On September 17^th, 2026, at approximately 4:20 p.m., Beaverton Police responded to a crash involving a motorcycle and a 2025 Toyota Camry on SW Cascade Avenue between SW Hall Boulevard and SW Scholls Ferry Road.

The motorcycle rider, a 64-year-old man from West Linn, was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. He later died from his injuries. The driver of the Toyota Camry is cooperating with the investigation.

Beaverton police officers and members of the Washington County Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) responded to the scene and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The investigation remains ongoing. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

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On Friday, September 18th, 2026, at approximately 0801 hrs., Camas Police and Camas - Washougal Fire were dispatched to an accident involving a vehicle into the side of a residence at the 2600 block of NW Kent Street, Camas. The vehicle was backing into a parking stall of an adjacent business, accelerated, jumped over the curb, and proceeded to travel in to the side of a town house.

No one was injured in this collision, but there was extensive damage to both the vehicle and the town house.  

The investigation showed the driver had confused the accelerator for the brake pedal, causing the vehicle to lurch backwards into the town house.   

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On September 21, 2026, at approximately 10:09 p.m., Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies contacted a 17-year-old who reported that her significant other had assaulted her and held her against her will.

The victim fled to Oregon and called 911. During the investigation, deputies learned the suspect had allegedly strangled the victim, assaulted her with a knife, restrained and held her against her will, and sexually assaulted her.

Deputies identified the suspect as 41-year-old David Young.

Deputies responded to Young’s residence, near the 1700 block of NE Minnehaha Street, and established containment around the area. CCSO’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Unit provided an overhead view of the apartment complex and located Young moving through the complex and entering a residence.

Young later attempted to flee by jumping over fences. He encountered deputies and returned inside the residence.

Young eventually exited the residence but refused deputies’ commands to surrender. Deputies deployed CCSO K-9 Ajax, and Young retreated inside, slamming the door on Ajax’s head and feet before closing the door. Young surrendered shortly afterward, and deputies took him into custody without further incident.

Deputies booked Young into the Clark County Jail on charges of Assault in the First Degree – Domestic Violence, Assault in the Second Degree (Strangulation) – Domestic Violence, Kidnapping in the First Degree – Domestic Violence, and Rape in the First Degree – Domestic Violence.

Gresham, OR- It is with a heavy heart that we share the unexpected passing of police K-9, Leni.

Leni was a five-year-old German Shepherd who, throughout her career, worked tirelessly to keep the citizens of Gresham safe while supporting countless public safety operations. Her contributions to our department and our community will not be forgotten.

The bond between a dog handler and their K-9 partner is unique and profound. These teams train, work, and live together every day. They develop a trust and companionship that extends far beyond the job. The loss of a K-9 partner is deeply felt, both personally and professionally.

 "Our police dogs serve with unwavering courage, devotion, and heart, standing beside their handlers through moments of challenge and service to our community. While their time with us is never long enough, their impact is lasting and profound." - Chief Gullberg

Please keep the members of our K-9 team in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. We are grateful for Leni's faithful service and the positive impact she made throughout her career.

Gresham, OR- Police are seeking the public's help in locating 10-year-old Josiah Gwin. Josiah was last seen near 3180 NW Division St. at approximately 11:00 a.m. He is a black male, 5 feet tall, and weighs 170 pounds. Today, Josiah was wearing a white shirt and white shorts. If you see Josiah, please call the Gresham Police.   

UPDATE: Josiah Gwin returned home safely and is no longer of interest. 

RELEASE DATE:               Sept. 18, 2026

Gresham, Ore.— The Gresham Police Department will conduct a pedestrian safety operation on Tuesday, Sept. 22, on SE Powell Valley Road and SE Kane Drive. The department is hoping to raise pedestrian safety awareness for drivers and pedestrians through a two-pronged approach: education and enforcement of pedestrian right-of-way laws.

 The operation will be conducted between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. with warning signs posted prior to entering the pedestrian safety operation zone. Pedestrian safety education is vital to keeping our roads safe. Motorists must stop and yield to pedestrians who are waiting to cross, or who are already crossing the roadway.

Motorists are also required to stop at all crosswalks when there is a vehicle already stopped in a lane next to the lane they are traveling in. Refer to Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 811.028, titled Failure to Stop and Remain Stopped for a Pedestrian, for specifics on the law regarding drivers. Refer to ORS Chapter 814 for laws pertaining to pedestrians.

Funding for this pedestrian safety operation is made possible through a grant from Oregon Impact and Oregon’s Department of Transportation.

Update Corden has been found safe

Gresham, Ore.— Police are asking for assistance from the public to locate an endangered missing person.  Corden Malmberg, age 54, was last seen Thursday evening leaving a 100 SE Cleveland Ave, Gresham.  Corden has memory and heart issues.  He has been without his medication for several days.

Cordon is 5'10" tall and weighs 180 pounds.  He has brown hair, last seen wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt with a black front, unknown color sweatpants and red Nike slides.  

Anyone who sees Corden is asked to call 911. 

At approximately 1412 hours on Sept. 18th, 2026, Lebanon Fire District crews were dispatched to a structure fire on East Pine Street in Lebanon. A neighbor reported seeing light smoke coming from the roof of a single-family residence.

Firefighters arrived at 1416 hours and immediately deployed hoselines to the front door. Approximately 400 feet of supply hose was laid from the nearest hydrant to the residence to establish a water supply for the firefighting operation. Initial reports indicated that possibly two people were inside the home. Crews forced entry and began searching the residence for the fire and any potential occupants. A resident arrived shortly after and confirmed that everyone was safely out of the building.

Conditions inside the home were challenging, with dense smoke down to the floor and a high fire load throughout the structure. These conditions required firefighters to exit the front and re-enter from the back of the residence as they worked to locate the fire.

An engine company placed ladders on the building and opened the roof to ventilate the structure. This allowed heat and smoke to escape and significantly improved conditions for firefighters operating inside.

The fire was located in the kitchen area and was knocked down approximately 25 minutes after the initial call.

Although the fire was quickly brought under control, incidents like this require significant manpower and time to overhaul the structure and ensure the fire is completely extinguished.

Approximately two hours after arriving, firefighters turned the scene over to the Lebanon Fire District Fire Investigation Team. Investigators remained on scene for approximately four hours conducting their investigation.

The cause and origin of the fire have not been released and are not available at the time of this report.

Lebanon Fire District would like to thank the Albany Fire Department for assisting with fire suppression operations and for providing coverage to the Lebanon Fire District while our crews and resources were committed to the incident. LFD would also like to thank the Lebanon Police Department for traffic control.

PRIVATE TIMBER LANDS
 

Those who enjoy traveling the back roads of our private timber lands may have found locked gates or restricted access. This leaves some people to believe private timber companies deny access to their lands simply because they don’t want private citizens on their property. This is not the case.

With the exception of active commercial use such as logging or harvest of other forest products, the closures are in reaction to the ever-increasing incidents of offensive littering, abandonment of vehicles, theft of forest products, and acts of criminal mischief. Some common acts of criminal mischief include destruction of property caused by 4X4s and ATVs riding in unapproved areas, destruction of road access gates, and more.

Damage and theft detract from the natural beauty of our forests and incurs costs for cleaning, repairing, and removal of vehicles and garbage. These costs are passed onto private timber companies as well as taxpayers in the county.

What can each of us do to stop the defacing of our forests and waterways? During your visit and when you leave forest lands and waterways:

• Read signs posted at entry points into private & public lands – signs include important information including log truck activity.
• Report criminal acts to law enforcement.
• Report located dump sites or abandoned vehicles.
• Stay informed of possible land use restrictions. This information is usually posted at each access.
• When in doubt about access, contact the landowner or your Lincoln County Sheriff’s office Forest Patrol at (541)-265-4277.
• Do not discard glass, cans, rubbish, trash, garbage, debris or litter other than in receptacles provided for these items.
• Report anyone observed hauling trash or debris into our forests.
• Consider bringing a trash bag or two to pick up trash you observe.
• Do not discard any glass, cans, rubbish, trash, garbage, debris or litter in any waters of the state.
• Do not drain, cause, or permit to be drained, sewage or the drainage from a cesspool, septic tank, recreational or camping vehicle waste holding tank or other contaminated source, upon the land of another without permission of the owner, or upon any public way.
• When target shooting, be sure to pick up brass, targets, and anything else used during your visit.
• Do not permit any rubbish, trash, garbage, debris or other refuse to be thrown from a vehicle you are operating.

Our forestlands, public and private, should be treasured and protected by everyone. Through our efforts, we can strive to regain the trust of the private timber owners. The challenge for each of us is to take pride in where we live and work and clean up our county.

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

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On September 18th at approximately midnight, residents on the 8800 block of SE Rockvorst Street in the Ardenwald neighborhood called 911 to report a male banging on the door, yelling and holding a tool or weapon. The residents reported they did not know the male subject. As Officers were enroute, the callers reported the male was throwing rocks at the house, breaking windows. The residents were retreating further into the house.

Officers arrived and learned the suspect had fled toward a greenspace near the home. After swiftly reviewing the home’s surveillance footage, Officers set up a perimeter in the last known direction of travel along with a good description of the male suspect. , Officers learned several windows were shattered totaling more than $2000 in damage.

With the aid of a thermal camera equipped drone, Officers quickly located the male,  identified at Jason M. Treichler 33, transient, in a wooded area close by. He was taken into custody without incident and lodged at the Clackamas County Jail on Criminal Mischief I.

Surveillance footage was key in the quick resolution of this incident. Along with motion lights or fixed lighting, the Milwaukie Police Department encourages residents to consider web-based security cameras facing areas sensitive areas or access points to property or structures. MiPD case 26-5317

Video: https://youtu.be/mOE7wTXE394

City of Milwaukie Oregon Official Website

TRAFFIC ALERT: The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office is responding to a fatal crash involving a vehicle and a motorcycle near the intersection of NW Kaiser Rd & NW Germantown Rd. NW Kaiser Rd is closed due to the investigation. Please use alternate routes. The East County Vehicular Crimes Team is responding to the crash. More details will be released when available.

Update: Mr. Leach was located in Oregon City on 9/19/2026 at 2:38 PM.

The Oregon City Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating 93-year-old Fred Francis Leach. Mr. Leach left his residence in Oregon City on 9/19/2026 at about 7:20 AM and his family is unsure of his destination or current location. He was driving his white 2017 Toyota Rav4 (Oregon license plate 019KQH) with a handicap parking placard and Oregon State University logo hanging from the rearview mirror. The vehicle has damage near the passenger side rear door handle.

Mr. Leach is diagnosed with dementia. He is approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, 160 pounds, and was last seen wearing an Oregon State University Beavers jacket, burgundy shirt, and blue jeans. 

If you have information regarding Mr. Leach’s whereabouts, please contact CCOM at 503-655-8211, re: OCPD case #26-018566.

A photo of Mr. Leach and a stock photo of his vehicle have been included with this release.

BENTON COUNTY, Ore. (18 September 2026) – Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help to identify the person(s) responsible for the unlawful shooting of a doe deer near Monroe in Benton County.

At approximately 3:00 a.m. on September 13, 2026, a doe deer was shot on private property near Alpine Road and Foster Road. The deer was left to waste. The suspect(s) are believed to have been traveling in a full-size, loud pickup truck. After the deer was shot, the vehicle was observed traveling eastbound on Alpine Road.

During the investigation, troopers recovered a .30-30 caliber shell casing from the roadway near the scene.

OSP Fish and Wildlife is asking anyone who was in the area around the time of the incident, or who may have information regarding the vehicle or person(s) involved, to contact the Turn In Poachers (TIP) hotline at 1-800-452-7888 or call OSP (677) from a mobile phone. Tips may be submitted anonymously. Please reference case number SP26-300293.

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators

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

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

Preference Point Rewards

5 Points: Bighorn Sheep

5 Points: Rocky Mountain Goat

5 Points: Moose

5 Points: Wolf

4 Points: Elk

4 Points: Deer

4 Points: Pronghorn Antelope

4 Points: Bear

4 Points: Cougar

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

Cash Rewards

Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) cash rewards:

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

$1,000 Elk, Deer, or Antelope

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

$300 Habitat destruction

$200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags

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

$200 Game Birds or Furbearers

$200 Spotlighting

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

Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC) Cash Rewards:

$500 Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey

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

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

Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA) Cash Rewards:

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

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

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

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

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

# # #

About the Oregon State Police

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

BENTON COUNTY, Ore. (17 Sept. 2026) – The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help to identify the person(s) responsible for the unlawful take of a buck deer that was killed with a spear near Monroe in Benton County.

On September 9, 2026, OSP Fish and Wildlife troopers responded to a report of a dead buck deer on private property near Cox Lane and Foster Road outside Monroe. Troopers located the buck with a spear lodged in the animal, and the deer had been left to waste.

