SALEM, OR -- A bipartisan group of state lawmakers is looking at how to reduce distractions caused by cell phones in classrooms. 

State Rep. Emerson Levy (D-Central OR) says technology became a necessity to keep kids connected to learning during the pandemic, "But, just as a life preserver is never meant to do what a boat can, distance learning tools were only intended as a temporary emergency measure to keep students’ heads above water." She believes phones and other personal devices are now over-used in schools, dragging down test scores.

Levy told the House Education Committee Thursday about a study in Norway, "When they took the cell phones out of the classroom, their scores returned back to normal; back to baseline. And we’re seeing more and more studies that show us that."

Psychologist Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee has studied the cost of tech over-use for kids. She told a House committee adults are almost always multi-tasking with technology. using either multiple devices or multiple apps at once. Kids picked up the same habit while distance learning, during the pandemic, "This ability to multi-task in that two-year period had a profound impact. We already knew, prior to the pandemic that our tech use and that 10.5 hours a day spent with screens had a profound impact on the body." She says her research shows it also has a big impact on children’s ability to develop relationships and a healthy sense of self, "This isn’t just something the grown people in their lives feel. They feel it."

Amy Formica, with the Bend-based group Well-Wired, says her team has talked about the issue with educators, "As one middle school teacher explains, most of of the major social conflicts, including threats to safety, sexual misconduct, repeated vandalism and intense bullying is from kids’ online social media use on their phones."

Rep. Levy told the committee, "A lot of parents are very concerned: what happens in an emergency if my kid doesn’t have a phone? And I think we have to just be honest about the stark safety realities our students face." She added, "We can put them ‘safe and away.’ We’re not talking about a total ban. And also, there are smart watches, there are things. But I just want parents to know, as we discuss this topic, we are very aware of those safety concerns."

Lawmakers will continue to gather feedback before the 2025 session.

(Portland, OR) -- Details of a merger between Oregon Health and Science University and Legacy Health have been finalized. If approved by state regulators, the new public system would operate 12 hospitals and more than 100 locations with around 30,000 employees. Once the transaction closes, OHSU will pay an independent Legacy community foundation an amount equal to Legacy Health's net assets for grants to support health care and health equity. The Oregon Nurses Association calls the billion dollar acquisition the largest health care merger in state history and says union officials are watching to make sure it fulfills promises of improved patient care.

(Salem, OR) -- Oregon has the highest rate of vehicle collisions on the West Coast. The Oregon Zoo and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have developed a project to identify the deadliest roads. The iNaturalist Roadkills of Oregon project asks you to take photos of animals killed by cars. The picture will be uploaded into an app, so biologists will be able to track areas where the most collisions occur. Currently, only large animals like deer and elk are tracked. This project will monitor all animals that are killed.

(Salem, OR) -- The Oregon State Hospital has received a statement of deficiencies related to a patient death shortly after arrival in April. The hospital didn't have all of the Code Blue emergency response equipment in one location. OSH immediately addressed the issue. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued the statement. On Friday, the hospital will submit its Plan of Correction which the federal agency is expected to approve. CMS will conduct an unannounced visit to make sure the proper procedures are being followed.

(Portland, OR) -- Oregon lawmakers are responding to the news that former President Trump has been found guilty in his New York criminal hush money case. Democratic Congressman Earl Blumenauer posted a picture of himself on Facebook yesterday holding a bottle of 19 Crimes wine with a photo of Trump inserted onto the bottle's label. The label also had the "19" crossed out and replaced with a "34" to represent the number of felony charges Trump was convicted of. The caption for the picture stated, "Nobody is above the law." Democratic Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici also posted her reaction on social media, saying, quote, "Even former presidents must be held accountable for criminal acts." Senator Jeff Merkley chimed in on Twitter, saying, quote, "Justice had a good day."

(Corvallis, OR) -- Oregon State University supporters will be able to get a new license plate. It features OSU's orange beaver logo in the foreground, over a black and white graphic showing the rings of a cut tree. The words "The Beaver State" are at the bottom.

They need to sell 3,000 $40 vouchers to get the plate into production. Of that fee, $35 will go toward athletics and strategic marketing. Once that plate goes into production, DMV will stop making the current OSU plate which is the standard tree license plate with the orange beaver logo.

(Portland, OR) -- An investigation is ongoing into a stabbing that injured one person along a bike path near I-205. Police say it happened early yesterday morning near Southeast Powell. The victim reportedly walked up to nearby officers seeking help for multiple stab wounds. He was hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries. It's not yet clear whether police have identified a suspect.

(Portland, OR) -- The man known as the TriMet Barber could face more jail time after being found guilty on 31 more counts of invasion of privacy. Jared Walter was on trial in Portland for taking video of women without consent. Walter is known as the TriMet Barber because he was previously convicted of cutting women's hair on MAX trains and putting bodily fluids on them. His sentencing is set for August.

(Charbonneau, OR) -- Police say they're investigating the death of a man who was found dead along I-5 near Charbonneau as a murder. Oregon State Police say 42-year-old Oscar Lizardo Chaidez was the victim of a homicide. Police found his body after multiple people called 911 to report seeing him lying on the shoulder of the road. Chaidez's cause of death has not been released. Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

(Washington, D.C.)  --  More than a dozen school districts across Oregon are getting millions of dollars in federal funding to purchase electric buses.  The Environmental Protection Agency is giving 15 districts a total of 22-point-6 million dollars to replace 96 older buses with electric or propane buses.  The Pendleton School District is getting the largest grant, four-point-one million dollars, to buy 13 electric buses.  Gresham-Barlow, Elkton, McMinnville, La Grande, and Morrow school districts will receive around two-million dollars each.

(Newberg, OR)  --  Students in Newberg are protesting upcoming budget cuts.  Students at Newberg High School walked out of their classes and marched to the district headquarters in protest of the cuts yesterday.  The school district is facing over ten-million dollars in budget cuts before this fall.  The cuts mean several teachers will be losing their jobs.
 

(Battle Ground, WA)  --  Greg McKelvey, the band director at Battle Ground High School, has been selected as the Grand Marshal of the Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade.  McKelvey is a Rose Festival legend, because he's brought so many bands to events.  McKelvey is retiring this summer after 28 years in the Battle Ground School District.  Last year, the Battle Ground jazz band took first-place in a national competition.

(Portland, OR)  --  Two major events are happening in downtown Portland Saturday evening bringing 100-thousand people to the area.  The Portland Timbers host a game at Providence Park and the CareOregon Starlight Parade will be held.  Kickoff for the Timbers game is at 7:30 and the parade begins at 8 p.m.  The Rose Festival and the Timbers are advising people to use MAX, buses or bikes to get downtown.  Parking will be extremely limited.  If you do need to drive, find parking north of Burnside or near Portland State University and walk to the game or parade.
 

(Portland, OR) -- A man who's accused of shooting one person, stabbing two people and shooting himself in the hand is in custody. Portland Police say last Wednesday they responded to a shooting near 104th and Southeast Clinton where a man was shot by someone he knew. The suspect also allegedly slashed a woman's hand with a knife and stabbed another person in the neck while running from police. Officers used a taser to take 29-year-old Tyler Price into custody. He had shot himself in the hand and was hospitalized. He was released from the hospital on Saturday and arrested on charges that include Attempted Murder.

(Forest Grove, OR) -- A Forest Grove man is jailed after an alleged seven-month crime spree shooting out vehicle windows with ball bearings and BBs. Forest Grove Police say since October, at least 12 victims have reported having their car windows shattered as they drove in the area of E Street and Pacific Avenue. Unable to arrest a suspect, officers teamed up with detectives. Friday night, they arrested 28-year-old Caleb Spurlock in the same area, armed with a slingshot and a container of ball bearings. Spurlock faces multiple charges, including unlawful use of a weapon and assault.

