Month: March 2026

Matthew Draxton

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Community Foundation has appointed three new leaders to executive and advisory positions to support the organization’s recent growth. The hires include a vice president for corporate finance and accounting, a director of culturally responsive programs and a senior adviser for community development finance.

These newly created roles are designed to connect programs and regions across the organization as the foundation seeks to expand its impact across Oregon. The leadership additions come as the Portland-based foundation deepens its work in impact investing and community engagement.

Eric Barger will serve as the vice president for corporate finance and accounting. He brings 35 years of experience in nonprofit accounting and financial management to the role. Barger previously worked at the University of Portland for 17 years, most recently serving as the vice president for finance and operations. He is a certified public accountant and holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Portland. In his new position, Barger will oversee the finance, accounting, fund administration and grants administration teams.

John Chang has been appointed as the director of culturally responsive programs within the Community Engagement and Equity Department. Chang, who was born and raised in Oregon, has more than 15 years of experience in education and workforce pathways. He previously worked as a program officer at the foundation from 2020 to 2023. His career includes leadership roles as executive director for the Oregon Business Academy, the Clackamas Community College Foundation and College Possible. In his new role, he will focus on strategic investments in programs such as Black Student Success and the Latino Partnership Program.

Nathan Kadish joins the foundation as a senior adviser for the community development finance team. He previously spent 10 years at Ecotrust, where he served as the managing director of finance and assets. Kadish has a background in deploying mission-driven capital and developing economic development projects with community benefits. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and public policy from Pomona College and a master’s degree in business administration from the Kellogg School of Management. His role involves exploring creative financing solutions to support communities across Oregon.

Lisa Mensah, president and CEO of the Oregon Community Foundation, emphasized that the new leadership team will help the organization pursue more ambitious goals for the state. “All three of these leaders bring deep relationships and strong commitments to working in community to uplift Oregon in meaningful ways,” Mensah said. “Bringing Oregonians together continues to be our guiding light and the wealth of expertise each leader brings — across finance, nonprofit management and so much more — helps us deliver even bolder solutions for the state we love.”

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Kelsey Merison

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP) reached a tentative agreement with Kaiser Permanente on Monday following a year-long bargaining campaign. The deal covers nearly 5,000 healthcare workers in Oregon and Southwest Washington and includes a 21.5% wage increase over the life of the contract.

The agreement secures benefit protections and aligns contract expiration dates across six different bargaining units. The settlement follows significant labor activity in 2025, including a massive five-day strike involving tens of thousands of healthcare workers.

Under the terms of the three-year and eight-month contract, healthcare workers will receive a 21.5% across-the-board wage increase. Some job classifications will see total increases exceeding 30% in the first year once market adjustments are applied.

The agreement maintains existing healthcare and pension benefits for the nearly 5,000 members. A primary focus of the negotiations was ensuring that all six OFNHP bargaining units at Kaiser share a common contract expiration date to increase future bargaining unity.

The settlement follows a period of significant labor tension, including a five-day strike in October. During that time, more than 3,000 OFNHP members joined 40,000 other Kaiser employees in what was the largest healthcare strike in the United States in 2025. Workers at the time demanded safer staffing levels and higher wages.

The OFNHP members are part of a broader coalition of more than 62,000 healthcare professionals bargaining through the Alliance of Healthcare Unions. Other unions within that alliance are also currently in the process of securing their own specific agreements.

Negotiators addressed outstanding national issues by incorporating specific provisions into local agreements. They also created a new Partnership Agreement to manage joint labor-management initiatives that were previously governed by a broader national contract.

Sarina Roher, president of the OFNHP, said the contract reflects the essential nature of healthcare work. “After an incredibly long and difficult campaign, our members have secured a contract that reflects the strength of our solidarity and the essential work we do every day,” Roher said. “This agreement protects the benefits we fought for over decades, delivers major wage increases that begin to recognize the value of healthcare workers and aligns our contracts across six units so that we can continue building worker power with greater unity and strength.”

