Merle Comfort, a member of both the La Grande School District and InterMountain ESD boards, has been named the 2019 Oregon School Board Member of the Year.

Comfort was recognized Saturday at the Oregon School Boards Association’s 73rd Annual Convention in downtown Portland. OSBA launched the Oregon School Board Member of the Year (link to http://www.osba.org/About-OSBA/OregonSchoolBoardMemberOfTheYear.aspx) award in 2018 to recognize outstanding volunteers who make a difference in their communities.

"Here is a person who gives a huge amount of time and energy and is totally dedicated to the welfare of his districts' kids," said OSBA Executive Director Jim Green.  

Comfort served La Grande schools from 1991 to 1999 and again from 2007 to the present. He has been on the InterMountain Education Service District board since the ESD was created in 2011.

“Merle epitomizes what a strong education leader is for rural Oregon,” said InterMountain ESD Superintendent Mark Mulvihill.

Comfort started school board service before his only child, Denise Comfort, was born in 1994. Comfort planned to have children, and he wanted to make sure the schools were as good as they could be.

Comfort’s daughter graduated from high school in 2013, but he has kept going. He said he stayed on to help the district pass its first bond in decades in 2014.

Colleagues credit Comfort for his leadership during the bond process, and he called it one of his proudest accomplishments.

“Until it passed, you have hopes and dreams,” he said. “When it passes, you see some of those hopes and dreams come to fruition.”

Comfort said the Student Success Act, passed in 2019, offers a chance to reverse the effects of three decades of property tax cuts. The act will raise about $1 billion annually for schools through a new business tax.

Nominees for the statewide award were considered for their advocacy efforts, leadership and support for student achievement. Comfort’s name will be placed on the OSBA website and engraved on a plaque in OSBA’s Salem office. He also will be able to register for OSBA events free for a year.

Green reminded school board members to keep an eye out for fellow members’ accomplishments and begin considering nominations when they open in January 2020.

OSBA is a non-profit member services agency for more than 200 locally elected boards serving school districts, education service districts and community colleges.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tom Gauntt,                                                                                         Nov. 18, 2019
PacifiCorp, 503-813-7291

Phil Rigdon, Yakama Nation
509-865-5121  

PacifiCorp and Yakama Nation reach Right of First Offer agreement for lands in White Salmon River canyon

Shared goals of stewardship and continuity highlight agreement concerning 289 acres near former Condit Dam site

Following months of negotiation, PacifiCorp and the Yakama Nation have agreed that the Nation will have a Right of First Offer for as much as 289 acres of land along the White Salmon River in south central Washington.

PacifiCorp, which has owned the land since the early 1900s as part of the operation of the Condit Hydroelectric Project, recently satisfied all federal requirements concerning the river’s rehabilitation following the removal of the Condit Dam in 2012. The company may look to sell the property in the future, but no timeline for putting the property on the market exists. At this time, the property is not for sale.

“We wanted to be as transparent as possible,” said Todd Olson, director of hydro compliance. “Having been involved in the White Salmon community for more than a century, we know there is a tremendous amount of interest in what happens to the lands on both sides of the river below the former dam site. The agreement with the Nation is not a sale agreement, but demonstrates our intention and the values we share with the Yakama and the people who use and love the river.”

"The Yakama Nation and PacifiCorp have worked together for decades in the White Salmon Basin and elsewhere in our traditional homelands,” said Virgil Lewis Sr., Tribal Council Vice-Chairman. ”We are pleased to jointly announce this Right of First Offer of PacifiCorp's lands along the lower White Salmon River: a unique opportunity to preserve in perpetuity critical river and upland habitats that sustain our way of life.  We will continue to work with our partners throughout the Yakama Nation’s traditional territories in order to honor, protect and restore our culture and the natural resources on which it depends, and to uphold our promise to the Creator to speak for those resources that cannot speak for themselves.”
 

The land included in the agreement begins at the former dam site down river to where the White Salmon flows into the Columbia. The still standing Condit Powerhouse is part of the property covered by the agreement. The agreement does not include company-owned property further upriver where leased cabin sites and Northwestern Park are located.

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About The Yakama Nation

The Yakama Nation and United States government entered into the Treaty of 1855 which ceded the lands of the White Salmon as part of a larger 10 million acre ceded area.  Through this treaty the Yakama Nation reserved in perpetuity its rights to fish at usual and accustomed stations throughout the Pacific Northwest.  Today the Yakama Nation is a co-manager of the fisheries of the White Salmon and works diligently to restore this resource and the river it depends on.

About PacifiCorp
PacifiCorp is one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, serving 1.9 million customers in the West. PacifiCorp operates as Pacific Power in Oregon, Washington and California, and as Rocky Mountain Power in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. The company’s generating capability of more than 10,880 megawatts includes power from a diverse portfolio of wind, solar, hydro and thermal facilities. The company works to meet growing energy demand while protecting and enhancing the environment.

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On Friday, November 15, 2019 at approximately 4:52 P.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel  responded to a pedestrian that had been struck on Interstate 5 near milepost 174, in Cottage Grove, OR. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that the pedestrian, identified as Andrew Evans (43) from Cottage Grove, entered the road from the southbound shoulder and into the path of a CMV operated by Ignacio Moncada (46) of Winton, CA.

Evans sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Moncada was not injured.

One southbound lane was closed for 2.5 hours. 

Oregon State Police was assisted by the Cottage Grove Police Department,  South Lane Fire and EMS, and ODOT.

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Vancouver, Wash. — The Bonneville Power Administration’s innovative approach to recycling saved Northwest electric ratepayers nearly $3 million in 2018, with more savings projected for 2019. The agency’s sustainability efforts – from recycling transmission conductor and tower parts to auctioning off used equipment – are winning national sustainability awards.

One of BPA’s innovative approaches to recycling is its use of a machine known as the linear chopper. The device’s technology uses magnets to separate the aluminum and steel components of used high-voltage conductor wire – something BPA has a lot of. The agency owns 15,000 miles of transmission line across the west.

Once the used line is fed into the chopper, bits of steel and aluminum are separated and spewed out on opposite sides of the machine. The metal is then sent to regional smelters where it can fetch a healthy price. Since March of 2018, the machine has recovered more than 375 tons of aluminum valued at $700,000. That’s a lot of aluminum when you consider the Statue of Liberty weighs 225 tons.

“Our sustainability efforts go hand-in-hand with our commitment to being responsible stewards of the environment and accountable to our ratepayers,” says Robin Furrer, BPA’s chief administrative officer. “We recover approximately 90% of our used materials, so we throw away very little.”

Aside from the chopper, the agency’s other recycling efforts include auctioning off used equipment, recycling components from computers and electronic waste and donating used furniture.

In 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored BPA with the Federal Green Challenge Materials Management Award. The EPA is honoring BPA again in 2019 for its outstanding sustainability efforts and care for the environment.

Video of the linear chopper is available upon request.

Contact David Wilson at wilson@bpa.gov">dbwilson@bpa.gov

About BPA

The Bonneville Power Administration, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a nonprofit federal power marketer that sells wholesale, carbon-free hydropower from 31 federal dams in the Columbia River Basin. It also markets the output of the region’s only nuclear plant. BPA delivers this power to more than 140 Northwest electric utilities, serving millions of consumers and businesses in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and parts of California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. BPA also owns and operates more than 15,000 circuit miles of high-voltage power lines and 262 substations, and provides transmission service to more than 500 customers. In all, BPA provides nearly a third of the power generated in the Northwest. To mitigate the impacts of the federal dams, BPA implements a fish and wildlife program that includes working with its partners to make the federal dams safer for fish passage. It also pursues cost-effective energy savings and operational solutions that help maintain safe, affordable, reliable electric power for the Northwest. www.bpa.gov

Unemployment tax rates for employers subject to Oregon payroll tax will move to tax schedule two for the 2020 calendar year. Tax schedule two includes an average rate of 1.73 percent for the first $42,100 paid to each employee. The specific rate each employer will pay under the new schedule depends on how much they have used the unemployment insurance system. 

