Independent, provider-led network across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho confirms its 2027 carrier lineup well ahead of Open Enrollment, as insurer exits and shifting contracts reshape coverage nationwide.

OREGON – As Open Enrollment approaches on October 15, Praxis Health is confirming which insurance carriers it will be in-network with for 2027, ahead of the usual timeline. The move comes amid a wave of disruption across the health insurance industry, marked by payer exits and shifting contracts among both national and regional insurers. Praxis Health's goal is straightforward: give patients the time and clarity they need to choose coverage that keeps their care team in place, rather than leaving them to navigate a surprise mid-year.

Recent examples include Providence's move to wind down most of its health insurance business, Health Net's exit from parts of the market, and continued network narrowing among national carriers. Employers, health systems, and patients across Oregon are all navigating similar decisions right now. Against that backdrop, Praxis Health chose to finalize its 2027 network today rather than wait.

“Insurance is changing all around us and we'd rather not wait for the market to settle before making a clear decision about our insurance network. Every insurer we work with has real strengths and real limitations. We cannot control those factors, but what we can control is being decisive, transparent, and early, so our patients have enough time to plan”

— Dr. Jessica Morgan, Chief Medical Officer, Praxis Health

No insurance partner is perfect. Network strength varies by community, coverage differs between Medicare Advantage and commercial plans, and factors like prior authorization and referral approval all shape a patient's real-world access to care. Praxis Health weighed all of these factors before finalizing this decision, and its goal, and its obligation to patients, is to ensure every decision supports access to care.

The shift is landing differently in every community Praxis Health serves, and local providers are already navigating it with their own patients. In Portland, Chris Aichele, ARNP, has been direct about what network changes mean in daily practice.

"I've had patients lose access to specialists they had been seeing for years. Not because their condition changed but because their insurance plan no longer is contracted with their specialist. I've had planned surgeries get cancelled when a specialist and insurance company can't negotiate with one another and the contract ends with little notice. Leaving these decisions until the last minute hurts patients. We want our patients choosing their next plan on their own terms, with enough time and information to do it right.”

— Chris Aichele, ARNP, Pacific Medical Group North Portland, Praxis Health

Praxis Health CEO Dan McCarthy echoed that commitment. “We built this organization to be a reliable primary care leader in this state, and we want to align with insurers who are equally invested in a sustainable care network for our communities. That means finalizing our carrier lineup now, ahead of open enrollment, so our patients have enough time to make an informed decision about their healthcare.”

Patients enrolled in an affected plan will receive direct notice, access to a dedicated support line, and in-clinic help evaluating their options. Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7; ACA marketplace and employer benefits enrollment periods follow later this fall, and Medicaid and CCO members should also confirm their coverage with their clinic. Because an insurance carrier's own provider directory isn't always current, Praxis Health recommends checking GoPraxisHealth.com/insurance-updates for the most accurate 2027 coverage information rather than relying on a carrier's listing alone. Medicare Advantage members will be presented with the full range of in-network plans; Praxis Health does not recommend a specific replacement plan and encourages members to consult a licensed insurance broker, a SHIBA/SHIP counselor, or 1-800-MEDICARE for personalized guidance.

Praxis Health's focus is on making this easier for our patients. Patients have the final say in choosing their own insurance and care team; our job is simply to give them the time and information to choose well.

We're Here to Help

Praxis Health will continue to be in-network with Aetna, Cigna, First Choice, PacificSource, Moda, and Regence BlueCross BlueShield in 2027, with additional partnerships expected to be announced soon. United Healthcare is available in Washington, but negotiations are currently ongoing for Oregon & Idaho and termination could occur if an agreement is not reached. Patients with questions can call their clinic, for a full list of our clinics, click here or visit GoPraxisHealth.com/insurance-updates.

Providence and Health Net are no longer offering insurance in 2027.

About Praxis Health

Praxis Health is a provider-led, independent primary care organization with more than 30 clinic locations across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Built on the belief that independent, whole-person primary care leads to better outcomes and stronger communities, Praxis Health partners with patients, employers, and reliable insurance carriers to deliver consistent, relationship-based care. Learn more at GoPraxisHealth.com.

When an emergency happens in Benton County, getting the right information quickly can make a difference. But did you know there are two different types of emergency alerts you may receive?

Linn-Benton ALERT

Linn-Benton ALERT is a subscriber-based emergency notification system.

Residents can sign up to receive emergency information from local authorities through available notification methods, which may include:

• Text messages
• Phone calls
• Email
• Other available notification options

Linn-Benton ALERT can provide more localized and detailed information about emergencies affecting your home, workplace, neighborhood, or community. This system allows the Benton County Sheriff’s Office to send more detailed information about an incident in your area and allows public safety professionals to notify you based on your geographic location (address). This includes lower-level evacuation notices (e.g. Level 1- Be Ready and Level 2- Be Set), general shelter in place notices, and other potential hazards to public safety.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

WEA stands for Wireless Emergency Alert. These are emergency messages that appear automatically on your cell phone when an authorized alerting agency issues certain types of urgent warnings.

WEAs are not subscriber-based. You do not have to sign up for Linn-Benton ALERT to receive an eligible WEA message.

WEAs can be used for situations such as:

• Certain life-threatening hazards
• Evacuation or emergency warnings when the alert meets WEA requirements
• AMBER Alerts

Important: Not every local emergency will result in a WEA. There are specific requirements for when and how WEA messages can be issued as well as severe limitations on the amount of information that can be sent through the Federally managed system.

WEA and Linn-Benton ALERT Work Together 

They are not the same system and are used at different times. Think of it this way:

WEA = Emergency alert delivered directly to a compatible cell phone via text only.

Linn-Benton ALERT = Detailed local emergency information that you sign up to receive.

Having one does not replace the other.

For the best chance of receiving timely emergency information, residents are encouraged to sign up for Linn-Benton ALERT and keep their contact information up to date, while also making sure emergency alerts are enabled on their mobile devices.

Don't wait until an emergency happens to find out how you'll receive information.

Learn more and sign up for Linn-Benton ALERT through your local emergency management agency.

Be informed. Be prepared. Know how officials will reach you when it matters most.

#LinnBentonALERT #EmergencyPreparedness #BentonCountyOR #LinnCountyOR #WEA #EmergencyManagement #BePrepared

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

“I received the “all clear” message through WEA, does that mean I’m subscribed to Linn-Benton ALERT?”

No. WEA messages can be sent to all cell phones in the area, but they often lack the ability to send additional information about who is sending the information due to character limits. This system also has a lot of “bleed over” or notifications being sent outside of the desired area.

“How do I know if I’m signed up for Linn-Benton ALERT?”

If you receive our test messages twice a year the Saturday before daylight savings time (fall and spring), then you are successfully in the system.

“I signed up for Corvallis Police Alerts (Nixle), does that mean I am signed up for Linn-Benton ALERT?” 

No, Corvallis Police Alerts are powered by different software that does not allow geolocation services or share information with Linn-Benton ALERT. Linn-Benton ALERT is powered by Everbridge software.

“Why didn’t my family member receive the alert, but I did?”

Each family member needs their own account if all members would like to receive the alert. There are many ways public information is shared, including social media and websites, but the Linn-Benton ALERT system is our primary tool for getting information out to the public. Unfortunately, only around 16% of the population of Benton County is registered for Linn-Benton ALERT as of September of 2026. The other reason could be based on where a registered address is entered. For example, you may have an old address entered or an address of a family member or workplace that is in the impacted area.

“Is there another way to register for Linn-Benton ALERT or to confirm I am registered?”

Yes! You can email gencyManagement@bentoncountyor.gov">EmergencyManagement@bentoncountyor.gov or call 541-766-6864 if you need assistance. A custom test message can be sent to your account to confirm you can receive the Linn-Benton ALERT.

“Who decides who sends an alert and through which system?”

The Sheriff is ultimately the one responsible for sending out alerts with input from Patrol and Emergency Management. WEA alerts may only be used based on federal guidance and criteria which dictate there must be an immediate life-safety issue to use the WEA system.

“When the last WEA message went out, why didn’t it say who it was from and what incident it was related?”

The limitation of characters greatly impacts the amount of detail and information that can be shared in a single message. In some cases, a link can be provided to a website with additional information. However, to many individuals, this message looks like spam and restricts character counts even more.

“Is an AMBER Alert the same thing as a locally issued WEA”

No. AMBER Alerts are sent from the Oregon State Police using the same WEA software, but they are not issued by local public safety professionals and often are sent statewide.

“I know I am registered, but I am still not receiving alerts.”

There could be several factors, but the most common is that one’s phone settings are set to turn off emergency notifications. Spam blockers can also prevent messages and calls from going through.

“Is there a specific number that the County uses to send alerts from?”

Yes! Generally, phone calls from the general call center number 541-766-6200. This line is not always monitored and is dependent on the nature of the emergency. When tests are sent, they are sent from 889-11. You can adjust your settings for spam blockers to allow these numbers to receive information. You can also save these numbers in your phone as contacts.

“I registered years ago, and I know I have an account, but I cannot link the account in the Everbridge Community page you have on the website”

The Everbridge Community page is used simply to link other subscriptions you may have in other jurisdictions (e.g. Deschutes County, Lincoln County, etc.). If you successfully log in to Everbridge Community, and it shows you are subscribed to Linn-Benton ALERT, then you have an account. If you click on the Linn-Benton ALERT subscription link, it will take you to your member portal with Benton County and you can change, edit, and confirm your contact information, contact methods, etc. from there. If you have any questions or issues, you can contact gencyManagement@Bentoncountyor.gov">EmergencyManagement@Bentoncountyor.gov or call 541-766-6864, to walk you through it and troubleshoot any problems you’re having.

“Why is it called Linn-Benton ALERT if I only live in Benton County?”

Linn and Benton County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management work very closely together. These accounts are linked to provide additional redundancy in the ability to send information. If you live in a different county other than Linn or Benton County, you can register for the system by visiting the Oregon Alert website or your local Emergency Management’s website.

“I heard about Genasys Protect, is that a notification or alerting system?”

No. Genasys Protect is not a true alerting system.  Genasys Protect is a public interface to view evacuation zones and levels when/if they are utilized by public safety professionals. Evacuation zones are preidentified areas outlined in the Genasys system. During a real event, such as wildfire, flood, hazardous material spill, or law enforcement incident, these zones may or may not be applicable. As a result, responder agencies may not designate evacuation areas based on zones.

While you can register for Genasys Protect as well, and it will send you an email or text if your evacuation zone changes, it does not have the ability to do mass notifications or WEA. In all cases, the prioritization is to get alerts out via the Linn-Benton ALERT system and/or WEA over adjusting zones in Genasys.

“Where else can I get credible information for an ongoing incident?”

You can get credible information from local public safety agency Facebook pages, including the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. You can also view information at the Benton County Sheriff’s Office website, which include – news releases, and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management “Stay Informed” webpage.  Only incidents that involve large-scale emergencies will be shared on the “Stay Informed” page.

Updated: corrected event date to 9/28/26

After a more than hour-long standoff, Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies arrested 48-year-old Aaron Hetland for Malicious Mischief II, Attempt to Elude, and Resisting Arrest.

On 9/28/26 at approximately 2:30 p.m., deputies were dispatched to investigate intentional property damage at a residence near the 11200 block of NE 107th Street in the Orchards area. Deputies learned that Hetland had damaged property inside the residence, where he lives with his mother, and had left the area in a blue Toyota Corolla.

At approximately 3:45 p.m., Hetland’s mother called 911 again to report that he had returned home. Deputies located Hetland’s vehicle leaving the area as they arrived and attempted a traffic stop. Hetland drove back to the family residence and parked in the driveway but did not exit the vehicle. Deputies told Hetland he was under arrest and instructed him to exit the vehicle. Hetland did not comply and instead struck the garage door with his vehicle before backing out of the driveway and eluding CCSO deputies.

At approximately 5:07 p.m., deputies located Hetland’s vehicle traveling on NE 99th Street. Deputies deployed a grappler on the vehicle near the 10500 block of NE 99th Street. Deputies blocked the vehicle and determined Hetland was the only occupant. Deputies also observed Hetland using a knife to inflict self-harm.

Deputies spent more than an hour working to de-escalate the situation using crisis negotiators, an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), and less-lethal tools. Hetland eventually complied with deputies’ instructions, exited the vehicle, and was taken into custody at about 6:20 p.m.

Hetland was transported by American Medical Response (AMR) to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment of his injuries. He was later booked into the Clark County Jail for Malicious Mischief II – DV, Attempt to Elude, and Resisting Arrest.

Corbett Fire Department  serves the communities of Aims, Corbett, Bridal Veil , and Springdale. Additionaly, it provides fire protection in the Western Scenic Columbia River Gorge. That explains the for cisterns

At 10:04am on Sunday September 27th, Forest Grove Firefighters were dispatched to a reported residential fire in the 56700 block of NW Wilson River Highway, near the community of Gales Creek. As crews responded, dispatchers advised the fire was in a 5th wheel RV and not a fixed structure. Due to the potential of the fire spreading, the full response continued to the scene. When firefighters arrived on scene, they found the RV fully engulfed in flames with two nearby passenger vehicles on fire. While initiating the fire attack, a live power line to a nearby house under construction had burned and fell to the ground, creating a hazard for firefighters to work around. Firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to a nearby house under construction as well as the forest surrounding the property. It took firefighters approximately 15 minutes to deem the incident under control. 

Crews worked for over an hour extinguishing hot spots from the exterior of the RV, which was too unstable for crews to make entry into the interior. For approximately an hour during the fire incident, we had one lane of Wilson River Highway (OR Highway 6) closed due to our fire apparatus blocking. Washington County Sheriff Deputies provided traffic control during the duration of the lane closure. 
 

The RV was being used as a primary residence, while work on the house was being conducted. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The RV as well as two cars were heavily damaged, with two additional vehicles receiving moderate and minor damage. The resident was evaluated on scene for smoke inhalation, but didn't require transport to a hospital. 
 

Forest Grove Fire & Rescue was assisted on scene by Banks Fire District, Cornelius Fire Department, Washington County Sheriffs Office, AMR, Portland General Electric and Oregon Department of Transportation.

Gresham, Ore.— The driver responsible for hitting and killing a flagger has been arrested.  On August 31, 2026, Miguel Jimenez was directing traffic at a construction site near NE Division Street and NE Hogan Drive in Gresham when he was fatally struck by a passing vehicle.  The driver fled before police arrived. City-owned public safety cameras captured the collision and the suspect vehicle’s license plate.

Five days later, officers with the Vancouver Police Department located the suspect vehicle at an apartment complex in Vancouver, Washington.  Criminalists and officers with the Vehicular Crimes Team (VCT) responded to examine the vehicle and collect evidence.

Over the following weeks, detectives and VCT members served multiple search warrants, reviewed digital evidence, and processed physical and trace evidence collected from the scene and the suspect vehicle. Investigators identified 26-year-old Courtney McKee, of Vancouver, as the driver involved in the crash.

A warrant for McKee’s arrest was issued on September 29, 2026.  Earlier today, McKee turned herself in to the Vancouver Police Department.  Extradition proceedings will take place to return McKee to Oregon, where she will face charges of Manslaughter in the First Degree, Manslaughter in the Second Degree, DUII, Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver Leading to a Death, Reckless Driving, and Reckless Endangering.  

“The safety of everyone who travels our roadways remains a top priority. Our officers, detectives, and members of the Vehicular Crimes Team will continue working diligently to investigate serious crashes and hold those responsible accountable. We are grateful for the assistance provided by our partners at the Vancouver Police Department throughout this investigation,” said Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg. 

Please remember:

• Do not drive impaired.
• Stay alert and avoid distractions. Distracted driving is a leading cause of work-zone crashes.
• Slow down. Reduced work-zone speed limits protect drivers and road workers.
• Move over. When you see road workers, safely change lanes to give them space.

Gresham, Ore.— On September 24^th, officers responded to a welfare check at a residence in the 17900 block of SE Market St.  They located 60-year-old Jeff Thompson shot to death inside the residence.  Gresham Police detectives and members of the East County Major Crimes Team responded to conduct the homicide investigation. 

Using a combination of modern technology and traditional investigative techniques, detectives identified a suspect in Thompson’s death.  This included public safety camera systems which were recently installed in nearby Vance Park and data captured by automatic license plate reader systems. 

The public safety cameras were installed in Vance Park and other high activity locations around the City of Gresham to deter crime and aid the investigation of crimes that do occur.  The Gresham Police Department utilizes automatic license plate reader equipment made by Motorola, as authorized by Oregon 2026 Senate Bill 1516. 

Detectives located the suspect near a motel in southeast Portland.  They requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force in taking the suspect into custody. The suspect fled during the arrest attempt and an officer-involved shooting occurred.  During the shooting, the suspect was killed and PPB K9 Kylo was fatally wounded.

The Gresham Police Department and East County Major Crimes Team are leading the investigation into the homicide. Anyone with information is asked to call the GPD tip line at 503-618-2719.

The Portland Police Bureau is leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. Anyone with information regarding the officer-involved shooting, who has not already spoken to police, can contact homicidetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 26-279642.

Gresham, Ore.— Shortly after 7 a.m., Gresham Police officers were dispatched to a welfare check at a residence in the 17900 block of SE Market St.  They discovered the occupant of the residence deceased under suspicious circumstances.  Detectives determined the victim died by homicidal violence and identified a suspect. 

Late this morning, investigators located the suspect in the area of SE Pine St and SE 99^th Ave in Portland.  They requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force in taking the suspect into custody.  The suspect fled during the arrest attempt and an officer-involved shooting occurred. 

During the shooting, PPB K9 Kylo was fatally wounded.  K9 Kylo was a true protector of the peace.  We ask our community to keep the officers and professional staff of the Portland Police Bureau in your thoughts as they honor K9 Kylo’s legacy and sacrifice.

The homicide victim is not being identified pending notification of the next of kin.  The deceased suspect is also not being identified at this time.

The Gresham Police Department and East County Major Crimes Team are leading the investigation into the homicide.  Anyone with information is asked to call the GPD tip line at 503-618-2719.

The Portland Police Bureau is leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.  Anyone with information regarding the officer-involved shooting, who has not already spoken to police, can contact homicidetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 26-279642.

On 09/29/26 at about 2117 hours Kelso Police officers responded to a train versus pedestrian collision in the area of the 1100 block of Wood Ave.  Officers were notified that a north bound BNSF train had struck a pedestrian on the tracks near this area.  Kelso officers and medics with Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue arrived in the area a short time later and found a deceased male subject on the embankment on the east side of the rail road tracks.  The Cowlitz County Coroner's office responded to the scene and took custody of the deceased male.  Identification of the male subject is pending, and will be made by the Coroner's office pending notification of next kin.

On 09/28/26 at about 0239 hours Longview Police officers responded to a domestic violence assault that occurred Longview.  The suspect, later identified as Juan Artemio Castillo, had reportedly feloniously assaulted his girlfriend, and made threats to "shoot up the place".  Castillo also allegedly made threats to subjects on scene with a knife.  Castillo then fled from the scene in Longview in a vehicle.  Kelso police officers entered the license plate of the vehicle Castillo fled in, into the department's automated license plate reader camera system (ALPR).  Within thirty minutes, Kelso officers were notified that Castillo's vehicle had been detected by an ALPR camera entering Kelso at approximately 0314 hours.  Kelso Officers located the vehicle within 5 minutes after the ALPR notification, parked unoccupied at a residence at 1101 N 1st Ave in Kelso.  Kelso officers, with assistance from the Longview police department, Washington State Patrol, and the Cowlitz County Sheriff's office then set up containment around the residence, and began PA announcements ordering the suspect to come out of the residence and surrender.  The suspect emerged from the residence several times, but was not compliant, and retreated back into the residence refusing commands to exit and surrender.  The Lower Columbia SWAT team was activated, and responded to the scene.   At around 0520 hours Castillo exited the residence and surrendered to officers on scene.  He was arrested without incident and booked into the Cowlitz County Jail for Assault 2nd/DV, Felony Harassment/DV, Obstructing, Resisting Arrest, as well as a fugitive arrest warrant.

DRIVING IN THE RAIN

Along with the official start of fall comes our rainy season. For some, driving in the rain, especially in the dark, causes anxiety. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “nearly 5,700 people are killed and more than 544,700 people are injured in crashes on wet pavement” each year.

But being behind the wheel while it’s raining doesn’t have to be a nerve-racking experience. Here are some tips for driving in a downpour:

1. Think. Drivers need to stay alert and focused on what’s going on around them, especially during rain and other stormy weather.

2. Turn on headlights. It’s the law in all states to turn on headlights when visibility is low. Many states also require having headlights on when the windshield wipers are in use. While Oregon does not require motorists to turn on headlights when wipers are used, this can help increase visibility. Well-working wipers are an essential for driving in rain.

3. Beware of hydroplaning. Hydroplaning is what occurs when your tires are getting more traction on the layer of water on the road than on the road itself, resulting in your car sliding uncontrollably. It’s easy enough to hydroplane: All you need is one-twelfth of an inch of water on the road and a speed of more than 35 miles per hour. If you start to hydroplane, let off the accelerator slowly and steer straight until you regain control. Before rain, snow, or freezing temperatures begin, it is important to have quality tires for increased traction and safety.

4. Turn off cruise control. On rain, snow, ice, or other slick surfaces, cruise control may cause you to lose control. If you hydroplane while in cruise control, your car will actually go faster.

5. Slow down. Speed limits are designed for ideal conditions. That means driving when there is little traffic and good visibility. Plan for more time to get to your destination when it is raining.

For more information and tips visit our website at www.lincolncountysheriff.net and like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon.

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The next Quarterly Coffee with a Deputy event with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is just around the corner. Join us on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM for a cup of coffee at Dream Machine Coffee (131 Highway 101 North, Yachats, Oregon 97498).

