Updated to add the time of the crash. 

COOS COUNTY, Ore. 5 July 2025 – On Friday, July 4, 2025, at approximately 1:06 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a four-vehicle fatal crash in Coos County near Lakeside.

 

The preliminary investigation indicated a beige Kia Optima, operated by Manual Samuel Starr (38) of Coos Bay, was traveling northbound when it crossed the centerline for unknown reasons. The Kia sideswiped a southbound black Toyota Corolla, operated by Kent McQuillen (61) of Florence, before colliding head-on with a black Dodge Ram, operated by Jose Maria Rodriguez Garcia (55) of Coos Bay. A southbound silver Subaru Outback, operated by Lori Priest (61) of Lake Stevens, Washington, was unable to avoid the crash and also collided head-on with the Kia.  

The operator of the Kia (Starr) was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Kia’s rear passenger, Shatara Rosemarie Holmes (39) of Coos Bay, was also pronounced deceased at the scene. A seven-month-old female infant, the operator and passenger’s child, did not appear to be injured, but was transported to a local hospital.

The operator of the Dodge Ram (Rodriguez Garcia) was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The front passenger, Nicole Virginia Rodriguez (44) of Coos Bay, was transported to a local hospital by air ambulance with serious injuries. Passenger Jose Rodriguez Chase Jr. (20) of Coos Bay, a three-year-old male passenger, and a 14-year-old female passenger had reported minor injuries.   

The operator of the Subaru (Priest) had reported minor injuries. Passenger Nanette Myra Priest (55) of Lake Stevens (WA) and a 10-year-old passenger were not injured.

The operator of the Toyota (McQuillen) was not injured.

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

 

OSP was assisted by the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, Hauser Fire Department, North Bay Fire Department, Lower Umpqua Ambulance, Bay Cities Ambulance, Coos County Medical Examiner, North Bend Chapel, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
 

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

MORROW COUNTY, Ore. 5 July 2025 – On Thursday, July 3, 2025, at approximately 10:28 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle fatal crash in Morrow County near Boardman.

 

The preliminary investigation indicated a gray Honda Odyssey, operated by Timothy W. Nelson (50), unknown address, was traveling eastbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 162 when it left the roadway and struck the end of a guardrail.

The Honda operator (Nelson) was declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was impacted for approximately 30 minutes during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office, Boardman Police Department, Boardman Fire Department, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
 

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

UPDATE: Corrected to state the Mercedes van was traveling westbound. 

 

LAKE COUNTY, Ore. – July 2, 2025 – On Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at approximately 3:49 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash in Lake County near Lakeview.

 

The preliminary investigation indicated a white Mercedes Sprinter van, operated by Daniel Klinkert (48) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was traveling westbound on Highway 140 near milepost 1 when it entered the intersection with a southbound commercial motor vehicle towing double trailers. The southbound red Kenworth commercial motor vehicle, operated by Nicholas Cardoza (61) of Lakeview, swerved to avoid a collision with the van, left the roadway, and rolled over.

 

The operator of the Kenworth (Cardoza) was pronounced deceased at the scene.

 

The operator of the Mercedes van (Klinkert) was not injured.

 

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

 

Oregon State Police was assisted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lakeview EMS, Lakeview Fire Department, and Thomas Creek-Westside Fire Department.
 

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

Gina Fire Update #3

 

Fire crews continue making progress to contain the Gina Fire off Spring River Road south of Sunriver. The Evacuation Level 1 has been dropped. There is no more danger of the fire spreading at this point or threatening additional homes or structures.

 

Update #2: 6:40pm

 

The Level 2 Evacuation for the area of Spring River Road and Besson Road south of Sunriver has been reduced to a Level 1 Evacuation: Be Ready.

 

UPDATE:  6:25PM

 

Crews from the Forest Service, Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch, LaPine Fire, and Sunriver Fire are working together and have made good containment on the fire in the area of Spring River Road south of Sunriver, now called Incident 487. The LEVEL 2 Evacuation remains in effect.

It’s been determined that a house fire began spreading to nearby forest land. Nobody has been injured in the fire. Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputies on the scene say everyone in the area is currently safe. We’ll continue providing updates as fire crews make progress and additional information becomes available.   

 

Due to fire activity South of Sunriver in the area of Spring River Road, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office has issued the following evacuation notices:

 

Level 2 (Be Set) Evacuation notice is issued for the following areas:

Gena Lane, Lisa Lane, and all roads off Besson Road and Cooper Drive and North of Spring River Road.

A temporary Evacuation Point is being established at Three Rivers Elementary School located at 56900 Enterprise Drive in Sunriver.

 

Level 2: Means “BE SET” to evacuate. You must prepare to leave at a moment’s notice. This level indicates significant danger to your area, and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or with family and friends outside of the affected area, or if choosing to remain, to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Residents MAY have time to gather necessary items, but doing so is at their own risk. This may be the only notice you receive. Emergency services cannot guarantee that they will be able to notify you if conditions rapidly deteriorate. Area media services will be asked to broadcast periodic updates.

 

Follow the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-date information. Current maps, including evacuation areas, can be found at: https://deschutes.org/emergency

 

For fire information, you can visit the Central Oregon Fire Information site at: www.centraloregonfire.org

Make sure you are registered for Deschutes Alerts to receive evacuation and emergency alert and warnings in your area by going to www.deschutesalerts.org

 

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with five K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff Kent van der Kamp, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 193 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.

As Central Oregonians prepare to enjoy the 4th of July holiday, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is reminding residents and visitors to keep safety top of mind—especially when it comes to wildfire prevention and water recreation.

 

“The 4th of July is a great time to get outside with family and friends, but it’s also a time to be extra cautious,” said Lieutenant Nathan Garibay, who oversees Emergency Services at DCSO. “A single spark can lead to a devastating wildfire, and being unprepared on the water can quickly become dangerous.”

Wildfire Prevention Tips

Dry conditions and hot temperatures make our region especially vulnerable to wildfires. DCSO urges everyone to:

• Know before you go – Check local fire restrictions and know whether campfires are allowed where you plan to camp.
• Keep fires small and attended – Never leave a campfire unattended and always fully extinguish it with water, stirring until it’s cold to the touch.
• Use fireworks responsibly – Fireworks are banned on all federal lands and strongly discouraged in wildfire-prone areas. If you choose to use fireworks, keep them away from dry grass or brush, and always have a bucket of water or hose nearby to put them out safely.

Water Safety & Marine Patrol

The Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol will be actively patrolling lakes and rivers throughout the weekend, checking boats and personal watercraft to ensure everyone is following the law and staying safe.

