The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) received two Weather Modification License applications from Alexander Jenkins III of Salem, Oregon, on August 1, 2022. Jenkins proposed to build and operate a device called the Aquaelicium to be used in Curry County and Klamath County. Jenkin’s proposal also says the machine with accompanying systems would be used to adjust weather and hydrological, and environmental conditions.

As per Oregon statute, ODA hosted a public hearing for each application. Both hearings were held in person and virtual on August 22, 2022. The first was in Klamath County, where four people, including the applicant, gave public comments. No written comments were received. In Curry County, 12 people, including the applicant, gave public comments, and ten submitted written comments.

Upon review by ODA and consideration of the public comment, ODA concludes there was insufficient evidence to support granting licenses for weather modification in both Curry and Klamath Counties requested under state law ORS 558.060.

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There was insufficient evidence to address potential adverse effects on agriculture, forestry, and public health or safety.

Oregon law requires those seeking to modify weather to apply for a license with ODA. The department must decide on the proposal within 30 days of receiving the application. Applicants may petition for reconsideration with ODA within 60 days of the department’s decision.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2022-09-12 19:53:07

Last Update: 2022-09-12 20:16:53

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division has notified Oregon State Hospital Hospital that the hospital will be cited with three violations related to workplace violence and injuries in the areas of documentation, thorough investigation and response. Oregon-OSHA also warned the hospital of three additional issues on the same topics that could become a problem in the future if not addressed.

"One of our guiding principles at the hospital is to ensure the safety of both our patients and our staff," stated OSH Superintendent Dolly Matteucci. "Our staff deserve to come to work each day without the fear of being hurt. We know we have more work to do, and we know more thorough investigation of incidents will help us learn from what happened and prevent future occurrences."

Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen echoed Superintendent Matteucci's statement about the importance of staff and patient safety. "Members of our hospital staff are getting injured while caring for patients, and that is not acceptable. Period. We must do better, and we will do better. We appreciate what the Oregon-OSHA violations bring to light, we will continue to partner with our hospital staff to find additional ways to prevent workplace violence."

Prior to the Oregon-OSHA investigation, OSH had started making proactive and operational changes to reduce workplace violence. Here is some of the work that is underway:

SAIF Corporation has hired a workplace violence prevention consultant to work with OSH. That consultation began last month. The work is expected to lead to more recommendations to reduce workplace violence and improve staff safety. Broset Violence Checklist Implementation The BVC is an evidence-based risk assessment tool that assists in identifying patients at high risk for aggressive behavior within the next 24 hours.

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The Safe Together team is improving access for staff to attend drills, training opportunities and consultation. One factor contributing to changes at OSH is a recent shift in the patient population. There has been an increase in "Aid and Assist" patients who are more likely to pose behavioral challenges until medication and other treatment has a chance to work. In addition, staff and patients have coped with inconsistent staffing, Covid-19 restrictions and other external demands.

OSH is expected to receive the official Oregon-OSHA report in the next 2-3 weeks


--Ritch Hanneman

Post Date: 2022-09-11 20:48:34

Last Update: 2022-09-11 22:47:44

Editor's note: Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project equips voters with information on how candidates stand on issues through a questionnaire process featured in comparison guides.

Candidate Joanna Harbour is making her second run against incumbent Earl Blumenauer for U.S. Congressional District 3. In a very Democrat district, Blumenauer covers his bases with two websites, one significantly more “radical” than the other, labeled “Earl Radically Effective Blumenauer.” Harbour garnered about one-third the votes that Blumenauer received in 2020 matching the percentage of register Republican voters to Democrat. Since then, this Portland district lost 108,145 voters – 23% were Democrat, 19% Republican and 0.09% Nonaffiliate. Nonaffiliates make up 33% of total voters – not the highest bracket for registered voters, but could pose a threat. Harbour testified at the Redistricting Hearing in defense of rural portions of District 3 being significantly out number and unfair to them.

Congressman Blumenauer is an original co-sponsor and co-author of the Green New Deal. He has authored and supported many policies that could accomplish Green New Deal goals and, since its introduction, has been working to make the Green New Deal vision a reality, including fighting to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, increase wilderness lands and supporting Agenda 2030.

