This afternoon, more than 130 citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen from the Oregon National Guard completed their two-day wildland firefighter refresher course at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem. 

The two-day session was for those who had already completed the course and were "Red Card" certified.  The weekend included training on firefighter safety, fire conditions, hose lines, hand tools, deployment of fire shelters, and concluded with attendees applying all that they learned with a number of live-fire scenarios.

Funds were allocated to the Department of Defense by Congress to enable the National Guard to prepare its members ahead of wildfire season just in case their assistance may be needed.  State leaders in Oregon requested the funds from this program which enabled the training to occur.

This was the first of two groups of Guard members being trained this year by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST).  More than 300 members of the Guard will arrive at the Academy tomorrow, Monday, July 13, 2020, to complete the wildland firefighter training course.  The group arriving tomorrow has never had the training.  Upon completion of their week of training this group will also meet the same training requirements of all public and private wildland firefighters and be awarded their "red cards" indicating completion of the training and certification.

The Oregon National Guard is proactively training its members just in case their assistance is needed to support wildland firefighting efforts around the state this year.  The Oregon Department of Forestry can request the Governor active the Guard when public and private wildfire resources are close to being depleted.  The Guard has been activated in previous years under a standing agreement between the Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon Military Department called "Operations Plan Smokey."

The men and women re-certified this weekend, along with those that will be trained in the week ahead, will return to their local communities, careers, and families and standby until the call comes.  This proactive work by the Guard will enable the deployment of trained wildland firefighters from its armories and air bases around the state to be deployed much faster if, and when, the call for assistance comes in.

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed two more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 234, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 332 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 12,170.

The new cases are in the following counties: Baker (1), Benton (2), Clackamas (33), Deschutes (16), Douglas (4), Hood River (1), Jackson (2), Jefferson (5), Klamath (2), Lane (10), Linn (8), Malheur (71), Marion (28), Morrow (7), Multnomah (70), Polk (4), Sherman (1), Umatilla (27), Wasco (1), Washington (35), Yamhill (4).

Oregon’s 233rd COVID-19 death is an 86-year-old woman in Malheur County who tested positive on June 29. The date and location of death are still being confirmed. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 234th COVID-19 death is a 93-year-old woman in Washington County who died on July 7 and tested positive post-mortem on July 11. Additional details are still being confirmed.

See table below for total cases, deaths, and negative tests by county.

1This includes cases confirmed by diagnostic testing and presumptive cases. Presumptive cases are those without a positive diagnostic test who present COVID-19-like symptoms and had close contact with a confirmed case. County of residence for cases may change as new information becomes available. If changes occur, we will update our counts accordingly.

2For additional details on individuals who have died from COVID-19 in Oregon, please refer to our press releases.

3This includes cases who test negative and are not epi-linked to a confirmed case.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Office of Emergency Management lead the state response.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.

More than 130 members of the Oregon National Guard completed the first day, of their two-day, wildland firefighter refresher training today at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem.

Today began with distribution of wildland firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE) from head to toe, wildfire safety considerations classes, and training on the deployment of wildfire shelters which included hands-on sessions.

Tomorrow the citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen from armories and air bases around the state will complete their training which will include hands-on live-fire scenarios to enable these previously trained men and women to refresh their skills.

This is the first training session that the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) will offer this week.  This first class is a refresher for those Guard members who were previously trained and certified as "red card" wildland firefighters. 

On Monday a second group of more than 350 members from both Army and Air components of the Oregon National Guard will arrive for a week of training to prepare them to assist on the firelines this summer in case their assistance is needed.  The training this group will receive is the same wildland firefighter "red card" training class all public and private organizations complete.

This training is being proactively offered to have more than 500 members of the Oregon National Guard ready to quickly respond in case their assistance is needed this summer by the Oregon Department of Forestry.  

State leaders requested funds through the Department of the Defense which was approved to cover the costs for the training and equipment.  The funds were allocated by Congress to have members of the Guard trained ahead of wildfire season which will speed-up the deployment process in case their assistance is needed. 

DPSST's Director Eriks Gabliks said "the partnership with the Oregon National Guard, Oregon Department of Forestry, and DPSST is very strong which enables the training to be offered as we begin fire season in Oregon.  Previous years have shown the value of this partnership as members of the Guard have been deployed to support wildfire suppression efforts around Oregon when all public and private resources were depleted."

Media note:  Live fire training for the large group is scheduled for Thursday.  As soon as a time is set we will send out a notice so that you can attend and view the training and interview members of the Guard participating.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The state’s death toll from COVID-19 is unchanged from yesterday and remains at 232, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 409 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 11,851. Today’s high number is partially due to a transition to a new reporting system, which prevented the processing of positive cases for a few hours Thursday. Those cases are included in today’s case count.

The new cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (2), Benton (6), Clackamas (29), Columbia (1), Coos (2), Deschutes (15), Douglas (2), Hood River (2), Jackson (5), Jefferson (4), Josephine (3), Klamath (4), Lane (13), Lincoln (1), Linn (2), Malheur (16), Marion (61), Morrow (7), Multnomah (99), Polk (2), Sherman (1), Umatilla (50), Union (1),Wallowa (1),  Wasco (10), Washington (55), Yamhill (15).

Since Oregon began reopening, we have seen spread of COVID-19 when people get together to celebrate with family and friends. Some examples include:

• Graduations
• Birthdays
• Weddings
• Holidays

COVID-19 is spreading more among social activities involving groups of younger people. OHA has recorded outbreaks linked to:

• Exercise classes
• Fraternity party
• Bachelor party

While it is difficult not to celebrate these events as we have in the past, COVID-19 is spreading in our communities and people must think hard about altering daily routines that may put people at risk.

OHA recommends that everyone:

• Limit the size of our gatherings
• Keep our distance
• Cover our faces
• Find alternative ways for those who are vulnerable to participate.

See table below for total cases, deaths, and negative tests by county.

1This includes cases confirmed by diagnostic testing and presumptive cases. Presumptive cases are those without a positive diagnostic test who present COVID-19-like symptoms and had close contact with a confirmed case. County of residence for cases may change as new information becomes available. If changes occur, we will update our counts accordingly.

2For additional details on individuals who have died from COVID-19 in Oregon, please refer to our press releases.

3This includes cases who test negative and are not epi-linked to a confirmed case.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Office of Emergency Management lead the state response.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.

On Thursday, July 9, 2020 at approximately 1:52 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Hwy 101 and Long Prairie Rd.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a blue Hyundai SUV, operated by Miriam Wolfe (90) of Netarts, was crossing Hwy 101 traveling west from Long Prairie Rd onto Gienger Rd.  She pulled into the path of a Jeep Cherokee, operated by Alan Mulvaney (38) of Cannon Beach, that was southbound on Hwy 101 and it was unable to avoid the crossing Hyundai.    

Both drivers were injured and transported by ambulance to the Tillamook Hospital.  

Wolfe was pronounced deceased at the hospital. 

Mulvaney was then transported to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland.

OSP was assisted by the Tillamook Police Department, Tillamook Fire Department, Tillamook Ambulance and Tillamook County Sheriff's Office.  

.

On Friday, July 10, 2020 at approximately 7:35 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 224 Expressway near milepost 5.5.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a black 2006 Pontiac GTO, operated by Anthony Higgins (32) of Portland, was traveling westbound on Hwy 224 Expressway in the left lane when it hit the median, lost control, traveled down an embankment, and rolled.  

Higgins sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

A passenger, Kendra Stockberger (19) of Portland, was transported by ground ambulance to Emanuel Hospital for non life threatening injuries.

OSP was assisted by Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Happy Valley Police Department, ODOT, and Clackamas Fire Department.  

On Friday, July 10, 2020 at approximately 6:33 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 97 near MP 151.

Preliminary investigation revealed a green 2001 Ford Explorer, operated by Ysabell Joseph (24) of Lapine, was south on Hwy 97 when it left the roadway and rolled.

The front passenger, Joseph Kushner (34) of Lapine, was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle.

Kushner sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Ysabell Joseph was wearing a seatbelt and she was transported via air ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend.

The Oregon State Police was assisted by Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Bend Police Department, Sunriver Police Department, Sunriver Fire Department and ODOT. 

For the first time in the 50-year history of the Marine Board’s Boating Facility Grant Program, the public now has an opportunity to weigh in on where they’d like to see their boating dollars invested. Marine Board staff wants to provide an opportunity for the public to comment directly to the agency and to create more public involvement in how the Board awards grant dollars.

Applications for Cycle 2 motorized and non-motorized funding closed July 1. These are the first applications to be considered for non-motorized boating access and education grants with Waterway Access Permit revenue. In 2019, the Oregon Legislature approved SB 47, creating a dedicated account for non-motorized boating access, where boaters who operate boats 10 feet long or longer are required to purchase and carry a Waterway Access Permit. The revenue helps fund two programs: AIS Prevention Program (co-managed by the Marine Board and ODFW) and Boating Facility Grant Program; a competitive process for eligible applicants. Boating facility grant funding can be used to improve facilities by adding car parking spaces, non-motorized boat launches, restrooms, low-freeboard docks, and more. Grant funding is also available to tribal governments and public and non-profit entities for boating safety education/equipment in underserved communities.

There’s nearly $900,000 in (motorized and nonmotorized) Cycle Two grant revenue available with 19 applications, requesting nearly $1.5 million, for a total project value of more than $2.5 million. The deadline to review applications and provide comments is August 7. Comments will be reviewed and shared with the Marine Board prior to a special August 27 Board meeting to consider the grants.

Visit the Boating Facility Grant Application Comment Page to view applications and provide comments. 

