Oregon Beach News, Wednesday 2/5 – Snow on the Coast and More in the Coast Ranges, February is Earthquake and Tsunami Awareness Month in Oregon & Other Local and Statewide News…

The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Oregon Beach Weather

Hazardous Seas Warning Issued: 2:08 AM Feb. 5, 2025 – National Weather Service

...HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 35 kt and very steep and hazardous seas 10 to 12 ft at 8 seconds expected.
* WHERE...All waters north of Cape Blanco.
* WHEN...Until 4 AM PST Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Very steep and hazardous seas could capsize or damage vessels.
* View the hazard area in detail at https://go.usa.gov/x6hks

It’s going to be cold along the coast this week. Make sure you stay updated on the current conditions by visiting https://www.weather.gov and https://tripcheck.com

Snow on the Coast!

Snow hit the coast and most of Southern Oregon yesterday and there’s still more to come.

An updated winter storm warning was issued by the National Weather Service on Tuesday at 4:16 p.m. valid from 6 p.m. until Wednesday 7 p.m. for North Oregon Coast Range and Central Oregon Coast Range.

The weather service adds to be ready for, “Total snow accumulations between 1 and 7 inches.”

Use caution on all roads headed or out from the Coast.

Winter Weather Advisory in Effect

The National Weather Service – Medford has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the South Central Oregon Coast and Curry County Coast, including Highway 101. Effective: Until 10:00 AM PST, Wednesday, February 5 What to Expect: Snow levels dropping as low as 500 feet, possibly sea level – Dusting to 2 inches of snow expected, up to 4 inches above 1000 feetPossible small hail or graupel covering roads Travel Impacts:Slippery road conditions—use caution! Morning commute may be affected Be Prepared: Slow down and drive carefully Check road conditions before traveling: Call 511 or visit tripcheck.com

February is Earthquake and Tsunami Awareness Month in Oregon

Governor Tina Kotek has proclaimed February Tsunami and Earthquake Awareness Month in Oregon. 

In the past, Oregon has suffered considerable damage from moderate earthquake events–such as the 1993 Scotts Mills and Klamath Falls earthquakes–and from a deadly tsunami that originated in Alaska in 1964. 

Scientific evidence indicates that the State of Oregon is at risk for a much larger event associated with the Cascadia Subduction Zone that is expected to generate strong ground shaking and a destructive tsunami, similar to the event that occurred in Northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011.  

Loss of life and property is minimized by natural hazard mitigation planning and grant funding at the state, Tribal, and local levels, which reduce the impact of disasters through risk assessment and mitigation actions–such as seismic strengthening of existing buildings and public education on local tsunami evacuation routes. 

As a result, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM), within its role as chair of the Interagency Hazard Mitigation Team (IHMT), will be working with IHMT member agencies, federal partners, local jurisdictions, and neighboring states to highlight jurisdictional earthquake and tsunami mitigation strategies and provide education and information about individual preparedness for Oregon residents and visitors throughout the month of February and beyond. 

Watch our social media channels and website for preparedness tips and upcoming dates for the Tsunami Preparedness Roadshow that will be traveling to numerous coastal communities February 27 through 28. 

RESOURCES 

• Tips for Earthquake Preparedness 
• What to Do If You’re Driving When an Earthquake Hits 
• How to Prepare for Tsunamis and Help Your Community Become More Prepared    
• Be2Weeks Ready Toolkit 
• Learn About the Cascadia Subduction Zone Hazards and Preparedness 
• Learn About Cascadia Island Mapping 
• Oregon’s Tsunami Inundation Map (TIM) Series 

Lincoln Co. District Attorney’s Office Update on Detective Gap in Services

Jenna Wallace was appointed by Governor Kotek on June 21, 2024, as Lincoln County’s District Attorney. At that time, the District Attorney’s criminal division had 1 deputy district attorney and 8 vacancies. Since DA Wallace’s appointment, 6 additional attorneys have started employment with the District Attorney’s Office.

Lincoln County’s crime statistics are staggering. In 2024, the District Attorney’s Office filed 6,977 criminal charges with a 16% increase in weapon offenses, 53% increase in drug crimes, and 8% increase in wildlife offenses. The District Attorney’s Office filed 759 person-on-person crimes; 98 of which involved a weapon.

In the first 35 days of 2025, the District Attorney’s Office filed 645 criminal charges, a 17% increase from the prior year. In 2025, the District Attorney’s Office has seen a 33% increase in person-on-person crimes, 22% increase in traffic crimes, 16% increase in DUII crimes and a 136% increase in drug crimes. So far, the District Attorney’s Office has filed 72 person-on-person charges, 11 of which involved a weapon.  

Further, Lincoln County’s homicide rate has increased 500% from 2023. In the past six months, this county has experienced three officer-involved shootings and two homicides. This brings the total number of pending homicide cases to six, an unprecedented number for this county. The District Attorney detective, in combination with the Cold Case Team, was fundamental in solving Ryan Staggs’s homicide three years after Staggs went missing. Currently, the Cold Case Team is actively working on the Kelly Disney homicide and has received federal funding and resources from the FBI Behavior Analyst Unit (BAU) in Quantico, Virgina. However, the District Attorney’s Office must identify an internal lead detective.

In the past year, the District Attorney detective position has been instrumental in the successful trial prosecution of several cases prosecuted by DA Wallace, including Corey Jeffcoat (who was convicted of Sodomy in the First Degree, Rape in the First Degree, etc. for violently sexually assaulting his significant other on multiple occasions), Aubrey Skinner (who was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree for causing injury to his significant other with a PVC pipe), John Crowley (who was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree for smothering his girlfriend with a pillow), and Gunner Cravens (who was convicted of sexually abusing a 13 year-old family member).

As previously stated, the detective position became vacant on Monday, January 27, 2025. On January 29, 2025, the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office issued a press release regarding the vacant detective position and the impact the vacant position will have on operations. On February 3, 2025, Lincoln County responded on Facebook and claimed the press release contained misleading information.

This is, in fact, the first time in 20 years that the District Attorney’s Office has been without any detective services. The full-time detective position has been vacant three times over the past 4 years; however, during those vacancies, the District Attorney’s Office employed a second grant-funded detective that covered many gaps in services during any vacancy. The grant-funded detective position lost funding in September 2024, which reduced that employees’ hours. The position was then eliminated by the County without discussion with the District Attorney’s Office.

