State Representative Anna Scharf (R-Amity) sent a letter to Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the Administrator for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at the U.S. Department of Human Services, urging her denial of automatic voter registration to Medicare recipients in Oregon.

“The CMS has the authority to stop this, and they should until Oregon can prove the registration process is secure and will only register eligible voters,” wrote Scharf.

Representative Scharf serves on the House Rules Committee where this legislation was heard during the 2023 Legislative Session. Scharf raised many questions during the hearings, many of which were left unanswered by the Secretary of State’s Office and the Oregon Health Authority.

“During the hearing on HB 2107, there was little discussion regarding data security with respect to sharing needed information across platforms,” Scharf wrote. “How would OHA determine if the 170,000 people were legal US Citizens prior to registering them? How would the OHA system gather that data and then tie it to the SOS office?”

Representative Scharf highlighted Oregon’s recent history with public data breaches, most recently at the Oregon Health Authority where 1.7 million Oregon Health Plan members had their private information leaked. Scharf stated the automatic voter registration does not provide for an “opt out” option, but rather automatically shares that individual’s information with the voter registration program.

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“I strongly urge you to consider delaying the waiver to the State of Oregon for this data sharing until they can prove there is no other way to register these recipients AND that they can keep any data transferred by OHA to the SOS secure from breaches,” wrote Scharf.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-08-24 19:29:30

Last Update: 2023-09-16 16:27:55

The Oregon Heritage Commission has announced that it is now offering grants for qualified projects for the conservation, development, and interpretation of Oregon's cultural heritage. Awards typically range between $3,000 and $20,000. Projects can include anything related to Oregon heritage, and priority will be given to projects that preserve, develop or interpret threatened heritage resources or heritage resources of statewide significance. The grant application deadline is October 12, 2023.

Projects funded by the Oregon Heritage Grant may include collections preservation and access, exhibits, oral history projects, public education events, organizational archives projects, films theatrical performances, teaching traditional practices, public history interpretation, organizational planning that supports heritage resources, and more. Previously funded projects included a variety of projects around the state.

Past projects included:

• Albany Regional Museum updated their exhibits to improve preservation and increase access.
• Burns Paiute Tribe developed a history interpretation project utilizing virtual reality.
• Constructing Hope Pre-Apprenticeship Program completed oral histories of BIPOC leaders in Oregon’s early construction history.
• Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum updated interpretative signage to include more diverse history.
• The Harney County Historical Society completed a 10-year strategic plan for the museum.
• Linn County Museum partnered with Oregon Black Pioneers to incorporate African American history in the permanent exhibit.
• Cascade AIDS Project collected oral histories and made them accessible.
• Klamath County Museums digitized the Klamath republican weekly newspaper now included in the University of Oregon Digital Newspaper resource.
• Metro Historic Cemeteries researched and shared historic records that highlight the contributions of women buried in Metro's historic cemeteries to the suffrage movement, especially women of color.
• Miracle Theater Group collected multi-generational oral histories from Latino individuals in communities throughout the state.
• Oregon Black Pioneers develop a website compiling information related to Letitia Carson.
• Oregon Historical Society provided professional development for educators to meet the ethnic studies requirements.
• Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education created “To Bear Witness: Extraordinary Lives” an exhibit which chronicles the lives of ten Oregonians who arrived from their homelands as refugees. Opening October 2021.
• Oregon Nikkei Endowment digitized, translated and made available online historical newspapers and Japanese American internment related FBI documents.
• Southern Oregon University developed the Rogue Valley Women’s Movement oral history project.
• The Immigrant Story presented The Immigrant Story Live.
• The Talent Historical Society developed local history curriculum in partnership with local teachers.
• The Vanport Mosaic brought together organizations and individuals from across Oregon to share ideas, challenges and plans to document how our past can inform our present and define our future.

“We hope to see projects from a variety of types of organizations that engage Oregonians in heritage, not just traditional heritage organizations,” states Katie Henry, Oregon Heritage Commission coordinator. “We encourage the documentation, preservation, and exploration of all aspects and perspectives of Oregon’s story.”

Applications are submitted online. There is plenty of support for preparing them. “Our goal is to support organizations of all sizes all over the state in their valuable work. We provide assistance in the application process,” notes Kuri Gill, grants and outreach coordinator. Oregon Heritage grants programs staff is happy to discuss projects and review applications in advance in addition to assisting with the online application system and providing translation services on request.