###

The Marine Board is directly funded by boaters in the form of registration, title, and permit fees, as well as through marine fuel taxes. No lottery, general fund tax dollars, or local facility parking fees support the agency or its programs. Boater-paid fees support the boating public through boating safety services (on-the-water law enforcement, training, and equipment), boating safety education, grants for the construction and maintenance of boating access facilities, and environmental protection programs. For more information about the Marine Board and its programs, visit www.boatoregon.com.

July 10, 2020

Program contact: Hilary Harrison, 503-209-1949, y.harrison@dhsoha.state.or.us">hilary.harrison@dhsoha.state.or.us

What: A regular public meeting of the System of Care Advisory Council.

When: July 14, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Where: By webinar at https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/706039269 or by teleconference at 872-240-3212, access code 706-039-269. Please note only council members may speak until the public comment time.

Agenda: The council will primarily be working on the System of Care strategy and planning. The full agenda can be found on the council's webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/BH-Child-Family/Pages/SOCAC.aspx. The meeting will include time for public comment.

Details: Senate Bill 1 (2019) established a Governor-appointed System of Care Advisory Council to improve the efficacy and effectiveness of the state and local continuum of care that provides services to youth and young adults. The council's immediate work is to develop and maintain a state System of Care and a comprehensive long-range plan for a coordinated state system.

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters.
• Written materials in other languages.
• Braille.
• Large print.
• Audio and other formats.

If you need help or have questions, please contact Hilary Harrison at 503-209-1949, 711 TTY, or y.harrison@dhsoha.state.or.us">hilary.harrison@dhsoha.state.or.us at least two business days before the meeting.

Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant funding was part of a 2019 legislature approved lottery bond package scheduled for spring 2021. The sale of the bond package has been canceled due lottery shortfalls from the impacts of COVID-19. Without the $5,000,000 expected from the sale or additional action by the legislature, a new round of grants can’t be awarded.

This is a devastating blow to Oregon’s 93 historic downtowns and organizations that participate in the Oregon Main Street Network. They have struggled these past several months to meet the challenges their communities are facing during the pandemic. They have been vital to the preservation of jobs, businesses, and community resilience. Many have already been preparing for the application process slated to open in January, 2021.

The grant program was created during the 2015 legislative session, and placed with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. The grant funds building acquisition, rehabilitation, or construction projects that support community revitalization in Oregon Main Street Network communities. The program also requires that at least 50 percent of the funds go to rural communities as defined in the bill.

The legislation established a permanent fund for the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant, and provided an initial infusion of funds from the sale of lottery bonds. Subsequent funding through the sale of lottery bonds was approved in 2017 and 2019. While the 2019 approved funding is now unlikely, the fund itself remains and can be replenished by other sources including other government and private funds.

The first two grants cycles resulted in awards for 56 projects in 37 communities. Awards were spread all over the state, from Enterprise to Lakeview to Gold Beach to Astoria, and included 30 communities under 30,000 population. Types of projects funded include:

• Full restoration of several buildings, some decades vacant, including the Central Hotel in Burns, Merwyn Building in Astoria, Mills Garage in Independence, Au Franc Building in Port Orford, IOOF Building in La Grande.
• Creation of new or improved residential units including eleven new apartments in Coos Bay, six apartments and retail upgrades in Cottage Grove, two projects to support a total of 24 units in Klamath Falls, 40 new units in Astoria, four new apartments in Tillamook, renovation of five apartments in Reedsport, three new spaces in The Dalles, and 10-12 new units in Woodburn.
• Façade restorations including a model block program coordinated by Revitalize Downtown Stayton that includes improvements on seven of nine properties in downtown. Other facade improvements include the Litch Building in Enterprise, Riviera Building in Astoria, Railroad Avenue buildings and The Coin in Oregon City, Morris Miles & Co Building in Newberg, and Alberta district in Portland.
• Structural and roof repairs including five properties in Reedsport, two buildings in Baker City, the historic Masonic Building in Bandon, the Hill Theater (antique store) in Hillsboro, the Bungalow Theater & Museum building in Woodburn, and one building each in Dallas and Weston.
• Historic Theater acquisition and improvements including purchase of the Alger Theater in Lakeview, and improvements to the Liberty Theater in La Grande, Columbia Theater in St. Helens, OK Theatre in Enterprise, and Rivoli Theater in Pendleton.

To learn more about the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant or the Oregon Main Street Network, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

July 10, 2020

Media contact: OHA External Relations 971-673-2097, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 275 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 2 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed two more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 232, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 275 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 11,454.

The new cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (1), Benton (6), Clackamas (11), Crook (1), Deschutes (8), Douglas (2), Hood River (4), Jackson (9), Jefferson (15), Josephine (2), Lane (10), Linn (3), Malheur (21), Marion (28), Morrow (3), Multnomah (37), Polk (3), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (51), Union (1), Wallowa (1), Wasco (5), Washington (44), Yamhill (8).

Oregon’s 231st COVID-19 death is a 62-year-old man in Union County who tested positive on June 16 and died on July 2, at Saint Regional Medical Center in Boise. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 232nd COVID-19 death is a 99-year-old woman in Lincoln County who tested positive on June 26 and died on July 9. Location of death is being confirmed. She had underlying medical conditions.

Note: More details are available about Oregon’s 229th COVID-19 death. She is a 78-year-old female in Clackamas County who died on June 18 at her residence. The death certificate listed COVID-19 disease, or SARS-CoV-2, as a cause of death or as a significant condition that contributed to her death. No confirmatory testing for COVID-19 was performed, but this aligns with the CSTE probable case definition for a presumptive case, which OHA follows.

Social gatherings are increasing spread

Since Oregon began reopening, we have seen spread of COVID-19 when people get together to celebrate with family and friends. Some examples include:

• Graduations
• Birthdays
• Weddings
• Holidays

COVID-19 is spreading more among social activities involving groups of younger people. OHA has recorded outbreaks linked to:

• Exercise classes
• Fraternity party
• Bachelor party

While it is difficult not to celebrate these events as we have in the past, COVID-19 is spreading in our communities and people must think hard about altering daily routines that may put people at risk.

OHA recommends that everyone:

• Limit the size of our gatherings
• Keep our distance
• Cover our faces
• Find alternative ways for those who are vulnerable to participate.

Modeling shows potentially steep upward trend

The newest modeling shows the continuation of a concerning trend of rapidly spreading COVID-19 throughout Oregon. Cases are rising at a rate so high, that even a 10 percent reduction in cases would not slow the rise in cases.

The bottom line is that the disease is spreading more rapidly than expected and that since reopening, Oregonians have not consistently modeled the behavior needed to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Three modeling scenarios all show rising cases.

• The first scenario assumes transmission rates stay the same as they are now, with daily infections tripling over the next month and a similar increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the next 30 days.
• The second scenario assumes a 10-percentage point decrease over the 30 days, slowing the growth of infection and cutting hospitalizations in half.
• The third and final scenario assumes a 10-percentage point increase continuing over the next 30 days with a dramatic increase in daily cases and a sharp increase in hospitalizations.

In any scenario Oregonians must do more to flatten the curve of COVID-19 by taking the recommendations of health authorities. Limit the size of gatherings; maintain six feet of physical distance between people; wear a face masks; practice good hand hygiene and stay home if you are sick.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority leads the state response.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.

Salem – As Oregon OSHA continues to process and evaluate complaints related to COVID-19, the division encourages workers and members of the public to use its online workplace hazard reporting form.

While people may still call the division with complaints, the online reporting form offers a quicker way to bring concerns to the division’s attention.

“We will continue to take phone calls about workplace hazards concerning the novel coronavirus,” said Michael Wood, administrator for Oregon OSHA. “However, our online system is just as fast – if not faster – at absorbing complaints and allowing us to efficiently respond to them.”

###

Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, enforces the state’s workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. For more information, visit osha.oregon.gov.

The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, go to www.dcbs.oregon.gov.

In accordance with their duties to review the 2018 Bond program, a meeting of the WWPS Bond Oversight Committee will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. via Online/Virtual Zoom Meeting.

Members of the public who wish to listen to the meeting via telephone may do so. The call in number is 1-253-215-8782. An access code is required and can be obtained ahead of time by contacting Susie Golden at 509-526-6715 or sgolden@wwps.org.

Details are available via the following link:  http://www.wwps.org/bond/bond-oversight-committee

Supporting documents are available via the following link:  https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/997

July 10, 2020

Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen will hold a weekly media availability at 11:15 a.m. Friday, July 10. To participate, media are invited to call 844-721-7239, access code 6939096.

For more information: media.COVID-19@state.or.us

PORTLAND, Ore. July 10, 2020 — Experts say the Pacific Northwest could be in for a busy wildfire season this summer and the American Red Cross needs volunteers to help in our local communities.

“The coronavirus pandemic will make it challenging to deploy trained disaster volunteers from other parts of the country should a large emergency occur in Oregon or Southwest Washington. In light of this, the Red Cross is asking you to be ready to help your community,” said Rebecca Marshall, Regional Disaster Officer, Red Cross Cascades Region. “Train now to be a Red Cross volunteer and answer the call to help if the need arises here in our region.”

Full information on volunteer opportunities is available here.

SHELTER HELP NEEDED There is a special need for volunteers to support sheltering efforts. Because of COVID-19, the Red Cross is placing those needing a safe place to stay in emergency hotel lodging when possible. If hotel stays aren’t possible, then the Red Cross will open traditional shelters. To help keep people safe, we have put in place additional precautions and developed special training for our workforce.