OSP Fish and Wildlife is asking anyone who may have information regarding this incident, or who observed any suspicious activity in the area, to contact the Turn In Poachers (TIP) hotline at 1-800-452-7888 or call OSP (677) from a mobile phone. Tips may be submitted anonymously. Please reference case number SP26-295930.

Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators

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

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

Preference Point Rewards

5 Points: Bighorn Sheep

5 Points: Rocky Mountain Goat

5 Points: Moose

5 Points: Wolf

4 Points: Elk

4 Points: Deer

4 Points: Pronghorn Antelope

4 Points: Bear

4 Points: Cougar

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

Cash Rewards

Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) cash rewards:

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

$1,000 Elk, Deer, or Antelope

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

$300 Habitat destruction

$200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags

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

$200 Game Birds or Furbearers

$200 Spotlighting

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

Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC) Cash Rewards:

$500 Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey

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

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

Oregon Outfitters & Guides Association (OOGA) Cash Rewards:

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

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

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

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

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

# # #

About the Oregon State Police

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

A Tigard Police Department employee has been charged with a misdemeanor crime.

The department learned of the allegation on the evening of Monday, August 10, 2026, when a woman called Tigard Police to report that a man exposed himself at a fitness center. The officer who took the report determined that the alleged suspect was an employee of our department and immediately notified a supervisor.

Upon learning of the allegation, the department requested that an outside agency conduct the investigation. The employee, Police Sergeant Luis Rivera, was placed on paid administrative leave the next morning, Tuesday, August 11, 2026, pending the outcome of the independent criminal investigation.

On September 11, 2026, Rivera was indicted by a Washington County grand jury on one count of public indecency, which is a Class A misdemeanor. Rivera was arrested and released on the charge on September 16, 2026. Because the investigation was handled by an outside agency in Marion County, a Marion County prosecutor will lead the proceedings in Washington County Court. Rivera made his first court appearance today, September 21, 2026, and entered a plea of not guilty.

Separate from the criminal investigation, the Tigard Police Department will also conduct a Professional Standards investigation.

“As the department’s leader, I want to assure our community that we take all allegations directed toward our employees seriously,” said Interim Chief Robert Rogers.  “As your city’s peace officers, we know that our reputation is dependent on your trust, and that must be earned by our actions.  We ask for patience as we follow the due process for all people involved in this matter.”

All questions are being directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s office as the criminal matter moves forward.

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In July 2026, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies took a report of a sexual assault that occurred in Aloha. A woman came forward and reported that she was sexually assaulted by Jullian Pioquinto Manuel Govea, 19, of Portland.

Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit were assigned to lead the investigation. Investigators learned that the woman met Govea via social media a few weeks before the assault. Multiple search warrants were executed throughout the investigation, and detectives developed probable cause to arrest Govea. 

On September 10^th, 2026, Govea was arrested in Portland. He was transported to the Washington County Jail and charged with the following crimes:

• Rape in the first degree
• Sodomy in the first degree
• Sexual abuse in the first degree x2
• Invasion of personal privacy in the first degree
• Coercion

Detectives are concerned that there are other women who have been victimized by Govea. Anyone with information is asked to call the Investigations Division at 503-846-2500 and reference case number 50-26-10362.  

In accordance with Oregon House Bill 3273, the Sheriff’s Office is releasing Govea’s booking photo to assist in identifying any additional criminal activity.

PORTLAND, Ore. (September 21, 2026) – As respiratory virus season approaches, Kaiser Permanente Northwest is encouraging community members to get vaccinated now against flu and COVID-19. Now is a good time to get vaccinated, helping ensure protection is in place before viruses begin circulating more widely this fall and winter.

Health experts recommend annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older, along with updated COVID-19 vaccination for eligible children and adults. RSV prevention options are also available for certain infants, pregnant people, older adults, and others at higher risk based on current recommendations. Updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines are now available at Kaiser Permanente Northwest.

"Getting vaccinated early in cold and flu season gives your immune system time to build protection before respiratory viruses begin spreading more broadly in our communities," said Dr. Kathryn Glassberg, internal medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente Northwest. "Vaccines remain our best tool for preventing serious illness, reducing hospitalizations and helping people stay healthy through the fall and winter months. Whether you're heading back to school, returning to the office or preparing for holiday gatherings, now is the time to get up to date."

"Many people have made annual flu shots part of their routine but aren't sure whether they still need a COVID vaccine," Dr. Glassberg added. "The reality is that COVID is present throughout the year, and continues to send people to the hospital. Just like the flu vaccine, COVID vaccines are updated to provide protection against currently circulating strains and remain one of our best tools for preventing severe illness. Now is a good time to get vaccinated so you're protected against COVID before cases start to rise."

While flu and COVID-19 can affect people of all ages, older adults, young children, pregnant people, and those with chronic health conditions remain at higher risk for serious complications. Health care providers recommend vaccination as an important step in reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and missed work, school, and activities.

Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are now available throughout the community, including at Kaiser Permanente Northwest clinics, physician offices, pharmacies, and other vaccination locations. Health experts encourage people to get vaccinated now so they have protection in place before respiratory virus activity increases later this fall.

Interviews Available

Dr. Kathryn Glassberg, Internal Medicine Physician with Kaiser Permanente Northwest, is available for interviews on Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 2-4 p.m. Contact en.a.vitt@kp.org">Karen Vitt to schedule.

Dr. Glassberg can discuss:

• Why now is an ideal time to get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19
• Whether people still need a COVID vaccine and current recommendations
• Current vaccine recommendations for children and adults
• Differences between flu, COVID-19, and RSV, and who is most at risk for severe illness
• How vaccines help reduce hospitalizations and serious complications
• What families can do now to prepare for respiratory virus season

B-roll Available on request:

• Facility signage
• Cleaning/preparation of an injection site with alcohol
• Bandage application
• Refrigeration units
• Clinicians and staff restocking supplies or organizing workspaces
• Providers sanitizing their hands
• Clinicians verifying patient information
• Medium and close-up shots of individuals sniffling, blowing their noses, or coughing

Usage Note: This b-roll is approved solely for use in the specific story for which it is being provided. Any future use requires permission from Kaiser Permanente. The footage may not be repurposed as generic file video for flu-related or other Kaiser Permanente stories without prior approval.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.9 million members in 9 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Media hotline: 503-813-6018

Pacific Power offers Oregon customers rebates for backup power 

Program helps eligible customers prepare for wildfire-related outages and winter storms 

PORTLAND, Ore.  (Sept. 18, 2026) — With a record-setting wildfire season that brought power disruptions to communities across Oregon winding down, Pacific Power is reminding eligible customers about rebates that can help them prepare for future outage events. As our focus transitions to winter storm season, qualified customers and licensed care facilities can still get help purchasing backup power equipment.

Income-qualified residential customers who rely on electricity for medical equipment can receive a rebate of up to $1,000, and eligible licensed residential care homes, care facilities, adult foster homes and hospices can qualify for up to $4,000 in rebates. These rebates can be used toward a qualified portable power station, battery or permanent backup generator.

“We prioritize emergency preparedness education and communication in our communities so our customers are prepared in the event an outage whether related to wildfire safety or seasonal storms,” said Carrie Laird, vice president of wildfire mitigation and emergency operations for Pacific Power. “We want eligible customers and care facilities to know this assistance is available and encourage them to apply before the upcoming deadlines so that they can take advantage of these helpful programs, which can offer peace of mind.”

To qualify for the residential rebate, applicants need to have an active Pacific Power account number, either as a customer or as the tenant of a Pacific Power customer. They also have to be enrolled in both Pacific Power’s Medical Certificate program and Oregon Low Income Discount program. Eligible customers should select backup power equipment from the program’s qualified product list and meet applicable requirements, which are spelled out in detail on our website.

Licensed care facilities also have to have an active Pacific Power account number, either directly or through a Pacific Power customer whose property they occupy. Eligible facilities include licensed residential care homes, care facilities, adult foster homes and hospices.

Eligible equipment must be purchased by December 31, 2026, and Pacific Power must receive the completed application and purchase receipt by January 31, 2027. Rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis until the program’s annual funding is fully used.

Pacific Power launched the Oregon Backup Electric Power Rebate Program in 2023. Since then, the company has issued 421 rebates totaling more than $1.2 million.

The program is also helping communities strengthen their backup power readiness. In 2025, Linn County identified eligible care facilities and encouraged them to invest in backup power. Twenty-seven facilities received rebates of $4,000 each, for a total of $108,000. A batch application process is now available for jurisdictions submitting applications for multiple facilities.

Customers with questions about batch applications for multiple care facilities may email Generator@resource-innovations.com">PacPowerGenerator@resource-innovations.com.

To hear more about the impacts of this program from a customer’s perspective, you can access video and interview excerpts here: Media gallery.

Content on our media gallery is downloadable and free to use in your reporting.

###

About Pacific Power

Pacific Power provides safe and reliable electric service to more than 800,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. The company supplies customers with electricity from a diverse portfolio of generating plants including hydroelectric, natural gas, coal, wind, geothermal and solar resources. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with over two million customers in six western states. For more information, visit PacificPower.net.

SALEM, OR – (September 21, 2026 ) — Cherriots is pleased to welcome Spencer Rosenau, representing Subdistrict 1 in West Salem, to its Board of Directors following his confirmation on September 8.

Spencer brings public policy experience, neighborhood leadership, and the firsthand perspective of a frequent Cherriots rider. He currently supports the Oregon Health Authority’s Health Policy and Analytics Division, previously served as a legislative assistant to Representative Nathanson, and chairs CANDO, Salem’s Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization.

“Spencer brings a valuable combination of public policy experience, neighborhood leadership, and firsthand perspective as a Cherriots rider. His commitment to safe, reliable, and accessible transportation, along with meaningful community engagement and equity, will strengthen our work as we expand service and respond to the needs of the diverse communities we serve. We are delighted to welcome him to the Board,” said Maria Hinojos Pressey, Cherriots Board President.

As a strong advocate for public and active transportation, Spencer is interested in opportunities to improve and expand service, including new mobility options that address first- and last-mile connections. He also brings a focus on accessibility, multilingual outreach, community listening, and equitable transportation options.

About Cherriots

Established in 1979, Salem Area Mass Transit District (SAMTD) is a special District covering 78 square miles in the Mid-Willamette Valley between Portland and Eugene. Locally known as Cherriots, the District provides vital service to more than 450,000 residents in Marion and Polk counties. SAMTD maintains a total of 124 transit vehicles across its various services and provides approximately 3.3 million passenger trips annually.

For more information, visit www.cherriots.org.

LAKEVIEW, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management is helping scarred rangeland recover from wildfire. Crews are preparing to seed burned areas and treat invasive grasses from the air, helping restore vegetation, improve wildlife habitat, and reduce future wildfire risk across southeastern Oregon.

“Post-fire restoration is about giving native vegetation the best opportunity to recover,” said Oliver Liu, natural resources specialist at the BLM Lakeview Field Office. “By establishing desirable plants and reducing invasive annual grasses, we can help restore healthy, resilient landscapes, and improve habitat for wildlife.”

Aerial seeding projects at Bowman and Tucker Hill will support post-fire rehabilitation efforts. Aircraft will distribute a mix of native grasses and forbs across the project areas to help reestablish vegetation following the 2024 Bowman Well and Tucker Hill Fires. The work is part of the Burned Area Emergency Stabilization and Restoration effort.

The aerial herbicide treatments help control invasive annual grasses that can compete with native vegetation, increase fuel loads, and contribute to more frequent wildfires. The projects will use imazapic, a pre-emergent herbicide that prevents the germination of winter annual grasses.

Together, the seeding and herbicide treatments are intended to support the recovery of burned landscapes while reducing conditions that allow invasive annual grasses to spread.

BLM will post maps identifying treatment areas along the main roads entering the project areas.

For public and applicator safety, BLM asks people and pets to avoid camping or traveling through treatment areas while aerial applications are underway.

For more information, visit the BLM Oregon/Washington Weeds and Invasives Program webpage or contact the BLM Lakeview District Office at 541-947-2177.

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management is urging public land users of all types to use their expertise and experience to shape decisions that keep public land across Oregon and Washington healthy, accessible, and thriving. Serving on a council is a chance to collaborate, share ideas, and make a real difference in how millions of public acres are managed for current and future generations. 

“Our resource advisory councils are integral in managing public lands on behalf of the American people,” said Kim Prill, acting BLM Oregon-Washington State Director. “Participating on these councils is a unique opportunity to collaborate and bring your perspective to the table, guiding the stewardship of public lands we all care about.”

Earlier this month, the BLM published a call for nominations to fill current and upcoming vacancies on four councils that advise the BLM across Oregon and Washington.

• Western Oregon RAC
• John Day–Snake RAC
• Southeast Oregon RAC
• Steens Mountain Advisory Council

The nomination period is open for 45 days from publication in the Federal Register, until Monday, Oct. 26. Anyone can nominate themselves or someone else.