(Portland, OR) -- At least 20 people have been sickened after eating mussels they gathered at Short Beach near Oceanside, Hug Point, and near Seaside. Oregon Fish and Wildlife has shut down mussel harvesting from Washington to Seal Rock State Park because high levels of a naturally occurring biotoxin has been found in mussels. The Oregon Health Authority says anyone with mussels harvested from that area should throw them away. Anyone experiencing symptoms after eating mussels that include numbness of the mouth and lips, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and in severe cases shortness of breath or irregular heartbeat should immediately get medical help.

(Portland, OR) -- Oregon has a goal of keeping health care cost increases in line with inflation. Between 2021 and 2022, health care costs in Oregon grew three-point-six percent, which is slightly above the cost growth target of three-point-four percent. The increases were driven by higher hospital outpatient services, behavioral health services, and changes in how providers were paid. Retail pharmacy spending increased two-point-nine percent, despite more than one-billion dollars in pharmacy rebates.

(Salem, OR) -- Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free this weekend in Oregon. No fishing, shellfish licenses or tags are required on June 1st or 2nd. You do need to following regulations, closures and bag limits. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has increased stocking of rainbow trout in ponds and lakes. Oregon State Parks also offers free parking and camping on Saturday June 1st.

(Vancouver, WA) -- Authorities are searching for a suspect accused of breaking into a church and trying to start a fire. It happened early Sunday morning in Vancouver. The Clark County Sheriff's Office says someone broke into the City Harvest Church by breaking a window. They then allegedly tried to start a fire inside the building, but a sprinkler system quickly extinguished the flames. Authorities are investigating the incident as arson.

(Portland, OR) -- Portland Police are investigating a shooting that happened near the baseball field at Roosevelt High School Tuesday afternoon. One car was hit by a round and another car appeared to have been hit by the suspect's vehicle. There were no reports of injuries. A teacher heard the shooting, and the school was place in lockdown until police determine there was no threat.

(Portland, OR) -- Volunteers with the Oregon Zoo have released 11 endangered northwestern pond turtles into the Columbia River Gorge. The turtles were nearly driven to extinction by non-native American bullfrogs. The Zoo raises the turtles until they're large enough to survive against the bullfrogs and then releases them into ponds. Over the last two decades more than 16-hundred turtles have been released into the Gorge.

(Portland, OR) -- Fourteen people were arrested on Friday during the Portland Police Bureau's latest retail theft mission. It focused on stores in Cascade Station, near the Airport. 41-year-old Pamala McIntosh was one of the people who was arrested. She's a prolific shoplifter with nine pending theft cases and six outstanding warrants. Police also made two traffic stops that resulted in vehicles being towed. Two citations were issued.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. House Agriculture Committee has advanced its version of the Farm Bill reauthorization, but the two Oregon committee members have very different opinions on the latest draft. 

"This farm bill is a strong one for Oregon that benefits our over 37,000 farms and nearly 700,000 agricultural employees," Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR5) said at last week's hearing. She called it a bipartisan effort, "I’m thrilled to see increases to the Specialty Crop Block Grant and the Specialty Crop Research Incentive, as well as support for the mechanization and automation technologies for these crops." She's also pleased the final draft includes several of her proposals, like the Expanding Child Care in Rural America Act. "[It] Will help improve the availability and quality of child care in rural communities; helping to lower the insane cost."

Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (D-OR6) is also pleased some of her ideas made it in, including help to "Address our wildland firefighting personnel shortage." And, she thanked the GOP majority for listening to Democrats. But, she noted at the hearing, "When taken as a whole, this bill is an unacceptable product that should in no way be considered a bipartisan compromise." Salinas added, "This proposal takes away up to two days of food per month from hungry veterans, children and seniors, and that includes over 42,000 families in my district alone, who rely on SNAP to stay healthy and fed." She and other House Dems say the bill won’t make it through the Democrat-majority Senate, given the provisions they believe cut $30 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food for low-income families, "And we are squabbling over $6 a day to help them. 718,600 Oregon residents who rely on it; 42,000 households, just in my district."

The five-year farm bill reauthorization is expected to go to a full vote in the fall. It was supposed to be approved a year ago, but Congress extended the deadline. "Agriculture is the life blood of Oregon," Rep. Chavez-DeRemer said Thursday, "The programs in this farm bill are critical to our farmers. That’s why it is so urgent that we finally get this legislation across the finish line and deliver the aid that our farmers not only need but deserve."

(Astoria, OR) -- A unified command consisting of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Washington Department of Ecology has been established to coordinate the cleanup of tar balls washing up on beaches. The source of the oily substance isn't known. Tests are underway to learn more about the substance. Several birds have been found covered in oil. Oil spill response organizations have been contracted to clean up the material. Beachgoers are advised to not touch the tar balls and keep dogs away from them.

(Salem, OR) -- The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has extended the closure of mussel harvesting from Seal Rock State Park to the Washington border, because of paralytic shellfish poisoning. It's a natural marine biotoxin, but harmful to humans. It doesn't have anything to do with the tar balls that have washed up on the Oregon Coast. Mussel harvesting remains open from Seal Rock State Park to the California border.

(Portland, OR) -- The remains of a man who was killed in World War Two are finally being laid to rest in Oregon. According to the Department of Defense, U.S. Army Air Force Staff Sergeant Jack Coy was 20-years-old and assigned to the 703rd Bombardment Squadron when his aircraft was shot down over Germany on February 24th of 1944. Last year, his remains were identified through DNA evidence. On Sunday, Staff Sergeant Coy's remains were laid to rest at Willow Cemetery in Oregon.

(Nehalem, OR) -- A dead humpback whale has washed up at Nehalem State Park on the Oregon Coast. The dead whale was spotted floating offshore from the Rockaway Beach area. The whale was bloated which indicated it had likely been dead several days. Marine biologists responded to examine the whale and take samples. Beachgoers are advised to stay away from the whale and to keep dogs leashed and back from the whale. Dogs can be vulnerable to disease from the carcass.

(Seattle, WA) -- An Oregon man is among two people being charged in connection with a human smuggling operation. Police arrested 45-year-old Jesus Ortiz-Plata of Independence and 35-year-old Juan Pablo Cueller Medina of Everett, Washington late last week in Everett. They're accused of helping people sneak into the U.S. from Canada by hiding in railroad freight cars. Border Patrol has been investigating the transfer of people in freight cars since late 2022, and a phone number linked to Ortiz-Plata kept coming up. Last week, federal agents tracked Ortiz-Plata's cell phone to an apartment in Everett, where he and Medina were found along with three non-U.S. citizens. All five people were arrested.

(Portland, OR) -- Court documents have revealed new information about the deaths of three women last year in the Portland area. Jesse Calhoun is charged with killing the women. Charity Perry was killed on March 8th. Her body was found nearly seven weeks later near Ainsworth State Park. JoAnna Speaks was killed ten days after Perry on March 18th. Her body was found three weeks later in Ridgefield. Bridgett Webster was killed April 26th. Her body was found four days later in Polk County. Calhoun is serving time for a parole violation. A date for his arraignment on the murder charges hasn't been set.

(St. Paul, OR) -- The body of a St. Paul man who was reported missing in February has been recovered. Oregon State Police say 48-year-old Gurjinder Singh Grewal was last seen walking on the Highway 219 bridge over the Willamette River on February 8th. His car was parked just south of the bridge. Last Wednesday, a fisherman found Grewal's body in the river between West Linn and Oregon City. Foul play is not suspected in his death.

(San Diego, CA)  --  Hall of Fame basketball star and longtime Pac-12 commentator Bill Walton is dead at the age of 71 after a long battle with cancer.  Walton helped led the Portland Trail Blazers to an NBA championship in 1977, being named Finals MVP.  His number 32 jersey is retired by the team.  He was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1993.  He called numerous Pac-12 basketball games later in his life.  The Trail Blazers say Walton was a true legend, an extraordinary player, talented broadcaster, and a vital part of the Blazers organization.  

(Salem, OR) -- For the first time, five health insurance companies will offer Oregon Marketplace plans in all counties. Moda Health is the fifth company. Inflation and higher prescription drug costs are causing health insurance rates to rise. Companies are asking for an average increase in individual plans of nine percent compared to six percent last year. Group rates would go up an average of 12 percent compared to eight percent in 2023. Hearings and public comment are being taken through July 1st before the increases are finalized.

