US Supreme Court Set to Hear GP Lawsuit on Monday that May Bring Nationwide Changes
A lawsuit that began in Grants Pass in 2018 will be argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court next week, potentially paving the way for nationwide changes in the ways cities address certain elements of the homelessness crisis. The Oregonian reports sitting at one of the counsel tables on Monday will be Ed Johnson, litigation director at The Oregon Law Center, a small legal nonprofit that filed the lawsuit against the City of Grants Pass six years ago. The suit, brought on behalf of all unhoused individuals in Grants Pass, claimed that it was unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment to cite and fine people for camping or sleeping outside if they had nowhere else to go. Johnson, whose professional mission is to achieve justice for low-income Oregonians, will sit at the counsel table to support the Washington DC-based attorney who will argue Grants Pass versus Johnson in front of the country's highest legal decision makers. In court documents, lawyers for Grants Pass have argued that the city is obligated to protect the health and safety of its residents and that the lower courts’ "decisions stand in the way of solutions to this complex problem and harm the very people they were intended to help" by allowing individuals to remain on the street. ...Read more

Thirty Oregon Counties will Receive More Than $47.7 Million in Federal SRS Payments in 2024
US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced Friday that 30 Oregon counties will receive more than $47.7 million in federal payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS). The SRS funds are allocated from the US Forest Service for schools and road maintenance, youth job training, wildfire prevention, watershed restoration and habitat conservation. Locally, Douglas and Klamath counties will receive by far the largest amount of SRS funding with $6.67 million and $6.37 million, respectively. Jackson County will receive more than $1,462,000 and Josephine County will get $950,157.29. Nationwide, SRS provides critical funding for schools, roads and other municipal services to more than 700 US counties. A portion of US Forest Service funds generated through multi-use activities such as timber production, grazing and special use permits supports rural counties with federal forestland to improve the health of forested communities. More funding for rural counties is expected from the Bureau of Land Management in the near future. ...Read more

Rogue-Siskiyou Forest Employee Receives Pacific NW Region Engineering Award
The US Forest Service recently selected a Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest worker as the Pacific Northwest Region's Technology Applications Employee of the Year for 2023. Troy Phillis, a Rogue-Siskiyou employee and 1992 graduate of Oregon Institute of Technology, received the award from the federal agency. Phillis was among the recipients identified for annual Engineer of the Year awards in four categories in March. He was nominated by his supervisors, peers and employees for being known to consistently deliver a high caliber of performance and for taking initiative in completing priority work for the agency. Acting Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Supervisor Dan Quinones said Phillis has helped them further develop one of the best fleet organizations in the region. He said their shop and crews follow impeccable standards of safety, quality and service, adding that Troy has also significantly enhanced fleet capabilities and efficiency while doing so. ...Read more