Oregon Department of Human Services programs in Eugene and Springfield plan moves in January, February, MarchOregon Dept. of Human Services - 12/29/25 2:21 PM
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program will be moving from the Eugene VR Office at The McKenzie Center, 2885 Chad Drive and the Springfield VR Office will be moving from 101 30th Street, Springfield. The two programs will be moving to 18 Shelton McMurphey Blvd., Eugene, to form one Lane County VR Office. The estimated move-in date is Monday, January 5, 2026.
The Self-Sufficiency Program and the Oregon Eligibility Partnership will be moving from The McKenzie Center, 2885 Chad Drive into two locations: the West Eugene Family Center, 2101 West 11th Avenue, Eugene and 101 30th Street., Springfield. The estimated move date is expected to be sometime in February.
The Child Welfare program is staying at 2885 Chad Drive, Eugene, but the Child Welfare at 2101 West 11th Avenue is moving into 2885 Chad Drive, Eugene. Child Welfare will be in two locations in the area: 1040 Harlow Road, Springfield and 2885 Chad Drive, Eugene. The estimated move date is expected to be sometime in March.
"By bringing our team together under fewer roofs, we're creating something better: greater capacity to see clients in person, with more staff available and shorter wait times for appointments." Elizabeth Lindbloom, Self-Sufficiency Program Manager, and Zayra Longoria, Oregon Eligibility Partnership Program Manager, said.
"We are excited to bring changes to our offices spaces that will allow for increased collaboration and more streamlined services for Oregonians," Sheila Wegener, Self-Sufficiency/Child Welfare Programs District Manager, said.
About ODHS
The ODHS programs provide financial supports to families which include SNAP, TANF, Domestic Violence Survivor Benefits, child care and medical benefits. The JOBS program connects families to a Family Coach for an assessment and supports to achieve their goals and create pathways out of poverty. ODHS staff assist individuals and families in navigating resources, including finding and funding childcare, providing gas support, and offering transportation to domestic violence shelters, medical appointments, and other essential visits. ODHS collaborates with various partners to address family needs and connects families to affordable housing and other resource needs. ODHS works with other providers to provide employment and education opportunities, ensuring access to vital community resources.
Learn more about ODHS: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/pages/default.aspx?utm_source=odhs&utm_medium=egov_redirect&utm_campaign=https%3a%2f%2fwww.oregon.gov%2fdhs.
Learn more about the Child Welfare Program: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/agency/Pages/cw.aspx.
Learn more about the Oregon Eligibility Partnership: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/agency/Pages/oep.aspx.
Learn more about the Self-Sufficiency Program: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/agency/Pages/ssp.aspx.
Learn more about Vocational Rehabilitation: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/agency/Pages/vr.aspx.
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Oregon Health Authority - 12/29/25 11:58 AM
December 29, 2025
Media contact: Franny White, anny.l.white@oha.oregon.gov" rel="noopener" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">franny.l.white@oha.oregon.gov, 971-349-3539
Oregon to receive $197.3M federal investment in rural healthcare
Funding will help improve healthcare access, boost disease management and prevention, support workforce, expand data and technology use
PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon will receive $197.3 million in 2026 to improve rural healthcare and could receive more in the following four years, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced.
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) will invest the federal funding in community-driven projects that improve healthcare access, boost chronic disease management and prevention, grow and sustain the healthcare workforce, and expand the use of health technology and data in Oregon’s rural and frontier communities. The Oregon Rural Health Transformation Program includes a dedicated Tribal initiative that will provide direct funding for the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes in Oregon to improve their own healthcare access and health outcomes in a way that honors the government-to-government relationship with the Tribes.
Oregon is centering the unique needs and perspectives of people in rural communities for this effort. OHA conducted statewide engagement to develop its original funding proposal, and will continue to closely collaborate with hospitals, clinics, providers, patients and others in rural Oregon as it implements the program during the next five years.
“Oregon is resolved to steward this funding effectively, ensuring it benefits rural communities across the entire state,” said Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek. “We look forward to working in partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to advance rural health transformation and improve the lives of our rural and frontier residents.”
“Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, no matter where they live,” said OHA Health Policy & Analytics Director Clare Pierce-Wrobel. “OHA is honored to partner with rural communities through the Rural Health Transformation Program. While this much-needed boost can’t make up for the substantial federal funding cuts we anticipate in the coming years, OHA is committed to using this opportunity to support as many promising and sustainable rural health solutions as possible.”
The federal funding is being awarded through the Rural Health Transformation Program, which was established under House Resolution 1, the federal government budget reconciliation bill that became law in July 2025. The federal program will distribute a total of $50 billion nationwide between 2026 and 2031. The total amount that individual states will receive is subject to change. The federal government will revisit funding awards every year after reviewing each state’s progress. OHA will review the terms and conditions of Oregon’s award and work with the federal government to finalize the program budget in January.
The Rural Health Coordinating Council, which advises the Oregon Office of Rural Health, will also advise the Oregon Rural Health Transformation Program.
OHA will move as fast as possible to distribute funding and plans to make two sets of awards in quick succession during 2026. Early on, OHA will stand up management structures to ensure proper oversight and fiscal stewardship of these federal funds as well as coordination with the federal government and community engagement. OHA will first distribute funding through Immediate Impact Awards that will be given to strategic projects that can begin within two months of receiving funding. By mid-2026, Catalyst Awards will be made to ready-to-go projects following a formal application process. OHA expects to begin accepting Catalyst Award applications by spring 2026. In later years, further funding will be awarded through a competitive process to projects that are focused on long-term sustainability, shared infrastructure and cross-sector collaboration.
Oregon initially requested $200 million annually, or a total of $1 billion over five years, from the federal program. OHA will scale down its original proposal to fit its given budget.
