Governor Kate Brown has announced new measures pausing social activities to help stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 in counties where community transmission is on the rise. These pause measures will be in effect for two weeks, from Nov. 11 through Nov. 25, for Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, Jackson, and Umatilla Counties. Based on increasing statewide case counts, as well as increased sporadic case rates in these five counties, the new public health measures to reduce spread are an effort to save lives in Oregon.

Five additional counties––Washington, Baker, Union, Clackamas, and Linn––are close to the COVID-19 thresholds that would necessitate adding them to the Two-Week Pause. The Oregon Health Authority will examine their COVID-19 metrics on Monday to determine if those counties qualify.

“It is alarming that recent high case rates are not linked to any specific outbreaks, but rather reflective of sporadic community spread,” said Governor Brown. “We are seeing in real time how this virus can quickly snowball out of control. This Two-Week Pause is a series of measures and recommendations intended to curb human contact — both through reducing the amount of people we interact with, and the frequency of those encounters. We must stop this virus from spreading. We must preserve our hospital capacity. And we must save lives.”

The Two-Week Pause measures include:

Urging all businesses to mandate work from home to the greatest extent possible.

Pausing long-term care facility visits that take place indoors to protect staff and residents.

Reducing maximum restaurant capacity to 50 people (including customers and staff) for indoor dining, with a maximum party size of six.

Continuing to encourage outdoor dining and take out.

Reducing the maximum capacity of other indoor activities to 50 people (includes gyms, fitness organizations/studios, bowling alleys, ice rinks, indoor sports, pools, and museums).

Limiting social gatherings to your household, or no more than six people if the gathering includes those from outside your household, reducing the frequency of those social gatherings (significantly in a two-week period), and keeping the same six people in your social gathering circle.

Governor Brown added: “I am also calling on Congress to pass another COVID-19 relief package immediately when they return to DC—including another $600 weekly benefit in enhanced Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation—due to the increase of COVID-19 cases and the need for rollbacks both here in Oregon and nationwide.”

The Two-Week Pause is being instituted in counties with a case rate above 200 per 100,000 people over a two-week period, or more than 60 cases over a two-week period for counties with less than 30,000 people. These measures replace the County Watch List process that Governor Brown instituted in July.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-11-07 07:45:07

Last Update: 2020-11-07 20:36:36

Multiple rallies starting at noon around the Capitol mall area and could potentially draw a large number of participants that might affect traffic in the area. No street closures have been issued for this event.

The City of Salem has been alerted to credible information of unusual activity planned for Saturday, November 7, 2020, in or near Salem's downtown.

According to these sources, there is a high likelihood of vandalism and property damage. Police and the City are urging residents and businesses in our downtown to take precautions. The City manager has assigned additional police and activated special teams starting tomorrow. The City does not believe the groups who are planning to come to Salem are affiliated with any of known community organizers. The City will continue to post meaningful updates to its website and through the Salem Police Department Twitter account.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-11-06 18:07:02

Last Update: 2020-11-06 18:22:43

Editor's note: this video contains graphic language. Viewer discretion is advised

Sarah Spoon is engaged in a tight re-election race for Canby City Council. Just a few percentage points separate the candidates. As of Friday, Clackamas County still has ballots to count due to some equipment malfunctions, so the race is too tight to call, but as of this writing, she is in second place in a race that seats the top four finishers -- which would put her back on the council.

Citizens of Canby may have second thoughts after seeing this video, where she is seen delivering a profane message for the president.




--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-11-06 16:16:59

Last Update: 2020-11-06 16:50:08

From repairing a bridge in Canyon City to improving storm drainage in Yachats, the Small City Allotments program will continue helping communities all across the state improve their transportation systems. More than $5.2 million for this award cycle will fund 54 projects in this Keep Oregon Moving program, part of the historic HB 2017 funding package.

Three cities – Wood Village, Prescott and Yamhill – are receiving funds through this program for the first time. Wood Village is adding a solar-powered rapid flashing beacon pedestrian crossing; Prescott will make multiple city street improvements; and Yamhill is upgrading W. First Street.

