SEATTLE, Wash.--Dr. Andrew Voegel-Podadera, 35, a resident physician at the University of Washington Medical School who worked at Seattle Children’s Hospital, UW Medicine, and Harborview Medical Center is charged with two counts of Acquiring a Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Deception, and Subterfuge.

On June 24^th, 2025, DEA Seattle Diversion Group and DEA agents, along with the Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations,  arrested Voegel-Podadera at his residence and transported him to the Federal Courthouse for an initial hearing.

As an anesthesia resident at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, Voegel-Podadera was found to have diverted Fentanyl, Remifentanil, Sufentanil, Hydromorphone and other controlled substances while treating children. In addition to practicing medicine while under the influence of controlled substance, Voegel-Podadera tampered with and diverted controlled substances that were ordered for three children.

“Diverting medicine away from infant patients is despicable, doubly so if the person involved is a doctor,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “If Dr. Voegel-Podadera is convicted, it will show that he violated both his oath and the law, and I am proud that DEA could help stop him.”

According to the complaint, the attending physician at Seattle Children’s believed that Voegel-Podadera was displaying behavior consistent with drug use, including unexplained delays and absences from the operating room.   On December 27, 2024, as a resident anesthesiologist, he treated three minor patients The attending physician observed Voegel-Podadera draw up an excessive amount of fentanyl into syringes that would not be needed for their patients that day.  With concerns Voegel- Podadera was diverting, Seattle Children’s arranged for all the substances returned as wastage to be tested that day and found the waste syringes were filled with saline solution.

The DEA Seattle Diversion Group received a report Voegel-Podadera was suspected of diverting controlled substances in January 2025.  In February 2025,  the investigation revealed Voegel-Podadera allegedly diverted controlled substances while working at Seattle Children’s Hospital, as well as the University of Washington Medical Center, and Harborview Medical Center, going back to January 2024.

On June 12, 2025, DEA Diversion served Voegel-Podadera with an Immediate Suspension Order, suspending his controlled substance prescribing abilities. He was arrested on June 24^th, 2025.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This operation took place as part of the 2025 Department of Justice National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action.

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Community members will have limited access to Pilot Butte State Park in Bend from July 1-5 as preparations are made for the July 4 public fireworks display.

Bend Fire & Rescue, in collaboration with the Oregon State Parks Department, asks that the community observe the restrictions in place for everyone’s safety:

• The summit and the access road to the summit will close to all visitors beginning at 10 p.m. on July 1 through the afternoon of July 5 following clean-up operations.
• All trails and roadways except for the summit, will be accessible to pedestrians only beginning at 10 p.m. on July 1 through July 3.
• Full closure of all trails and roadways begins July 4 through the afternoon of July 5 following clean-up operations.
• The main parking area at the base of Pilot Butte, off Linea Drive, will be open during the fireworks show. Please do not block emergency access roads or public and private streets, as this can delay a response to an emergency.
• Pets are not permitted in the park during the show.

Signs, barricades and security will be placed at the closure points on the butte. For the safety of all, please respect the closed areas and do not attempt entry.

The July 4 public fireworks display will commence at 10 p.m. on Friday. The display is presented each year as a gift to the community from Subaru of Bend and their partners.

Bend Fire and Oregon State Parks would like to recognize and thank the local Boy Scout Troops that help clean the butte each year after the display. Also, a huge thank you to the local fire crews from the U.S. Forest Service and the Oregon Department of Forestry for assisting with the fire safety on the butte during the display. Without their support each year, this show would not be possible.

For more information about the display and butte preparations, please contact Oregon State Parks at (541) 388-6055 or Bend Fire at (541) 322-6386.

Bend Fire also reminds the community that the use and sale of fireworks is not allowed in Bend. The July 4 public display at Pilot Butte is permitted by the Oregon State Fire Marshal and managed by professionals. For information on fireworks laws, permitting and reporting, please visit bendoregon.gov/fireworks.

Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that Jonathan Ray Stocker, age 44, of Sprague, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to possessing image and video files depicting the sexual abuse of a young children. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 10 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Additionally, Judge Rice ordered Stocker to pay $45,000 in restitution to his victims.

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on July 1, 2023, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department learned from a third party that they had seen images and videos of children being sexually abused stored on Stocker’s computer.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Stocker’s home on September 1, 2023, and seized several electronic devices, including two computers belonging to Stocker. Agents located more than 9,000 images and 184 videos of children under the age of 12 being sexually abused. 

Stocker has a prior federal conviction for Possession of Child Pornography.  In 2012, he was sentenced to 48 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release.

“The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to holding accountable those who sexually abuse and exploit children. Mr. Stocker’s prior conviction did not deter his conduct, and today’s sentence—along with lifetime supervision—is necessary to protect vulnerable members of our Eastern Washington communities,” said Acting United States Attorney Barker.

This case was brought as part of 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick.

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An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Stuart Ross Anderson, died the morning of July 2, 2025. Anderson 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.

Anderson entered DOC custody on June 22, 2004, from Deschutes County with an earliest release date of January 4, 2040. Anderson was 72 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 that houses approximately 2,000 adults in custody. OSP is surrounded by a 25-foot-high wall with 10 towers. The facility has multiple special housing units including disciplinary segregation, behavioral health, intermediate care housing, and an infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care. OSP participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including the furniture factory, laundry, metal shop, and contact center. It provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, work-based education, work crews, and pre-release services. OSP was established in 1866 and, until 1959, was Oregon’s only prison.

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An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Bonafacio Merino-Apolinar, died the morning of June 29, 2025. Merino-Apolinar was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution (TRCI) in Umatilla and passed away at a regional hospital. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

Merino-Apolinar entered DOC custody on September 19, 2007, from Marion County with no parole date. Merino-Apolinar was 54 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 12,000 individuals 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.

TRCI is a multi-custody prison in Umatilla that houses approximately 1,800 adults in custody. TRCI participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including institution and industrial laundry, mattress manufacturing, and sewing. Other institution work programs include reparation and cleaning of irrigation ditches, maintenance of local baseball fields, and work with local cities and the Hermiston School District. The facility provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, religious services, and behavioral health services. TRCI opened in 2000.

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SALEM, Ore. — The Fourth of July is a time for celebration, filled with fireworks, barbecues, and outdoor fun. But with all the excitement, it’s important to prioritize fire safety to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday for everyone. Eighty-five percent of wildfires are started by humans—many times with fireworks and campfires. Whether you are celebrating at home or traveling out of the area, know the latest road conditions, check if you are visiting an area near a wildfire, make sure you are signed up for Oregon emergency alerts, activate Federal Wireless Emergency Alerts on your phone, understand the evacuation levels, and make sure you have an emergency kit in your car—stay safe and don’t be the spark this holiday. 

Salem, Ore. – In support of Oregon’s wildland firefighters on National Wildland Firefighter Day, Governor Tina Kotek has issued a proclamation declaring July 2, 2025, Wildland Firefighter Day in the state of Oregon.

“In a state with such prevalent wildfire, we are so thankful to the firefighters, dispatchers and support personnel who work long hours, day after day, protecting our communities and natural resources. And we remember those that have fallen in the line of service,” Michael Curran, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Fire Protection Division Chief, said.  

The Oregon Department of Forestry would like to thank the thousands of local, state, tribal, federal, and contract firefighters, along with all the dispatchers, map creators, IT specialists, equipment operators, radio technicians, prevention specialists, and everyone else who has a role in Oregon’s wildfire response.

Wildland Firefighter Day occurs every year during the Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance (June 30-July 6). The Week of Remembrance was established in 2014 and is bookended by the dates of two significant tragedies in the wildland firefighter community: Yarnell Hill fire in Arizona on June 30, 2013, and the South Canyon fire in Colorado on July 6, 1994. On the Yarnell Hill fire, 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots were killed when a weather shift intensified the fire and cut off the firefighters’ escape route. On the South Canyon fire, 14 wildland firefighters were killed on Storm King Mountain when they were entrapped by spot fires. This week honors those lost in the line of duty while also focusing on improving wildland firefighter safety to mitigate risk as best we can in an inherently dangerous career field. 

SALEM, Ore. — The Board of Forestry is reopening the public comment period for proposed rule changes related to post-disturbance timber harvest. Post-disturbance harvest refers to the removal of forest products after catastrophic events such as wildfire, wind, ice, insect or disease damage and is commonly referred to as salvage logging.

