Oregon Heritage Commission has awarded $378,971 in grants to 31 organizations throughout the state. The grants will help fund a variety of projects including collection preservation and access, research, oral history, exhibits, and performance projects. Award amounts ranged $1,656 - $20,000.

Funded projects:

• Applegate House Heritage Arts and Education to create a plan for storage and care of collections.
• Centro Cultural, in Cornelius, to provide Ballet Folklorico program.
• Chehalem Culture Center, in Newberg, to develop traveling trunks for grades 3-5.
• City of Salem to complete archaeological excavation and testing to local and document the remains of the structure and artifacts of the Oregon Methodist Mission Indian Manual Labor Training School.
• City of St. Helens to digitize and make available the “St. Helens Chronicle” on the University of Oregon Historic Oregon Newpapers website.
• Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, in Pendleton, to support collections care.
• Coquille Indian Tribe, in Coos Bay, to develop and fabricate a display for the traditional dugout canoe fragment housed at the South Slough Reserve visitor center.
• Crossroads Art Center, in Baker City, to complete an assessment of 10 wagons on display at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.
• Eagle Point Friends of the Library, in Eagle Point, to digitize the “Upper Rogue/Eagle Point Independent” newspaper.
• Egyptian Theatre Preservation Association, in Coos Bay, to conduct a structural analysis of the theatre’s fly loft.
• Hellenic-American Cultural Center and Museum, in Portland, research and document Greek Americans and Greek American communities across Oregon.
• Japanese American Museum of Oregon, in Portland, to create an exhibition on Japanese American contributions to democracy and increasing participatory democracy through action.
• Jefferson County Historical Society and Museum, in Madras, for HVAC in the museum.
• Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, in Joseph, to provide and document a visit to Sis-nim-mux for Nez Perce community members Wallowa exploring campsites, food, burial and vision quest sites.
• Keepers of Heceta Head Lighstation, in Lane County, to update interpretive signs at Heceta Head Lightstation.
• Oregon Fire Service Museum, Memorial & Learning Center, in Brooks, to restore four iron bases and columns salvaged from the Capitol Building that burned in 1935 and install them on a memorial courtyard.
• University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, in Eugene, to complete a field school at the Applegate House in Douglas County and complete the processing of information and materials gathered from the field school.
• Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation, in Portland, to install operational systems onto the boiler and tender of the steam locomotive.
• Portland Art Museum to conserve, catalog, and research the objects associated with Oregon Tribes.
• Rainier Oregon Historical Museum, in Rainier, to complete nine oral histories and establish listening kiosk at the museum.
• Sandy Historical Society to complete an assessment of the museum’s collections.
• Siuslaw Pioneer Museum, in Florence, to produce walking tours.
• Southern Oregon Historical Society, in Medford, to make available online over 6,000 glass plate negatives of photographer Peter Britt.
• Springfield Museum to purchase exhibit cases.
• Vanport Mosaic, in Portland, to establish a community-centered framework to transform the collection into a sustainable, publicly accessible archive.
• Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, to assess the Indigenous collection in pursuit of NAGPRA compliance.
• University of Oregon, in Eugene, to complete pedestrian survey for and documentation of culturally modified trees within the Willamette National Forest.
• Upper Rogue Historical Society and Trail Tavern Museum, in Trail, to repair the floor of the museum.
• Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland, in Wallowa, to upgrade the interpretive center storage and displays.
• Wetlands Conservancy, in Portland, to enhance water quality and wildlife habitat at four urban wetlands in the Portland metropolitan area through an Indigenous-led assessment and restoration approach.
• Willamette Heritage Center, in Salem, to complete preservation assessments on historic buildings at the site.

This competitive grant program is for qualifying organizations, and is offered once per biennium for projects that conserve, develop or interpret Oregon’s heritage. It is a program of the Oregon Heritage Commission. The Commission works to secure, sustain and enhance Oregon’s heritage. The Commission consists of nine members appointed by the governor and nine agency advisors. Members are chosen from state agencies and statewide organizations, and represent diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds.

The Commission is part of Oregon Heritage, a division of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. To learn more about the Oregon Heritage Grant or the Oregon Heritage Commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.gill@oprd.oregon.gov">Kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, William Booker Justham, Jr., died the afternoon of November 11, 2025. Justham was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) in Salem and passed away in the infirmary while on hospice care. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the State Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.

Justham entered DOC custody on September 7, 2021, from Linn County with an earliest release date of May 28, 2040. Justham was 89 years old. Next of kin has been notified.

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of approximately 12,000 men and women who are incarcerated in 12 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

OSP is a multi-custody prison located in Salem. Additional information about the Oregon Department of Corrections can be found at www.oregon.gov/doc.

###

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Lebanon, Oregon, man made his initial appearance today for possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) after being linked to images and groups on social media platforms, including Instagram and Telegram.

Jeremy Russell Bodell, 52, has been charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, on October 4, 2021, Instagram reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) the distribution of a single video between user “Kildrak Fireblade” and another user depicting child pornography. NCMEC identified Bodell as the likely subscriber of the phone number associated with the Instagram account “Kildrak Fireblade.”

In September 2025, during an investigation into CSAM trading groups, which are invite-only, non-public chat groups, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) came across the username “dax,” who was associated with the same phone number previously identified by NCMEC as belonging to Bodell. The username “dax” was a member of 15 separate CSAM trading groups, which share images, videos, and cloud storage links depicting CSAM. Phone records verified Bodell as the subscriber of the phone number associated with these accounts.

On November 7, 2025, HSI executed a federal search warrant at Bodell’s residence, person, and vehicle. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement seized Bodell’s cell phone and found evidence of CSAM, including membership in CSAM groups on social media applications, such as Telegram. Bodell’s gallery in his phone also contained saved images and videos of CSAM material.

During an interview, Bodell told investigators he was previously accused of sex abuse. HSI is investigating these allegations. At the end of the interview, Bodell was arrested for possession of CSAM.

Bodell made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered released with conditions pending further court proceedings.

This case is being investigated by HSI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

# # #

The City of Richland advises motorists of significant traffic impacts occurring this week as part of the South George Washington Way (GWW) Intersection Project. Crews will be completing critical work necessary to advance the installation of new traffic signal infrastructure.

