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.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Overnight, mostly cloudy, with a low around 19 degrees. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
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
Diversified Contractors Inc. of Klamath Falls is currently preparing the site for the Childcare Learning Center at Klamath Community College, having been awarded the general contractor bid by the KCC Board of Education in early December.
On December 23, DCI commenced site preparation for KCC’s 11th campus building. This nearly 29,000-square-foot center, with a budget of $18.5 million, located near the college’s north entrance, will offer early childhood education and care for as many as 140 children.
Additionally, it will house KCC’s Early Childhood Education and Paraeducator degree programs. The project was designed by Pivot Architecture of Eugene, while ZCS Engineering of Klamath Falls developed the engineering plans.
Clint Willhite, the project manager for DCI, stated that approximately 20 DCI workers will be present on-site during the construction phase. Furthermore, several subcontractors, predominantly local, will be engaged for tasks such as electrical work, plumbing, and paving.
In a significant advancement towards ensuring the future of the entire Klamath Basin, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has finalized a reassessment of the application of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to the Klamath Project.
In light of bipartisan federal legislation enacted in early 2025 and updated directives from the Department of the Interior, this reassessment meticulously examines over 150 water supply contracts and evaluates where Reclamation possesses discretion regarding water deliveries under the current contracts.
This step is essential for clarifying Reclamation’s authority within the Klamath Project prior to the development of an operational plan for water delivery to farms and national wildlife refuges.
Most critically, it guarantees that water management supports farms, wildlife, refuges, and local communities while remaining fully compliant with federal regulations.
This progress aligns the ESA consultation process for Klamath Project operations with other established federal water projects in the West, representing yet another stride towards rectifying the erratic water supply that Project irrigators have faced for nearly three decades.
The Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) and irrigators across the Project acknowledge the interconnected requirements of agriculture, fish, wildlife, national wildlife refuges, and rural communities. We commend Reclamation’s initiatives to enhance transparency, stability, and predictability within the Basin.
Klamath Tribal Health and Family Services has recently declared that Angie Wilson will be the new chief executive officer of the organization.
Wilson is an enrolled member of the Pit River Tribe and a Klamath-Modoc descendant of the Klamath Tribes. Having been born and raised in Klamath Falls, she is the eldest granddaughter of Edison and Leatha Chiloquin (Klamath/Modoc) and Harold and Della Wilson (Pit River/Modoc), as well as the daughter of Glen and Deanna Wilson.
With a career spanning 35 years in executive leadership, Wilson has overseen multi-award-winning tribal health clinics, managing contracts under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and Title V Self-Governance compacts.
In recognition of her contributions, Wilson was honored as the 2024 NIHB Advocate of the Year. Additionally, she is a member of several committees, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Tribal Technical Advisory Group, the Medicare and Medicaid Policy Committee, the Tribal Self Governance Advisory Committee, the Facilities Appropriation Advisory Board, the California Area Indian Health Service Tribal Advisory Committee, and the Pit River Health Authority Board of Directors.
County school district seeks Crystal Apple nominations
Awards honors staff who make a difference for students and their communities
The Crystal Apple is given each year to eight KCSD staff who inspire and help students of all backgrounds and abilities. The winners receive their Crystal Apples during a gala at the Ross Ragland Theater on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
A nominee can be a teacher, a counselor, a nurse or classified employee who has been with the district for at least three years. Community members are welcome and encouraged to submit nominations.
“This is an excellent opportunity for people to recognize and thank those special educators who make a positive impact on the lives of our students,” said KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak.
To be nominated, a staff member must:
- Work for the Klamath County School District for at least three years
- Inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities
- Play an active and useful role in the community as well as the school
You can fill out and submit the nomination form online — https://forms.gle/fErKeopuTWGNLazr5 – –– or print and fill out the form and submit it directly to Stephanie Bland, Klamath County School District, 2845 Greensprings Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 9760; blands@kcsd.k12.or.us. Links to the online nomination form are available on the KCSD website at www.kcsd.k12.or.us. All nominations are due no later than Sunday, Feb. 7, 2026.
Last week, Klamath County teachers ratified what leaders are calling their best contract in decades, winning some measures that teachers in the district have been fighting to achieve for more than 20 years.
As county teachers celebrated their victory Monday evening at Henley Elementary School, they said that the win came in the eleventh hour — and that the movement from their district puts more heat on Klamath Falls City Schools going forward.