This rulemaking is required by Senate Bill 1501 (2022) that was part of the legislation that enacted the Private Forest Accord. The original Notice of Proposed Rulemaking appeared in the April 2024 Oregon Bulletin with a public comment deadline of May 1, 2024. Public comments previously submitted in response to the notice, between April 1 and May 1, 2024, will remain in the rule record for consideration and do not need to be resubmitted.

The additional public comment period will be open from July 1 to July 31 at 5 p.m. For public comment submission instructions view the public notice and for more information on the rulemaking,  view the rulemaking webpage.

SALEM, Ore.—As of July 1, all Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) districts are in fire season. This means that to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires, fire restrictions may be in place where you live or at a destination you plan to visit or recreate. 

“We have already experienced several large fires in the state this year and anticipate fire behavior to be progressively more volatile. RIGHT NOW is the time to practice fire prevention and preparedness,” said Michael Curran, Oregon Department of Forestry’s Fire Protection Division Chief. 

As we move into the Fourth of July and the holiday weekend, it’s important to remember that forests and fireworks DO NOT MIX. Private use of fireworks is not allowed on forest land, which includes all private lands protected by ODF and all other state and federal forest lands in Oregon. Remember to check any additional city and county firework restrictions as well.  

Curran said, “Prevention is our number one tool to reduce property loss, firefighting costs, and risk to the lives of our firefighters. We can’t prevent lightning fires, but we can prevent human-caused fires.”

Now is the time to brush up on your wildfire prevention knowledge. Tips include:

• Know before you go. Campfires may be banned or only allowed in approved campgrounds.
• Make sure your campfire is cool to the touch before going to sleep or leaving your site. Don’t forget to Drown, Stir, Repeat. 
• Backyard debris burning either requires a burn permit during fire season or is prohibited altogether. If you burned earlier this spring, go back and check on your debris burn site to make sure nothing reignites due to the heat.
• Don’t flick a cigarette onto the ground. It may be just enough to start a fire.
• Don’t park or idle over dried grass.
• Don’t drag tow chains.
• Check local restrictions and fire danger levels.

ODF protects over 16 million acres of private, county, state, and federal land in Oregon from wildfire. Fire season is declared at the local level when conditions reach a point where the risk of a fire starting and spreading becomes clear. This year, the Southwest Oregon district was the first to declare on June 1, and the North Cascade District was the last to declare on July 1. 

For more information on how you can help prevent wildfires, visit keeporegongreen.org. 

(Salem, OR) — The public is invited to a series of free webinars featuring conversations with disabilities advocates, experts and influencers who will share the latest information on educational and employment access, challenging perceptions about disabilities, as well as how to remove barriers.

Topics by date are:

• July 8: Striving for educational access and equity for students with disabilities
• July 15: Working toward equal access employment for people with disabilities
• July 22: Hannah and Shane Burcaw, who host YouTube channel Squirmy and Grubs on changing perceptions about disabilities
• July 29: Oregon’s journey to accessibility: removing barriers

The free weekly webinar series is being hosted by Oregon Disabilities Commission (ODC), Oregon Department of Human Services, Northwest ADA Center and Disability Rights Oregon in recognition and celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

"The Americans with Disabilities Act was a landmark victory in the fight for civil rights, laying the foundation for greater equity and independence. The anniversary of the Act is an opportunity to reflect on the progress we've made and to reaffirm our commitment to building a more inclusive and accessible Oregon for people with disabilities," said Mark King, Chair of ODC. "We are grateful to our co-hosts for their partnership in presenting the upcoming webinar series. Their collaboration helps ensure we continue to educate, engage and advocate in ways that honor the spirit and impact of the ADA."

The series will take place every Tuesday throughout July, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pacific Time, beginning July 8. The sessions are open to the public, and registration is now available through the event web page on Zoom.

The series will be accessible to people with disabilities and will be translated into Spanish. Captioning and American Sign Language interpretation will also be provided. For questions about accessibility for the webinar series, or to request an accommodation, contact egonDisabilities.Commission@odhsoha.oregon.gov">OregonDisabilities.Commission@odhsoha.oregon.gov.

More information about the series, including presenter biographies and shareable flyers, will be shared on the Oregon Department of Human Services ADA event web page.

About the Oregon Disabilities Commission:

The Oregon Disabilities Commission is charged by state statute to advise the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Governor, the Legislative Assembly and appropriate state agency administrators on issues related to achieving the full economic, social, legal and political equity of individuals with disabilities. ODC also acts as a coordinating link between and among public and private organizations serving individuals with disabilities.

Salem, Ore. — Imagine suddenly losing $250 of your monthly budget. What would you have to give up—meals, medication, peace of mind?

For more than 1,500 families in Oregon, this wasn’t a thought exercise. It happened to them in 2024 when they reported their food or cash benefits were stolen, likely through organized fraud.

This theft of food and cash benefits­­—Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)—are a growing and serious problem nationwide and here in Oregon.

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is working hard to fight this theft. The agency urges everyone who uses SNAP or TANF to protect their EBT card and benefits. Easy ways to protect your EBT card include:

• Freeze the card between uses
• Block out-of-state and online purchases
• Check EBT account regularly

More information is available on the Protect Your EBT Card and Benefits webpage. There is a brochure, flyer and wallet card available in many languages. There are also short videos about using an EBT card, how to replace an EBT card and all the ways to protect your EBT benefits. These are posted in the How-to Videos section of benefits.oregon.gov.

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How to manage your medical, food, cash and child care benefits:

• In your language: Help in Your Language.
• By phone: Call 1-800-699-9075. Some self-service features are available 24/7, such as checking your benefit status or ordering a new EBT card. All relay calls are accepted.
• Online at: benefits.oregon.gov.
• Through the free Oregon ONE Mobile app available on Apple and Android app stores.
• In person at an office near you: Find an office.
• By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309.
• By fax at: 503-378-5628.

 Resources to help meet basic needs

• Find food resources.
• Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or adrcoforegon.org.
• Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, 211info.org

About the Oregon Department of Human Services

The mission of the Oregon Department of Human Services is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve wellbeing and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2025

Health care and social assistance is a large and steadily growing sector of Oregon’s economy. Although overall job growth slowed recently in Oregon, gains have accelerated in the health care and social assistance sector.  

• In 2024, Oregon employers added 5,700 jobs (+0.3%) to nonfarm payrolls. By comparison, private health care and social assistance added 16,100 jobs (+5.7%) from 2023 to 2024, to reach an all-time high of 301,000 jobs.
• From 2001 to 2024, total nonfarm employment in Oregon grew by 24%. At the same time, private health care and social assistance grew by 92%.

Private health care and social assistance employers reported the largest number of job openings among all sectors of Oregon’s economy for most of the past 12 years. As job growth has accelerated, so has the sector’s share of all job vacancies in Oregon.

• Prior to the pandemic recession, health care and social assistance generally accounted for one out of every five private-sector job openings.
• In 2024, the sector’s share rose to nearly one-third (32%) of all job vacancies. Private health care and social assistance had an average of 18,200 job openings at any given time during the year.
• Personal care aides and registered nurses had the largest number of health care job openings in 2024. They also had the largest number of vacancies reported by employers as difficult to fill.

Health care and social assistance will also lead future job growth in Oregon. Total employment is expected to grow by 170,000 jobs (or 8%) between 2023 and 2033. Health care and social assistance is projected to grow by 13%, adding 37,000 jobs.

• One out of every five new jobs added in Oregon by 2033 will be in health care and social assistance.
• Seven of the 15 fastest-growing occupations in Oregon over the decade are related to health care. They include nurse practitioners, physician assistants, medical health and services managers, veterinarians, and veterinary assistants and technicians.

Employers will also need to replace workers who retire, otherwise leave the labor force, or make major occupational changes away from health care and social assistance. Adding these replacement job openings to projected growth, health care and social assistance will average nearly 38,000 total job openings each year through 2033. Growth expectations in future years could be hindered by increasing retirements, or an insufficient pipeline of workers into the sector. More details are available in the full report at QualityInfo.org.

A podcast version of the report is also available on the OED YouTube page.

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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.

July 2, 2025

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

OHA urges parents, caregivers to avoid recalled baby food

PORTLAND, Ore.—Following reports of lead poisoning cases in two counties, Oregon Health Authority is urging parents and caregivers to avoid using a baby food that has been recalled by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Two cases of elevated blood lead levels in babies were detected in Oregon. During interviews with the families, investigators determined the children consumed the flavor affected by the recall.

The cases followed a recall alert in March of more than 25,000 packages of a baby food called Good & Gather Baby Pea, Zucchini, Kale, Thyme Vegetable Puree. The product was sold in 4-ounce containers. No other flavor of the product has been subject to recall.

