The latest and most comprehensive coverage of local News, Sports, Business, and Community News stories in the Klamath Basin, Southern Oregon and around the state of Oregon from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM / 102.5FM, The Herald and News, and BasinLife.com, and powered by Mick Insurance. Call them at 541-882-6476.
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Sunny, with a high near 63. Light northwest wind to 5 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, cloudy with a low around 35 degrees.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 68. Overnight, clear, a low of 35 degrees. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 70. Southeast winds around 5 mph.
Sunday Rain likely, mainly before 11am. Snow level lowering to 6700 feet in the afternoon . Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Overnight, rain possible, snow level lowering to 5300 feet, with a low around 32 degrees. Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 61.
Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
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
Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunshots in the 1500 block of Derby Street on Monday and arrested a Klamath Falls man who had an active warrant.
Authorities closed Summers Lane after a suspect was observed firing a handgun from his backyard toward nearby properties. The individual, identified as Germy George Byzewski, 32, had an active felony warrant and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Summers Lane remained closed for approximately five hours while police and the Special Response Team addressed the situation. Byzewski was taken into custody without incident. He is now facing charges including felon in possession of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, contempt of court, and parole violation.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information can contact Deputy Cooper Roberts at (541) 883-5130 ext. 8118 or croberts@klamathcounty.org. The Sheriff’s Office acknowledged support from Klamath County Community Corrections.
Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union announced today that, effective January 1, 2026, it will begin doing business as Sage Credit Union, marking the next step in its nearly 90-year history of serving members across the rural West.
The National Credit Union Administration recently granted the credit union an expanded charter, allowing membership to extend beyond Klamath, Lake, Modoc, and NE Siskiyou Counties into new communities across Eastern Oregon and Nevada. Nearly 90 years ago, ten families in Klamath Falls petitioned Congress to form a credit union to safeguard their savings and lend to one another in times of need.
Today, while the technology, services, and geographic reach have expanded far beyond what those families imagined, the mission remains unchanged: to provide financial solutions that benefit the community.
Just in time for the winter weather ahead the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office received a Prinoth Husky Snowcat through the State Preparedness and Incident Response Equipment Grant Program.
SPIRE equipment is strategically stationed throughout Oregon. A public dashboard and map show the current locations and operational status of all assets statewide. Equipment that is unavailable or under maintenance is noted accordingly. Agencies may request to borrow SPIRE equipment through the Oregon Resource Coordination Assistance Agreement (ORCAA).This valuable addition will enhance the ability of the Sheriff’s office to conduct search and rescue missions and provide emergency support in remote and snowbound areas this winter season.
A local branch of an international organization that supports women has opened the application period for local women who want to better their circumstances.
For women seeking financial assistance with higher education or professional training, Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls is accepting applications for awards of up to $10,000.
The news release from Soroptimist said the funds can be used to offset costs associated with their efforts such as books, tuition, childcare and transportation. The awards are intended specifically for women who are the primary wage earners for their families.
Awards are also available at a regional level. For more information and to apply, visit the Soroptimist International of America website at soroptimist.org or contact Cheryl Matchett at 541-892-2819. Applications are due by November 15th.
Fire officials from the South-Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP), which includes federal and state agencies, have officially declared the end of the 2025 fire season for Klamath and Lake counties. The declaration takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
With the conclusion of fire season, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon & Washington, Lakeview District has also lifted fire restrictions in the Klamath River Canyon.
SCOFMP acknowledges and appreciates the hard work and dedication of both seasonal and permanent staff throughout the 2025 fire season. They also extend their gratitude to local cooperators, landowners, and the residents of Klamath and Lake counties for their efforts in preventing wildfires and helping contain those that did occur.
Fire season requirements for industrial operations are no longer in place. Permits are still required for all outdoor debris burning and the burning of slash resulting from forest harvesting operations.
Residents are reminded to check with their local rural fire protection districts for specific burning regulations, as well as with county health departments regarding air quality restrictions. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Klamath-Lake District, does not issue or require burn permits on lands exclusively protected by ODF when fire season is not in effect.
It is important for landowners to remember that they are liable for any escaped burns. If a fire escapes their control, they may be held responsible for the full cost of suppression.
Please burn responsibly: be cautious, be fire-safe, and stay vigilant.
Prescribed fire season has arrived in South Central Oregon.
Fire managers from the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Lakeview District Bureau of Land Management, The Klamath Tribes, Crater Lake National Park, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, and Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex will be applying prescribed fire across the landscape in the coming months.