“We won our strongest contract with the best raises in 20 years by staying united until the end and refusing to give up on the belief that we could secure a contract that would address turnover in our District,” said PJ Gonyaw, a fifth grade teacher at Klamath County Public Schools and co-president of the Klamath County Education Association. “We were stuck on finances up until 20 minutes before the end of our final session, when we finally got the good news that our District had stepped up and decided they do value us and were going to figure it out.”
“This victory shows that educators should stick to their convictions — and that districts that respect us will pay us like they do,” said Jen Todd, a middle school ELA teacher in Klamath County Public Schools and co-president of the Klamath County Education Association. “Budgets reveal priorities. We hope that Klamath Falls City Schools follows the example that Klamath County Schools just set and finally makes movement to offer their educators more than poverty wages. If they don’t, they’ll quickly lose their educators to other Districts that do value them.”
One of the largest non-economic victories was securing comp time for elementary teachers, who sometimes have to take on an entire second class when substitutes aren’t available — something for which they have fought for more than 10 years.
The Oregon Education Association noted, “Klamath Falls City Schools, a separate district but one that watches moves by the County school district closely, pays their lowest paid educators poverty wages under $16 an hour. Classified educators there earning poverty pay demanded mediation shortly before the holidays, after Klamath Falls City Schools cancelled Christmas for their employees by refusing to settle a contract with living wages.”
Klamath County educators and Klamath Falls City Schools educators have bargained in close coordination throughout their negotiations, including using the same expert bargainer, Del Mallory.
“This is an instance of two districts in the same community that both insisted for nearly a year that they cannot budge on their financials — yet Klamath County did anyway, and revealed once again that ‘will’ and ‘won’t’ are simply a matter of values and political will,” said Del Mallory with the Oregon Education Association, who has helped lead financial analysis for both districts.
“The financial reality is that Klamath Falls City Schools gave tens of thousands of dollars to their highest paid non-classroom administrators just weeks ago. Their refusal to pay living wages to their lowest paid employees is a values issue, not a budget issue. They could settle this in their first day of mediation if they made the organizational choice to value their lowest paid employees.”
Klamath County Fire District 1 Board of Directors Regular Meeting Agenda
4:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Central Fire Station
143 N. Broad Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97601
Virtual Attendance Information:
Please register to join the meeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone
by contacting our administrative office at 541-885-2056 by Monday, January 19, 2026.
Klamath Water Users Association calls new water framework ‘a path forward’ for Basin
In what the Klamath Water Users Association is calling “a major step toward securing the future of the entire Klamath Basin,” the Bureau of Reclamation has completed a reassessment of how the Endangered Species Act is applied to the Klamath Project.
“Following bipartisan federal legislation in early 2025 and updated guidance from the Department of the Interior, this reassessment takes a detailed look at over 150 water supply contracts and analyzes where Reclamation does and does not have discretion over water deliveries under existing contracts,” the KWUA stated in a news release.
KWUA called the action a necessary step to defining Reclamation’s authority in the Klamath Project before Reclamation develops an operation plan to deliver water to farms and national wildlife refuges. “Most importantly, it ensures water is managed to support farms, wildlife, refuges, and local communities while staying fully compliant with federal law,” KWUA explained.
“We are very grateful for the hard work by the Bureau of Reclamation and all of Secretary Burgum’s team,” KWUA President Scott Seus said.
This development aligns the approach to ESA consultation for Klamath Project operations with other well-established federal water projects in the West, marking yet another step towards correcting the unpredictable supply of water that Project irrigators have been navigating for nearly 30 years.
KWUA and irrigators throughout the Project recognize the interconnected needs of agriculture, fish, wildlife, national wildlife refuges, and rural communities. “We applaud Reclamation’s efforts to provide greater transparency, stability, and predictability in the Basin,” KWUA stated.
The agency added that by grounding Project operations in well-established legal frameworks used in other parts of the West, the reassessment helps reduce uncertainty and conflict, allowing stakeholders to focus on collaborative, long-term solutions instead of ongoing legal disputes.
“This reassessment is critical for the families who farm and ranch here. Stability determines whether we can plant crops, grow food, keep people employed, and pass our operations to the next generation,” said Gary Derry, KWUA board member. “Reliable water supplies also support the wildlife refuges and waterfowl that depend on them, ensuring the Klamath Basin remains a healthy, vibrant landscape for agriculture, wildlife, and the communities that call it home.”