Harbour does not support the Green New Deal or Agenda 2030 and further says we need energy independence, to balance the budget, get out of debt, bring down inflation, prioritize water to our farmers and ranchers, and fix our supply lines.

Harbour wants to end the practice of “let it burn” forest management that has allowed forest fires to go unchecked threatening the lives of our citizens, their livestock and land, and to open up the national forest land to logging and other practices that reduce the risk of forest fires while maintaining the forest for everyone to enjoy for generations to come. Her vision is to bring back Oregon’s forests to local control.

When you look at what is happening in Portland spreading to other parts of the state, security is what voters are looking for. Harbour says crime and homelessness should be resolved at a local level, but she would help to bring federal funding and other resources to curb criminal activity. She received a 69% rating from Oregon Firearms Federation and 92% by NRA. She supports border security to prevent illegal aliens, illegal drugs, and sex and human trafficking from entering the U.S. Her position on border security is to immediately return those who cross illegally to their country of origin. She supports requiring proof that immigration laws are being enforced before considering amnesty laws. “There are several steps that would need to be completed before citizenship is an option.”

Congressman Blumenauer released a statement against border security measures and says a wall is not necessary, and fights for amnesty in the DACA program. He sees security through the lens of partnering with those who serve the global community. His answer to violence is universal background checks, banning high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, and allow health care providers to discuss gun ownership with patients. He thinks illegal drugs should be legalize by developing a legislative framework that accounts for the inevitable transition of marijuana policy that is already well under way.

Harbour said, “I am running to bring common sense and actual citizen representation back to this district.” An advocate for the Second Amendment, term limits, Right-to-Life, religious freedom, and a supporter of the Constitution makes her a clear contrast to incumbent Blumenauer.

Blumenauer is a strong advocate for human rights and democracy (verses a republic). He views gun violence as a crisis that threatens the well-being and peace of mind of urban and rural communities that needs addressing. He has regularly led the charge to close down the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Blumenauer co-chairs a Congressional Neuroscience Caucus to build awareness of the intrinsic role brain research plays in understanding ourselves and our society, and promote changes in federal policies to support neuroscience research. Is that code for mind control?

Harbour advocates for medical freedom, school choice with money following the student, resources for mental illness and drug addictions causing homelessness. She also believes congress should have the same retirement and health coverages as private citizens. She wants to make the tax cuts permanent.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-09-10 06:08:57

Last Update: 2022-09-09 12:55:17

Editor's note: Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project equips voters with information on how candidates stand on issues through a questionnaire process featured in comparison guides.

The race for Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries is in default mode. If one of the seven candidates running in the Primary would have received over 50 percent of the votes, the race would be over. Since none received the required 50 percent, the top two candidates are now in a run-off in the General Election. The office ensures lawful and fair practices in employment and housing, develops trade skills training and handles complaints on unfair practices and safety. Christina Stephenson, a civil rights attorney, is competing against Cheri Helt, a restaurant business owner in the run-off race.

Stephenson received her Bachelor’s degree in International Politics from American University where she was a facilitator in the Office of Community Action and Social Justice. She moved from California in 2011 to get her Doctoral degree and Public Interest Certificate from University of Oregon School of Law. She joined with Robert Meyer to open Meyer Stephenson law firm. She is a board member of the Multnomah County Commission on Economic Dignity.

As an attorney Stephenson has worked with people of all types all across the state to help them enforce their civil rights. Stephenson worked with the Oregon AFL-CIO union in passing Oregon's Workplace Fairness Act, which imposed sweeping new requirements on Oregon employers in response to the #MeToo movement, and outlawed non-disclosure and non-competing agreements. As Commissioner, she says she knows that businesses that don't play by the rules shouldn't have a competitive advantage and will “invest in the technical assistance Oregon businesses need to stay compliant with Oregon laws.”

Stephenson has also advocated and testified for the Equal Pay Act in Oregon, bereavement leave to be added to the Oregon Family Leave Act, whistleblower protections under state law, and elevate apprenticeships to be a key part of our transition to a climate-resilient economy. Stephenson promises to “ensure that BOLI's actions align with our climate goals. This includes reducing waste, making climate-sensitive procurement decisions, and investing in sustainable infrastructure.”