 

“One of the most important things people forget—especially on paddle boards and kayaks—is the requirement to have a life jacket,” Garibay said. “It’s best practice even for strong, experienced swimmers, so it’s always good to be prepared.”

 

Water safety tips include:

• Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket – Especially on paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes.
• Have a whistle or other sound device on board – This is required by law for most small watercraft.
• Never operate watercraft under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Understand when and how to use a leash when paddleboarding.

Have Fun, But Be Prepared

DCSO wants everyone to have a fun and memorable 4th of July, whether you’re watching fireworks, camping in the forest, or spending time on the water. Just remember to keep safety in the back of your mind and help protect yourself, your family, and our beautiful public lands.

For more information on wildfire restrictions and boating safety laws, visit:

• Oregon State Marine Board
• Central Oregon Fire Info

Stay safe and enjoy the holiday weekend!

July 2, 2025-REDMOND, OR- Redmond Fire & Rescue, the City of Redmond & Redmond Police Department officials are concerned about potential fireworks-related fires and personal injuries as the Fourth of July draws near.

 

One of the most common fireworks-related fires that Redmond Fire & Rescue crews respond to involves "spent" fireworks placed in grocery sack that rekindle and spread to fences, decks, and even homes.

 

The best and safest plan is to attend a professional fireworks display and eliminate the risk altogether. Instead of lighting your own legal fireworks, view the professional show launched from the Deschutes County Fairgrounds.

 

Residents can drop off unwanted fireworks (illegal or legal) at any Redmond Fire & Rescue fire station for disposal.

 

If you’re intent is to use fireworks, keep it legal.

 

Oregon law bans fireworks that fly, explode, or move across the ground more than six feet or up in the air more than 12 inches. This includes popular items like bottle rockets, roman candles, firecrackers, and M80s.

 

Residents should purchase all fireworks at a licensed Oregon fireworks stand. Fireworks purchased by mail order or in the state of Washington or at Native American reservations are illegal in our state.

 

Many firework-related fires are caused by careless use or improper disposal of legal fireworks. Even legal fireworks are dangerous and have caused injuries and burns to users, especially unsupervised children. This includes sparklers. They can reach temperatures of 1,200 degrees; wood burns at 575 degrees, while glass melts at 900 degrees (National Fire Protection Association).

 

Redmond Fire & Rescue advises you to celebrate safely this year by following these safety tips:

 

• Only adults should light or handle fireworks. Supervise children at all times.
• Store fireworks, matches, and lighters out of the reach of children.
• Use fireworks outdoors on a paved surface, away from buildings, vehicles, and vegetation.
• Never point or throw fireworks at people, pets, cars, or buildings.
• Never pick up or try to re-light a "dud."
• Never alter fireworks or make your own.

• Have a hose nearby in case of fire and place “spent” fireworks in a metal bucket with water and completly soak the spent fireworks.

 

Under Oregon law, the Fire Marshal’s Office and law enforcement can seize illegal fireworks and issue criminal citations with fines up to $500 per violation and a sentence of up to 6 months in jail. Individuals can be held civilly liable for damages resulting from improper use of any fireworks — legal or illegal.  Individuals using fireworks can also commit other criminal offenses, including reckless burning, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and more, which can have large fines and jail/prison time. Use of illegal fireworks within Redmond City limits may result in a fine of $1,500, repeat offenders may receive a fine up to $6,000.

 

Oregon law also makes parents liable for damage caused by their children and allows fire departments to charge for the cost of suppressing fires caused by fireworks. Additionally, the use of illegal fireworks constitutes criminal activity, and your insurance policy may not cover you if you engage in a criminal act that results in damage.

 

Please do not call 911 to report fireworks use. It is very important the 911 system be kept for reporting emergencies, active fires, and serious medical problems. Firework concerns may be reported via email to reportfireworks@redmondoregon.gov or by calling the non-emergency dispatch line at 541-693-6911.

Redmond, OR - The Redmond Police Department will begin accepting applications for the 2025 Citizen Academy on July 7, 2025.  This year, classes are three hours in length which will allow for more time for attendees to interact with police department officers and staff and learn more about their police department.  We will be discussing all types of topics to include an overview of the department, patrol operations, investigations, records and business/budgeting, and sharing information about specialty assignments and skills, such as UAS/drone, Drug Recognition Expert, traffic enforcement/safety, CERT (aka, "SWAT") and more.  

 

Salem – Training and educating Oregon workers is essential to creating and maintaining safe and healthy workplaces. To help expand training and education opportunities, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) offers a grant program that funds ideas to improve the safety and health of Oregon workers in high-hazard industries. And we are ready to help you transform your ideas into results.

 

The division is accepting grant applications to create innovative workplace safety or health training or education projects. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. Oregon OSHA prioritizes  projects that engage workers on essential workplace safety or health topics. Projects may include an immersive training video or a well-designed safety publication or a multi-media package of best practices for a specific job task.

 

Go online to learn about how to apply or contact Theodore (Ted) Bunch at 971-375-8001 or email e.bunch@dcbs.oregon.gov">theodore.bunch@dcbs.oregon.gov.  

 

The grant program focuses on high-hazard industries in Oregon, including forestry, construction, and agriculture. A grant application may concentrate on a specific work process, targeting a reduction or elimination of related hazards. Any labor or employer group, educational institution that is affiliated with a labor or employer group, or other nonprofit entity may apply.

 

Grants may not be used to pay for projects that are purely for research, ongoing activities, or for activities required by law. Only new or substantially expanded projects will be considered for funding. Oregon OSHA is seeking project ideas that advance workplace safety and health training or education. We are not looking for ideas that handle concerns that have already been addressed. Materials produced by grant recipients cannot be sold for profit. All grant materials become available to the public. Depending on the type of project, some materials will be housed in the Oregon OSHA Resource Center while some will be available online.

 

Some examples of past grant projects include:

• Translation into Spanish of pesticide labels used in reforestation in Oregon and Washington
• Development of a series of toolbox talks addressing suicide prevention in the construction industry
• A virtual reality training for health care providers to help identify hazards related to infection control and prevention in hospitals
• Creation of safe-design guidelines for anchoring systems used as part of logging operations
• An educational program for nurses to prevent ergonomic-related injuries
• Videos and related training aids describing the most prevalent health hazards in construction: silica, lead, noise, and asbestos
• Spanish-language flip charts designed to help prevent heat illness among forest workers

The Oregon Legislature launched the Occupational Safety and Health Education and Training Grant Program in 1990. Award recommendations are made by Oregon OSHA’s Safe Employment Education and Training Advisory Committee, a group with members from business, labor, and government.