The Secretary of the Interior appoints RAC members staggered three-year terms on each of the Councils. The BLM is looking for individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and interests, including: 

• Ranchers and holders of federal grazing permits 
• Members of the timber industry

• Energy and mineral development representatives 

• Recreation users 

• State and local elected officials 

• Tribal governments 

• Wild horse and burro interest groups 

• Environmental organizations 

• Academics & members of the public at large

Resource Advisory Councils are required by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and operate under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to ensure balanced representation. Resource Advisory Council members meet virtually at least once per year to provide advice on initiatives, regulations, and policies that impact millions of acres of public lands.  

For more information visit the Oregon/Washington Advisory Council webpage.  

To apply, visit the BLM’s national Resource Advisory Council page.  

-BLM-

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE

BOARD ON PUBLIC SAFETY STANDARDS AND TRAINING

MEETING SCHEDULED

The Executive Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a regular meeting at 2:30 p.m. on October 1, 2026, at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Executive Session

The Executive Committee will hold an executive session to consider attorney-client privileged information. The executive session is being held pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(f). This session is closed to the public.

General Session

3. Nicholas Alberts, DPSST No. 58569; Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office

4. Tyler Odom; DPSST No. 52085; Frontier Regional 9-1-1

Administrative Announcement

This is a public meeting subject to the public meeting laws and will be recorded. 

CORRECTIONS POLICY COMMITTEE

SPECIAL MEETING SCHEDULED

The Corrections Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a special meeting at 10:00 a.m. on October 1, 2026, at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

The meeting will be livestreamed on the DPSST YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Executive Session

The Corrections Policy Committee will hold an executive session to consider attorney-client privileged information. The executive session is being held pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(f). This session is closed to the public.

General Session

3. Nicholas Alberts, DPSST No. 58569; Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office

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 Police 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.

DPSST provides reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access for people with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency. To request a sign language interpreter, translation services, or other accommodations, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or at nandez@dpsst.oregon.gov">juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

DPSST proporciona acomodaciones rasonables para asegurar el acceso igual para personas con descapacidades y para personas con competencia limitada de inglés. Para pedir un interprete de lengua de señas, servicios de traducción, u otras acomodaciones, por favor de contactar a Juan Lopez marcando al (503) 551-3167, o a nandez@dpsst.oregon.gov">juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov, al menos de 48 horas antes de la reunión.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY COMMITTEE

SPECIAL MEETING SCHEDULED

The Telecommunications Policy Committee of the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training will hold a special meeting at 1:00 p.m. on October 1, 2026, at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training located at 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, Oregon. For further information, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov.

The meeting will be livestreamed on the DPSST YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.

Agenda Items:

1. Introductions

2. Executive Session

The Telecommunications Policy Committee will hold an executive session to consider attorney-client privileged information. The executive session is being held pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(f). This session is closed to the public.

General Session

3. Tyler Odom; DPSST No. 52085; Frontier Regional 9-1-1

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 Police 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.

DPSST provides reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access for people with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency. To request a sign language interpreter, translation services, or other accommodations, please contact Juan Lopez at (503) 551-3167 or at nandez@dpsst.oregon.gov">juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov, at least 48 hours before the meeting.

DPSST proporciona acomodaciones rasonables para asegurar el acceso igual para personas con descapacidades y para personas con competencia limitada de inglés. Para pedir un interprete de lengua de señas, servicios de traducción, u otras acomodaciones, por favor de contactar a Juan Lopez marcando al (503) 551-3167, o a nandez@dpsst.oregon.gov">juan.lopez-hernandez@dpsst.oregon.gov, al menos de 48 horas antes de la reunión.

SALEM, Ore. - National Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Week is September 20–26, 2026, and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is joining communities across the country in recognizing the dedicated volunteers who help make their communities safer and more prepared.

This year’s theme, “Carrying the Torch: 40 Years & Beyond,” celebrates the 40th anniversary of the CERT program while looking ahead to the next generation of community preparedness and volunteer service.

What is CERT?

The CERT program trains volunteers in basic disaster preparedness and response skills so they can safely help themselves, their families, neighbors and communities when emergencies happen.

CERT members receive training in areas such as disaster medical operations, fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster psychology and team organization. Depending on the needs of their community and sponsoring organization, CERT volunteers may also support emergency operations centers, assist with traffic and crowd management, participate in exercises and community events, and share preparedness information with the public.

CERT programs can be organized for communities, workplaces, campuses and teens, providing different ways for Oregonians to get involved.

CERT in Oregon

Oregon has more than 50 active CERT programs across the state. These locally organized teams are supported by sponsoring organizations such as emergency management agencies, fire departments, cities and other government partners.

CERT volunteers strengthen the connection between community members and professional emergency responders. During a major disaster, first responders may be focused on the most urgent life-safety needs. People who have preparedness and response training can take immediate, safe actions to help those around them until additional assistance is available.

That idea is at the heart of CERT: When disaster strikes, you are the help until help arrives.

CERT isn't only about responding after a disaster. Volunteers also help build preparedness before emergencies occur by participating in exercises, supporting community events and encouraging their neighbors to take steps to prepare with the Be 2 Weeks Ready program. More than 60 CERT volunteers also serve as Be 2 Weeks Ready Program Coordinators.

Carrying the Torch

National CERT Week is an opportunity to recognize the volunteers who have given their time and talents to their communities while encouraging more people to become involved.

As CERT celebrates 40 years, its mission remains as relevant as ever. Prepared communities are built by people who know their neighbors, understand local hazards and are willing to learn skills that can make a difference when an emergency occurs.

This National CERT Week, OEM encourages Oregonians to learn more about CERT, connect with a program in their area and consider becoming part of Oregon's network of trained community volunteers.

Learn more and find one of the 50+ active CERT programs in Oregon:
Oregon OEM Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program

National CERT Week: September 20–26, 2026

2026 Theme: Carrying the Torch: 40 Years & Beyond

Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is warning consumers to carefully review health insurance coverage offered through “self-funded” limited-partner plans or other unlicensed entities.

Oregonians should exercise caution before enrolling in a limited partner plan. Companies may offer plans that refer to consumers as “limited partners” or “employees” to avoid Oregon consumer-protection regulations. Many limited partner plans cover only preventive care, such as check-ups and annual health screenings. The plans tempt consumers with promises of low premium costs. However, consumers often end up with higher out-of-pocket costs due to uncovered medical bills. With open enrollment rapidly approaching, it is important to know what the difference is between these plans and standard plans. Open enrollment, which begins Nov. 1 and goes through Jan. 15, is for those who do not get insurance through their job, Medicare, or the Oregon Health Plan.

DFR warned of these plans back in April. They are not compliant with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and do not provide comprehensive medical coverage, although they may be marketed otherwise. This leaves consumers with the possibility of being unexpectedly responsible for unpaid medical bills. Individual health plans that comply with the ACA are available only through a licensed insurance agent or through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. Consumers should pay close attention to ensure that they are on the “.gov” website as there are other websites with similar web addresses that offer non-ACA-compliant plans.

“Consumers should remember the adage that if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is,” said Oregon Insurance Commissioner TK Keen. “If a health insurance policy offers unusually low premiums and low deductibles yet promises full or unlimited coverage, be skeptical.”

Red flags to look for include:

• A salesperson marketing limited partner plans or other “ERISA plans” directly to consumers
• A salesperson claiming they do not need a license because their product is not insurance or is exempt from regulation
• A salesperson offering to sign you up outside open enrollment and without eligibility for a special enrollment period
• A health insurance plan seeming abnormally cheap or referencing “stop-loss” insurance
• A group issuing coverage with minimal requests about an applicant’s health
• A company attempting to quickly collect a large amount of premium
• A company delaying or denying claims and making excuses for failure to pay

Before providing an insurance sales agent with any payment or personal information, DFR encourages consumers to request the agent’s full name and National Producer Number. Consumers can verify the agent’s licensure status by visiting DFR’s check a license webpage.

DFR urges Oregonians to be careful when choosing a company to purchase health care coverage from. Organizations and health plans that DFR and other state regulators have identified as having marketed limited partner or self-funded coverage include:

• Socios Buenos, LP aka Vista Health
• Affordable Benefit Choices LLC
• LP Management Services, LLC
• Aither Healthcare Competitive Health
• NXT Level Health
• Multiplan PHCS Network
• Verdegard Administrators, LLC fka Hawaii Mainland Administrators, LLC
• Pioneer Health/Innovative Healthcare Solutions
• ClearShare Health and Clearwater Benefits LLC
• Emergency Management Alliance
• Premier Health Solutions
• Strategic Limited Partners, LP
• The Vitamin Patch, LLC

Consumers who believe they may have been deceived or have questions can contact our consumer advocates at 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or email .insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov">dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

###

About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

A series of rulemaking advisory committee meetings has been scheduled to discuss updates to the smoke management rules.

This will include multiple work sessions and opportunity for public comment.

The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 23. There will be a period for public comment at 2 p.m. To join, please use the Teams video conference information found on the agenda. 

You can view the previous meetings on the website. More may be scheduled in the future. All meetings will be held virtually and are open to the public. 

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 contacting y.berry@odf.oregon.gov">Shelby Berry at 503-949-5181.

Sixth graders from Clatsop County get hands-on experience in possible forestry careers. Anticipate approximately 400 students from area schools will rotate through 10 different stations.

What: Watch students from all Clatsop County schools participate and rotate through 10 different stations: tree planting, plant identification, wildland fire fighting, wood products, fisheries, recreation, wildlife rescue, restoration, fungi in the forest and tree measurements.

Visuals: See students receive hands-on training on how to plant trees, use a fire hose to hit a target, learn about on-site local fish, take a hike, ID plants and much more.

People on-site available to interview: Students and teachers, experts from the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State University Extension Service, Oregon Parks and Recreation, Clatsop County Fisheries, Lewis and Clark National Historic Park, Wildlife Center of the North Coast, Oregon Women in Timber, Hampton Lumber, Nuveen Natural Capital, North Coast Watershed Association as well other local volunteers.  

When: Thursday, September 24, 2026

Time: 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Best visuals and station rotations occur 9 a.m.–noon. Note: This is a two-day event but photo release and coordination for spokespeople are for Sept 24 only, NOT the first day, Sept. 23.

Where: ODF’s Demonstration Forest and Arboretum adjacent to the Clatsop County Fairgrounds and ODF’s district offices. Address for ODF office: 92219 OR-202, Astoria, OR 97103

Please send an RSVP by end of the day Sept. 22 so we can plan to have people available for interviews. All stations are outdoors so dress for the weather that day. RSVP to Jessica.NEUJAHR@odf.oregon.gov.  For more information contact: Jessica Neujahr, ODF public affairs, (503) 983-3367 (cell phone good for day of the event too). If your schedule changes, we can accommodate last-minute coverage.

Fast facts background and purpose:

• The event has been hosted by the Clatsop County natural resource community since 1960.
• More than 400 students attend each year.
• Top goal is to get students interested in exploring and learning about the broad career opportunities in forestry and natural resources.
• Highlights the partnerships it takes to manage forests for all Oregonians.

List of stations:

September 21, 2026

Media contact: Erica Heartquist, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Recreational use advisory issued for Powder Arm of Brownlee Reservoir Sept. 21

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a recreational use health advisory today for Powder Arm of Brownlee Reservoir due to the presence of a cyanotoxins above Recreational Use Value (RUVs).

A recreational use health precaution has been in place since July 14 due to the presence of cyanotoxins. The waterbody is in Baker County.

People should avoid swimming and other water activities with a high risk of swallowing water or inhaling water droplets in areas lake where blooms are present. Ingestion or inhalation of water is the exposure route of concern. Toxins are not absorbed through the skin. However, those with skin sensitivities may get a puffy red rash.

OHA’s RUVs are designed to protect the most vulnerable, including children, who have a higher activity level and are more likely to swallow water while recreating.

OHA encourages people to visit Powder Arm of Brownlee Reservoir and enjoy activities such as camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, bird watching, and motorized or non-motorized boating activities that have a low risk of swallowing or inhaling water droplets.

Drinking water

Drinking water directly from areas of the lake affected by a bloom is especially dangerous. Toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters. Contact campground management or the local health department with questions about water available at nearby campgrounds or day use areas.

Not all private treatment systems are effective at removing cyanotoxins. People who do not use a well or public water system and draw in-home water directly from an affected area are advised to use an alternative water source for drinking and cooking.

Symptoms for people, pets

Children and pets are at increased risk for exposure because of their size, level of activity, and likelihood of swallowing water.

For people, exposure to cyanotoxins can be serious and cause a range of symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to food poisoning such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms may also be more serious, such as numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may require medical attention.

Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crusts along the shore. This is regardless of whether a recreational use health advisory in place. Symptoms in dogs can include difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, and loss of appetite, and more.  If a dog exhibits symptoms, veterinary treatment should be sought as quickly as possible. OHA recommends keeping dogs on leashes, away from affected water and mat material, to help reduce the chance of exposure.