Oregon adjusts employer tax rates annually using eight tax schedules based on the solvency of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Movement between the eight schedules of tax rates represents part of the self-balancing aspects of Oregon’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund law. Each September, a formula contained in statute, determines how much should be collected during the next year to maintain a solvent fund. Each schedule has a range of tax rates based on an employer’s previous unemployment insurance experience. Employers with more unemployment insurance claims have a higher tax rate than those with fewer claims. 

As a result of this approach, Oregon has one of the strongest trust funds in the nation. The trust fund provides support for temporarily unemployed workers, their families, and communities while minimizing the impact on employers. This approach allows support without having to reduce benefits to workers, increase employer taxes, or borrow from the federal government, as most other states had to do for the Great Recession. 

Because of Oregon’s innovative Unemployment Trust Fund model, we are well positioned to pay benefits in the next recession. Unlike other states, where employers had to pay additional taxes or surcharges when states borrowed to pay benefits, Oregon’s trust fund is earning interest. This reduces the amount that needs to be collected from Oregon employers to maintain the trust fund. 

Oregon’s unemployment rate has fluctuated slightly, generally remaining at or near a record low for three years. The low number of unemployed workers reflects a very tight job market. This creates some challenges for employers growing their workforce, and means far fewer Oregonians who unable to find a job. The jobs employers provide contribute to a vibrant Oregon economy and support the quality of life for Oregonians.

The Oregon Employment Department mailed notifications to businesses regarding their individual tax rates and encourages employers to wait until they receive their individual notice before attempting to contact the department with questions. Any employer who has not received their notice within the next couple of weeks should contact the Oregon Employment Department Unemployment Insurance Tax Section. Contact information may be found online at www.oregon.gov/employ.

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Oregon Employment Department is an equal opportunity employer/program.

Oregon Employment Department es un programa/empleador que respeta la igualdad de oportunidades.

Supporting documents are available via the following link:  https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicHome.aspx?ak=1001835

Oregon Heritage Commission has awarded $379,785 in grants to 32 organizations throughout the state. The grants will help fund a variety of projects including collection preservation and access, research, education, exhibits, and film projects. Award amounts ranged $2,020 - $20,000.

Funded projects:

• Abernethy Elementary School PTA, in Portland, for conservation of a WPA mural.
• Architectural Heritage Center, in Portland, for an exhibit about the evolution of South Portland in the 20th century.
• Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association, in Astoria, for construction of a Nordic Heritage Park.
• Bend Parks and Recreation District for collections care and interpretation of the Hollinshead-Matson Historic House.
• Clackamas County Historical Society, in Oregon City, for proper storage of the textile collection at the Museum of the Oregon Territory.
• Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, in The Dalles, for digitization of The Dalles Chronicle photographs, dating from 1940s to 1970s.
• Four Rivers Cultural Center, in Ontario, to provide folk arts programming.
• Frazier Farmstead Museum, in Milton-Freewater, to publish history booklets.
• Harney County Library Foundation, in Burns, to digitize local oral history interviews.
• High Desert Museum, near Bend, to develop an interpretive pan for the renovation of the museum’s permanent exhibition on the Indigenous Plateau.
• Independence Heritage Museum, in Independence, to catalog and digitize the archival collection.
• Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, in Joseph, to catalog and digitize the collections.
• Lincoln County Historical Society, in Newport, to produce three videos.
• METRO historic cemeteries, in Portland, to research historic records that highlight the history of women buried in METRO historic cemeteries.
• Nehalem Valley Historical Society, in Manazanita, to complete a heritage memoir film about Mary Gerritse.
• City of Oregon City to purchase and implement cemetery management software at Mountain View Cemetery.
• Oregon Historical Society, in Portland, to provide teacher training through workshops.
• Oregon Jewish Museum, in Portland, to create and install the “To Bear Witness: Extraordinary Lives” exhibit.
• Oregon Paleo Lands institute, in Fossil, to create and install the exhibit “John Day, A River Flows Free.”
• Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation, in Portland, to install a historic turntable.
• Portland Japanese Garden to purchase whisper touring devises and design a new map and brochure.
• Portland Youth Philharmonic to preserve sound recordings.
• Restore Oregon, in Portland, to complete phase one of the Jantzen Beach Carousel preservation project.
• City of Salem to stabilize the Ben Maxwell digital image collection.
• Save the PT Boat, Inc., in Portland, to expand interpretive programming.
• Southern Oregon University, in Ashland, to develop the Rogue Valley Women’s Movement Oral History project.
• Talent Historical Society to develop local history curriculum.
• The Vanport Mosaic, in Portland, to hold a gathering of people and organizations documenting Oregon’s past.
• City of Tillamook for conservation of a mural and an art exhibit.
• Tillamook County Pioneer Museum to create and install “Her-Story, The Women’s Suffrage Movement in Oregon and What It Means Today” exhibit and companion book.
• University of Portland to digitize the student-run paper, The Beacon.
• Vanport Placemaking Project, in Portland, to develop design content for interpretation at the Vanport site.

This competitive grant program is for qualifying organizations, and is offered once per biennium for projects that conserve, develop or interpret Oregon’s heritage. It is a program of the Oregon Heritage Commission. The Commission works to secure, sustain and enhance Oregon’s heritage. The Commission consists of nine members appointed by the governor and nine agency advisors. Members are chosen from state agencies and statewide organizations, and represent diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds.

The Commission is part of Oregon Heritage, a division of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. To learn more about the Oregon Heritage Grant or the Oregon Heritage Commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.

SALEM, Ore. – The Committee for Family Forestlands will meet Thursday, Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Salem. The meeting will be in the Santiam Room of Building D on the campus of the Oregon Department of Forestry, 2600 State Street.  The committee’s agenda includes:  

• Private Forest Division update
• Update on availability of tree seed and seedlings
• Update on Governor’s Council on Wildfire Response
• Review of draft changes to the committee’s charter and discussion of vacancies
• Monitoring program updates
• Outreach for House Bill 2469

The meeting is open to the public. Public comments will be accepted near the start of the meeting after approval of the minutes. The meeting space is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting by calling Susan Dominique at 503-945-7502.

The 13-member committee researches policies that affect family forests, natural resources and forestry benefits. Based on its findings, the committee recommends actions to the Oregon Board of Forestry and the State Forester. You can find more information at  https://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/CFF.aspx

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November 14, 2019

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

New Seasons expands ground beef recall prompted by E. coli illnesses

PORTLAND, Ore. -- New Seasons Market has expanded its recall of fresh ground beef sold at Portland-area stores after new tests show some of the meat contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 was available for sale as recently as Nov. 8.

New Seasons is recommending customers who bought the ground beef between Oct. 19 and Nov. 8 return the recalled product for a full refund; receipts are not required for the return. Consumers with questions may contact the company at talktous@newseasonsmarket.com.

An additional illness, closely associated with one of the three confirmed illnesses, has been identified. That brings the total number of people who reported illness after eating ground beef purchased at different New Seasons outlets to four. All have recovered.