The District Attorney’s Office was aware the County believed the statement regarding detective vacancies was misleading as Administrator Tim Johnson raised this concern to DA Wallace on January 30, 2025. DA Wallace corrected his misunderstanding as outlined above. It is unfortunate that this information was not passed along to the County’s Public Information Officer prior to the response on Facebook four days later.

The District Attorney’s Office also currently has a vacant Digital Forensic Analyst position that has been vacant since January 2024. Since May 2024, the District Attorney’s Office has been actively advocating to modify the position into a Digital Forensic Detective hybrid position to meet the needs of the District Attorney’s Office and Lincoln County crime victims. Although this modification has no budgetary impact as confirmed by County Administrator Johnson, the County has not approved the modification and the position remains vacant. If the position had been approved and filled, the District Attorney’s Office would not be experiencing any gaps in detective services.

Every day the District Attorney’s Office is without a detective, this community suffers. The District Attorney’s Office urges Lincoln County to provide resources in this time of need, rather than withholding resources. The District Attorney’s Office is actively working with the County Human Resources Department to post and fill the position as soon as possible.

The Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office is optimistic that the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners will recognize the community impact this gap in services has caused in the last seven days and work to rectify this situation as soon as possible to ensure the pursuit of justice and community safety.  

Driver Rescued After Car Falls 100 Feet Down Hill Near Cannon Beach

At 5:30 PM on February 1, 2025, Cannon Beach Firefighters responded to a report of a vehicle off the road on Highway 101 near Hug Point. When the emergency crews arrived, they found a single vehicle over the side about 100 feet below Highway 101.

Firefighters set up a rope rescue system while another team repelled down the hill side to stabilize the vehicle, assess for injuries and extricate the victim from the car. There was only one occupant in the car.When the crews got the victim back up on the highway, they were assessed by paramedics from Medix Ambulance and transported to a local hospital.

The injuries appeared to be mild. Highway 101 was closed for over two (2) hours while the rescue operation took place and was reopened at 8:00 PM. Oregon State Police is investigating the accident.

A historic gift shop perched on the edge of a cliff on the central Oregon coast will be closed through the spring for repairs.

The Cape Foulweather Gift Shop, located within the Otter Crest State Scenic Viewpoint just south of Depoe Bay, will be closed through June, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department announced Thursday, as crews begin a $917,000 renovation project on the historic building.

The building, also known as The Look-Out on Cape Foulweather, was erected in 1937 by Wilbur “Buck” and Anna Badley, who originally ran it as a coffee shop. The pair soon pivoted to selling souvenirs, taking advantage of the surge in motor tourism. The Look-Out was also used by the U.S. military as a strategic vantage point during World War II.

Cape Foulweather was named by Captain James Cook in 1778, who gave it the moniker due to the extremely bad weather on the day that he first saw the landmark.

In 2013, the building was purchased by the state parks department, and in 2015 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Now, the gift shop will undergo a major renovation that involves replacing the roof, windows and siding, making structural repairs, and enhancing visitor safety and accessibility, park officials said. Renovations are also meant to restore the character of the façade with siding materials similar to those used in the original construction.

A second phase of renovations is expected to begin in winter 2025, focusing on accessibility and upgrades to the building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Parking at Cape Foulweather will be extremely limited during the closures, the parks department said.

Homicide Investigation in Depoe Bay

On January 30, 2025 at approximately 10:17 AM deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of gunshots from the Four Winds Inn, a motel located at 356 N. Hwy 101 Depoe Bay, OR.

Further reports were called into the 911 center during the deputies’ response. Deputies arrived within minutes and learned the suspect, Brennon Michael Neal, age 29 from Depoe Bay, had fled the scene in a vehicle. 

At the scene, deputies discovered the business owner, Sarabjit Singh, adult male age 44, of Depoe Bay was deceased from multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies learned the suspect was driving a dark grey colored sedan and alerted surrounding agencies. 

At approximately 11:16 AM Sergeant Aaron Pitcher with the Toledo Police Department located the vehicle on Hwy 20 traveling east bound. After several units arrived to assist, a traffic stop was attempted and the vehicle fled from law enforcement. The vehicle traveled with varying speed for approximately 35 miles before being struck by spike strips. The vehicle traveled for several miles on damaged tires. Oregon State Police assisted in this event with a vehicle redirect maneuver which successfully stopped the vehicle. 

Brennon Neal was the sole occupant of the vehicle and taken into custody without further incident. Singh’s next of kin have been notified. 

This case is under investigation. Any further details or media releases will be conjunction with the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the following partners: Lincoln City Police Department, Toledo Police Department, Oregon State Police, Newport Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, and Corvallis PD.

Gleneden Beach Community Club Events

Look what’s coming up soon at the Club… (sign up at glenedenbeach.org)

Cape Perpetua Collaborative –  · Let’s hear it for this years featured artists at the 12th annual Land Sea Symposium!!!

Each local artist will have a few of their brilliant pieces displayed on the walls (and one on the stage!) throughout the evening. Make sure to check out their work and pages, and tune in on our FB live stream https://www.facebook.com/capeperpetuacollaborative on Friday evening to see their work up close and personal! @a.rosepond @renatureart @oystercatcheryl @emydanielsart @waveframe @casiepants @scubadoobiedo @girlinwaterphotography

The 48th Annual Newport Seafood and Wine Festival

February 20-23rd 2025 Follow Newport Seafood & Wine Festival For tickets & more information

ODOT launches roadwork projects to boost safety in Curry County on Hwy 101

In Curry County, a $4.5 million emergency repair project will address sunken road surfaces on U.S. 101, with work taking place between mileposts 303-306 and 342-351. Single-lane traffic and delays of less than 20 minutes are expected. Additionally, pavement repairs will be made in Gold Beach and Brookings with intermittent lane closures and minor delays. — Drivers are advised to follow posted signs and be prepared for delays. For more information, visit the ODOT website.

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians announced they have been rewarded with a three-year $1.56M grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support efforts to return sea otters to the Oregon & Northern California coasts!

Through the America the Beautiful Challenge, CTSI and partners like the Elakha Alliance, CTCLUSI, Yurok Tribe, and Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation will lead this Indigenous-driven project: Bringing Xvlh-t’vsh Home. The grant will fund reintroduction planning, key studies, and building coastal support to restore this culturally significant keystone species.