Fishing

Fish caught from areas where cyanobacteria blooms are present may pose unknown health risks, so OHA recommends not eating fish from those areas. Those who decide to eat the fish should remove fat, skin and organs, where toxins are more likely to build up, before cooking or freezing. Fillets should also be rinsed with clean water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.

###

September 21, 2026

Media Contact: Amy Bacher, acher2@oha.oregon.gov">amy.bacher2@oha.oregon.gov

Reminder: virtual media briefing today on federal changes

OHA will hold a media briefing today to outline federal changes and answer related questions

SALEM, OR – Beginning this month, about 600,000 Oregon Health Plan members will begin receiving notices about upcoming changes to the Oregon Health Plan (OHP / Medicaid). These updates are required under new federal mandates outlined in House Resolution 1, also known as HR1 or the Big Beautiful Bill, which states must follow to maintain federal funding.

One of the first changes will take effect January 1, 2027, when new work or activity rules begin for certain OHP members ages 19 to 64. While most adults with OHP who can work already do, some will need to provide documentation when they apply for or renew coverage once the rules are in place.

The notices going out this month are informational only and no action is required yet; however, OHA is urging members to keep their contact information up to date, so they don’t miss these notices or future updates. Members can do that by:

• Going to benefits.oregon.gov
• Calling 1-800-699-9075 (all relay calls welcome),
• Downloading the ONE mobile app, or
• Visiting a local Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) office

Community partners are encouraged to help spread the word about upcoming changes by sharing flyers, social media posts, and information available at: https://ohp.oregon.gov/toolkit.

Media are invited to an OHA virtual briefing today

OHA leaders will brief the media and answer questions about upcoming federal changes during a virtual session. Details about the briefing:

Date: Monday, September 21, 2026

Time: 11:00am – 11:30am

Location: Virtual, via Zoom

Meeting ID: 165 737 0403, Passcode: 932201, +16692545252,,1657370403#

Community partners can view the briefing via YouTube.

September 18, 2026

Media Contact: Amy Bacher, acher2@oha.oregon.gov">amy.bacher2@oha.oregon.gov

Oregon prepares Medicaid members for new federal rules, calls on community partners to help keep people covered

OHA will hold a media briefing on Sept. 21 to outline federal changes and answer related questions

SALEM, OR – Beginning this month, about 600,000 Oregon Health Plan members will begin receiving notices about upcoming changes to the Oregon Health Plan (OHP / Medicaid). These updates are required under new federal mandates outlined in House Resolution 1, also known as HR1 or the Big Beautiful Bill, which states must follow to maintain federal funding.

One of the first changes will take effect January 1, 2027, when new work or activity rules begin for certain OHP members ages 19 to 64. While most adults with OHP who can work already do, some will need to provide documentation when they apply for or renew coverage once the rules are in place.

The notices going out this month are informational only and no action is required yet; however, OHA is urging members to keep their contact information up to date, so they don’t miss these notices or future updates. Members can do that by:

• Going to benefits.oregon.gov
• Calling 1-800-699-9075 (all relay calls welcome),
• Downloading the ONE mobile app, or
• Visiting a local Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) office

Community partners are encouraged to help spread the word about upcoming changes by sharing flyers, social media posts, and information available at: https://ohp.oregon.gov/toolkit.

Media are invited to an OHA virtual briefing on Monday, Sept. 21

OHA leaders will brief the media and answer questions about upcoming federal changes during a virtual session. Details about the briefing:

Date: Monday, September 21, 2026

Time: 11:00am – 11:30am

Location: Virtual, via Zoom

Meeting ID: 165 737 0403, Passcode: 932201, +16692545252,,1657370403#

Community partners can view the briefing via YouTube.
###

September 17, 2026

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

Recreational use advisory issued for Cullaby Lake Sept. 17

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a recreational use health advisory today for Cullaby Lake due to the presence of a cyanotoxins above recreational use values (RUVs). The lake is in Clatsop County.

People should avoid swimming and other water activities with a high risk of swallowing water or inhaling water droplets in areas of the lake where blooms are present. Ingestion or inhalation of water is the exposure route of concern. Toxins are not absorbed through the skin. However, those with skin sensitivities may get a puffy red rash.

OHA’s RUVs are designed to protect the most vulnerable, including children, who have a higher activity level and are more likely to swallow water while recreating.

OHA encourages people to visit Cullaby Lake and enjoy activities such as camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, bird watching, and motorized or non-motorized boating activities that have a low risk of swallowing or inhaling water droplets.

Drinking water

Drinking water directly from areas of the lake affected by a bloom is especially dangerous. Toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters. Contact campground management or the local health department with questions about water available at nearby campgrounds or day use areas.

Not all private treatment systems are effective at removing cyanotoxins. People who do not use a well or public water system and draw in-home water directly from an affected area are advised to use an alternative water source for drinking and cooking.

Symptoms for people, pets

Children and pets are at increased risk for exposure because of their size, level of activity, and likelihood of swallowing water.

For people, exposure to cyanotoxins can be serious and cause a range of symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to food poisoning such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms may also be more serious, such as numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may require medical attention.

Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crusts along the shore. This is regardless of whether a recreational use health advisory in place. Symptoms in dogs can include difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, and loss of appetite, and more.  If a dog exhibits symptoms, veterinary treatment should be sought as quickly as possible. OHA recommends keeping dogs on leashes, away from affected water and mat material, to help reduce the chance of exposure.

Fishing

Fish caught from areas where cyanobacteria blooms are present may pose unknown health risks, so OHA recommends not eating fish from those areas. Those who decide to eat the fish should remove fat, skin and organs, where toxins are more likely to build up, before cooking or freezing. Fillets should also be rinsed with clean water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.

###

Embargoed until Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 8 a.m. 

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE), in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, will announce Brennan Young as one of Oregon’s 17 2026-27 Regional Teachers of the Year! Young teaches Special Education at South Salem High School in Salem.   

Media members are invited to the surprise announcement at South Salem High School, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 8 a.m., when Young will be honored at a staff meeting.  

Every day in Oregon classrooms, teachers offer their innovation, energy and content mastery in support of students across the state. The Oregon Teacher of the Year Program recognizes and honors teacher excellence, with the state Teacher of the Year serving as the face and voice of exemplary educators across Oregon. Candidates for Oregon Teacher of the Year are exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled licensed public school educators in grades pre-K-12.  
 
Young was nominated by a parent of a student who noted, “[Young] works to integrate special needs children into their school environment, constantly takes them into community for field trips and integration.” They further explained, “[My] child is thriving at school and blowing past his goals, where previously sometimes school just felt like a place to go hang out.” 

“Connecting my students with their peers and their community is at the foundation of my work,” Young stated in his nomination. “The growth that results from these connections is both visible and lasting. This work challenges assumptions, shifts perspectives, and moves us beyond deficit-based thinking toward a deeper understanding: every individual has intrinsic value—and, when given the opportunity, the ability to contribute in meaningful and impactful ways.” 

Regional Teachers of the Year are nominated by students, colleagues, administrators, friends or family members. Regional winners were identified through a local nomination, application and selection process facilitated by the 19 Education Service Districts around the state. Applicants submitted testimonials and letters of support and were assessed by a diverse panel of regional representatives on the attributes of leadership, instructional expertise, commitment to equity, community involvement, understanding of educational issues, vision and professional development. 

“We are so proud of this year’s Regional Teachers of the Year who consistently demonstrate hard work, build strong relationships, empower their students, and create classroom environments that lead to student success,” said ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams. “As mentors, advocates, and community leaders, they show us all that the best is on display in schools large and small, rural and urban, from the first years of schooling to the final preparations for a student’s next steps beyond high school. We thank them for their inspiration and can’t wait to see what they do next.” 

Thanks to a partnership with Oregon Lottery, each Regional Teacher of the Year will receive a $1,000 award and is considered a semi-finalist for the 2026-27 Oregon Teacher of the Year, which will be announced later this fall. 

Since 1995, when the Oregon Lottery began allocating revenue to public education, more than $10 billion has been transferred to school districts across the state. This past year, over $19 million of Oregon Lottery funding went Salem-Keizer School District, and $31 million went to Marion County. 

“These are exceptional educators who inspire students daily across Oregon,” said Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells. “We are honored to celebrate their dedication and the lasting impact they have on our students and families.”  

On Friday, September 25, 2026, once all 17 Regional Teachers of the Year are announced, the full list of statewide winners will be available on the Oregon Teacher of the Year website. 

Do you know an outstanding teacher? Please nominate them as the 2027-28 Oregon Teacher of the Year by visiting oregonteacheroftheyear.org. 

Shortly following the event, photos from the regional surprise announcement for Young will be available HERE.  

Thanks to ODE’s partnership with the Oregon Lottery, the 2026-27 Oregon Teacher of the Year will receive a $10,000 cash prize (with an additional $5,000 going to their school) and serves as a spokesperson and representative for all Oregon teachers. 

Embargoed until Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 9:10 a.m.

(Note: Previous version had typo on celebration day.)

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE), in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, will announce Jennifer Mills as one of Oregon’s 17 2026-27 Regional Teachers of the Year! Mills teaches special education at Tualatin High School.  

Media members are invited to the surprise announcement at Tualatin High School, on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 9:10 a.m., when Mills will be honored with a classroom celebration. 

Every day in Oregon classrooms, teachers offer their innovation, energy and content mastery in support of students across the state. The Oregon Teacher of the Year Program recognizes and honors teacher excellence, with the state Teacher of the Year serving as the face and voice of exemplary educators across Oregon. Candidates for Oregon Teacher of the Year are exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled licensed public school educators in grades pre-K-12. 

“Students are empowered, taught to self-advocate, be independent, confident, safe, for now and the future,” notes a colleague who nominated Mills. “I've worked in the Tigard-Tualatin School District for 20-plus years and have worked with many warm-hearted, well-meaning specialists, but no one compares with Mills' approach to inclusion and neurodivergent students.” 

In her nomination Mills states, “As a high school functional skills special education teacher, I have a huge passion for genuine inclusion and creating opportunities for students with disabilities.” She further declares, “To touch one life is one of the greatest gifts as a teacher, but having an impact of this magnitude that grows exponentially with more students every year is an unmatched feeling of gratitude, pride and hope for the future of our world.” 

Regional Teachers of the Year are nominated by students, colleagues, administrators, friends or family members. Regional winners were identified through a local nomination, application and selection process facilitated by the 19 Education Service Districts around the state. Applicants submitted testimonials and letters of support and were assessed by a diverse panel of regional representatives on the attributes of leadership, instructional expertise, commitment to equity, community involvement, understanding of educational issues, vision and professional development. 

“We are so proud of this year’s Regional Teachers of the Year who consistently demonstrate hard work, build strong relationships, empower their students, and create classroom environments that lead to student success,” said ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams. “As mentors, advocates, and community leaders, they show us all that the best is on display in schools large and small, rural and urban, from the first years of schooling to the final preparations for a student’s next steps beyond high school. We thank them for their inspiration and can’t wait to see what they do next.”

Thanks to a partnership with Oregon Lottery, each Regional Teacher of the Year will receive a $1,000 award and is considered a semi-finalist for the 2026-27 Oregon Teacher of the Year, which will be announced later this fall. 

Since 1995, when the Oregon Lottery began allocating revenue to public education, more than $10 billion has been transferred to school districts across the state. This past year, nearly $6 million of Oregon Lottery funding went to the Tigard-Tualatin School District, and over $45 million went to Washington County. 

“These are exceptional educators who inspire students daily across Oregon,” said Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells. “We are honored to celebrate their dedication and the lasting impact they have on our students and families.”  

On Friday, September 25, 2026, once all 17 Regional Teachers of the Year are announced, the full list of statewide winners will be available on the Oregon Teacher of the Year website. 

Do you know an outstanding teacher? Please nominate them as the 2027-28 Oregon Teacher of the Year by visiting oregonteacheroftheyear.org. 

Shortly following the event, photos from the regional surprise announcement for Mills will be available HERE.  

Thanks to ODE’s partnership with the Oregon Lottery, the 2026-27 Oregon Teacher of the Year will receive a $10,000 cash prize (with an additional $5,000 going to their school) and serves as a spokesperson and representative for all Oregon teachers. 

PORTLAND, Oregon – Union Station in Portland was originally listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. At its June 2026 meeting, Oregon’s State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) reviewed and recommended an update to the nomination. The National Park Service (NPS), which maintains the National Register, approved the updated nomination in late August 2026. The update demonstrates that Union Station is significant in the areas of Black History and Commerce, connecting the station to the African American Resources in Portland, Oregon, from 1851 to 1973 Multiple Property Document approved by NPS in 2020.
 