ODOT Director Kris Strickler notified the League of Oregon Cities last week of the awards, adding that cost savings from the previous awards resulted in $243,378 in additional funds available for this round.

The next steps will be for ODOT and recipients to enter into agreements for each project, a task assumed by ODOT’s Statewide Investments Management staff.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-11-06 16:00:57

Last Update: 2020-11-06 18:07:02

The Oregon College Savings Plan announces the opening of the Diversity in Leadership Scholarship for underrepresented and diverse Oregon high school graduates pursuing higher education in the state. Awards may be used to attend a range of Oregon institutions, including apprenticeships, trade schools, community colleges, colleges or universities. Applications opened Sunday, November 1, 2020 with a deadline of Monday, March 1, 2021, for the following academic year.

The scholarship is being administered through the Oregon Community Foundation’s (OCF) scholarship program—one of the largest of its kind in the country. There will be two new recipients each year, with awardees receiving $10,000 for their freshman year and $5,000 for each of the next three years of full-time enrollment, or until completion of degree (whichever comes earlier). When fully rolled out, the program is anticipated to fund $50,000 in scholarships each year to a class of eight students.

“In a time of economic stress and inequity, Treasury’s ‘Diversity in Leadership Scholarship’ acknowledges the need for higher education to be more accessible and inclusive to all,” said Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read. “We see this scholarship as a vital investment in Oregon’s future, making it easier for students typically underrepresented in higher education institutions to pursue their dreams.”

“This scholarship allows the Oregon College Savings Plan to advance our commitment to sparking change and encouraging diversity,” said Michael Parker, Executive Director for the Oregon Treasury Savings Network. “As more graduating seniors are considering staying closer to home because of stretched financial resources and COVID, we want to remove financial obstacles for regional students from all backgrounds, and increase access to a quality and affordable education right here in Oregon.”

Students that meet eligibility criteria will be given the opportunity to share their personal statements and background during the application process. Additionally, scholarship recipients interested in a career in public policy, public finance, or a related field will be offered an interview for Oregon State Treasury’s Straub Fellowship during their junior and senior years.

To apply for the scholarship or to find more information, please visit OCF’s website.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-11-05 17:09:06

Last Update: 2020-11-05 17:33:06

On November 5, 2020, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission issued an Order of Immediate License Suspension to the licensee of “Seven Nightclub” in Bend for violating public health social distancing and face covering requirements, as required under the Governor’s Executive Orders. The licensee had been reprimanded this past summer for not following social distancing and face covering requirements.

OLCC enforcement staff acted after receiving information from Deschutes County Health Services that a patron who visited the establishment several times tested positive for COVID-19. The patron reported to health officials that it was “well known” that Seven Nightclub was not enforcing social distancing and facemask requirements.

The business, which holds a Full On-Premises sales licenses is NOT allowed to sell or serve alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption effective immediately.

Seven Nightclub was cited for two violations of the Governor’s Executive Order. The first violation is for not complying with the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) Statewide Mask, Face Shield, Face Covering Guidance. The second violation is for violating OHA's Phase Two Re-opening Guidance for Restaurant and Bars requiring a six-foot distance between individuals in the bar – employees and patrons.

On October 30, 2020, after receiving the information provided by Deschutes County Health Services, an OLCC inspector called the licensee to explain that a positive COVID test had been linked to their establishment. The inspector suggested, and the licensee accepted the offer to come to the premises to check the licensee’s operations to make sure it was operating compliantly.

On October 30, 2020, at approximately 8:00 pm an inspector arrived at Seven Nightclub to discover patrons who were clustered at the bar, and not social distancing or wearing facemasks. The bar manager relayed that she was not aware of all of the rules and asked for assistance. The inspector provided some initial guidance and promised to return the following day before the business opened to review the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) guidance for bars and restaurants.

