Oregon Beach News, Wednesday 7/29 – Depoe Bay Whale Watching Center Prepares to Close for Repairs Beginning August 1st, Identification Made in 50-Year-Old Coos County Cold Case & 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, July 29, 2026

Oregon Beach Weather

Here’s the overview of our weather outlook, but be sure to check out what we’re predicting in your area: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/extended-forecast

Whale Watching Center Prepares to Close for Repairs Beginning August 1st

Depoe Bay, Ore. — The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Whale Watching Center and viewing area around the building will close for repairs this summer. There are still plenty of places along the Oregon Coast to see whales from Astoria to Brookings.

“This has been an ongoing need for the building and we’ve just recently been able to secure funding,” said Park Manager Burke Martin. “We appreciate the community’s patience and support as we work to protect and preserve this unique coastal facility.”

The postwar-era building was built in 1956 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. This temporary closure will allow the contractors to complete essential roof replacement work. Construction will repair leaks from the promenade deck, replace the original roofing membrane and drains.

Construction can begin as early as Aug. 1 depending on the contractor’s schedule and mobilization plans. Because this is a roofing project on the Oregon coast, construction during the summer months will allow work crews to take advantage of typically drier weather. This timing helps reduce the risk of weather-related delays and protects both the structure and contractor safety.

The Whale Watching Center will remain open until construction officially begins. OPRD anticipates completing repairs by the end of October – well ahead of the annual gray whale migration in the winter.

We acknowledge that this temporary closure may be inconvenient for visitors and the Depoe Bay community, and we appreciate everyone’s understanding as we complete these essential improvements.

The turn out about a block north of the Whale Watching Center will remain open. Nearby parks such as Boiler Bay, Rocky Creek and Cape Foulweather also offer fantastic views for whale watching. 

Identification Made in 50-Year-Old Coos County Cold Case

News Release: https://bit.ly/3TgVD8 — fAfter more than 50 years, the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office and the Coos County Sheriff’s Office have identified remains found in 1972 near Highway 101 as Armes Henry Lahti.

The breakthrough came through advanced forensic genetic genealogy and years of collaborative investigative work. Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the Coos County Sheriff’s Office at 541‑396‑7800.

Spinning Sands · EXTRA SPECIAL RAKE EVENT

This Thursday, July 30th beginning at 7p.m…. joined by the incomparable Martin Watkinson for a live cello and rake performance!!

Tuesday morning, Seaside Fire & Rescue responded to a reported vegetation fire near the Tillamook Head Trailhead

As crews responded, a visible smoke column could be seen, prompting the incident to be upgraded to a 1st Alarm Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) response.

First-arriving firefighters located a 10-by-10-foot vegetation fire burning in heavy brush less than ¼ mile up the Tillamook Head Trail. Crews quickly contained and extinguished the fire before transitioning into extensive mop-up operations to ensure no remaining hot spots could rekindle.

Thanks to the rapid response and coordinated efforts of responding personnel, no homes or structures were damaged. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Responding Units – 3164 (Chief Officer), 3123 (Engine), 3185 (UTV), 3156 (Rescue), 3161 (Utility).

Seaside Fire & Rescue would like to thank our mutual aid partners for their quick response and assistance. We appreciate the support of Cannon Beach Fire District, Gearhart Fire Department, the Oregon Department of Forestry, Seaside Police Department, and the Oregon State Police. Wildland incidents require a coordinated response, and we are grateful for the teamwork and strong partnerships that help keep our community safe.

With warm, dry conditions continuing along the Oregon Coast, we encourage everyone to use caution while enjoying our trails and outdoor spaces. If you see smoke or fire, report it immediately by calling 911. Early reporting can make all the difference in preventing a small fire from becoming a large one.

Heceta Head Lighthouse Shines Again Now That Repairs Completed

After nearly five months of darkness due to mechanical repairs, the Heceta Head Lighthouse south of Yachats is again shining its light

The light in the Heceta Head lighthouse was turned on again Thursday, July 23, after repairs to gears that rotate its 10-foot-tall lens. 

Specialists from Welch’s Machine Works in Eugene finished work last week on the huge carriage wheels that allow the lighthouse’s 10-foot-tall lens to rotate, according to media reports.

The old wheels, which lasted 13 years, were replaced with bronze versions. Repairs also included resurfacing the metal base upon which the wheels traveled.

The lighthouse’s lighting mechanism—known as a first-order Fresnel lens, designed by a French physicist and ordered in 1893 from a British company—was first lit on March 30, 1894, The Lincoln Chronicle reports.

The light, housed atop the 56-foot-tall lighthouse tower, shines a beam so powerful it can be seen 21 nautical miles out to sea. Heceta Head Lighthouse sits 206 feet above the Pacific Ocean just off Highway 101.

“The iconic 56-foot tower, and stunning setting, make it one of the most photographed on the Oregon Coast. The light atop the tower was first illuminated in 1894. Its automated beacon, seen 21 miles from land, is rated as the strongest light on the Oregon Coast,” the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department states on its website.

The upper floors of the light house are closed to the public, but the public can visit the first floor of the lighthouse from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the summer (March through October) and 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the winter (November through February), weather and staff permitting.

Drivers traveling between Seaside and Cannon Beach spent hours waiting for U.S. Highway 101 to reopen Saturday after a head-on crash shut down the only route between the two coastal communities.

The crash happened near milepost 24 in Clatsop County when an 82-year-old man driving a northbound Toyota Tundra crossed the centerline and collided with a southbound Subaru Crosstrek, according to Oregon State Police.

Oregon State Police said the highway remained closed for about four hours while a crash reconstructionist traveled from Salem to investigate. Troopers said the crash location and the lack of viable detour routes also contributed to the lengthy closure, creating significant traffic delays.

Coos County Sheriff’s Office introduces new online Concealed Handgun License (CHL)application, appointment scheduling and payment program

– The Coos County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is launching a new program in their Concealed Handgun Licensing (CHL) Department called “Permitium”. Permitium allows citizensto make appointments, apply for new or renewal CHL licenses, monitor application status, upload required documentation and pay for CHLs online. Permitium also allows citizens to schedule and pay for fingerprinting services not related to Concealed Handgun Licenses online.

This new system will shorten and simplify the appointment process which will also allow CCSO staff to see more applicants each day. Additionally, it will allow CCSO staff the ability to get an earlier start on the comprehensive background check process, resulting in shorter wait times for applicants to receive their license.

“We are in the habit of researching new ways to serve the public, especially if they can help streamline efficiencies. Applicants will still be able to walk in during the week, but giving them the ability toschedule their own appointments, pay before they get here and have an electronic option in additionto the paper is a win-win.” said Sheriff Fabrizio

Residents who are unable to make appointments online or use a credit/debit card can come down to the CHL Department Tuesday – Friday 8:30am-11:00am and 1:00pm-4:00pm to: apply for or renew their CHL license, pay for the appointment, and schedule CHL or fingerprinting appointments.

Most of the seats on the Seaside City Council will be up for election this November. All except one.

City leaders had hoped to appoint someone to the vacant Ward 3 seat this summer in time to also get that seat on the ballot in November. Whoever was appointed would serve through the end of this year. But no one applied,

Now the city’s is taking applications for the appointment until the seat is filled. Whoever is appointed will now serve out the rest of this year and through the next two years.

The Ward 3 seat became vacant following a successful recall election of former city councilor Seamus McVey.

Any applicant for the seat must have been a full-time resident of Seaside for at least the previous 12 months. They must be a current resident of Ward 3 and a registered voter. They also need to obtain 20 signatures from registered voters in the ward and complete an online application.

Six of the seven seats on the Seaside City Council will be on the ballot in November, including the position of mayor.

As of July 22, only incumbent Mayor Steve Wright, who is pursuing a second term, had met the filing requirements to be a candidate.

Incumbents have until August 18 to file. All other candidates have until August 25.

Cape Perpetua Collaborative  ·We’ve got some fabulous events over the next couple of weeks that you won’t want to miss

!We kick things off on July 21st, with Riley Bellows Young Wavemaker Webinar presentation online, followed on July 31st in Portland for a multi documentary screening (one is about CPC!) at OMSI’s Empirical Theater!On Aug 2nd, swim by @oregoncoastaquarium for all things ROCKFISH don’t miss the Cape Perpetua Collaborative table for coveted BOFFFF stickers Aug 7-9th is the Annual Nesika Illahee Pow-Wow in Siletz! Get your dance sponsorships in before the big weekend Last but certainly not least, our friends at @foxflower.farm are hosting String and Shadow Puppet Theater on Aug 9th at the Yachats Commons Enjoy a beer in the beer garden at Pelican Brewery’s new Yachats location before the show- proceeds are donated to The Cape Perpetua Collaborative

Nearly 50 years after the bodies of two teens from Alaska were found on the Oregon coast, authorities are still seeking answers into the unsolved case.

