Oregon Beach News, Monday 7/8 – Coos Bay Receives Oregon Heritage All-Star Community Designation, USA Today Ranks Seaside and Cannon Beach in the 10 Best Dog-Friendly Beaches Across the United States & 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

Monday, July 8, 2024

Oregon Beach Weather

Coos Bay Receives Oregon Heritage All-Star Community Designation

Coos Bay has been designated by the Oregon Heritage Commission as an “Oregon Heritage All-Star Community.” The commission created the All-Star program to recognize the strong efforts by communities to broadly preserve and develop heritage resources. 

An All-Star designation requires that communities meet at least 15 of 24 criteria related to local heritage. These include heritage tourism efforts, historic preservation programs, photo and document archives, museums, historic cemeteries, historic downtowns and more. 

“Coos Bay has a long and broad history,” said Katie Henry coordinator for the Oregon Heritage Commission. “The efforts of the city, tribes, museums, businesses, and community members in preserving and sharing local history contributes to the economy and livability of Coos Bay.”

A representative of the Oregon Heritage Commission will formally acknowledge the designation at the Coos Bay City Council work session on July 23, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. 

Mayor Benetti stated “This designation is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our community in preserving Coos Bay’s rich heritage, we are honored to receive this recognition and are committed to continuing our efforts in celebrating and safeguarding our history for future generations.”

The city is required to maintain at least 15 of the criteria to maintain the Heritage All-Star status. Technical assistance will be provided to Coos Bay to maintain, sustain and expand the heritage offerings and facilities. The city joins seven other All-Star communities including Albany, Astoria, Bend, Cottage Grove, Oregon City, Roseburg, and Salem. 

The Oregon Heritage Commission works to secure, sustain and enhance Oregon’s heritage. The Commission sponsors heritage initiatives that educate the public about the value of heritage and celebrate the state’s diversity.

The Oregon Heritage Commission consists of nine members appointed by the governor and nine agency advisors. Members are chosen from state agencies and statewide organizations, and represent a diverse geographical and heritage background. 

Assistance is available for communities seeking to acquire Heritage All-Star Community status. Oregon Heritage of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, which houses the Oregon Heritage Commission, offers technical support, workshops, grants and other resources for all heritage projects in the state. To learn more, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.govc or 503-986-0685.

USA Today Ranks Seaside and Cannon Beach in the 10 Best Dog-Friendly Beaches Across the United States

The list features beach fronts for pups to frolic in the sand or surf, with some beaches offering amenities such as cleaning stations and water fountains.

Scoring the top spot on the list: Jupiter, Florida. Near Palm Beach, Jupiter earned the number one spot for its “ample outdoor recreation opportunities for both tourists and their pets.”

Earning the second spot on the list, and the highest rank for the west coast: Seaside, Oregon.

“On a rare sunny day on the Oregon coast, Seaside Beach provides ample opportunity for dogs to roam. Visitors can take to the water with their off-leash pups, while the area offers many dog-friendly restaurants for a post-beach meal,” USA Today said.

According to Travel Seaside, all breeds are welcome on the beach leash-free. The city also offers free pet supplies on the Promenade along the beach, with several pet shops nearby.

Travel Seaside also recommends several dog-friendly restaurants with outdoor patio space, including Ruby’s Roadside Grill – which has its own canine menu—Bell Buoy of Seaside, Big Kahuna Pub and Grill, and Seaside Brewery.

Seaside is also home to the Corgi Beach Takeover every June followed by the DachSand meetup in September.

Earning the fifth spot on the list: Cannon Beach.

“While Oregon’s Cannon Beach is best known for its towering rock formations, the area also doubles as a top spot for dog lovers, with canines getting the chance to explore along the shore as long as they’re on-leash or can follow voice control,” USA Today said.

Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce has several recommendations for pet-friendly outdoor dining, including Mo’s Seafood & Chowder, The Bistro, Mi Corazon, and Bill’s Tavern.

In October, Cannon Beach is home to the Dog Show on the Beach, with categories ranging from Most Beautiful, Best Bark, and Longest Tail to Best Trick.

Other top dog-friendly beaches making the list include Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis, Md., Freeman Park at Carolina Beach, N.C., and Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach, Calif. READ MORE: https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-dog-friendly-beach-2024/

CAST for Kids Foundation needs five additional boat captains to take a disabled child and their parents crabbing for a few hours on Sunday, July 28th.

If you and your family would like to volunteer, please register online at castforkids.org/event/yaquinabay

The C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation (C.A.S.T. = Catch A Special Thrill) is a public charity that was formed in 1991 to join volunteers who love to fish with children who have special needs and disadvantages for a day of fishing in the outdoors. Children with special needs (ages 6-18) and their caretakers come together with community volunteers for a fun day of fishing they may not otherwise experience. These events provide a refreshing break from their daily challenges. Spreading a positive message that kids with disabilities can accomplish anything, we include all children, despite their limitations. This is all made possible through national and local sponsors-people who want to make a big difference in the lives of kids with special needs thus strengthening their community. https://www.facebook.com/castforkidsfoundation

•••Man arrested after stealing car and rifle from Kuehn Road•••

On July 4th, 2024, at 5:07 p.m., a resident on Kuehn Road near Coos Bay called the Coos County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center to report his vehicle and rifle stolen from his residence. A deputy responded, took the report, and entered the vehicle and weapon as stolen. An attempt to locate (ATL) was sent out county-wide.

A short time later, an Oregon State Trooper located the stolen vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The suspect, Gregory J. Kuehne (54), was located inside the vehicle and detained by the Trooper. The investigating Deputy responded and recovered the stolen vehicle and rifle inside the vehicle. Mr. Kuehne was subsequently arrested on the charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Theft I, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

“Police action is not indicative of guilt. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

•••U.S. Marshal Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (USMS) Assists in Successful Fugitive Investigation•••

On July 2nd, 2024, the U.S. Marshal Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (USMS) provided valuable assistance to USMS-Task Force Officer Deputy J. Lee in a high-priority fugitive investigation. The target of the investigation was Randolph N. Rossback (65), also known as Randy, who was believed to be located in Coos County.

On July 3rd, 2024, the joint efforts of USMS and TFO-Deputy J. Lee culminated in the successful apprehension of Randy at a residence on Hwy 42, Coos Bay. Randy was wanted on a Failure to Appear (FTA) Warrant for multiple serious offenses, including Delivery of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. In addition, Randy was cited for providing False Information to Police.