(Portland, OR) -- Portland Police arrested a serial robbery suspect with an assist from Vancouver Police. Tuesday evening, Vancouver Police notified officers in Portland that 43-year-old Cory Jackson was driving south. Portland officers were conducting a stolen vehicle mission and diverted to a parking lot on Hayden Island where Jackson went into a store. Police evacuated the business and Jackson was arrested without incident. He was wanted in connection with several armed robberies and other crimes.

(Oregon City, OR) -- Former Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts leads incumbent Tootie Smith in the race for Clackamas County Commission Chair. The latest ballot counts released last night show Roberts leading Smith by ten-percent. Currently, the two candidates are headed for a run-off in November's General Election. When the election is finalized, if Robert has more than 50 percent, he'll avoid a run-off.

(Portland, OR) -- The Multnomah County Fair will be held at Oaks Park this weekend. This is the 118th edition of the fair. There will be entertainment, wiener dog races, Portland Lucha Libre wrestling, local vendors and small barn animals. Oaks Park rides will also be in operation. Admission to the fair is free. Oaks Park attractions and parking are sold separately.

(Aumsville, OR) -- The Marion County Sheriff's Office seized guns and drugs from a home in Aumsville. Early Tuesday morning, they served a warrant on Joseph Blades and recovered 250 suspected counterfeit fentanyl pills, 36 guns including rifles, shotguns, and handguns. They also seized body armor and ammunition. Blades is a convicted felon and not allowed to possess any guns.

(Portland, OR) -- Only one race for Multnomah County Commission was decided in Oregon's Primary election. Councilor Julia Brim-Edwards received 75 percent of the votes and will retain her seat. None of the candidates in districts one, two or four received more than 50 percent, which means there will be run-offs in November. In District One, Meghan Moyer leads with 46 percent, in District Two, Shannon Singleton leads with 43 percent and in District Four, Vince Jones-Dixon leads with 49 percent. If Jones-Dixon exceeds 50 percent when all of the ballots are counted, he'll be the elected commissioner and won't need a run-off.

(Oregon City, OR) -- Clackamas County Commission Chair Tootie Smith may lose her re-election. Former Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts is leading Smith 52 percent to 39 percent in Tuesday's Primary election. If Roberts continues to hold more than a 50 percent margin when the election is finalized, he'll win the race without a runoff.

(Portland, OR) -- A man has been arrested for pushing another man he didn't know in front of a MAX train that was arriving at the Providence Park station. The incident happened on Tuesday. The train's operator used the emergency brakes, and the man wasn't hit by the train. The suspect ran from the scene. About 20 minutes later, calls came in to 911 that the suspect was stealing things near Southwest 10th and Yamhill. Thirty-one-year-old Michael Moreland was arrested. He faces charges including attempted murder and assault.

(Troutdale, OR) -- The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is asking for help with a shooting investigation. On May 9th, two people were in a car near Southwest 257th Avenue and 26th Street when they got into an argument with a man walking along the road, he pulled a gun and fired several shots at the car. The victim was hit in the head at least one time and despite being critically injured was able to get to Mount Hood Medical Center with the help of his passenger. Detectives believe two other people in the area saw the shooting. They're asking anyone with information about the case to contact them.

(Portland, OR) -- Nathan Vasquez has defeated Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt in his effort to win re-election. Vasquez leads Schmidt 54 to 46 percent. Schmidt issued a statement saying he congratulated Vasquez on his victory and while they don't always see eye to eye, he's committed to a smooth transition. Vasquez is a senior deputy district attorney and works under Schmidt in the DA's office.

(Marion County, OR) -- Marion County firefighters rescued a man from a grain silo on Tuesday. He was buried up to his chest and couldn't get out by himself. He was conscious and alert when firefighters arrived. Salem Fire Department's rope rescue team helped to slowly maneuver the man, so he could get out of the silo. It took three hours to remove him. He was taken to Salem Hospital for evaluation.

(Portland, OR) -- Portland is being called one of the nation's most desirable cities. U.S. News and World Report analyzed American cities to determine which ones are the best and came up with a list of the 150 top cities. Portland was ranked 41st. Other Oregon cities that made the list include Salem, which came in 108th, and Eugene, which came in 115th.

(Portland, OR) -- Portland's tram that runs from South Waterfront to OHSU will close for five days starting today. During maintenance work, crews will shorten the cable that moves the tram. Every 18 months the cable needs to be shortened. It's replaced every six years. Shuttle service will be offered from Thursday through Monday during the closure.

(Portland, OR) -- Democrat Maxine Dexter has defeated Susheela Jayapal in the race for Oregon's Third Congressional District. That's the district currently held by Earl Blumenauer who announced he isn't running for re-election. Dexter will likely face Republican Joanna Harbour who leads Gary Dye.

(Portland, OR) -- Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt is losing his race for re-election to Nathan Vasquez. Schmidt says he's waiting for more ballots to be counted. Schmidt has run the DA's office with a more progressive position. Vasquez campaigned to take a harder line on crime.

(Portland, OR) -- Voters in Multnomah county are giving their approval to several levies and bonds. Early ballot counts from yesterday's election show voters passing Portland's Gas Tax, Metro's Zoo Bond, the Portland Public Schools Teacher's Levy, the Gresham Public Safety Levy and the Multnomah County Urban Flood Safety Bond. The Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue levy is also passing.

(Portland, OR) -- Portland Police have arrested a man who's accused in a bias assault against three people. On Sunday, 29-year-old Zachary Hay was near Southwest 13th and Alder when he allegedly called a Black man a racial slur and had his dog attack the man. The victim suffered significant injuries to his chest and hand. A second victim, a white male, was also injured. Police believe a third victim was also attacked in a separate incident, but that person hasn't come forward. Police later arrested Hay on two charges of Bias Crime. His dog was taken into custody by Multnomah County Animal Services. Police want to hear from anyone else who was attacked by Hay or his dog.

(Wilsonville, OR) -- A DUI driver is accused of crashing into a Chipotle restaurant in Wilsonville on Monday. The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office says the driver hit several light poles in the parking, crashed into the front doors of the Chipotle restaurant and then fled crashing into another car near the Evergreen Child Development Center. The driver tried to run from the scene, but was stopped by witnesses. Deputies arrived and took 27-year-old Bethlhem Degfe into custody.

(Gold Beach, OR) -- The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is warning of two cougar sightings near Gold Beach. They occurred near Riley Creek Elementary School and near Tomcat Hill/Hound Dog Road. Wildlife is often seen in those areas, but it's rare to see a cougar in daylight. They're normally elusive, wary of people and more active at dusk and dawn. ODF-and-W advises residents to keep pets indoors at dusk, dawn and overnight. Walk pets during the day and keep them leashed. If you see a cougar maintain eye contact, slowly back away while facing the cougar and give it an escape route.

(Newport, OR) -- Transgender people using swimming pool locker rooms drew complaints Monday night at the Newport City Council meeting. A woman who was transitioning to a man was seen changing in the women's locker room. A transgender woman was in tears telling Council how it's painful to hear community members speak about transgender people. Newport Mayor Jan Kaplan said society doesn't need separate bathrooms, but more education on the issue.

(Portland, OR) -- A memorial ceremony was held Tuesday at the Portland Police Memorial in Waterfront Park. It featured the Portland Police Honor Guard, Portland Police Highland Guard, a 21-gun salute, and a water display from the Portland Fire Boat. Chief Bob Day presented a flag to the mother of Officer Thomas Jeffries who was killed in the line of duty on July 21st, 1997. Since 1870, 29 Portland Police officers and two police canines have been killed in the line of duty.

(Portland, OR) -- A Portland-area woman is dead after a fall in the Columbia Gorge, near the Oneonta Trailhead. Twenty-two-year-old Elisha Macias, of Hillsboro, was hiking on the Horsetail Falls trail system with friends Sunday afternoon when she separated from the others, went off-trail, and fell off a 50- to 60-foot cliff. Other hikers found her and called for help, while starting CPR. Cascade Locks first responders arrived and determined the woman was dead.