KWUA said the milestone reflects its ongoing dedication through consistent engagement with the Department of the Interior, including Reclamation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the National Marine Fisheries Service within the Department of Commerce, at the local, regional, and national levels. In addition to numerous meetings, KWUA made two trips to Washington, D.C., last year to meet with key leadership and ensure water users’ perspectives were considered throughout the process.
“KWUA’s and our consultants’ continuous coordination at the policy level in Washington, D.C., combined with ongoing communication with agency staff who understand how the Project operates, has delivered real and tangible results,” said Elizabeth Nielsen, executive director of KWUA. “We look forward to the next step: making these actions long-lasting through reconsultation for the Klamath Project.”
In October 2025, Reclamation sent a letter to KWUA communicating its intent to reinitiate consultation under the ESA following the completion of this reassessment. Formal reconsultation with the fisheries services is expected soon.
“Completing a robust and enduring ESA consultation is the final administrative step to ensure the Klamath Basin has a predictable, sustainable, and scientifically sound framework for water management that protects both agricultural and ecological interests,” KWUA stated.
Moving forward, KWUA said it remains committed to working with Reclamation, federal agencies, and local partners to implement the reassessment and forthcoming reconsultation. “Now, more than ever in recent history, the Klamath Basin is positioned to achieve long-term stability, balance the needs of agriculture and wildlife, and ensure a bright future for our rural communities and economies,” the agency concluded.
The Oregon Health Authority is providing several recommendations for prioritizing your health in the upcoming year.
This list encompasses quitting tobacco, receiving vaccinations for diseases such as RSV, influenza, and COVID-19, improving your diet, reducing alcohol consumption, and attending to your mental well-being.
The OHA indicates that these choices can significantly influence your lifespan and overall quality of life. As per state statistics, flu cases are increasing due to the emergence of a new variant. Additional resources for maintaining your health this year can be found at oregon.gov/OHA
A new RV park has officially opened its doors near Klamath Falls at the former Reames Golf Course site. The Volcanic Legacy RV Resort commenced operations on Monday, situated adjacent to The Growler Guys Taphouse.
This expansive property was previously the site of the Reames Golf Course and Country Club. The park boasts 70 pet-friendly sites, offering long-term accommodations for stays of up to a month.
Lauren Pochatko, the manager of both The Growler Guys and Volcanic Legacy RV Resort, expressed her hope that this development will attract more visitors to the region. She noted that the location will provide an excellent stop for travelers, particularly those en route to Upper Klamath Lake, Lake of the Woods, or Crater Lake National Park.
Additionally, she highlighted the park’s proximity to The Growler Guys Taphouse, which provides distinctive amenities. The former golf cart paths have been repurposed as walking trails throughout the property.
Furthermore, The Growler Guys are planning to introduce pickleball courts by this summer.
The city police are in search of VIPs — volunteers in police services.
The Klamath Falls Police Department made this announcement on Monday afternoon, inviting residents to assist with various clerical and maintenance tasks essential for the smooth operation of the department. As stated by KFPD, VIPs provide support with services such as vacation house checks and the delivery of patrol cars for maintenance and clerical duties, among other responsibilities. In total, volunteers contribute approximately 160 hours of service each month on behalf of KFPD.
Individuals interested in this opportunity to serve as a VIP can obtain further information by reaching out to Captain Rob Reynolds at (541) 883-5336.
Call for Artists: Healthy Klamath and Klamath Falls Downtown Association Launch Wings Walk!
Healthy Klamath is currently accepting proposals for three mural installations of the Wings Walk Collective starting now until March 10th, 2026.
The Wing Walk Collective aims to promote healthy movement and a blend of interactive art in the downtown corridor. This partnership between the Klamath Falls Downtown Association and Healthy Klamath is in its first stages of turning blank slates downtown into interactive wall art. The goal of this is to foster cultural identity, promote physical activity, and engage the public in interactive art installations.
In phase 1, the project will transform parts of main street with the installation of 3-5 “wings” murals to encourage locals and visitors alike to walk, explore, and engage in our downtown corridor in a fresh and playful way. We’re hoping to accomplish this through wings, feathers, and creatures alike, all renditions welcoming and fostering Klamath Falls culture. Each selected artist will have the opportunity to determine the theme and how to accomplish this in their own unique style.
