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 BasinLife.com, KFLS News/Talk 1450AM/102.5FM, The Herald and News, and powered by Countertops by Topsecret. Call them at 541-850-8677.

 

 

 

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Klamath Basin Weather

Local election results can be accessed via the Klamath County Clerk’s office website.

Oregon Gubernatorial Race RESULTS

Christine Drazan: 45.48%

Tina Kotek: 51.75%

Oregon Senate District 3 Race

Brad Hicks: 42.10%

Denise Krause: 54.10%

Oregon Congressional Race

Cliff Bentz: 61.51%

Chris Beck: 38.34%

California Gubernatorial Race

Steve Hilton: 35.80%

Xavier Becerra: 64.20%

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State Representative, 1st District, (D) Cecil 35.80%, Boice (R) 63.96%.

State Representative, 3rd District (D) Fischer-Maki 40.22%, (R) Yunker 59.56%

State Representative, 5th District (D) Marsh 68.39%, Krigsvold 31.48%

State Representative, 6th District (D) Holm 44.12%, (R) Wallan 55.59%

State Representative, 60th District (D) Spell 21.33%, (R) Owens 78.42%

RESULTS OF KLAMATH COUNTY MEASURES

New Five Year Local Option Tax For Operations and Maintenance

YES: 36.43%

NO: 63.57%

Chemult Rural Fire Protection District faces limited ambulance service due to the lack of staff and lack of budgeted funds. The District permanent tax rate is currently not sufficient to add additional needed EMS personnel and maintenance of current Fire and Ambulance apparatus with our current level of budget funding.

 

The completion of the first phase of the Lower Klamath Lake Reconnection Project marks a significant advancement toward restoring a healthy and sustainable watershed.

Over a century has passed since the Klamath River’s inflows to the Lower Klamath Basin were interrupted, a disruption initiated by the construction of the railway in 1907. This alteration not only severed natural water supplies to Lower Klamath Lake but also occurred just before the area was designated as the nation’s inaugural protected wildlife refuge for migrating waterfowl. The diversion of water initiated a series of ecological disturbances that have had lasting effects on both the local population and wildlife in the Klamath Basin.

In recent years, prolonged drought conditions have severely impacted endangered fish populations, led to the death of hundreds of thousands of migrating waterfowl, and left vast expanses of farmland unproductive.

 

The Klamath County School District is urging families to prepare for winter weather, which may lead to school delays or closures.

It is essential for families to receive timely alerts regarding these changes. To ensure you are informed, verify that your contact details are up to date with the school, either through the parent portal or by reaching out directly.

Additionally, you can select your preferred method of notification through the BrightArrow system, which offers alerts via text, phone call, or email.

To receive text messages, confirm your phone number in PowerSchool and text “yes” to 79041. The notification process begins as early as 4 a.m., when key personnel assess road conditions, school grounds, and weather forecasts.

Notifications are typically sent out via BrightArrow by 5:30 a.m., with all families expected to receive updates by 6 a.m. In cases of early dismissals, notifications will be communicated as soon as decisions are made. Furthermore, updates will also be posted on the district’s website and social media platforms, with local media assisting in disseminating information.

Recognizing that weather and road conditions can differ significantly across the district, the school district acknowledges that even if schools remain open, some families may find it unsafe for their children to travel. In such instances, parents are encouraged to inform the school of their child’s absence.

On May 5, 2025, Detective Labeads Yahwhee of the Klamath Falls Police Department, assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children unit, received a tip concerning the online exploitation of minors.

Following this lead, Detective Yahwhee conducted a thorough investigation that ultimately identified the suspect as 64-year-old Johnny Long from Klamath Falls, Oregon. The investigation provided sufficient probable cause for the execution of a search warrant at Mr. Long’s residence, where several pieces of digital evidence were seized and subsequently analyzed.