(Salem, OR) -- The Oregon State Fire Marshal will be awarding three-million dollars in grants to reduce wildfire risk. Applications for the grants are being accepted now. The grants range from 50-thousand to 75-thousand dollars each. They're prioritized based on fire risk, social vulnerability and project clarity. Seventy percent of the money will help protect the first 100 feet around buildings. The remaining money will go to communities to help reduce general fire risk, which includes building fire breaks.

(Baker City, OR) -- The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center reopens Friday in Baker City. It's been closed three years for renovations. One-million dollars from the Great American Outdoors Act helped pay for the renovations. The building is now fully net-zero which reduced the overall energy consumption by 73 percent. The Center first opened in 1992 and has drawn two-and-a-half million visitors to the area. To celebrate the reopening, admission will be free Friday through Sunday.

(Grant County, OR) -- Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife troopers are investigating the killing of a gray wolf. On Sunday, the collar that the wolf was wearing sent a signal it was no longer moving and troopers found the wolf had been shot on private property southeast of Prairie City. Investigators say the wolf was likely shot from the road Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Anyone with information about the suspect should contact Oregon State Police.

(Portland, OR) -- Authorities are releasing the identity of four police officers who shot and killed a man in Portland's Hazelwood neighborhood earlier this month. The Portland Police Bureau identified the officers yesterday as Officers Dewey Madison, Sebastian Precup and Jake Ramsey and Sergeant Justin Thurman. The bureau says the officers were serving a search warrant for 45-year-old Richard Shawn Perez at a home on Southeast 124th Avenue on May 6th when Perez allegedly opened fire on them. That's when officers returned fire, killing him. The four officers involved in the shooting were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard police procedure following an officer-involved shooting.

(Portland, OR) -- Several police agencies are focusing on seat belt use during the Click It, Or Ticket enforcement that's going on through Sunday June 2nd. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration helps fund overtime for the officers who watch for drivers wearing seat belts. About half of the drivers who are killed in crashes weren't wearing seat belts. In Oregon, children are required to be in rear-facing safety seats until they are at least two years old. Children older than two need to ride in a car seat with a harness or booster seat until they're four-feet nine-inches in height.

(Portland, OR) -- Portland Police arrested a man last week in the South Park blocks for allegedly carrying a cache of weapons in a guitar case. Police questioned 46-year-old Layton Clark when officers saw him carrying a machete. They saw a shotgun barrel sticking out of a guitar case. When they opened it they found a pump-action shotgun, a handgun, a second machete, a hatchet and a pocket knife. Clark was booked into jail on several weapons charges.

(Portland, OR) -- A Netflix movie that's shooting in Portland will cause traffic delays this week on the Morrison, Broadway, Burnside and Hawthorne bridges. The movie is "The Night Always Comes," which is an adaptation of a Portland-set novel by local author Willy Vlautin. Shooting on the Morrison and Broadway bridges happens on Tuesday, they'll be on the Burnside Bridge on Wednesday, and shooting on the Hawthorne Bridge will happen early Friday morning. All sidewalks and traffic lanes will remain open. Flaggers will stop traffic for three-to-five-minute periods when they're filming.

(Portland, OR) -- Multnomah County's first-ever police comfort dog is officially on the job. The Sheriff's Office held a swearing-in ceremony yesterday for Burton, or Burt for short. The three-year-old long-haired German Shepherd will help sooth people experiencing trauma. That includes both victims and the first responders who help them.

(Salem, OR) -- The Oregon Attorney General's Office has released a report that found employees of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission didn't break any laws when they were allowed to buy rare liquors. The investigation reviewed 10-thousand internal documents and emails. More than 40 OLCC employees, commissioners, and liquor store owners and employees were questioned. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission will review the report as it determines whether ethics rules were violated.

(Portland, OR) -- New data show more than 300 lives were lost to fentanyl in Multnomah County last year. The county released preliminary data from its fentanyl overdose mortality report yesterday. The data show a total of 322 people died from fentanyl overdoses countywide in 2023. That brings the total number of fentanyl overdose deaths in Multnomah County to 868 since 2018.

(Corvallis, OR) -- The increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is 10 times faster than any other point in the last 50-thousand years. Studying air bubbles trapped miles deep in Antarctic ice, researchers from Oregon State University found the increase is greater than any natural increase in carbon dioxide that occurred. They say this increase is due to human causes and it will overwhelm the ocean's ability to trap carbon dioxide. It also leads to increased westerly winds that cause the ocean to release more carbon dioxide, which results in warmer temperatures.

(Salem, OR) -- The Oregon Lottery is warning of jackpot scams. Following the one-point-three-billion-dollar Powerball winner in Oregon, the scammers send text messages claiming the winner is donating prize money at random to 10 people. The victim is asked to call a phone number to claim the money. The lottery says other scams might also be circulating. Don't give your personal or financial information over the phone and if something appears too good to be true, it usually is.

(Vancouver, WA) -- The Clark County Sheriff's Office is trying to identify a home invasion robbery suspect. Saturday morning, the armed suspect entered a home after a resident opened a sliding glass door to let out their dog out. The suspect threatened the resident with a gun, stole a purse and a Honda CRV that was in the garage. Police located the car, but the suspect eluded officers. The car was found abandoned in Longview. The suspect is described as a white male, six-feet one-inch tall with broad shoulders and 180 pounds. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a black facemask with white print on it.

(Salem, OR) -- If you filed your Oregon income taxes using TurboTax you may need to file an amended return. In some cases, TurboTax selected the standard deduction when an itemized deduction would have saved more money. As many as 12-thousand taxpayers may have been affected by the problem. Turbo Tax contacted those customers and provided instructions for filing the amended return with the Oregon Department of Revenue at no extra cost.

(Portland, OR) -- A violent burglary suspect is behind bars after breaking into a Northeast Portland automotive business and doing tens of thousand of dollars in damage to vehicles. Portland Police arriving at the shop on Northeast Airport Way early Sunday, noticed several windows broken and the suspect yelling from inside. He threw a hammer at officers from a broken window, narrowly missing them. Crisis intervention specialists arrived and talked him out. Thirty-four-year-old Alvie Sanders was treated for self-inflicted injuries and booked into jail for burglary, theft and criminal mischief.

(Portland, OR) -- Oregon is being called one of the nation's top ten most dangerous states. U.S. News and World Report's public safety rankings are based on 2022 statistics for violent crime and property crime in each state. Oregon is ranked the 8th most dangerous state. Washington is 5th, while New Mexico takes the top spot as the most dangerous state in the nation.

(Salem, OR) -- The Public Utility Commission will take public comment this week on a proposed seven-percent rate increase for customers of Portland General Electric. The hearing will be held on Zoom Thursday evening at 6 p.m. on the PUC's website. The proposed rate hike follows another large rate hike last January. PGE says it's for a battery power storage facility, transmission and distribution, technology upgrades and generation facilities. The increase would cause an average residential bill to go up eleven dollars a month.

(Portland, OR) -- The Oregon Zoo's California condor hatching program is celebrating a record-setting hatch. Officials say a total of 13 fluffy condor chicks are hopping in their nest boxes. The zoo has been hatching condors to help grow the species for 20 years. The chicks will spend at least eight months with their parents before moving to pre-release pens for about a year. They'll eventually be released in California or Arizona. In 1982, only 22 condors remained in the wild. Now there are 560.

(Salem, OR) -- State lawmakers will embark on a 12-stop tour of the state this summer, to hear Oregonians priorities for transportation. Members of the Joint Committee on Transportation will hold hearings in each of the 12 cities, which include Albany, Eugene, Coos Bay, Hermiston and Bend. They say they'll use information gathered to craft a transportation package for the 2025 legislative session. The tour starts in early June and runs through the end of September.