 

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About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

In an ongoing effort to improve services for Oregonians, the Department of Corrections (DOC) has modernized its public records request process by implementing new software to streamline access and communication.

 

Effective July 7, 2025, DOC will launch Granicus GovQA, a cloud-based platform designed to efficiently manage and process public records requests. Public records requests can be submitted through the DOC website:  Department of Corrections : Public Record Requests : Research and Information Requests : State of Oregon.

 

As the volume and complexity of requests have grown, DOC adopted GovQA to provide a secure, centralized, and highly customizable solution. The new system enhances transparency and improves tracking and communication—leading to better customer service.

 

Through the new public records portal, requesters can:

• Create a secure user profile.
• Submit and track requests online.
• Communicate directly with DOC staff to clarify or refine requests, helping to reduce delays and improve accuracy.
• Retrieve responsive records directly from the GovQA portal.

For DOC staff, the system standardizes workflows, increasing internal efficiency and consistency in handling requests.

 

Granicus GovQA is the largest provider of cloud-based services for government compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). It supports numerous state and local governments across the country, including other agencies within Oregon.

 

DOC employs 4,600 staff members at 12 institutions, two community corrections offices, and several centralized support facilities throughout the state. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of over 12,000 adults sentenced to more than 12 months of incarceration, and direct or indirect supervision of 24,000 offenders on felony supervision in the community. DOC is recognized nationally among correctional agencies for providing adults in custody with the cognitive, education, and job skills needed to become productive citizens when they transition back to their communities.

 

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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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Salem, Ore. – Since Monday, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Southern and Eastern Oregon Area firefighters have responded to over 100 new fire starts, both lightning and human-caused, and anticipate more to come during the holiday weekend. Through the agency’s aggressive initial attack tactics, most of the fires have been contained to an average of about half an acre.

 

In the Southern Oregon Area (all ODF-protected land from around Eugene down to the California border west of the Cascades), ODF firefighters and resources have responded to 10 lightning-caused fires and 43 human-caused fires since Monday. 

 

In the Eastern Oregon Area (all ODF-protected land east of the Cascades), ODF firefighters and resources from the Klamath-Lake, Central Oregon, and Northeast Oregon Districts have responded to over 65 new fire starts, most of which were caused by lightning. Alongside the lightning, firefighters in this area have faced the added difficulty of dry and windy conditions, making the fires more difficult to catch and suppress.

 

On top of their initial attack efforts, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District responded to and supported the extended attack operations for the Grizzly Flat fire (624 acres) and the Larch Creek Fire (92 acres). Both fire’s forward progression has been stopped. In addition, the Klamath-Lake District went into extended attack and suppressed the Bowers Bridge Fire (40 acres).

 

Fire managers anticipate these numbers will double over the weekend due to human activities like fireworks, which are prohibited in state forests and on ODF-protected land.

 

With the recent lightning in both areas, it’s important for Oregonians to help prevent wildfire by checking local restrictions before bringing fire hazards onto the landscape and actively practicing wildfire prevention while they recreate.

 

We can’t prevent lightning-caused fires, but by preventing human-caused fires we can help reduce the strain on Oregon’s firefighters and other resources. 

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. 

Oregon has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to extend the 10 day time period allowed to request replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost or destroyed due to the Rowena Fire (June 11, 2025) in Wasco County and the Alder Springs Fire (June 16, 2025) in Deschutes and Jefferson counties.

 

New deadline for SNAP replacement benefits

Households in the approved counties below now have until the following dates to report food losses and request replacement benefits:

• July 11, 2025, for impacted residents of Wasco County
• July 16, 2025, for impacted residents of Deschutes and Jefferson Counties

 

What about other counties?

For individuals who live in a county not listed above, the standard 10 day rule remains in effect. Replacement requests must be made within 10 days of the incident, and verification may be required.

 

How to request SNAP replacement benefits:

Individuals who experienced food losses due to the fires can submit a request for replacement benefits using one of the following methods:

 

• By phone: Call 1-800-699-9075 or 711 (TTY)
• In person: Visit a local office (find locations at: Oregon.gov)
• By Mail: (Requests must be received by the deadline)
• ONE Customer Service Center PO Box 14015 Salem, OR 97309
• By email: Send requests to egon.Benefits@odhsoha.oregon.gov">Oregon.Benefits@odhsoha.oregon.gov
• Online: Submit requests via the ONE online portal

 

The information necessary to make a request is available in the form 347D: https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/de0349d.pdf

 

When does the waiver end?

The waiver remains in effect until:

• July 11, 2025, for Wasco County
• July 16, 2025, for Deschutes and Jefferson Counties

After these dates, the standard 10-day reporting rule will apply.

 

About the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP provides monthly food benefits to help low-income households buy healthy food. If you qualify, the SNAP program allows individuals and families pay for groceries at authorized stores, learn about nutrition and get job training and support. For more information or to request SNAP replacement benefits, contact your local office or visit the Oregon SNAP benefit website or call 800-699-9075.

SALEM, Ore. – The State Land Board will consider appointing Kaitlin Lovell of Colton, Ore. as the Oregon Department of State Lands director during a special 30-minute virtual meeting on Wednesday, July 9, at 10 a.m.

 

A scientist and lawyer, Lovell has led habitat protection and restoration efforts for the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services since 2007. Her work includes oversight of environmental regulation, permitting, and land use. Recent focus has included developing a publicly owned and managed mitigation bank in Portland and establishing a financing strategy for critical environmental projects.

 

Lovell previously served as salmon policy coordinator and counsel for Trout Unlimited, where she sought effective science-based state and federal policy solutions and helped draft Oregon's first recovery plans for Oregon Coast Coho and for Lower Columbia and Willamette coho, chinook, and steelhead. Prior to that role, Lovell served as assistant university counsel at Cornell University.

 

Lovell holds a J.D. from Cornell Law School with a focus in public law and a B.S. in environmental science from Bucknell University.

 

She has served on multiple DSL advisory groups, including the Elliott State Research Forest Board and a committee reviewing Oregon’s rules for wetlands and waterway permitting and mitigation.

 

Under Oregon law, the State Land Board appoints the DSL director to a four-year term.

 

Vicki L. Walker, who served as DSL director from 2018 until her retirement on June 30, announced her intent to step down in December 2024.

 

At Wednesday’s meeting, the Board will also consider appointing Deputy Director Bill Ryan as interim director and setting a bond amount for the position, as required by statute.

 

 

Meeting Details and Agenda

Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 10 a.m.

 

This special meeting of the Land Board will be held virtually only. Watch the meeting livestreamed online on the DSL YouTube channel. The full meeting agenda and materials are available on the DSL website.