Daytime Lane Closures: Tuesday, November 11 and Wednesday, November 12
Between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on both days, the following traffic adjustments will be in place:

• The northbound GWW left-turn lane onto Aaron/Adams will be closed.
• The inside southbound lane of GWW will be closed to accommodate removal and replacement of the dual-faced traffic curbing south of the intersection.
• Aaron Drive will remain open, as will the southbound left turn onto Columbia Point Drive.
• Columbia Point Drive westbound onto GWW will be reduced to one lane.
• Aaron Drive detour: Comstock Street to Goethals Drive.

Drivers should plan for delays, reduce speeds in the work zone, and follow posted detours.

Overnight Work: Wednesday, November 12

From 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., the GWW/Columbia Point Drive intersection will be periodically controlled by flaggers. This is necessary to safely install new traffic signal arms. Short delays should be expected.

The City appreciates the public’s patience as construction continues on these important safety and traffic flow improvements. For project updates, visit richlandwa.gov/SouthGWay.

November 10, 2025

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Oregon Cannabis Commission seeks to fill 3 open positions

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Oregon Cannabis Commission (OCC) is seeking candidates to fill open positions.

The OCC provides advice to Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission regarding Oregon Administrative Rules that govern medical cannabis, as well as retail cannabis, as it pertains to patients and caregivers. More information can be found on the OCC’s website at www.healthoregon.org/cannabiscommission.

The OCC governor-appointed positions are defined in 475C.930 and consist of the state health officer or designee and an eight-member panel. Members serve a term of four years each.

OCC is looking to fill three vacant positions: an attending provider as defined in ORS 475C.777; a local health officer, as described in ORS 431.418; and a person knowledgeable about research proposal grant protocols.

To apply, complete the electronic application on the governor’s Boards and Commissions website at https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/board-list.aspx.

Note that only completed applications will be processed and considered for appointment. The application site lists items needed to apply, including:

• Uploaded resume (PDF only).
• Uploaded short personal bio.
• Responses to the general application and background questions.

Those unable to complete the form electronically should contact the Executive Appointments Office at executive.appointments@oregon.gov for assistance.

For more information or questions, email the board administrator, Megan Lockwood, at .lockwood@oha.oregon.gov" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">megan.r.lockwood@oha.oregon.gov.

###

Nov. 10, 2025

Media Contact: Communications@employ.oregon.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY

Paid Leave Oregon Invites Public Input on Proposed Administrative Rules

Salem, Ore. – Paid Leave Oregon is proposing updates to program rules and inviting public comment.

The proposed changes help clarify how people qualify for Paid Leave Oregon benefits, how employers share information with employees, and how the program handles things like appeals, verification documents, and situations where someone is unable to manage their own claim. The updates also align the program with new state laws passed in the 2023 and 2025 legislative sessions.

The full proposed rule text as well as more information on the related public hearings is attached.

Public comment period

The public may comment through Friday, December 5, 2025 at 11:55 p.m.

Comments may be submitted by email to: ules@employ.oregon.gov">OED_Rules@employ.oregon.gov

Public hearings

Two virtual public hearings are scheduled:

Monday, November 17, 2025

• 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
• Click here to join the meeting
• Phone: 1-669-254-5252
• Conference ID: 1604539652

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

• 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
• Click here to join the meeting
• Phone: 1-669-254-5252
• Conference ID: 1604824733

About the rulemaking process

Updating rules is a regular part of keeping Paid Leave Oregon efficient and accessible to Oregonians. This public comment period allows people review the proposed changes, ask questions, and provide input before rules are finalized. After the comment period closes, the Oregon Employment Department will review feedback and adopt final rules.

If approved, the rules would take effect January 1, 2026.

More information and the full text of the proposed rules are available on the Paid Leave Oregon website.

###

The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is an equal opportunity agency. OED provides free help so you can use our services. Some examples are sign language and spoken-language interpreters, written materials in other languages, large print, audio, and other formats. To get help, please call 503-947-1444. TTY users call 711. You can also send an email to communications@employ.oregon.gov.

El Departamento de Empleo de Oregon (OED) es una agencia de igualdad de oportunidades. El OED proporciona ayuda gratuita para que usted pueda utilizar nuestros servicios. Algunos ejemplos son intérpretes de lengua de señas e idiomas hablados, materiales escritos en otros idiomas, letra grande, audio y otros formatos. Para obtener ayuda, por favor llame al 503-947-1444. Usuarios de TTY pueden llamar al 711. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a communications@employ.oregon.gov.

All City of Richland facilities will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. This includes City Hall, the Richland Community Center, the Richland Public Library, the Horn Rapids Landfill, and all administrative offices.

Essential services such as police, fire, and emergency response will remain fully operational.

Garbage collection will continue as scheduled.

Regular business hours will resume on Wednesday, November 12.

The City of Richland encourages the community to take a moment to honor and thank the veterans who have served our country with dedication and sacrifice.

For more information, visit richlandwa.gov.

Attention Veterans & Military Spouses!

Looking to make your resume stand out and land more interviews? Join us for an employer-led resume workshop designed specifically for veterans and military spouses. The session will be held November 12, 2025, from 2:00-4:00pm at WorkSource Columbia Basin, 815 N. Kellogg St., Suite D, Kennewick, WA 99336

Are you tired of submitting applications without getting interview calls? Want to know what recruiters and HR professionals are really looking for? This workshop is packed with insider knowledge to help you navigate today’s competitive job market.

At this interactive session, you’ll gain exclusive insights from local employers on:

✔ Resume Secrets Unveiled – Discover exactly what makes a resume stand out to employers.

✔ Crafting Compelling Cover Letters – Learn how to tailor your cover letter to grab attention.

✔ Mastering Interviews – Gain essential techniques to ace your next interview with confidence.

✔ LinkedIn as Your Secret Weapon – Build a powerful online presence that attracts recruiters.

✔ Skills Transferability – Learn how to apply your expertise to new career fields.

Bonus: At the end of the workshop, our expert panel will review your resume and provide personalized feedback helping you fine-tune your application for maximum impact!

Seats are limited, so don’t miss out! Reserve your spot at WorkSourceWA.com (search "Kennewick").

For questions, please contact Jose Sandoval

By phone: 509-734-5298

By email: Jose.Sandoval@esd.wa.gov

WorkSource and the Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Council are an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Washington Relay 711.

WorkSource Columbia Basin programs receive support and funding from US Department of Labor grants. Read more about USDOL grant funding at Stevens Amendment | Benton-Franklin WDC (bentonfranklinwdc.com)

WorkSource Columbia Basin invites businesses and job seekers to our first ever Monthly Career Connection event, reviving the energy and purpose of pre-COVID career fairs.