The implicated products include New Seasons Market’s fresh in-house ground beef and ground beef products sold at all New Seasons Markets Oregon, Washington and California locations, in bulk from the meat cases and packaged from grab and go cases. The ground beef and ground beef products are marked with three days' shelf life from purchase. The recalled products were sold with “Packed On” dates of Oct. 19, 2019, to Nov. 8, 2019, and “Sell By” dates starting Oct. 23, 2019, up to and including Nov. 11, 2019.

OHA identified the outbreak after tests conducted at the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory determined that an identical strain of E. coli O157:H7 was present in all three patients. On Nov. 13 OHA received preliminary laboratory results of tests on product samples that were positive for E. coli O157:H7.

New Seasons Market has suspended sale of the product while the Oregon Department of Agriculture and OHA continue their investigation into the cause of the outbreak.

To be sure all bacteria in ground beef are destroyed, cook it to a safe minimum internal temperature of at least 160 F (71.1 C). Use a food thermometer to check that they have reached a safe internal temperature.

E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The condition is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly, and it can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

People who ate the product but did not get sick do not need to do anything. If you developed diarrhea after eating it, you should consult your health care provider and tell him or her about the exposure.

For more information on the recall, E. coli, and food safety please visit:

• New Seasons Market recall page.
• CDC E. coli page.
• Foodsafety.gov.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Animals Shouldn’t Be Able to Sue Owners says Farm Bureau

Oregon Farm Bureau issues statement on Justice the horse’s lawsuit against its former owner.

SALEM, OREGON, Nov. 14, 2019 — Last week, the Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, and Oregon Dairy Farmers Association partnered to draft a friend of the court brief on precedent setting litigation pending in the Oregon Court of Appeals. The case squarely addresses whether a horse has a right to sue his owner in court for damages relating to the horse’s neglect. The case, Justice, an American Quarter Horse v. Gwendolyn Vercher, is an attempt by the Animal Legal Defense Fund to set precedent in Oregon that animals have legal personhood, including the right to sue humans in court. This case could open the door to expansive and significant litigation regarding the ability to own and manage livestock, produce meat or dairy products, participate in rodeos or FFA, and even have working dogs. It could even subject pet owners to private rights of action and allow activist groups to bring lawsuits under the guise of animals seeking to vindicate nonexistent rights.

If successful, this case puts the livestock industry and rural Oregon at risk. Moreover, Oregon would become the first state in the country to grant animals legal personhood, which would have a profound impact on our society and legal system. Our organizations got involved to ensure that the Court understands the history and context of Oregon’s animal welfare statutes and to ensure the Court understands the expansive, far reaching implications of this case for the livestock industry.

To be clear, the facts of this case were abhorrent, and the defendant was rightfully prosecuted for the neglect of her horse. However, Oregon law already has severe consequences for those who abuse and neglect animals and there is a mechanism for those who rescue neglected animals to be compensated for their care. But these legitimate concerns are not what this case is about. This case is simply an effort by animals rights activists to pull the ultimate thread in a longstanding effort to unravel and halt livestock operations in Oregon. We will continue to stand strong to protect the livestock industry from the significant precedent set by this case.

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Note to Editors: “Farm Bureau” is a registered trademark; please capitalize in all cases.

Oregon Farm Bureau (OFB) is a grassroots, nonpartisan, nonprofit, general farm organization representing the interests of farming and ranching families in the public and policymaking arenas. First established in Oregon at the county level in 1919 and the state level in 1932, Farm Bureau is organized in all 36 counties.

Oregon Farm Bureau President Sharon Waterman is an OFB Hall of Fame honoree and operates a Century Ranch raising sheep, cattle, and timber in Bandon. She is OFB’s 16th president.

November 14, 2019

Media contact: Delia Hernández, 503-422-7179, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

Public Health Advisory Board meets November 21

What: A public meeting of the Public Health Advisory Board.

Agenda: Discuss public health modernization funding to federally recognized tribes and Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) during the 2019-21 biennium; discuss public health modernization work underway with local public health authorities; discuss the use of syndromic surveillance to determine hepatitis C prevention activities in Eastern Oregon.

When: Thursday, Nov. 21, 2-5 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. A public comment period will be held at the end of the meeting.

Where: Portland State Office Building, Room 177, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland. Also available remotely by telephone at 877-873-8017, access code 767068, and by webinar.

Oregon’s Public Health Advisory Board provides guidance for Oregon’s governmental public health system and oversees the implementation of public health modernization and Oregon’s State Health Improvement Plan.

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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 are:

• 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 Cara Biddlecom at 971-673-2284, 711 TTY, or a.m.biddlecom@dhsoha.state.or.us">cara.m.biddlecom@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

November 14, 2019

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

Nurse Staffing Advisory Board meets in Portland November 20

What: The quarterly public meeting of the Nurse Staffing Advisory Board.

Agenda: Review of minutes from August 28 meeting; membership updates; status updates on surveys and complaints; committee updates; open action items; nurse staffing surveyor discussion; emerging issues in nurse staffing; public comment. The agenda is available on the OHA nurse staffing website.

When: Nov. 20, 1-5 p.m. A public comment period will be at the end of the meeting.

Where: Portland State Office Building, Room 177, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland; by conference call at 877-336-1829, access code 2075141.

Background: The board advises the Oregon Health Authority on the administration of Oregon’s nurse staffing laws; identifies trends, opportunities and concerns related to nurse staffing; makes recommendations to the Oregon Health Authority on the basis of those trends, opportunities and concerns; and reviews the enforcement powers and processes under Oregon’s nurse staffing laws.

For more information, see the agency nurse staffing website at http://www.healthoregon.org/nursestaffing.

Program contact: Matt Gilman, 971-673-2317, matt.s.gilman@dhsoha.state.or.us

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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 are:

• 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 Matt Gilman, at 971-673-2317, 711 TTY or matt.s.gilman@dhsoha.state.or.us at least 48 hours before the meeting.

(Salem) – Employers and workers in Oregon’s roofing industry now have a free and convenient way to boost their ability to address fall hazards, thanks to an online video training course launched by Oregon OSHA.

The course, “Fall Protection for Roofing,” is the latest in a series of online educational offerings created by the division to help address fall hazards across specific industries and different on-the-job situations.

“Whether you’re interested in strengthening an existing safety program or just getting started, our roofing course – just like our other online fall protection courses – provides a solid foundation to build on,” said Roy Kroker, consultation and public education manager for Oregon OSHA.

The course, which includes insights from industry leaders, covers a full range of topics. Those topics include hazard identification, fall protection equipment and systems, safe access, and training.

The human and economic costs of failing to account for fall protection are clear. In 2017, for example, there were 5,780 accepted disabling claims in Oregon due to slips, trips, and falls. The average cost of those claims was $23,570.

The roofing course includes the opportunity to receive a certificate of completion. It is the third of five planned online courses about fall protection. The other two that are available are “Fundamentals of Fall Protection” and “Ladder Safety.”

“Fall Protection for Roofing” is available online

Explore the “Fall Protection Suite,” which encompasses the roofing course, and the fundamentals and ladder courses.

Oregon OSHA encourages the use of online training. 

Oregon OSHA’s technical staff members can answer questions to help employers understand how to apply rules to their workplace:

Phone: 503-378-3272

Toll-free in Oregon: 800-922-2689

Email: tech.web@oregon.gov

Online contact form 

Employers may also contact Oregon OSHA’s no-cost consultation services for help with safety and health programs:

Phone: 503-378-3272

Toll-free in Oregon: 800-922-2689

Field office locations and phone numbers 

Email: consult.web@oregon.gov

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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 www.osha.oregon.gov.