 

The public may submit written testimony or sign up to provide spoken testimony (by phone or virtually) during the meeting. Advanced sign-up is required. The deadline is 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9.

 

If you need assistance to participate in this meeting due to a disability, please contact Arin Smith at 503-986-5224 or in.n.smith@dsl.oregon.gov">arin.n.smith@dsl.oregon.gov at least two working days prior to the meeting.

 

About the State Land Board and the Department of State Lands: The State Land Board consists of Governor Tina Kotek, Secretary of State Tobias Read, and State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner. Established by the Oregon Constitution in 1859, the Land Board oversees the state’s Common School Fund. The Department of State Lands is the Land Board’s administrative agency, managing the lands and resources that help fund Oregon’s public schools and protecting the state’s waterways and wetlands for the many benefits they provide.

 

 

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July 3, 2025

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

Oregon WIC updates food list to boost nutrition, expand choice

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is updating its food package today for participants to enhance nutrition and expand choice for families statewide.

The updated WIC food package reflects the latest nutrition science and aligns with healthy dietary patterns recognized around the world. This marks the third update to WIC foods in the program’s 50-year history of promoting family and child health.

The last update to the WIC foods was in 2009 and introduced improvements such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The new update builds on that progress by expanding access to healthy foods for families across Oregon.

“The changes bring increased flexibility, variety and choice, allowing families to honor cultural traditions, enjoy shared meals and have healthy and whole food options,” said Tiare Sanna M.S., RDN, Oregon WIC director. “There are even better supports now for special dietary needs, including gluten-free, vegan and allergen-free options.”

• Hear Perla Castillo, RD, nutrition consultant at Oregon WIC, discuss the updated food list in videos available in English and Spanish.

Enhancements to the WIC Food Package include:

• More fruits and vegetables, expanded to include fresh-cut herbs.
• A wider variety of protein and plant-based options, including fish options for all kids and adults; more cheese varieties, including sliced, string and shredded; new yogurt brands with reduced added sugar; new plant-based milks; and new nut and seed butters.
• Expanded whole-grain bread choices such as 100% whole wheat buns, bagels, pita and naan. Plus, new gluten-free, whole-grain bread options. WIC now offers a dozen whole grains including quinoa, teff, corn masa flour, and barley to name a few.

See the WIC food package changes website for more details.

In response to WIC’s nutrition standards, food manufacturers have improved the nutritional content of products available to all consumers.

Sanna explained that when WIC increases choices and options for WIC participants, it improves choices and access for the whole community.

“When grocery stores improve access to more nutritious food options for WIC participants, it has a positive ripple effect on the entire community,” Sanna said. “For the stores, that means more customers.”

Sanna added that WIC conducts a price and availability survey throughout Oregon to ensure participants in every community across the state have similar access to food.

Starting today, July 1, Oregon WIC participants can shop for foods on the updated list using their benefit card at any of the 426 WIC-authorized grocery stores across Oregon.

About WIC

The Oregon WIC Program improves nutrition security for families by providing healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and connections to community resources for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding individuals, infants, and children up to age 5. WIC serves families in all 36 Oregon counties through more than 100 clinics

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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.

###

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.

###

Oregon Heritage, a division of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, awarded 20 grants totaling $300,000 for historic properties and archaeology projects. Six of the grants were awarded in the Diamonds in the Rough category. This grant funds façade enhancements that restore the historic character of the property. The other 14 grants were in the Preserving Oregon category for properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places and for archaeology projects.

Funded projects:

• Façade restoration grants in Burns, Lebanon, Malin, Portland, Roseburg, and Salem.
• One archaeology project:
  • Southern Oregon University for a study to develop a plastic identification tool.
• Preservation of 13 historic properties:
  • Kraus House, Aurora Colony Historical Society
  • Antelope School, Antelope
  • Marshfield Cemetery, Coos Bay
  • Madras Army Airfield North Hangar, Madras
  • City of Talent Town Hall, Talent
  • Train Depot, Wasco
  • Columbia County Courthouse, St. Helens
  • Fogelbo House, Portland
  • Bush House, Salem
  • Petersen Farm House, Deschutes County
  • Tillamook Air Museum, Tillamook
  • EM&M Building, Enterprise
  • Weissenfels Blacksmith Shop, Mt.Angel

These grants are approved by the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation, a nine-member group that reviews nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. The members are professionally recognized in the fields of history, architecture, archaeology and other related disciplines.

For more information about the grant program, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.gill@oprd.oregon.gov">Kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

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.

Salem, OR – The Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) commissioned a third-party vendor, Baker Tilly Advisory Group, to conduct an independent audit of the Oregon Motor Voter (OMV) program at the direction of Governor Tina Kotek and SOS last fall. The independent audit was one of many accountability measures initiated in response to the data entry errors discovered in OMV.

 

The audit found that the steps taken by Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and SOS to close the gaps in the OMV program were largely effective. ODOT and SOS are acting on additional recommendations from the audit to further support the program.

 

"I take any error that undermines Oregonians’ confidence in their election system incredibly seriously," Governor Tina Kotek said. "From the moment the errors were caught, I committed to ongoing accountability and continual improvement of the Oregon Motor Voter program. This report underscores the strength of that work."

 

“This independent audit is one of many things we are doing to lock down and root out errors in the Motor Voter system and earn back Oregonians’ trust. My team is already acting on these recommendations, and I’m glad to hear that what we’ve done so far is effective. We are committed to running fair, secure, accessible elections here in Oregon,” said Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read.

 

The audit assessed the effectiveness, accuracy and security of the OMV program, focusing on compliance, internal controls and data integrity. The Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) division of the ODOT and SOS elections division actively participated in the audit.

 

The audit concluded that new processes and internal controls at DMV and SOS improved areas where errors were previously identified, although some gaps remain and additional improvements could be made. Those additional improvements are focused on reviewing OMV related rules, manuals and trainings; creating formal processes for tracking and evaluating errors in the system; and conducting more regular oversight of data and error logs.

 

The findings and recommendations from the audit are intended to enhance the integrity, compliance and operational efficiency of the OMV program, earning public trust and assuring access to a fundamental right through the automatic voter registration process.

 

For additional information on this audit, visit ODOT Motor Voter Program Audit website.

 

###

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

 

Riley Freeman, 26, of Portland, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offenses of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon and possession of an unregistered destructive device.

 

Andrew Marcum, 22, of Portland, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.

 

Jeremy Hummel, 27, of Portland, has been charged by criminal complaint with the misdemeanor offense of depredation of government property.