On October 31, 2020, prior to Seven Nightclub opening, an OLCC Inspector met with the bar manager and employees providing and reviewing with them copies of OHA Phase Two Re-opening Guidance for Restaurant and Bars and OHA Statewide Mask, Face Shield, Face Covering Guidance. The inspector walked through the premises with the manager discussing possible layout modifications to create social distancing and reminding the manager about the requirements to sanitize “touch points” after one party of people leaves an occupied area before another party occupies the space. Additionally, the inspector asked the manager to ensure that the bar staff would monitor the number of people entering the establishment.

Later that evening, the inspector returned to discover that patrons were not social distancing or wearing face masks. The inspector also noted that none of the sanitization requirements or physical modifications that had been discussed earlier that day had been implemented. The inspector contacted the manager who acknowledged the lack of control over their patrons.

OLCC Inspectors began working with the licensee this past July when an inspector twice two verbal warnings for not social distancing or wearing face masks. Separately, Deschutes County Health Services has issued several warnings to the licensee in regards to these issues, including most recently on October 30, 2020.

In response to these issues, on November 5, 2020, the OLCC issued the operator of Seven Restaurant and Nightclub an order of immediate suspension for failing to follow OHA’s face covering and reopening guidance for restaurants and bars.

The licensee of record is Se7en Group Inc.

The OLCC investigation is continuing and the licensee faces the possibility of additional charges not related to the immediate suspension. The licensee is entitled to an administrative hearing to challenge the OLCC’s actions. The business may continue to serve food for takeout or delivery, but is NOT allowed to sell any alcoholic beverages.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-11-05 13:09:18

Last Update: 2020-11-05 17:09:06

Today, Governor Kate Brown has issued a statement about the ongoing leftist violence in Oregon.

"Two groups gathered in downtown Portland last night. One group demonstrated peacefully for hours by the waterfront. Their clarion call advocating for racial justice and Black lives has resonated with Oregonians and driven real reform over the past several months.

"Unfortunately, a second group of self-styled anarchist protesters, some armed, also marched downtown last night, with no discernible goal other than to cause violence and vandalism.

"They shattered the windows of a church that feeds Oregonians in need, a women-owned and operated business that raises money for immigrant and women’s rights, and many other storefronts.

"Indiscriminate destruction solves nothing. These are acts of privilege.

"At the request of the Joint Incident Command protecting free speech and keeping the peace in Portland, I activated the Oregon National Guard last night. These are Oregonians like you and me, who have volunteered their time and taken leave from their jobs and their families to keep the streets of Portland safe.

"For weeks, Oregonians have called for an end to the violence. I will continue to do everything in my power to keep the peace in Portland and make sure that people can make their voices heard safely."

Critics have noted that it has actually been several months of leftist driven violence, rather than just weeks.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-11-05 10:46:18

Last Update: 2020-11-05 11:24:49

On November 3, 2020, City of Eugene voters approved Measure 29-309, a levy renewal to maintain Eugene Public Library’s existing service levels for an additional five years. As of 11 p.m. on Election Day, the measure was passing with 76.72% of the vote.

This decision continues the benefits provided by the voter-approved levy of November 2015, which increased open hours, free events, and availability of materials and technology at all Eugene Public Library locations: Downtown, Bethel, and Sheldon.

Library Director Will O’Hearn said, “On behalf of everyone at the library, thank you, Eugene! Our staff is deeply dedicated to doing all we can for our community, especially in these times when folks depend on the library even more. In particular, the library plays a crucial role in supporting families with young children, K-12 students and teachers, small business owners, job hunters, and people without their own Internet access or computers. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide excellent library services and to respond to future community needs.”

Mayor Lucy Vinis added, “Eugene Public Library has been a key player in helping our community get through the pandemic and will play a critical role as we build a strong recovery. The City of Eugene greatly appreciates the voters’ support to maintain excellent library services for everyone in our community.”

The levy renewal funding will begin July 1, 2021, supporting an additional five years of increased services originally funded by the 2015 levy. Services supported by the levy include maintaining the pre-COVID open hours schedule (48 hours across six days weekly at Bethel and Sheldon Branches; 64 hours across seven days at the Downtown Library); providing a robust schedule of programs for all ages at the library and off-site; ensuring a large supply of copies of high-demand books, ebooks, and other items; and, as needed, maintaining or replacing technology including Internet computers and the library’s traveling maker van.

