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

 

Around the State of Oregon

Gov. Tina Kotek demanding immediate USDA action for SNAP benefits

While we wait to see if Democrats in Congress plan to open the government anytime soon, Governor Kotek and other Oregon leaders are urging immediate action from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect SNAP benefits in a letter sent Monday. About 18% of Oregon residents rely on SNAP benefits, which is one of the 5 highest in the nation.

The push aims to maintain food assistance for more than 757,000 Oregonians who could lose food assistance at the beginning of November. This includes 210,000 children and 130,000 older adults.

In the letter sent to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, state leaders emphasize the necessity of utilizing contingency and reserve funds to allow states to issue benefits on time and in full. 

“The ongoing federal shutdown has created unacceptable uncertainty for families, children, older adults, and communities across Oregon,” the letter highlights. “Hunger should never be a consequence of political stalemate. USDA must act swiftly to ensure that families have access to food and that benefits are delivered without delay.”

The letter also stresses the potential economic impact if SNAP benefits are disrupted, especially in rural areas where SNAP dollars sustain small businesses, grocery stores and agricultural producers. 

 

November SNAP Food Benefits Expected To Be Delayed

Oregon Health Authority is wanting Oregonians to know that if the federal government shutdown continues into November, which starts on Saturday this week, people who get SNAP food benefits in Oregon may not get their November food benefits on time.

This could affect about 757,000 people, including children, older adults and working families.

We understand this news may feel stressful. Food benefits are important and delays are hard. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is working to keep people informed and will share updates as soon as more is known.

ODHS will post updates on its website (in English and Spanish), on its official social media, and through partner organizations and the media.

 

 

Jesse Rex Orndoff, 31, a former educator and coach in Rogue River and Grants Pass, was sentenced on Thursday to four years in prison along with six years of post-prison supervision after admitting guilt to several charges related to sexual abuse involving a student at Rogue River Junior-Senior High School.

Orndoff entered a guilty plea on October 6 to three counts of second-degree sexual abuse, one count of first-degree sexual corruption of a child, and one count of attempted use of a child in the display of sexually explicit conduct. These charges arose from a sexual relationship with a student aged between 15 and 17 years.

Initially arrested in February, Orndoff was confronted with 30 charges, which included second-degree sexual abuse, third-degree rape, and third-degree sodomy. Subsequently, a Jackson County Grand Jury reduced the charges prior to his guilty plea. He had been released on a $500,000 bail and was free while awaiting trial. As part of the plea agreement, Orndoff is required to undergo sex offender treatment and register as a sex offender.

The sentencing hearing took place in Jackson County Circuit Court under the presiding Judge Christine Herbert.

 

OHA announces Oregon Health Forward Champions and new Move Oregon Health Forward Pledge

SALEM, Ore. -The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced a list of Champions for its Oregon Health Forward (OHF) effort and launched a new Move Oregon Health Forward Pledge, with a call to organizations across the state to sign the pledge and consider what commitment they can make to advance health for all.

The cornerstone of Oregon Health Forward, launched earlier this year, is the statewide Call to Action — OHA’s initiative to galvanize a “whole of society” commitment to its 2030 strategic goal by building new public-private partnerships and cross-sectoral investments to address health disparities. OHA is proud to announce a list of Champions from across sectors and across the state who are leveraging their positions to improve the health and wellbeing of their employees, students, patients, and communities.

Each Champion brings to this effort a founding commitment to Move Oregon Health Forward, described below:

• Marin Arreola, President, Advanced Economic Solutions Inc.

Advanced Economic Solutions will expand access to equitable and affordable behavioral health services across Oregon by investing in community-based workforce development, supporting and elevating Traditional Health Workers, strengthening culturally responsive care, and advancing integrated health navigation.

• Julia Banks, Senior Vice President, Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo Foundation will invest $250,000 in housing stability, with grants to five organizations across the state focused on helping renters avoid eviction and stay housed.

• Dr. Adrien Bennings, President, Portland Community College

Portland Community College has launched and will continue to refine a Behavioral Health Career Pathway, offering a clear and structured journey for students in the field, and diversifying Oregon’s behavioral health workforce for long-term growth.