Art locations for this phase include the new Healthy Klamath office at 500 Main Street, the Sky Lakes Wellness Center at 128 S 11th Street, and the Oregon Tech ABA Clinic at 200 Commercial Street Collective Request for Proposals(Please note that art for this location should tie Oregon Tech to Downtown, preferably through Owl wings).
Key Details:
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RFP Opens: January 12, 2026
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Application Deadline: March 10, 2026
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Applicants Selected: March 20, 2026
Selected artists will each receive a stipend and support for reimbursable materials and will be responsible for creating original mural designs that reflect their unique artistic voice while drawing inspiration from Klamath Falls’ vibrant ecosystems and culture. The resulting artworks will serve as both community landmarks and interactive photo opportunities for residents and visitors alike.
All interested artists are encouraged to visithttps://www.healthyklamath.
ABBEY ROAD COMING TO RAGLAND THEATER, APRIL 29, 2026
The Beatles tribute band, Abbey Road, makes it’s way to Klamath Falls, April 29th.
With their tight harmonies, flawless note for note renditions of Beatles hits, custom–tailored costumes, vintage instruments, Liverpudlian dialect and precise attention to every detail, Abbey Road is proud to present the “Number Ones….and More” production. The show features virtually every number one single the band achieved in the United Kingdom or United States. For tickets: https://ragland.org/
MODOC ART GALLERY
“THE ART OF” Myra Hamaker-Schelb & Lexis Washburn, now thru Feb. 28th.
The Klamath County Museum will be showcasing their art during the Klamath County Museum open hours.
Join us for the Art Reception: January 17th in the Main Lobby from 1:00 P.M.- 3:00 P.M.
Admission to the gallery is free during regular museum hours, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
KLAMATH ART GALLERY
The Klamath Art Gallery Presents: Small Works & Miniatures – “Where Art Lives”
- January 4-25, 2026
The gallery is open Wednesday – Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Klamath Art Association Facebook
Around the State of Oregon
The Oregon Department of Human Services has indicated that it requires $114.6 million from the state’s general fund to address deficiencies in its budget for the 2025-27 period, which have arisen due to reductions and other modifications to federal food assistance, which often has involved fraudulent claims and scams.
This long-anticipated funding request follows the actions of Oregon lawmakers in 2025, who established a two-year budget just days prior to President Donald Trump enacting a significant tax and spending law in July.
This legislation fundamentally altered the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by introducing work requirements, restricting benefits for noncitizens, implementing additional eligibility checks for program participants, and increasing the administrative cost burden on states. As a result, lawmakers found themselves in a rush to address unexpected budgetary changes that impact the one in six Oregonians who depend on SNAP.
The funding request from the department has garnered support from Governor Tina Kotek, who on Tuesday reflected on the outcomes of her 60-day food emergency during the government shutdown, which left many Oregonians without access to their SNAP benefits.
She allocated $5 million to Oregon’s statewide food bank network and $1 million to the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon. Additionally, the state received a $6 million match from the Oregon Disaster Funders Network.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek is advocating for the implementation of chip-enabled EBT cards for SNAP.
Skimming devices have been employed to unlawfully obtain card information, and chip-enabled cards are significantly harder to replicate.
Two months prior, Kotek announced a hunger emergency following the cessation of federal SNAP benefits. Kotek asserts that the suspension of benefits compelled state agencies to collaborate with local and tribal governments, food banks, and community providers, which contributed to bridging existing gaps.
Overhaul of Oregon school funding formula, goals of public education has lawmakers at odds
There’s an ambitious effort underway at the Capitol to overhaul how the state determines funding levels for schools, but lawmakers are torn over the timing and larger questions about the goals of Oregon’s public education system.
Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, and Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, co-chairs of the six-member Joint Public Education Appropriation Committee, are spearheading the overhaul of Oregon’s school funding process, including what schools must demonstrate to receive funding.
On Thursday, the two shared with the committee a proposal that would entirely do away with Oregon’s 27-year-old Quality Education Model, the 11-member Quality Education Commission that produces recommended school funding levels every two years, and the education appropriation committee the two lawmakers lead. Lawmakers would have one month to debate and pass the bill that has generational impact during the legislative session beginning Feb. 2.