We need volunteers to help staff shelter reception, registration, feeding, dormitory, information collection and other vital tasks to help those we serve. We have both associate and supervisory level opportunities available.

HEALTH SERVICES SUPPORT NEEDED If you are an RN, LPN, LVN, APRN, NP, EMT, paramedic, MD/DO or PA with an active, current and unencumbered license, the Red Cross needs your support. Volunteers are needed in shelters to help assess people’s health. Daily observation and health screening for COVID-19-like illness among shelter residents may also be required. RNs supervise all clinical tasks.

Roles are also available for Certified Nursing Assistants, Certified Home Health Aides, student nurses and medical students. We need volunteers who can provide care as delegated by a licensed nurse in shelters. This could include assisting with activities of daily living, personal assistance services, providing health education and helping to replace medications, durable medical equipment or consumable medical supplies.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING If you are interested in helping our community should a disaster occur, please go to redcross.org/volunteertoday or contact our region offices at .cascades@redcross.org">volunteer.cascades@redcross.org.

Be sure to review the CDC guidance for people who are at higher risk for severe illness, consult your health care provider and follow local guidance. Our number one priority is the health and safety of our employees, volunteers and the people we serve.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossCasc.

# # #

July 10, 2020 (Salem, Ore.)—The Oregon Employment Department launched a new informational website today aimed at improving customer service for the record number of Oregonians applying for and receiving unemployment benefits.

The new site, unemployment.oregon.gov, is designed to help Oregonians more easily find information on: the new programs created by the CARES Act, whether they might qualify for unemployment benefits, how to apply, and what’s different during the pandemic.

“We’ve heard the many Oregonians who’ve said we need to do a better job communicating about their benefits and the unemployment claims process,” said David Gerstenfeld, acting director of the Oregon Employment Department. “Our goal with this new website is to provide clear information so people can file their claims, avoid unnecessary delays, and get their questions answered without having to call us,” he said. “We know that ultimately Oregonians need their claims processed, but we also want to ease some of the communication frustrations people have experienced.”

Over the next few days and weeks, the Department will add more content and features to the informational website. Highlights of the current site include:

• A Contact Us form to assist Oregonians who have been waiting the longest to have their claims resolved
• Information about new federal CARES Act benefit programs        
• An Eligibility Quiz to help people figure out which program to apply for
• Step-by-step videos and guides for how to apply for regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits
• Resources for employers about the Work Share program, reopening business, and more
• Other resources available to Oregonians while they wait for unemployment benefits, such as benefits to help with rent, utilities, health coverage, or groceries
• A robust section of Frequently Asked Questions, which will be updated weekly as new questions arise

In March, high traffic to the Department’s oregon.gov/employ site risked crashing all oregon.gov sites, so the Department’s COVID-19 content was moved to a temporary website commonly used by agencies during crises. The limitations of the content management system of the temporary website made information difficult to find. As one of his first steps as Acting Director, Gerstenfeld initiated the development of a cleaner, simpler, more user-friendly site. Some of the content on unemployment.oregon.gov existed on the old COVID-19 site, but much of it is brand new.

“I’ve made doing a better job of communicating with Oregonians a top priority,” said Gerstenfeld. “We believe this website is a much-needed step in the right direction, and we appreciate your patience as we continue to make this a better experience for you.”

The website underwent usability testing by the Department’s Equity Council, partners, and claimants who have had challenges applying for unemployment benefits from both the regular UI and PUA programs. Improvements are ongoing.

###

Equal Opportunity program — auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Contact: (503) 947-1794. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call 711 Telecommunications Relay Services.

July 9, 2020

Media contact: OHA External Relations 971-673-2097, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 389 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 6 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed six more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 230, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 389 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 11,188.

The new cases are in the following counties: Benton (1), Clackamas (20), Clatsop (1), Columbia (2), Coos (4), Crook (3), Deschutes (5), Hood River (1), Jackson (7), Jefferson (8), Josephine (2), Lake (2), Lane (18), Lincoln (15), Linn (3), Malheur (31), Marion (47), Morrow (12), Multnomah (86), Polk (2), Umatilla (55), Union (4), Wallowa (1), Wasco (5), Washington (46), Yamhill (8).

Today’s case count is the highest total daily case count since the onset of the pandemic. The recent increase in cases is attributed to workplace outbreaks and community spread. Newly diagnosed cases are being interviewed now.

Oregon’s 225th COVID-19 death is a 63-year-old woman in Crook County who became symptomatic on July 1 after close contact with a confirmed case and died on July 8, at her residence. She had no underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 226th COVID-19 death is an 83-year-old man in Umatilla County who tested positive on July 4 and died on July 3. The place of death is being confirmed. He had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 227th COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on June 26 and died on July 7, at his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 228th COVID-19 death is a 75-year-old woman in Clackamas County who tested positive on June 10 and died on July 2 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. She had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 229th COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old woman in Clackamas County who died on June 18 at her residence. More details are pending.

Oregon’s 230th COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on May 9 and died on June 1, at his home. He had underlying conditions.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority leads the state response.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.

As part of the State's coordinated and comprehensive wildfire suppression efforts, and thanks to funds allocated by the federal government, more than 400 citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen from the Oregon National Guard (Guard) will be trained as wildland firefighters next week at the Oregon Public Safety Academy (Academy) in Salem. 

Approximately 180 members of the Guard will be at the Academy on July 11, and 12, 2020.  This group has already received the wildland firefighter training in the past and need a refresher course to maintain their certification.  

More than 300 Guard members, who have not been previously trained, will arrive at the Academy on July 13 and will complete their training on July 17, 2020.

It is important to note this training will be managed using COVID-19 health and safety protocols that will cover not only classroom and hands-on training but also meals and lodging on the DPSST campus.

Federal funds were allocated, at the request of state officials, to help prepare members of the National Guard in case their assistance will be needed to support wildland firefighting efforts around the state.

The training is being provided by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) and is the same training required of all public and private wildland firefighters. Because of the size of the group, DPSST is supplementing its training cadre and is utilizing additional instructors from the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Military Department Wildland Firefighting Section, United States Forest Service, Illinois Fire Service Institute, and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.  The training the members of the Oregon National Guard will be receiving is often known as "red card" training and consists of both classroom and hands-on sessions.

DPSST’s Director Eriks Gabliks said “The training we will be providing will allow these citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen to be safe and effective in their work in case they are required this year to help support the efforts of wildland firefighters around the state. We salute the men and women from the Guard for their dedicated service to our country, both at home and around the globe.” Gabliks also said “we applaud the leadership of Oregon’s congressional delegation on Capitol Hill for ensuring that these funds were allocated for this important mission and the leadership Oregon has shown to prepare members of the Guard as we begin wildfire season just in case their assistance is needed.”

The Oregon National Guard has a proven track record of supporting wildfire suppression efforts, from the air and on the ground, around the state in recent years. In 2015, members of the Oregon National Guard assisted with wildfire suppression efforts in John Day and Enterprise. In 2017, more than 400 citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen supported Oregon's firefighting efforts (air and ground) at High Cascades Complex (near Crater Lake), Chetco Bar, Blanket Creek, Horse Prairie, and Milli fires.

The Oregon National Guard has a long-standing agreement with the Oregon Department of Forestry known as Operation Plan Smokey, which stipulates the details of how Oregon National Guard members will be utilized to assist in annual firefighting efforts if needed. This agreement is reviewed on an annual basis by both agencies and the Governor's Office.

What is different this year is that funds were requested by state officials, and approved by the federal government, to provide training to members of the National Guard ahead of the need. This will allow these wildland firefighter trained citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen to be activated and deployed much faster should the need arise for their assistance.

After the week-long training is completed, the citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen will return to their respective armories and air bases and full-time careers and be on stand-by for deployment should their assistance be needed during fire season.

DPSST will be reimbursed for its expenses by the Oregon Military Department.

DPSST is honored to help support this important mission and has a proven record of success in training over 1,000 members of the Guard for wildland firefighting duties over the past five years.

We have attached some photos from previous years to give you an look at what the training will entail.

For questions specific the Oregon Military Department Public Affairs Office by phone at 503-584-3917 or email at  AGPA@mil.state.or.us 

Media Note:  We will send out a notice next week and invite media to visit the Guard during the live-burn training which is tentatively scheduled for Thursday.

## Background Information on the BPSST and DPSST ##

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) operates the Oregon Public Safety Academy which spans more than 235 acres in Salem. The Academy is nationally recognized for its innovative training programs and active stakeholder involvement.  Eriks Gabliks serves as the Director and Darren Bucich, Chief of McKenzie Fire & Rescue serves as the Chair of the Board. The department implements minimum standards established by the Board for the training and certification of more than 40,000 city, tribal, county and state law enforcement officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, fire service personnel, telecommunicators, emergency medical dispatchers and private security providers.

DPSST, recognized as one of North America's most innovative state public safety standards and training organizations, provides training to more than 25,000 students each year throughout Oregon and at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem, certifies qualified officers at various levels from basic through executive; certifies qualified instructors; and reviews and accredits training programs throughout the state based on standards established by the Board.

PORTLAND, Ore.—In separate criminal cases, three men, Mitch Bryan Schoonover, 37, of Portland; Isaiah Holt, 32, also of Portland; and Jay Rodney Ferdig, 44, of Salem, Oregon; were sentenced this week to federal prison for illegally possessing firearms as convicted felons, announced U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams.

“The goal of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program is to reduce violent crime and victimization across Oregon,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “A key pillar of our strategy is to reduce illegal gun ownership. With the assistance of our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners, we have made significant progress toward this goal.”