After reviewing the findings, the case was presented to a Grand Jury on October 19, 2026, which resulted in a true bill and the issuance of an arrest warrant for Mr. Long. On October 29, 2026, he was apprehended without incident and taken to the Klamath County Jail, facing three counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse in the first degree.

 

The Klamath National Forest is currently inviting applications for temporary seasonal roles for the 2027 field season.

These positions are ideal for individuals eager to engage in outdoor work, assist the public, and contribute to natural resource management and wildland fire operations. Available roles include fire lookouts, animal packers, and wildland firefighters, with assignments to engines, hand crews, and helitack programs.

Work locations encompass Fort Jones, Callahan, Happy Camp, Klamath River, Seiad, Macdoel, and Yreka, with government-provided housing potentially available at certain sites. Covering approximately 1.75 million acres in Northern California, the Klamath National Forest provides employees with the chance to operate within one of the region’s most diverse and picturesque landscapes.

The forest features four designated wilderness areas and over 1,000 miles of trails, with terrain that varies from the rugged Klamath Mountains and alpine lakes to the expansive views of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta. Elevations within the forest range from 459 feet to 8,920 feet.

Outdoor enthusiasts flock to this area for activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, mountain biking, whitewater recreation, and exploring the rich natural history of the region.

The forest is conveniently situated within a 30-minute drive from Medford and Klamath Falls, Oregon, and less than two hours from Redding, California.

 

A Leap of Taste Café, a well-established eatery in downtown Klamath Falls, is set to launch a satellite location at Klamath Community College in late November, catering to students, staff, and the broader community.

The college has recently finalized a contract with the café, which has been a staple in the Klamath Basin since 2010. The soft opening for the KCC café is tentatively planned for November 17 and will be situated in Building 4, the former site of Badger Bistro, conveniently located near the commons area.

Owner Keegen Mueller stated that this new venue will serve as a smaller version of the original café, offering a curated menu that includes five popular sandwiches, breakfast burritos, tacos, breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, and a comprehensive coffee selection.

The menu will focus on scratch-made items, utilizing local ingredients and natural dyes while steering clear of processed foods.

City of Klamath Falls
PUBLIC WORKS – STREETS DIVISION
P.O. Box 237, 1199 S. Spring St., Klamath Falls, OR 97601
Phone (541) 883-5385

Asphalt Crew: 6 A.M. Till 4:30 P.M. Tuesday and Wednesday (Weather
Permitting)
Wednesday 11-4-2026 Dig out and repave utility cuts at the following
locations:1750 Washburn Way,5500 Shasta way, And 1720 Kimberly
Signs and Sweeping 2 A.M. Till 4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday
Monday 11-2-2026 through Friday 11-6-2026: Fixing signs and sweeping
citywide as needed.

 

LOCAL EVENTS THIS WEEK

Friday and Saturday…November 6th and November 7th,  Klamath Refuge Church will be having their annual Christmas Market. This is a great way to kick off the Christmas season and find great gifts!

Saturday, November 7th, Klamath Community College will be celebrating 250 years of freedom… with a free concert celebrating the United States of America! …The Klamath Community Band will begin this celebration at 6pm at KCC.

Comedian and actor Tom Arnold will be at the Ross Ragland Theatre on SATURDAY NIGHT…at 7pm for his Crazy X Wife Tour! Get your tickets ….call the Ragland Theater box office….

And this Sunday, November 8th, it’s the Chili Cook-Off between the Elks and the Moose! Tasting is at the Elks Lodge and the Moose Lodge from 12-3! … Award ceremony, raffle,  and 50/50 drawings will be at First Interstate Bank at 3:30! Cost is just $15 per person and kids under 10 are free!