“I think the job of our committee is really to dig in and do a lot of this work and look at the issues,” Sollman explained, adding that Oregon’s system is outdated and that “no other state has a QEM-type model.”
Since 1999, the Quality Education Commission, staffed by the Oregon Department of Education, has researched best practices and determined how much money is needed for a successful public education system, with the main target of reaching a 90% statewide graduation rate. The commission gives its findings, presented as the Quality Education Model, to the education appropriation committee and governor every two years to guide budget decisions.
Notably, in the history of the model and commission, the Legislature has only fully funded schools to the recommended level once, when they passed in 2025 a record $11.4 billion for schools during the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years.
Under Sollman’s and Ruiz’s bill, the task of researching and determining how much money schools need would instead go to the Legislative Policy and Research Office, which would contract and work with a public or private firm that undertakes school finance analysis. As part of the analysis, researchers would have to hold panels with educators across the state about school needs.
The policy and research office would then present recommendations for school funding levels to the Legislature’s budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee every eight years. During intervening two-year budget cycles, the Department of Administrative Services would adjust the recommended spending levels to account for inflation and other costs.
The bill would also modify what the state’s “quality goals for public education” are, Sollman and Ruiz explained to lawmakers. It would define a “standard school district,” able to receive state and federal funding, as one where all teachers are licensed.
Schools would be expected not just to meet a 90% graduation rate but to hit goals and standards established in a 2024 education accountability law. That law requires school districts to set goals with the Oregon Department of Education for improving third grade reading scores, eighth grade math scores, ninth grade on-track rates, four- and five-year graduation rates, and regular attendance rates.
But lawmakers said the state education department is still working out some of the goals and standards discussed in the education accountability bill and how they’ll be reported.
Rep. Emily McIntire, R-Eagle Point, said schools have been begging lawmakers to stop passing legislative changes that cost them more time and money in reporting.
“I think that our schools are saying, ‘please stop. Please leave us alone. Please don’t do anything else. Please halt.’ And this, to me, is such a ginormous change, especially when we don’t have the overhaul of (the 2024 law) done yet,” she said. “It feels like one of these things that we’re going to do, and then we’re going to find out what actually is required.”
Rep. Susan McLain, D-Forest Grove and a 40-year teacher who has played a large role in state education policy in the Legislature, told her colleagues on the committee that “there’s a lot in this bill that shocked me.”
The group had been discussing for years doing away with the old school funding model and the commission in charge of it, she said, but she was not prepared to completely change what schools have to demonstrate in order to receive funding.
“This bill is not just about doing away with the quality education model, or doing away with the appropriation committee. It also has to do with responsibilities for other parts of our system, and it has standards for other parts of our system,” she said.
Ruiz said enforcing more nuanced targets and standards that schools need to demonstrate in receiving funding would bring greater public trust in the schools and in the Legislature’s ability to ensure schools are improving and meeting the Legislature’s expectations.
“I’m just sick and tired that we put so much money into the education system and we’re seeing little to no progress,” Ruiz said.
The committee ultimately agreed to advance the bill and debate it during the legislative session.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a committee where I’ve had to say: ‘OK, I’m going to give a courtesy yes,’ and think, ‘oh my gosh, what would happen if it passed?’ And that’s where I’m at,” McLain said.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek is still focused on the homelessness emergency in the state and her office is reporting today that the initiative has led to the creation and maintenance of over 6,200 shelter beds, the rehousing of more than 5,500 Oregonians, and has averted nearly 26,000 households from falling into homelessness.
With this extension, Kotek indicates that additional efforts will be made to assist individuals involved with the justice system, enhance behavioral health resources, and improve the collaboration between housing and health services.
The Oregon Future Farmers of America (FFA) association may face potential reductions in state funding amounting to $1.1 million, which could adversely affect opportunities for both students and agricultural educators.
The FFA provides students with hands-on learning experiences in agriculture. It is active in every county in Oregon except one. Due to a shortfall in the state budget, the department of education is suggesting a reduction in the program’s funding for the second half of the biennium. This includes $800,000 allocated directly to the association for workshops, membership dues, and other expenses.
Additionally, there is a risk of losing another $300,000 intended for agricultural teachers to create opportunities for underserved students during the summer. The program has stated that it has made significant efforts to eliminate barriers for families by utilizing state funding.