 

Ian Joseph McCarthy, 35, of Portland, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offenses of assaulting a federal officer and depredation of government property.

 

According to court documents and information shared in court, on July 4, 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 8:00pm, federal officers observed an individual defacing the ICE building guard shack with graffiti. As an officer began to pursue the individual, Marcum ran toward the officer and kicked the officer in the leg, causing the officer to trip.

 

At approximately 8:41pm, officers observed another individual, later identified as Hummel, defacing the ICE building with black spray paint.

 

At approximately 11:16pm, as federal officers cleared a group of people off federal property, Freeman threw an incendiary device towards the officers that detonated near them. Freeman attempted to flee but officers pursued him and Freeman was arrested.

 

The same evening, federal officers observed McCarthy using bolt cutters to attempt to damage a proximity card reader near the vehicle entrance of the building. McCarthy had also been observed removing and damaging the fiber optic cable system to the ICE building, interrupting internet and communication service for the building. While being placed under arrest, McCarthy kicked and punched several officers assisting in the arrest.

 

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 assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison, and assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. Felony possession of an unregistered destructive device and depredation of government property over $1,000 are punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. Depredation of government property under $1,000 is a class A misdemeanor and is punishable by up to one year in prison.

 

These cases are being investigated by the Federal Protective Service (FPS) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). They are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

 

Since June 13, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged 22 defendants with offenses committed at the ICE building including assaulting federal officers, arson, possession of a destructive device, and depredation of government property.

 

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

# # #

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.

 

# # #

The ISOR-PH Regular board meeting has been rescheduled for July 17th, 2025 @11:30.

Insight School of Oregon Painted Hills Board Members are hereby notified that a Meeting of the Board is rescheduled for July 17th, 2025 @11:30am. 

 

The meeting will take place on July 17th, 2025 @11:30am.

Insight School of Oregon Painted Hills Board Members are hereby notified that the Meeting of the Board will be held at:

1.Via Teleconference - using any of the following US phone numbers

+1 253 215 8782

+1 346 248 7799

+1 669 900 9128

+1 301 715 8592

+1 312 626 6799

+1 646 558 8656

Meeting ID is: 915 0788 7277

And

2. Via Zoom Meeting Link:

https://onlineoregon-org.zoom.us/j/91507887277

The Public has been invited to the Board Meeting with notices posted at the following locations:

A. FlashNet Newswire

http://flashalertbend.net/press-releases.html

B. Insight School of Oregon Painted Hills Office

603 NW 3rd Street

Prineville, OR 97754

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact: Colin Fogarty, Director of Communications

Oregon Community Foundation, cfogarty@oregoncf.org

 

DON’T LET ANYONE DIM THEIR LIGHT

Black Education Elders Honored for Their Legacies Supporting Students

 

PORTLAND, Ore. — Believe in Black children. Draw inspiration and strength from your ancestors, elders and community. Build the school system students deserve. And don’t let anyone dim their light.

 

These were the messages from visionary Black educators honored this summer by Oregon Community Foundation. Some honorees led sweeping institutional change. Others built community organizations from the ground up. And many worked within the system to inspire and educate generations of Oregon students.

 

Honoring a Legacy of Service

 

The event “Honoring Our Legacy, Investing in the Future” marked Juneteenth and recognized 13 educators for contributions spanning more than 50 years. It was hosted by OCF’s Black Student Success Initiative.

 

“My grandmother’s mother was born into slavery. So this is not a theory for me,” said Ron Herndon, honored for his advocacy for Portland children and nationally recognized early childhood education leadership. “We have to build upon the strength that has been given to us through our ancestors.”

 

Herndon recommended that anyone working with Black students familiarize themselves with the works of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington and Dr. Carter G. Woodson.

 

With those educators and authors in mind, Herndon co‑founded the Black Education Center and led the Portland chapter of the Black United Front, which helped end harmful student‑busing practices in Portland Public Schools in 1979 and influenced the selection of the district’s first Black superintendent, Dr. Matthew Prophet, in 1982. He later became director of Albina Head Start and president of the National Head Start Association.

 

“Honoring these leaders shows where we’ve been, how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go,” said Marcy Bradley, chief community engagement and equity officer for OCF. “Their work improved education for Black children and for all Oregon students.”

 

Stories of Courage and Commitment

 

The evening featured tributes from leaders inspired by those honored, including Joe McFerrin, president and CEO of Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center and Kali Thorne‑Ladd, CEO of Children’s Institute and co‑founder of KairosPDX. Marsha Williams, also a co‑founder of KairosPDX, served as emcee.

 

During a panel moderated by OCF President and CEO Lisa Mensah, Herndon and fellow honoree Dr. Harriet Adair shared personal reflections.

 

Adair recalled that her own mother was barred from teaching in Portland Public Schools. While her family and community believed in her, the system often did not.

 

When Adair was a high school senior her counselor expressed surprise that she intended to attend college after she’d been offered a scholarship to Bryn Mawr College, adding that Adair lacked the math classes to attend. Adair said she vowed never be the adult who kills a child’s dream.

 

Adair became a middle school teacher then principal of King Elementary School in a historically Black Northeast Portland neighborhood. She later earned a doctorate and served as assistant superintendent of PPS. Her former high school, once named for slave‑owning President James Madison, is now named for Leodis V. McDaniel, a Black principal who once led it.

 

Innovators Who Opened Doors

 

Another honoree reflected on how her grandfather inspired her.

 

“If my grandfather could get an education when it was against the law then I could learn to do anything,” said Renee Anderson, who battled racism to become a mathematics teacher in the 1960s and founded and led Oregon MESA for 40 years. The organization offers science, technology, engineering and math education and mentoring to students of color, girls and non‑binary students, low‑income students and those who are the first in their families to attend college.

 

“Now we call it STEM education but Renee Anderson did this long before it had a name,” Bradley said.

 

Advancing Equity in Education

 

Honorees included Dr. Darrell Millner, professor emeritus and former chair of Portland State University’s Black Studies Department, and Lolenzo Poe, who launched Multnomah County’s Schools Uniting Neighborhood program and co‑chaired the Portland School Board.

 

As chief equity and diversity officer for PPS, Poe developed the district’s Racial Educational Equity Plan. The initiative helped raise Black student graduation rates.

 

“Lolenzo has been a giant force for equity in Portland and Multnomah County,” Thorne‑Ladd said, calling Poe “the Black godfather of Portland’s electoral and political scene.”

 

Solutions Rooted in Community

 

Many of those honored were instrumental in advocating for the Oregon Legislature's landmark investments in Black student success. They pushed for policies requiring community voice in how funds are spent and urged OCF to get involved.