(Salem, OR) -- Oregon's Department of Fish and Wildlife has a new Director. Dr. Debbie Colbert is the first woman to be appointed to the permanent role. She's been ODFW's Deputy Director for Fish and Wildlife Programs for several years. Prior to that, she was Deputy Director for Administration. She's also worked for Oregon Water Resources and Oregon State University and, at one point was a researcher at sea. Colbert was selected by unanimous vote Friday, by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

(Sandy, OR) -- A man is recovering after being pulled from the Sandy River in Troutdale. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office says the man was swimming in the cold waters when he became disoriented. Another swimmer pulled him out of the water to safety. First responders performed first aid and rushed him to a hospital, where he is recovering.

(Tigard, OR) -- An investigation is ongoing into a house fire in Tigard. Firefighters responded to the blaze in the 10500 block of Southwest Johnson Street around 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon to find heavy flames coming from the home. Officials say everyone inside the home was able to escape safely. Investigators are still looking into what caused the fire.

(Hillsboro, OR) -- The Oregon International Airshow is coming up this weekend at the Hillsboro Airport. Performers include the Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team, the Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet Demo Team. Flybys with Air Force F-35A Lightnings and historic aircraft. There's also static displays on the tarmac. Friday night features a new drone display after the sun goes down. You can buy tickets online in advance.

(Portland, OR) -- Construction begins this week on Fourth Avenue in downtown Portland to bring corner ramps up to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Work starts between Grant and Mil streets. When that's complete, contractors will work between Mill and Burnside. To reduce the impact on pedestrians and businesses, they'll do one corner at a time.

(Portland, OR) -- Portland Police coordinated another mission focusing on stolen vehicles Friday night. They locate one stolen vehicle for every attempted stop. Two drivers tried to elude police and were caught. Four stolen vehicles were recovered. Seven people were arrested. Police seized two illegal guns with extended magazines and one gun had an illegal switch making it fully automatic. Portland worked with Gresham Police, Port of Portland Police, and the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office.

(Portland, OR) -- The Rose Festival is joining two new initiatives that promote downtown and small businesses. The weekend of the Starlight Parade, May 31st through June 2nd, will be the Rose Festival's Starry Nights Small Business Event. Customers who visit certain businesses can use a QR code to enter for prizes. The Rose Festival is also joining Sage Hospitality Group's five hotels that will be offering custom room packages for each weekend of the Festival.

PORTLAND, OR -- The FBI is investigating an emerging social media scam. Hackers take over a person’s Facebook account, then post big-ticket items for sale that don’t exist, like trucks, trailers and ATVs. They claim to be selling the possessions of a relative forced to move into "aged care" and can only communicate through online messaging apps. In just one Oregon incident, around a dozen people lost more than $10,000.

FBI Portland Cybersquad Supervisory Special Agent Yaqub Prowell says the first step to protecting yourself is to try to avoid getting hacked. "We want to use strong, unique passwords, as just kind of the basics of cyber hygiene. You definitely want to enable multi-factor authentication, wherever that’s available. You want to avoid unsecure wifi networks." He adds, "Also limit oversharing. Be mindful of what you post on social media, because personal information can always be used against you."

Prowell says hackers use various tactics to achieve one goal: Getting money. "In order to make that money, they have to get you to do something that you may not normally do." He says they do that by using social psychology. The items listed for sale in the scam are well below market value. It's a strategy Prowell has seen before, "Something that looks like a deal that’s just amazing and too good to be true, combined with the fact that it appears to be emanating or originating from someone that you know, that plays into our basic psychology; now we have trust."

The hackers then use that trust to convince the victim to put a "deposit" down on an item, using a money transfer app. "At the end of the day, criminals want to make money. So, in general, if you are suddenly being asked for money from people that you know, and they’re asking you to send that money via electronic means, you really need to make sure that they are legit and that what they’re requesting is a legitimate request." Prowell says, "Please, pick up the phone. Talk to your friend. Actually have a more close, genuine, human connection, to [be] assured that those communications that you’re having are legitimate."

It's just the latest cybersecurity threat. According to the FBI's latest report, Oregonians lost over a billion dollars in 2023 to cyber-related fraud and other internet-based crimes. Prowell says, "These things can be mitigated and avoided with some basic cyber hygiene, as well as just developing the muscle memory of not being complacent in your communications with individuals that are purporting to be trustworthy." 

He urges victims of cyber crimes to report it, regardless of dollar amount, at IC3.gov.

(Beaverton, OR)  --  Construction will cause long delays on Highway 217 southbound starting at 9 p.m. Friday.  Crews will be building a new auxiliary lane between Allen Boulevard and Hall Boulevard.  Only one lane will be open southbound.  The work is expected to be complete by 5 a.m. Monday.

(Portland, OR)  --  The name of a man who was shot and killed by Portland Police on Monday has been released.  Officers were investigating an armed robbery when they served a search warrant near 111th and Northeast Halsey.  Investigators say 45-year-old Richard Perez fired at SERT officers and they returned fire killing him.  No officers were injured.  Two other people at the scene were arrested.  One was booked on a robbery charge and the other had a parole violation.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland's Bloom tour starts on Friday.  It's part walking tour and part floral show.  Local florists have teamed up with nearly 30 businesses downtown, in Old Town and the Central Eastside to create spectacular, large, one-of-a-kind floral arrangements.  The floral displays will remain in place through June 11th.  You'll find a list of the locations on the Visit Downtown Instagram and Facebook sites.

(Portland, OR)  --  A major closure of I-5 will happen in June.  ODOT will close four miles of I-5 in southwest Portland from June 28th through July 1st.  The closure is needed to rebuild the bridge over 28th Avenue.  The new bridge is being built under the existing structure, to save time and more than five-million-dollars in construction costs.  I-5 northbound will close from Barbur Boulevard to Terwilliger and southbound I-5 will close from Terwilliger to Capitol Highway.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police conducted a mission focused on crime in the Jantzen Beach and Delta Park areas on Wednesday.  They stopped ten vehicles, made six arrests and recovered two stolen cars.  Officers also seized 45 grams of methamphetamine.  

(Clackamas, OR)  --  A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of man in Clackamas April 29th.  The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office says 26-year-old Dominique Britt was involved in the homicide.  She knew the victim, Nathan Anderson, and the other suspect, Cody Denewith.  Both Britt and Denewith are charged with Murder in the Second Degree.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police have arrested a suspect in a fatal shooting that happened last Sunday in the Lloyd Neighborhood.  Bruce Glass, of Portland, was fatally shot near Northeast 3rd and Weidler.  On Tuesday, 54-year-old David Carter, of Portland, was arrested on drug and gun charges.  On Wednesday he was charged with Murder in the Second Degree.

(Portland, OR) -- First Lady Dr. Jill Biden made a whirlwind visit to Portland on Thursday to attend a fundraiser for the Democratic Party. Tickets to the sold-out event ran from one-thousand to 10-thousand dollars. She was only in town for a few hours before flying to California for another event Thursday evening.

(Portland, OR)  --  All registered voters in Multnomah County should have their ballots for the May 21st Primary election.  If you haven't received your ballot, call your county elections office.  Oregon's Primary is closed, which means only voters registered with a party can vote for those candidates.  All voters will decide non-partisan races and measures.  Ballots need to be postmarked no later than May 21st if you mail it, otherwise drop it in a county elections dropbox by 8 p.m. May 21st.

PORTLAND, OR -- Oregon’s only authentic Chinese Garden unveiled a new name for its teahouse on Wednesday, celebrating culture, nature, poetry and, of course, tea. The naming ceremony featured a traditional performance by the International Lion Dance team. 

Lan Su Chinese Garden sits on a full city block in downtown Portland's Chinatown. Its teahouse closed in October for renovations. VP of Operations Dan Barbato says it’s now fully restored with a renovated windows, a remodeled kitchen and a new seasonal menu, "Most importantly, there’s an incredible selection of more than 20 different teas from mainland China, Taiwan and right here in the Pacific Northwest." 

