Oregon Beach News, Wednesday 2/19 – Protests Held on President’s Day All Across Oregon, Siuslaw Community Stand Down on Saturday & 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 19, 2025

Oregon Beach Weather

Hazardous Seas Warning Issued: 1:18 AM Feb. 19, 2025 – National Weather Service

...GALE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING...
...HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 AM PST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 25 to 35 kt with gusts up to 50 kt and very steep and hazardous seas 12 to 16 ft. Winds ease this morning becoming west 20 to 25 kt, but seas remain very steep
and hazardous seas 10 to 14 ft.

* WHERE...All areas.

* WHEN...For the Gale Warning, until 10 AM PST this morning. For the Hazardous Seas Warning, from 10 AM this morning to 4 AM PST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Strong winds and very steep seas could capsize or damage vessels. Low visibility conditions are expected.

* View the hazard area in detail at https://go.usa.gov/x6hks

Protests Held on President’s Day All Across Oregon Against the Trump Administration

Protests in Florence and Coos Bay brought out hundreds of people.

There were demonstrations in in Portland, Salem, Roseburg, Eugene, Medford, Ashland, Florence, Coos Bay, and other towns across Oregon.

At least 500 people crowded all four corners of the Mill Street and 8th Avenue intersection in front of the Wayne L. Morse Federal Courthouse in Eugene on Monday

They were part of demonstrations across the country called 50501, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement. Portland’s demonstration was outside City Hall, and Salem’s protest was outside of the State Capitol. Hundreds of people took part in each of the demonstrations.

Siuslaw Community Stand Down Feb. 22 at Elks Lodge in Florence

The Siuslaw Community Stand Down will take place, Feb. 22,  from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Florence Elks Lodge 1858 in Florence. For those wondering what what that means, a Stand Down is a day where many volunteers and organizations will make the effort to care for and help homeless and at risk people, with an emphasis on the US Veteran population. 

Many agencies will come together to help with five areas of health. Dentists, barbers, medical, mental health and social workers will be onsite to help relieve some of the burdens that can cause a person’s sense of well-being to break down. 

At-risk persons can come to the event, have breakfast, get a haircut, speak with counselors, find clean clothes, speak with employment counselors, get dental cleanings and checkups, and more. Guests can meet in person with local western Lane agencies, Lane County agencies, and Veterans Administration services.

The Stand Down welcomes veterans and their families, senior citizens, unhoused persons, pregnant women, disabled persons and youth and offers free on-site services for clothing, food, haircuts, housing, employment, medical, dental, mental health and more. Brunch will be served from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  The Elks Lodge is located at 1686 12th Street in Florence.

The Stand Down is sponsored by the Western Lane Veteran and Community Partnership coalition. for more information please contact Chilton at 541-305-3911.

Exciting News from the Columbia River Maritime Museum!

On Friday, February 9, 2025, we officially broke ground on Mariners Hall, a $31.5 million expansion project here in Astoria, OR! This two-story building, adjacent to our current museum on Marine Drive, is a key milestone in our ongoing efforts to preserve and showcase the rich maritime history of our region.Mariners Hall is just the beginning of a larger transformation! As part of our multi-year Campus Transformation Plan, we’re upgrading both indoor and outdoor spaces to create a more welcoming and cohesive campus.

In addition to the expansion, we’ve already made significant improvements, including the renovation of 11,000 square feet of exhibit space and the addition of two new Indigenous exhibits, which opened in Fall 2024. We can’t wait to share these new spaces with our community and visitors. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this exciting journey!

The Columbia River Maritime Museum is looking for its newest crew member!

MUSEUM EDUCATOR — Full Time, Salary Position reporting to Director of Education

Full job description and employment application are available on our website – https://www.crmm.org/join-our-crew.html

Astoria Downtown Historic District Association (ADHDA) – Our 2nd annual We Love Downtown Astoria Photography Contest – Entry Ends 2/23

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!

Suicidal Male in a Residence – Waldport

On February 16, 2025, at approximately 4:50 PM, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a suicidal male inside his residence located at 125 NW Verbena Street in Waldport, Oregon. The initial caller, who was with a suicide prevention hotline, informed the 911 operator that they had heard gunshots while speaking with the male. Patrol deputies immediately responded to the area.

Upon arriving at the scene, deputies discovered that an adult and two juvenile occupants were also inside the residence. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Tactical Response Team and Crisis Negotiations Team were notified and dispatched to the location. These teams are regional units consisting of members from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Newport Police Department, and Lincoln City Police Department.