More information is on the OHA Rural Health Transformation Program webpage. Organizations interested in applying for funding are encouraged to sign up for email updates through the webpage.
The Oregon Rural Health Transformation Program is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $197,271,578, with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents of this release are those of OHA and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CMS/HHS or the U.S. Government.
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U.S. Attorney's Office - Eastern Dist. of Wash. - 12/29/25 10:29 AM
Repeat Offender Engaged in Fentanyl Trafficking Sentenced to 204 Months in Federal Prison
Oregon Dept. of Forestry - 12/29/25 7:45 AM
SALEM, Ore. - The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will host a virtual only informational session on a proposed rule change to adopt a new Forest Management Plan (FMP) for western Oregon state forest lands managed by the department. The Jan. 6 session starts at 1 p.m. and will include a presentation outlining the purpose and proposed changes to the FMP. After the presentation there will be a question-and-answer period.
ODF staff will NOT take official public comments during this session, it is informational only. The public comment period began Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 31. Comments can be submitted or given in person at any of four formal hearings in January. Comments can be submitted electronically. No question-and-answer period will be offered at the hearings.
To participate in the information session, use this link: Western Oregon State Forests Management Plan Informational Meeting. A recording of the session will be available on ODF’s website.
The proposed change to the FMP will replace the three current FMPs (Northwest Oregon, Southwest Oregon, and Elliott) with a single FMP for these forest lands. The ODF’s State Forests Division is pursuing an alternative method for compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act by applying for incidental take permits from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Fisheries. The incidental take permits will require the division to manage Oregon state forest lands in compliance with a habitat conservation plan.
The Western Oregon State Forests Management Plan contains guiding principles, goals, and strategies that are compatible with the Western Oregon State Forests Habitat Conservation Plan. The Western Oregon State Forests Management Plan provides management direction for all Board of Forestry Lands and Common School Forest Lands managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry west of the crest of the Cascade Range.
The FMP does NOT include the Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF). The ESRF is not within the scope of the draft Western Oregon State Forests Management Plan. There are scattered Board of Forestry Lands within and adjacent to the ESRF, along with scattered Common School Forest Lands outside of the ESRF that are still managed under prior Elliott State Forest Management Plan which will be managed under the new Western Oregon State Forests Management Plan, once adopted. The ESRF has its own management plan, under the authority of the Department of State Lands.
The Board of Forestry may review, modify, or terminate the FMP at any time; however, the BOF will review the FMP no less than every 10 years. The current Southwest and Northwest FMPs were last revised in 2010, while the Elliott FMP was last revised in 2011. More information about State Forests Management Plans can be found here.
Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 at 11:55 p.m. Rulemaking hearings will be held on Jan. 13 (virtual), Jan.15 (Forest Grove), Jan. 20 (Tillamook), and Jan. 22 (Eugene) at 5:30 p.m. The locations of the hearings are in The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The notice also includes important details including but not limited to the proposed rule text and instructions for submitting public comments and participating in the hearings.
More information on this rulemaking effort and ongoing updates can be found on the Rulemaking activity page of the ODF website.
Bend Fire & Rescue - 12/24/25 5:10 PM
Bend Fire & Rescue was called to a house on NW Terra Meadow Dr Christmas Eve just before 2pm for a fire in a garage. Occupants and neighbors both reported a fire in the garage. Fire crews arrived and quickly extinguished the fire. The fire was reported to be related to an electric car in the garage. During the fire neighbors were asked to shelter in place due to the possible smoke containing lithium-ion by products which can be toxic. The 2 adults and 3 dogs in the house safely evacuated prior to our arrival.
The fire was traced back to a failed lithium battery in an electric vehicle. The vehicle was a passenger car converted from gas to an electric vehicle. The battery failed and caught fire, spreading to the contents of the garage. The occupants and neighbors noticed the fire and quickly called 911. With little delay in getting the fire department notified and the construction of the garage, the fire was kept inside the garage. Minimal smoke damage was found throughout the house. The smoke alarms did sound but not right away as the smoke was in the garage until after the occupants opened the door ingo the garage during the incident. The house is not occupiable anymore due mostly to the damage to the home utilities that all come through the garage, but all the family’s Christmas presents and much of their personal belongings were saved from damage. Modern attached garages are built with fire barriers between the garage and the main part of the house. This includes more sheet rock and heavier duty doors leading into the house to prevent a fire in the garage from spreading into the house.
Bend Fire & Rescue wants to if any portion of the vehicle or charging stops working or is not working as it normally does, stop all charging immediately and have the entire system checked out by a qualified professional. This goes for cars, bikes, scooters, and all other types of electric vehicles.
Here are some safety tips for charging EVs from the US Fire Administration, a branch of FEMA:
- Follow manufacturer’s guidelines when charging your vehicle. Check with your local dealer if you need additional information.
- Purchase a charging device that is certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
- Plug Level I EV chargers directly into an outlet designed to handle the amperage of the charging device. Never use a multiplug adapter or extension cord.
- Install a residual current device with the charging unit. It will turn off the power if a fault is detected and help prevent a fire.
- Place all charging device components out of reach of children when not in use.
- Maintain the components of your charging station according to the manufacturer’s maintenance guidelines. Signs of excessive wear may indicate a potential shock hazard. Never use an EV charger with obvious signs of damage.
- Cover the EV charging station outlet to stop water from entering. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines to make sure it is safe to charge your EV in wet conditions.
As always, never throw any lithium batteries into the trash. These batteries will end up in the landfill where the process of trash collection, dumping, and packing into the landfill can cause the damage needed to start a fire. A fire in the landfill is a major concern of any solid waste department. This includes items with built in lithium batteries such as flashlights, alarms, and other small electronics. Contact your trash service provider, your local landfill, or many electronics stores for safe recycling options in your community.