Oregon FFA CEO, Kjer Kizer, remarked, The program has indicated that it is formulating contingency plans should the funding not materialize. The upcoming short session will be crucial in deciding whether the funding will be cut. Kizer mentioned that a letter of support has been sent to Oregon’s Joint Ways and Means Committee, advocating for the FFA.
Two people shot last week by Border Patrol agents in Portland now face federal criminal charges, according to court documents from the Department of Justice.
Both were shot after allegedly trying to run over officers after being approached in their car, then fled away on January 8th.
Luis David Niño-Moncada has been charged with aggravated assault against a federal agent and damage to federal property. Both individuals have been discharged from the hospital and are currently in federal custody.
Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras faces charges of illegal entry and is being held in Tacoma. Both have been released from the hospital.
Both individuals are tied to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
The case has garnered national attention as things remain tense in Portland with protests that often turn violent with no help from local police, Mayor Keith Wilson or Governor Tina Kotek.
186th Infantry Regiment Welcomed Home to Medford after Egypt Deployment
MEDFORD – Nearly 200 Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment were formally welcomed home Jan. 11 during a demobilization ceremony at South Medford High School.
The ceremony, presided over by Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, Oregon’s adjutant general, honored the unit’s nine-month deployment to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula as part of the Multinational Force and Observers mission.”Welcome home,” Gronewold said. “Those two words carry the weight of nearly a year of service, sacrifice, and separation.”The 205-soldier battalion, designated USBATT 74 during the deployment, served alongside military forces from 14 other nations supervising the implementation of security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace.”
In a region marked by volatility and tension, you stood watch. You maintained peace. You prevented violations of that historic treaty,” Gronewold said. “You represented not just Oregon, not just the United States, but the cause of peace itself.”Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, battalion commander, said the mission provided security for two camps in the Sinai while operating remote observation sites monitoring key routes and airfields between Egypt and Israel.
“We observed military aircraft, vehicles, and equipment to ensure that both countries were abiding by what is directed in the peace treaty,” Rapp said.The deployment tested the unit during a period of heightened regional tensions. The battalion faced a three-month lockdown period when MFO bases were identified as potential targets during conflicts in the region.
“There was about a 48 to 72-hour period where we were in full combat equipment for 24 hours a day, other than sleeping,” Rapp said. “We had to be inside a hardened building, we had to be in our full kit, even to go eat chow.”
Despite operational challenges, Rapp emphasized the mission’s unique aspects, particularly the multinational integration.”What I would say the best thing about it was the level of multinational integration and the fact that we were working so closely with all our partners,” Rapp said. “There were 15 nations, including us, that we worked with on a daily basis.”
The battalion worked most closely with forces from Fiji, Colombia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Uruguay, and Japan, participating in combined training exercises and sporting tournaments that built international relationships.
The deployment also provided extensive training opportunities. Soldiers conducted air insertion training, aeromedical evacuation exercises, range time, and leadership courses, often integrated with multinational partners.
“The 1-186th Infantry really went above and beyond to train throughout the whole deployment,” Rapp said.Command Sgt. Maj. Evan Garner emphasized the unit’s growth during the deployment.”The battalion did come back stronger,” Garner said. “There was a multitude of opportunities for soldiers to train both within our units and battalions and then cross-train between nations. We worked with 15 different national partners over there and spent many, many hours and days learning about what they do and teaching them what we do also, so we have a better knowledge across the board of operations.”
Colder overnight temperatures this week prompt home heating fire safety reminder from Oregon State Fire Marshall
SALEM, Ore. – With below freezing overnight temperatures and recent home fires related to heating, the Oregon State Fire Marshal would like to remind Oregonians about the importance of fire safety. Since January 1, the agency has investigated 10 home fires across the state from various causes.
“These fires come as a tragic reminder of the importance of home heating fire safety, the second leading cause of home fires every year in Oregon,” State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “Following fire safety guidance and testing smoke alarms regularly are important steps every Oregonian can take this winter.”
The Oregon State Fire Marshal offers these tips:
- Keep things that burn, like paper, curtains, bedding, or furniture, at least three feet away from all heating equipment, including fireplaces, wood stoves, and pellet stoves.