From the time it first opened in 1896, to 1971 when Amtrak took over passenger rail service, Union Station was the single largest employer of African Americans in Portland. Among the employment opportunities were positions as porters, waiters, cooks, washroom attendants, car cleaners, and laundry workers. These positions offered financial stability for many African Americans in the Portland area. Union Station was also the site where the first Black unions in Portland were organized. By the 1920s Union Station was at the heart of Portland’s Black community in an area that also included homes and businesses such as the Golden West Hotel.  
 

The African American Resources in Portland, Oregon, from 1851 to 1973 Multiple Property Document (MPD) provides an overview of the history of African Americans in Portland through seven different historical contexts and establishes a framework for identifying and listing Portland’s African American resources in the National Register of Historic Places. The updated nomination fits within the framework established by the MPD, demonstrating that for 75 years, Union Station played an important role within Portland’s Black community.
 

The National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Properties listed in the National Register are:

• Recognized as significant to the nation, state, or community;
• Considered in the planning of federal or federally assisted projects;
• Eligible for certain federal and state tax benefits;
• Qualified for historic preservation grants when funds are available;
• Eligible for leniency in meeting certain building code requirements;
• Subject to local laws pertaining to the conservation and protection of historic resources.

State law in Oregon requires local governments to offer a minimal level of protection for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places; decisions about how to accomplish that goal reside with local governments, which also have the authority to create and regulate local historic districts and landmarks.
 

Visit the National Register program webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/national-register.aspx to explore listed properties, review eligibility criteria and the nomination timeline, access research tools, and those interested in seeing if their property is eligible can submit a Historic Resource Record (HRR) form to receive preliminary feedback from State Historic Preservation Office staff.
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PORTLAND, Oregon - The Peter and Laurie King Kerr Estate (now known as Elk Rock Garden) is among Oregon’s newest entries in the National Register of Historic Places. Oregon’s State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) recommended the nomination at its June 2026 meeting for the property’s significance, in the areas of architecture and landscape architecture, as a rare surviving Portland area example of a turn-of-the-century country estate. The National Park Service, which maintains the National Register, accepted the nomination in late August 2026.
 

Located on the outskirts of South Portland, the Peter and Laurie King Kerr Estate was designed and constructed between 1897 and 1957 and it still reflects the layered contributions of its owner, grain commission merchant Peter Kerr, and several prominent design professionals, including landscape architects John C. Olmsted and Adolph Meyer, horticulturalist Emanuel T. Mische, and architects Ellis F. Lawrence and William Holford, the designers of the Kerr residence located on the grounds. Now open to the public, the Peter and Laurie King Kerr Estate stands as one of the Portland area’s only country estates or large private gardens that retains much of its original scale, setting, and design.
 

The National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Properties listed in the National Register are:

• Recognized as significant to the nation, state, or community;

• Considered in the planning of federal or federally assisted projects;

• Eligible for certain federal and state tax benefits;

• Qualified for historic preservation grants when funds are available;

• Eligible for leniency in meeting certain building code requirements;

• Subject to local laws pertaining to the conservation and protection of historic resources.

State law in Oregon requires local governments to offer a minimal level of protection for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places; decisions about how to accomplish that goal reside with local governments, which also have the authority to create and regulate local historic districts and landmarks.

 Visit the National Register program webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/national-register.aspx to explore listed properties, review eligibility criteria and the nomination timeline, access research tools, and those interested in seeing if their property is eligible can submit a Historic Resource Record (HRR) form to receive preliminary feedback from State Historic Preservation Office staff.

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The following information is in reference to two deaths investigated by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. These investigations are related to a shooting Aug. 30, 2026, in Vancouver.

Decedent 1:

This individual died on 08/30/2026 in Vancouver, WA.

The name of the decedent: Gomez Hernandez, Saul   Age: 28 years

The decedent was a resident of (city/state): Vancouver, WA

The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:

Cause of death:  Gunshot wounds

Manner of death:  Homicide

How the injury occurred: Shot by other(s)

Place of injury: Other person’s residence

Decedent 2:

This individual died on 08/30/2026 in Vancouver, WA.

The name of the decedent: Hunter, Cody Wayne   Age: 30 years

The decedent was a resident of (city/state): Vancouver, WA

The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:

Cause of death:  Gunshot wound of head

Manner of death:  Suicide

How the injury occurred: Shot self

Place of injury: Decedent’s residence

Reports and records of autopsies or postmortems shall be confidential as per RCW 68.50.105. No additional information is available for release from the Medical Examiner’s Office. Refer all other inquiries to Vancouver Police Department.

Media release issue date: 09/22/2026

“Hiring Don Bohn in 2019 was the best decision we ever made as a Board of Commissioners.” — Board Chair Mark Kujala

ASTORIA, OR — Clatsop County Manager Don Bohn has announced plans to retire April 2, 2027, concluding seven and a half years as County Manager and 37 years of public service.

Bohn’s retirement is expected to be formally acknowledged by the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners at its September 23 meeting.

During his time with Clatsop County, Bohn has worked alongside County employees, elected officials and community partners to strengthen the organization, build relationships and maintain effective services for the community.

“Hiring Don Bohn in 2019 was the best decision we ever made as a Board of Commissioners,” Board Chair Mark Kujala said. “Don brought three decades of wisdom from Washington County and has guided us with a calm, steady and balanced approach.”

In his retirement letter, Bohn reflected on the people who have shaped his time with the County.

“I am continually inspired by the public employees and elected officials that daily serve our community with humility, passion and grace,” Bohn wrote in his retirement letter shared with the Board and staff. “I am proud of our work together and the innumerable ways we have fortified the organization and culture, enhanced critical partnerships and consistently provided quality, efficient, effective and relevant services to the community.”

Bohn described the County’s accomplishments during his tenure as a collaborative and productive team effort and expressed confidence in the organization’s future.

Kujala also credited Bohn with strengthening relationships throughout the region.

“Throughout his seven-plus years of service, Don’s commitment to collaboration has built deep, lasting relationships with regional community partners,” Kujala said. “He has always been strategic, intentional and unafraid to face challenges head-on — ultimately lifting Clatsop County to new heights.”

Bohn said the people and partnerships that support the County will continue to guide the organization after his retirement.

“I am confident the pillars of political leadership, professional management, quality workforce and community partnerships will continue to support and guide the County going forward,” Bohn wrote. “Until my final day I will do my part in service to the organization and community.”

The County expects to begin the first phase of the recruitment process in November by selecting a professional recruitment team to assist with the search for the next County Manager.

The County Manager position is anticipated to open for applications in 2027, before Bohn’s final day April 2.

“I have been truly blessed to work alongside Don,” Kujala said. “While we will be sad to see him retire, we are grateful to have his leadership through the coming months. He will leave behind a resilient team and a thriving organizational culture. We wish Don and his wife, Stacee, the very best as they enjoy this well-deserved next phase of life together.”

Additional information about the recruitment and transition process will be shared as it becomes available.

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The next regular public meeting of the FVRLibraries Board of Trustees will be held on Monday, September 21, 6:00 p.m. at Goldendale Community Library. It will be a hybrid (in-person/online) meeting. You can view the agenda and meeting materials at https://www.fvrl.org/about/board-of-trustees/

SALEM, OR — Marion County and the Marion County Employees Association (MCEA/SEIU) reached a tentative agreement as of Monday evening September 21, 2026, with the union cancelling a strike that had been set to begin Tuesday morning.

The tentative agreement effectively accepted the County’s final offer, which was implemented September 13, 2026, and both parties agreed to negotiate health insurance contributions for 2028 in a 30-day bargaining window beginning June 15, 2027.

The tentative agreement is subject to a vote by MCEA/SEIU membership and the Board of Commissioners before it becomes official.

County services will continue as normal and without interruption.

UPDATE 9/20/2026 (5:05 PM)

The second individual sought in connection with yesterday's shooting investigation has been located.  The individual, a juvenile, is cooperating with investigators.

Due to the individual’s age, their name will not be released.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation.  No additional information is being released at this time.

### Original release below ###

On September 19, 2026, at approximately 1:55 p.m., officers with the Battle Ground Police Department were dispatched to a reported disturbance in the 1700 block of NE 12th Street in Battle Ground.

While officers were responding, CRESA dispatch received updated information that witnesses had observed two males in a vehicle, with multiple gunshots reportedly being fired from the vehicle as it fled the area. The suspect vehicle was described as a silver Nissan sedan traveling in the direction of Battle Ground Lake State Park.

Several area law enforcement agencies responded to assist, including the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Vancouver Police Department, and Washington State Patrol.

A Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputy located a silver Nissan matching the description of the suspect vehicle as it was entering Battle Ground Lake State Park, located in the 18000 block of NE 249th Street. Officers and deputies were able to detain the driver; however, the passenger fled from the vehicle on foot.

An extensive search of the surrounding area was conducted with assistance from K9 teams and unmanned aerial systems (drones). Despite those efforts, the second suspect was not located.

Officers also searched the area where the initial shooting was reported and located several spent shell casings in the roadway.  At this time, there are no reported injuries.

The suspected driver of the vehicle was identified as Theodore Seaman, 44. He was arrested for Drive-By Shooting and booked into the Clark County Jail. Additional charges may be considered as the investigation continues.

Battle Ground Police Department officers and detectives are continuing their investigation and are working to identify and locate the second suspect.

Anyone with information regarding this incident, including information concerning the identity or location of the second suspect, is encouraged to contact Detective Everett with the Battle Ground Police Department at (360) 831-5001. (BGPD Case #26-1476)

As with all criminal cases, Theodore Seaman is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Salem, OR – September 22, 2026 –  Marion County Circuit Court Judge Sean Armstrong sentenced Daniel A. Long (age 55) to 450 months (approximately 37.5 years) in the Department of Corrections. Long was convicted based on a guilty verdict of three counts of Rape in the First Degree, three counts of Sodomy in the First Degree, one count of Sodomy in the Third Degree, and one count of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree.

The conviction stems from the repeated sexual abuse of a female victim by Long, a family friend. The abuse occurred over four years, beginning when the victim was 14 and continuing until she was 17-years-old. The defendant threatened to harm the victim and her family if she told anyone about the abuse; he leveraged their personal relationship to keep her silent. The victim disclosed the abuse after entering a stable, healthy relationship that gave her confidence to speak out.  

“This case is another example of the extensive manipulation sexual assault victims can be subjected to.  It takes extreme acts of courage for these victims to come forward,” said DA-elect Brendan Murphy. “Despite the horrible abuse she suffered at the hands of the defendant; we wish her healing as she moves forward.”

Deputy District Attorney Matt Estrada represented the state in this case. The Marion County District Attorney’s Office wishes to thank the detectives with the Salem Police Department for their outstanding work.

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PORTLAND, Ore.—An Armenian citizen, extradited from Ukraine to the United States, was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in RYUK ransomware attacks and an extortion conspiracy targeting companies throughout the United States, including in Oregon.

Karen Vardanyan, 35, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and 3 years’ supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $1,219,106.00 in restitution to the victims in the case.

According to court documents, Vardanyan, sometimes using the monikers Maneeken or Karl Lagerfeld, was a member of a conspiracy that deployed Ryuk ransomware on victim computer networks to extort over $1 million from several victims.  Ransomware is a type of malicious software that attacks a victim’s computer or servers and renders them unusable unless the victim makes a payment to the attackers. These payments were made with some form of cryptocurrency, usually Bitcoin. Vardanyan participated in the conspiracy from March 2019 to approximately June 2020 to deploy the Ryuk ransomware against companies, schools, and other entities throughout the world. One of the victim companies was in Wilsonville, Oregon.

On February 22, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a superseding indictment charging Vardanyan with conspiracy, fraud in connection with computers, and extortion in connection with computers.

On June 20, 2025, Vardanyan made his initial appearance in federal court upon extradition from Ukraine. He was detained by the magistrate judge.

On July 8, 2026, Vardanyan pleaded guilty to conspiracy and fraud in connection with computers.

U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Rykken.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Vardanyan’s arrest and extradition from Ukraine. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the Ukrainian authorities for their assistance in this matter.

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Eugene, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud.

David Paul Williams, 46, pleaded guilty to defrauding several Newport, Oregon, property owners, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.

According to court documents, Williams defrauded the owners of vacant lots in Newport through his companies TreeNada Co and Treenada Construction.  In November 2020, Williams entered into agreements with owners of vacant lots in Newport to build townhomes on their lots. Between 2020 and 2022, Williams was paid over $850,000 by the owners to build the townhomes, which were never built. Williams sent email updates to owners with progress on the project that were false and misled the victims to elicit additional money. Williams instead used the fraudulently obtained funds to pay for other projects, to pay a church he had previously defrauded, and for other pre-existing debt. The total loss to investors caused by Williams exceeded $850,000.   

On June 20, 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a 10-count indictment charging Williams with wire fraud.

Williams faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 22, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.

As part of the plea agreement, Williams has agreed to pay restitution in full to the victims.

FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Rykken is prosecuting the case.