 

Don’t Miss These Events at The Klamath County Library

• Adult Board Game Night – Tuesday, Nov. 3rd and 17th at 5:30pm
• Fiber Art Circle – Tuesdays at 6pm and Saturdays from 11am to 1pm
• Adult Dungeons & Dragons – Tuesdays from 7pm to 9pm and Fridays from 6pm to 8pm (online)
• Klamath Basin Genealogical Society DNA Interest Group – Wednesday, Nov. 4th at 1pm
• Foreign Film Night: Parasite – Wednesday, Nov. 4th at 5:30pm [Dark Comedy/Thriller | Rated R| In Korean and English with subtitles | 2 hours, 12 minutes]
• The Aging Journey Seminar Series – Thursdays at 10am
• Don’t Miss This! Senior Education Network Medicare Seminar – Thursday, Nov. 5th at 5:30pm
• Basin Board & Card Gamers – Fridays at 2:30pm (Includes teens 12+)
• Adult Chess Club – Saturdays at 1pm
• Teen & Adult Ukulele Club – Tuesday, Nov. 10th at 5:30pm (beginner lesson) and 6pm (general practice/jam session) (Includes teens 12 and up)
• Klamath Basin Genealogical Society – Thursday, Nov. 12th at 6pm
• Don’t Miss This! Wheelchair Maintenance Workshop – Friday, Nov. 13th from 2pm to 4pm
• Adult Writers Group – Wednesday, Nov. 18th at 2pm
• Adult Craft Workshop: Honeycomb Paper Christmas Ornaments – Wednesday, Nov. 18th at 5:30pm
• Sign Up Today! Puzzlepalooza! Jigsaw Puzzle Solving Competition – Thursday, Nov. 19th at 5:30pm
• Don’t Miss This! Healthy Harvest Event Hosted by TOPS – Saturday, Nov. 21st from 10:30am to 12:30pm
• Sign Up Today! Time Travel Crafts with the SCA: Handwoven Bags – Tuesday, Nov. 24th at 5:30pm (Registration encouraged, includes teens 12 and up)

Click the pic to enter and play!

 

OREGON NEWS STORIES

OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) advises residents interested in obtaining individual or family health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, known as Explore Health, to take advantage of the open enrollment period from November 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027.

This period provides an opportunity for individuals to apply for, renew, or modify their health plans for the upcoming year, with coverage effective as early as January 1, 2027, for those who complete their enrollment or changes by December 31, 2026.

The final date to enroll or alter plans for the 2027 plan year is January 15, 2027; thereafter, changes can only be made if one qualifies for a special enrollment period.

For those who enroll or make changes between January 1 and January 15, 2027, coverage will commence on February 1, 2027, provided the first premium is paid. For further details regarding Explore Health or to participate in the open enrollment, please visit ExploreHealthOR.gov, as financial assistance is available exclusively through this platform.

By operating its own Marketplace, Oregon has more control over the technology and services people use to enroll in coverage, better access to data to understand and respond to the needs of people across the state, and greater flexibility to adapt to changing state and federal policies. It also allows Oregon to better connect the Marketplace with state programs and resources.

Explore Health includes a new online enrollment platform, a dedicated Consumer Assistance Center, and tools for community partners and insurance agents who help people enroll.

“Launching Explore Health is an important step in Oregon’s commitment to helping people get and stay covered,” said Fariborz Pakseresht, interim director of OHA. “Bringing the Marketplace home to Oregon gives us new opportunities to better understand the needs of the people we serve, respond to changes that affect their coverage, and create a more connected experience for people seeking health care coverage.”

Free help is available

People do not have to navigate health coverage on their own. Free, local help is available from certified assisters at community partner organizations and licensed insurance agents.

Visit ExploreHealthOR.gov to get started and find enrollment help.

People can also contact the Explore Health Consumer Assistance Center at 855-268-3767 (all relay calls welcome) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pacific Time on Saturday during Open Enrollment.

Open Enrollment through Explore Health ends Jan. 15, 2027. People should enroll by Dec. 31 for coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2027.

 

Oregon’s Attorney General is contesting the U.S. Department of Justice’s appeal to exclude 20,000 ballots from California in the upcoming General Election.