In 1978, Teresa M. Krause and Elena Jacobs were reported missing by the Tongue Point Job Corps center in Astoria.

Later that year, their bodies were found in the area of Del Rey Beach near Gearhart. Alisha Holland and Josh McCulloug, co-hosts of the Murder in the Rain podcast, joined us on AM Extra’s True Crime Tuesday to look back at the unsolved double homicide. https://www.murderintherain.com

Southern Oregon Dwarf Cars Saturday August 1 in Coos Bay

The Southern Oregon Dwarf Cars make their final appearance of the 2026 season at Coos Bay Speedway on Saturday, August 1, joining the NASCAR Local Racing Series presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts for an exciting night of racing on the NASCAR Dirt Oval.

These lightning-fast, high-horsepower machines have become a fan favorite thanks to their close, wheel-to-wheel competition and nonstop action. If you haven’t had the chance to see them this season, or want one last opportunity before they return in 2027, this is the night to be at Coos Bay Speedway.

The NASCAR Local Racing Series presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts will also be in action as drivers continue their battle for valuable championship points. With the season winding down, every position on the track becomes more important, setting the stage for an intense night of racing from green flag to checkered flag.

Gates open at 4:00 p.m., with racing beginning at 6:00 p.m. Come hungry and enjoy great food from the speedway concessions while cooling off with an ice-cold beverage from the on site 7 Devils Brew House as you take in one of the best nights of dirt track racing on the Oregon Coast.

Make plans now to join us on Saturday, August 1, for the final Southern Oregon Dwarf Car appearance of 2026 and another exciting night of NASCAR Local Racing Series action at Coos Bay Speedway.

One weekend- countless great flavors to try! Don’t miss the Annual Food Truck Off at @kokwelcasinoresort Coos Bay on Oregon’s Adventure Coast August 7-9, 2026!

This three-day event will feature up to 20 food trucks from the Pacific Northwest. Bring the whole family for a weekend of fun and vote for your favorite truck for the People’s Choice Award!

Coming in from out of town? Take advantage of our $75 Fuel Freebie promotion and get a $75 Gift Card to help cover the cost of gas! Visit oregonsadventurecoast.com/events to learn more about this and other events happening this summer on Oregon’s Adventure Coast: Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston!

Newport Symposium Will Bring Researchers Together to Discuss West Coast’s Gray Whales

Range-wide Gray Whale Science Symposium Coordinated by the Marine Mammal Commission and hosted by the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University — Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon — September 9-10, 2026

Experts from every part of the whales’ historic range, from Mexico to the Arctic, will discuss recent trends in health, feeding behavior, distribution and population dynamics. They will also try to identify priorities for future research, monitoring and coordination among both public and private groups studying gray whale health.

A public range-wide Gray Whale Science Symposium will take place on September 9–10, 2026, coordinated by the Marine Mammal Commission and hosted by the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University in Newport, Oregon.

This two-day scientific meeting will focus on gray whale ecology and health across the Eastern North Pacific (ENP) and Arctic and will synthesize current research and observations to improve understanding of recent trends in health, feeding behavior, distribution, and population dynamics, and to identify priorities for future research, monitoring, and coordination.

The Symposium goals are to:

1) Review gray whale ecology and health status in the context of recent marine ecosystem variability in the ENP and Arctic;

2) Outline future priorities for gray whale ecology research and health surveillance and monitoring to help fill identified data gaps and address management objectives;

3) Enhance communication amongst scientists from Mexico, USA and Canada monitoring and conducting research on gray whale population status, health and ecology; and

4) Produce a workshop report summarizing presentations and recommendations for future directions.

Meeting Format

Day 1: Presentations and poster session 
Invited oral presentations will provide a range-wide overview of gray whale status, trends, feeding ecology and health followed by an evening poster session highlighting additional research and observations. Day 1 oral presentations will be available both in person and remotely.

Day 2: Facilitated discussions and synthesis 
Structured discussions will focus on key themes, knowledge gaps, and future priorities, with the goal of identifying areas for coordination and next steps.

Note: The Day 1 evening poster session and Day 2 discussions are in-person only. 

Registration Register here! Registration is open to all interested participants. Note: IN-PERSON REGISTRATION IS FULL but you can still register to attend virtually or join the waitlist to attend in-person. https://www.mmc.gov/events-meetings-and-workshops/other-events/gray-whale-science-symposium/

Florence Chamber to Host Ambassador Conference

The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce will host the 2026 Oregon State Chamber Ambassador Conference October 1st through 3rd at Three Rivers Casino Resort. The annual event will bring Chamber Ambassador volunteers from communities across Oregon to Florence for leadership training, professional development, and networking. Chamber President and CEO Bettina Hannigan says the conference is an opportunity to showcase Florence as a destination for meetings and conventions while generating business for local hotels, restaurants, shops, and attractions. Organizers expect hundreds of attendees from throughout the state.

Reedsport Fire Department Seeks Volunteer Ham Radio Operators

The Reedsport Volunteer Fire Department is looking for volunteers interested in becoming licensed ham radio operators to support emergency communications in western Douglas County. Training is online and offered at no charge.

The Reedsport Volunteer Fire Department is looking for volunteers interested in becoming licensed ham radio operators to support emergency communications in western Douglas County.

The volunteers would work with the Western Douglas County Emergency Operations Center, located at the Reedsport Fire Station at 2680 Frontage Road.

According to the department, training is offered online at no charge. A background check is required for anyone interested in the volunteer positions.

Ham radio operators can play an important role during major emergencies, especially when normal communication systems are down. In those situations, radio operators may help keep local emergency officials connected with county, state and federal agencies.

The department said the positions are vital because ham radio could become one of the last available ways to communicate during an emergency incident.

Anyone interested in learning more can contact Melvina Adolf at 928-200-0979 or the Reedsport Fire Department at 541-271-2423.

WLCF Education Scholarships

The Western Lane Community Foundation is accepting applications for Continuing Education Scholarships for the upcoming academic year. Scholarships are available for students attending four-year colleges, community colleges, and approved trade schools, with award amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Students pursuing careers in health care, arts, and education are especially encouraged to apply.

Applicants are automatically considered for all scholarships they qualify for, with criteria varying by fund and including academic achievement, financial need, field of study, and school choice. Applications require information on educational background, career goals, and financial circumstances. The deadline to apply is July 22. More information is available through the Western Lane Community Foundation: https://www.wlcfonline.org

Oregon Whale Sightings

Oregon Whale Sightings is a fun place to hear about and report cetaceans along our beautiful coastline.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1176168644064352/

North Jetty Access Closed

Lane County has announced the long-term closure of North Jetty Road in Florence. The closure, which began Tuesday, May 26th, stretches from Harbor Vista Road to the entrance of North Jetty Park and is expected to continue through Friday, September 4th.

County officials say the closure is necessary as crews rebuild parking lots for North Jetty Park and the nearby dive park along North Jetty Road. There are no alternate vehicle routes available during the construction period, however access to the North Jetty beach can still be reached by the outlet near Driftwood Shores. Officials encourage visitors to plan ahead and avoid the area while work is underway.

Puffin Season on the Oregon Coast

The beautiful, beloved tufted puffins are expected back at Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, where the 2026 Welcome the Puffins Celebration will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. April 18.

Friends of Haystack Rock  · We have puffins!

Check out our website, Friendsofhaystackrock.org to see them live! We have our webcam zoomed in on a couple active burrows. Your best chance to see them is in the morning between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Organized by the Haystack Rock Awareness Program and Friends of Haystack Rock, the free event will not only celebrate the return of the puffins to their Oregon nesting grounds but also give the public the chance to spy on the birds as well. Interpretive rangers will be on hand with binoculars and spotting scopes to help people safely observe the tufted puffins.

Respect Nesting Areas to Protect Threatened Snowy Plover Mar. 15 through Sept. 15

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and Siuslaw National Forest remind visitors to the Oregon Coast that western snowy plover nesting season begins March 15 and runs through Sept. 15.

Beachgoers can help recovery efforts for the threatened shorebird by observing recreation restrictions at designated plover beaches.

Sensitive plover nesting areas are identified on maps for the northern Oregon Coast and southern Oregon Coast. Western snowy plovers nest in dry sand above the high tide line and are often difficult to see because they camouflage well.

To help protect these tiny shorebirds, please stay on wet sand and leave your dogs at home or at your campsite, even if they are leashed. Visitors may notice signs at trailheads with additional rules and limitations. There may be rope fencing in dry sand areas; this fencing delineates some, but not all, of the critical plover habitat that should be avoided.

