four suspected kills by OR158, a collared wolf that had been in several Oregon counties along with Modoc County. “We followed Lake County’s lead,” Coe said of the resolution.

Gray wolves are listed by the CDFW as a recovering endangered species protected by the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) and by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Endangered Species. Coe, who owns a small beef cattle operation, said the endangered species listings leave ranchers and others with “no effective management tools to deal with wolves. Our hands are tied.”

Concerns about wolves, he said, has increased because of information about wolf-caused deaths available on social media, including Facebook. Coe said sites that formerly obscured images of devoured calves, for example, are now showing clearer images showing severely mauled animals. “That has helped elevate the level of concern.”

 

A new bill introduced by Rep. Christine Drazan (R-Canby) seeks to offer financial relief to Oregon’s senior homeowners by providing a property tax exemption.

House Bill 3755 creates a five percent property tax exemption for homeowners who meet certain qualifications, with the exemption increasing annually. The bill targets seniors who are at least 65 years old, have lived in their homes for at least 10 years, and have a household income of no more than $150,000 per year.

Under the proposed legislation, the exemption would increase by five percent each year, ultimately allowing seniors to be exempt from property taxes once they reach an older age.  Drazen shared in a news release, seniors now outnumber children in Oregon for the first time since 2023, making up 19.6 percent of the state’s population. The rising costs of healthcare, utilities, and property taxes are among the fastest-growing expenses for older Oregonians. In 2022, Oregon’s healthcare costs surged by 49 percent, while Medicare expenses increased by 57.5 percent. 

Homeowners must apply for this exemption annually, providing necessary documentation to prove eligibility. The exemption applies to property tax years starting July 1, 2026, and may be canceled if the homeowner dies, sells the property, or no longer resides there.

 

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/_/

 

With spring break and summer travel season here, 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. 

 

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.

 

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.

 

Spring Whale Watch Week returns to the Oregon Coast for Spring Break 2025

OREGON COAST, Oregon— Oregon State Parks are hosting Whale Watch Week along the Oregon Coast through Sunday, March 30.

Trained Oregon State Park volunteers and rangers are stationed at 14 sites along the Oregon Coast to help visitors spot whales and their calves and answer questions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily March 22-30. The sites are some of the best places to watch for whales on the Oregon Coast.  Cape Foulweather will not be included this year because it is closed due to construction.

“Spring is a great time for whale watching because the gray whales are usually closer to shore on their return trip, typically around a mile or so out, and they might have calves in tow,” said Park Ranger Peter McBride.

An estimated 19,260 gray whales are expected to swim past Oregon’s shores from late winter through June as part of their annual migration back to Alaska.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced an end to an Unusual Mortality Event impacting gray whales in 2023. Since then, the estimated population has increased by roughly 30% from 14,530 in 2023 to 19,260 last year, according to NOAA. The numbers are on the rise overall, but the calf count is still low as the population continues to rebound.

Whale Watch Week provides an opportunity to see not only the gray whales but other coastal wildlife including birds and other marine mammals with help from trained volunteers and rangers.

A map of volunteer-staffed sites is available online on the official event webpage: https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=thingstodo.dsp_whaleWatching

The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 22-30. Visitors to the center can enjoy interactive whale exhibits and take in the panoramic ocean views. Binoculars are provided. Rangers from Oregon State Parks will also be on hand to answer questions about the whales.

All Whale Watch Week visitors are encouraged to dress for the weather, to bring binoculars and to follow beach safety guidelines such as remaining out of fenced areas, knowing the tide schedule and keeping an eye on the surf at all times. Go to https://visittheoregoncoast.com/beach-safety/ for a list of safety tips.

For more information about coast parks and campgrounds, visit stateparks.oregon.gov.

Visitors are encouraged to share their photos and videos from Spring Whale Watch on social media using #OregonStateParks and #ORWhaleWatch.

 

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 last 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.

 

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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