Spanish / Español

November 12, 2019

Media contact: Delia Hernández, 503-422-7179, phd.communications@dhsoha.state.or.us

2020-2024 State Health Improvement Plan subcommittee meetings

What: Subcommittees of the 2020-2024 State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) are tasked with identifying strategies and measures, and developing work plans for implementing the SHIP. Each of the five subcommittees is focused on one of the following priority areas:

• Access to equitable preventive health care.
• Adversity, trauma and toxic stress.
• Behavioral health.
• Economic drivers of health.
• Institutional bias.

Agenda: Continue identifying key indicators and exploring possible strategies.

Where: All meetings are held at the Portland State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon St., Portland. Meetings are also available remotely. For remote meeting attendance, visit the subcommittee meeting page:

• Institutional bias.
• Adversity, trauma and toxic stress.
• Economic drivers of health (including issues related to housing, living wage, food security and transportation).
• Access to equitable preventive health care.
• Behavioral health (including mental health and substance use).

When:

• Institutional Bias Subcommittee: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 10 a.m. to noon, Room 915.
• Behavioral Health Subcommittee: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2-4 p.m., Room 900.
• Economic Drivers of Health Subcommittee: Friday, Nov. 22, 1-3 p.m., Room 900.
• Access to Equitable Preventive Health Care Subcommittee: Monday, Nov. 25, 1-3 p.m., Room 900.
• Adversity, Trauma and Toxic Stress Subcommittee: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2-4 p.m., Room 900.

All meetings are open to the public. A five-minute public comment period will be held near the end of each meeting; comments are limited to one minute.

Background: Oregon’s SHIP identifies interventions and strategies to address health-related priorities in the state. The SHIP serves as a basis for taking collective action with cross-sector partners to improve the heath of people in Oregon. The SHIP is based on findings of the State Health Assessment.

Program contact: Christy Hudson, 971-678-4347, isty.j.hudson@dhsoha.state.or.us">Christy.j.hudson@dhsoha.state.or.us

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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 are:

• 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 Catherine Moyer at 971-673-1132, ine.moyer@dhsoha.state.or.us">Catherine.moyer@dhsoha.state.or.us, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

(Salem, OR) — On November 14, 2019, Director Kay Erickson of the Oregon Employment Department announced the members of a committee charged with advising the department on implementing the new paid family and medical leave insurance program in Oregon.

“All Oregonians should have access to paid family and medical leave insurance. We all need time to give or receive care at some point in our lives. The new program is designed to help Oregonians take paid time off when it’s most important, and to help Oregon businesses support their workers while thriving and growing through increased workforce participation and employee retention,” said Director Erickson.

Oregon is the ninth state (including Washington D.C.) to pass legislation and work to implement a paid family and medical leave insurance program. “Oregon is at the forefront of implementing this critical program, serving as a model for the nation. This new program will help support workers as they bond with their children during the first year after that child’s birth or adoption, care for a family member who has a serious health condition, deal with their own serious health condition, or issues related to the need for ‘safe leave’ such as domestic violence, stalking, harassment, or sexual assault,” added Director Erickson.

The advisory committee includes: a chair from the Oregon Employment Department, four members representing employee interests, and four members representing employer interests, at least one of whom represents employers that have fewer than 25 employees. This citizen and stakeholder led advisory committee was established by House Bill 2005, passed during the 2019 legislative session.

“More than 50 people submitted interest in participating on the advisory committee. It is encouraging to see such strong interest in, and commitment to, this new program and it was a difficult process to choose members from a qualified group of candidates. We sought people who could bring forward their perspectives, represent those in other groups of workers and businesses, and who can collaborate on difficult issues to help make paid family and medical leave insurance work for all Oregonians,” said David Gerstenfeld, Interim Director of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program.

The department also anticipates that the advisory committee will sponsor workgroups that will involve more people beyond committee members. “It simply is not possible to fully represent all of the situations Oregon workers and businesses face with only nine committee members. We hope the many qualified people who expressed interest in serving on the advisory committee, along with other citizens and stakeholders, will help by providing their suggestions and insights as the department continues to implement this exciting new program,” said Gerstenfeld.

Paid Family and Medical Leave Advisory Committee:

• David Gerstenfeld, Oregon Employment Department, Chair
• Amanda Dalton, Dalton Advocacy
• Jenny Dresler, Public Affairs Counsel
• Linda Herrera, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN)
• Eric Hunter, CareOregon
• Andrea Paluso, Family Forward Oregon
• Eva Rippeteau, Oregon American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
• Paloma Sparks, Oregon Business & Industry
• Jessica Giannettino Villatoro, Oregon American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)

For more information on the new paid family and medical leave insurance program in Oregon, to sign up for updates, and follow the advisory committee, visit the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance page on the Oregon Employment Department’s website. 

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The Oregon Employment Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services, and alternate formats are available to individuals with disabilities, and language services to individuals with limited English proficiency, free of cost upon request. TTY/TDD - dial 7-1-1 toll free relay service. Access free online relay service at: http://www.sprintrelayonline.com/

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by the Oregon Employment Department.

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Martin Lucien Sanders, died the morning of November 14, 2019. Sanders was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary and passed away in the infirmary while on hospice. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

Sanders entered DOC custody on January 17, 2013, from Washington County, with an earliest release date of March 14, 2021. Sanders was 61 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 14,700 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.

OSP is Oregon's only maximum-security prison, located in Salem, and houses over 2,000 individuals. OSP is surrounded by a 25-foot-high wall with 10 towers. The facility has multiple special housing units including death row, disciplinary segregation, behavioral health, intermediate care housing, and an infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care. OSP participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including the furniture factory, laundry, metal shop, and contact center. It provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, work-based education, inmate work crews, and pre-release services. OSP was established in 1866 and, until 1959, was Oregon's only prison.

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On Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at approximately 6:00 P.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel  responded to a report of a vehicle that struck a pedestrian on Hwy 99 near milepost 11 in Phoenix, Oregon. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that a Honda Accord, operated by Bonnie Knudsen (58) of Medford, was northbound on Hwy 99 when a male pedestrian, identified as Mark Cooper (57) no home town known,  walked in front of the vehicle and was struck.

Cooper was transported to Rogue Regional Hospital in Medford where he was pronounced deceased.

OSP was assisted by Talent Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office and ODOT.

On Wednesday November 13, 2019 at approximately 7:54 P.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a report of a two vehicle crash on Hwy 99E near Concomly Rd NE. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that a silver 2002 GMC Envoy, operated by Nicolas Martinez-Rivera (56) of Woodburn, was traveling northbound on Hwy 99E near Concomly Rd NE when for unknown reasons the Envoy veered into the southbound lanes.  The Envoy collided head-on with a 2009 Ford F-150 pickup operated by Kaleefa Chernishoff (26) of Brooks. 

Chernishoff suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to the Salem Hospital. 

Martinez-Rivera suffered critical injuries and was transported by air to Legacy Emmanuel in Portland.

OSP was assisted by Woodburn Fire and Medics and ODOT.

On Wednesday,  November 13, 2019 at approximately 1:45 P.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 20 near mile post 84.5.

Preliminary investigation revelealed that a 1992 Chevrolet Corvette, operated by Gerald Gates (75) of Salem, was westbound on Hwy 20 when it left the roadway and struck a tree.  