Employers are encouraged to come ready to hire or provide a realistic timeline for hiring. This event is designed to foster meaningful connections that lead to employment, not just collect resumes. Laptops and computers will be available on-site so job seekers can apply immediately.

Space is limited to 10 employers, and registration is required by Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Businesses can register using the QR code on the flyer or by emailing wscbemployers@esd.wa.gov to receive a registration link.

Job seekers are invited to attend a Job Prep Day on Monday, November 17, 2025, to get ready for the Career Connection event. Resume assistance will be available at 10:00 AM, followed by job search and application support at 1:00 PM. These workshops help participants strengthen their resumes and apply to jobs ahead of time so they can walk into the career event prepared and confident. Pre-registration is encouraged on WorkSourceWA.com.

The Monthly Career Connection event will take place on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at WorkSource Columbia Basin. In lieu of business attendance, WorkSource staff will be available to assist job seekers with resume support, job search guidance, and other employment services.

Let’s reignite hiring momentum; one month, one connection at a time. Join us, connect, and make it count.

Questions about the event? Contact us at 509.734.5900 Option 7 or at WSColumbiaBasin@esd.wa.gov

WorkSource and the Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Council are an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Washington Relay 711.

WorkSource Columbia Basin programs receive support and funding from US Department of Labor grants. Read more about USDOL grant funding at Stevens Amendment | Benton-Franklin WDC (bentonfranklinwdc.com)

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland, Oregon, man pleaded guilty yesterday on day four of his jury trial where he was accused of sex trafficking three minor victims.

Eric Lamont Harris, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of transportation with intent to engage in prostitution, three counts of sex trafficking of a child, three counts of sex trafficking of a child – benefitting from participation in a venture, and one count of sexual exploitation of children.

According to court documents, Harris began trafficking 15-year-old Minor Victim 1 in Spring 2022. Minor Victim 1 was a ward of the state and reported missing in March 2022. Harris began trafficking 16-year-old Minor Victim 2 in June 2022. In July 2022, Harris brought Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2 from Portland to Kennewick, Washington, with the intent that they engage in prostitution at a hotel he booked in Kennewick. After Minor Victim 2’s parents reported her missing, the FBI and Kennewick Police recovered Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2 in Kennewick. Harris first met 17-year-old Minor Victim 3 in June 2022, and he began trafficking her in August 2022. Each victim lived with Harris while engaging in prostitution and gave him the proceeds. Harris booked hotel rooms for the minor victims’ commercial sex dates, transported them to and from those dates, facilitated the posting of online escort advertisements featuring the minor victims, and received thousands of dollars’ worth of commercial sex proceeds from the minor victims.

“Sex trafficking is a most despicable crime that, unfortunately, happens here in Oregon. With our state and federal partners, we will stand up on behalf of the victims and do everything within our power to root out this evil and protect our children,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford.

“This guilty plea is a first step in providing some form of closure to the victims and their loved ones,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “This defendant’s systematic approach to sexually exploiting minors for financial gain and satisfaction demonstrates a level of depravity that warrants the full extent of the punishment legally possible.” 

On September 16, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an eight-count indictment charging Harris with transportation with intent to engage in prostitution, sex trafficking of a child, sex trafficking of a child – benefitting from participation in a venture, and sexual exploitation of children.

Harris faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a life-term of supervised release. He will be sentenced on January 29, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Portland Police Bureau, the Kennewick Police Department and the Medford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charlotte Kelley and Robert Trisotto are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.  

If you or someone you know are victims of human trafficking or have information about a potential human trafficking situation, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also submit a tip on the NHTRC website.

# # #

The Governing Board of the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) will meet on Friday, November 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. This public meeting will be conducted as a teleconference.

The meeting agenda, including call-in information, is available at: https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/about/govboard/board_agenda_11_21_2025.pdf

The DOGAMI Governing Board sets policy, oversees general operations, and adopts a strategic plan every six years. The Board meets at least quarterly. As active members of their communities, Board members provide an important connection between Oregonians and DOGAMI’s mission of providing earth science information and regulation to make Oregon safe and prosperous.

###

Good afternoon,

Please see the attached release regarding the national recognition our district’s Johnson-O’Malley (JOM) Program has received.

Thanks

November 7, 2025

Media contact: Timothy Heider, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Recreational use advisory lifted for Bully Creek Reservoir

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued for Bully Creek Reservoir in Malheur County.

OHA issued the advisory July 18.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins in Bully Creek Reservoir are safe for human health and pet health.

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 signs of a bloom, exposures 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 that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities, 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.

###

APPLICANT REVIEW COMMITTEE

MEETING CANCELLED

The Applicant Review Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training meeting scheduled for November 19, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., has been cancelled due to a lack of agenda items.

The next Applicant Review Committee meeting is scheduled for December 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

YAKIMA, WA — The Yakima School District (YSD) CTE and GEAR UP Program, in collaboration with Pacific Northwest University (PNWU), is thrilled to announce a successful launch and an exciting schedule of upcoming sessions for the "Roots to Wings" program! This initiative is designed to inspire, educate, and offer hands-on experiences, providing a clear "flight path" for the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Successful Kickoff Paves the Way

The Opening Ceremony on October 15th was a resounding success and provided a fantastic start for our participating students. Attendees heard from a remarkable panel that included:

• Dr. Lisa Siino, a previous Roots to Wings mentor and current PNWU Board of Trustees member.

• Dr. Christian Heck, who gave an engaging Paleontology talk detailing his exciting experiences doing fossil digs in Montana.

The night concluded with students meeting their small groups, which include peers from other local districts, all led by volunteer student doctors from PNWU. Students also participated in a scavenger hunt to familiarize themselves with resources like fire extinguishers, AEDs, and phones.

Program Delivers Hands-On STEM Engagement

Our students will continue to attend bi-monthly sessions where they will engage in peer mentoring, lectures, and labs relating to various medical fields. This program offers a fantastic opportunity for our students to explore diverse career paths and engage in vital STEM activities.

Highlights from the packed schedule include:

• Anato-Bee Introduction (October 21st): Students will dive into the human body with an intro to organs, a bingo game, a library research talk, and will research an organ system, create a poster, and give a talk (from their chair).

• DNA Exploration (November 5th): Participants will attend a DNA introduction session, complete with a practical Strawberry DNA distraction activity in BHH 302 with Dr. Mapes.

