PORTLAND, Oregon, Sept. 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon posted the following news release on Sept. 5, 2025: * * * Off-Duty Commercial Airline Pilot Pleads Guilty to Interfering with Flight Crew Joseph David Emerson, 46, of Pleasant Hill, California, an off-duty commercial airline pilot, pleaded guilty today for attempting to shut down the engines of a passenger plane in flight. According to court documents, on October 22, 2023, Emerson, an off-duty Alaska Airl  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 -- The Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, Portland, Oregon, submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expressing concerns about proposed changes to payment policies affecting community mental health centers. The OCBH aims to ensure that these changes do not discourage the provision of critical mental health services for individuals with substance use disorders and mental illness. In the letter, OCBH welcomed CMS' focus on the   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 -- The Oregon Psychological Association has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the proposed changes to the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The letter details critical concerns pertaining to mental health services and access issues for Medicare beneficiaries in Oregon. In the letter, OPA expressed appreciation for CMS's ongoing efforts to address the mental health crisis and advance equi  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 -- Our Children's Trust, Eugene, Oregon, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior raising alarm over proposed revisions to regulations concerning oil and gas leasing on Federal lands. The organization advocates for the health and constitutional rights of children and youth, reminding the agency of its obligation to protect these vulnerable populations. The letter expresses concern that the proposed regulations, which would remove existing   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 -- TriMet, Portland, Oregon, has submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), expressing its backing for proposed changes to the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) guidance. The agency's recent Notice of Availability of Proposed Policy Guidance for the Capital Investment Grants Program suggests updates that TriMet commends for aiding in the prompt issuance of project ratings and streamlining processes. In its letter, TriMet emphasized the impor  more