More about these quarterly events:

Every three months our office partners with a local coffee shop in Lincoln County to provide a time, space, and coffee for community members to meet our team and share what’s on their minds. Coffee with a cop events are a friendly and relaxed way for our communities to connect with the deputies that serve them.
 

These events offer a unique opportunity for community members to directly engage with law enforcement, ask questions, voice concerns, and build positive relationships. Whether you're a regular coffee drinker or simply curious about the work of law enforcement, this is a chance to connect with our team on a personal level, learn about each other’s experiences, and share local feedback.
 

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UPDATE 6; 9/29/26 8:00 AM

https://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/business_detail_T13_R238.php

Nearly two years after a Milwaukie Police officer-involved shooting, the City of Milwaukie and family of Hunter Newton have agreed to a civil settlement.

On September 30, 2024, Hunter Newton was driving on a misdemeanor suspended license when he was stopped for traffic violations. Mr. Newton stopped his vehicle in the Taco Bell drive-thru located at the Milwaukie Marketplace. When the officers asked and lawfully ordered Mr. Newton to get out of the car, he refused. Officers told him he was under arrest and attempted to remove him from the vehicle, but he resisted. During the struggle to remove Mr. Newton from the vehicle both officers heard a sound they believed to be a gunshot fired by Mr. Newton. Officers then backed away and fired their weapons at Mr. Newton, striking him. Mr. Newton sustained serious injuries from the incident.

While investigators did not locate a weapon from the scene, surveillance footage from a nearby business captured an object being propelled from the vehicle that produced an explosion as it hit the ground near where the officers were dealing with Mr. Newton. Witnesses nearby also reported hearing what they believed was a gunshot prior to the officers firing their weapons. Both Sgt. Sanchez and Officer Akom were later cleared by a Clackamas County Grand Jury returning a “not true bill,” a legal term indicating criminal charges against the officers were not warranted. 

While no settlement can change these events or erase their impact, resolving this matter allows all parties to move forward on terms that Hunter Newton’s family and the City have agreed to and without protracted formal litigation. Decisions regarding civil settlements involve many legal and practical considerations and should not be interpreted as an admission of liability.

“As Chief of Police, I recognize the pain and significance of this event. Today's settlement agreement concludes the civil litigation arising from this tragic incident that has profoundly affected the individuals involved, their families, Milwaukie Police Officers and support staff as well the greater Milwaukie community. My focus remains on our department serving our community with professionalism, accountability, and transparency. While creating policies or training for unforeseen things like explosions while dealing with a resistant subject are not easy to do, we continue to evaluate our policies, training, and critical incident response to ensure we provide the highest level of service while protecting the rights and safety of everyone we serve. Our thoughts remain with everyone whose lives have been affected by this incident, and we remain committed to earning and maintaining the trust of our community through our actions every day.”

Chief Ryan Burdick

Additional news releases and information related to this incident can be accessed here:

City of Milwaukie Oregon Official Website

Investigation ongoing in officer-involved shooting in Milwaukie | Clackamas County

Update on Milwaukie Police Department officer-involved shooting from Sept. 30 | Clackamas County

Oct. 9 update on Milwaukie Police Department officer-involved shooting from Sept. 30 | Clackamas County

Clackamas County Grand Jury Finds Insufficient Evidence for Criminal Charges in Milwaukie Shooting Involving Police - Oregon Department of Justice : Media

UPDATE 5; 9/18/25  3:00 PM

Administrative internal investigations are complete for Sgt. Eduardo Sanchez and Officer Kwasean Akom. They are cleared to return to work on September 22nd, 2025. 

UPDATE 4; 6/12/25  3:55 PM

The Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) today announced the conclusion of a criminal investigation related to the officer involved shooting by two Milwaukie Police Officers of Hunter Newton in September of 2024. Oregon DOJ was asked by Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth to assume all prosecutorial responsibilities arising from the investigation, which was conducted by the Clackamas County Major Crimes Team (MCT). The Milwaukie Police Department learned the grand jury returned a “not true bill,” meaning the grand jury believed criminal charges against the two law enforcement officers were not warranted.

We recognize and respect the decision of the grand jury and defer to the Oregon DOJ’s process regarding contact with the Newton family and subsequent release of body worn camera (BWC) footage.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with Hunter Newton and his family, and we recognize the deep and lasting impact this event has had. This incident also has been troubling and difficult for our officers, support staff, city employees and this community. We do not take lightly the impact a significant use of force has on so many.”  -Ryan Burdick, Chief of Police.

This week’s grand jury response means the criminal aspect of this incident has concluded.  As part of the use of force and policy review process, the Milwaukie Police Department will request the grand jury transcript and independent investigator’s reports from the Oregon DOJ to begin an internal administrative review of the incident.Sergeant Sanchez and Officer Akom will remain on administrative leave pending the completion of that internal review.

Link to Oregon DOJ statement and BWC footage: https://www.doj.state.or.us/media-home/news-media-releases/clackamas-county-grand-jury-finds-insufficient-evidence-for-criminal-charges-in-milwaukie-shooting-involving-police/

Clackamas County major crimes team investigating Officer Involved shooting (Updated) | City of Milwaukie Oregon Official Website

UPDATE 3;  10/2/24 4:45 PM
 

On behalf of the Milwaukie Police Department, I want to express our sincere thoughts and prayers to the family of Hunter Newton, who is currently in the vital care of medical staff and surrounded by family and friends.

This fact-finding process is ongoing. The Milwaukie Police Department is fully committed to cooperating with outside agency investigators and the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office. 

As part the Milwaukie Department’s commitment to transparency, we embraced the implementation of Officer’s body-worn cameras several years ago. We believe the moments these cameras preserve are a source of documentation, accountability, and can help bring clarity to critical situations. Milwaukie Officers were wearing body-worn cameras during this incident, and they were activated at the time of the encounter. The Milwaukie Police Department has released all body-worn camera footage to investigators and Clackamas County District Attorney Office for their use and review in this matter.  

As this is an ongoing investigation and to respect the integrity of that process, we will not be sharing further information at this time. The investigation remains active and is being conducted by the Interagency Major Crimes Team and the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office. Body worn camera recordings of this incident will be shared with the community at the earliest permissible time.
 

Ryan Burdick, Chief of Police

Milwaukie Police Department

UPDATE 9/30/24 5:30 AM

During this incident at least one Officer discharged their firearm and a male suspect was struck. The person was taken to a local hospital and their condition is unknown at this time, no Officers were injured and there is no continuing danger to the community. This is an ongoing investigation, further questions about the investigation should be directed to the Clackamas County District Attorney's Office.

https://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/police/clackamas-county-major-crimes-team-investigating-officer-involved-shooting

Milwaukie OR- On 9/30/24 at approximately 12:55 AM, Milwaukie Officers were involved in a traffic investigation at the 11000 block of SE Oak St. During this investigation at least one Officer discharged their firearm. Clackamas County major crimes team and the Clackamas County district attorney's office are processing the scene. Additional Information will be shared as it becomes available.

https://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/police/clackamas-county-major-crimes-team-investigating-officer-involved-shooting

SPRINGFIELD, Ore.  (30 September 2026) – Thanks to a generous donation from the Oregon Community Credit Union Foundation and the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation, Oregon State Police patrol and Fish and Wildlife vehicles in Lane County now have an automated external defibrillator (AED). Thirty-nine AEDs have been deployed to troopers in the Springfield, Oakridge, and Florence patrol offices.

About 30 times every year, troopers throughout the state respond to incidents requiring CPR. In 2026, troopers have already performed CPR more than 20 times. Particularly in rural areas, if a trooper receives notification of a cardiac arrest, they can often respond in minutes and start CPR or deploy an AED while EMS is en route.

Having AEDs in the hands of law enforcement responders helps get critical care to patients quickly. The sooner an AED is deployed to help re‑establish a normal heart rhythm, the more likely the patient is to have a meaningful recovery. The AEDs have a QR code that EMS can scan to give hospital staff and emergency room doctors real-time access to the patient’s heart rhythm.

Central Region Captain Ryan Martin said, “I’ve been in law enforcement for nearly three decades, and AEDs weren’t available when I first became a police officer. Now, we have an opportunity for troopers in rural areas of the state to respond to medical calls, make a difference, and potentially save someone’s life.”

Earlier this summer, troopers responded to a medical call near John Day for an elderly man who was unresponsive and not breathing. Two troopers took turns giving chest compressions and rescue breaths while delivering six shocks from an AED before paramedics arrived. After paramedics delivered two more shocks, the patient began showing a pulse and started breathing. The patient was transported to a local hospital and survived.

OSP troopers are non-transport pre-hospital providers, with about 20 troopers certified as EMTs and a few as paramedics throughout the state. From pre-academy to annual training, troopers receive CPR and other first-aid training throughout their careers with OSP. As part of the EMS program, OSP has a medical director and maintains medical protocols.

Sr. Trooper Todd Larsen, OSP’s EMS Coordinator, said, “We’re grateful to the OCCU Foundation and PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation for this generous donation. About 40 to 50 patrol troopers a year perform CPR. Having an AED is a significant improvement when responding to cardiac incidents.”

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About the Oregon State Police

Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that is charged with protecting the people, wildlife, and natural resources in Oregon. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of nearly 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon.

UNION COUNTY, Ore. (29 September 2026) – On Monday, September 28, 2026, at approximately 8:47 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a fatal crash on Interstate 84 near milepost 278 in Union County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a Freightliner tow truck, operated by Dennis James Fenn (50) of La Grande, was stopped on the westbound shoulder near North Powder to hook up a disabled Peterbilt semi-truck and trailer, operated by Kevin Wesley Russell (46) of Leachville, Arkansas. A westbound Kenworth semi-truck and trailer, operated by Mark William Galyen (52) of Baker City, left the roadway, collided with the disabled semi-truck and trailer, and struck the driver of the disabled semi-truck, who was standing outside the vehicle.

The operator of the disabled Peterbilt semi-truck (Russell) was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Kenworth semi-truck (Galyen) was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.

The operator of the tow truck (Fenn) was reportedly not injured.

The crash remains under investigation.

The highway was impacted for approximately six hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the North Powder Rural Fire Protection District and the Oregon Department of Transportation.   
 

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About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in documenting, investigating, and analyzing complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in using advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR-accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

GILLIAM COUNTY, Ore. (28 September 2026) – On Sunday, September 27, 2026, at approximately 12:23 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle fatal crash on Interstate 84 near milepost 140 in Gilliam County.

The preliminary investigation indicated, a white Toyota Avalon, operated by Adhishwar Ramanathan (24) of Umatilla, was traveling eastbound on I-84 near Arlington when it left the lane of travel for an unknown reason and struck the end of the guardrail. The vehicle came to rest facing westbound in the eastbound lane.

The operator of the Toyota (Ramanathan) was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office, the North Gilliam County Rural Fire Protection District, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.   

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in documenting, investigating, and analyzing complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in using advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR-accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

Sweet Home Fire & Ambulance District Fire Chief Nick Tyler and Division Chief of Wildland Christian Whitfield recently traveled to Red Lodge, Montana, to participate in the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Fire Department Exchange (FDX), a national program designed to bring together fire departments and wildfire leaders from communities facing significant wildland-urban interface challenges.

The FDX Red Lodge exchange, held September 21–25, provided an opportunity for fire service leaders from across the country to spend several days learning from one another, visiting wildfire-prone areas and discussing practical approaches to protecting communities from wildfire.

For Tyler, one moment captured what made the experience unique: sitting at the top of Beartooth Pass discussing wildfire challenges with wildland fire leaders from across the country.

“Being at the top of Beartooth Pass, surrounded by that landscape and having a conversation with national wildland fire leaders about the challenges we're all facing was pretty amazing,” Tyler said. “These are people working on wildfire issues all over the country, but when you start talking, you realize how many of the challenges are shared. The landscapes may look different, but we're all trying to answer many of the same questions about how we better prepare our communities before the next major fire.”

Unlike a traditional conference, the IAFC Fire Department Exchange is centered on peer-to-peer learning. Participants spend time in the field and around the table discussing successful programs, lessons learned and challenges encountered in their own communities.

Topics discussed during the Red Lodge exchange included hazardous fuels reduction, defensible space, community wildfire planning, evacuation, public education, emergency response, building and land-use considerations and partnerships between local, state and federal agencies.

Those conversations have direct relevance to Sweet Home.

Sweet Home Fire & Ambulance District serves a community surrounded by forest and wildland vegetation, making wildfire preparedness an increasingly important part of the district's mission. The 2020 Labor Day fires demonstrated how quickly a large wildfire can threaten communities in western Oregon and reinforced the importance of completing preparedness and mitigation work before an emergency begins.

Sweet Home Fire has expanded that work significantly in recent years.

The district established its Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program in 2023, providing residents with education and free wildfire risk assessments designed to identify practical ways to improve defensible space and reduce the vulnerability of homes and property.

The district has also developed a Wildland Fire Division, led by Whitfield, that has expanded Sweet Home Fire's ability to participate in fuels-reduction and wildfire mitigation projects. Through partnerships with agencies and organizations including the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State Fire Marshal and others, the district has worked to move wildfire mitigation from planning into work on the ground.

For Whitfield, the exchange provided an opportunity to compare Sweet Home's developing programs with approaches being used in other wildfire-prone communities and bring those ideas back to Oregon.

“One of the most valuable parts of an exchange like this is seeing how other communities are approaching the same problems,” Whitfield said. “You can look at what has been successful somewhere else, talk directly with the people doing the work and then determine whether some of those ideas can be adapted to fit Sweet Home.”

The exchange also reinforced a central theme of modern wildfire preparedness: protecting a community from wildfire involves much more than responding with fire engines after a fire starts.

Successful wildfire resilience requires work long before an emergency, including reducing hazardous vegetation, creating defensible space around homes, educating residents, planning evacuations, identifying areas of greatest risk and building partnerships among fire departments, government agencies, landowners and community organizations.

“We're always going to prepare for the response side of wildfire, but we can't look at suppression as the only answer,” Tyler said. “The more work we can accomplish before a fire starts, the better position our firefighters and our community will be in when that day comes.”

Sweet Home also brought something valuable to the exchange.

The district's growing Wildland Fire Division, community risk-reduction efforts and partnerships on fuels-mitigation projects allowed Tyler and Whitfield to contribute their own experiences to the national discussion rather than simply attend as observers.

“That was another thing I appreciated about FDX,” Tyler said. “It wasn't one group telling everyone else how to do it. Everyone brought something to the conversation. We were able to learn from departments around the country, but we were also able to talk about what Sweet Home is doing and some of the successes and challenges we've experienced here.”

Tyler and Whitfield returned from Montana with new ideas, professional relationships and examples of programs that the district can evaluate for use in the Sweet Home area.

Perhaps equally important, the experience reinforced that the work already underway locally is part of a much larger national effort to help communities become more resilient to wildfire.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we're also doing some really good things in Sweet Home,” Tyler said. “The value of going somewhere like Red Lodge is coming home with new ideas and relationships and asking ourselves, ‘What can we do better here?’ Ultimately, that's why we went, to bring something back that benefits the people we serve.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vancouver Fire Department to Conduct Live-Fire Training at Station 5

VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Vancouver Fire Department will conduct live-fire training at Fire Station 5 on Wednesday, October 7, from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

During the training, residents and businesses in the surrounding area may notice smoke, fire apparatus, and increased activity at the station throughout the day. The smoke and fire observed during this time will be part of planned, controlled firefighter training.

Live-fire training is an important component of preparing firefighters for the conditions they may encounter during an actual structure fire. These controlled exercises allow firefighters to work in realistic heat and smoke while practicing critical skills, including:

• Hose advancement and fire attack
• Fire control
• Search and rescue
• Fireground communication
• Coordinated company operations
• Decision-making under changing fire conditions

The training also supports the ongoing proficiency requirements for Washington firefighters. Under WAC 296-305-05502, firefighters who perform interior structural firefighting in immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) conditions must receive live-fire training appropriate to their assigned duties at least once every three years. The regulation also requires ongoing training and proficiency development to help prevent the degradation of critical firefighting skills.

Live-fire evolutions are conducted by qualified fire service instructors and follow required safety procedures and standards.

While the majority of firefighter training does not involve live fire, controlled live-fire exercises provide an important opportunity for firefighters to bring individual skills together in realistic conditions. This preparation helps ensure crews are ready to perform effectively when those skills are needed during an actual emergency.

The Vancouver Fire Department appreciates the community’s understanding and support as firefighters conduct this important training.

Media Contact:

Captain Raymond Egan

aymond.egan@cityofvancouver.us">raymond.egan@cityofvancouver.us

360-869-3914
Vancouver Fire Department
City of Vancouver, Washington

On Thursday, September 24, 2026, Washington County Sheriff’s Office detectives partnered with local businesses to combat organized retail theft in unincorporated Washington County, near the city of Beaverton. 

During the mission, Washington County Sheriff’s Office detectives and uniformed patrol deputies collaborated with asset protection staff to identify individuals committing thefts at Fred Meyer and Target. Deputies took seven individuals into custody for theft, outstanding arrest warrants, and criminal mischief involving property damage. Detectives recovered hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise from those arrested. 

This mission was funded by a grant obtained by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will continue to collaborate with retail and law enforcement partners on additional initiatives to combat organized retail theft and shoplifting in Washington County. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

September 29, 2026  

VA awards $2,829,295 to organizations working to strengthen community-based suicide prevention efforts in Oregon

[DATELINE] — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded $2,829,295 in grants to 5 community organizations that provide suicide prevention services to Veterans in Oregon.

This funding is part of $112 million in grants awarded to 191 organizations nationwide to support suicide prevention efforts.

The funds are made available through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP) and will become available at the start of fiscal year 2027. Grants are accessible to nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, federally recognized tribes and other community-based organizations that have demonstrated a capacity to serve Veterans.

Suicide prevention is VA’s top clinical priority, and all VA healthcare facilities provide Veterans same-day emergency mental health care access if they need it. Reaching Veterans in need of help, however, can be a challenge. For instance, 61% of Veterans who died by suicide in 2023 — the most recent year for which data is available – were not receiving VA healthcare in the last year of their life. Fox grants can help bridge this gap by directing funding to community-based organizations.

“Community organizations play a vital role in strengthening the support network available to Oregon Veterans,” said Medical Center Director, Karla Azcuy. “These grants provide Veterans with lifesaving support and ensure they have access to the care and resources they deserve right here in our community.”

View the complete list of grant awardees.

For details about eligibility, priorities and application requirements for SSG Fox SPGP, visit SSG Fox SPGP website. 

In addition to the Fox grant program, VA is pursuing a range of suicide prevention efforts nationwide:

• In fiscal year 2026 through September 20th, VA answered more than 1.3 million calls, chats and texts from Veterans in need through the Veterans Crisis Line, a 7.1% increase over the prior year, with a Veteran satisfaction rate of 97.3%.
• In 2018, the first Trump Administration launched RISK ID, a comprehensive suicide risk evaluation screening that helps VA flag and care for at-risk Veterans. In May 2026, VA announced it is screening Veterans for suicide risk and providing comprehensive evaluations at a record pace. Through August 2026, VA completed more than 5.5 million suicide risk screenings, approximately 100,000 more Veterans screened in 2025.

• VA continues to expand suicide prevention training for health care professionals at VA and in the community.
• VA continues to provide eligible Veterans and certain former service members experiencing an acute suicidal crisis with emergency suicide prevention care through VA and non-VA facilities. Since 2023, almost 50,000 Veterans have used this benefit.

Background:

The Fox grant program extends VA’s suicide prevention efforts into communities to reach Veterans who are not connected to VA care. In calendar year 2025, approximately 17,000 Veterans, service members and family members received services through Fox grantees. That’s a 31% increase from 2024, and the number of Veterans served in 2026 is expected to be even higher.

In 2025, 344 at-risk Veterans were connected to life-saving emergency mental healthcare through these grants, and VA expects this number to rise in 2026. Fox grantees also connected 2,647 Veterans who had not previously used VHA services to VA care and resources, nearly 1,000 more than in 2024.

Sixty one percent of the Veterans who die by suicide were not in VHA care at any point in the two years prior to their death. That’s why VA has taken steps to enroll new Veterans at VA. So far in 2026, VA has enrolled more than 270,000 Veterans into VA care.

For more information, contact Megan Crowley at megan.crowley@va.gov or 503-423-7783

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If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive 24/7, confidential support. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. To reach responders, Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.

Reporters covering this issue can download VA’s Safe Messaging Best Practices fact sheet or visit ReportingOnSuicide.org for important guidance on how to communicate about suicide.

Outdoor debris burning will open at sunrise tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 1 in the Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2.  

Central Oregon fire agencies work collaboratively to determine the best time to open burning based on weather and fire safety factors. Currently the region is in Moderate fire danger and with cooler temperatures and the precipitation we have seen, burning has been determined safe to conduct.  

As a reminder, debris burning within Bend city limits remains permanently banned by City ordinance. Open fires are also prohibited on public land owned by City of Bend, Deschutes County or the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Campfires, recreational fires, warming fires and cooking fires are permitted within the city of Bend and the surrounding rural area if the proper safety precautions are followed.   

If you choose to burn, Bend Fire & Rescue wants you to remember: 

• Know if burning is allowed at your location. Debris burning regulations may vary between governmental jurisdictions within the Central Oregon area. Please contact your local fire agency for specific requirements and closures. 

• Call before you burn. Weather conditions can change quickly and burning can be closed as needed. If you are within the rural area, please call 541-322-6335 before lighting a fire to ensure burning is open for the day.   

• Obtain any permits needed for your outdoor fire. Large fires (greater than 6 feet in diameter), agricultural fires and special fires like bonfires or pit fires may need a permit.  

• Follow all local burn regulations and have a copy on hand. Failure to comply with burning regulations may result in a citation and/or being reported to Department of Environmental Quality.  

• Prep the area before you burn and have water and tools nearby. Maintain a 10-foot clearance around the fire and ensure water or a hose and tools are close in case of the fire escaping.  