Good & Gather is a Target store brand, and the product was sold nationwide at the company’s stores. The FDA has since labeled the recall a Class II event, which means that use of or exposure to this product “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” but the probability of serious health impacts is low. 

While the FDA recall is considered “terminated,” the product has a best use date of December 2025, so there may be families with the product still in their homes.

Lead is of special concern for babies, toddlers and children because even small amounts of lead may affect behavior, cognitive development and academic achievement, according to American Academy of Pediatrics.

“While lead is toxic for all people regardless of age, small children are especially at risk because they’re still growing and developing,” said Ryan Barker, OHA’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program coordinator. “Continued exposure over time can permanently damage their central nervous system, which may result in long-term health problems, such as learning disorders, impaired speech and brain damage.”

• Hear Barker discuss the effects of child lead poisoning in this video.

Signs of lead poisoning are not always easy to see and can be mistaken for other illnesses. Without a blood test, lead poisoning may go undiagnosed, especially since affected children often don’t look or act sick.

Possible signs of lead exposure and symptoms in children include:  

• Tiredness or loss of energy.
• Hyperactivity.
• Reduced attention span.
• Irritability or crankiness.
• Poor appetite.
• Weight loss.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Constipation.
• Aches or pains in stomach.

More information on blood testing and lead can be found on the following pages:

• CDC’s Testing Children for Lead Poisoning
• Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units' Recommendations on Management of Childhood Lead Exposure
• Oregon Health Authority’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

Oregon health care providers and laboratories are required by law to report certain diseases and conditions, including elevated and non-elevated lead test results, to local health departments or OHA.

Last year Oregon had 361 lead poisoning cases in children, with 237 affecting children younger than 6.  The most common cases are due to ingesting paint and paint dust containing lead, but exposures from traditional cosmetics, glazed pottery, and informally imported spices have been identified.

For more information, visit OHA’s lead poisoning in Oregon page, and visit the CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program page.

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July 2, 2025

Media contacts: Erica Heartquist, 503-871-8843, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Nye Beach health advisory issued July 2

High bacteria levels prompt OHA recommendation to avoid water contact

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

July 2, 2025

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

OHA encourages everyone to Rethink the Drink as summer campaign launches to address excessive alcohol use

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is launching a summer Rethink the Drink campaign this week to encourage people in Oregon to consider their alcohol use.

The state’s Excessive Alcohol Use Prevention Program is urging people to come together to prevent the harms of excessive alcohol use and make communities safer. People may see or hear advertisements, including on TV, radio, online and social media.

Independent evaluation data from Rethink the Drink’s recent campaigns show 92% of Oregonians agree excessive drinking causes community harm, and 66% believe alcohol should have less presence in their communities. Those exposed to the Rethink the Drink campaign were significantly more likely to have conversations about their drinking. The full evaluation report is available online.

Increase in sales, increase in harms

More than 2,500 people in Oregon die from alcohol-related causes every year. During summer months, the state sees liquor sales increase, which means there is more alcohol in communities and people may be drinking more.

“Whether you’re at home, attending an event or outside at a gathering, it can feel like many of our favorite summer activities encourage drinking,” says Tom Jeanne, M.D., M.P.H., deputy state health officer and epidemiologist at OHA. “With an increase in summer drinking, we see an increase in the harms as well.”

Jeanne adds that the immediate harms include motor vehicle crashes, boating injuries, drownings and heat deaths. “On top of these, alcohol contributes to cancer, heart disease, poor mental health, and many other health harms all year long,” he says.

• Hear Dr. Tom Jeanne discuss excessive alcohol use and ways to prevent it during summer in this video: https://youtu.be/24kQwi3XPpg.

Luis Pimentel, alcohol and drug prevention coordinator at Lane County Public Health, says, “We appreciate Rethink the Drink and this round of summer messaging reminding people to have conversations about alcohol.”

“We have so much interest in safe drinking messages from our partners in law enforcement, transportation and those who plan summer events, that we truly value Rethink the Drink’s presence in our community,” Pimentel adds.

Tips for a safe summer season:

• Plan ahead: Arrange for a designated driver and use public transportation or ride-share services.
• Host responsibly: Offer non-alcoholic beverages for summer events you’re planning.
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water and eat food while you’re drinking.
• Drink less: Consider swapping every other drink with water or a non-alcoholic beverage, or watering down a drink with more ice or low-sugar mixer.
• Decide your alcohol limit for the week: If you want to reduce your drinking, think about what triggers you to drink too much and create a plan to handle urges.
• Count: Track your drinking using a mobile app or other tools. Find resources at rethinkthedrink.com/resources
• Have conversations: Take time to pause, learn about the harms caused by excessive drinking, and talk with your loved ones about the way alcohol is prevalent in our lives and communities. Join the conversation at rethinkthedrink.com

Rethink the Drink, an OHA initiative, aims to build healthier communities by decreasing excessive drinking and the harm it causes to individuals, families, and communities. Rethink the Drink raises awareness of the effects of excessive alcohol use across Oregon. It aims to start conversations about alcohol’s role in our own lives and communities. Rethink the Drink is committed to OHA’s larger goal to end health inequities in our state by 2030.

Resource Links:

• OHA’s Rethink the Drink tools and resources
• ODOT’s Transportation Safety Impaired Driving Program
• Summer Safety Driving Tips
• Tips to Boat Safe and Sober

If you or someone you care about is suffering from alcohol dependence or an alcohol use disorder, free confidential resources and support are available online or by calling or 1-800-923-4357.

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July 1, 2025

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

New public health equity funding opportunity opened for community-based organizations

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division has released a new funding opportunity for community-based organizations (CBOs). The Public Health Equity Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) opened today and will close Aug. 22, 2025, at 5 p.m.

Through this RFGA, OHA seeks to improve health outcomes through increased access to health care and prevention services for all Oregonians. OHA recognizes that past and present policies, barriers in systems such as health care and housing, and lasting social and economic challenges have made it harder for some communities to be healthy and create the futures they want for themselves and their families. Differences in income, education and opportunities have led to critical and persistent health gaps.

Some communities most affected by health inequities include communities of color, Tribal communities, individuals with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, undocumented populations, migrant and seasonal farmworkers, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, faith-based communities, people living with lower incomes, older adults, rural communities, individuals without stable housing and others.

OHA invites grant applications from local CBOs that aim to improve the health of Oregon communities by using the strengths, knowledge, skills, and leadership of the people they serve. The goal of this RFGA is to build strong partnerships that put community-led ideas first.

Areas of funding

Grants from this funding—total statewide funding amount will be determined in late fall 2025—will be flexible to allow CBOs to develop work that best addresses the needs of the community within specified program areas. OHA’s Equity Office will work with CBOs and programs within the Public Health Division to engage communities on long-term public health efforts in the following program areas, rooted in health equity:

• Adolescent and School Health
• Communicable Disease: Immunizations
• Communicable Disease: Prevention of HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Tuberculosis
• Commercial Tobacco Prevention
• Community Resilience: Community Connection & Empowerment
• Community Resilience: Emergency Preparedness and Response
• Environmental Public Health
• Lower Umatilla Basin Ground Water Management Area (LUBGWMA)/Domestic Wells
• Overdose Prevention
• Preventing Environmental Exposures for Children’s Health (PEECH)

RFGA informational webinars

OHA’s Equity Office and Public Health Division program staff will offer RFGA informational webinars and application technical assistance sessions in English and Spanish from July 2 through Aug. 5, 2025, with specific dates subject to change. All webinars will feature the same content and will be recorded. Those interested can choose the date and time that works best for their schedule.

Click the links below to view list of informational webinars and application technical assistance (TA) registration sessions:

• English: https://conta.cc/445fxVh
• Spanish: https://conta.cc/4kfRIQV

Visit the Request for Grant Application landing page to view program activities eligible for funding and to apply:

• Public Health Equity Grant Application landing page: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=b25dfb74b57f4dd09f935732ecb531e5

To receive regular communications about this funding opportunity:

• Sign up for the RFGA listserv: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/a9Osm6Z/OHA2025RFGA
• Contact us: licHealth@dhsoha.oregon.gov" rel="noopener" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Community.PublicHealth@dhsoha.oregon.gov.
• Visit the OHA Public Health Division webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/ABOUT/Pages/CBO.aspx.

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July 1, 2025

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

Recreational use advisory lifted for Lost Creek Lake

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued for Lost Creek Lake in Jackson County. 

OHA issued the advisory June 24.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cylindrospermopsin in Lost Creek Lake is below recreational guideline values for people.

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 green or brownish-red mats are visible, or 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.