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Registration is required for a free online workshop, Monday, August 28, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. which addresses the application questions and explores the online application system. A recording will be available for two weeks following the workshop with registration.

The grant directly supports the four Oregon Heritage Plan goals:

• Include More Voices: Expand the narrative of history told and preserved in the state to capture previously excluded or marginalized voices for a more complex and accurate depiction of Oregon’s historical events.
• Increase Access to Heritage: Strive to engage more community members and visitors in local heritage by increasing awareness of resources and making them available to diverse audiences and potential stakeholders.
• Promote the Value of Heritage: Share the economic, cultural, and educational value of heritage with the public and decision makers to inspire awareness, funding, and respect for long-term preservation of Oregon’s heritage.
• Pursue Best Practices: Pursue professional standards and best practices related to heritage processes, standards, and organizational management to ensure healthy, sustainable heritage organizations.

The Oregon Heritage Commission is comprised of nine people representing Oregon’s heritage and geographical diversity who have been appointed by the Governor. There are nine advisory representatives from state agencies and statewide organizations. The commission’s mission is to secure, sustain, and enhance Oregon's heritage by ensuring coordination of heritage initiatives by public and private organizations; advocacy on its behalf; education of the public about its extent and value; and promotion and celebration of its diversity.

To learn more about the grants or for translation assistance, visit the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office website or contact Kuri Gill via email or by calling 503-986-0685.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-08-24 08:35:43

Last Update: 2023-08-24 18:32:46

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has now announced that Michael Wells, interim director of the Oregon Lottery, has been appointed to lead the agency as permanent director, pending confirmation by the Oregon Senate in September. The director serves as the Secretary and Executive Officer of the Oregon Lottery Commission and is responsible for the administration and management of the agency.

"The Oregon Lottery funds critical state services like education, state parks, and veteran services,” Governor Kotek said. “It is imperative that the director is an experienced leader who will champion transparency and accountability. During his time at the Oregon Lottery, Michael has worked closely with staff, the Commission, and stakeholders to lead with the highest standards of security and integrity.”

Michael Wells has held the interim director role at the Oregon Lottery since December 2022. Previously, he held positions in leadership at the Oregon Lottery as the Assistant Director for Security & Compliance and as a Cyber Crime Manager.

Prior to joining the Oregon Lottery, Wells spent more than 24 years working in local, state, and federal law enforcement. Most recently, he served as a special agent for more than 10 years in the organized crime section of the Oregon Department of Justice and was a member of the FBI’s Cyber Crime Task Force conducting computer intrusion investigations.

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Wells has served as a police officer for various agencies, including Oregon State Police.

Wells has been a member of Cyber Oregon, Oregon’s Cybersecurity Advisory Council and is a board member of the Oregon Peace Officer Association. He has previously served on the Public Safety Fund Memorial Board, the Police Policy Committee and the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training (BPSST) Committee.

“During my tenure as interim director, I’ve had the privilege of leading an exceptional team dedicated to ensuring the Lottery's ongoing support of its beneficiaries and key programs across our state,” Interim Director Wells said. “I appreciate Governor Kotek’s trust in my leadership and look forward to leading the work of the Oregon Lottery in funding critical programs that serve Oregonians.”


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2023-08-23 12:28:00

Last Update: 2023-08-23 19:28:17

There have now been several ODOT advisory committees announced that are holding public meetings in September. There may be other committees meeting during the month as well. You can find information about these and all other advisory committee meetings on the ODOT "Get Involved" website and by clicking on the links below. You can also check Oregon's Public Meetings website and enter "transportation" in the search box.

Agenda details will be posted on these websites as they become available:

• Governor's Advisory Committee on DUII, Sept. 8, 9 a.m.
  
  
• Public Transportation Advisory Committee, Sept. 11, 1 p.m.
  
  
• Oregon Transportation Safety Committee, Sept. 13, 9 a.m.
  
  
• Oregon Transportation Commission, Sept. 14, 9 a.m.
  
  
• Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee, Sept. 14, 1 p.m.
  
  
• Mobility Advisory Committee, Sept. 14, 1 p.m.
  
  
• Community Advisory Group (Interstate Bridge), Sept. 14, 4 p.m.
  
  
• Regional Toll Advisory Committee, Sept. 18, 9 a.m.
  