# # #

PORTLAND, Ore.— U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford is pleased to announce a series of criminal and civil enforcement actions to combat fraud involving federal pandemic relief funds. Since June 2026, the District of Oregon’s Covid Fraud Task Force has brought 12 enforcement actions involving more than $29 million in losses and thus far resulting in more than $8.6 million in recovery. Since 2020, the District’s COVID Fraud Task Force recovered more than $314 million and held fraudsters accountable through similar efforts. 

The District’s COVID Fraud Task Force brings together investigators and Assistant U.S. Attorneys from a dozen agencies to combat fraud involving pandemic-relief programs in Oregon and across the country through an integrated, multi-agency approach that coordinates criminal prosecution, civil enforcement, and asset recovery. Its work has focused on schemes targeting the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), and other federal relief programs. This task force has set a national standard for combating pandemic-relief fraud.

“These criminals exploited pandemic programs meant to keep honest small businesses alive. By aggressively pursuing pandemic‑related fraud, we’re protecting the local businesses that follow the law, serve our communities, and drive our economy. Our small, dedicated multi‑agency team delivers an exceptional return for the American taxpayer—holding offenders accountable and recovering hundreds of millions in settlements, seizures, and restitution. And when possible, we work cooperatively with companies to return improperly obtained taxpayer funds. Fraud, waste, and abuse don’t stand a chance,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

“Intentional misrepresentation to gain access to SBA program funds intended for the nation’s small businesses is reprehensible,” said SBA Office of Inspector General’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Timothy Larson. “Our Office will remain relentless in the pursuit of fraudsters who seek to exploit SBA’s vital economic programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.”

The following cases highlight the COVID Fraud Task Force’s work over the past few months:

Criminal Convictions:

U.S. v Joel Caswell

On August 21, 2026, Joel Caswell was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for fraud, tax violations, and identity theft. He was also ordered to pay $1,198,799.83 in restitution to the government. According to court records, Caswell executed multiple fraud schemes that involved

submitting fabricated financial records to a bank, a private lender, and the SBA to secure loans. Caswell used the fraudulently obtained loans for personal expenses.

On September 1, 2026, another individual was charged for defrauding the SBA’s PPP and EIDL loan programs for over $760,000. This case remains under seal. 

U.S. v Kenneth Burns

Kenneth Burns pleaded guilty to bank fraud for defrauding the government out of more than $230,000 in PPP loan proceeds. According to court documents, Burns submitted a loan application containing false information, including IRS documents and information about the business. 

On July 7, 2026, Burns failed to appear for his scheduled sentencing hearing, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest as a wanted fugitive from justice. Anyone with information is urged to contact the District of Oregon United State Marshals Service Office, the United State Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or submit a tip using USMS Tips.

U.S. v Beniamin Lucescu

On September 11, 2026, a federal jury convicted Beniamin Lucescu of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering for a scheme through which he defrauded the government out of approximately $487,000 in EIDL proceeds. As proven at trial, Lucescu claimed he was obtaining the loans for Rose City Senior Care, a home senior care business he operated with his wife. Lucescu falsely certified the proceeds would be used for business working capital and to address economic injury caused by the pandemic while he actually intended to, and did, use the funds to pay personal tax debt and make speculative cryptocurrency investments.

Criminal Charges:

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. v Benjamin Young, David Starling, and Adam Starling

On June 9, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Benjamin Young and David Starling with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and Young with 12 counts of wire fraud. Adam Starling previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

The indictment alleges, and Adam Starling admitted in his plea agreement, that participants in the conspiracy fabricated employee and wage records to obtain Employee Retention Credits and Qualified Sick and Family Leave Credits. Co-conspirators listed relatives as employees of one another’s businesses even though those relatives performed little to no work. The purported employees included one co-conspirator’s two-year-old twins. The wages were reported and filed with the IRS, seeking over $3 million in COVID-19 related tax credits. The scheme also used fabricated IRS records to support PPP loan applications to the SBA that were later forgiven based on false information.

The indictment further alleges that Young fraudulently obtained approximately $1.6 million in PPP loan forgiveness in the name of a victim nonprofit organization and used fabricated records to obtain a $2.5 million SBA-guaranteed business loan. Young allegedly misappropriated the loan proceeds and used them to acquire real property. In November 2025, the United States seized properties owned by Young, including this one, that allegedly were purchased with proceeds of the schemes. 

U.S. v Melissa Fireside

On September 1, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Melissa Fireside, a former Clackamas County Commissioner, with two counts of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Fireside sought PPP and EIDL loans, totaling more than $300,000, for a business that did not exist in the name of an adult for whom she provided care. The applications included false statements about the non-existent business, including employees and gross revenues. Fireside also included fabricated supporting documentation including tax documents and bank records. Fireside diverted the PPP loan proceeds for personal use. Fireside has since fled the United States and is a fugitive from justice. Anyone with information is urged to contact the District of Oregon United State Marshals Service Office, the United State Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or submit a tip using USMS Tips.

U.S. v K’Lum Strickland

On September 1, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging K’Lum Strickland with one count of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Strickland stole almost $70,000 through the PPP and EIDL programs. To obtain the loans, Strickland submitted applications with false information, including non-existent businesses, false gross revenues, and false IRS documents. Strickland spent all of the loan proceeds for personal expenses. 

Civil Filings:

Emerald Green Lawn Service, Inc.

On July 6, 2026, Emerald Green Lawn Service, Inc., executed a False Claims Act Civil Settlement Agreement to repay $71,485.19 of EIDL loan proceeds for knowingly submitting false applications to obtain EIDL loans.  

Ramzy Hattar; and Zedan Outdoors, LLC d/b/a Talyor’s Bar & Grill

On September 11, 2026, the United States filed a complaint against Ramzy Hattar and his associated business Zedan Outdoors, LLC, dba Taylor’s Bar & Grill for filing false claims in applications to obtain more than $350,000 in PPP and EIDL loans. According to the complaint, Taylor’s Bar & Grill was not operating at the time it obtained the loans. The complaint further alleges that Hattar misused the loan proceeds. 

Microtec Inc., formerly known as Lucidyne Technologies, Inc.

On August 27, 2026, Microtec Inc., which was formerly known as Lucidyne Technologies, Inc. agreed to pay the United States $1,554,137 to resolve an investigation into whether Lucidyne Technologies improperly certified its eligibility for a PPP loan.  Microtec Inc. cooperated upon being contacted and resolved the issue.

Additional Civil Case Pending Execution:

On September 4, 2026, the United States reached a False Claims Act Civil Settlement Agreement in a sealed qui tam action with a company that improperly obtained PPP loans, recovering approximately $1.6 million. 

The COVID Fraud Task Force continues to pursue criminal and civil enforcement actions aggressively with forthcoming matters on the horizon.  

# # #

37th annual event features author Shane Burley and recognizes Salem Multicultural Institute as 2026 Peacemaker of the Year 

Salem, Ore., September 14, 2026 — Chemeketa Community College is once again partnering with the Salem Peace Lecture to bring community members together for a conversation about issues affecting our world and the role individuals and communities can play in supporting peace, justice and a healthy democracy.

The 37th annual Salem Peace Lecture, “Democracy in Crisis: How Did We Get Here and What Do We Do Now?” will take place Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. in the Building 6 auditorium on Chemeketa’s Salem Campus. The event is free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated but not required.

Hosted in partnership with Chemeketa’s Culture and Community Engagement department, this year’s lecture will feature Portland-based author and filmmaker Shane Burley, whose work explores fascism, antisemitism, social movements and political organizing. Burley will discuss the current state of democracy, the forces that have shaped it and ways people and communities can help strengthen democratic institutions and participation.

“We are excited to welcome Shane to Chemeketa and provide a space where our students and community members can come together to explore challenging questions about democracy and civic life,” said Jon Mathis, Executive Director of Chemeketa’s Title IX and Culture & Community Engagement office. “Community colleges have an important role in creating opportunities for thoughtful dialogue, learning and civic engagement, particularly around issues that affect all of us.”

Burley is the author of Why We Fight: Essays on Fascism, Resistance, and Surviving the Apocalypse and Fascism Today: What It Is and How to End It. He is also editor of the forthcoming anthology ¡No pasarán!: Antifascist Dispatches from a World in Crisis. His writing has appeared in publications including NBC News, The Daily Beast, The Independent, Jacobin, Al Jazeera, Haaretz, Tikkun, The Baffler, Truthout and the Oregon Historical Quarterly. He has also edited a special issue of the Journal of Social Justice focused on antisemitism in the 21st century.

The evening will also recognize the Salem Multicultural Institute as the 2026 Peacemaker of the Year. The organization is known for bringing people together across cultures and communities, including through its signature World Beat Festival and other cultural and educational programs.

Following Burley’s presentation, audience members will have an opportunity to participate in an open question-and-answer session. The Chemeketa Bookstore will also host a book signing, with copies of Fascism Today: What It Is and How to End It available for purchase.

Event Details

What: 37th Annual Salem Peace Lecture, Democracy in Crisis: How Did We Get Here and What Do We Do Now?
Speaker: Shane Burley
2026 Peacemaker of the Year: Salem Multicultural Institute
When: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, at 7 p.m.
Where: Chemeketa Community College, Salem Campus, Building 6 auditorium
Cost: Free and open to the public; donations appreciated but not required

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For more than 55 years, Chemeketa Community College has committed itself to transforming lives and our community through exceptional learning experiences in the Mid-Willamette Valley. As the second largest multi-campus district in Oregon, Chemeketa serves more than 18,000 students annually at its Salem and Yamhill Valley campuses, as well as Brooks, Eola, Winema, Dallas, Woodburn and Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry (CCBI).

Chemeketa Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educational institution.

Namika Miyagi receives national scholarship to support workforce education

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Clark College is proud to announce that student Namika Miyagi has been named a 2026 Chime Workforce Scholar, joining 200 students nationwide recognized for their academic achievement and pursuit of career-focused education.

The Chime Workforce Scholarship, funded by the Chime Scholars Foundation and administered by the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Foundation, provides each scholar with $1,000 to help cover educational expenses while completing a certificate or associate degree that prepares them to enter the workforce in a high-demand field.

"At the Chime Scholars Foundation, we believe that career and technical education opens doors to financial progress and long-term opportunity. We're proud to support students who are working hard to gain in-demand skills and build better futures for themselves and their families," said Jeni Izuel, president of the Chime Scholars Foundation.

Miyagi, an international student from Japan, is serving as Clark College's 2026–27 PTK Vice President of Fellowship and is an International Peer Mentor. She is currently pursuing a degree in computer science with plans to continue her studies at a four-year school upon graduation from Clark. Her goal is to enter the MedTech field, using her skills in technology to help prevent health conditions and support early detection.

"We are thrilled to launch this new program and award hardworking students with Chime Workforce Scholarships," said Amanda Karpinski Gorman, executive director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation. "These scholarships support students pursuing career and technical education at two-year colleges, and we look forward to seeing all they go on to accomplish."

The Chime Workforce Scholarship supports students preparing for high-demand careers that strengthen their communities and local economies. By helping students complete their education and earn workforce credentials, the program helps create a stronger pipeline of skilled workers in fields where they are needed most.

About Clark College

Founded in 1933, Clark College is Southwest Washington's largest public institution of higher education. Clark College provides Southwest Washington residents with affordable, high-quality academic and technical education.

This public community college offers more than 100 degree and certificate programs, including bachelor's and associate degrees, professional certificates, high school diplomas and GED preparation, and non-credit community and continuing education. Clark serves almost 10,000 students including high school students, veterans, displaced workers, multilingual and mature learners. About three-quarters of its students are the first in their families to attend college.

About Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa is the first honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The society is made up of more than 4.4 million members and nearly 1,250 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 220,000 active members in the nation's colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.

Phi Theta Kappa has been recognized as an official honor society at Clark College since 1991. PTK members represent a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Many are working adults, students preparing to transfer to four-year universities, or individuals pursuing new career opportunities. They span all ages, majors, and career fields, united by a commitment to academic excellence and personal growth. 

Membership to PTK is by invitation only — eligible students are invited at the end of each term — and is based on having a 3.25 cumulative GPA after completing at least 12 credits towards a degree, or six credits towards a certificate program. At Clark College, the Alpha Sigma Phi Chapter gives students opportunities to expand their leadership abilities, connect with peers, and broaden their horizons both inside and outside the classroom. Learn more about Clark's PTK chapter here.

 About Chime Scholars Foundation

Chime is a financial technology company founded on the premise that core banking services should be helpful, easy, and free. They offer a broad range of low-cost banking, payments, lending, and investing products that address the most critical financial needs of everyday people. Their members-aligned business model has helped millions of people to unlock financial progress. Funds in Chime deposit accounts are FDIC-insured through The Bancorp Bank, N.A., or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, up to applicable limits.

Chime is not FDIC-insured. The Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A. are the FDIC-insured members. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply. FDIC deposit insurance limit is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category.