Background on plover protections — Several land managers oversee beach activity for plover protection, primarily the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). For more information on how plovers are managed in Oregon, see the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP): https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PCB/Documents/WSP-HCP_08182010-web.pdf.

Donor Offers $50K Reward in 40-Year-Old Case of Missing Oregon Coast Teen

Lincoln County authorities hope the recent offer from an anonymous donor of a $50,000 reward will lead to the remains of a 17-year-old Siletz girl who was last seen walking on U.S. 20 more than four decades ago.

An anonymous donor put up money hoping it will spur information that leads not only to Kelly Disney’s remains but also to the conviction of her killer, according to the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office.

The DA’s Office has confirmed that an anonymous donor offered the reward for any information leading to Disney’s remains and/or the conviction of her killer.

Information can be submitted anonymously at 541-265-0669 or online at FindKellyDisney@co.lincoln.or.us

READ MORE on CASE: https://lincolnchronicle.org/15597-2/

Wildlife Center of the North Coast · We need your help! 

Make a difference in wildlife rescue! Join our Wild at Heart Membership Program starting at just $5/month. Help us save lives! https://coastwildlife.org/wild-at-heart/

It’s been a busy summer here at the Wildlife Center of the North Coast, and our rehab clinic has gone through lots of supplies caring for patients!!

->> To help us restock and stay prepared for the next wave of wildlife in need, we’ve updated our Amazon Wishlist with the items we need most. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/LU97SQA0VPZA

Every donation—big or small—goes directly to helping orphaned, injured, and sick wildlife get a second chance at life. Check out our wishlist here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/LU97SQA0VPZA Thank you for being part of our wildlife rescue family! 

Volunteers are being sought to help prepare and serve lunch three times a week at the Florence Senior and Activity Center.  

They serve lunch Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week. Both programs, the in-house dining known as Cafe 60, and Meals on Wheels, are very important in helping promote socialization and nutrition for older adults in Lane County.  Volunteer drivers for Meals on Wheels use their own vehicles, but they can be reimbursed for their mileage.  The Lane Council of Governments operates the Senior and Disabled Services in Lane County.  Alisa Andrion encourages potential volunteers to give her a call at L-COG, 541-682-1366.

Gleneden Beach Community Club Events

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

Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Follow on Facebook: Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Oregon Food Bank · Find free food sites near you using OregonFoodFinder.org.

If you can’t make it to a food location, someone else can pick up food for you.You will just need to print and fill out the Authorized Representative form at https://lnkd.in/dsskUpkQ, and have them take it with them to the food sites. You can find step-by-step instructions at https://lnkd.in/dVBRxn-A.

Worried about recent changes or losing assistance?

Here are resources that can help:

211Info:  Dial 2-1-1 or visit the211Info food webpagefor information and referrals to more than 1,500 food resources across Oregon.

Oregon Food Bank:  Use the Oregon Food Bank’s Food Finder Mapto find over 100 food pantries, free food markets or hot meal programs near you. 

Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon (ADRC): Call 855-673-2372 or visit theADRC food webpage to find local meal programs and food boxes in your area. 

7/29/2026 — Gas Prices in Oregon Today

New report: Patient care at risk as Oregon hospitals’ financial crisis deepens

A new report from the Hospital Association of Oregon finds that hospitals across the state experienced staggering losses in 2025, forcing them to make painful decisions: Service lines and inpatient beds have closed, while more than 1,000 health care workers have lost their jobs. The impacts of H.R.1 will deepen this crisis, underscoring the urgent need for policy solutions to support and stabilize Oregon hospitals.  

The report, A fraying safety net: Oregon hospitals in crisis, reveals that in 2025 hospitals lost $450 million caring for patients due to rising labor costs, Medicaid and Medicare payments that don’t cover the cost of care, bad insurer behavior, and costly state regulations.

“There isn’t a silver lining in these numbers,” said Becky Hultberg, president and CEO of the Hospital Association of Oregon. “Oregon hospitals are slipping deeper into crisis. After five years of losses at many of our hospitals, the consequences are impossible to ignore. Communities are losing services, patients have fewer options for care, and more than 1,000 Oregonians have lost their jobs.”

The challenges are statewide and widespread. In 2025, more than half of all hospitals in Oregon operated at a loss. This includes most of the state’s larger hospitals and more than 40% of the state’s smaller, often rural hospitals. As a result, more than 80% of the hospital beds in Oregon were at hospitals with unsustainable margins. 

A convergence of factors is contributing to this crisis:

• Hospitals are being squeezed on both sides. Government payers (Medicare and Medicaid) use two-thirds of hospital services and don’t come close to covering the cost of care, while at the same time commercial health insurers delay and deny payment for services. 
• The cost of operating a hospital in Oregon has increased 57.5% since 2020—driven by tariffs, supply shortages, pharmaceutical costs, labor costs, and regulatory changes.
• Oregon has layered on an increasingly complex and costly regulatory framework over the last decade, diverting resources from patient care and creating one of the most difficult operating environments in the country for hospitals.

Oregon hospitals are bracing themselves for further financial shocks as the impacts of H.R. 1 take hold. The state estimates that Oregon will receive $12 billion less in federal Medicaid funding and that 200,000 Oregonians could lose health coverage. 

“As the crisis at Oregon’s hospitals grows, Oregonians will be increasingly challenged to access the health care services they need,” Hultberg said. “The time to act is now. Policymakers must understand the seriousness of this moment and take the necessary steps to safeguard the care that Oregonians depend on.” – The full report is available here.

“The current wildfire situation in Oregon is the worst in the nation—but FEMA denied federal resources for the East Evans Creek Fire and the Rowe Creek Fire Complex. Oregonians deserve answers—and Senator Ron Wyden and I are pressing to get them.”

As Wildfires Burn 1+ Million Acres Across Oregon, Merkley, Wyden Press FEMA on Denial of Emergency Federal Assistance

– Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden demanded urgent answers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in response to the agency’s denial of Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) for two wildfires in Oregon: the East Evans Creek Fire and Rowe Creek Fire Complex.

Both fires were under Level 3 “Go Now” Evacuation at the time of application, and the Rowe Creek Fire Complex was the largest in the nation. The current fire situation in Oregon remains the worst in the nation.

“FEMA’s decision to deny these FMAGs is a significant departure from FEMA’s historical criteria and agency guidance,” wrote the Senators. “According to State officials, FEMA’s criteria for an FMAG has been, in part, that 150 primary residences must be in immediate threat of wildfire, gauged often as Level 3 ‘Go Now’ Evacuation status. In recent years, State officials have seen an increase to over 200 primary residences as a threshold—which the East Evans Creek Fire and the Rowe Creek Fire Complex had still surpassed.”

The State of Oregon requested financial assistance from FEMA through FMAGs, which help cover costs relating to emergencies and firefighting activities for fires that have the potential to become major disasters. FEMA’s decision to deny these specific FMAGs comes as Oregon faces an increasingly dangerous fire season—with at least 86 active fires burning over 1 million acres and over 33,000 Oregonians under evacuation orders as of July 27, 2026.

“FEMA has also indicated that the East Evans Creek Fire and the Rowe Creek Fire Complex were denied an FMAG because they did not meet the criteria for a major disaster declaration,” the Senators continued. “This is a major shift in administrative policy and contrary to Federal regulation and FEMA’s own policy manual, which states that an FMAG designation is warranted when a fire ‘threatens such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.’ This program is meant to provide resources to fires that have the potential to become major disasters if left unchecked. Resources should not—and are not supposed to be—withheld until a fire becomes so destructive as to receive a major disaster declaration.”

Merkley and Wyden highlighted how FEMA’s inconsistent approval of FMAGs threatens to cause disruptions for first responders and at-risk communities. The Senators pressed FEMA for clear answers on its decision-making and criteria for FMAGs and stand ready to assist in ensuring Oregon has the necessary federal resources to respond to wildfires and keep communities across the state safe.

“We want to stress that this is not the time for creating new or different criteria for accessing this critical funding to support initial attack. As you know, Oregon is strained for resources, and the State is still at the beginning of its wildfire season. We urge the agency to provide clarity and maintain consistency with prior years’ approval process,” the Senators directed.

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Mr. Fenton and Mr. Maykovich,

We write to express deep concern over the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s handling of the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program in light of recent events. The State of Oregon is currently in a dire wildfire situation—the worst in the nation—with 86 active fires, as of July 27th, burning over 1 million acres with over 33,000 Oregonians under some level of evacuation and widespread impacts to critical infrastructure, including water and power, affecting alert and warning and 911 capabilities.