Stephenson’s focus on discrimination has made her an advocate for LGBTQ workers facing challenges, including not being allowed to use the restroom that aligns with their gender, being harassed or fired because of gender identity or sexual orientation, and not being addressed by the correct name or pronouns. She says, “Your employer should never discriminate against you because of your gender or sexual identity, and it is illegal if they do. As Labor Commissioner, [I] will protect queer and trans workers by helping LGBTQ workers know their rights; enforcing non-discrimination laws; and making sure that employers follow the rules.”

Cheri Helt is co-owner with husband Steve of Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails Restaurant and Bistro 28. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Michigan State University. She served on the Bend-LaPine School Board for nine years and State Representative for two years. She says, “I bring 18 years of firsthand knowledge of the impacts rules and regulations have on employees and employers. Oregon needs balanced policies and systems we can count on.” She decided to run after experiencing the strains of the COVID-19 pandemic on her small business and losing a third of their workers. “I’m really excited about the issues the office works on, creating more job opportunities and increasing career and technical training to build a good future for Oregon,” Helt said in an interview.

Cheri and Steve Helt walk their talk. As Representative, she voted for family medical leave, and now they support 60 employees with 100% employer-paid health benefits and generous retirement benefits. She knows how policies affect businesses. When it comes to leadership and policy, Helt considers herself a public servant, not an active partisan. She rejects the rigid left-right extremes that too often define politics today and believes the best solutions are found when people come together and find common ground.

Since Helt’s leaving office, she has remained involved in legislative issues around housing, education and supported a pilot for homeless youth. Helt’s platform is to lead the fight an be a trusted ally of Oregon working families. She states she will “vigorously defend workers’ civil rights and right to receive fair pay for their hard work, and partner with employers, employees and homebuilders to create more affordable workforce housing,” which she sought solutions for in the legislature. She would like to “strengthen and expand access to apprenticeship programs,” and “position Oregon’s workforce and small businesses to propel a growing and sustainable Oregon economy that benefits all workers.”

The new Commissioner will face challenging changes in employment as more workers have moved to work from home, which is largely unregulated. There will no doubt be more cases between religious business owners and what LGBTQ view as their equal rights among other controversial issues. The two candidates have two different perspectives to address issues, which makes the race unpredictable.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-09-09 11:03:28

Last Update: 2022-09-09 11:16:52

Many Oregon voters feel deceived for voting in Measure 91 to legalize recreational use of marijuana in 2014 convinced it would eliminate or reduce criminal activities and sales of illegal drugs. To put a band-aid on the rising convictions for possession, voters passed Measure 110, the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act, on November 3, 2020. The law was designed to open up more money for treatment while decriminalizing possession of some small amounts of drugs.

Those found in possession will get a citation and could face a $100 fine. While people caught with small amounts of these drugs can complete a health assessment to avoid paying the fine by calling the Addiction Recovery Center Hotline. The vote meant law enforcement officers in Oregon could no longer arrest someone for possession of small amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, oxycodone, and other drugs.

Measure 110, required the Oregon Health Authority to establish at least one Behavioral Health Resource Network in each Oregon county. Senate Bill 755, passed in 2021, defined these county cooperative networks as BHRNs. The Oversight and Accountability Council has approved the final county, Jackson County, for drug treatment and recovery services funding. In total, the council has approved 44 BHRNs in Oregon's 36 counties, and some counties are served by more than one network.

"Oregon has, for far too long, ranked near the bottom of states in providing services to help people suffering from addiction, even while having some of the highest addiction rates,” said the council's tri-chair Ron Williams in a statement to KATU.

Measure 110 redirected millions of dollars in tax revenue from the state's legal marijuana industry to treatment. The Act’s grant program funded $264 million for BHRN addiction recovery centers. Top award went to Multnomah County for more than $58 million, more than $20 million went to Washington County, and more than $14 million to Clackamas County.

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Drug treatment is a priority issue for all the governor candidates claiming they can bring Oregon from near bottom ranking.

Tina Kotek defends her time as Majority Leader, “When someone is ready to seek help for a mental health concern or substance use, that help should be easy to find and available – no matter where you live or what you can afford.” She claims to have invested nearly $500 million to expand access to mental health care, and $25 million in emergency funds to improve behavioral health services.