A federal judge rejected the DOJ’s request on Wednesday; however, the Trump Administration has since filed an emergency appeal. Attorney General Dan Rayfield contends that the Constitution grants states authority over election processes, while federal law prohibits the removal of voters from registration lists within 90 days of an election.

He further asserts that altering election rules after voting has commenced is inappropriate and that eligible voters risk losing their ballots based on an unverifiable list.

 

Federal Law Enforcement Apprehends 14 Violent Criminal Illegal Aliens Following Court Authorization

PORTLAND, Ore. — U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott Bradford announced that federal authorities have arrested fourteen criminal illegal aliens convicted of violent offenses — including rape, child sexual abuse, assault, kidnapping, strangulation, and manslaughter — after they were released from Oregon prisons or jails despite immigration detainers lodged by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The arrests follow the U.S. District Court’s approval of two petitions filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office seeking information from four Oregon counties to help locate and apprehend violent offenders who are unlawfully present in the United States. The petitions, filed Oct. 1, 2025, and April 1, 2026, requested assistance from Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah, and Washington counties in locating more than 40 violent noncitizen offenders.

The court granted the petitions on Nov. 24, 2025, and June 5, 2026, affirming that Oregon law “explicitly permits state law enforcement agencies to ‘exchange information with a federal immigration authority.’” All four counties complied with the orders, enabling federal authorities to locate and arrest 14 individuals to date.

“When offenders who have committed horrific crimes — many of them against children — are released into our communities despite federal detainers, the risk to public safety is indefensible,” said U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford. “Through these petitions and our continued partnership with county and federal agencies, we are ensuring that dangerous individuals are found and removed from situations where they can cause further harm. Protecting Oregonians is my top priority.”

Homeland Security Investigations special agents—who had issued administrative subpoenas to four counties to obtain information on the offenders’ locations—worked with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations to arrest the following individuals, either during the litigation or as part of the court‑authorized information‑sharing effort:

Victor Soseia Hachipan — Arrested Oct. 7, 2026. Convicted of two counts of second-degree sex abuse involving a victim under 14, drug offenses, burglary, and failure to report as a sex offender. Citizen of Micronesia.

Hector Carmona Saldana — Arrested Sept. 22, 2026. Convicted in 2017 of first-degree sexual abuse, using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct, and second-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. Citizen of Mexico.

Jose Rodriguez‑Gomez — Arrested Sept. 11, 2026. Convicted in 2016 of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and first-degree sexual abuse. Citizen of Mexico.

Rosalio Carbajal Sierra — Arrested Sept. 9, 2026. Convicted in 1996 of third-degree sexual abuse; convicted again in 2018 of first-degree sexual abuse. Citizen of Mexico.

Romeo Carranza Quintanilla — Arrested Sept. 2, 2026. Convicted in 2020 of attempted first-degree unlawful sexual penetration. Citizen of El Salvador.

Guadalupe Sifuentes Acevedo — Arrested Aug. 29, 2026. Convicted in 2020 of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Citizen of Mexico.

Jose Mis‑Catzin — Arrested Aug. 23, 2026. Convicted in 2016 of coercion constituting domestic violence; convicted again in 2017 of first-degree sexual abuse. Citizen of Mexico.

Orlando Francisco Garma‑Castro — Arrested Aug. 20, 2026. Convicted in 2015 of first-degree rape constituting domestic violence. Citizen of Mexico.

Dulce Olivia Rangel‑Romero — Arrested Aug. 17, 2026. Convicted in 2017 of second-degree theft; convicted in 2020 of first-degree sexual abuse. Citizen of Mexico.

Francisco Orozco‑Navarro — Arrested Aug. 6, 2026. Convicted in 2016 of first-degree rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, first-degree sexual abuse, and fourth-degree assault constituting domestic violence. Citizen of Mexico.

