CORVALLIS, Ore. - On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at about 10:50 AM, Albany Police Department officers responded to a North Albany residence on a report of an older brother holding a knife against his younger brother. Officers approached the door of the residence, where they saw through the door window, at least one man holding a knife. The officers gave loud verbal commands. Officers were in close proximity when a man holding a knife opened the door and quickly began to exit towards the officers. Two officers fired multiple shots from their duty pistols, striking the man multiple times. Officers immediately began rendering aid to the man and continued to do so until medics arrived on scene.

It is common practice when officers use or are involved in the use of deadly physical force, that an outside agency is requested to conduct an investigation. The Benton County District Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement agencies operating in Benton County have adopted and approved a Deadly Physical Force Plan for these instances. Albany Police Department Chief Marcia Harnden requested an uninvolved agency, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, investigate both the use of deadly force and crimes occurring between persons inside the home.

Pursuant to the investigation, the individual shot was later identified as Maverick Lyon (age 21). Maverick Lyon is in stable condition and continues to receive treatment for his injuries. Video obtained in the investigation showed Maverick Lyon was held by his older brother, John “Dakota” Lyon (age 27), at knife point prior to law enforcement’s contact. During the event, Maverick Lyon obtained a separate knife at the apparent direction of Dakota Lyon. Maverick Lyon had this knife in his hand at the door when he began to exit. Review of video showed Dakota Lyon also holding a knife.

John Dakota Lyon is charged by the Benton County District Attorney’s Office with Kidnapping in the Second Degree, Attempted Kidnapping in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Coercion, Menacing, and Reckless Endangering of Another Person. Maverick Lyon is the named victim of those alleged crimes. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office submitted a Probable Cause Affidavit to the Benton County Circuit Court summarizing the events and charges against Dakota Lyon. The Probable Cause Affidavit was previously released to the press and is a public document. Additionally, the Benton County Parole and Probation department filed a parole violation against Dakota Lyon for various violations of his parole.

Both the investigation into the use of force and the actions for which Dakota Lyon is charged, are ongoing and will be conducted in cooperation with the Benton County District Attorney’s Office. Anyone who has information regarding these matters is encouraged to contact Benton County Sheriff’s Office to make a report at 541-753-8477.

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DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office conducted enhanced DUII patrols during the holiday season which ran December 10, 2025, through January 1, 2026.
 

Utilizing grant dollars administered by the Oregon Department of Transportation, 3 deputies utilized a total of 19 hours of enhanced DUII patrol time on the roadways at various times during the enforcement period. During the course of the efforts, deputies made 2 DUII arrests and issued 4 Minor in Possession citations.
 

Deputies also took the following enforcement actions:
 

• 1 citation for Driving While Suspended
• 16 warnings for speeding
• 5 warnings for seat belt violations
• 21 warnings for other moving violations
• 2 warnings for distracted driving/cell phone use

According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), pre-pandemic (2020) an average of 448 deaths and 1,739 serious injury crashes occurred on Oregon roadways. According to a June 2025 update by ODOT, post-pandemic numbers between 2021 and 2023 were alarming. Between the years 2021-2023, there were 1,789 deaths and 9,517 serious injuries reported. That is a 33% and 82% increase, respectively. On average, one person was killed in a drunk driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020. This is why the Sheriff’s Office is working together with NHTSA and OI to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, but also a matter of life and death. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

Eugene, OR.  Shortly after 2:30 PM on January 7th, Eugene Springfield Fire responded to a reported house fire in the Cal Young neighborhood. A passing motorist noticed the fire in the 2000 block of Brewer Ave. Engine 9 from Valley River was in the area responding to a non-urgent call for service.  The crew transitioned to the fire and arrived shortly after the call was dispatched. E9 found a working fire on the side of the house exterior with smoke coming from the attic. E9 quickly knocked down exterior fire and moved interior for fire attack and primary search. Ladder 11 arrived shortly after and assisted E9 with interior fire attack. The fire had extended into the living room, and crews quickly knocked down the active fire in the house, pulled the ceiling in the living room, and checked for fire in the attic. Truck 1 was sent to the roof to open ventilation holes and check for extension from the top. 

All flames were knocked down, and the fire was placed under control at 2:51 PM. No human victims were found, and crews continued to look for two cats that remain unaccounted for. The cause is under investigation.

Responding units:

E9, L11, E5, E13, T1, M11, batt 1 and 2, EMS1, support 1

Reckless Driver Arrested Following Pursuit

January 10, 2026 – Newport, OR

On January 10, 2026, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding a vehicle being operated recklessly through an active construction zone near Milepost 106 on Highway 101, nearly hitting workers and running over traffic cones.

At approximately 8:37am, a deputy located the vehicle entering Newport city limits at a high rate of speed, traveling in the oncoming lane. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver failed to yield. Assisted by the Newport Police Department and the Oregon State Police, deputies pursued the vehicle south bound through Newport and the community of Seal Rock. The driver, later identified as Jonathan Grimm, continuously operated the vehicle at speeds between 90 and 110 MPH.

Grimm turned off the highway near NW Fox Creek and continued to attempt to elude police until arriving at a residence. Grimm fled on foot and was quickly apprehended without further incident. Lincoln City Police assisted in the investigation and confirmed the vehicle which endangered highway workers was the same vehicle Grimm was driving. Grimm was arrested and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail on charges of Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, Reckless Endangerment of Highway Workers, and Attempt to Elude.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all partnering agencies in this apprehension.
 

###

Traveling on the roads and highways of Lincoln County offer many wonderful sightseeing opportunities such as beautiful sunsets over the Pacific, ships and shops on our bay fronts, and seemingly endless forest lands to explore. However, while traveling through the community for work or play, we must also be mindful that this area is the natural habitat of several species of wildlife. It's important to be alert and aware of possible wildlife while commuting. Though it's unlikely to see a whale on the highway, you may come across deer, elk, and birds. In the unfortunate event that you or someone else is unable to avoid a collision with wildlife, the following steps are recommended:

• If you are on a State Highway, in a State Park, on the beaches, or if the animal is protected under Oregon Revised Statute (such as anything hunted or fished in Lincoln County), please contact the Oregon State Police at 541-265-5353 or dial 677 from a mobile phone.

• If you’re in the cities of Lincoln City, Newport, or Toledo; Contact the city police department: 
  • Lincoln City Police Department Dispatch (non-emergency) – 541-994-3636 
  • Newport Police Department Dispatch (non-emergency – 541-574-5807 
  • Toledo Police Department Dispatch (non-emergency) – 541-336-5555 

• If you’re in any other part of Lincoln County or if the animal involved is a pet or livestock; Contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 541-265-0777 

It is possible to transfer calls between Dispatch Centers but being put on hold multiple times can be frustrating. To avoid this, it's important to know which center to contact initially. By doing so, Law Enforcement can provide the best quality service. If there is an emergency, always call 911.

For more information and tips visit our website at www.lincolncountysheriff.net and like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon.

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Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports last night at 9:20 p.m. deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 29200 block of Berlin Road outside of Sweet Home.  The female caller called the Linn County 911 Center to report her spouse, later identified as James Clair Miller, 41, assaulted her.  As deputies were responding, the caller told the dispatcher she had four children with her, all under the age of 10 years old, in a vehicle, and Miller was last seen coming out of the shop holding a firearm. 

Dispatch coached the female to leave the location with the children. During their attempt to leave in a vehicle, Miller shattered the window and fired rounds in an unknown direction. The female and children walked down the long driveway where they met responding deputies.  As the initial deputy secured the family at the end of the driveway, additional shots could be heard from somewhere on the property.

Miller’s location was unknown for several minutes until he began yelling and firing more rounds in unknown directions, causing deputies to evacuate nearby residences, and set up a perimeter.  Miller continued to wander around the property and frequently fired rounds into the air as deputies, Oregon State Police Troopers, and Sweet Home Police Department attempted to locate him.  Law enforcement from multiple agencies also responded to assist with drones, as the property is in a very rural location, with a very long driveway, where terrain and structures made maintaining visual of Miller difficult.

The Linn County Regional SWAT Team responded with armored vehicles, in addition to members of Oregon State Police SWAT, to protect the public and law enforcement as they worked to locate Miller and take him into custody safely.  Miller continued to walk around the property with several guns, firing more shots in the air, as well as setting off fireworks, which often could only be seen with the use of drones. 

Miller attempted to take off from the property into the woods on an ATV, ultimately crashing and returning to the area of the residence.  Deputies and Troopers contacted Miller who was uncooperative, causing law enforcement personnel to use non-lethal force, to include sponge rounds and tasers, before taking Miller into custody on the ground.  Miller was treated by medics and transported to the Linn County Jail. 

Deputies on scene, applied for and were granted a search warrant for the property.  Thirteen firearms, including handguns, rifles, and shotguns, were seized as well as live ammunition and spent casings that were scattered across the property.

James Clair Miller was lodged on charges of Reckless Endangering, Assault IV-Domestic (felony), Menacing, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Contempt of Court (for violating a Restraining Order) and Criminal Mischief I.  Deputies are continuing to investigate.

All law enforcement present exercised great restraint and professionalism during this very chaotic event, to take Miller into custody without using lethal force.  The ability to see Miller with drones had a direct impact on law enforcement’s ability to assess Miller’s behavior and take him into custody with the least amount of force possible.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Oregon State Police, Corvallis Police Department, Albany Police Department, Sweet Home Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sweet Home Fire District.

Jefferson County, Ore. (Jan. 12, 2026)- On Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 11:43 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Highway 97, near milepost 101, in Jefferson County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a Ford Explorer, operated by James Edwin Legore (63) of Sandy (UT), was on the shoulder of the roadway and began to merge into the northbound lanes when it struck a pedestrian, Jared Elijah Cooper (38) of Madras, while reentering the highway.

The pedestrian (Cooper) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Ford (Legore) was reportedly uninjured.

The highway was impacted for approxiamtely five hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and ODOT.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

Clatsop County, Ore. (Jan. 12, 2026)- On Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 1:46 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 26, near milepost 1, in Clatsop County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Subaru Forester, operated by Smith Ward Humphreys (47) of Warrenton, crossed into the eastbound lanes to pass westbound vehicles and struck an eastbound Toyota Rav4, operated by Daysy Vanesa Camarena (37) of Whittier (CA).

The operator of the Subaru (Humphreys) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Toyota (D. Camarena) and passenger, Joshua Zeke Camarena (33) of Whittier (CA), suffered reported serious injuries and were transported to an area hospital.

The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation. 

OSP was assisted by the Seaside Fire Department and ODOT.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

Klamath County, Ore. (Jan. 12, 2026)- On Friday, January 9, 2026, at 6:20 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 97, near milepost 228, in Klamath County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a Ford F-450, operated by Douglas Alan Fordyce (61) of Caldwell (ID), was stopped westbound on Silver Lake Road at the intersection with Highway 97. The Ford attempted to enter the highway and was struck by a southbound Freightliner commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Sebastian Mercado Juarez (29) of Fresno (CA), causing a side impact collision.

The operator of the Ford (Fordyce) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Freightliner (S. Juarez) and passenger, Christian Mercado Juarez (31) of Fresno (CA), suffered reported minor injuries.

The highway was impacted for approximately two hours during the on-scene investigation. 

OSP was assisted by Chiloquin Fire and Rescue, Chemult Rural Fire District, and ODOT.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. (12 January 2026) – The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is seeking the public’s assistance to identify the person(s) responsible for dumping salmon along the shoulder of Highway 224 east of SE Tong Road in Clackamas County.

The salmon were discovered by a nearby property owner around December 19, 2025.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Turn-In-Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-452-7888, OSP (677) from a mobile phone, or email TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Please reference case number #SP25-517721.