While we appreciate FEMA’s approval of FMAGs for select recent fires, including the Lower Dry Creek Fire, Akawa Butte Fire, and Grasshopper Fire, we are deeply concerned by the agency’s denial of FMAGs for the East Evans Creek Fire and Rowe Creek Fire Complex, which at the time of application was the largest fire in the country.

In the case of the East Evans Creek Fire, the State reported that the fire had reached nearly 16,000 acres with over 230 homes at a Level 3 “Go Now” Evacuation and was denied by FEMA on July 22, 2026. The fire was also threatening county, state, and federal roads and bridges, radio and cell towers, gas and private electric utilities, campgrounds, trails, retail businesses, irrigation infrastructure, and agricultural operations.

The Rowe Creek Fire Complex was denied an FMAG under similarly severe circumstances with over 401 people at a Level 3 “Go Now” Evacuation on July 24, 2026. The fire was also threatening private electrical cooperatives, public safety radio, private commercial radio, and transmission lines. Since that denial, the fire has surpassed 200,000 acres and the State is preparing for the Complex to merge with the nearby Brewer Fire.

FEMA’s decision to deny these FMAGs is a significant departure from FEMA’s historical criteria and agency guidance. According to State officials, FEMA’s criteria for an FMAG has been, in part, that 150 primary residences must be in immediate threat of wildfire, gauged often as Level 3 “Go Now” Evacuation status. In recent years, State officials have seen an increase to over 200 primary residences as a threshold—which the East Evans Creek Fire and the Rowe Creek Fire Complex had still surpassed.

FEMA has also indicated that the East Evans Creek Fire and the Rowe Creek Fire Complex were denied an FMAG because they did not meet the criteria for a major disaster declaration. This is a major shift in administrative policy and contrary to Federal regulation and FEMA’s own policy manual, which states that an FMAG designation is warranted when a fire “threatens such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.” This program is meant to provide resources to fires that have the potential to become major disasters if left unchecked. Resources should not—and are not supposed to be—withheld until a fire becomes so destructive as to receive a major disaster declaration.

Inconsistent criteria for the approval of FMAGs is creating unnecessary confusion for emergency responders. For this reason, we request further information on FEMA’s decision-making and criteria for FMAG approvals and denials. Please provide a response to the following no later than August 10, 2026:

1. Pursuant to 44 CFR 204.21, what criteria is being used to determine a fire’s eligibility for an FMAG? Please include all quantitative metrics.
   • Explain how the East Evans Creek Fire and Rowe Creek Complex Fire did not meet each of these criteria.
2. Who at the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA is involved in determining an FMAG designation, and what guidance has been issued to the officials involved in determining an FMAG designation? Please provide copies of all relevant guidance, including informal communications and official documents.
3. Which FMAG eligibility criteria changed from 2025 to 2026? How were these changes developed and who was consulted prior to implementing them?
4. What data, in addition to the state-provided data, is FEMA relying on to make their determination?
5. Broken down by state, how many FMAGs have been approved and denied per year in the past 10 years?

We want to stress that this is not the time for creating new or different criteria for accessing this critical funding to support initial attack. As you know, Oregon is strained for resources, and the State is still at the beginning of its wildfire season. We urge the agency to provide clarity and maintain consistency with prior years’ approval process.

Oregon National Guard adds firefighting aircraft to wildfire response
Oregon Military Department –

The Oregon National Guard activated approximately 20 additional service members and four helicopters July 28, 2026, expanding its support to Oregon’s wildfire response with a new firefighting mission layered on top of an ongoing MEDEVAC support mission.

“It is all hands-on deck right now,” Gov. Tina Kotek said. “As the Oregon National Guard moves in to assist our fire response agencies, I want to express my gratitude and support for their dedication in protecting Oregon communities.”

Two HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters with Golf Company, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation, based in Salem, and two CH-47 Chinook helicopters with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, based in Pendleton, are converging on Pendleton to support suppression efforts on the Hagen Fire in Umatilla County. Both aircraft types will use water buckets for aerial suppression. Crews completed Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration at Army Aviation Support Facility #1 in Salem and #2 in Pendleton today, with water bucket operations expected to begin as early as July 29.

The Oregon Army National Guard first activated for State Active Duty July 20 to provide a Search and Rescue MEDEVAC helicopter on standby in support of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s wildfire response. That HH-60M Black Hawk and crew relocated to Pendleton roughly a week ago and continues to provide 24/7 emergency MEDEVAC response for the region.

Lt. Col. Nathan Edgecomb, the Oregon Army National Guard state aviation officer, said the Guard is preparing for a long fire season ahead.

“We expect this to be a long and hard fire season, so we’re preparing for the worst,” Edgecomb said. “We will continue to swap out crews as necessary to stay in the fight and help our fellow Oregonians protect life and property.”

With today’s activation, approximately 25 Oregon National Guard service members and five helicopters are now supporting Oregon’s wildfire response.

“We’re grateful to the Oregon National Guard for the ongoing partnership between our organizations through Ops Plan Smokey, which enables Oregon to deploy its National Guardsmen to a different kind of firefight,” said State Forester Kacey KC, who is also director of the Oregon Department of Forestry. “Bringing these helicopters in to support our ground resources wouldn’t have been possible without the overhead personnel from California and Nevada. They volunteered to come here and provide much needed management capacity so we can get more resources in the air.”

 PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILDFIRE UPDATE 

Washington and Oregon continue to battle an extraordinary wildfire season, with more than 1.72 million acres burning across dozens of large active fires.

 Washington: 205,055 acres are burning across 12 major incidents, led by the Kaiser Canyon Fire (126,402 acres).

 Oregon: 1,516,034 acres are burning across 22 large fires, with the Rowe Creek Complex (294,000 acres) and Big Grass Fire (292,087 acres) among the largest in the nation.

Firefighters continue working around the clock in steep terrain, extreme heat, low humidity, and challenging wind conditions to protect lives, homes, and critical infrastructure. Many communities remain under evacuation notices or heightened fire weather concerns, and conditions can change rapidly.

Please continue to respect closures, follow evacuation orders immediately if issued, and give emergency responders the space they need to do their jobs safely.

 To all firefighters, dispatchers, aviation crews, law enforcement, EMS, and support personnel—thank you for your dedication and sacrifice.Stay informed. Stay prepared. Stay safe.

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CREATES HIGH FIRE DANGER  

Fire Officials Seek Public Cooperation — Critical fire weather conditions, including Red Flag Watches and Warnings, are underway across the Geographic Area, creating an increased risk for rapid wildfire growth. Fire officials urge residents and visitors to help prevent wildfires by avoiding activities that could spark a fire, following local fire restrictions, and staying informed about changing conditions. The public should also monitor evacuation information and be prepared to act quickly if conditions change.

“Right now, everyone needs to be extremely careful,” said Jeff Fedrizzi, Chair of the Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group. “Current fire conditions mean that just one spark, a discarded cigarette, or an unattended open flame can ignite the next wildfire. After the lightning we’ve received over the past 10 days and the number of new fires already burning across the landscape, we need the public’s help to prevent additional fires and protect our firefighters, our communities, and our natural resources.”

Fire officials across Oregon and Washington remind residents and visitors that fire restrictions and area closures are in place to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during this period of extreme fire danger. Know before you go by checking local fire restrictions and area closures before recreating outdoors. Common activities that can ignite dry vegetation include mowing dry grass, driving off designated roads, operating equipment that creates sparks, and building campfires. Many of these activities are currently prohibited or restricted because of extreme fire conditions. Stay clear of active wildfire areas and firefighting operations. Do not drive to view wildfires, as traffic can delay emergency responders, hinder firefighting efforts, and create additional safety hazards. If you encounter smoke while driving, slow down and use extra caution.

Before traveling or recreating outdoors, check the latest road closures, fire restrictions, fire activity, and evacuation information:

Road Conditions 
• Oregon: TripCheck – https://tripcheck.com/ 
• Washington: WSDOT Real-Time Travel – https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/ 

Evacuations & Emergency Alerts 
• Oregon: https://oralert.gov/ 
• Washington: https://mil.wa.gov/alerts 

Current Fire Information 
• InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/ 
• Northwest Interagency Coordination Center: https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/  
• Air Quality: https://fire.airnow.gov/ 

Your decisions matter. Stay informed, follow local restrictions and evacuation orders, and help keep yourself, your community, and our firefighters safe. 

Oregon has already seen more acres burn in 2026 than in all of 2025, and fire officials warn there’s still a lot of wildfire season to get through.

‘We still have August and September left’: Oregon wildfires growing fast and early

A series of lightning storms across Oregon has left a trail of wildfires, forcing people from their homes as firefighters and communities race to contain them.

