At 3:54 am, Bend Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a reported structure fire at 133-1/2 NW Broadway Street.  The caller was awakened by the smoke alarm and reported seeing flames coming from the top of an interior wall behind the woodstove.  First arriving crews found a working attic fire and were able to quickly suppress the fire.  The home is only 408 square feet, was constructed in 1915, and was heated by a small woodstove in the living room.  Losses are estimated at $8,000.

Upon investigation, the cause of the fire was found to be stove pipe that was installed too close to structural members.  In addition, the ceiling plate for the stove pipe was made of reused metal roofing material, which could have also conducted heat to adjacent structural components. 

Bend Fire & Rescue would like to remind the community that working smoke alarms save lives!  Had there not been a properly installed and working smoke alarm in this home, the outcome could have been far different.  If your smoke alarms are older than 10 years, they need to be replaced.  If you can't afford smoke alarms, contact your local fire agency as many fire departments offer smoke alarm installation.  Visit www.bendoregon.gov/government/departments/fire-rescue/safety-tips-emergency-preparedness/year-round-safety-tips for more information on smoke alarms and other important home safety tips.  

At 4/35 am, Bend Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched to Trader Joe's, 63455 N. Hwy 97, on a possible commercial structure fire.  Store employees beginning their work day had entered the store and found light smoke throughout, with a strong odor present. They immediately evacuated the store and called 911.  First arriving fire crews found a haze of smoke in the building with no obvious source.  Upon further investigation, they were able to trace the source back to one of the commercial display freezers.  The fire had self extinguished but there was still a refrigerant leak that was causing hazardous conditions due to the flammability of the refrigerant.  Crews were able to shut all systems down, ventilate the building, and the scene was turned over to Trader Joe's staff and HVAC contractors to initiate repairs and cleanup.  The total loss is estimated at approximately $10,000 due to a large quantity of grocery products that had to be discarded.

Upon investigation, the cause of the fire was electrical wiring that arced against the copper refrigerant tubing, creating a hole and allowing the flammable refrigerant to escape.  Actual fire damage was limited to the display freezer, but smoke and odors were dispersed throughout the building.  Trader Joe's is closed today for cleanup and repairs, but they will reopen on Sunday.

Bend Fire & Rescue would like to commend the staff of Trader Joe's for their quick and correct actions in evacuating the building, moving to a safe area, and calling 911 immediately.  Businesses are encouraged to have an emergency plan, and for all employees to receive training and opportunities to practice that plan.  Good planning ahead of time can result in a much better outcome when seconds count.  Visit www.bendoregon.gov/government/departments/fire-rescue/safety-tips-emergency-preparedness/emergency-preparedness for more information.  

Incident: Attempted Robbery at Cash Connection / Robbery at Expressway Market & Gas, Suspect Arrested

Case Numbers: 2021-0004102 (Cash Connection) and 2021-00004118 (Expressway)

Dates and Times: Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 3:17 PM PST (Cash Connection) and 4:18 PM PST (Expressway)

Location: Cash Connection, 1031 NE 5th Street and Expressway Market & Gas, 1450 SE Reed Market Road Bend, Oregon

Arrested: Levi R. Church, 19-year old Central Oregon Resident 

Victims: 41-year old Cash Connection Clerk (Male) and 19-year old Expressway clerk (Male) 

On Saturday, January 23, 2021 about 3:17 PM an employee at Cash Connection located at 1031 NE 5th Street in Bend, called 9-1-1 to report a suspicious male had just attempted to rob the store.  The caller told police that a suspicious male entered the store, approached the cashier and asked for money from the register.  The male left the store without any money.  The cashier provided police with a partial license plate and a full description of the suspect and vehicle (a silver Dodge van).  Based on information obtained during the investigation officers identified Levi Church as a person of interest.  No weapons were displayed or seen during this incident.

On Saturday, January 23, 2021 about 4:23 PM a male clerk from the Expressway Market & Gas Station located at 1450 SE Reed Market Road in Bend called 9-1-1 to report a robbery had just occurred at the store.  The clerk reported a male, who he knew as Levi Church, had just robbed them and left the store with an undisclosed amount of money.  No weapons were displayed by the suspect or seen by the witnesses during this incident.

Police believed that the two incidents were related and sent out an attempt to locate to all neighboring law enforcement agencies in Central Oregon.

At 4:56 PM a Deschutes County Sheriff's Deputy spotted Church’s van near the Circle K in Sunriver, Oregon (located at 56896 Venture Lane).  The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputy, with the assistance of the Sunriver Police Department, contacted Church outside the vehicle and he was arrested.  A search of Church and the van revealed US currency believed to be profits from the previous robbery.  No weapons were located on Church or in the vehicle.

Church was transported to the Deschutes County Adult Jail where he will be lodged on the crimes of Robbery in the second degree, Theft 1 and Menacing (for the Expressway incident) and Attempted Robbery in the second degree and Attempted Theft 1 (for the Cash Connection incident).

The city of Bend Police Department would like to thank the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Sunriver Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.

On January 25, 2020 Bend-La Pine School District kindergarten through 3rd grade students will be transitioning to in person learning throughout the City of Bend. Bend Police want to remind the public to be observant around the schools and in the school zones. Give yourself extra time to travel to your destination as the school zones will be in effect and enforced. There are multiple school zone signs that are used within our City, please visit our social media platforms on Facebook and Instagram for a description of each and instructional videos.

Submitted by:

Sergeant Tim Guest

Update to previous press release:

Incident:  Arrest in Recovered Stolen Vehicle Case

Date and Time:  Monday, January 18, 2021 at 1:46pm

Location:  Shilo Inn Motel, 1305 OB Riley Rd.

Suspect:  Shawn Claxton, 50 year old male

Narrative:

During the course of this investigation, Officers determined the suspect in this case was Shawn Claxton.  

On January 18th, 2021 at 1:46pm, Officers learned Claxton was staying in an unknown room at the Shilo Inn., located at 3105 OB Riley Rd. in Bend.  

Several Officers drove to the area and attempted to locate Claxton.  While Officers were searching for Claxton, he was seen in a stairwell.  He ran up the stairs and climbed onto the roof of the building.  Officers negotiated with Claxton for 30 minutes before he eventually climbed through an open window and was arrested without further incident.   

Claxton was lodged in the Deschutes County Adult Jail for the following charges:

Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle

Criminal Mischief I

Criminal Mischief II

Criminal Trespass II (x2)

Criminal Trespass II (Attempted)

PCS - Methamphetamine (Felony)

DCS - Methamphetamine

MCS - Methamphetamine

Possession of a Stolen Vehicle

Interfering with a Police Officer

Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer (Misdemeanor)

In-State Arrest Warrant (x2)

End of Update

Incident: Recovered Stolen Vehicle 

Case Number: 2021-00001785 

Date and Time: Monday, January 11, 2021 at 1016am 

Location: 849 NE 3rd Street 

Suspect: Unknown white male adult 

Victim: Bend resident 

Victim Vehicle: 1995 Blue GMC Yukon 

Narrative: 

On January 11, 2021 at 1016am, an Officer with the Bend Police Department identified a stolen vehicle driven by an unknown white male adult on NE 3rd Street. As the officer was confirming the status of the vehicle being stolen, the vehicle pulled into the parking lot of the Days Inn, located at 849 NE 3rd Street. The stolen vehicle was a 1995 GMC Yukon.  

Shortly after the vehicle was stopped, the driver ran from the vehicle towards NE Hawthorne and NE 2nd. Officers followed the suspect, as the suspect entered a gated area of 221 NE Hawthorne (Monkey Wrench Automotive). The suspect left Monkey Wrench Automotive and ran towards a residence on NE 2nd and NE Hawthorne.  

After setting a perimeter in the area, officers were unable to locate the suspect. The search included areas surrounding the residence and the abandoned business. Officers are continuing the investigation into identifying and locating the suspect. 

The stolen Yukon was returned to the vehicle owner.  

Bend Police was assisted by Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, to include Deputy Ben Bartness and his K9 partner "Masa."   

This investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information on this case, please call the non-emergency line at 541-693-6911 and reference case number 2021-1785. 

End of release 

Released by: Lt. Mike Biondi, Special Services Coordinator

Occurred: 01/20/2021 at 8:00 p.m.

Location: Cascade Lakes Hwy near FS road 40

Rescued:  Walters, Timothy - Jefferson, Or, 20 year old male

Vehicle: Black 2001 Chevy Silverado pickup

NARRATIVE:

On 01/20/21 at about 8:00 PM, Deschutes County Dispatch received a call from Ken Walters stating that his son, Timothy Walters, was stuck in the snow.  Ken said Timothy believed he was in the Sisters area.  During the phone call, Timothy's phone battery died.  When Ken was unable to re-contact Timothy he called dispatch.

A phone ping was initiated and gave a general location of 9.8 miles southwest of Mt. Bachelor but no specific coordinates.  A Deschutes County Search and Rescue Coordinator was contacted for assistance. 

Five Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers and one Special Services Deputy responded to assist.  Two SAR members were sent to the area of Cascade Lakes Hwy via FS road 40.  The volunteers travelled the majority of the way to the stuck subjects with a 4x4 pickup.  They then deployed the tracked DCSO SAR ARGO ATV and located Timothy at  02:35 a.m.  He was uninjured and in good spirits. SAR members learned Timothy was attempting to hike in the Three Sisters wilderness.  

Timothy was provided a courtesy ride back to Bend where he was reunited with his family.  All DCSO resources returned to quarters by 05:00 a.m. 

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office would like to remind those travelling during the winter to anticipate changes in the weather and varying snowpack conditions.  It is also recommended if you’re travelling forest service roads this time of year they are generally not maintained so planning your route is suggested.  Also, be sure to bring appropriate vehicles and equipment: including a shovel, lighting, clothing, blankets, food, water, navigation and communication devices to include a cell phone charger.

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 six K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 191 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.

End of release

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. Today: Building a digital defense with smart passwords and passphrases.

Last week, we talked about how bad actors are using stolen email passwords to gain access to smart home devices – think of items such as surveillance cameras and internet-connected doorbells. They are using that access to make 911 calls to law enforcement, resulting in a mass response – including SWAT teams. The best way to protect yourself is to use complex passwords or passphrases for online accounts, and don’t reuse passwords across different accounts.

The start of the new year is a great time to look at the passwords you use and make some easy – but consequential – changes.

Rule number 1 – Make sure, at the very least, that your email, financial, and health accounts all have unique passwords or passphrases.

Rule number 2 – Make sure your password or passphrase is as long as the system will allow.

Rule number 3 – Creating new passwords doesn’t have to be super complicated… just make sure they are complex. One easy way to do that is to create a passphrase. Pick a string of words that only you would associate with each other.

For instance, picture a scene that is unique to you such as your backyard and put those thoughts together. “Broken oak tree with fence needing staining overcome by snails and moss” can become “brokenoakstainsnailsmoss”. That’s 24 characters. Add in a capital, special character, and a number and you just made your passphrase even stronger but still easy to remember: “Brokenoak$tainsnailsmo55”.

Make sure you avoid well known strings of words that other people would put together – such as the colors of the rainbow or the name of a popular book.

Rule Number 4 - A password or passphrase is only the first piece of what’s called multi-factor authentication (or MFA). To keep yourself safe, you need at least two – preferably more – pieces to that MFA puzzle. Here’s an easy way to remember what multi-factor authentication includes:

• Something you know (passphrase or password)
• Something you have (such as a randomly-generated PIN texted to your phone)
• Something you are (such as face or fingerprint imaging)

Finally – consider using a reputable password manager. A manager is a program that saves all of your passwords locally or in a cloud vault, and all you have to remember is that one, very complex master passphrase. As with everything, there are no guarantees of 100% safety, but the more roadblocks you can build, the safer you likely will be.

If you believe your e-mail or other smart device credentials have been compromised, you should report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Center at www.ic3.gov or call your FBI local office.  

###

Director Christopher Wray has named Kieran Ramsey as the special agent in charge of the Portland Field Office. Most recently, Mr. Ramsey served as the director of the FBI Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Ramsey joined the FBI as a special agent in 1998 and was assigned to the Seattle Field Office. He worked on a public corruption task force, an organized crime squad, and on the Seattle Joint Terrorism Task Force. Mr. Ramsey also served as the senior leader of Seattle’s Evidence Response Team and deployed to the World Trade Center after 9/11.

In 2005, Mr. Ramsey was promoted to supervisory special agent and worked in the Counterterrorism HUMINT Operations Unit at FBI Headquarters. He served in that position for two years and was promoted to legal attaché in Cairo in 2007. As legat, he served as the principal FBI official for U.S. embassies in Egypt, Sudan, and Libya.

Mr. Ramsey was promoted in 2010 to supervisory senior resident agent of the New Hampshire offices, under the Boston Field Office. In that position, he also directed the New Hampshire Safe Streets Task Force and the New Hampshire Joint Terrorism Task Force. He was promoted in 2013 to assistant special agent in charge of the Boston’s Counterterrorism Branch, and led the Boston Marathon Bombing Task Force to its conclusion.

He was named legal attaché in Rome in 2017, covering Italy, The Holy See, and Malta. Mr. Ramsey was promoted to section chief in 2018, and named the director of the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell. The interagency HRFC leads the U.S. government’s efforts to recover U.S. national hostages held abroad.

Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Ramsey was a special agent with the U.S. Customs Service. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University in Boston and a master’s degree from Georgetown University in Washington.

###

On Saturday, January 23, 2021 at approximately 1:01 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a vehicle collision on Hwy 101 near mile post 53.