• David Drinkward, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hoffman Construction Company

Hoffman Construction Company will build out a Recovery Ready Workplace substance use prevention program, working with Care for Construction, a provider of a full range of prevention, awareness, and treatment services custom-built for people in construction.

• Clarissa Etter-Smith, Health Care Executive Director, Genentech

Genentech will expand pathways into STEM education and careers for underrepresented youth in collaboration with community-based programs and continue to remove barriers to care by providing patient assistance, conducting inclusive clinical trials, and supporting patient advocacy organizations and other patient-serving social services nonprofits

• Peggy Maguire, President, Cambia Health Foundation

Cambia Health Foundation will award $200,000 in grants in 2025 focused on innovative whole-person primary care models, early intervention for young children and caregivers, and building a diverse primary care workforce with a focus on behavioral health.

• Gustavo Morales, Executive Director, Euvalcree

Euvalcree will provide technical assistance and strategic support to organizations engaged in economic development activities in Eastern Oregon, seeking to improve regional health and wellbeing through shared economic advancement.

• Dr. Jayathi Murty, President, Oregon State University

Oregon State University will invest in rural health, through placements for public health students, STEM and job readiness for high school students, and expand chronic disease and mental health programming in rural and underserved communities.

Now, for the first time, organizations interested in joining this effort may sign on to the Move Oregon Health Forward Pledge, which asks signatories to commit to the following principles:

1. Hold firm. In a time of rising demand and growing uncertainty, we commit to staying the course: Advancing health and opportunity is a smart investment in stronger communities and a more resilient future.
2. Act where we can. We will take steps — large and small — to strengthen the health and wellbeing of the people we employ, serve and impact.
3. Consider health in all decision-making. We will weigh how our policies, budgets, products, and services affect people’s ability to live well — especially those who face systemic barriers.
4. Support solutions. We will use our voice and resources to back efforts that help more Oregonians thrive.
5. Stand together. By adding our name publicly, we join a growing statewide network committed to Oregon’s health.

Organizations may also continue to make Oregon Health Forward commitments, which may take the form of financial investments in health, programmatic changes, or new partnerships.

All pledge signatories and partner commitments will be recognized and elevated by OHA and celebrated publicly in an end-of-year celebration.

“Now more than ever, it is the responsibility of all of us who care about health and wellbeing in Oregon to demonstrate to our communities that we are committed to making this state a place where everyone can thrive,” said OHA Director Sejal Hathi, M.D., MBA. “I’m proud to sign the Oregon Health Authority onto to the Move Oregon Health Forward Pledge and to announce commitments from our Champions Council that embody these principles. I hope that others see these actions and ask what their organizations can do – no matter their sector – to make it easier for all Oregonians to achieve their full potential for health and wellbeing.”

The first iteration of this work was supported by the CDC Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization that mobilizes philanthropic and private-sector resources to help extend the lifesaving work of the nation’s public health system.

To sign the pledge, make a commitment, or find out more information about the Call to Action, visit our web page here.

 

Sewage spill could increase risk of exposure to fecal bacteria

Cannon Beach, Ore. – The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OBMP) at Oregon Health Authority is issuing an alert for Cannon Beach at Gower Creek due to a sewage spill that could raise the risk of exposure to fecal bacteria.

OHA is issuing an alert because OBMP staff do not have test results confirming the presence of bacteria in the Gower Creek outfall, where it spills into Cannon Beach. Therefore, they are not able to determine risk to human health and issue a formal beach advisory.

However, because of the potential health risk due to the presence of sewage, the OBMP is encouraging visitors to the Gower Creek area of Cannon Beach to take precautions. They should avoid wading in nearby creeks, pools of water on the beach, or in discolored water, and stay clear of water runoff flowing into the ocean.

The City of Cannon Beach reports it has cleaned up the spill and is taking samples for fecal bacteria testing to confirm the clean-up was successful. The city has also posted warning signs along the affected areas on Cannon Beach and have issued communications via Facebook and its local listserv.

 

Eighth Annual Waterway Cleanup Series Removes Over 31,000 Pounds of Litter

On Wednesday, October 15, SOLVE, in partnership with Clackamas Water Environment Services, hosted the final event of the Waterway Cleanup Series at High Rocks Park, marking the conclusion of its eighth year.