 Sea otters not only support marine ecosystems like kelp forests and estuaries, but their return marks a vital step in ecological and cultural restoration. Read full press release: https://www.elakhaalliance.org/siletz-tribe-receives…/

On the menu: scrambled eggs, sausage or ham, orange juice, all-you-can-eat pancakes, and hot beverages. $10 adults, $6 kids ages 6-12; under 6, free. Gleneden Beach sweatshirts available in multiple styles. Cash or credit card. Gleneden Beach Community Hall, 110 Azalea St. —- More events to come as space on the board allows, so keep watch! https://www.facebook.com/GlenedenBeachCC

Lincoln Co. Sheriff’s Office Child Luring Investigations Lead To Multiple Arrests

From late December to mid-January, Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office used decoy social media accounts for online child luring investigations.  During these investigations, Deputies posed as an underage child on various online social media platforms and were contacted by adults wanting to meet for sexual encounters.  

On January 15, 2025, 28-year-old Ruben Martinez Jimenez, of Newport, Oregon, was arrested and charged with the crimes of: Luring a Minor and Online Sexual Corruption of a child in the first degree. At the time of his arrest, Ruben was communicating with the decoy account, and arrived at a predetermined location to meet with the underage child for a sexual encounter. Ruben was arrested and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail without further incident.  

On January 16th, 32-year-old James Tybierius Kirk, of Siletz, Oregon, was arrested and charged with the crimes of Luring a Minor and Online Sexual Corruption of a Child in the second degree. At the time of his arrest, James was communicating with the decoy account, and made a plan with the underage child to meet for a sexual encounter. James was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail without further incident. 

On January 21st, 43-year-old Adan Chavez-Pena, of Newport, Oregon, was arrested and charged with the crimes of: Luring a Minor and Online Sexual Corruption of a child in the first degree. At the time of his arrest, Adan was in communication with the decoy account, and arrived near the predetermined location to meet with the underage child for a sexual encounter. Adan provided Deputies with fictitious identification at the time of arrest. Adan’s true identity was determined by further investigation and fingerprints. Adan had multiple warrants out of Lincoln County issued from 2007 and 2008. Adan was charged with the additional crimes of: Giving False information, ID Theft, as well as two probation violation warrants charging possession of a controlled substance Methamphetamine, Give False info; Assault IV, Give False Info, and an indictment warrant charging ID Theft, Criminal Possession of Forged instrument. Adan was lodged at the Lincoln County Jail. 

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office continues to encourage parents to monitor their children’s social media activity and to discuss the possible dangers of communicating with strangers online. These investigations are conducted in an effort to reduce criminal activity and to further enhance the safety of our community.

Newport Begins Water Main Flushing Program Next Week

The City will begin an annual water main flushing program next week. Every water main in the city will be flushed. In total, this will take a few months, but we will update you on social media each week on which water mains and which areas of town will be flushed the next week.

It is advised to reduce your water usage while flushing is taking place in your area. The City will work with organizations such as education centers, medical facilities, and food service to minimize interruptions. Please watch the video for some more info, and reach out if you have any questions: https://www.facebook.com/NewportOre/videos/2089395161491515

We thank you for your patience during this process. Newport Oregon Police DepartmentNewport Public LibraryThe City of Newport Parks and RecreationNewport 60+ Activity Center

Astoria Downtown Historic District Association (ADHDA) – Our 2nd annual We Love Downtown Astoria Photography Contest is back!

Submit your photos online at: https://www.astoriadowntown.com/welovedowntownastoria/The contest runs until February 23rd.

Get ready to sparkle and shine at the Prom of Your Dreams, an unforgettable evening benefiting Florence Habitat for Humanity! Join us on Saturday, Feb. 22, at Three Rivers Casino for a night filled with dancing, photo ops, and so much more!

Tickets are on sale now at florencehabitat.org or at the Habitat Office. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this incredible event, supporting a great cause while having a blast. Enjoy live and silent auctions, and cheer on the crowning of the Prom King and Queen!

For more details and ticket information, visit the Habitat website. Let’s dance the night away and make a difference in our community! See you there!

Construction of New Lincoln County Commons in Newport To Begin This Year

County Administrator Tim Johnson spoke about this project at the January 8 meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. Because construction is expected to interfere with this year’s Lincoln County Fair, which is traditionally held at that site over the Fourth of July weekend, Johnson was joined by Heather Tower, fair manager and 4-H program coordinator for Lincoln County. She addressed plans for accommodating many of the usual fair activities at “satellite” locations.

“Progress is going forward,” Johnson said regarding the construction project. Currently, the old lighting is being removed from the fair buildings slated for demolition. This doesn’t include the ag building, which has already been rebuilt. “We will be bringing a contract to you for demolition of some of the buildings … within the next 60 days,” he said.

Following that, they will be seeking requests for proposals “for the selection of an architect, design engineers, to get these building up and going, and then we’ll be moving forward with it,” Johnson said. “We are expecting that the 2025 fair will be interrupted due to the subsequent construction. The fair board understands that and has been looking at opportunities to relocate activities of the fair.”

The NXTClean Fuels Project In Clatskanie Gets Approval From The Oregon Department Of Environmental Quality 

The NXTClean Fuels project took a significant step forward this month with the approval from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality of a water quality permit.

NXTClean Fuels is proposing a $2.5 billion renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel facility at the Port of Columbia County’s Port Westward Industrial Park in Clatskanie.

NXTClean Fuels, also known as NEXT Renewable Fuels, plans to construct a clean fuels manufacturing facility capable of producing up to 50,000 barrels of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel per day. Renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel are chemically identical to petroleum-based fuels and are a key component of Oregon’s climate plan to reduce carbon emissions.

NXTClean Fuels will use the Port’s deep-water dock to receive feedstock and ship finished product. The project will provide a return on the over $18 million that has been invested by the Port and Columbia County in infrastructure at Port Westward to build out the water intake and discharge systems, make rail improvements and upgrade roads to the industrial site.

The potential economic impact of the project for Columbia County is immense. NXTClean Fuels is expected to create over 2,400 jobs during construction, 240 permanent jobs once operational and contribute $13 million per year in local property taxes. This is more than double what the county’s current highest taxpayer paid in 2024 and will bring much-needed funding for our schools, public safety and other services. NXTClean Fuels has declined the corporate tax incentives available to it, so these funds will have an even greater impact on our community.