Mario Ernesto Martinez — Arrested Aug. 4, 2026. Convicted in 2016 of fourth-degree assault constituting domestic violence; later convicted in 2019 of two counts of attempted first-degree sexual abuse. Citizen of El Salvador.

Cristobal Felipe-Sarmiento — Arrested April 8, 2026. Convicted in 2015 of recklessly endangering another person; convicted again in 2016 of first-degree rape and one count of first-degree sodomy. Citizen of Mexico.

Marco Antonio Joya‑Santana — Arrested Feb. 11, 2026. Convicted in 2013 of three counts of third-degree rape and three counts of third-degree sodomy involving a minor under 16; later convicted of nine counts of second-degree sexual abuse.

Adair Omar Ruiz‑Hernandez — Arrested Oct. 29, 2025. Convicted in 2013 of first-degree robbery and first-degree kidnapping. Citizen of Mexico.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue working closely with federal, state, and local partners to ensure effective information sharing and support public safety efforts across Oregon.

 

Oregon Man Charged with Federal Kidnapping Offense After Missing Child Located by Law Enforcement

PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced today that Vince Edgar Chavez, 36, of Oregon City, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with kidnapping a minor.

According to the complaint, during the early morning hours of October 28, 2026, a 10‑year‑old child was reported missing from her home in Clackamas County. Responding officers discovered signs the child had been taken and immediately initiated a multi‑agency search. Through interviews, investigative leads, and prior contacts, law enforcement identified Chavez as a person of interest.

“The speed with which this child was found is the result of extraordinary teamwork and relentless determination by law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford. “When a child is taken, we act immediately—and we do not stop until that child is safe and the offender is brought to justice.”

Investigators obtained emergency cellular records due to the immediate threat to life. Analysis by the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST), combined with a grid search by the Oregon City Police Department, directed officers to a residence on Pleasant Avenue in Oregon City. A white van associated with Chavez was located nearby.

At approximately 1:46 p.m., FBI agents observed Chavez accessing the vehicle and returning to the residence. Based on probable cause and the risk to the missing child, law enforcement executed an exigent entry into the home. Inside, officers located the child concealed in a bedroom and safely recovered her. Chavez was taken into custody at the scene.

The child was transported for medical evaluation. Other individuals present in the residence were interviewed and indicated they had no knowledge of the child’s presence in the home.

The affidavit further alleges that Chavez transported the child by vehicle across multiple jurisdictions, using public roadways and a cellphone in furtherance of the offense—factors that establish federal jurisdiction under the kidnapping statute.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Portland Field Office, the Oregon City Police Department, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, and other local law enforcement partners. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rochat.

A criminal complaint is only an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

On October 22, a sergeant conducted a traffic stop on 44-year-old Juan Collado Penazola from Washington, who was driving a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban erratically amid a heavy rainstorm.

During the stop, the sergeant observed a small bag containing a crystalline substance on the center console, prompting him to request permission to search the vehicle. Upon searching, the officer discovered a large box concealed in the back seat, which contained multiple bags of vacuum-sealed crystalline substances.

Following the discovery, the sergeant contacted the North State Major Investigation Team to analyze the suspected narcotics. Subsequent testing revealed that Penazola was transporting approximately 45,165 grams, or nearly 100 pounds, of methamphetamine.

 

State wildlife authorities have prolonged the fishing gear restrictions on the Chetco and Winchuck rivers until December 31 due to persistently low water levels.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has mandated that anglers may only utilize bobber fishing or fly fishing with a strike indicator in these rivers for the remainder of the month. Specifically, the restrictions on the Chetco River apply from River Mile 2.2 to Nook Creek, while those on the Winchuck River extend from the mouth to Wheeler Creek.

Typically, such gear restrictions are enforced from September 1 to November 3, contingent upon standard water flow conditions. However, this year presents an anomaly with significantly reduced flows and a lack of substantial rainfall in the forecast, reminiscent of the conditions experienced in 2022.