  
• Equity Advisory Group (Interstate Bridge), Sept. 18, 5:30 p.m.
  
  
• Board of Towing, Sept. 19, 8:30 a.m.
  
  
• Rail Advisory Committee, Sept. 19, 9 a.m.
  
  
• Statewide Toll Rulemaking Advisory Committee, Sept. 22, 9 a.m.
  
  
• Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Sept. 26, 1 p.m.

Meetings are open to everyone.

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ODOT says that accommodations will be provided to people with disabilities, and materials can be provided in alternate formats. To request an accommodation, please visit the ODOT public meetings website and sort by meeting name to find the contact information for your particular meeting; people who are deaf or hard of hearing can call statewide relay at 7-1-1.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-08-22 17:23:45

Last Update: 2023-08-25 20:48:05

The Oregon Elections Division has now announced the CLEAR initiative, a new project that aims to increase compliance with Oregon’s campaign finance laws through greater transparency and education. Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade says that the CLEAR Initiative will be an ongoing project.

“CLEAR is an important project that will increase compliance with campaign finance laws in Oregon,” said Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade. “Everyone wins when campaigns play by the rules.”

"We’re highlighting campaign finance transparency and education on the Oregonvotes website", Griffin-Valade continued. "A new call out feature on the site will make it easier for the public to find ORESTAR and other campaign finance related information."

The Elections Division will begin publishing an online database of campaign finance violations and associated penalties. Griffin-Valade says that the database will be updated monthly and provide the public with more information about campaign finance violations.

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She also says that the Division is releasing a series of training videos, live trainings and compliance documentation to support campaigns in their efforts to comply with campaign finance laws.

“The goal of CLEAR is to increase compliance with campaign finance laws, because Oregonians deserve fair elections where everyone plays by the rules,” said Secretary Griffin-Valade. “The updates announced today will help set the stage for larger investments we hope to make in the coming years, including an overhaul of ORESTAR, pending Legislative approval.”


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-08-22 11:40:55

Last Update: 2023-09-16 16:28:25

The Oregon Audits Division released its latest audit of the Oregon Health Authority, focused on Medicaid and the role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs — little-known but highly influential players in the health care system.

The audit found the current structure of PBMs is too complex for the state to fully assess and understand the value they provide, which is especially important in an already-expensive program like Medicaid. Furthermore, the audit found the state’s regulation of PBMs is limited and fragmented. Much of the work PBMs do is considered proprietary and not shared.

“It’s always important we make sure taxpayer funds are being spent as effectively as possible, and Medicaid is a prime example,” said Audits Director Kip Memmott. “It’s the largest and most complex government program in Oregon and provides critical health services to more than one million Oregonians. But the lack of transparency in our current system means it’s almost impossible to tell if we’re truly getting the best use of our funds with these PBMs.”

PBMs are third-party companies who act as go-betweens among insurance companies, drug manufacturers, pharmacies, and governments. While initially created in the 1960s to ease the administrative burdens of insurance companies, the role of PBMs has expanded significantly over time. Among their many responsibilities, PBMs can influence which drugs are covered by insurance companies and whether certain prescriptions can only be filled at specialty pharmacies.

PBMs are able to wield this influence to benefit certain companies over others. The three largest PBMs in the United States control 80% of the market share and are integrated with health insurance companies and retail pharmacies like CVS and OptumRx. By controlling the price at which drugs get reimbursed, as well as the pharmacy that will fill the prescription, these companies can ensure the pharmacies they own get greater reimbursement rates than independent pharmacies — in some cases, twice as much.

PBMs interact with Oregon state government through contracts with Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs). A CCO is a network of health care providers who work together in their local communities to serve people covered by Medicaid. Together, Oregon’s 16 CCOs contract with the Oregon Health Authority to manage about 90% of Medicaid clients in Oregon.

PBMs, as subcontractors of the CCOs, receive huge sums of money. CCOs reported spending $767 million on prescription drug benefits in 2021, but because of the complexity and trade secrets surrounding PBMs, it’s virtually impossible to know how much profit they are actually making — and how much of that profit is coming from Oregon’s Medicaid funds.

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Auditors found other states have legislation to provide greater protections for patients and pharmacies, and more transparency into this complicated system. There are also alternative PBM models available for Medicaid, which make it easier for governments to provide effective oversight. Auditors made seven recommendations to the state Legislature suggesting Oregon look into adopting some of these alternatives.