With the dedication of 41 volunteers, 490 pounds of trash was diverted from the Clackamas River. This wrap-up event capped a summer-long initiative that mobilized more than 1,700 volunteers across 60 events, resulting in the removal of over 31,000 pounds of litter from rivers, streams, and creeks across the region, roughly equivalent to removing the weight of 200 tires from Oregon’s waterways.

Running from May through October, the Waterway Cleanup Series focused on protecting the health of rivers and streams across the Pacific Northwest, including the Molalla, Rogue, Siletz, Willamette, Clackamas, and Columbia Rivers. Volunteers tackled litter before it could flow downstream and harm wildlife, helping to ensure cleaner water for recreation and for future generations.

 

“Each bag of litter collected is a small but powerful act of care for our rivers,” said Kris Carico, Chief Executive Officer of SOLVE. “I know it can feel overwhelming to pick up the total amount of debris accumulating in our waterways, but every single piece removed makes a difference. It’s the combined effort of volunteers across the region that keeps our rivers cleaner and healthier for everyone.”

The partnership between SOLVE and Clackamas Water Environment Services has been central to this effort for eight consecutive years, providing volunteers with the resources and support needed to make a visible impact on local waterways.

“The WES-SOLVE Summer Waterways Cleanups series aims to mobilize and educate volunteers to become stewards of our waterways and natural areas,” said Greg Geist, Director of Clackamas Water Environment Services. “Our rivers support us, so we must take care of them. Sometimes, it requires extra effort and community collaboration to accomplish this, which is the purpose of initiatives like these.”

With this summer-long series wrapped up, Fall with SOLVE is in full swing, offering year-round opportunities to get involved. From neighborhood cleanups to restoration projects across Oregon and SW Washington, volunteering with SOLVE is easy and rewarding. Learn more: solveroregon.org/seasons

 

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a good reminder to protect your business from cybercriminals

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) reminds everyone that cybersecurity is a hot topic for the insurance sector today and a growing concern for many businesses.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a collaborative effort led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), uniting the public and private sectors to encourage behaviors that reduce online risks. The campaign emphasizes that fundamental actions can make a big difference in defending our nation against cyber threats and protecting our critical infrastructure.

Businesses, large and small, should consider cyber insurance as part of their risk management process. Cybersecurity is a risk that all insurance carriers should take seriously from an operational resilience perspective, as cybersecurity events can disrupt your business, costing you money.

Most commercial property and general liability policies do not cover cyber risks, and cyber insurance policies are highly customized for clients. Insurers and insurance producers must protect the highly sensitive consumer financial, health and nonpublic personal information collected as part of the underwriting and claims processes. Reports show that sectors such as health care and financial services are experiencing higher cybersecurity incidents and claim costs, partially due to the data they manage.

CISA has tips to protect your business. Cybercriminals look for easy targets. Businesses without basic precautions are vulnerable. Start with these four essential steps to safeguard your data and enable employees to stop attacks before they happen:

1. Teach employees to avoid phishing: Phishing tricks employees into opening malicious attachments or sharing sensitive information. Train employees to recognize and report suspicious activity. 
2. Require strong passwords: Strong passwords are a simple but powerful way to block criminals from accessing your accounts through guessing or automated attacks. Make them mandatory for all users. 
3. Require multifactor authentication (MFA): MFA – also known as two-factor authentication – adds an extra layer of security beyond passwords. Require it to make accounts significantly more secure. Use phishing resistant MFA where available. 
4. Update business software: Outdated software can contain exploitable flaws. Promptly install security updates and patches to keep your systems protected.

CISA also recommends businesses back up all their business data and encrypt it. Encrypting your data and devices strengthens your defense against attacks. Even if criminals gain access to your files, information stays locked and unreadable. Make encryption part of your security strategy.

“We see a complicated landscape in cybersecurity, which remains a priority for us,” said TK Keen, DFR administrator and acting insurance commissioner. “We are seeing increasing calls for legislation nationwide and regulation for enhanced cybersecurity measures to address risks including identity theft, business interruption, data repair costs, and more.”

More companies are entering the market each year. According to the most recent report on the Cyber Insurance Market from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, issued in fall 2024, shows a cyber insurance market of roughly $9.84 billion in direct written premiums.