Preliminary investigation revealed a Ford Clubwagon van, operated by Robert Muzzy (69) of Nehalem, was southbound and went into the northbound lane colliding with a Nissan Rogue operated by Leeanna Sutton (63) of Rockaway Beach.  

Muzzy and Sutton both sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased.

OSP was assisted by the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, Rockaway Beach Fire Department, Rockaway Beach Police Department and ODOT.

On Thursday, January 21, 2021 at approximately 8:05 A.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle collision on Hwy 140W near milepost 43.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a Hyundai Santa Fe, operated by KC Brock (36) of Central Point, was eastbound  attempting to pass a truck and trailer, in a no passing zone, and struck a westbound Dodge Dakota operated by Charles Lundy (53) of Klamath Falls.

Brock sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Kevin Morris (27) of Central Point, passenger in Hyundai Santa Fe, was transported by air ambulance to the hospital with injuries.

Lundy and his passenger, Betty Bishop (59) of Medford, both sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased.

OSP was assisted by Rocky Point Fire / EMS and ODOT

I-84 EASTBOUND is now open in eastern Oregon between La Grande and milepost 323, 19 miles east of Baker City. The route was closed earlier due to two truck crashes near mileposts 318 and 323. Travelers should expect winter conditions throughout the region. Road closure and delays can happen at anytime. Please check TripCheck.com or call 511 / 800-977-6368 for update conditions. Outside Oregon call 503-588-2941.

EUGENE, Ore.—A Vancouver, Washington man was sentenced to federal prison today for failing to comply with sex offender supervision and registration requirements designed to protect the community from predatory acts, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams.

Joseph Alonzo Lugo, 50, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. As a condition of his post-prison supervision, Lugo will be required to undergo sex offender treatment and mental health counseling.

According to court documents, Lugo was required to register as a sex offender after pleading guilty in state court, in August 2017, to communicating with a minor for immoral purposes and, less than a year later, pleading guilty to second-degree child molestation. In the latter case, Lugo sexually abused a family member younger than five and served 11 months in prison. He was released in September of 2019 and stopped registering as a sex offender in December of 2019.

On December 31, 2019, Lugo absconded from Washington State supervision and took up residence in Eugene. Shortly thereafter, U.S. Marshals Service deputies began investigating Lugo’s whereabouts and, on April 14, 2020, located him at a house in Eugene. The deputies’ investigation revealed that Lugo had interacted with several children at the house while in non-registration status, though the investigation revealed no evidence of additional sexual offenses. Lugo was arrested on April 14, 2020.

On April 13, 2020, Lugo was charged by criminal complaint with failing to register as a sex offender. He pleaded guilty on October 15, 2020.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Mclaren and Certified Law Student Kara Greenaway.

The United States Marshals Service is the federal government’s primary law enforcement agency for sex offender and fugitive investigations. The United States Marshals Service has implemented an aggressive strategy across the nation, including complex sex offender investigations and multiagency enforcement operations. Protecting children in our communities is a critical part of the multiagency sex offender mission in Oregon.

The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) is Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. The act provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA strengthens the nationwide network for the protection of the community.

# # #

EUGENE, Ore.—A former Eugene elementary school teacher pleaded guilty today for sexually abusing a minor female, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams.

William Hamann, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a child.

According to court documents, on several occasions beginning in 2018 and continuing until July 2019, Hamann paid a minor female for oral sex and recorded the minor performing the sex acts. The minor female was 15 years old during the first encounter with Hamman. Eugene Police Department detectives and FBI agents arrested Hamann on July 26, 2019, when he came to meet the minor a fourth time. Agents searched his mobile phone and found a recording of one of the sex acts. Hamman used social media to arrange the meetings with the minor.

On August 21, 2019, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a four-count indictment charging Hamann with sexual exploitation and trafficking of a child, possession of child pornography, and attempted sex trafficking of a child.

Hamann was also charged with multiple counts in Lane County Circuit Court, including sodomy and sex abuse.

Hamann will be sentenced on March 1, 2021 before U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will recommend a sentence of 160 months in federal prison to be served consecutively to a 20-month prison sentence in Lane County.

As part of the plea agreement, Hamann has agreed to pay restitution in full to his victim.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Eugene Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Jeff Sweet, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, and Katherine Green, Lane County Deputy District Attorney.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

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

# # #

There are two critical components of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) mission that work together to promote excellence in Oregon's public safety professions -- delivering quality training and upholding professional standards. DPSST training helps public safety providers protect their communities. Upholding professional standards helps safeguard the integrity of Oregon's criminal justice system by ensuring that front-line providers of public safety services meet and maintain all established training, physical, emotional, intellectual and moral fitness standards.

In addition to statutes set by the Oregon State Legislature, DPSST's overall mission is guided by the 24-member Board on Public Safety Standards and Training, and its five discipline-specific Policy Committees. The Board and Committees are integrally involved in establishing the certification and training standards for Oregon’s 43,000 providers of public and private safety services. The Board and Committees also review discretionary cases involving violations of the established moral fitness standards by Oregon law enforcement officers. The Board and Committees meet publicly on a quarterly basis. Membership rosters, and meeting agendas, minutes and schedules can be found here: https://www.oregon.gov/dpsst/BD/Pages/default.aspx   

DPSST trains and certifies more than 5,600 full-time police officers in Oregon who work for city, county, state, tribal and university police departments, as well as approximately 4,100 corrections officers, 1,000 9-1-1 dispatchers, 600 parole & probation officers and 75 liquor/marijuana regulatory specialists. DPSST also regulates our State’s fire service professionals, private security providers, private investigators and polygraph examiners. 

In August, 2020, DPSST published an online database of final DPSST Professional Standards actions taken against Oregon’s public safety providers. This database was created to comply with HB 4207 which passed during a special session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. The database included the names of all public safety officers and dispatchers who have been the subject of a DPSST certification action, their employing agency (when applicable), and a link to the DPSST investigation and Final Order occurring on or after June 30, 2020 (The effective date of HB 4207).

Effective immediately DPSST has expanded the information available through this database to include a list of all open professional standards cases, as well as the disposition of each case as it works through the professional standards review process. The database will also include links to all DPSST-created reports used for and relating to the decision making involved in each case.

The updated database, along with a list of professional standards actions occurring before the passage of HB 4207 can be found on-line at https://www.oregon.gov/dpsst/cj/pages/cases.aspx (Please note, DPSST is actively adding case documentation for cases that are currently open or recently closed. We expect that project to be completed by February 1st.)

DPSST Professional Standards Director Linsay Hale said "The DPSST, along with our public safety partners, our elected officials and the citizens of our State, takes the accountability of our public safety providers seriously. The transparency of the processes established to safeguard that accountability is key to ensuring we build, re-build and maintain legitimacy and trust in our systems. Making key information relating to the enforcement of the standards affecting our State’s law enforcement officers publically available is one more step towards ensuring all interested parties are aware of the decisions being made by our agency and its governing Board, and more importantly how and why those decisions are made.”

For Immediate Release                                        

January 21, 2021

Contact:  Mona Riesterer
               (503) 378-2431

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Corrections Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting on February 9, 2021 @ 10:00 a.m. in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Mona Riesterer at (503) 378-2431.

The Correction Policy meeting will be live streamed on the DPSST Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/DPSSTOregon

Agenda Items:

1.  Introductions

2. Approve November 10, 2020 Meeting Minutes

3. Approval of Proposed Parole & Probation Field Training Manual

     Presented by Chris Enquist

4. Proposed Rule Changes for OAR 259-008-0085: Supporting Rule Change for Adoption of the 2021 Parole and Probation Officer Field Training Manual

     Presented by Jennifer Howald

5. Administrative Closures

     Presented by Linsay Hale

6. Desteni Felton DPSST No. 45595; Baker County Sheriff’s Office

     Presented by Linsay Hale

7. Brian Davis DPSST No. 25612;  Not Affiliated

     Presented by Linsay Hale

8. David Duwelius DPSST No. 46066; Department of Corrections/Two Rivers Correctional Institution

     Presented by Linsay Hale

9. Spencer Higgins DPSST No. 48698; Jackson County Sheriff’s Office

     Presented by Linsay Hale

10. Chris Keyser DPSST No. 35121; Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office

     Presented by Linsay Hale

11. James Mahoney DPSST No. 43650; Department of Corrections/Powder River Correctional Facility

     Presented by Linsay Hale

12. Amyr Motlagh DPSST No. 58470; Lane County Sheriff’s Office

     Presented by Linsay Hale

13. Loren Peters DPSST No. 55373; Department of Corrections/Deer Ridge Correctional Institution

     Presented by Linsay Hale

14. Proposed Rule Changes for OAR 259-008-0100: Fallen Law Enforcement Memorial Eligibility Criteria – Review of Comments

     Presented by Jennifer Howald

15. Proposed Rule Changes for OAR 259-008-0015, 259-008-0290, 259-008-0300 and 259-008-0310: Moral Fitness Standards Relating to Discrimination – Review of Comments

     Presented by Jennifer Howald

16. Department Update

17. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting May 11, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. 

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law and it will be recorded. Deliberation of issues will only be conducted by Corrections Policy Committee members unless permitted by the Chair. Individuals who engage in disruptive behavior that impedes official business will be asked to stop being disruptive or leave the meeting. Additional measures may be taken to have disruptive individuals removed if their continued presence poses a safety risk to the other persons in the room or makes it impossible to continue the meeting.

For Immediate Release                                        

January 21, 2021

Contact: Mona Riesterer  
              (503) 378-2431

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Public Safety Memorial Fund Board Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting on January 28, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.  at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Mona Riesterer at (503) 378-2431.

 Teleconference Information:

Dial-In: 888-273-3658

Participant Code: 4711910

1. July 8, 2020 Meeting Minutes

Approve minutes

2. Malcus Williams (DPSST #33171) – Ashland Police Department; Supplemental Application for Discretionary PSMF Benefits

Presented by Linsay Hale

3. Nomination of New Chair

4.  Next meeting – TBD

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law and it will be recorded. Deliberation of issues will only be conducted by Public Safety Memorial Fund Board members unless permitted by the Chair. Individuals who engage in disruptive behavior that impedes official business will be asked to stop being disruptive or leave the meeting. Additional measures may be taken to have disruptive individuals removed if their continued presence poses a safety risk to the other persons in the room or makes it impossible to continue the meeting.

For Immediate Release                                        

January 20, 2021

Contact:   Mona Riesterer  
               (503) 378-2431

Notice of Meeting Cancelation

The Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training meeting scheduled for February 16, 2021 has been canceled. The next Private Security/Investigator Policy meeting is scheduled for May 18, 2021 at 1:30 p.m.

Salem, Ore. – Using the arts as a means to address community need is the focus of 40 projects awarded a total of $180,000 through the Oregon Arts Commission’s FY2021 Arts Build Communities grant program. The Arts Build Communities program targets broad geographic impact and arts access for underserved audiences in Oregon.

Projects funded include Applegate Regional Theatre’s drive-in venue where audiences can enjoy musical concerts and theater performances from the comfort and safety of their cars; Portland Playhouse’s live-streamed performances and trauma-informed talkbacks that break down cultural norms about Black masculinity; and The Next Door’s metal art sculpture project with local youth in The Dalles.

“This program provides financial support to arts and other community-based organizations for projects that address a local community problem, issue or need through an arts-based solution," said Arts Commission Vice Chair Jenny Green, who led the review panel. “Local citizens employ creative thinking and collective response to identify a local need and provide an arts-based solution.”

The grants also spark and leverage many other investments and resources, serving as a catalyst for greater economic and civic impact, said Green.

In recent years Arts Build Communities projects attracted more than $600,000 in additional investment, much of it representing salaries paid to artists and others as well as products and services purchased in the funded communities.

Arts Build Communities grants are made possible through a funding partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

The FY2021 recipients are:

Anima Mundi Productions, Phoenix: $3,888

To support the creation, performance and recording of "Six Feet Apart: Stories of Resilience and Transformation,” a new work of choral music based on Oregonians’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will engage the Resonance Ensemble, a professional 16-voice choir based in Portland. A streaming video and a document archiving all of the collected stories will be available online free to the public.

Applegate Regional Theatre, Inc., Veneta: $5,311      

To support Drive-in Music and Theater on the Fields, which includes a drive-in venue for audiences to enjoy musical concerts and theater performances from the comfort and safety of their cars. Funds will be used to purchase a flatbed trailer to use as a stage, a stage cover, stage and audience lighting, parking signage and other event services.

Ashland High Arts Advocates, Ashland: $3,551           

To support the Student Arts Mentoring Project, providing individual and small group arts mentoring to low-income grade 6-12 students in the Ashland area. Funds will be used for artist fees, art supplies and transportation.

Blue Mountain Community College, Pendleton: $3,863          

To increase Native American cultural representation on campus through art, books, media and programming featuring contemporary Native American artists. Funds will be used to purchase artworks and develop programming that describes the artworks’ significance to foster a more welcoming college environment, with a focus on art as a means of cultural awareness and representation.

Cascade School of Music, Bend: $3,000

To support the Musical Explorers Outreach Program, which offers off-site classes and performances for the community with a focus on  reaching populations with limited access to live music or music education, including students from the Latino community and seniors in assisted living facilities. Funds will support teacher salaries, instrument rentals for students in need and facility rentals.