During the arrest, further suspicions of criminal activity arose, prompting the involvement of SCINT. SCINT was granted and executed a search warrant, leading to the discovery of firearms, including a stolen firearm and suspected methamphetamine in Randy’s bedroom.

Randy was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Coos County Jail, where he was booked on the outstanding warrant. The successful operation was made possible through the collaborative efforts of federal partners.

Deputy K. Mong, Deputy A. Burgo, Deputy J. Gray, and K9 Sgt. J. Boswell provided crucial assistance to the operation.

As a result of the SCINT investigation, additional charges will be filed against Randy. The coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our community.

“Police action is not indicative of guilt. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

Rare Sighting of Sea Otters Near Ecola Point

Two sea otters were seen near Ecola Point on Friday. There has not been an established population of sea otters on the Oregon coast since the early 1900s when the local population was wiped out by fur traders, according to the Elakha Alliance, an Oregon nonprofit that is working on the restoration and conservation of sea otters.

The sea otters were first seen by volunteers and then spotted by marine biologist Chanel Hason, the director of outreach and community relations for the Elakha Alliance.

The alliance says that the sea otters likely swam south from Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, where about 2,000 otters live. They are not a migratory species, so the Oregon sighting is rare despite the relative proximity of a well-established population, according to the alliance.

Hundreds of thousands of sea otters once lived in coastal waters in the northern Pacific Ocean, but they were hunted to the brink of extinction in the 1920s, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. They were even thought to be extinct for a while, until about 50 sea otters were discovered near Big Sur, California, in 1938, according to the aquarium.

Today, sea otters are listed as a threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

“We are thrilled about this rare and wonderful sighting,” said Jane Bacchieri, executive director of the Elakha Alliance, in a news release. “It highlights the resilience of sea otters and the potential for their return to the Oregon coast. This event also underscores the importance of ongoingconservation efforts for our nearshore marine ecosystems.”

Macy’s Puts Florence Mall Stores Up For Sale

Macy’s Inc. is seeking a buyer for its two stores at Florence Mall, an indication that both could be among the 150 stores it plans to close in the next three years.

Macy’s announced in February that it will close 50 stores this year and an additional 100 by the end of 2026.

A sales brochure, circulated recently by the commercial real estate firm Lee & Associates, seeks $8 million for Macy’s 15-acre department store property and $5 million for its 7.5 acre furniture store at Florence Mall. Both properties include parking lots that accommodate about 1,150 vehicles, according to the brochure, obtained by the WCPO 9 I-Team.

Macy’s did not address the I-Team’s questions about a potential sale but said any store closures at Florence Mall would not take place this year.

“Our new strategy is designed to create a more modern Macy’s, Inc. and enhance the customer experience. We intend to close approximately 150 Macy’s stores while further investing in our 350 go-forward fleet over the next three years. A final decision on specific locations has yet to be made.”

Florence City Manager Josh Hunt declined to comment on the potential sale, citing a non-disclosure agreement the city signed with the brokers marketing mall properties. Hunt said he didn’t want to interfere with potential developments that could take place at the mall, but declined to elaborate.

Florence Mall’s management office also declined to comment.

Retail consultant Stan Eichelbaum said Macy’s willingness to sell points to a likelihood of closure.

“You can read the tea leaves,” said Eichelbaum, president of Marketing Developments/Planning Developments Inc. in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. “They wouldn’t be selling them if they thought there was high potential.”

But Eichelbaum said the mall could benefit from a Macy’s sale and closure in the long run.

“Malls are being adjusted with residential towers, senior towers, college facilities, medical facilities, everything else,” Eichelbaum said. “So, if the buildings meet a due diligence for being adaptable, there’s great potential for them to go in another direction.”

Lee & Associates’ sales brochure touts the Macy’s stores for their redevelopment potential, with 364,461 people within a 10-mile radius of the mall and a median household income of $72,467. It highlights Florence as Kentucky’s 8th largest city with more than 2,500 businesses.

“It’s a strong market,” Eichelbaum said. “There’s good wealth around it, good density around it. It’s not Manhattan or Chicago, but it has good bones as a site. It has great highway exposure.”

Built in 1976, Florence Mall is the region’s second-largest shopping center, with 930,000 square feet of gross leasable space. Its two Macy’s stores occupy 259,425 square feet, so the mall’s vacancy rate would increase by more than 25% with a closure.

In 2020, Florence Mall was the region’s second-strongest shopping center, according to the I-Team’s analysis of the region’s most endangered malls. But it’s had problems since then.

In 2021, lenders took ownership of the property after its longtime owner, Brookfield Properties, defaulted on $90 million in commercial mortgage-backed securities debt. That led to the mall’s $38 million purchase by an ownership group that includes Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group.

On a visit to the mall at noon Thursday, the food court was active and retail spaces in the Macy’s wing were mostly full. But Union resident Emma Finkenstadt said the mall is declining under its new owners.

“I don’t think it’s the worst mall, I’ve seen worse,” she said. “I just hope they don’t close because this is like the only mall around town besides like Kenwood.” This story originally appeared at WCPO.com.

Siuslaw Library Summer Reading Program

City of Florence Environmental Management Advisory Committee (EMAC) members, Vicki Philben, Ivy Medow and City Councilor Sally Wantz, as well as Master Recycler, Britte Kirsch, are partnering with Miss Gayle at the Siuslaw Public Library in this year’s Summer Reading Program. 

Using the “Read, Renew, Repeat” curriculum, these volunteers will be hosting 5 interactive events on such topics as bugs & bees, dirt, recycling, worms, and native plants.  Children of all ages are encouraged to attend these and all the other events from June through July.  All programs are free and held at the Florence location’s Bromley Room unless otherwise specified.  For more information, call the Siuslaw Library at 541-999-3132. 

LCPD Plans Pedestrian Safety Operation

The Lincoln City Police Department plans to conduct a Pedestrian Safety Operation on Tuesday, July 9^th, 2024, on Hwy 101 in the area between N 10^th Street and N 14th Street.

The primary focus of this operation is to raise awareness of pedestrian safety in drivers. The use of a decoy pedestrian will allow the Lincoln City Police Department to educate and enforce pedestrian right-of-way laws. The operation will be conducted between the hours of 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Warning signs will be posted prior to entering the pedestrian safety operation zone. 