About 1.5 million acres have burned so far — more than four times last year’s total — and it’s still July.

Oregon Department of Forestry’s Public Information Officer Jessica Neuhjahr says more than 12,000 people are working to contain fires.

“It’s really rare to see this many acres burn this early and we still have August and September left,” she said.

For communities in Oregon, this wildfire season is bringing new challenges and uncertainty. At least 30 large fires remain uncontained.

One fire that started last week, the Grasshopper Fire burning just east of Mount Hood, ballooned on Tuesday afternoon, triggering evacuations in Wasco County.

Firefighters there are focused on protecting homes in the towns of Pine Hollow and Wamic.

U.S. Forest Service spokesperson Mary Ellen Fitzgerald said strong winds have been challenging.

“We have incredibly dry fuel conditions,” she said. “And it’s always dry here, but now it’s exceptionally dry — and it’s drying exceptionally early in the season.”

The Grasshopper Fire grew to more than 18,000 acres by Wednesday morning, with zero containment.

Fitzgerald said Tuesday the firefighting team there is small, but they’re expecting help from California firefighters on Wednesday.

At least 24,000 people in Oregon are under some level of evacuation order. Forecasters expect another round of lightning storms later this week in the northeastern part of the state.

Resources: Stay safe and informed during wildfire season with OPB’s wildfire guide at opb.org/wildfires. This resource offers essential safety tips and preparedness guidance to help you navigate fire and smoke events. This resource was created as part of our commitment to serving the public as wildfire seasons become longer and more dangerous. (SOURCE)

East Evans Creek Fire – Jackson County

The East Evans Creek Fire is now 68% contained following another day of mop-up operations across the incident. Acreage remains 15,580.

𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙀𝙁𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙎 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙐𝙀 𝙎𝙔𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙈𝘼𝙏𝙄𝘾 𝙎𝙀𝘼𝙍𝘾𝙃 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙍𝙀𝙈𝘼𝙄𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙃𝙊𝙏𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙏𝙎 𝙊𝙉 𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙏 𝙀𝙑𝘼𝙉𝙎 𝘾𝙍𝙀𝙀𝙆 𝙁𝙄𝙍𝙀

SAMS VALLEY, Ore. – Firefighters continued making steady progress across the East Evans Creek Fire on Monday, with crews focused on systematically gridding the fire area to locate and extinguish remaining hotspots. Hidden heat can continue to smolder beneath logs, root systems, and other heavy fuels long after flames are no longer visible, so firefighters carefully expose and extinguish each hotspot to eliminate any potential for reignition.

Overnight, firefighters took advantage of good humidity recoveries to continue mop-up operations while an Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) with infrared technology mapped remaining heat across the fire. The infrared imagery allows crews to quickly identify and attack hotspots that may not be visible from the ground. Light interior smoke will continue as isolated heavy fuels slowly burn within the fire perimeter.

The fire remains at 15,580 acres and 66% contained. Three chippers are also working throughout the incident today, processing brush and small trees cut during suppression efforts as firefighters continue suppression repair and remove equipment from areas where it is no longer needed.

Tuesday’s weather will again be warm and dry, with temperatures in the mid-80s to around 90 degrees and low relative humidity. Firefighters will continue gridding for remaining heat, strengthening containment lines where needed, and advancing mop-up operations across the fire.

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A “TFR” is in place for the fire area daily (24 hours) until further notice. Complete information is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_6_4915 Flying a drone near or around a wildfire is illegal, compromises the safety of both pilots and firefighters, and interferes with firefighting efforts.

Protect Yourself from Fraud Amid Wildfire Recovery

 Photo taken by Sophi Beym, OEM Tribal Liaison, of smoke over the Warm Springs Reservation

As Oregon communities respond to widespread damage from the 2026 wildfires the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is urging residents to stay cautious and informed to avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes, particularly those involving online fundraising platforms.

When disasters strike, Oregonians come together to support neighbors and communities. Unfortunately, scammers may try to exploit that generosity by creating fake fundraising campaigns or misrepresenting their intentions. Fraud attempts may come via phone calls, mail, email, text messages, or even in‑person visits. To help protect yourself and your donations, OEM offers the following guidance:

Double Check Your Charitable Donations

• Verify the campaign’s authenticity: Only donate to fundraisers created by people or organizations you know and trust. Look for detailed, transparent information about how funds will be used. You can verify charitable organizations on the Oregon Department of Justice Charitable Activities page.
• Check for secure websites: Ensure the fundraising platform uses a secure connection (“https://” and a padlock icon). Avoid clicking suspicious links shared by email or social media.
• Be cautious with personal information: Never share sensitive details like Social Security numbers or financial data with unverified individuals or groups. 
• Monitor for identity theft: Check your credit report regularly for unfamiliar accounts or changes. If you suspect identity theft, file a complaint at IdentityTheft.gov and consider freezing your credit accounts.
• Report suspected fraud: If you believe a fundraising campaign or donation request is fraudulent, contact the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection Hotline at 1‑877‑877‑9392 or visit OregonConsumer.gov.
• Protect your donations: Avoid cash. Use checks or credit cards to maintain a secure, trackable record. Sign up for DOJ Scam Alerts through the Oregon Department of Justice Scam Alert Network.

Avoid Contractor Scams During Wildfire Cleanup and Repairs

As residents begin debris removal, structural assessments, and home repairs, fraudulent contractors may target those seeking quick assistance. Keep these tips in mind:

• Research contractors thoroughly: Ensure the contractor is licensed, bonded, and insured. Check reviews and references through trusted sources such as the Oregon Construction Contractors Board.
• Get written estimates: Obtain multiple detailed, written estimates. Avoid contractors who demand large upfront payments or offer unusually low prices.
• Avoid high‑pressure sales tactics: Take time to review contracts and make informed decisions.
• Never pay in cash: Use checks or credit cards to maintain a paper trail and added security.
• Beware of door‑to‑door solicitations: Scammers may approach residents with unsolicited “fire recovery” offers. Always verify credentials and legitimacy.

Key Fraud Prevention Reminders

• Public aid is free: There are no costs to apply for disaster assistance or participate in inspections.
• Verify government workers: Inspectors and officials will always carry identification and will never request or accept money.
• Trust your instincts: If something seems off, contact law enforcement or your local emergency management office to confirm the validity of claims.
• Follow trusted information sources: Monitor local media outlets and official state and county emergency management channels for accurate updates.

Nonprofit Organizations Collecting Monetary Donations to Support Oregon Disaster Response

Financial gifts remain the most effective way to assist people affected by wildfires. They just take a bit more diligence. Monetary donations allow disaster response organizations to purchase exactly what is needed, when and where it is needed. People seeking trusted organizations currently involved in wildfire response can dial 211 or visit 211info.org.

• Oregon Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
• Oregon Community Foundation
• Wildland Firefighter Foundation
• United Way Pacific Northwest Disaster Recovery Fund
• American Red Cross Cascades Region
• Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs 

All trusted state partners and agencies remain committed to supporting wildfire survivors and preventing the fraudulent activity that slows recovery. Together, we can protect our communities, ensure donations reach those who need them most, and safeguard survivors from fraud and identity theft. 

For more information on wildfire recovery resources in your area, contact your local or Tribal Office of Emergency Management. If you have questions or concerns about donation requests you’ve received, contact your local law enforcement agency.

Pro-data center industry group behind ad campaign in Oregon, six other states

Oregon Connects is one of several new nonprofits registered by the Data Center Coalition, an industry group backed by major tech companies

Just days before the Oregon Legislature in March passed a one-year pause on a popular tax incentive program for data centers, a group called Oregon Connects registered as a nonprofit business in the state. Then the ads started appearing.

“From homes to hospitals to businesses, Oregon’s data centers are unlocking a smarter power grid for our communities,” a female voice reads over a montage that includes a few aerial shots of downtown Portland and the Oregon Coast. “They’re investing billions in clean energy, creating good-paying jobs, driving innovation and building a better energy future.”

The 30-second ads, which feature B-roll of a family cooking together, a nurse and a business owner, are a near-carbon copy of ads playing across TV and social media in at least six other states. They all attempt to counter common critiques of data centers, including their enormous demand for water, energy, land and relatively low levels of job creation compared to the tax breaks they receive to spur economic development. And they end with a similar line: “Oregon’s data centers: committed to paying their costs, so Oregon families don’t.”

Oregon Connects paid for the Oregon ads, while similar promotional campaigns in other states are sponsored by Indiana Connects, Connected Ohio, North Carolina Connects, Pennsylvania Connects, Texas Connects and Virginia Connects.