Auditors also made two recommendations to the Oregon Health Authority for more immediate improvements. The agency could do more to improve transparency and compliance from its current relationship with PBMs — through CCOs — by proactively monitoring and enforcing its contracts. In its formal response accompanying the audit, the agency agreed with both recommendations.

“We audit state agencies and programs like this one to provide meaningful feedback on how agencies can improve their operations to better achieve their missions and goals,” Memmott said. “This work becomes even more critical when significant amounts of money or vulnerable people are involved.”


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-08-22 10:31:38

Last Update: 2023-08-23 01:16:03

Interested Oregonians can apply for over 130 open positions on 12 new boards and commissions. Governor Tina Kotek announced that the state is accepting applications for positions on the state boards and commissions that were created in the 2023 legislative session, and called upon Oregonians to consider stepping up to serve. The list of opportunities can be found below.

“Today I’m echoing the call to action I made when I was sworn in, and invite all Oregonians to help build the Oregon you want to live in. The people who serve on our state’s boards and commissions develop policies that guide a a broad range of issues that impact Oregonians’ lives every day,” Governor Kotek said. “True progress will require each and every one of us to be engaged – and I hope Oregonians with an interest in these issues will consider stepping up to serve..”

New boards and commissions seeking appointments include:

• Joint Task Force on Hospital Discharge Challenges
• Jurisdictional Transfer Advisory Committee
• Juvenile Justice Policy Commission
• LGBTQIA2S+ Subcommittee of the Governor's Commission on Senior Services
• Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council
• Oregon Youth Works Advisory Board
• State Board of Sign Language Interpreters
• Task Force on Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services
• Task Force on Modernizing Grant Funding and Contracting
• Task Force on Tribal Consultation
• Universal Health Plan Governance Board

Interested candidates can find the position postings on the Oregon Workday Board & Commission Member Opportunities website.

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More information on Oregon’s board and commissions and resources for interested applicants can be found on the Governor's Boards & Commissions website. Application deadlines vary by board or commission.

The Governor makes appointments to over 265 Boards and Commissions representing a broad range of areas and issues. This includes most major state agencies and departments headed by policy-making boards. There are additional application opportunities within existing boards and commissions.

Kotek says she is committed to ensuring that all Boards and Commissions represent the growing age, racial, gender and geographic diversity of the state.

Note: You must be an Oregon resident and taxpayer to participate unless otherwise noted.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-08-21 21:49:09

Last Update: 2023-08-21 22:25:17

There was a changing of the guard in Oregon City Wednesday, Aug 17. The City bid farewell to Chief Jim Band as he wrapped up a nearly 24 year career with the Oregon City Police Department. Following that ceremony, his replacement, who also has a long history with the community, was sworn in.

Band has served with the OCPD for more than 23 years, with the last ten as the department’s chief. In that time he is credited with instituting numerous programs and policies that have helped the department.

“It’s really not fair that everyone gives me credit for all of this. I couldn’t have accomplished all of that if it weren’t for the team here,” he said.

During his tenure Band instituted health and wellness programs for officers that has been emulated by some other departments in the region, as has the department’s approach with the homeless community.

Perhaps the most visible impact of his time as Chief is the construction of the Libke Public Safety Building. Voters approved funding for the building by more than 80% in 2017, a moment that Band has considered a high point in his career.

Replacing Band is Shaun Davis who has also been with the Oregon City Police Department since 1998. In that time he’s served in nearly every capacity the department has, earning him ample experience. He was sworn in by Mayor Denyse McGriff who said while she will miss Chief Band, she’s excited to see Chief Davis in the new role.

“I am absolutely thrilled to continue to work with Shaun Davis in his new role as Oregon City’s Chief of Police. Chief Davis brings a high-level of professionalism and community-first orientation to his job. I look forward to collaborating with Chief Davis in continuing to make Oregon City a great place to live and work,” she said.

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Chief Davis said one of his priorities will be to continue to focus on the recruitment and retention of quality officers.

“We have the very best officers and support staff who are dedicated to serving our great community and who take pride in everything they do. This is one of the pillars of how we get the support from the community. We have a department that exemplifies the best principles in public safety and service,” he said.

Chief Davis said he will continue to focus on creating positive relationships with the community and providing quality service to residents.

“To have the support of the community, we can’t just be good, we must build relationships. The community must know us. We can’t just show up for a call. We will continue to foster an environment where all individuals feel comfortable approaching us and engaging with our officers.”

