The Oregon State Senate Republican Caucus have released a memo declaring Senate President Rob Wagner’s recent actions in the state capitol as unlawful, uncompromising, and unconstitutional.

Actions they are saying began long before the constitutional walkout protest.

“Democratic majority rule is constrained by laws and the provisions of our Constitution. When the majority breaks these laws and willingly chooses to ignore them, they are in violation of their sacred oath of office and trampling on the very mechanisms that maintain a healthy representative democracy. It is our duty to protect these mechanisms of the law and vigorously hold them accountable. Rob Wagner is driving representative democracy off a cliff. We will not merely be a speed bump to these reckless and partisan violations of our laws,” said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend)."

The Senate Republican have pointed out some highlights:

Eliminating Public Hearing:

Rob Wagner has allowed an extremely partisan bill, SB 393, to pass out of committee without a public hearing. There is no greater example of driving democracy into a ditch by allowing bills to pass without holding a public hearing.

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Silencing Oregonians that are represented by Republicans:

Rob Wagner killed the entire Senate Republican Equitable Oregon agenda. He did this despite Republicans and Independents representing nearly 2 million Oregonians and roughly 90% of Oregon’s natural resource lands. Later, Republicans attempted to bring 75 bills to the floor for consideration and Rob Wagner led his Caucus in voting no on each of these critical discussions. This is not good faith bipartisanship.

Refusing Common Sense Bipartisanship:

Rob Wagner refuses Republican and Independent legislators requests to set up a bipartisan, bicameral, even-numbered committee on oversight and accountability.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-05-30 16:38:32

Last Update: 2023-05-30 16:53:12

Oregon House passed House Bill 2004 with bipartisan support, which would establish a plan for implementing ranked choice voting (RVC) in Oregon, for voter consideration.

RCV requires voters to rank candidates by preference instead of voting for just one person. A candidate wins by receiving a majority of the first-preference votes cast. When there is no majority winner, this method allows for an instant runoff. The candidate with the lowest number of first-preference votes is eliminated and their vote is transferred to their second preference candidate. This process continues until a candidate achieves a majority of the votes cast.

Supporters claim if approved, this legislation would:

• Allow voters to rank their candidates in order of preference by establishing ranked choice voting elections for statewide and federal offices, for both primary and general elections with three or more candidates, beginning in 2028.
• Provide guidance for cities and counties to use ranked choice voting elections if they choose to implement locally
• Create a process for county clerks to participate directly in the implementation to ensure effective and standardized implementation across Oregon
• Pave the way for an effective, multilingual, and culturally responsive statewide voter education campaign to ensure all voters across the state understand and are comfortable with ranked choice voting ballots.

Opponents are questioning:

• What is the impact on the American Republic system.
• It ends “one-person, one-vote” principle by the “instant runoff” that allows some ballots to be counted for multiple candidates. On the opposite side, once all candidates are eliminated on a ballot, that voter no longer has a vote.
• The RCV ballot confusion has resulted in more ballot errors and more ballots rejected.
• Too many candidates distorts the method and may not reflect voters’ choice. RCV claims to protect majority rule, but in reality, it creates an artificial majority by eliminating the votes of the lowest-ranking candidates. A Maine study found that of 98 recent RCV elections, 60 percent of RCV victors did not win by a majority of the total votes cast.
• The cost of new equipment, the cost of an education campaign, and cost of training for county clerks.
• If the current election computer system is hackable, admitted by the AG, a RCV system will be impossible to moditor and correct, opening up elections to another level of fraud.
• There is a total reliance on computer programming, without a way to audit the results.
• It is questionable to have the Secretary of State limit the number than can run for an office.
• Election observation will be more difficult.

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  “House Bill 2004 establishes the blueprint for all of Oregon to implement ranked choice voting in an accessible way,” said House Speaker Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis), chief sponsor of the bill. “Ranked choice voting creates a more collegial electoral environment. It allows all voters to be engaged and excited about election outcomes and encourages good candidates running good campaigns. This is about integrity, it’s about electing people in control with the will of the voters.”
  