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators

The Turn In Poachers (TIP) program is a collaboration between the Oregon State Police, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Wildlife Coalition, Oregon Outfitter and Guides Association, and the Oregon State Marine Board.

The TIP program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of big game mammals.  

Preference Point Rewards

5 Points: Bighorn Sheep

5 Points: Rocky Mountain Goat

5 Points: Moose

5 Points: Wolf

4 Points: Elk

4 Points: Deer

4 Points: Pronghorn Antelope

4 Points: Bear

4 Points: Cougar

The TIP program also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of the following fish and wildlife species. Cash rewards can also be awarded for habitat destruction, illegally obtaining hunting or angling license or tag, lending or borrowing big game tags, spotlighting, or snagging.

Cash Rewards

Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) cash rewards:

$2,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, or Moose

$1,000 Elk, Deer, or Antelope

$600 Bear, Cougar, or Wolf
$400 Game Fish & Shellfish
$400 Snagging/Attempt to Snag

$300 Habitat destruction

$200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags

$200 Unlawful lending/borrowing big game tag(s)

$200 Game Birds or Furbearers

$200 Spotlighting

Rewards for Game Fish & Shellfish and Snagging/Attempting to Snag are sponsored, in part, by Northwest Steelheaders Association and Coastal Conservation Association.

Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC) Cash Rewards:

$500 Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey

$500 Cougar, Bobcat, Beaver (public lands only), Black bears, Bighorn Sheep, Marten, Fisher, Sierra Nevada Red Fox

$1,000 Species listed as “threatened" or “endangered" under state or federal Endangered Species Act (excludes fish)
$10,000 for Wolves east of Highway 395 and $11,500 for Wolves east of Highway 395 and north of Highway 20

Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA) Cash Rewards:

$200 Acting as an Outfitter Guide for the Illegal Killing of Wildlife, Illegally Obtaining Oregon Hunting or Angling Licenses or Tags, or Illegally Offering to Act as an Outfitter Guide as defined in ORS 704.010 and 704.020.

How to Report a Wildlife and/or Habitat Law Violation or Suspicious Activity:

TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or OSP (677)

TIP email: TIP@osp.oregon.gov (monitored Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

For more information visit the Oregon State Police Turn-in-Poachers (TIP) web page.

# # #

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 more than 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.

Clackamas County, Ore. (Jan. 9, 2026)- On Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 26, near milepost 35, in Clackamas County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Ford Escape, operated by Jacob Robert Brugman (29) of Vancouver (WA), was passing a Ford F-250, operated by Gary James Beebe (55) of Prineville, in a passing lane when the F-250 merged into the Escape as it passed. The contact caused the F-250 to lose control, crash through a guardrail, and roll down an embankement into trees. The Escape was able to stop after the vehicular contact.

The operator of the F-250 (Beebe) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Escape and passenger, Kassidy Brugman (27), were reportedly uninjured.

The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Hoodland Fire Department and ODOT.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

Clackamas County, Ore. (Jan. 9, 2026)- On Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 12:46 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 205, near milepost 15, in Clackamas County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Ford Aspire, operated by Jack Jay Lewis (64) of Molalla, left the roadway for unknown reasons, struck an ODOT sign, and rolled. 

The operator for the Ford (Lewis), who was not wearing a seatbelt, was declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by Clackamas County Fire and ODOT.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

Josephine County, Ore. (Jan. 8, 2026)- On Tuesday, January 7, 2026, at 8:50 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 199, near milepost 10, in Josephine County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Toyota Tundra, operated by Marisha Lynn Trainor (52) of Eugene, reportedly swerved to miss a deer in the roadway, lost control, and rolled multiple times along the shoulder of the highway. The vehicle came to rest on it's roof.

The operator of the Toyota (Trainor) suffered reported minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

A passenger in the Toyota, Teddie Dianne Tibbets (47) of Selma, was declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was impacted for approximately one hour during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by Grants Pass Fire, Rural Metro, and ODOT.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

Lake County, Ore. (Jan. 8, 2026)- On Monday, January 5, 2026, at 4:17 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 140, near milepost 88, in Lake County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Ford F-250, operated by Destiny Elizabeth Canaday (30) of Bly, lost control and rolled multiple times in the ditch after passing another vehicle. The operator was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle.

The operator of the Ford (Canaday) was declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation. Speed and roadway conditions are considered primary factors in the cause of the crash.

OSP was assisted by Thomas Creek Fire, Lake County Sheriff's Office, and ODOT.

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

UPDATE: Oregon State Police arrest James Mason Liggett (52) in connection with an explosive device placed in the public restroom at Sunset Beach State Park.

Liggett was wanted in Clatsop County for the following charges:

• Attempted Murder
• Attempted Assault I
• Attempted Assault II
• Arson I
• Possession of a Destructive Device
• Manufacture of a Destructive Device

Liggett was arrested on Sunday, January 4, 2026, in Grants Pass by OSP SWAT, with the assistance of the OSP Explosives unit, and OSP Major Crimes. 

OSP was assisted in the investigation by Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office, Salem Police Department, Oregon Parks Department, Warrenton Fire Department, Astoria Fire Department, Astoria Police Department, and Seaside Police Department.

At this time, additional details are not available for release during the adjudication process.

CLATSOP COUNTY, Ore. (Sept. 16, 2025) – On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 10:21 a.m., Oregon State Parks notified the Oregon State Police of a suspicious backpack in a public bathroom at Sunset Beach State Recreation Site in Clatsop County.
 

Oregon State Police located the backpack and requested explosives experts respond and investigate the incident. Bomb technicians from the Oregon State Police and Salem Police Department responded to the scene and rendered the device safe. No injuries were associated with this incident.
 

State Parks and Oregon State Police checked multiple locations throughout the day and did not locate any additional suspicious devices. While this is believed to be an isolated incident, the public should remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects to local law enforcement by calling 911 and remaining at a safe distance from the object.
 

Oregon State Police is asking any person with information related to the incident to contact investigators at OSP (677) or 1 (800) 442-0776 and reference case number SP25406805.

The criminal investigation is ongoing, and no further information is available for release at this time.
 

Oregon State Police were assisted by the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office, Salem Police Department, Oregon Parks Department, Warrenton Fire Department, and Astoria Fire Department.

# # #

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 more than 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. 

SHERMAN COUNTY, Ore. (7 Jan. 2025) – On Monday, January 5, 2026, at 4:02 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 97 near milepost 31 in Sherman County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a red Honda HRV, operated by Kenneth Frank MacDonald (64) of Bradenton (FL), was traveling northbound on Hwy. 97 near Grass Valley when it left the lane of travel of an unknown reason. The Honda collided head-on with a southbound white Freightliner pulling a semi-trailer, operated by Maynor Farid Mendieta Saravia (32) of Willows (CA).   
 

The operator of the Honda (MacDonald) was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Freightliner (Mendieta Saravia) was not injured.

The highway impacted for four hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office, South Sherman Fire and Rescue, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
 

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 

The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in documenting, investigating, and analyzing complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in using advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR-accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.

PUBLIC SAFETY MEMORIAL FUND BOARD

MEETING SCHEDULED

The Public Safety Memorial Fund Board will hold a regular meeting on January 22, 2026, directly following the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training meeting that begins at 9:00 am. at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE Salem. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167.

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Approve October 23, 2025, Meeting Minutes

3. Budget Update

   Presented by Marie Atwood

4. Officer John Christopher Kilcullen (DPSST #35147); Eugene Police Department; Supplemental Application for Discretionary PSMF Benefits

   Presented by Marie Atwood

5. Battalion Chief Michael Merlino (DPSST #08324); Sutherlin Fire Department; Supplemental Application for Discretionary PSMF Benefits

    Presented by Marie Atwood

6. Next meeting – April 23, 2026, directly following the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training meeting at 9:00 a.m.

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting, subject to the public meeting law and it will be recorded. 

BOARD ON PUBLIC SAFETY STANDARDS AND TRAINING

MEETING SCHEDULED

The Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026, in the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

To view the Board's live-stream and other recorded videos, please visit DPSST’s official YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Meeting Minutes

Approve the October 23, 2025, Meeting Minutes

3. Fire Policy Committee

a. Fire Policy Committee Update – Chris Heppel, Chair

b. Consent Agenda (The following items to be ratified by one vote)

A. Christopher Wade, DPSST No. 30403; Christmas Valley RFPD – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the FPC on November 19, 2025.

4. Criminal Justice Policy Committees

a. Police Policy Committee Update – Scotty Nowning, Chair

b. Telecommunications Policy Committee Update – Michael Fletcher, Chair

c. Corrections Policy Committee Update – Jennifer Cameron, Vice-Chair

d. Consent Agenda (The following items to be ratified by one vote)

A. Shane Bond, DPSST No. 59946; DOC/Union County Sheriff's Office – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on December 16, 2025.

B. John Deardorff, DPSST No. 42771; DOC/Oregon State Correctional Institution – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on November 12, 2025.

C. Mark Farmer, DPSST No. 55203; Multnomah County Sheriff's Office – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on November 20, 2025.

D. Emily Fisk, DPSST No. 61817; DOC/Deer Ridge Correctional Institution – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on November 12, 2025.

E. Jesus Gutierrez, Sr., DPSST No. 61908; DOC/Snake River Correctional Institution – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on November 12, 2025.

F. Michelle Hubbard, DPSST No. 31820; DOC/Oregon State Correctional Institution – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on November 12, 2025.

G. Erica Hurley, DPSST No. 29900; Portland Police Bureau – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on November 20, 2025.

H. Bonnie Kessell, DPSST No. 46671; Umatilla County Community Corrections – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on November 12, 2025.

I. August Lowthian, DPSST No. 61677; Washington County Sheriff's Office – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the CPC on November 12, 2025.

J. Jonathan McNichols, DPSST No. 60995; Salem Police Department – Revoke

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on November 20, 2025.

K. James McQueen, DPSST No. 55471; Hillsboro Police Department – Revoke

Seven (7) to two (2) vote to recommend to the Board by the PPC on November 20, 2025.

L. Kathleen Williams, DPSST No. 43028; Bureau of Emergency Communications – No Action

Unanimous vote to recommend to the Board by the TPC on August 12, 2025.

M. Committee Appointments

Police Policy Committee

• • Anel Ceric – Non-Management Law Enforcement. Re-appointment to the PPC, 2nd term effective January 25, 2026.
  • Michelle Duncan – Oregon State Sheriffs' Association. Re-appointment to the PPC, 2nd term effective January 25, 2026.
  • Warren Hensman – Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police. Appointment to the PPC, 1st term effective January 22, 2026.

5. Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee

a. Private Security Investigator Policy Committee Update – Dan Lenzen, Chair

b. Consent Agenda (The following items to be ratified by one vote).

A. Proposed Rule Changes for Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 259-060-0120, 259-060-0135, 259-060-0136, 259-060-0300, 259-060-0310, 259-060-0320, and 259-060-0380

Related to Emergency Suspension

6. DPSST Recommendations (The following items to be ratified by one vote each)

a. Advisory Discussion of Upcoming Changes to the Basic Police Program

b. Approval to Study Implementation of Fee Schedule for Registration to Regional Training Courses

c. Approval to Study Implementation of Fee Schedule for Use of DPSST Facilities

d. Proposed Rule Changes for Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 259-008-0001

     Recommended Repeal

e. Proposed Rule Changes for Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 259-030-0005

    Relating to the Authority of the Director of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training

f. Workgroup/Rules Advisory Committee Request

    Related to Law Enforcement Officer Certification Maintenance Requirements Per OAR 259-008-0065

g. Imposition of Civil Penalties – House Bill 2527

h. Imposition of Civil Penalties – House Bill 2527/Senate Bill 300

7. Agency Updates – Agency Director, Phil Castle 

8. Next Meeting Date: April 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

Administrative Announcement

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

APPLICANT REVIEW COMMITTEE

MEETING CANCELLED

The Applicant Review Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training meeting scheduled for January 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., has been cancelled due to a lack of agenda items.