The ODFW has indicated that these restrictions will be lifted once water flows increase sufficiently to allow Chinook salmon to navigate throughout the river.

 

The Invisible Winter Threat: Oregon State Fire Marshal Marks Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month as Cold Weather Incidents Surge

With 62% of Oregon’s carbon monoxide emergencies happening in fall and winter, fire officials urge people to protect their homes before temperatures drop.

SALEM, Ore. — As Oregonians turn on furnaces, light fireplaces, and pull out space heaters for colder months, emergency responders across the state are bracing for a predictable and preventable seasonal threat. November marks Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal urges Oregonians and visitors to be aware of the silent killer lurking in fuel-burning household appliances.

In 2025, 83% of Oregon’s 300+ fire agencies reported responding to 417 carbon monoxide-related calls statewide. Cold weather drives this sharp uptick: 26% of Oregon’s carbon monoxide-related incidents happen in the fall, rising to 36% in the winter months. Oregon Health Authority data show carbon monoxide poisoning kills an average of 18 people and causes nearly 41 hospitalizations or emergency room visits in Oregon every year.

Nationally, the toxic gas leads to more than 100,000 emergency room visits and 1,200 deaths annually.

“Carbon monoxide gives no warning; you cannot see it, smell it, or taste it,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “As we enter peak heating season, taking a few minutes to inspect fuel-burning appliances and test your carbon monoxide alarms can mean the difference between life and death.”

Why the Hazard Spikes in Winter

Carbon monoxide is produced whenever fuels like natural gas, propane, heating oil, wood, kerosene, or gasoline burn incompletely. During colder months, there are multiple risks:

• Overworked heating equipment: Uninspected furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, and wood or pellet stoves can leak dangerous concentrations of carbon monoxide directly into home living spaces.
• Improper generator & tool use: Running portable generators, charcoal grills, or fuel-powered tools indoors or near open windows during power outages traps deadly exhaust inside.
• Vehicle warm-ups in garages: Running a vehicle engine inside an attached garage, even with the garage door wide open, allows toxic gas to rapidly seep into the home.

Recognizing the Flu Impostor

Carbon monoxide poisoning is notoriously difficult to identify because early symptoms closely resemble the flu without a fever. Warning signs include:

• Headache, dizziness, and physical weakness
• Upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting
• Chest pain and mental confusion

Because carbon monoxide exposure directly impairs cognitive function and judgment, those poisoned often lose the ability to recognize the danger before they can self-rescue.

How to Reduce Your Risk: Essential Prevention Checklist

The Oregon State Fire Marshal urges everyone to take these life-saving precautions:

1. Install working alarms: Oregon law requires carbon monoxide alarms on every level with bedrooms in homes sold or rented and installed within 15 feet of bedroom doors.
2. Test monthly & maintain: Press the test button on your carbon monoxide alarms every month. Replace removable batteries as directed and replace the entire alarm unit every 10 years (or per manufacturer recommendations).
3. Keep generators outdoors: Always operate portable generators outdoors, at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, and building vents.
4. Schedule annual inspections: Have heating equipment, chimneys, and fuel-burning appliances inspected yearly by qualified professionals.

For more carbon monoxide safety resources, educational guides, and home safety toolkits, visit the Oregon State Fire Marshal website at oregon.gov/osfm.

 

Honduran National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Sentenced to 17½ Years in Federal Prison for Selling Fentanyl that Resulted in a Fatal Overdose

PORTLAND, Ore.— A Honduran national unlawfully residing in the United States has been sentenced to 17½ years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in distributing fentanyl that resulted in the September 2023 fatal overdose of a 30‑year‑old Milwaukie father, fiancé, and son.

“The defendant came to this country illegally and chose to profit from poisoning our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford. “His actions cost a young father his life, and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of that choice. This office will continue to pursue significant penalties for those who violate our immigration laws and traffic fentanyl into our communities.”