With the recent precipitation and snow accumulation at higher elevations, South Central Oregon fire managers will begin their prescribed fire efforts and hazardous fuel reduction work throughout the next few months. The SCOFMP area will conduct pile burning in various locations across southern Oregon. These piles consist of vegetation and debris generated from hazardous fuels reduction and post-fire recovery projects. The goal of these treatments is to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, and support long-term reforestation efforts.
The recent snowfall will help piles stay within their footprint. Residents and visitors may notice smoke or fire activity on public lands throughout the region. Each prescribed fire may look different depending on the forest type, fuel load, prescribed fire objectives, and how long fire has been absent from the landscape. Locations where prescribed fire operations are underway will be clearly marked and may have increased fire personnel, traffic, and smoke.
For your safety and the safety of firefighters, please avoid these areas when possible. Prescribed burns are only conducted on days when the Oregon Department of Forestry Smoke Management Office confirms suitable weather conditions for smoke dispersal. Once approved, and if overall fuel and weather conditions are favorable, firefighters begin with a test fire before proceeding. If conditions are not safe, the burn will be postponed.
All prescribed fire operations are closely monitored and patrolled frequently by fire professionals, to ensure public safety.
Klamath County announced a new program to tackle the ongoing problem with grasshopper and Mormon cricket infestations as they threaten local agriculture including crops, rangeland and natural habitats.
A new reimbursement grant program is available to help farmers and ranchers financially impacted by these pests. A special grant committee, including members from the Klamath Irrigation District and Klamath Drainage District, will assess applications and propose funding to the Board of Commissioners.
Farmers and ranchers can apply for these grants on the Klamath County Grants website. The application deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2025. For additional details, contact the Klamath County Grants Office at 541-851-3637.
BasinLife.com congratulates Jenny Dail of Oregon as our winning name drawn for our Trip For Two to Oakridge, Oregon for Oct. 17, 18, for Oakridge Rocks The Park!
Jenny wins two nights lodging and dinner for two for this weekend! We’ve got more fun contests on the way…so keep watching right here for the next one! Congrats to Jenny!
Three students from Oregon Tech’s Baja Racing team traveled to Gray Court, South Carolina, Oct. 2-5 to compete in the 50th Anniversary of Baja Society of Automotive Engineers Carolina, where college students test their self-built off-road vehicle for performance and endurance.
The team of Matthew Haines, Owen Haugh, and Wyatt Rasor finished 18th out of 66 teams in the three-day competition, which included both static and dynamic events. The static events consist of engineering design, inspections, and presentations.The dynamic events include an acceleration braking event, a maneuverability event, a hill climb, and a four-hour endurance race that pitted all the vehicles against each other on an extreme rough off-road course. In addition to ranking in the top 20 overall, Oregon Tech Racing ranked 20th for design, 12th for maneuverability, and placed 13th in the endurance race. 
The competition included schools such as Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, University of Michigan, and Purdue University.
Each year, Oregon Tech Baja students build a new off-road vehicle from scratch, sometimes using the knowledge gained from students in the previous year but many times experimenting with their own mechanical engineering skills and fabrication techniques.
With falling temperatures, local youth are in need of winter apparel in the Klamath Basin.
Windermere Real Estate’s Coats for Kids Drive is now accepting new and gently used coats, boots, gloves, hats, and scarves for children through Oct. 26. Donations can be dropped off at any Southern Oregon Windermere office. In-person drop-offs are accepted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at locations in Ashland, Medford, Jacksonville, Eagle Point, Shady Cove, and Klamath Falls. As principal broker Devin Zupan noted, every donation helps provide comfort for kids during winter.
Several major roads within Crater Lake National Park—including the North Entrance Road, East Rim Drive, and West Rim Drive are now closed.
Park officials have announced these closures in anticipation of a snowstorm projected to deposit several inches of snow from Friday through Sunday. As a result, Cleetwood Cove Trail, the sole access point to the lake, will also be closed. Additionally, the trail is scheduled to remain inaccessible from 2026 to 2029 due to an extensive reconstruction project, during which concession boat tours will be suspended. Not all park roads will be impacted; Highway 62 and the road to Rim Village will remain open.
Visitors planning trips this weekend are advised to prepare for potentially snowy and icy driving conditions. Limited services are available at this time due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. The Steel Information Center operates daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the Rim Village Center and Sinnott Memorial Overlook are closed for the season.