Gates sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

OSP was assisted by the Hines Fire Deparment, Harney County Sheriff's Office,and ODOT 

State Announces Winter Shelter Awards and Homelessness Data

OHCS distributed over $1.7 million statewide to strengthen winter shelter capacity

SALEM, OR – Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) provided over $1.7 million to organizations across the state that provide shelter to those without homes. To help ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of Oregonians experiencing homelessness, these investments will strengthen winter shelters by securing facilities to operate shelter, increasing the number of shelter beds, expanding operating hours, providing extended outreach, funding shelter staff, and purchasing bedding, mats, and blankets.

“Temperatures have dropped below freezing across the state, and I am heartbroken for those without a roof over their heads,” said Director Margaret Salazar. “These resources will bring in Oregonians from the cold and allow local communities to address local needs.”

OHCS made the following awards:

• Central Oregon Continuum of Care (Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson Counties), NeighborImpact – $150,000
• Clackamas County Continuum of Care – $150,000
• Jackson County Continuum of Care – $150,000
• Lane County Continuum of Care – $150,000
• Portland/Multnomah County Continuum of Care – $150,000
• Washington County Continuum of Care – $150,000
• Rural Oregon Continuum of Care (Balance of State) – $877, 696 total
  • Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (Marion and Polk Counties) – $150,000
  • Yamhill Community Action Partnership – $145,000
  • Community Connection of Northeast Oregon (Baker, Grant, Union, and Wallowa Counties) – $55,790
  • Oregon Coast Community Action (Coos and Curry Counties) – $100,000
  • United Community Action Network (Douglas and Josephine Counties) – $75,000
  • Hood River Shelter - $11,000
  • Community Services Consortium (Linn, Benn, and Lincoln Counties) – $141,454
  • Community Action Team (Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook Counties) – $86,500
  • KLCAS (Klamath and Lake Counties) – $27,952

• Helping Hands (Tillamook, Clatsop, Yamhill, and Lincoln Counties) – $85,000

These funds are from a one-time allocation of $5 million made to OHCS during the 2019 Legislative Session to address statewide winter shelter capacity. OHCS will release the remainder of these funds through a competitive process in 2020, using the recently released Statewide Shelter Study to prioritize investments. The Shelter Study found that Oregon needs an additional 5,814 shelter beds to provide relief to Oregonians experiencing homelessness identified in the Point-in-Time Count.

The Point-in-Time Count attempts to capture both sheltered and unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness to provide a snapshot of homelessness in the United States. The 2019 Point-In-Time Count data demonstrates the continued need for shelter across the state. While the Point-in-Time Count provides critical information about those who cannot find a permanent place to call home on a given night in January, it does not tell the full story of homelessness in each community. Counting those impacted by homelessness is difficult due to a variety of factors and the intention of the Count is to give a general sense of homeless trends in Oregon and across the country.

Nov. 13, 2019

Media contact: Rebeka Gipson-King, 503-945-7141, ebeka.gipson-king@dhsoha.state.or.us">rebeka.gipson-king@dhsoha.state.or.us

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

Oregon State Hospital Advisory Board meets November 21 in Salem

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

When: Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, 1-5 p.m.

Where: Oregon State Hospital, Callan Conference Room, 2600 Center Street NE, Salem. The public can also attend via toll-free conference line at 888-278-0296, access code 4294893.

Agenda: After the public comment period, topics will include maintaining mental health stability for staff, maintaining confidentiality in an open landscape environment, employment requirements for nursing staff and a report by the Peer Advisory Council.

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 are:

• 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.

The Private Security/Private Investigators Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a WebEx/Telephonic meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE Salem, Oregon.  The public is welcome to view the meeting through Facebook Livestream on the Department of Public Safety Standards & Training page. For more information, contact Mona Riesterer at (503) 378-2431.

Committee Members:

Thomas Thomas, Chair, Private Security Industry

Myron Sanders, Investigator, OSB Appointed

Jeremy Grahn, Retail Industry

Fred Kuest, Private Business or Governmental Entity That Utilizes Private Security Services

Daniel Lenzen, Hospitality Representative

Melvin Levinson, Alarm Monitor Industry

William “Mac” McKnight, Armed Security Representative

Steven Swenson, Private Investigator

Edward Sharpe, Health Care Industry

Richard Valencia, Unarmed Security Representative

Les Youngbar, Public Member

 ?>

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 Private Security/Private Investigations Policy Committee 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.

1.  Introductions

2.  Minutes – August 20, 2019

Approve the minutes of the August 20, 2019 Private Security/Private Investigations Policy Committee   

meeting.

3.  Review of Public Comment for the Proposed Rule Changes to OAR Chapter 259 Division 60 Adding the Event & Entertainment Private Security Professional Certification to the Private Security Provider Administrative Rules

Presented by Jennifer Howald

4.  Department Update

5.  Subcommittee Reports

6.  Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting – February 18, 2020 at 1:30 p.m.

## Background Information on the 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 Patricia Patrick-Joling, Private Citizen member, 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.

WALLA WALLA – Superintendent Dr. Wade Smith announced today to Prospect Point Elementary staff that Barb Casey will serve as permanent principal at Prospect Point Elementary. Casey was serving as interim principal this school year.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with Mrs. Casey’s leadership skills and ability to connect with students, staff, and parents,” said Smith. “Recent survey data revealed she had earned the confidence of Prospect Point parents and staff who expressed overwhelming support for her performance.”

Casey has been employed by Walla Walla Public Schools for 11 years. She has served the district’s Lead Behavior Specialist during her tenure. She also has experience as a special education teacher for Walla Walla Public Schools. Casey began her career in education in the Puyallup School District as a special education teacher. She received a Bachelor’s of Education from Gonzaga University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Washington, Tacoma. Casey obtained her administrative certificate from Gonzaga University. Casey’s husband, Brian, is a science teacher at Garrison Middle School. They have three children.

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Salem, Oregon – Harlen Springer, the chair of the Florence Public Arts Committee and a founding member and past president of the Florence Regional Arts Alliance, has been appointed to the Oregon Arts Commission by Gov. Kate Brown.

Springer is a retired corporate executive with extensive experience leading artistic and consumer products companies including Portal Publications, Numi Organic Tea and Boing Designs. Prior to that, Springer held senior management positions at Fortune 500 companies such as Procter and Gamble, Clorox and Unilever.

As a founding member and the current Chair of the City of Florence Public Arts Committee, Springer has worked with city government, local utilities, civic groups and private individuals to complete 10 projects over the past four years, including sculptures, murals and youth projects. The group received the “Innovation in Business” award for 2018 from the Chamber of Commerce in recognition of their contributions to the city.

Springer also helped to found the Florence Regional Arts Alliance, which now has more than 175 members and sponsors, and operates a gallery where they conduct classes and workshops in all visual mediums, in addition to literary events.

“Since his retirement, Harlen has devoted his time and significant business acumen to the development of the Florence arts community,” said Commission Chair Anne Taylor. “We are incredibly grateful to him and fortunate to enlist his energy in our statewide effort to enrich the lives of Oregonians through the arts.”

“I am honored and humbled by this appointment,” said Springer. “My work in Florence has given me the opportunity to interact with several current Arts Commissioners and it is clear the Commission attracts strong people with a passion for the arts combined with a practical approach to strengthening communities by utilizing the arts to stimulate economic vitality. I share this same passion and desire to have the arts touch the lives of all Oregonians.”

Springer holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Oregon and an MBA from Seattle University. He began his four-year term on Nov. 7.

The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding and arts programs through its grants, special initiatives and services. Nine commissioners, appointed by the Governor, determine arts needs and establish policies for public support of the arts. The Arts Commission became part of Business Oregon (formerly Oregon Economic and Community Development Department) in 1993, in recognition of the expanding role the arts play in the broader social, economic and educational arenas of Oregon communities. In 2003, the Oregon legislature moved the operations of the Oregon Cultural Trust to the Arts Commission, streamlining operations and making use of the Commission’s expertise in grantmaking, arts and cultural information and community cultural development. 