The next Applicant Review Committee meeting is scheduled for February 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

Información en español

Workers and consumers in Oregon now have a new guide for understanding and using their rights to work safely and to protect against fraud thanks to the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) and its partners.

The free publication – “Your Safety and Rights: A Guide for Oregon Workers” – is available online in Spanish and English, with more languages planned. Printed copies may be ordered by email: esource@dcbs.oregon.gov">osha.resource@dcbs.oregon.gov. Oregon OSHA is working with its partners to distribute the guide in communities across the state.

The guide shows workers and consumers the common workplace safety and health hazards, and fraudulent schemes they may face; explains what their employers must do to protect them; illustrates how they can take action to protect themselves; and provides more resources, including a directory of community organizations, regulatory agencies, and services.
 

“We created this guide to be evergreen, available to workers and consumers whenever they need it,” said Renée Stapleton, administrator for Oregon OSHA. “It includes everything from how to protect yourself from workplace hazards and tips shielding you from financial harm to resources that connect workers and consumers to helpful programs and services.”

Oregon OSHA is a division of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS). The department’s mission is to equitably protect and empower consumers and workers while maintaining a predictable yet innovative regulatory environment for the businesses we regulate. The department’s divisions and programs include the Building Codes Division, Division of Financial Regulation, Multicultural Communications Program, Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers, Small Business Ombudsman, Workers’ Compensation Division, and Workers’ Compensation Board.

The guide enhances public education and training efforts by DCBS and its partners in labor, government, business, and insurance.

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About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

SALEM, Ore. — The Committee for Family Forestlands (CFF) will meet virtually on Wednesday, Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To join virtually, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda.

The committee’s agenda includes:

• Forest Resources Division update
• Budget update
• State forester hiring update
• Private Forest Accord update
• Stream mapping
• Small Forestland Investment in Stream Habitat Program (SFISH) Program update
• Board of Forestry update
• Discuss committee term expirations

The meeting is open to the public to attend online via Teams. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services, or assistance can be arranged by calling at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 503-949-4785 or by email at estlands@odf.oregon.gov">committee.of.family.forestlands@odf.oregon.gov.

The 13-member committee researches policies that affect family forests, natural resources and forestry benefits. Based on its findings, the committee recommends actions to the Oregon Board of Forestry and the State Forester. View more information on the CFF webpage.

A pilot program that provides cash and other supports to Oregon youth experiencing homelessness made a significant contribution to their ability to secure stable housing. The supports also enabled youth to achieve independence, according to a report issued by researcher Young People to the Front.  

The Direct Cash Transfer Plus (DCT+) pilot program operates through a partnership between Point Source Youth and the Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program (YEHP) within the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). It pairs cash support with housing navigation, education on managing personal finances and other supportive services that are provided through three community partners   ̶   the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), Antfarm and JBarJ Youth Services.

The study by Young People to the Front included 63 of the pilot program’s first 120 participants who completed a series of surveys during the two years they received support. Of those, 94 percent self-reported that they were housed at the end of the program. 

“We are very encouraged by the early results showing that Direct Cash Transfers help youth move beyond survival mode and toward building more stable, independent lives,” said YEHP Program Manager Matthew Rasmussen. “By creating space for emotional stability, financial skills, and rental history, this approach significantly reduces the likelihood of chronic adult homelessness."

The cash support is essential as it helps youth overcome common barriers to stable housing such as a lack of credit history and sufficient income, Rasmussen added. It can be used for rent, deposits, furniture and transportation.

“Oregon’s results confirm what we saw in New York: When you cover the real cost of shared housing directly for two years—and pair it with support—young people stay housed,” said Larry Cohen, co-founder and executive director at Point Source Youth. “This isn’t complicated. Stability takes time, and flexible cash gives young people the breathing room to build it.”

Other findings from the first two years of the pilot program include:

• 72 percent of participants were working or enrolled in school. 
• The number of youth achieving high school diplomas increased by 8.1 percent over the course of the program.
• Participation in financial literacy workshops increased by 23 percent. 

Combined, the supports offer youth an opportunity to change the trajectory of their lives.

“DCT helped me move from survival mode into a place where I could heal, grow, and plan for a sustainable future,” said Gabrielle Huffman of Bend, who participated in the program. “Just one year after completing DCT, I’m in my own place, halfway through a business degree, focused on building a stable, secure foundation for my daughter and myself, and working toward becoming a nonprofit leader who supports her community.”

Direct Cash Transfer Plus operated in Multnomah, Clackamas and Deschutes counties during the initial pilot. Jackson County has since been added for the second group of 120 participants.  Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 24 when they apply for support for a two-year period.  The second group of 120 participants have been selected and the pilot program is not currently accepting new applications. 

Youth in the program work with a case manager to establish self-directed goals that contribute to their long-term housing stability and overall well-being needs. Cash support is provided for up to two years to help meet their ongoing needs as they work to establish stable housing.

Funding for the initial pilot program was provided through an interagency agreement between ODHS and Oregon Housing and Community Services. To help support the second group of participants who are in the current pilot, YEHP received a $1 million philanthropic donation and some funding through Senate Bill 5526.  

Direct Cash Transfer Plus is just one of a variety of services offered through YEHP. 

YEHP is committed to helping young people, ages 14–24, who are experiencing homelessness through a network of community partnerships. These partnerships connect youth to critical resources and services, build trusted relationships, provide access to everyday essentials such as showers, laundry facilities, and academic and employment support, and offer temporary shelter and housing opportunities.

YEHP’s tuition and fee waiver assistance support is also delivering results. From fall of 2023 to current, YEHP has approved 267 tuition and fee waivers for eligible youth experiencing homelessness through partnerships with Oregon’s public universities and community colleges. The universities and colleges agree to waive the tuition and fees for qualifying youth. 

YEHP continues to expand its focus on prevention strategies and housing stability initiatives. The program’s goal is to help youth avoid entering homelessness in the first place and to secure and maintain stable housing, reducing the likelihood of future homelessness as adults.

Learn more about YEHP and other programs and services for youth in Oregon.

Additional resources:

Two-page summary of the Direct Cash Transfer Plus program

Contact ODHS Communications (see above contact) for photos of:

Matt Rasmussen, Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program Manager with the Oregon Department of Human Services

Larry Cohen, co-founder and executive director at Point Source Youth

Gabrielle Huffman, Direct Cash Transfer Plus participant in the initial pilot 

Other quotes from youth in the Direct Cash Transfer Plus program:

“The DCT program is how I'm still alive. If I did not have such support in the beginning of the program I would still be stuck in a homeless pit. DCT gave me a very reliable resource it was the reason I could eat … and had a slice of freedom at the end of the night.”

“I have been able to completely change my life, graduate college, support my family, buy a car, build savings habits and financial literacy.” 

“I left sex work and I was able to focus on healing myself, pay for school expenses, and begin putting the work in starting a small beaded earring and art business.” 

“Without this program I would still be a homeless single parent, struggling to provide even the basics for myself and my child.” 

“Honestly, it just gave me valuable time to be able to figure out my life as a young adult. I don’t know how else to put it. DCT has been a tremendous help.”

Quotes from youth who received tuition assistance through YEHP partnerships:

“I want to thank you again for your help with registering me for the YEHP. I’m excited to share that I’m currently maintaining an A average in both of my property management classes and am hoping to secure an internship by winter to apply what I’ve learned in a real-world setting. [This] support has given me access to academic opportunities I wouldn’t have been able to afford on my own, and I’m truly grateful for that.”

"I am currently facing a lot of positive change. My job promoted me to case manager for my county. I am super honored and excited for this opportunity, and with it I will be having a larger workload. Along with my promotion, I am attending community college to get my associate [degree] in general studies then transfer to a university to obtain a political science degree. The YEHP Tuition and Fee Waiver helped me with this path."

(Salem) – Miamor Hernandez Brown, age 4, went missing with her father, Jose Carmelo Hernandez Martinez and his partner, Erika Alejandra Simich from Cornelius on Dec. 30, 2025. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division believes that Miamor may be at risk and is searching for her to assess her safety.

ODHS asks the public to help in the effort to find Miamor. Anyone who suspects they have information about the location of her or Martinez or Simich should call 911 or the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline at 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).

They are believed to be in the Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Cornelius and North Portland areas.

Name: Miamor Hernandez Brown
Pronouns: She/her
Date of birth: May 23, 2021
Height:
Weight: 40 pounds
Hair: Black
Eye color: Brown
Other identifying information: They are living in a white Jeep Patriot with license Oregon license plate number 863GEF.
Washington County Sherriff’s Office Case #50-25-18325
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #2073714

Sometimes when a child is missing they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

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

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Salem, OR— For taxpayers wanting to claim their share of Oregon’s $1.41 billion kicker  as soon as possible, filing electronically has never been more important.

On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund within two weeks. Those who file paper returns will experience a significantly longer wait in 2026 due to processing delays.

“The good news is that nobody has to wait,” said Megan Denison, administrator of the Personal Tax and Compliance Division at the Department of Revenue. “There’s a simple solution. File electronically.”

Oregon will begin processing electronically-filed returns Monday, January 26, the same day as the IRS.

The department will begin issuing refunds for e-filed returns February 15. For paper filed returns, refunds will not start being issued until early April.

In the closing months of 2025, the IRS was late providing necessary tax forms and information to the Oregon Department of Revenue. As a result, the state’s processing of paper-filed Oregon personal income tax returns can’t begin until the end of March.

Taxpayers may be eager to receive their tax refund this year due to the kicker. Oregon’s unique kicker is a refundable tax credit that either reduces the amount of tax owed or increases the amount of a taxpayer’s refund.

“To get your kicker, you must file a return. This year, if you file a paper return, you’re going to face a significant delay in receiving your refund,” Denison said. “Taxpayers who file electronically can avoid the extra wait.”

Chris Wytoski, manager of the Department of Revenue’s processing center, where paper forms and checks are processed, explained why the delay in receiving forms and information from the IRS will push back paper return processing.

“Using scanners, our front-end system captures the data reported on paper tax returns and checks. It then records the data in a digital format in our core accounting system,” Wytoski said. “We have to tell the system what data to capture and where to find it on each page of the return. Until the federal returns were finalized, we weren’t able to finalize Oregon’s returns and, ultimately, configure our system.”

The result is a delay for Oregon taxpayers filing paper returns this year.

Taxpayers who choose to file a paper return, should be sure to mail it early. Due to changes at the U.S. Postal Service, returns mailed in after April 9 may not receive a postmark on time. Taxpayers who still want to mail their paper returns can take them to a local USPS office and request a postmark no later than April 15, 2026. 

Paper returns can also be physically deposited in drop boxes available on both the east and west sides of the Department of Revenue Building in Salem, or outside the DOR offices in Portland, Eugene, Medford, and Bend. A drop box at DOR’s Gresham office is available during business hours.

The delay in paper return processing will mean that the department won’t be able to tell taxpayers who file paper returns that their return has been received until paper return processing starts at the end of March and their specific return enters processing. That also means information on paper-filed returns won’t be available in the “Where’s My Refund?” tool until that time.

Statewide, electronic filing rates have been steadily increasing in the last decade. In 2016, 86 percent of taxpayers filed electronically. That number edged above 90 percent in 2020 and last year, nearly 95 percent of Oregon personal income tax returns were filed electronically.

The state expects to receive more than 2.2 million Oregon personal income tax returns for tax year 2025, Denison said, and approximately 95 percent are again expected to be filed electronically. That still leaves a significant number of taxpayers who could wind up waiting longer than they’d like for their refund and kicker.

