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

Oregon is set to receive $197.3 million in 2026 aimed at enhancing rural health care, with the potential for additional funding over the next four years, as announced by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services this week.

However, a significant portion of the funds allocated to the state cannot be utilized directly to assist rural hospitals in offsetting their losses from patient care or compensating for decreased Medicaid reimbursements.

Last year, 14 out of 37 rural hospitals in Oregon reported financial losses while providing care to patients, as indicated in the state’s funding application. As per the guidelines issued by CMS, during any budget cycle, a maximum of 15% of a state’s total funding can be allocated to compensate health care providers. Instead, states have been instructed to channel the funds towards investments in new technology for rural regions, enhancing the rural health care workforce pipeline, and implementing preventative health initiatives in rural communities, among other key priorities.

State officials expressed their satisfaction on Monday regarding the funding amount received by Oregon. The $50 billion fund, which is the source of Oregon’s $197 million allocation, was established by Republican leaders in Congress when they enacted President Donald Trump’s flagship domestic policy legislation, H.R. 1, commonly referred to as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

U.S. Congressman Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, said health care providers across his district — encompassing much of eastern and central Oregon — are worried about future Medicaid funding, rising insurance costs and how upcoming federal policy changes could affect patient volumes and hospital finances.

Bentz spoke to the media after a series of meetings with hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, including leadership at St. Charles Health System, following the announcement that Oregon will receive $197.3 million through a federal rural health transformation program.

Bentz said he and his staff have met with more than two dozen health care providers across the district to gather feedback on how a major federal health care bill could affect them when its provisions begin to take effect in about two years.

 

Oregon has enhanced its online voter registration system in anticipation of a crucial election season, enabling eligible voters without a state-issued ID to register digitally for the first time.

Voters can access the system via sos.oregon.gov by navigating to the voting section of the website.

Applicants lacking an Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles number can now indicate this directly on the form and proceed with the online registration process. These users are required to provide their name, residential address, date of birth, the last four digits of their Social Security number, and an uploaded image of their signature.

This modification arises from House Bill 4133, which was enacted by lawmakers in 2022. Previously, online registration was restricted to voters whose identity and signature had already been authenticated through the DMV. Individuals without qualifying identification were obligated to fill out a paper registration form, which was subsequently processed by county elections offices.

State election officials indicate that this update aims to modernize the registration system and eliminate obstacles for eligible voters, including those who no longer drive, have never possessed an Oregon driver license, or encounter difficulties registering by mail.

 

The Oregon DMV has now implemented a local preference system for rural customers who are scheduling behind-the-wheel drive tests for Class C driver licenses, which is the standard license for passenger vehicles.

Becoming effective on January 1st, Senate Bill 9 mandates that DMV field offices located in 20 rural counties prioritize applicants who either reside within the same county, are within 50 miles of a DMV field office, or live in one of the two counties that do not have a DMV office.

This legislation benefits customers residing in Baker, Clatsop, Crook, Curry, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler counties. It is important to note that the DMV does not conduct drive tests in Gilliam, Morrow, Sherman, or Wheeler counties.

Customers from these counties have the option to schedule a local-preference drive test at any rural DMV office that provides this service.

 

Oregon Health Authority statement: West Coast Health Alliance continues to endorse AAP-recommended child, adolescent immunization schedules

PORTLAND, Ore.— On Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) signed a decision memorandum to revise the Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule and significantly reduce the number of vaccinations routinely recommended for all U.S. children. Oregon parents may want to follow this highly recommended decision regarding vaccinations.

However, according to the West Coast Health Alliance, this decision may threaten an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases in children nationwide. Children getting sick from the diseases prevented by recommended immunizations leads to missed school for children, missed work for parents, and even hospitalization and death in some children.  

The current American Academy of Pediatrics Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule is based on established vaccine safety and effectiveness evidence. AAP recommendations consider:  

• When children are most vulnerable to diseases;  
• When vaccines work best with children’s immune systems;  
• The safety of vaccinations being recommended;  
• The risk of diseases in the United States;  
• Our current access to health care and immunizations; and 
• Cost effectiveness of implementing national recommendations for a particular vaccination.  

While the first three concerns are similar across countries, the last three concerns may differ considerably between countries. The AAP-recommended immunization schedule serves as a starting point for discussions between families and their providers, as it always has. Parents should continue to make informed decisions about the vaccines that their children receive based on discussions with their child’s health care provider.  