Patrol deputies successfully evacuated the other occupants from the residence, as well as neighboring homes, for safety. During the investigation, deputies determined that the male had committed crimes.

When the Tactical Response Team arrived, they surrounded the residence. Members of the Crisis Negotiation Team established contact with the male, who ultimately exited the residence peacefully and was taken into custody. The individual was identified as 43-year-old Timothy Swander, a resident of Waldport, Oregon.

Swander was transported to the Lincoln County Jail and booked for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Recklessly Endangering. A search warrant for the residence was obtained and evidence was located. Fortunately, no members of the community, law enforcement officers, or Swander were injured during the incident.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Lincoln City Police Department, Newport Police Department, and Oregon State Police for their assistance during this incident. 

Curry County Board of Commissioners Investigating Missing Funds

Curry County’s finance director used a scatalogical expletive to describe the knot she and the county treasurer had to untangle to answer a federal inquiry about unaccounted for COVID relief dollars.

Keina Wolf told commissioners Wednesday she and Curry County Treasurer Nick Vicino spent the final hours of 2024 addressing an email from the US Department of Treasury stating that out of a total of about $4.4 million in American Rescue Plan money, only $1.734 million had been accounted for.

Wolf, who became Curry County’s finance director in February 2024, had taken exception to a public commenter who asked how she could have missed the un-accounted for balance of about $2.7 million.

“There were dozens of transactions that were not accounted for that we had to write off,” she said, placing the blame on her predecessor and the previous treasurer. “That is not my fault. I take no responsibility to the prior people in the department that had the inability to do their jobs. Or maybe they just didn’t give a damn one way or the other. That’s what happened.”

But the county’s previous treasurer, David Barnes said the Treasurer’s Office isn’t responsible for managing grants or reporting them. When Curry County first received ARP dollars, then-finance director Brad Rueckert administered that account until he left and Frank Jerome became finance director, Barnes told Redwood Voice Community News on Monday.

ARP funds were meant to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the former treasurer, the Board of Commissioners created a system where local organizations would apply for a portion of those dollars. The BOC received about a dozen applications, Barnes said.

Barnes said when he retired in April 2024, he submitted a report to the Board of Commissioners, notifying them that $2.6 million in ARP dollars had not been allocated yet. How those dollars get allocated isn’t the treasurer’s responsibility, he said, but falls under the purview of the county finance director.

“The new treasurer sat next to me at his computer and we did this report and he was aware that there was $2.6 million that we had not allocated to anything yet,” Barnes said. “If they made a phone call to me I could have answered this question and it never would have been a problem. I don’t understand why this is an issue.”

At a Dec. 19 Board of Commissioners meeting, Wolf said that when she arrived at the county in February 2024, 26-month-old deposits had not been entered into the county’s fiscal system. The county still owed pass-through tax revenue to other small agencies, had made about $30 million in bank adjustments and recorded $3 million to the wrong funds, “misstating other balances and other funds.”

On Jan. 9, Wolf told the Board of Commissioners that Vicino had received an email from the U.S. Department of Treasury informing him that if the county didn’t account for the $2.7 million in unallocated ARP dollars, it would have to return those funds.

“Apparently there were two separate deposits of equal amounts that came in, and this goes back to 2021 and 2022,” she said. “I was under the impression, and Nick was under the impression, that these were spent down. In less than 24 hours Nick and I had to justify the funds to the U.S. Department of Treasury because we do not have $2.7 million to return to them.”

According to Wolf, Vicino completed a report to the Treasury Department stating that the county would use the unaccounted-for funds as lost revenue dollars. She said those dollars could be spent on personal protective equipment, sanitary items and any other COVID-related expenses the county paid for front-line workers during the pandemic.

In 2024, more than $500,000 in ARP dollars were used to help Curry County through a ransomware attack that crippled its network, according to Vicino.

Wolf said she and Vicino are going back to 2021 to try to figure out where those ARP dollars were allocated to and why they weren’t recorded.

“We really have to unravel this from 2021 to current on these dollars because we were under the impression they were all spent,” she said. “We’ve got to figure this out.”’

In an email Monday evening, Barnes pointed Redwood Voice to an item the Board of Commissioners considered on May 16, 2024 to allocate up to $1.2 million to the recording division of the Curry County Clerk’s Office. This money was to be used to restore digital files that were lost due to the 2023 ransomware attack.