For tax year 2023, nearly 123,000 Oregon personal income tax returns were paper filed. More than 100,000 – or five out of every six paper filers – claimed a refund. Choosing to file electronically this year will help those taxpayers to get their refund sooner.

Denison said Oregon taxpayers have multiple free options to file their state returns electronically.

Now in its third year, Direct File Oregon is an interview-based program similar to commercial software and allows taxpayers the convenience and security of filing directly with the state of Oregon through Revenue Online for free. More than 14,000 taxpayers filed their Oregon personal income tax returns with Direct File Oregon in 2025.

Information about filing electronically, including a list of free tax preparation software products and other ways to get help filing your tax return for free, can be found on the Get Free Help with Your Taxes page of the department’s website.

A full list of approved commercial e-filing software is available on our Electronic filing webpage.

-30-

Note to editors and news directors (not for publication):

Video b-roll of Department of Revenue scanners capturing

information from tax forms is available for download from Vimeo.

Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Was 5.2% in November

Today, the Oregon Employment Department released monthly employment and unemployment data for November 2025, after a significant delay due to the federal government shutdown.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 5.2% in November and 5.2% in September. The October unemployment rate is not available since underlying data was not collected due to the federal government shutdown that month. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.6% in November.

In November, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 1,600 jobs, following a loss of 2,000 jobs in October. November’s gains were largest in leisure and hospitality (+2,100 jobs) and health care and social assistance (+1,000 jobs). Losses were largest in government (-800 jobs) and information (-600 jobs).

Leisure and hospitality experienced an uptick in hiring recently, adding 3,900 jobs between July and November, following a stagnant period of employment from 2023 through mid-2025. Its component industry, accommodation and food services, has been particularly robust, adding 4,900 jobs since July.

Health care and social assistance continued its rapid expansion over the past several years, adding 10,900 jobs, or 3.5%, between November 2024 and November 2025.

Government employment cut 2,300 jobs between September and November. Federal government lost 800 jobs during the most recent two months as those taking early retirement incentives were recorded as dropping off payrolls in October.

The information industry cut 1,200 jobs between September and November. At 33,400 total jobs in November, it rapidly declined since reaching a peak of 37,300 jobs three years ago.

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the October and November county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for December on Thursday, Jan. 22.

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January 13, 2025

Media Contact: Kim Lippert

erly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Kimberly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov

971-323-3831

Oregon Health Authority seeks new members for Oversight and Accountability Council

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is seeking applicants to serve on the Oversight and Accountability Council (OAC), a Council established by Ballot Measure 110 in 2020. The OAC is a public body of the state of Oregon that advises the Oregon Health Authority on the grant program described in ORS 430.389

Members of the OAC serve four-year terms. Members may be eligible for a stipend to compensate them for their time engaged official duties of the OAC. OHA is seeking new members in the categories described below:

• An academic researcher specializing in drug use or drug policy
• A representative of a coordinated care organization

To apply, submit an application here by 11:59 pm, January 30, 2026.

A team at OHA will review applications and inform applicants of appointments by Feb 13, 2026.

For questions or more information, email HRN@OHA.oregon.gov" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">BHRN@OHA.oregon.gov or contact Karli Moon at li.moon@oha.oregon.gov" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Karli.moon@oha.oregon.gov or 971-240-8690.

# # #

January 12, 2026

Contact: Amy Coven, amy.coven@oha.oregon.gov, 503-943-0164

State Urges People of Oregon to Act Before Open Enrollment Ends and Beware of Health Coverage Scams

Salem, OR — TK Keen, Oregon’s insurance commissioner, is reminding the people of Oregon that open enrollment for health coverage ends Jan. 15, 2026, and is urging residents to act now to avoid gaps in coverage and protect themselves from scam websites and misleading health plans.

“Quality, affordable health coverage is essential to the well-being of every person in Oregon and their families,” Keen said. “As open enrollment comes to a close, I want people to have accurate information so they can enroll with confidence and avoid being taken advantage of by scammers.”

As the enrollment deadline approaches, state officials warn that fake websites, aggressive sales tactics, and so-called ‘junk’ health plans often target consumers searching for coverage. These plans may appear affordable but frequently do not meet federal standards, offer limited or no coverage for essential services, and can leave people with unexpected medical bills.

People looking for health coverage should watch out for warning signs, including:

• Websites or sales calls claiming to offer “free” or “guaranteed” health insurance
• Requests for payment or personal information before confirming eligibility
• Plans that do not cover essential health benefits such as prescriptions, mental health care, or preventive services
• Short-term or limited-benefit plans marketed as comprehensive insurance

State officials emphasize that the only way to be sure you are enrolling in legitimate, comprehensive coverage is to use trusted sources and trained insurance experts.

“People in Oregon deserve coverage that actually works when they need it,” said Keen. “If a plan sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Residents who miss the open enrollment deadline may have to wait until the next enrollment period unless they qualify for a special enrollment period due to a major life event, such as losing other coverage, moving, or changes in household size.

Help is available. Free, unbiased assistance is offered to help people compare plans, understand financial assistance options, and enroll before the deadline.

For accurate information and enrollment assistance, visit OregonHealthCare.gov or call 855-268-3767 (all relay calls accepted).

###

12 de enero de 2026

Contacto: Amy Coven, amy.coven@oha.oregon.gov, 503-943-0164

El estado insta a la población de Oregon a actuar antes de que termine la inscripción abierta y a tener cuidado con las estafas de cobertura de salud

Salem, OR — TK Keen, comisionado de seguros de Oregon, recuerda a la población de Oregon que la inscripción abierta para la cobertura de salud termina el 15 de enero de 2026, y insta a los habitantes a actuar ahora para evitar interrupciones en la cobertura y protegerse de sitios web fraudulentos y planes de salud engañosos.

"Una cobertura de salud asequible y de calidad es esencial para el bienestar de cada persona en Oregon y sus familias", afirmó Keen. "A medida que la inscripción abierta llega a su fin, quiero que la gente tenga información precisa para poder inscribirse con confianza y evitar que los estafadores se aprovechen de ellos."

A medida que se acerca la fecha límite de inscripción, las autoridades estatales advierten que sitios web falsos, tácticas de venta agresivas y los llamados planes de salud 'basura' suelen dirigirse a los consumidores que buscan cobertura. Estos planes pueden parecer asequibles, pero con frecuencia no cumplen con los estándares federales, ofrecen cobertura limitada o ninguna para servicios esenciales y pueden dejar a las personas con facturas médicas inesperadas.

Las personas que buscan cobertura de salud deben estar atentas a las señales de advertencia, incluyendo:

• Sitios web o llamadas de ventas que afirman ofrecer un seguro médico "gratuito" o "garantizado"
• Solicitudes de pago o información personal antes de confirmar la elegibilidad
• Planes que no cubren beneficios esenciales de salud como recetas, atención de salud mental o servicios preventivos
• Planes a corto plazo o de prestación limitada comercializados como seguro integral

Las autoridades estatales enfatizan que la única forma de asegurarse de que te inscribes en una cobertura legítima y completa es utilizar fuentes de confianza y expertos en seguros capacitados.

"Las personas en Oregon merecen una cobertura que realmente funcione cuando la necesitan", dijo Keen. "Si un plan suena demasiado bueno para ser verdad, probablemente lo sea."

Los habitantes que no alcancen la fecha límite de inscripción abierta pueden tener que esperar hasta el próximo periodo de inscripción, a menos que cumplan los requisitos para un periodo especial debido a un evento importante en su vida, como perder otra cobertura, mudarse o cambios en el tamaño del hogar.

Hay ayuda disponible. Se ofrece asistencia gratuita e imparcial para ayudar a las personas a comparar planes, entender las opciones de asistencia financiera y inscribirse antes de la fecha límite.

Para obtener información precisa y ayuda con la inscripción, visita CuidadoDeSalud.Oregon.gov o llama al 855-268-3767 (se aceptan todas las llamadas de retransmisión).

###

January 12, 2025

Media Contact: Kim Lippert

erly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov" style="color: rgb(6, 66, 118); text-decoration-line: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Kimberly.l.lippert@oha.oregon.gov

971-323-3831

Oregon Health Authority, Fora Health expand recovery housing in southeast Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Health Authority (OHA) joined Fora Health and community organizations at a groundbreaking ceremony on Jan. 9 for a new supportive housing development made possible by state investments that expand where people can get care. When completed in 2027, the new facility, near Fora Health’s outpatient treatment center, will provide 46 new recovery housing beds in 23 rooms.

Ashley Thirstrup, chief of staff for Oregon Health Authority, delivers remarks during the groundbreaking for Fora Home on Jan. 9 in Portland. OHA provided $4 million in funding for the housing complex, which will support people in recovery from substance use disorder.

“Recovery doesn’t happen in isolation—it requires stability, dignity and a real chance to rebuild,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “This project at Fora Health brings together housing and treatment in a way that meets people where they are and supports long-term recovery. By investing in supportive housing like this, Oregon is strengthening our behavioral health system and helping more people transition from treatment to lasting stability in their lives and in our communities.”

“Stable housing is essential to recovery and to the overall health of our communities,” said OHA’s Behavioral Health Director Ebony Clarke. “This supportive housing facility represents exactly the kind of investment we need—one that expands housing capacity, creates accessible pathways through the behavioral health continuum and supports people at a vulnerable transition point. OHA is proud to support Fora Health on a project that offers hope, dignity and real opportunity for long-term recovery.”

Fora Home, a new supportive housing development will be located near Fora Health’s outpatient center at 10230 SE Cherry Blossom Drive in southeast Portland.

Fora Health Chief Executive Officer Devarshi Bajpai said the project addresses both the addiction and housing crisis at the same time.

“This facility will give people completing treatment a safe, supportive place to live while they continue their recovery journey,” he said. “With stable housing and access to clinical care, peer support and community resources, individuals can build stronger foundations for their futures and successfully reintegrate into the community.”

Ashley Thirstrup, chief of staff for Oregon Health Authority, joins dignitaries for the groundbreaking of Fora Home located in southeast Portland. The facility will give people a supportive place to live while on their recovery journey. The housing facility is expected to open in 2027 and will provide 46 new recovery housing beds.

OHA is providing funds through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and is part of a multi-partner collaboration. The 20,000-square-foot development is supported by a coalition of partners including Multnomah County, OHA, Portland Clean Energy Fund, Centene Foundation, Trillium Community Health Plan and the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund, as well as a recovery house developed in partnership with Transcending Hope.

The new facility is at 10230 SE Cherry Blossom Drive in southeast Portland.

###

Health officials warn public about two locations where affected individuals spent time

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Linn County public health officials are investigating two cases of measles and want people to know about locations where they may have been exposed to the highly infectious virus.

The affected individuals developed measles symptoms—rash, fever, cough and runny nose—on Jan. 5. OHA is not identifying the individuals’ gender, age or county of residence.

People might have been exposed if they were at the following locations during these dates and times:

• Lebanon Community Hospital Emergency Department, between 8:53 p.m. Jan. 6 and 7 a.m. Jan. 7.
• Albany General Hospital Emergency Department, between 4:59 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. Jan. 7.

People who were at these locations during these dates and times should immediately contact their health care provider and let them know they may have been exposed to someone who has measles. The health care provider can determine whether they are immune to measles based on their vaccination record, age, or laboratory evidence of prior infection.

“Measles is here in Oregon and rates are increasing nationally, which is why we encourage everyone to make sure they’re protected by talking with their providers about being up to date on vaccinations,” said Howard Chiou, M.D., Ph.D., medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA’s Public Health Division.

Facts about measles

Measles spreads through the air after a person with measles coughs or sneezes. People are contagious with measles for four days before a rash appears and up to four days afterward. The virus particles also can linger in the air for up to two hours after someone who is infectious has left the area.