We do not expect these changes to affect insurer coverage for vaccines for this plan year. All child and adolescent immunizations recommended as of Dec. 31, 2025, will remain available and covered by public and private insurers however the changes create confusion and will put more children at risk of preventable diseases.   

The West Coast Health Alliance will continue to review available vaccine science and ensure continued access to recommended vaccines. Each state is examining the impact of these federal changes on vaccine access in our respective states. WCHA and AAP continue to support these longstanding recommendations including informed parental decisions for the best protection of their children. 

The West Coast Health Alliance was formed to ensure that public health recommendations are guided by science, effectiveness and safety at a time when CDC leadership changes, reduced transparency and the compromise of key advisory panels have called into question the federal government’s capacity to address the nation’s public health challenges.

 

A homicide in Redmond has resulted in the death of 32-year-old Justin Garrett Jiminez due to a gunshot wound.

Deputies responded to reports of a gunshot near NE Greenwood Avenue and NE 17th Street in Redmond on December 31st.

A person of interest has been identified as 51-year-old Don Henry Vandenberg JR., also known as “Tank.” Vandenberg is deemed armed and dangerous. It is advised not to approach him. If you see him or have any information regarding his whereabouts, please call 911 immediately. He is described as a white male, standing 5’7”, weighing approximately 160 pounds, bald, with facial hair, and covered in tattoos. Notable tattoos include: “Fit for Duty” on his chest “Tank” on his upper abdomen Ace of Spades on his upper left arm An image on the back of his neck “EK” on his right calf Additional tattoos on his forearms.

 

Petitioners aiming to place a gas tax referendum on the November ballot submitted an additional set of signatures on Monday in Salem, bringing their total to approximately 250,000 signatures.

Chief petitioner Bruce Starr, who is the newly elected leader of the Oregon Senate Republicans, was among those who delivered the signatures to the Secretary of State’s Elections Office. The group asserts that this total exceeds three times the 78,000 valid signatures necessary to qualify the measure for the ballot.

Lawmakers approved the gas tax increase last fall, primarily along party lines, as a measure to avert hundreds of layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation. The legislation increases Oregon’s gas tax by six cents per gallon and highly raises certain DMV fees, expenses that petitioners contend many residents are unable to bear.

Several Republican lawmakers are supporting the referendum initiative, yet organizers maintain that the issue transcends party affiliations.

 

A series of new laws approved by Oregon legislators came into effect on January 1, 2026, affecting utilities, housing, healthcare, and consumer protections.

The legislation encompasses stricter regulations on telemarketing calls and messages, enhanced protections for tenant deposits, the elimination of medical debt from credit reports, and broader health insurance coverage for menopause treatment, perinatal care, prosthetics, and breast reconstruction.

Additional modifications include raising the legal marriage age to 18, imposing harsher penalties for non-consensual and AI-generated intimate images, and permitting regulators to link utility rate hikes to performance benchmarks.

 

Advanced practice providers, represented by the Oregon Nurses Association, have declined a preliminary contract agreement with Legacy Health and have opted to persist with their strike.

Union representatives assert that the proposed agreement did not achieve significant advancements and would result in providers being approximately 10 percent behind their counterparts in other healthcare systems. The strike has been in effect since December 2, as employees advocate for increased wages and enhanced working conditions.

Legacy Health has stated that it acknowledges the vote and intends to reconvene at the bargaining table.

 

Mount Ashland has officially opened its ski season, albeit with a disappointing level of snowfall. Despite receiving approximately a foot less than the required amount, Mount Ashland Ski Area is proceeding with limited terrain availability.

Currently, only the lower ski trails are operational, specifically the Sonnet and Lithia chair lift trails, while access to the upper mountain will be postponed until more significant snowfall occurs.

The staff at Mount Ashland acknowledge that it is not optimal for the remainder of the mountain to remain closed; however, they aimed to provide some level of service for all their visitors.

 

If you have not yet purchased your annual park passes for 2026, now is the appropriate moment to do so. From local state parks to federal public lands, the cost of annual passes has been rising as agencies strive for increased funding for recreational areas.

Some of these price hikes will take effect on January 1, leaving Oregonians with only a few more days to acquire passes at a reduced rate. Most outdoor recreation areas in the Pacific Northwest necessitate a parking pass of some sort. While certain passes can be obtained at trailheads and parking lots, others must be acquired in advance. For those who frequently engage in outdoor activities, annual passes offer a means to pay upfront for the year — potentially resulting in savings over time.