Since leasing the 90-acre industrial site from the Port in 2019, NXTClean Fuels has spent over five years navigating Oregon’s rigorous permitting process. The project received state approvals for its removal fill permit and air permit in 2022, and local land use permits in 2024. The approval of the water quality certification concludes the major Oregon state permitting reviews.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing federal permitting and is expected to publish an Environmental Impact Statement for public review in 2025. The Port recognizes the concerns over a facility of this size but is confident that our state and federal permitting agencies will ensure that any environmental impacts are carefully mitigated.

If approved, the NXTClean Fuels facility will support the transition to cleaner, renewable energy sources and drive long-term economic growth in Columbia County. Sean Clark is the executive director of the Port of Columbia County. (SOURCE)

The Oregon Coast Aquarium New Tufted Puffin Oregon License Plates on Sale

One of Oregon’s most adorably iconic seabirds is coming to the front and back of a car near you. The Oregon Coast Aquarium has opened voucher sales for its new tufted puffin license plates.

The design, featuring a tufted puffin floating in the ocean and gazing down at some fish below, was created by the
aquarium’s graphic design and marketing coordinator, Cam Mullins.

Starring a tufted puffin—one of Oregon’s iconic seabirds–funds from the new license plate will benefit both the Aquarium’s animals and their wild counterparts. You can purchase a voucher now and exchange it at the DMV once the physical plates are available. We need to sell 3,000 vouchers to reach the production stage—meaning the sooner 3,000 vouchers are sold, the sooner production begins, and the sooner you’ll have your puffin plates in-hand. Read the full story at aquarium.org/puffin-plate-debut: photo by OCAq’s Jeremy Burke

Tufted puffins are native to Oregon and nest on the rocky coast. The aquarium has a Seabird Aviary that sustains a flock of these sea birds and the profits from the license plates will go to benefit these puffins and their wild counterparts.

The voucher is available for purchase on the aquarium’s website. The cost covers the $40 surcharge fee and the money left over after the deduction of the DMV’s fees will go to support the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s
rehabilitation and conservation efforts. The aquarium is building a new marine wildlife rehabilitation center with
hopes of doubling the number of animal patients it can offer care to. FOLLOW on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/OregonCoastAquarium

Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Do you need a GoBag or GoBag supplies? Purchase supplies on the website and pick up items at the Pop-Up Shop. Pick up January 11, from 1:00-1:30 PM at the Manzanita Police Station — https://evcnb.org/events-and-training/gobag-popup-01112025

Oregon Nurses Association Reaches Tentative Agreement with Providence Oregon Following Intensive Mediation

– After seven days of intensive mediation, initiated at the request of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and after 26 days on strike (and counting), the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) today reached a tentative agreement with Providence Oregon at the 8 registered nurse (RN) bargaining units currently on strike.

Those units include Providence St. Vincent, Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence Medford Medical Center, Providence Newberg, Providence Willamette Falls, Providence Milwaukie, Providence Hood River and Providence Seaside. (The hospitalists at St. Vincent Medical Center remain on strike and in negotiations.)

Broadly speaking, key provisions of the agreement include:

• Annual Step Increases & New Step 30: In 2026, nurses will receive annual step increases with a new Step 30 and additional fill-in steps added across all bargaining units.
• Wage Increases: Across-the-board increases over the life of the contract and increases for members upon ratification.
• Ratification Bonus: We were not able to achieve full retroactive pay. Instead, a portion of retro pay will be distributed as a bonus based on hours worked since contract expiration.
• No Changes to Contract Expiration Dates: We were not able to achieve contract alignments. Current contract expiration dates will remain unchanged across all Providence Oregon facilities.
• Break & Meal Penalty Pay: Nurses will automatically receive one hour of penalty pay for each missed break or lunch.
• Statewide Health Benefits Workgroup: A workgroup will be established to evaluate and make recommendations on health benefits and the feasibility of a statewide health benefits trust.
• Aetna Health Care Customer Service: A dedicated Aetna customer service team will be available for members to assist in navigating changes to employer-provided health insurance.
• Staffing: Contract language memorializing Oregon’s new staffing law and other hospital-specific benefits.

Ratification votes will open on Thursday, February 6 at 8 a.m. and close on Friday, February 7 at 4 p.m. (Note: Due to inclement weather, ratification vote times for Providence Medford will be Thursday, February 6 from 8 a.m. and closing Saturday, February 8 at 4 p.m.)

Nurses will remain on strike during the vote and will return to work if tentative agreements are ratified.

Note: ONA will not provide further comment until after the vote closes.  The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) Represents A Diverse Community Of More Than 21,000 Nurses, And Health Care Professionals Throughout Oregon. Together, We Use Our Collective Power To Advocate For Critical Issues Impacting Patients, Nurses, And Health Care Professionals Including A More Effective, Affordable And Accessible Healthcare System; Better Working Conditions For All Health Care Professionals; And Healthier Communities. For More Information Visit Www.OregonRN.org.

The Oldest Shoes in the World on Display in Eugene

The oldest piece of identified clothing — sandals found in southern Oregon — are older than the volcanic eruption, some 7,700 years ago, that created Crater Lake.

You can see them, behind a glass case, at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

In 1938, archaeologist Luther Cressman, working for UO, led an expedition at Fort Rock Cave near Paisley that uncovered dozens of ancient sandals woven from sagebrush bark and other fibers.

Known as the Fort Rock sandals, the oldest pieces in the collection were later radiocarbon-dated to be 10,400 years old.

“It suggests that there was a pretty substantial occupation there,” said Tom Connolly, director of archaeological research at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History. “We know from ethnographic sources, from the Klamath and Paiutes, that sandals like that were basically wintertime wear.”

What was a thrilling find for modern archeologists was, essentially, a trash heap for the people at the time.

“It’s not terribly durable footwear. They get torn up, worn through pretty quickly,” Connolly said. “They would use them to go into cold-water marshes and lakes for duck hunting and harvesting. Basically, it’s to keep the feet warm. It’s not really to protect your feet from sharp objects.”

Similar sandals were found in southeast Oregon, northwest Nevada and northeast California, across a region known as the Northern Great Basin. The areas are the traditional homeland of the Klamath, Modoc and some bands of Northern Paiute peoples.

The sandals were able to survive millennia because they were left inside dry caves, Connolly said. Decay organisms that cause organic material to break down, such as bacteria and fungi, require food, air and water.