While many city police agencies around the country and in Portland are dealing with staff shortages recently, Oregon City says that they have had success in recruiting officers to the department. Oregon City Officials say that is a testament to the department’s positive reputation.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-08-19 18:23:14

Last Update: 2023-08-19 18:41:12

Aespite several consecutive quarters of rosy revenue income, the Oregon Legislature has chosen to pass another tax to raise even more revenue in the form of a cell phone tax to benefit the 9-8-8 system which is the mental health hotline in Oregon. Unlike some tax increases, which are fees targeting users who create an expense for the state -- such as a park use fee, or a fee for policing a certain industry -- cell phone users aren't any more susceptible to mental illness than other Oregonians. Governor Tina Kotek signed into law HB 2757 recently in a signing ceremony dedicated to behavioral health.

During the last legislative session, Representative E. Werner Reschke, a member of the House Committee on Revenue presented testimony in opposition to HB 2757.

According to Representative Reschke, the need identified to operate the 9-8-8 center is about $5M per biennium which -- with about 5,710,000 cell phones would need a tax of less than 3 1/2 cents per month. The proposed tax of 50 cents per month per phone would yield more than $68M per biennium -- far more than the $5M needed to run the call center.

In his presentation, Representative Reschke recounted recent legislative action supporting mental health call centers in Oregon -- efforts that presumably overlap with the goals of HB 2757

• HB 2417 (2021) $5 million General Fund to initiate the crisis hotline center (contract with Lines for Life and Northwest Human Services). $10 million General Fund distributed to counties to establish and maintain mobile crisis intervention teams that could respond to crisis in the community.
• HB 5024 (2021) $6.5 million General Fund for Mobile Response and Crisis Stabilization Services (MRSS) that continued expansion of crisis stabilization services, resulting in coverage across the entire life span of Oregonians regardless of insurance status.
• HB 5202 (2022) Included $1.8 million General Fund and 10 positions for ongoing agency operations to support implementation and oversight of the system envisioned by HB 2417, the development of standards for statewide mobile crisis teams, development of Medicaid reimbursement opportunities and business information system and financial management support.

In addition to Representative Reschke's testimony, impacted organizations added their opinion of the tax.

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The Oregon Combined Chapters of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and National Emergency Number Association offered testimony in opposition to HB 2757, saying

We believe that supporting a tax as outlined in this bill dilutes our ability to secure future increases that may be needed to augment the acquisition of new technology and/or services. As a federally mandated program addressing mental health and addiction services, 9-8-8 will likely have a significant number of other funding options ranging (but certainly not limited to,) from private insurance companies to grants.

In the past, there have been other attempts to enact similar tax mechanisms added to phone lines in Oregon have been rejected. The examples we have are Life Flight and OHSU’s Poison Control Center. Again, while we support the mission of both organizations, we opposed both of those taxes. We feel that adding a 9-8-8 tax falls into that same category.

We feel that any further taxes or increasing our tax to fund other things is an open invitation for many others to want their piece of that pie and it would risk our ability to successfully continue down the road.

Brant Wolf of the Oregon Telecommunications Association objected to the tax increase, offering these thoughts to the House Committee on Revenue,

Based on prior comments offered on HB 2757A, it is important to note and understand that the FCC did not direct states to impose 988 fees. The clear majority of states have not adopted any such fee. Most states have used their own general fund dollars, federal funds or some combination of the two in order to fund 988 systems and response teams if they have taken action at all.

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-08-19 14:54:23

Last Update: 2023-08-25 19:09:32

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has now announced that Erin McMahon, a retired General Officer for the Oregon National Guard and United States Army has been appointed to lead the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. The Oregon Senate will take up her confirmation as permanent director in September.

"As our state responds to wildfires, extreme weather events, and other rapidly changing emergencies, the person leading the Oregon Department of Emergency Management must be able to anticipate and respond to a broad range of crises that Oregon will inevitably encounter,” said Governor Kotek. “Erin McMahon brings over twenty years of experience leading teams in response to large-scale emergencies at the state and national level. I am confident in her ability to support Oregonians across the state and look forward to seeing her positive impact and leadership at ODEM.”

Kotek says that McMahon has twenty-four years of experience advising state and national leaders on emergent and active emergencies requiring operational and civilian support.