LCPD last conducted a pedestrian safety operation on September 19, 2023. During that operation, nine citations and three written warnings were issued for violations of the crosswalk laws (Failing to stop for pedestrian in crosswalk or Passing vehicle stopped at a crosswalk). 

Drivers need to be aware of pedestrians when approaching crosswalks while traveling through Lincoln City and ODOT has installed several safe pedestrian crossings, with lights and pedestrian refuges in the center of the roadway.  The members of the Lincoln City Police Department are dedicated to enhancing the safety of our citizens and guests of the city, and these safety operations are conducted in an effort to reduce the potential for injuries or death caused from traffic collisions.

Funding for the pedestrian safety operations are made possible through traffic safety grants provided by the Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon Impact.

UPDATE TEMPORARY CLOSURE — Windy Cove Crab and Fishing Dock Repairs

(Winchester Bay, Oregon) The Douglas County Parks Department would like to provide an update on the temporary closure of the Windy Cove Crab and Fishing Dock, located at 936 Salmon Harbor Drive in Winchester Bay, Oregon.

Last week, a required joint permit application was successfully completed and submitted to the State of Oregon Department of State Lands (ODSL). This marks a critical step forward in our efforts to repair the crab dock to maintain our community’s recreational facilities.  The submitted application will be posted to ODSL’s website in early July for a mandatory 30-day public comment period. This review period allows for community input and ensures transparency in the permitting process. We anticipate receiving an approved permit in August, contingent upon the successful completion of the review period, which could be delayed based on any potential issues that might come out of the review.

Construction and engineering plans are on track to be finalized by June 25. However, we must wait for the permit issuance to determine if there are any new terms and conditions that will be imposed on the project based on public comments. These terms and conditions, if any, will be carefully reviewed and incorporated into the project scope of work as necessary. Once the terms of the permit are known, we will proceed with drafting a bid prospectus to solicit a vendor to facilitate the necessary dock repairs. This process will involve a Request for Bids (RFB) procurement process, which will add some additional time to our timeline.

Considering the necessary steps and potential adjustments, our best-case scenario is to have the project out for bid and awarded by mid-August. Depending on contractor availability, we hope to begin the dock repairs in late August, however, it is more likely that the work will begin sometime in September.  We understand that the Windy Cove Crab and Fishing Dock is a favorite spot for both locals and visitors. During the closure, we recommend Dock 9 near the west boat launch in Salmon Harbor for crabbing without a boat. Additionally, some fishermen have reported success using fishing pole crab traps from the jetties and riverbanks.  A video of the update featuring our Douglas County Parks Director Mark Wall, can be found on the Douglas County Government website at: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/133738243. 

Public safety remains our top priority. The Windy Cove Crab and Fishing Dock will remain closed until repairs are completed and the dock is no longer deemed unsafe and hazardous for public use. The surrounding parking lot, day-use area, and beach access at Windy Cove County Park remain open. We ask for the community’s cooperation in respecting the closure and staying off the dock until it is officially reopened.  We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we navigate these procedural requirements to ensure a thorough and compliant repair process. The Douglas County Parks Department remains committed to providing safe and enjoyable recreational facilities for all residents and visitors.  Updates will be released monthly until repairs are finalized and a public notice will be issued once the dock is safe and ready for use again. 

Florence Food Share Empty Bowls 2024 Call for Artists for Poster Art

We are currently making plans for Florence Food Share’s annual Empty Bowls event, which has been a successful fundraiser for 29 years. Local artists contribute handmade ceramic, wood, and fused glass bowls along with other art for sale during the first weekend of December.

For over a decade, we have featured the work of a local artist on the poster advertising the event. The art created for the event serves as the focal point for the poster and is later raffled off at the event to generate extra revenue for the Florence Food Share. In return, the artist receives recognition in local and regional publications and a tax deduction, of course.

We are searching for artwork that conveys the message of the event and the mission of Florence Food Share, which is to provide nutritious food to those in need because “no one should go hungry.” We welcome any medium, as long as it can be photographed, and the original artwork can be donated to the event. We will handle the framing, with input from the artist.

To be considered for creating the poster art for 2024, please send us your concept, including the medium and a description of the proposed image. Additionally, attach a photo of one of your previous works to give us an idea of your style. Please email your submissions to Desiree Clifton at dclifton@windemere.com by August 25, 2024. The
completed, unframed artwork should be submitted no later than September 30, 2024.

We are grateful to all the artists who have participated in Empty Bowls over the years and eagerly anticipate the participation of new artists in this year’s event. For any questions regarding submitting artwork, please reach out via email to dclifton@windemere.com. Florence Food Share Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/florencefood.share/?locale=ro_RO

Beverly Beach State Park Remains Closed Until End of July

Due to delays in construction, Beverly Beach State Park will now be closed through the end of July, according to Oregon Parks & Recreation.

Located just seven miles north of Newport, the popular campground and day-use area has been closed since September 2023. The construction work included moving power lines underground and replacing water lines. The park is now slated to reopen on August 1.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office to Host Hiring Event in July

We are looking for individuals with strong character, motivation, and integrity to join our Sheriff’s Office team. With multiple positions open, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a hiring event on Saturday, July 20, 2024. This event is a great opportunity to learn about the rewarding careers our team has to offer. 

Those interested in participating are encouraged to complete an application before the event. To submit an application, visit www.co.lincoln.or.us/748/Join-the-Team. Join us at this hiring event to jumpstart your successful career in Law Enforcement.  

All applicants are invited to meet our team, have lunch, and learn more about our career opportunities. Deputy applicants ages 21 years and older are invited to complete the physical testing requirements during this event. Participants in this event experience a significantly expedited application process. In addition to completing the required physical test for free, participants have the opportunity to meet our team, ask questions, receive more information on perks and benefits, and enjoy free lunch and snacks. All participants need to bring ID and deputy applicants need to bring athletic clothes and shoes.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, July 20, 2024
Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm 

• Check in anytime between 11:00am and 1:30pm.
• Deputy applicants will complete the physical testing for free (testing takes less than 15 minutes per participant).
• Enjoy lunch and network with our team.
• Ask questions and get a feel of what your future career looks like.