According to Barnes, that $1.2 million accounts for nearly 45 percent of the missing $2.7 million.

However, while the Board did vote to transfer ARP dollars to the County Clerk’s Office, the allocation was for $500,000, according to the May 16, 2024 agenda packet. Since it was a proposal included in the Board’s consent agenda, commissioners approved it without comment.

In his email, Barnes said that allocation wasn’t included in a report he made to the U.S. Treasury’s Office on April 24, 2024 since it occurred after his last day with the county.

“I will not conjecture why the US Treasury report was not updated with this info,” he told Redwood Voice.

On Jan. 9, Commissioner Jay Trost said if $2-plus million were available to the county, it would be a gut punch after budget cuts it had to make in June 2024.

His colleague Brad Alcorn agreed.

“This was a mistake made by someone else and it’s a mistake that has affected a lot of people’s lives,” Alcorn said.

In June 2024, after a law enforcement tax levy failed, Curry County was forced to reorganize departments and layoff about 17 employees to address a $3.8 million general fund deficit.

On Monday, however, Ted Fitzgerald, the county’s director of operations and legal counsel, said there may not be $2.7 million in ARP dollars left for the county to spend. In fact, he said, he believed the county spent more than the total $4.4 million it received by about $30,000 to $40,000.

According to Fitzgerald, the rules about how ARP dollars could be spent were stricter in the beginning. Then those rules became more relaxed and the county could put it to a variety of uses.

“The major problem was how [that money] was accounted for to the federal government,” he said. “The money came in and half was kept track of and declared to the federal government that it had been used properly and the remaining half was sort of dropped.”

Fitzgerald said the county is looking into how it should respond to the previous treasurer’s actions. He said he informed Barnes when he was still in office that he was in violation of his obligations under Oregon statute, but it “just kind of fell on deaf ears.”

“I think as we go forward a lot more will become clear regarding the nature and extent of any sort of aggregation of duties as we go through this audit,” he said, adding that much of the audit would be performed in-house, though eventually a third party will need to look at the county’s finances.

Barnes, however, said he introduced himself and Vicino, who was his deputy, to Wolf during her first week on the job and met with her to “let her know what was going on.” During that meeting, Barnes said, Fitzgerald stormed into the room and forbade him from speaking with Wolf, bringing the meeting to a close.

“I do not recall having another conversation with Keina after that,” Barnes told Redwood Voice. “If they’re looking for why this information didn’t get told to Keina, Ted told me I wasn’t allowed to talk to Keina. She was his employee and I was forbidden to talk to her. At the time me and him were not on speaking terms either.”

A few weeks later, according to Barnes, when he retired as treasurer in April 2024, Wolf told him that the county’s accounts were reconciled.

“What happened between then and now I have no idea,” he said.

On Wednesday, in response to Brookings resident Georgia Cockerham, who described the Jan. 9 meeting as a stage show, Wolf urged her and other members of the public to “sit in my chair and show me” if they think they can do better.

“I do take it personally when people try to publicly attack me,” she said. “I’m a public employee. I have a right to work in an environment that is not harassing.” (SOURCE)

PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical center has recently opened a satellite ear, nose and throat off in Florence at the Peace Harbor Campus. 

Dr. Frank Chen is one of the physicians there and he say the response has been impressive with the offices booked out more than 3 months already. “Nearly all the patients have said that they are grateful and they are happy that there is a service line there for ENT and they don’t have to travel as far.”

Last week Dr. Chen performed the first ENT surgery at the hospital on an adult male patient.  He says the services will expand moving forward. “We are right now doing procedures for adults and then we eventually will start doing the pediatric population later this year.” The ENT offices are opened only on Fridays and are by referral only.

Oregon Coast Humane Society to Acquire Vet Clinic

The sale won’t be final for a few more weeks, but the Oregon Coast Humane Society announced Friday they are in the process of buying Oceanside Veterinary Clinic at 1739 21st Street.   Elizabeth Thompson, the Executive Director of OCHS, said once the acquisition is complete the first priority is on transferring current veterinary services for shelter animals to the clinic.

“Plan is that we will not be open for public animals probably for this entire year, maybe into 2026.”

Thompson acknowledged the shortage of veterinary care in the Florence area.  Unfortunately, it will be several months before they’ll be able to open to the public.

“The goal will be that we can focus on high quality, high volume spay and neuter when we do open to the public so that we can really try to get a grip on this community cat situation and all these unexpected litters that people are not planning to have because they can’t get access to care for their animals.”

