Jackson County DA Considering Whether to Charge Former Asante Nurse with Crimes

More than four months after police began investigating whether a former Medford nurse grievously injured or killed hospitalized patients after allegedly stealing their prescribed fentanyl and replacing it with non-sterile tap water, the Jackson County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday that it has received the results of the investigation and now is considering whether to bring criminal charges. The Oregonian reports the DA's Office said police interviewed dozens of witnesses and reviewed tens of thousands of documents, including medical records from Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. Patrick Green, chief deputy district attorney, thanked the Medford Police Department for their work "on this complex and expansive investigation." The news release from his office did not name the nurse, who is suspected of causing life-threatening infections in patients after allegedly replacing their pain medication with water. Although the DA's office declined to share additional details, civil attorneys say they've vetted scores of former patients of the nurse and believe they've identified more than 20 patients who were victims over the past few years. Some survived, while some died, they said. It appears only one lawsuit has been filed to date. The lawsuit named the nurse as Dani Marie Schofield. Last November, Schofield voluntarily agreed not to work as a nurse pending the outcome of an investigation, according to Oregon Board of Nursing records. ...Read more

Cascade Policy Institute Sides with City of GP in Supreme Court Hearing on Homelessness

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week in the case of Johnson vs. the City of Grants Pass. According to John A. Charles, Jr., of the Cascade Policy Institute, the central question is whether local ordinances that prohibit people from camping on public property constitute "cruel and unusual punishment" under the Eighth Amendment. Based on prior rulings in the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, western states have been limited since 2018 in what they can do to prevent people from using parks, sidewalks and streets as campgrounds. A successful class action lawsuit against the City of Grants Pass on behalf of homeless people has resulted in long-term camping in all city parks except Reinhart Volunteer Park, preventing residents from using the other parks for recreational purposes. Although some people have criticized Grants Pass for allegedly making it illegal to be homeless, Charles said that is not the issue. He said cities and counties simply need clear authority to prohibit camping in certain public spaces, while designating other spaces as legal places to sleep for people who lack permanent shelters. ...Read more

Three Rivers District Announces Grandma Jean Library Endowment at Applegate School

The Three Rivers School District is pleased to announce the recent establishment of the "Grandma Jean Hall Applegate School Library Endowment." It's a tribute to the extraordinary dedication of Jean Hall, affectionately known as "Grandma Jean." As Jean celebrates her 90th birthday this month, her legacy of promoting literacy and learning will continue to thrive through this initiative. Initiated by Principal Steven Fuller and Fred Hall, Jean's husband, the endowment was established in collaboration with the Redwood Foundation for Education. By recognizing Grandma Jean's longstanding commitment as a volunteer at Applegate School, the endowment will provide perpetual support to the school library. In lieu of birthday presents, more than $10,000 was generously donated to kickstart the endowment, ensuring that future generations of students will benefit from Grandma Jean's passion for reading. This legacy initiative coincides with "School Library Appreciation Month," underscoring the vital role libraries play in education and literacy. ...Read more