• Fully extinguish your fire when you are done and leaving the area. The ground needs to be cold to the touch to prevent unwanted rekindling of the fire.  

Learn more about burn permits and regulations at bendoregon.gov/burninginfo.  

September 29, 2026, Redmond, OR- At 8am on October 1st, Redmond Fire & Rescue will reopen outdoor burning. With the recent rains and decrease in high temperatures, the risk for fire spread has decreased to safe levels. Redmond Fire & Rescue would like to remind anyone who is conducting outdoor burning of the regulations for the areas served by Redmond Fire & Rescue:

NO DEBRIS BURNING INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF REDMOND AT ANY TIME

Open debris burning inside the city limits of Redmond is prohibited per Redmond Fire & Rescue Ordinance #5. Failure to comply can result in a citation and fines.

Campfires, warming fires, and cooking fires, in approved fire rings or appliances, are allowed year-round when the regulations below are followed. These fires are allowed within city limits and no permit is required.

All types of fires may be banned in peak fire conditions.

A burn permit is required for open burning. A burn permit is not required when using a burn barrel, however you must still check the burn line to determine if burning is allowed. Burn permits will be available via the

Before You Burn App or at www.rdmfire-or.gov.  

Outdoor burning is determined on a daily basis before 8am. If conditions allow, burning will be opened. 

General Requirements

• Each day, before you begin your outdoor burning, you must call the outdoor burning number at 541-504-5035 and utilize the burn permit online system to determine if burning is allowed. A permit is required.
• You are completely responsible, criminally and personally, including any suppression costs, for any fire you start. These regulations do NOT relieve responsibility for conducting a safe and attended burn.
• All fires shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. Fires should be cold to the touch to be considered completely out.
• A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved on-site fire-extinguishing equipment such as a shovel and dirt, garden hose, or water truck, shall be available for immediate utilization.
• Open burning shall be prohibited when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous. The fire code official is authorized to order the extinguishment of any fire which creates or adds to a hazardous situation.
• All fires shall have a minimum of 10 feet around the fire clear of combustibles.
• An adult must be in attendance at all times.

To Report an Illegal Burn

Call the non-emergency dispatch line at 541-693-6911 to report an illegal burn. Or to report individuals who are burning items not approved by DEQ, please call DEQ at 541-388-6146.

Residential Outdoor Burning of Yard Debris (only permitted outside the Redmond city limits with a valid permit)

Provisions shall be made to prevent the fire from spreading to any structure. To apply for a permit, download the Burn Permit app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.

1. Fires in approved containers shall not be less than 15 feet from any structure.
2. The minimum required distance from a structure shall be 25 feet where the pile size is 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height.
3. The minimum required distance from a structure shall be 50 feet where the pile size is greater than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.
4. Burn piles need to be sized so fires will be completely out by the required time indicated on the burn information line.
5. Burn barrels shall be at least 15 feet from any structure.
6. Absolutely no debris burning after dark.

REDMOND, OR. – Redmond Fire & Rescue has been awarded a Fiscal Year 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) totaling $252,706.81, with a total project investment of $277,977.50, including the district's required cost share. The grant will fund the purchase and installation of source capture vehicle exhaust systems at all Redmond Fire & Rescue stations, significantly reducing firefighters' exposure to carcinogenic diesel exhaust.

Firefighter cancer remains one of the most serious occupational hazards facing the fire service. The new exhaust capture systems represent a substantial investment in firefighter health and safety and align with industry best practices for reducing exposure to known carcinogens.

"This grant is about protecting the people who dedicate their lives to protecting our community," said Chief Ryan Herrera. "With members of our organization having navigated a past cancer diagnosis, and with the recent passing of Firefighter/Paramedic Michael Kienzle from cancer, this funding marks another meaningful step forward in our commitment to carcinogen reduction and improving the long-term health and safety of our personnel."

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program exists to protect the health and safety of both the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards. FEMA determined that Redmond Fire & Rescue's project aligned with the program's purpose and deserved funding.

The grant award follows strong support from Oregon's congressional delegation. In a joint letter to FEMA, Janelle S. Bynum, Ron Wyden, and Jeffrey A. Merkley highlighted the importance of addressing occupational cancer risks within the fire service and emphasized that investing in station-based exhaust capture systems helps prevent long-term illness, preserve trained personnel, and maintain emergency response readiness throughout Central Oregon and the state's mutual aid network.

"Reducing exposure to diesel exhaust is one of the most effective steps we can take to lower occupational cancer risks within our stations," Herrera said. "This project reflects our responsibility to ensure that current and future generations of firefighters have a healthier work environment and the protection they deserve."

Since 2017, the Portland Water Bureau has detected low levels of Cryptosporidium from routine monitoring from the Bull Run watershed, Portland’s primary source of drinking water. Cryptosporidium, a potentially disease-causing microorganism, has not been detected in Portland’s drinking water since May 10, 2026. The Portland Water Bureau does not currently treat for Cryptosporidium but is required to do so under drinking water regulations.

The Portland Water Bureau is constructing a new treatment plant to remove Cryptosporidium from Bull Run drinking water. Until the filtration plant is online, the Portland Water Bureau will continue monitoring the Bull Run drinking water source and a range of actions to maintain public health protections. This includes informing the public of both the potential risks of Cryptosporidium in drinking water and Portland’s plan for filtration by sharing the following information with the public on a quarterly basis. 

Portland is working to install filtration by September 30, 2029, under a compliance schedule with the Oregon Health Authority. In the meantime, Portland Water Bureau is implementing interim measures such as watershed protection and additional monitoring to protect public health. Consultation with public health officials has concluded that at this time, customers do not need to take any additional precautions.

Exposure to Cryptosporidium can cause cryptosporidiosis, a serious illness. Symptoms can include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and stomach pain. People with healthy immune systems recover without medical treatment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with severely weakened immune systems are at risk for more serious disease. Symptoms may be more severe and could lead to serious life-threatening illness. Examples of people with weakened immune systems include those with AIDS, those with inherited diseases that affect the immune system, and cancer and transplant patients who are taking certain immunosuppressive drugs.

The Environmental Protection Agency advises that customers who are immunocompromised and receive their drinking water from the Bull Run Watershed consult with their health care professional about the safety of drinking the tap water. The Portland Water Bureau and Burlington, City of Sandy, City of Tualatin, Green Valley, GNR, Hideaway Hills, Lake Grove, Lorna Domestic Water, Lusted, Palatine Hill, Pleasant Home, Raleigh, Skyview Acres, Tualatin Valley, Two Rivers, Valley View and West Slope Water Districts receive all or part of their drinking water supply from the Bull Run. To learn if your drinking water comes from Bull Run, please contact your local water provider.

The public and the media are encouraged to view all sampling results posted to the City’s website at portland.gov/water/cryptoresults. The bureau will notify the media and public immediately should further test results indicate a risk to public health and if precautions are necessary.

Customers with questions regarding water quality can call the Water Quality Line at 503-823-7525.

About the Portland Water Bureau

The Portland Water Bureau serves water to about 840,000 people in the Portland area. Portland’s water system includes two water sources, 49 tanks and reservoirs, and 2,250 miles of pipe. With 600 employees working on everything from water treatment to customer service, the Water Bureau is committed to serving excellent water every minute of every day. 

About the Public Works Service Area

The Public Works Service Area keeps Portland running by managing the city’s water, sewer, stormwater, parks and transportation systems. It includes the Bureau of Environmental Services, the Portland Bureau of Transportation, Portland Parks & Recreation, and the Portland Water Bureau. Public Works ensures reliable infrastructure, invests in sustainability, and supports essential services that enhance daily life for Portlanders.

The City of Portland ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, or to file a complaint of discrimination, contact 503-823-4000 (311), Relay Service & TTY: 711, or 503-823-8064. Visit Portland Water Bureau’s Disability and Language Access page for more information.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
Media hotline: 503-813-6018

Construction at Speelyai Bay Park leads to some partial closures

ARIEL, Wash. (September 30, 2026) — PacifiCorp is rebuilding the seawall at its Speelyai Bay Park on the Lewis River because of long-term wear from waves and wind. This work is expected to begin October 5, resulting in a partial closure of the main parking area and complete closure of the park’s picnic area for the duration of the project. The boat ramp will remain open during construction.

This construction will continue through April 2027, so visitors should plan their trips accordingly. The public will need to use the upper parking areas once the main asphalt parking area is full and then walk on the marked pedestrian path along the road, as the trail from the upper parking areas into the picnic area will be closed. PacifiCorp requests visitors to exercise caution when driving between the parking areas, especially when pedestrians are on the temporary roadway path. We appreciate the public’s patience as we make important park improvements.

For other recreational updates and a map of the closure, please visit our website.

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About PacifiCorp

PacifiCorp is one of the lowest-cost electrical providers in the United States, serving two million customers. The company operates as Rocky Mountain Power in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming and as Pacific Power in California, Oregon and Washington. PacifiCorp provides safe and reliable service through a vast, integrated system of generation and transmission that connects communities as the largest regulated utility owner of wind power in the West. For more information, visit PacifiCorp.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Hotline: 503-813-6018

Pacific Power Foundation awards $9,000 to Lincoln and Clatsop County organizations

LINCOLN CITY, Ore. (September 29, 2026) — The Pacific Power Foundation is proud to support six Lincoln and Clatsop County organizations working to protect the environment and strengthen their communities.

Funding will help provide hands-on outdoor education for students, expand volunteer initiatives and support career training programs that create opportunities for the community.

“Across Oregon, these organizations are empowering their neighbors to learn new skills and care for the environment around them,” said Ryan Flynn, director of the Pacific Power Foundation and president of Pacific Power. “We are pleased to support this meaningful work and the positive impact it has on our communities.”

These funds were awarded through the Pacific Power Foundation’s Community Enhancement and Environmental Respect grant cycle. Organizations interested in applying for the Foundation’s next grant cycle, Safety and Wellness, may apply by December 15.

The following organizations received funding during this grant cycle:

• The Arch Cape Falcon Cove Beach Community Club received $1,500.
• Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln County in Lincoln City received $1,500.
• North Coast Land Conservancy, Inc. in Seaside received $1,000.
• Oregon Women in Timber in Astoria received $2,000.
• Seven Capes Bird Alliance in Lincoln City received $2,000.
• Sitka Center for Art and Ecology in Otis received $1,000.
   

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About the Pacific Power Foundation:   

 
The PacifiCorp Foundation, doing business as the Pacific Power Foundation in Oregon, Washington and California, is one of the largest utility-endowed foundations in the United States. The foundation was created by PacifiCorp, an energy company that serves over 2 million customers across a diverse six-state region as Rocky Mountain Power (Utah, Wyoming and Idaho) and as Pacific Power (Oregon, Washington and California). The foundation’s mission, through charitable investments, is to support the growth and vitality of the communities served by Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Power. Since it started in 1988, the PacifiCorp Foundation has awarded more than $80 million to nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit PacificPower.net/Foundation.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Hotline: 503-813-6018

Pacific Power Foundation awards $26,000 to Multnomah County organizations

PORTLAND, Ore. (September 28, 2026) — The Pacific Power Foundation is proud to support 18 Multnomah County organizations working to protect the environment and strengthen communities in the Portland metro area.

Funding will help provide hands-on outdoor education for students, expand volunteer initiatives and support career training programs that create opportunities for the community.

“Across Oregon, these organizations are empowering their neighbors to learn new skills and care for the environment around them,” said Ryan Flynn, director of the Pacific Power Foundation and president of Pacific Power. “We are pleased to support this meaningful work and the positive impact it has on our communities.”

These funds were awarded through the Pacific Power Foundation’s Community Enhancement and Environmental Respect grant cycle. Organizations interested in applying for the Foundation’s next grant cycle, Safety and Wellness, may apply by December 15.

The following Multnomah County organizations received funding during this grant cycle:

• Braking Cycles received $5,000.
• Columbia Slough Watershed Council received $1,000.
• Constructing Hope received $1,500.
• Depave received $1,500.
• Estuary Partnership received $1,000.
• Free Geek received $1,000.
• Friends of Trees received $1,000.
• Harper’s Playground received $1,500.
• Hoyt Arboretum Friends received $1,000.
• IRCO received $2,000.
• Kathy’s Place received $1,500.
• The Leaven Community received $1,000.
• The Portland Parks Foundation received $1,000.
• REACH Community Development received $2,000.
• ReClaim It received $1,000.
• The Rocky Butte Farmers Market received $1,000.
• The Rose City Kappa Foundation received $1,000.
• The SOS Center received $1,000.

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About the Pacific Power Foundation:   

 
The PacifiCorp Foundation, doing business as the Pacific Power Foundation in Oregon, Washington and California, is one of the largest utility-endowed foundations in the United States. The foundation was created by PacifiCorp, an energy company that serves over 2 million customers across a diverse six-state region as Rocky Mountain Power (Utah, Wyoming and Idaho) and as Pacific Power (Oregon, Washington and California). The foundation’s mission, through charitable investments, is to support the growth and vitality of the communities served by Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Power. Since it started in 1988, the PacifiCorp Foundation has awarded more than $80 million to nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit PacificPower.net/Foundation.  

Years of investment and regional leadership position PGE to save customers an estimated $14 million annually while strengthening grid reliability

Portland, Ore – Portland General Electric today began buying and selling energy through the California Independent System Operator’s (CAISO) new Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM), putting years of technology investment and regional collaboration to work for customers.

PGE is among the first utilities to participate in EDAM, which allows participating utilities to buy and sell energy in the day-ahead timeframe. Participation could save PGE customers approximately $14 million annually once the market is fully built out by optimizing supply, demand and transmission across a broader geographic footprint. In addition to lower costs, EDAM participation improves reliability and supports greater use of renewable energy.

“PGE has been long preparing for a reginal energy system that is dynamic and interconnected,” said Maria Pope, president and CEO of Portland General Electric. “Our early investments in advanced systems and operational capabilities as well as regional collaboration have positioned us to lead while staying focused on reliable service and affordability.”

EDAM builds on years of preparation at PGE. At its Integrated Operations Center in Tualatin, Ore., the company has invested in the technology, systems and operational expertise needed to manage an increasingly dynamic energy system. Since joining the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) in 2017, PGE has generated approximately $377 million in cumulative benefits for customers. The imbalance market, which is a real-time market operating in 15-minute and 5-minute intervals, has grown to include 24 participating entities serving nearly 80 percent of electricity demand in the West. That scale gives utilities a foundation to unlock even greater savings by expanding into the day-ahead market.

"PGE's participation in EDAM reflects the growing momentum behind regional market collaboration in the West," said Elliot Mainzer, president and CEO of the California ISO. "The addition of PGE expands resource diversity and strengthens the market's ability to deliver economic and reliability benefits to participants and their customers."

PGE's decision to join EDAM followed years of evaluating regional market options and active participation in EDAM’s design. Studies commissioned by PGE concluded that EDAM offered greater economic benefits than alternative market options. EDAM also enables more efficient use of the diverse energy resources available across the West, including hydropower and wind from the Pacific Northwest and solar generation from California and the desert Southwest.

About Portland General Electric Company

Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to nearly 960,000 customers serving an area of approximately 2 million Oregonians. Since 1889, Portland General Electric (PGE) has been powering economies, delivering safe, affordable and reliable electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE continues to make progress toward emissions reduction targets, and customers have set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. PGE is ranked a top ten utility in the 2025 Forrester U.S. Customer Experience Index. In 2025, PGE employees and retirees volunteered over 18,300 hours to more than 400 nonprofit organizations. Through the PGE Foundation, along with corporate contributions and the employee matching gift program, more than $5 million was directed to charitable organizations supporting economic growth and community resilience across our service area. For information: portlandgeneral.com/news. Contact Info: PGE Communications, PGECommunications@pgn.com; 503-464-2067

About the California ISO

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) is a nonprofit public-benefit corporation responsible for the reliable operation of California’s bulk electric grid. The ISO provides transmission planning, open and nondiscriminatory access to one of the world's largest high-voltage transmission networks and operates competitive wholesale electricity markets for the benefit of consumers.

About the Western Energy Markets

The Western Energy Markets include the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) and the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM), which provide regional market coordination across the West. The WEIM, launched in 2014, helps participants balance electricity supply and demand in real time and has delivered billions in benefits to market participants and their customers. EDAM began operation in 2026 and extends those benefits into the day-ahead timeframe through broader regional coordination. The Western Energy Markets Governing Body has primary decision-making authority over market rules specific to the WEIM and EDAM.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding expected customer savings, reliability benefits, renewable energy integration and the anticipated benefits of PGE’s participation in the EDAM. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, changes in market conditions, energy prices, transmission availability, regional market participation, market design and implementation, regulatory developments, operational performance, weather, customer demand and other risks described in PGE’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and PGE undertakes no obligation to update them, except as required by law.

SALEM, OR – (September 28, 2026) — Cherriots Board of Directors authorized the donation of a retired transit bus to the City of Gervais, where it will be repurposed as a mobile Emergency Operations Center.

The donated vehicle, a 35-foot 2008 Gillig diesel bus identified as Bus #115, has been decommissioned after surpassing its useful-life benchmark. With approval from the Federal Transit Administration, Cherriots will donate the bus rather than send it to auction or scrapping it in favor of repurposing the public asset for an ongoing public-safety benefit.

The City of Gervais plans to convert the bus into a mobile facility that can support incident command, emergency communications, disaster-response coordination, public information, and continuity of government operations during emergencies or disasters.

“Public assets can continue to create value for the community even after their service on the road has ended,” said Cherriots Board President, Maria Hinojos Pressey. “This donation gives a retired Cherriots bus a new purpose while supporting emergency preparedness and resilience for Gervais and the surrounding region.”

Gervais currently does not have an alternate facility from which city leadership, emergency responders, and essential personnel can coordinate operations if City Hall or other municipal facilities become inaccessible. A mobile Emergency Operations Center would help the City maintain command, communication, and continuity during localized or large-scale emergencies. Once converted, the mobile Emergency Operations Center could also support mutual-aid efforts with neighboring jurisdictions, schools, fire districts, and other public safety agencies throughout the Mid-Willamette Valley. 

Chief Robert Morris of the Gervais Police Department shared his appreciation for the donation: 

“This donation is far more than a surplus transit bus; it is an investment in the safety, preparedness, and resilience of our community. Thanks to the generosity of Cherriots, a vehicle that has already spent years serving the public will begin a new chapter as a mobile Emergency Operations Center.” It will strengthen our ability to coordinate critical emergency operations if circumstances render city facilities unusable. The City is tremendously grateful to Cherriots for making this vision possible.”

About Cherriots

Established in 1979, Salem Area Mass Transit District (SAMTD) is a special District covering 78 square miles in the Mid-Willamette Valley between Portland and Eugene. Locally known as Cherriots, the District provides vital service to more than 450,000 residents in Marion and Polk counties. SAMTD maintains a total of 124 transit vehicles across its various services and provides approximately 3.3 million passenger trips annually.
For more information, visit www.cherriots.org.

(Local note: Prescribed fire operations are expected to begin at the West Eugene Wetlands as early as Tuesday, Oct. 6, weather permitting. The project aims to restore, enhance and maintain habitat for prairie-related species while reducing hazardous fuels. It will also provide safe opportunities for recreation and education in the West Eugene area.)

BLM and USWFS Launch Prescribed Burn Season in the Pacific Northwest
Reducing the threat of wildfire and restoring public lands

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service will begin prescribed burning operations throughout Oregon and Washington as weather, fuel, and air quality become favorable. Operations will continue throughout the fall and winter. These burns are carefully planned to reduce hazardous fuels, protect nearby communities, and restore native ecosystems. Information about specific upcoming and active burns is available online.

“Prescribed fire is one of our most effective tools for reducing wildfire risk and improving habitat,” said Josh O’Connor, Northwest Geographic Area Fire Chief for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. “By carefully planning and executing these burns, we’re helping protect communities and strengthen the health of our public lands.”

Techniques range from broadcast burning, which is the application of fire to an entire area, to hand and machine pile ignitions. These burns focus on increasing safety in the Wildland-Urban Interface and restoring ecological function to the landscape. Targeting built-up fuels and residual materials from previous thinning operations decreases the load of dead trees, branches, and underbrush that pose significant wildfire risks.

What the public should know

• During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight.
• Residents are encouraged to close windows at night to avoid smoke impacts.
• When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down and turn on headlights.
• People with heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, should ask their doctors about protecting themselves from smoke, and monitor their local air quality map.

All burns are carried out when weather, fuel conditions, and air quality are within prescribed parameters. Firefighters use a combination of natural features and constructed control lines to keep the fire contained, with protocols in place to minimize smoke impacts on nearby communities.

For more information, contact the BLM District Office or the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Geographic Area associated with the burn.

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
 

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service conducts operations in close coordination with the Bureau of Land Management. As a unified federal entity under the Department of the Interior, the USWFS integrates expertise to streamline wildfire prevention, response and recovery under our shared mission to foster fire-resilient landscapes and safeguard communities across America’s public lands.

Reducing the threat of wildfire and restoring public lands

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service will begin prescribed burning operations throughout Oregon and Washington as weather, fuel, and air quality become favorable. Operations will continue throughout the fall and winter. These burns are carefully planned to reduce hazardous fuels, protect nearby communities, and restore native ecosystems. Information about specific upcoming and active burns is available online.

“Prescribed fire is one of our most effective tools for reducing wildfire risk and improving habitat,” said Josh O’Connor, Northwest Geographic Area Fire Chief for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. “By carefully planning and executing these burns, we’re helping protect communities and strengthen the health of our public lands.”

Techniques range from broadcast burning, which is the application of fire to an entire area, to hand and machine pile ignitions. These burns focus on increasing safety in the Wildland-Urban Interface and restoring ecological function to the landscape. Targeting built-up fuels and residual materials from previous thinning operations decreases the load of dead trees, branches, and underbrush that pose significant wildfire risks.