The levy will provide $2.85 million annually for five years, about $37 per year for a typical Eugene property tax statement or 15¢ per $1,000 assessed value. To ensure accountability and transparency, the measure specified provisions including: separate levy fund budget and accounting (as per state law); annual staff summary of spending and performance measures; annual review by the citizen Library Advisory Board; and an annual City Manager’s report to City Council.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-11-04 17:10:16

Last Update: 2020-11-04 21:08:07

The City of Salem has begun a community-wide effort to develop a Climate Action Plan for Salem. The Climate Action Plan will set the course for the city to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and increase its resilience to climate change. The planning process will seek to develop strategies that reduce emissions and strengthen infrastructure. It will also pursue strategies that build community partnerships, spur innovation, and increase equitable access to services. This approach will help ensure Salem’s resilience through climate change expected through the coming decades.

The first step was a survey to determine a supported direction, hoping that wildfires, floods, and drought have made an impact for support. The fires of 2020 and the flood of 2012 are two of the most notable examples for a needed action plan.

While Climate Action Plan assumes drying and drought, still we are warned of a cold winter on the horizon. So, Salem has -- as is their usual practice -- removed the floating boat docks at Wallace Marine Park and Minto Brown Island Park. The floating boat docks are removed in mid–to-late Fall each year to prevent them from collecting debris, being damaged, or being carried away as river levels rise. They will be reinstalled when water levels recede in the spring.

This may all be an effort to be in line-step with Governor Brown’s next strategy for Cap and Trade. Many in the community are scratching their heads asking why now, which appears to be in contrast with Marion County.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-11-04 15:54:59

Last Update: 2020-11-04 19:30:25

In order to keep the peace and protect free speech in Portland as the country continues to wait for national election results, Governor Kate Brown today extended her executive order under ORS Chapter 401 to create a joint incident command structure for public safety. The order, which had been set to expire at 5:00 p.m today, has been extended until Friday, November 6, at 5:00 p.m., unless earlier rescinded or extended.

“Across the United States, elections officials are working hard to ensure that every vote is counted, and it may be several days until we know the results of this election,” said Governor Brown. “It’s important to trust the process, and the system that has ensured free and fair elections in this country through the decades, even in times of great crisis.

“All Oregonians have the right to free expression and peaceful assembly. But political violence, intimidation, and property destruction will not be tolerated. We are all in this together––so let’s work together to keep our fellow Oregonians safe.”