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July 1, 2025

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

Recreational use advisory lifted for Lake Billy Chinook

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued for Lake Billy Chinook in Jefferson County.

OHA issued the advisory June 18.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of microcystin in Lake Billy Chinook is below recreational guideline values for people. However, levels detected are still above OHA’s safety 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.

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SALEM, Oregon –  Applications open today for heritage organizations statewide to apply for free technical assistance from the Oregon Heritage MentorCorps. Organizations applying to this program address priority projects or pitfalls with the guidance and support of volunteer professionals. The mentors have backgrounds spanning the heritage spectrum including to museums and collections management, curatorship, archives, preservation, non-profit management, disaster preparedness, planning, prioritization, heritage interpretation,  volunteer coordination, and more.

The role of MentorCorps is to help museums, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions navigate through challenges as well as supplement the expertise of staff and volunteers during one-on-one sessions over a period of nine months. Common requests for assistance include:

• guidance in work planning,
• grant reviews, collections assessments,
• policy development, or
• prioritization of work

With mentors that are geographically and technically diverse, we provide services statewide both virtually and in person.

“Improving practices incrementally with a nonjudgmental approach is key,” says Cam Amabile, Technical Resources Coordinator and MentorCorps Coordinator for Oregon Heritage. “Mentors know that achieving ‘best practices’ takes capacity in time, expertise, and finances, which are limited commodities in small organizations. We are there to provide resourceful, achievable, and realistic pathways forward to implementing local plans or actions all led by the applicant organization.”

MentorCorps began as a pilot program funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services more than a decade ago. Today, it is a fully actualized technical assistance program of that supports the “Pursue Best Practices” goal of the 2020-2025 Oregon Heritage Plan. This service is offered free to any heritage organization operating within the state of Oregon, but primarily serves museums, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions. Applications open July 1, 2025 and close on August 15, 2025 for the 2025-2026 assistance year. Organizations can reach out to Oregon Heritage Technical Resources Coordinator, Cam Amabile with questions about projects or applications at 971-720-8998 or ile@oprd.oregon.gov">cam.amabile@oprd.oregon.gov.

SALEM, Oregon—Electric-assist bicycles (e-bikes) are now allowed on trails where other bicycles are allowed unless specifically prohibited at Oregon State Parks. 

E-bikes are also allowed on the ocean shore on wet sand except where specifically restricted.

Previously, e-bikes were only allowed on trails that were at least 8 feet wide. Signs will be posted on trails and areas where e-bikes are not allowed, and the trails and areas will be listed on the Oregon State Parks website.  

Where e-bikes are not allowed:

• On the dry sand along the ocean shore, including soft sand, dunes and everything above the natural high-tide line
• On the wet sand below the natural high-tide line in snowy plover habitat on the ocean shore during nesting season (March 15 to Sept. 15).
• Elijah Bristow State Park (all trails)
• Willamette Mission State Park (all equestrian trails and the Vision Trail)
• Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site (Riverside Trail)
• Emigrant Springs State Natural Area (Lewis and Clark Trail)

The updated rules also include stronger and clearer language on safety, particularly operation around other visitors, pets, children and equestrians.  

“We ask that all riders ride responsibly, stay on designated trails and yield to others at Oregon State Parks and the ocean shore. Please keep operating speeds low as people might not be aware that riders are approaching. These are multi-use pathways where they will share the trail with many other users,” said Aaron Raines, park manager at Stub Stewart State Park.  

The rules apply to Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes as defined by the Oregon State Legislature. Anything not included in those e-bike classifications is considered a motor vehicle and is not allowed on trails.  

E-bike classification: 

• Class 1: Provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 mph. 

• Class 2: May be propelled by its motor without a rider pedaling and ceases to provide assistance once the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 mph. 

• Class 3: Provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 mph, and is equipped with a speedometer. 

While education remains the primary focus for rule enforcement at Oregon State Parks, enforcement rangers do have the authority to issue citations, which carry fines starting at $100 for significant or repeated violations of park rules.  

Safety tips for sharing the path:  

• Yield to pedestrians, horses and slower users  

• Announce yourself when passing (“On your left”)  

• Ride at a safe, controlled speed, especially on corners or in high-use areas  

• Slow down near pets, children and equestrians  

• Stay on designated trails: do not ride off-trail  

• Be prepared to stop: e-bikes are heavier and often faster than regular bikes so increase your following distance to allow for more time to stop and slow down. 

For more information and a list of trails where e-bikes are prohibited, visit Oregon State Parks website at https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.page&id=131

Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE         Date: July 2, 2025

Contact: Kandi Young, Public Information Officer   
kandi.young@puc.oregon.gov, (503) 551-5290 cell phone

PUC SEEKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON PACIFICORP’S CPCN APPLICATION
FOR A TRANSMISSION PROJECT
Application approval impacts securing of land along the proposed transmission line

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) is hosting two events to provide opportunities for the public to comment on PacifiCorp’s application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN). PacifiCorp’s request is part of its proposed construction of a transmission line that would connect the Lone Pine and Whetstone substations in Jackson County, known as the Lone Pine to Whetstone Project.

PacifiCorp has asked the PUC to issue a CPCN for this project. If granted, PacifiCorp would use this certificate in court proceedings where it seeks to condemn an interest in land along the transmission line’s path. The certificate would demonstrate to the court that the transmission line is a public use and necessary for public convenience. View Docket PCN 8 for more information and a map of the proposed transmission line on the next page.

Ways to Comment

Interested members of the public may participate and provide comments on PacifiCorp’s CPCN application in various ways. Individuals may attend an in-person or virtual event listed below to provide verbal comments to the Commissioners and the Administrative Law Judge presiding over this case. Individuals may also submit comments by email, online form, phone, or mail.

Comment in person – Medford, Oregon 

When:          Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 6 p.m.

This meeting will remain open until at least 7 p.m. If at 7 p.m. there are still members of the public waiting to comment, the meeting may continue to allow as many people to comment as time permits.

Where:        Hilton Garden Inn, 1000 Welcome Way, Medford, OR 97504

Comment via Zoom or phone

When:          Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 6 p.m.

This meeting will remain open until at least 7 p.m. If at 7 p.m. there are still members of the public waiting to comment, the meeting may continue to allow as many people to comment as time permits.

Access the Zoom link and phone-in details at: https://bit.ly/4kAaYJv

Other ways to comment

Please submit comments by July 24, 2025, in one of the following formats:

• Public Comment Form online
• email licComments@puc.oregon.gov">PUC.PublicComments@puc.oregon.gov  
• Call 503-378-6600 or 800-522-2404 (all relay calls accepted)
• Mail comments to: Oregon Public Utility Commission, Attn: AHD – PCN 8, PO Box 1088, Salem OR 97308-1088
   

Stay Informed

To stay informed throughout this process, individuals may request to be added to the distribution list to receive publicly available documents. Submit requests by email to ings@puc.oregon.gov">puc.hearings@puc.oregon.gov or by calling 503-378-6678. Please specify docket PCN 8 in the request.

Rogue River, OR – June 11

What began as a routine day of hands-on training quickly turned into a real-life rescue mission for students at the Oregon State Marine Board’s Drift Boat School. Thanks to quick thinking, skillful maneuvering, and simply being in the right place at the right time, multiple lives were potentially saved on one of Oregon’s most popular and powerful rivers.

While practicing drift boat maneuvers near Shady Cove, two students from Salem Fire and their instructor from Jackson County Fire District 4 were alerted to a distress call from Jackson County emergency dispatch. A raft had struck jagged rocks and deflated, leaving four individuals stranded, none of whom were wearing life jackets.

Without hesitation, the Marine Board trainees responded. One person was pulled directly from the river, while three others were assisted safely from shore. Their rapid response underscores the critical value of real-world training and interagency collaboration on Oregon’s waterways.

Earlier that same day, Marine Board Training Coordinator Eddie Persichetti and Boating Safety Advocate Program Coordinator Priscilla Macy-Cruser, along with deputies from Lincoln and Clackamas Counties, witnessed another harrowing moment near Rattlesnake Rapids. A paddler in an inflatable “Tahiti” kayak capsized after navigating a riffle, the kayak collapsing beneath them. Alone and without a life jacket, the individual was briefly submerged before managing to grab onto a strainer near shore.

The Clackamas County deputy expertly maneuvered their boat into position and brought the paddler aboard. Once safe, the individual was fitted with a life jacket, counseled on the dangers of navigating the river unprepared, and given the life jacket to keep. The paddler later reunited with a nearby group on a cataraft.