Location: Search and Rescue Building, 830 NE 7th St., Newport

What to Bring:

• Government Issued Identification
• Athletic clothes and shoes if applying for a deputy position
• Interest in joining our team

Registration for this event is encouraged but not required. For questions or to register, contact Jess Palma at 541-265-0652 or jpalma@co.lincoln.or.us

Lincoln County Accepting Grant Funding Applications for Share Of $398,000 in ARPA Funds for Local Water and Sewer Projects

$398,000 in funds from the American Rescue Plan Ac (ARPA) are set to be distributed to eligible districts in Lincoln County to invest in local water, sewer and drainage projects.

The American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law in March of 2021 and provided states, cities, and counties with federal money to support pandemic recovery efforts and economic stimulus. One allowed use for ARPA dollars is to support public water, sewer and drainage projects.

Lincoln County is accepting grant funding applications from local water, sewer and drainage districts in unincorporated Lincoln County for water and sewer projects. Eligible projects must meet the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) eligible funding requirements.

Districts must be in good standing with State of Oregon financial reporting requirements and show proof of complying with public meeting law requirements. The county has a total of $398,000 to provide for eligible projects from districts. Applications will be reviewed by a committee selected by Lincoln County to look at the financial stability of the organization, the engineering feasibility of the project, and if the project meets ARPA requirements.

The county is planning to use an open grant process to award the funds. Starting June 10 applications will open, they will be awarded on a first come, first served basis to qualifying districts and projects; applications will close once all funds have been allocated.

The county says each eligible district can ask up to $50-thousand total. Projects can be stand-alone projects or a discrete portion of a larger project. Applications will be reviewed by county administrative, legal, and engineering staff to ensure projects meet American Rescue Plan Act, legal and technical requirements. All projects must adhere to federal procurement rules and Davis-Bacon Act requirements.

County officials say they will execute contracts with awarded districts before December 31, 2024. All work on the awarded projects must be completed by subrecipients before December 2026. To apply for the Local Water, Sewer and Drainage Districts’ Grant click here.

OHA 2024 Oregon Beach Monitoring Season

Agency shares list of monitored beaches for May-September

—The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OBMP) is kicking off the 2024 beach monitoring season by announcing the list of coastal recreation areas it will be keeping an eye on for bacteria during summer and early fall.

The 24 beaches on the list that the OBMP, based at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division, is publishing includes some of the most frequently visited beaches in Oregon. It also includes beaches where the program has found bacteria present, or beaches for which local partners and the public have requested monitoring due to potential pollution concerns.

The following are Oregon beaches being monitored during 2024, including beach name, and the city and county in which they are located:

• Seaside Beach – Seaside, Clatsop County
• Cannon Beach – Cannon Beach, Clatsop County
• Tolovana Beach State Park– Cannon Beach, Clatsop County
• Short Sand Beach (Oswald West State Park) – Arch Cape, Tillamook County
• Manzanita Beach – Manzanita, Tillamook County
• Rockaway Beach – Rockaway, Tillamook County
• Twin Rocks Beach – Twin Rocks, Tillamook County
• Oceanside Beach – Oceanside, Tillamook County
• Cape Kiwanda Beach – Pacific City, Tillamook County
• Neskowin Beach – Neskowin, Tillamook County
• D River Beach – Lincoln City, Lincoln County
• Siletz Bay Beach – Lincoln City, Lincoln County
• Beverly Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Agate Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Nye Beach – Newport, Lincoln County
• Ona Beach (Brian Booth-Beaver Creek State Park) – Seal Rock, Lincoln County
• Seal Rock Beach – Seal Rock, Lincoln County
• Heceta Beach – Florence, Lane County
• Bastendorff Beach – Coos Bay, Coos County
• Sunset Bay State Park Beach – Coos Bay, Coos County
• Hubbard Creek Beach – Port Orford, Curry County
• Harris Beach State Park – Brookings, Curry County
• Mill Beach – Brookings, Curry County
• Crissey Fields State Recreation Site – Brookings, Curry County

Beach monitoring season runs from mid-May to mid-September. Beach advisories are only issued for beaches that are actively being monitored within this sampling window. Other beaches will be investigated for inclusion in the next beach monitoring season.

OBMP works with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to identify beaches that need monitoring based on several established criteria. These criteria include: pollution hazards present; previous beach monitoring data that identify water quality concerns; type and amount of beach use; and public input.

As part of an adaptive sampling plan, beaches and sampling locations are routinely re-evaluated to ensure available resources best protect public health. A copy of DEQ’s beach evaluation is available upon request.

For more information and current beach monitoring conditions please visit: www.healthoregon.org/beach, or contact OBMP at each.Health@odhsoha.oregon.gov“>Beach.Health@odhsoha.oregon.gov or 971-673-0400.

Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Fires Around the State

Please Help Prevent Wildfires!

ODF Morning Update:
𝙎𝘼𝙇𝙏 𝘾𝙍𝙀𝙀𝙆 𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙀 𝘼𝙈 𝙐𝙋𝘿𝘼𝙏𝙀: Firefighters assigned to the Salt Creek Fire, located approximately 10 miles east of Eagle Point, made significant progress last night, lining 40% of the fire. The fire is burning on steep ground along Salt Creek Road, and is currently estimated to be 1,500 acres. It’s currently affecting both private and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1, a Type 1 IMT, has been ordered and will be in-briefed at 10 a.m. They will shadow the current resources today and take command of the incident at 6 p.m. tonight. This will bring in additional resources and allow the local districts to be ready for any additional starts that may occur.

Fire activity naturally decreased last night when the sun went down and temperatures dropped. With this advantage, resources overnight were able to put in a mix of bulldozer and hand line constructed with tools along the entire northern portion, as well as the southwest border of the fire. The eastern and southeastern portion remain largely unlined and will be the focus of Monday’s day shift. Today, 321 personnel are assigned to the fire, including 12 20-person crews, nine engines, 10 water tenders, seven bulldozers, and six tree fallers. Snags, or hazard trees, are present throughout the fire and may fall unexpectedly. This, along with steep terrain and hot conditions are hazards for firefighters on the line today. Aircraft will be heavily used again today as soon as possible, including one Type 3, two Type 2 and three Type 1 helicopters that are exclusively assigned to this incident. Air tankers will be ordered again as needed.