Martinez pleaded guilty on May 6, 2026, to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and alien in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Martinez was part of a conspiracy operating a fentanyl manufacturing and distribution hub from his residence in Gladstone, Oregon. On Nov. 16, 2023, he was stopped while driving back from California with more than a kilogram of fentanyl in his vehicle. A subsequent federal search warrant at his residence led to the seizure of additional fentanyl powder and counterfeit pills, a pill‑press operation, cutting agents, thousands of dollars in cash, and nine firearms.

As part of his plea agreement, Martinez admitted supplying fentanyl to another dealer who later sold the drug to the victim, who consumed it and died on Sept. 26, 2023, from acute fentanyl toxicity. At sentencing, loved ones described the victim as a loving and devoted father, fiancé, son, and coworker.

The dealer who sold the fentanyl to the victim has also been charged, and his case is pending. The dealer who purchased the fentanyl from Martinez, and then sold it to the victim, told investigators he had purchased between 30 and 50 pounds of fentanyl powder and more than 100,000 counterfeit pills from Martinez over an 18‑month period. Thirty pounds of fentanyl is equivalent to an estimated 6.8 million potentially lethal doses.

Given Martinez’s large‑scale trafficking activity, possession of multiple firearms, and admission that his conduct resulted in the victim’s death, federal prosecutors said the sentence was necessary to send a “clear message to the defendant, other fentanyl dealers, and the community that such conduct will not be tolerated.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott M. Kerin prosecuted the case with investigative support from the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF), the Washington County Interagency Narcotics (WIN) Team, the FBI, and other local law enforcement partners.

 

Declining influenza vaccinations continue among health care workers

OHA data show flu shot rate dropped from 85% to 52% since 2019-2020 season

PORTLAND, Ore.—Despite often caring for patients at higher risk of severe outcomes from respiratory virus infection, health care workers in Oregon continue to lag in rates of vaccination against the potentially deadly influenza, according to new state data.

Just over half the state’s nearly 150,000 eligible health care workers—52%—were vaccinated during the 2025-2026 flu season, according to the Healthcare Worker Influenza Vaccination Dashboard, published by Oregon Health Authority’s Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program. That is 2 percentage points lower than in the 2024-2025 season and 33 percentage points lower than in the 2019-2020 season, when the rate was 85%.

Dat Tran, M.D., the HAI Program’s medical director, said he’s troubled by declining flu vaccination rates among health care workers at ambulatory surgery centers, dialysis centers, hospitals, inpatient psychiatric facilities and skilled nursing facilities. When flu vaccination rates drop, the risk of influenza transmission to vulnerable patients rises.

“While we encourage everyone in Oregon to get the flu vaccine, it’s especially important for people in the health care field to be vaccinated,” Tran said. “The people being cared for in health care settings often have health conditions that make them particularly susceptible to severe health outcomes, and even death.”

In addition to helping protect patients, higher influenza vaccination rates can help reduce the spread of the virus among a health care facility’s staff, Tran said. This can reduce worker absenteeism, lost productivity, and health care costs.

“We know all too well from the pandemic how an outbreak of a highly infectious respiratory virus in a health care setting can affect hospital staffing levels and patient care,” Tran added. “A health care workforce that’s highly vaccinated against influenza can help reduce the risk and impact of influenza outbreaks in health care settings.”

OHA requires annual reporting of health care worker influenza vaccination data from five facility types: ambulatory surgery centers, dialysis centers, hospitals, inpatient psychiatric facilities, and nursing facilities. Facilities self-report aggregate counts, by worker category, of health care workers who were vaccinated, declined vaccination, had a documented medical contraindication or had unknown vaccination status.

The Healthcare Worker Influenza Vaccination Dashboard filters data by facility type, county and worker classification. Trends by influenza season and facility-specific data are also available.