Roher also noted that the union remained united despite challenges during the year-long process. “Kaiser tried to break our solidarity, but instead our members stood strong alongside more than 62,000 Alliance union siblings across the country,” Roher said.

Throughout the bargaining process, union members emphasized that improving wages and working conditions is necessary to address the ongoing staffing crisis in the healthcare industry. Union leaders stated that the new terms will help make Kaiser a more competitive employer and improve the retention of experienced professionals.

OFNHP members will participate in a ratification vote on the agreement this week.

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Kelsey Merison

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Lightning arena football team will host a community event this Friday at the Les Schwab Tire Center in Prineville. The gathering, which runs from 2 to 4 p.m., serves as a promotional event for the team’s 2026 season.

The event at 1250 NE Third Street will offer fans the opportunity to meet players and the team’s Hype Squad. The festivities are designed to prepare the Central Oregon community for the upcoming Arena Football One season.

A “Lightning Caravan” will serve as one of the highlights of the afternoon. Players and the Hype Squad will travel in vehicles decorated with banners and team colors, starting at Pioneer Park and moving east on Third Street toward the tire center to begin the festivities.

The event will feature four interactive fan stations for attendees of all ages. A Lightning Swag Table will provide stickers, posters and team merchandise, while an autograph station will offer meet-and-greet opportunities with the players.

The Oregon Lightning Youth Initiative, also known as OLYI, will host a table providing information regarding youth programs, camps, and community outreach. Additionally, a ticket sales station will be available for fans to purchase season or single-game tickets for the 2026 season.

A themed photo booth experience will be available for fans, featuring a branded backdrop and balloons. Attendees can use team-related props, including helmets, footballs, and jerseys, for photos.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Rob Imhoff, a candidate for Deschutes County Commissioner, announced a proposal Monday to establish a 6-mile “no camping” zone around every Urban Growth Boundary community in the county. The initiative targets unauthorized camping and vehicle habitation in rural lands surrounding cities such as Bend, Redmond, and Sisters.

The policy aims to address public safety concerns and wildfire risks by prohibiting long-term parking of derelict RVs and trailers in the county’s juniper forests. Imhoff stated that the buffer is designed to direct individuals experiencing homelessness toward established services and treatment programs located within city centers rather than allowing dispersed camping in remote areas.

The proposed ordinance would ban unauthorized camping, vehicle habitation, and the long-term parking of derelict RVs or trailers within the 6-mile radius. Imhoff, a community leader and small-business owner in housing and construction, has lived in Deschutes County for more than 20 years. “Our rural lands and forests are not free-for-all campgrounds or places to abandon broken-down vehicles,” Imhoff said during the announcement.

The plan cites Oregon Administrative Rule 660-033-0130, which currently restricts the creation of new private campgrounds and RV parks within three miles of any UGB. Imhoff proposed doubling that distance to enhance wildfire prevention and public safety efforts. “We already have state rules under ORS (OAR 660-033-0130) that prohibit new private campgrounds and RV parks within three miles of any UGB without a special exception,” Imhoff said. “We will build on that proven authority to enact a 6-mile no-camping buffer that keeps families safe, prevents wildfires and stops the cycle of enabling street homelessness in remote areas.”

Enforcement of the zone would focus on nuisance abatement through a process involving clear notice and outreach to service providers. Imhoff stated that the policy is intended to move individuals away from isolated forest lands and toward available shelter, mental health support, and addiction treatment. “Deschutes County deserves solutions that actually work,” Imhoff said. “A 6-mile no-camping zone around our UGBs will make our communities safer, cleaner and more compassionate. It’s time to stop treating rural lands as dumping grounds and start directing people toward real help.”

The initiative is part of Imhoff’s broader campaign platform, which includes a 50-year infrastructure plan and a proposed reroute for Highway 97. According to the proposal, the 6-mile zone does not require the implementation of new taxes and would instead rely on smarter enforcement of existing county authorities. The plan also includes partnerships with local law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, and city governments to establish coordinated service hubs.

Imhoff is currently seeking community input on the proposal at upcoming campaign events. Residents can also submit questions or view the full infrastructure and housing platform through his campaign website.

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