Until last fall, the teahouse was operated by the Tao of Tea tea company. When the teahouse reopened in February, it came under the management of the garden. It took time to select a new name, with help from the community. "In Chinese culture, names are very significant and a lot of intentionality is put into the selection of a name," says Executive Director Elizabeth Nye. "Yun Shui" was chosen through an online vote; it means "cloud and water" in Chinese, in part, referencing the reflection seen in the pond just outside the teahouse doors. Nye adds, "The actual building that this teahouse is in is named 'The Tower of Cosmic Reflections.' Now the teahouse business is 'Cloud and Water,' so there’s a very nice partnership between those two names."

Lan Su opened in 2000 and is one of only a handful of Chinese gardens in North America. Nye says it's a special place, "We have the only functioning teahouse of all of the Chinese Gardens in the United States. So, it gives an opportunity for people, not just in Portland and Oregon, but really the country, to come together and experience a true Chinese experience." She adds, "This garden was built entirely in China, brought over here and reconstructed with the help of 65 artisans that traveled to put it back together. It is truly unique in North America."

(Portland, OR) -- Mayor Ted Wheeler and Police Chief Bob Day are speaking out against recent acts of destruction and alleged violence across the city. Wheeler and Day spoke during a press conference yesterday with local and federal law enforcement partners. The two condemned recent acts including a May Day demonstration in which several businesses were vandalized and 17 cop cars were torched. They also spoke out against the days-long occupation of the PSU library by protesters of the Israel-Hamas war.

(Portland, OR) -- The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is introducing its first-ever comfort dog. The sheriff's office says Burton, or Burt for short, will help sooth people experiencing trauma. That includes both victims and the first responders who help them.

(Portland, OR) -- Police are seeking the public's help as they work to identify a burglary suspect in Northwest Portland. The Portland Police Bureau released surveillance images of the suspect yesterday. The man is accused of burglarizing multiple homes in the area. Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

(Portland, OR) -- An Oregon native is set to blast off into space for the first time in over a decade. NASA astronaut Don Pettit will launch to the International Space Station aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket this September. The Silverton native will spend six months at the station, along with cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. It's been 12 years since Pettit traveled to outer space. He's made the trip four times.

(Portland, OR) -- The first critically endangered California Condor hatched at the Oregon Zoo turns 20 years old this week. Kun-Wac-Shun, or, number 340, hatched at the zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation on May 9th, 2004. Since 2005, he has been flying free over Central California's Pinnacle National Park, where he is one of the most dominant males in the flock. He has fathered five wild-hatched chicks, including the first condor to fledge from its nest at Pinnacles in more than a century. In 1982, only 22 remained in the wild. Thanks to recovery programs like the Oregon Zoo's, the Condor population has rebounded to more than 500.

(Aloha, OR) -- A 24-year-old man is facing a murder charge in connection to another man's death in Aloha. The Washington County Sheriff's Office arrested Austin Chan yesterday for the death of 53-year-old Chad Thibodeaux of Olympia, Washington. Police say he was found dead with wounds to the head near Southwest Rachelle Court and 203rd Avenue. Police arrested Chan about an hour after finding Thibodeaux's body. Chan is being charged with second-degree murder.

(Gresham, OR) -- A popular bronze sculpture in Gresham's Nadaka Park has been stolen. Gresham Police say the two-foot-tall bronze otter, named Slider, was stolen sometime over the last two weeks. The sculpture was made by local artist Rip Caswell, and his son Chad. A raven, named Seeker, remains on top of a nearby wooden pole. Police are asking for tips if anyone sees it for sale. Local metal recyclers have been asked to watch for it.

(Portland, OR) -- Cleanup continues at Portland State University's Miller Library following a days-long occupation by protesters of the Israel-Hamas war. KATU-2 reports the library suffered heavy vandalism and graffiti and was covered in piles of trash, tents and wooden pallets. Portland police officers in riot gear descended on the library a second time last Thursday night after activists who had been removed from the premises earlier that day allegedly broke back into the building. At least 30 people are facing charges. The activists were among thousands around the U.S. holding demonstrations and occupations at college campuses to call for a cease-fire from Israel and an end to U.S. aid to the nation's war efforts.

(Portland, OR) -- An electric scooter exploded and caught fire in a Portland apartment complex on Tuesday. A resident heard an explosion and reported the fire. When firefighters arrived they found smoke in the hallways and a stairwell was filled with smoke. A sprinkler head was spraying water. A lithium-ion battery powered scooter had ignited on the stairwell landing. The fire didn't extend to the apartments and firefighters removed the scooter from the building. The say don't charge devices in stairways, only charge them when you're home, and if a battery changes shape or color stop using it.

(Portland, OR) -- The Oregon Health Authority is launching a fentanyl awareness campaign on its social media site. It's called "Fentanyl Aware" and will post messages on fentanyl risks, harm reduction strategies, and Oregon's good Samaritan law that provides legal protections for people using Narcan during an overdose. The messages will be posted over the next five weeks.

(Ashland, OR) -- Residents of Ashland are being warned to avoid accidentally feeding bears. As bears come out of hibernation, they're hungry and fruits and berries aren't available, so bears look for other sources of food. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Ashland Police are warning residents to secure garbage cans, barbecue grills, bird feeders and pet food that will attract bears. In some cases, hungry bears will break into homes, cars, and sheds looking for food.

(Portland, OR) -- A new OHSU study finds the use of nicotine and cannabis during pregnancy dramatically increases the rate of infant death. Researchers evaluated hospital data and vital statistics from more than three million pregnant patients with documented substance use. They found that the rate of infant death was four times higher in users of both cannabis and nicotine compared with non-users, and nearly twice as high compared with users of just one of those. Researchers are calling for more research and patient education for better outcomes. The study is published in JAMA Network Open.

(Hillsboro, OR) -- The Washington County Board of Commissioners has approved 10-million-dollars in Supportive Housing Services money for two new access centers to help people who are homeless. They'll be built in Hillsboro and Tigard. They'll offer showers, hot meals, storage and connection to case managers and services. They can also be used as emergency shelters during severe weather. Services will be offered seven-days-a-week, 12 hours a day after construction is complete. Two more access centers will be built in Beaverton and western Washington County.

(Portland, OR) -- For the first time, researchers in Oregon have identified a brain syndrome caused by fentanyl. A man in his 40s was hospitalized after snorting crushed fentanyl. There were no signs he had previously used opioids. An MRI showed inflammation in the white matter of his brain. It's happened in heroin patients, but this is the first time with fentanyl. Researchers say it can lead to permanent brain damage. The man was hospitalized for nearly a month before going to a nursing home for further rehabilitation. Researchers don't know how much fentanyl is needed to cause the syndrome.

(Portland, OR) -- Gas is a little cheaper at the pump. Triple-A reports Oregon's average declined four cents over the last week to four-46 a gallon. The national average declined two cents to three-64. Lower crude oil prices and weaker demand helped cause prices to decline. Unrest in the Middle East and the Russia/Ukraine war will continue to cause crude oil prices to fluctuate and that will impact gas prices. The summer driving season is about the begin and that'll increase demand keeping gas prices higher.

(Salem, OR) -- The Oregon Department of Education has renewed a program with the Oregon National Guard that allows students to earn high school credits. The Oregon Plan was established in 1995 and allows school districts across the state to award academic credits to students who complete qualified military training and instruction. Students learn basic finance, medic training, construction and engineering, and practice working in teams. Several high schools across the state are part of the program.

(Portland, OR) -- A Tigard man who got early release from federal prison, because of COVID-19, has been sentenced for a crime spree. Johnell Cleveland started committing crimes as soon as he was released. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and sex trafficking. He was sentenced to nine years in prison, must pay the Oregon Employment Department 32-thousand-dollars for fraudulently claiming Pandemic Unemployment benefits, and restitution to the sex trafficking victim will be determined in the future.

SALEM, OR -- The Real ID Act takes effect in one year. "Most people who travel by plane in the United States use their driver license to get through airport security, and their standard card is not going to be accepted anymore, starting May seventh of next year," says David House, with the Oregon DMV. 