  As Rayfield states, it allows all voters to be engaged, but it appears to not change the party primary system. The plan, however, is to combine it with SB 166, which guarantees electors the right to vote and will do away with party parimary elections. But HB 2004 has no such guarantee.
  
  Democrat leaders mentioned Takoma Park, Maryland; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Maine’s exit polls show that the majority of voters in these areas prefer RCV to their prior system. However, Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, have run RCV elections for more than a decade, and both show voter turnout lags well behind other metropolitan cities. That is also the case in San Francisco. That study shows off-cycle elections have an average of eight percent lower voter turnout rate than non-RCV jurisdictions.
  
  Massachusetts voters rejected RCV. California’s ranked choice voting has been criticized for using the wrong method to tally votes that had a different issue in at least six election areas. In cities with RCV, elected leadership better reflects the diversity of the population. California Governor Newsom vetoed the state legislature’s 2019 attempt to pass RCV for state elections saying he had concerns over the promise that RCV leads to a greater democracy and often led to voter confusion.
  
  “What I appreciate about Ranked Choice Voting is that it serves as a disincentive to the kinds of mudslinging that dominate many campaigns under a first-past-the-post voting system,” says House Majority Leader Julie Fahey (D-West Eugene & Veneta). “In order to be successful under RCV, a candidate must build bridges and broaden their appeal.”
  
  Claims that RCV overhaul can improve voter confidence by providing more candidate choices, decreasing negative campaigning, and ensuring majority rule are false promises, and the proliferation of RCV would be harmful to American elections, according to a study by Freedom Foundation of Minnesota.
  
  Democrat leaders are saying, “ranked choice voting would strengthen Oregon’s democracy by ensuring voters have a voice in elections and encourages diverse and community-driven candidates on the ballot.” HB 2004 will not guarantee the vote nor will it add diversity. What Oregonians really want is to protect election integrity.
  
  
  --Donna Bleiler
  
  

  Post Date: 2023-05-29 02:42:01

  Last Update: 2023-05-29 02:01:15

  
  

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) has announced that health insurance companies have filed 2024 health insurance rate requests for individual and small group markets, and it looks like rates will rise again.

In the individual market, six companies submitted rate change requests ranging from an average 3.5 percent to 8.5 percent increase, for a weighted average increase of 6.2 percent. That average increase is slightly lower than last year’s requested weighted average increase of 6.7 percent.

In the small group market, eight companies submitted rate change requests ranging from an average 0.8 percent to 12.4 percent increase, for a weighted average increase of 8.1 percent, which is higher than last year’s requested 6.9 percent average increase.

DCBS says that the Oregon Reinsurance Program is meant to help stabilize the market and lower rates. Reinsurance has now lowered rates by at least 6 percent for the sixth straight year.

You can view the full list of rate change requests online.

“We continue to have a strong and competitive insurance marketplace with at least four carriers offering plans in every Oregon county,” said Insurance Commissioner and DCBS Director Andrew Stolfi. “In light of the high inflation and increasing labor costs across the country, we are encouraged that the individual market’s overall average requests were lower than last year. We still have a lot of options for Oregonians to choose from and the Oregon Reinsurance Program continues to allow Oregonians to find reasonable rates.”

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Virtual public hearings about the 2024 requested health insurance rates will be held July 17-18 from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

A web address to watch the public hearings will be posted online.

At the hearings, each insurance company will provide a brief presentation about its rate increase requests, answer questions from Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) staff, and hear public comment from Oregonians. The public also has the opportunity to comment on the proposed rates at any time online now through June 30.

“We look forward to putting these rate requests through a rigorous public review, and we encourage the public to join the virtual public hearings and provide feedback on their health insurance plans,” Stolfi said.

The requested rates are for plans that comply with the Affordable Care Act for small businesses and individuals who buy their own coverage rather than getting it through an employer. For the second year in a row, every county has at least four companies available for people to buy insurance on the individual market. Deschutes County, which has four companies in 2023, is proposed to have five in 2024.