• The Amazing Brain (November 19th): This session features a Brain talk and a compelling, hands-on Sheep brain dissection, followed by mentors sharing their powerful mentor stories.

• Life-Saving Skills (December 3rd): A crucial CPR certification course/babysitter course will be offered.

• High-Tech Simulation Lab (SIM Lab): Students will experience two high-tech sessions:

  • February 11th: Focused on Lungs/Vitals (using an O2/heart monitor/stethoscope), practice with an Intubation mannequin, and learning about bruise formation via Moulage.

  • March 4th: Focused on clinical skills like H&P taking (using the OPQRST framework), Physical exam skills (osteo screening exam, reflexes, eye charts), and Skin tests.

• Dental Learning (January 14th): Students will brush teeth, learn about teeth, make molds, and handle instruments.

• Emergency & Rehabilitation (March 18th): Practical skills covered include Splinting/bandaging/stop the bleeding, exploring impairment devices with an Occupational Therapy (OT) focus, and taping with a Physical Therapy (PT) focus.

The program will conclude with a Closing Ceremony on April 29, 2026.

The Yakima School District and its partners are excited to continue offering this essential program, fostering a strong connection between our local students and the vast opportunities available in the healthcare industry!

November 7, 2025 

Media Contact: Kim Lippert, erly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov" rel="noopener" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Kimberly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov, 971-323-3831 

New Clackamas County Stabilization Center expands access to behavioral health crisis care 

OREGON CITY, Ore.- Clackamas County has opened a new stabilization center in Milwaukie, marking a major milestone in Oregon’s efforts to transform the state’s behavioral health system. For the first time, anyone in the Clackamas community experiencing a behavioral health crisis can walk in any time, day or night, and receive immediate care without having to go to an emergency room or jail.

The crisis center, located at 9200 SE McBrod Ave., in Milwaukie, will expand access to crisis and recovery services. The center will help people experiencing panic attacks, hallucinations or other behavioral health conditions, and will also connect individuals experiencing homelessness to transitional housing in the community.

OHA Deputy Director of Behavioral Health Christa Jones speaks at the ceremony alongside Gov. Kotek and Clackamas County officials, highlighting Oregon’s ongoing commitment to expanding behavioral health care access. The Clackamas County Stabilization Center will provide 24/7 behavioral health services for people in crisis.

“Today, we are celebrating meaningful access to services that are too often out of reach,” Governor Tina Kotek said during the ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday.

“Of course, there is still a long way to go and we have to keep pushing to get Oregonians the treatment they need and deserve. I’ve made it a priority in my administration to work towards an Oregon where every person can access the care they need, when they need it, and how they need it.” 

Clackamas County officials and OHA Deputy Director of Behavioral Health Christa Jones joined Governor Kotek at the ceremony.

“It’s inspiring to see a place where people in crisis can feel safer and supported,” Jones said. “The thoughtful design, with calming spaces and views of the creek, reflects a deep respect for the dignity and comfort of those receiving care.” 

The new center is funded through House Bill 5204, passed in 2024 to expand access to behavioral health crisis care through investments in infrastructure. The Clackamas project received $4 million through the Oregon Department of Administrative Services.

The Clackamas County Stabilization Center will provide care to adults experiencing a behavioral health crisis and co-occurring disorders. Among the center’s services are crisis assessment, short-term housing, peer support, and connections to long-term treatment, recovery resources, and stable housing for individuals in behavioral health crises.

OHA is committed to transforming the state’s behavioral health system, expanding access to services and support, and investing in community-based services that provide compassionate and culturally responsive care.

The Clackamas Stabilization Center will serve as an important role by helping residents access services and support in their community. 

More information about the new Clackamas County Stabilization Center is available at: www.clackamas.us/h3s/stabilization-center. 

###

November 7, 2025

Media contact: Timothy Heider, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Recreational use advisory lifted for Powder Arm of Brownlee Reservoir

Continue to keep pets away as levels detected remain above educational guideline values for animals

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued for Powder Arm of Brownlee Reservoir in Baker County. There is still an advisory for the Snake River portion of Brownlee Reservoir.

OHA issued the advisory Oct 9.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins in Powder Arm of Brownlee Reservoir are safe for people. However, levels detected are still above OHA’s educational guideline values for dogs, and owners should keep their pets away from these areas.

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 signs of a bloom, exposures 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 that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities, 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.

###

SALEM, Ore. — The Board of Forestry Governance Committee will meet virtually on Monday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. To join, please use the Zoom video conference information found on the agenda.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• New board member orientation packet 
• Board agenda development procedures   
• Identify work topics for our next meeting, and highlight any work to be completed prior to next meeting

Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-302-6344 or by email at oardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov">boardofforestry@odf.oregon.gov.

This standing board committee recommends policies (or policy changes) to the board pertaining to governance issues and processes including the oversight and management of the BPM, orientation and training of new board members, the evaluation and improvement of the board, the repository of board materials, and oversight of the written conflict of interest policies, procedures, and review of annual or special statements of board members. Read more information about the committee.

The City of Richland invites community members to participate in a special Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, dedicated entirely to the Comprehensive Plan update. In place of the Commission’s standard format, this meeting will be held in an open-house style to encourage broader engagement and discussion.

The Comprehensive Plan is the community’s long-range roadmap for growth, transportation, housing, land use, economic development, public facilities, and more. This early phase of the project is focused on gathering public input to help shape key discussion topics.

“Updating the Comprehensive Plan is a community-driven process,” said Mike Stevens, Planning Manager. “We want to hear from residents, business owners, students, workers, and anyone with a stake in Richland’s future.”

Event Format

The meeting begins promptly at 6:00 p.m. with a short presentation led by the City’s consultant, AHBL, followed by a 20–30-minute large-group Q&A. This portion will be broadcast live on Richland’s CityViewTV and recorded.

Afterward, attendees may visit topic stations facilitated by project staff to explore specific issues, ask questions, and provide feedback in a more interactive setting.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Richland City Hall Council Chambers, 625 Swift Blvd., Richland, WA  99352

The Comprehensive Plan Survey remains open through November 14, 2025. More information is available by visiting RichlandWA.gov/CompPlan.

November 7, 2025

Media contact: Timothy Heider, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Recreational use advisory lifted for Unity Reservoir

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued for Unity Reservoir in Baker County.