Buying and staffing the clinic means volunteers will no longer have to shuttle ailing shelter pets to other clinics out of the area.  That will save time, and ultimately money.   The Oregon Coast Humane Society is a “no-kill” shelter that has been operating in Florence for more than three decades. Follow and Support on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OregonCoastHumaneSociety

Coos Bay Police Department –  WE’RE HIRING 9-1-1 DISPATCHERS

$4684 – $5972/Month DOQ — We offer:•A dynamic team environment •Alternative schedule benefiting work/life balance •Up to 5 weeks paid time off per year after the first year •The opportunity to serve your community

Our team members have come from a variety of work fields- no experience necessary! For additional information from the North Coos 9-1-1 Recruitment Team or to schedule a ride-along please email: join911@coosbayor.govhttps://www.coosbayor.gov/…/Compon…/JobPosts/Job/126/107

The City of Florence is looking to fill a vacancy on the City Council following Councilor Bill Meyer’s resignation, which takes effect February 28th. Meyer made the announcement during Monday’s City Council meeting.

“To Mayor Rob Ward, I hereby notify you of my intention to resign from my council position with the City of Florence, Oregon, effective February 28, 2025.”

Meyer said he was honored to work with the council and the city staff and wished them success in the future.  The city will now need to fill that vacancy. Applications for the position are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19. Applicants must have lived within city limits for at least a year and be registered voters. The City Council will review applications and may invite candidates for interviews on February 27. The position is voluntary, offering residents a chance to be actively involved in local government. More details and applications are available at www.ci.florence.or.us.

The city of Florence received word this week it has been awarded a 70-thousand-dollar grant as part of a statewide effort to help communities be resilient in the face of a large-scale disaster.  

Megan Messmer, Florence Assistant City Manager, says the money will pay for a large trailer mounted diesel generator.

“We have these pump stations throughout town and if there is a large-scale power outage that lasts a long time, we need to deploy generators to those to keep them operational, so they don’t get overwhelmed.”

Messmer says this isn’t the only grant Florence is receiving.   Lane County applied for a 20-million-dollar grant that will be divided between six or seven communities, including Florence.

“Lane County was awarded that grant, and it will be expanding the Senior Center so that will be a large capital project.  It will also include some resilience type coordination with non-profits and really expanding our resilience as a community.”

That expansion, which will include an emergency generator and heavy-duty HVAC equipment, could provide a “clean air” shelter if there is heavy wildfire smoke.   It would also serve as a community hub where area residents could go to receive emergency services.

The 48th Annual Newport Seafood and Wine Festival

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

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 

Gleneden Beach Community Club Events

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

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 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

Follow on Facebook: Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Department of Revenue issues first income tax refunds in 2025

The Oregon Department of Revenue has begun distributing refunds for the 2024 tax year. Through February 17, the department has processed more than 400,000 tax returns. The first refunds of the year were issued Tuesday.

Each year the department employs a refund hold period as part of the agency’s fraud prevention efforts. The hold period has been completed and most taxpayers can expect to receive their refunds within two weeks of the date their return is filed. Some returns, however, require additional review and can take up to 20 weeks before a refund is issued.

Taxpayers can check the status of their refund by using the department’s Where’s My Refund? tool. The Department of Revenue recommends that taxpayers wait one week after they have electronically filed their return to use the Where’s My Refund tool.

The Where’s My Refund? tool has been updated for 2025, providing more information about the status of their return to taxpayers who are signed into their Revenue Online account. Taxpayers who don’t already have a Revenue Online account can create one by following the Revenue Online link on the department’s website. Taxpayers who don’t have a Revenue Online account can still use the Where’s My Refund? tool but won’t be able to see the updated features.

A video outlining the refund process and timelines is also available to help taxpayers understand the process.

The department also offered a list of do’s and don’ts for filing to help with efficient processing and avoid unnecessary delays.

Do file electronically and request direct deposit. 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.

Don’t send a duplicate paper return. Taxpayers should file just once unless they need to make a change to their return. Sending a duplicate return will slow processing and delay your refund.

Do make sure you have all tax records before filing. Having all necessary records is essential to filing a complete and accurate tax return and avoiding errors.

Don’t get in a hurry and fail to report all your income. If income reported on a return doesn’t match the income reported by employers, the return, and any corresponding refund, will be delayed. If taxpayers receive more or corrected tax records after filing a return, they should file an amended return to report any changes.