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VANCOUVER, Wash. – Washington State University Vancouver has launched a new season of DocArts talks, bringing together film and video screenings, artist talks and community conversations throughout the fall term. The series is jointly sponsored by The Collective for Social and Environmental Justice and Native American Programs and is made possible through the generous support of the Ronni S. Lacroute Fund of Oregon Community Foundation.

The fall series began Sept. 18 with “Global South Solidarities: Digital Anarchiving,” presented by Bibhushana Poudyal, a Nepali scholar, feminist rhetorician, anti-colonial public digital humanist and assistant professor in the Department of English.

The next event in the series will take place at noon Sept. 23 in Dengerink Administration Building, Room 110 and feature WSU Vancouver alumna Courtney Bosworth, Class of 2025. A CSEJ organizer, Bosworth traveled to Hiroshima in August with a delegation from Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility to document and participate in commemorative events marking the 81st anniversary of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The DocArts Initiative is an outgrowth of decades of justice-oriented multimedia production and creation by WSU faculty. DocArts works to integrate multimedia production across the curriculum while creating content for local, national and international platforms.

The series features a diverse group of multimedia artists, activists and public intellectuals, including community organizers, documentary filmmakers, songwriters, comedians and hip-hop performers. Events are free, open to the public and available on Zoom.

The complete lineup is available at labs.wsu.edu/csej/1617-2/ or by contacting van.csej@wsu.edu.

About WSU Vancouver

WSU Vancouver is one of six campuses of Washington State University and the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington. The campus offers undergraduate and graduate programs that support workforce development, innovation and economic growth through strong partnerships with businesses, industries and community organizations.

WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. in Vancouver and is accessible via I-5, I-205 and C-TRAN bus service.

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The Centennial School District Governing Board will convene for a Work Session on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. 

The full board meeting packet is available for reference on the Centennial School District website at www.csd28j.org and can be found on the School Board page.

All attendees will participate virtually via the Zoom app.  If you are interested in joining either meeting, please click on the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81089542815?pwd=EMIiFa-x6Zti5K1U-rHcvUkuxGXgTg.FTe0ObujQvgbb0dy
Passcode:313288

Or Telephone, dial:
  +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799

Webinar ID: 810 8954 2815
Passcode: 313288

To view the agenda and accompanying documents, click or paste this link into your browser: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Organization/1561. The meeting agenda and associated documents may be updated as necessary.

For information about the agenda, email dan@csd28j.org">melissa_grindle@csd28j.org or oard@csd28j.org">board@csd28j.org.

Crutcher also selected as one of four finalists for 2026–27 Oregon Teacher of the Year

OREGON CITY, Ore. — Jennifer Crutcher, a math teacher at Oregon City High School, has been named the 2026–27 Clackamas Regional Teacher of the Year and selected as one of four finalists for Oregon Teacher of the Year.

Crutcher learned of the honors during a surprise celebration at Oregon City High School on Monday, Sept. 21. Students and staff were joined by Oregon City School District Superintendent Dayle Spitzer, representatives from Clackamas Education Service District and other special guests to recognize Crutcher and celebrate her impact as an educator.

“Jennifer Crutcher represents the very best of public education — a math teacher who sees the strengths and potential in each student and creates the conditions for them to grow with confidence,” said Clackamas ESD Superintendent Larry Didway. “Her ability to make rigorous math learning relevant, welcoming, and connected to the world beyond the classroom is a powerful example of what great teaching looks like. We are proud to recognize Jennifer as the Clackamas Regional Teacher of the Year and grateful for the lasting difference she makes for students, families, and her school community.”

Crutcher was nominated by a former student who described her classroom as an “incredibly safe and inclusive space” and praised her ability to explain mathematical concepts in different ways to strengthen student understanding.

“Working with Mrs. Crutcher, I felt more heard than I ever had,” the student wrote. “She took the time to find ways to help me succeed in her classes. With her support, I took more higher-level math classes, including AP Calculus, than I ever thought I would, or could, and passed them with solid grades.”

Crutcher said her teaching philosophy centers on helping students connect classroom learning with the world around them.

“My teaching philosophy is centered on the belief that to truly engage students, we must dissolve the walls of the classroom and weave application and the community into the curriculum,” Crutcher wrote in her application. “By inviting the community into my classroom and leading my students out into the world, I am not just teaching them how to solve problems; I am showing them where they belong in the solution.”

Crutcher was selected from a strong field of educators nominated across Clackamas County. The other finalists for the 2026–27 Clackamas Regional Teacher of the Year were:

North Clackamas School District

• Ellie Cook, Mount Scott Elementary School
• Emily Olson, Bilquist Elementary School
• Jessica Augden, Alder Creek Middle School
• Robin Troche, Milwaukie High School
• Shelly Waller, Beatrice Morrow Cannady Elementary School
• Todd Koebke, Sabin-Schellenberg Center
• Tracy Dato, Adrienne C. Nelson High School

Oregon City School District

• Megan McCormick, Gardiner Middle School

Lake Oswego School District

• Jennifer Jillions, Lakeridge High School

Oregon Trail School District

• Jeremy Magee, Sandy High School

School affiliations reflect employment during the 2025–26 school year.

The Oregon Teacher of the Year Program recognizes outstanding licensed public school educators from across the state. Clackamas ESD coordinates the regional nomination and selection process for Clackamas County.

Crutcher is one of 11 Regional Teachers of the Year statewide and now advances as one of four finalists for the 2026–27 Oregon Teacher of the Year honor. The program is led by the Oregon Department of Education in partnership with the Oregon Lottery. Each Regional Teacher of the Year receives a $1,000 award.

The 2026–27 Oregon Teacher of the Year will be announced later this fall.

The Camas School District Legislative Advocacy Committee will host a Candidate Forum for candidates in the 3rd US Congressional and 17th Washington State Legislative Districts. The forum will be held Monday, October 5, 2026, 6:30-8:00 p.m., at Discovery High School, 5125 NW Nan Henriksen Way, Camas, WA.

The following candidates have been invited to participate in the forum: 

3rd US Congressional District:

John Braun

Marie Gluensenkamp Perez

17th Washington State Legislative District Position 1: 

Ben Christly

Kevin Waters

17th Washington State Legislative District Position 2:

Diana Perez

David Stuebe

The non-partisan forum is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:15, and questions begin at 6:30. Members of the Camas School District Legislative Advocacy Committee and Camas High School students will moderate the structured forum. This forum will focus on public education issues.

Each set of candidates will be asked the same questions provided by the Legislative Advocacy Committee. The forum will be recorded.

The Camas School District Legislative Advocacy Committee is hosting this event for the first time to provide voters with an opportunity to hear from candidates in the November 3 general election about their views on public education in Washington State and nationally. Members of the Legislative Advocacy Committee include Camas School District employees and students as well as community members. 

Audience members will not be able to ask questions during the forum. Distribution of campaign materials, including the carrying of signs, in the building by candidates, volunteers, or members of the public is prohibited. 

A one-of-a-kind work of art now has a permanent home at Lexington Elementary—and the community is invited to help celebrate it. Kelso School District will host a dedication ceremony Thursday, September 24, from 4:30–5:00 p.m. at Lexington Elementary for the school’s new glass art installation, created by Silverdale, Washington, artist Lisa Stirrett through the Washington State Arts Commission’s Art in Public Places program (AIPP).

The centerpiece of the installation is three striking glass salmon inspired by Lexington Elementary, the Kelso community, and the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. The salmon represent perseverance, resilience, and the enduring connection to home.

But perhaps the most meaningful part of the artwork is one that belongs entirely to Lexington’s students: their handprints are incorporated into the piece. Approximately 100 handprints are embossed into the back of one salmon, with many more handprints integrated throughout the installation—creating a permanent snapshot of the children who were part of Lexington at this moment in the school’s history.

“This artwork has quickly become a special part of Lexington, and we’re excited to open our doors and share it with the larger community,” said Lexington Principal Tim Yore. “It tells a story about who we are, where we live, and the students at the heart of our school. We hope people will come see it, discover all the incredible details, and celebrate with us.”

Made from hundreds of individually crafted pieces of glass, each of the three salmon weighs approximately 150 pounds. A specialized five-person crew installed the artwork this summer in Lexington’s main commons near the school entrance.

The September 24 dedication will include a welcome, an overview of the Art in Public Places program, remarks from the artist and from students, and a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

Lexington received the artwork through ArtsWA’s Art in Public Places program, which reserves one-half of one percent of state construction costs for public art in newly constructed public buildings. Local representatives worked with ArtsWA through the artist selection and design process to create a piece reflecting Lexington’s identity and values.

Since 1974, ArtsWA’s State Art Collection has grown to more than 5,000 works displayed in schools and public buildings across Washington, with a distinctive commitment to bringing original artwork into K–12 schools.

The dedication is open to students, families, staff, and community members.

WHAT: Art in Public Places Dedication Ceremony
WHEN: Thursday, September 24, 4:30–5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Lexington Elementary

About Kelso School District

Kelso School District has a goal of 100% (bit.ly/ksd-100) of students graduating high school and having post-secondary plans for college, career, trades, or military. Our mission is to prepare every student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen of our changing world.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 17, 2026

Mazama Energy Raises $135 Million to Scale the World’s Hottest Engineered Geothermal System

Series B led by Centaurus Capital and Doerr Capital, with ConocoPhillips, Shell Ventures, Khosla Ventures and Gates Frontier participating, enabling Mazama to push beyond 750°F and demonstrate a commercially scalable pathway to deploy superhot rock geothermal.

DALLAS, September 17, 2026 — Mazama Energy today announced $135 million in new capital to accelerate superhot rock geothermal commercial development, including an oversubscribed Series B led by Centaurus Capital, founded by John Arnold, and Doerr Capital. ConocoPhillips and Shell Ventures joined the round, with repeat investment from Khosla Ventures and Gates Frontier. Additional investors include SiteGround Capital, H. Barton Asset Management, and Jeffrey and Marieke Rothschild Foundation.

Mazama holds the record for the hottest engineered geothermal system ever built. In 2025 at Newberry, Oregon, Mazama created an engineered geothermal system at 629°F (331°C), proving reservoir creation, connectivity and heat recovery.

Mazama is now pushing toward even hotter targets. Its second well, Project Athena, reached that same 10,350-foot depth in 15 days this month, about 80% faster than the 2025 well, and is drilling a mile further down toward 750°F (400°C).

Reaching 750°F (400°C) delivers up to 10 times the power of a conventional 390°F (200°C) well, owing to the much higher energy density of supercritical water and improved reservoir productivity. This allows Mazama to deliver projects using 75% less water and drilling 80% fewer wells than conventional geothermal developments. Mazama’s technology has the potential to significantly improve the viability and permitting prospects of geothermal projects across a wide range of regions, reducing both surface infrastructure requirements and overall project footprint.
 

Unlocking superhot rock geothermal requires solving three interconnected challenges: reaching extreme temperatures without compromising the equipment, creating a productive reservoir where none exists naturally, and efficiently extracting heat to generate and sustain power. Mazama has spent the last several years developing these capabilities into a single integrated system paving the way towards delivering carbon-free, baseload power competitive with fossil fuels.

“The breakthrough in superhot geothermal is turning extreme heat into a repeatable, economic power system,” said Sriram Vasantharajan, CEO of Mazama Energy. “At Newberry, we have demonstrated the critical pieces together: extreme-temperature drilling, engineered reservoir creation and heat harvesting, at temperatures no other EGS has achieved. We are now driving that integrated system toward greater speed, efficiency and scale. That is the foundation for commercial superhot power.”  

What this capital funds next

Utilities and grid planners are trying to add power they can count on around the clock faster than new transmission and new generation can be permitted and built. Mazama’s bet is to go down, not out: pull more energy from underground instead of adding more infrastructure above ground.

This financing funds Project Ceres, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, which will advance horizontal well development in superhot rock toward a 15 MWe of capacity per well and demonstrate power generation in 2027. Athena and Ceres are the near-term proof points for a much larger ambition: Mazama is targeting independent certification of more than 10 GWe of resource potential at Newberry alone, while evaluating additional sites in the United States and internationally as it builds toward multi gigawatt-scale developments. Mazama’s goal is to make superhot rock geothermal a scalable source of firm power to address rising electricity demand, affordability and energy security around the world.

About Mazama Energy

Mazama Energy is a geothermal developer that has differentiated technology to deliver and scale superhot rock geothermal. In 2025 Mazama achieved the highest temperature in an engineered geothermal system, 629 °F (331°C), at Newberry, Oregon, unlocking the potential to generate significantly more energy from fewer wells, use less land, water and capital, and thereby, lower the cost of power. By integrating advanced drilling technologies, reservoir development, diagnostics, and heat-harvesting technologies, Mazama is building a robust platform to make superhot rock geothermal a scalable source of carbon free, reliable and affordable power worldwide. For more information, visit mazamaenergy.com   

Quotes from Strategic Investors:

“The world needs vastly more electricity, and we need to produce it cleanly and affordably. Superhot geothermal has the potential to be a major new source of 24/7 clean power, delivering dramatically more energy with less land, water, and infrastructure. Mazama is making that promise real and moving this technology decisively toward commercial scale.” said John Doerr, chairman of Doerr Capital and Kleiner Perkins

“Superhot geothermal offers the promise of firm, carbon-free power with a relatively small footprint, but realizing that promise requires significant technical innovation,” said John Arnold, President of Centaurus Capital. “Mazama has made impressive progress, and I am excited to support its next phase of development.”

