ODHS Notified Public about Federal Snap Changes

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) SNAP benefits are changing. ODHS began mailing notices Wednesday to Oregonians who applied for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits between July 4 through Sept. 30, 2025, and whose food benefits will be different or end due to new federal changes from the U.S. Congress and the President. During the next 10 months, ODHS will use the new H.R.1 laws when SNAP benefits are updated. These changes are required by federal law and will affect more than 313,000 people currently receiving SNAP in Oregon. Households that qualified for the Full Utility Allowance (FUA) through programs like LIHEAP or Heat and Eat will see changes. About 29,000 households will lose FUA, reducing their benefits by an average of $58 per month, and roughly 9,600 households received notices Wednesday about benefit reductions beginning November 1. ...Read more

OSP Investigating Eagle Point Police Department Officer-Involved Shooting

An officer-involved shooting occurred Wednesday at 12:13 p.m. in Eagle Point. The armed suspect is deceased. Eagle Point Police Department is the agency involved. An EPPD officer was injured during the incident and was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Initially, EPPD officers responded to a domestic disturbance. The suspect was contacted near the Covered Bridge. There are no additional suspects and no threat to the public. Oregon State Police is the lead investigating agency. No additional information is available for release at this time. Further information will come from OSP or the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. ...Read more

GP Council Authorizes COLA Raises for Non-Bargaining Employees

The Grants Pass City Council Wednesday night passed a resolution authorizing raises for non-bargaining employees.The action authorizes the City Manager to adjust the current management, supervisory and confidential non-bargaining employee salary schedules by the October 2024 consumer price index of 3.02 percent and apply it retroactively to July 1st of this year. This is an intermediate step to approve a cost of living adjustment for inflation to the current non-bargaining employee salary schedules. Those employees last received a COLA increase on July 1st of 2024. The total cost for the increase is $270,481. The funds for the increase were already included in the budget. The Council will continue to discuss a complete overhaul of the non-bargaining compensation and classification structure. The Council passed 10 resolutions authorizing the sale of easements to the Oregon Department of Transportation to allow for the improvement of ADA curb ramps within the city. The total revenue to the city is $27,150. Also passed was a resolution authorizing the payment of $50,000 to Main Street Grants Pass to assist with startup costs associated with the formation of the downtown association including the hiring of an executive director and support staff. Performance metrics are in place to determine any further funding. ...Read more