Over the next two months, the division will analyze the requested rates to ensure they adequately cover Oregonians’ health care costs. DFR must review and approve rates before they are charged to policyholders.

Preliminary decisions are expected to be announced in July, and final decisions will be made in August after the public hearings and comment period ends.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-05-28 13:26:57

Last Update: 2023-05-28 13:46:46

Governor Tina Kotek has declared a drought in Sherman and Lake counties through Executive Order 23-08, and directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region.

Both counties are experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions, with over 90% of Lake County and 94% of Sherman County in drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor. Conditions have progressively worsened over winter and spring due to well below average precipitation.

While most of Oregon has seen drought conditions improve over the year, drought conditions in Sherman County have worsened from moderate to severe drought due to well below average precipitation. Streamflows in Sherman County are measuring at 88% of the long-term average. Likewise, streamflows in northern Lake County continue to measure below average as a result of lower than usual precipitation and little runoff response from snowmelt.

Drought is likely to have a significant economic impact on the farm, ranch, recreation, tourism and natural resources sectors, as well as an impact on drinking water, fish and wildlife, and important minimum flows for public instream uses and other natural resources dependent on adequate precipitation, stored water, and streamflow in these areas. Extreme conditions are expected to affect local growers and livestock, increase the potential for fire, shorten the growing season, and decrease water supplies.

The drought declaration by Governor Kotek unlocks a number of drought-related emergency tools for water users, including assistance to local water users. Drought declarations also allow the Water Resources Department to expedite review processes and reduce fee schedules.

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ORS 536.750 lists some of the activities that are permitted by the Water Resources Department following the declaration of a drought emergency. These are:

(a) Issue without first conducting a hearing under ORS 537.170, a temporary permit for an emergency use of water.
(b) Allow a temporary change in use, place of use or point of diversion of water without complying with the notice and waiting requirements under ORS 540.520
(c) Notwithstanding the priority of water rights, grant preference of use to rights for human consumption or stock watering use
(d) Waive the notice requirements under ORS 537.753 and the report required under ORS 537.762
(e) Allow a temporary exchange of water without giving notice as required under ORS 540.535, and
(f) Utilize an expedited notice and waiting requirement established by rule for the substitution of a supplemental ground water right for a primary water right under drought conditions in place of the notice and waiting requirement provided in ORS 540.524.

The Oregon Drought Readiness Council, a standing body composed of natural resource, public health, and emergency response agencies, received requests from the Lake County Board of Commissioners and Sherman County Board of Commissioners in May requesting Governor’s drought declarations.

The Council received input from Oregon’s Water Supply Availability Committee on regional water supply conditions and Council members have conferred on this matter. The Council recommended that the Governor declare drought in Lake and Sherman Counties for the 2023 calendar year, pursuant to ORS 536.740.

As state and local officials coordinate with federal partners, conditions will be closely monitored by the state’s natural resource and public safety agencies, including the Oregon Water Resources Department and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-05-27 09:50:20

Last Update: 2023-05-27 10:38:41

Lane County Republican Party passed a resolution and Chair, John Large, issued a letter for Representative Charlie Conrad to resign his position as Lane County Representative to the Oregon House of Representatives.

The action came after Conrad voted in support of HB 2002, the controversial bill with a long list of grievances affecting children and parents. Democrats have focused on the protection of reproductive health care, as in abortions, which isn’t in danger. Opponents point to other matters such as allowing minors of any age to obtain abortions, contraception and other reproductive care without their parents’ knowledge and teens 15 or older to access gender-affirming care without their parents knowing. 

Conrad claimed to do his own research and changed his vote once out of committee becoming concerned for kids wanting to transgender. In his vote explanation, he states, “I support this bill because, overall, I think its cumulative impact will strengthen Oregon's health care system. Specifically, it will provide support to people in need of critical healthcare services by allowing them to make the best decisions for themselves based upon their individual circumstances. The bill accomplishes this by providing legal protections for patients, providers, and staff while ensuring medically necessary treatments are covered by insurance.” He details his reasoning, but neglects to address the real issue of minors receiving medical advice and treatment without parent knowledge and other critical issues.