Cascadia Chapter of National Association of Composers, Portland: $4,777

To support “Fierce, Fabulous, and Fully Coiffed,” a multidisciplinary drag extravaganza to take place in fall 2021 at the Clinton St. Theater. This over-the-top theatrical show combines the sassy, tragicomic magnificence of top-caliber drag art with new music centering on a range of LGBTQ+ lived experiences, challenges, perspectives, art forms and attitudes. Funds will be used for artist fees, venue rental, tech, admin, publicity fees, sets and costumes.

CoHo Productions, Ltd, Portland: $4,856

To support the Virtually Connected initiative, outfitting the CoHo theatre to live-stream and broadcast productions to keep artists employed and audiences connected in these trying times. Communities will have the ability to access the vitally supportive and community-building power of local and live art, building bridges across a socially distanced world to increase empathy and counteract isolation. Funds will be used for necessary equipment and employee costs associated with live-streaming theatrical productions.

Color Outside the Lines, Portland: $5,776

To support the Covid19 - Art Heals Project, which revolves around three primary initiatives: distributing art supply kits to youth in need;  offering online streaming art classes to underserved youth; and a seven piece outside mural series with local Portland BIPOC artists in collaboration with at-risk youth. Funds will be used for art supplies, artist costs and production of the community services.

Community Alliance of Lane County, Eugene: $3,000

To install a Latin-themed mural in downtown Springfield and hold associated activities to promote it. Members of Citywide and Escudo Latino (Latinx community group), Latinx business owners and Latinx individuals will participate in online design sessions with the muralist and Citywide youth will participate in the mural painting. Funds will be used for painting and promotion.

Community Vision, Portland: $3,297

To support Connecting Communities, Fostering a Collective Voice to connect people with disabilities with culturally specific groups to create art that will be displayed in their gallery and community. Funds will be used for staff time to coordinate the project, materials for the participants and display costs for the exhibitions.

Ditch Projects, Springfield $5,581

To support Ghost Rider: Performing Fugitive Indigeneity, a multi-part exhibition and publication project, , featuring paintings and writing by Klamath Modoc artist Ka’ila Farrell-Smith and a series of prints and video screenings from her collaborations with Ascend Indigenous Womxn Fine Art Collective, the Tiny House Warriors and Signal Fire Indigenous Artist Retreat. Funds will be used for artist fees, exhibition materials, a publication and project oversight.

Drexel H. Foundation, Vale: $4,313

To support Reunite for Vale’s Public Art to enrich the city streetscape with public art created by all sectors of the community. COVID has isolated community members and the creation of a joint project will reconnect them. The 2021 project resulted from planning by high school youth, artists, community leaders, the Drexel Foundation and Vale’s City Mayor. Funds will pay for artists fees, marketing and  art supplies.

Elkton Community Education Center, Elkton: $3,000

To support Trash to Treasure, a grassroots art and economic development initiative to create a recycling infrastructure in a rural community that has lost public services. The project will offer multi-generational workshops on creating art from recycled materials and culminate in an 8 by 8 public art installation, using tile from locally recycled plastic. Funds will be used for instructors, fees, framing materials, hanging hardware and tile production.

Emerald Empire Art Association/Emerald Art Center, Springfield: $3,000

To partner with Springfield Public Schools to offer after-school art workshops for 80 4th and 5th grade students. Four workshops, offered at the Emerald Art Center and online, are designed to ignite curiosity and encourage self-expression, culminating in a special exhibit in EAC’s gallery. Topics proposed offer both timely themes of culture and place as well as mediums attractive to children. Funds will be used to provide scholarships for up to 24 children qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Eugene-Springfield Youth Orchestras, Eugene: $5,874

To support the Online String Academies, which will provide free or very low cost online beginning strings instruction to up to 150 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in the Eugene 4J School District. Funds will be used to support artistic staff fees, instrument purchases, administrative staff fees and online platform membership fees.

Fishtrap Inc, Enterprise: $5,270   

To support The Big Read, a community-wide shared reading experience. The 2021  selection is "In the Heart of the Sea" by Nathan Philbrick. Funds will be used for promotional costs, screening fees, speaker honoraria, supplies and to purchase books to be made available free to community organizations.

Friendly House, Portland: $3,000

To support Friendly House Virtual Community Nights, engaging community members in virtual arts-based activities to reduce social isolation, encourage creativity, support local artists and build a stronger community. Funds will be used for arts and craft supplies, instructor fees and tablets with data plans to be distributed to qualifying low-income participants without access to the required technology.

Future Prairie, Portland: $5,749

To support “Future Prairie Radio,” a weekly podcast that examines the future of art, design and culture through the eyes of marginalized artists. Funds will be used to compensate hosts, guests and the production team, as well as to procure music and music rights, local and digital advertising, transcription services and technology.

Grande Ronde Symphony Association, La Grande: $3,834

To support SOAR- String and Orchestral Arts Revitalization, an after school string instruction program with the La Grande School District. Funds will be used to assist in supplementing four instructor consultants serving more than 60 students in 3rd through 8th grades.

Hollywood Senior Center, Portland: $3,168

To support online Poetry Power sessions, a therapeutic poetry writing program for older adult survivors of elder abuse. Poetry Power supports healing and growth through compassionate listening and facilitating creative expression in a safe and supportive environment. Funds will be used for key personnel, administration, recruiting and training volunteer writing mentors, outreach to participants and materials for Poetry Power sessions.

Lane Arts Council, Eugene: $5,776

To support Celebrating and Connecting Latinx Artists throughout Lane County.” Funds will be allocated to artist fees for community cultural events, a stipend for an Arte LatiNext coordinator, artist professional development trainings and expanded Fiesta Cultural marketing outside of Eugene.

Literary Arts Inc, Portland: $3,000

To support participation from two Woodburn high schools in Literary Arts’ Youth Program activities. Funds will be used to cover ticket and book costs for students to attend Portland Arts & Lectures author talks and fees surrounding the College Essay Mentoring Project.

Media-Rites, Portland: $4,095

To produce an enhanced staged reading with movement of “iHula” by Ryan Okinaka, followed by community discussion and an art fair at IRCO's Asian Family Center. Funds will be used to compensate artists, directors, choreographers, community panelists, transportation and lodging for the playwright, venue rental and administrative fees for organizers.

Miracle Theatre Group, Portland: $5,610           

To support a Teatro Milagro UNIDAD Social Justice Theatre Residency in Baker City. Funds will be used for teaching artists curriculum development, coordination with community partners, video production of workshop materials and other related program expenses.

Morpheus Youth Project, Portland: $6,977        

To support creative workshops for youth at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn, serving more than 100 young men with limited access to creative outlets. Workshop topics include visual art, music, audio production and podcasting. Funds will be used to purchase art supplies and audiovisual equipment and to provide stipends to guest artists.  

My Voice Music, Portland: $4,915

To support Let’s Write a Song Together, a program serving 100 youth in residential and outpatient programs in Portland and Woodburn. Youth will write and record a song that will culminate in the release of a song compilation and online release party. Funds will be used to pay teaching artists, sound engineers, recording equipment, printing/ design and other costs associated with the compilation release.

Northwest Classical Theatre Collaborative, Inc., Portland: $5,119

To support a tour of the west coast premiere of Tony and Olivier winner Richard Eyre's vibrant, modern language, 90-minute translation of Henrik Ibsen's “GHOSTS.” The work will be accompanied by live music for culturally underserved populations in Multnomah, Clackamas, Umatilla, Marion, Coos, Washington, Wallowa, Yamhill and Lake counties. Funds will be used for artist fees, transportation and hotel costs.

Open Hearts Open Minds, Portland: $4,370

To support Theatre @ Coffee Creek, an arts program for inmates of Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville. The women in the program will produce a theatrical piece to perform for invited guests, family, friends and other residents. Funds will be used for facilitator fees, guest artist fees, travel reimbursement, costumes, properties, photography/video production, books and scripts, musical equipment and repair, refreshments and shared administrative costs.

Orchestra Next, Eugene: $3,911

To support the ON Academy which includes classes on digital audio workstation techniques; panel discussions on What it Means to be a Responsible Content Creator in this Virtual World; classes and instruction for individual instrumentalists; and mentorship opportunities for students to record and interact with teachers directly. Funds will be used for artist fees and to purchase technology to provide access to underserved communities.

Oregon Ballet Theatre, Portland: $3,000

To support Moves After School, an enrichment arts program with two school partners, Beach Elementary and Faubion Elementary. Funds will be used to support teaching artist fees to design and implement the program in winter and spring 2021 semesters, with digital resources and a return to in-school activities when possible.

Oregon Supported Living Program Arts and Culture Program, Eugene: $5,426

To support the Creative Outreach Program in Lane County. The program will provide art instruction, studio access, one-on-one mentorships and remote creative access to adult artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities experiencing isolation and loss of participatory arts programming due to COVID-19. Funds will be used for program re-development, outreach, instructor salaries and art supplies.

Outside the Frame, Portland: $6,171

To support Go Forth and Film, through which unhoused youth can create short films, train on advanced film equipment and gain professional skills. Funds will be used to support the equipment manager, guest film instructor fees, peer mentor stipends and workshop materials.

Portland Playhouse, Portland: $5,352

To support the Triggered Life Residency, three weeks of live-streamed performances and trauma-informed talkbacks that break down cultural norms about Black masculinity for the general public, local schools and therapeutic facilities. Funds will be used for production and streaming costs, artist fees, project management and evaluation.

Portland Street Art Alliance, Portland: $5,392

To support the new Mural District initiative in the Central Eastside Industrial District. Specifically these funds will facilitate more inclusive community involvement in the process of mural making. Funds will be used to hire mural assistants from Ground Score and Voz Worker Center to provide un-housed and day laborers with professional training opportunities in mural painting activities.

Rainmaker Craft Initiative, Portland: $4,491

To support the Diversity in Craft Initiative, focused on creating a more diverse, equitable, inclusive and accountable craft community. Funds will be used to support programming designed by Joe Robinson, owner of East Creek, implemented at his ceramic facilities in Willamina. Funds will pay stipends to three artists to engage the leadership program, materials and fuel for three wood firings, and administrative costs.

Rural Klamath Connects, Malin: $3,517

To support Placemaking and the Art of Story Catching, storytelling and oral history training for youth and community members including high-level technical documentation and an interactive audio tour for residents and visitors. Funds will be used for artist's fees, artistic services, arts instruction and supplies.

Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Otis: $4,575

To support the  Community Arts Project, which provides in-school monthly arts literacy programming to approximately 500 students in Tillamook county through Nestucca Valley and Girabaldi schools. Funds will be used to support art literacy instructors, a program coordinator and art supplies for students.

The Artback, Eagle Creek: $4,432

To support the A Camino Largo, Paso Corto Mural. The mural will be painted on the north wall of Dollar General in downtown Estacada and reflect the lives and cultures of the Latinx population and persons of color in the community. Funds will be used for NovaColor paint and supplies, scaffold rental, community meetings and workshop, and artists fees.

The Next Door, Inc., Hood River: $3,888

To support The Dalles Art Project Open Door, a metal art sculpture project located outdoors in The Dalles, led by Gorge-based metalwork and sculpture artist MacRae Wylde. Young people will participate in workshops facilitated by Wylde to create their own drawing depicting the theme “hope.” Wylde will take the youth’s drawings, arrange them in a collage and create a metal freeze cut-out that will surround the base of the sculpture. Funds will be used for artist fees, materials and installation.

Third Angle New Music Ensemble, Portland: $5,877

To support Third Angle’s Soundwalk Series, six soundwalks by six artists, presented with Portland Parks & Recreation between January and June 2021. The soundwalks will be free and introduce audiences of all ages to new modes of listening to the world around them. Funds will be used for artist fees, materials, technical support, marketing and project management.

The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding and arts programs through its grants, special initiatives and services. Nine commissioners, appointed by the Governor, determine arts needs and establish policies for public support of the arts. The Arts Commission became part of Business Oregon (formerly Oregon Economic and Community Development Department) in 1993, in recognition of the expanding role the arts play in the broader social, economic and educational arenas of Oregon communities. In 2003, the Oregon legislature moved the operations of the Oregon Cultural Trust to the Arts Commission, streamlining operations and making use of the Commission’s expertise in grantmaking, arts and cultural information and community cultural development. 

The Arts Commission is supported with general funds appropriated by the Oregon legislature and with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust. More information about the Oregon Arts Commission is available online at:  www.oregonartscommission.org.

(Salem) UPDATED: Oregon Department of Human Services Announces Missing Children Noelle Johnson and Addyson Gibson Found 

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, is grateful for the community support in locating Noelle Johnson, age 7, and Addyson Gibson, age 12. The children were found on the morning of Monday, January 18. The siblings went missing with their caregivers from Portland on Sept. 28, 2020.  

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

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Salem – Last week’s flash flooding is a severe reminder to consider flood insurance, especially in wildfire damaged areas.

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States. Just one inch of water can cause more than $25,000 in damage to your home.

The Labor Day wildfires left much of the Willamette Valley and southern Oregon prone to flash flooding after the fires burned up the vegetation that absorbs rainwater and holds soil in place.

A typical homeowners or renters policy does not cover flood damage. Oregonians can purchase coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and a few private insurers. There is a 30-day waiting period.

“Our hearts go out to all of the Oregonians affected by the recent storms, and we are urging everyone in or near wildfire damaged areas to consider buying flood insurance,” said Oregon Insurance Commissioner and Department of Consumer and Business Services Director, Andrew Stolfi. “Unfortunately, it will take years for the vegetation to recover from these wildfires, making these areas prone to flash flooding for the foreseeable future.”