Measles typically starts with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. A rash usually follows, beginning on the face and spreading to the rest of the body. Symptoms begin seven to 21 days after exposure to a person with measles. Common complications of measles include ear infection, lung infection and diarrhea. Swelling of the brain is a rare but much more serious complication.

Measles can be dangerous, especially among infants and children younger than 5, adults older than 20, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems. In developed countries in recent years, one or two out of every 1,000 measles cases has been fatal.

The measles vaccine is highly effective at providing protection, as two doses of the MMR vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles. The risk of severe disease from measles for people who are up to date on their vaccines is very low.

What to do if you suspect measles in your household

Public health officials urge people experiencing symptoms of measles not to arrive unannounced at a medical office if they:

1. Have a measles-like rash, or
2. Have been exposed to measles within the previous 21 days, and have any other symptom of measles (such as fever, cough or red eyes).

Individuals planning to seek medical care should first call a health care provider or urgent care center by telephone to create an entry plan to avoid exposing others in waiting rooms.

Learn more about measles at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/measles.aspx.

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January 8, 2025

Media contact: Tim Heider, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov 

OHA urges screening during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 

PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon Health Authority is marking this year’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month with a reminder that cervical cancer is preventable and treatable, and vaccinations and screenings—including free screenings for people without insurance—protect against this deadly cancer.

OHA encourages people to get screened for cervical cancer, which includes Pap tests and human papillomavirus (HPV) tests that can find precancerous cell changes and detect cervical cancer early.

As many as 93% of cervical cancers could be prevented by cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination.

When found early, cervical cancer is highly treatable and associated with long survival and good quality of life. But people should get screened for cervical cancer regularly, even if you received an HPV vaccine.

OHA also urges people to get the HPV vaccine. It can prevent new HPV infections, but it does not treat existing infections or diseases.

That’s why the vaccine works best when given before any exposure to HPV. The vaccine is recommended for all people through age 26, including boys and men.

Oregon’s Screenwise Program helps to alleviate the burden cancer can cause and reduce health inequities in Oregon through education, screening, early detection, evidence-based care and access to medical treatment. 

The program offers cervical cancer screening free of charge for people without insurance. OHA urges people to schedule screenings with their providers. People without a provider should call 211 for assistance.    

To learn more about Screenwise, and for more resources, go to the program’s web page, or call 877-255-7070. 

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Chris McFarland stands outside his office at the Benton Health Center in Corvallis, Ore. McFarland works as a counselor, supporting individuals with serious mental illness through community-based care. (Photo courtesy of Benton County)

 

Chris McFarland’s path to public service was shaped by hardship, resilience and a deep understanding of what it means to live on the margins. 

 

Today, McFarland is a certified alcohol and drug counselor I and qualified mental health professional with the Benton County Health Department, Behavioral Health Division. He serves on the Assertive Community Treatment team, providing intensive, community-based behavioral health and substance use disorder services to individuals with serious mental illness—many of whom are experiencing homelessness and repeated contact with crisis and emergency systems. 

 

The work is demanding and deeply personal. For McFarland, it hits close to home. 

 

Clients allow ACT team members into the most vulnerable parts of their lives, McFarland said, sharing fears, losses and hopes that are often hidden from the rest of the world. He said one of the things he is most proud of is when clients tell him they finally feel heard, respected and treated like a person, not a diagnosis or a case file. Hearing that, he said, is a reminder that showing up consistently and leading with empathy are what truly matters. 

 

McFarland joined the U.S. Army in 1986 as a “homeless 17-year-old high school dropout”, hoping to find direction and stability. With limited options, he served as a light infantry soldier with the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. He completed basic and advanced infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was stationed at Fort Drum, New York which is known for some of the Army’s toughest training conditions.

 

McFarland said it left a lasting impact. 

 

“The military taught me how far I can push myself, physically and mentally,” he said. “It taught me discipline, how to focus, how to take care of the person next to you, and that ‘no’ or ‘I can’t’ isn’t an option when something needs to get done.” 

 

After leaving the Army, McFarland’s life took a difficult turn. He spent more than a decade cycling through homelessness, substance use, incarceration and violence, ultimately serving time in prison from 1997 to 2000. Those experiences, he said, now inform how he approaches his work on the ACT team. 

 

“I’ve lived the chaos that many of our clients are living,” he said. “I know what it’s like to be stigmatized, discarded and forgotten. Those experiences didn’t break me—they shaped me.” 

McFarland initially pursued a degree in psychology, later shifting to public health, believing he did not want to work as a counselor. That changed during an internship at a residential drug and alcohol treatment facility for adolescents. 

 

“That experience changed everything,” he said. “I realized I didn’t just enjoy counseling. I was good at it. More importantly, I realized I could use my lived experience to support people who felt invisible.” 

 

On the ACT team, McFarland works where clients are, be that in shelters, on the street, in hospitals or navigating court and crisis systems. The model emphasizes relationship-based care, harm reduction and long-term engagement. 

 

Meghan Carlson, a qualified mental health professional with the ACT team, said McFarland’s lived experience and openness about his journey have had a lasting impact not only on clients, but on the team itself. 

 

“Chris’s willingness to share his lived experience with us as clinicians has really changed how many of us approach client care,” Carlson said. “He has helped reshape how our ACT team functions, and in my 12 years working with this team, I can honestly say it’s been for the better.” 

 

That impact is reflected in how he works with clients day to day. 

 

“Chris meets people exactly where they are,” said Carlson. “He listens without judgment, shows up consistently and never loses sight of the person behind the diagnosis.” 

 

County Administrator Rachel McEneny, who has spent time in the field observing McFarland as he worked directly with clients, said his approach reflects the values Benton County strives to uphold. 

 

“Spending the day riding along with Chris and his colleagues in the field was a powerful and important experience for me as county administrator,” said McEneny. “Their work takes them everywhere from the correctional facility to city parks, the hospital and the Corvallis Daytime Drop-In Center. The experience underscored the difficulty and complexity of the roles Chris has to juggle. It requires unique skills, compassion and understanding.” 

 

McFarland said working for Benton County feels like a culmination of everything his life has taught him. 

 

“After living so many years in survival mode, being able to serve my community and help people find stability and dignity is incredibly meaningful,” he said. “This work feeds my soul. I honestly believe this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.” 

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De la supervivencia al servicio: Chris McFarland aporta su experiencia personal al equipo ACT del Condado de Benton 

Chris McFarland posa frente a su oficina en el Centro de Salud de Benton en Corvallis, Oregón. McFarland trabaja como consejero, dando apoyo a personas con enfermedades mentales graves a través de servicios de atención comunitaria. (Foto cortesía del Condado de Benton) 

 

La trayectoria de Chris McFarland en el servicio público ha estado marcada por las dificultades, la resiliencia y una profunda comprensión de lo que significa vivir al margen de la sociedad.

 

Actualmente, McFarland es profesional de salud mental y consejero certificado en alcoholismo y drogadicción de nivel I en la División de Salud Mental del Departamento de Salud del Condado de Benton. Forma parte del equipo de Tratamiento Asertivo Comunitario (ACT por sus siglas en inglés), que brinda servicios intensivos de salud mental y tratamiento de trastornos por consumo de sustancias en la comunidad a personas con enfermedades mentales graves, muchas de las cuales se encuentran sin hogar y tienen contacto frecuente con los sistemas de crisis y emergencia. 

El trabajo es exigente y profundamente personal. Para McFarland, definitivamente es algo personal. 

 

Los clientes permiten que los miembros del equipo de ACT conozcan los aspectos más vulnerables de sus vidas, explicó McFarland, compartiendo miedos, pérdidas y esperanzas que a menudo ocultan al resto del mundo. Dijo que una de las cosas que más le enorgullecen es cuando los clientes le dicen que por fin se sienten escuchados, respetados y tratados como personas, no como un diagnóstico o un expediente. Escuchar eso le recuerda que estar presente de forma constante y actuar con empatía es lo que realmente importa para él. 

 

McFarland se enlistó al Ejército de los Estados Unidos en 1986, cuando era “un joven de 17 años sin hogar que había abandonado la escuela preparatoria”, con la esperanza de encontrar rumbo y estabilidad. Con pocas opciones, sirvió como soldado de infantería ligera en el 1er Batallón del 87º Regimiento de Infantería, de la 10ª División de Montaña. Completó el entrenamiento básico y avanzado de infantería en Fort Benning, Georgia y fue destinado a Fort Drum en Nueva York, un lugar conocido por tener algunas de las condiciones de entrenamiento más exigentes del Ejército. 

 

McFarland dijo que esta experiencia le dejó una huella imborrable. 

 

“El ejército me enseñó hasta dónde puedo llegar, física y mentalmente”, dijo. “Me enseñó disciplina, a concentrarme, a cuidar de la persona que está a mi lado y que ‘no’ o ‘no puedo’ no son opciones cuando hay que hacer algo”. 

 

Después de dejar el ejército, la vida de McFarland enfrentó una etapa difícil de su vida. Pasó más de una década por períodos de falta de vivienda, consumo de sustancias, encarcelamiento y violencia y finalmente cumplió condena en prisión de 1997 a 2000. Esas experiencias ahora influyen en la manera en que hace su trabajo en el equipo ACT. 

 

“He vivido el caos que viven muchos de nuestros clientes”, dijo McFarland. “Sé lo que se siente el ser estigmatizado, marginado y olvidado. Esas experiencias no me destruyeron, me moldearon”. 

 

Inicialmente, McFarland estudió psicología, pero luego se cambió a salud pública, creyendo que no quería trabajar como consejero. Eso cambió cuando trabajó como pasante estudiantil en un centro residencial de tratamiento de drogas y alcohol para adolescentes. 

 

“Esa experiencia lo cambió todo”, dijo.“Me di cuenta de que no solo disfrutaba de la consejería, sino que era bueno en ello. Y lo que es más importante, me di cuenta de que podía usar mi experiencia para apoyar a personas que se sentían invisibles”. 

 

En el equipo ACT, McFarland trabaja donde se encuentran los clientes, ya sea en refugios, en la calle, en hospitales o navegando por los sistemas judiciales y de atención de crisis. El modelo enfatiza la atención basada en las relaciones, la reducción de riesgos y el compromiso a largo plazo.

 

Meghan Carlson, profesional de salud mental cualificada del equipo ACT, afirmó que la experiencia personal de McFarland y su franqueza al compartir su historia han tenido un impacto duradero no solo en los clientes, sino también en el propio equipo. 

 

“La disposición de Chris a compartir su experiencia personal con nosotros, los profesionales clínicos, ha cambiado la forma en que muchos de nosotros manejamos la atención al cliente”, dijo Carlson. “Ha contribuido a transformar el funcionamiento de nuestro equipo ACT y en mis 12 años trabajando con este equipo, puedo decir con toda sinceridad que ha sido para mejorar”. 

 

Ese impacto se refleja en la forma en que trabaja con los clientes a diario. 

 

“Chris se relaciona con las personas tal como son”, dijo Carlson. “Escucha sin juzgar, está presente de forma constante y nunca pierde de vista a la persona que hay detrás del diagnóstico”. 

La Administradora del Condado, Rachel McEneny, quien ha pasado tiempo en el campo observando a McFarland mientras trabajaba directamente con los clientes, dijo que su enfoque refleja los valores que el Condado de Benton se esfuerza por mantener. “Pasar el día acompañando a Chris y sus colegas en el campo fue una experiencia poderosa e importante para mí como Administradora del Condado”, dijo McEneny. “Su trabajo los lleva a todas partes, desde la cárcel hasta los parques de la ciudad, el hospital y el Corvallis Daytime Drop-In Center. La experiencia reveló la dificultad y la complejidad de las funciones que Chris debe desempeñar. Se necesitan habilidades únicas, compasión y comprensión”. 