Lane County Republican Party’s request for resignation states Conrad’s vote does not align with their stated values, and lists ten reasons that Conrad ignored in his vote for HB 2002b.

• A minor to receive irreversible sex-change treatments and procedures without parental knowledge and consent.
• A minor to have their parent’s insurance cover such treatment and procedures without parental knowledge and consent.
• Requirement of insurance plans to cover irreversible sex-change treatments.
• Requirement of insurance plans to cover sex-changing cosmetic procedures and surgeries.
• Decriminalizing the concealing of the dead body of a newborn baby.
• A child of any age to receive an abortion without parental knowledge and consent.
• A doctor to hide information from a child’s parent regarding an abortion.
• Requirement of Oregon taxpayers pay for abortions and sex-change procedures for out of state persons.
• Requirement of universities and colleges to provide medical abortions paid for by Oregon taxpayers.
• Changing the language from “terminate pregnancy” to “exercise reproductive health right.”

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Lane County Republican Party further “withdraws all current and future support for Representative Charlie Conrad.”

HB 2002 isn’t the only bill Conrad has sided with Democrats on. He voted for HB 2004, which establishes ranked choice voting. He voted with Democrat on HB 2279 to repeal residency requirement in Oregon Death with Dignity Act. Conrad also voted with Democrats on critical enforcement bills relating to paramilitary activity and domestic terrorism, HB 2572 and HB2772 among others.

Representative Conrad gives no indication he will resign, but has indicated after the session he will go around to reach the 70,000 people in his district and if they don’t like who he is, he said they can vote him out.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-05-27 00:18:03

Last Update: 2023-05-27 17:02:35

On May 24, 2023, deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the Lost Tracks Golf Course on a report of an assault that had just taken place. Initial reports detailed a female had just assaulted a golf course employee and that during the assault a male had brandished a machete.

Both assailants were believed to be residents of the houseless camps on U.S. Forest Service land that borders the golf course.

During the course of the investigation, it was learned the female assailant, later identified as Laura Allison, had confronted one of the golf course employees about golf balls being hit over the driving range netting. During this confrontation Allison screamed obscenities at the juvenile employee and eventually began chasing him when the juvenile employee attempted to leave the area.

Allison then confronted the second golf course employee and struck him in the head with her fist. The employee defended himself and was able to eventually restrain Allison while the other employees contacted Deschutes County 911 Dispatch.

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During this melee Michael Parker arrived on scene, walking from his camp trailer that is located on U.S. Forest Service land that borders the golf course. Multiple witness advised deputies Parker was armed with a machete, which he removed from its sheath and brandished it in an aggressive manner towards the employee restraining Allison.

The employee, being afraid for his own safety and the safety of the others present opted to release Allison. Both Allison and Parker returned to their nearby camps.

Parker was located shortly after the incident and taken into custody. Parker was lodged at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Adult Jail on charges for unlawful use of a weapon and menacing .

Allison was contacted on May 25, 2023, and taken into custody. Allison was lodged at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Adult Jail and has been charged with 4th degree assault and 2 counts of menacing.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2023-05-26 20:27:29

Last Update: 2023-05-26 20:36:56

Oregon public health officials at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) are now saying that they want to raise awareness that getting vaccinated with both doses of the monkeypox vaccine might be the best way for people to protect themselves and their community. They say this is especially true now, with Pride month coming up. It is also true that abstaining from non-manogamous gay sex is also a good way to avoid the disease.

Tim Menza, M.D., Ph.D., senior health adviser for Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) monkeypox response, said that while the number of monkeypox cases in the state has decreased dramatically since last summer, the outbreak that began in June 2022 is not over.

“There are reports of increases in cases in the United States (Chicago) and across the globe, including in France and South Korea,” Menza said.

Oregon still sees one to three monkeypox cases reported per month, although that’s a significant drop from the 10 to 15 cases reported per week when the outbreak peaked in early August 2022.