Seasonal closures affecting amenities include the Crater Lake Lodge and dining room which will close tomorrow and Mazama Village Camper Store, and gas pumps. Other facilities already closed for the season are the Mazama Village Motor Inn, Mazama Campground, Annie Creek Restaurant, and gift shop.
COMING TO THE 
The New Drug Talk
We will have a FREE public event for families, community leaders, additional students, health, and safety personnel and more. We will have a viewing of the parent/adult film “The New Drug Talk” in the theater and will offer another viewing of the student movie in the Cultural Center.
Paul Reiser Comedy Show
The Ross Ragland Theater 218 N 7th Street, Klamath Falls, OR, United StatesComedian, actor, television writer, author and musician Paul Reiser is one of Hollywood’s most prolific creatives.
Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary
The show is set for Wednesday, October 30, and tickets are just $15, available now atragland.org. Tickets are now available for the Ross Ragland Theater’s annual screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, celebrating its 50th anniversary.
For over ten years, this interactive event has been a popular Halloween tradition in Klamath Falls, featuring audience participation, dancing, props, and a costume contest with characters like Magenta, Columbia, and Dr. Frank-N-Furter. The show takes place Wednesday, October 30, and tickets are $15 at ragland.org.
The Linkville Players is excited to kick off the 15th season of its Little Linkville, Plays for Children series with an original work titled The Scarivore.
The show runs October 18, 19, 25 & 26. Saturday performances are at 1pm. Sunday performances are at 1pm and 3pm. General admission tickets are priced at just $3 each and are available in advance in person at Poppy on Main or at the door of the theater at 201 Main Street(on a first come, first serve basis) prior to each performance.Just in time for the scares and thrills of Halloween, this silly 40 minute long show tells the story of a group of middle school kids who stumble across a magical pet shop filled with mythical creatures including mogwai, tribbles, phoenixes and a mysterious creature called ‘the scarivore.’
After the adorable fear-eating critter goes home with the especially anxious Jin and eats her fear of the dark, bullies and even algebra it seems like this pet will be the answer to all Jin’s woes… but when disaster strikes their school, her friends will help her to see that sometimes we need a little bit of fear… and a lot of friendship to face our problems.The show also features lots of silly pop culture references, a zany chase scene and a lot of heart.
Dont Miss These Events Coming To The Klamath County Library
- Basin Board & Card Gamers –Fridays at 2:30pm (Includes teens 12+)
- Adult Dungeons & Dragons – Tuesdays from 7pm to 9pm and Fridays from 6pm to 8pm (online)
- Fiber Art Circle – Tuesdays at 6pm and Saturdays from 11am to 1pm
- Adult Chess Club – Saturdays at 1pm
- Don’t Miss This! Adult Craft Workshop: Upcycled Book Pumpkin –Wednesday, October 15th at 6pm
- Sign Up Today! Banned Book Club: Fahrenheit 451 –Friday, October 24th at 3pm
- Online Only! From Research to Novel: Using Genealogy to Write Historical Fiction –Wednesday, October 29th at 11am (Registration required)
- Sign Up Today! Adult Murder Mystery: The Midnight Manor – Wednesday, October 29th at 5:30pm (Registration required)
- Don’t Miss This! Freedom to Read Celebration –Wednesday, October 29th at 5:30pm
Details on how to participate are at each link. Call the library at 541-882-8894 for more information.
Around the State of Oregon
House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer is calling for accountability after a news report revealed Oregon will spend more on free health care for immigrants — regardless of their legal status — than on state police.
According to the Legislative Fiscal Office, Oregon expects to spend $1.3 billion in state and federal tax dollars combined for the Healthier Oregon program, an Oregon Health Plan, non-Medicaid program that covers members who meet eligibility requirements, regardless of their citizenship status, for the 2025-2027 biennium.The costs for this program have skyrocketed since 2021, when its budget was capped at $100 million. In the same biennium, Oregon expects to spend approximately $717 million for the Department of State Police. Just last week the governor said she would send Oregon State Police to assist Portland Police in managing the protests outside the ICE facility in Portland.
Since June, Portland Police have made only 50 arrests at the facility, while federal law enforcement has made nearly 200 arrests in recent weeks.
Thousands of Kaiser Permanente health workers in Oregon and southwest Washington began a coordinated strike this week, expected to last through Sunday.
