Board of Commissioner's Weekly Business Session Focused on Public Comment
With no administrative actions on the agenda, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners made quick work of their Weekly Business Session today. Moving straight to Public Comment, with five minutes allowed to speak due to the light agenda, members of the community brought up topics including accusing the commissioners of violating the constitution, support for the library, usage of the Dimmick Property, and those for and against the recalls against Commissioners Andreas Blech and Chris Barnett. After comments, Commissioner Ron Smith encouraged community members to bring ideas and solutions to the Public Comment period, Commissioner Barnett called for unification in the county, and Commissioner Blech invited people to reach out and talk with him about their concerns.
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JMET Executes Search Warrant on Cave Junction Marijuana Grow Site
The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) executed a search warrant on an illegal marijuana grow site in the 5000 Block of Dick George Road in Cave Junction. The warrant was executed September 18th with assistance from the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE), United States Postal Inspector Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. During the execution of the warrant, over 2,500 marijuana plants and 300 pounds of processed marijuana were seized and destroyed. Additionally, 14 firearms, 30 grams of Ketamine, 8 grams of MDMA, and 7 grams of Methamphetamine were seized on scene. The property also had multiple electrical, water, and solid waste code violations. Christopher Faustino, Veronica Gardner-Dyer, and Brian Enney were all taken into custody and lodged in The Josephine County Jail. All three suspects were charged with Unlawful Possession and Manufacture of Marijuana.
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Oregon Turns Over Medicaid Personal Data to Federal Government to Avoid Losing Funding
Oregon health officials have turned over personal data about some Medicaid patients to the federal government as part of a spending probe, according to The Oregonian. This move follows months of debate over privacy and potential federal misuse of health data. Earlier this month, the Oregon Health Authority sent the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services a report with data on every adult who used emergency Medicaid services between April and June. The information included Medicaid identification numbers, dates of birth and Medicaid eligibility categories tied to citizenship status, but not immigration status or patient names or addresses. State officials had resisted turning over the data since CMS requested it in June, citing distrust over how federal officials might use the information and highlighting concerns about privacy for Oregon’s immigrant communities.
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