The state’s total count of monkeypox cases now stands at 280 in 12 counties since the start of the outbreak, including 278 adult cases and two pediatric cases.

There have been no deaths.

That the monkeypox outbreak is not yet over is a sentiment shared recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On May 15, the agency issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) advisory, warning health care and public health partners of ongoing mpox community transmission in the United States and internationally. The HAN informs clinicians and public health agencies about the potential for new clusters or outbreaks of mpox cases, and provides resources on clinical evaluation, treatment, vaccination and testing.

“We have the tools to prevent a resurgence in Oregon, including testing, vaccination, treatment, strong community partnerships and data to guide our response,” Menza emphasized. “As we gather and travel for Pride celebrations in Oregon and around the country next month, we can use these tools now to help us avoid repeating the outbreak of 2022.”

OHA says that the JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine is free and readily available to anyone in Oregon who wants to be vaccinated.

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As of May 15, 20,972 doses of JYNNEOS have been administered in Oregon, including 13,084 first doses and 7,703 second doses. Menza believes there are many more people who could benefit from vaccination who have not yet received their first dose and that there are about 5,381 people who remain eligible for a second dose but have not yet received it.

According to a study published Friday (May 19) in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the vaccine was found to be 75% effective for those receiving one dose and 86% effective for those who had two doses. OHA also insists that it's "safe and effective".

“People with two doses of the vaccine can feel confident in their protection, but breakthrough cases are possible, so if you've been vaccinated and notice a new spot or rash, talk to your health care provider,” Menza explained. “We are still learning how long vaccination protection lasts, but we know that vaccines make getting and spreading mpox less likely, and help make symptoms less severe.”

Monkeypox spreads primarily through close, skin-to-skin contact.

Most often, it has occurred through intimate or sexual contact, and during contact with the lesions of an individual with monkeypox through a caregiving relationship, such as a parent caring for a child or an adult caretaker of another person.

Infection rates are highest among gay or bisexual men living in Multnomah County, those ages 30 to 39, and members of the Latino and Black/African American communities.

People who suspect they have monkeypox should contact their health care provider to let them know before going in to be seen. The provider may recommend testing for monkeypox. Those who don’t have a health care provider can call 2-1-1 or their local public health authority for help finding a clinic or health care provider.

For more information about monkeypox in Oregon, visit OHA’s monkeypox website.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2023-05-25 19:23:10

Last Update: 2023-05-26 14:58:47

The closure of schools for nearly two years during the COVID-19 pandemic has had definite negative effects on young people, Linn County Oregon Juvenile Director Torri Lynn told the Linn County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning.

Lynn said that the Juvenile Department is seeing an uptick in referrals now that schools are back in full session and many of the young people are exhibiting significant behavioral issues.

Lynn said there were 59 referrals in April, which seems to be trending as normal this year.

Lynn said the behavior issues are likely linked to the isolation of students and for many, a lack of a positive role model during the closure.

Board Chairman Roger Nyquist asked Lynn if he thought school closures were a bad idea,

Lynn said yes, “absolutely a bad idea” adding he said the same thing as closures were being proposed two years ago.

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“During the COVID closures, we only saw the highest flyers,” Lynn said. “We talked about this. That we might lose kids educationally and other kids would be on the edge. We probably won’t get these kids back.”

Commissioner Sherrie Sprenger asked how the county can combat what appears to be an escalating issue.

Lynn said the key will be early intervention and appropriate response, but he added, like everywhere else, it is difficult to find staffing.

Overall, in April there were 206 young people on probation or pending court appearances in Linn County, with 47 assessed as high-risk.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-05-24 16:14:01

Last Update: 2023-05-24 16:22:26

A bipartisan group of legislators urge the Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO), who in 2022 misreported a $500,000 donation under a false name from the now-disgraced cryptocurrency executive Nishad Singh, to return the contribution immediately.

“The culture of corruption among top Oregon Democrat politicians is increasingly evident and incredibly disturbing,” said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend). We have argued since the beginning of Session that the need for accountability and transparency has never been greater. We have also argued that investigations must be conducted by outside, independent counsel. They can’t escape this any longer.”