What the public should know

• During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight.
• Residents are encouraged to close windows at night to avoid smoke impacts.
• When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down and turn on headlights.
• People with heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, should ask their doctors about protecting themselves from smoke, and monitor their local air quality map.

All burns are carried out when weather, fuel conditions, and air quality are within prescribed parameters. Firefighters use a combination of natural features and constructed control lines to keep the fire contained, with protocols in place to minimize smoke impacts on nearby communities.

For more information, contact the BLM District Office or the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Geographic Area associated with the burn.

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
 

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service conducts operations in close coordination with the Bureau of Land Management. As a unified federal entity under the Department of the Interior, the USWFS integrates expertise to streamline wildfire prevention, response and recovery under our shared mission to foster fire-resilient landscapes and safeguard communities across America’s public lands.

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs invites Oregonians to join in honoring all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces at the Statewide Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Oregon State Capitol State Park in Salem.

The annual ceremony will feature remarks from state leaders and special guests, along with traditional ceremonial elements honoring the service and sacrifice of Oregon veterans. Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks.

The ceremony will be held on the Capitol Mall, directly across Court Street from the front entrance of the Oregon State Capitol. The event is free and open to the public and will also be livestreamed on ODVA’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/odvavet.

Statewide Veterans Day Events

ODVA also maintains a Statewide Veterans Day Events Calendar highlighting local observances and community celebrations throughout Oregon. To find an event near you, visit oregondva.com/event-calendar.

Organizations hosting Veterans Day events are encouraged to submit their event for inclusion on the calendar using the “Add Your Event” link on that page.

If you have any questions, please contact ODVA at (800) 692-9666 or visit www.oregon.gov/odva.

Established in 1945, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is dedicated to serving Oregon’s diverse veteran community that spans five eras of service members. ODVA administers programs and provides special advocacy and assistance in accessing earned veteran benefits across the state. Learn about veteran benefits and services, or locate a local county or Tribal veteran service office online at oregon.gov/odva.

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SALEM, Ore. – Fifteen Oregon arts organizations will receive $10,000 grants to strengthen K-12 arts education for the upcoming year through the Oregon Arts Commission’s Arts Learning grant program.

“Through this grant program, thousands of students will have an opportunity to engage with the arts in the classroom,” said Tiff Harker, Arts Education and Grants Coordinator. “Arts organizations partner with schools and students greatly benefit from the enhancement of cognitive skills, creative problem-solving and self-empowerment.”

Arts Learning grants support projects that provide K-12 students with responsive learning opportunities in and through the arts. These projects also foster the exchange of knowledge between artists and educators and positively impact the achievement, skills and attitudes of learners. Learn more about the program on our website.

Applications were evaluated by a community review panel. The panel’s funding recommendations were then approved by the Oregon Arts Commission.

Funds for this grant program are provided by the state of Oregon general fund through its support of the Oregon Arts Commission and by a federal grant to the Arts Commission by the National Endowment for the Arts.

FY2027 Arts Learning Grants Awardees:

Pendleton Arts Center, Pendleton
To support the sequential learning, over a four-month period, of book and paper arts skills, including papermaking, printmaking, paper engineering and book making for 250+ kindergarteners at the Pendleton Early Learning Center, culminating in a public reception for community members and students' families.

Art Center East, La Grande
To support offering eight residency weeks of the Artists in Rural Schools Improv Program to four of the eight Title 1 elementary schools in Union County, blending sequential arts and social and emotional learning for underserved rural youth.

Future Prairie, Portland
To support a six-month sequential vocal arts learning project for students in grades 6-12 across rural coastal Oregon. Produced by Future Prairie and co-developed with educators at Fire Mountain School (Arch Cape, Clatsop County) and Neah-Kah-Nie High School (Rockaway Beach, Tillamook County), and led by Portland Opera tenor Emmanuel Onry Henreid, monthly intensive workshops will take place at the partner schools and a culminate with a public recital.

Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre Northwest, Portland
To support Heidi Duckler Dance Northwest's teaching artists with creative movement classes for children Pre-K through seventh grade, fostering creativity, confidence, physical coordination and social-emotional growth and culminating in a student performance for families, school staff and the broader school community.

#Instaballet, Eugene
To support #instaballet's onsite, accessible youth workshops in Life Skills classrooms across Springfield and Eugene public schools in partnership with the Lane Education Service District.

Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, Joseph
To support arts education in rural, economically distressed Wallowa County, the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture seeks funding for three interconnected programs: the Charter Art Program, afterschool arts education and the Youth Arts Festival that together provide K-12 students with high-quality, professional arts instruction.

Native Performing Arts Network, Hillsboro
To support Native Performing Arts Network's expansion of its arts education programming with Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA)'s Many Nations Academy, with McDermitt Combined School, serving Oregon residents of the McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, and adding programing with other Oregon Tribal nations.

Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Otis
To support a Rural Photography Outreach initiative that expands access to Sitka's proven photography curriculum, helping K-8 students in underserved rural communities explore creative expression and visual storytelling through photography.

The Open Arts Center, Bend
To support equitable access to arts education for students at Bear Creek Elementary, a bilingual Title I school in Bend that recently lost dedicated arts instruction, The Open Arts Center will partner with school educators to provide three sequential six-week artist residencies during the 2026-2027 school year, engaging approximately 75-90 students in hands-on visual, performing and interdisciplinary arts experiences led by professional teaching artists. It will culminate with public showcases of student learning.

Oregon Coast Council for the Arts, Newport
To support sequential arts learning for sixth grade students at Newport Middle School, a Title 1, rural school in economically distressed Lincoln County, while providing a paid opportunity for local teaching artists. Due to budget cuts, Newport Middle School has just lost its art program. Through this project, Oregon Coast Council for the Arts will help fill the gap, bringing mediums of art instruction to the school, including ceramics, painting, print making and fiber arts.

Oregon East Symphony, Pendleton
To support 45 hours of sequential, standards-based afterschool classical strings instruction (violin, viola, cello) for 4th and 5th grade students in the rural Pendleton School District, providing foundational music literacy, ensemble experience and equitable access to instrumental music education.

Parrott Creek Child & Family Services Inc., Oregon City
To support the expansion of our successful Tilt/Shift Photography Program at our residential facility. The program engages at-risk youth in photography as a means to connect with their creativity and self-expression, providing educational and professional opportunities and bolstering coping skills.

SCRAP Creative Reuse, Portland
To support the next chapter of Mend to Extend, SCRAP's established mending and textile-arts program. The effort will deepen our ongoing work with returning school partners into a sequential, iterative year in which cohorts of students learn in and through the arts, building real mending and sewing skills while developing their own creative voice and aesthetic through free, hands-on sessions.

Sticks and Stones Studio, Jacksonville
To support the reintegration of K-5 art programming into the Ruch Outdoor Community School’s lasting curriculum through the transformation of their existing classroom space into a self-sustaining Teaching for Artistic Behavior studio. This will equip students and educators with the creative autonomy and artistic thinking skills to thrive independently, ensuring the program continues long after direct nonprofit involvement ends.

Theatre 33 at Willamette University, Salem
To support free art, design and animation workshops at Title I and rural high schools in economically distressed regions of Oregon, providing sequential arts education and meaningful creative professional development opportunities to approximately 150 students grade 9-12.

About the Oregon Arts Commission

The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, arts programs and funding for nonprofits and artists through its grants, special initiatives and services. Commissioners appointed by the Governor establish policies and provide advisory support for public investment in the arts. Nested within Business Oregon, the Arts Commission works to support the economies, educational opportunities and vibrancy of communities throughout the state. The Arts Commission is supported with funds appropriated by the Oregon Legislature, as well as by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Oregon Cultural Trust. Learn more at oregonartscommission.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media resources

Instead of conducting individual interviews for this announcement, ODHS will host a virtual media availability on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 1:30 to 1:50 p.m. Members of the media will have an opportunity to ask questions about SNAP work or activity rules and exemptions for college students. RSVP for the media availability by emailing Sara Campos at a.k.campos@odhs.oregon.gov">sara.k.campos@odhs.oregon.gov.

An statement from the ODHS interim Oregon Eligibility Partnership Director will be available after the event: https://vimeo.com/showcase/12330638

A Spanish-language video summarizing the key messages will also be available on Vimeo. Spanish-language media may request interviews or submit questions in Spanish by contacting Adriana Taylor at ma.A.Taylor@odhs.oregon.gov">Irma.A.Taylor@odhs.oregon.gov.

SALEM, Ore. — As students return to colleges and universities across Oregon this fall, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is reminding students about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

SNAP can help eligible students afford groceries while they pursue their education. Eligibility rules for students can be complicated, and students should not assume they do not qualify. Help is available from ODHS to understand the rules and apply.

Student eligibility

SNAP has special rules for students ages 18 through 49 who attend an institution of higher education at least half time (as defined by their school). These students are referred to as “students of higher education.” To be eligible for SNAP, students of higher education must meet at least one exemption.

Exemptions for students of higher education

In addition to regular SNAP rules, students of higher education are required to meet at least one student exemption to qualify for SNAP. The exemptions include students who:

• Participate in a state or federally funded work-study program.
• Work for pay an average of at least 20 hours per week.
• Are responsible for the care of a young child or meet certain requirements as a parent attending school.
• Receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or unemployment benefits.
• Participate in certain employment and training programs, including SNAP Employment and Training or qualifying Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs.
• Are enrolled in an undergraduate course of study intended to be completed in four years or less that leads to employment. This can include students beginning at a community college and planning to transfer to complete a bachelor’s degree.

Other exemptions may also apply depending on a student’s circumstances.

“Students are working hard to build skills, complete their education and prepare for their future careers,” said Jessica Amaya Hoffman, interim director of the ODHS Oregon Eligibility Program. “SNAP can help eligible students afford food while they pursue those goals. The eligibility rules can be complicated, so we encourage students who need help to reach out rather than assume they don’t qualify.”

Benefits Navigators can help students find support

Students at Oregon’s public colleges and universities can also connect with a Benefits Navigator for help identifying resources that may support their basic needs.

Oregon funds a Benefits Navigator at every public college and university. Navigators work alongside students to understand their needs, develop strategies and connect them with campus, community, state and federal resources.

During the 2025–26 school year, Benefits Navigators served more than 30,000 students statewide and made more than 45,000 referrals to campus and community resources.

Work or activity rules

The SNAP rules for students of higher education are different from the federal work requirements for adults who are required to follow Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) work rules. ABAWD work rules apply to people who are 18 through 64 and do not receive SNAP with children under the age of 14.

Students of any kind (including higher education) enrolled in school at least half time are exempt from the ABAWD work requirements. However, students of higher education must first meet a student exemption to receive benefits.

Because several rules can affect eligibility, ODHS encourages students to ask for help rather than assume they do not qualify.

How to get help

Students interested in SNAP can:

• Contact a Benefits Navigator at their college or university
• Apply or manage benefits online at benefits.oregon.gov.
• Call the ONE Customer Service Center at 800-699-9075.
• Visit an ODHS office: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/pages/office-finder.aspx
• Learn more at Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon: https://oregonhunger.org/snap-for-students/

If a student was previously denied SNAP because they did not meet the higher education student eligibility requirements, they can reapply if their student status or circumstances have changed.

New Oregon SNAP data webpage

ODHS has launched a new Oregon SNAP data webpage to make current SNAP participation data easier to find. The page includes monthly statewide and county-level data on the number of people and households receiving SNAP in Oregon.

The page will be updated regularly to provide partners, media, public officials and the public with a single source for current, verified SNAP caseload data.

Learn more at Oregon SNAP data: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/data/Pages/snap-data.aspx

ODHS will host a virtual media availability on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 1:30 to 1:50 p.m. to share information about SNAP eligibility for higher education students, including work or activity rules and exemptions.

A news release with more details will be issued Wednesday morning.
 

Members of the media will have an opportunity to ask questions. Instead of conducting individual interviews for this announcement, ODHS is encouraging reporters interested in the topic to attend the media availability.

To RSVP and receive the meeting link, please email a.k.campos@odhs.oregon.gov">sara.k.campos@odhs.oregon.gov.

A recorded statement from the ODHS interim Oregon Eligibility Partnership Director and a Spanish-language video summarizing the key messages will be available after the event on Vimeo. Spanish-language media may request interviews or submit questions in Spanish by contacting Adriana Taylor at ma.A.Taylor@odhs.oregon.gov">Irma.A.Taylor@odhs.oregon.gov.

CORRECTION:

A total of 1,706 notices were sent beginning Sept. 16 to SNAP households that need to provide updated income information. The information below has been updated. ODHS apologizes for the error.  

SALEM, Ore. — As part of ongoing efforts to improve accuracy of benefits, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is asking some people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits to provide updated income information by the end of the month.

ODHS began mailing notices Sept. 16. About 1,706 people will receive the notices by the end of the week. As of August 30, 2026, there are 639,261 individuals in Oregon who receive SNAP.

If you received a notice, please read it and respond by the deadline listed in the notice. Providing the requested information gives an ODHS eligibility worker a chance to review your case and make sure your benefits are correct.

If ODHS does not receive the requested information by September 28, your benefits may be reduced or your case may close, beginning with October benefits.

“We know SNAP rules and reporting requirements can be complicated, and receiving a notice asking for more information can be concerning,” said Jessica Amaya Hoffman, Oregon Eligibility Partnership interim director. “The most important thing people can do is respond so that our eligibility staff can review the case, answer questions and make sure people receive the benefits they are eligible for.”

What to do if you receive a notice

If you receive a Missing Information notice:

• Read the notice carefully. It explains what information ODHS needs and when you need to respond.
• Provide the requested income verification as soon as possible, by Sept. 28. If you do not respond by Sept. 28 you should still contact ODHS, a worker may be able to help.
• Respond even if you think the information is wrong. An ODHS eligibility worker can review the information with you and help resolve differences.
• Contact ODHS if you have questions or need help.
• You do not need to contact your employer to respond to the notice. Send the information requested by ODHS.
• Do not ignore the notice. If ODHS does not receive a response, SNAP and TANF benefits, if applicable, will close on the date listed in the notice.

ODHS expects to conduct additional income checks over the next 12 to 15 months. The timing of future checks is still being finalized.

Why ODHS is doing the income check

ODHS is checking income to help families receive the right amount of benefits at the right time. The check is one of many steps Oregon is taking to improve accuracy and to lower the SNAP payment error rate: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/pages/snap-per.aspx.

This check compares income reported to ODHS with earnings information available through The Work Number, an employment and income verification database.

Some SNAP households received a notice because the income reported to ODHS was below 130 percent of the federal poverty level, while information from The Work Number showed that the household’s income may be at or above that level. If a household also receives TANF, the notice includes information about both SNAP and TANF.

Receiving a notice does not automatically mean someone will lose their benefits. People who receive a notice should provide the requested income information by September 28 so ODHS can review their case and determine whether their benefits should change.

How to Get Help

You can talk with an ODHS eligibility worker if you have questions or want help understanding the notice.

• Call the ONE Customer Service Center at 800-699-9075
• Use the ODHS office finder to find a local office.

ODHS also has information online about what SNAP changes need to be reported and how to report them. The page explains different ways to report changes and includes guidance for reporting income and other household changes.

Learn more about reporting SNAP changes:
https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/food/Pages/report-snap-changes.aspx#how

People do not need to contact their employer to respond to the notice. They should submit the information requested by ODHS.

Salem, OR—More than 2.1 million Oregonians have filed their tax year 2025 state personal income tax returns this year.

But with just two weeks before the tax filing extension deadline October 15, as many as 100,000 Oregonians are expected to sneak in under the wire.

“Every year we receive a large number of returns filed in the last two weeks 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.

You must file a return to get your kicker

In 2026, Oregon is returning $1.41 billion in revenue above projections to taxpayers in the form of a “kicker” tax credit. The kicker is a refundable credit that will either increase a taxpayer's Oregon state income tax refund or decrease the amount of state taxes they owe. It is not sent to taxpayers separately as a check.

Only taxpayers who filed a tax year 2024 return and also file a tax year 2025 return can receive a kicker. Taxpayers can determine the amount of their kicker using the What’s My Kicker? calculator available on Revenue Online.

File electronically.

E-filing is the fastest way for taxpayers to get their tax refund. Nearly 96 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

Taxpayers can use Free Fillable Forms to file their federal return and then use Direct File Oregon to file their Oregon personal income tax return directly with the state through Revenue Online. Other free electronic filing options are available for taxpayers that meet income requirements. Using links from the department’s website ensures that both taxpayers’ federal and state return will be filed for free.

Public computer kiosks for filing taxes with Direct File Oregon and free fillable forms are available in department regional offices in Bend, Eugene, Gresham, Medford, and Portland.

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?

Taxpayers can check the status of their Oregon state income tax refund using Revenue’s Where’s My Refund? tool. The Department recommends logging in to your Revenue Online account to access enhanced tool features.

Taxpayers who don’t already have a Revenue Online account can create one by following the Revenue Online link on the department’s website.

Filing last-minute paper returns

Due to changes to US Postal Service processes in recent years, taxpayers dropping paper returns into a US Postal Service mailbox at this late date can’t be certain that their returns will be postmarked by the due date.

Taxpayers who want to mail their return can take their return to a USPS office during regular business hours no later than October 15, 2026 and make an in-person request to have their return manually postmarked at the counter before mailing it.

After hours, paper Oregon personal income tax returns can be deposited in drop boxes available on both the east and west sides of the Salem office; on the west side of the Portland State Office Building; or outside the DOR offices in Eugene, Medford, and Bend. A drop box inside DOR’s Gresham office is available during business hours.

The department doesn’t recommend using the state drop boxes for federal returns. Paper federal returns should be sent to the IRS. Federal returns dropped in the DOR drop boxes are date stamped and forwarded to the IRS, but the Department of Revenue can’t guarantee that the IRS will accept them as having been filed on time.

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, Oregon—The Oregon Department of Revenue’s Payment Center in Salem will be closed Tuesday, October 6, 2026  for staff training.

A secure drop box is available for taxpayers to deliver any necessary payments or documents. Office staff will mail receipts directly to customers.

Additionally, the department’s district offices in Bend, Medford, Portland, Gresham, and Eugene will also be closed all day October 6, 2026.

Agency contact centers for most general inquiries will also be closed on October 6, 2026; though contact centers handling debt collection or payroll and withholding inquiries will remain open.

The Department of Revenue continues to expand features available through Revenue Online. Individuals can view letters sent to them by the department, initiate appeals, make payments, and submit questions. Visit Revenue Online to learn more.

To get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make payments, visit www.oregon.gov/dor or email questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov.

PORTLAND, Oregon—The Oregon Department of Revenue’s Portland and Gresham regional offices will be closed Tuesday, October 6, 2026 for staff training.

A secure drop box is available for taxpayers to deliver any necessary payments or documents. Office staff will mail receipts directly to customers.

The offices in Portland, 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 505, and Gresham, 1550 NW Eastman Parkway, Suite 220, will return to normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.

Additionally, district offices in Bend, Medford, and Eugene and the department’s main office in Salem will also be closed October 6, 2026.

Agency contact centers for most general inquiries will also be closed on October 6, 2026; though contact centers handling debt collection or payroll and withholding inquiries will remain open.

The Department of Revenue continues to expand features available through Revenue Online. Individuals can view letters sent to them by the department, initiate appeals, make payments, and submit questions. Visit Revenue Online to learn more.

To get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make payments, visit www.oregon.gov/dor or email questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov. 

2026-2027 respiratory virus season begins with increased flu activity

September 30, 2026

Media contact: Erica Heartquist, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Recreational use advisory downgraded to a precaution for Prineville Reservoir

Pet owners should continue to keep their pets away from areas that appear to have a bloom

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has downgraded the recreational use health advisory to a precaution for Prineville Reservoir in Crook County.

OHA issued the advisory July 27.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins in Prineville Reservoir are below recreational guideline values for people. However, levels detected are still above OHA’s educational guideline values for dogs, and owners should keep their pets away from areas with blooms.

OHA advises recreational visitors to continually be alert to signs of cyanobacteria blooms. This is because blooms can develop and disappear on any water body at any time when bloom conditions are favorable. Only a fraction of water bodies in Oregon are monitored for blooms and toxins, so it’s important for people to become familiar with the signs of a bloom, and exposure routes and symptoms by visiting OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website at http://www.healthoregon.org/hab.

When recreating, people, and especially small children, and pets should avoid areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green or blue-green, or if thick brownish-red mats are visible or bright green clumps are suspended in the water. If you see these signs, avoid activities such as swimming or motorized or non-motorized boating activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, and keep pets out of the area.

Cyanotoxins can still exist in clear water. When a bloom dies, toxins released may reach into clear water around the bloom. Blooms can be pushed into other areas, leaving toxins behind. There also are species of cyanobacteria that anchor themselves at the bottom of a water body, live in the sediment, or can grow on aquatic plants and release toxins into clear water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.

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September 30, 2026

Media contacts: Erica Heartquist, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Sunset Bay State Park Beach health advisory issued Sept. 30

High bacteria levels prompt OHA recommendation to avoid water contact

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is issuing a public health advisory today for unsafe levels of fecal bacteria in ocean waters at Sunset Bay State Park Beach in Coos County. People should avoid direct contact with the water in this area until the advisory is lifted.

Unsafe levels of fecal bacteria can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children, elderly and those with a compromised immune system should use extra caution as they are more vulnerable to illness from waterborne bacteria.

Visitors should avoid wading in nearby creeks, pools of water on the beach, or in discolored water, and stay clear of water runoff flowing into the ocean. Levels of fecal bacteria tend to be higher in these types of water sources.

Unsafe levels of fecal bacteria in ocean waters can come from both shore and inland sources including:

• Stormwater runoff
• Sewer overflows
• Failing septic systems
• Animal waste from livestock, pets and wildlife

Even if there is no advisory in effect, avoid swimming in the ocean within 48 hours after a rainstorm.

Ocean waters will be re-tested after an advisory is issued. Once bacteria levels are at a safe level, OHA will notify the public that the advisory is lifted.