Federal law passed in the wake of 9/11 requires air travelers to use an enhanced form of identification to get through airport security. But many states, including Oregon, delayed the rollout. House says, "Oregon passed a law in 2009 stating we will not spend state taxpayer money to meet this. In other words, we were saying 'No.' The legislature was sending a message, 'you're going to need to fund this if you want us to comply'." The state wasn’t initially set up for the required identity verification. "Those systems are in place now," says House, "We connected to them four years ago when Oregon made Real ID an option and made it available in 2020."

Drivers don't have to get a new license, "It is not required. No one is required to get Real ID on their driver license. There are other alternatives," says House. You could use a passport. But, if you don't already have one, the application period can be lengthy. 

Even if you don't fly often, House says it might make sense to get a Real ID license within the next year. "When that deadline next May approaches, the rush at DMVs across the country, and at the State Department to get passports, is going to increase; the demand will increase." He fears people will wait until April to start applying and think, "'OK, I booked my flight. It's a month away. No problem.' That might not be enough time to get Real ID," says House, "It's definitely not enough time to get a passport."

Real ID requires an in-person visit to the DMV, and you must bring proof of identitiy and two items proving where you live. The DMV's website has a list of acceptable documents. 

House urges Oregonians, "You've got to get ahead of this. If you put it off, you might miss your flight."

Images courtesy of the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles

(Portland, OR) -- A man is dead after being shot by police in Portland's Hazelwood neighborhood. The Portland Police Bureau says officers were serving a search warrant at a home at Southeast 124th Avenue near East Burnside last night when a man opened fire on them. Police say the officers returned fire, killing the man. The four officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.

(Portland, OR) -- Portland's firefighters union is blasting Multnomah County over an ambulance shortage that resulted in a stabbing victim being transported to the hospital in the back of a police car. Portland Firefighters Association President Isaac McLennan called the situation "infuriating" and "frustrating." McLennan says the union has been calling for action regarding the county's lack of ambulances for years. Officials tell KGW-TV, the number of calls designated "Level Zero" skyrocketed to nearly 15-hundred last year, resulting in fines of more than half-a-million dollars for the company that provides ambulance service to the area. Meanwhile, the stabbing victim eventually reached the hospital and was in critical condition as of late Sunday.

(Oregon City, OR) -- An identity thief with a long criminal past has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty. Fifty-two-year-old Trino Lopez has 40 criminal convictions dating back to 1995. In 2022, Lopez was arrested after stealing eight-thousand dollars' worth of items from a car. A search discovered 11-hundred ID theft-related items. Lopez was washing checks, in one case writing a check for 92-thousand dollars. Lopez was working with his fiancée, Tyanna Fitzpatrick. She faces more than 40 criminal counts.

(Portland, OR) -- First Lady Jill Biden is coming to Portland this week. The White House says Biden will deliver a speech at a political finance event in Portland this Thursday night. The visit is part of a the Fiirst Lady's tour of several western states this week.

After Portland, she'll travel to California and Arizona.

(Eugene, OR) -- The University of Oregon, and its partners at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of California, San Diego, are launching the largest wildfire detection network in the West. The new ALERTWest system has 12-hundred cameras. They will use artificial intelligence to continuously monitor for new wildfire starts and deliver timely alerts to dispatchers and firefighters. This enables faster response times and helps fire managers better allocate resources when battling multiple fires.

(Portland, OR) -- A medical trial at OHSU that uses gene editing had positive results for improving sight in people with a certain type of inherited retinal disease. The CRISPR [[ crisper ]] gene editing process was used. Around 79 percent of the study participants had improved sight. The study included 12 adults and two children. The inherited retinal disease affects around two out of every 100-thousand people.

(Beaverton, OR) -- The Highway 217 Auxiliary Lane Project will cause long delays on the southbound lanes starting Friday night. Construction crews will be building a new section of auxiliary lane between Allen Boulevard and Hall Boulevard and the freeway will be reduced to one lane. The Denny road on-ramp will also be closed. The lane closure begins at 9 o'clock Friday evening and will end by 5 o'clock Monday morning.

(Gresham, OR) -- Following a vote of no confidence in the principal at Gresham High School and District Administration, the Gresham-Barlow Board of Directors has affirmed its confidence in the Superintendent. Teachers and staff say the principal isn't holding students accountable for their actions. The Board says the Superintendent will urgently and effectively address the student behavior issues. The Board will meet this week to get an update on the Superintendent's action plan.

UPDATE (05/07/2024) -- State Police report the two men have been identified.

UMATILLA COUNTY, OR -- Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife troopers are looking for poachers who illegally killed and harvested several elk on private property in Umatilla County. 

OSP began investigating in February, in the area of Pine Creek Road, and discovered multiple people were captured on trail cameras trespassing on a private ranch back on December 29th and 30th. Investigators believe they are the same people photographed packing out elk meat through the property around the same time. 

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact OSP at 1-800-452-7888, or email the Turn in Poachers TIP line. Reference case number SP24-040213.  

(Portland, OR) -- Multnomah County's ambulance crisis caused a stabbing victim to be transported to a hospital in the back of a police car. Just after midnight Sunday, Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a person who had been stabbed multiple times. No ambulances were available, so the patient was loaded into a police car with a paramedic who cared for the person during the emergency ride to a hospital. The patient's condition hasn't been released. Multnomah County requires ambulances to be staffed with two paramedics. AMR says the shortage of paramedics has limited their ability to staff all ambulances with two paramedics.

(Portland, OR) -- A driver is under arrest following a crash in Portland that left a pedestrian with life threatening injuries. The crash happened early Saturday morning at Northeast Halsey and 92nd Avenue. The driver of a Toyota Sequoia hit a man who was seriously injured. He was transported to a hospital. The driver, 23-year-old Nicole Land, of Milwaukie, was arrested and booked for Driving Under the Influence, Assault and Reckless Driving.

(Salem, OR) -- A stabbing suspect was involved in a long standoff with the Marion County Sheriff's Office early Sunday morning. The stabbing happened near Phipps Lane Northeast and Beverly Avenue Northeast in Salem. The victim was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect ran into a nearby house. Marion County SWAT negotiators spent four hours talking with the suspect and the people in the house. Twenty-one-year-old Diego Guajardo, of Albany, peaceful surrendered and was arrested for assault.

(Portland, OR) -- The Multnomah County Elections Office is working to fix a mistake where the wrong ballots were sent to 92-hundred voters in East County. Their ballots were intended for voters outside of the Metro region and omitted Measure 26-244 which is for the Oregon Zoo. The problem was discovered the day ballots started arriving in mailboxes and corrected ballots were mailed by May 3rd. Affected voters will receive a letter explaining what happened and what to do. Each ballot has a specific identifier which will prevent more than one ballot from being counted.

(Portland, OR) -- Portland Parks and Rec is entering the final phase of a project to replace 100 year old light poles that were in danger of falling over. The poles have been replaced in 11 parks with the final three parks starting this week. They are Mt. Tabor, Lair Hill and Ladds Circle parks. The new lights are 66 percent more efficient than the old lights and they're also designed to be Dark Sky-friendly. They don't send light upward, which also helps nearby homes.

(Salem, OR) -- Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared Sunday May 5th Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. Kotek says for too long, the unsolved deaths and disappearances of Indigenous persons, especially women, have not seen justice. She says marking the day of awareness will help address the root causes and systemic obstacles that contribute to the crisis.

(Portland, OR)  --  One person is hospitalized after a two-alarm fire engulfed a home that was filled with ammunition in Northeast Portland.  Firefighters responded to the home on Northeast 13th last night to find flames pouring out of the building.  Officials say there was a thousand pounds of ammunition in the garage as well as more ammo in the attic that was set off in the fire, putting crews at risk.  One person was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.  An investigation into the fire is ongoing.

(Portland, OR)  --  At least 15 Portland Police cars were destroyed by arson early Thursday morning.  The cars are used for training and were parked in a fenced area near 149th and Northeast Airport Way.  Firefighters put out the fire and no injuries were reported.  Portland Fire is investigating the arson.  Police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact them.