“If you take one of those away, they can’t survive,” Connolly said. “So, in a dry cave, you don’t have the water that organisms need to survive, and decay does not happen. You get the same thing in perpetually wet environments, like peat bogs. Organics don’t decay because there is an absence of oxygen.”

A collection of sandals that are part of the collection at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History.University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History

Over the last 20 years, the Great Basin Textile Dating Project has carbon-dated more than 350 pieces of fiber artifacts from the region. The oldest pieces, of corded fibers, came from the Paisley Caves and date back to 12,700 years ago.

It’s not surprising that the oldest identifiable piece of clothing is a shoe. Other textile fragments have been found that are older, but archeologists aren’t sure what they were used for.

“Another very common fiber artifact you find in some of these cave sites is stuff that we call matting,” Connolly said. “It’s just stuff that’s twined together. We don’t know if they were used for sleeping mats or for capes or different sorts of clothing or leggings. Shoes are sort of identifiable.”

Archeologists have learned more about these early Americans by excavating and taking soil samples around old fire hearths, revealing what foods were being prepared.

“We have this developing picture of people using different parts of the landscape, digging roots in the dry ground and getting foods from the marshes and hunting rabbits and ducks and some big game animals,” Connolly said. “There have been a bunch of little bone needles found, where people were probably making clothing.”

A collection of sandals that are part of the collection at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History. University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History

What do these sandals tell us about these people? “I think it reminds us that we’re all just human beings,” Connolly said. “When you look at this whole collection of sandals and sandal pieces, there are big ones and little ones and things that are worn through. There’s kids shoes. There are some that have a little charring on the toe flaps, and you can imagine sparks flying from a hearth fire and landing on grandma’s footwear. You can kind of imagine this family community.”

If you go: Several examples of Fort Rock sandals are on display at University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, 1680 E. 15th Ave., Eugene. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, with late hours until 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for children and seniors, $12 for a family of up to two adults and four children, and free for veterans, active-duty military, UO students, UO staff and children 2 and younger. Find more information at mnch.uoregon.edu. (SOURCE) Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oregonnaturalhistory

Strong Winter Storm Hits Southern Oregon and Northern California with Heavy Snow

A strong winter storm is bringing heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures to parts of southern Oregon and northern California, the National Weather Service (NWS) Medford Office stated.

PUBLIC SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT From the Jackson County Sheriff’s OfficeEffective Immediately – Winter Weather Advisory Issued: February 4, 2025 The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a Public Safety Announcement due to moderate snowfall and overnight sub-freezing temperatures expected for the next two days. These conditions will create hazardous roadways and significantly impact travel. The winter storm has placed an extraordinary burden on our deputies, who are diligently responding to both weather-related crises and their standard calls for service.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) Medford, areas under a Winter Storm Warning—including the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and the Marble and Siskiyou Mountains—can expect 3 to 8 inches of snow, with higher elevations receiving up to 16 inches.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Rogue and Illinois Valleys, where 2 to 5 inches of snow is expected. Crater Lake and the eastern Douglas County foothills may see up to 12 inches by Thursday morning. Meanwhile, a Flood Warning remains for the Pit River due to snowmelt.

Drivers should be cautious as freezing temperatures overnight will create icy road conditions, especially on bridges and overpasses.

Oregon’s Senator Wyden Sounds Alarm Over Elon Musk’s Access to Sensitive Treasury Payment System

In a news release, Wyden confirmed that he had sent Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent a letter outlining his concerns over the potential for political interference in the operation of these crucial payment systems.

Highlighting the economic risks and the imperative reasons the payment system cannot fail, Wyden said, “Any politically-motivated meddling in them risks severe damage to our country and the economy.”

Managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, the treasury payment system distributes trillions of dollars annually, which fund essential state functions such as Social Security and Medicare benefits, tax credits, and payments to government contractors.

Wyden made several specific requests for details of any access granted to Musk-affiliated personnel, the legal authority for such access, measures taken to ensure the integrity and security of the payment systems, and other issues.

He also questioned whether background checks were conducted on those seeking access and whether potential conflicts of interest in light of Musk’s business dealings in China were considered.

Musk’s significant business operations in China were addressed, including China’s history of cyber espionage targeting U.S. government systems.

Wyden warned that conflicts of interest could arise from Musk’s Chinese business ties. A national security risk could occur if Musk-affiliated access were granted to the sensitive payment systems.

Another concern is that the federal government currently relies on accounting maneuvers to meet its obligations after reaching its debt limit, adding to the financial strain. The Treasury Department had not responded by the time of publication.

Merkley, Wyden Blast President Trump’s Illegal Federal Funding Cuts That Harm American Families

– Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today issued the following statements in response to a federal judge blocking the Trump Administration’s executive order immediately stopping all federal loans and grants:

“The attack on these programs that allow families to get on their feet and thrive is the great betrayal coming from President Trump, who campaigned on helping working families, said Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “In addition, Trump’s order cutting federal funds will have a huge impact on critical infrastructure projects in Oregon—like the Hood River-White Salmon and I-5 bridge replacement projects and the Port of Coos Bay’s transformative container port project—as well as funding to mitigate and fight wildfires, fulfill our commitments to Tribal communities, ensure clean air and water, and protect our public lands and wildlife.During the chaos caused by Trump’s constitutional crisis, Oregonians called my office after being shut out of their federal reimbursement systems and cut off from funding for their work to provide affordable housing, Head Start programs, and health care at federally qualified health centers. I’ll keep fighting to block these illegal cuts.”

“Chaos is not leadership. Ransacking resources from Oregonians counting on federal support for local law enforcement, schools, small businesses, firefighters, veterans, and more hurts each and every community I am honored to represent,” said Wyden, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. “Donald Trump ran on lowering prices for families, and instead he’s intentionally driving the economy into the ground, forcing all Americans who aren’t Elon Musk to accept a lower standard of living to help he and his buddies get richer and richer. Legal or not, he doesn’t care. This illegal unconstitutional act is now in a court of law, but it’s already playing out in the court of opinion with Oregonians voicing their outrage. The American people must keep the pressure on until every community counting on this funding is assured they will receive it just as Congress intended.”