U.S. v. Schoonover

On July 6, 2020, Schoonover was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years’ supervised release. According to court documents, on January 1, 2020, Gresham Police officers stopped Schoonover for a traffic violation and on suspicion that the vehicle he was driving was stolen. Officers searched the vehicle after confirming it was stolen and found a .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol, a loaded magazine, and a clear glass pipe containing methamphetamine residue.

In 2005, after learning that another man had spent the night with his girlfriend, Schoonover shot and killed the man at short range with a rifle. He was convicted in Multnomah County Circuit Court of first degree manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years in state prison.

This case was investigated by the Gresham Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis S. Burkhart.

U.S. v. Ferdig

Ferdig was sentenced today to 30 months in prison and three years’ supervised release. According to court documents, on August 2, 2019, Ferdig and his fiancée were staying at a Salem motel with their 11-month- and three-year-old children. They left both children in the care of an extremely intoxicated cousin and went to a local park to inject methamphetamine. The children wandered away and a motel guest brought both children inside for their protection and to prevent the three-year-old from running into the street. During a subsequent welfare check, police discovered the children were barefoot and had not had their diapers changed for hours. Ferdig and his fiancée were arrested upon their return to the motel.

Police discovered drug packaging on Ferdig’s person and a .22 caliber pistol with a round in the chamber, two boxes of ammunition, plastic bags with shards of methamphetamine, two digital scales, hypodermic needles, and a stun gun in his vehicle.

Ferdig’s criminal history spans more than two decades. He is prohibited from possessing a firearm after numerous felony convictions for assault, sex offenses, drug offenses, robbery, burglary, and other crimes.

This case was investigated by the Salem Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron G. Chatfield.

U.S. v. Holt

Holt was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and three years’ supervised release for money laundering, drug trafficking, and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. According to court documents, beginning in July 2016 and continuing until his arrest in April 2018, Holt used his association with a licensed marijuana producer in Portland to divert state-legal marijuana into the black market. Holt sold marijuana in-person to out-of-state customers traveling to Oregon and by mail to remote customers using the U.S. Postal Service.

The investigation started when Holt directed his girlfriend to purchase a handgun for him. In April 2018, ATF agents obtained and executed a search warrant on Holt’s Northeast Portland residence. They found 11.5 grams of cocaine and nearly $2,000 in cash on Holt’s person and three firearms, drug packaging materials, shipping labels, 14 pounds of marijuana, and $46,100 in cash in the residence.

After his arrest and federal indictment, Holt continued to distribute cocaine. From April to August 2019, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases of cocaine from Holt. In total, law enforcement purchased or recovered from Holt approximately 158 grams of cocaine during these purchases.

Holt is prohibited from possessing a firearm after several felony convictions in Multnomah County Circuit Court in 2007 for selling marijuana and shooting an individual during an altercation.

This case was investigated by ATF, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Portland Police Bureau. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia E. Jarrett and Leah K. Bolstad.

These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

# # #

The Portland FBI Field Office has launched a new opportunity for high school students to engage with us during this time of physical distancing: the FBI Virtual Teen Series (FBI VTS). Students from various high schools within the state of Oregon joined in this virtual session to learn about how to avoid the risks of online sexual exploitation. Over the next three weeks, teens will have the chance to join us for more once-a-week online learning sessions designed to let them explore the world of law enforcement, build leadership skills, and become positive role models in our shared community. 

Space is limited. Registration is required. Email ajfabiankreamier@fbi.gov to register.

Oregon high school students who have a student email account are eligible to participate.

• Session Two: Chasing the Dragon - The Life of and Opiate Addict 
  • Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2020 
  • Time: 1 - 2 p.m. 
• Session Three: Life as an FBI Agent 
  • Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 
  • Time: 1 - 2 p.m. 
• Session Four: Intelligence - Identifying and Prioritizing Today's Threats 
  • Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2020 
  • Time: 1 - 2 p.m.

###

FOR NEWS EDITORS - 

During the summer fire season (usually until early October), to reach the Oregon Department of Forestry's state-level Public Affairs office with fire-related questions or interview requests, please call our fire information duty officer at:

     503-945-7201

We try to return calls within 10 to 15 minutes.

The phone is answered between the following hours. 

• Non-holiday weekdays (Monday through Friday) - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Weekends and holidays - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

NOTE: Some ODF districts have their own fire public information officers, such as the Douglas Forest Protective Association in Douglas County and ODF's Central Oregon, Northeast Oregon and Southwest Oregon districts. If so, please continue to contact those district officers directly for information about local fires in those districts.

On July 8, 2020 investigators developed information that Hagenno might be associated with a vehicle.  Investigators located that vehicle at approximately 2:00 P.M., on Hwy 238 near Jaynes Dr.  OSP with assistance of the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety made contact with vehicle and Hagenno was inside and taken into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Murder 2, Unlawful use of a Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Bret Alan Hagenno was taken into custody today - July 8, 2020.  The details of the arrest will be posted when they are available.

On June 24, 2020 at approximately 3:45 P.M., a shooting occurred at Pinecrest Drive and Tiffany Way in Grants Pass OR. Detectives located Theodore Homer Robison (55) from Josephine County there shot several times and he was pronounced deceased..

Investigators have identified as a suspect and believe he could be armed and dangerous.

Hagenno is described as 6 foot tall, approximately 250 pounds and balding. He may or may not have a beard and is known to frequent Josephine and Jackson Counties.

Oregon State Police Major Crimes Section Detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating Hagenno who is wanted for Murder II in Josephine County. If anyone has seen Hagenno or knows his whereabouts, they are asked to contact the Oregon State Police Southern Command Center at 541-664-4600 and reference case SP-20-173329.

Hagenno is considered to be armed and dangerous. If located, do not contact and call the police (911).

Previous Release from June 15, 2020

On June 24, 2020, at approximately 4:00 P.M., Josephine County law enforcement responded to the area of Pinecrest Drive and Tiffany Way for a homicide investigation. 

The deceased has been identified as Theodore Homer Robison (55) from Josephine County.

Investigators are asking for the public's assistance.  If anyone in the area of Pinecrest Drive and Plumtree Lane has video surveillance cameras, they are asked to contact investigators.  

The Oregon State Police are the lead investigators and are being assisted by the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and the Josephine County District Attorney's Office.  

If anyone has any information they are asked to contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch Center at 541-664-4600. Reference case number SP20-173329.

WALLA WALLA – This fall Walla Walla Public Schools will provide all elementary and middle school  students fall start-up school supplies in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and fallout from the economic downturn which continues to impact district families. Historical classroom supplies such as crayons, Kleenex, glue sticks and other traditional materials will no longer be required from parents.

“We want to do our part to curb the spread of COVID-19 by supporting stay-at-home practices as we strive to resume in-person instruction during this unprecedented pandemic,” said Superintendent Dr. Wade Smith. “We don’t want our families, many of whom have lost jobs and are struggling financially, to feel the additional pressure of going to crowded stores to purchase necessary school supplies.”

The district will also provide school supplies’ containers for each preschool and elementary student to keep them from sharing items from student-to-student, in addition to hand sanitizer and other materials to support classroom safety. Students/families will still need to provide their own backpacks.

Baker Boyer reached out to the school district seeking ways to help during this global crisis, and immediately stepped up with a $5000 donation to help support this effort. Baker Boyer president and CEO, Mark Kajita, explained “For more than 150 years, Baker Boyer has been supporting and investing in our communities. In these unprecedented times, we hope this donation helps to relieve some of the pressure on the finances of Walla Walla Public Schools and the children and families they serve.”

And through the “All in WA” campaign (www.allinwa.org), Baker Boyer’s donation will be doubled, bringing the total contribution for school supplies to $10,000. This matching fund, locally administered by United Way of the Blue Mountains, is part of the “All in WA” recovery efforts which is raising funds to help Washington communities recover from the fiscal impacts of COVID-19.

“Baker Boyer is a valued partner and longstanding supporter of Walla Walla Public Schools,” said Superintendent Smith. “We appreciate this generous donation that will help ensure all students have the school supplies they need to be successful in school.”

###

On Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at approximately 7:11 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 101 near milepost 19, in Gearhart. 

Preliminary investigation revealed a northbound Honda motorcycle, operated by Matthew Elinsky (53) of Manzanita, collided with the back of a Jeep Cherokee, operated by Sydney Villegas (21) of Seaside, that was stopped due to traffic ahead.

Elinsky sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Villegas was not injured. 

OSP was assisted by Gearhart Fire and Police Departments, ODOT, and Medix.  

On Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at approximately 4:53 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 20W at milepost 1.5.

Preliminary investigation revealed a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by Michael Smith (70) of Redmond, collided with the back of a 2018 Ford 250, operated by a juvenile male, that was stopped waiting to turn left onto Jordan Rd.

Sisters-Camp Sherman medics responded and transported Smith to an air ambulance in Sisters but was pronounced deceased prior to the flight.

The operator of the Ford was not injured.

OSP was assisted by Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department, ODOT, and Central Oregon Police Chaplaincy.  

The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) has created and published a statewide, online database of DPSST Professional Standards actions in accordance with HB 4207 which passed during the 2020 Special Session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly.

The database will include the names of all public safety officers who have been the subject of a DPSST certification action, their employing agency (when applicable), and a link to the DPSST investigation and Final Order once issued (which will include a description of the facts underlying the denial, suspension or revocation action) occurring on or after June 30, 2020 (The effective date of HB 4207). A sample case has been uploaded as a placeholder.

For broader transparency, a listing of all individuals who were the subject of a DPSST professional standards action prior to June, 2020 has also been published, along with a list of open, pending DPSST professional standards cases.