(Coos Bay, OR)  --  A dog is dead and two people are injured following a house fire in Coos Bay.  Fire officials say crews responded to the home early yesterday morning after a neighbor called 911.  Firefighters arrived to find two people trapped inside the burning home and rescued them, rushing them to a hospital.  Crews also found two dogs inside the home.  One of the dogs was dead, while the other was rescued and is said to be doing OK.  

(Roseburg, OR)  --  A woman is facing charges after allegedly assaulting and strangling another woman during a domestic disturbance in Roseburg.  Police arrested 29-year-old Jacelyn Crosser Wednesday.  Police say she strangled a woman and threatened to kill her with a knife while subjecting her to unwanted physical contact.  Crosser is being charged with strangulation, harassment and domestic menacing.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police made more arrests Thursday night at the Portland State University library.  After police left in the afternoon, activists returned pulling down fencing and removing things from dumpsters.  Around 7 p.m., officers returned and moved the crowd back.  They resecured the library and arrested more people.  In all, around 30 people were arrested Thursday, seven of them students.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police are searching for a five-year-old boy who may have been abducted.  Tra'Veon Lewis was reported missing Thursday and police say he was seen with two adults riding buses on Southeast Division Street.  Tra'Veon was wearing a red or orange sweatshirt with a multicolor "Champion" logo on the front and multicolored shorts.  The adults are a white man wearing a tan hooded sweatshirt over an orange sweatshirt and a blue face mask.  A white female had long blond hair in two braids, black shirt with round silver decorations.  They were pulling a red wagon and pushing a black wheelchair.  If you see them call 911.

(Portland, OR)  --  A Multnomah County judge has sentenced a man to prison for killing his girlfriend.  Nineteen-year-old Amara Marluke was a student at Portland State University.  In April 2022, officers responded to a shooting near PSU where they found Marluke dead.  Investigators identified her boyfriend, and PSU student, 22-year-old Keenan Harpole as the suspect.  He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon.  Harpole was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say people who occupied Portland State University's library caused substantial damage to the fire alarm system.  The alarm system box was pulled out of the wall, many pull stations were activated, and fire extinguishers were sprayed throughout the building.  The Portland Fire Bureau says the in-house fire suppression system remains intact.  The pull stations need to be reset and the emptied fire extinguishers will have to be replaced.  The building will be boarded up to prevent access until the repairs are made.

(Salem, OR)  --  Ten-million-dollars will be spent restoring fish habitat in Oregon.  The Private Forest Accord Grant Program has awarded its first-ever round of habitat restoration project funding.  It's going to 25 projects across Oregon that will restore critical spawning grounds, fish passage and habitat improvements for fish and wildlife.  The focus is on helping native salmon, trout and select amphibians. 

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland's Mayor is tapping three government and business officials to help lead the city's historic voter-approved government transition.  Mayor Ted Wheeler is elevating his Chief Administrative Officer Michael Jordan to serve as Interim City Administrator.  He's appointed two Interim Deputy City Administrators.  Current Deputy Chief of Staff Sara Morrissey will supervise City Operations.  Jonas Biery, former Vice President at investment banking firm D.A. Davidson & Company, will oversee Budget and Finance.  The temporary positions run through June of 2025.

(Portland, OR)  --  Several Oregon cities are being ranked among the best places in the nation to call home.   That's according to Livability's 2024 report on the 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S.  Livability looked at data on thousands of American cities and judged them based on nearly 100 data points, considering metrics like economy, housing, cost of living and amenities.  Beaverton, Hillsboro, Eugene, Medford and Salem all made the top 100 list.

(Kelso, WA)  --  A vehicle being pursued by Cowlitz County Sheriff's deputies late Tuesday night crashed killing three people inside.  Kelso Police responded to the crash and say the suspect's vehicle hit a second vehicle.  The three people in the suspect's vehicle were killed and two people in the second vehicle were injured.  Their conditions weren't released.  Washington State Patrol is conducting the investigation.

(Albany, OR)  --  Police are releasing the identities of a man who was killed and a woman who was injured when half a dozen officers opened fire on them following a car chase in Linn County.  Authorities say 30-year-old Cameron James Bielman of Anacortes, Washington was killed, while his 30-year-old passenger Yasmina Destinee Teal, also of Anacortes, was hospitalized for injuries.  Police were chasing the pair's vehicle in connection to a shooting a few hours earlier in Coburg that left one person critically injured on Sunday when the suspect vehicle crashed on I-5.  At some point after the crash, officers opened fire on the vehicle.  Six law enforcement members involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.

(Portland, OR)  --  Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war continue their occupation of the Portland State University library as the group's demonstration enters its seventh day.  KATU-2 reports the group was still inside the school's Miller Library as of 11 p.m. last night.  The students allegedly broke into the library Monday night after protesting in front of the library for five days.  Portland State University closed its campus yesterday in response to the occupation.  Police say the demonstration is now illegal and they're asking the protesters to leave.  Portland Police are working with other law enforcement to develop a plan to remove the protesters.

(Myrtle Point, OR)  --  Bail is set at one-million dollars for a convicted felon arrested in connection to a shooting on Old Highway 42 in Coos County.  The sheriff's office says 28-year-old Blaine Monson is charged with attempted murder, felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing for the shooting in Myrtle Point last Thursday.  Police say the victim was in his vehicle when Monson fired multiple rounds at him, hitting his car several times.  No injuries were reported.

(Portland, OR)  --  A former Oregon Department of Human Services caregiver has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman with disabilities who was in his care.  Federal prosecutors say Zakary Glover, who worked as a direct support crisis specialist for the state, was supposed to take the victim on an outing.  He took her to a dead-end road in Aumsville where the sexual assault happened.  The victim suffers from severe autism, epilepsy, cognitive delays and very limited verbal abilities.  Prosecutors say they wanted to send a strong message with the significant sentence.

(Portland, OR)  --  A recall is in effect for organic walnuts sold in Oregon that have been tied to an outbreak of E. coli cases.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning about Gibson Farms organic walnuts sold in bulk at co-ops and natural food stores in Oregon and 18 other states.  Over 12 people from Washington and California have been infected with E. coli after eating the nuts.  Seven of those people were hospitalized.

(Portland, OR)  --  Immigrant and refugee Portlanders will be able to get free help from Portland Community College's Legal Resource Center.  Portland's Office of Community & Civic Life signed an agreement with PCC that will allow immigrants and refugees to access legal help with DACA renewals, work permit applications, immigration legal screenings, and advance parole for DACA recipients.  Potential candidates can apply at the PCC Legal Resource Center. 

(Portland, OR)  --  The Portland Bureau of Transportation is establishing a hardship fund to help victims of auto theft and people with low incomes retrieve towed and impounded vehicles.  Money for the fund comes from a five-dollar surcharge on tows collected as part of the city's towing contracts.  The impound must be within the City of Portland.  An application needs to be filed within five days of the tow and before the vehicle is retrieved.  The city will pay 300 dollars in towing and storage fees for people who qualify.  The money is paid to the towing company and not as a reimbursement to the vehicle owner.

(Silverton, OR)  --  Silver Falls State Park is getting ready to host its annual Mother's Day Birding and Wildflower Festival on May 11th and 12th.  Activities include a wildflower show, a native plant sale, guided bird watching and wildflower walks, educational discovery tables, bird crafts and live raptor presentations.  All activities are free, but there is a five-dollar daily parking permit fee.  All activities happen from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the South Falls Day-use area, unless otherwise indicated in the full schedule on the Oregon State Parks website.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is being called one of the best states in the nation for nurses.  The personal finance website WalletHub ranks the Beaver State number six in its top ten list of the best states for nurses to work in.  WalletHub compared states on 20 different metrics of job satisfaction, including average salaries, job openings per capita and the quality of nursing homes.  Washington state came in first place.  The report notes that Washington nurses enjoy high-median salaries across various work settings in Washington as well as high levels of educational attainment.  WalletHub also notes Washington has some of the best-ranked nursing schools in the nation.