 

McFarland dijo que trabajar para el Condado de Benton se siente como la culminación de todo lo que la vida le ha enseñado. 

 

“Después de vivir tantos años en modo de supervivencia, poder servir a mi comunidad y ayudar a las personas a encontrar estabilidad y dignidad es increíblemente significativo”, dijo. “Este trabajo alimenta mi alma. Sinceramente, creo que este es exactamente el lugar donde debo estar”. 

Benton County Public Works will close Cardwell Hill Drive on Monday, January 12, 2026, for clean-up and road work.

The closure affects the 0.8-mile section between the west gate and the slide repair construction zone and applies to all pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle traffic.

     • No bypass route will be available
     • No access to the trail system from the west gate

Please plan ahead and avoid the area during the closure. Benton County Public Works appreciates your patience as crews complete this work.

CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Benton County Board of Commissioners has announced a public hearing to reconsider its decision approving an application to expand the Coffin Butte Landfill. The Hearing on Reconsideration will be held Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 11:00 a.m. in the Holmes & Shipley meeting room, 4500 Research Way in Corvallis.

In the Board of Commissioners meeting on Jan. 6, the Board discussed the purpose of the Jan. 20 hearing. The County’s planning official will present new evidence that became available after the Board of Commissioners reached its decision on Nov. 4, 2025.

On Jan. 20, the Board will determine the manner and timeframe in which the public can submit testimony responding to the new evidence. According to Oregon statute, the applicant, Republic Services, will then have an opportunity to rebut new testimony and evidence.

The Board will consider recommendations from outside counsel regarding a timeline for the open record period and rebuttal that aligns with state law while conducting the reconsideration within the 90 days allowed by the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA).

Those recommendations will be available to the public as part of the agenda and meeting packet published to the Board of Commissioners Meeting Portal on Wednesday, Jan. 14.

No public testimony will be accepted at the Jan 20. hearing.

Once a timeline is determined for public testimony and rebuttal, the Board can continue the public hearing to a date intended for deliberations and decision. No vote will be held until that date.

Reconsideration of the land use decision was set in motion at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Dec. 16. Commissioner Wyse moved to withdraw for reconsideration the Board’s decision to approve LU-24-027, the proposed expansion of the Coffin Butte Landfill. Commissioner Malone seconded the motion, which carried 3-0.

The County filed the notice of withdrawal with LUBA that afternoon. This action returned jurisdiction of the land use case to the Board of Commissioners for 90 days.

For more information about the Hearing on Reconsideration visit https://www.bentoncountyor.gov/coffin-butte-landfill.

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Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices. This document is available in alternative formats and languages upon request. Please contact the Public Information Office at 541-766-6800 or pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 13, 2026

NOTICE OF HOLIDAY CLOSURE

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Monday, January 19, 2026

            (Douglas County, Ore.) Douglas County Commissioners Tom Kress, Chris Boice, and Tim Freeman, would like to remind citizens that government offices in the Douglas County Courthouse, located at 1036 SE Douglas Avenue in Roseburg, as well as the Douglas County Justice Building, Douglas County Courthouse Annex (Reedsport), Douglas County Landfill and Transfer Stations, Douglas County Fairgrounds and All External Douglas County Government Offices will be closed to the public on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

            Even when Douglas County government offices are closed, many officials and public employees continue working on special, routine, or emergency projects, those include our Board of Commissioners, Sheriff’s Office, Juvenile Department, Public Works Department, Emergency Management Department, Museums, Parks Department and Salmon Harbor Marina.  Please note the following:

• Both the Douglas County Museum of History and Natural History in Roseburg and the Umpqua River Lighthouse Museum in Winchester Bay will be open on Monday, January 19, 2026, for normal business hours.

For more information about both of our Douglas County Museums visit their website at https://umpquavalleymuseums.org/.

• All Douglas County operated parks, campgrounds and boat ramps will continue to be open and accessible to the public.  For reservation information at Douglas County operated campgrounds, please call (541) 957-7001 or go online to https://douglascountyor.gov/802/Parks.  As a reminder, the Douglas County Parks Office will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026.
• Salmon Harbor Marina and the Winchester Bay RV Park will continue to be open and accessible to the public.  For harbor or reservation information at Salmon Harbor, please call (541) 271-3407 or go online to https://douglascountyor.gov/448/Salmon-Harbor-Marina.  As a reminder, the Salmon Harbor Marina Office will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026.
• Even though the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office lobby entrance will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026, our Sheriff’s Deputies, 911 communications and DCSO staff will continue to provide law enforcement protection and emergency assistance for our residents.  If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1.  If you need to reach dispatch for a non-emergency situation, call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 440-4471.  For more information about services provided by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office visit their website at https://www.dcso.com/.

            Commissioners Kress, Boice, and Freeman encourage citizens to participate in celebrations on this day that help make Douglas County a better place to live, work, and play.

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Media Contact: Kai Rodriguez, Public Affairs Specialist | Douglas County Public Affairs Office | (541) 440-4493 office | (541) 391-2092 cell | odriguez@douglascountyor.gov">kai.rodriguez@douglascountyor.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 9, 2026

Commissioners Approve a Drug Enforcement Grant for DINT

(Douglas County, Ore) Douglas County Commissioners are pleased to announce that earlier this week they approved the acceptance of a renewal grant for the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT).  DINT under the command of Lieutenant Rick McArthur received a grant from the Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement Grant Program (IMMEGP). The grant, awarded by the State of Oregon through the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission (CJC), totals $1,945,652 and is the next cycle of an existing grant from the CJC that will support illegal marijuana enforcement efforts in Douglas County through August 31, 2027.

The funding will enhance DINT’s ability to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle illegal marijuana cultivation and distribution operations that pose risks to public safety, natural resources, and community well-being. Grant funds may be used to support personnel, investigations, equipment, training, prosecution-related costs, and collaborative enforcement efforts with local, state, and federal partners.

According to the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, the Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement Grant Program was created in 2018 following the passage of Senate Bill 1544 by the Oregon Legislature. The program was designed to provide targeted resources to local law enforcement agencies and district attorneys’ offices to address the ongoing challenges posed by illegal marijuana activity across the state.  IMMEGP assists local communities with costs incurred while addressing unlawful marijuana cultivation and distribution operations, including investigation and prosecution, as well as services for victims and survivors of labor trafficking and worker abuse. Illegal grow operations are often associated with environmental damage, unsafe working conditions, human trafficking, and other criminal activity, making enforcement efforts critical to protecting both people and property.

Lieutenant McArthur emphasized that the grant would allow DINT to continue proactive enforcement, operational readiness while strengthening partnerships with other agencies within the boundaries of Douglas County. “This funding gives us the tools necessary to address complex, multi-jurisdictional cases and to protect our communities from the impacts of illegal marijuana operations.”  He also personally thanked Commissioner Freeman for his extensive work on making sure this particular grant was funded properly and awarded to the agencies in Oregon that need it most. 

Commissioner Freeman noted that the grant reflects the Board’s continued confidence in DINT’s work and ongoing commitment to provide responsible and effective drug enforcement in Douglas County. He also noted that DINT has one of the highest drug plant seizure rates in the State of Oregon. 

DINT was originally formed in October 1989. The specialized unit was formed as part of a three-prong approach to substance abuse issues affecting Douglas County, Oregon. DINT is comprised of partnerships and support agencies made up of the following: Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Douglas County District Attorney's Office, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Oregon National Guard, Oregon State Police, Bureau of Land Management, and the Roseburg Police Department.  The unit's primary responsibility is the investigation and enforcement of State and Federal Controlled Substance laws. Their mission also entails training for area police and fire departments, the public, and private sector businesses.

For more information about the Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement Grant Program, visit the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission website at: https://www.oregon.gov/cjc/imme/pages/default.aspx

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Media Contact: Tamara Howell, Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist | Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: a.howell@douglascountyor.gov">tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov

Waste Wise Lane County—a part of the Lane County Waste Management Division—is asking residents to take a short community survey to help prevent dangerous battery fires and improve battery recycling, disposal, and storage practices.

"It's up to all of us to learn how to responsibly manage and dispose of batteries safely," said Angie Marzano, Lane County Waste Reduction Program supervisor. "This is especially true for lithium-ion batteries, which can explode or burn when damaged. These ‘thermal events’—which are becoming more frequent as battery use increases – can pose serious risks to county employees, equipment, and facilities."

The urgency is clear: Lane County’s Short Mountain Landfill experienced 49 lithium battery thermal events in 2025, up from 34 in 2024. These events present significant safety hazards and can damage critical infrastructure while increasing operational and environmental risks.

Residents are encouraged to take a quick, confidential survey before it closes January 19. Survey responses will help local experts understand current recycling knowledge and identify barriers residents face when trying to dispose of batteries properly.

Survey links:

• English: lcbattery.org
• Español: lcbateria.org

As an added incentive, $1 will be donated to BRING, a local nonprofit, for each completed survey.

About Waste Wise Lane County

Waste Wise Lane County—a part of the Lane County Waste Management Division—empowers residents, schools, and businesses with education, tools, and resources that can be used to reduce waste, conserve resources, and live more sustainably. For more information, visit lanecountyor.gov/wastewise.

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A new seven-member task force will be responsible for creating the priorities and goals, measures of success, reporting standards, and other requirements for Lane County’s new housing land banking program.

“We desperately need housing in Lane County,” said Lane County Housing Production Manager Eric Mongan. “While Lane County Government doesn’t directly develop real estate, we can and should have a role in identifying buildable land that can be purchased and incentivized for housing development.”

The land banking program was established in 2025 by the Board of County Commissioners as part of its ongoing work to support affordable housing development. Ultimately, it will identify properties with housing development potential, work through the land use process, and then sell shovel-ready properties to affordable housing developers to increase housing density and availability. Offering ready-to-build properties that have cleared the land use process reduces the risk of delays for affordable housing developers – making building more attractive – and allows for a more efficient construction timeline.

The task force will create the framework for the program, which will then be adopted by the Board of County Commissioners. The program is funded with $2 million in Oregon Video Lottery funding.

Letters of interest must be submitted by February 9, 2026. The Board of County Commissioners will appoint five of the task force members in early March with the County Administrator selecting the remaining two members. The task force will begin meeting in March and is expected to hold between six and eight one-hour meetings over the course of several months.

More information and application materials are available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/HousingTaskForce.

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Criminal Justice Commission reduces Marion County’s deflection funding by more than half a million dollars

January 8, 2026 – Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson has informed local partners that the innovative diversionary treatment program “RESTORE” (Restitution and Treatment on Route to Expungement) Court must cease operations due to insufficient funding from the State. While the county is committed to completing the program for current participants, it will not be sustained into the future with any new enrollment.  DA Clarkson said, “I am truly disappointed that our State could not see the value in an operational program that sought to get offenders the treatment they need while simultaneously making victims whole and helping our community in the process.”   She added, “This is exactly the type of wholistic thinking our state leaders should champion and not punish.” 

Background:  In 2024, HB 4002 recriminalized drugs following the failed decriminalization effort of Ballot Measure 110.  As part of that new statutory structure under HB 3069 (2025), the Oregon Legislature offered funding – allocated through the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) to encourage counties to create deflection programs that offer treatment instead of criminal justice sanctions for users caught with small amounts of narcotics.

Marion County’s decade-old LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) Program has been widely regarded as a national best practice diversion model. Under HB 4002, most other communities scrambled to create LEAD-like programs, and Marion County spearheaded training for communities and programs around the state. Additionally, Marion County saw an opportunity to do more.  “When the state passed HB 4002, we were already doing deflection right - with accountability and compassion that was truly making a difference.  We wanted to take these concepts further and help even more people that were not otherwise eligible for basic deflection under LEAD. HB 3069 gave us the funding to do that,” said DA Clarkson, “and RESTORE was created.”

