Month: March 2026

Kelsey Merison

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Recent federal changes require more Oregonians receiving SNAP food benefits to meet work or training requirements to maintain their eligibility. The Oregon Department of Human Services and the Oregon Employment Department are urging affected residents to utilize free job and training resources through 37 WorkSource Oregon centers located throughout the state.

The updated federal rules mean certain adults must participate in work-related activities to continue receiving benefits for longer than three months. These requirements now apply to a broader group of people than in previous years, including adults up to age 64 and some households with older children. WorkSource Oregon partners are offering free employment services to help these individuals meet the new standards.

Many participants may already satisfy the new rules through their current activities. Employment, volunteering and other similar engagements can count toward the federal requirement. State officials are working to connect participants with services that support job searches and build professional skills. Staff from both departments are available to help individuals understand their options and maintain eligibility for food aid.

Jessica Amya Hoffman serves as the SNAP director at the Oregon Department of Human Services. She explained that the agency uses case management to help individuals transition into the workforce. “Through case management and employment and training services, we work with each person to create a plan based on their interests, strengths and abilities,” Hoffman said. “This helps them meet requirements while moving toward a career path that fits their goals.”

Available services at the centers include personalized support to develop case plans and identify options for meeting work rules. Staff also offer job search assistance, resume development and one-on-one coaching for interview preparation. Participants can access workshops focused on workplace expectations and professional skills to improve their job readiness.

The program also connects residents to education and training opportunities. These include GED completion, short-term training programs and industry-recognized certifications. In some cases, the state provides help with items needed for success in the program, such as transportation assistance.

Jim Pfarrer is the workforce operations director at the Oregon Employment Department. He emphasized that the services are provided at no additional cost to the participants. “WorkSource Oregon staff are ready to help SNAP participants look for meaningful work, meet SNAP requirements and stay eligible for the benefits they rely on while moving toward their professional goals,” Pfarrer said. He noted that participants can receive career coaching and practice interviewing just like any other job seeker who visits a center.

Not all areas of the state are subject to these federal work rules. Residents in counties without a nearby WorkSource Oregon center are currently exempt from the requirements. This list of exempt areas includes Crook, Gilliam, Jefferson, Lake, Morrow, Sherman and Wheeler counties. Individuals in these locations do not need to meet the work rules to continue receiving their benefits.

Residents with questions about their eligibility or potential exemptions are encouraged to contact the Oregon Department of Human Services. Information regarding specific work rules and activity reporting is available at Oregon.gov/snapworkrules. Participants can also contact the ABAWD Team at 1-833-947-1694.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The High Desert Museum will launch a year-long program this spring called ‘250 in the West’ to examine the legacy of the American founding in the region. The series precedes the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.

The program features a series of events with historians and scholars who will explore themes of public lands, citizenship and identity. The initiative aims to use regional history to encourage community conversation about modern challenges and opportunities in the West.

Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw explained that the series is designed to help residents connect through historical perspectives.
“Anniversaries invite us to look both backward and forward and to pause and reconsider the stories we think we know,” Whitelaw said. “In this series, our speakers illuminate little-known aspects of our region’s history and the broader West. By grounding these conversations in history, we hope to create space for thoughtful engagement and meaningful dialogue at a time when many people are seeking ways to connect.”

The series begins Thursday, March 12, with a presentation by Flannery Burke, a historian and professor at St. Louis University. Burke will discuss how Western perspectives influenced the intellectual development of the United States, including the creation of the National Endowment for the Arts. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the presentation starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $8, with a 20% discount for museum members.

On Wednesday, April 15, Leisl Carr Childers will lead a discussion on the history of public lands from the American Revolution to the present. Childers is an associate professor at Colorado State University. Her presentation will examine how debates over land use continue to influence the High Desert region. Tickets are $8 for the public and include a 20% discount for members. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. for the 6:30 p.m. event.

The spring series concludes on Thursday, April 30, with legal scholar and author Susan Kamei. She will explore the constitutional ramifications of the incarceration of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. Kamei will discuss how this history challenges traditional ideas of citizenship and what it means to be an American. Tickets for this event are $12 and include a post-presentation reception with light appetizers.

The ‘250 in the West’ program is made possible through support from the America 250 Oregon Commission. More information and tickets are available here.

The museum will continue the ‘250 in the West’ program in the fall with a new schedule of events and speakers. These upcoming presentations will further examine how questions of land, culture and citizenship are woven into the history of the High Desert.

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