About 4,000 staff from hospitals and clinics along the I-5 corridor are participating, represented by the Oregon Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals, which includes various medical professionals. The union is part of the Alliance of Health Care Unions, with over 43,000 Kaiser employees also striking in California and Hawaii this week. The walkout stems from stalled contract negotiations, with major concerns including wages, staffing, and involvement in patient care decisions.Snow and other wintry conditions are expected for much of the North and Central Cascades regions in Oregon over the next couple of days.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the Cascades ranging from Southwest Washington all the way south to Oakridge in Lane County, in effect Sunday through early Monday.The Santiam and Willamette passes could both see 2-6 inches of snowfall through Monday morning. There’s a chance that areas above 5,000 feet in elevation could see nearly a foot of snow, especially north of the Three Sisters. The Timberline Lodge reported Sunday afternoon that it had received 4 inches of snow in the previous day.
David Bishop, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland, said temperatures are expected to dip in some areas of the Willamette Valley later this week. The Upper Hood River Valley currently has a freeze watch in effect, with conditions just above freezing.
PORTLAND WOMAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER NEAR LOCAL ICE OFFICE
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland woman made her first appearance in federal court today after assaulting a federal officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.Oriana Korol, 38, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer. According to court documents, on the evening of October 12, 2025, federal officers detained Korol after she interfered with an arrest of another subject. Korol kicked and bit a federal officer as she was being detained.
Officers then arrested her for assaulting a federal officer. Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 34 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property. Korol made her first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.
She was released on conditions pending further court proceedings. Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison.
OHA, ODE partner to boost schools’ capacity to reverse overdoses
Nearly 700 schools received more than 14,000 naloxone doses Oregon’s schools are better equipped to prevent and respond to opioid overdoses following a collaborative effort last year to offer free overdose reversal kits to middle and high schools, colleges and universities across the state, as well as expanded substance use prevention resources, state officials say.
The collaboration between Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) resulted in 692 schools receiving free opioid overdose reversal kits, totaling more than 14,000 additional doses.
The program marked an expansion of Save Lives Oregon www.savelivesoregon.org, and was possible because of one-time funding through the Oregon’s Opioid Settlement Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Board.
Every school in Oregon is now eligible to receive the kits. Previously, the program was limited to junior high schools and above. In addition, new resources are available on ODE’s Substance Use Prevention Education website to support educators, students and school communities in addressing youth substance use and opioid overdoses.
The tools are culturally responsive and aligned to substance use prevention education standards and build on the resources released last year, including the updated Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools. Naloxone is a proven opioid overdose reversal medication that can restore breathing while waiting for emergency medical services to arrive. Quick access to naloxone is necessary for school staff to respond quickly to an opioid overdose on or near a school campus. Learn how to give naloxone here.
Each participating school received three metal boxes for easy access to naloxone, each containing 24 doses and face shields. The kits reached:
- 137 public school districts, or about 70% of Oregon districts.
- 31 private schools and 47 charter schools.
- 10 universities and 5 community colleges.
Both agencies are sharing the success of their partnership to prevent substance use and overdose deaths among youth and young adults as the U.S. recognizes October as National Substance Use & Misuse Prevention Month highlighting its impact on individual and community well-being.
Overall, youth substance use has been declining recently. In Oregon, youth and adult overdoses decreased from 2023 to 2024. Youth – defined as people between ages 10-19 – account for 1% of all overdose deaths in Oregon. However, every life lost to overdose is a tragedy, especially to the families and communities left behind. Even one preventable death is too many.
Having naloxone available and equipping people with the skills to use it is one way to save more lives. Half of youth who died from an overdose had at least one other person present. However, only 24% of those youth were given naloxone.
Overall, the number of unintentional overdose deaths related to fentanyl nearly quadrupled between 2020 and 2022. In 2023, 1,833 Oregonians died of an unintentional drug overdose. The school program was part of a larger statewide effort to increase supplies of naloxone throughout the state and to equip communities to prevent substance use and reduce overdoses.
A lawsuit concerning the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers has been settled, allowing Tom Dundon’s investment group to proceed with purchasing the NBA team.
RAJ Sports Holding LLC filed the suit in September against the founders of Panda Express over an exclusivity agreement but dismissed it before the first hearing. Settlement terms remain undisclosed.RAJ Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, also owns the Portland Thorns and Portland Fire, both of which will share the arena with the Trail Blazers.
Yamhill County, Ore– On Monday, October 13, 2025, at 5:11 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Highway 240, near milepost 10, in Yamhill County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Toyota Rav4, operated by Holly Mclain (47) of Cornelius, struck a pedestrian, Larry Joseph Mervin Jacobs (66) of Newberg, who was in the roadway. The pedestrian (Jacobs) was declared deceased at the scene.The Toyota operator (Mclain) was not injured. The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Circular Action Alliance launched Oregon’s first RecycleOn Oregon drop-off center in Ashland, marking a national milestone.