Do make sure you have a Revenue Online account. Before beginning the filing process, taxpayers should make sure their information is current in Revenue Online, the state’s internet tax portal. Those who don’t have a Revenue Online account can sign up on the agency’s website.

To get tax forms, check the status of their refund, or make payments, visit our website or email  questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov.

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.

OREGON’S U.S. ATTORNEY TERMINATED BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

Trump removes remaining U.S. attorneys, including Oregon’s

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon referred to Wight as the “former U.S. Attorney” in its announcement of the news

Oregon U.S. Attorney Natalie Wight was fired by the White House as President Donald Trump vowed to continue his reshaping of the U.S. Department of Justice.

“I want to thank our Oregon communities and our exceptional public servants for helping to keep Oregon a safe and beautiful place to live,” Wight said in a statement. “I am immensely proud to have worked side by side with such dedicated Oregonians.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon referred to Wight as the “former U.S. Attorney” in its announcement of the news.

Wight, like all U.S. attorneys, was a presidential appointee. It’s typical for incoming administrations to request the resignations for most, if not all, U.S. attorneys appointed by the former president.

In this case, it appears they were fired en masse by the sitting president.

Earlier Tuesday, President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that he had “instructed the termination of ALL remaining ‘Biden Era’ U.S. Attorneys.”

“We must ‘clean house’ IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence,” Trump added. “America’s Golden Age must have a fair Justice System – THAT BEGINS TODAY!”

Wight was highly respected by her colleagues and became the top federal law enforcement official for the state after years as a federal prosecutor.

She was confirmed as U.S. attorney for Oregon by the U.S. Senate in September 2022. Under Wight’s tenure, she prioritized fentanyl enforcement and partnerships with local police and sheriffs. She was also the first Black person and the second Asian American to serve as the district’s U.S. attorney.

Wight grew up in Oregon and graduated from Cleveland High School in Portland before obtaining her law degree from the University of Notre Dame.

She has spent her career working for the federal government, first as a lawyer for the Federal Bureau of Prisons before becoming a federal prosecutor in California. In 2012, Wight became an assistant U.S. attorney in Oregon, where she worked on both civil and criminal prosecutions.

“I am proud of the Office’s dedication to protecting Oregon’s youth, supporting law enforcement, and maintaining strong agency partnerships,” Wright said in a statement that announced her departure. This story was originally published by Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Trump Layoffs Put Power Grid at Risk

200 employees at the Bonneville Power Administration took the Trump Administration’s buyout offer, 90 new job offers have been rescinded and 400 probationary employees could be laid off.

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley say cutting 20 percent of the agency’s staff puts the power grid at risk. The BPA is a power marketing agency that operates on revenue it generates, and not tax dollars. They say the greatest impact will be on rural areas that buy power from the BPA.

Cuts to federal wildfire crews could have ‘scary’ consequences

President Donald Trump’s moves to slash the federal workforce have gutted the ranks of wildland firefighters and support personnel, fire professionals warn, leaving communities to face deadly consequences when big blazes arrive this summer.

“There’s going to be firefighters that die because of this, there will be communities that burn,” said Steve Gutierrez, a union official who served 15 years as a firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service.

Gutierrez now serves as a labor relations representative with the National Federation of Federal Employees, which represents government workers. He said thousands of wildland firefighters have had their jobs thrown into limbo by Trump’s government-wide hiring freeze.

Brian Fennessy, chief of the Orange County Fire Authority and president of the California Fire Chiefs Association, echoed that concern. “The public needs to know they’re at risk,” Fennessy said. “If the public knew all of this, they would lose their minds.”

Federal agencies depend on an army of seasonal firefighters to fill their ranks during the months when wildfires are most active. Scott, a Forest Service firefighter with six years of experience in the Western United States, who asked to be identified by a pseudonym to avoid retaliation, is among those whose role has been thrown into uncertainty.

“It’s just going to be a disaster for the wildfire response this season,” he said. (READ MORE)

Providence, Oregon Nurses Association to return to bargaining table as nurses strike enters sixth week

Providence and the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) will return to the bargaining table this week as the historic nurses strike stretches into the sixth week. Mediation is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Nearly 5,000 unionized nurses from eight Providence hospitals around the state have been on strike since Jan. 10. They’re asking for competitive wages, and better working conditions and staffing levels at hospitals.

Mediation is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18 and Wednesday, Feb. 19, ONA announced in a news release Monday morning.