While this advisory is in effect at Sunset Bay State Park Beach, state officials continue to encourage other recreational activities (flying kites, picnicking, playing on the beach, walking, etc.) on this beach because they pose no health risk even during an advisory.

For the most recent information on advisories, visit the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program website at http://www.healthoregon.org/beach or call 971-673-0482, or 877-290-6767 (toll-free).

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Oregon physicians discuss 2026-2027 respiratory virus season at virtual media briefing Wednesday

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Oregon – Former city hall buildings in Canby and Milwaukie are among Oregon’s newest entries in the National Register of Historic Places. Oregon’s State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation recommended the nominations for the two properties at its June 2026 meeting. Both city halls were constructed in the 1930s with financial support from the Public Works Administration (PWA). The National Park Service (NPS), which maintains the National Register, accepted the two nominations in September 2026, for their significance in the areas of Politics/Government and Architecture. The two nominations are the most recent to be associated with the Oregon New Deal Resources from the PWA and WPA, 1933-1943 Multiple Property Document approved by NPS in 2022.
 

Located on Holly Street in downtown Canby, the former Canby City Hall was designed by architect George Howell Jones in the popular Colonial Revival style and completed in 1937. When first constructed, the Canby City Hall property included council chambers, city offices, a library, firehouse, and jail. It served as City Hall until 2016. Completed in 1938, the Milwaukie City Hall, located on Main Street in downtown Milwaukie, was designed by architect Walter E. Kelly in the Classical Moderne style with art deco flourishes. Like its counterpart in Canby, the building once served multiple purposes, with council chambers, city offices, fire station and library. It served as City Hall until 2022.
 

The Oregon New Deal Resources from the PWA and WPA, 1933-1943 Multiple Property Document (MPD) provides an overview of PWA and Works Progress Administration (WPA) funded construction projects in Oregon, establishing a framework for identifying and listing properties, built with funding through these two New Deal programs, in the National Register. 
 

The National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Properties listed in the National Register are:

• Recognized as significant to the nation, state, or community;

• Considered in the planning of federal or federally assisted projects;

• Eligible for certain federal and state tax benefits;

• Qualified for historic preservation grants when funds are available;

• Eligible for leniency in meeting certain building code requirements;

• Subject to local laws pertaining to the conservation and protection of historic resources.

State law in Oregon requires local governments to offer a minimal level of protection for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places; decisions about how to accomplish that goal reside with local governments, which also have the authority to create and regulate local historic districts and landmarks.
 

Visit the National Register program webpage at: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/national-register.aspx to explore listed properties, review eligibility criteria and the nomination timeline, access research tools, and those interested in seeing if their property is eligible can submit a Historic Resource Record (HRR) form to receive preliminary feedback from State Historic Preservation Office staff.

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The Coyote Creek access site at Fern Ridge Wildlife Area is fully closed to the public for safety during construction, which began in September. Closed areas include any walk-in access through April 1, 2027.

The project scope includes a major improvement from the existing walk-in site to a paved, fully ADA accessible non-motorized boat launch for paddlecraft. Improvements also include a vault toilet, paddlecraft launch dock with an ADA transfer bench, ADA picnic table, a life jacket loaner station/information kiosk and stormwater drainage.

Due to tight project timelines and for the public’s safety, visitors are advised not to disrupt construction contractors on site.

This project is funded by contributions from the Oregon State Marine Board’s Waterway Access (Permit) Grants, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife via federal Sport Fish Restoration funds, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Recreation Trail Program funds, and the Oregon Wildlife Foundation.

-End-

The Marine Board is funded by boater-paid fees, marine fuel taxes and non-motorized boater-paid waterway access permits. The Marine Board does not receive any lottery or general fund tax dollars.  These funds support boating safety enforcement and education, environmental programs, and facility access improvements statewide.

ODFW’S mission is to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Sport Fish Funds used on this project by ODFW are generated and allocated to states for boating projects from excise taxes paid by consumers on sport fishing equipment, electric trolling motors, fish finders, motorboat gas and import taxes on vessels.

Oregon libraries are committed to ensuring Oregonians have access to a variety of high-quality information through their collections, programs, and services. Since 1987, the State Library of Oregon has collected information about intellectual freedom challenges at libraries across the state. This annual report highlights the work of libraries in continuing to ensure collections and services represent the people they serve.

Over the years, there has been a clear pattern: stories that focus on people who have limited representation and little voice in society are challenged the most. A challenge is any attempt to remove or limit access to a material, service, or program at a library. The Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse (OIFC) 2026 report summarizes challenges from the previous fiscal year: July 2025-June 2026.

The 2026 OIFC Annual Report includes 60 official challenge incidents in public libraries and schools. This is the third most incidents since OIFC began. Incidents included challenges to 70 unique titles and 75 items. Items challenged in the 2026 report are the third highest since 1987.

Oregon’s high numbers match national trends. In its 2025 book ban data, the American Library Association’s (ALA) reported an all-time high for censorship attempts. ALA began collecting statistics in 1990. OIFC data is reported to ALA and included in their national statistics.

Common reasons people claimed for challenging items included:

• Sex or nudity.
• Content about people who are two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, or other identities related to sexual orientation or gender identity (2SLGBTQIA+).
• Inappropriate for the target age group.

While most challenges were to materials, 22% focused on library programs, displays, or services. These incidents included:

• A challenge to all adult graphic novels.
• Objections to Banned Books Week and Pride Month displays.
• A claim that the Dolly Parton Imagination Library “indoctrinates” children to Christianity.

One incident dealt with library records. Under Oregon law, patron information on library cards is exempt from public disclosure. After finding a library card, law enforcement official asked for private information about the patron. The library refused.

The pattern is clear: most challenges target stories about people in underrepresented, protected classes. In this report, 67% of challenged items featured 2SLGBTQIA+ people, Black, Indigenous, or other people of color.

There have been steps taken to prevent such discrimination, including the 2025 Senate Bill 1098. This bill specifically prohibits discrimination against protected classes when choosing instructional, curricular, or library materials in schools. There is no direct evidence that SB 1098 affected reported challenges. However, there was a drop in the number of incidents reported at schools in 2026; only 7% of incidents were at schools, the lowest since 2017.

“We are committed to supporting libraries, schools, and their staff, to protect the freedom to read for all Oregonians. The free flow of information provided by libraries is vital to Oregon communities. While this year does not break any records, it continues recent trends and confirms the importance of libraries and the access to information they provide.” says Wendy Cornelisen, State Librarian.

The Oregon Library Association (OLA) and ALA support Oregon libraries experiencing challenges. Volunteers on OLA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee advise libraries and schools. ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom also consults and provides resources. The State Library of Oregon relies on both of these non-profit organizations' work.

To learn more about OIFC and challenges in Oregon, please visit the OIFC website at https://slo.oregon.gov/oifc/. For more information, contact Buzzy Nielsen, Program Manager for Library Support: uzzy.nielsen@slo.oregon.gov">buzzy.nielsen@slo.oregon.gov or 971-375-3486.

Salem, Ore – The State Library Board Executive Committee will meet virtually 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, October 2, 2026. This is a public meeting; those who would like to attend should contact Jessica Sokoloff at jessica.sokoloff@slo.oregon.gov. See the agenda below.

Questions or concerns can be addressed to Wendy Cornelisen, State Librarian at 503-378-4367 or nelisen@slo.oregon.gov">wendy.cornelisen@slo.oregon.gov. Sign language interpretation will be provided for the public if requested 48 hours before the meeting; notice 72 hours before the meeting is preferred. Handouts of meeting materials may also be requested in an alternate format 72 hours before the meeting. Requests may be made to Jessica Sokoloff at jessica.sokoloff@slo.oregon.gov.        

State Library Executive Committee Meeting

October 2, 2026

Virtual

Agenda

2:00 p.m.         Discuss the November 6, 2026 Board Meeting Agenda                    Cornelisen

NOTE: The times of all agenda items are approximate and subject to change.

Salem, OR — Today, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) published the annual maximum rent increases allowed by law for calendar year 2027.

The maximum allowable rent increase percentage in 2027 for tenancies subject to ORS 90.324(b) is 10%.

Per ORS 90.324, “no later than September 30th of each year, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall calculate the maximum annual rent increase percentage allowed for the following calendar year:

• For tenancies subject to ORS 90.600 (1) in facilities with more than 30 spaces, as six percent.”
• “For tenancies subject to ORS 90.600 (1) in facilities with 30 or fewer spaces or for tenancy types subject to ORS 90.323, percentage is the lesser of:
  • Ten percent; or
  • Seven percent plus Consumer Price Index (CPI).”

To view the methodology, calculation and Consumer Price Index data, refer to the Maximum Annual Rent Increase 2027 (Excel file).

The allowable rent increase percentage for calendar year 2026 was 9.5%.

Questions related to the administration of the maximum allowable rent increase and other landlord-tenant concerns can be directed to Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).

"Facilities" is defined as manufactured dwellings and marinas.

Vancouver, Wash. – As colorful leaves begin to fall from trees, Clark County and the City of Vancouver encourage community members to properly dispose of leaves to keep them out of streets and the landfill.

Leaves should not be raked or blown into streets. Fallen leaves can clog storm drains and create areas of standing water on roadways, making roads unsafe for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Instead, residents can use local disposal options that turn leaves into compost.

Leaves are a nutrient-rich, biodegradable material. But each year, millions of pounds of leaves end up in landfills. When organic waste, like leaves, rots in landfills, it creates methane, a toxic greenhouse gas.

Instead of sending leaves to the landfill, residents can place them in their curbside yard debris or organics cart, or in their own backyard compost. Fallen leaves can also be mulched and spread on lawns or distributed in landscaped areas, where they will suppress weeds and support pollinators with winter cover.

Residents can also dispose of their leaves for free through the Fall Leaf Coupon program courtesy of Clark County Public Works and the City of Vancouver Public Works. With a coupon, residents can drop off up to five cubic yards of leaves at one of five designated sites at no charge between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31.

Residents can get their coupon by:

• Printing a coupon from cityofvancouver.us/leafcoupon, clark.wa.gov/public-works/residential-yard-debris-and-organics-services, or wcnorthwest.com/leaves
• Clipping a coupon from Waste Connections’ annual recycling newsletter, which will be mailed to all Clark County residences in October
• Calling Vancouver Solid Waste at 360.487.7160 or emailing solidwaste@cityofvancouver.us to receive a coupon by mail
• Picking up a coupon from:
  • Vancouver City Hall, 415 W Sixth St.
  • Vancouver Utility Services, 2323 General Anderson Ave.
  • Vancouver Marine Park Engineering office, 4500 SE Columbia Way
  • Waste Connections Customer Service Office, 9411 NE 94th Ave., Vancouver
  • Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver
• Checking their mailed Waste Connections bill; residents who have not signed up for paperless billing and are billed directly by Waste Connections will receive a coupon in their October or November bill

The five sites where coupons are accepted for leaf disposal are H&H Wood Recyclers, McFarlane’s Bark, City Bark and West Van Materials Recovery Center in Vancouver, and Triangle Resources in Camas. Addresses and business hours for these locations and more information can be found on the coupon.

Coupons are also available in Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese.

The coupons are for residential use only and cannot be redeemed by businesses. Branches and other yard debris are not eligible for free disposal. Loads should be covered during transport, and residents must empty bags of leaves at the disposal site.

To learn more about backyard composting and for a schedule of free community workshops, visit the Clark County Composter Recycler website.

To report clogged drains and street flooding on roads in unincorporated Clark County, visit the Clark County Public Works website. Residents can also keep their local drain clear and protect water all year by adopting a neighborhood storm drain at wa.adopt-a-drain.org.

To report clogged drains and street flooding on streets within Vancouver city limits, visit the City of Vancouver Public Works service request website.

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Vancouver, Wash. – Applications for Clark County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds will be available beginning Thursday, Oct. 1. In 2027, Clark County expects to award approximately $2,374,000.

Applications will be completed and submitted through Neighborly Software. Applicants are encouraged to participate in a pre-submittal workshop to review application questions and program requirements:

Application Workshop Info

Friday, Oct. 9, Public Services Center, sixth-floor Training Room 679, 1300 Franklin St. or via WebEx.

• 9-10 am: asset and economic development
  • Single-family housing, business assistance programs
  • https://clarkwa.webex.com/clarkwa/j.php?MTID=m76c9b78a3f78f775d3b06fe3281f1b7e. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://clarkwa.webex.com/clarkwa/j.php?MTID=m76c9b78a3f78f775d3b06fe3281f1b7e
• 10-11 am: public services
  • Staff and operating costs for priority service areas: physical health, mental health, dental assistance, transportation, childcare, food assistance, senior services, and subsistence payments
  • https://clarkwa.webex.com/clarkwa/j.php?MTID=md749c2c7b24b9ba8d4c03ae800afc4ce

• 11-noon: affordable housing and homelessness
  • Multi-family housing acquisition, construction or rehabilitation; tenant-based rental assistance
  • https://clarkwa.webex.com/clarkwa/j.php?MTID=m7d4a5a975747f016706151ede0d080ef. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://clarkwa.webex.com/clarkwa/j.php?MTID=m7d4a5a975747f016706151ede0d080ef

• 1-2 pm: public facilities and neighborhood improvements
  • Streets and sidewalks, water/sewer, parks, community center, nonprofit facility construction or rehab
  • https://clarkwa.webex.com/clarkwa/j.php?MTID=m26888e84c3fc76891d21a5cb926f6be0. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://clarkwa.webex.com/clarkwa/j.php?MTID=m26888e84c3fc76891d21a5cb926f6be0

The Applicant Information and Preliminary Eligibility Review sections of the online application must be completed by Monday, Nov. 2. Fully completed applications are due by Friday, Dec. 4. More information and a link to the applications are available at: https://www.clark.wa.gov/community-services/cdbg-and-home-applications.

All funding awarded must benefit Clark County neighborhoods and households with low- to moderate-income. Housing developers, nonprofit organizations and local government agencies are eligible to apply. For-profit entities are limited to applying for funding to provide micro-enterprise business assistance. All applicants are required to review the Funding Guide for the applicable application type found on the application website. Proposed activities must meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s funding requirements.

To be added to the stakeholders list, or if you need assistance or program information, please contact GandHOME@clark.wa.gov">CDBGandHOME@clark.wa.gov or call 564.397.7834.

The City of Vancouver receives its own allocation of CDBG and HOME funds for projects inside the city limits. City of Vancouver staff can be reached at housing@cityofvancouver.us for more information.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Fire Marshal Donna Goddard announced today she will lift the ban on outdoor debris burning as well as recreational fires in unincorporated Clark County effective Oct. 1, 2026.  

To have predictable and consistent burn bans, Clark County implements a policy to ban outdoor burning from July through September each year. Designating this period was based on years of information about fuel conditions. However, under certain conditions, a ban can begin sooner or end later.

“Thankfully, favorable weather conditions have lowered the fire danger risk in the county”, said Goddard. However, Goddard urges that everyone remain cautious and responsible when burning outdoors. “Fire season isn’t over yet, so use extreme caution when burning and never leave a fire of any size unattended.”

Permits are required for burning yard debris and land clearing. Residents should ensure that they have the proper permits and follow permit conditions to prevent accidental fires. 

For more information on permit requirements and fire safety tips, visit the county’s website at https://clark.wa.gov/community-development/outdoor-burning.

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County is joining more than 600 organizations as an official partner of National Food Waste Prevention Week. The event, from Sept. 28 through Oct. 4, inspires changes at home, work and throughout our community to reduce food waste.

Up to 38% of all food produced in the U.S. goes uneaten, and the value of food thrown out by the average household is around $3,000 per year. On average, each Clark County household throws away more than 400 pounds of edible food each year. Clark County Public Works, Solid Waste and Recycling, is hosting the WasteBusters 21-day program to help residents learn new habits to reduce food waste. By participating, residents can learn practical strategies to reduce food waste, save money and reduce their environmental impact while earning prizes.

Clark County’s WasteBusters program
To help participants make new food-saving habits stick, the WasteBusters program offers weekly activities, events and multiple opportunities to win prizes.

To register, residents can sign up on the website and choose a food-waste reduction pledge. Participants must sign up by Sept. 30. Completing weekly challenges and attending events earns raffle entries for weekly prizes, including a food dehydrator, vacuum sealer and produce storage set.

Low-Waste Chef workshop
All residents, including WasteBusters participants, are invited to the Low-Waste Chef Workshop on Oct. 7, hosted by the Composter Recycler program. Attendees will learn strategies for smart shopping, proper food storage, and creative ways to use leftovers. Participants will take home supplies to help reduce kitchen waste. Registration via clarkcountycomposts.org/workshops is required. The workshop is 6-7:30 p.m. at Waste Connections of Washington, 9411 NE 94th Ave. in Vancouver.

“WasteBusters inspires participation, builds community momentum, and reinforces sustainable behaviors that reduce food waste in measurable ways,” said Solid Waste and Recycling Division Manager Joelle Loescher.

More information is available at clarkgreenneighbors.com.

For information about road and park projects, closures, opportunities for community input, and more, residents can follow Public Works on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram and view information on Nextdoor. Residents can also visit clark.wa.gov/public-works to sign up for email notifications.

Go to clark.wa.gov/public-works/news to read this information in another language. Click the button in the top right of the page that says “Change language” next to a globe icon and choose your preferred language.

Vaya a clark.wa.gov/public-works/news para leer esta información en español. Haga clic en el botón en la parte superior a la derecha de la página que dice "Change language " junto al icono de globo terráqueo y elija su idioma preferido.

Чтобы прочитать эту информацию на русском языке, зайдите на сайт clark.wa.gov/public-works/news. Нажмите на кнопку Change language (“Изменить язык”) в правом верхнем углу страницы рядом с символом земного шара и выберите свой язык.

Перейдіть на сторінку clark.wa.gov/public-works/news, щоб прочитати цю інформацію українською. Натисніть кнопку Change language (Змінити мову) зі значком глобуса у верхньому правому куті сторінки та виберіть потрібну мову.

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The following information is in reference to three deaths investigated by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. This release provides updated information in the investigations related to a crash July 5, 2026, on State Highway 503 in Battle Ground. Cause and manner of death information has been updated; this information was pending at the time of the previous media release.

Decedent 1:
This individual died on 07/05/2026 in Battle Ground, WA.

The name of the decedent: Haas, Annalena “Annie” Paige   Age: 27 years

The decedent was a resident of (city/state): Vancouver, WA

The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:

Cause of death:  Blunt trauma

Manner of death:  Accident

Place of injury: Public highway

How injury occurred: Passenger of SUV that collided with other motor vehicle

Decedent 2:
This individual died on 07/05/2026 in Battle Ground, WA.

The name of the decedent: Allen, Andrew Hullette   Age: 46 years

The decedent was a resident of (city/state): unknown

The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:

Cause of death:  Blunt trauma

Manner of death:  Accident

Place of injury: Public highway

How injury occurred: Passenger of car that collided with other motor vehicle

Decedent 3:
This individual died on 07/05/2026 in Battle Ground, WA.

The name of the decedent: Parker, Kelly Jean   Age: 42 years

The decedent was a resident of (city/state): unknown

The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:

Cause of death:  Blunt trauma

Manner of death:  Accident

Place of injury: Public highway

How injury occurred: Driver of car that collided with other motor vehicle

Reports and records of autopsies or postmortems shall be confidential as per RCW 68.50.105. No additional information is available for release from the Medical Examiner’s Office. Refer all other inquiries to Washington State Patrol.

Media release issue date: 09/28/26 (previous media release date: 07/15/2026)

Federal funding supports tsunami-resilient hospital expansion and vertical evacuation structure

ASTORIA, OR — Clatsop County is welcoming the release of more than $14.5 million in federal funding for Columbia Memorial Hospital’s expansion project in Astoria, clearing a major hurdle for construction of a more disaster-resilient hospital and vertical tsunami evacuation structure.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency funding will support resilience features incorporated into the new hospital, including a deep-pile foundation and a vertical evacuation structure designed to accommodate up to 1,900 people. Critical infrastructure, including generators and the hospital’s helipad, will also be located above the tsunami inundation zone.

The funding was awarded through FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program but had remained unavailable as the future of the BRIC program was challenged during the past year.

“This victory was made possible by an extraordinary, multi-level coalition that showcases the true power of local, state, and federal collaboration,” said Mark Kujala, Chair of the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners. “Our community kept this project front and center, and people at every level of government continued working together to make sure this critical funding was restored.”

Kujala credited Oregon Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Cliff Bentz for their continued advocacy, along with Gov. Tina Kotek, Attorney General Dan Rayfield, Sen. Suzanne Weber, Rep. Cyrus Javadi, and the Oregon Legislature’s Joint Ways and Means Committee.

He also thanked his fellow County Commissioners, County Manager Don Bohn, Sheriff Matt Phillips, Emergency Management Director Justin Gibbs, and partners at Oregon Emergency Management who worked with the County and CMH throughout the funding uncertainty.

“When FEMA went dark over the last 17 months, Jon Weibe, Rachel Foley, and Stephen Richardson at Oregon Emergency Management kept us entirely aligned and compliant,” Kujala said. “Likewise, the dedicated CMH project team—led by CEO Erik Thorsen, Project Director Molly Wing, and Michelle Checkis of ZGF—met every rigorous demand to preserve our eligibility. We stood together every step of the way to win for Clatsop County.”

Clatsop County is the governmental applicant for the FEMA grant, working in partnership with Columbia Memorial Hospital on the project.

The hospital expansion is designed not only to strengthen health care services on the North Coast, but also to provide critical infrastructure following a major earthquake and tsunami. The vertical evacuation structure will offer refuge for hospital patients, staff, visitors, and members of the surrounding community during a tsunami.

The release of the federal funding completes a critical piece of the project budget and allows work on the hospital’s disaster-resilience features to move forward.