The U.S. cyber insurance market accounts for 59 percent of the $16.66 billion in premiums written for cyber coverages globally in 2023. This indicates a growing demand for cyber insurance coverage. The number of claims has also gone up with more than 33,000 in 2023. This increase reflects the rising frequency of cyber incidents.

 

 

PORTLAND, Ore.— The owner and operator of La Popular, a money service business with locations in Oregon and Washington, pleaded guilty Friday, to conspiring to launder drug trafficking proceeds.

Brenda Lili Barrera Orantes, 40, a Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in the United States, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

According to court documents, Barerra Orantes operated La Popular stores in Hillsboro, Beaverton, Woodburn, Odell and Canby, Oregon, as well as in Vancouver, Washington.

From August 1, 2024, through November 1, 2024, La Popular stores sent over $4.2 million dollars in wire transfers to places in Mexico. During this same time period, Barrera Orantes and other co-conspirators accepted $49,500 in cash represented as drug proceeds and laundered the funds through La Popular stores. Barrera Orantes charged a ten percent commission to help launder the money. Barrera Orantes admitted that when she wired these funds she used false sender information, structured wire transfers into smaller amounts, and used different La Popular stores to help conceal the drug proceeds.  

On April 16, 2025, investigators executed federal search warrants at Barrera Orantes’ Beaverton residence and three La Popular stores in Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Vancouver and arrested Barrera Orantes. During the warrants, agents seized $316,542 in cash, a 2021 Cadillac Escalade, jewelry, and high-end clothing.

On May 13, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 23-count indictment charging Barrera Orantes with money laundering and conspiracy, failure to file a currency transaction report, and failure to file a suspicious activity report.

Barrera Orantes pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. She also agreed to forfeit her Beaverton residence and all the seized property involved in her money laundering offense. Barrera Orantes faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $500,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced on January 21, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge.

 

Portland Trail Blazers’ coach Chauncey Billups arrested in gambling operation scandal, put on leave

The FBI announced last week that Trail Blazers coach, Chauncey Billups, 49, is said to be involved in a massive illegal gambling scheme. The case involves millions of dollars, the mafia, and dozens of alleged co-conspirators, including other big names in the NBA. Billups was arrested and appeared in a Portland court last Thursday.

“With the alleged involvement of three La Cosa-Nostra crime families, Billups, Trail Brazers coach and Hall of Famer, along with several other current and former NBA players are alleged to be involved and the FBI says a couple years of investigations may find this is just the tip of the iceberg.

The gambling operation seem reminiscent of a Hollywood movie,” said Ricky J. Patel, the special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations.

The NBA has placed Billups on immediate leave due to the investigation.

According to the live press conference held yesterday in New York, “Victims were attracted to play alongside well-known professional athletes and coaches like Chauncey Billups only to be unknowingly deceived through rigged shuffling machines, fixing the odds in their favor”.

The Trail Blazers issued a statement reinforcing that Billups was on leave and said that Tiago Splitter would take over as interim head coach. Billups’ attorney, Chris Heywood, said Billups plans to fight the charges.

There are two operations under investigation. One about rigged poker games, in which federal prosecutors say Billups participated in high-stakes games that allowed the New York mafia families operations to steal millions of dollars from unsuspecting people.

In court documents, the Department of Justice alleges that the defendants had “Card analyzers that utilized technology loaded onto decoy cellular telephones that could surreptitiously detect which cards were on the table; and playing cards that had markers visible only to individuals wearing specially designed contact lenses or sunglasses.”

The other case and arrests are about illegal betting on NBA games, where bettors got non-public information that helped them win big. A guard for the Miami Heat, Terry Rozier, was arrested in that case. Others may be arrested soon.

The Trail Blazers are named as one of the teams bet on. Billups is not named specifically in that case; however, the description of co-conspirator 8, references a player and eventual coach that matches Billups’ description.

The indictment against Billups was filed in the Eastern District of New York. He is set to appear in federal court in Brooklyn on Nov. 24.

Billups appeared in federal court in Portland on Thursday afternoon and then was released. The judge signed off on his pre-trial release, meaning he can go home, but on some conditions. Those conditions include a substantial bond and a prohibition of gambling.