RESTORE Court partnered the DA with Marion County Judges, the Marion County Health Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to help offenders who owed restitution to victims of property crimes such as Criminal Mischief, Forgery or Theft and therefore could not benefit from LEAD. RESTORE Court participants instead entered a court-ordered diversionary probation with appropriate treatment and other wrap-around services while simultaneously working off their restitution via community service. The dollars earned through their community service were used to pay restitution to the victims of their crime. If they successfully completed treatment and their restitution obligation, the DA agreed to dismiss the charges and expunge the individual’s record – a benefit not otherwise available. “This program was a win-win-win. The offender receives the help they need through treatment and the ability to move forward without the burden of a criminal conviction. The victim is made financially whole.  And the community received a benefit from real, meaningful service, usually in the form of a work crew,” said DA Clarkson. “But we need proper funding to offer this type of criminal justice programming. CJC provided the money to do that in the first allocation. Now CJC changed their formula.”

The funding formula adopted by the CJC as a result of HB 3069 reduced the allocation Marion County will receive for both its deflection programs, despite LEAD’s proven, data-driven benefits. Instead, more dollars were directed to counties who merely say that they will have the ability to serve larger numbers of participants in the future. The result is a disproportionate allocation that rewards counties for aspirational projections, while reducing support for established programs.    

“It’s hard to quantify the impact of a program like LEAD and our fledgling RESTORE Court by simply counting the number of participants,” said DA Clarkson. “You can’t put a dollar figure on a parent who becomes stable and breaks the cycle of dependency and homelessness, or on the benefit of successfully righting a wrong. Helping even one person in these ways can make meaningful, lasting change that has a ripple effect throughout our community – not to mention the value it brings directly to victims.  But to fund imaginary programs that don’t yet even exist at the expense of an operational, ground-breaking, collaborative system is a missed opportunity.” 

With RESTORE Court unable to move forward, existing funding will be used to ensure the continuation of the existing LEAD program putting Marion County right back where it was before all the dollars spent on HB 4002.

PORTLAND, Ore.—Today, the Justice Department announced criminal charges against Luis Nino-Moncada, an illegal alien and known Tren de Aragua (TdA) associate living in the Portland, Oregon area for violently striking a federal law enforcement vehicle. During a targeted enforcement operation, Nino-Moncada is alleged to have repeatedly struck a federal law enforcement vehicle, placing Border Patrol agents in harm’s way and resulting in significant damage to federal property. Nino-Moncada is in the country illegally, having previously been ordered removed by an immigration judge in 2024.

“Anyone who crosses the red line of assaulting law enforcement will be met with the full force of this Justice Department,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This man — an illegal alien with ties to a foreign terrorist organization — should NEVER have been in our country to begin with, and we will ensure he NEVER walks free in America again.”

Nino-Moncada has been charged with aggravated assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon and depredation of federal property in excess of $1,000. Nino-Moncada is scheduled to make his Initial Appearance today at 1:30 PM PST.

According to the complaint, Border Patrol agents initiated a targeted immigration enforcement operation on a vehicle believed to belong to a female involved in a TdA prostitution ring. The female was sitting in the passenger-side seat of the vehicle at the time of the enforcement operation. This female had previously been arrested by Border Patrol in El Paso, Texas and later failed to report to immigration authorities. According to law enforcement reports, the female is believed to have been involved in a shooting stemming from a bad prostitution deal.

After commanding Nino-Moncada to exit the vehicle, Nino-Moncada is alleged to have placed his vehicle in reverse, colliding with an unoccupied Border Patrol vehicle with enough speed and force to cause significant damage. Nino-Moncada continued the forward and reverse maneuver multiple times, striking the Border Patrol vehicle multiple times. A Border Patrol agent interviewed by FBI special agents described being fearful that Nino-Moncada could strike them and other Border Patrol agents with the target vehicle. After the attack, Nino-Moncada and the female passenger fled the scene in the target vehicle.

Damage to the border patrol vehicle was significant. Serious damage was sustained to the front bumper, resulting in the bumper being torn from the vehicle, both headlights being destroyed, the front driver-side quarter panel being dented, including the fender liner being detached, and the driver side rear-passenger door and quarter panel being dented.

In an interview following the incident, Nino-Moncada admitted to intentionally ramming the Border Patrol vehicle in an attempt to flee and stated that he knew it was an immigration enforcement vehicle.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland woman pleaded guilty yesterday for engaging in sexual contact of an unaccompanied minor under the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Teresa Valdovinos-Godinez, 34, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact.

According to court documents, between September 12, 2023, and October 8, 2023, Valdovinos-Godinez engaged in abusive sexual contact with an individual in federal custody while she was working as a counselor at Morrison Mi Futuro, a residential facility for unaccompanied minors in Portland.

On August 12, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Valdovinos-Godinez with abusive sexual contact.

Valdovinos-Godinez faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. She will be sentenced on April 2, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge.

As part of the plea agreement, Valdovinos-Godinez has agreed to pay restitution in full to the victim.

The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Rochat and Pamela Paaso are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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EUGENE, Ore.—The owner of three businesses pleaded guilty yesterday for stealing more than $487,386.75 in federal funds intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jodi Aliece Jennings, 50, of Junction City, Oregon, pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

According to court documents, between April 2020 and January 2022, Jennings applied for and obtained six Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans and one Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) Advance and submitted three fraudulent forgiveness applications for Meridian Redevelopment, J Jenn Enterprises Inc., and J2 Investments. Jennings falsely claimed each company was in business and paid payroll prior to and during the pandemic. Jennings used these loans on personal expenses.

In total, Jennings stole no less than $487,386.75, including the EIDL advance and principal, interest, and SBA paid lender fees on the PPPs.

On June 15, 2023, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Jennings with nine counts of wire fraud.

Jennings faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced on April 22, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge.

As part of the plea agreement, Jennings has agreed to pay restitution to the SBA.

This case was investigated by the SBA Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon is prosecuting the case.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

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The Umpqua Community College Board of Education will have an executive session and joint board meeting on January 14, 2026. The executive session will begin at 4:00pm and the joint board meeting will begin at 6:00pm. They wil be held at Roseburg High School. Pertinent meeting information can be found at umpqua.edu/board-meetings.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UCC Woolley Center and Small Business Development Center Have Moved!

Newly Remodeled Downtown Location Expands Access to Education, Career, and Business Support

Roseburg, OR — Umpqua Community College (UCC) is excited to announce that both the UCC Woolley Center and UCC’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) have officially moved into a newly remodeled downtown UCC building at 729 SE Jackson Street.

The revitalized building features student housing on the upper floors, with the Woolley Center and SBDC located on the main floor, creating a centralized hub for education, workforce preparation, and small business support in the heart of downtown Roseburg.

Start Your Journey at the UCC Woolley Center

The Woolley Center is home to UCC’s College and Career Readiness (CCR) program. Students can start their journey here—whether preparing for college, or a career—the CCR program provides free classes and personalized support for adults sixteen and older looking to take their next step forward.

Students can receive help with:

• Preparing for GED^® exams
• Learning English
• Building math and reading skills
• Exploring college or career pathways with dedicated advisors

There is no cost for College and Career Readiness classes, and with year-round enrollment and flexible scheduling options, students can find a schedule that works for them. 

Woolley Center Contact Information:
Website: https://umpqua.edu/academics/ccr/
Phone: 541-440-4603
Email: woolley@umpqua.edu

Supporting Local Businesses at the UCC SBDC

Also located at the new downtown site is UCC’s Small Business Development Center, part of a state and nationwide network providing business resources both in person and online. The SBDC supports entrepreneurs, startups, and established businesses at every stage.

The UCC SBDC offers:

• Live and online workshops
• No-cost, confidential business advising
• Basic and in-depth business fundamentals
• Ongoing, customized strategic planning
• CCB pre-license training and exam preparation
• Real Estate Broker and Property Manager pre-license trainings
• Small Business Management program

Whether you are starting a business, growing to the next level, or planning for succession, the SBDC is here to help.

SBDC Contact Information:
Website:  https://www.umpqua.edu/sbdc
Phone: 541-440-7824
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday

Oregon Small Business Development Centers are funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, and by the Oregon Business Development Department.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact 541-440-7824 to make arrangements.

New Location for Both Centers

729 SE Jackson Street
Roseburg, OR 97470

Together, the UCC Woolley Center and SBDC strengthen access to education, workforce preparation, and business support—helping individuals and communities thrive.

UCC will host an open house later in the winter term to invite the community to tour the new space.

About Umpqua Community College

Umpqua Community College is committed to transforming lives through accessible, high-quality education and workforce training that strengthens individuals, families, and communities.

ROSEBURG, OR - UCC Performing and Visual Arts presents the Vintage Singers performing their 49th annual Twelfth Night concert on January 9, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. and January 11, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Roseburg.

The music performance is directed by Donna Spicer and accompanied by Tammy Finch-Johnson and Gwen Soderberg-Chase. This year’s concert will feature music ranging from the Renaissance to present day arrangements of Mele Kalikimaka, Holiday Inn, Angels We Have Heard on High  and other familiar carols. Additional performers include Jeff Plummer and Bob Carwithen on trombone.

Admission is available online or at the door: $15.00 general admission, $10.00 seniors, students are admitted FREE. For more information, contact 541-440-4691 or music@umpqua.edu.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

BEND, OR — With the new year in full swing, the High Desert Museum invites you to explore, learn and celebrate with an array of new and compelling events and programs in January and February.

On January 31 and February 28, everyone can experience the latest exhibitions, dynamic wildlife encounters and more for free during the Mid Oregon Credit Union Free Family Saturdays.

Along with free admission, Museum visitors can look forward to a special Daily Schedule. Guests can meet a nonreleasable raptor in the Museum’s care during the Bird of Prey Encounters happening every hour between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. 

“Our partnership with High Desert Museum continues to be a great value for the credit union, members and the community for over 22 years,” said Kyle Frick, VP of Marketing for Mid Oregon Credit Union. “This is one of the annual high points that we look forward to each year, always getting better as time goes on!”

Free Days are just the beginning of an eventful winter at the Museum. On Saturday, January 24, visitors have a special opportunity to hear from author Linda Meanus (Warm Springs) during an afternoon talk and book signing. Meanus will discuss her recent book My Name is LaMoosh and share stories from her life.

Meanus grew up with her grandmother Flora Thompson and grandfather Chief Tommy Thompson near Celilo Falls and has persevered through life’s challenges to teach broad audiences about Indigenous ways of life and ongoing connections to the Columbia River. Tickets are $5 (20% discount for members) and free for Tribal members. The talk is followed by a book signing. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/linda-meanus-talk.

Then, on Thursday, February 12, a special members-only appreciation night welcomes members and their guests to an interactive, celebratory evening exploring the exhibition Soil Alive! The event includes music, a kid-friendly dinner with non-alcoholic beverages, beer, wine and a themed cocktail for purchase, and down-to-earth fun for all ages. Hands-on activities include soil painting and discovering the tiny wonders of soil through a microscope. The event is free for members and $5 for member guests. Discover more at highdesertmuseum.org/member-appreciation-2026.

Back for another year of 1920s excitement, the annual Prohibition Party returns on Friday, February 20. From 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, the Museum steps back in time for a night of suede, silk and fringe. This year celebrating the cowboy and the flapper, the theme A Fringe Affair puts the 1920s in the High Desert. Michelle Van Handel and the Swingin’ Doors will provide live music alongside dancing, a costume contest and a pop-up exhibition to explore objects from 1920s Central Oregon. The Prohibition Party also includes food and drinks for purchase, a movie theater, make-n-take art stations for headpieces and bolos, plus two themed photo booths.

