Oregon
Central Oregon Community College employees prepare for strike as mediation continues
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Classified employees at Central Oregon Community College could go on strike Thursday morning if ongoing negotiations with the college do not result in a new contract. The union representing custodians, administrative assistants, enrollment staff, and other hourly positions voted to authorize a strike, with the earliest possible start at 5 a.m. April 2. Mediation is continuing, with two sessions scheduled before the deadline, on March 30 and April 1.
The dispute centers on wages and benefits for the college’s lowest-paid employees. According to union representatives, many COCC staff are facing food and housing insecurity despite performing essential roles that directly impact students every day. “It is mind-boggling that the college is refusing to pay classified employees a living wage when their own CFO confirmed the funds are available,” said Scott Dove, president of the Classified Association of COCC. The union argues that its proposal, which includes higher wages and improved benefits, would better support employees while sustaining long-term financial stability.
COCC President Greg Pereira, who has been in the role for nine months, said the college is committed to a fair and sustainable agreement. “We respect the right of our classified employees to participate in this process,” Pereira said. “COCC remains committed to reaching an agreement that supports the long-term health of the college and the students we serve.” The college has proposed a three-year contract with a 19.1% wage and step increase, along with benefits improvements. Officials say essential student services, including financial aid, veteran benefits, advising, and food services, are expected to continue with limited to no disruption even if a strike occurs.
Union representatives argue that the strike is about more than money; it is about dignity and fair treatment. Classified staff make up 122 positions at the college, including groundskeepers, IT professionals, laboratory specialists, and student services staff. “The educational experience of COCC students should be the college’s top priority, but instead the board and administration are prioritizing political power over fairness,” Dove said. The union also noted that, unlike the first-ever Oregon community college strike at Portland Community College, COCC strikers are prepared to remain on strike longer if necessary, thanks to strike pay.
The college and union continue to work with mediators to avoid a walkout. COCC officials said they are coordinating with local law enforcement to ensure that any picketing is peaceful and lawful. Students and community members can track updates on negotiations at cocc.edu/negotiations.
‘Pour in the largest glass you can find while slow dancing in your socks,’ a Wine Enthusiast contributor said of an Oregon wine
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Wine Enthusiast released a list of the top 40 sparkling wines around the world in 2026 – highlighting two bottles of bubbly from Oregon.
“While it can seem like you need a fortune to enjoy high quality sparkling wine, you honestly don’t. Excellent affordable bubbles are being produced around the world, often in places you might not expect. Each of the selections on our inaugural Top 40 Sparkling Wines list delivers personality, freshness, and celebration for under $75,” Wine Enthusiast wrote.
Wine Enthusiast divided its list into separate sparkling categories including, Champagne, Italian Bollicine, American sparkling and bottles $25 and under.
Snagging a spot on the American sparkling list: Corollary Wines in McMinnville.
Corollarly’s 2021 Momtazi Carbonic Rosé Pinot Noir scored 96 points from Wine Enthusiast.
“This is a Peter Max print of a wine, with vivid aromas and flavors to match the wine’s electric Kool-Aid color. It is filled to the brim with aromas and flavors of macerated strawberries, candied rose petals, apricots, and a bitter note similar to watermelon rind. Pour in the largest glass you can find while slow dancing in your socks,” wrote Wine Enthusiast contributor Michael Alberty.
The second Oregon winery to earn a spot on the list: Lytle-Barnett in Dundee.
Wine Enthusiast also gave Lytle-Barnett’s 2018 Brut Rosé Pinot Noir Chardonnay 96 points.
“Bubbles as persistent as an eight-year-old with a question deliver aromas of dried rose petals, macerated strawberries, and a touch of fresh hay and talc. This 70/30 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend is packed with flavors of lemon zest, Honeycrisp apple slices drizzled in caramel, and a dollop of raspberry,” Alberty wrote.
The nods to Corollary and Lytle-Barnett come as the wineries recently helped launch Method Oregon, a nonprofit made up of 50 Oregon wineries aiming to turn Oregon into a global sparkling wine destination.
A 73-year-old man was sentenced on Tuesday to 20 years in prison for the 1983 killing of his then-girlfriend. It was a case that went unsolved for more than 40 years.
The sentence was announced by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield.
In July 1983, Teresa Peroni, 27, was reported missing after attending a party in the Selma area of Josephine County southwest of Grants Pass. She was last seen walking in the woods with her boyfriend Marcus Sanfratello.
Authorities deemed Peroni’s disappearance suspicious, but they lacked evidence to bring charges against anyone.
In 1997, a human skull was found on private property near where Peroni disappeared. In 2024, authorities in Josephine County reopened the case. In addition to re-interviewing witnesses, they collected new DNA evidence to build a case against Sanfratello.
With the DNA, experts at the University of North Texas confirmed the skull was Peroni’s.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man arraigned on murder charge in Oregon for death of then-girlfriend in 1980s cold case
A grand jury indicted Sanfratello of second-degree murder, on June 27, 2025.
Police arrested Sanfratello in Chico, California the next day. He was then extradited to Oregon to face the charge of murder.
Under a plea agreement, Sanfratello pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.
He will serve at least 10 years in prison, Oregon’s attorney general’s office said.
“For Teresa Peroni’s family, this has been a 43-year wait for an answer they never should have had to wait for,” Rayfield said in a news release. “Cases like this remind us of why we don’t give up. It doesn’t matter how many years have passed — if someone took a life, we’re going to keep working until we can hold them accountable.”
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