“As nurses from all eight Providence hospitals across Oregon, we remain united and steadfast in our commitment to this strike. We will not stop until we have a contract that prioritizes frontline nurses and the patients we serve,” said Virginia Smith, a registered nurse from Providence Willamette Falls and leader of the bargaining team. 

“As ONA has shared publicly, the parties are returning to the bargaining table with the assistance of the federal mediators tomorrow and Wednesday,” Providence said in a statement.

The update comes as more elected officials have weighed in. On Monday, 11 Portland city councilors signed a letter expressing support for the health care workers and urging Providence leadership to quickly resolve the strike.

“The well-being of our entire community is at stake. This is both a public health and public safety concern,” the letter said, in part. It went on to say, “The status quo is not working. We urge you to return to the bargaining table and engage in good-faith negotiations that lead to real, lasting solutions.”

On Monday afternoon, KGW spoke with two city councilors who signed the letter: Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane and Councilor Mitch Green. 

“Heading into the 6th week of this strike, it it really felt like it was time for us, as Portland City Councilors to weigh in. We all have been hearing from our constituents, and at this point it’s not just about affecting the jobs of community members, but really this is also about the safety and the care of our community members,” said Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane, from District 3.

“We’re not really looking to be passive on the sidelines when a major employer in the region that’s responsible for public health and safety is in a dispute with their employees,” said Councilor Mitch Green, from District 4. “Remember, in 2020, when we were banging pots and pans and thanking our essential workers. They’ve been there the whole time and you thank them by showing up in a contract and giving them the resources they need so we can recruit, retain and fairly pay nurses.”

Gov. Tina Kotek issued a statement on Jan. 10 urging both sides to immediately resolve their disagreements. Ahead of the strike, multiple Oregon lawmakers signed a letter pushing for Providence and ONA to reach a deal and avoid a walkout.

Last week, Providence sent a message to striking health care workers, informing them that they must return to work by Feb. 28 to keep their health benefits. The suspension of benefits applies to anyone who doesn’t return to work, meaning St. Vincent hospitalists, who voted to ratify their contract on Feb. 8 but are striking in solidarity with St. Vincent nurses, would also lose their coverage.

“The punishing nature of being denied a fair contract, being driven to a strike and then compounded with the punishment of this threat of cutting off health insurance is really unsafe and unacceptable,” said Koyama Lane.

Striking nurses from all eight hospitals previously rejected Providence’s latest offer. Both ONA and Providence said they will not provide public comment during mediation. (SOURCE)

Oregon pilot project to bring medication treatment for opioid use disorder to emergency care

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is launching a six-month pilot program in partnership with the Oregon Public Health Institute (OPHI) and the Public Health Institute Bridge Center (Bridge Center) to improve the accessibility and uptake of addiction care in emergency care settings in Multnomah and Marion counties.

The program will train emergency responders to assess patients and provide medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in the field, before transporting them to the hospital to bridge them to ongoing care. It will also equip emergency departments in these counties with the training, tools, and hands-on support to implement and improve 24/7 addiction services — using an evidence-based model that has dramatically increased both access to and ongoing engagement in addiction care in other states.  

This pilot builds on the work of the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, the Oregon Health Leadership Council, and OHSU’s Improving Addiction Care Team (IMPACT) program, as well as several local government, EMS, and hospital partnerships to establish and support emergency settings as critical points of entry into treatment for patients struggling with opioid use disorder.   

“Millions of people with substance use disorders visit emergency departments every year, yet only a minority are connected to evidence-based addiction care. Even fewer are initiated on life-saving treatment in the field, even though this has been demonstrated as a novel overdose reduction strategy associated with a several-fold increase in ongoing care,” said OHA Director Sejal Hathi, M.D., MBA. “We are grateful to partner with the Bridge Center and OPHI to institutionalize this model and increase access to low-barrier opioid use disorder care in Oregon.”    

OHA has dedicated $300,000 to the project. The Bridge Center and OPHI have dedicated $140,000 in additional leveraged resources, including resources from the Opioid Response Network (ORN) to support emergency departments.

In addition to providing medication-based treatment for opioid use in emergency rooms, the program will develop referral links to care for community-based medication assisted treatment.   

 “The Bridge Center is thrilled to partner with the Oregon Public Health Institute and OHA to make life-saving addiction medications more available to Oregonians struggling with substance use disorder,” said Arianna Campbell, Senior Director of the Bridge Center. “When emergency medical services and emergency departments are equipped to provide immediate, low-barrier care, communities gain access to critical treatment and support that is otherwise unavailable to far too many people.”   