The database can be found on-line at https://www.oregon.gov/dpsst/cj/pages/professionalStandards.aspx

DPSST’s Director Eriks Gabliks said “Today’s announcement is the latest step in Oregon’s ongoing efforts to strengthen trust between law enforcement and community.  DPSST, in partnership with the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training (BPSST), over the past few years has implemented a number of transparency initiatives including the implementation of Information Resource Inquiry System (IRIS) to show officer training, certification and employment history, the installation of equipment allowing livestreaming of Board and Policy Committee meetings, the publishing basic curriculums on DPSST webpage and the continued monthly publication of DPSST Ethics Bulletins as an educational resource.

Additional information relating to DPSST’s professional standards processes, instructions on how to make a public records request, links to previous Board and Policy Committee meeting minutes and information on how to subscribe to receive notifications from DPSST, to include agency updates, meeting minutes and public comment opportunities are also available at https://www.oregon.gov/dpsst

# # # DPSST Web Ex Sessions On-Line: Basic Police Training, Police Use-of-Force Training, Police Accountability # # #

The tragic death of George Floyd due to the actions of Minneapolis police officers has led to lots of discussions, both in Oregon and around the nation, regarding police training and accountability.  The actions of the Minneapolis police officers are inexcusable.  While DPSST has always actively engaged with stakeholders, it was of the utmost importance for us to pause our work as we mourned the death of Mr. Floyd and listened to the questions and concerns being raised about policing in our state and nation.  Many of the questions within our state have been regarding the training and accountability of Oregon law enforcement officers. 

To address these questions, to share information, and to answer questions, last month DPSST held a number of virtual sessions specifically for local community leaders, elected officials, state legislators, and media.  One session addressed Oregon’s criminal justice professional standards system.  Another focused specifically on police use of force training in Oregon offered by DPSST.  And the last covered the basic police training program offered at DPSST to all newly hired city, county, state, tribal, and university law enforcement professionals.  Participants had the ability to ask questions of DPSST staff during each of these sessions.

Each of the sessions were recorded and have been posted for viewing on the DPSST webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/dpsst/CJ/Pages/InformationalFiles.aspx   While each of the presentations covered the same information, each generated different questions based on the background and specific interests of those participating.  We have also posted the responses to the questions that were asked and are in the process of completing this document as we gather the information for those questions that need an answer.

## Background Information on the BPSST and DPSST ##

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) operates the Oregon Public Safety Academy which spans more than 235 acres in Salem. The Academy is nationally recognized for its innovative training programs and active stakeholder involvement.  Eriks Gabliks serves as the Director and Darren Bucich, Chief of McKenzie Fire & Rescue serves as the Chair of the Board. The department implements minimum standards established by the Board for the training and certification of more than 40,000 city, tribal, county and state law enforcement officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, fire service personnel, telecommunicators, emergency medical dispatchers and private security providers.

DPSST provides training to more than 25,000 students each year throughout Oregon and at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem, certifies qualified officers at various levels from basic through executive; certifies qualified instructors; and reviews and accredits training programs throughout the state based on standards established by the Board.

July 8, 2020

Program contact: Jacee Vangestel, 503-945-2852, jacee.m.vangestel@dhsoha.state.or.us

What: A public meeting of the Oregon State Hospital Advisory Board.

When: July 16, 1-3 p.m.

Where: The public can attend via toll-free conference line at 503-934-1400, participant code 20123340#.

Agenda: After the public comment period, the board will discuss an OSH update on the COVID-19 response and take questions.

Details: The Oregon State Hospital Advisory Board advises the superintendent, Oregon Health Authority director and legislators on issues related to the safety, security and care of patients. Members include consumers, providers, advocates, legislators, community members, consumer families and OSH union members.

For more information, see the board’s website at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/osh/Pages/advisory-board.aspx.

# # #

Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority (OHA) programs and services. OHA provides free help. Some examples of the free help OHA can provide:

• Sign language and spoken language interpreters.
• Written materials in other languages.
• Braille.
• Large print.
• Audio and other formats.

If you need help or have questions, please contact Jacee Vangestel at 503-945-2852, 711 TTY or jacee.m.vangestel@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

July 8, 2020

Media contact: OHA External Relations 971-673-2097, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 217 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 4 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed four more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 224, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 217 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 10,817.

The new cases are in the following counties: Baker (3), Clackamas (19), Clatsop (1), Columbia (1), Coos (2), Curry (1), Deschutes (3), Douglas (2), Harney (1), Hood River (1), Jackson (5), Jefferson (1), Josephine (2), Lane (10), Lincoln (3), Linn (8), Malheur (12), Marion (15), Morrow (10), Multnomah (30), Umatilla (43), Union (3), Wasco (1), Washington (31), Yamhill (9).

Oregon’s 221st COVID-19 death is an 85-year-old woman in Benton County who tested positive on May 31 and died on June 28, at her residence. She had underlying conditions.

Oregon’s 222nd COVID-19 death is a 55-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on June 22 and died on June 28, at his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 223rd COVID-19 death is a 91-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on June 18 and died on July 5, at her residence. She had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 224th COVID-19 death is a 36-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on June 3 and died on July 7, at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions.

Weekly Report released

Today, OHA released its Weekly Report which showed that during the week of June 29 to July 5, 32,355 persons were tested for COVID-19 in Oregon with 5 percent recording a positive result.

COVID 19 continued to surge during that week with 1,910 new cases an increase of 51 percent over the previous week. In addition, 11 Oregonians were reported to have died, one fewer than the previous week.

OHA to host media call

OHA Director Patrick Allen will hold a weekly media availability at 11:15 a.m. Friday, July 10. To participate, media are invited to call 844-721-7239, access code 6939096.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority leads the state response.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.

Board on Public Safety Standards and Training

Agenda

July 23, 2020

The Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2020 in the Boardroom at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem.  For further information, please contact Theresa Janda at (503) 373-1553 or esa.janda@state.or.us">theresa.janda@state.or.us.

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.

The meeting will be live-streamed on the DPSST Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/DPSSTOregon/

1.  Introductions

2.   Executive Session      

 The Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold an executive session to consider exempt public records. The executive session is being held pursuant to ORS 162.660(2)(f). This session is closed to the public.   

        General Session   

3.   David Fuller DPSST No 16332 – Withdraw NOI/Administrative Closure

Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020.

4.   Minutes

Approve minutes from the April 23, 2020 Meeting.

5.  Fire Policy Committee

    a.  Fire Policy Committee Update – James Oeder, Chair

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

      A.Elijah Cronin DPSST #F38682 (Lebanon Fire District)  - Deny

      Recommended to the Board unanimously by the FPC on June 9, 2020.

      B. Taeton R. Harrington DPSST #F38068 (Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue) - Deny

      Recommended to the Board unanimously by the FPC on June 9, 2020.

      C. Anthony D. Monroe DPSST #F18280 (Toledo Fire Department) - Revoke

     Recommended to the Board unanimously by the FPC on June 9.

      D. Kelly R. Vallance DPSST #F34182 (McMinville Fire Department) - Revoke

      Recommended to the Board unanimously by the FPC on June 9.

6.  Criminal Justice Policy Committees

    a. Police Policy Committee Update – John Teague, Chair

    b. Telecommunications Policy Committee Update – Linsay Hale

    c. Corrections Policy Committee Update – Nadine Purington, Chair

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

        A. Nigel Deluna DPSST#54679 (Mt. Angel Police Department) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020

        B. Thomas Houpt DPSST#60473 (Grant County Sheriff’s Office) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020

        C. Robert Johnson DPSST#50633 (Medford Police Department) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board in an 8/2 vote by the PPC on June 18, 2020.

        D. Corbin Lantz DPSST#42610 (Department of Public Safety Standards & Training) – Revoke

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020

        E. Terry Lohf DPSST#27923 (Lakeview Police Department) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board in a 6/4 vote by the PPC on June 18, 2020.

        F. Sebastian Precup DPSST#60628 (Portland Police Bureau) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020.

        G. Patricia Lyon DPSST#57573 (Coffee Creek Correctional Facility) – Revoke

        Recommended to the Board in a 7/6 vote by the CPC on June 16, 2020

        H. Lianna Mechanic DPSST#53161 (Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board in a 12/1 vote by the CPC on June 16, 2020

         I. Michael Payne DPSST#34804 (Snake River Correctional Institution) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the CPC on June 16, 2020.

        J. Sara Stewart DPSST#60771 (Curry County Sheriff’s Office) – No Action

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020

        K. OAR 259-006-0000, 259-008-0290, 259-008-0067 – Proposed Rule Change - Approve.

        Establishing DPSST applicant moral fitness standards.

        Recommended to the Board by the TPC on June 10, 2020; Recommended to the Board by the CPC on June 16,      2020; Recommended to the Board by the PPC on June 18, 2020;. 

        L. Law Enforcement Memorial Wall Nomination – Marshal Zacharia H. Stroud, Harney City

        Recommended to the Board unanimously by the PPC on June 18, 2020.

        M. Committee Appointments

•  Zachary Kenney, representing non-management Law enforcement; Re-Appointment to the PPC; 2nd term effective 7/23/20
• Erica Stohlhand, representing APCO; Re-Appointment to the TPC; 2nd term effective 7/23/20
• Tim Svenson, representing OSSA; Re-Appointment to the TPC; 2nd term effective 7/23/20

    e. Administrative Rules Relating to Certification and Licensure Requirements Impacted by the COVID-19     (Coronavirus) State of Emergency - Approve

    Adopts new rules to address additional discretionary needs and extend the temporary provisions for certification         maintenance in all disciplines impacted.

   f. OAR 259-012-0035 – Proposed Rule Change - Approve

    Student dismissal and appeal.

   g. OAR Chapter 259 Proposed Rule Changes  – Approve

    Establishing required use of legal name.