All Oregonians, especially those who live in or near wildfire damaged areas, are encouraged to visit floodsmart.gov or contact their insurance agent to ask about flood insurance.

To learn more about how insurance covers damage from different types of storms, visit the Division of Financial Regulation’s storm damage page.

If you have questions about your insurance, contact your insurance company or agent for more information. If you still have questions or concerns, the division’s consumer advocates are here to help. Oregonians can contact the division’s advocates three ways:

• Call 888-877-4894 (toll-free)
• Email .insurancehelp@oregon.gov">dfr.insurancehelp@oregon.gov
• Visit dfr.oregon.gov

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About DCBS: The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon's largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, visit www.dcbs.oregon.gov. 

About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit www.dcbs.oregon.gov and http://dfr.oregon.gov/Pages/index.aspx.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody (AIC) died January 23, 2021. He was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution and passed away in the infirmary. He tested positive for COVID-19 and was between 75 and 85 years old. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death. Department-wide, this is the thirty-ninth AIC to die who tested positive for COVID-19.

For more information on COVID-19 cases inside Oregon’s prisons, please visit DOC’s COVID-19 website. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 13,000 adults in custody who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. Oregon's prisons have not escaped the devastating impacts of COVID-19. More than half of DOC's incarcerated population have been identified as COVID-19-vulnerable, based on community standard criteria. Generally, incarcerated people are in worse health than their peers in the community, and Oregon has one of the oldest incarcerated populations in the country. DOC employees will continue to work to bring outbreaks under control as positive cases in prisons not only impact employees and AICs, but also the surrounding communities.

Anyone entering DOC property is required to wear a mask or face covering in any indoor work setting or other indoor premises regardless of distance from others unless they are in a private, individual office not shared by anyone else; or they are actively eating or drinking AND at least six (6) feet of distance can be maintained between other people.

Institutions continue to clean and disinfect numerous times a day. DOC asks AICs to report symptoms of COVID-19 to medical staff. Posters are in all DOC institutions encouraging individuals to maintain proper hygiene and to uphold appropriate social distancing to the extent possible. Health screening processes are in place before staff are allowed to enter facilities. This screening includes a temperature check and a screening questionnaire. Visiting remains closed until further notice.

DOC has begun administering COVID-19 vaccinations – eventually offering to all DOC staff, contractors, Oregon Corrections Enterprises employees, and AICs. Prioritization of vaccines is determined by guidance from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Governor’s Office.

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, DOC issued a press release when an AIC passed away. This notification would include the person’s name, county of conviction, sentence length, and date of death. However, no cause of death would be listed because the Medical Examiner makes that determination. In order to balance the desire for transparency with our legal obligation to protect personal health information, we have changed the AIC death notification process when someone dies who has tested positive for COVID-19. DOC works with the Oregon Health Authority to publish COVID-19 related data and information on the OHA website.

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An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody (AIC) died January 21, 2021. He was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution and passed away at the facility. He tested positive for COVID-19 and was between 70 and 80 years old. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death. Department-wide, this is the thirty-seventh AIC to die who tested positive for COVID-19.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody (AIC) died January 22, 2021. He was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary and passed away at a local hospital. He tested positive for COVID-19 and was between 55 and 65 years old. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death. Department-wide, this is the thirty-eighth AIC to die who tested positive for COVID-19.

For more information on COVID-19 cases inside Oregon’s prisons, please visit DOC’s COVID-19 website. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 13,000 adults in custody who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. Oregon's prisons have not escaped the devastating impacts of COVID-19. More than half of DOC's incarcerated population have been identified as COVID-19-vulnerable, based on community standard criteria. Generally, incarcerated people are in worse health than their peers in the community, and Oregon has one of the oldest incarcerated populations in the country. DOC employees continue to work to bring outbreaks under control as positive cases in prisons not only impact employees and AICs, but also the surrounding communities.

Anyone entering DOC property is required to wear a mask or face covering in any indoor work setting or other indoor premises regardless of distance from others unless they are in a private, individual office not shared by anyone else; or they are actively eating or drinking AND at least six (6) feet of distance can be maintained between other people.

Institutions continue to clean and disinfect numerous times a day. DOC asks AICs to report symptoms of COVID-19 to medical staff. Posters are in all DOC institutions encouraging individuals to maintain proper hygiene and to uphold appropriate social distancing to the extent possible. Health screening processes are in place before staff are allowed to enter facilities. This screening includes a temperature check and a screening questionnaire. Visiting remains closed until further notice.

DOC has begun administering COVID-19 vaccinations – eventually offering to all DOC staff, contractors, Oregon Corrections Enterprises employees, and AICs. Prioritization of vaccines is determined by guidance from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Governor’s Office.

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, DOC issued a press release when an AIC passed away. This notification would include the person’s name, county of conviction, sentence length, and date of death. However, no cause of death would be listed because the Medical Examiner makes that determination. In order to balance the desire for transparency with our legal obligation to protect personal health information, we have changed the AIC death notification process when someone dies who has tested positive for COVID-19. DOC works with the Oregon Health Authority to publish COVID-19 related data and information on the OHA website.

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An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Robert Lee Bennett, died the morning of January 21, 2021. Bennett was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary and passed away in the infirmary while on hospice care. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

Bennett entered DOC custody on January 15, 2019, from Marion County with an earliest release date of March 5, 2048. Bennett was 41 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 13,000 individuals who are incarcerated in 14 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 over 2,000 adults in custody. OSP is surrounded by a 25-foot-high wall with 10 towers. The facility has multiple special housing units including disciplinary segregation, behavioral health, intermediate care housing, and an infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care. OSP participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including the furniture factory, laundry, metal shop, and contact center. It provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, work-based education, work crews, and pre-release services. OSP was established in 1866 and, until 1959, was Oregon’s only prison.

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An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody (AIC) died January 20, 2021. He was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution and passed away at a local hospital. He tested positive for COVID-19 and was between 70 and 80 years old. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death. Department-wide, this is the thirty-fourth AIC to die who tested positive for COVID-19.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody (AIC) died January 21, 2021. He was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary and passed away at a local hospital. He tested positive for COVID-19 and was between 55 and 65 years old. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death. Department-wide, this is the thirty-fifth AIC to die who tested positive for COVID-19.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody (AIC) died January 21, 2021. He was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution and passed away at a local hospital. He tested positive for COVID-19 and was between 70 and 80 years old. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death. Department-wide, this is the thirty-sixth AIC to die who tested positive for COVID-19.

For more information on COVID-19 cases inside Oregon’s prisons, please visit DOC’s COVID-19 website. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 13,000 adults in custody who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. Oregon's prisons have not escaped the devastating impacts of COVID-19. More than half of DOC's incarcerated population have been identified as COVID-19-vulnerable, based on community standard criteria. Generally, incarcerated people are in worse health than their peers in the community, and Oregon has one of the oldest incarcerated populations in the country. DOC employees will continue to work to bring outbreaks under control as positive cases in prisons not only impact employees and AICs, but also the surrounding communities.

Anyone entering DOC property is required to wear a mask or face covering in any indoor work setting or other indoor premises regardless of distance from others unless they are in a private, individual office not shared by anyone else; or they are actively eating or drinking AND at least six (6) feet of distance can be maintained between other people.

Institutions continue to clean and disinfect numerous times a day. DOC asks AICs to report symptoms of COVID-19 to medical staff. Posters are in all DOC institutions encouraging individuals to maintain proper hygiene and to uphold appropriate social distancing to the extent possible. Health screening processes are in place before staff are allowed to enter facilities. This screening includes a temperature check and a screening questionnaire. Visiting remains closed until further notice.

DOC has begun administering COVID-19 vaccinations – eventually offering to all DOC staff, contractors, Oregon Corrections Enterprises employees, and AICs. Prioritization of vaccines is determined by guidance from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Governor’s Office.

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, DOC issued a press release when an AIC passed away. This notification would include the person’s name, county of conviction, sentence length, and date of death. However, no cause of death would be listed because the Medical Examiner makes that determination. In order to balance the desire for transparency with our legal obligation to protect personal health information, we have changed the AIC death notification process when someone dies who has tested positive for COVID-19. DOC is working with the Oregon Health Authority to publish COVID-19 related data and information on the OHA website.

####

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody (AIC) died January 18, 2021. He was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution and passed away at a local hospital. He tested positive for COVID-19 and was between 55 and 65 years old. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death. Department-wide, this is the thirty-third AIC to die who tested positive for COVID-19.

For more information on COVID-19 cases inside Oregon’s prisons, please visit DOC’s COVID-19 website. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 13,000 adults in custody who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state.

Anyone entering DOC property is required to wear a mask or face covering in any indoor work setting or other indoor premises regardless of distance from others unless they are in a private, individual office not shared by anyone else; or they are actively eating or drinking AND at least six (6) feet of distance can be maintained between other people.

Institutions continue to clean and disinfect numerous times a day. DOC asks AICs to report symptoms of COVID-19 to medical staff. Posters are in all DOC institutions encouraging individuals to maintain proper hygiene and to uphold appropriate social distancing to the extent possible. Health screening processes are in place before staff are allowed to enter facilities. This screening includes a temperature check and a screening questionnaire. Visiting remains closed until further notice.

DOC has begun administering COVID-19 vaccinations – eventually offering to all DOC staff, contractors, Oregon Corrections Enterprises employees, and AICs. Prioritization of vaccines will be determined by guidance from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Governor’s Office.

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, DOC issued a press release when an AIC passed away. This notification would include the person’s name, county of conviction, sentence length, and date of death. However, no cause of death would be listed because the Medical Examiner makes that determination. In order to balance the desire for transparency with our legal obligation to protect personal health information, we have changed the AIC death notification process when someone dies who has tested positive for COVID-19. DOC is working with the Oregon Health Authority to publish COVID-19 related data and information on the OHA website.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody (AIC) died January 17, 2021. He was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution and passed away at a local hospital. He tested positive for COVID-19 and was between 55 and 65 years old. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death. Department-wide, this is the thirty-second AIC to die who tested positive for COVID-19.

For more information on COVID-19 cases inside Oregon’s prisons, please visit DOC’s COVID-19 website. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 13,000 adults in custody who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state.

Anyone entering DOC property is required to wear a mask or face covering in any indoor work setting or other indoor premises regardless of distance from others unless they are in a private, individual office not shared by anyone else; or they are actively eating or drinking AND at least six (6) feet of distance can be maintained between other people.

Institutions continue to clean and disinfect numerous times a day. DOC asks AICs to report symptoms of COVID-19 to medical staff. Posters are in all DOC institutions encouraging individuals to maintain proper hygiene and to uphold appropriate social distancing to the extent possible. Health screening processes are in place before staff are allowed to enter facilities. This screening includes a temperature check and a screening questionnaire. Visiting remains closed until further notice.

DOC has begun administering COVID-19 vaccinations – eventually offering to all DOC staff, contractors, Oregon Corrections Enterprises employees, and AICs. Prioritization of vaccines will be determined by guidance from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Governor’s Office.

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, DOC issued a press release when an AIC passed away. This notification would include the person’s name, county of conviction, sentence length, and date of death. However, no cause of death would be listed because the Medical Examiner makes that determination. In order to balance the desire for transparency with our legal obligation to protect personal health information, we have changed the AIC death notification process when someone dies who has tested positive for COVID-19. DOC is working with the Oregon Health Authority to publish COVID-19 related data and information on the OHA website.

Portland, OR– State agencies will meet by teleconference February 1 on a proposed chemical process gold mine in Malheur County.

The Technical Review Team (TRT) Wildlife Subcommittee will meet by teleconference on Monday February 1 from 1:00 p.m. to 3 p.m. PST.

The public notices and related documents are available at: https://www.oregongeology.org/mlrr/chemicalprocess_Calico-GrassyMtn.htm

The public and media may listen to the meetings by joining the Microsoft Teams Meeting online, or by phone. Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions, there will not be an in-person location to attend this meeting. For online meeting details and call-in instructions, see the meeting agendas. For further information, contact the DOGAMI Albany office at (541) 967-2083 or email: mlrr.info@oregon.gov.

The TRT Wildlife Subcommittee is an inter-disciplinary team of state agencies that reviews wildlife information and concerns related to a proposed mine during all phases of the application process, and ultimately develops wildlife-related consolidated permit conditions that conform to Oregon regulations.

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Portland, OR– State agencies will meet by teleconference February 2 on a proposed chemical process gold mine in Malheur County.

The Technical Review Team (TRT) will meet by teleconference on Tuesday February 2 from 2:00
p.m. to 4 p.m. PST.

The public notices and related documents are available at: https://www.oregongeology.org/mlrr/chemicalprocess_Calico-GrassyMtn.htm

The public and media may listen to the meetings by joining the Microsoft Teams Meeting online, or by phone. Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions, there will not be an in-person location to attend this meeting. For online meeting details and call-in instructions, see the meeting agendas. For further information, contact the DOGAMI Albany office at (541) 967-2083 or email: mlrr.info@oregon.gov.

The TRT is an interdisciplinary team of state agencies that reviews information related to a proposed mine during all phases of the application process, and ultimately develops consolidated permit conditions that conform to Oregon regulations.

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Salem, OR—The Department of Revenue reminds business owners that once they have more than $750,000 in commercial activity in 2021, they have 30 days to register for the Corporate Activity Tax unless they have already registered.

Registration for CAT is a one-time requirement, however, and businesses that registered in 2020 do not have to register again.