 The project also aligns with the Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission’s recommendations for increasing access to treatment for opioid use disorder in their September 2024 Preliminary Report. These include:

• Establishing a statewide program that supports care linkages across the substance use disorder treatment continuum, such as during key care transitions that occur when individuals leave emergency departments with ongoing substance use disorder needs.
• Promoting engagement and availability of technical assistance to accelerate the adoption of evidenced based practices, such as access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), throughout the care continuum.

“No corner of Oregon is untouched by the opioid crisis. Research shows that when patients receive medication for opioid use disorder in an emergency setting, they are more likely to avoid overdose, stay in treatment, and reach long-term recovery,” said Emily Henke, Executive Director of the Oregon Public Health Institute. “The Oregon Public Health Institute is proud to partner with the Bridge Center, OHA, and local communities to make this life-saving care more accessible–because every Oregonian deserves to recover.”

Train Crashes into Truck Abandoned on Tracks Outside Gold Hill, Suspects Arrested

JCSO Case 25-0862 — GOLD HILL, Ore. – A train hit an unoccupied truck abandoned on the tracks in rural Gold Hill this morning. On February 17 at approximately 9:25 AM, ECSO Dispatch received a report of a train striking a truck parked on the tracks. The truck accessed the tracks from a dirt road approximately one mile off of Gold Ray Road. There were no injuries reported and no one associated with the truck was on scene.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies responded to investigate and identified multiple suspects. Kenneth Luedtke, 45, and Caroline Allen, 78, both of White City, were cited for first-degree trespass, first-degree criminal mischief, and reckless endangering. Allen was also charged with driving while suspended. 

Railroad employees are investigating the incident and identifying potential damages to the train and tracks. There is no further information available for release at this time.

A couple in Central Oregon was found dead after being caught in an avalanche while skiing the day after another person was killed in a separate avalanche in California.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the couple who lost their lives in the avalanche while enjoying the Central Oregon backcountry,” said Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp in a statement . “Their long history in our community and the lives they touched are a testament to the spirit and resilience that make Central Oregon such a special place to live. “

On Tuesday, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported avalanche burial near Broken Top, Oregon, around 185 miles southeast of Portland, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Two bodies were recovered at the scene.

Authorities believe the couple was skiing when the avalanche occurred, according to the Central Oregon Avalanche Center.

“We extend our deepest condolences to all who loved the couple who tragically lost their lives while doing what they loved,” the center wrote in a statement . “As longtime residents of Central Oregon, they have touched many lives, and their legacy will continue to live on in our community.” The victim’s identities will not be released at this time, police said.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit recovered the couple from Trail 8 on snow-covered Forest Service Road 370, between the Bend Watershed and Broken Top area in an area known as Happy Valley.

“The avalanche occurred at 6,700 ft. on a South facing slope,” according to the Avalanche Center. The avalanche was rated as a D2, according to the center.

D2 avalanches are typically the length of a football field and are capable of burying, injuring or killing a person, according to Avalanche.org.

Police asked people to stay away from the area and to know that avalanche danger in the Central Cascades area “is moderate to considerable.”

“Please use extreme caution when recreating in the areas and check coavalanche.org for more information, including forecasts and observations,” police said.

Bed Bugs a Growing Problem in Oregon

Bed bugs are invading homes across Oregon. Many cities are facing a serious bed bug crisis. These tiny pests are causing trouble for families, businesses, and travelers. Let’s explore the five cities battling this problem.

Bed bugs spread easily through clothes, furniture, and luggage. Warmer temperatures help them multiply quickly. Many people don’t notice them until the infestation becomes severe.

1. Portland: The Worst-Hit City in Oregon

• Portland ranks high in bed bug reports.
• Hotels, apartments, and public places are infested.
• Travel and tourism increase the spread of bed bugs.

2. Eugene: Rising Cases of Bed Bug Infestations

• Many rental homes report bed bug issues.
• College dorms and public spaces are common infestation areas.
• Improper pest control methods lead to repeat problems.

3. Salem: Families Struggling with Bed Bugs

• Households report growing bed bug cases.
• Used furniture sales spread infestations.
• Residents spend thousands on pest control.

4. Gresham: High-Risk Area for Bed Bugs

• Bed bugs are found in hotels and motels.
• Public transport helps spread these pests.
• Many residents face difficulty in complete removal.