7.  Private Security/Investigator Policy Committee

   a. Private Security Investigator Policy Committee Update – Thomas, Chair

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

       A.  Committee Appointments

• Michael Holsapple to fill vacant position representing Private Investigators; Appointment to the PSIPC; 1st term effective

8.  Administrative

    a.  Citizen Correspondence – Information Only

9.  Director's Report - Director Gabliks

10.  Next Meeting Date:  October 22, 2020

WHO:              David Gerstenfeld, Acting Director, Oregon Employment Department

WHEN:            Wed., July 8, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. PT

WHAT:            Oregon Employment Department Acting Director David Gerstenfeld will hold a video conference media briefing to share updates on unemployment claims processing on Wed., July 8 at 1:00 p.m. PT. Gerstenfeld will provide an update on the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program claims processing as well as several other updates about the customer service experience.

WHERE:         Via Zoom video conference; Members of the media must RSVP for call information by emailing OED_Communications@oregon.gov by 12:00 p.m. PT on Wed., July 8. Video conference information will be provided to all reporters who RSVP.

OTHER:          The Oregon Employment Department is updating a claims processing progress data dashboard daily. Visit this link for week day updates. A recording of the video conference will be sent out shortly after the media briefing concludes.

###

The daily total has been corrected from 219 cases to 218.

July 7, 2020

Media contact: OHA External Relations 971-673-2097, covid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us">orcovid19.media@dhsoha.state.or.us

Oregon reports 218 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 5 new deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed five more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 220, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 218 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 10,605.

The new cases are in the following counties: Benton (2), Clackamas (18), Columbia (2), Coos (4), Crook (1), Douglas (3), Hood River (3), Jefferson (2), Josephine (3), Klamath (1), Lake (1), Lane (15), Lincoln (1), Linn (1), Malheur (7), Marion (23), Morrow (2), Multnomah (52), Polk (6), Umatilla (20), Union (5), Wallowa (1), Wasco (2), Washington (27), Yamhill (16).

Oregon’s 216th COVID-19 death is a 93-year-old man in Multnomah County who tested positive on June 25 and died on June 30, at Providence Portland Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 217th COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old woman in Yamhill County who tested positive on June 23 and died on June 30, at Willamette Valley Medical Center. She had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 218th COVID-19 death is a 56-year-old woman in Linn County who tested positive on May 27 and died on July 5, at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. She had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 219th COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old man in Marion County who tested positive on June 14 and died on July 6, at his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 220th COVID-19 death is a 62-year-old woman in Marion County who tested positive on June 10 and died on July 6, at Salem Hospital. She had underlying medical conditions.

OHA investigating workplace outbreak

An outbreak of 22 cases of COVID-19 has been reported at Columbia River Processing in Morrow County. The cases include all persons linked to the outbreak, which may include household members and other close contacts to an employee. The outbreak investigation started on June 16, but the initial case count was below the threshold for public disclosure.

State and county public health officials are working with the business to address the outbreak and protect the health of the employees.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority leads the state response.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Hotline: 503-813-6018

PacifiCorp issues largest request for new energy projects in company history

 Request for proposals will add enough renewable energy to power more than three million homes

PORTLAND, Ore. (July 7, 2020) — PacifiCorp today issued the largest request for proposals for energy projects in company history, seeking competitively priced resources that can connect to its 10-state transmission system. Pacific Power is a division of PacifiCorp, which is already the largest regulated utility owner of wind power in the West. These projects will significantly increase the amount of renewable energy resources serving Pacific Power customers.

PacifiCorp’s most recent Integrated Resource Plan outlines the company’s plans to add 1,823 megawatts of new solar resources, 595 megawatts of new battery energy storage and 1,920 megawatts of new wind resources by the end of 2023. This is enough to power nearly three million typical homes with renewable energy.

The company will accept bids featuring different resource types and bid structures, including forms of power-purchase, battery storage, and build-transfer agreements. PacifiCorp will not be submitting any self-build resources and therefore won’t be competing with independent developers on their projects. Projects must be able to achieve commercial operation by December 31, 2024. Long-lead projects, such as pumped storage, can submit offers with commercial operation dates beyond December 31, 2024.

“These projects represent PacifiCorp’s longstanding and enduring commitment to create an energy future that is affordable, reliable and increasingly sustainable,” said Rick Link, PacifiCorp vice president of resource planning. “Our All-Source RFP is a catalyst to help realize that future and enable our customers and communities across the West to benefit from lower-cost renewable energy to grow their economies, run their businesses and homes.”

The 2020 all-source request for proposals is based on findings from a broad range of studies and technical analyses developed through an open and extensive public process, with input from an active and diverse group of stakeholders, including customer advocacy groups, community members, regulatory staff, and other interested parties. PacifiCorp met with stakeholders in five states and hosted 18 public-input meetings over nearly two years to develop a plan to provide the cleanest, least-risk and lowest-cost electricity for customers.

While it is anticipated that most bids will feature wind and solar resources, projects of any variety of qualifying energy production will be considered, allowing developers to present technologies and resources that fit their business model and best position them to compete in the energy market. PacifiCorp anticipates a robust response and a diversity of proposals.

Detailed information about the 2020 all-source request for proposals is available here: https://www.pacificorp.com/suppliers/rfps/all-source-rfp.html

# # #

ABOUT PACIFIC POWER

Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 773,000 customers in 243 communities across Oregon, Washington and California. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, serving nearly two million customers in six western states as the largest regulated utility owner of wind power in the West. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net.

On Monday, July 6, 2020 at 10:03 P.M., Lake County 911 received an emergency call reporting a shooting at 11 North G Street in Lakeview, OR.

Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies and Oregon State Police Troopers responded and found Jacob Wheat (26) of Lakeview, OR. laying in the parking lot.  Wheat was critically injured and died while responding officers attempted first aid.

The Lake County Major Crime Team was activated to investigate.

Law enforcement believes there is no active threat to the community.

The Lake County Major Crime Team consists of the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police.

Anyone who has information regarding this investigation or was in the area of the incident, and has not been contacted by police is encouraged to contact the Lake County 911 non-emergency line at 541-947-2222 or the Oregon State Police Southern Command Center at 541-883-5711.

Charges include assaults on law enforcement officers, destruction of federal property, and disorderly conduct

PORTLAND, Ore.—U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams announced today that seven people have been arrested and face federal charges for their roles in weekend riots at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland.

According to court documents, since May 26, 2020, protests in downtown Portland have regularly been followed by nightly criminal activity including assaults on law enforcement officers, destruction of property, looting, arson, and vandalism.

Rowan Olsen, 19, of Portland, is charged with disorderly conduct, creating a hazard on federal property, and failing to obey a lawful order; Shant Singh Ahuja, 28, of Oceanside, California, is charged with destruction of federal property; and Andrew Steven Faulkner, 24, of Beaverton, Oregon; Gretchen Margaret Blank, 29, of Seattle, Washington; Christopher Fellini, 31, of Portland; Cody Porter, 28, of Portland; and Taimane Jame Teo, 24, of Eugene, Oregon, are charged with assaulting federal officers.

The Hatfield Federal Courthouse has been a repeated target of vandalism, sustaining extensive damage. U.S. Marshals Service deputies and officers from the Federal Protective Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection working to protect the courthouse have been subjected to threats; aerial fireworks including mortars; high intensity lasers targeting officers’ eyes; thrown rocks, bottles, and balloons filled with paint from demonstrators while performing their duties.

On July 2-3, 2020, Olsen is accused of using his body to push on and hold a glass door at the Hatfield Courthouse closed, preventing officers from exiting the building and causing the door to shatter. With the door broken, a mortar firework entered the courthouse, detonating near the officers. The officers used shields and their bodies to block the open doorway for approximately six hours until demonstrators dispersed.

On July 4, 2020, Ahuja is accused of willfully destroying a closed-circuit video camera mounted on the exterior of the Hatfield Courthouse.

On July 5, 2020, Blank is accused of assaulting a federal officer with a shield while the officer was attempting to arrest another protestor.

On July 5-6, 2020, Faulkner, Fellini, Porter, and Teo are accused of assaulting federal officers with high intensity lasers. At the time of his arrest, Faulkner also possessed a sheathed machete.

All seven defendants made their first appearances in federal court on July 6, 2020 and were released pending trial.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

These cases are being investigated jointly by the U.S. Marshals Service; FBI; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Federal Protective Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Homeland Security Investigations.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

# # #

Photo descriptions (attached):

1. Glass courthouse door broken by Olsen
2. Pyrotechnic mortar exploding in courthouse lobby after glass door was broken by Olsen
3. Fellini possessions seized during arrest
4. Front of shield used by Blank to assault federal officer
5. Back of shield use by Blank to assault federal officer

Portland, OR – After nearly four months closed, the Oregon Historical Society plans to re-open its museum to the public on Saturday, July 11, 2020 at 10am. Following re-opening, public museum and store hours will be Wednesdays – Saturdays from 10am – 5pm and Sundays from 12pm – 5pm. The OHS Research Library remains closed for renovations that began in January 2020. More information on library services that are available during the renovation can be found at ohs.org/libraryreno.

Following the guidance and requirements of the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for cultural attractions and museums, the Oregon Historical Society has implemented important safety protocols for the health of our staff and visitors. New safety protocols are detailed at the bottom of this press release as well as at ohs.org/reopening.