###

CLATSOP COUNTY, OR — The Clatsop County Board of Commissions is seeking applications from residents interested in serving on the Clatsop County Fair Board.

The Clatsop County Fair Board oversees the operation and management of the Clatsop County Fairgrounds with support from County Staff. Responsibilities include facility rentals and scheduling, establishing rental fees, promoting the Fairgrounds, overseeing concessions and food service, supporting maintenance and operations, and securing sponsorships for the County Fair and other events.

The Clatsop County Fair board meets at 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month and members also participate in planning and liaison committee meetings. Fair Board members attend an annual joint session with County Commissioners.

Applicants must be Clatsop County residents and may not be employees of Clatsop County or another taxing district within the County.

The deadline to submit completed applications is Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Application are available on the Clatsop County website and at the County Manager’s Office, 800 Exchange Street, Suite 410, Astoria. 

Applicants must review and submit the Conflict-of-Interest Questionnaire and the Acknowledgement of Roles and Responsibilities statement with application.

Appointments will be made by the Board of Commissioners.

###

ASTORIA, OR — The Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office has earned accredited status from the Northwest Accreditation Alliance following a comprehensive review of its policies, procedures, and law enforcement practices.

The Northwest Accreditation Alliance Professional Standards Board unanimously approved the Sheriff’s Office for accreditation September 15.

The Sheriff’s Office joined the accreditation program in March 2025, and this was the first assessment under Sheriff Matt Phillips. The Northwest Accreditation Alliance program is designed to help law enforcement agencies establish and maintain standards reflecting current professional practices, accountability, transparency, and effective operations.

“This accreditation reflects the professionalism and dedication of the people who work for the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office every day,” Sheriff Phillips said. “I’m proud of our team and grateful for their commitment to serving Clatsop County.”

The assessment included an electronic review of policies, procedures, and documentation, followed by an on-site assessment. The on-site review included interviews with staff and inspections of facilities, equipment, and property and evidence operations.

The final assessment reviewed 111 standards, including 101 mandatory standards and 10 standards determined not applicable to the agency. The report identified no standards in non-compliance and found that no policy changes or additions were required to confirm compliance.

The report also noted that the Sheriff’s Office maintains clear and comprehensive policies in areas including use of force, training, public information, emergency response, patrol operations, records, and property and evidence management.

Following its review, the assessor and executive director recommended approval of the Sheriff’s Office for accreditation.

Accreditation is not a one-time process. The Sheriff’s Office will now begin a three-year reaccreditation period, continuing to maintain documentation and demonstrate compliance with accreditation standards.

###

Countywide, family friendly event brings hands-on emergency preparedness activities to Jewell School

Clatsop County, OR — Families from throughout Clatsop County are invited to learn practical emergency preparedness skills during the Get Ready Fair from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 22, at Jewell School, Seaside.

This free event will bring Be 2 Weeks Ready topics to life through hands-on activities. Preparedness stations will focus on food, water, first aid and other steps families can take to prepare for an emergency.

“Preparedness does not have to feel overwhelming,” said Jen Munson, Community Engagement Coordinator “This event gives families an opportunity to practice simple skills together and learn how they can be two weeks ready in an emergency.”

The evening will also include local first responders, emergency gear, teddy bear first aid, a Halloween costume contest, and FREE dinner at the Monte Alban taco truck.

Participating organizations include Clatsop County Public Health, Consejo Hispano, the Oregon Health Authority, the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, Oregon State University Extension and Elsie-Vinemaple Rural Fire Protection District among others.

For event details, visit clatsopcounty.gov.

SALEM, OR — This week, Commissioner Danielle Bethell was appointed to the National Association of Counties (NACo) Youth Housing and Homelessness Task Force. She is one of only 22 county officials nationwide selected to examine how counties can better support young people facing homelessness and housing instability across the country.

"I'm incredibly honored to be selected to be a part of this work," said Commissioner Bethell. “I look forward to working with county leaders from across the country, sharing about Marion County and Oregon, and bringing back ideas that will help us reach our local youth facing housing challenges."

More than 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness in the U.S. each year. The task force is part of NACo’s Building Better Futures initiative.

"During my decades of public service, I have seen firsthand the multifaceted evolving challenges facing our youth," said NACo President George Dunlap. "Through this task force, we will have a unique chance to diagnose emerging concerns and align proven strategies, especially as it pertains to addressing youth housing instability and homelessness."

The task force will meet from October 2026 through July 2027 and will conclude its work at the 2027 NACo Annual Conference.

SALEM, OR — In the ongoing lawsuit Marion County filed against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop the draining of Detroit Lake, the Army Corps made an astounding claim: That their administrative record, which is the foundation of their review and decision to drain the lake, shouldn’t be seen by the Court or Marion County before the judge determines whether they can move forward with their potentially catastrophic plan this fall. The Army Corps is also trying to avoid answering questions on basic issues in the case.

Marion County has objected to the Army Corps’ effort to avoid transparency.

“Marion County allowed Federal Defendants to defer their responses to most document requests,” a response from County Counsel to the Court stated. “The County only requested the administrative record related to the decision to perform a deep drawdown at Detroit Lake (RFP Request No. 2) and responses to requested admissions.

“Federal Defendants’ emphasis on the importance of the administrative record undermines their claim that they do not need to provide it to plaintiffs and the Court. Given that this is the foundational document or set of documents for this case, it is eminently reasonable to request this.”

“It’s surprising to me that the Army Corps’ best defense for their own plan to drain the lake is to hide their own analysis and reasoning for draining the lake,” said Commissioner Kevin Cameron. “To go before a judge and ask them to agree to your arguments while hiding your own analysis is patently absurd and further shows that the Army Corps doesn’t trust their own decision.”

The Court will consider arguments regarding this issue at the next hearing in the case, which is October 6, 2026.

“If Federal Defendants are confident they made the correct decision, then they should not fear transparency on how they reached their decision,” the County’s response said.

Background

Marion County filed a lawsuit on May 13, 2026, asking the United States District Court to order the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to pause efforts to drain Detroit Lake until the Army Corps completes the turbidity report required by federal law and allows informed public comments. Congress required the Army Corps to evaluate lessons learned from turbidity problems caused by a similar draining of nearby Green Peter Lake, but the Army Corps was over four months past the legal deadline.

On August 11, 2026, Marion County filed a motion outlining the many ways federal defendants violated the law in adopting their new policy of annual deep drawdowns of Detroit Lake. This new policy will devastate canyon communities, endanger drinking water for over 230,000 people living downstream, and even jeopardize the very fish it claims to be trying to save.

Catastrophic Damage from Similar Drawdown at Green Peter Lake

In 2023, a court order forced similar deep drawdowns at nearby Green Peter Lake due to a lawsuit from an environmental group. This killed thousands of salmon and caused massive increases in turbidity that harmed downstream water systems.

Photo Credit: Brian Stone Photography LLC; explanatory text added by public commenter who submitted it during SEIS process.

The new policy of annual deep drawdowns would drain the lake below its minimum conservation pool—to its lowest historic level in the first year and to even deeper untested low levels each fall in following years. Dropping water levels in this manner disturbs fine sediment on the lake bottom and causes turbidity (dirty water), which harms all fish and municipal water systems downstream. There would also be water shortages if there is low rain that prevents refill, hurting cities and agriculture. The damage that was caused by the deep drawdown of Green Peter shows a deep drawdown of Detroit could also kill much of a lake’s fish population. All this would harm the tourism-based economy of the local community.

“Risking the drinking water of our communities while harming thousands of fish is patently absurd” said Commissioner Willis. “Since the Army Corps refused to listen to reasonable requests from the county, cities, and schools, this lawsuit is the strongest means we have to protect our downstream communities as well as recreation at Detroit Lake”

The Army Corps’ own analysis found that the level of low rain that causes water shortages when combined with a deep drawdown occurs one out of every four years. This year will almost certainly be one of those years. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting an “81% chance of a very strong El Niño during October-December of 2026 that would rank among the largest El Niño events in the historical record going back to 1950” and “a 97% chance” that El Niño conditions “will persist through early spring 2027.”

“Our residents depend on clean, reliable drinking water,” said Commissioner Kevin Cameron. “The Army Corps should not be gambling with the safety of drinking water in our community.”

“Water management must be grounded in data-backed science with meaningful protections in place for our communities,” said Commissioner Danielle Bethell. “The Army Corps is defying common sense and has not committed to any meaningful safeguards, which is why we will continue this fight to protect our residents from the Army Corps’ devastating policies.”

Beep Beep Salem app users must download new version by December 31

Salem, Ore. – A new Beep Beep Salem parking app is now available! The new app offers all the same features, in addition to improved customer service and faster processing times.

The old parking app will be fully discontinued. Those using the previous parking app have until December 31, 2026, to make the transition to the new version.

How to Find the New App
Users can download Beep Beep Salem through their mobile play store. There are currently two versions available - the new version has a full-color icon and a red NEW banner, while the discontinued app appears as a gray icon.

New users will only be able to download the new version. Users of the old application will need to remove the version they are currently using and download the new version.

Questions about downloading the new app? Email eepbeep@cityofsalem.net" target="_blank" title="mailto:beepbeep@cityofsalem.net">beepbeep@cityofsalem.net to reach our parking staff.

More About the Beep Beep Salem App
The Beep Beep Salem app can conveniently be used at all on-street pay stations throughout Salem, including locations near the Oregon State Capitol, Willamette University and the Salem-Willamette Valley Airport.

The app is available to download on:

• Google Play Store (for Android devices)
• Apple App Store (for iPhone devices)

A $0.35 fee applies to each transaction using the app, in addition to the $1.50 hourly parking rate at the downtown pay stations or the $10 daily rate at the airport. 
 

Downtown Parking Pay Stations
You can find instructional videos for using the parking stations and the app, as well as a downtown parking map and answers to frequently asked questions, at www.beepbeepsalem.com.

Free Parking in Downtown Salem:
Free customer and visitor parking is available in the downtown parking structures.

Permits for Downtown Residents, Downtown Employees, Students, Volunteers and Jurors

If you live or work downtown and plan to park in downtown Salem between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. any day except Sundays and City-observed holidays (students, volunteers, employees, jurors), you are required to purchase a parking permit for the parking garages or pay at the new parking meters. To learn more about permit requirements and options, go to www.cityofsalem.net/parking.

# # #

Salem, Ore. — The City of Salem is alerting the public about a street closure related to a planned one-day event Oct. 3 at the Oregon State Capitol State Park. The permitted event will see the closure of Court Street NE between Capitol Street NE and Winter Street NE from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Drivers should expect increased pedestrian traffic and some delays. Temporary signage indicating road closures and lane restrictions will be in place. Drivers are asked to plan accordingly and seek alternate routes during the event. Please drive safely and watch for an increase in pedestrians in the area.

Closure Details

• Date: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026
• Time: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Affected Streets: Court Street NE
   

The City of Salem appreciates your cooperation and patience during this event and is committed to ensuring the safety and accessibility for all residents and visitors.

Vancouver, Wash. – Due to cooler and rainier conditions, the Vancouver Fire Department will lift its recreational burn ban on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. All outdoor burning of things like brush/vegetation and garbage is still prohibited within city limits and violators may be subject to a citation/fine. The burn ban originally took effect on June 17 due to dry conditions.

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SALEM, OR (October 1, 2026) – Governor Tina Kotek has appointed Brendan Murphy as Marion County District Attorney, effective today, following outgoing District Attorney Paige Clarkson's retirement announcement. Murphy, having run unopposed, already secured the position in the May 2026 election and was slated to assume the role January 1, 2027.

Murphy has served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Marion County District Attorney's Office for 20 years, most recently as Chief Deputy District Attorney. In that role, he supervises the office's trial divisions, including domestic violence, child and sexual abuse, complex felony, firearm/violent crime, and juvenile divisions. He also oversees the office's officer-involved use of deadly force protocols, Brady protocols, and public records.

Beyond his prosecutorial work, Murphy co-chaired Marion County's Child Abuse Response Team from 2011 to recently and co-authored the chapter in the Oregon State Bar's 2017 Bar Book on best practices for crossover youth, or foster children who are also involved in the juvenile delinquency system. He currently serves on the Governor's Juvenile Justice Policy Commission. He has served on the Board of Directors for Liberty House, Marion County's child abuse assessment center, for approximately 14 years.

Murphy and his wife of twenty-one years are proud parents of three sons. In his free time, he spends time with his family and likes to fly fish and coach baseball.

###

Salem, OR – September 30, 2026 – In March of this year, Marion County District Attorney Paige
Clarkson convened a grand jury inquiry into the conditions and management of Oregon State
Hospital located in Salem, Oregon (see below for original release). This inquiry is authorized
pursuant to Oregon Revised Statute 132.440.

At the time, District Attorney Clarkson stated: “I have become increasingly concerned that the
Oregon State Hospital cannot meet the challenges of the moment: appropriately responding to
the growing need for intensive, hospital level of care for individuals whose diagnoses require
civil commitment, restoration services, or secure levels of treatment for the safety of
themselves and the public. We have an obligation to inquire into what is being done with an
eye toward what more is needed.”

Today, the grand jury released its findings, substantiating the need for the inquiry and
highlighting capacity issues and conflicts of purpose within the institution.

During the approximately six-month inquiry, the grand jury: held 13 sessions where they
inquired into the conditions and management of the Oregon State Hospital, Salem campus;
heard over 47 hours of testimony from approximately 40 witnesses, which included
current and former OSH employees, medical providers, OSH management, union
representatives, forensic evaluators, a former patient, a patient’s mother, witnesses
from Marion County Sheriff’s Office, a Circuit Court judge, community partners, and
other witnesses. The grand jury toured the grounds of the OSH Salem campus.

The inquiry revealed several issues highlighting that OSH lacks sufficient bed capacity to
simultaneously meet the needs of Oregonians in need of hospitalization at OSH for aid and
assist restoration, commitment after being adjudicated guilty except for insanity, or in need of
commitment under Oregon's civil commitment laws.

The grand jury made 19 findings many relating to the patient’s path through the system, such
as during admission and their time as a patient, as well as broader concerns at the hospital
including patient experience, safety, staffing and leadership. Additional findings address the
population at OSH, an overall conflict of purpose, the use of seclusion, and the Grand Jury’s
experience during the facility tour.

District Attorney Clarkson stated:
“While this inquiry and the resulting report could never encompass all the multifaceted issues
faced by the Oregon State Hospital, it serves as confirmation that the hospital continues to fall
short in its crucial obligation to our communities and our most vulnerable Oregonians. Our
communities should expect better from the state’s behavioral health system and that must
start with increased capacity at all levels, improved staff safety, an up-stream focus on civil
commitment rather than reliance on the criminal justice system, and—perhaps most important
of all—dependable leadership that creates a culture where this is all possible.”

DA Clarkson continued, “I would like to thank the dedicated Marion County grand jurors, who
were chosen from our community by the court, and who devoted significant time and
thoughtful consideration to these complex issues. This was not an easy task, but I share in the
hope that their effort will be illustrative to our state leaders and lawmakers as they shape
policy to keep all Oregonians safe and healthy.”

The Marion County Grand Jury’s 2026 report regarding the Oregon State Hospital can be
accessed here.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Original News Release:

News Release from Marion Co. Dist. Attorney's Office
Posted on FlashAlert: March 13, 2026 11:55 AM

Today, Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson convened a grand jury to inquire into
the conditions and management of the Oregon State Hospital located in Salem, Marion County,
Oregon. This inquiry is required under Oregon Revised Statute 132.440. The Marion County
District Attorney’s Office conducted a similar inquiry into the MacLaren Youth Correctional
Facility in Woodburn last year (final report can be found here).

“Our state’s most crucial facility serving those with mental illness is housed right here in the
heart of Salem. The Oregon State Hospital is statutorily responsible for the majority of our
state’s criminal justice response to the behavioral health crisis plaguing our communities”
stated District Attorney Clarkson. She continued, “Over the last several years, I have become
increasingly concerned that the Oregon State Hospital cannot meet the challenge of the
moment: appropriately responding to the growing need for intensive, hospital level of care for
individuals whose diagnoses require civil commitment, restoration services, or secure levels of
treatment for the safety of themselves and the public. We have an obligation to inquire into
what is being done with an eye toward what more is needed.”

District Attorney Clarkson is convening this grand jury to inquire into the current operations,
capacity challenges, and public safety implications associated with the Oregon State Hospital.
The work of the grand jury is expected to take several months and will issue a public report
upon completion of their work.

Marion County Senior Deputy District Attorney David Wilson, and Deputy District Attorney
Evelyn Centeno will oversee the proceedings. To support the anticipated volume of work,
Washington County Deputy District Attorney Joel Peterson will also assist as a specially
deputized Marion County DDA. Senior DDA Wilson has significant experience with institutionrelated
cases and oversees Oregon State Hospital prosecutions within the Marion County
District Attorney’s Office. DDA Centeno serves as Marion County’s behavioral health prosecutor
and has extensive experience working with behavioral health facilities statewide. DDA Peterson
oversees a similar caseload in Washington County and is also a subject matter expert on
behavioral health criminal justice matters.

Consistent with all matters that come before a grand jury, these proceedings are confidential.
No further information will be released prior to the grand jury’s final report. The Marion County
District Attorney’s Office anticipates the report will be completed by the end of the year and

will be publicly released at that time.

###

SALEM, OR (September 28, 2026) – Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson announced earlier this month that she will retire from her nearly thirty-year career at the Marion County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. She explained it was the right time for her to step aside and expressed confidence that DA-elect Brendan Murphy is fully prepared to take on this crucial role.

Clarkson is a 1999 graduate of Willamette University College of Law and a member of the Oregon State Bar since that time. She joined the Marion County District Attorney's Office in 1997 as a law clerk, then became a line attorney, a senior Deputy District Attorney, and was promoted to Trial Team Leader more than a decade before her election as District Attorney. Her entire career has been committed to the Marion County District Attorney's Office, where she has worked tirelessly holding offenders accountable on behalf of the community and victims of crime.

When Clarkson was first elected District Attorney in 2018, she became only the second woman to hold the office in Marion County's history, following Hattie Bratzel Kremen, who served as District Attorney from 1956 to 1964. More than half a century separated the two women's terms in office.

Clarkson served this community during uniquely challenging times, including the implementation of Ballot Measure 110, which decriminalized possession of certain quantities of drugs, as well as the COVID 19 pandemic that shut down court process, the social unrest of 2020, and increased violent crime trends in the community.  She served as President of the Oregon District Attorney's Association for three terms from 2019 to 2022 and has regularly worked to promote responsible public safety policy at the State Legislature and through numerous committees, workgroups, and boards. She and two of her colleagues also joined a federal lawsuit as amici (“friends of the court”), to push for change related to restricted treatment timelines and civil commitment at the Oregon State Hospital.

One of Clarkson's proudest accomplishments is co-founding Marion County's Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, which connects low-level offenders with treatment and support services as an alternative to prosecution. She began this program in 2018, and it is now the foundational program for drug deflection models throughout the state.  She also helped start Marion County's first Mental Health Court and championed HB 4002 (2024), which re-criminalizes certain drug possession offenses. Clarkson is also an enthusiastic supporter of Liberty House, the Center for Hope and Safety, and veterans' causes.

Clarkson looks forward to this next chapter and plans to spend time with her husband who is a police lieutenant in Central Oregon and a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps, and their four adult children.

###

State of Oregon v. Reece A. Sorenson

Marion County Circuit Court Case 25CR45343

Salem, OR – September 25, 2026 –  Today, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Courtland Geyer sentenced Reece A. Sorenson (age 29) to 66 months in the Oregon Department of Corrections with 36 months post-prison supervision. Sorenson pled guilty to five counts of Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree from multiple events leading up to August 10, 2025.

 At that time, Salem police detectives were called to Salem Hospital where Sorenson and his wife had brought their six-week-old twin children to the emergency room because one of the infants was unable to suckle properly.

While at the hospital, medical staff observed several concerning factors on both children. Medical staff at Salem Hospital and OHSU ultimately diagnosed, in addition to the mouth injury, that the first infant had four broken ribs. The second infant had bruising around the eyes (highly concerning for child physical abuse, especially in non-mobile children), twelve broken ribs, and broken collarbones. While it was unclear how many times each child had been injured, differences in healing made it clear that the abuse occurred over more than one incident.

Sorenson later admitted to using aggressive force on multiple separate occasions on both babies, causing the infants’ significant injuries. Additionally, the investigation showed that he forcefully inserted a burp rag into one of the infant’s mouths to stifle cries, which caused the initial infant’s injury preventing the child from sucking properly.  

“There are two concerning public safety factors in this case: obviously, the primary concern is the pain and injury Sorenson inflicted on his infant children,” said District Attorney-elect Brendan Murphy. “I am glad that Marion County’s child abuse response team and our office was able to hold Sorenson accountable for this horrendous behavior.”

“The second factor is a gap in Oregon law that restricts our ability to hold offenders appropriately accountable in cases like this.  Oregon criminal law simply isn’t sufficient to adequately protect significantly abused non-verbal children.”  

Specifically, when nonverbal infants are grievously harmed, they are unable to communicate their level of injury. Description of pain is often evidence that prosecutors use to increase the seriousness of physical assault charges to appropriately hold offenders accountable.  Those descriptions also help medical professionals assess risk of injury or death.   Therefore, when non-verbal victims can’t describe their level of pain prosectors often cannot prove more serious theories of physical assault.   Thus, Oregon criminal law has a gap, leaving some of our most vulnerable victims unable to receive appropriate justice. 

Here, Sorenson was charged with multiple counts of Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree for “causing physical injury.”  Criminal Mistreatment is a level C felony, Oregon’s lowest level felony category.   In contrast, had prosecutors been able to prove “serious physical injury” (often done so using a victim’s description of pain) they could have possibly charged Assault in the First Degree (ORS 163.185). That crime is an A felony and carries a significantly more serious sentence under the law.  