Registrations for Oregon’s Corporate Activity Tax have topped more than 20,000 in its first year. Through Wednesday, 20,546 businesses had registered for the CAT, which was created by the Oregon Legislature in 2019 to raise funding for education.

The CAT is imposed on businesses for the privilege of doing business in Oregon. It applies to all types of business entities including those located inside and outside of Oregon.

The CAT is measured on a business’s commercial activity, the total amount a business realizes from transactions and activity in Oregon.

Businesses with taxable commercial activity in excess of $1 million will have Corporate Activity Tax to pay. The tax is $250 plus 0.57% of commercial activity greater than $1 million after subtractions.

Taxpayers expecting to owe $10,000 or more for 2020 must make estimated payments. Fourth quarter 2020 estimated payments are due February 1. Returns are due April 15.
For tax year 2021 and beyond, taxpayers expecting to owe $5,000 or more must make estimated payments. Estimated payments for 2021 are due April 30, August 2, November 1, and January 31, 2022. Returns are due April 15.

Training aids to assist with registration, calculating the tax, and making payments can be found on the CAT page of the agency’s website.

Taxpayers with general questions about the CAT can email cat.help.dor@oregon.gov or call 503-945-8005.

To get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments, visit www.oregon.gov/dor or email questions.dor@oregon.gov. You also can call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon. For TTY (hearing- or speech-impaired), we accept all relay calls.

Oregon’s unemployment rose to 6.4% in December from 6.0% in November. This was the state’s first monthly increase in its unemployment rate following seven months of declines. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate remained at 6.7% in both November and December.

Oregon’s over-the-month percent job loss was much greater than nationally. In December, Oregon lost 1.4% of nonfarm payroll employment while the U.S. shed 0.1%. Oregon’s total nonfarm payroll employment dropped by 25,500 jobs in December, following a revised gain of 2,100 jobs in November. The drop followed seven consecutive months of gains. Total nonfarm payroll employment stood at 1,783,300 in December, which was an over-the-year decline from December 2019 of 174,000 jobs, or 8.9%.

“December's job losses reflect the devastation COVID-19 continues to inflict on the lives and livelihoods of Oregonians. Ten months into the pandemic, Oregon has regained just 37% of the jobs lost in this recession,” said Gail Krumenauer, State Employment Economist with the Oregon Employment Department.

December job losses in Oregon were greatest in leisure and hospitality, which cut 28,600 jobs. Several other industries also cut at least 800 jobs in December, including private educational services (-1,700 jobs), government (-1,300), wholesale trade (-1,100), manufacturing (-900), and construction (-800). In contrast, four major industries each added thousands of jobs: retail trade (+2,200 jobs); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+2,200); health care and social assistance (+2,200); and professional and business services (+2,100).

Within leisure and hospitality, full-service restaurants cut 17,600 jobs in December, which was the largest drop of its component industries. Full-service restaurants, where in-person dining has been severely reduced due to the pandemic, have cut far more jobs than limited-service eating places which shed 2,000 jobs in December.

On the plus side, reflecting the rapid increase in online shopping, the industries that employ the fulfillment center warehouse workers and package delivery drivers boosted December employment in industries within transportation, warehousing, and utilities. In particular, couriers and messengers added 3,600 jobs in December.

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the December county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, Jan. 26, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for January on Tuesday, March 2.

The PDF version of the news release can be found at QualityInfo.org/press-release. To obtain the data in other formats such as in Excel, visit QualityInfo.org, then within the top banner, select Economic Data, then choose LAUS or CES. To request the press release as a Word document, contact the person shown at the top of this press release.

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To file a claim for unemployment benefits or get more information about unemployment programs, visit unemployment.oregon.gov.

Equal Opportunity program — auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Contact: (503) 947-1794. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call 711 Telecommunications Relay Services.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Health Authority was notified today that a person in Washington County has tested positive with the variant COVID-19 virus strain originally detected in the United Kingdom.

The person has a known travel history outside of the United States during their exposure period.

This is the third known case in Oregon of the United Kingdom variant strain, also known as strain B.1.1.7 or SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01. Close contacts to the person have been identified and notified.

Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been detected in the U.S. and globally. The CDC provides case data information in the United States.

This strain is considered to be more contagious. OHA recommends that all Oregonians take the following steps to slow the spread of COVID-19.

• Maintain six feet of physical distance;
• Wear a face covering when outside the house;
• Practice good hand hygiene;
• Avoid any gatherings with people you don’t live with;
• People who experience symptoms — even mild ones — are urged to consult with a medical provider quickly to get instructions on how to care for yourself and your household members and whether to get tested.

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are three new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,880, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 582 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 138,168.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 14,755 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 11,243 doses were administered on Jan. 23 and 3,512 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on Jan. 23.

Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).

Oregon has now administered a cumulative total of 300,662 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. All vaccinations were administered by Oregon hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency medical service (EMS) agencies, urgent care facilities and Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs).

To date, 492,450 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon.

These data are preliminary and subject to change. OHA's dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 310, which the same as yesterday. There are 80 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is three fewer than yesterday.

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (3), Clackamas (49), Coos (26), Crook (9), Curry (1), Deschutes (31), Douglas (14), Harney (1), Hood River (9), Jackson (47), Jefferson (4), Josephine (20), Klamath (26), Lake (5), Lane (49), Lincoln (6), Linn (18), Malheur (3), Marion (72), Morrow (3), Multnomah (78), Polk (18), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (16), Union (5), Wasco (2), Washington (59) and Yamhill (7).

Here is more information on the deaths reported today:

Oregon’s 1,878th COVID-19 death is a 66-year-old man in Douglas County who tested positive on Jan. 21 and died on Jan. 20 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,879th COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman in Jackson County who tested positive on Jan. 14 and died on Jan. 22 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,880th COVID-19 death is a 58-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Dec. 26 and died on Jan. 22 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

1This includes cases confirmed by diagnostic testing and presumptive cases. Presumptive cases are those without a positive diagnostic test who present COVID-19-like symptoms and had close contact with a confirmed case. County of residence for cases may change as new information becomes available. If changes occur, we will update our counts accordingly.

2For additional details on individuals who have died from COVID-19 in Oregon, please refer to our press releases

Electronic Lab Results (ELRs) Received 1/23

Total ELRs Received

1This includes cases confirmed by diagnostic testing and presumptive cases. Presumptive cases are those without a positive diagnostic test who present COVID-19-like symptoms and had close contact with a confirmed case. County of residence for cases may change as new information becomes available. If changes occur, we will update our counts accordingly.

2For additional details on individuals who have died from COVID-19 in Oregon, please refer to our press releases.

ELRs Received 1/22

Total ELRs Received

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our webpage, which has a breakdown of distribution and other useful information.

January 23, 2021

Media Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us" target="_blank">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Testing reveals second case of UK variant of COVID-19 in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Health Authority was notified yesterday that a person in Yamhill County tested positive with the variant COVID-19 virus strain originally detected in the United Kingdom.

The person has no known travel history.

This is the second known case in Oregon of the United Kingdom variant strain, also known as strain B.1.1.7 or SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01. State and county public health officials are investigating the possible sources of infection. The strain has been detected in several states.

Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented in the United States and globally during this pandemic. The CDC provides case data information in the United States.

This strain is considered to be more contagious. OHA recommends that all Oregonians take the following steps to slow the spread of COVID-19.

• Maintain six feet of physical distance;
• Wear a face covering when outside the house;
• Practice good hand hygiene;
• Avoid any gatherings with people you don’t live with;
• People who experience symptoms — even mild ones — are urged to consult with a medical provider quickly to get instructions on how to care for yourself and your household members and whether to get tested.

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Jan. 22, 2021

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us" target="_blank">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 877 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 22 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 22 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,865, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 877 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 136,839.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 16,763 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 12,341 vaccine doses were administered on Jan. 21 and 4,422 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on Jan. 21.

Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).

Oregon has now administered a cumulative total of 270,453 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. All vaccinations were administered by Oregon hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency medical service (EMS) agencies, urgent care facilities and Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs).

To date, 487,700 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon.

These data are preliminary and subject to change. OHA's dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 317, which is 12 fewer than yesterday. There are 79 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is eight fewer than yesterday.

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

New quarantine guidelines for fully immunized people

People who have been fully immunized and have let at least 14 days pass following their last dose of the vaccine are no longer required to quarantine if they have had close contact with someone with COVID-19. Those who are fully immunized should still monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 during the 14 days after exposure, and if symptoms develop, they should isolate and seek testing. Persons who have been fully vaccinated should continue to follow measures to protect themselves and others, including maintaining six feet of physical distance, avoiding crowds, washing hands often and wearing a mask. Please see OHA’s updated COVID-19 Investigative Guidelines.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (1), Benton (24), Clackamas (71), Clatsop (8), Columbia (15), Coos (10), Crook (14), Curry (1), Deschutes (28), Douglas (18), Grant (4), Hood River (5), Jackson (33), Jefferson (9), Josephine (15), Klamath (17), Lake (3), Lane (90), Lincoln (5), Linn (9), Malheur (11), Marion (101), Morrow (7), Multnomah (136), Polk (24), Umatilla (52), Union (9), Wallowa (1), Wasco (3), Washington (138) and Yamhill (15).

Oregon’s 1,844th COVID-19 death is an 89-year-old man in Clackamas County who tested positive on Jan. 1 and died on Jan. 20 at Portland VA Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,845th COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman in Clackamas County who tested positive on Jan. 4 and died on Jan. 8 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,846th COVID-19 death is an 87-year-old man in Deschutes County who tested positive on Dec. 31 and died on Jan. 12 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,847th COVID-19 death is a 46-year-old man in Harney County who tested positive on Jan. 5 and died on Jan. 20 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,848th COVID-19 death is a 56-year-old man in Harney County who tested positive on Jan. 4 and died on Jan. 20 at St. Luke’s Meridian Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,849th COVID-19 death is an 87-year-old woman in Jackson County who died on Jan. 4 at her residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,850th COVID-19 death is a 73-year-old man in Jackson County who tested positive on Jan. 4 and died on Jan. 1 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,851st COVID-19 death is a 67-year-old woman in Jackson County who tested positive on Dec. 30 and died on Jan. 18 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,852nd COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old woman in Jackson County who tested positive on Dec. 15 and died on Jan. 11 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,853rd COVID-19 death is a 69-year-old man in Jackson County who tested positive on Dec. 2 and died on Jan. 19 at Rogue Valley Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,854th COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old woman in Klamath County who tested positive on Dec. 8 and died on Jan. 19 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,855th COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old man in Klamath County who tested positive on Jan. 10 and died on Jan. 20 at Sky Lakes Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,856th COVID-19 death is an 84-year-old man in Josephine County who tested positive on Jan. 10 and died on Jan. 11 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,857th COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Dec. 12 and died on Jan. 16 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,858th COVID-19 death is a 70-year-old man in Umatilla County who tested positive on Jan. 4 and died on Jan. 20 at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,859th COVID-19 death is a 73-year-old man in Washington County who tested positive on Dec. 9 and died on Dec. 20 at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,860th COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on Dec. 28 and died on Jan. 12 at OHSU Health Hillsboro Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,861st COVID-19 death is a 61-year-old man in Union County who tested positive on Dec. 21 and died on Jan. 15 at St. Luke's Boise Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,862nd COVID-19 death is a 60-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on Nov. 29 and died on Dec. 26 at Salem Hospital. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,863rd COVID-19 death is a 68-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Dec. 17 and died on Jan. 20 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,864th COVID-19 death is a 61-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on Dec. 22 and died on Jan. 10 at Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,865th COVID-19 death is a 57-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Dec. 17 and died on Jan. 21 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our webpage, which has a breakdown of distribution and other useful information.

OHA corrects slide shown at press event today

A slide shared at today's press event has been updated. The slides here provide correct information, showing when people 75 and older will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Jan. 22, 2021

Contact: Philip Schmidt, 503-383-6079, philip.schmidt@dhsoha.state.or.us (media inquiries)

Brian Toups, 503-385-6542, rian.m.toups@dhsoha.state.or.us">brian.m.toups@dhsoha.state.or.us (meeting information or accommodation)

CCO Metrics Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to meet Jan. 28

What: The regular public meeting of the Oregon Health Authority’s CCO Metrics Technical Advisory Group.

When: January 28, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: By webinar and conference line only. The public may join remotely through a webinar and conference line:

• Join the webinar at https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1616909312?pwd=RFhWRjRpSDBCdWUxclJ3cWRhY203dz09  
• Conference line: 669-254-5252, meeting ID: 161 690 9312, passcode: 115986.

Agenda: Welcome and introductions (1:00-1:10); updates (1:10-1:35); Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screening measure development update (1:35-2:00); Kindergarten Readiness: Social Emotional Health Measure Pilot (2:10-2:40); 2021 specs updates (2:40-2:55); adjourn.

For more information, please visit the committee's website at http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/HPA/ANALYTICS/Pages/Metrics-Technical-Advisory-Group.aspx.

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters.
• Written materials in other languages.
• Braille.
• Large print.
• Audio and other formats.

If you need help or have questions, please contact Brian Toups at 503-385-6542, 711 TTY, rian.m.toups@dhsoha.state.or.us">brian.m.toups@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Jan. 22, 2021

Contact: Philip Schmidt, 503-383-6079, philip.schmidt@dhsoha.state.or.us (media inquiries)

Brian Toups, 503-385-6542, rian.m.toups@dhsoha.state.or.us">brian.m.toups@dhsoha.state.or.us (meeting information or accommodation)

Health Plan Quality Metrics Committee to meet Jan. 26

What: The regular public meeting of the Oregon Health Authority’s Health Plan Quality Metrics Committee (HPQMC).