--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-11-04 10:35:30

Last Update: 2020-11-04 11:18:10

President
	Progressive	Dario Hunter
	Republican	Donald J Trump
	Pacific Green	Howie Hawkins
	Libertarian	Jo Jorgensen
	Democrat	Joseph R Biden
US Senator
	Libertarian	Gary Dye
	Pacific Green, Progressive	Ibrahim A Taher
	Democrat, Working Families, Independent	Jeff Merkley
	Republican	Jo Rae Perkins
Secretary of State
	Republican, Independent	Kim Thatcher
	Libertarian	Kyle Markley
	Pacific Green, Progressive	Nathalie Paravicini
	Democrat, Working Families	Shemia Fagan
State Treasurer
	Independent, Progressive, Pacific Green	Chris Henry
	Republican	Jeff Gudman
	Constitution	Michael P Marsh
	Democrat, Working Families	Tobias Read
Attorney General
	Democrat, Independent, Working Families	Ellen Rosenblum
	Libertarian	Lars D H Hedbor
	Republican	Michael Cross
Judge of the Court of Appeals, Position 9
	Nonpartisan	Jacqueline S Kamins
Judge of the Supreme Court, Position 4
	Nonpartisan	Christopher L Garrett
Congress, 1st District
	Republican	Christopher C Christensen
	Democrat, Working Families	Suzanne Bonamici
Congress, 2nd District
	Democrat	Alex Spenser
	Republican	Cliff Bentz
	Libertarian	Robert Werch
Congress, 3rd District
	Pacific Green	Alex C DiBlasi
	Democrat, Working Families	Earl Blumenauer
	Republican	Joanna Harbour
	Libertarian	Josh Solomon
Congress, 4th District
	Republican	Alek Skarlatos
	Pacific Green	Daniel Hoffay
	Democrat, Working Families, Independent	Peter DeFazio
Congress, 5th District
	Republican	Amy Ryan Courser
	Democrat	Kurt Schrader
	Libertarian	Matthew James Rix
Measure 107: Campaign Finance Reform
	YES
	NO
Measure 108: Cigarette Tax/Vaping Tax
	YES
	NO
Measure 109: Medical Mushrooms
	YES
	NO
Measure 110: Decriminalize Drugs
	YES
	NO
State Senator, 1st District
	Republican	Dallas Heard
	Democrat	Kat Stone
State Senator, 2nd District
	Republican, Constitution	Art Robinson
	Democrat, Working Families	Jerry Allen
	Libertarian	Thomas Griffin
State Senator, 5th District
	Republican	Dick Anderson
	Democrat, Independent, Working Families	Melissa T Cribbins
	Pacific Green	Shauleen Higgins
State Senator, 9th District
	Republican	Fred Frank Girod
	Democrat, Pacific Green	Jim Hinsvark
	Libertarian	Patrick Marnell
State Senator, 10th District
	Democrat, Working Families	Deb Patterson
	Republican	Denyc Boles
	Libertarian	Taylor A Rickey
State Senator, 12th District
	Democrat	Bernadette Hansen
	Republican, Independent	Brian J Boquist
State Senator, 14th District
	Republican, Libertarian	Harmony K Mulkey
	Democrat, Working Families	Kate Lieber
State Senator, 18th District
	Democrat	Ginny Burdick
State Senator, 21st District
	Democrat, Working Families	Kathleen Taylor
State Senator, 22nd District
	Democrat	Lew Frederick
State Senator, 23rd District
	Democrat, Working Families	Michael Dembrow
State Senator, 25th District
	Democrat, Working Families	Chris Gorsek
	Republican, Independent	Justin Hwang
State Senator, 27th District
	Democrat, Working Families	Eileen Kiely
	Republican, Independent	Tim Knopp
State Senator, 28th District
	Republican	Dennis Linthicum
	Democrat, Independent	Hugh Palcic
State Senator, 29th District
	Republican	Bill Hansell
	Democrat	Mildred A O'Callaghan
State Senator, 30th District
	Democrat	Carina M Miller
	Republican	Lynn P Findley
State Representative, 1st District
	Democrat	Calla Felicity
	Republican	David Brock Smith
State Representative, 2nd District
	Democrat	Charles F Lee
	Republican	Gary Leif
State Representative, 3rd District
	Democrat	Jerry Morgan
	Republican	Lily Morgan
State Representative, 4th District
	Republican	Duane A Stark
	Democrat, Independent	Mary Middleton
State Representative, 5th District
	Democrat, Independent	Pam Marsh
	Republican	Sandra A Abercrombie
State Representative, 6th District
	Democrat, Independent	Alberto Enriquez
	Libertarian	Alex Levi Usselman
	Republican	Kim Wallan
State Representative, 7th District
	Republican, Independent	Cedric Hayden
	Democrat	Jerry M Samaniego
State Representative, 8th District
	Libertarian	Martha A Sherwood
	Democrat, Working Families	Paul R Holvey
	Republican	Timothy W Aldal
State Representative, 9th District
	Republican, Libertarian	Boomer Wright
	Democrat, Working Families	Cal Mukumoto
State Representative, 10th District
	Democrat, Independent	David Gomberg
	Republican	Max Sherman
State Representative, 11th District
	Republican	Katie Boshart Glaser
	Democrat, Independent, Working Families	Marty Wilde
State Representative, 12th District
	Democrat	John Lively
	Republican	Ruth E Linoz
State Representative, 13th District
	Republican	David J Smith
	Democrat, Independent	Nancy Nathanson
State Representative, 14th District
	Democrat, Independent, Working Families	Julie Fahey
	Republican, Libertarian	Rich Cunningham
State Representative, 15th District
	Democrat, Working Families	Miriam G Cummins