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. More information about the Oregon Arts Commission is available online at:  www.oregonartscommission.org.

(Salem) – The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services will be hosting its first hearing on prescription drug prices on Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oregonians are encouraged to participate in this inaugural event in two ways.

Make your voice heard. The department set up a brief survey for consumers to ask questions and share their stories regarding rising prescription drug prices. Drug prices play a major role in the health care decisions of Oregonians and the cost of prescription drugs have steadily increased in the past 10 years. The department wants to know what questions you have about the increase in prescription drugs and how has it affected you and your family.

For example: Have you had to skip medication in the past 12 months due to the high cost, or have you experienced a heavy hit to your savings in order to pay for prescription drugs?

Submit your questions as soon as possible and they will be included in the public hearing.

Tune in to the hearing. The department is providing multiple ways to tune in to the hearing on Tuesday:  

1. You can attend the event at the Capitol in Salem
2. Watch a live stream at community locations in Astoria, Medford, and Pendleton
3. Watch online, Oregon State Legislature live feed

Ask your questions today and visit dfr.oregon.gov for hearing location information and access to the live stream. 

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The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division is asking for the public's help to identify the person(s) responsible for shooting and leaving to waste a doe deer in Adrian, OR.  

This occurred within a few days prior to November 9, 2019. 

The deceased deer was located in a cornfield near the intersection of Miller Rd. and Red Top Rd..

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact OSP Sergeant Isaac Cyr through the Turn in Poachers (TIP) hotline at 1-800-452-7888 or OSP.

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators 

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

Preference Point Rewards:

5 Points-Mountain Sheep

5 Points-Mountain Goat

5 Points-Moose

5 Points-Wolf

4 Points-Elk

4 Points-Deer

4 Points-Antelope

4 Points-Bear

4 Points-Cougar

The TIP program also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of Mountain Sheep, Mountain Goat, Moose, Elk, Deer, Antelope, Bear, Cougar, Wolf, Upland Birds, Waterfowl, and Furbearers. Cash rewards can also be awarded for the unlawful take of Game Fish and Shellfish and for Habitat Destruction.

CASH REWARDS:
$1,000 Mountain Sheep, Mountain Goat and Moose 
$500 Elk, Deer and Antelope 
$300 Bear, Cougar and Wolf 
$300 Habitat Destruction 
$100 Upland Birds and Waterfowl 
$100 Furbearers 

$100 Game Fish and Shellfish 

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

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

TIP E-Mail: TIP@state.or.us (Monitored M-F 8:00AM - 5:00PM)

Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Has Stayed Near 4 Percent for Three Years  

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in September and October. The rate has been between 4.0 percent and 4.4 percent for an unprecedented 36 consecutive months dating back to November 2016. The U.S. unemployment rate ticked up from 3.5 percent in September to 3.6 percent in October.

Other measures of Oregon’s labor force also indicated a tight labor market in recent months. Fewer individuals are remaining unemployed for extended periods: The number of individuals unemployed for 52 weeks or more dropped to 6,000 in October, which was the lowest level in a dozen years and well below the peak of 70,000 in 2010. The number of unemployed who lost their job has remained close to 32,000 for the past three years, which was less than one-quarter of those unemployed due to a job loss in 2009. Meanwhile, the number of people who were unemployed due to leaving their job voluntarily has recently risen above 16,000, up from an average of 12,000 during the prior six calendar years. The increase in the number of people leaving their jobs voluntarily could indicate increasing confidence among workers of being able to easily find another job if they quit their current job.

Oregon’s nonfarm payroll employment rose by 4,400 jobs in October, following an upwardly revised gain of 3,300 jobs in September. Gains in October were concentrated in leisure and hospitality (+2,400 jobs), government (+2,300), and wholesale trade (+1,000). These monthly gains were partially offset by job losses of 700 each in construction and health care and social assistance, and a loss of 900 jobs in retail trade.

In addition to the strong monthly gains in September and October, quarterly revisions boosted the level of reported employment by 6,400 jobs for June and subsequent months.

Oregon’s payroll employment grew by 27,800 jobs, or 1.4 percent, over the past 12 months. This growth rate was slightly slower than the 1.7 percent average annual growth rate Oregon’s economy experienced over the past 19 months. During the five years prior to that, employment grew much faster—at an average of 2.8 percent per year. Oregon has added jobs at the same pace as the U.S. over the past year.

Next Press Releases

The Oregon Employment Department plans to release the October county and metropolitan area unemployment rates on Tuesday, November 19th, and the next statewide unemployment rate and employment survey data for November on Tuesday, December 17th.

Notes: 

All numbers in the above narrative are seasonally adjusted.

The Oregon Employment Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) work cooperatively to develop and publish monthly Oregon payroll employment and labor force data. The estimates of monthly job gains and losses are based on a survey of businesses. The estimates of unemployment are based on a survey of households and other sources. 

The Oregon Employment Department publishes payroll employment estimates that are revised quarterly by using employment counts from employer unemployment insurance tax records. All department publications use this Official Oregon Series data unless noted otherwise. This month’s release incorporates the April, May, and June 2019 tax records data. The department continues to make the original nonfarm payroll employment series available; these data are produced by the BLS.

The PDF version of the news release, including tables and graphs, can be found at www.QualityInfo.org/press-release. To obtain the data in other formats such as in Excel, visit www.QualityInfo.org, then within the top banner, select Economic Data, then choose LAUS or CES. To request the press release as a Word document, contact the person shown at the top of this press release.

For help finding jobs and training resources, visit one of the state's WorkSource Oregon centers or go to: www.WorkSourceOregon.org.

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.

Initiative emphasizes enforcing gun prohibitions based on domestic violence convictions and mental health denials

WASHINGTON—Today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Project Guardian, a new initiative designed to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws across the country. Specifically, Project Guardian focuses on investigating, prosecuting, and preventing gun crimes.

Reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws have always been among the Department’s highest priorities. In order to develop a new and robust effort to promote and ensure public safety, the Department reviewed and adapted some of the successes of past strategies to curb gun violence. Project Guardian draws on the Department’s earlier achievements, such as the “Triggerlock” program, and it serves as a complementary effort to the success of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In addition, the initiative emphasizes the importance of using all modern technologies available to law enforcement to promote gun crime intelligence.

“Gun crime remains a pervasive problem in too many communities across America. Today, the Department of Justice is redoubling its commitment to tackling this issue through the launch of Project Guardian,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Building on the success of past programs like Triggerlock, Project Guardian will strengthen our efforts to reduce gun violence by allowing the federal government and our state and local partners to better target offenders who use guns in crimes and those who try to buy guns illegally.”

“We are pleased to join Attorney General Barr in announcing Project Guardian—a critical initiative aimed at reducing gun violence in communities across the country. Oregonians are no strangers to the heartbreaking impact gun violence has on the lives of its many victims. Enough is enough; continued violence on our streets is simply unacceptable,” said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We will work closely with our Justice Department colleagues to ensure a speedy rollout of Project Guardian so it can begin saving Oregon lives immediately. I believe it will.”