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier has also been named in the allegations.

Former Cleveland Cavaliers player and coach Damon Jones was arrested as well, according to ABC News. Sources say Jones provided inside information about NBA games, that Billups used to place illegal sports bets.

An NBA league spokesperson also issued a statement on the situation:

“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today. Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority”.

“The mafia, specifically members and associates of the Bonanno, Gambino, and Genovese organized crime families, had pre-existing control over non-rigged illegal poker games around New York City. As a result, they also became involved in the rigged poker games, helping to organize the games and taking a cut of the proceedings and working to enforce the collection of debts,” said Joseph Nocjella Jr., the United States attorney for Eastern District of New York.

In court documents, prosecutors say, “Members of the conspiracy committed violent acts including assault, extortions, and robbery, in furtherance of the scheme to ensure the repayment of debts.”

“As part of the scheme, some of the defendants and their co-conspirators also committed acts of violence, including the gunpoint robbery of a person in order to obtain a rigged shuffling machine and extortions that were perpetrated against victims in order to ensure that they repaid their gambling debts,” said Nocjella, Jr.

The prosecution also alleges that the defendants in this case hid their money using illegal tactics.

“The defendants laundered their proceeds including through cash exchanges, the use of multiple shell companies and through cryptocurrency transfers,” said NocJella, Jr. 

Billups signed a new two-year extension with the Trail Blazers at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 season, which finished with a record of 36-46.  Billups made $4.7 million last season. His overall coaching record with the Blazers is 116-212.

More Than 300,000 Oregonians to Lose or See Cuts in Food Benefits at the end of this week

The federal government is set to terminate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at the end of this month, impacting nearly one in six residents in Oregon, according to Governor Tina Kotek.

Thousands of Oregonians will begin losing their food and utility allowances based on more stirngent qualificationr requirements that are now imposed by the federal government, to cut waste, fraud and abuse.

Based on current news and alerts, the claim that nobody will receive food stamps (SNAP benefits) in November 2025 is partially true, but with a critical caveat. As of mid-October 2025, benefits for November are currently on hold due to the federal government shutdown. Here’s what you need to know:

Benefits are currently withheld, but not canceled entirely. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has notified states not to issue November SNAP benefits while federal funding has lapsed.  However, if the government reopens, benefits would be issued after a budget agreement is reached. Existing funds are safe. Any benefits already on a recipient’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card remain available for use. The hold only applies to the November allotment of new benefits.

Delays are expected even if the shutdown ends soon. Recipients should prepare for delays in receiving their benefits. Some state agencies are continuing to process applications and renewals to prepare for when funding becomes available again.

Significant program changes were already in motion. Regardless of the shutdown, several major changes to SNAP from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 were scheduled to take effect in November 2025.

These include: Expanded work requirements for many able-bodied adults, including those aged 55 to 64. New work requirements for parents whose youngest child is age 14 or older. The elimination of previously exempt groups, such as veterans and former foster youth, from some work requirements.The potential for some states to eventually reduce or end benefits entirely.

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has begun mailing notices to the more than 313,000 residents who will be affected by changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) introduced by the federal government’s more stringent requirements to qualify for benefits.

The first round of mailing affects Oregonians who applied for SNAP benefits between July 4 and September 30, 2025.

The other key dates for SNAP are November 1, 2025, when first-benefit reductions and case closures become effective, through to 2026, when additional changes will roll out for households renewing existing benefits, or when benefits are updated.

Households that qualified for utility allowances from programs like Heat and Eat and LIHEAP can expect changes to their benefits.

Only households with at least one member 60 years and older, or someone disabled, will automatically qualify for a Full Utility Allowance (FUA).

About 29,000 households will lose their FUA. They will forfeit benefits amounting to about $58 a month. Notices about the benefit reduction, which will begin on November 1, 2025, have been mailed to 9,600 households.

Able-bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) will have to qualify for SNAP benefits based on new work rules. These requirements became effective on October 1 and apply to adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who do not have children under 14 years.

These rules have already been implemented in six Oregon counties – Benton, Clackamas, Hood River, Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill. Ultimately, the rules will apply statewide and affect 310,000 adults.