The event is 21 and older only, and costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $50 with two drink tickets or $35 with two non-alcoholic drink tickets. Members receive a 20% discount. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/prohibition-party-2026.

Finally, on Thursday, February 26, the quarterly program Museum & Me takes place. Museum & Me invites children and adults who experience physical, intellectual and/or social disabilities to enjoy the Museum after hours from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, providing a quiet space to discover new exhibitions and revisit favorites. Registration is required but tickets are free for individuals, friends and family. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/museum-and-me-feb-2026.

Visit highdesertmuseum.org/calendar to explore upcoming programs and events.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM: 

THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. 

ABOUT MID OREGON CREDIT UNION:

Mid Oregon Credit Union is a full-service, member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in and serving Central Oregonians since 1957. With almost 49,000 members in Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Lake, and North Klamath Counties and almost $759 million in assets, Mid Oregon partners with members to meet their financial needs and to help them achieve their dreams. Mid Oregon was named a Top Workplace in Oregon and Southwest Washington for 2022, 2023, and 2024. It was also ranked the #1 credit union in Oregon by Forbes for 2023 and 2024 and received the Bend Bulletin’s Best of the Best of Bend Community Choice Award in the credit union category for 2023 and 2024. For more information about its services and branch locations in Bend, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, Redmond, and Sisters, please visit midoregon.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 13, 2026

Oregon Community Foundation Contact

Colin Fogarty, Director of Communications, Oregon Community Foundation

(503) 720-3112 | ty@oregoncf.org">cfogarty@oregoncf.org

Oregon Humanities Contact

Ben Waterhouse, Communications Director, Oregon Humanities

(503) 241-0543 | .waterhouse@oregonhumanities.org">b.waterhouse@oregonhumanities.org

OCF FIELDS FELLOWSHIP INVESTS IN OREGON ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES

Four Oregon Artists Each Receive $150,000 Over Two Years

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Community Foundation, in partnership with Oregon Humanities, has named four Oregonians to the Fields Artist Fellowship, which awards $150,000 over two years to Oregon-based artists working to address issues within their communities through creativity and cultural expression.

• Amber Kay Ball (Portland)
• Yanely Rivas Maldonado (Salem)
• Talilo Marfil (Portland)
• Ernesto Javier Martínez (Eugene)

“These four people are amazing changemakers,” said Jerry Tischleder, Senior Program Officer for Arts and Culture at Oregon Community Foundation. “They have deep connections in their communities and are using creativity in vastly different and incredible ways to spark hope, inspiration and connection, and to raise voices that aren’t always heard. These investments come at times that will open doors for them in ways that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. It’s going to be amazing to see what they do.”

The Fellowship will support these creative individuals to advance their artistic practice and honor and sustain their commitment to create social change within their community. In addition to the $150,000 award, fellows will receive professional development, networking and community-building opportunities throughout the two-year term.

Community members across the state reviewed applications and interviewed finalists to select this cohort of fellows. The Fellowship term will begin in May 2026 and run through May 2028.

In addition to the four fellows, these other finalists will also receive a one-time award of $10,000.

• Oluyinka Akinjiola (Portland)
• Micah BlackLight Lael (Ashland)
• Chisao Hata (Portland)
• Anthony Hudson (Portland)
• Jose Antonio Huerta (Springfield)
• Fish Martinez (Siletz)
• Concepcion Samano (Falls City)

Artists of all disciplines and artistic media are eligible for the Fields Artist Fellowship, including writers, filmmakers, visual artists, multimedia artists, culture bearers and performance artists. Eligibility requirements include the following:

• At least five years of professional practice in an artistic discipline or combination of disciplines
• At least three years of residence in Oregon and the intent to reside in Oregon for the majority of the fellowship term (May 2026 to May 2028)
• Demonstrable evidence of artistic practice that can engage with community groups and organizations and/or address community concerns

Oregon Community Foundation, in partnership with Oregon Humanities, administers the program and convenes gatherings for the fellows. Funding is provided by the Fred W. Fields Fund of Oregon Community Foundation. This is the fourth cohort of Fields Artist Fellows, joining twelve previous recipients awarded in 2019, 2021 and 2024.

About the Artists

Amber Kay Ball (she/her) is a Citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Born in Portland, Oregon, she is a director, playwright, visual artist and community-based advocate. As a contemporary multi-practice artist, Amber uses theater, multimedia and beadwork as mediums for sharing stories, truths, laughter and joy. These mediums allow Amber to critically explore, honor and weave Native pasts, presents and futures in a just and liberated methodology. She is a co-founder of Native Playwrights PDX and works to support multigenerational Native theater-makers in the process of new play creation and direction.

Ball plans to use her Fields Fellowship to invest in time for new play development and creation, as well as share current works around Oregon with community. Her hope is to continue with more playwriting and theater making workshops to support more early career Native theater makers in sharing story and continuing advocating for our communities.

Yanely Rivas Maldonado (she/they) is a working-class printmaker, cultural worker and educator with ancestral roots in the mountains of Michoacán, Mexico — lands traditionally steward by the P'urépecha. Her art practice has been sowed in community and has flourished in the versatile soil of social justice movements and solidarity efforts she’s been a part of over the last decade. Their art is an offering and prayer for a world where we are all beautifully free and interconnected — living in good relationship with the lands, waters and beings that so graciously nourish our hearts. They create artwork to weave us across the continuum of past-present-future and to leave seeds of ancestral memory, resistance, joy and hope along the path back to center — back to home.

Yanely’s primary creative mediums are printmaking, digital illustration and social practice art. Over the last couple of years, she’s been deepening her art practice in traditional cultural arts including basket weaving, natural dyes, beadwork and gourd art.

Yanely plans to use the Fellowship as an opportunity to invest time in foundational arts training and creating a sustainable studio space for printmaking, natural dyeing and traditional crafts. The grant will support her vision to organize art 0fferings in her community and participate in a residency in Oaxaca, Mexico, while strengthening ties with cultural workers and bearers in the U.S. and Mexico.

"Receiving this Fellowship is truly a blessing. It gives me the time and space to go deep into my art practice in a way that I haven't been able to do before and in a way that feels sustainable and life-giving. I'm looking forward to all aspects of the journey and seeing what artistic seeds take root and bloom for me and my community long-term because of this opportunity." ~ Yanely Rivas Maldonado

Talilo Marfil (he/him) is a West Bisayan immigrant, Filipino American hip hop artist and community leader focused on advancing youth voice, cultural preservation and equitable access to creative resources. For over a decade, he has developed and led arts-based programs with marginalized youth, including co-founding Ascending Flow in East Portland and helping develop Keys, Beats, Bars at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority. He is the founder of Peer Tribe Foundation, which supports artists and leaders creating measurable impact in their communities. Talilo’s work centers storytelling as a tool for healing, self-advocacy and change. In the city of bridges, he serves as a bridge between culture, community and creative opportunity.

Through this Fellowship, Talilo will expand his music career while using his platform to attract and reinvest resources through Peer Tribe Foundation. The grant will support cultural exchange in the Philippines, sustain hip-hop workshops for youth in correctional facilities, and launch a portable recording studio project in Oregon.

“Receiving this Fellowship means I can pour back into the communities that shaped me. I’m looking forward to honoring ancestral knowledge, expanding access to creative resources, and creating spaces where young people see their voices as powerful and necessary.”~ Talilo Marfil

Ernesto Javier Martínez (he/him) is a queer Chicano/Puerto Rican writer, educator and filmmaker. He was born in Oakland, California, raised between Mexico and the United States, and currently lives in Eugene. He studied literature at Stanford and Cornell, becoming a university professor at the age of 28. Ernesto pivoted toward artistic work when he collaborated with illustrator Maya Gonzalez, authoring When We Love Someone, We Sing to Them, the first bilingual children’s book published in North America about a boy who loves a boy. This book earned two International Latino Book Awards and was selected for the American Library Association's “Rainbow Book List." He began working as a screenwriter and filmmaker when he collaborated with Director Adelina Anthony, writing and producing his first short film, La Serenata, winner of 11 best film awards and distributed by HBO Max. He later contributed to beloved children’s television programs such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Sesame Street, and Lyla in the Loop, and co-wrote Daniel Visits a New Neighborhood: The Movie (PBS Kids), introducing a new Latinx family to the Emmy-winning franchise.

Ernesto’s work has earned him the Lambda Literary Award, Imagen Award, Spark Award for Oregon Artists, HBO Latinx Short Film Competition Award, and fellowships from the Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, and NALIP.

This support comes at a pivotal moment as Ernesto is finalizing his first live action feature film La Serenata and beginning bold new projects that challenge stereotypes and inspire hope. Ernesto plans to produce an animated TV pilot, The Boy Who Became a River, a fantasy adventure that honors migrant struggles and uplifts queer Latinx youth. The grant will help him create sustainable ways to develop content in Oregon, while building a local creative community.

“Receiving the Fields Artist Fellowship is an incredible honor because it affirms the importance of telling stories that center queer Latinx youth. Too often, these voices are marginalized or erased, and this Fellowship gives me the resources and time to create work that celebrates their resilience, complexity and beauty. I’m excited to use this support to build imaginative worlds that inspire hope and belonging for the next generation.”~ Ernesto Javier Martínez

About Oregon Community Foundation

Since 1973, Oregon Community Foundation has worked to improve the lives of all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. Each year, OCF distributes more than $200 million in grants and scholarships in every county in Oregon in partnership with donors and volunteers. Individuals, families, businesses and organizations can work with OCF to create charitable funds to support causes important to them. To learn more, visit oregoncf.org.

About Oregon Humanities

Oregon Humanities connects people and communities through conversation, storytelling, and participatory programs to inspire understanding and collaborative change. More information about our programs and publications — which include Consider This, Conversation Project, Humanity in Perspective, The Detour podcast, Facilitation Training, and Oregon Humanities magazine — can be found at oregonhumanities.org. Oregon Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a partner of the Oregon Cultural Trust.

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PORTLAND, Ore. - As frontline healthcare workers, we are entrusted with a fundamental responsibility: to preserve life, reduce harm, and provide care with dignity—without exception. The killing of Renee Nicole Good by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis is a devastating violation of those principles and a stark example of the unchecked harm ICE continues to inflict on our communities. Our hearts go out to the victim and her family, and we extend our deepest sympathies during this profound moment of loss.

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) unequivocally condemns this senseless act of violence and demands full transparency from the Department of Homeland Security, including a thorough, independent investigation. We call for an immediate end to ICE’s operations in our communities and for meaningful oversight of an agency that has repeatedly demonstrated it cannot be trusted to police itself.

The videos emerging from Minneapolis are chilling. When state violence occurs, it is the nurses and other frontline caregivers who are called to respond to stop the bleeding, manage the trauma, and comfort families. ICE, meanwhile, operates with extraordinary power and little accountability—bringing lethal force into communities in Oregon and across the country, while evading the transparency and consequences required of other agencies or institutions.

This killing did not happen in a vacuum. ICE’s routine use of intimidation and force creates widespread fear that keeps immigrant communities from seeking medical care, delays treatment until conditions become life-threatening, and causes lasting psychological trauma. That fear directly interferes with frontline healthcare workers’ ability to carry out our professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities. A system that drives patients into hiding is not protecting public safety—it is actively endangering lives.

As frontline healthcare workers, we see the consequences of these actions every day, and this killing only deepens the harm. ICE’s tactics have pushed immigrant communities into crisis—a reality fundamentally at odds with our commitment as frontline caregivers. Immigrants are vital members of our state and our healthcare system, and they deserve the same rights and protections as everyone else. ONA stands in solidarity with immigrant communities and communities of color who are directly and indirectly harmed by ICE’s actions.

We cannot fulfill our duty to care for patients while ICE continues to operate as an unaccountable force that threatens the very communities we are sworn to protect and serve. 

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