Over 140 more locations will open statewide. The center accepts packaging not collected by regular recycling bins, such as stretchy plastics, lids, handles, buckets, pails, shredded paper, and aluminum foil, which require special handling. Located at 220 Water Street, it aims to make recycling simpler and more effective as part of the state’s new program started July 1st.Funded by packaging and paper brands, the initiative shifts costs away from consumers and government, making Oregon the first state to adopt this funding approach.
More than 30 years ago, workers clearing brush near the St. Johns Bridge in North Portland discovered the fully skeletonized remains of a man.
Local law enforcement immediately responded to conduct a death investigation, and the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office was called in to help recover the remains. This week, with help from the DNA Doe Project, the remains were positively identified as Bryant Edward Deane, who is believed to have been about 39 years old at the time of his death.
After the remains were transferred to the medical examiner’s office, a forensic pathologist and forensic anthropologist examined the bones and determined the decedent was likely a white male, close to 50 years old, and about 5-foot-2 to 5-foot-5 in height. They noted arthritic changes, several fractures, a marked difference in leg length indicating the man would have walked with a limp, and estimated he had been deceased for about a year before discovery. The fractures were more pronounced on the left side of the body, suggesting the decedent may have fallen from the bridge or been struck by a vehicle and thrown from the bridge. However, the cause and manner of death remain undetermined.
Beavers Football Coach Fired Oregon State Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Barnes announced today that Head Football Coach, Trent Bray, has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately, and that a national search for Bray’s successor has begun.
The buyout for the remainder of Coach Bray’s contract will be paid exclusively using donor-generated funds. Robb Akey will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 season, Barnes said. Akey brings more than three decades of coaching experience across college and professional football, including leadership roles as a head coach, defensive coordinator, and NFL assistant.
Three judges in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals are considering whether to continue a temporary order that blocks President Trump from sending Oregon National Guard troops to Portland.
The federal government is appealing this restraining order, which prevents deployment of 200 Guard members to protect federal facilities, including an ICE building where small, mostly peaceful protests have occurred. Judges Nelson and Bade appeared supportive of Trump’s authority, while Judge Graber questioned the need for emergency action given the size and nature of the protests. The restraining order was originally granted because there was no evidence of a “rebellion” at the site.The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) celebrates the progress being made to provide high quality early learning to children across the state.
A new report commissioned by DELC was released by Oregon State University Child Care Research Partnership titled “Oregon’s Child Care Deserts 2024,” which found a significant decrease in child care deserts for preschool-aged children, with just nine counties in that category in 2024 compared to 27 in 2018.Since the last report in 2022, tremendous progress was made with 10 counties (Clackamas, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Grant, Jackson, Lake, Lane, Union) moving from being child care deserts in 2022 to not being deserts in 2024 for preschool age children ages 3-5. (One county – Baker, became a preschool child care desert in 2024 when it had not been in 2022).
Despite progress being made, almost all Oregon counties remain child care deserts for infants and toddlers ages 0-2. Child care deserts exist when there are three or more children for a single regulated child care slot. Regulated care includes child care centers and home-based providers that are licensed by or receive public funding from the state, which meet and maintain required health and safety standards.
Without public funds, all 36 Oregon counties would still be considered child care deserts for infants and toddlers, and 28 of 36 counties would still be deserts for preschoolers.
Income tax filing extension deadline is here
Salem, OR—More than 2.1 million Oregonians have filed their tax year 2024 state personal income tax returns this year. But with just six days before the tax filing extension deadline October 15, as many as 100,000 Oregonians are expected to sneak in under the wire. “It’s not unusual for there to be a large number of returns filed in the last week before the extension deadline.If you forget and file after the extension deadline, you could be subject to additional penalties,” said Megan Denison, Personal Tax and Compliance Division administrator with the Oregon Department of Revenue. “Our best advice for taxpayers is to get their returns in as soon as possible.
”In addition to filing sooner rather than later, the department offers the following information for taxpayers who still need to file their state return.
File electronically. E-filingis the fastest way for taxpayers to get their tax refund. Nearly 95 percent of those who have already filed this year, have filed electronically. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks. Taxpayers should file just once. Sending a paper return through the mail after e-filing will delay a refund.
Free filing options Revenue provides several options for taxpayers to e-file their returns for free. Oregon Free Fillable Forms performs basic calculations and is ideal for taxpayers who don’t need help preparing their returns and want the convenience of filing electronically. The IRS offers a similar option for filing federal taxes electronically.