Oregonians who do not meet the new work rules can expect to lose their benefits at the end of this year. 

Visit the SNAP Work Rules website for a full list of exemptions.

The Oregon Department of Human Services has begun informing over 750,000 low-income individuals—almost half of whom are children and seniors—that they will no longer receive food assistance after October 31 due to the ongoing federal government shutdown where Democrats refuse to vote to open the government without getting a $1.5 trillion wish list of partisan spending demands tacked onto a 6 week funding bill.

Buried deep in Sen. Chuck Shumer’s demands on page 57, Section 2141, their CR bill response is to repeal the Working Families Tax Cut bill passed in July which had new safeguards against waste, fraud and abuse in health care spending. Democrats in the Senate want to restore and continue to add $200 billion in American taxpayer funded health care sudsidies to go to illegal aliens healthcare and other things that the Republicans cleaned out in passage of President Trump’s big beautiful bill.  Stay tuned.

 

ACLU sues Eugene for not disclosing Flock camera spots, citing public interest

EUGENE, Ore. — The City of Eugene is facing a legal complaint by the ACLU of Oregon, who claims that the City failed to disclose public records regarding the City’s operation of Flock cameras and the location of the approximately 57 cameras.

“The ACLU is hoping to accomplish the City of Eugene disclosing the public records about the location of the Flock cameras in Eugene,” says civil rights attorney Alicia Leduc Montgomery, “and through that, vindicating the public’s right to access that information as a matter of significant public interest.”

According to the complaint filed in the Lane County Circuit Court, a public records request was submitted in June by a man representing anti-Flock advocacy group Eyes Off Eugene, which the City then denied citing an Oregon law on security measures.

The denial was reportedly appealed to the Lane County District Attorney, who ultimately decided that since no specific public interest was identified the appeal would be denied as well.

The City says it has not received a copy of the complaint yet.

When the Flock cameras were initially installed in Eugene, our newsroom asked the Eugene police Department for their location. EPD says they wouldn’t disclose the location over concerns of vandalism.

 

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is seeking public input on the draft of the 2026 Oregon Recreation Trails Plan, which outlines recommendations to improve trails over the next 10 years.

The statewide plan highlights trends and issues to create priorities for grant funding and other recommendations for actions. The plan covers all motorized and non-motorized trails on public lands and waterways in Oregon, not just within Oregon State Parks. This includes hiking, biking and equestrian trails, motorized ATV trails, snowmobile trails and water trails.

Public feedback on the plan will be open from Oct. 30 to Nov. 28. Oregon Parks and Recreation notes that input on the plan also provides guidance to federal, state and local agencies as well as private sector partners.

Information used for the drafted plan comes from multiple sources, including statewide surveys conducted in October 2024 and April 2025, follow-up focus groups in May and the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.

 

Rural hospitals throughout the state may be approaching a financial crisis as significant federal Medicaid reductions are anticipated, with healthcare providers cautioning that the consequences could result in clinic closures, staffing deficits, and a concerning departure of physicians from Oregon’s underserved areas.

With the continued effort by Democrats in Washington D.C, rurul hospitals are losing out on over $50 billion in funding across the country.

At the heart of this predicament is H.R. 1, a comprehensive federal budget legislation enacted earlier this year that restructured Medicaid financing nationwide.

In response, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is urgently working to obtain a temporary financial support through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) — a new, short-term initiative from the federal government aimed at assisting rural health systems in weathering the repercussions. However Democrats must begin funding the government again as no temporary solution OHA is proposing will last very long at all.

Should Oregon’s application be successful, the state could secure as much as $100 million each year for a duration of five years, commencing in 2026.

These resources would be allocated to strengthen rural clinics, enhance telehealth services, train local healthcare providers, modernize outdated healthcare facilities, and more.

 

The United States Postal Service has announced its official mailing deadlines for the 2025 holiday season, assisting customers in planning ahead to ensure timely delivery of their cards and packages.

For those sending items within the contiguous 48 states, the following send-by dates are recommended:

December 20 for Priority Mail Express, the quickest domestic shipping option offered by USPS. USPS advises customers to ship early, use trackable services, and consider acquiring insurance for valuable items.

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