OHA issued the advisory Sept 26.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins in Unity Reservoir are safe for human health and pet health.

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 signs of a bloom, exposures and symptoms by visiting OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website at http://www.healthoregon.org/hab.

When recreating, people – 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 that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities, 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.

###

SALEM, Oregon— The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis (OEA) has confirmed a more than $1.41 billion revenue surplus in the 2023-2025 biennium, triggering a tax surplus credit, or “kicker,” for the 2025 tax year.

The surplus will be returned to taxpayers through a credit on their 2025 state personal income tax returns filed in 2026. It is not sent to taxpayers in a check. The kicker credit will either increase a taxpayer's Oregon state income tax refund or decrease the amount of state taxes they owe.

Only taxpayers who filed a tax year 2024 return and also file a tax year 2025 return can receive a kicker. The credit is a percentage of Oregon personal income tax liability for the 2024 tax year. Taxpayers who have not yet filed a 2024 tax return, should file now. That will allow them to claim their kicker credit when they file their 2025 tax return next year.

To calculate the amount of their credit, taxpayers can multiply their 2024 personal income tax liability before any credits—line 24 on the 2024 Form OR-40 filed earlier this year—by 9.863 percent. This percentage is determined and certified by OEA. Taxpayers who claimed a credit for tax paid to another state would need to subtract the credit amount from their liability before calculating the credit.

Personal income taxpayers can also determine the amount of their kicker using a “What’s My Kicker? calculator available on Revenue Online. To use the calculator, taxpayers will need to enter their name, Social Security Number, and filing status for 2024 and 2025.

Taxpayers who don't have a filing obligation for 2025, still must file a 2025 tax return to claim their credit.

The 2025 Oregon personal income tax return instructions will include detailed information on how to claim the credit. Full-year Oregon residents will use Form OR-40. Part-year residents will use Form OR-40-P. Non-residents will use Form OR-40-N. Composite and fiduciary-income tax return filers are also eligible.

Taxpayers should keep in mind that the state may use all or part of their kicker to pay any state debt they owe. These debts can include taxes due for other years, child support, court fines, or school loans.

Taxpayers can donate their kicker to the Oregon State School Fund for K-12 public education, but they must donate the entire amount. The donation is permanent and cannot be taken back.

Taxpayers also have the option of donating part or all their refund to any or all the 29 charities approved by the Charitable Checkoff Commission. Taxpayers use Form OR-DONATE to designate their donation to charity.

For more information, go to the Oregon surplus “kicker” credit page of the Department of Revenue website.

Taxpayers that haven’t filed their 2024 Oregon tax return can still file electronically using tax preparation software or Direct File Oregon. Free tax preparation services are available for both federal and Oregon tax returns. Some companies offer free software use and e-filing for eligible taxpayers. Links to the software and free offers can be found on the Department of Revenue website. Information about free tax preparation services is also available on the website.

The Department of Revenue plans to announce the date taxpayers can start filing 2025 Oregon tax returns in January. The department will continue to offer Direct File Oregon as an option for taxpayers to electronically file their 2025 returns for free. The fastest way for taxpayers to claim and receive their kicker will be to file electronically and use direct deposit to receive their refund.

Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments; call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish); 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon; or email questions.dor@oregon.gov.

Fact Sheet: Oregon Revenue Surplus "Kicker" Credit 

How did Oregon get the kicker?

The 1979 Oregon Legislative Assembly passed the "Two percent kicker" law as a way to control state spending. The law requires the state to compare the revenue forecast for each two-year biennium to the amount actually received and return any surplus to taxpayers.

Voters approved a ballot measure adding the kicker to the Oregon Constitution in 2000 and provided taxpayers with the option to donate their kicker to the State School Fund to help fund K-12 schools in Oregon.

When do we have a kicker?

After the biennium ends, if actual revenue collected exceeds the forecast amount by more than 2 percent, the revenue surplus is refunded to taxpayers as a tax credit claimed on their personal income tax returns in the even-numbered year of the next biennium.

On November 1, 2025 the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis (OEA) certified that revenue collected for 2023-2025 biennium (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025) had exceeded the OEA forecast by $1.41 billion, the fourth largest surplus revenue amount in state history.

OEA further certified that Oregon taxpayers can receive a kicker credit on their tax year 2025 returns filed in 2026 equal to 9.863 percent of their Oregon personal income tax liability for tax year 2024.

The kicker is returned to taxpayers as a tax credit.

The kicker is returned to taxpayers as a refundable tax credit, either reducing the amount of tax they owe or increasing their refund.

While there was a time when the kicker was returned to taxpayers in the form of a check, the 2011 Legislature changed the method of payment back to a tax credit claimed on returns filed in the even-numbered year of the biennium.

How much will my kicker be?

Taxpayers can use the Department of Revenue’s “What’s My Kicker?” calculator to determine the amount of their kicker.

Taxpayers can claim a kicker credit equal to 9.863 percent of their Oregon personal income tax liability for tax year 2024. A taxpayer with a $5,000 Oregon personal income tax liability for tax year 2024 would be able to claim a kicker credit on their tax year 2025 return of $493 ($5,000 x 0.09863). Only Oregon personal income tax liability for tax year 2024 will count toward the kicker. Taxes paid in previous years and federal income taxes are not part of the kicker calculation.

Where can I find more information about the kicker?

You can find more information about the kicker and a link to the “What’s My Kicker?” calculator on the Oregon Department of Revenue website, including a list of frequently asked questions, and historic data listing the years of past kickers and their amounts.

Attention Veterans & Military Spouses!

Looking to make your resume stand out and land more interviews? Join us for an employer-led resume workshop designed specifically for veterans and military spouses. The session will be held November 12, 2025, from 2:00-4:00pm at WorkSource Columbia Basin, 815 N. Kellogg St., Suite D, Kennewick, WA 99336

Are you tired of submitting applications without getting interview calls? Want to know what recruiters and HR professionals are really looking for? This workshop is packed with insider knowledge to help you navigate today’s competitive job market.

At this interactive session, you’ll gain exclusive insights from local employers on:

✔ Resume Secrets Unveiled – Discover exactly what makes a resume stand out to employers.

✔ Crafting Compelling Cover Letters – Learn how to tailor your cover letter to grab attention.

✔ Mastering Interviews – Gain essential techniques to ace your next interview with confidence.

✔ LinkedIn as Your Secret Weapon – Build a powerful online presence that attracts recruiters.