	Republican	Shelly Boshart Davis
State Representative, 16th District
	Democrat, Working Families	Dan Rayfield
	Republican	Jason Hughes
State Representative, 17th District
	Republican	Jami Cate
	Democrat, Working Families	Paige Hook
	Pacific Green	Timothy L Dehne
State Representative, 18th District
	Democrat	Jamie Morrison
	Republican	Rick Lewis
State Representative, 19th District
	Democrat, Working Families, Progressive	Jacqueline M Leung
	Republican	Raquel Moore-Green
State Representative, 20th District
	Democrat, Working Families	Paul Evans
	Republican, Independent	Selma Pierce
State Representative, 21st District
	Democrat	Brian Clem
	Republican	Jack L Esp
State Representative, 22nd District
	Republican	Anna Kasachev
	Democrat, Independent, Working Families	Teresa Alonso Leon
State Representative, 23rd District
	Pacific Green, Progressive	Alex Polikoff
	Republican	Mike Nearman
	Libertarian	Scott D Clawson
	Democrat	Sean K Scorvo
State Representative, 24th District
	Democrat, Working Families	Lynnette Shaw
	Republican, Independent	Ron Noble
State Representative, 25th District
	Republican	Bill Post
	Democrat, Working Families	Ramiro Navarro Jr
State Representative, 26th District
	Democrat, Working Families	Courtney Neron
	Republican	Peggy Stevens
	Libertarian	Tim E Nelson
State Representative, 27th District
	Republican, Libertarian	Sandra Nelson
	Democrat, Working Families	Sheri Schouten
State Representative, 28th District
	Republican	Daniel R Martin
	Democrat, Working Families	Wlnsvey E Campos
State Representative, 29th District
	Republican	Dale Fishback
	Democrat, Working Families	Susan McLain
State Representative, 30th District
	Democrat, Working Families	Janeen Sollman
State Representative, 31st District
	Democrat, Independent, Working Families	Brad Witt
	Republican	Brian G Stout
State Representative, 32nd District
	Democrat, Working Families	Debbie Boothe-Schmidt
	Republican, Independent, Libertarian	Suzanne Weber
State Representative, 33rd District
	Republican	Dick Courter
	Democrat, Working Families	Maxine E Dexter
State Representative, 34th District
	Democrat, Republican, Working Families	Ken Helm
State Representative, 35th District
	Republican	Bob Niemeyer
	Democrat, Working Families	Dacia Grayber
State Representative, 36th District
	Republican	James A Ball
	Democrat, Working Families	Lisa Reynolds
State Representative, 37th District
	Republican, Libertarian	Kelly Sloop
	Democrat, Working Families	Rachel Prusak
State Representative, 38th District
	Democrat, Independent, Working Families	Andrea Salinas
	Republican	Patrick Castles
State Representative, 39th District
	Republican, Independent	Christine Drazan
	Libertarian	Kenny Sernach
	Democrat	Tessah L Danel
State Representative, 40th District
	Republican, Libertarian	Josh Howard
	Democrat, Working Families	Mark W Meek
State Representative, 41st District
	Democrat, Working Families	Karin Power
	Republican	Michael Newgard
State Representative, 42nd District
	Democrat, Working Families	Rob Nosse
State Representative, 43rd District
	Democrat, Working Families	Tawna Sanchez
State Representative, 44th District
	Republican	Margo Logan
	Democrat, Working Families	Tina Kotek
State Representative, 45th District
	Democrat, Working Families	Barbara Smith Warner
State Representative, 46th District
	Democrat, Working Families	Khanh Pham
State Representative, 47th District
	Working Families	Ashton Simpson
	Democrat	Diego Hernandez
	Republican	Ryan Gardner
State Representative, 48th District
	Libertarian	Edward Marihart
	Democrat, Independent	Jeff Reardon
State Representative, 49th District
	Republican	Greg Johnson
	Democrat, Independent, Working Families	Zach Hudson
State Representative, 50th District
	Republican	Amelia Salvador
	Democrat, Independent, Working Families	Ricki Ruiz
State Representative, 51st District
	Libertarian	Donald B Crawford
	Republican	Jane J Hays
	Democrat, Independent, Working Families	Janelle S Bynum
State Representative, 52nd District
	Democrat, Independent, Working Families	Anna Williams
	Republican	Jeff Helfrich
	Libertarian	Stephen D Alder
State Representative, 53rd District
	Democrat, Independent	Emerson Levy
	Republican, Libertatian	Jack Zika
State Representative, 54th District
	Republican, Independent, Libertarian	Cheri Helt
	Democrat, Working Families	Jason Kropf
State Representative, 55th District
	Democrat	Barbara Fontaine
	Republican	Vikki Breese-Iverson
State Representative, 56th District
	Republican	E Werner Reschke
	Democrat	Faith N Leith
State Representative, 57th District
	Republican	Greg Smith
	Democrat	Roland Ruhe
State Representative, 58th District
	Republican	Bobby Levy
	Democrat	Nolan E Bylenga
State Representative, 59th District
	Democrat, Independent, Working Families	Arlene C Burns
	Republican	Daniel G Bonham
State Representative, 60th District
	Democrat, Working Families	Beth E Spell
	Republican, Libertarian	Mark Owens