When: January 26, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: By webinar and conference line only. The public may join remotely through a webinar and conference line:

• Join the webinar at https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1604430879?pwd=TUo3MVBnNDZ3NU8rS2wwQjUrSE9SZz09

• Conference line: 669-254-5252, Meeting ID: 161 815 5641, Password: 958409.

Agenda: Welcome and Roll Call/Introductions (1:00-1:05); Review agenda and approve minutes (1:05-1:10); Public comment (1:10-1:20); Level set review of 2021 measure menu and workplan for January to May 2021 (1:20-1:30); Measure presentation: Preventative Dental measure recommendations (1:30-2:00); Policy regarding contact during meetings (2:10-2:20); Begin discussion on reviewing measures for 2022 measure menu (2:20-3:00); wrap up/adjourn

For more information, please visit the committee's website at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/ANALYTICS/Pages/Quality-Metrics-Committee.aspx.

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters.
• Written materials in other languages.
• Braille.
• Large print.
• Audio and other formats.

If you need help or have questions, please contact Brian Toups at, 503-385-6542, 711 TTY, rian.m.toups@dhsoha.state.or.us">brian.m.toups@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Jan. 21, 2021

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us" target="_blank">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Weekly COVID-19 cases decline, deaths surge

OHA’s COVID-19 Weekly Report was released today and showed a slight decline in daily cases and a sharp decline in positive tests.

OHA reported 7,860 new daily cases during the week of Monday, Jan. 11 through Sunday, Jan. 17, a 4% decrease from the previous week.

There were 332 persons hospitalized for COVID-19.

COVID-19 related deaths surged to 195, the highest weekly toll to date, following a previous pandemic high from the prior week.

There were 129,723 tests for COVID-19 for the week of Jan. 10 through Jan. 16. The percentage of positive tests dropped to 5.9%.

People age 20 to 49 have accounted for 54% of COVID-19 cases, while people 70 and older have accounted for 77% of deaths associated with the virus.

Today’s COVID-19 outbreak report shows 208 active COVID-19 outbreaks in senior living communities and congregate living settings, with three or more confirmed cases and one or more COVID-19 related deaths.

Jan. 21, 2021

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us" target="_blank">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 849 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 11 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 11 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,843 the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 849 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 135,973.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 14,951 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 8,699 vaccine doses were administered on Jan. 20 and 6,252 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on Jan. 20.

Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).

Oregon has now administered a cumulative total of 253,711 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. All vaccinations were administered by Oregon hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency medical service (EMS) agencies, urgent care facilities and Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs).

To date, 479,325 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon.

These data are preliminary and subject to change. OHA's dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 329, which is seven fewer than yesterday. There are 87 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is three fewer than yesterday.

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Pediatric Report released

Today, OHA issued a report analyzing the case data of pediatric COVID-19 cases in Oregon since the beginning of the pandemic.

As of Jan. 5, there had been 119,488 confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Oregon. Pediatric patients — defined as people under 18 years old — accounted for 13,328, or 11.2%, of the total cases. There had been seven cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C).

There was a dramatic rise in daily COVID-19 pediatric cases in late October and mid-November with cases levelling out somewhat by the end of 2020.

The report indicates that while pediatric case counts have increased, pediatric patients remain far less likely than adults to develop severe cases of COVID-19.

Only 0.9% of pediatric patients have been hospitalized at some point during their COVID-19 illness. Comparatively, 6.2% of adults with COVID-19 have been hospitalized.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (4), Benton (24), Clackamas (71), Clatsop (7), Columbia (1), Coos (10), Crook (2), Deschutes (32), Douglas (22), Gilliam (1), Harney (1), Hood River (8), Jackson (42), Jefferson (6), Josephine (21), Klamath (18), Lake (1), Lane (97), Lincoln (11), Linn (23), Malheur (18), Marion (87), Morrow (11), Multnomah (123), Polk (18), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (35), Union (6), Wallowa (1), Wasco (11), Washington (110), Yamhill (26).

Oregon’s 1,833rd COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old woman in Clackamas County who tested positive on Jan. 6 and died on Jan. 14 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,834th COVID-19 death is a 94-year-old woman in Jackson County who died on Dec. 28 at her residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,835th COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old man in Jackson County who died on Jan. 3 at his residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,836th COVID-19 death is a 79-year-old woman in Jackson County who tested positive on Dec. 26 and died on Jan. 17 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,837th COVID-19 death is a 77-year-old man in Jackson County who tested positive on Dec. 28 and died on Dec. 31 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,838th COVID-19 death is a 100-year-old woman in Jackson County who tested positive on Dec. 22 and died on Jan. 10 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,839th COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman in Lane County who tested positive on Dec. 21 and died on Jan. 17 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center—Riverbend. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,840th COVID-19 death is a 69-year-old man in Lane County who tested positive on Dec. 9 and died on Jan. 17 at McKenzie Willamette Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,841st COVID-19 death is a 65-year-old man in Lane County who tested positive on Dec. 6 and died on Jan. 20 at Oregon Health Science University. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,842nd COVID-19 death is a 52-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on Jan. 3 and died on Jan. 6 at Hillsboro Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,843rd COVID-19 death is a 66-year-old woman in Yamhill County who tested positive on Jan. 6 and died on Jan. 17 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our webpage, which has a breakdown of distribution and other useful information.

Jan. 21, 2021

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us" target="_blank">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee narrows recommendation, plans further discussion

PORTLAND, ORE. – Oregon’s 27-member COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee (VAC) met for its third official business meeting on Jan. 21 and discussed how to sequence populations in a way that centers on those most likely to experience both health inequities and the worst effects of COVID-19.

The committee agreed that data shows disproportionate impacts on communities of color, especially Black, African American, Latino/a/x, Pacific Islander, and Indigenous, Tribal and urban-based Native populations, along with people managing chronic health conditions.

Due to structural racism and inadequate access to culturally and linguistically responsive health care, communities of color experience higher rates of chronic health conditions, which may go undiagnosed.

VAC discussion centered on whether to consider communities of color and people with chronic medical conditions in sequential order or to start with people who meet multiple criteria. Kalani Raphael, M.D., Oregon Pacific Islander Coalition, stated, “Chronic health conditions are more common in minority communities. [Starting with chronic conditions] targets the most vulnerable people within our communities and it is one approach to this very, very complicated problem.”

Kelly Gonzales, Ph.D., representing Oregon Health & Science University, Portland State University and the urban Native community stated, “I don’t agree with removing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) as the first priority. I think it whitewashes the structural racism and systemic racism that we are trying to center. By centering on BIPOC people and then including chronic conditions, there is an overlap there.”

Other considerations included focusing on migrant and seasonal farm workers due to the upcoming agricultural season, the need to keep categories broad enough so that vaccine doses aren’t wasted — especially in rural areas — and the reality that Oregon doesn’t anticipate enough vaccines to immunize all recommended groups in a short time frame.

At its Jan. 28 meeting, the VAC is expected to make a final recommendation, aided by analysis from Oregon Health Authority, on implementation and allocation scenarios.

The next optional information session will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 5:30-6:30 p.m., and the next formal VAC meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Vaccinations in Oregon

So far, 238,759 doses of vaccines have been administered in Phase 1a, which includes health care workers, residents and staff in long-term care facilities, group homes and home care for people with disabilities among others. Gov. Kate Brown has confirmed that teachers and education staff, as well as adults 65 and older (phased by age group) will be prioritized in Phase 1b.

OHA is  providing daily updates on administered doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Oregon on its vaccination data dashboard. 

The dashboard provides weekday updates on the number of people vaccinated, both by state and by county, along with key demographic information showing the race, ethnicity, sex and age of everyone who has been vaccinated.

Jan. 20, 2021

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us" target="_blank">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Updated: Oregon reports 704 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 24 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 24 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,832, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 704 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 135,142.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 13,694 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 8,570 vaccine doses were administered on Jan. 19 and 5,124 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on Jan. 19.

Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).

Oregon has now administered a cumulative total of 238,760 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. All vaccinations were administered by Oregon hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency medical service (EMS) agencies, urgent care facilities and Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs).

To date, 436,250 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon.

These data are preliminary and subject to change. OHA's dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 336, which is eight more than yesterday. There are 90 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is two fewer than yesterday.

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Cases and deaths

NOTE: Death details are being reviewed and will be posted in an updated version of this press release.

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (3), Benton (21), Clackamas (36), Clatsop (6), Coos (12), Crook (7), Deschutes (38), Douglas (17), Harney (3), Hood River (6), Jackson (38), Jefferson (7), Josephine (15), Klamath (16), Lake (4), Lane (53), Lincoln (4), Linn (26), Malheur (29), Marion (83), Morrow (4), Multnomah (99), Polk (22), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (53), Union (7), Wallowa (1), Wasco (6), Washington (60) and Yamhill (26).

Oregon’s 1,809th COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old man in Crook County who tested positive on Jan.10 and died on Jan.15 at St. Charles Bend Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,810th COVID-19 death is a 95-year-old man in Deschutes County who tested positive on Jan. 4 and died on Jan.12 at St. Charles hospital in Bend. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,811th COVID-19 death is a 47-year-old woman in Deschutes County who tested positive on Jan. 6 and died on Jan.16 at St. Charles hospital in Bend. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,812th COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old man in Josephine County who tested positive on Jan. 4 and died on Jan. 15 at his residence. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,813th COVID-19 death is an 88-year-old woman in Klamath County who tested positive on Dec. 28 and died on Jan. 15 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,814th COVID-19 death is a 92-year-old man in Klamath County who tested positive on Jan. 8 and died on Jan. 17 at Sky Lakes Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,815th COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old woman in Klamath County who tested positive on Jan. 10 and died on Jan. 18 at Sky Lakes Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,816th COVID-19 death is an 88-year-old man in Klamath County who tested positive on Jan. 7 and died on Jan. 18 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,817th COVID-19 death is a 99-year-old woman in Klamath County who tested positive on Jan. 7 and died on Jan. 16 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,818th COVID-19 death is a 69-year-old man in Klamath County who tested positive on Jan. 11 and died on Jan. 16 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,819th COVID-19 death is a 61-year-old man in Linn County who tested positive on Jan. 11 and died on Jan. 18. Location of death and presence of underlying conditions are being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,820th COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old man in Linn County who tested positive on Dec. 16 and died on Jan. 17 at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,821st COVID-19 death is a 99-year-old man in Linn County who tested positive on Oct. 29 and died on Dec. 22. Location of death and presence of underlying conditions are being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,822nd COVID-19 death is a 64-year-old man in Malheur County who tested positive on Jan. 14 and died on Jan. 18. Location of death and presence of underlying conditions are being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,823rd COVID-19 death is a 63-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Dec. 7 and died on Jan. 17 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,824th COVID-19 death is a 70-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Dec. 18 and died on Jan. 14 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,825th COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on Jan. 13 and died on Jan. 14 at Santiam Memorial Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,826th COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on Jan. 5 and died on Jan. 17 at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,827th COVID-19 death is an 88-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on Dec. 21 and died on Jan. 16 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,828th COVID-19 death is a 73-year-old man in Umatilla County who died on Jan. 8 at his residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,829th COVID-19 death is a 62-year-old man in Umatilla County who died on Jan. 9 at his residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,830th COVID-19 death is an 82-year-old woman in Umatilla County who tested positive on Dec. 21 and died on Dec. 30 at Trios Health Southridge Hospital. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,831st COVID-19 death is a 95-year-old man in Washington County who died on Dec. 12 at his residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 as a cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death. Presence of underlying conditions is being confirmed.

Oregon’s 1,832nd COVID-19 death is an 85-year-old man in Yamhill County who tested positive on Jan. 6 and died on Jan. 14 at Willamette Valley Medical Center. He had underlying conditions.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our webpage, which has a breakdown of distribution and other useful information.

Jan. 20, 2021

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us" target="_blank">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 704 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 24 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — There are 24 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,832, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 704 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 135,142.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 13,694 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 8,570 vaccine doses were administered on Jan. 19 and 5,124 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on Jan. 19.

Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).

Oregon has now administered a cumulative total of 238,760 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. All vaccinations were administered by Oregon hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency medical service (EMS) agencies, urgent care facilities and Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs).

To date, 436,250 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon.

These data are preliminary and subject to change. OHA's dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 336, which is eight more than yesterday. There are 90 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is two fewer than yesterday.

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Cases and deaths

NOTE: Death details are being reviewed and will be posted in an updated version of this press release.

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (3), Benton (21), Clackamas (36), Clatsop (6), Coos (12), Crook (7), Deschutes (38), Douglas (17), Harney (3), Hood River (6), Jackson (38), Jefferson (7), Josephine (15), Klamath (16), Lake (4), Lane (53), Lincoln (4), Linn (26), Malheur (29), Marion (83), Morrow (4), Multnomah (99), Polk (22), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (53), Union (7), Wallowa (1), Wasco (6), Washington (60) and Yamhill (26).

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our webpage, which has a breakdown of distribution and other useful information.

Jan. 20, 2021

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@state.or.us

Oregon Cannabis Commission's Zoom meeting Jan. 27

What: A Zoom meeting for the Oregon Cannabis Commission.

Agenda: TBD

When: Wednesday, Jan. 27, 1-4 p.m.

Where: Conference call line: 669-254-5252, meeting ID: 160-573-6350.