Last week, The Oregonian reported: “The Democratic Party has not returned the $500,000 donation. But with FTX filing for bankruptcy, it is possible that the FTX bankruptcy trustee will seek to claw back any FTX-linked funds donated to political organizations.”

Jake Thacker, an Oregonian living in Portland, told NPR that he lost at least $70,000 when FTX came crashing down. Who knows how many other Oregon investors lost their money while the DPO received the largest contribution the committee had ever reported?

Over the weekend, The Oregonian Editorial Board wrote: “In her first significant decision as the acting secretary of state, Cheryl Myers slashed a proposed fine against the Democratic Party of Oregon for misreporting a $500,000 donation – the organization’s single-largest ever… Despite the seriousness of the incident, Myers cut the proposed $35,000 fine to just $15,000 and pledged to drop a criminal investigation into whether the party knowingly gave a false name unless new evidence merits it. In exchange, the Democratic Party of Oregon pledged to submit a detailed summary of training and practices adopted to prevent future mistakes; provide documents when asked to verify contributions; and face additional fines if it fails to meet these and other modest obligations."

“… Myers claimed that the settlement “serves the public interest” by giving the agency greater oversight to ensure better compliance and marks a win for transparency."

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“But in reality, transparency, oversight, and the public interest appear to have little to do with this case. Rather, a deeper look at the relationships, the investigation and the kidglove settlement raises significant questions about the ability of Democrats to hold accountable their own party. And the reduction in fine – which Gov. Tina Kotek panned in a call with the editorial board – is a disheartening decision that undermines efforts to rebuild trust in the agency."

“The Democratic Party of Oregon, unsurprisingly, has donated and/or received thousands of dollars to and from Democrats currently in office, including Gov. Tina Kotek and Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. In fact, Rosenblum, whose office is authorized to take on campaign finance complaints and oversees criminal prosecutions, has given the Democratic Party of Oregon more than $100,000 over the years.”

It comes as no surprise that Rosenblum has no intentions of pursuing a criminal investigation into the Democrat Party.

The Oregonian Editorial Board went on: “Oregon is one of the only states in the country without campaign contribution limits, and the only protection for Oregonians comes from an elections division that is willing to hold all political players accountable – even friends.”


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-05-23 10:41:39

Last Update: 2023-05-23 10:58:04

From Friday, May 26 through Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., a timed use permit will be required for each personal vehicle accessing Multnomah Falls from Interstate 84 Exit 31 in Oregon.

ODOT is trying to encourage people to see Multnomah Falls via public transit, by bicycle or by tour/shuttle. View Travel Oregon's Car-Free trip guide to learn more.

Time-limited permits are needed if you arrive by personal vehicle at I-84 Exit 31 for Multnomah Falls.

If you want to visit Multnomah Falls by personal vehicle, the best way is to get a permit and take I-84 to Exit 31.

Reserving a permit Multnomah Falls (I-84) timed use permits will be available online for a $2 transaction fee per permit up to two weeks in advance of your visit.

A limited number of permits will also be available for same-day pickup without a fee at the Gateway to the Gorge Visitor Center in Troutdale and the Cascade Locks Historical Museum.

Using your permit

• Permits are only valid at the Multnomah Falls parking lot at I-84 Exit 31.
• A Timed Use permit reservation does not guarantee parking.
• One permit needed per vehicle or motorcycle.
• Keep your permit with you after you park. Print your permit or show the digital copy.
• Please arrive as close to your one-hour time slot as possible, starting at the time indicated on the permit. Permits are only required from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• You may stay longer than an hour, however if you leave after your time slot you will not be allowed to enter the site without a valid Multnomah Falls Timed Use Permit for a subsequent time slot.

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Timed use permits will not be required on the Historic Columbia River Highway/U.S. 30 in 2023. However, parking is extremely limited at the small lot along the Historic Highway/U.S. 30 at Multnomah Falls.