The Salt Creek Fire was first reported Sunday afternoon just after 4 p.m. Both ODF Southwest Oregon District and Lake Creek Fire District initially responded. When firefighters arrived on scene, it was estimated to be 2-5 acres and growing quickly in the hot, dry and windy conditions. Numerous resources were ordered, including engines, bulldozers, water tenders and multiple types of aircraft. The fire grew to an estimated 10 acres within the half hour, and 200 acres an hour and a half into initial attack. Six helicopters, two Large Air Tankers (LATs) and a Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) were ordered, and numerous retardant drops helped to box in the fire by creating temporary retardant lines around the majority of the incident. This allowed firefighters the upper hand on solidifying containment lines overnight.

The Jackson County Sheriff‘s Office and Jackson County Emergency Management has issued an Evacuation Level 1: BE READY for Zones JAC-316, JAC-317, JAC-319, and JAC-321. These zones are north of Highway 140 approximately 12 miles east of Eagle Point in the Lake Creek area- East of Salt Creek Rd, North of Hwy-140, South and West of Fish Lake Rd, including the Willow Lake area. There are no structures threatened at this time. Deputies are on scene to provide door-to-door notifications to houses in the areas. To find your evacuation zone, visit Genasys Protect https://protect.genasys.com/

Salt Creek Road and Wasson Canyon Road are closed at Highway 140, and Double Day Road is closed off of Butte Falls Highway. Highway 140 and Butte Falls Highway remain open at this time.

Temperatures of 105 degrees and wind contributed to the growth, along with the dry vegetation in the area and steep slopes. These conditions are continuing through Wednesday across the Rogue Valley. The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning, which extends into Tuesday night. Fire naturally thrives in these conditions, and any new starts will have the same potential to grow. Please be aware of all current fire regulations to help reduce the risk of new fires starting in southern Oregon. Today, the fire danger level on the ODF Southwest Oregon District is high (yellow) and regulations are in place. Please be aware of and follow all current restrictions to help reduce the risk of fires in our communities. Information is available here:

• The ODF Southwest Oregon District: https://swofire.com/

• The RRSNF Alerts and Notices page https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices and website homepage https://www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou

• The BLM OR/WA Fire Management Page: https://www.blm.gov/orwafire

McCaffery Fire – SE Mccaffery rd – Crook & Deschutes Counties

The McCaffery Fire (incident #353) is burning east of the Redmond Airport and south of Highway 126 on Prineville District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands near the Oregon Army National Guard Biak Training Center. The fire is currently estimated at 250 acres and is 0% contained.

The fire was reported approximately 2:00 p.m. and grew quickly to the south/southeast in extremely hot and dry conditions. Multiple large air tankers (LATs) and heavy helicopters were able to effectively slow the spread of the fire so BLM, Forest Service and contract engine crews, dozers and skidgines could begin constructing containment lines.

At 5:18 p.m., Deschutes and Crook County Sheriff’s Offices issued a joint Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation order for residences on Sunny Sage Road off of McCaffery Road, west Powell Butte Estates and the area south of Powell Butte Highway. As of 10:00 p.m. tonight, the Level 3 “Go Now” remains in effect for the areas on Sunny Sage Road off of McCaffery Road in Deschutes County. Crook County Sheriff’s Office has reduced the evacuation notice from a Level 3 to a Level 2 “Be Set” for the area of west Powell Butte Estates and the area to the south of Powell Butte Highway in Crook County.

Stay up to date on Crook County Emergency Alerts by visiting: http://www.alertcrookcounty.org/For Deschutes County Emergency Alerts, visit: https://www.deschutes.org/911/page/sign-deschutes-alertsFirefighters remain on scene constructing fire line in more moderate overnight weather conditions. The public is asked to stay out of the area for the safety of firefighters and equipment working to contain the fire.

At 6:00 a.m. tomorrow, July 7, a Central Oregon Type 3 Incident Management will take command of the McCaffery Fire. Multiple aerial resources remain available to the team, along with 12 engines, 2 dozers, 2 skidgines, 2 water tenders, and 1 Type 2 initial attack crew. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Ballot measures on cannabis unions, higher corporate taxes could be on November ballot

Election officials will determine whether backers of the two proposals collected enough valid signatures from Oregon voters

Just two of the more than 50 new laws proposed by Oregonians through the ballot initiative process stand a chance at appearing before voters in November.

Friday was the deadline for groups to submit the more than 100,000 petition signatures needed to give voters a chance to approve or reject ballot measures. Only two measures – one that would tax corporations more to give $750 annual payments to all Oregonians and one that would restrict union-busting in the cannabis industry – submitted signatures by Friday. 

If the Secretary of State’s Office confirms that both proposals collected enough verified signatures from Oregon voters, they’ll join three legislative referrals on the November ballot. Lawmakers in 2023 opted to let voters decide whether to give the Legislature the power to impeach top officials, let an independent commission set salaries for elected officials and change the way candidates are elected. 

Backers of high-profile measures to walk back Oregon’s drug decriminalization law and limit political spending used their signature gathering efforts as leverage to convince lawmakers to make the changes they wanted. Other proposed measures, including an attempt from the Republican state representative responsible for many of Oregon’s tough-on-crime laws to limit pretrial release and require state law enforcement to cooperate with immigration officials, ran out of time. And still other proposals, including a suggested constitutional amendment to quintuple the state House of Representatives, never stood a chance. 

Cannabis unions

Backers of Initiative Petition 35, the only of several proposed ballot measures from the state’s largest private sector union to move forward, submitted about 160,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office on Friday. It’s the latest attempt by United Food and Commercial Workers 555, the union that represents Oregon grocery workers, to make it easier to unionize the cannabis industry. 

UFCW first tried to pass House Bill 3183, similarly worded to the ballot measure, during the 2023 legislative session. When state Rep. Paul Holvey, a Eugene Democrat and chair of the House Business and Labor Committee, tabled the bill over concerns that it would conflict with federal law, UFCW launched a recall campaign against him. Holvey won the recall with more than 90% of the vote, though he chose to retire instead of run for reelection.

The proposed ballot measure would require cannabis retailers and processors to remain neutral in communications to employees about labor organizations and mandate that cannabis companies present a “labor peace agreement” with a pledge of neutrality when they apply for or renew their state licenses. Failing to do so could result in fines or license suspension. 