New this year, taxpayers can file their federal return directly with the IRS using IRS Direct File and their Oregon return directly with the state through Direct File Oregon for free. Videos are available to show how to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon. Information about all available free tax preparation software options is available on the Revenue website, along with a list of organizations providing free assistance.
Where’s my refund? tool and video Revenue has issued nearly 1.5 million refunds already this year, most within two weeks of filing. Taxpayers wondering about the refund on their tax year 2024 return, can use the Oregon Department of Revenue’s Where’s My Refund? tool to check its status and, if they want more information, watch a video outlining the refund timelines to better understand the process.
Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, see a list of approved tax preparation software products, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments. For questions not answered on our website, call 800-356-4222 toll-free (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 or email questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), we accept all relay calls.
Due to the number of calls Revenue receives during tax season, you may experience extended wait times.
SALEM, Ore. — The Regional Forest Practice Committee for southwest Oregon will meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Douglas Forest Protective Association office, 1758 NE Airport Road, Roseburg.
To join virtually, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda. To provide public comment, please email forestresources.committees@- Forest practices rulemaking: Post-disturbance rules, tethered logging
- Division and field updates
- Operator of the Year decision
- Forest Practices Technical Guidance update
- Habitat Conservation Plan status
- Forest Resources Division Training Team summary
- Forest Practices Compliance Monitoring Program update
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation has finalized the 2026 health rates for the individual and small group plans following months of federal uncertainty that delayed the normal review timeline.
Five insurers – Moda, Bridgespan, PacificSource, Providence, and Regence – will continue to offer plans statewide.
Kaiser Permanente will provide coverage in 11 counties, giving consumers six options to choose from in major portions of the state. Average changes for 2026 in the Individual market saw six companies submitted rate change requests ranging from an average increase of 3.9 percent (PacificSource) to 12.9 percent (Kaiser), for a weighted average increase of 9.7 percent. That average increase is slightly higher than last year’s requested weighted average increase of 9.3 percent.In the small group market eight companies submitted rate change requests ranging from an average increase of 5.2 percent (PacificSource) to 21.5 percent (Providence), for a weighted average increase of 11.5 percent, which is lower than last year’s 12.3 percent requested average increase.
New Parking Fees at 21 Oregon State Parks
Beginning October 1st, visitors are now equired to pay a parking fee at 21 Oregon State Parks where fees were previously exempted. As stated by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), this modification is part of a strategy to tackle a 14% budget deficit, with the extra revenue aimed at sustaining current service levels throughout the state.Some of the parks impacted include: Farewell Bend Beverly Beach Face Rock Sunset Bay Bullards Beach Harris Beach Valley of the Rogue The daily parking fee is established at $10 per vehicle for residents of Oregon and $12 for visitors from out of state.
OPRD indicates that this change will assist in funding maintenance, staffing, and visitor services as expenses continue to increase. For further information, including a comprehensive list of affected parks and options for annual passes, please visit the Oregon State Parks website at stateparks.oregon.gov.
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 17 for USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail (which includes holiday cards and small packages)
December 18 for Priority Mail
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.
Flat-rate boxes and shipping supplies can be obtained at local post offices and online at usps.com, where a comprehensive list of holiday deadlines, including those for international and military shipping, is also available.
ODFW invites the public to view artwork entered in the annual stamp art contest on Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 12:30-5:00 p.m. at ODFW Headquarters in Salem.
The event is free and open to the public. Located at 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr SE, Salem, ODFW Headquarters will host the display of submissions for the 2026 Habitat Conservation Stamp, Upland Game Bird Stamp, and Waterfowl Stamp art contests. Visitors will be able to cast their vote for the People’s Choice in each category.A panel of judges will evaluate the entries on the morning of the show. Artists participating in the Habitat Conservation Stamp category are required to feature an eligible species from the Oregon Conservation Strategy in its natural habitat.
For the 2026 Waterfowl Stamp, entries must showcase one of the following species in its natural habitat setting: blue-winged teal, lesser scaup, or ruddy duck. The 2026 Upland Game Bird Stamp requires artwork featuring the ring-necked pheasant in its natural habitat setting. The panel will judge artwork based on artistic composition, anatomical accuracy of the species and general appeal.
The winning artist in each contest receives a $2,000 award and winning artwork is used to produce collector stamps and other promotional items with sale proceeds benefitting Oregon’s fish, wildlife and their habitats.
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