“ATF has a long history of strong partnerships in the law enforcement community,” said Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “Make no mistake, the women and men of ATF remain steadfast to our core mission of getting crime guns off of our streets. ATF and U.S. Attorneys nationwide will leverage these partnerships even further through enhanced community outreach initiatives and coordination with local, state, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to cut the pipeline of crime guns from those violent individuals who seek to terrorize our communities. Project Guardian will enhance ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence, to include identifying, investigating and prosecuting those involved in the straw purchases of firearms, lying on federal firearms transaction forms, and those subject to the mental health prohibition of possessing firearms.”

Project Guardian’s implementation is based on five principles:

1. Coordinated Prosecution

Federal prosecutors and law enforcement will coordinate with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to consider potential federal prosecution for new cases involving a defendant who: a) was arrested in possession of a firearm; b) is believed to have used a firearm in committing a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime prosecutable in federal court; or c) is suspected of actively committing violent crime(s) in the community on behalf of a criminal organization.

2. Enforcing the Background Check System

United States Attorneys, in consultation with the Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in their district, will create new, or review existing, guidelines for intake and prosecution of federal cases involving false statements (including lie-and-try, lie-and-buy, and straw purchasers) made during the acquisition or attempted acquisition of firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees.

Particular emphasis is placed on individuals convicted of violent felonies or misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, individuals subject to protective orders, and individuals who are fugitives where the underlying offense is a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; individuals suspected of involvement in criminal organizations or of providing firearms to criminal organizations; and individuals involved in repeat denials.

3. Improved Information Sharing

On a regular basis, and as often as practicable given current technical limitations, ATF will provide to state law enforcement fusion centers a report listing individuals for whom the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has issued denials, including the basis for the denial, so that state and local law enforcement can take appropriate steps under their laws.

4. Coordinated Response to Mental Health Denials

Each United States Attorney will ensure that whenever there is federal case information regarding individuals who are prohibited from possessing a firearm under the mental health prohibition, such information continues to be entered timely and accurately into the United States Attorneys’ Offices’ case-management system for prompt submission to NICS. ATF should engage in additional outreach to state and local law enforcement on how to use this denial information to better assure public safety.

Additionally, United States Attorneys will consult with relevant district stakeholders to assess feasibility of adopting disruption of early engagement programs to address mental-health-prohibited individuals who attempt to acquire a firearm. United States Attorneys should consider, when appropriate, recommending court-ordered mental health treatment for any sentences issued to individuals prohibited based on mental health.

5. Crime Gun Intelligence Coordination

Federal, state, local, and tribal prosecutors and law enforcement will work together to ensure effective use of the ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGICs), and all related resources, to maximize the use of modern intelligence tools and technology. These tools can greatly enhance the speed and effectiveness in identifying trigger-pullers and finding their guns, but the success depends in large part on state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners sharing ballistic evidence and firearm recovery data with the ATF.

Federal law enforcement represents only about 15% of all law enforcement resources nationwide. Therefore, partnerships with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the communities they serve are critical to addressing gun crime. The Department recognizes that sharing information with our state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners at every level will enhance public safety, and provide a greater depth of resources available to address gun crime on a national level.

For more information on Project Guardian, see the Attorney General’s memorandum at: https://www.justice.gov/ag/project-guardian-memo-2019/download.

# # #

SALEM, Ore. – The Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee will meet Monday, Nov. 18, from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Tillamook Room, Building C on the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Salem headquarters campus, 2600 State Street.

The committee will discuss the following topics:

• Forest Legacy Program updates
• Updates from the Private Forests Division
• State Forest Action Plan updates
• Stewardship Program updates
• Coordinating with the Committee for Family Forestlands

This is a public meeting, everyone is welcome. The meeting space is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting. For more information about attending the meeting please contact Susan Dominique at 503-945-7502.

The Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee advises the State Forester on policy and procedures for the U.S. Forest Service State and Private Forestry programs, such as Forest Legacy and Forest Stewardship. The committee consists of representatives from state and federal natural resource agencies, private forest landowners, consulting foresters, and forest industry and conservation organizations. You can find more information at: www.oregon.gov/ODF/Board/Pages/SCC.aspx.

                                                                                               # # #

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) invites Oregonians to ditch the shopping bags and lace up their hiking boots to celebrate “Green Friday” Nov. 29. OPRD will waive day-use parking fees that day in 25 state parks across Oregon. 

“Fall weather brings a different flavor to many state parks and we’re encouraging folks to get outside and explore,” said Lisa Sumption, OPRD director. “This is our fifth year celebrating Green Friday and we’re excited to continue the post-holiday tradition.”

Parking is free year-round at almost all state parks; the waiver applies to the 25 parks that charge $5 daily for parking. The waiver applies from open to close on Nov. 29, except at Shore Acres State Park, where it expires at 3 p.m. for the Holiday Lights event that runs Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve. A list of parks that charge the $5 parking fee is available online.

Learn more about Oregon State Parks on oregonstateparks.org.

Editors: follow the link for an online gallery of fall photos from Oregon State Parks: link. Feel free to download and use any photos; credit Oregon State Parks.

November 12, 2019

Media contact: Allyson Hagen, 503-449-6457, allyson.hagen@dhsoha.state.or.us

Health Plan Quality Metrics Committee meets November 14

What: The regular public meeting of the Oregon Health Authority’s Health Plan Quality Metrics Committee (HPQMC).

When: November 14, 1-3:30 p.m.

Where: Clackamas Community College Wilsonville Training Center, Room 210, 29353 SW Town Center, Loop E., Wilsonville. The public also may join remotely through a webinar and listen-only conference line at 877-336-1828, access code 9657836.

Agenda: Welcome and roll call/introductions; review agenda and approve minutes; discussion: extend meeting time to three hours beginning in December; public comment 1:20-1:30 p.m.; update from obesity evidence-based measure development workgroup; update on health equity measure development work; Oregon’s health system transformation; adjourn.

For more information, please visit the committee's website.

# # #

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 are:

• 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 Pete Edlund at 503-931-8873, 711 TTY, .m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.u">peter.m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.u, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

November 12, 2019

Media contact: Allyson Hagen, 503-449-6457, allyson.hagen@dhsoha.state.or.us

CCO Metrics and Scoring Committee meets November 15

What: The regular public meeting of the Oregon Health Authority’s CCO Metrics and Scoring Committee.

When: November 15, 9 a.m. to noon.

Where: Five Oak Building, Suite 775, Transformation Training Room, 421 SW Oak St., Portland. The public also may join remotely through a webinar and listen-only conference line at 888-204-5984, access code 1277166.

Agenda: Welcome, consent agenda, and general updates; committee feedback on HPQMC new and innovative measures criteria; public testimony (10-10:10 a.m.); performance improvement projects (PIPs); 2020 continuous enrollment specifications; kindergarten readiness strategy update; equity measure update; adjourn.

For more information, please visit the committee's website.

# # #

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 are:

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

If you need help or have questions, please contact Pete Edlund at 503-931-8873, 711 TTY, .m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.us">peter.m.edlund@dhsoha.state.or.u, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

PORTLAND, Ore.—Jared Elias Case, 26, of Umatilla, Oregon, was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release after repeatedly assaulting his significant other.

According to court documents, on July 19, 2018, Case punched his then-significant other in the face, breaking her nose and causing other injuries. Case was charged and later convicted of fourth-degree misdemeanor assault in Umatilla County Circuit Court and a domestic abuse protection order was issued by the Umatilla Tribal Court. The protection order prohibited Case from having contact with the crime victim pending a full hearing.

One month later, on August 22, 2018, Case went to a party with the crime victim in violation of the protection order. He began drinking and started arguing with her. While she was seated in a chair, Case put his hands around her neck and strangled her until she blacked out. When she regained consciousness, she got up to leave. Case followed her outside, grabbed her by the shoulders and repeatedly punched her in the face until she again lost consciousness. Case fled, abandoning the crime victim who was lying unconscious in a driveway. He later turned himself in to the Umatilla Tribal Police Department.