Michael Selvaggio, a lobbyist for the union, said Holvey’s concerns about the legality of this proposed law aren’t widely held and are a “non-issue” as far as he is concerned. 

“California, New York and New Jersey have all had these kinds of provisions baked into their cannabis policy since it was adopted,” he said. “There have been zero challenges of any kind of merit to this structure of organizing rights.” 

UFCW, the largest private-sector union in Oregon, has directed more than $2 million to the campaign.

Oregon rebate

The other ballot measure likely to move forward, Initiative Petition 17, submitted more than 168,000 signatures on Wednesday. It would increase corporate excise taxes to 3% on sales above $25 million and use the proceeds to send rebates to everyone in the state, including children. 

Backers estimate the average annual rebate would be about $750, assuming it brings in $3 billion in new taxes and the state population of more than 4 million. But opponents, including the state’s main business lobby group Oregon Business and Industry, warned that higher taxes could drive corporations to leave the state.

The campaign has raised more than $700,000, most from out-of-state donors. More than half its funding is from Jones Holding LLC, a California-based company owned by Josh Jones, a venture capitalist who supports universal basic income.  (SOURCE)

Klamath community in mourning gathered for a public vigil Wednesday night in remembrance of two teen sisters who killed in their home last weekend.

Aleeka and Zion Qualls were shot the morning of Saturday, June 29 in a Klamath Falls residence on North Hills Drive.
Aleeka, age 19, had just graduated from Klamath Learning Center in 2023 and received an award during the annual Graduation Sensation ceremony. Her sister, Zion, was 14 years old. According to statements made by family
members, the sisters were best friends. Hundreds of people gathered at the Klamath Christian Center — relatives,
friends, teachers and community members.

One man was arrested and an investigation is underway, after a double homicide in Klamath County.  According to the Klamath Falls Police Department, it happened Saturday morning on North Hills Drive.

Police say soon after arriving at a reported menacing, shots were heard. One victim died at the scene, another at the hospital.

A KFPD news release said that Tashka Qualls reported a man in his home had pointed a gun at him and was now hiding in the house. A second 9-1-1 call came in seven minutes later requesting emergency medical personnel.
KFPD officers heard gunshots when they arrived at the scene. Upon entering the residence, officers found Aleeka and Zion had suffered life-threatening gunshot wounds.

KFPD reported one victim was found deceased, and the second victim was transported to the hospital where she soon after succumbed to her wounds. Police confronted and arrested suspect Elijah Croy, 20, without incident. He
is in custody at Klamath County Jail and facing first-degree murder and attempted murder charges as well as unlawful use of a weapon.

In the probable cause statement filed at Klamath County Circuit Court, the arresting officer said Croy confessed to the crimes. Croy allegedly told the officer he had tried to kill the teens’ father when he discovered Croy in his daughter’s bedroom, but his gun jammed.

“The Klamath Tribes has continued to experience an unprecedented amount of violent crime, and many of these crimes do not appear to be properly investigated, prosecuted and addressed,” the Tribal Council statement reads. “This most recent murder must be immediately and fully investigated, holding any and all criminals accountable for their crimes.”

The suspect, 20-year-old Elijah Croy was arrested on multiple charges including two counts of murder in the first degree. The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information regarding the case, reach out to Klamath Falls Police.

Study Finds Northwest Ecosystems Changed Dramatically When Wolves Were Nearly Exterminated

The wolves kept other species in check, like deer and elk, and maintained a healthy environment

Ecosystems in the Northwest were heavily shaped by wolves before they were nearly wiped out of the region, a new study finds.

By the 1930s, gray wolves were nearly gone in Oregon and the rest of the West, leading to the multiplication of animals the wolves hunted and creating an imbalance in the environment, researchers at Oregon State University found. 

But the full impact of their disappearance isn’t fully understood because ecological research from the last century largely left out the role of wolves on the landscape. Most of the research wasn’t done until the wolves were nearly gone.

This means our understanding of natural ecosystems in the Northwest is flawed, according to William Ripple, an Oregon State ecologist and the lead author of the study. He said that hampers habitat restoration projects in the Northwest and moves, for example, to reintroduce more gray wolves in the West.

“Since the presence or absence of wolves can dramatically affect ecosystem structure and function, we believe this is a major issue for restoration, conservation and management,” Ripple said in an email. 

The study was published recently in the journal BioScience.

Gray wolves are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act in most of central and western Oregon. Oregon’s population of gray wolves has only recently returned and grown following decades of absence. The first gray wolves to return to Oregon wandered into the eastern part of the state in the late 1990s, more than 50 years after they had been effectively hunted and pushed out of the U.S. By 2009, the wolf population in eastern Oregon became more established, but growth has leveled off.

The analysis looked into ecological studies between 1955 and 2021 at 11 national parks to see whether they mentioned or explored the effect of the wolves’ disappearance. Less than half – 39 of nearly 100 studies – included such data. 

“We found that the historical presence of wolves was not considered in the majority of relevant publications that we analyzed,” he said.

Ripple said this lack of research has created a false baseline, with many scientists measuring ecosystem health based on the degraded conditions that spread after the wolves were gone. Without them, elk populations grew, leading to overgrazing; coyote numbers grew, shrinking populations of the small animals coyotes hunt; even trees struggled due to changes in animal populations and plant functions once the wolves were gone, the researchers found.

“The historical loss of wolves from Western landscapes is a major ecological issue,” he said. 

Ripple and the researchers suggest more historical data needs to be identified and studied across the region to better understand the effect wolves and other large predators had on ecosystems in the Northwest and to adjust expectations of their health.

“It is important that we do not forget what ecosystems looked like before the loss of wolves. We need to document the shifting baseline and remember that we might now be studying landscapes that are a sick patient,” Ripple said. (SOURCE)

Heightened seismic activity continues under Mount St. Helens; 22 earthquakes this week

Despite the increase, scientists say there’s no signs of an eruption happening soon

Mount St. Helens continues to experience increased earthquake activity, according to a Friday update from the Cascades Volcano Observatory.

Mount St. Helens has experienced slightly heightened seismic activity this year, compared to recent years, with 22 earthquakes in the last week alone, according to the observatory.

There have been 423 recorded earthquakes under the volcano since Feb. 1. The largest earthquake over the past week was a magnitude 1.1. –

The largest earthquake recorded in the area since Feb. 1 was measured at magnitude 2.0.