“We have tried to change this law for years,” Murphy said.  “Prosecutors are simply unable to get it over the legislative finish line.  Despite numerous examples around the state that some of our most vulnerable populations need more protection, the proposal has consistently failed.  Oregon should do better to protect victims who cannot describe their pain.”

The minimum sentence that Sorenson faced was probation.  The maximum sentence was approximately 148 months in prison.  In this case, the state requested that the court impose 125 months Department of Corrections. Judge Geyer sentenced Sorenson to 66 months, approximately 33 months for each child.  Sorenson is eligible for good time (approximately 6 months).

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Katharine Semple. The Marion County DA’s Office wishes to acknowledge the medical team at the Salem Hospital, the critical and delicate work provided by Liberty House, and the thorough investigation by the Salem Police Department. Specifically, the detectives of Salem’s Special Victims Unit were instrumental in resolving this case.

Oregon’s children deserve to be safe in their own homes. If you or someone you know is unable to cope with the demands of parenting, please call the Oregon Family Support Network (reachoutoregon.org or 833-732-467), or call 211 or text “children” to 898211 to be connected with parenting support, early childhood and family services. Additionally, Family Building Blocks and Liberty House are only two of several local nonprofits that provide parents with resources to help keep children safe. 

Due to the involvement of child victims and the nature of criminal behavior, no additional details will be released.

####

PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging three Oregon men with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Cody James VanWinkle aka COUNTUPCODY, 30, Gresham, and Kei-Jian Buckley, 32, Beaverton, had their initial appearances and arraignments today. Bruce Edward Jones, Jr. aka Juice, 30, Eugene, had his initial appearance and arraignment on September 24, 2026.

According to court documents, VanWinkle, Buckley, and Jones stole or obtained stolen checks and altered the payee line and dollar amount so that the check could be deposited by them instead of the intended payee. VanWinkle and Buckley formed an LLC called Pacific Swift Logistics, which was a sham business, to assist in their fraud. VanWinkle, Buckley, and Jones, along with others they recruited, deposited or transferred via wire the fraudulent and forged checks into the accounts controlled by VanWinkle, Buckley, or Jones. VanWinkle, Buckley, Jones, and others they recruited, withdrew, attempted to withdraw, or otherwise transferred the money before the financial institutions were able to flag the deposit as fraud and halt the withdrawals or transfers. When the recruits received money, they provided a portion of the stolen money to VanWinkle, Buckley, and Jones.

At their arraignments, VanWinkle and Buckley pleaded not guilty. Jones previously pleaded not guilty. All defendants are scheduled for trial November 24, 2026.

U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigations are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Sax is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

# # #

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Please join Clark College for the Workforce Champions Recognition Breakfast on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 7:30 am on Clark College's main campus, located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way in Vancouver.

In honor of National Workforce Development month in September, Clark College is hosting this inaugural event celebrating regional employers who partner with the college to create opportunities for students, strengthen programs, and prepare students for successful careers. Whether they hired Clark students or graduates, provided internships, served on advisory committees, provided tuition assistance, or supported Clark and its students in other ways, these employers' collaboration and commitment help build a stronger workforce and a thriving regional economy.

Clark College will announce three Workforce Champions, and the nominees are:

• Apex Air
• City of Vancouver
• Clark Public Utilities
• Columbia Springs
• Downtown Camas Association
• Educational Opportunities for Children and Families (EOCF)
• Educational Service District (ESD) 112
• Evergreen Habitat for Humanity
• Impact Electronic Solutions
• Mackay
• ModWright Instruments Inc.
• Mortenson
• OLS Technology
• Pedigo Products
• Providence
• S&F Land Services
• SEH America
• Southwest Washington High Tech Council
• TigerStop
• U.S. Bank
• Vancouver Clinic
• Vancouver Public Schools
• Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
• Wellpoint Washington
• Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW)

Media planning notice: Members of the media are encouraged to notify Clark’s Communications & Marketing at k@clark.edu">commark@clark.edu if they plan to attend. Requests for interviews, camera placement, b-roll access, and press tours may be accommodated, where possible.

EVENT DETAILS

When:     Monday, September 28, 2026

                7:30 am   Gather, mix, and mingle

                7:45 am   Welcome and Presentation of awards

                8:45 am   Event adjourned

Where:    Penguin Union Building, Room 161, Clark College Main Campus

1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA 98663

Parking:  Red or Green lots — Customized Clark Campus Map

Accommodations: If anyone needs an accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Clark College’s Human Resources Office. Phone: 360-992-2105 or email: hr@clark.edu.

Clark College expressly prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, citizenship, immigration status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal in its programs and activities. Learn more at www.clark.edu/nds.

About Clark College

Founded in 1933, Clark College is Southwest Washington's largest public institution of higher education, serving almost 10,000 students per term. Clark College provides residents of Southwest Washington with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education.

Clark College offers more than 100 degrees and certificate programs, including bachelor's and associate degrees, professional certificates, high school diplomas and GED preparation, and non-credit community and continuing education. Clark serves a wide range of students, including high school students, displaced workers, veterans, parents, non-native English speakers, and mature learners. Approximately 47% of its students are in the first generation of their families to attend college.

####

GRESHAM, Ore. – Four Portland Community College students – two from the Gresham area – have had the rare opportunity to work in lab research, something often restricted to university upperclass or graduate students. 

Miguel Gomez of Gresham, Kana Heitzman of Southwest Portland, Alondra Ramirez-Sierra of Canby and Ruth Pablo Juan of Beaverton spent much of the year working with PCC instructor Ted Picciotto. They contributed to the field of organic chemistry by advancing the way science is done with a unique three-component distillation experiment that may help students in future research for fields such as alcoholic beverage production with hands-on real-world application.

Beginning this spring, the organic chemistry students at PCC’s Sylvania Campus set out to create the unique experiment. PCC Chemistry Department Chair Picciotto, who worked in the wine industry prior to joining the college 17 years ago, said he “simply couldn’t find” such an experiment in the chemical education literature.

“Students are the experts in their own experiences, and their feedback can reveal barriers that may not be obvious to educators,” Picciotto said. “I enjoy finding ways to make chemistry accessible to students who may not initially see themselves as ‘chemistry people."

According to Picciotto, fractional distillation separates liquids based on how quickly they boil. Most college lab experiments the team studied used mixtures of only two liquids. Adding a third liquid makes the experiment harder. The chemicals must not react with each other, they need to boil at different temperatures, and they must be safe for students to use in a college lab.

The team included ethanol to make the experiment similar to a process used in a distillery. They also chose chemicals with different molecular shapes. This allowed students to use a tool called Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify each chemical and tell the substances apart in a mixture.

Miguel Gomez attended David Douglas High School and hopes to become an engineer who develops green technology. He joined the project after it had started and helped improve the experiment.

The team used a small, 25-milliliter flask to study how temperature, different chemicals and materials inside the distillation column affected the results. They used a testing method called gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to measure what was in each sample.

Getting the liquids to separate well was the team’s biggest challenge. In early tests, the samples contained only about 40% to 60% ethanol mixed with another chemical. The students used artificial intelligence to brainstorm ways to improve the distillation column. One idea was to add stainless steel wire mesh inside the column. The mesh gave the liquid and vapor more surface area to interact. After adding more mesh, the team was able to produce samples that were nearly 90% ethanol, with only small amounts of the other chemicals.

“The most exciting part is that this is not simply a laboratory exercise with a predetermined answer,” Picciotto said, sharing that it has been evolving but highly successful due to the team's persistence.

For Gomez, the project connected small-scale laboratory work to industrial chemical processes, including crude oil separation. His interest in chemical engineering began after a high school biology lecture about climate change’s effects on biodiversity, ocean acidification and human health. It grew during a 2023-24 laboratory internship at Oregon Health & Science University, where he participated in environmental research and analytical electrochemistry.

Gomez plans to transfer to OSU in fall of 2027 to study chemical engineering. He has completed a chemical engineering sequence through Oregon State Ecampus and said that experience, along with advice from other engineering students, has prepared him for upper-division coursework.

“I think the transition from a community college to a four-year university will be smooth,” Gomez said. “I have a clear understanding of the expectations for my upper-division courses and the remainder of my education. I am striving to become an R&D Engineer working in emerging green technologies, particularly carbon capture, green hydrogen, and solid-state batteries.”

He hopes recognition of the team’s work encourages other students to pursue research.

“PCC is the right place for anyone, regardless of background, looking to pursue a quality, affordable education,” Gomez said.

Kana Heitzman of Gresham, an environmental and civil engineering transfer student, said the open-ended research offered experience beyond a standard laboratory assignment.

“The success of this research project was an eye-opening experience,” Heitzman said. “Not only was it an opportunity to work in a more professional setting, but we had the freedom to experiment with our own ideas and use the knowledge we built from the general chemistry and organic chemistry sequences.”

“Contributing research that could improve the labs of future organic chemistry students gave me more motivation to pursue my degree,” he said. “This research project was an example of how open minds, strong foundational knowledge and teamwork can result in success.”

Heitzman plans to transfer to Portland State in fall 2027. He said he is open to possibilities but interested in environmental consulting fieldwork and infrastructure design. "Right now, I am taking as many courses as I can at PCC to take advantage of the smaller class sizes."

Heitzman agreed, adding, "PCC is an amazing school to enroll in for people in every aspect of life. Classrooms are diverse and offer many different perspectives which helps you keep an open mind while learning."

"I've also found it easy to communicate with my professors when I am struggling or have questions," said Heitzman, who went to Grant High School and has also earned a Pre-Apprenticeship & Trades Certificate. 

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

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Voters with questions about Proposition 11, the student safety and academic support levy for Battle Ground schools, are invited to attend an upcoming event where they can learn about the levy and ask questions ahead of receiving their ballot. This event is open to the public and child care will be available for kids ages 1 and older.

Participants will:

• Hear how students have been affected by budget cuts made over the past year

• Learn how the levy amount was set and what it would pay for if approved

• Get information from a representative from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, who will discuss the state's role in overseeing school districts facing significant financial challenges

• Have an opportunity to ask questions about the levy

Date: Thursday, Oct. 8

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Location: Battle Ground High School (300 W. Main St., Battle Ground)

More information about the levy is also available on the district website.

About state financial oversight

Over the past two years, BGPS has made $34 million in budget cuts due to the loss of levy funding. Use of the district’s savings (fund balance) to sustain operations is projected to drop the district’s financial health score from 3.35 out of 4 in the 2023-24 school year to 1.25 out of 4 by the end of the 2026-27 school year. A lower score means less financial stability, placing the district within the state's financial warning range. As a school district’s financial condition worsens, state control increases. Local school districts do not receive more state funding as part of the oversight process and lose the ability to make financial and program decisions that affect students.

Date: Monday September 28, 2026

Time: 6:00pm

Location: Hockinson Community Center & Zoom

Address: 15916 NE 182nd Ave  Brush Prairie, WA 98606

The Washougal School District is beginning a 90-day public review process around elementary school consolidation. The district is studying the potential closure of Hathaway Elementary School to respond to a long-term trend of declining enrollment. This step would be part of a multi-phase project to eventually modernize the Hathaway campus. 

Closing an elementary school would reduce yearly operating costs and align the number of facilities the district operates with the number of students who are currently enrolled in the district. If the consolidation is approved, the district would save more than $1 million per year, which would be used to reduce class sizes and invest in innovative programs for students.  

The school district has published the School Consolidation study to the district website for district families and staff members to understand the proposed consolidation and the rationale for implementing this change.  https://www.washougal.k12.wa.us/facilitiescapital-projects/consolidation-faq/

Superintendent Aaron Hansen said, “Enrollment in Washougal School District has decreased significantly since 2019, and we believe it will continue to decline over the next few years. Consolidating operations to fewer elementary schools would reduce the amount of funding spent on administrative overhead and other staffing costs, and focus our limited resources in support of classroom learning, which is what our community has prioritized in our budget surveys.” 

The consolidation process was recommended by the Resource Optimization Workgroup, which toured schools last year and met several times, studying enrollment and facility use data. The group made this recommendation to consolidate to allow the district to prioritize expenditures closest to the classroom.

Executive Director of Business Services Shelese McConnell said, “The primary driver of district funding is student enrollment, as we serve fewer students, we receive less funding from the state. We have also seen inflation in our material, supplies, and operating costs, along with higher benefit and salary costs for employees.” She added that, “these factors are causing district expenditures to increase above revenue. School consolidation provides a path to stable and predictable costs without painful yearly budget reductions, while still allowing us to invest in programs our community values.”

Student families, staff and members of the community are invited to learn about the consolidation process and share public testimony with the school board at two hearings, one on October 29, 2026 at 5:30 PM at Hathaway Elementary, and November 12, 2026  at 5:30 PM at Gause Elementary.  The school board will make a final decision on consolidation at the January 26, 2027 school board meeting. 

If consolidation is approved, the district intends to retain the Hathaway property for potential future educational use. The district anticipates a need for a larger, modernized elementary school on the Hathaway campus in the future. Any major renovation or rebuilding project would require voter approval. Existing voter-approved bonds are scheduled to expire in 2030 and 2034, creating potential opportunities for future facilities planning. 

16 years ago, the Salman Alfarisi Islamic Center in Corvallis was the subject of an arson attack.  While the suspect was quickly identified and held to account, many in the local Muslim community were at first distrustful of federal law enforcement officers and prosecutors  investigating the case.  Mozafar Wanly, a longtime member of the local Muslim community, worked to change those opinions.  By the time the investigation was concluded, most saw the federal agents as allies who were working for their safety and to protect and support their religious freedoms.

From that time forward, Wanly has continued his work to build relationships of trust and understanding between law enforcement and members of the Muslim community.  In keeping with an annual tradition he started not long after the arson, he recently hosted a lunch for local prosecutors, state and federal law enforcement leaders, and friends and family from the Muslim community.

Benton County District Attorney Ryan Joslin, who assisted in planning the event, addressed the group.  Joslin recounted first working with Wanly some ten years ago to resolve a criminal case involving a college student who was Muslim.  Wanly helped to provide culturally relevant information that led to a just resolution.  Joslin also recounted how Wanly, a jujitsu black belt, provided jujitsu training to a Christian youth group mentored by Joslin.  “Don’t be deceived by the grandfatherly persona Mozafar puts out.  He’s actually pretty tough, and a little bit mean,” Joslin joked.  He also commented on how Wanly has worked to build friendships with others in the community, frequently inviting them into his home, including the Rabbi of the local Bet Am Jewish synagogue.  “We hear in the news of contention, hate and violence relating to religious, cultural or political differences.  This small group here today probably cannot affect things at the national or international level.  I do believe we can have an influence for good in our own communities.  I would encourage us to leave today with a resolve to start conversations, look for commonalities and model kindness and generosity to those with whom we have differences.”

League of Minority Voters: Don't Let Confusion or Frustration Keep You from Voting

Oregon's vote-by-mail system remains in place for the November 3 election. Plan, vote early, and make your voice heard.

PORTLAND, Ore. — September 30, 2026

For Oregonians who feel unheard, overlooked, or frustrated by government and politics, the League of Minority Voters has a simple message as the November 3 election approaches: Don't give up your voice.

Confusing headlines about mail-in voting and recent court decisions have created uncertainty. Some voters may be questioning whether participating will make a difference. LMV encourages voters to stay engaged and cast their ballot.

Promise King, President, League of Minority Voters: “People have legitimate reasons to feel frustrated or disconnected from our political system. We are not asking anyone to ignore those feelings. We are asking them not to surrender their voice because of them.”

What Oregon Voters Need to Know

• Oregon voters can continue to vote by mail in the 2026 general election.
• Eligible voters will receive ballots by mail.
• Completed ballots can be returned by mail or at an official ballot drop box.
• The November ballot includes decisions affecting schools, neighborhoods, housing, public safety, health, transportation, businesses, and families.
• Voting helps communities make their priorities visible.

Make a Plan to Vote

• Check Your Registration: The deadline to register is October 13, 2026. Verify your registration and address now.
• Look for Your Ballot: Ballots begin mailing October 14. Contact your county elections office if you do not receive yours.
• Get Information You Can Trust: Use official election resources and trusted nonpartisan voter information sources.
• Vote Early: Allow yourself extra time to resolve any issues.
• Use an Official Ballot Drop Box: If Election Day is approaching, use an official drop box rather than mailing your ballot.

Voting Information in Multiple Languages

• Oregon provides translated election information and voters’ pamphlets in multiple languages. Do not let a language barrier prevent you or your family from accessing reliable voting information.

Reliable, Nonpartisan Voter Information

• OregonVotes.gov: Registration information, election deadlines, ballot information, and official ballot drop-box locations.
• VOTE411: Additional nonpartisan election information and voter resources.

About the League of Minority Voters

The League of Minority Voters connects minority and underrepresented communities to accurate, nonpartisan civic information and convenes bipartisan dialogue to strengthen trust, access, and equitable democratic participation.

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SALEM, Ore. - Look around your home, and you’ll likely see dozens of devices powered by lithium-ion batteries. Cellphones, tablets, laptops, power tools, toys, e-bikes, and more rely on these compact, high‑energy batteries. But when they’re damaged, dropped, or charged incorrectly, that stored energy can turn into a fast‑moving fire that is extremely difficult to extinguish.

The growing risk is exactly why the Oregon State Fire Marshal is sounding the alarm. New data from the OSFM Center for Fire Analytics, Intelligence, and Research shows Oregon fire agencies responded to 649 lithium-ion battery–involved fires from 2020 to 2025, with incidents increasing an average of 19% every year. In 2025 alone, firefighters responded to 161 battery-related fires; more than double the number reported in 2020.

“As lithium-ion batteries become more common in homes and garages, we’re seeing a steady rise in fires linked to damaged or improperly charged devices,” said State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz‑Temple. “Lithium-ion batteries are safe when used correctly. This October, we’re asking Oregonians to take charge of fire safety by learning how to charge their devices the right way.”

To kick off Fire Prevention Month, the Oregon State Fire Marshal is partnering with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to encourage Oregonians to “Charge into Fire Safety™.” The campaign focuses on everyday charging habits that can reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires and help keep homes and communities safer.

Here are a few simple steps every Oregonian should take to reduce the risk:

1. Use the charger and cord that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer. The wrong charger can damage the battery and increase fire risk.
2. Charge devices on a hard, flat surface. Never charge devices on beds, couches, or under pillows, where heat can build up.
3. Stop using a device if it feels very hot, is swelling, smoking, or giving off a strange smell. These are signs the battery may be failing.
4. Unplug devices once fully charged to prevent excess heat and stress on the battery.
5. Charge larger items like e-bikes, scooters, and power tools outside and away from exits. These bigger batteries store more energy and can create larger fires.
6. When flying, keep devices where you can see them while charging. Never charge devices in overhead bins, and do not charge e-cigarettes or vapes on planes.

Learn More
Find lithium-ion battery safety tips, downloadable resources, and Fire Prevention Month materials at https://firepreventionmonth.oregon.gov.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
Since 1917, the Oregon State Fire Marshal has been dedicated to protecting people, property, and the environment from fire and hazardous materials. The agency works with local fire agencies, communities, and partners to strengthen fire prevention, preparedness, and response statewide. The Oregon State Fire Marshal became an independent state agency in 2023.

$50,000 Cash Prize Awarded to Dedicated Solution-Makers in the American West

BEND, Ore. — The High Desert Museum is now accepting nominations for the 2027 Jordan Schnitzer Prize of the West (the Prize), an award that celebrates and honors uncommon collaboration and innovation in solving the legacy challenges of the American West. Launched in partnership with Jordan D. Schnitzer and the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, nominations will be accepted on the High Desert Museum’s website through Dec. 31, 2026. For more information on the Jordan Schnitzer Prize of the West, nomination eligibility, and selection process, visit highdesertmuseum.org/schnitzer-prize.

In a moment when the American West is confronting unprecedented ecological challenges, the Prize seeks to highlight innovative responses to urgent issues such as water scarcity, wildfire, tribal sovereignty, land stewardship, ecosystem change, best ranching practices and more—offering models that can be replicated in other areas of the country facing similar pressures.

 “The Prize celebrates and honors those leaders who are working collaboratively on these complex issues to demonstrate how to work toward the common good,” said Jordan D. Schnitzer, president of Schnitzer Properties and the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation. “Inspired by these leaders’ determination, we will continue to award and recognize their tireless work to create solutions that benefit everyone while preserving and enhancing the remarkable Western United States.”

Now in its second year, the $50,000 prize is awarded annually to an individual or a small group of individuals whose work addresses the environmental and conservation challenges of the American West, with a particular focus on innovation, impact, and collaboration. In addition to the $50,000 cash prize, the winner will receive a piece of original artwork during an award ceremony in Portland, Oregon.

Brad Parry, vice chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, was awarded the inaugural prize for his leadership and collaborative work in transforming the site of the 1863 Bear River Massacre in Preston, Idaho, into a place of ecological and cultural healing. As the leader of the Wuda Ogwa Cultural and Land Restoration Project, Parry is recognized for having built one of the most collaborative models of watershed restoration in the American West while successfully restoring the land to its natural state.

An esteemed panel of 13 advisors with deep backgrounds in tribal leadership, ranching and farming, water policy and river restoration, and prominent academic centers focused on the American West selected Parry's nomination.

The Prize advisers also recognized four esteemed finalists in 2026:

• Amy Bowers Cordalis
• Kelley Delpit
• Julie Rentner
• Laura Van Riper
   

Applications and nominations for the Prize will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of advisers composed of former tribal leaders, ranchers and farmers, water policy and river restoration practitioners, a poet laureate and renowned historian, directors of prominent academic centers that focus on the study of the American West, and more.
 

 “The Jordan Schnitzer Prize of the West is an exceedingly timely and relevant effort to shine a light on the innovators, collaborators and visionaries among us,” said Dana Whitelaw, executive director of the High Desert Museum. “Their work demonstrates that we can look toward our future together even as we consider the economic and ecological challenges before us.”
 