5. Hillsboro: Increasing Reports of Infestations

• Rising apartment infestations cause major concerns.
• Lack of awareness worsens the problem.
• Local authorities struggle with control measures.

How to Prevent Bed Bugs in Your Home

• Check hotel rooms before unpacking your luggage.
• Wash and dry clothes at high temperatures after travel.
• Avoid buying second-hand furniture without proper inspection.
• Regularly clean and vacuum mattresses, carpets, and furniture.

Effective Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

• Use heat treatment to kill bed bugs at all stages.
• Hire professional exterminators for severe infestations.
• Seal cracks and crevices to prevent further spread.
• Use mattress encasements to stop bed bug hiding spots.

Bed bugs remain a major issue in many Oregon cities. People must stay alert and take action quickly. Proper prevention and professional help can keep homes and businesses safe from infestations.

New Edition of the Oregon Blue Book Highlights John Day Fossil Beds and the Great Comet of 2024

Every odd-numbered year since 1911, the Oregon Secretary of State’s office has published the Oregon Blue Book, our state’s official almanac and fact book. Each edition of the book features beautiful, new cover images of Oregon captured by the winners of the Oregon Blue Book Cover Photo Contest.

The 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book front cover features a stunning capture from the Painted Cove in the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, near Mitchell. Photographer Matt Straite of Keizer made the image which he titled, “The Many Sides of Oregon.” The back cover includes an amazing astrophotography shot titled “Comet/C2023 A” by Nathan Rohde of Shady Cove.

“The Oregon Blue Book is an invitation to learn more about Oregon, engage with your neighbors, our government and our state’s history. It helps us understand what it means to be an Oregonian. The artists who’ve created these cover images captured some of that spirit, and I’m thrilled they’re a part of my first Oregon Blue Book as Secretary of State,” said Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read.

“So many people look right past the desert areas of the state, but there is so much beauty there,” said Straite. “I have always been drawn to images that show the work of mankind in nature, particularly when that work has been added to help others see the nature, like the work of the Civilian Conservation Corp. The way this trail bends at the end is such a strong draw to want to explore more.” Straite also said that he shot this image from the boardwalk, which is there to take people through the sensitive clay hills without harming them.

Nathan Rohde’s image of Comet/C2023 A3, also known as the “Great Comet of 2024” was made near his home. He said he’s always been fascinated by astrophotography and loved trying to capture the Milky Way and the Aurora, but after seeing posts online of other peoples’ images of the comet, he thought he could capture it too: “Living in Southern Oregon affords access to some relatively dark areas. On a tall clearing not far from Lost Creek Lake, I got set up about an hour before sunset and began scanning the sky with my lens fully extended. About 45 minutes after sunset, conditions were perfect and the pictures started coming through!” Rohde said the rolling hills in the foreground were an excellent way to provide scale and accentuate the sky.

The 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book is available for presale purchase now at bluebook.oregon.gov/shop. These limited-edition books are $30 for the hardcover and $18 for the paperback, plus shipping and handling. A downloadable copy of the full cover for use by the media can be found in Oregon Blue Book Assets and Information here.

Child sextortion cases in Oregon surge 857% since 2020

The number of sextortion and online solicitation reports in Oregon has skyrocketed 857% over the past five years, the Oregon Department of Justice announced Tuesday to mark Safer Internet Day.

The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) said that increase happened from 2020-2024 based on cyber tips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

• 2020: 197
• 2021: 233
• 2022: 288
• 2023: 409
• 2024: 1,886

Mark Williamson, asst. chief criminal investigator with ICAC, explained how sextortion happens. A child is “friended” on social media sites by someone — usually using a fake identity — who gains their trust. They form a relationship beyond friendship and that person asks the child to send them explicit photographs. Then, the person will demand money from the child, with the threat of releasing the explicit photos to everyone on that child’s social media friends list.

Oregon DOJ says, in most cases, the children keep it a secret because they are too embarrassed to tell their families and unsure of what to do. 

Oregon lawmakers approved additional funding for ICAC last year, allowing it to quadruple in size, Oregon DOJ said. That allowed ICAC to clear out a large backlog of cases.

“Our investigators are dedicated to combating online threats,” Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement. “They are working with investigators across the country, and around world in some cases, to get justice for these kids and their families.”

Resources:

• 10 Best Practices for Internet Safety Programs
• How to get nude pictures of minors removed
• What children or families should do if they become a victim of sextortion

 Download PDF

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

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) 

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