Background: The Oregon Cannabis Commission was established in the 2017 legislative session through HB 2198. The commission consists of the state health officer or designee and an eight member-panel appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the senate. The commission is tasked with determining a possible framework for future governance of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, steps to address research on cannabis in areas of public health policy and public safety policy, agronomic and horticultural best practices, and medical and pharmacopoeia best practices. The commission also advises the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission regarding statutes governing medical and retail cannabis. Visit www.Healthoregon.org/cannabiscommission for more information.

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide are:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters
• Written material in other languages
• Braille
• Large print
• Audio and other formats

If you need help or have questions, please contact Megan Lockwood at 971-673-0620, 711 TTY or .lockwood@state.or.us">megan.r.lockwood@state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Jan. 20, 2020

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us" target="_blank">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon Health Authority Recommends Continued Administration of Moderna Vaccine Lot 041L20A Doses Based on Federal Advisory and Medical Expert Review

Moderna lot in Oregon under investigation; monitoring continues

(Salem, OR – January 20, 2021) State health officials in Oregon recommend that local vaccination sites continue to administer COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna Lot 041L20A, after the state’s immunization program received advice from federal officials to continue to dispense the doses. Moderna Lot 041L20A has been associated with six adverse events at a single site in California. On Jan. 19th, medical experts from the Western States Scientific Safety Review Committee evaluated the reports and will be following up with an announcement of their analysis later today, reaffirming the CDC recommendations to continue to administer doses from this Moderna lot of vaccine.  

This vaccine lot consists of approximately one million doses of vaccines. In Oregon, 57,400 doses of Moderna Lot 041L20A have been distributed to 118 vaccination sites. As of Jan. 20, Oregon vaccination sites had administered 30,803 doses from the lot.  Oregon continues to monitor adverse events following administration of all COVID-19 vaccinations and is currently investigating two adverse events at separate sites linked to this Moderna lot. All individuals reported to the Oregon Health Authority who experienced adverse events have recovered. Providers are required to submit reports of adverse events following vaccine administration to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS https://vaers.hhs.gov/).

OHA received a communication from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which stated: “CDC is aware of a situation in California in which multiple potential adverse events were reported after vaccination with a specific lot of Moderna vaccine (Moderna Lot 041L20A) at one community vaccination clinic. We are working closely with the California Department of Public Health, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Moderna to investigate these potential adverse events. At this time CDC does NOT recommend health departments stop administering this lot or any lot of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.”

OHA encourages local vaccine administration sites to share information about lot numbers in response to questions from patients. The Western States Scientific Safety Review Committee will continue to monitor further reports and will consider any additional guidance states receive from the federal government.

Oregon health officials reiterated their expectations that local vaccination sites monitor patients for 15 minutes after vaccination, or 30 minutes in persons with a history of an immediate allergic reaction of any severity to a vaccine or injectable therapy and persons with a history of anaphylaxis due to any cause, and have supplies on hand to respond to any adverse events.

Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state health officer for Oregon said: “Vaccines, along with wearing masks and limiting indoor gatherings, are the safest, most effective and most reliable ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Adverse reactions to vaccines are extremely rare, but we’re paying close attention when they do occur. At this time, there’s no evidence that these events have been associated with any other vaccine site and I encourage every eligible Oregonian to get a vaccine as soon as vaccination is available to you.”

Jan. 19, 2021

Contact: OHA External Relations, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us" target="_blank">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 637 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 5 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed five more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,808, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 637 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 134,468.

Vaccinations in Oregon

Today, OHA reported that 8,141 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 5,511 vaccine doses were administered on Jan. 18 and 2,630 were administered on previous days but entered into the vaccine registry on Jan. 18.

Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).

Based on currently entered data, the average daily number of vaccinations for the past seven days has been 12,289 doses administered per day.

Oregon has now administered a cumulative total of 225,066 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. All vaccinations were administered by Oregon hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency medical service (EMS) agencies, urgent care facilities and Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs).

To date, 339,950 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon.

These data are preliminary and subject to change. OHA's dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.

COVID-19 hospitalizations

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 328, which is 14 fewer than yesterday. There are 92 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is two fewer than yesterday.

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity.

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

Cases and deaths

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (5), Benton (16), Clackamas (63), Clatsop (1), Columbia (5), Coos (3), Crook (2), Deschutes (37), Douglas (5), Hood River (1), Jackson (41), Jefferson (2), Josephine (27), Klamath (25), Lake (3), Lane (71), Lincoln (5), Linn (7), Marion (67), Morrow (2), Multnomah (125), Polk (14), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (13), Union (4), Wasco (4), Washington (76) and Yamhill (12).

Oregon’s 1,804th COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old man in Deschutes County who tested positive on Jan. 5 and died on Jan. 15 at St. Charles Bend hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,805th COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old woman in Josephine County who tested positive on Dec. 28 and died on Jan. 18 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,806th COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old woman in Lane County who tested positive on Nov. 25 and died on Dec. 15 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,807th COVID-19 death is a 91-year-old man in Washington County who tested positive on Dec. 11 and died on Jan. 15 at his residence. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1,808th COVID-19 death is a 65-year-old woman in Washington County who tested positive on Jan. 4 and died on Jan. 17 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital. She had underlying conditions.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine situation in Oregon, visit our webpage, which has a breakdown of distribution and other useful information.

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed three more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,803, Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

OHA reported 666 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 133,851.

Vaccinations in Oregon 

Today, OHA is reporting that 11,951 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 8,409 vaccine doses were administered on Jan. 17. 

Oregon has now administered a cumulative total of 216,925 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. All vaccinations occurred at Oregon hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency medical service (EMS) agencies, urgent care facilities and Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs). 

To date, 335,075 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon. 

These data are preliminary and subject to change. OHA's dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today. 

COVID-19 hospitalizations 

The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 342, which is 19 fewer than yesterday. There are 94 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is one fewer than yesterday. 

The total number of patients in hospital beds may fluctuate between report times. The numbers do not reflect admissions per day, nor the length of hospital stay. Staffing limitations are not captured in this data and may further limit bed capacity. 

More information about hospital capacity can be found here.

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (10), Clackamas (57), Columbia (6), Coos (1), Crook (9), Deschutes (51), Douglas (11), Hood River (3), Jackson (40), Jefferson (2), Josephine (9), Lake (1), Lane (81), Lincoln (5), Linn (8), Malheur (4), Marion (79), Morrow (6), Multnomah (140), Polk (9), Umatilla (29), Wasco (10), Washington (87), Yamhill (8).

Oregon’s 1801st COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old woman in Lane County who tested positive Jan. 4 and died Jan. 8 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1802nd COVID-19 death is a 55-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive Dec. 27 and died Jan. 16 at Salem Hospital. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 1803rd COVID-19 death is a 99-year-old woman in Multnomah County who tested positive Jan. 3 and died Jan. 15 at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Updated information is available for Oregon’s 1,800th death: Her place of death was confirmed as her residence.

1This includes cases confirmed by diagnostic testing and presumptive cases. Presumptive cases are those without a positive diagnostic test who present COVID-19-like symptoms and had close contact with a confirmed case. County of residence for cases may change as new information becomes available. If changes occur, we will update our counts accordingly.

2For additional details on individuals who have died from COVID-19 in Oregon, please refer to our press releases

ELRs Received 1/17

Total ELRs Received

Jan. 20, 2021 - Salem, Ore. – It’s very exciting to win a big prize playing Oregon Lottery games and it’s a rare occurrence when a player can claim to be a repeat winner.

Thanks to winning a $50,000 prize in the Lottery’s Second Chance Scratch-it drawing, Peter Gilbert can honestly make that claim!

Gilbert is no stranger to winning the Lottery’s Second Chance Scratch-it drawing. “In May 2016, I won $10,000 in the Second Chance drawing,” said Gilbert, of Beaverton. “So, when I told a friend of mine that I’d won $50,000 this time, he decided to start calling me ‘Re-Pete!’”

When Gilbert claimed his latest Lottery prize on Jan. 14, he said hoped for a “three-Pete” by winning Mega Millions or Powerball.

Every Oregon Lottery Scratch-it game offers a second chance drawing for an additional top prize for that game. In Gilbert’s instance, he entered a non-winning “Crossword Inferno” ticket he had bought at the 7-Eleven on Tualatin Valley Highway in Beaverton. Once sales end for a particular Scratch-it game, that sets the wheels in motion for that game’s second chance drawing to occur.  

“Winning this prize is not life-changing,” said Gilbert, “but it is life affirming.”

Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned more than $12 billion for economic development, public education, Outdoor School, state parks, Veteran Services and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org 

### 

The Oregon State Marine Board will hold a work session on January 26 from 1 pm to 5 pm for a staff presentation and discussion around life jackets. The Board will hold its quarterly meeting on January 27, beginning at 8:30 am. Both the work session and Board meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams and live-streamed from the agency’s office, 435 Commercial Street NE, in Salem.

The Board will consider the following agenda items:

• River Ambassador Pilot Program -Clackamas River, Invited Guest Presentation;
• Facilities Grant 1670 -Westport;
• Rulemaking Request for Crescent Lake, Klamath County;
• Consideration for Rulemaking OAR 250-020-0280, 250-020-003, Boat Operations on the Lower Willamette in Multnomah and Clackamas Counties;
• Consideration for Rulemaking OAR 250-020-0073, Boat Operations on Ochoco and Prineville Reservoirs in Crook County;
• NIC Oregon (Digital Government Web Solutions Provider) Transaction Fee.

Written comments will be accepted through January 24, and can be sent via U.S. Mail to Jennifer Cooper, Executive Assistant, 435 Commercial St NE Salem, OR 97301, or email to .cooper@oregon.gov">jennifer.cooper@oregon.gov.

The meeting will be live-streamed via the Marine Board’s YouTube Channel. To view the agenda and staff report, visit https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/info/Pages/Board-and-Public-Meetings.aspx.

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The Oregon Office of Emergency Management has posted the Oregon Wildfire Recovery Update for Jan.20, 2021, to the Oregon Wildfire Resources page. See today's Wildfire Recovery update here. 

Photo Caption:

Lincoln County, Ore. - September 21, 2020 - Life remains after the Echo Mountain Complex fire burned on the outskirts of Lincoln City Oregon. Photo by Jeff Markham/FEMA.

SALEM, Oregon – The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries will meet via online meeting on Feb 5 at 1:00 p.m. The agenda includes project planning, the abandoned cemetery care permit process, and legislative and other updates. The meeting is open to the public and the agenda includes an opportunity for public comment. 

State law established the seven-member Commission to maintain a listing of all historic cemeteries and gravesites in Oregon; promote public education on the significance of historic cemeteries; and help obtain financial and technical assistance for restoring, improving and maintaining their appearances. For more information about commission activities, contact coordinator Kuri Gill at 503-986-0685 or by e-mail at i.gill@oregon.gov">kuri.gill@oregon.gov.

Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling (503) 986?0690 at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting.

For call-in details and the agenda or more information about the commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org.

Since the onset of the pandemic, criminals have used tactics like identity theft and social engineering to defraud government and healthcare programs and illegally cash in—and the new year has brought some new material for them to keep up their scams.

COVID-19 vaccines. New PPP loans. Expanded government assistance. All are positive developments toward addressing the pandemic’s impact, but they also afford opportunities for criminals to fraudulently exploit.

The Threats Continue

On December 21, federal agencies alerted the public regarding the high potential for fraud during the pandemic, especially now that a vaccine is available. Meanwhile, fraudsters are continuing their global phishing and spoofing campaigns, baiting victims with bogus promises of COVID-19 testing, grants, and prescription cards in exchange for personally identifiable information (PII).

“Given the impact COVID-19 has had on all of our lives, it’s no surprise that fraudsters are using it to target peoples’ money and sensitive information,” says Kathryn Albright, Global Payments & Deposits Executive with Umpqua Bank. “But if you know what kinds of red flags to be aware of right now, it can really help protect your business, and you personally, in the long-run.”

Beware of These Scams

• Recorded phone calls (“Robocalls”) offering the chance to avoid lines and get vaccinated sooner for a set price (e.g., $79.99).
• Advertisements and price gouging for the sale of fake or potentially dangerous (and unapproved, illegitimate) COVID-19 “medicine” or treatments.
• Solicitations, whether in person or via text, email, or phone, asking you to provide account information (financial or medical), click an unfamiliar or unexpected link, or visit an unfamiliar webpage in order to “sign up” for treatment.
• Bogus “contact tracers” who reach out to unsuspecting victims and ask for PII (e.g., Medicare number or financial information) or attempt to collect payment for scheduling a test. Legitimate contact tracers don’t need such information or payment.

Tips to Note

According to the AARP, the key points federal officials want the public to understand when it comes to preventing such scams are:

• Go to a trusted source for vaccine information (e.g., your doctor or local health department).
• Don’t buy a vaccine or treatment off the Internet.
• The vaccine is provided at no cost, although providers may charge a fee for administration (that can be reimbursed).
• Ignore any solicitations about the vaccine that are delivered to you via text message, social media, phone call, email, or in person, because health officials are not contacting eligible people using these methods.
• Don’t give money or any type of PII to an unexpected or unfamiliar party contacting you about COVID-19, because fraudsters can use such information to defraud healthcare organizations and commit identity theft.

Remain Vigilant

For additional information regarding the COVID-19 response and updated vaccine distribution details, visit trusted sites like CDC.gov and the FDA vaccine web page periodically—and exercise caution regarding unexpected or unfamiliar communications on the topic.

