Oregon

Lawsuit accuses Oregon police department of illegally monitoring progressive activists

Published

2 years ago

August 20, 2024

Lawsuit accuses Oregon police department of illegally monitoring progressive activists

MEDFORD, Ore. — The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon is suing the city of Medford, saying its police department has been unlawfully monitoring progressive political activists who aren’t suspected of criminal activity.

City officials insisted they have not monitored the groups because of their views or constitutionally protected activities, but only to prepare for possible public safety impacts, such as traffic disruptions, conflicts between protesters and counter-protesters, and property damage.

In the early 1980s, after revelations that Portland police had routinely surveilled civil liberties, racial justice and other groups, the Oregon Legislature approved a law barring law enforcement agencies from collecting information about the political, religious or social views or activities of any individual or group unless it directly relates to a criminal investigation.

According to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Jackson County Circuit Court, the Medford Police Department for several years has monitored the activities and social media accounts of people involved in an array of causes, including racial justice, LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights, preventing drug overdoses, and providing services for unhoused people.

The lawsuit is based on police emails and other documents first obtained through public records requests by the website info4publicuse.org.

It alleges that the police department broke the law by monitoring or infiltrating social media accounts or groups for information about protests, including Black Lives Matter demonstrations following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in 2020 and a “Bans off our bodies” demonstration around the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning the federal right to abortion in 2022.

“The Medford Police is blatantly disregarding a three-decades-old state law that prohibits this type of surveillance,” Kelly Simon, ACLU of Oregon legal director, said in a written statement. “Their doubling down is a bald display of impunity from those we trust to enforce the law.”

In an emailed statement Tuesday, Medford City Attorney Eric Mitton disputed that.

“The purpose of reviewing publicly-available information on social media channels is not to analyze or judge individuals’ political, religious, or social views, but to address legitimate police interests regarding public rallies and protests,” he wrote.

Mitton’s email also included a statement from Medford Police Chief Justin Ivens, who said the department prioritizes community safety while upholding constitutional rights.

“We use publicly accessible information to plan and staff events impacting public safety,” Ivens said. “This ensures our ability to address potential safety concerns while safeguarding those exercising their constitutional right to free speech.”

Among the emails cited in the lawsuit were some showing that police monitored activists’ social media for information about the showing of a drive-in movie in conjunction with Juneteenth activities in 2020, amid broader demonstrations over Floyd’s death; about demonstrations concerning a COVID-19 outbreak at a local jail; and about any plans for protests related to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

The lawsuit said public records showed police kept a “dossier” on the local nonprofit the Rogue Valley Pepper Shakers, which promotes LGBTQ+ and abortion rights, including screenshots of its Facebook page.

Other records included emails concerning Stabbin Wagon — an organization that advocates for and provides clean syringes, overdose reversal medication, and contraceptives to at-risk and unhoused residents — as well as public statements its founder Melissa Jones had made criticizing police raids on homeless encampments.

The Pepper Shakers, Stabbin Wagon and Jones are plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

“Instead of investigating real safety threats, the Medford Police are wasting resources spying on someone like me who’s just trying to care for my neighbors,” Jones said in a statement released by the ACLU.

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Oregon

Oil prices spike amid Iran war; Oregon gas remains above national average

Published

9 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Oil prices spike amid Iran war; Oregon gas remains above national average

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Oil prices continue to soar Monday as the war in Iran shows no signs of slowing down. Oregon’s gas prices are above the national average.

Production and shipping in the Middle East have been jeopardized by the conflict, pummeling financial markets.

The Associated Press reported that the price for a barrel of Brent crude surged to $119 on Monday. That’s the highest level it’s been since the summer after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Brent crude is the international standard.

RELATED| High oil prices won’t limit Trump’s actions in Iran war: Hegseth

The prices fell to just under $100 later Monday, but barrels are still 36% more expensive than they were before Israel and the United States attacked Iran on Feb. 28.

Today’s AAA national average is $3.478, whereas Oregon’s current average across the state is $4.205.

SEE ALSO | New video shows US Tomahawk hit Iranian Naval Base near school

The average in Oregon just a year ago was 3.730, demonstrating a 12% increase since then.

Still, Washington State’s current average remains higher than Oregon’s, at $4.630.

Malheur County in Oregon currently has the cheapest gas price at $3.499, while Josephine has the more expensive at $4.447.

AAA suggests maintaining cars to the manufacturer’s recommendations can help save fuel. The agency also recommends slowing down and driving the speed limit, avoiding “jackrabbit” starts and hard accelerations and avoiding extended idling to warm up the engine, in winter and even prolonged idling in general.

Research by AAA has shown that premium fuel provides no added benefit unless it is recommended or required by the car’s manufacturer.

Vice President and Global Head of crude oil research at at S&P Global Energy Jim Burkhard said in an analysis on Monday that, at first, the crisis was a transportation issue, “which could conceivably be resolved quickly.”

However, he explained that production and storage concerns are increasingly piling up and restoration “will be a massive technical exercise that could last weeks or more.”

Energy experts’ opinions are clashing, as some warn the war could contribute to even higher oil prices in the near future. In particular, if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for only a few weeks, oil and gas strategists at Macquarie Research said the price of crude could push to a $150 per barrel or higher. Such prices would top previous peaks of nearly $147, which were reached just before the 2008 financial crisis.

Others, however, don’t expect the disruptions to last much longer. Oxford Economics researchers predict prices will soon fall to an average of $80 a barrel for the quarter, but noted today that the “risk of a more prolonged crisis has clearly increased.”

Iran exports roughly 1.6 million barrels of oil a day, mostly to China, which has called for an immediate end to the fighting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Oregon

Oregon Lottery Pick 4 results for March 8

Published

21 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

The Oregon Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 8 drawing

1PM: 5-0-5-7

4PM: 9-6-4-3

7PM: 1-4-8-5

10PM: 7-9-3-6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Oregon Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 7:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 7:59 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 4: 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily.
Win for Life: 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Megabucks: 7:29 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Oregon editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Oregon

Oregon State Beavers and San Francisco Dons square off in WCC Tournament

Published

1 day ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Oregon State Beavers and San Francisco Dons square off in WCC Tournament

San Francisco Dons (17-15, 9-10 WCC) vs. Oregon State Beavers (16-15, 9-9 WCC)

Paradise, Nevada; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Oregon State and San Francisco play in the WCC Tournament.

The Beavers are 9-9 against WCC opponents and 7-6 in non-conference play. Oregon State averages 11.3 turnovers per game and is 5-2 when it wins the turnover battle.

The Dons are 9-10 against WCC teams. San Francisco averages 74.6 points while outscoring opponents by 1.6 points per game.

Oregon State averages 8.2 made 3-pointers per game, 1.1 more made shots than the 7.1 per game San Francisco gives up. San Francisco averages 74.6 points per game, 0.2 more than the 74.4 Oregon State allows to opponents.

The teams square off for the third time this season. Oregon State won the last meeting 90-63 on Feb. 13. Jorge Diaz Graham scored 18 to help lead Oregon State to the victory, and Ryan Beasley scored 17 points for San Francisco.

TOP PERFORMERS: Josiah Lake is averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals for the Beavers. Johan Munch is averaging 11.0 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 55.7% over the last 10 games.

Beasley is scoring 13.4 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Dons. Legend Smiley is averaging 1.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Beavers: 6-4, averaging 72.3 points, 31.0 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 5.0 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 43.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.2 points per game.

Dons: 4-6, averaging 73.0 points, 28.7 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 4.6 steals and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.2 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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