"Power is the constraint on everything we're trying to build this decade," said Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures. "We backed Mazama early because geothermal can be the planet's largest source of clean, 24/7 power, and we've watched them build the world's hottest engineered geothermal system. Scaling toward 400°C means ten times the heat from a fifth of the wells and a fraction of the water, the kind of breakthrough that makes geothermal a pillar of the energy transition."

From ConocoPhillips: “We are pleased to support Mazama as it advances a differentiated pathway to commercial scale ultra-high-temperature geothermal based on demonstrated field performance.” 

VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Clark County Historical Museum will present History on Tap - The Lavender Palette: LGBTQ Artists and th Art of Washington State on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the Old Liberty Theater in Ridgefield, featuring art historian and curator David F. Martin and his groundbreaking research into LGBTQ artists who helped shape the artistic and cultural identity of Washington State.

The presentation marks the final installment of the museum's 2026 History on Tap series and begins at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m.

Martin's presentation draws on more than three decades of original research that culminated in his 2020 publication, The Lavender Palette: Gay Culture and the Art of Washington State, and a corresponding exhibition at the Cascadia Art Museum in Edmonds.

Beginning as far back as the 1910s, Martin's research examines the lives and work of pioneering gay and lesbian artists whose contributions to the Pacific Northwest's artistic heritage have often been overlooked or understudied. Through artwork, personal photographs, archival materials and stories from his research, Martin will explore the artists who helped establish a distinctive regional aesthetic and contributed to Washington's broader cultural history.

Much of Martin's research comes from sources that have not previously been widely available. He knew several of the artists personally and developed relationships with their families and descendants, giving him access to previously unpublished biographical materials and photographs.

The book features essays and biographies of thirteen artists and examines their artistic contributions and the development of a regional cultural identity. Martin also addresses the historical use of the colors lavender and purple in association with homosexuality and considers how those associations have evolved over time.

David F. Martin is Curator for the Cascadia Art Museum in Edmonds, Washington, and a leading authority on Washington State art history. For more than 30 years, Martin has focused his research on artists active between 1880 and 1970, including women, Asian American, LGBTQ+ and other historically underrepresented artists.

He is the author of numerous books and exhibition catalogues and contributes essays and catalogue entries to national and international publications on painting, printmaking and photography. Martin has lectured throughout the United States and Europe on Northwest regional art.

His landmark 2020 publication, The Lavender Palette: Gay Culture and the Art of Washington State, was the first American art history publication of its kind.

Martin received an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Cornish College of the Arts in 2017 and the Pacific Northwest Historians Guild's 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Thursday, October 15, 2026
Doors open at 6 p.m.
Presentation begins at 7 p.m.

Old Liberty Theater
115 Main Avenue
Ridgefield, WA 98642

Admission is $5 for non-members and free for Clark County Historical Museum members.

Tickets are available at cchmuseum.org.

History on Tap is a public history series presented by the Clark County Historical Museum, bringing historians, researchers and community experts together for engaging conversations about the history and heritage of Clark County and the Pacific Northwest.

The event is sponsored by Old Liberty Theater and Ridgefield Main Street, with The Columbian serving as media sponsor.

Hello everyone,

Just a friendly reminder that we are now only two months out from the Retired Police Luncheon!

Event Details:
Thursday, October 22, 2026
12:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Verrado Golf Club, Vic Quad
4242 N Golf Drive, Buckeye, AZ 85396
(623) 388-3000

Join us for good food, great company, and camaraderie as we celebrate our retired members and the legacy of service. The event includes a buffet and beverages, at $40 per person.

Please RSVP as soon as possible so we can finalize our headcount.

Payment options:
- Venmo: @ Deanna Whattam
- Check: mail to 8103 E Del Rubi Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

We look forward to seeing you there!

Save the date

October 22, 2026

Arizona Retirees Luncheon

See flyer for details

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REACH Expands Affordable Homeownership Work with Mt. Tabor Annex Partnership

24 new townhomes will create permanently affordable homeownership opportunities for Portland families

PORTLAND, Ore. — REACH Community Development (REACH) is expanding its work in affordable homeownership through a partnership with Pahlisch Commercial, Inc. (PCI) to develop 24 new townhomes at the former site of the historic Mt. Tabor Annex, formerly known as the Mills Open Air School.

Located at 511 SE 60th Avenue, the Mt. Tabor Annex Townhomes will provide homeownership opportunities for income-qualified Portland households. All 24 homes will have three bedrooms, with six affordable to households earning up to 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) and 18 affordable to households earning up to 80% AMI.

The Portland Housing Bureau is awarding $4.326 million in Metro Affordable Housing Bond funds, pending Metro approval, to support the $13.5 million development.

“For REACH, affordable homeownership is an important next step in our work to create housing opportunities that help people build stability and intergenerational wealth,” said Margaret Salazar, CEO of REACH Community Development. “Mt. Tabor Annex brings together an experienced development partnership, public investment and the Community Land Trust model to create homes that are affordable to lower-income households and remain affordable for generations to come.”

“Pahlisch Commercial is proud to partner with REACH on a project that will create high-quality homeownership opportunities for Portland families,” said Destin Ferdun, Director of Affordable Housing Development at PCI. “We bring extensive experience in residential development and construction to this partnership, while REACH brings deep expertise in affordable housing and a strong commitment to the communities it serves. Together, we’re excited to bring these homes to the Mt. Tabor neighborhood.”

REACH has a long history of developing and preserving affordable rental housing and is increasingly expanding its work in affordable homeownership. Mt. Tabor Annex is one of two affordable homeownership developments REACH and PCI are partnering on, alongside a project in Vancouver, Washington.

REACH and PCI are structuring and developing the project to make the homes affordable to income-qualified buyers at the time of purchase. Proud Ground will serve as the project’s Community Land Trust partner, ensuring permanent affordability of these homes.

The three-story townhomes will feature three bedrooms, garages, energy-efficient design features and balconies overlooking a shared, family-oriented courtyard. The project is located near schools, grocery stores and commercial areas along Belmont and Hawthorne, with Mt. Tabor Park just blocks away.

The project is currently in pre-development, with completion anticipated in September 2028. Additional information about homeownership eligibility, pricing and the application process will be shared as the project moves closer to completion.

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About REACH Community Development

REACH’s mission is to create opportunities for all people to thrive by developing and promoting equitable access to quality, affordable homes, supportive services, and community. Since 1982, REACH has built innovative and affordable housing serving lower-income families and individuals in the Portland metropolitan region, providing resident-centered services and programs that support housing stability, economic opportunity and community connection. More information about REACH and its programs is available at http://reachcdc.org.

About Pahlisch Commercial

Pahlisch Commercial is a premier real estate investment and development company dedicated to creating vibrant multifamily and mixed-use communities across the Pacific Northwest. We deliver high-quality projects that stand the test of time. Backed by the legacy and integrity of the Pahlisch brand—a name trusted in the region for over 40 years—we build where we live, which gives us a deep understanding of local markets, needs, and opportunities, fostering a competitive advantage through our vertical integration and regional expertise. More information about Pahlisch Commercial is available at www.pahlischcommercial.com.

Media Advisory – All Media Are Invited

What: Beach & Riverside Cleanup at OMSI

When: Saturday, September 19, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Where: 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214 Map Link

Event Description: SOLVE staff and volunteers will celebrate the annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup along the Eastbank Esplanade and surrounding streets to clean up litter before it enters our beloved Willamette River. This family-friendly event welcomes individuals of all ages, providing an opportunity for community engagement and environmental responsibility.

Why: The Beach & Riverside Cleanup (September 18 – 27) spans three significant environmental days: International Coastal Cleanup (September 19), National Public Lands (September 26), and World Rivers (September 27). With 90+ projects taking place across Oregon and SW Washington, this initiative aims to prevent trash from inland sources, such as rivers and streets, from reaching our beaches and oceans. Keeping Portland's waterways clean is vital for the health of the community and the environment. SOLVE's mission focuses on empowering individuals and businesses to contribute to their communities, fostering a sense of pride and stewardship for our natural areas. Together, these efforts can create a cleaner, more inviting environment that reflects care for both the community and the planet.

Media Crews: Arrive by 9:45 am at the north OMSI parking lot to see approximately 50 volunteers of all ages of all ages checking in, collecting their cleanup supplies, receiving a safety speech and event overview, and then heading out in groups to pick up litter in the surrounding area. The event will run from 10 am to 12 pm, with volunteers expected to spread along the Eastbank Esplanade.

This event will have plenty of visuals of volunteers picking up litter, making for great community packages, VOs, and VOSOTS.

Available interviewees: 

• Kris Carico, Chief Executive Officer, SOLVE
   

SOLVE’s 2026 Beach & Riverside Cleanup is proudly supported by Clean Water Services, Kaiser Permanente, Knife River, Keep America Beautiful, Metro, Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation, Owens Corning, Portco Packaging, Tillamook, Harper Houf Peterson Righellis Inc., and KOIN.

For more information visit solve.org/beach-riverside, or event registration page to sign up.

About SOLVE:

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. You can follow SOLVEPNW on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or at www.solve.org. 

PRESS RELEASE                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Headline: Donors who helped build the Tillamook Forest Center gather to celebrate the impact of the Forest Center on multiple generations of students and visitors

Dateline: September 18, 2026

Introduction (Lead Paragraph): 

• Who / What:  The State Forests Trust of Oregon (formerly the Tillamook Forest Heritage Trust) is hosting a reunion of donors and others who helped build the Tillamook Forest Center in celebration of the Center’s 20^th Anniversary. 
• When:  The event will take place on October 9^th, from 11 am to 3 pm, repeating October 10^th from 11 am to 3 pm. The formal program begins at 11 am each day, with guided backstage tours at 1.  A light luncheon will be served to invited guests, with plenty of time to also socialize and view the exhibits on display in the center.
• Where:   At the Tillamook Forest Center:  45500 OR 6, Tillamook, Oregon 97141.
• Why: Businesses, individuals, philanthropists and government agencies came together to raise $10 million to build the center, with additional funds raised to build the Education Pavillion and the Smith Homestead. It was an incredible outpouring from Oregonians representing every walk of life to realize a vision that was sparked by the massive grassroots efforts that led to the reforestation of the Tillamook Forest after the devastating fires during the mid-late decades of the 20^th century which also led to the creation of the Tillamook State Forest and innovations in logging, forest management, fire management, restoration, and legislation. Since its opening, the center has served nearly 1 million visitors. 

Quotes: 

Katie Hooker, Corporate Giving Manager, Weyerhaeuser Corp  870-584-7074

“We appreciate the opportunity to see the lasting impact of the Tillamook Forest Center and look forward to…the event.”

Virginia Ohler, Executive Director, State Forests Trust of Oregon: The Trust is delighted to host this celebration: to acknowledge the incredible grassroots movement that led to it’s creation, and to recognize and celebrate the work of the Forest Center and it’s staff over the last twenty years. 

ABOUT US:  The State Forests Trust of Oregon is an independent, 501-c-3 charitable non-profit organization dedicated to helping Oregonians and visitors enjoy and appreciate Oregon state forests. The Trust helps fund improved access for anglers, off-road vehicle enthusiasts, hikers, and other people as they experience the wonder of Oregon’s beautiful natural heritage.

In addition, the State Forests Trust of Oregon (SFT) supports programs to deepen Oregonian’s understanding of the many benefits of state forests.

Founded in 1999, SFT (formerly  “Tillamook Forest  Heritage Trust”) brought the community together to build the Tillamook Forest Center, where visitors learn about the Tillamook Forest’s first inhabitants, the disastrous wildfires of early last century, as well as the work of the Oregon Department of Forestry to manage state forests. The Trust helps expand trail systems, promote education and learning about and on state forestlands, and helps restore areas impacted by the 2020 Labor Day fires.  

https://www.stateforeststrust.org/

Media Contact: 

Virginia Ohler, Executive Director, State Forests Trust:  503-310-9585  ginia.ohler@stateforeststrust.org">virginia.ohler@stateforeststrust.org

MEDIA KIT:

https://www.tillamookforestcenter.org/press/mediakit

PHOTO GALLERY:

https://www.tillamookforestcenter.org/press/photogallery

AWARDS:

https://www.tillamookforestcenter.org/press/awards

LINK TO VIDEO:

https://www.youtube.com/@StateForestsTrustofOregon

Resources for fact checking:

https://www.tillamookforestcenter.org/

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