 

Since 2019 OCF has invested more than $6 million in the Black Student Success Initiative and a network of 25 Black‑led, Black‑serving organizations that provide direction to funders on best practices from early childhood through post‑secondary.

 

“When you let the community that knows the challenge create the solutions what you get are practices that work for all children. Best practices spread out from one group of children to the next,” Bradley said.

 

Looking Forward, Looking Back

 

For Bradley, the event was as much about looking forward as looking back. Black student achievement continues to lag other groups in Oregon.

 

“Improving student achievement it’s a tough nut to crack,” she said. “There’s not just one place for educators to learn how to do it. The people we honored are bold and brilliant educators. We can all learn from them and draw courage for the challenging work that lies ahead.”

 

See a full list of the honorees and their biographies below.

 

 

Honoree Biographies

 

Ms. Barbara Ward

 

Believer. Cultivator. Guide.

 

“Belief doesn’t just happen. It comes from understanding who you are and that you have unlimited potential to change this world, just by being your unique self.”

 

Ms. Barbara Ward understands the power of belief. Serving as De La Salle North Catholic School’s counselor for 16 years, she believed in the future of thousands of young people who walked through her door. Guiding them on a journey into the rest of their lives, Ms. Ward is known by countless students as someone who not only knew they were destined for great things, but helped them discover it for themselves.

 

Born in 1952, Ms. Ward learned how to cultivate her own belief in herself at an early age, and in a time when every door to success was firmly shut. Facing the daily realities of oppressive systems that had no place for her, Ms. Ward would not be dissuaded, and she created her own. Her love of education not only flourished, but later became infectious, and she would spend the next decades of her career pouring into generations of students, illuminating their path to college and beyond. Thousands of North and Northeast Portland students credit Ms. Ward for opening up their futures and showing them that the world was waiting for the unique contribution only they could bring.

• Retired College Counselor, De La Salle North Catholic School

 

Ms. Cynthia Richardson

 

Champion. Path-maker. Mobilizer.

 

“No matter where you are, you go in, know who you are, and stand for what's right.”

 

The first African American high school principal of Salem-Keizer school district, Cynthia Richardson spent the last 44 years opening and walking through doors that had been closed for too long. And she taught her students that they could do the same.

 

Serving as a teacher, assistant principal and principal, district Director of Student Equity, Access, and Advancement, Vice Chair of the state Board of Education, and currently, the Chair of the Salem-Keizer School Board, Ms. Richardson has inspired thousands of young people to discover and live in their unique identities. Building deep and lasting relationships with students and families over the years, and nurturing their personal and academic success, Cynthia’s impact on her community and beyond will continue for generations to come.

• Principal, Salem-Keizer School District
• School Board Chair, Salem-Keizer Public Schools
• Director of Student Equity, Access, and Advancement, Salem-Keizer Public Schools

 

Dr. Darrell Millner

 

Truth-teller. Activist. Future-builder.

 

“We can’t change what happened in history ... the only thing we can change is what happens now."

 

As Professor Emeritus and former Department Chair of Black Studies of Portland State University, Dr. Darrell Millner is a widely recognized expert and preeminent scholar of the early 19th-century western movement of African-Americans, specializing in the Oregon and California trail experiences.

 

With a doctorate in education, Dr. Millner spent the last 50 years awakening students to the complex and largely unrecognized truth of the racist exclusionary laws of early Oregon, the richness of Afro-American Literature and Black cinema, and much more. Uplifting diverse histories in his scholarly work, Dr. Millner's equally profound contributions as Director of Multicultural Education for the Portland Public Schools have impacted thousands of young Oregonians. Dr. Millner's legacy points us all to the deep truths of history, and that when we acknowledge them, we have the power to revolutionize our future.

• Professor Emeritus, Former Department Chair of Black Studies, Portland State University
• Director of Multicultural Education of Portland Public Schools

 

Dr. Ernest Hartzog

 

Activist. Pioneer. Transformer.

 

“Learn the value of forgiveness, of love, and of brotherhood, as we work in the trenches to bring about equality in our nation.”

 

In 1969, following a massive ten-day student walkout, Dr. Ernest Hartzog was named San Diego’s first African-American high school Principal. Rooted deeply in the civil rights movement and with over 40 years in public and private education, ranging from Michigan and Pennsylvania to Washington D.C. and Oregon, Dr. Ernest Hartzog left an indelible mark across our nation’s educational landscape.

 

As he trailblazed the journey for equal rights in Oregon, including the desegregation of our state’s schools, Dr. Hartzog’s vision to widen avenues for those coming after him led to him founding the Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators and served as President of the National Alliance of Black School Educators. Today, as part owner of MJOD Consulting, a leadership and organizational development organization, Dr. Hartzog continues to invest his wisdom and leadership in his community.

• Adjunct professor at California Western University, San Diego and Portland State University
• Founder, Building Blocks to Success, Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators
• President of the National Alliance of Black School Educators
• Consultant at the Center for Studies of The Person, in La Jolla, Calif.
• Consultant for the National Training Laboratory for Applied Behavioral Sciences (NTL), in Washington D.C.
• Member of the Advisory board of the “I Have a Dream” Foundation and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

 

Mr. George Russell

 

Advocate. Powerhouse. Wayfinder.

 

“With the right mindset, the right belief system, and the willpower, we can find a way to do what’s best for our kids.”

 

Named Oregon’s Superintendent of the Year in 2005, George Russell served the Eugene 4J School District for over a decade, but his presence and influence in the educational system extend far and wide. Contributing to the Danforth Foundation’s Forum for the American School Superintendent and Harvard University’s Superintendent Leadership program, Mr. Russell has been recognized for his ability to mobilize great minds and action on behalf of this country’s young people.

 

His belief in the innate possibilities of all children has always driven his vision for and definition of success. As former President of the NAACP’s Education Committee and Executive Board Member with Blacks in Government, Mr. Russell’s influence in education and civic service has created multiple pathways for, and uplifted the dreams of, thousands of children and families and entire communities across Oregon.

• Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 First Citizen Award Winner
• Member of Oregon State Board of Education, Children’s Institute Board, Looking Glass Community Services Board and United Way of Lane County’s Advisory Board
• 2017 United Way Alton F. Baker Award winner
• NAACP board member and Chair of its Education Committee
• Executive board member of Blacks in Government
• 2005 Oregon’s Superintendent of the Year

 

Dr. Harriet Adair

 

Firebrand. Activator. Trailblazer.

 

“With the right kind of energy and level of support to students, they’ll do all sorts of phenomenal things.”