They’re all part of a network of groups created by the nonprofit Data Center Coalition, an industry group hoping to improve public opinion of data centers as pushback grows. In each of these states, a growing number of local governments and legislatures are considering and passing policies meant to slow data center growth.

The coalition counts among its members leaders from Microsoft, Google, Meta, QTS and Equinix — all companies that collectively have built dozens of data centers in Oregon during the last decade due to the state’s lack of sales tax, generous property tax incentives and relatively inexpensive electricity, saving the companies hundreds of millions a year.

But in recent years, the data center companies have been criticized for driving up regional energy demand, leading Oregon lawmakers and regulators to demand electric utilities create a new customer class for data centers so they don’t contribute to residential electricity costs. There have also been growing calls to revisit the state’s industrial tax incentive programs.

‘Committed to paying’ — Oregon Connects filed business registration paperwork with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office on March 4 as a “social welfare organization that promotes data centers,” the same day that the Oregon House voted to pass a bill that included a one-year moratorium on Standard Enterprise Zone tax abatements for data centers. The tax incentive is the smallest of Oregon’s three major industrial tax breaks, and data center companies building facilities in Hillsboro and Forest Grove have used it.

The bill, sponsored by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, originally would have expanded the Standard Enterprise Zone tax program and another, the Longterm Enterprise Zone program, leading to a potential boon for data centers. But Kotek backed down after reporting from The Oregonian/OregonLive revealed that most of the programs’ benefits in recent years have been flowing to data centers, and the top 11 tech-company-owned data centers in Hillsboro will receive an average of $294,000 in property tax breaks for each full-time employee on their payrolls this tax year.

Even with the one-year pause, data centers will this year save $85 million in Oregon property taxes from the Standard Enterprise Zone program, according to reporting in The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Juan Carlos Ordóñez, communications director of the left-leaning nonprofit Oregon Center for Public Policy, criticized the Oregon Connects ad campaign for making it seem like tech companies give more than they get from the state.

“If data centers were truly ‘committed to paying their costs, so Oregon families don’t,’ then they wouldn’t be taking hundreds of millions of dollars in property tax abatements each year,” he said in an email. “Oregonians should be able to see for themselves how much Amazon, Meta and the other owners of data centers actually contribute in taxes, which is why it’s time the state enacted corporate tax transparency.”

Josh Levi, the Data Center Coalition president who registered Oregon Connects, said transparency is the campaign’s purpose.

“Through Oregon Connects, the industry seeks to better explain the role of data centers to the public — including how they operate, why they are important to our daily lives and the 21st-century economy, as well as information about the industry’s responsible usage of water and its commitment to paying for the energy it uses,” he said in an email.

But who exactly is footing the bill for the ads is unclear. Spokespersons for Oregon Connects declined to answer questions about who funds the ads.

The Data Center Coalition had about $4.6 million in operating revenue in 2024, according to its most recent tax filing in November 2025. It spent more than $250,000 on advertising in 2024. Tax-exempt social advocacy organizations are not required to publicly disclose the names or addresses of contributors on annual tax forms.

Federal Communications Commission data shows Virginia Connects, Pennsylvania Connects and North Carolina Connects spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on TV ads in recent months. North Carolina Connects spent nearly $370,000 on more than 740 ads across 189 channels in the past month alone. FCC data does not yet reflect any television spending in Oregon, Ohio or Indiana.

Community and corporate campaigns — Jenni Denekas, a spokesperson for the environmental advocacy group 1000 Friends of Oregon, said the ads are a response to Oregonians organizing and unifying around “very real concerns about data center development.”

The group recently joined a lawsuit with local leaders, businesses and farmers in Hillsboro against the city government over its recent flurry of approvals for tax breaks to data centers that, in some cases, offer them 25 years of back-to-back waivers from paying property taxes.

“If Oregonians were getting such a great deal from data centers, we wouldn’t be seeing so many people expressing concerns about the costs to our communities, including higher energy and water bills to subsidize all the new build-outs required to support this water- and energy-intensive industry,” Denekas said.

On Monday afternoon, the Hillsboro City Council unanimously agreed to a 120-day moratorium on approvals of any new data center and battery energy storage systems in the city.

Dirk Knudsen, a community leader and editor of the Hillsboro Herald community newspaper, has advocated for more transparency around data centers. He said the moratorium was the result of “hundreds of residents coming forward, giving up their evenings and workdays to come and speak their truths.”

That’s the opposite of what he sees from Oregon Connects.

“We are not looking at a spontaneous, homegrown community campaign,” he said. “We are looking at a highly sophisticated, out-of-state public affairs blitz designed to build public consent before Oregonians can fully deliberate the real impacts on our power grid, water resources and tax structure.” (SOURCE)

Oregon State Police tout state law ICE is ignoring in response to impersonation report

State authorities say a recent incident involving impersonation of immigration agents “may have broad impacts on immigrant communities throughout Oregon” but offered advice to combat those concerns that may not be reliable 

After announcing an investigation into masked armed men allegedly impersonating immigration agents off a highway by one of Oregon’s most immigrant-heavy cities, Oregon State Police offered tips to ensure residents could confirm the identity of law enforcement pulling them over. 

Federal authorities, state police said in a Friday news release, have committed to identifying themselves as law enforcement when conducting official operations. If someone is unsure if a traffic stop conducted by an unmarked vehicle is legitimate, state authorities said they can turn on their emergency flashers, lock their door and look for official identification like a uniform. 

“Ask the officer to display their department identification and badge. Ask where they work and if you can contact their dispatch center to confirm their identity,” the news release reads. “In Oregon, local, state and federal law enforcement officers may not wear face coverings except in specific circumstances and must clearly display identification showing the agency they represent.”

But the new state law that mandates officers not rely upon face coverings and identify themselves took effect this year without any promise of compliance from federal agents. 

The law’s lead author, Rep. Farrah Chaichi, D-Beaverton, has publicly stated that it’s an open question whether the legislation’s provisions can be enforced against federal law enforcement in light of the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause. A panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in April halted a similar California law requiring state, local and federal law enforcement agents to display identification. 

Oregon’s law allows Oregonians to file civil suits against agencies which fail to adopt policies that generally prohibit the use of facial coverings. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in April told the Capital Chronicle that “we will not abide by unconstitutional bans. The Supremacy Clause makes it clear that state politicians do not control federal law enforcement.”

Chris Zohner, a spokesperson for the Oregon State Police, said the agency was “simply stating what the Oregon law says.” Legal experts said it appears the state is taking the position that the law is in effect until the Trump administration attempts to block it, which it has yet to do despite filing lawsuits against multiple other states. 

Tung Yin, a professor of law at Portland’s Lewis & Clark Law School, called the Woodburn incident disturbing and compared it to the case of the Los Angeles Hillside Stranglers in the late 1970s. In that case, two men flashed fake police badges and ordered victims into their unmarked vehicles. 

“I guess the OSP reference to the Oregon law may be an instance of ‘it hasn’t been struck down yet so let’s mention it,’” Yin wrote in an email. 

ICE confirms its investigation as Gov. Kotek calls for accountability 

The July 17 impersonation incident involved two men who allegedly pulled a driver from their car on Highway 211 east of Woodburn, a city where more than 34% of residents were born outside the U.S., 60% of residents are Latino and federal immigration agents have conducted warrantless arrests while using digital facial recognition technology.  

The masked men identified themselves as ICE and forced the victim into their vehicle where another person assaulted them, according to state authorities. Their vehicle did not have license plates visible.

After approximately 15 to 20 minutes, the men released the victim and allowed them to leave, according to police. State authorities described them as wearing boots, baseball caps, green long-sleeved shirts and face coverings with vests displaying “police” in all capitalized white letters. 

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek slammed the incident as a consequence of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies, calling for a thorough investigation into the matter.

“This is exactly the type of incident that follows President Trump’s continued attacks on immigrant and refugee communities and is a direct result of lack of the accountability and oversight of overly aggressive federal agents in our communities,” she said in a statement. 

Jason Chudy, a spokesperson for ICE, confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security is involved in investigating the incident. The FBI and Oregon State Police are also part of the investigation.

He said ICE agents conducting operations clearly identify themselves as law enforcement with their respective agencies, though there have been multiple documented instances in Oregon where the agency’s officers appear to not have followed that policy.

“Anyone caught impersonating a federal officer, including (Enforcement and Removal Operation) deportation officers or (Homeland Security Investigations) special agents, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Chudy wrote in a statement. “Impersonating a federal immigration officer endangers public safety and erodes trust in law enforcement.”

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact Oregon State Police dispatch at 800-442-0776 or *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone.   (SOURCE)

OSP investigating report of individuals impersonating law enforcement

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OR– The Oregon State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating a report of individuals impersonating law enforcement officers in Clackamas County and are asking for the public’s assistance. 