When the Oregon Historical Society closed on Saturday, March 14, the museum was about to debut a new original exhibition, Nevertheless, They Persisted: Women’s Voting Rights and the 19th Amendment, which chronicles the complicated history of woman suffrage and broad voting rights and profiles the brave activists who fought for woman suffrage. Now extended through mid-2021, this exhibit shows the many ways Oregon history connects to the national history of woman suffrage and to the complex history of American democracy.

“In this election year, Nevertheless, They Persisted will prompt visitors to reflect on voting rights and the many ways that activists have fought to universalize this basic right of citizenship,” said OHS Executive Director Kerry Tymchuk. “We were excited to open this exhibition in March, and four months later, the important messages of the power of activism shared in Nevertheless, They Persisted feel even more relevant today.”

Oregon women gained the right to vote in 1912, the initiative passing with a 52% majority after five prior failed attempts spanning nearly 30 years. It was not until the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, however, that women across the country gained the right to vote in local and national elections. Even then, these rights did not extend to all women — restrictions on citizenship continued for Native Americans and first-generation Asian Americans well into the twentieth century, and frequently used voter-suppression methods were outlawed by the 1965 Voting Rights Act (itself weakened by the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder).

Nevertheless, They Persisted, and the Oregon Historical Society’s recently renovated permanent exhibition, Experience Oregon, give visitors an honest, and often difficult, look at our state’s history. In a recent statement on racial justice and equality, Tymchuk and OHS Board President Mary Faulkner wrote, “The Oregon Historical Society recommits itself to being a valuable resource by documenting, preserving, and sharing our state’s history, from all perspectives, and in all its complexities. We hope that everyone will continue to help guide us in providing knowledge of the past and working to build a more just and equitable society in the future.”

The Oregon Historical Society is excited to re-open its museum to share these exhibitions with visitors, while continuing its efforts to provide programs and content virtually for those who are not able to visit in person. For a full schedule of upcoming virtual programs, visit ohs.org/events, and to read up on what has been keeping OHS staff-members busy during our closure, visit ohs.org/blog.

New Health and Safety Protocols

Visitors to the Oregon Historical Society will be asked to adhere to the following guidelines in an effort to keep our staff and visitors as safe as possible: 

Wear A Face Covering: Pursuant to the Governor’s executive order, all visitors age twelve and older are required to wear a face covering. In compliance with ADA requirements, guests who have a physical or mental health condition, including disability, that prevents them from putting on, taking off, or wearing a face covering or are unable to wear a face covering for medical reasons will be exempt. If visitors do not have a face covering, single-use face coverings will be provided at no charge.

Maintain Distance: Signage through the museum will remind visitors to keep six feet of distance between themselves and visitors outside of their party. Per OHA guidelines, groups of up to 10 within the same party are not required to maintain six feet of physical distance.

Modified Exhibit Access: For the safety of our visitors, high touch hands-on interactive features in open exhibitions are closed until further notice. Our History Hub exhibit will be closed due to the hands-on nature of this exhibition, as will our Photo Hallway gallery due to the inability for visitors to easily maintain six feet of distance. 

Museum Store: The Oregon Historical Society Museum Store will maintain the same public hours as the museum. During this time, there will be a limit of four customers in the store at one time. We are eager to welcome shoppers back to the museum store, as all sales in our store provide critical funding in support of our mission.

Other Safety Precautions Include:

• Additional hand sanitizing stations installed at the museum’s entrance and throughout the building;
• Plexiglas sneeze guards installed at point of sale stations;
• Designated one-way paths to maintain required distancing as visitors enter, exit, and enjoy our exhibitions;
• Limited contact transactions; at this time, we will be discouraging cash/check transactions; and
• Limiting building capacity to a maximum of 150 visitors in the museum at one time.

About the Oregon Historical Society
For more than a century, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of artifacts, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms & website (www.ohs.org), educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and rich as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, David L. Letcher, died the morning of July 7, 2020. Letcher was incarcerated at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution (DRCI) in Madras. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the medical examiner will determine cause of death.

Letcher entered DOC custody on September 3, 2014, from Multnomah County with an earliest release date of April 21, 2021. Letcher was 60 years old. Next of kin has been notified.  

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 14,500 individuals who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

Deer Ridge Correctional Institution (DRCI) is located four miles east of Madras in central Oregon. DRCI is a multi-custody prison that currently houses 947 minimum-custody incarcerated adults. DRCI provides a range of correctional programs and services including education and trades programs, mental health treatment, cognitive and parenting programs, and institution work crews. Construction began in October 2005 with the first minimum-security adults in custody (AICs) arriving in September 2007. DRCI is the largest minimum-custody facility in the state and Oregon’s fourteenth prison.

####

In two rounds of FY2020 Career Opportunity Program grant awards, the Oregon Arts Commission and The Ford Family Foundation have collectively awarded $112,342 to 40 artists for career development projects. The awards include $55,121 from the Oregon Arts Commission and $57,221 in supplemental funding for 19 established visual artists through a partnership with The Ford Family Foundation’s Visual Arts Program. Individual grants range from $1,000 to $8,000.

Career Opportunity Grants support individual Oregon artists by enabling them to take advantage of timely opportunities that enhance their artistic careers. Most grants support the artists’ participation in residencies, exhibitions or performance opportunities.

“This grant program invests in the career growth of talented Oregon artists,” said Anne Taylor, Chair of the Arts Commission. “We also are so proud to support artists in representing Oregon outside of the region and internationally.”

The Ford Family Foundation funds are available to established Oregon visual artists who are producing new work in the fields of contemporary art and craft.

“We see these critical investments in artists’ careers as a core element of our Visual Arts Program,” said Anne C. Kubisch, president of The Ford Family Foundation. “We hope the funding leverages other support and successes for them.”

FY2020 Career Opportunity Program grant award recipients are:

Laura Aguero, Salem

Oregon Arts Commission $1,459

To support a guest-soloist performance with the Orquesta Universitaria de Musical Popular in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.

May Anuntarungsun, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $200  

To support an eight-week residency and exhibition, “The United,” at the Pittsburgh Glass Center. The Center will host Anuntarungsun for the creation of new works and pay for one-way shipping.

Olivia Awbrey, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support the debut album release promotion for the Olivia Awbrey band, which includes traveling to the Treefort Music Festival and a UK tour.

Jill Baker, Corvallis

Oregon Arts Commission $1,245

To support fees and travel for an immersive drawing workshop for practicing artists in Northern New Mexico to take place in May of 2021. Baker will be one of six artists participating in a session focusing on craft, materials and ideas relative to drawing.

Claire Barrera, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support Barrera’s weeklong residency at Greywood Arts in Cork, Ireland, to research their project "tu eres mi otro yo."

Simon Boas, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support travel for Boas’ solo exhibition/new media art installation about masculinity and sexual consent at the ArtMill in Prague, Czech Republic.

Michael Boonstra, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $2,500

To support material costs of a new body of work planned for exhibition in November of 2020 at the Truckenbrod Gallery in Corvallis.

Mike Bray, Eugene

The Ford Family Foundation $4,400

To support a solo exhibition of Bray’s work at Gallery Fourteen30 in February 2021.

Paula Bullwinkel, Bend

Oregon Arts Commission $1,117

To support travel and shipping materials for an artist residency at The Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont.

Lyra Butler-Denman, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support post-production of the short film “BARDO” to be submitted to the National Organization for Arts in Health conference.

Rachael Carnes, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support the further development and performance of a full-length immersive theatrical experience based on the life of Sarah “Sally” Hemings in collaboration with the Director of the African American Experience and Slavery at Monticello, regional performers and the people of Charlottesville.

Susan Chan, Tigard

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support travel to Germany for residencies at three music institutions as well as to present and perform a lecture-recital at the European Piano Teachers Association 42nd International Conference that celebrates the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven.

Lisa Conway, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $750

To support participation in an Artist-Invites-Artists residency session at the Red Lodge Center Clay Center in Red Lodge, Montana.

Fernanda D'Agostino, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $5,500

To support a solo show in Lisbon, Portugal, for the Environmental Biennial as part of the International Green City Initiative 2020. The exhibition will take place at the Museum of Water and will include a 10-day residency.

keyon gaskin, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,450

To support the production of a new performance and textile work commissioned by Lucy Cotter, the curator-inresidence at Disjecta Contemporary Art Center. The site-specific, architecturally engaged performance, with a working title of "Faint Feel," will take place at Disjecta in December 2020.

Bean Gilsdorf, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

To support the completion of work for a December 2020 body-themed exhibition at Disjecta Contemporary Art Center, as well as inclusion in the subsequent exhibition catalog.

Anne Greenwood, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $2,840

To support documentation of Greenwood’s new work, “Lunar Maria,” for the exhibition SPOR | TRACES in Iceland, as well as travel to attend the opening and to conduct lichen research for new work “Enmesh” for SCIENCE STORIES exhibit and to promote the call for participation in “FLIGHT: What Migratory Birds Show Us.”

Sabina Haque, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $3,600

To support (Un) Belonging, a multimedia installation at Paragon Gallery in late 2020. In partnership with Portland Community College’s DACA Dream Center, Haque will present a large drawing installation with video projections of hand-drawn animated borders, exploring our essential desire to belong.

Diane Jacobs, Portland

The Ford Family Foundation $4,050

To support the completion of a multifaceted artist book celebrating Mt. Hood’s ecological richness and cultural importance for a January 2021 exhibit at Passages Bookshop Gallery in Portland.