Marine deputies continued to see her downriver, and at the take-out ramp, she offered a heartfelt gesture of thanks, hands clasped in a prayerful motion, followed by a sincere, "Thank you." She wore the life jacket until she reached her car.

These back-to-back incidents highlight two crucial truths: how fast conditions can change on Oregon’s rivers, and how vital training, preparedness, and teamwork are in responding to emergencies. The Oregon State Marine Board commends the fast-acting students, instructors, and partner agencies who turned a training day into a powerful public safety demonstration in action.

Conditions at the time:

• Deputies observed the paddler separate quickly from the cataraft by several hundred feet downriver when she capsized. It’s likely her party would not have noticed she’d fallen behind and fell overboard.
• The terrain was rough and overgrown and there wasn’t an onshore trail for them to reunite.
• The water was moving at 4,200 CFS (cubic feet per second) and the water temperature was 44 degrees; roughly 4 knots, which means anyone, and everything, was moving about 6 feet per second.

Things to keep in mind:

1. Always wear a life jacket. Cold water exposure can lead to cold water shock and hypothermia.
2. Do your homework. Find out the river flow volume. The higher the number, the more water, which means it’s usually running faster.
3. Determine where you will put in, where you will take out (rendezvous point), and have a plan if you get separated from others in your party.
4. Figure out how long it will take you to get from point A to point B. Plan well in advance to take out before the sun sets from the view of hills or tree cover.
5. See if there are any reported obstructions along the route and the best path to take to avoid them.

Marine deputies train in various types of watercraft, under a wide variety of conditions, including swift water rescues. Boater education is their primary objective, and to ensure everyone is playing it safe on the water. Ultimately, boaters need to be prepared, know what they’re getting into, and plan for the unexpected. The single most important thing a boater can do is wear a life jacket. 

We’d like to thank the students Kyle Brown and Josh Hiskey from Salem Fire, Nick Fitzpatrick from Jackson County Fire District 4, Deputy Jason Denton from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and Deputy Nate Thompson from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office for rendering aid and education that averted potentially dangerous situations.  

Learn more about boating safety at Boat.Oregon.gov.

-END-

The Oregon State Marine Board met for its quarterly hybrid meeting at the Roseburg Library on June 26 and voted to approve twenty Cycle One boating facility and education and outreach grant applications and to defer five others for future funding opportunities.

This is the first of three boating facility and education and outreach grant opportunities for the 2025-2027 biennium. Cycle One is the largest funding opportunity, awarding approximately 60 percent of available grant funding. This allows for larger, more complex projects to be completed while also accounting for weather or unforeseen circumstances. The Marine Board is investing $2.1 million in motorized and nonmotorized boater funds, for over $6.2 million in improvements for Oregon’s recreational boaters.

The following grant projects were approved:

• Douglas County: Cooper Creek East and West dock replacement and parking lot resurfacing. The Board approved $161,736.25 in Boating Facility Grant funds, combined with $692,858.75 applicant match for a total project cost of $854,595.
• Willamette Riverkeeper: Discover Your Willamette River Paddling Recreation Program (upper, middle and lower Willamette River). The Board approved $73,905 in Waterway Access Grant funds, combined with $61,518.44 in applicant match for a total project cost of $135,423.44.
• Adventures Without Limits: Excursions using adaptive equipment for those with physical limitations and youth in underserved communities throughout Oregon. The Board approved $77,500 in Waterway Access Grant funds, combined with $200,627.95 in applicant match for a total project cost of $278,127.95.
• METRO: M. James Gleason to repair the boarding docks and secure utilities under the short-term tie-up dock. The Board approved $210,000 Boating Facility Grant funds, combined with $70,000 in applicant match for a total project cost of $280,000.
• City of Depoe Bay: Repair and resurface the boat trailer parking area. The Board approved $111,621 in Boating Facility Grant funds, combined with $37,044.80 in applicant match for a total project cost of $148,665.80.
• Port of Astoria: East Mooring Basin boarding dock replacement. The Board approved $78,080.50 in Boating Facility Grant funds, combined with $341,67.33 in applicant match for a total project cost of $419,747.83.
• US Forest Service (Deschutes National Forest): Purchase and install new, permanent boarding docks at Blue Bay, South Shore, Link Creek and Suttle Lake Day Use boat ramps for a total of ten replacement dock sections. The Board approved $195,500 in Boating Facility Grant funds, combined with $203,000 in applicant match for a total project cost of $398,500.00.
• Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership: Big Canoe Explorer Project. Estimate 10 trips, led by LCEP staff, lasting 3-4 hours, including educational components on land and water. The Board approved $32,003.15 in Waterway Access Grant funds, combined with $14,211.32 of applicant match for a total project cost of $46,214.47.
• City of Maupin: Maupin City Park for design and permitting of future boat ramp replacement. The Board approved $52,000 in Waterway Access Grant funds, combined with $17,334.00 of applicant match for a total project cost of $69,334.
• Oregon Department of Wildlife: Two access sites on the Klamath River: Moonshine Falls and Pioneer Park West for accessible parking. For Moonshine Falls, the Board approved $25,000 in Waterway Access Grant funds, combined with $50,350 of applicant match for a total project cost is $75,350. For Pioneer Park West, the Board approved $25,000 in Boating Facility Grant funds and $25,000 Waterway Access Grant funds to match $25,350 of applicant match for a total project cost of $75,350.00.
• Oregon Department of Wildlife: Coyote Creek nonmotorized boating access improvements including a floating kayak-canoe launch, gangway, paved parking for single cars and kayak trailer spaces, vault toilet, accessible routes, life jacket loaner station, and gate. The Board approved $260,000 Waterway Access Grant funds, combined with $270,000 in applicant match for a total project cost of $530,000.
• Willow Creek Recreation District: Turner Day Park, to replace the boarding docks. The Board approved $62,500.00 Boating Facility Grant funds, combined with $337,500 in applicant match for a total project cost of $400,000.
• Washington County Parks: Eagle Landing on the Tualatin River for permitting and construction documents for future nonmotorized access site improvements. The Board approved of $180,000 Waterway Access Grant funds, combined with $60,000 in applicant match for a total project cost of $240,000.
• Oregon Parks and Recreation Department: Luckiamute Paddle Access permitting and final design for future nonmotorized boating access site improvements. The Board approved $101,676 in Waterway Access Grant funds, combined with $35,000 in applicant match for a total project cost of $136,676.
• City of Warrenton: Hammond Marina, to replace the center lane of the boarding docks. The Board approved $180,000 in Boating Facility Grant funds, combined with $590,000 in applicant match for a total project cost of $720,000.
• Lane County: Howard Buford Recreation Area, permitting and design for a future new nonmotorized boating access site. The Board approved $114,817 in Waterway Access Grant funds, combined with $55,012 in applicant match for a total project cost of $169,829.00.
• Life Expanding Adventure Program (LEAP): Adaptive Rafting Pilot Program with immersive experiences to serve people with spinal cord injury communities and others with different physical limitations. The Board approved $44,640 in Waterway Access Grant funds, combined with $46,690 in applicant match for a total project cost of $91,330.
• Clatsop County: Carnahan Park on Cullaby Lake for an archaeological survey and wetland delineation for a future nonmotorized access site. The Board approved $48,750.00 in Waterway Access Grant funds, combined with $17,960 in applicant match for a total project cost of $66,710.
• Tillamook County: Netarts Landing to repair and resurface the boat trailer parking area. The Board approved $100,000.00 Boating Facility Grant funds, combined with $146,125 in applicant match as identified for a total project cost of $246,125.

In another agenda item, staff asked for guidance on Clean Vessel Act funding for pumpout, dump stations and floating restrooms and which options to pursue; new, replace, retrofit or modify to keep as many in service as possible with current budget constraints.

For more grant application details including images from the meeting materials, visit https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/info/Pages/Board-and-Public-Meetings.aspx. 

PORTLAND, Ore.—Hugo Gomez-Soto, 50, a Honduran national unlawfully residing in Portland, made his first appearance in federal court today after being charged for distributing fentanyl that was linked to the fatal overdose of a Portland man.

According to court documents, in January 2024, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Narcotics and Organized Crime (NOC) Unit began investigating a suspected fentanyl overdose of an adult male victim in Southwest Portland. Investigators identified Gomez-Soto as the individual who allegedly sold fentanyl to the victim and, on January 25, 2024, he was arrested on state charges. At the time of his arrest, Gomez-Soto was in possession of both fentanyl powder and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.

On June 18, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Gomez-Soto with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Gomez-Soto made his initial appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a four-day jury trial scheduled to begin on September 9, 2025.

If convicted, Gomez-Soto faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and PPB’s NOC Unit. It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is 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 suspected child abuser is facing federal charges today for enticing and sexually abusing a minor in Oregon and Washington.

Leonias Juber Ramos-Garcia, 25, a Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in Culver, Oregon, has been charged by criminal complaint with coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

According to court documents, in 2024, Ramos-Garcia met the minor at a business in Jefferson County, Oregon. In February 2025, undeterred by the minor’s age, Ramos-Garcia gave the minor a note which contained cash and professed his affection for the minor.

In March 2025, Ramos-Garcia is alleged to have engaged in sexually explicit communication with the minor and, despite the victim’s reluctance, Ramos-Garcia persuaded the minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct at a hotel in Central Oregon. In April 2025, Ramos-Garcia traveled from Oregon to Washington and took the victim to a second hotel where he again sexually abused the minor.

Ramos-Garcia was arrested Tuesday in Culver, Oregon, and made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Madras Police Department. It is being prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.

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 as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore.—Four defendants made their first appearances in federal court Monday after committing various offenses—including arson and willful depredation of government property—during ongoing protest gatherings near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

Nadya Malinowska, 33, of Portland, has been charged by information with the misdemeanor offense of failing to obey a lawful order.

David Pearl, 35, also of Portland, has been charged by information with the misdemeanor offenses of failing to obey a lawful order and creating a disturbance.

August Dean Gordon, 31, of Beaverton, Oregon, has been charged by criminal complaint with the misdemeanor offenses of willful depredation of government property and assaulting a federal officer.

Trenten Edward Barker, 34, of Portland, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offenses of arson of federal property and depredation against federal property.

According to court documents and information shared in court, on June 29, 2025, several individuals gathered near an ICE office in South Portland where, for weeks, individuals have repeatedly targeted the building and federal law enforcement officers.

At approximately 3:14am, federal officers observed an individual, later identified as Gordon, pulling a proximity card reader from a stanchion located on the ICE facility’s driveway. During his arrest, Gordon kicked and grabbed the officers, injuring five officers as they placed him into custody.

Later that evening, after federal officers directed the crowd to disperse, Malinowska refused to leave the premises. Malinowska was also charged with failing to comply with an officer’s orders to leave the premises on June 17, 2025, and on June 21, 2025.

The same evening, while officers were arresting an individual, Pearl attempted to interfere with the officers as they placed the individual into custody.

On June 11, 2025, during related gatherings at the ICE office, federal officers observed a group of individuals attempting to construct a barricade against the vehicle gate of the ICE building using a range of materials. At approximately 9:51pm, federal officers observed an individual, later identified as Barker, retrieve a flare from his backpack which he lit and tossed onto the pile of materials stacked against the vehicle gate, igniting the materials. Officers observed other individuals adding items to the pile of materials as the flames grew. The officers fully extinguished the fire within minutes. Barker was arrested on June 27, 2025.

All four defendants made their first appearances in federal court Monday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. They were released on conditions pending future court proceedings.

Felony arson of federal property is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. Misdemeanor assault of a federal officer and misdemeanor willful depredation of government property are punishable by up to one year in federal prison. Failure to obey a lawful order and creating a disturbance are Class C misdemeanors and carry a maximum penalty of 30 days in prison.

These cases were investigated by the FBI and Federal Protective Service. They are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

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

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore.—Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced a $2 million civil settlement to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act. The settlement is a joint agreement between the United States, Riverpark Operations, LLC (Riverpark), Avamere Group, LLC (Avamere), and the Oregon Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (Oregon DOJ MFCU) on behalf of the state of Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) administers Oregon's Medicaid program using a combination of state and federal funding. This civil settlement is part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.

Riverpark and its parent company Avamere have agreed to pay the United States $2 million and perform corrective actions to resolve allegations that Riverpark fraudulently billed Medicare and Oregon Medicaid for grossly substandard nursing home services. Riverpark operates a 119-bed skilled nursing home facility in Eugene, Oregon, under the name Avamere Riverpark of Eugene. During November and December 2017, and between September 2018 and July 2019, Riverpark is alleged to have provided grossly substandard services to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries who resided at the facility when staffing levels did not meet minimum staffing requirements. Among other things, the United States and the Oregon DOJ MFCU allege that, during these timeframes, Riverpark's failure to adequately staff the facility resulted in residents experiencing increased instances and severity of preventable urinary tract infections, pressure sores, and falls.

In connection with the settlement, Riverpark and Avamere have entered into a Quality-of-Care Corporate Integrity Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), which will remain in effect for five years to address quality of care and resident safety within the skilled nursing facility.

This civil settlement is part of the Justice Department’s national healthcare fraud takedown that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in alleged false billings and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets, and the Government, in connection with the Takedown, seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets. Descriptions of each case involved in the strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.

The District of Oregon worked with HHS-OIG and the Oregon DOJ MFCU to investigate and resolve this matter. 

The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.

If you suspect Medicare or Medicaid fraud, please report it by phone at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477), or via email at HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov.

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore.—Three defendants made their first appearances in federal court today after committing various offenses—including assaulting federal officers and creating a hazard on federal property—during ongoing protest gatherings near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

Julie Winters, 46, of Portland, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony of attempted assault of a federal officer.

Aziel Chambers, 20, of Merlin, Oregon, has been charged by information with the misdemeanor offenses of assault on a federal officer, creating a hazard on federal property, and failing to obey a lawful order.

Rachel Jean Pope, 28, of Portland, has been charged by information with the misdemeanor offense of assault on a federal officer.

According to court documents and information shared in court, on June 24, 2025, several individuals gathered near an ICE office in South Portland where, for weeks, individuals have repeatedly targeted the building and federal law enforcement officers with threatening statements, discharging pepper spray, and throwing rocks, trash, and bricks. At approximately 11:00pm, two individuals attempted to set a U.S. flag on fire in the driveway of the building.

To clear the driveway, federal officers dispensed less than lethal means, including gas canisters, to disperse the crowd. Pope picked up one of the metal canisters and threw it towards the officers, hitting one of the officers.

At approximately 11:15pm, federal officers observed an individual, later identified as Winters, attempting to light an incendiary device next to the guard shack of the building. As FPS officers engaged with Winters, she pulled a large knife from her backpack and began waiving the blade toward the officers. Winters threw the knife at an officer, but it did not strike the officer. Winters began to flee but an officer deployed a taser, bringing Winters to the ground. As officers attempted to secure Winters, she pulled a second large knife from her waistband. An officer disarmed Winters and arrested her. 

The same evening, Chambers pointed a laser pointer at a federal officer, striking the officer in the eye. Chambers was also charged with failing to comply with an officer’s orders to leave the premises on June 17, 2025, and for throwing an object at federal property on June 20, 2025.  

All three defendants made their first appearances in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Winters was detained pending future court proceedings. Pope and Chambers were released on conditions pending future court proceedings.

Attempting to assault a federal officer and inflict bodily injury is punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment. Misdemeanor assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to one year in federal prison. Failure to obey a lawful order and creating a hazard on federal property are Class C misdemeanors and carry a maximum penalty of 30 days in prison.

These cases were investigated by the FBI, FPS and ICE. They are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

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

# # #

The City of Richland will begin its 2025 Pavement Preservation Projects on Tuesday, July 8, with work expected to continue through Thursday, July 17. This year’s efforts will focus on residential streets in the north Richland area and include both Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing treatments.

These surface treatments are part of Richland’s ongoing commitment to maintaining safe and efficient roadways. They serve as proactive maintenance methods that help extend the life of existing pavement while providing a fresh new surface.

• Slurry Seal is a blend of fine aggregate and emulsified asphalt, ideal for low-traffic residential roads.
• Microsurfacing is a more robust treatment consisting of polymer-modified asphalt emulsion, aggregate, mineral filler, and additives designed to set quickly.

Both methods are cost-effective and environmentally responsible, typically adding five to ten years of life to the road while sealing it from the damaging effects of water and UV rays.

Residents should be aware of temporary traffic impacts:

• Slurry Seal usually requires a full-day road closure.
• Microsurfacing generally involves partial lane closures.

Advance notice will be provided by the City's contractors — Doolittle Construction, LLC (Microsurfacing) and VSS International, Inc. (Slurry Seal). “No Parking” signs will be posted in affected areas a few days prior to work beginning.

To help ensure the success of these treatments and to prevent damage or tracking, residents are asked to follow all posted signage and avoid driving, walking, or biking on treated streets until they are fully reopened.

For more details and a project area map, please visit www.ci.richland.wa.us/ppp.