- Always plug space and portable heaters directly into a wall outlet and never into an extension cord or power strip.
- Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
- Keep space heaters out of the way of foot traffic. Never block an exit.
- Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
- Test smoke alarms at least once a month.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly half of heating equipment fires (46%) occurred in the three-month period from December through February.In the first two weeks of 2026, three fire-related deaths were reported to the Oregon State Fire Marshal.
For more home heating safety tips, visit the OSFM’s website.
Poor leadership with budgets continues from liberal Governor Tina Kotek, who has not been able to stabilize maintaining essential services at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
ODOT is still confronted with potential layoffs and service cutbacks, alongside an anticipated budget shortfall of $242 million. In advance of the February session, Kotek is appealing to legislators to reallocate funds from current transportation budgets to support core operations.
Additionally, the governor is seeking to repeal HB 3991 and establish a new direction moving forward. The governor indicated that she will convene with stakeholders, which include a bipartisan assembly of lawmakers and technical specialists, to formulate a new transportation funding and investment strategy for 2027. Meantime, road maintenance and projects won’t be getting anywhere. Stay tuned.
Oregon Health Authority statement: West Coast Health Alliance continues to endorse AAP-recommended child, adolescent immunization schedules
Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) signed a decision memorandumto 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.
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.
Be Prepared For Winter Driving
If you’re planning to drive the roads, AAA recommends making sure your vehicle is ready to travel long distances. Last year, the company rescued 600,000 Americans on the roadside, including 6,500 Oregonians.
Dead batteries, lockouts and flat tires were the top issues.
VisitAAA.com/winterprepfor tips and travel advice, including what to put in an emergency kit.
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.
What to expect when visiting Oregon State Parks in 2026
As this year comes to a close, Oregon State Parks is looking back on 2025 and planning for the 2026 season.
This year Oregon State Parks welcomed millions of visitors, maintained nearly 1,000 miles of trails, hosted hundreds of events including mushroom hikes and star parties and finished dozens of projects from the restoration of the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse to repaving the campground at Silver Falls State Park.
State parks also updated many of its fees to reflect increasing costs and decreasing Oregon State Lottery funding. Depending on the fee, the last update was anywhere from seven to 15 years ago.
Staff are looking forward to welcoming visitors for the 2026 season with guided hikes, seasonal events and outdoor adventures. To help visitors enjoy the more than 250 state parks and know what to expect next year, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department gathered the upcoming updates in one place.
What’s new in 2026:
- 12-month parking permits will increase from $30 to $60 for Oregon residents and to $75 for out-of-state residents due to the out-of-state surcharge.
- 24-month parking permits will not be sold in 2026. Existing permits will be honored until they expire.
- Oregon State Parks will no longer sell Oregon Pacific Coast Passports but will honor passports purchased in 2025 until they expire.
- Oregon State Parks will no longer honor Jackson County parking permits.
Winter/Spring 2026
- OPRD is considering updates to its Division 15 Rates and Reservation Policy. The proposed changes would update the rules around cancellations, refunds, special access passes and rate ranges starting as soon as Feb. 2026. The proposed changes are designed to improve the long-term financial sustainability of the state park system and maximize the availability of campsites for visitors by encouraging early cancellation. Public comment is expected to run from December 1 to January 15, 2026. Final approval is required by the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission.
- Additional parks will require a parking fee. The specific parks and implementation date is still being finalized.
- Implement fees to use dump stations at Oregon State Parks to support the cost of that service.
- State Parks Day (June 6), will continue to offer free parking for Oregon residents. Camping fees will no longer be waived on that day pending approval of the proposed Division 15 Rates and Reservation Policy updates.
“The changes are critical to sustaining state park operations and services now and for the future. We appreciate visitors’ continued support as these necessary changes are implemented,” said Oregon Parks and Recreation Director (OPRD) Director Lisa Sumption.
OPRD is projecting at $14 million budget shortfall this biennium due to decreasing lottery revenue, increasing costs and a long-standing need for more sustainable funding. OPRD does not receive general fund tax revenue for operations.
OPRD will continue to review and update fees and operations to keep providing high-quality visitor experiences and sustain parks now and in the future.
In addition to increasing fees, OPRD is also streamlining costs, planning to add more cabins and yurts to expand capacity and increase revenue and looking for new partnerships and sponsorships to help build a more sustainable funding future.
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