ODOT says that last year’s 2022 Waterfall Corridor timed use permit pilot was successful in providing a safer, more reliable, enjoyable experience for visitors within the corridor. However, without a dedicated funding source, partners cannot staff and operate the full system and will instead focus our limited resources on the main sources of congestion and safety concerns at the most visited site in the corridor: Multnomah Falls.

ODOT says that project partners will target congestion at Multnomah Falls in 2023. The effort will help reduce congestion by:

• Reducing safety concerns and backups on I-84 with required timed use permits at Exit 31, the Multnomah Falls parking lot on Interstate 84.
• Using a flagger to direct traffic at the Historic Columbia River Highway/U.S. 30 crosswalk at Multnomah Falls.
• Using a private concessionaire to manage the small parking lot along the Historic Highway/U.S. 30 at Multnomah Falls. The concessionaire will operate this lot on a first come, first-served basis. There are six ADA parking spots at this lot for those with valid ADA placards. When the parking lot is full, vehicles will not be allowed to stop or wait for an open space.

--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2023-05-22 17:13:39

Last Update: 2023-05-22 17:46:33

Two Honduran Nationals residing in Gresham, Oregon have been indicted in federal court for transporting hundreds of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and several pounds of powdered fentanyl from California to Portland for resale.

Kevin Martinez-Avila, 27, and Allen Moya-Vargas, 29, have been charged with conspiring with one another and others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents, in February 2023, investigators from the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team (WIN) learned a drug courier from California was transporting a large load of fentanyl to somewhere in or around Portland. On February 22, 2023, WIN investigators located the courier’s vehicle and followed it to a residence in Gresham.

Soon after, investigators observed Martinez-Avila drive away from the residence. They stopped his vehicle, searched it pursuant to a state search warrant, and located 47 grams of powdered fentanyl.

Inside the Gresham residence, investigators located Moya-Vargas, 150,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and more than seven pounds of powdered fentanyl. Investigators believe the residence was being used by Martinez-Avila and Moya-Vargas’ drug trafficking organization to unload and store fentanyl brought to the Portland area before it was distributed to others.

Both men have now made their initial appearances in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo.

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They were arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a jury trial scheduled to begin on June 27, 2023.

If convicted, Martinez-Avila and Moya-Vargas face maximum sentences of life in federal prison with 10-year mandatory minimum sentences.

This case was investigated by WIN. It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

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

WIN includes representatives from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Beaverton and Hillsboro Police Departments, Oregon National Guard Counter Drug Program, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-05-21 14:15:24

Last Update: 2023-05-21 14:25:18

Oregon legislative bill HB 2002 has caused a lot of drama at the Oregon State Capitol for many different reasons, largely the fact that it would strip away parental rights in Oregon.

Critics of this radical legislation being pushed by the Democrats are concerned that it also legalizes and removes all investigations/accountability of live-birth babies who die from infanticide.

Representative Ed Diehl (Republican HD-17) says that it's a “state-mandated wedge between parent and child”.

“Oregon’s implementation of so-called “gender-affirming care” is harming children and young adults, and House Bill 2002B will lead to an expansion of that harm”, says Diehl.

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Diehl explained, “The Healthier Oregon Plan, which offers free health insurance to those who don’t qualify for the Oregon Health Plan because of immigration status, will be expanded this year to cover all age groups. And the Oregon Health Authority confirmed that when it comes to Oregon Health Plan coverage, residency is assumed (they do not verify) and eligibility moves forward without delay based on that assumption. So, with House Bill 2002B, Oregon will soon be offering abortions and so-called gender-affirming care to everyone, regardless of residency or immigration status.”

He concluded, “Despite the DCBS claims that detransition services are covered in the base bill, it is clear based on the State’s Legislative Council opinion that the bill does NOT include detransition services. This LC opinion matches the legislative intent, when my -11 Amendment to include detransition services was flatly rejected by the Democrats.”

HB 2002 is being held up by the Republicans in the Senate, who have walked out in protest of the bill.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-05-21 00:57:36

Last Update: 2023-05-21 17:15:34