According to the Oregon State Legislature, about 30% of Oregon’s budget is supported by federal aid, which is critical for supporting local communities. If allowed to go into effect, the directives in President Trump’s executive order could block funding in Oregon for:

• PUBLIC SAFETY: Grants for law enforcement departments would cease to go out the door, undermining public safety in Oregon.
• FIREFIGHTING: Grants to support firefighters would be halted—this includes grants that help states and localities purchase essential firefighting equipment.
• HEALTH SERVICES: Over $106 million in federal funding for community health centers that provide health care for people across Oregon would be at risk, creating chaos for patients trying to get their prescriptions, a regular checkup, and more.
• TRIBES: Funding to Tribes for basic government services like health care, public safety, programs, Tribal schools, and food assistance would be halted.
• HEAD START: Funding for Head Start programs that provide comprehensive early childhood education for almost 10,000 children in Oregon would be at risk. Teachers and staff would not get paid, and programs may not be able to stay open.
• COMBATTING FENTANYL CRISIS: Funding for communities to address the substance use disorder crisis and combat the fentanyl crisis would be cut off.
• CHILD CARE: Child care programs in Oregon and across the country would be at risk to accessing the funding they rely on to keep their doors open.
• K-12 SCHOOLS: Federal funding for our K-12 schools would be halted, preventing school districts in Oregon from accessing key formula grant funding including Title I and nearly $160 million in IDEA Grants (which help children with disabilities). This would pose tremendous financial burdens on schools in the middle of the school year.
• INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS: Federally-funded transportation projects in Oregon and across the country—roads, bridges, public transit, and more—would be halted, including projects already under construction.
• EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Critical preparedness and response capability funding used to prepare for disasters, public health emergencies, and chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear events would be frozen.
• DISASTER RELIEF: Public assistance and hazard mitigation grants from the Disaster Relief Fund to state, Tribal, territorial, and local governments and non-profits to help communities quickly respond to, recover from, and prepare for major disasters would be halted—right as so many communities are struggling after severe natural disasters.

Oregon joins lawsuit while state officials scramble to respond to Trump order freezing federal funds

Oregon is suing the Trump administration after it ordered an abrupt freeze of many federal payments, leaving state agencies unable to access reimbursements for Medicaid and child care programs and sending state officials scrambling to determine the total effect.

Gov. Tina Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield, both Democrats, announced the suit during a brief press conference Tuesday afternoon. Rayfield joined Democratic attorneys general across the country to file the suit in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island following a Trump administration memo directing all federal agencies to “temporarily pause” awarding or disbursing any federal funding that could be impacted by a host of recent executive orders by 2 p.m. Pacific time Tuesday.

“When federal funds that are meant to serve the most vulnerable are suspended or unavailable, that has an impact on Oregonians and it’s a dereliction of the federal government’s duty to protect Americans,” Kotek said.

A federal judge based in Washington, D.C., paused enforcement of Trump’s order until Monday in response to a separate lawsuit filed by a group of nonprofit agencies. And U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas condemned Trump’s move as an “illegal theft” of taxpayer dollars.

“With the stroke of his pen, President Trump is ordering an unprecedented steal that will take critical resources away from our police, firefighters, veterans, growers, and working families here in Oregon and across the country,” she said. “Oregonians will immediately feel the effects of Trump’s steal at a time when most folks are already struggling to pay the bills and put food on the table.” — (SOURCE)

Oregon Check Casher Sentenced to Federal Prison for Payroll Tax Scheme Involving $177 Million

PORTLAND, Ore.–A Tualatin, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for conspiring to defraud the United States and filing false currency transaction reports.

David Katz, 48, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $44,877,254 in restitution to the IRS.

According to court documents and trial testimony, from January 2014 through December 2017, Katz, as president of Check Cash Pacific, Inc., conspired with others in the construction industry to defraud the United States by facilitating under-the-table payments to construction workers. To carry out the scheme, sham construction companies were created and used to cash more than $177 million in payroll checks at different Check Cash Pacific locations. The cash was used to pay construction workers under-the-table, with no taxes being withheld or reported to the IRS.

Construction companies would notify Katz when they planned to bring checks into one of his check cashing locations so that Katz could ensure he had enough cash on hand to complete the transaction. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of payroll checks were cashed daily and Katz was aware that at least one of his co-conspirators used a false name and social security number. Acting as compliance officer, Katz allowed hundreds of false regulatory reports to be filed knowing they contained the fake identity.

For his role in the scheme, Katz received a 2% commission on each transaction which, in total, amounted to more than $4 million. Over the course of their conspiracy, Katz and his co-conspirators prevented the IRS from collecting more than $44 million in payroll and income taxes due on the cash wages.

On December 2, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a five-count indictment charging Katz with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and four counts of filing false currency transaction reports with FinCEN. On June 12, 2024, a federal jury in Portland found  Katz guilty of all charges.

This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Robert S. Trisotto and Andrew T. Ho, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

An Oregon House bill would allow retailers to legally scan ID for people buying tobacco or alcohol, regardless of their age.

The legislation follows a pair of lawsuits challenging the practice, claiming universal ID checks were against existing state law and an invasion of privacy.

In September, KGW reported on the growing number of retailers who implemented universal ID checks for alcohol or tobacco products. Jonathan Polonsky, CEO of Plaid Pantry, said the policy of carding everyone eliminated any guesswork and kept the company in compliance with state and local requirements.  Oregon law prohibits the swiping of a driver’s license except under certain circumstances, including the sale of age-restricted products if there is any reasonable doubt that the person is 21. Reasonable doubt exists if the person appears to be under the age of 26, according to Oregon Administrative Rules.

House Bill 2055 is headed to the House Judiciary Committee. Even if it is adopted, the bill won’t settle the existing lawsuits over ID checks because it’s not retroactive.

Officials warn SNAP users to prevent fraud

Oregonians who receive supplemental federal food benefits need to be more vigilant than ever against fraud, officials say: If their monthly benefits are stolen, they’ll be gone for good.

In the past, the federal government replaced benefits lost to fraud, but that policy changed late last year. The federal government is no longer replacing stolen benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

That could mean a total loss of tens of thousands of dollars in SNAP benefits in Oregon, primarily through “skimming,” according to officials from Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. That happens when a device is inserted into a credit card reader and steals financial information when the card is run through the reader.

Only a small minority lose their benefits this way. Oregon has nearly 447,000 households receiving SNAP benefits. From Oct. 1 through Dec. 20, nearly 200 households had their benefits stolen, losing $77,000 in food aid.

The average household receives $310 in SNAP benefits, which are not meant to foot an entire food bill, but the money is often crucial for those who need it.