There is already fear and uncertainty among immigrant communities across Oregon. OSP investigators are actively pursuing leads and conducting a thorough investigation to identify those responsible.

On Friday, July 17, 2026, between approximately 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., the victim was driving on Highway 211 near milepost 5, east of Woodburn, when they observed a vehicle displaying red and blue emergency-style lights behind them. Believing they were being stopped by law enforcement, the victim pulled over onto a gravel turnout. 

Two men exited the suspect vehicle, one of whom was armed with a rifle. The suspects identified themselves as “ICE” and told the victim they were being detained. The victim was forcibly removed from their vehicle, searched, and placed into the back seat of the suspects’ vehicle. A third individual, who remained in the vehicle and was described as acting as a “guard,” assaulted the victim while they were detained.

After approximately 15 to 20 minutes, the suspects released the victim and told them they were free to leave. 

The suspects were described as wearing boots, baseball caps, face coverings, and green long-sleeved shirts.They wore tactical vests displaying “POLICE” in white lettering and carried badges marked “Police.”  The suspect vehicle was described as a newer model smaller SUV, blue or gray in color, with no visible license plates.  

The victim later sought medical treatment for injuries sustained during the incident. While at an area hospital, the victim began receiving text messages from a phone number claiming to represent a law firm offering legal representation related to the incident. The messages originated from phone number 971-502-5548. 

OSP investigators have contacted federal law enforcement agencies, who confirmed the individuals involved were not federal officers.
A report of individuals impersonating law enforcement officers while falsely claiming to represent federal immigration authorities may have broad impacts on immigrant communities throughout Oregon.

Anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area of Hwy. 211 near South Barlow Road on July 17, or anyone who may have encountered individuals posing as law enforcement officers, is asked to contact the Oregon State Police. Investigators are also interested in hearing from anyone who has received similar communications from the phone number 971-502-5548.

Anyone with information is asked to contact OSP dispatch at 800-442-0776 or OSP (677) from a mobile phone. Please reference case number SP26-237961.

OSP encourages all community members to remain vigilant, seek information from trusted sources, and report suspicious activity or individuals claiming to be law enforcement if something does not seem right. To report suspicious activity or individuals claiming to be law enforcement, contact your local law enforcement agency or call 911 in an emergency situation.

Guidance for Confirming Law Enforcement Identity — Federal agencies operating in Oregon have confirmed that officers conducting official operations must clearly identify themselves as law enforcement. They also reiterated that anyone who falsely represents themselves as a federal immigration officer will face criminal prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. Impersonating law enforcement jeopardizes public safety, creates unnecessary fear and confusion, and undermines trust in legitimate agencies. 

If you are unsure whether a traffic stop or law enforcement contact is legitimate, consider the following safety tips:

• If the vehicle stopping you is not a marked unit, the emergency lights should be built in and are usually not a temporary light placed on the vehicle.
• Try to stop in a well-lit area or a location where there are a lot of people present.
• Turn on your emergency flashers, but don’t turn off your car.
• Lock your door.
• Look for a uniform or other official department clothing. If you are unsure, ask the officer to display their department identification and badge. Ask where they work and if you can contact their dispatch center to confirm their identity.
• In Oregon, local, state, and federal law enforcement officers may not wear face coverings except in specific circumstances and must clearly display identification showing the agency they represent.
• OSP also acknowledges that Oregon immigrant or refugee communities may not feel safe to do any of these things and also reminds individuals that they can always call 911 or other non-emergency line to ask for a marked vehicle to respond.

# # # About the Oregon State Police – Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that is charged with protecting the people, wildlife, and natural resources in Oregon. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of nearly 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon.

L. L. Stub Stewart and Rooster Rock State Parks will host OMSI Star Parties this summer

— L.L. Stub Stewart and Rooster Rock State Parks will celebrate the night sky with free stargazing parties in July, August and September.

The parks are partnering with OMSI and Rose City Astronomers to host an OMSI Star Party 2026, which includes a presentation at dusk and stargazing from 9 to 11 p.m. Telescopes will be provided by volunteers, and visitors are welcome to bring their own. Depending on the weather, stargazers will search out stars, the moon, and planets.

“We love helping people experience the park in a different way. After dark, everything feels calmer, quieter, and a little more magical,” shared Park Ranger Jeremy Williams at L. L. Stub Stewart State Park.

These events are free. Parking in the day-use areas requires a $10 parking permit per vehicle or you can use an annual parking pass if you have one.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets, warm clothing, snacks and water. Bug repellent is always a good idea. Please use red flashlights to avoid interfering with the dark sky viewing. You can also cover your flashlight or smartphone with red electrical tape.

Star maps will be provided along with recommended astronomy apps that visitors can load on their phones if interested.

Visitors should arrive early to familiarize themselves with the area and park only in designated spaces. Overnight camping is not permitted in day-use areas, though campground reservations are available at stateparks.oregon.gov.

On the scheduled day for OMSI Star Parties, visitors should visit the OMSI website for possible weather-related cancellations. The long-range forecast looks promising for excellent viewing.

“Whether you come to Rooster Rock to count Perseids or simply to spend a peaceful evening under the stars, the meteor shower is a wonderful excuse to slow down, look up, and experience the Gorge in a whole new light”, said Park Ranger Elika Paki at Rooster Rock. “And if you lose track of how many shooting stars you’ve seen, don’t worry, that just means you’re doing it right.”

All events begin at dusk. We recommend arriving early to accommodate parking. Parks will close at 11:45 p.m.

Perseid Meteor Shower Watch | Wednesday, August 12

• L. L. Stub Stewart State Park
• Rooster Rock State Park

Equinox Celebration | Saturday, September 12

• L. L. Stub Stewart State Park

You can find additional details about the event, parking logistics, whether pets are allowed, and how to request accessibility accommodations on the L.L. Stub Stewart State Park and Rooster Rock State Park event pages, and the OMSI event page.

Oregon State Parks often hosts stargazing events across the state. More opportunities can be found on Oregon State Parks’ event page.

Public invited to comment on plan to possibly triple logging in eastern Oregon national forests

The U.S. Forest Service’s proposed revisions to the Blue Mountain Forest Plan would allow more logging and taking older trees in the name of wildfire prevention

Officials at the U.S. Forest Service are proposing new management plans for eastern Oregon’s Blue Mountains that include potentially tripling the amount of logging across 5.5 million acres in the next decade.

The Forest Service published a draft of proposed changes to the 35-year-old Blue Mountain Forest Plan last week. It would allow more logging, mining and grazing across four national forests spread across eastern Oregon, as well as parts of southeast Washington: the Malheur, Ochoco, Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla National Forests.

The public has until Sept. 30 to submit comments on the 350-page draft proposal.Submit comments on the revised Blue Mountain Forest Plan here.

The draft plan describes increases in logging and animal grazing as important to local economies and to preventing wildfire.

It predicts everything from habitat conservation to forest carbon storage would improve over the long term if more logging is allowed because strategically logging and grazing parts of the forest would prevent wildfire, which officials characterize as the biggest threat to habitat and forest loss.

Environmental advocates disagree with the framing.

The Blue Mountains encompass Oregon’s largest protected wilderness areas. Conservation groups have expressed concern and outrage over the draft management plan, which they say could exacerbate area drought and water quality issues, wildfire risks and impact habitat for elk, wolverine, wolves, moose, owls and salmon.

“This plan seeks to open up and pillage one of the wildest places left in the U.S.,” Lauren Anderson, a climate forests manager at the nonprofit Oregon Wild, said in a statement. “The Trump administration is already taking a hatchet to protections for water, wildlife and the public’s voice. This plan is that philosophy in action, putting at risk the very values that make the Blue Mountains special.”

Bev Law, a forest scientist and professor emerita at Oregon State University who has studied extensively the potential forest carbon storage in Oregon forests, found that protected wilderness areas in the Blue Mountains contain the second highest proportion of above-ground carbon stocks in all of Oregon’s protected wilderness areas.

Nick Smith, a spokesperson for the American Forest Resource Council, a trade association representing the timber industry, said in a statement that the group is still reviewing the proposed updates but that change is overdue.

“These national forests face some of the highest wildfire, insect and disease risks in the West. At the same time, the region is steadily losing the sawmills, logging contractors and the skilled workforce needed to carry out active forest management and provide markets for the material that needs to come out of the woods,” he said.

The draft Blue Mountain Management Plan proposal also includes rescinding a 32-year-old rule called the Eastside Screens that prohibits logging trees that are 21 inches in diameter or larger on six eastern Oregon and Washington national forests. Forest Service officials attempted to rescind the rule during the first Trump administration, but conservation groups sued and it was blocked by a federal judge.