As Independence Day approaches, the City of Richland is proud to join communities across the country in celebrating the freedoms we cherish. While July 4th is a time for patriotic festivities, we remind residents to make safety a top priority so everyone can enjoy a fun and secure holiday.

Know the Rules – Celebrate Responsibly

We encourage all residents to follow local laws regarding fireworks use and to stay mindful of those around them. Fireworks that are legal for use in Richland can be found at licensed local vendors. For more details on permitted fireworks and safety information, visit www.ci.richland.wa.us/fireworks.

City Crews Ready for Fire Prevention

In preparation for the holiday, Richland crews are actively implementing fire prevention strategies:

• Parks & Facilities staff have adjusted mowing practices and created firebreaks in areas with higher fire risk.
• Irrigation systems are scheduled to pre-water high-traffic park areas to reduce fire potential.

Additionally, Glenwood Overlook Park in south Richland will be closed from 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 3 through 6:00 a.m. Saturday, July 5, to help reduce fire risk in this sensitive area.

Increased Patrol and Enforcement

The Richland Police Department will have an increased presence in parks and neighborhoods over the holiday. Illegal fireworks use can result in a $250 fine and confiscation of the fireworks.

Fireworks Safety Tips

To help keep the holiday safe for all, follow these simple safety tips:

• Keep a bucket of water or hose nearby.
• Avoid lighting fireworks during dry or windy conditions.
• Never let children handle or ignite fireworks.
• Light one firework at a time and move away quickly.
• Only use fireworks outdoors on a flat, clear surface.
• Soak spent fireworks in water overnight before disposing of them.
• Buy only from licensed retailers within Richland to ensure legality and safety.

Be a Good Neighbor

Celebrating responsibly also means showing consideration for those around you:

• Avoid setting off fireworks late at night or outside permitted hours.
• Safely clean up all debris.
• Be mindful of neighbors, pets, and those sensitive to noise.

The City of Richland wishes everyone a joyful and safe Independence Day. Let’s celebrate our freedom with care, respect, and community spirit.

[West Richland, Washington] – [June 30, 2025] – 

West Richland, WA – The City of West Richland is pleased to announce the hiring of Chief James Fry as the new Chief of Police. Chief Fry brings with him nearly three decades of law enforcement experience, having most recently served as the Chief of Police in Moscow, Idaho.

Chief Fry began his career with the Moscow Police Department in 1993 as a Reserve Officer and steadily rose through the ranks over his 29-year tenure. Known for his dedication to community policing and public service, Fry built a reputation for strong leadership, integrity, and a deep commitment to the communities he served.

A proud alumnus of the University of Idaho, Chief Fry holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Criminal Justice. He has remained active in the academic community, serving as a guest lecturer for the university’s Criminal Justice Program, mentoring the next generation of public safety professionals. Chief Fry is also a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia—an honor reserved for the nation’s top law enforcement leaders.

“We are excited to welcome Chief Fry to West Richland,” said Brent Gerry, Mayor of West Richland. “His experience, credentials, and proven leadership will be invaluable as we continue to grow as a community and invest in the safety and well-being of our residents.”

College Place Public Schools (CPPS) is celebrating a transformative year marked by bold investments in student wellness, mental health support, and improved behavior across all grade levels. The district’s 2024–2025 school year stands as a powerful example of what happens when schools prioritize the whole child.

This year, CPPS made student wellness a top priority by expanding its support system like never before. The district brought in a full-time mental health therapist to serve students across all schools, added more school counselors, hired behavior support professionals, and introduced a dedicated student and community advocate through Communities in Schools. These positions weren’t just funded internally, they were made possible through successful grant awards, including major support from the Balmer Foundation and Walla Walla County Department of Community Health.

In addition to mental and behavioral health supports, CPPS also invested in a second registered nurse to serve students at the secondary level. This role expands the district’s ability to care for not only student medical needs, such as chronic condition management, illness assessment, and medication oversight, but also provides critical services related to health education, injury prevention, and crisis response. The nursing team plays a vital role in student safety, attendance, and readiness to learn.

Together, these professionals formed an all-hands-on-deck student services team with a shared focus on prevention, positive relationships, and early intervention. And the impact? Remarkable.

Across the district, suspensions were reduced by nearly half, and behavior incidents dropped by over 60%. At some schools, office referrals fell by more than two-thirds. Classrooms became calmer, students more focused, and instructional time increased. Compared to the previous year, the district logged hundreds fewer discipline incidents, with staff and students reporting the best behavioral environment in recent memory.

The district’s C.A.R.E. Room model, expanded at the elementary level, became a standout success, welcoming students over 2,700 times throughout the year. Even more impressive: three out of every four visits were proactive, not disciplinary. This shift signals a growing culture of emotional coaching and support, rather than punishment.

Meanwhile, school counselors led over 400 targeted small-group sessions in areas like emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, and coping strategies. Students showed measurable growth including a 36% increase in their own ability to manage emotions while teachers noted improvements in focus, relationships, and classroom readiness.

Mental health access also surged. More than 70 students received individualized therapy on campus, totaling over 800 sessions. Services reached every age group, from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade confirming that wellness matters at every level of learning.

“Our team didn’t just talk about student well-being, they took bold action,” said Superintendent Jim Fry, “This is what it looks like to build systems that truly support kids, not just academically, but as human beings.”

Looking ahead, CPPS plans to grow these efforts even further. New assessment tools, expanded family engagement, and enhanced college and career readiness programming are already in motion for the coming year.

What’s happening in College Place Public Schools isn’t just progress, it’s transformation. With the numbers to prove it and the heart to keep going, CPPS is showing what it means to lead with care, connection, and purpose.

Portland, OR — In honor of Independence Day, the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) is hosting a special display of what is believed to be the first United States flag raised in Portland after Oregon became the 33rd state. The flag is on display in OHS’s Reser Westphal Pavilion from June 30 through July 11.

The flag was hand-sewn by Ann Elizabeth Bills in 1861 and is preserved in OHS’s museum collection. Ann Bills and her husband Cincinnati Bills traveled from Indiana to Oregon in 1853. Cincinnati Bills would serve as Multnomah County Sheriff and start Portland’s first hauling business, which became the Oregon Transfer Company. 

The flag was donated to OHS in 1961, and the accession file notes:

As July 4, 1861, approached, Thomas Stafford, an employee of Mr. Bills, was anxious to see an American flag raised to celebrate Independence Day. Stafford suggested to Mrs. Bills that she make a flag, and he assisted her in securing the material. Mr. Stafford and Mr. Bills went to the Sellwood area and cut down a young fir tree, from which they carved the staff for the flag. Mrs. Bills would later remember, ‘Flags were not easily secured in those days, but I saw one was badly needed here, so I went right to work to supply the want. It was hard work, but with every stitch I grew more anxious to finish the task I had undertaken.’ The completion and unfurling of the flag was celebrated with a barbecue picnic at Fourth Street, between Burnside and Ankeny, and was attended by dozens of people from miles around.

Following this special display, OHS will send the flag to a textile conservator for important preservation work.

This display is part of the official America 250 Oregon commemoration. Overseen by the America 250 Oregon Commission, created through Senate Bill 1531 and chaired by OHS’s executive director, Kerry Tymchuk, its mission is to coordinate, provide guidance, and ensure that Oregon’s official observance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States is inclusive and shares the histories of Oregon’s diverse populations, including the histories of the Indigenous peoples who have resided here since time immemorial. More information about America 250 Oregon and a listing of other community events can be found on the official website, oregon250.org.

The Oregon Historical Society’s museum is open daily in downtown Portland, from 10am to 5pm Monday through Saturday and 12pm to 5pm on Sunday. Admission is free every day for youth 17 and under, OHS members, and residents of Multnomah County.

About the Oregon Historical Society

For more than 125 years, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of objects, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and complex as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view.

Portland, OR — The Oregon Geographic Names Board (OGNB) will consider several naming proposals for geographic sites at its June 27 meeting in Buxton, Oregon. The public are invited to attend the meeting via Zoom.

Meeting Information:

Friday, June 27, 2025

1:30pm to 4pm

Dairy Creek West Meeting Hall

L.L. Stub Stewart State Park

https://pdx.zoom.us/j/85048210451   

OGNB welcomes and will consider public comment on naming proposals. Written comments can be submitted in advance via email to ognb@ohs.org. For comment presented during meetings, OGNB asks that presenters limit their time to three minutes.