The average depth for these earthquakes last week were 2.3 miles below the volcano’s crater. This is compared to an average depth of 3.8 miles since Feb. 1.

Oregon Housing and Community Services responds to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling allowing cities to ban people from sleeping outdoors

The United States Supreme Court made its ruling today in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. In response to the decision, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) Executive Director Andrea Bell issued the following statement.

“For many, we knew this day was coming, and yet it is still devastating. This is a wake-up call for all of us – cities in particular. We cannot succumb to cynicism or confuse this ruling as a mandate. Many of us have either experienced the struggle to make ends meet or know someone who has. In the face of this shared reality, out-of-sight, out-of-mind positions that criminalize sleeping or sheltering in public spaces only exacerbates the experiences of homelessness.

“OHCS’ position remains unchanged – we reject homelessness as an inevitable outcome. Every person, regardless of their background or where they come from, deserves a place to call home. Oregon’s shared values serve as a guidepost of hope and progress. In cities, suburbs, and rural towns across the state, our economies and communities are strongest when everyone’s fundamental needs are met. To the people of Oregon struggling to get by: We see you. We value your life. We will continue to work tirelessly on your behalf.”

In 2023, Oregon prevented more than 9,000 households from becoming homeless, created over 1,000 new shelter beds, and helped some 2,000 people move from homeless to housed. This was done in partnership with Governor Tina Kotek, the Oregon Legislature, numerous state agencies, and many local community partners who implemented the funding and policy developed through the Governor’s homelessness state of emergency (EO 23-02) and the Affordable Housing and Emergency Homelessness Response Package (HB 2001 and HB 5019, 2023).

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)
OHCS is Oregon’s housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.

U.S. Supreme Court Sides With Grants Pass, Allows Ban On Homeless People Sleeping Outdoors

The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws.

In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

“Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it,” he wrote. “The Constitution’s Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nation’s homelessness policy.”

The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon that argued its ordinance is a solution to the city’s homelessness crisis, which includes fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders who camp or sleep outdoors.

Attorney Theane Evangelis, who represented the city, said in a statement to States Newsroom that the ruling would provide relief to local communities trying to address the issues of encampments of homeless people.

“The Court has now restored the ability of cities on the frontlines of this crisis to develop lasting solutions that meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of their communities, while also keeping our public spaces safe and clean,” she said. “Years from now, I hope that we will look back on today’s watershed ruling as the turning point in America’s homelessness crisis.”

Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a dissent arguing that the ordinance against camping and a separate ordinance against using blankets on public property targets the status of being homeless and is therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment.

“Grants Pass’s Ordinances criminalize being homeless,” she wrote. “The Ordinances’ purpose, text, and enforcement confirm that they target status, not conduct. For someone with no available shelter, the only way to comply with the Ordinances is to leave Grants Pass altogether.”

During oral arguments, the justices seemed split along ideological lines.

The conservative justices sided with the town in Oregon, arguing that policies and ordinances around homelessness are complex, and should be left up to local elected representatives rather than the courts.

The liberal justices argued the Grants Pass ordinances criminalized the status of being homeless and criticized the city’s argument that homelessness is not a status protected under the Eighth Amendment.

The Biden administration took the middle ground in the case, and U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler offered partial support for the city.

“It’s the municipality’s determination, certainly in the first instance with a great deal of flexibility, how to address the question of homelessness,” he said during oral arguments in late April.

Homelessness crisis

The ruling, which was split along ideological lines, reverses the 9th Circuit’s decision that previously blocked the local law because it found the ordinance criminalized the status of being homeless and was therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment’s bar on cruel and unusual punishment.

The Grants Pass ordinances prohibited people from camping and sleeping in parks and on public property and barred those people from using blankets, pillows or other materials to sleep outdoors. A violation carried a $295 file, and if not paid, could be increased to $530. Repeat offenders could also risk jail.

But the city, and a coalition of leaders from red and blue Western states, including Montana and California, petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case.

“Cities across the West report that the Ninth Circuit’s involuntariness test has created intolerable uncertainty for them,” Gorsuch wrote.

Cities across the U.S., particularly in the West, are grappling with an increasing homelessness crisis. It’s estimated that 650,000 people were homeless on a single night in January of 2023, a 12% increase from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

“HUD data indicates that the rise in overall homelessness is largely due to a sharp rise in the number of people who became homeless for the first time,” according to the agency.

States with the highest rates of homelessness include California, Oregon, Washington and Montana, according to five-year estimates in the American Community Survey.

Gorsuch argued that the case the 9th Circuit relied on in Martin v. City of Boise had a “poor foundation” for using the Eighth Amendment as its basis. In that case, homeless plaintiffs sued the city of Boise, Idaho, after it fined them under a camping ordinance.

“The Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause focuses on the question what ‘method or kind of punishment’ a government may impose after a criminal conviction, not on the question whether a government may criminalize particular behavior in the first place,” he wrote. “The Court cannot say that the punishments Grants Pass imposes here qualify as cruel and unusual.”

Sotomayor argued that the ruling focuses only on the needs of local officials and “leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested.”

“The Constitution provides a baseline of rights for all Americans rich and poor, housed and unhoused,” she wrote. “This Court must safeguard those rights even when, and perhaps especially when, doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular.”

Advocacy groups expressed their frustration and disappointment in Friday’s decision, and raised concerns that it could lead to homeless people being criminalized for sleeping outdoors when they have nowhere else to go.

The president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Diane Yentel, strongly condemned the court’s decision and argued it would only worsen the crisis.

“It gives cover to elected officials who choose political expediency over real solutions by merely moving unhoused people out of public view rather than working to solve their homelessness,” Yentel said in a statement. “These ineffective and inhumane tactics exacerbate homelessness by saddling unhoused people with debt they can’t pay, while further isolating them from the services and support they need to become stably housed.”

The Southern Poverty Law Center’s deputy legal director for economic justice, Kirsten Anderson, said in a statement that the ruling will set a precedent for criminalizing homeless people.

“The Supreme Court held that it is a crime to be homeless — at a moment in which housing is unaffordable for half the people in the country — proving that it continues to be out of touch with the American public,” Anderson said.

