Latest news with #ExploreOregonPodcast
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek supports using $1B ‘kicker' tax returns for wildfire costs
Gov. Tina Kotek has thrown her support for using Oregon's 'kicker' tax refund to infuse $1 billion into fighting wildfires. Lawmakers have struggled for years to come up with a new stream of revenue to pay for fighting the growing number of wildfires that burn each summer. In 2024, the Oregon Legislature held a special session to approve $218 million to cover unpaid wildfire bills from the record-breaking season. At a news conference May 19, Kotek opened the possibility of withholding a large part of next year's $1.65 billion 'kicker' to help cover wildfire costs in future years. 'I do think this conversation — on a one-time basis — of supporting rural Oregon by potentially using a portion of the kicker tax break would be a beneficial approach," she said. "I think that's the right conversation to be having, and I would urge legislators to continue with that.' Kotek later clarified, through a spokesperson, she only supported holding back the piece of the kicker that would go to 'high income earners.' The kicker is a quirky part of Oregon tax law. It is triggered when income taxes in a two-year budget cycle come in at least 2% higher than lawmakers projected when setting the budget. In those cases, the extra money is given back to taxpayers. Lawmakers have generally been loath to use it for anything other than sending it to taxpayers, but in the absence of other options, it appears to have started gaining support in the Oregon Legislature. Kotek's statement was a de-facto endorsement of a bill — Senate Bill 1177 — authored by state Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, that would use 'surplus revenues (the kicker) for wildfire funding.' Golden told KGW how the bill would work. "My number one priority is passing a bill to redirect the income tax kicker one time — it only happens once — into a permanent wildfire trust fund, where you never spend the principal. You only spend the interest earnings," Golden said. "Using rough estimates and figures that would provide us every biennium ... about $165 million, which is about half of what we need for wildfire. "If we do it this one time that will keep generating that fund, we'll keep generating that interest 'til long after I'm gone." Oregon Republicans, however, balked at the idea. "Republicans do not support taking the kicker for this purpose," House Republican Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, said in a statement. "Oregonians are struggling under the weight of the cost of living in this state. And the kicker absolutely supports them, absolutely helps them. And there are a lot of ways to fund wildfires in Oregon." To use the kicker for wildfire costs, lawmakers would need a two-thirds majority vote. Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@ or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon kicker tax return could cover wildfire costs under bill
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
22-year-old Utah man 'seriously injured' after jumping off Oregon's Abiqua Falls
A 22-year-old Utah man was rescued on May 18 after being injured from jumping around 90 feet from the top of Abiqua Falls, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Dispatch centers were texted at about 7:39 p.m. that the man, who was not named, "sustained serious injuries in a very remote area." Silverton Fire was the first to arrive on scene and immediately requested additional support from multiple agencies, officials said. Abiqua Falls, a popular hiking destination, is located in a remote area outside Scotts Mills. "Responders worked collaboratively to safely extract the individual from the steep, heavily wooded terrain," a Facebook post from the Marion County Sheriff's Office said. The man was eventually transported via ATV to a LifeFlight helicopter and then airlifted to a trauma center for treatment. Officials said it was their understanding the man jumped off the top of the waterfall for fun. It's unclear exactly how he was injured — whether hitting the water or a shallow rock. "This incident serves as an important reminder to exercise caution in wilderness areas: always have a plan, know your limits, and avoid taking unnecessary risks," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post. Abiqua Falls is one of Oregon's more popular and frequently photographed waterfalls. In recent years, extreme whitewater kayakers have run the waterfall, even leading to a spot on the "Today" show. In 2020, a teenager was injured after attempting to jump off 177-foot South Falls at Silver Falls State Park. The rescue was a joint effort involving WVCC, LifeFlight, METCOM, Silverton Fire, Woodburn Ambulance, Mt. Angel Fire, the Salem Fire Rope Team, and the Marion County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue. Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@ or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Utah man rescued after jumping off Abiqua Falls in Oregon
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
Explore Oregon Podcast: Last call at Crater Lake, record visits to parks, Detroit drawdown
In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness covers a range of outdoors news, including why this is the last summer to swim, fish or take a boat tour at Crater Lake National Park until 2029. Urness also talks about: Why this was a very good but also tragic ski season in Oregon. Oregon set a record for visits to its state parks system. The state is completely drought-free for the first time since 2019. The Central Cascades Wilderness permit system is returning this year, despite major cuts to the rangers and recreation departments that enforce it. The number of wolves and western snowy plovers — both protected under the federal Endangered Species Act — saw growth in their numbers last year. The Trump administration declared a forest health emergency to ramp up logging in Oregon and the West. The deep drawdown of Detroit Lake has been delayed until 2026, easing the water supply scare for Salem and Stayton. A long-awaited report from the Oregon Department of Forestry says Pacific Power was not at fault for the 2020 wildfires in the Santiam Canyon. Listen to each episode at Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud or Amazon Music and subscribe on your platform of choice to get future episodes. Find every episode: Find all episodes of the Explore Oregon Podcast online Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@ or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Podcast: Last summer to swim at Crater Lake National Park until 2029
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Explore Oregon Podcast: Salem ice climber ascends frozen waterfalls, glaciers
In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness interviews Salem ice climber Forrest "Frosty" Gill about the fun and challenge of ascending frozen waterfalls and ice flows across Oregon and the West. Gill talks about the equipment and technique used for ice climbing, the beautiful places it can take you and his journey in learning the sport through the Salem-based Chemeketans outdoors club and climb school. In February, Gill climbed frozen Paulina Creek Falls in Central Oregon but has also climbed in Alaska, Montana and Colorado. Listen to each episode at Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud or Amazon Music and subscribe on your platform of choice to get future episodes. Find every episode: Find all 168 episodes of the Explore Oregon Podcast online Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@ or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem ice climber ascends Oregon frozen waterfalls, glaciers
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Seattle man dies after falling into tree well at Mount Bachelor in central Oregon
A 34-year-old Seattle man died Monday after apparently falling into a tree well while recreating on the west side of Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office. Benjamin Shelkey was found around 3:04 p.m. unresponsive and buried headfirst by a group that dug him out, called 911 and attempted life-saving CPR, a news release said. Ski patrollers on Mount Bachelor reached the group and assumed care of Shelkey before transporting him to the Mt. Bachelor Clinic, where he died from his injuries, officials said. The incident remains under investigation, but the "the circumstances are consistent with snow immersion suffocation," officials said. Tree wells can become extremely dangerous after major dumps of snow, and most Oregon ski areas got a few feet of new powder over the past five days. "I want to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Benjamin Shelkey," Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp said in a statement. "This is a heartbreaking loss, and our thoughts are with those who knew and loved him. "We also want to recognize the swift response and dedication of all those citizens and ski patrollers who assisted in this rescue effort. Tragedies like this remind us of the risks of outdoor recreation, and we encourage everyone to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions when venturing into deep snow conditions," van der Kamp added. Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@ or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Seattle man dies after falling into tree well at Mount Bachelor