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In her role as Principal Deputy General Counsel for the United States National Guard Bureau, McMahon advised federal leaders on the 2021 Oregon wildfires, when more than 1,000 fires burned at least 518,303 acres across the state.

She claims that McMahon also worked with programs for the Department of Defense to combat sexual assault. McMahon served the United States as an Army Brigadier General (ret.).

Most recently, McMahon was a Senior Advisor at The McChrystal Group in Virginia.

“I am honored and proud to serve Oregon as the Director of the Department of Emergency Management,” said director Erin McMahon. “After over fifteen years of supporting emergency management operations at the national level – including during the COVID-19 health emergency and dozens of climate-related catastrophes – I will capitalize on my prior work with FEMA and other federal partners to develop a strategic plan for emergency management that will help our communities before, during and after disaster. I am honored to serve Oregonians in times of crisis and beyond.”


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-08-18 11:22:02

Last Update: 2023-08-18 20:31:37

In 2023 Oregon has seen 628 fires, so far, burning 63,104 acres. Of those, 85 fires were started by lightning down from an average of 181. It’s the other 543 fires that are on the increase from 481 average over 10 years that are human caused and concerning.

SB 762 (2021) passed as the Landscape Resiliency Program (LRP) to improve forest restoration and set up landscape-scale projects that reduce wildfire risk on both public and private forestlands. The bill has been criticized over the Wildfire Maps producing a backlash. However, the appropriated $20 million also funded the placement of 20 more SensORs to monitor air quality from wildfires, and to treat 210,734 acres in the four highest expected net value change (eNVC) risk classes by the end of 2021-2023 biennium.

The Landscape Resilience Program Final Report concluded that the projects exceeded the expectation treating 211,914 acres. To date, there are no wildfires in the treated areas.

The most discussed part of the LRP are the three projects involved in prescribed fire (Rx) work, totaling 6,325 acres. The report says, “when Rx was completed, the fuel model changed, resulting in a less fire prone site, reduced fire risk, and decreasing potential fire intensity limiting severity.”

Timber owners fear ODF may be forced to burn profitable resources if the Western Oregon Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is adopted. They are linking Rx to the proposed HCP if there is a decrease in timber harvest by 50 percent. The National Forest Service (NFS) timber sales tied up in courts since 1970, lack of revenue from harvesting, and lack of funding by Congress has them suspecting that the larger fires may be creatively used as prescribed fire burns. Others site a federal agent as saying the way government works is to make NFS more influential by exploiting wildfires and growing the need to employ more firefighters and equipment to grow the agency.

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Out of the 24 current fires in Oregon, there are currently five large fires. A complete list can be found on Oregon Fires and Hotspots Dashboard. The five large fire areas to avoid:

• Flat Fire – located 2 miles SE of Agness, Oregon. This fire started on July 15 on the Rogue-Siskyou National Forest and is currently the largest fire in the state at 33,817 acres with 47% containment. It is burning in extremely difficult terrain and very dry fuels, which means this fire will remain on the landscape throughout the summer months. ODF continues to work with USFS and CFPA to manage the fire and protect high-risk values.
• Pricebord Fire – located 9 miles E of Junction City, Oregon. This fire started August 4, and has burned 310 acres and is 75% contained. This was an incredible catch, one of the best this year for ODF, made possible through the combination of ODF resources, local landowner efforts, Linn and Lane County fire departments, and OSFM. The fire is currently in the mop-up stage.
• Bedrock Fire – located 27 miles SE of Eugene, this fire started on July 22 and has burned 15,178 acres on the Willamette National Forest. Bedrock might be a case against prescribed burns. It started on the edge of a burn two years ago and moved fast through the older burn. Lightning started a second fire on the south edge at Gayles Creek, which the crew was told to let burn. Bedrock fire is now progressing north toward private land. Landowners and ODF staff have been engaged for weeks in an attempt to keep the fire off private ownership, however, due to difficult terrain and associated safety concerns, some private land will be burned. ODF personnel have been inserted into the IMT to ensure private land values at risk remain a top priority.
• Wiley Creek Fire – located 9 miles E of Sweet Home, Oregon. This fire started on August 7 on USFS ownership and is currently 220 acres and 5% contained. Unfortunately, the fire has spread onto approximately 10 acres of ODF protected land. Evacuation notices and road, trail, and area closures remain in place. A significant airshow with helicopters, water scooping, and retardant dropping aircraft was critical in reducing the spread rate of this fire and allow firefighters to establish fire lines quickly and safely. A robust Type 3 IMT is in place and making great progress through utilization of dozer and handline to surround the fire while resources begin the mop-up of hotspots. ODF remains confident this fire will remain in its current footprint with decreasing smoke impacts and fire activity alleviating some of the local concerns.
• Lookout Fire – located 4 miles northeast of McKenzie Bridge, Oregon. This fire was caused by lightning from a storm that moved through the area on August 5 and is currently 25 acres and 0% contained. This is a USFS fire in rugged land and roadless areas on Lookout Mountain, which delayed response giving it a big head start. Active fire behavior has prompted evacuation notices and threat to structures. It is ODF’s biggest concern due to a potential push toward Blue River through the combination of terrain aligned with east winds. USFS has a Type 3 IMT on the fire currently but has a Type 2 team incoming to take over management of the fire.