Michael Kelly, Beaverton

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support the preparation of work, specifically framing and a catalogue, for a solo exhibition of Kelly’s work at Imprint Gallery in Astoria in March and April of 2021.

Anya Kivarkis, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $6,500

To support travel and the production of work for two exhibitions in Munich, Germany, that coincide with Schmuck 2020, the most significant annual international jewelry event in the world.

Kendra Larson, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support an exhibition of paintings at the Art Gallery at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg in February and March of 2021. The award will support travel, documentation and a catalogue.

Bethany Marcel, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support two writing residencies, a two-week residency in January 2020 at the Vermont Studio Center, the largest arts and writing residency program in the U.S., and a one-week residency in November 2019 at Spruce Art in Pennsylvania.

Sarah Marguier, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,000   

To support travel for a two-week residency at Espace en Cours, a performing art residency space in Paris, in collaboration with choreographer Maya M. Carroll.

Robbie McClaran, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $2,810

To support preparation and framing of exhibition materials, photographs, maps, texts and for a series of four scheduled exhibitions of McClaran’s "The Great River of the West, a photographic survey of the Columbia River, from its source in British Columbia to its confluence with the Pacific Ocean."

Laura Medina, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,250

To support the purchase of materials for installation of a new immersive Mixed Reality experience during Medina’s exhibition at Fuller Rosen Gallery alongside Devin Harclerode in fall 2020.

Luz Mendoza, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support the studio recording of a new choral work created in collaboration with the Camas High School Choir.

Andrew Myers, Corvallis

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $1,000

To support professional photography of a curated solo exhibition of Myers’ work at the Bush Barn Art Center in Salem, including the design and publication of an exhibition catalogue.

Whitney Nye, Bend

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $2,000

To support the purchase of materials, shipping, documentation and cataloguing of new work during Nye’s fellowship at Vermont Studio Center in November 2019.

Julia Oldham, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $1,000

To support "SHTF," a multi-media solo exhibition for which Oldham will create an installation exploring the fall of civilization, climate change and artificial intelligence/deep learning at Smack Mellon in Brooklyn, NY, in January 2020 in collaboration with Brooklyn-based artist Chad Stayrook.

Vanessa Renwick, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $5,000

To support the exhibition of large paintings on fabric for the Stumptown Fellowship show in January/February 2020 and the Painted Desert Project on the Navajo Nation.

Anya Roberts-Toney, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $225

To support Roberts-Toney’s solo exhibition of new paintings at Nationale, a contemporary art gallery in SE Portland.

Laura Ross-Paul, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $3,000

To support the creation of a 60-image catalogue combining various bodies of work that were inspired by Ross-Paul’s experience as a patient pioneer and advocate for treating breast cancer using cryoablation. The catalogue will include a critical essay by writer Sue Taylor and an interview by curator Linda Tesner.

David Rueter, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $6,000

To support three months in São Paulo for the production of an exhibition at the 34th Bienal de São Paulo and at the artist-run space Um Trabalho|Um Texto. The exhibitions will bring significant new international exposure and opportunities for Rueter and his two collaborators.

Christina Rusnak, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,100

To support travel to a residency at the Visby International Centre for Composers in Visby Sweden.

Arvie Smith, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500   

The Ford Family Foundation $2,550

To support the creation of a 32-page publication based on Smith’s Ground Beneath Us 2019 residency in Waterford, Virginia, for release in time for his public lecture at The Ground Beneath Us Summer Fellowship Institute in Waterford, Virginia, in August 2020.

Kate Speranza, Astoria

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support airfare, materials/shipping and the residency program fee at Arteles Creative Center in Finland for a month-long residency in February 2020.

Jennifer Vaughn, Eugene

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support the exhibition/travel costs for exhibition at two galleries in Pittsburgh: Phosphor Project Space and Casey Droege Projects. Vaughn will also be in residence at Casey Droege Projects.

Kate Wagle, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

The Ford Family Foundation $3,296

To support materials, production, printing and framing for a solo exhibition of current work at the new Center for Art Research at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

Bobbi Woods, Portland

Oregon Arts Commission $1,500

To support production and travel for Woods’ work using language as material to challenge established structures of power in a solo exhibition at Flood Plain in St. Louis, Missouri.

-----

The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding and arts programs through its grants, services, and special initiatives. The Arts Commission is supported with general funds appropriated by the Oregon legislature and with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust.

On Monday, July 6, 2020 at approximately 6:20 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 20 near milepost 75 - at the Hwy 20 and Hwy 22 Junction.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a Dodge Ram 1500, operated by Corey Brett (51)  of Creswell, OR. was westbound on Hwy 20 when it turned left (across Hwy 22 to stay on Hwy 20) and into the path of a Nissan Rouge, operated by Kaitlyn Allen (20) of Salem, OR. that was eastbound on Hwy 22.

Allen was transported by Air Ambulance to St. Charles in Bend where she was pronounced deceased. 

Brett had no known injuries as a result of the crash..

OSP was assisted by Sisters Fire and Rescue and ODOT.

On Monday, July 6, 2020 at approximately 8:50 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 97 near milepost 118.  

Preliminary investigation revealed a Hyundai Accent, operated by Beauden Yetter (21) of Terrebonne, was southbound when it crossed into the northbound lane and collided with a Chevrolet Suburban operated by Surun Roth (57) of Stockton, CA.

Roth and his passenger Mean Sok (68) of Stockton, CA. were transported to St. Charles with non-life threatening injuries.

Yetter sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.  

OSP was assisted by the Redmond Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Redmond Fire/Rescue and ODOT.  

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. This week: knowing your risks when using mobile banking apps. 

Mobile banking apps are popular: they make it easy to deposit funds, pay bills, and transfer money. In fact, U.S. financial technology providers estimate more than 75 percent of Americans used mobile banking in some form in 2019. Given stay-at-home orders and physical distancing requirements, even more Americans have become willing to use mobile banking as an alternative to physically visiting branch locations. To that point: One U.S. financial study has shown a 50% rise in mobile banking just since the beginning of the year.  

With increased use, though, comes increased risk. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) is warning consumers that mobile banking presents a prime opportunity for fraudsters to exploit customers. There are two primary concerns: app-based Trojans and fake banking apps. 

App-based banking trojans infect your smartphone or tablet when you download malware with what otherwise looks to be a legitimate game or tool. When you try to access the real banking app, the malware activates – giving you a false login page to capture your ID and password. You likely won’t even know that you have given the scammer your info because the malware then directs you to your legitimate banking site. 

The second concern is a little more straight forward: fake banking apps created to look like your bank’s real app. Once you enter your ID and password, you will see an error message and the app will work to bypass security codes sent to you. Fraudulent banking apps are one of the fastest growing smartphone-based scams. In 2018, U.S. security research organizations found an estimated 65,000 fake apps on major app stores. 

What can you do to stay safe? 

• Go to your bank’s website to download the app directly. 

• Use a trusted, official app store if you otherwise need to download apps. 

• Enable multi-factor authentication on devices and accounts. Use biometrics, hardware tokens, or authentication apps whenever possible. Layering different authentication standards is a stronger security option. 

• Monitor where your Personal Identifiable Information (PII) is stored and only share the most necessary information with financial institutions. 

• Use the strongest password possible and create unique passwords for all financial accounts. 

• Don’t ever click on attachments or links in emails, texts, or social media posts. Don’t give your password to anyone. Financial institutions will not ask you for this information over the phone or by text message. 

If you encounter what you believe to be a suspicious banking app, call your bank using contact information publicly available on its webpage. 

If you have fallen victim to mobile banking app exploitation or any other online fraud, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) at www.IC3.gov or call your local FBI office. 

###

Salem, OR—As the deadline approaches to make estimated Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) payments for the second quarter, the Oregon Department of Revenue reminds taxpayers of relief available to those businesses negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As adopted in administrative rule 150-317-1500, the department will honor a business taxpayer’s good-faith efforts to comply with the CAT and not assess penalties if they document their efforts to comply, including how COVID-19 has impacted their business.

If businesses know they’ll owe $10,000 or more in annual corporate activity tax in 2020 and can pay, they should make estimated quarterly payments and comply with the law to the fullest extent possible.

However, penalties will not be assessed for underestimated quarterly payments or for not making a quarterly payment for the Corporate Activity Tax, if businesses don’t have the financial ability to make the estimated payment.

If businesses have been impacted by COVID-19 and are finding it difficult to calculate or pay an estimated quarterly payment, they should keep documentation showing:

• Their inability to pay a quarterly payment because of insufficient funds due to COVID-19.
• Their inability to reasonably calculate a quarterly payment or annual tax liability due to their business being impacted by COVID-19.
• That the taxpayer is unclear at this time whether the business will owe corporate activity tax in April 2020 due to COVID-19 impacts, after taking into consideration exclusions and subtractions in the law.

Businesses uncertain about their economic future due to the COVID-19 crisis, or those that have been closed during this crisis and have no ability to determine that they will owe a tax this year, won’t be penalized.

Registration for the CAT is still required. Businesses must register within 30 days of reaching $750,000 in Oregon commercial activity in the calendar year. Registration is available through Revenue Online and the department offers a series of online resources to help with registration on the CAT page of the agency’s website.

The CAT webpage also includes links to the administrative rules that govern the tax, a list of basic frequently asked questions (FAQ), and a Beyond the FAQ section that includes high-level summaries of the rules and other topics to help answer taxpayer questions.

Taxpayers with general questions about the CAT can email cat.help.dor@oregon.gov or call 503-945-8005.

Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments; call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish); 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon; or email questions.dor@oregon.gov. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), call 800-886-7204.