 

The self-proclaimed daughter of a “door-opener,” Dr. Harriet Adair confidently strode into Portland Public Schools in 1970 as a middle school teacher. Serving a district that at one point barred her own mother from teaching because of her race, Dr. Adair never doubted that she belonged in every room she entered. She spent the next 47 years making sure every child she met knew they belonged too. Moving to the rank of Principal and finally to Assistant Superintendent of the district’s Office of Early Learners, Schools and Student Supports, Dr. Adair’s imprint on the lives of children, from preschool to high-school graduation is unmistakable.

 

As her family’s sixth generation with a master’s degree, Dr. Adair earned her doctorate from Brigham Young University, and in turn, wove this legacy into mentoring the next generations of teachers and leaders of color. Awarded the President’s Award from the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators, Dr. Adair will go down in history as someone who changed the landscape of education — and the future of thousands of Oregon youth.

• Principal and Assistant Superintendent, Portland Public Schools
• 2014 President’s Award from the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators
• Member of Oregon Governor’s Early Learning Council

 

Mrs. Joyce Braden Harris

 

Groundbreaker. Revolutionary. Leader.

 

“Culturally responsive education means using history and culture as bridges to children’s learning — making sure that you enter into their world.”

 

In 1969, Joyce Braden Harris came to Reed College on a full academic ride as one of only 17 African American students — and she never looked back. Recognized for her groundbreaking work in the national civil rights movement and education, Harris co-founded the Black Education Center, which provided free summer education to African American children in Portland. In 1974, the center became a full-time private school.

 

Awarded the Woman of Excellence in Education Award, among many others, Harris’s Baseline Essay on African-American Traditions in Language Arts has been recognized and adopted by hundreds of school districts across the country. Her years of teaching, activism and consultancy within the Portland Public Schools district and beyond have revolutionized curricula and ensured generations of children receive the equitable education they deserve.

• Co-founder, Black Education Center
• Member of Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform
• Woman of Excellence in Education Award winner

 

Ms. Linda Jean Harris

 

Visionary. Dedicated Principal. Coach.

 

Linda Jean Harris is a retired educator who served for 33 years with Portland Public Schools, including as Assistant Superintendent. She holds degrees in Language Arts, Psychology, and School Administration, and earned her Superintendent’s Certification from Lewis & Clark College.

 

Following her PPS career, Linda spent 13 years at Self-Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) Academy as principal and administrative coach. Under her leadership, Woodlawn School earned state and national recognition, including the Title I Program of Merit for Math and a five-year national grant for High Performing Learning Communities. At SEI Academy, she helped the school receive the National Center for Urban School Transformation Award and the National Title I Distinguished School Award.

 

A firm believer in instructional leadership, Linda champions the belief that all students can learn at high levels.

 

Mr. Lolenzo Poe

 

Culture-shifter. Organizer. Justice-seeker.

 

“In our focus on educational equity, you cannot waver. If you commit resources, we can ultimately close the gap.”

 

Born and raised in North Portland, Mr. Poe’s pursuit of justice and equal access to education has marked a decades-long service in communities across the state. Earning his Bachelor’s degree and then Master’s of Public Administration at Oregon State University, Poe spent the next 32 years at Multnomah County, first directing the Department of Community & Family Services, and later as director of the Department of School & Community Partnerships. A founder of the acclaimed Schools Uniting Neighborhoods program, Mr. Poe’s influence and impact extend across communities throughout the state.

 

As the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Chief Equity and Diversity Officer and Director of Partnership Development for Portland Public Schools, Mr. Poe was instrumental in developing and driving the district's Racial Equity Plan, which resulted in astonishing achievements. In his own words, a “product of a community that took care of and loved its own,” Mr. Poe’s life and service have left a lasting and unwavering reflection of this love in action.

• Chief Equity and Diversity Officer and Director of Partnership Development, Portland Public Schools
• Director of Strategic Partnerships, Portland Public Schools
• Director, Department of Community & Family Services
• Director, Multnomah County Department of Community & Family Services
• Director of the Department of School & Community Partnerships, Multnomah County
• Co-chair, Urban League of Portland Board of Directors
• Founder, Oregon Schools Uniting Neighborhoods program

 

Mr. Ray Leary

 

Overcomer. Empowerer. Legacy-maker.

 

“By embracing the unknown, seeking relationships and building connections, you can create a momentum so great, you cannot be denied.”

 

Mr. Leary’s multifaceted leadership in the city of Portland has had a sprawling and sustained impact on its educational landscape as well as economic and civic development. A graduate of Jefferson High School in the 1970’s, and co-captain of one of the first ever all-Black Oregon State Championship winning teams, Mr. Leary blazed an early path of pioneering places, initiatives and accomplishments most had only dreamed of. As Director of Development of the Urban League of Portland, and the first African American commissioner on Metro’s Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission, Leary’s advocacy has always been rooted in his unwavering belief in the power of resilience, mentorship and empowering youth.

 

Co-Director of Self Enhancement, Inc., a nationally acclaimed youth empowerment program with a decades-long presence and impact in Portland public schools, Mr. Leary has brought forth his own deeply personal experience of persevering against all odds to create a future for all Portland children where dreams have the power to turn into legacies of change.

• Co-director of Self Enhancement, Inc.
• Director of Development of the Urban League of Portland
• Commissioner, Metro Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission

 

Mrs. Renee Anderson

 

Creator. Advocate. Firebrand.

 

“If my grandfather could get an education when it was against the law, then I could learn to do anything.”

 

Mrs. Renee Anderson’s journey to Portland came by way of San Francisco, where, as a young girl in the early 1960s, she was forced to fight through blatant racism and daily obstacles to pursue her dream of teaching mathematics. Not only did she achieve this dream, teaching at Berkeley and later as Director of the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program at San Francisco State University, she made it her goal to do the same for thousands of young people coming after her.

 

In 1985, Anderson was recruited to launch the MESA Program for Portland Public Schools. She built the program from the ground up, and the results of her investment and commitment to equity in STEM over the last 40 years are incalculable. Today, her role on the Board of Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators, and as Co-Chair of the African American/Black Student Success Advisory Group for the Oregon Department of Education, Anderson’s deep belief in the endless possibilities of Oregon’s youth knows no bounds.

• Director, Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program at San Francisco State University
• Founder, Portland Public Schools MESA Program
• Board member, Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators
• Outreach Director, Saturday Academy
• Co-Chair, African American/Black Student Success Advisory Group, Oregon Department of Education
• Program Coordinator, Black Student Success Network

 

Mr. Ron Herndon

 

Provoker. Uplifter. Reformer.