The Oregon Department of Forestry worked towards a shared stewardship approach to the LRP for implementing land management that improves community resilience against wildfires. However, resilience has different priorities when the community depends on timber for their necessities.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-08-17 09:43:21

Last Update: 2023-08-17 17:01:00

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced the appointment of Aruna Masih, a long-time employment, worker, and civil rights attorney, to the Oregon Supreme Court. Masih will be Oregon’s first Punjabi, Indian American and South Asian Supreme Court Justice. Born in New York to a Punjabi, Indian father and British mother, when six-months old, they moved back to India as medical missionaries to work at a rural, mission hospital in Punjab, returning to this country when she was in high school.

"Aruna Masih is a decorated civil rights attorney who has worked on behalf of Oregonians for over twenty-five years in both her career and community service," said Governor Kotek. “As a practicing attorney, Aruna will bring direct and recent experience working for people — an invaluable perspective that will strengthen the current Oregon Supreme Court. Aruna’s dedication to public service and passion for equal access to justice is also evident from her long-time leadership in advancing equity and diversity in the legal field. I look forward to seeing her continued service to Oregonians as a Supreme Court Justice.”

Aruna Masih’s experience has been as a practicing attorney in Oregon for over 25 years. For most of her career, she has been a partner in the law firm of Bennett Hartman LLP, providing representation in a variety of areas, including employment, labor, appellate, professional licensure, contract, and constitutional law. Masih has also represented clients at McKanna Bishop Joffe LLP. Her legal background is a depth of technical expertise in nuanced Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and pension case law.

Masih is no stranger to the Oregon Supreme Court, she has been a part of her firm’s PERS team, representing the PERS Coalition of unions and public employees in their fight to preserve retirement benefits before the legislature and the courts. She has testified as an expert witness about public pensions and represented public employees in all the major PERS cases decided by the Oregon Supreme Court since 2003.

Along with her law partner, Margaret Olney, she advises on and litigates election law matters, including filing ballot title challenges before the Oregon Supreme Court.

Masih has served as Chair of the Oregon State Bar’s Advisory Committee for Diversity and Inclusion and as Chair of the Labor and Employment Section. She is a founding member and Vice-President of the South Asian Bar Association of Oregon and currently serves on the Board of the Multnomah Bar Association receiving their Diversity Award, and the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation. She is also a former board member of the Oregon Women Lawyers and the Oregon Minority Lawyers Association.

Masih attends the Calvary Presbyterian Church in NE Portland serving on the advisory board for their Roseway Recovery Cafe, which serves community members in northeast Portland who have experienced trauma and the results of trauma, such as homelessness, substance use disorder, and addiction.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

“Equal access to the courts is an issue of civil rights,” said Masih. “To meet the challenges of our society that the pandemic has undeniably made apparent, we must renew our purpose and redouble our efforts to create a justice system that is recognized by those who interact with it and are impacted by it to be respectful, accessible, and just. Over the last twenty-five years, I’ve represented the interests of hundreds of Oregonians, and I look forward to bringing my unique perspective to the Oregon Supreme Court. I am committed to being a fair and thoughtful Justice and to continue being a steward of equal access under the law.”

Masih says her “parents modeled the importance of public service, commitment to a larger cause, and equitable access for all. These values have informed my personal and professional life.”

Since this is an elected position, voters are challenged to analyze how well she transitions from a defense attorney to an impartial judge.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-08-16 14:30:59

Last Update: 2023-09-16 16:28:51