--Northwest Observer Election Team

Post Date: 2020-11-03 20:00:00

Last Update: 2020-11-04 19:26:03

More than 2,000 people have been approved to receive benefits under a new state program that helps people who work in Oregon and need to quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19 exposure, but do not have access to COVID-19-related paid sick leave.

More than $2 million dollars have been dispersed through this program, and money is still available to help more people.

Employees who work in Oregon can apply online for the COVID-19 Temporary Paid Leave Program . The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services is administering the program.

People who qualify will receive a $120 per-day payment for up to 10 working days ($1,200 total) for the time they need to quarantine.

The application form is available in English, Spanish, and Russian. Those who do not have access to electronic applications can call 833-685-0850 (toll-free) or 503-947-0130. Those who need help in a language other than these three can call 503-947-0131 for help.

DCBS and the Department of Revenue are collaborating on the new program to ensure employees meet the necessary eligibility requirements.

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for the program:

Work in Oregon and required to file an Oregon personal income tax return.

Directed to quarantine by a local or tribal public health authority or health care provider because of exposure to someone infected or have COVID-19-related symptoms and are seeking a medical diagnosis.

Not able to work (including telework) because you need to quarantine or isolate.

Do not expect to earn more than $60,000 individually or $120,000 jointly in 2020.

Employer does not provide COVID-19-related paid sick leave or have exhausted available COVID-19-related paid sick leave.

Are not applying for unemployment insurance benefits for the time off due to quarantine or isolation.

Are not applying for workers’ compensation benefits for the time off due to quarantine or isolation or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Are not seeking or using benefits from similar COVID-19 quarantine relief programs in Oregon or another state.

Are not applying for or receiving other forms of paid leave from your employer during your quarantine or isolation, such as banked sick leave or vacation leave.

Are not laid off or furloughed by your employer.

Must have notified your employer that you need to quarantine or isolate.

Can claim only one quarantine period.

Not self-employed.

Because the available funds are limited, the program is available only to quarantine periods that were in place on or after Sept. 16. Applicants can claim only one quarantine period.

There is more information online or call 833-685-0850 (toll-free) or 503-947-0130 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The website also contains an eligibility quiz to help people who are not sure if they qualify.

The COVID-19 Temporary Paid Leave Program was created with $30 million received from the federal government to help Oregon respond to the coronavirus pandemic.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-11-03 15:16:54

Last Update: 2020-11-03 17:01:22