During the 2025-2026 influenza season, ambulatory surgery centers reported the highest influenza vaccination rate among workers—62%. They were followed by hospitals at 57%, dialysis centers at 51%, inpatient psychiatric facilities at 33%, and nursing facilities at 25%.

Ambulatory surgery centers, dialysis centers, and inpatient psychiatric facilities were the only facility types that saw increases in health care worker influenza vaccination rates between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 seasons. Dialysis center influenza vaccination rates have been on a steady upward trend since 2021-2022, when the rate was 27%.

Nursing facilities in Oregon saw the largest drop in health care worker influenza vaccination rates between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 seasons: from 30% to 25%.

The proportion of eligible health care workers who declined influenza vaccination during the 2025-2026 season increased slightly from the prior season, from 18% to 19%. Similarly, the percentage of health care workers whose vaccination status was unknown also went up a percentage point during that time, from 28% to 29%, which is the highest percentage of the past seven flu seasons.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2020 initiative included a goal of 90% influenza vaccination coverage among health care personnel. Healthy People 2030 does not include a health care personnel-specific influenza vaccination goal, so Oregon continues to use the former Healthy People 2020 goal as its benchmark.

To achieve 90% vaccination coverage, an additional 55,433 health care workers would have needed to be vaccinated during the 2025-2026 influenza season.

It’s difficult to know from these data alone why Oregon’s documented health care worker influenza vaccination rate has declined, Tran said. Similar declines have been reported nationally, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified several possible contributors, including vaccine fatigue, reduced emphasis on influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic, lower perceived influenza risk and differences in workplace vaccination policies and access.

“Oregon also saw the percentage of health care workers with unknown vaccination status rise from 7% in 2019-2020 to 29% in 2025-2026, so documentation may be part of the picture,” Tran said. “However, unknown status does not tell us whether an individual worker was vaccinated, and the dashboard cannot determine how much of the decline reflects vaccination behavior versus incomplete documentation.”

Health care facilities can take steps to meet this goal, Tran explained. Public health recommendations include encouraging health care workers, including those not employed by the facility—such as contractors and volunteers—to get vaccinated at the beginning of every influenza season. Facilities can also host promotional activities, such as holding mass vaccination fairs, providing vaccines at no cost to employees, starting incentive programs, and documenting all health care workers’ vaccination status and requiring a declination form for health care workers who forgo vaccination.

OHA has developed a toolkit for health care employers and workers to help them improve employee flu vaccination rates at their facilities to protect patients, themselves and their families.

 

MEDFORD, Ore. –  Ryan GosWING, a pallid bat from Oregon, just swooped in and claimed the Bat Beauty Contest crown! This is the fourth year in a row that an Oregon contestant has won the contest put on by the Bureau of Land Management.

“Thank you to everyone across Oregon and Washington who came out to support Ryan GosWING,” said Sarah P. Bennett, a BLM spooksperson. “With four wins a row, I think we can confidently call this a dynasty—or a ‘cauldron’ the case of bats.”

The annual contest takes place during Bat Week in the lead up to Halloween. While these winged wonders are perfect for spooky season fun, bats play an important role in healthy ecosystems. They help control insect populations, pollinate plants, and disperse seeds, making them valuable residents of public lands across the country.

Did you know that bats provide $3 billion in pest control services to American agriculture every year? Pallid bats like Ryan hunt primarily by sound, using their adorably large ears to listen for insects moving on the ground.

Through partnerships, the BLM provides bat roosting and foraging habitat and supports other bat conservation efforts. Many bat species rely on caves, abandoned mines, forests, grasslands, deserts, and other landscapes managed by the BLM. The BLM manages wildlife and wildlife habitat on public lands using a multiple-use and sustained-yield approach. Established under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, this framework helps maintain healthy wildlife populations while balancing conservation with recreation, resource use, and other public land values.

 

More information about the contest and International Bat Week is available on the BLM’s website.