✔ Skills Transferability – Learn how to apply your expertise to new career fields.

Bonus: At the end of the workshop, our expert panel will review your resume and provide personalized feedback helping you fine-tune your application for maximum impact!

Seats are limited, so don’t miss out! Reserve your spot at WorkSourceWA.com (search "Kennewick").

For questions, please contact Jose Sandoval

By phone: 509-734-5298

By email: Jose.Sandoval@esd.wa.gov

WorkSource and the Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Council are an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Washington Relay 711.

WorkSource Columbia Basin programs receive support and funding from US Department of Labor grants. Read more about USDOL grant funding at Stevens Amendment | Benton-Franklin WDC (bentonfranklinwdc.com)

EUGENE, Ore.— Three Honduran nationals have been charged with trafficking two kilograms of fentanyl.

Oscar Bonilla-Sandoval, 24, Jonathan David Matamoros-Carcamo, 22, and Jorge Adalberto Escoto-Andrade, 34, have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute over 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl.

According to court documents, on October 30, 2025, an Oregon State Police K9 trooper stopped a Toyota Camry driving on Interstate 5 in Linn County after observing suspicious behavior and for a traffic violation. Bonilla-Sandoval was the driver of the vehicle, Matamoros-Carcamo was the front passenger, and Escoto-Andrade was in the back seat. The trooper deployed his drug detecting K-9 to the exterior of the vehicle who alerted to the presence of a narcotic odor on the lower passenger door seam. A search of the vehicle revealed a manufactured compartment or “trap” within the front passenger seat.  

Law enforcement accessed the compartment and located a Smith and Wesson revolver sitting on top of approximately two kilograms of suspected fentanyl with a street value of approximately $85,000. The fentanyl was wrapped in tape in two brick forms and sitting on tin foil covered in cinnamon, which is a method used by drug traffickers to avoid detection by drug detection canines. 

Law enforcement also seized approximately $10,000 in bundled cash with pink bands wrapped around it from Matamoros-Carcamo and approximately $3,000 in cash from Escoto-Andrade.

Defendants made their first appearances in federal court on October 31, 2025, before a Magistrate Judge and were ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Oregon State Police, and Springfield Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Huynh is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 100 times more powerful than morphine and 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is potentially enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.

# # #

EUGENE, Ore.— A Colombian national made his initial appearance today after being arrested for his alleged role in a burglary ring that primarily targeted residents of Asian descent in Oregon and Washington.

Derinson Martinez-Grandas, 34, is one of seven individuals charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to transmit stolen property.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in early October 2025, Martinez-Grandas and six co-conspirators burglarized homes in Oregon and Washington by traveling from state to state, staying in short-term rentals secured by Martinez-Grandas, identifying and surveilling  potential burglary victims—who were all Asian business owners—and then performing reconnaissance on the victims’ residences.

The complaint and court documents allege that Martinez-Grandas and his co-conspirators employed signal jamming technology, perimeter countersurveillance, and seven-way group calls when carrying out their burglaries. They entered their victims’ homes by shattering glass doors. Once inside, they ransacked the residences, stealing large amounts of United States and foreign currency, jewelry, designer handbags, purses, wallets, travel documents, and other valuables. After the burglaries, the crew would return to their short-term rental and package the proceeds for transport, transfer, or transmittal.

Court documents allege that defendants first burglarized a home in Auburn, Washington on October 3, 2025, then burglarized a home in Eugene, Oregon, on October 6, 2025, and burglarized a third home in Salem, Oregon, on October 9, 2025. All were the homes of Asian business owners who were away working at their businesses. Between the Eugene and Salem burglaries, detectives with the Eugene Police Department became aware of the group’s movements and began surveillance. Following the burglary in Salem, detectives surveilled and identified that Martinez-Grandas and his co-conspirators returned to their rental in Eugene, which had been rented by Martinez-Grandas. Detectives obtained a search warrant for the rental that night.  

Upon execution of the warrant, investigators recovered money and property believed to be burglarized from the various residences, digital devices believed to be used by the burglary crew, evidence of money wires to Bogota, Colombia, and various Colombian travel documentation, including passports. As officers went to execute the search warrant, the burglary crew fled into a nearby wooded area. After several hours, law enforcement eventually detained all seven individuals. Investigators later performed searches of the devices, which revealed additional evidence of the conspiracy, including sending and receiving burglary coordinates, surveillance communications, and shared messages containing messages highlighting the burglary targets from the preceding days. 

“This multi-state operation deliberately targeted hardworking families and struck at the very core of personal safety – the victims’ own homes – instilling fear throughout multiple communities,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”

“This robbery crew instilled fear and directed violence toward the hard-working small business owners who make this community special and unique,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “Working with our partners at Eugene Police Department, we were able to disrupt their acts and hold them accountable for their actions.” 

“The District Attorney’s Office is solely interested in seeing these individuals held to account for the victimization of our community members,” said Lane County District Attorney Christopher J. Parosa. “We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in helping local law enforcement achieve that end.”

Martinez-Grandas made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

William Estiven Rodriguez-Gaviria, 26, a co-conspirator, made his first appearance in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Arizona. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Eugene Police Department with assistance from the Salem Police Department and the Auburn Police Department. It is being prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, in coordination with the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

# # #

Across Oregon and our nation this week, we gather as communities in gratitude for the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform. When they raised their right hand and swore that solemn oath, they pledged to protect something far greater than themselves: the rights and freedoms of every American. Veterans Day is our solemn duty to honor that enduring commitment and the generations who have carried it forward in defense of democracy and peace.

Those of us who have served know that the decision to wear our nation’s uniform is not one made lightly. It begins with an oath, a promise to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Since the founding of our Republic, generations of Americans have taken that same oath, pledging loyalty not to an individual or a crown, but to an enduring ideal — that all people are created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence next year, we are reminded that the American experiment was secured not only by words on parchment, but by those willing to stand in their defense. From the citizen-soldiers of the Revolutionary War to the service members of today’s all-volunteer force, each generation has answered the call to safeguard those freedoms.

Notably, this year also marks 250 years of continuous service by three of our nation’s oldest military branches — the United States Army, the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. All three of which continue to embody the courage, discipline, and devotion that define our nation’s armed forces.

Oregon is home to more than a quarter of a million veterans, each with a story that deserves to be heard and remembered. Some of us served in the heat of battle; others supported missions from ships, bases, and hospitals around the world. Together, we represent every era, from those who fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam to those who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and countless operations in between. No matter the place or period, we all answered the same call to serve our nation and defend its ideals.