Did she not know that in 2019 the National Institute on Drug Abuse established clinical research centers in networks around the country to improve opioid addiction treatment and address gaps in accessing high-quality care. Each center worked with five or more communities with organizations in justice settings and service providers. Oregon was granted one of the centers.

In 2020, there were 247 treatment facilities in Oregon, and 8 percent are paid through Medicaid and Medicare. Others will be paid by private or state health insurance, federally-funded military insurance, and Indian Health Service. Other facilities provide treatment on a sliding scale.

Betsy Johnson says, “I believe the state of Oregon should declare a state of emergency to address our crisis of addiction and mental health. We need to rebuild partnerships with all of our county health departments and provide staffing and resources for both inpatient and outpatient care. We need to demand that counties provide a greater focus on short-term shelter with access to life-saving services while longer-term solutions are ramping up.”

Christine Drazan says she will “maintain and expand investments in addiction and mental health supports and services, including providing reimbursement rates that protect and expand access.” But she goes a step further and promises to work to repeal Measure 110, which decriminalized hard drugs like methamphetamine and heroin.

Now with 44 new state BHRN centers, should the state throw more tax dollars at the problem, declare an emergency, or eliminate the source?


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-09-08 11:13:23

Last Update: 2022-09-08 13:49:56

The Portland Bureau of Transportation, in partnership with Lloyd area businesses and residents, will begin implementing new rates for on-street parking during large-scale events to encourage public transit and biking, and reduce congestion and pollution in the Lloyd Event District.

Starting Friday, Sept. 9, on-street parking will cost $3 an hour, up from $1 an hour, with meter hours operating until 10 p.m. The new rate will be in effect all day, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., this Friday through Sunday. The all-day rate will be in effect on three other days through the end of the year. On 24 other days, it will be in effect only from 5 to 10 p.m.

The new rate is expected to relieve pressure on people who live or work in the Lloyd and Rose Quarter area, reducing traffic, and making it easier for residents and other visitors to find on-street parking.​

According to PBOT, when people attend conventions and pro sports games in the busy neighborhood, it's less expensive for them to drive and park their cars in public, on-street parking spaces than it is to pay the $5 for a round-trip fare on public transit. This creates severe parking shortages, as parking occupancy jumps from about 30 percent normally to more than 90 percent during event days. With nine out of 10 spaces occupied, people drive in circles in the area to find parking, driving while distracted and creating congestion and delays for bus service and local residents and businesses.

The event district for the Lloyd area was approved by City Council in April. It allows PBOT to charge $3 an hour during the 90 events a year that draw more than 10,000 visitors, mostly during evening hours. On-street parking will be affected at the 1,250 spaces in the area, where parking has historically been free or $1 an hour.

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Event parking districts using higher meter rates and extended hours of enforcement have been successful in managing parking impacts to event areas in other cities and in Southwest Portland near Providence Park Stadium.

The district implements several policies passed by the city council over many years. In 2018, council passed an ordinance for the Performance Based Parking Management Manual, which outlines how and where to establish Event Parking Districts. It is consistent with the report and recommendations by the Pricing Options for Equitable Mobility Task Force, which were accepted by council last year.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-09-08 06:44:05

Last Update: 2022-09-07 15:00:04

Lori Kuechler has been appointed to the Oregon House by Clackamas, Hood River and Multnomah county commissioners. Her predecessor, Anna Williams (D-Hood River) was one of three legislators who complained of the low salaries paid to Oregon House Members. Williams will become the executive director of Oregon’s System of Care Advisory Council, which has a pay range listed from $7,814 - $12,087 per month -- far exceeding her legislative pay.

Oregon law requires that a legislative vacancy be filled by county commissioners representing the district in which the vacancy exists. House District 52 includes voters in Clackamas, Hood River and Multnomah counties. Finalists were selected by the local Democratic Party, as deemed by state law.

According to her biography on LinkedIn, Kuechler describes herself:

I am a freelance, contract grant consultant and writer, a college professor of the Liberal Arts, a published writer, and experienced fundraising and development professional. I am skilled in fundraising narrative and marketing content; grant writing and grant management; nonprofit sustainability consultation; nonprofit funding prospect research and cultivation; and adjunct teaching in higher education, with a special focus on the academic and personal support of first-generation college students. I am a politically active community member with a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Kuechler will be sworn in and will serve in the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-09-08 06:23:21

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