If You See Something, Say Something

“Fraudsters are adapting fast, and even the smallest amount of fraud can quickly become a scam epidemic,” says Albright. “Try to stay ahead of the fraud game and always keep a healthy skepticism; hyper-vigilance is necessary, even regarding an unexpected opportunity for COVID-19 treatment, as it’s often said, ’If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.’”

Contact your local law enforcement agencies if you think you’ve received fraudulent communication regarding COVID-19 treatment. If you suspect that your Umpqua Bank account has been compromised, contact our Customer Resource Center at (866) 486-7782 as soon as possible for assistance.

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University (WOU) has announced that spring term classes at both the Monmouth campus and WOU:Salem will continue as mostly online, in an effort to “Embrace the Now.” As with fall and winter terms, only a small number of arts and science lab-based courses will be offered in person, while following social distancing protocols.

“We had hoped to be able to offer more in-person classes for spring, but the COVID-19 metrics and current safety protocols have led us to this decision," said WOU President Rex Fuller.

Spring term begins March 29, 2021. This decision was announced now to provide students ample time to make decisions about spring term courses and seek advising support before class registration opens in February. The course delivery method does not impact tuition as tuition is billed at the same rate per credit for all class formats.

The university anticipates announcing what Commencement will look like on the first day of spring term. Currently, there is a survey open for students to offer input on several Commencement models. Spring sports (baseball, softball, track) are expected to be allowed starting next month, pending any changes from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Details about whether spectators will be allowed are being determined.

About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, founded in 1856 and located in Monmouth, is the state’s oldest public university. Serving approximately 4,800 students, WOU is a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution with nearly 75 percent of the student population being from Oregon. A significant portion of attendees are members of under-represented groups, veterans or non-traditional students. WOU is Oregon’s campus of choice for those seeking a transformative education in a supportive, student-centered learning community where classes are taught by faculty. Together we succeed.

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M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Announces Record Year of Giving

Foundation awards $20.6 million at quarterly meeting, $75.9 million granted in 2020 including $25.3 million to Oregon nonprofits

For Immediate Release

(Vancouver, WA) – With the publication of its Fall 2020 Grants Report today, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust announced both a record quarter and a record year of giving as the organization celebrated its 45th anniversary serving the Pacific Northwest.

• At the Fall 2020 Grants Meeting, Murdock Trust Trustees approved 70 grants totaling $20.6 million, including 26 grants totaling $7.7 million to nonprofits serving the Oregon region. 
• Over the course of 2020, Trustees approved 474 grants for $75.9 million, including 163 totaling $25.3 million to Oregon nonprofits.
• Since opening in 1975, the Murdock Trust has awarded more than 7,300 grants totaling more than $1.1 billion.

“This is a milestone that is inspiring, but also bittersweet, for our organization,” said Steve Moore, executive director, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. “We are moved because this is a testament to the hard work of our team and the foresight and wisdom of our benefactor, Jack Murdock. But it is also a somber moment because a significant part of our giving is related to the COVID-19 response and the historic events of 2020 that have been devastating for many.”

In addition to the Trust’s quarterly Strategic Grants program, the nonprofit foundation introduced two emergency support programs by invitation in 2020 focused on the COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery from the historic wildfire season.

“There is no question that 2020 was one of the most challenging years for our organization, but in many respects, it was also one of the most rewarding” said Moore. “Like many of our peer foundations, our Trustees recognized that the needs of the communities we serve would be on a scale and pace unlike anything we had seen before. They committed early in 2020 to increase our projected grantmaking and programming budgets and respond in ways that support those on the front lines of need in a timely fashion across the Pacific Northwest.

“Though we are heartbroken by the loss and destruction faced by so many, we are heartened and inspired by the rapid, people-focused pivots and innovations introduced by the nonprofit community to serve those in need. We are grateful to have played a small role in their work and for all the trusted partners and leaders across sectors who have worked to serve the common good.”

A Trend of Breaking Records

Grantmaking in 2020 marks the third time in four years the Murdock Trust set a personal best for community investment, previously achieving new highs in 2017 ($57 million) and 2019 ($67 million). Leaders at the Murdock Trust attribute this growth to both overall trends of the economy and the organization’s approach to its work in response to the enhanced needs of our communities in the PNW.

“Our effectiveness as an organization relies on a few factors,” Moore explained. “First and foremost, it is a tribute to the incredible work of the nonprofit sector. We like to say that ‘the fruit of our labor grows on the trees of others.’ We would not be able to make these grants if there were not a wide array of individuals and organizations committed to serving the diverse needs of our region.”

“It’s also a reflection of the dedication and commitment of our own grants and program team. We believe in a very personal, very relational approach to our work. Our Program Directors personally visit and meet with every grant applicant. While these in-person conversations had to pivot to virtual platforms due to social distance protocols, they remained committed to connecting with and engaging every organization directly. Our team has never worked harder or given more of their time and energy than they did in 2020.”

“But it is also a testament to our incredible investment team. Our generosity is a function of the assets we steward and the investment managers with who we partner. While we wish that we could fund every organization we meet, we must operate thoughtfully and strategically within our resources. Our investment team brings a unique, relational approach to how we manage our endowment. A method founded by our first Chief Investment Officer, Jim Martin, and that has continued under our current CIO, Elmer Huh, has helped our organization consistently provide great returns which has then allowed us to increase our investments in the community.”

45 Years of Service

In addition to the record-breaking milestone, 2020 also presented another reason for the Murdock Trust family to celebrate as the nonprofit foundation marked 45 years of service to the Pacific Northwest.

“Moments like this really give us an opportunity to reflect on the magnitude of the thoughtful investment Jack Murdock made into our community,” said Kimberly Thornbury, senior program director for enrichment, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. In her role, Thornbury works directly with grant applicants as well as oversees the Trust’s enrichment programming and much of the Trust’s work in convening senior leaders across sectors. “To think that decades after he passed away, his work and vision continue to change lives in positive and meaningful ways through our grantmaking, enrichment programs and convenings is incredible.

“We had hoped to visit in-person with many of our past grantees and partners to celebrate their work, but those plans obviously had to be put on pause to keep everyone safe and healthy. But our team is looking forward to seeing our partners face-to-face once the experts tell us it is safe and vaccines are distributed broadly. Perhaps we’ll be hosting a 46-and-a-half-year anniversary party instead!”

For more information on the organizations served by the Murdock Trust and our grantmaking process, visit murdocktrust.org.

About M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust

The Murdock Trust, created by the will of the late Melvin J. (Jack) Murdock, provides grants to organizations in five states of the Pacific Northwest—Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington—that seek to strengthen the region’s educational, spiritual and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways. Since its inception in 1975, the Trust has awarded more than 7,300 grants totaling more than $1.1 billion. For more information, find the Murdock Trust on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and on our website.

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PORTLAND, Ore. – While navigating immediate term challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is planning to expand science education for the community and build an endowment through the development of its property located on the southeast bank of the Willamette River in Portland’s Central Eastside. The 76-year-old science institution and newly engaged partners are envisioning and planning a new sustainable neighborhood, waterfront education park, and inclusive community destination that restores the Native community’s presence on the Willamette in the central city.

As OMSI advances the vision for the district and prepares for approval of the OMSI District master plan, it has engaged new partners. Metro recently awarded a grant to OMSI and the City of Portland to engage a broad coalition of partners to explore the possibility for the development of a Center for Tribal Nations. 

Led by the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) and Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), the project seeks to leverage the redevelopment of the OMSI property to model a new partnership between the museum, tribal and intertribal organizations, and the City of Portland to restore the Native community’s presence on the Willamette and address the shared challenges of sustainability, resilience, and inclusion.

In addition, OMSI has partnered with Portland Community College (PCC) and the Portland Opera to engage them in master planning for the district. Their collaboration creates new opportunities to co-develop district-wide programming and leverage transportation investments through coordinated development to connect Portlanders to the city center. 

“For many years, OMSI has been a critical partner for the larger Portland community and served as a center for knowledge, growth, the exchange of information, as well as a catalyst for the community to better understand the world around them,” said James Parker, deputy director of Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI).
 
Parker said OMSI and its partners are creating a model for other public-private partnerships across the country that can serve as a catalyst for educating the public about tribal people’s past, present, and future.

“This project serves as a reconciliation for Native People. It underscores that they need to be present, acknowledged, visible, and provided space,” said Laura John, tribal relations director for the City of Portland. “Ultimately, as the city works towards our vision of making Portland a destination location for Native People—whether they're coming to visit or live and work here—having that space will help accomplish that vision.”

As a part of Metro’s grant, OMSI and its partners will host listening sessions this spring to engage with key groups from the community for the development of a waterfront education park. This process will include Native communities and stakeholders representing a wide variety of interests, such as bikers and commuters, birders and conservationists, and educators and swimmers. These sessions will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to share their ideas for how the waterfront might be developed to create an inclusive community destination.  

The waterfront education park will serve as an extension of OMSI’s mission to educate about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) while framing it within the context of cultural, historic, and tribal knowledge relative to the Willamette River. 

“What piqued our interest was the waterfront education aspect of it, which really meshes well with our goals,” said Jeremy FiveCrows, public affairs specialist with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fishing Commission (CRITFC). “When you connect the city to a healthy, natural river, it allows you to reimagine the possibilities of how a river ecosystem can coexist with a city. In the end, we would like for people to understand why salmon and healthy rivers are important not only to tribes, but also why they should be important to everybody.”

FiveCrows said he looks forward to the day when people can learn about the river—its history and the people who have lived there before—and how they can make a positive impact on its future. 

“As people learn about the river, they get interested. As their interest grows and they learn more, they become advocates. As they advocate for the river, they start to take action. And once people start to take action on behalf of the river, things change for the good,” he said.

Plans for the OMSI District currently include: 

• 10 city blocks with up to three million square feet of new transit-oriented development, including over one million square feet of office space 
• Up to 1,000 units of new housing, including a minimum of 20 percent affordable units 
• Public gathering spaces to provide connection, renewal, and culturally relevant and educational programs and events
• A waterfront education park
• Next-generation sustainable urban development 

About Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
In 1953 farsighted tribal leaders in the Northwest formed the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, and dedicated it to tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Today, ATNI is a nonprofit organization representing over 50 Northwest tribal governments from Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Alaska, California and Montana. Where it is appropriate, ATNI develops and pursues regional strategies for the development, protection and advancement of the interests of member Tribes.

About Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fishing Commission
The Portland-based Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission was formed in 1977 as the technical support and coordinating agency for fishery management policies of the Columbia Basin’s four treaty fishing tribes: the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and the Nez Perce Tribe. CRITFC’s four primary efforts are to put fish back in the rivers and restore the rivers where they live, protect treaty fishing rights, provide tribal fisher services, and share salmon culture. 

About OMSI
Founded in 1944, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation’s leading science museums, a world-class tourist attraction, and an award-winning educational resource for the kid in each of us. OMSI operates the largest museum-based outdoor science education program in the country and provides traveling and community outreach programs that bring science learning opportunities to schools and community organizations in every county in Oregon and throughout the region. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214. For general information, call 503.797.4000 or visit omsi.edu.
 

                       HOSPITALS EXPRESS DOUBTS ABOUT GOVERNOR'S LATEST VACCINE PLAN

Adding teachers first will delay doses for seniors; with limited supply hospitals concerned the state can’t deliver on promises after                                                                                          raising hopes  

Lake Oswego, Ore. – January 22, 2021 – The following is a statement from Becky Hultberg, President and CEO of the Oregon Association of Hospitals & Health Systems:

“We are deeply concerned that the Governor, by expanding eligibility to teachers and other school employees in addition to seniors aged 65 and older, is increasing demand for the vaccine far beyond available supply in some regions. Since the state does not control the vaccine supply, Oregonians are being asked to take it on faith that the state can keep to the Governor’s timeline.

In some regions of the state, supply can meet the demand. It is important that these areas are free to move ahead with their vaccination efforts. However, it is critical that all Oregonians understand that given current supply, some hospitals will be unable to meet the demand for vaccinations. Hospitals are constrained by the available supply and are obligated to focus on the Governor’s prioritized eligibility list.

Some regions of the state have not completed vaccinating the Phase 1(a) population, but beginning next week the majority of supply will go to teachers. It will take several weeks to get through teachers in the Portland metro area based on current supply, and that does not include vaccinating the remainder of Phase 1(a). Adding 80-year-olds on Feb. 8 and then other age bands in the weeks after that will compound this problem.

At 15,000 doses a week in the Portland metro area, we should all be honest about the fact that there will be significant wait times for vaccines and that completing our efforts will take many, many months unless supply increases.

Setting unreasonable expectations will not speed up vaccinations but will lead to confusion on the part of Oregon seniors, and will increase the operational burden borne by hospitals tasked with explaining to those who believe they have a place in line that they will have to wait even longer.

If you are in a prioritized population in February in the Portland metro area, it is likely you will not get a vaccination for weeks, or maybe even months, after the date you are prioritized. If you have concerns or challenges in scheduling, please do not call hospitals. We are doing the best we can with the supply we have and following the directives from the Oregon Health Authority and the Governor’s Office.

Our hospitals and community partners have made great strides in creating vaccine programs from scratch with virtually no state or federal help, including funding. We are concerned that the current plans will add stress and potential chaos to these efforts as facilities are inundated with anxious residents seeking the vaccine.”

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About OAHHS: Founded in 1934, OAHHS is a statewide, nonprofit trade association that works closely with local and national government leaders, business and citizen coalitions, and other professional health care organizations to enhance and promote community health and to continue improving Oregon’s innovative health care delivery system.