Every veteran reflects the strength and diversity of the nation we serve. We come from every walk of life, every community, and every corner of America and the world: rural and urban, coastal and inland, from every background, faith, and family story. Together, we embody the very fabric of this nation as a living testament to its promise that out of many, we are one. In our armed forces, Americans stand shoulder to shoulder not as strangers, but as equals, united by a shared oath and a shared belief in the enduring ideals of liberty and justice for all.

We defend the right to speak freely and to worship as we choose, to live without fear of tyranny or oppression, and to pursue our dreams in peace. We defend the rule of law, the equality of all people, and the democratic promise that our government exists to serve its citizens. On this day and every day, we honor the men and women who have sworn to defend those freedoms of a democracy and who have shouldered the responsibility of ensuring that our nation remains free, just, and strong.

When I meet with fellow veterans across our state, I am struck by the same thread of quiet resilience that runs through every story. We don’t think of ourselves as heroes. We think of ourselves as people who did our duty, who stood by our brothers and sisters, and who came home ready to continue serving in new ways as parents, teachers, public servants, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. That ongoing spirit of service is what keeps our communities strong and our democracy vibrant.

Veterans Day traces its origins to November 11, 1918, when the guns of the First World War finally fell silent. That moment marked more than the end of a conflict — it marked the beginning of a national commitment to peace, understanding, and unity. Each generation since has faced its own challenges, and each has produced men and women willing to step forward to defend the freedoms we hold dear. Those of us who have worn the uniform know that freedom is not guaranteed. It must be protected, nurtured, and renewed through each act of courage and compassion.

When we return home from service, our mission changes, but it does not end. We carry with us the lessons of the fragile ideals we served to defend through discipline, teamwork, and a strong sense of integrity. We carry the memories of those who did not come home and the responsibility to honor them through our actions in this life.

At the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, we are committed to ensuring that every veteran, no matter their era of service, background, or life experience, has information and access to the benefits and services our nation and state have offered in gratitude for their service. That commitment extends not only to veterans, but to the families who have served alongside us. Spouses, children, and caregivers share the burdens of military life — the deployments, the moves, the uncertainty. They too deserve our nations gratitude and support.

True appreciation for veterans goes beyond parades and ceremonies, though those are important and joyful. It means ensuring that every veteran has access to quality health care, education, housing, and meaningful employment. It means reaching out to those struggling with the invisible wounds of service and reminding them that they are not alone. And it means continuing to strengthen the systems of care and connection that honor our shared promise: to take care of one another, just as we did in uniform.

And so, as part of your Veterans Day observance this year, I ask every Oregonian to take a moment to reflect. Think about the freedoms you enjoy and the people who have ensured those rights over our nation’s history. Remember those who never came home, and those who continue to serve around the world today. Reach out to a veteran in your life, not only to thank them, but to listen and to hear their story, to understand their journey, and to stand beside them in unity and gratitude.

We may have served in different places and at different times, but we are all part of the same legacy. Our shared service, our shared sacrifice, and our shared hope for a better future unite us as one people. Let us continue to build on that unity and to care for one another, to strengthen our communities, and to ensure that the freedoms we defended endure for generations to come.

May we always be a nation worthy of our veterans, and may we honor the truth that our strength as a nation comes from the unity and service of those who stand for something greater than themselves.
God bless our veterans, their families, and the United States of America.

Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels
Director, Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels is a proud veteran of the United States Army and the Director of the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs (ODVA), overseeing agency operations, ensuring the availability and access of vital veteran services and programs for more than 275,000 veterans and their families across the state. 

November 6, 2025

Media contact: Franny White, anny.l.white@oha.orgon.gov" rel="noopener" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">fanny.l.white@oha.orgon.gov" rel="noopener" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">ranny.l.white@oha.orgon.gov, 971-349-3539 

Oregon seeks $1 billion federal investment in rural healthcare

EUGENE, Ore.—A Red Bluff, California, man was sentenced to federal prison today for using social media to coerce a minor into sending him sexually explicit material.

Elijah McCabe, 27, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison and a 15-year term of supervised release.

According to court documents, in September 2023, McCabe posed as a minor on social media to trick a minor victim into sending him sexually explicit photos. McCabe threatened to share those images to friends and family to coerce the victim into sending child sexual abuse material (CSAM) – an act known as sextortion. The victim’s family contacted the police after learning an associate of the minor victim had received CSAM of the victim.

On June 7, 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at McCabe’s residence and found his cell phone floating in the tank of a toilet. McCabe was arrested after a search of his device found evidence of CSAM, specifically, the sexually explicit material McCabe coerced the victim to provide.

“We have a responsibility to protect our most vulnerable—our children. Child sexual exploitation has a devastating impact on victims, their families, and our communities. We will continue to work with our partners to find and hold these perpetrators accountable,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

“While we count this sentencing as a success, it doesn't diminish the harm done to the victim, their family, and their friends,” said Doug Olson, FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge. “Our work will continue, and we will pursue those who prey on children, as well as to help victims of abuse access tools to help them heal.” 

On September 19, 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count indictment charging McCabe with Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.

On August 5, 2025, McCabe pleaded guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.

This case was investigated by FBI Portland with assistance from FBI Sacramento. It was prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember CSAM depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, they re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

# # #

SALEM– Nominations for the 2026 Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards Program are now being accepted. Criteria and application process can be found online through the Oregon Heritage website www.oregonheritage.org or by contacting Oregon Heritage Commission Coordinator Katie Henry at katie.henry@oprd.oregon.gov or (503) 877-8834. The deadline for submitting nominations is January 22, 2026.
 

The Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards recognize individuals, organizations and projects for outstanding heritage preservation efforts in Oregon, drawing public attention to these efforts, and raising the quality of heritage‐oriented activities. The Sally Donovan Award for Historic Cemetery Preservation is a special category that may be awarded to one individual, organization, or project demonstration excellence in preservation of historic cemeteries. 
  

In 2022 the Standout Heritage Volunteer category was added and is the only non-competitive category.
 

Nominations are encouraged for organizations and projects of all sizes and heritage purposes and for volunteers and professionals from all heritage sectors.
 

“Previous award recipients have illustrated the extraordinary ways that individuals and organizations connect communities to the past through experiences, dialogue, and preservation,” says Oregon Heritage Commission Coordinator Katie Henry. “They inspire appreciation for our neighbors, our state, and ourselves as we look towards the future.”
 