 

“Whatever I have been a part of in my life has been because of the influences of adults who pushed us towards excellence in education.”

 

Mr. Ron Herndon came to Reed College in 1968 on a Rockefeller scholarship and discovered entrenched racist and discriminatory systems as deep as he’d ever encountered. He and his colleagues spent their tenure at Reed involved in constant activism, and it was here that he co-founded the widely acclaimed Black Educational Center. In 1975, Herndon was named director of the Albina Ministerial Alliance Head Start Program, and later, organized the Portland chapter of the Black United Front to reform and eventually abolish harmful busing practices in Portland.

 

Instrumental in the hiring of the city’s first Black school superintendent, Herndon established himself as a leader in Portland’s educational system, but his advocacy for equality and justice can be seen across sectors of society. A recipient of the Gladys McCoy Award for “outstanding lifetime volunteer service dedicated to improving the [Multnomah] county community,” Mr. Herndon’s dogged determination to uplift community power has made, and continues to make, a lasting difference.

• Co-Founder, Black Educational Center
• Director, Albina Ministerial Alliance Head Start Program
• President, National Head Start Association
• Founder, Portland chapter of Black United Front
• President, National Head Start Association
• Gladys McCoy Award winner

 

Mr. Tony Hopson Sr.

 

Agitator. Pursuer. Radical.

 

“Because our young people were taught to see themselves as leaders, today they are in leadership positions themselves, in Portland and beyond.”

 

When Tony Hopson Sr. started a summer camp for Black students in Northeast Portland 44 years ago, he could never have imagined the organization it has become, serving approximately 17,000 Portland youth every year, and changing the trajectory of a generation of Portland families’ futures. Today, Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) is known for its wide-reaching presence in Portland’s public schools, providing opportunities and mentoring students to succeed in academics, leadership and life through college and beyond. A graduate of Jefferson High School and member of the historic 1972 basketball state championship team that faced insurmountable odds, Hopson’s personal and professional fight for justice began early in life and has never stopped.

 

Hopson not only fought back the closure of Jefferson High School in 2010 but, through the work of SEI, achieved staggering results by moving the graduation rate from 54% to well over 93%. Though retiring as the organization’s CEO in 2024, Hopson’s commitment to empowering youth and holding Portland’s leaders accountable to unconditional and equal educational opportunities has no end date.

• Founder, Self Enhancement, Inc.

About Oregon Community Foundation

Since 1973, Oregon Community Foundation has worked to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. In 2024, OCF distributed more than $211 million in grants and scholarships in every county in Oregon in partnership with donors and volunteers. Individuals, families, businesses and organizations can work with OCF to create charitable funds to support causes important to them. To learn more, visit oregoncf.org.
 

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Portland, OR — The America 250 Oregon Commission invites community members to get involved in the state semiquincentennial commemoration, in anticipation of the official observance on July 4, 2026.

 

Created by Oregon Senate Bill 1531 and chaired by OHS’s executive director Kerry Tymchuk, the America 250 Oregon Commission’s 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.”

 

“America’s 250th anniversary offers an opportunity to celebrate our successes, honestly reckon with our setbacks, and inspire all of us to participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment,” said Tymchuk.

 

Learn more about how you can get involved in this once-in-a-lifetime commemoration.

 

America 250 Oregon Community Calendar

 

The America 250 Oregon Commission invites individuals, organizations, and communities across the state to participate in our state’s official 250th commemoration by hosting events that reflect the diversity, creativity, and history of Oregon. Whether you’re planning a lecture, festival, exhibition, performance, community conversation, or something entirely unique — the commission wants to hear from you!

 

To be featured on the America 250 Oregon community calendar, your event must align with at least one of the commission guideposts — the foundational values guiding our semiquincentennial commemoration effort in Oregon.

 

Fill out the Event Submission Form if you would like your event included on the America 250 Oregon community calendar. All submissions will be reviewed and could take up to 3 weeks for response. Please submit a separate form for each program, project, or event you plan to host. Approved events will receive the “America 250 Oregon Official Event” logo for inclusion on promotional materials.

 

America 250 Oregon Traveling Exhibitions

 

The America 250 Oregon Commission is currently offering two traveling exhibitions that are available to rent at no cost!

 

The Power of Place highlights Oregon’s awe-inspiring landscapes, from its rugged coastline to its tranquil valleys and majestic peaks, many of which have remained unchanged for centuries.

 

The Pursuit of Happiness shifts the focus to the people and communities of Oregon and the way we gather to celebrate the diverse cultures that define our state. 

 

Both exhibitions are also available to view for free online here.

 

Get Involved

 

If you or your organization is interested in getting involved with the America 250 Oregon commemoration, please contact egon.250@ohs.org">oregon.250@ohs.org or sign up for the official America 250 Oregon email list.

About the America 250 Oregon Commission

 

The mission of the America 250 Oregon Commission 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. Learn more at oregon250.org.

Portland, OR — The Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation (OLSHF) is excited to announce its inaugural KTP (Keeping the Promise) Summer Soirée, a family-friendly open house event on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at The Aerie at Eagle Landing in Happy Valley.

The event celebrates 100 years of Lions service inspired by Helen Keller’s historic 1925 address to the Lions International Convention. In her call to action, she urged Lions to become “Knights of the Blind in my crusade against darkness.” This century-long commitment remains the heart of OLSHF’s mission, ensuring all Oregonians have access to essential vision and hearing care.

The KTP Summer Soirée will offer an informal, welcoming environment designed to introduce friends, family, and community members to OLSHF’s mission. Attendees can expect: Drinks and small bites, Mini golf and family-friendly games, Interactive program tables showcasing OLSHF’s impact, and Networking and celebrations of dedicated volunteers and supporters.

This summer's event also highlights a major milestone: OLSHF’s 2 millionth school vision screening. Since 1994, the School Vision Screening (SVS) program has grown into the largest of its kind in the nation, screening nearly 200,000 Oregon students annually and helping uncover vision issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.

“More than a party, this event is a celebration of a century of service and the community partnerships that make our mission possible,” said Kate Mayne, Marketing & Events Manager. “We invite everyone to join us, meet our team, and see firsthand how we’re keeping the promise to Helen Keller.”

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025
Time: 4:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: The Aerie at Eagle Landing, Happy Valley, OR
Tickets: On sale through July 24 at olshf.org/ktp-summer-soiree
Transportation: Lyft discount codes available upon request; free parking on site.

For media inquiries or more information:
Kate Mayne
Marketing & Events Manager
Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation
Email: kate@olshf.org
Website: olshf.org
Follow us on social media: @olshf

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.

 

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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.