Forest Service officials have argued that some younger trees that grow fast should be able to be removed even if they are more than 21 inches in diameter, because they are crowding out other tree species that take longer to grow but are important to the forest ecosystems.

The proposal also assumes Congress will soon rescind the 25-year-old Roadless Rule, which prohibits road construction, logging and mining on roughly 60 million acres of public land, including about 2 million acres of forests in Oregon. That alone would increase the amount of land classified as open for logging in the Blue Mountains by 17%, according to the draft.

Most of the increased logging would take place in the Malheur National Forest, followed by the Wallowa-Whitman and then Umatilla national forests. (SOURCE)

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation has issued a warning regarding a newly identified fraud ring that enrolls individuals in life insurance policies without their awareness or consent.

This fraudulent activity primarily targets older adults and has been reported across several states, including Oregon. The scheme involves licensed insurance agents who initiate contact with victims through multiple telemarketing calls, during which personal information is solicited. This information is subsequently passed on to the participating insurance agents, who then reach out to the victims to gather any additional details necessary to finalize an application for a life insurance policy.

These applications are submitted without the victims’ knowledge, resulting in the issuance of one or more policies for which the agents receive commissions, despite the fact that the premiums have not yet been paid. The fraud typically comes to light when the insurance company seeks the initial premium payment.

The Division of Financial Regulation’s consumer advocates are available to assist with inquiries or to facilitate the filing of complaints. They can be contacted at 1-888-877-4894 or via email at DFR.InsuranceHelp@dcbs.oregon.gov for insurance-related assistance, and dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov for help with financial services.

Check out Oregon State Parks with your library card

Borrow an Oregon State Parks parking permit for free at 82 libraries statewide.

– Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (ORPD) and the State Library of Oregon are partnering to offer free state parks parking permits to Oregon public libraries. There are currently 200 parking permits available at 82 libraries across the state.

“Oregon’s state parks are for everyone,” said OPRD deputy director JR Collier. “As we assess ways to manage our budget responsibly, we also want to uplift equitable access to our parks.”

Each participating library received up to four parking permits. These are the physical hang tags you check out from the library and put in your car. The permit covers parking in all Oregon State Parks day-use areas for one vehicle. Go to the Oregon State Parks website to find participating libraries. All you need to participate is your library card.

“Libraries help make life more affordable for Oregonians. This program leverages the existing borrowing system to help connects folks of all income levels with the beauty and splendor of Oregon’s State Parks,” said Wendy Cornelisen, State Librarian.

Both OPRD and the State Library contributed 100 parking permits to the program to distribute to libraries. The agencies determined how many passes each library would receive based on interest from the library, its proximity to a park charging a day use fee, and the size of the population it serves. The State Library purchased permits with Library Services and Technology Act funds from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

OPRD first distributed parking permits to 28 libraries as part of a year-long pilot program starting in August 2024. Those passes were checked out more than 2,100 times. At the pilot’s conclusion, OPRD evaluated how to best move the program forward in the context of its changing fees. In 2027, OPRD and the State Library will continue to explore options for an expanded long-term program that will serve even more libraries and people in Oregon. Learn more about the OPRD Library Pass Program.

Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs

No veteran should be without a place to call home, and the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is committed to ending veteran homelessness in our state. The new ODVA Houseless Veterans Program collaborates with federal, state, county, and Tribal agencies, veteran services offices, and community homeless service providers to meet the urgent and unique needs of Oregon’s diverse veteran communities challenged with housing stability. In addition to advocating for Oregon veterans experiencing or at risk for houselessness, the program provides direct service to veterans and their families seeking federal and state veterans’ benefits, including access to local VA health care, documentation of service, as well as other available state benefits, and local homeless services organizations and low-income assistance programs. If you or a veteran you know is dealing with homelessness, contact the ODVA Houseless Veterans Coordinator today at houselessvets@odva.oregon.gov or visit https://ow.ly/V4EH50VnL93 to learn more.

Staying Informed During a Communications Outage: Best Practices for the Public

Disasters can damage critical infrastructure, leading to temporary outages in cell service, internet, and power. When communication systems go down, it’s vital to be prepared with alternate ways to get emergency information and stay connected. Here’s how you can prepare and respond:

  Have a Battery-Powered or Hand-Crank Emergency Weather Radio

• Why it matters: Emergency radios can receive Emergency Alert System (EAS) broadcasts via AM/FM or NOAA Weather Radio frequencies—even when cell towers and the internet are down.
• Note: Emergency radios do not receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) like cell phones do. Tip: Pre-tune your radio to your local emergency broadcast station (e.g., OPB in Oregon or NOAA frequencies).

Turn On WEA Alerts on Your Phone

• Make sure Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are enabled in your phone’s settings. These alerts include evacuation orders, severe weather warnings, and other urgent notifications.
• WEA messages are sent through cell towers—if cell service is out, WEA alerts will not be delivered. This is why having backup methods like a radio is essential.

Charge Everything in Advance and Have Backup Power

• Charge phones, power banks, laptops, and rechargeable flashlights before fire weather conditions worsen.
• Consider solar-powered chargers or car chargers as backups.
• If you are sheltering in place, a generator (solar or gas powered) is helpful.

Know Your Evacuation Routes in Advance

• Save printed or downloaded evacuation maps in case you can’t access GPS or navigation apps.
• Most mapping services (like Google Maps or Apple Maps) offer the ability to “Make maps available offline.” Download your area in advance so you can navigate even if cell towers or internet access are down.
• When in doubt, call 511 or visit the TripCheck.com website if you have cell service.
• Don’t wait for a notification—if you feel unsafe, evacuate early.

Print or Write Down Critical Contacts and Info

• Phone numbers of family, neighbors, and local emergency contacts.
• Address of evacuation shelters, veterinary services (for pets/livestock), and medical facilities.
• Your own emergency plan, including meeting locations.
• Have copies of vital documents in your go-bag and take video of your property (inside and out) for insurance claims later.

If Calling 9-1-1 Over Wi-Fi or Satellite, Check Your Location Settings

If you call 9-1-1 using Wi-Fi calling or a satellite-connected phone (like an iPhone or Android), your location might not be automatically visible to dispatch. Instead, it may rely on the emergency address saved in your phone’s settings.

• Update this emergency address when you travel or relocate—especially in evacuation zones or rural areas.
• Most importantly, always tell the dispatcher exactly where you are—include your address, landmarks, road names, or mile markers to help first responders reach you quickly.

Sign Up for Alerts Before There’s an Outage

• Register for OR-Alert and your county’s local alert system.
• Follow your local emergency management officials’ and bookmark resources like: wildfire.oregon.gov.

 Prepare for Alert Delays or Gaps

• Know the three levels of evacuation:
  • Level 1 – Be Ready
  • Level 2 – Be Set
  • Level 3 – GO NOW
• If you hear a siren, see a neighbor evacuating, or witness fire behavior increasing—take action even if you haven’t received an alert.

 Be Your Own Info Network

• Check on neighbors, especially seniors or those with disabilities.
• Post printed signs with updates for those passing by.

In rural areas, community bulletin boards or fire stations may serve as local information points. Support and Restoration in Progress To help maintain emergency communications during this incident, OEM deployed eight Starlink terminals under the guidance of ESF 2 and the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC). A Communications Technician (Jeff Perkins) was also deployed to assess connectivity needs on the ground. These Starlink terminals have been providing service to the Lake County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Oregon State Police (OSP), Warner Creek Correctional Facility, and will soon support the town of Lakeview, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Lakeview Ranger Station. OEM’s Regional Coordinator (Stacey) is also on-site supporting the Lake County EOC. Coordination has been strong across local, state, and private sector partners. *** Update: As of 7/10/25 at 1:47 PM, fiber service has been restored.

Reconnect When Service Returns

• Once communications are restored, check official websites:
  • Oregon.gov/oem
  • Your county emergency management page
  • TripCheck.com for road conditions
• Share verified info—not rumors—on social media or community pages.

 Prepare for Delays in Restoration

• Communication may come back in phases. Damage to fiber lines or cell towers can take time to repair.
• Continue using backup methods and stay alert for updates via radio or in-person notices.

 Final Tip:

In an emergency, CALL 9-1-1 to report life-threatening danger, not for general information. Use local non-emergency numbers or go to physical information points if needed. You can find more tips for preparing in OEM’s Be2Weeks Ready toolkit.

Contact us: Info@OregonBeachMagazine.com

Find the mental health support you need

           Click to see all resources https://oregonhealthnews.oregon.gov/find-the-mental-health-support-you-need/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery