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Sen. Wyden Pushes Expanded Child Tax Credit

BEND, OR – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D) was in Bend Tuesday to drum up support for his proposal to expand the Child Tax Credit.

“We are launching a full-court press in order to make sure that kids and families get a fair shot,” Senator Wyden used basketball terms at the Boys and Girls Club gym to get his point across to the gathered crowd of community leaders, and officials from NeighborImpact who spoke of their own personal experience as parents.

He tells KBND News it is important to hear from working families, "I'm going to take these stories back to Washington and tell them there because there's nothing more important than getting this out of the kind of Washington lingo and a bunch of bureaucratic sounding noise.”

The Democrat wants the Senate to pass his legislation by this year’s tax deadline on April 15th, “For Central Oregon, kids and families, particularly the many who are walking an economic tightrope, balancing the food bill against the rent bill and, essentials, this is absolutely crucial.”

The House passed the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act in January, with broad bi-partisan support.

“In my view, these measures to help kids grow up healthy, produce an enormous amount of value and the multiplier starts kicking in pretty quickly,” Wyden said, adding, “This is really about our values; this is about what we really care about and giving kids a chance to get a little bit of help so they can get started is huge.”

If the bill is passed by the Senate, it would increase the maximum refundable amount per child to $1,800 for 2023 taxes, $1,900 for next year, and $2,000 for 2025.


Employer Sponsors Needed For Workforce Housing Project

BEND, OR -- The next Rooted Homes affordable housing neighborhood is going in near 18th and Simpson, in southwest Bend. Executive Director Jackie Keogh says crews are installing infrastructure for what will eventually be 40 single-family homes. "That site did not have water or sewer, so we’re bringing those utilities to the site. And that typically is the more difficult part of our projects. Once we have that set up, it’s a lot easier to build the homes." They’re accepting applications this week from businesses who want their employees given preference to buy in Rooted at Simpson.

Rooted’s first workforce housing development on Poplar opened last year. Keogh says, "The Bend Chamber and some of their select members sponsored the entire pilot last time, which meant the employers were contributing a lot less." This time, employers will pay more, "Construction costs are still some of the highest in the state in Central Oregon. And, in the state, where we get our funding to subsidize these units, that money hasn’t increased since the 80s. So, because of that, we have this gap."

For this project, near 18th and Simpson, businesses can directly support their employee’s closing costs with a $10,000 donation, "Or, they can purchase - essentially get written into the deed. So every time the home resells, it would go back to that major employer’s employees in perpetuity," says Keogh, "So it would be like a long-term asset that business would have to offer their employees. And that is a cost of $50,000." Companies only pay if one of their employees is selected as a homeowner. 

She tells KBND News it’s a question of economics, "Is the employer interested in paying for continuous hiring, as they lose employees due to the high cost of housing, and retention to keep employees who are unstable in their housing. Or, are they interested in investing in this program?"

Employer applications are due April first. The company’s diversity of workforce must be equal to or greater than the city of Bend, which is just under 91% white. Home buyers must earn no more than 80% of the Area Median Income. 

Rooted at Simpson is expected to open in early 2025. 

 


Redmond Receives Grant For Arbor Month Event

REDMOND, OR -- Redmond is one of six Oregon communities getting grants to help pay for public events during Arbor Month in April. Towns designated as a "Tree City USA" are required to hold a public Arbor Day celebration. Funds from the nonprofit Oregon Community Trees helps cover expenses for some of those events.

OCT's Jim Gersbach says Redmond has been a Tree City USA for about 19 years, "But this is the first time they’re getting an award to boost their Arbor Month celebrations. So, they’re going to be purchasing customized t-shirts." Those shirts will be worn by Heart of Oregon Corps volunteers during an event in the Dry Canyon. "This is a little different, because they’re not planting trees. They’re doing a fuels reduction work party. And, many parts of Oregon, because of fire suppression, there’s been an increase - an encroachment - too many trees crowding the landscape." Gersbach tells KBND News, "Everyone’s always excited to plant trees, and we certainly encourage that and some of the grants will go toward that. But, the ongoing maintenance of trees is also important. And in this case, where humans have changed the natural shape of those forests by suppressing the fires that would’ve naturally gone through these areas, a fuels reduction program is an innovative way to address that imbalance."

Lake Oswego lost a lot of trees in January’s ice storm. That city's grant will help replace some of those, "They’ll be planting a dozen fairly large - 15 gallon - container-grown Oregon white oaks." Gersbach says, "Oregon white oak is really a native tree, it’s part of a habitat that’s highly endangered because of urbanization and agriculture. So, planting those trees helps put a tree back on the landscape that was probably native." 

Dallas received a grant to offer guided two-hour sessions in a local arboretum, "There’s a lot of evidence that something called 'Forest Bathing,' which is spending time in a wooded area, can actually be good for your health, that it actually can lower your stress hormones."

Pendleton will use its grant to purchase a diverse species of trees for its seedling giveaway. Coburg and Rogue River also received funding. 

file photo


Uber Driver Kidnapping Case Dismissed

BEND, OR -- The case against a Bend Uber driver charged with kidnapping has been dismissed. Police arrested 48-year-old Rocky Heath after a 19-year-old woman reported that she ordered a ride home February 13th; but instead of her destination, she said Heath drove her around for about half an hour. 

Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels says evidence was presented to the Grand Jury earlier this month, "Other witnesses testified, police officers testified, for example, about what they found. However, based on all of that, the Grand Jury determined that there wasn’t sufficient evidence; there wasn’t proof beyond a reasonable doubt." Without a Grand Jury indictment, charges were dropped. "From our point of view, the evidence was insufficient to sustain prosecution, which means that there was not proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Heath committed a crime." Grand Jury proceedings are not open to the public and records are not available to the media. 

Gunnels believes the process worked as intended, "If the evidence isn’t strong enough, the Grand Jury is required to decline to let the case move forward. And in this case, the Grand Jury has independent judgment about the merits of a case. They heard the evidence in this case and they determined the evidence wasn’t sufficient." He says Heath could be charged again if new evidence comes to light. 

"People need to be aware of their surroundings and pay attention. And make sure that if they tell the cab driver or Uber driver or Lyft driver to go to a particular place, that that’s a route they start to take," Gunnels tells KBND News, "Be diligent about that. But these things are very unusual. I, myself have taken taxis and Ubers many times, depending on circumstances, and nothing odd has ever happened. That’s the norm."

At the time of his arrest, Uber said Heath’s privileges with the company were suspended pending their own investigation. KBND News asked Uber if he’s been reinstated as a driver but has not received a response. 

UPDATE: According to Uber, the company has concluded its investigation and Heath remains deactived as a driver. He can appeal. Uber released this statement to KBND News: "Removing a driver’s access to the Uber platform is a serious decision, and we do not take it lightly. We conducted our investigation and have taken appropriate action."


Redmond PD Searches For Theft Suspects

REDMOND, OR -- Redmond Police are investigating a string of theft-related incidents at Walmart, Texaco, Wilco and Rite Aid and now need the public’s help to identify the suspects.

A man and woman were caught on surveillance footage and are believed to have been involved in crimes committed between March 17th and 19th. They were seen driving a red car with a luggage rack.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Redmond PD through Non-Emergency Dispatch at 541-693-6911. 

 


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