Jake Sunderland, press secretary for the Oregon Department of Human Services, said SNAP users should take several precautions to protect themselves from fraud:

• Only manage your account through the ebtEDGE website or mobile app, which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
• Freeze your card right away after each use and unfreeze it before you make purchases and block purchases made outside of Oregon or online through Cardholder.ebtEDGE.com.
• Keep your PIN secret and cover the keypad when you enter it.
• Check your account activity regularly and cancel your card immediately if you see purchases you didn’t make. (SOURCE)

Oregon joins lawsuit over Trump attempt to end birthright citizenship — Judge grants request to temporarily block Trump’s birthright citizenship order

A federal judge in Seattle on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.

U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour’s ruling in a case brought by Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Illinois is the first in what is sure to be a long legal fight over the order’s constitutionality.

Coughenour called the order “blatantly unconstitutional.”

“I have difficulty understanding how a member of the bar could state unequivocally that this is a constitutional order,” the judge told the Trump administration’s attorney. “It boggles my mind.”

Coughenour’s decision came after 25 minutes of arguments between attorneys for Washington state and the Department of Justice.

State lawmakers are considering banning winners of large prizes in the Oregon Lottery from reselling their tickets in order to block schemes that enable tax evasion and uncollected child support payments.

The sales practice has spawned a cottage industry of so-called lottery discounters who operate around the state. They annually buy millions of dollars in winning tickets – mostly video lottery and keno tickets with prizes above $1,500 – from their original winners at steep discounts. Then they claim the face value of the prizes when they present the tickets at lottery payment centers in Wilsonville and Salem.

As detailed in an investigation published last summer by The Oregonian/Oregon Live, the scheme enables tax evasion. It allows some winners to avoid past due child support and other debts to the state that would otherwise be garnished from their prizes. It can incentivize sketchy operators to manipulate winners into selling tickets. And in some states, it has been linked to money laundering.

Oregonians looking to renew their vehicle registration and get new tags can now do so at a handful of Fred Meyer stores around the state

The self-service express kiosks from Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services are designed to give Oregonians another way to renew their registration besides at a DMV office, online or by mail, according to a news release.

The kiosks are located in Fred Meyer locations in Salem and Eugene as well as in Beaverton, Bend, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Medford, Oak Grove and Tualatin. A location in Portland is coming soon and the DMV said it plans to offer more kiosks around the state in the future.

In Salem, the kiosk is at the Fred Meyer located at 3740 Market St. NE and allows users to pay by cash, credit or debit card. In Eugene, it’s located at the Fred Meyer at 3333 W 11th Ave. and will only allow payment via debit or credit card.

“We see these kiosks as a way to improve customer service, access and equity,” DMV administrator Amy Joyce said in the news release. “This program is the latest effort aimed at improving the DMV experience for our customers.”

The kiosks are ADA-accessible and registration renewal can be completed in English and Spanish. Users will be charged a $4.95 vendor fee for each transaction.

Customers will need to bring identification (license, permit, or ID card), insurance information and registration renewal notice. — Vehicle registration cards and license plate stickers will be printed after the transaction.

Registration Is Now Open For The Bob Ross-inspired Happy Little (Virtual) 5K Run for the Trees

Oregon Parks Forever  —    Inspired by American painter and PBS television personality Bob Ross’ love of the outdoors, Oregon Parks Forever is sponsoring a virtual 5K race to help plant trees in Oregon’s parks & forests.  Registration is now open for the 2025 Run for the Trees at www.orparksforever.org.

Participants can run, walk, hike, skate, paddle or roll to complete their 5K anywhere outdoors anytime between April 19 and 27 (covering Earth Day and Arbor Day).   Participants are encouraged to register by April 1 to ensure that your swag arrives before the event week.  If you register after April 1, you may not receive your swag before race week. Registration will close on April 15.

For $36 per person, each participant will receive a keepsake Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number and a finisher’s medal. All Oregon race proceeds support tree planting and forest protection efforts in Oregon parks.  Ten trees will be planted in Oregon for each registration.

Gather your friends, family and/or colleagues and create your own walk or run. Make it fun!

Initially, the “Happy Little Trees” program began with a partnership between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Bob Ross Inc., with hundreds of volunteers helping to plant “happy little trees” at locations hard-hit by invasive pests and tree diseases. The partnership quickly expanded to include the Run for the Trees / Happy Little (Virtual) 5K.

As the Happy Little 5K gained popularity, more states have joined the effort. Now in its fifth year, the Happy Little 5K has expanded its reach to include ten other states. Together, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Maryland and Virginia will “lock arms” as they help raise awareness and funding for stewardship efforts in each state’s parks.

“We are thrilled to partner with Bob Ross, Inc. and these other ten states on the Happy Little 5K concept as a way to honor the late Bob Ross and create a legacy event to plant trees,” said Seth Miller, Executive Director of Oregon Parks Forever.”

Oregon Parks Forever joined this event as an expansion of our efforts to fund the replanting of trees killed by wildfires, heat domes and invasive insects.  Over the past three years, Oregon Parks Forever has been able to fund the replanting of more than 800,000 trees across Oregon.

“The official Bob Ross 5K is probably our most favorite initiative,” says Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Company. “It’s the perfect blend of everything Bob held dear; nature, taking care of the environment, and happy trees too of course. He would have been so pleased to see how it’s getting so popular around the world.” —  Learn more about the program at  http://www.orparksforever.org

IRS Direct File, Direct File Oregon Will Be Available When Income Tax Return Processing Begins January 27

Salem, OR— Free electronic filing through the combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon will open January 27 when both the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue begin processing e-filed 2024 federal and state income tax returns. Paper-filed return processing will begin in mid-February.

The IRS estimates that 640,000 Oregon resident taxpayers preparing their own tax returns in 2025 will have the option to electronically file both their federal and state income tax returns for free by filing directly with the IRS and the state.

Taxpayers are encouraged to use the IRS Eligibility Checker to see if they qualify to file directly with the IRS and the state.

E-filed returns will be processed in the order they are received. However, as in years past, the department won’t be issuing personal income tax refunds until after February 15. A refund hold is part of the department’s tax fraud prevention efforts and allows for confirmation that the amounts claimed on tax returns match what employers and payers report on Forms W-2 and 1099.

E-filing is the fastest way for a taxpayer to get their refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund two weeks sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks.

The department reminds taxpayers that taking a few easy steps in the next few weeks can make preparing their 2024 tax return easier in 2025.