The full meeting agenda is available online, with the following proposals under consideration:

Rename Proposals:

Current Names: Balch Canyon, Balch Creek, Multnomah County

Proposed Renames: Kulla Kulla Canyon, Kulla Kulla Creek

Current Name: Dago Spring, Hood River County

Proposed Rename: Rattlesnake Bluff Spring

Current Name: Jew Valley, Lake County

Proposed Rename: Jewish Valley

New Name Proposals:

Coot Creek, Curry County

A new commemorative name proposal to name an unnamed creek Coot Creek to honor Glen Lee ‘Coot’ Wagner (1938–2016).

McLaren Creek, Clatsop County

A new commemorative name proposal to name an unnamed creek McLaren Creek to honor Earnest Irvine McLaren (1910–1985).

Beaver Creek, Jackson County

A new associative name proposal to name an unnamed creek that is a tributary to Bear Creek within the City of Phoenix urban boundary.

Borges Butte, Clackamas County

A new commemorative name proposal to name an unnamed butte near Damascus to honor Carl Christian Frederick Borges (1847–1928), who immigrated to the United States in 1878.

Deardorff Butte, Clackamas County

A new commemorative name proposal to name an unnamed butte near Damascus to honor the Deardorff family, among the region’s earliest settlers. According to the proposal, they arrived in 1851 and benefited from the 1850 Donation Land Claim Act. Christian and Matilda Deardorff (1805–1884 and 1802–1891, respectively) acquired 640 acres in Clackamas County.

Pleasant Butte, Clackamas County

The new associative name Pleasant Butte is proposed for a basalt butte with an elevation of 780 feet located north of the community of Damascus and in the southeastern corner of Pleasant Valley (a name in use since the 1880s) and just outside the City of Happy Valley.

Geographic names have been documented and standardized in the United States since 1890 when President Benjamin Harrison established the United States Board on Geographic Names (USBGN.) Its authority was further extended by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and established in its present form by an act of Congress in 1947.

With the same concerns as the federal government, Governor George Chamberlain established the Oregon Geographic Board by executive order dated October 1, 1908, and it later became known as the Oregon Geographic Names Board (OGNB.) By 1911, the USBGN recognized the OGNB as the official advisor and state geographic names authority of Oregon. In 1959, Governor Mark Hatfield transferred the administration of the OGNB from state government to the Oregon Historical Society.

About the Oregon Geographic Names Board

The Oregon Geographic Names Board is an all-volunteer board of historians, journalists, cartographers, and other professions operating under the auspices of the Oregon Historical Society. Recommendations of the board, which meets twice a year throughout the state, go to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names for a final decision and, if approved, inclusion on the nation’s maps and the Geographic Names Information System, the government’s official list of approved names.

About the Oregon Historical Society

For more than 125 years, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of photographs, books, maps, manuscript materials, films, oral histories, objects, and belongings. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history available to all. We preserve our state’s history and make it accessible to everyone in ways that advance knowledge and inspire curiosity about all the people, places, and events that have shaped Oregon. 

Crowd tells U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz “It’s not too late to change your vote!”

BAKER CITY, Ore. — Nearly 100 Eastern Oregon residents braved 100-degree temperatures to rally in downtown Baker City today, demanding that U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz vote no on the budget reconciliation bill that passed the Senate earlier this week. The legislation would slash $1 trillion from Medicaid and SNAP, terminating health coverage for tens of thousands in Bentz’s district and cutting food assistance for working families, children, and seniors.

Oregon Nurses Association President Tamie Cline, a registered nurse from Hermiston and president of the Oregon Nurses Association, said the bill threatens coverage for as many as 60,000 Eastern Oregon residents who rely on the Oregon Health Plan, Oregon’s Medicaid program. Cline said the proposal would devastate rural health care systems and put lives at risk in communities like Baker City that have already lost maternity care services.

“This is not about politics, this isn’t about what political party you support. This is about Eastern Oregon,” Cline said. “It’s about whether families here can see a doctor, afford their prescriptions, and get the care they need, when they need it.”

Cline was joined by speakers from the Oregon Food Bank, Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, SEIU, Indivisible, and local residents who rely on the safety net programs now under threat.

“SNAP puts food on the table for one in six families in Baker County,” said Alex Aghdaei of Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. “This bill would slash benefits, terminate food assistance for over 100,000 Oregonians, and push more kids and seniors into hunger. Cutting SNAP doesn’t lower food costs — it just makes people go without. Bentz needs to vote no.”

Lindsay Grosvenor of the Oregon Food Bank’s Southeast Oregon region emphasized the stakes for rural communities. “In places like Ontario and Burns, there’s no backup plan if SNAP gets gutted,” said Grosvenor. “Food pantries are already stretched to the limit. Families are doing everything they can to make ends meet. This bill punishes people for being poor. And it will hurt rural Oregon the most.”

Public opinion strongly reflects the concerns raised by rallygoers. According to the latest KFF Health Tracking Poll, 83 percent of Americans view Medicaid favorably, and support for the proposed cuts drops by more than 20 points when people learn they would increase the uninsured rate and reduce hospital funding. And 7 in 10 say they are concerned that families will have trouble affording food as a result of the bill.

Cheryl Campbell, a homecare worker from LaGrande, said that cuts to Medicaid could impact other programs that Oregonians rely on. “One thing people don’t realize is that many programs that make a big difference in the lives of people with developmental disabilities receive two-thirds of their funding from Medicaid dollars,” she said.

Despite widespread opposition from providers, patients, and public health experts, Bentz has continued to support the legislation — voting for it once already. Advocates warned that his next vote could come as early as this week.

“This is the moment,” Cline said in her closing remarks. “Eastern Oregon has always looked out for its own, and we’re proving it again today. We need to flood Bentz’s office with calls. We need to tell our stories. And we need to remind him who he works for.”

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents a diverse community of more than 24,000 nurses and healthcare professionals throughout Oregon. Together, we use our collective power to advocate for critical issues impacting patients, nurses and healthcare professionals including a more effective, affordable and accessible healthcare system; better working conditions for all healthcare professionals; and healthier communities. For more information, visit www.OregonRN.org.

###

WHEN:

• Senate Republicans’ rushed and reckless Medicaid cuts will terminate health coverage for Oregonians on the Oregon Health Plan, raise everyone’s costs, and close rural hospitals.

• Their SNAP cuts would gut the program and slash $160 from a typical family’s food budget, and strip benefits from 108,000 Oregonians outright.

• Cliff Bentz has a chance to protect Oregon’s most vulnerable by voting NO as the bill returns to the House for a final vote this week. Eastern Oregonians are calling on him to do the right thing.

Without proper protection, the sun can cause serious damage to the health of Oregonians. Oregon has a high rate of melanoma—ranking 16^th in the country as of 2021.

The good news is a broad-spectrum sunscreen helps guard against the effects of the sun’s harmful UV rays. But how does sunscreen actually work? SAIF’s new video looks at how sunscreen, sunburns, and the sun’s rays work. It’s part of a new series looking at the science behind safety.

The video can be viewed at saif.com/ScienceofSafety.

“Unprotected exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays is a major risk factor for skin cancer,” says Wendy Boughton, SAIF occupational safety and health nurse consultant. “That’s why cancer and other skin concerns often show up on places such as forearms, face, neck, and tops of ears that are exposed to the sun on a daily basis and not typically covered by clothing.”  

Here are some tips on protecting your skin every day:  

• Sunscreen needs to be applied to dry skin 15 minutes before you go outside. 
• It needs to be broad protection (against UVA and UVB rays), SPF30 or higher, and water-resistant. 
• Make sure you use enough. The general guideline is one ounce (enough to fill a shot glass) for the exposed parts of your body. A nickel-sized dollop is typically adequate for the face. 
• Remember to apply to the top of head, back of neck, tops of feet, and ears. 
• Sunscreens with higher SPF protection don’t mean you can stay in the sun longer or need to reapply it less frequently. 
• Don’t use sunscreen past its expiration date or for longer than three years. To save it from going to waste, apply it every day. 
• Lips need protection, too, so use lip balm with an SPF rating. 
• Also wear sun-protective clothing, including a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection. 

For more information about sun protection, visit saif.com/SunSafety.

About SAIF

SAIF is Oregon’s not-for-profit workers’ compensation insurance company. For more than 100 years, we’ve been taking care of injured workers, helping people get back to work, and striving to make Oregon the safest and healthiest place to work. For more information, visit the About SAIF page on saif.com.

Kennewick, WA., July 1, 2025

Attention Veterans & Military Spouses!

Looking to make your resume stand out and land more interviews? Join us for an employer-led resume workshop, hosted by Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS) and Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure's (H2C) designed specifically for veterans and military spouses. The session will be held July 9th, 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 HMIS and other 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