On July 9, 2019, Case pleaded guilty to one count of assault by strangulation. As part of his plea agreement, Case will pay restitution his victim as ordered by the court. A restitution hearing has been scheduled for February 10, 2020.

This case was investigated by the Umatilla Tribal Police Department and FBI Portland’s Safe Trails Task Force. It was prosecuted by Jennifer Martin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Domestic violence is a serious violent crime that includes both physical and emotional abuse. It is frequently hidden from public view. Many survivors suffer in silence, afraid to seek help or not knowing where to turn. The traumatic effects of domestic violence also extend beyond the abused person, impacting family members and communities.

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 911.

If you need assistance or know someone who needs help, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Many communities throughout the country have developed support networks to assist survivors in the process of recovery.

The StrongHearts Native Helpline offers culturally specific support and advocacy for American Indian and Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence. Please call 1-844-762-8483 or visit www.strongheartshelpline.org for more information.

The Safe Trails Task Force (STTF) unites FBI and federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in a collaborative effort to combat the growth of crime in Indian Country. STTF allows participating agencies to combine limited resources and increase investigative coordination in Indian Country to target violent crime, drugs, gangs and gaming violations.

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KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Governor’s Task Force on the Outdoors will hold their fifth meeting of the year 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at Running Y Ranch, 5500 Running Y Road, Klamath Falls. The meeting is open to the public.

On the agenda: agreeing on a process timeline, including an overview of outcomes from future meetings; refining strategic plan framework and reviewing actions; consideration of adding a fourth strategic goal; and time for public comments. View the full agenda online.

The meeting is the latest in a planned series; subsequent meetings will be held throughout Oregon. The group met for their inaugural meeting in May at Silver Falls State Park, near Silverton. 

Gov. Brown established the task force earlier this year, with the directive to explore long-term strategies for elevating outdoor recreation in the state. Task force members were appointed by the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission. The governor tapped the Office of Outdoor Recreation, established in 2017 within the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), to guide the task force.

The task force is composed of private and public sector representatives and is chaired by Commissioner Jon Blasher of the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission. Cailin O'Brien-Feeney, director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation, will manage the task force. View the full membership list online: oregon.gov/orec/Pages/Governors-Task-Force.aspx.

Building on and uniting other statewide outdoor recreation efforts, the task force will deliver its final report in April 2020 on recommendations for legislation, investment of existing public and private resources, future funding, and high-level management strategies. Top recommendations will be presented to the governor, state legislature and the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Individuals who require special accommodations to attend the meeting should contact Carrie Lovellette, OPRD support specialist, Carrie.Lovellette@oregon.gov or 503-986-0733 at least three days in advance.

For Immediate Release                                        

November 12, 2019

Contact:  Linsay Hale   
               (503) 378-2427

Notice of Regular Meeting

The Criminal Justice Background Investigation Workgroup will hold a meeting on November 19, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the Victor G. Atiyeh Boardroom at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Linsay Hale at (503) 378-2427.

Teleconference Information:

Call-In: 888-273-3658

Access Code: 4711910

Agenda Items:

1. Issues/Discussion Points (Continued)

  Presented by Linsay Hale

• Establishing/Defining Moral Fitness for Applicants
• Process for Reviewing Professional Standards Cases involving Applicants
• Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Checks: Employment vs. Certification
• Disclosing Records from Previous Employment – CA/CO Laws

2. Next Workgroup Meeting: TBD

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 the Criminal Justice Background Investigation Workgroup 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 Oregon State Marine Board mailed approximately 37,000 boat registration renewal notices to boaters whose motorboat registration expires on December 31, 2019.  Each renewal notice is unique to the owner and their boat. Additionally, registration renewals will also be sent electronically to 38,000 boat owners with emails on file in an effort to encourage online renewal.      

Renewing online using the Marine Board’s online store is fast and easy.  After completing the transaction, boat owners can print a temporary permit and go boating right away.  There is no transaction fee when using a credit or debit card online.  Another option is to mail the payment and coupon to the Marine Board. Registration decals are mailed within 7-10 business days from the date of receipt but may take an additional 2-4 weeks to arrive by US Mail.

Any watercraft with a motor or sailboats 12 feet or longer are required to title and register with the Marine Board. Registration fees vary based on boat length. The average boat length in Oregon is 16 feet, so the cost of a two-year registration is $100.20. 

Boat owners who renew their boat registration online receive their registration decals through the mail, faster. This method is also more cost-efficient, allowing the agency to leverage registration dollars toward boating facility improvement projects and on-water marine law enforcement services. Fees also support the aquatic invasive species prevention and abandoned derelict vessel programs

Access the online store directly at https://www.boatoregon.com/store. View the registration fee table at https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/Pages/Boat-Fees.aspx.

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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.

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment.? Today:? Building a digital defense ?for those who have given so much to defend our country.? 

Veterans Day allows us to celebrate the service of U.S. military members and honor the sacrifices that they – and their families – have made. It is also a time to educate military families about those who wish to profit off their service.  

Unfortunately, military families may be more vulnerable to scams than the average American. A 2018 study by the Federal Trade Commission showed service members lost more than $25 million to just imposter scams over the course of a year. The median loss for a military member: about $700… $200 more than the median loss for the average person. 

Imposter fraud is a pretty simple scam. The bad guy pretends to be someone else, gains your trust, and convinces you to send money. He can pose as a potential employer offering a much-needed job, a lottery official promising a big prize, or even a government agent threatening arrest. No matter who he impersonates, his goal is to always get you to pay up. 

What can you do to protect yourself? 

• Be wary of any call from someone claiming to be from the government who requests personal info or money. 

• Think twice before paying any supposed debt or fee with a wire transfer or gift card.  

• Don’t trust caller ID or the name on the email address or user ID. All can be faked. 

• If in doubt, call the business or agency back from a publicly-available number to confirm what you’ve been offered or threatened with. 

Finally – some good news for veterans. Our friends at the FTC announced just a few weeks ago that the three major U.S. consumer reporting agencies will soon start offering free credit monitoring to active duty U.S. military members and members of the National Guard. To qualify as an active duty member – you must be assigned away from your usual duty station. All members of the National Guard will qualify regardless of where you are stationed. 

As always, if you have been victimized by a cyber fraud, be sure to report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at? www.IC3.gov ?or call your local FBI office.? 

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These are the links service members can use to access the credit reporting agencies' military programs:

https://www.experian.com/lp/military.html 

https://www.equifax.com/personal/military-credit-monitoring/ 

https://www.transunion.com/active-duty-military-credit-monitoring 

On Monday, November 11, 2019 at approximately 5:45 pm, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of a single vehicle crash involving a pedestiran on I-84 near MP 104.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a red and white 2016 Peterbilt Commerical Motor Vehicle, operated by Keith Allen Hille, age 31, of Moscow Mills, Missouri, was traveling westbound on I-84 in the slow lane, when he noticed a reflective vest moving around in the lane of travel. He initially thought the vest was blowing around then realized the vest was being worn by a pedestrian, identified as Alejandro Lozano Rivas, age 33, of Biggs Junction, Oregon. Hille swerved to avoid Lozano Rivas, but was unable to avoid striking him. Lozano Rivas suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Hille stopped immediately after the collison and is cooperating with the investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Sherman County Sheriff's Office, the Sherman County District Attorney's Office and ODOT.