Since 1982, the High Desert Museum has been dedicated to sharing the stories of the American West through wildlife, art, cultures, history, and interdisciplinary experiences, creating a shared connection and dialogue among its community.

ABOUT JORDAN D. SCHNITZER AND THE HAROLD & ARLENE SCHNITZER CARE FOUNDATION
Jordan Schnitzer has a vibrant legacy supporting the High Desert Museum. He is the visionary and sponsor of the Schnitzer Prize of the West. Through the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, Schnitzer carries on the legacy of his late parents and their belief that “to whom much is given, much is expected.” Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the CARE Foundation and its leaders have given over $300 million to fund hundreds of nonprofit projects that touch lives and enrich communities.
 

Schnitzer is also a prominent West Coast businessman. He is President and CEO of Schnitzer Properties, one of the West Coast’s Top 10 private real estate owners with offices in six Western states. Schnitzer is also an ARTnews Top 200 Art Collector globally and shares his vast contemporary art collections at no charge to museums and institutions and supports accompanying programming, educational opportunities and publications.
 

ABOUT THE MUSEUM  

The HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2025 recipient of the Autry Public History Prize from the Western History Association and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.  

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2026
Contact: Kari Goodheart, Chief Petitioner
Initiative Petition 2028-025 — Oregon Freedom Amendment
www.oregonfreedomamendment.org

Chief Petitioner Will Not Appeal Certified Ballot Title; Campaign Turns to Funding and Circulation

SALEM, Ore. — The Attorney General certified a ballot title for Initiative Petition 2028-025, the Oregon Freedom Amendment, on September 25, 2026. Electors have until October 9 to petition the Oregon Supreme Court for review of that title. Chief Petitioner Kari Goodheart will not file an appeal.

“The fight over wording is not worth the cost — in money, in time, or in the energy this campaign needs for the work that actually puts a measure in front of voters,” Goodheart said. “The real battle is funding this petition and printing the resources volunteers need to collect signatures.”

The certified summary tells voters the measure’s “effect on current law is unclear.” That line is the core omission. Oregon’s highest court has already said what current law is.

In State v. Pulos, 64 Or. 92, 95 (1913), language the Oregon Supreme Court has repeated since, the Court wrote that “no person has an absolute property right in game or fish while in a state of nature and at large; … the taking of them is not a right, but is a privilege, which may be restricted, prohibited, or conditioned, as the law-making power may see fit.” Title to wildlife is held by the state in its sovereign capacity, in trust for the people — not as an individual right belonging to Oregonians themselves. Today the legislature can ban or severely restrict hunting without surviving heightened constitutional review.

The Freedom Amendment would change that legal category. It would give the people of Oregon an individual, fundamental right to hunt, fish, trap, farm, ranch, raise livestock, cultivate crops, harvest natural resources, and engage in generally accepted practices of agriculture, animal husbandry, and scientifically based wildlife management. It would constrain how the state may regulate those rights. Regulations would have to be reasonable and necessary — narrowly tailored to conservation, public safety, or the protection of public health and property rights, and consistent with sustainable, science-based practices.

The measure would not abolish seasons, tags, hunter education, or trespass laws. The change is the legal floor: hunting and the other listed activities would be protected rights the state must justify restricting, instead of privileges the state may withhold. Courts would treat them more like other enumerated individual rights than like a license. That is a solid constitutional defense for the people’s rights in Oregon — not an uncertain one.

Goodheart submitted detailed comments during the public-comment period. Those objections are on the record. She will not spend the campaign’s limited resources litigating a title that still leaves voters with the impression that the legal effect of a constitutional right is a mystery.

Supporters who want this measure on the November 7, 2028 ballot are asked to help with funding and printing so signature gathering can move forward as soon as circulation is authorized.

Donate and volunteer: www.oregonfreedomamendment.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

YACHATS, Ore. —Two Purple Martins from the Oregon coast have traveled over 1,500 miles toward their wintering grounds in southeastern Brazil. Despite leaving Oregon one day apart, they have now turned up within just a few miles of each other in Mexico.

The birds, named Finn and Elise, are being followed using tiny solar-powered Cellular Tracking Technology (CTT) BlūBird tracking tags, developed last year. This is the first time this type of tag has been used to track Purple Martins of the western subspecies.

The bird tracking is a cooperative effort of Seven Capes Bird Alliance’s SWIFTY (Swallows in Flight to Yachats) program, and Klamath Bird Observatory’s Purple Martin project. SWIFTY, a group of retired volunteers who build and maintain nesting boxes for swallows, obtained funding for four of the new tags. Weighing a gram—less than 2% of a Purple Martin’s weight—the backpack-style device allows researchers to receive location information close to real time as the birds migrate.

BlūBird tags transmit a unique digital identification signal using low-power radio rather than GPS. The signal can be detected by compatible receiving stations and by participating smartphones via Bluetooth, which use the phone’s location information to record approximately where and when the tagged bird was detected. These detections are transmitted to CTT’s tracking system, allowing researchers to follow the birds’ movements.

Finn, a male tagged near Florence, Oregon, on July 22, began his migration on August 19. Elise, a female tagged near Waldport, Oregon, on July 21, left a day later on August 20. The two birds initially followed routes south along the eastern Sierra Nevada.

On August 21, Finn was recorded east of Reno, Nevada. A day later Elise was in the Lake Tahoe area 60 miles away. The only data after this point and before Mexico were from Finn, who was recorded high in the San Bernardino Mountains above Los Angeles, and Elise, who was detected near Bishop, California.

Elise was recorded in Mexico at about 6 a.m. Pacific time on August 23. About 11 hours later, Finn was detected farther south than Elise. By August 24, both had reached the Guaymas area along Mexico’s Sea of Cortez. Then came a surprise: on August 27, Finn and Elise were detected within just a few miles of each other near Guasave, north of Culiacan.

Elise flew 1,517 miles from Oregon in exactly six days, averaging just under 11 miles per hour. Considering she had to feed, rest, and continuously adjust her route for weather and other obstacles, her real flying speed was greater than 20 mph! The Purple Martin pair have now completed one-fifth of a 7,000-mile migration from Oregon to their wintering grounds in southeastern Brazil.

For the coastal Oregon birding community, this project provides a remarkable opportunity to see where birds go after the nesting season ends and highlights how conserving migratory birds connects habitats thousands of miles apart.

Finn and Elise still have more than 5,500 miles to go. SWIFTY will provide updates on the birds’ progress to Brazil as this remarkable journey unfolds; updates will be posted to the Seven Capes website at https://sevencapes.org/purple-martin-tracking and at https://swiftyswallows.weebly.com/puma-migration-202627.html. Seven Capes’ SWIFTY program thanks Oregon Birding Association for the grant that helped make this project a reality.

Seven Capes Bird Alliance was founded as Audubon Society of Lincoln City in 2005. A nonprofit membership organization and chapter of the National Audubon Society, Seven Capes is active in education and advocacy for protection of birds, other wildlife, and their habitats in Lincoln and Tillamook Counties.

Instagram: @sevencapesbirds

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sevencapesbirds

Portland, OR (September 30, 2026) – The Brian Grant Foundation (BGF) will host “The Impact of Exercise on Parkinson’s Disease” with Dr. Daniel Corcos on Thursday, October 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 320 Oswego Point Dr., Lake Oswego, OR. The event is an exclusive gathering for friends of the Brian Grant Foundation. Dr. Corcos is a professor at Northwestern University and leading Parkinson’s researcher. He also earned a doctorate in motor control from the University of Oregon. Dr. Corcos will present his research on strength, endurance, stretching and balance training, and explore the role of exercise in managing Parkinson's symptoms and improving quality of life. The program includes a Q&A from the audience. Doors open at 6 p.m., with desserts and beverages served. The presentation and Q&A run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., with time afterward to connect with the BGF community. The event is made possible by support from one of our 2026 sponsors: CND Life Sciences.

Founded in 2010, the Brian Grant Foundation (BGF) empowers those impacted by Parkinson’s to live active and fulfilling lives. BGF’s programs focus on exercise, nutrition, and community building to help people with Parkinson’s get moving, eat healthy, and feel their best. For more information, visit www.briangrant.org.

UPDATE (September 29, 2026): Photos and video from today's groundbreaking event are now available here.

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VANCOUVER, Wash. — On Tuesday, September 29, the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools, VPS staff and students, and community partners will gather at Skyview High School for the groundbreaking of a new applied trades building. 
 

Date: September 29, 2026 

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 

Location: Skyview High School, 1300 NW 139th St, Vancouver, WA 
 

The new facility will provide students with hands-on, experiential training in both construction trades and advanced manufacturing. The center aims to create a pool of skilled workers ready to contribute to the region’s ongoing economic growth upon graduation.
 

Fully-funded through a partnership between the Endeavour Fund and Ed & Dollie Lynch Fund, the building is projected to open to students in late 2027.

This is the third entirely donor-funded Trades building at a VPS school facilitated by the Foundation for VPS. The first was the Endeavour Technical Trades Center at Hudson’s Bay High School, followed by the Ed Lynch Trades Center at Fort Vancouver High School.

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The Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools is an independent, 501(c)3 educational non-profit corporation established in 1988 to support Vancouver Public Schools (VPS). Governed by a volunteer board of directors made up of business, community, and education leaders, the foundation creates opportunities to cultivate and inspire student success. As an educational non-profit entity, the foundation serves students at all 40 VPS schools and programs, providing direct aid to students facing learning barriers due to economic need, as well as financial assistance for learning enrichment and mentoring programs that cannot be funded by the school district. The Foundation for VPS is supported by donations from school employees, parents, students, community members, businesses and foundations.

Date: Wed, Oct 20th, 2026

Time: 7 pm

Location: Kiggins Theatre Vancouver, Wa

Tickets: $15-$45

Event Website: https://www.scienceontaporwa.org/events/oct_20_kiggins_security/

“Your package couldn’t be delivered.”
“Put tape over your webcam.”
“Click here to pay your ticket.”
“Your geek squad protection renewal is due”

You’ve heard all of these. Which are real/scams? Which matter? Which are valid security tips vs urban legends? As with most things in life, it’s complicated.

In this talk, two security specialists will discuss a number of the security questions that come up in everyday life to help you understand why they happen, how to respond to them, and maybe, when you can just ignore them.

Science on Tap is a science lecture series where you can sit back, drink a pint, and enjoy learning. Listen to experts talk about the science in your neighborhood and around the world. You don't have to be a science geek to have fun--all you need is a thirst for knowledge! For more information on this event or about Science on Tap, visit Science on Tap OR WA.

Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation launches Back-to-School Campaign, calling on businesses, Lions Clubs and community members to help expand access to student vision screenings

PORTLAND, Ore. The Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation (OLSHF) is calling on communities across the state to help ensure Oregon students have access to vision screenings through its 2026-27 Back-to-School Campaign: Sponsor a Screening.

Each year, OLSHF's School Vision Screening program works with schools, Lions Clubs, volunteers and community partners to screen more than 200,000 Oregon students. The program is projected to conduct more than 900 on-site screenings this year, with approximately 19% of students screened referred for additional vision care.

That means tens of thousands of Oregon students may be identified with a potential vision concern this school year.

"Children don't always know that what they're seeing isn't normal," said Doug Thompson, CEO of the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation. "A vision screening can help identify a concern that might otherwise go unnoticed. Our goal is to reach as many Oregon students as possible, and accomplishing that takes communities coming together."

The Oregon Department of Education provides reimbursement of up to $4 per student for eligible vision screenings, and OLSHF is an approved vision screening provider for Oregon schools. However, providing screenings statewide requires additional resources for equipment, staffing, volunteer coordination and screening operations.

Through the Back-to-School Campaign, OLSHF is asking businesses, Lions Clubs, community organizations and individuals throughout Oregon to help Sponsor a Screening.

A contribution of $500 or more can help fund a complete vision screening for students in a local school district, while donations of any amount help OLSHF expand access to screenings across the state. Sponsors may also receive recognition through campaign materials, social media, event promotions and other opportunities.

For businesses looking for a hands-on way to give back, OLSHF also welcomes community groups interested in volunteering alongside screening teams when opportunities are available.

A Statewide Effort With a Local Impact

Vision concerns can affect a child's ability to read, participate in the classroom and succeed academically. Oregon Department of Education guidance notes that vision needs can go undetected without screening programs and potentially interfere with learning and other aspects of a student's development.

OLSHF's goal is simple: help provide vision screenings for every student in Oregon and connect students who may have a vision concern with appropriate follow-up resources.

The Foundation is especially encouraging Lions Clubs across Oregon to participate by sponsoring screenings directly or connecting OLSHF with businesses and organizations in their own communities.

A local business can help students in the community where its employees and customers live. A Lions Club can rally its community behind its local schools. An individual donation can help OLSHF reach another classroom of students.

Every contribution moves Oregon closer to reaching more children.

Oregon, Help Us Sponsor the Next Screening

Businesses, Lions Clubs, organizations and individuals interested in joining the campaign can learn more, sponsor a screening or make a contribution at:

olshf.org/backtoschool

Organizations interested in sponsorship recognition or additional information may contact keting@olshf.org">marketing@olshf.org.

"Whether you're a statewide company, a neighborhood business, a Lions Club or simply someone who believes Oregon students deserve the opportunity to succeed, there is a place for you in this campaign," said Thompson. "Together, we can reach more students, identify more vision concerns early and help more children enter the classroom ready to learn."

About the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation

Since 1959, the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation has worked in partnership with Lions Clubs to provide sight and hearing assistance to communities throughout Oregon and Northern California. OLSHF's mission is to Screen, Treat, Save, and Restore sight and hearing in partnership with Lions Clubs. The Foundation serves more than 200,000 children and adults annually through programs including School Vision Screening, hearing assistance, eyeglass assistance, children's low vision services and access to medical treatment.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Save Rogue Regional Hospital Community Town Hall
Thursday, Oct. 1
6:30 p.m. 
OEA Building 
2495 S Pacific Hwy
Medford, OR 97501

WHAT: Nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals, patients, elected officials, and community leaders are coming together for a public town hall to discuss changes in Southern Oregon healthcare, what’s going on at Asante, what’s happening inside Rogue Regional hospital, and what our community can do about it. The event will feature presentations, a panel discussion featuring nurses, doctors, and community leaders, and a question and answer section.

Media members are encouraged to attend. RSVPs are required for all participants.

• Click here to RSVP. 

WHEN: Thursday, October 1 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Local nurses and panelists will be available for media interviews after the event.

 
WHERE: OEA Building. 2495 S Pacific Hwy. Medford, OR 97501 
 
WHO: ONA nurses and staff from Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center along with local doctors, elected officials and community supporters. 

WHY: In recent years, executives at Asante–Southern Oregon’s largest healthcare system–have:

• Closed maternity and inpatient services at Ashland’s only hospital 
• Closed multiple outpatient clinics
• Closed a Southern Oregon surgery center it partially owned
• Laid off hundreds of local caregivers including NICU doctors
• Outsourced doctors and healthcare workers
• Accrued more than $1.5 million in fines for violating Oregon’s hospital safe staffing law
• Failed to meet its community benefit obligations under Oregon law
• Refused to recognize or bargain with union healthcare professionals
• Spent untold amounts on anti-union consultants in possible violation of federal law

These decisions are negatively impacting our community and can contribute to longer waits, rising costs, staffing shortages, and fewer healthcare options for Southern Oregonians.

Local nurses and healthcare professionals have led the charge to stop Asante’s cuts and closures, protect safe patient care and restore transparency and accountability to Southern Oregonians’ healthcare. Thursday’s town hall is an important step to continue shining a light on Asante’s cuts, closures and changes, and empower community members to have a voice in their healthcare.   

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents nearly 1,200 frontline registered nurses and 250 healthcare professionals–including local radiologic technologists, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), respiratory therapists, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants and surgical technicians–at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. 

 
Nurses at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center are working to reach a fair contract with Asante that improves staffing and patient safety, offers fair wage opportunities, and gives local frontline healthcare providers a meaningful voice in their community’s healthcare.

Healthcare professionals are also attempting to reach a fair contract with Asante. Unfortunately, Asante executives have repeatedly refused to recognize and bargain with these healthcare professionals despite a federal order to do so.

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Portland, Ore., September 29, 2026 – From September 18 through September 27, communities across Oregon and Southwest Washington came together for SOLVE’s annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup. During a 10-day volunteer effort, 1,553 volunteers participated in 96 cleanup and restoration projects across 15 counties, contributing more than 3,100 hours of service. Projects took place in Clackamas, Clark, Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Jackson, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill counties.

Together, volunteers removed nearly 9,000 pounds of litter and debris, helping prevent pollution from traveling through local waterways to beaches and the Pacific Ocean. Volunteers also cleared over 9,450 square feet of invasive species, an area larger than three tennis courts, and mulched 300 plants to support healthier habitats and more resilient landscapes.

“Every year, Beach & Riverside Cleanup shows what is possible when people unite to care for the places they call home,” said Kris Carico, CEO of SOLVE. “This year, we saw that community action take many forms, from cleaning beaches and rivers to removing invasive plants and caring for neighborhood spaces. These local efforts add up to a meaningful regional impact.”

A Season of Environmental Action

The Beach & Riverside Cleanup showcased the range of community members, partners and projects that make SOLVE’s work possible across Oregon and Southwest Washington. From established cleanup initiatives to hands-on restoration projects, highlights from this year included:

Oregon Coast: Cleaning Up for People and Wildlife

Along the Oregon Coast, 25 cleanup events from Astoria/Warrenton to Gold Beach invited volunteers to remove litter and marine debris from beaches, shorelines and coastal recreation areas.

Rivers Across the Region

River-focused projects gave volunteers opportunities to care for waterways and the communities connected to them. In Portland, volunteers gathered at OMSI before spreading out along the Eastbank Esplanade and surrounding streets to remove litter before it could reach the Willamette River. Additional Portland projects along the riverfront included cleanups at Peace Memorial Park, the Eastbank Esplanade and Duckworth Dock.

Farther east and south, volunteers took action along the Upper Clackamas River and at three cleanup events along the Molalla River, removing litter from river corridors and recreation areas while helping care for trails and surrounding natural areas. In Salem, volunteers gathered at Cascades Gateway Park to remove litter before it could flow into Walter Wirth Lake and Mill Creek.

Community Action in Vancouver, Washington

Across the Columbia River in Vancouver, Washington, five Beach & Riverside Cleanup events drew volunteers to a mix of litter cleanup and habitat restoration. Projects ranged from removing litter at Waterfront Park and Esther Short Park to ivy removal at Historic Covington House and Ellsworth Springs West, helping protect trees, wildlife habitat and recreational spaces.

The projects highlighted the many ways everyone can contribute to healthier waterways and natural areas, whether through picking up litter, removing invasive plants or caring for the public spaces they use every day.

Pick It Up, Milwaukie! | September 19

For the second year, Pick It Up, Milwaukie! united residents, local businesses, and families in downtown Milwaukie and at Milwaukie’s Bay Park, in partnership with Bob’s Red Mill. Volunteers removed litter from downtown streets, business corridors and green spaces, including the river’s edge at Bay Park, before gathering at the Sustainability Fair.

Pick It Up, Milwaukie! is part of SOLVE’s growing Pick It Up! regional cleanup initiative, which unites residents, businesses and local organizations to improve shared public spaces city by city.

Thank You to Our Volunteers and Partners

SOLVE extends its gratitude to the volunteers, event leaders, business partners and organizations who made the 2026 Beach & Riverside Cleanup possible. Their time and effort helped make a visible difference across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

SOLVE’s 2026 Beach & Riverside Cleanup is proudly supported by Clean Water Services, Kaiser Permanente, Knife River, Keep America Beautiful, Metro, Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation, Owens Corning, Portco Packaging, Tillamook, Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc., and KOIN.

About SOLVE 

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solve.org for more information or follow SOLVEPNW on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn. 

Portland, Ore., September 29, 2026 – From September 18 through September 27, communities across Oregon and Southwest Washington came together for SOLVE’s annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup. During a 10-day volunteer effort, 1,553 volunteers participated in 96 cleanup and restoration projects across 15 counties, contributing more than 3,100 hours of service. Projects took place in Clackamas, Clark, Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Jackson, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill counties.

Together, volunteers removed nearly 9,000 pounds of litter and debris, helping prevent pollution from traveling through local waterways to beaches and the Pacific Ocean. Volunteers also cleared over 9,450 square feet of invasive species, an area larger than three tennis courts, and mulched 300 plants to support healthier habitats and more resilient landscapes.

“Every year, Beach & Riverside Cleanup shows what is possible when people unite to care for the places they call home,” said Kris Carico, CEO of SOLVE. “This year, we saw that community action take many forms, from cleaning beaches and rivers to removing invasive plants and caring for neighborhood spaces. These local efforts add up to a meaningful regional impact.”

Oregon Coast: Cleaning Up for People and Wildlife

Along the Oregon Coast, 25 cleanup events from Astoria/Warrenton to Gold Beach invited volunteers to remove litter and marine debris from beaches, shorelines and coastal recreation areas.

Several projects connected cleanup efforts directly to wildlife protection. At Siltcoos Beach, volunteers helped remove marine debris near protected western snowy plover nesting habitat, while other coastal projects focused on keeping beaches and coastal recreation areas clean and safe for wildlife and visitors. In Gold Beach, Paws for Nature combined a community beach cleanup with a dog walk, giving people and their four-legged companions a chance to care for the coastline.

Thank You to Our Volunteers and Partners

SOLVE extends its gratitude to the volunteers, event leaders, business partners and organizations who made the 2026 Beach & Riverside Cleanup possible. Their time and effort helped make a visible difference across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

SOLVE’s 2026 Beach & Riverside Cleanup is proudly supported by Clean Water Services, Kaiser Permanente, Knife River, Keep America Beautiful, Metro, Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation, Owens Corning, Portco Packaging, Tillamook, Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc., and KOIN.

About SOLVE 

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solve.org for more information or follow SOLVEPNW on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.