Oregon state park passes will see their prices double on January 1, increasing from $30 to $60 for a one-year pass. This fee will be even steeper for nonresidents, who will incur a charge of $75 due to the new out-of-state surcharge.

Furthermore, two-year passes will no longer be available for purchase after January 1 (passes bought prior to the new year will remain valid until their expiration).

Informational session on proposed state forests Forest Management Plan set for Jan. 6

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will host a virtual only informational session on a proposed rule change to adopt a new Forest Management Plan (FMP) for western Oregon state forest lands managed by the department.

The Jan. 6 session starts at 1 p.m. and will include a presentation outlining the purpose and proposed changes to the FMP.  After the presentation there will be a question-and-answer period.

ODF staff will NOT take official public comments during this session, it is informational only. The public comment period began Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 31. Comments can be submitted or given in person at any of four formal hearings in January. Comments can be submitted electronically. No question-and-answer period will be offered at the hearings.

To participate in the information session, use this link: Western Oregon State Forests Management Plan Informational Meeting. A recording of the session will be available on ODF’s website.

The proposed change to the FMP will replace the three current FMPs (Northwest Oregon, Southwest Oregon, and Elliott) with a single FMP for these forest lands. The ODF’s State Forests Division is pursuing an alternative method for compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act by applying for incidental take permits from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Fisheries. The incidental take permits will require the division to manage Oregon state forest lands in compliance with a habitat conservation plan.

The Western Oregon State Forests Management Plan contains guiding principles, goals, and strategies that are compatible with the Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan. The Western Oregon State Forests Management Plan provides management direction for all Board of Forestry Lands and Common School Forest Lands managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry west of the crest of the Cascade Range.

The FMP does NOT include the Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF). The ESRF is not within the scope of the draft Western Oregon State Forests Management Plan. There are scattered Board of Forestry Lands within and adjacent to the ESRF, along with scattered Common School Forest Lands outside of the ESRF that are still managed under prior Elliott State Forest Management Plan which will be managed under the new Western Oregon State Forests Management Plan, once adopted. The ESRF has its own management plan, under the authority of the Department of State Lands.

The Board of Forestry may review, modify, or terminate the FMP at any time; however, the BOF will review the FMP no less than every 10 years. The current Southwest and Northwest FMPs were last revised in 2010, while the Elliott FMP was last revised in 2011. More information about State Forests Management Plans can be found here.   

Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 at 11:55 p.m. Rulemaking hearings will be held on Jan. 13 (virtual), Jan.15 (Forest Grove), Jan. 20 (Tillamook), and Jan. 22 (Eugene) at 5:30 p.m. The locations of the hearings are in The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The notice also includes important details including but not limited to the proposed rule text and instructions for submitting public comments and participating in the hearings.

More information on this rulemaking effort and ongoing updates can be found on the  Rulemaking activity page of the ODF website.

 

PACIFIC POWER IS RESPONDING TO WEATHER-RELATED OUTAGES FROM STORMS

HAYDEN HOMES AND SIMPLICITY MOBILIZE TO FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY IN THE NORTHWEST

Year-end initiative contributes $66,000 to local food banks, more than 2,500 pounds of donated food, and dozens of volunteer hours

Redmond, Ore., Dec. 17, 2025—This December, Hayden Homes, Simplicity by Hayden Homes, and First Story undertook a major philanthropic campaign across the Northwest in support of organizations fighting food insecurity. 

The campaign included gifts totaling $66,000 to 15 nonprofit organizations across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Western Montana. In addition, a company-wide food drive totaled more than 2,500 pounds of non-perishable foods, which team members delivered to local food banks where they also contributed more than 60 hours of volunteer time. 

Community members facing food insecurity are experiencing a lack of consistent access to enough food for a healthy, active life, according to Feeding America, a leading data provider on the issue. Feeding America estimates that in 2023, about 14.2 percent of Oregonians, or 599,460 people, were food insecure. 

“While federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have been restored, we know our region continues to face critical food insecurity,” said Brett Swanson, regional director at Hayden Homes. “It takes all of us to build a strong community, and at Hayden Homes, we are motivated by our Give As You Go™ philosophy to do what we can, when we can. Whether someone can give nonperishable items, a financial contribution, or an hour of their time to their local food kitchen, we hope our community members will join us to help feed our neighbors.”

Regional homebuilders Hayden Homes and Simplicity invest in the communities where they build, and the companies’ three philanthropic areas of focus include Food Security, Housing Solutions, and Youth and Education. The flagship of Hayden Homes’ giving initiatives is First Story, a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded by the company in 1998 to provide affordable homeownership opportunities to under-resourced families across the Northwest. Each year, First Story donates hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to nonprofit organizations whose work strengthens local communities.        