Free filing options open January 27 — In addition to IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon, other free filing options will also open January 27. Free guided tax preparation is available from several companies for taxpayers that meet income requirements. Free fillable forms are available for all income levels. Using links from the department’s website ensures that both taxpayers’ federal and state return will be filed for free.

Free and low-cost tax help — Free tax preparation services are available for low- to moderate-income taxpayers through AARP and CASH Oregon. United Way also offers free tax help through their MyFreeTaxes program. Visit the Department of Revenue website to take advantage of the software and free offers and get more information about free tax preparation services.

Voluntary self-identification of race and ethnicity information — New for 2025, Oregon taxpayers and Oregonians can voluntarily provide information about their race and ethnicity on Form OR-VSI when they file their 2024 taxes. Providing this information may be done separately from a tax return through Revenue Online. The information will be confidential. It can only be used for research purposes to analyze potential inequities in tax policy. The new option is a result of Senate Bill 1 in 2023.

Use Revenue Online to verify payments — Taxpayers can verify their estimated payments through their Revenue Online account.

Through Revenue Online, individuals can also view letters sent to them by the department, initiate appeals, make payments, and submit questions. Visit Revenue Online on the Revenue website to learn more.

Those who don’t have a Revenue Online account can sign up on the agency’s website.

To check the status of their refund after February 15, or make payments, taxpayers can visit Revenue’s website. You can also 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.

Department Of Revenue Volunteers Will Help Taxpayers Use Direct File Oregon To E-file Their Taxes For Free At Libraries Across The State

Salem, OR—Oregonians looking for assistance in electronically filing their taxes for free, could find help as close as their local library this tax season.

Volunteers from the Oregon Department of Revenue will be traveling to libraries in 17 different communities across the state in February, March, and April to assist taxpayers in using the free combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon to complete their returns.

The one-day tax help clinics are planned at libraries in:

Bandon	North Bend
Burns	Prineville
Coquille	Pendleton
Cornelius	Roseburg
The Dalles	Salem
Klamath Falls	Seaside
Lebanon	Sweet Home
McMinnville	Toledo
	Tualatin

Dates, times, and addresses for each clinic can be found on the Free Direct File assistance at local libraries webpage.

Last year, more than 140,000 taxpayers in 12 other states filed their federal tax returns using a limited IRS Direct File pilot program while nearly 7,000 Oregon taxpayers filed their state returns using the free, state-only Direct File Oregon option.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced in May that it would make IRS Direct File a permanent option for taxpayers and invited all 50 states to participate. Oregon was the first of 13 new states to accept the invitation from the IRS in June creating a seamless free e-filing system for both federal and state taxes.

With the two direct file systems connected, the IRS estimates that 640,000 Oregon taxpayers will be able to e-file both their federal and state returns for free in 2025.

The department believes that offering free assistance will help maximize the number of Oregonians who choose to use the new free option and make it possible for many who don’t have a filing requirement to file and claim significant federal and state tax credits for low-income families.

For example, the IRS estimates that one in five Oregon taxpayers eligible to claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit are not doing so. One Oregon organization estimates that the unclaimed credits have totaled nearly $100 million in recent years.

Taxpayers should use the IRS eligibility checker to see if they’ll be able to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon. Eligible taxpayers should set up an IRS online account and an account with Oregon’s Revenue Online before they come to an event. Taxpayers attending an event should bring the following information with them.

Identification documents

• Social security card or ITIN for everyone on your tax return
• Government picture ID for taxpayer and spouse if filing jointly (such as driver’s license or passport)

Common income and tax documents

• Forms W2 (wages from a job)

• Forms 1099 (other kinds of income)
• Form SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefits)

Optional documents to download

• Canceled check or bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
• Last year’s tax return

Taxpayers can signup for the new “Oregon Tax Tips” direct email newsletter to keep up with information about tax return filing and how to claim helpful tax credits.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Sites Open in Oregon: Program Provides Free Tax Prep to Thousands of Older Adults

 AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is providing free preparation now through April 15 throughout Oregon. Started in 1968, Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program and has served more than 80 million people. For the 2024 tax season, nearly 28,000 volunteers helped almost 1.7 million taxpayers, 965,000 of whom were adults over 50 with low income. Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS, and AARP membership is not required.

“During the 2024 tax season, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers completed over 19,400 federal returns and 18,500 state returns in Oregon with refunds of nearly $39 million,” said AARP Oregon State Director Bandana Shrestha. “Even modest refunds can make an impact on financial resilience, especially for vulnerable older adults. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide helps put money back in the pockets of Oregonians every year by making sure they don’t miss out on the credits and deductions they have earned.”

Tax-Aide volunteers provide free tax preparation and filing services to all with a focus on adults with low to moderate income. Volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to ensure they understand the latest changes to the U.S. Tax Code.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers a variety of options to better meet the needs of taxpayers. Access to the different types of assistance varies by location.

• In-Person Service: Tax preparation is completed by an IRS-certified Tax-Aide volunteer on-site in one visit.
• One-Visit Scan: Tax documents are scanned at the Tax-Aide site and then Tax-Aide volunteers prepare the return remotely.
• Two-Visit Scan: Tax documents are scanned at the Tax-Aide site and then volunteers prepare the return remotely. During a second visit, taxpayers work with a volunteer to finalize their return and obtain a printed copy for their records.

• Drop-Off Service: Tax documents are left at the Tax-Aide site with a volunteer and the return is prepared remotely. During a second visit, taxpayers work with a volunteer to file their return and obtain a printed copy and their original documents.
• No Site Visit Required (Internet Access Required): Taxpayers upload tax documents to the IRS-provided software. Tax-Aide volunteers prepare the return remotely and work with the taxpayer to file the return electronically.
• Online Coaching: Taxpayers prepare their own return and receive online support from a volunteer to help them along the way.

• Facilitated Self-Assistance: Taxpayers schedule an appointment at a Tax-Aide site to work with a volunteer to complete and file their own return.
• Self-Preparation: Taxpayers prepare their own return using a software product that has been made available through the Tax-Aide website.

Users can find their nearest Tax-Aide location and assistance options through the Tax-Aide site locator. The site locator features a Tax-Aide chat bot that can help book an appointment, answer questions about the program, and transfer the conversation to a live agent if needed or requested. For more information, including which documents to bring to the tax site, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669) 

Contact us: Info@OregonBeachMagazine.com