For a list of previous award recipients, visit https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/awards.aspx#one.
 

Those awarded an Oregon Heritage Excellence Award will be featured in videos presented at the 2026 Oregon Heritage Conference in Woodburn, April 29-May2. Recipients will also receive an award designed and created by Eastern Oregon artist, Alethea Brewer. This year’s awards artist selection process was done in partnership with Crossroads Carnegie Arts Center in Baker City.
 

There will be an awards Q&A online on Dec. 2 at 1pm for those interested in learning more.
 

For more information visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Oregon Heritage Commission Coordinator Katie Henry at katie.henry@oprd.oregon.gov or (503) 877-8834.

MISSING PERSON ALERT: The FBI is seeking information regarding a missing Tribal Elder from the Umatilla Reservation. Mr. Jones was last seen in Pendleton, Oregon on October 5, 2025. He may have traveled along the Umatilla River. Report tips to http://tips.fbi.gov or call Umatilla Tribal Police at (541) 278-0550.

FBI Missing Person Poster Here: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/wesley-dixon-jones

November 6, 2025

Media contact: Max Sprague, 971-288-8429, ague@oha.oregon.gov" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Max.Sprague@oha.oregon.gov

Dr. Steven Nakana named Oregon Health Authority’s Equity & Inclusion Division Director

PORTLAND, Ore– Dr. Steven Nakana has been appointed the new permanent director of Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) Equity & Inclusion Division, effective Nov. 24, 2025.

Dr. Nakana, who has more than 15 years of leadership experience, most recently served as Director of Community Health Partnerships – Metro at CareOregon, where he directed Metro-wide health equity strategy -- collaborating with local leaders and community-based organizations to turn state health priorities into locally driven action. He also maintained performance dashboards and applied frameworks like Results-Based Accountability to monitor outcomes and address disparities. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions at Portland Community College, Portland General Electric, Port of Portland and Mercy Corps, where he informed policy and system transformation, guided organizational equity strategies, implemented culturally responsive community investments to advance health access, designed inclusive community engagement structures and supported international peacebuilding and public health initiatives.

“Dr. Nakana’s experience reflects a consistent and unwavering commitment to equity, transparency and meaningful collaboration – values that align closely with our OHA mission,” said Sejal Hathi, MD, M.B.A. “We welcome him to our team as we continue our work toward eliminating health inequities in Oregon by 2030.”

Dr. Nakana was chosen through a national search supported by Motus Recruiting. He will replace Alfonso Ramirez, who has served as the division’s interim director and will return to his previous role as Behavioral Health Equity and Community Partnership Director in OHA’s Behavioral Health Division.

“Alfonso Ramirez has led our Equity & Inclusion Division at a critical time, championing division-wide success as we navigate federal changes and other challenges,” Dr. Hathi said. “I’m grateful for the compassion and commitment he has brought to the interim director role and for the important role he will continue to play in advancing our strategic goal.”

The appointment comes at a pivotal time. As communities in Oregon and across the region face growing challenges, the arrival of OHA’s new permanent Equity & Inclusion Director underscores the importance of equity work as the agency meets this moment with clarity, care and accountability. OHA remains committed to creating systems where everyone can thrive, guided by shared values and responsibility.

“I’m delighted to join OHA, an agency long committed to putting equity at the forefront of health policy and decisions,” Dr. Nakana said. “I look forward to collaborating with the OHA team and its many partners to improve the health and lives of all people across the state.”

###

SALEM, Ore. — As fall settles across Oregon, the state’s Search and Rescue (SAR) teams are responding to several missions tied to mushroom foraging, hunting season, and sudden shifts in weather. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is reminding everyone to plan ahead, be prepared, and stay aware of changing conditions when heading outdoors.

“Oregon’s natural beauty draws thousands of people outside each year, but even experienced adventurers can find themselves in trouble when the weather changes suddenly,” Oregon’s state search and rescue coordinator, Scott Lucas, said. “We want everyone to enjoy their time outdoors safely—no one expects to become lost or stranded, but preparation makes all the difference.”
 

With colder temperatures, shorter daylight hours, and unpredictable weather patterns, OEM urges Oregonians and visitors to take a few simple steps before venturing out:

• Plan ahead and check the forecast. Conditions can change rapidly in Oregon’s forests, mountains, and coastal areas.
• Research your destination and route. Know the terrain, difficulty, and available resources.
• Pack essential safety items, including extra food and water, warm clothing, an emergency mylar blanket, a flashlight, map, first-aid kit, and fully charged phone or radio.
• Tell someone your plan—where you’re going, when you expect to return, and when to call for help if you don’t check in.
• Stay on marked trails and avoid venturing off route, especially when foraging or tracking game.

Each year, hundreds of highly trained SAR volunteers across Oregon respond to calls for lost or injured hikers, hunters, and foragers. Many of these incidents are preventable with proper preparation and communication.

“Oregon’s SAR volunteers are among the best in the nation,” Lucas said. “They’re ready to help—but the goal is for everyone to make it home safely without needing rescue.”

Be Prepared Before You Go

Whether you’re heading out for a day hike, hunting trip, or foraging adventure, always carry the 10 Essentials:

1. Navigation (map and compass or GPS) and a whistle
2. Headlamp or flashlight
3. Sun protection
4. First-aid kit
5. Knife or multi-tool
6. Fire-starting materials
7. Shelter (such as a tarp or mylar blanket)
8. Extra food
9. Extra water
10. Extra clothing

For more information on outdoor safety and emergency preparedness, visit www.oregon.gov/OEM and follow @OregonOEM on social media for ongoing safety updates and seasonal preparedness tips.

###

It is the mission of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) to lead collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure the capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters regardless of cause. OEM prioritizes an equitable and inclusive culture of preparedness that empowers all Oregonians to thrive in times in crisis. The agency leads collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure the capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters. For more information about the OEM, visit oregon.gov/oem. You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille, or a format you prefer. For assistance, email OEM_PublicInfo@oem.oregon.gov. We accept all relay calls, or you can dial 711. 

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, is thankful for the community support to find Tristen Dilinger Evans and Blake Ryan Evans.

Tristen Dilinger Evans, age 17, and Blake Ryan Evans are children in foster care who went missing from Eugene in October, they were found on Nov. 6.

Sometimes when a child is missing they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).  This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

###