In Oregon, Hayden Homes, Simplicity, and First Story gave $18,500 to local organizations including Albany General Hospital, ACCESS, Agape House, Food for Lane County, St. Vincent De Paul of Bend, NeighborImpact, and Thrive Central Oregon. The funds will support a variety of initiatives to ensure community members can feed their families not just at the holidays but throughout the year. 

“Our food network serves more than 80,000 individuals every month including children, families, and older adults,” said Scott Cooper, executive director of NeighborImpact. “When local private companies like Hayden Homes and Simplicity invest in the nonprofits and agencies that partner with NeighborImpact to alleviate hunger in Central Oregon, the entire system can do more to provide fresh, local food to pantries, meal sites, and shelters across our region.”

At the St. Vincent De Paul food bank in Bend, team members delivered 450 pounds of donated nonperishable items. And in Albany, fifteen Hayden Homes and Simplicity regional team members joined the Samaritan Albany General Hospital Foundation for a Backpack Assembly Event in support of the Hayden Homes/First Story Backpack Fund. This program provides healthy food backpacks for local patients and families struggling with food insecurity. In addition to filling 100 backpacks, the volunteer team also presented a $5,000 donation to further support the program. 

To learn more about Hayden Homes’ Give As You Go™ philosophy, visit www.hayden-homes.com. 

 

BLM APPROVES LITHIUM EXPLORATION IN SOUTHEAST OREGON

VALE, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management recently approved the expansion of lithium exploration activities in southern Malheur County, about 20 miles west of McDermitt, Nevada. 

With this approval, HiTech Minerals, Inc. is authorized to conduct lithium mineral exploration activities over the course of five years. Lithium has been on the Department of the Interior’s list of critical minerals since the list was established in 2017. 

“The HiTech lithium exploration project represents a significant step toward achieving the nation’s energy goals and reducing dependence on foreign critical minerals—key priorities under the President’s agenda,” said BLM Acting Malheur Field Manager Tara McLain. 

The project includes disturbance of up to 73 total acres created by 168 exploration drill sites across 7,200 acres of public lands, the construction of 22 miles of new access routes, and other temporary disturbances to store necessary equipment. 

Exploration drilling would occur annually between July 1 and November 30 for up to five years, and concurrent reclamation of the disturbances would occur after each drill season. Subsurface hydrological, geophysical, and geochemical data may be collected during the proposed drilling activities as well. 

Additional information, including the signed decision record, is available at the BLM National NEPA Register. For more information, please contact BLM Public Affairs Specialist Larisa Bogardus at 541-523-1407 or lbogardus@blm.gov.

 

Families in rural Oregon who are raising children frequently encounter limited opportunities for after-school activities that enhance social skills, academic achievement, and safety.

According to a survey conducted by the Afterschool Alliance, a national nonprofit organization, five out of six children in Oregon could gain from after-school programs but are unable to access them due to high costs or distance. For families residing outside urban centers, the closest program is often situated more than an hour away.

The survey revealed significant support for after-school programs from both Republican and Democratic parents. Some parents indicated that after-school activities enable them to work longer hours, increase their productivity, and alleviate concerns regarding their children’s wellbeing, as reported in the survey.

 

Beginning in February, air travelers in the United States who do not possess a REAL ID will incur a fee of $45, as announced by the Transportation Security Administration on Monday.

Although the updated ID has been mandatory since May, passengers lacking it have previously been permitted to pass through security with additional screening and a cautionary notice.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, 94% of travelers are already compliant, and the new fee aims to motivate travelers to acquire the ID. REAL ID refers to a state-issued license or identification card that complies with federal standards and fulfills enhanced requirements established following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

 

The Department of the Interior has announced a significant update regarding access to national parks, introducing new digital “America the Beautiful” passes that will be available starting January 1, 2026.

As stated by the Department, these modifications are intended to enhance the accessibility and affordability of national parks for American families.

The new digital passes can be obtained through Recreation.gov, enabling visitors to purchase and utilize them immediately on their mobile devices. This update encompasses Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, and Access passes.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum highlighted the significance of these changes in a statement on the department’s website, asserting, “President Trump’s leadership always prioritizes American families.”

Annual passes will be priced at $80 for U.S. residents, whereas nonresidents will incur a fee of $250.

 

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