Rosanne Haggerty, the president of Community Solutions, a nonprofit that works to end homelessness, expressed disappointment in the decision.

“Arresting or fining people for experiencing homelessness is cruel — and it won’t solve the problem,” Haggerty said in a statement. (SOURCE)

No longer considered predators, Oregon beavers get new protections from state

Oregon’s state animal has for years been classified as a “predator” by the state fish and wildlife agency, and that’s meant that the North American Beaver has lived largely unprotected from private landowners who can kill them at will. 

That changed July 1 when new rules went into effect under House Bill 3464, the “beaver bill.” The bill passed the state Legislature in 2023, and the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, which crafts regulations for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, approved new rules June 14 to reclassify and protect beavers from being killed at will by private landowners.

The beavers will now be classified solely as “furbearers,” an animal whose fur has commercial value, and no longer be classified as “predators.” 

With this change, landowners can’t kill a beaver for being a nuisance, or because they’re worried the animal will gnaw through plants or crops. To kill a beaver, the landowner must go through a permitting process with the Fish and Wildlife Department, which will require the landowner to undertake non-lethal mitigation strategies first. These include placing fences and barriers around trees, repellent on trees and choosing different types of plants, according to Michelle Dennehy, a spokesperson for the agency. 

The bill won’t affect the killing of beavers for their furs during the hunting season, which runs from Nov. 15 to March 15. It also won’t affect beaver trapping on public lands. Conservationists have over the last four years called on state and federal agencies to end the practice on federal lands.

Beavers are considered ecological engineers because of their ability to construct dams and create ponds. They can help manage water issues related to drought but they can also cause flooding and damage trees. They’re the largest rodent in North America, weighing between 35 and 65 pounds and measuring 2 to 3 feet in length in adulthood. 

By the late 1800s, the North American Beaver was nearly extinct in Oregon due to fur trapping, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Their numbers across the continent have climbed in the last century from around 100,000 to about 15 million, today. There is no estimated population figure in Oregon.

For private landowners, some exceptions to the new permit requirement will exist. If a beaver’s gnawing, digging or dam building is “imminently threatening” to infrastructure or crops, or is damaging – or has the potential to damage – trees owned by small timber landowners, landowners can get permission from the agency to kill the animals without a permit.

Even in an instance when the state Fish and Wildlife Department determines a permit is not necessary, anyone who kills a beaver will have to report it to the agency, enabling it to collect data on all beaver kills in the state for the first time. The agency will also for the first time collect more detailed data on what kinds of damages beavers tend to be most responsible for, where beavers are distributed across the state, where conflicts have a pattern of arising and when and why Oregonians kill beavers.

The agency does not have much data on beaver kills and deaths each year, according to Dennehy, but the latest rules will change that. Beavers killed with a permit for their fur have remained low over the past decade, she said. An average of 1,100 beavers in Oregon have been killed each year between 2020 and 2023 for their fur. (SOURCE)

Wyden, Merkley Announce $30.1 Million in PILT Payments to Support Vital Services in Oregon

Program provides funds to communities that support Oregon’s public lands, waters; invests in firefighters, police, schools, road construction

WASHINGTON D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced counties throughout Oregon will receive more than $30.1 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2024. Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT payments help to defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services. 

“Oregonians cherish our public lands, and we need to make sure local communities have all the tools they need to help improve quality of life and steward our natural treasures,” Wyden said. “These PILT payments are vital to help local governments carry out necessary services like firefighting, search-and-rescue operations, road construction, schools and police protection. I’m gratified to see PILT payments to Oregon are up nearly $3 million over 2023, and I’ll continue to monitor payments to ensure each county gets its fair share.”   

“Public lands are a treasure in rural Oregon, but they must not prevent communities from having the resources they need to pay for quality schools, emergency services, and safe infrastructure,” Merkley said. “This federal investment is vital for Oregonian’s communities. I will keep working to protect PILT payments so communities and families across Oregon have the stability they deserve.”

PILT payments are made for tax-exempt federal lands administered by federal bureaus including the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Payments are calculated based on the number of acres of federal land within each county or jurisdiction and the population of that county or jurisdiction. 

Individual payments may vary from year to year as a result of changes in acreage data, which are updated annually by the federal agency administering the land; prior-year federal revenue-sharing payments reported annually by the governor of each state; and inflationary adjustments using the Consumer Price Index and population data, which are updated using information from the U.S. Census Bureau. Senators Wyden and Merkley continue to monitor PILT payments closely and will advocate for fair payments for every county.  

For a breakdown of PILT payments per Oregon county: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-announce-301-million-in-pilt-payments-to-support-vital-services-in-oregon

A full list of funding by state and county is available on the Department’s Payments in Lieu of Taxes page. 

Proposed ballot measure to raise corporate taxes, give every Oregonian $750 a year likely to make November ballot

Oregon voters will likely decide in November whether to establish a historic universal basic income program that would give every state resident roughly $750 annually from increased corporate taxes.

Proponents of the concept say they likely have enough signatures to place it on the ballot this fall, and opponents are taking them seriously.

State business advocacy groups are preparing to launch a campaign against the proposed measure, arguing that it would harm Oregon’s business landscape and economy.

The proposal, Initiative Petition 17, would establish a 3% tax on corporations’ sales in Oregon above $25 million and distribute that money equally among Oregonians of all ages. As of Friday, its backers had turned in more than 135,000 signatures, which is higher than the 117,173 required to land on the ballot. The validity of those signatures must still be certified by the Secretary of State’s Office.

“It’s looking really good. It’s really exciting,” said Anna Martinez, a Portland hairstylist who helped form the group behind the campaign, Oregon People’s Rebate, in 2020. If approved by voters, the program would go into effect in January 2025.

Martinez and other supporters say the financial boost would help Oregon families buy groceries, afford rent and pay for basic necessities. “This will put money back in the local economy. It will help small businesses,” she said. “Some people say, ‘Well it’s only $750.’ But that’s huge if you really need it.”

The state Department of Revenue would be responsible for distributing the money. Every Oregon resident would be able to claim the money either in cash or as a refundable tax credit, regardless of whether they have filed personal incomes taxes, according to the ballot initiative draft.

The initiative proposal draft states that any leftover funding from the rebate would “be used to provide additional funding for services for senior citizens, health care, public early childhood education and public kindergarten through grade 12 education.” (READ MORE)

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