AND
AND NOW
AND NOW ON CGY NEWS.
YOU KNOW YOU JUST FEEL LIKE
THIS WILL NEVER END.
COUNTY LEADERS PUSH BACK ON THE
GOVERNOR'S COVID RESTRICTIONS.
PLEASE DON'T DO OUR LOCAL
BUSINESSES FURTHER HARM.
PLUS, A DANGEROUS SITUATION
UNFOLDS AS PROTESTERS BLOCKED
DRIVERS IN SOUTHEAST PORTLAND.
AND LATER THAT'S AND THEIR
PETS.
PETS.
PETS. IT'S YOUR BEST FRIEND.
IT'S YOUR LIFELINE TO A LOT
OF VETERANS.
OF VETERANS. >> A LOCAL NONPROFIT AND PET
STORE ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE
BOTH HAVE THE CARE THEY NEED
UNVERSITY LOVE AND USE OF A
DANGEROUS DRUG.
DANGEROUS DRUG. FENTANYL IS ON THE RISE IN THE
METRO AREA AND DEALERS ARE
TARGETING KIDS BY PEDDLING THE
PILLS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US
TONIGHT.
TONIGHT.
TONIGHT. I'M LAURAL PORTER.
THE BEAVERTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
HOSTED A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
TONIGHT AFTER LOSING SEVERAL
OF ITS STUDENTS TO FENTANYL
POISONING.
POISONING. MIKE BENNER HAS A CLOSER LOOK
AT THE ISSUE.
>> I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING TONIGHT IS TO KNOW THAT
THIS DANGER IS OUT THERE JOHN
AND JENNIFER EPSTEIN WILL TELL
ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN THE
DANGERS OF THE DRUG FENTANYL
ONLY FOUR MONTHS AGO THEY LOST
THEIR SON CAL TO AN OVERDOSE.
>> IT'S BELIEVED THE RECENT
SUNSET HIGH SCHOOL GRAD OD'D ON
AN OCCIPITAL LACED WITH
FENTANYL THAT HE GOT THROUGH
SNAPCHAT.
SNAPCHAT.
SNAPCHAT. >> DRUG DEALERS HAD FIGURED OUT
WAY TOO TO REACH OUT TO THE
KIDS AND THEY'RE DOING IT AGAIN
AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND THESE
KIDS ARE SEEING THE EPSTEINS
SHARED THEIR STORY DURING A
VIRTUAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
ON THE DANGERS OF FENTANYL
HOSTED BY THE BEAVERTON SCHOOL
DISTRICT A DISTRICT THAT'S LOST
SEVERAL STUDENTS TO FENTANYL
POISONING IN THE LAST YEAR
AND A HALF.
BUT DON'T BE MISTAKEN, FENTANYL
ISN'T JUST A PROBLEM IN THE
BEAVERTON SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT'S A PROBLEM ALL OVER THE
PORTLAND METRO AREA.
THIS MONTH THE CLACKAMAS COUNTY
INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE BUSTED
AN 18 YEAR OLD FOR SELLING
FENTANYL PILLS.
FENTANYL PILLS. ALSO ON SNAPCHAT SINCE THE
START OF TWENTY TWENTY ONE MORE
THAN 12000 IN FENTANYL PILLS
HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF THE STREETS
OF CLACKAMAS COUNTY.
THAT'S AN INSANE AMOUNT
OF PILLS SEEING AS ONLY ONE CAN
KILL SOMEBODY.
KILL SOMEBODY. >> ANYONE WHO GETS PILLS FROM
ANYWHERE OTHER THAN A PHARMACY
SHOULD ASSUME THAT THEY ARE
COUNTERFEIT AND CONTAIN DEADLY
AMOUNTS OF FENTANYL.
>> TRI COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER DR
JENNIFER VINES SAYS THE
SMALLEST AMOUNT OF FENTANYL A
MANMADE VERSION OF MORHPHINE
CAN BE DEADLY SO FAR THIS YEAR
THE WEST SIDE INTERAGENCY
NARCOTICS TEAM IN WASHINGTON
COUNTY HAS INVESTIGATED 14
OVERDOSE
10
10 OF
10 OF THOSE ARE LINKED TO COUNTERFEIT DRUGS
CONTAINING FENTANYL IN THE SAME
TIME FRAME 20 20 WE HAD
INVESTIGATED THREE IN TWENTY
NINETEEN IN THAT SAME TIMEFRAME
WE HAD ONLY INVESTIGATED ONE A
CLEAR SIGN THAT THE FENTANYL
PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE
AND PERHAPS NOBODY KNOWS THAT
BETTER THAN JOHN AND JENNIFER
EPSTEINS THEY'RE HOPING THEIR
STORY OF THE SUDDEN LOSS
OF THEIR SON KOUMOUE CAN SAVE
LIVES.
LIVES.
LIVES. THIS IS REALLY A NEW THING.
IT IS DANGEROUS TO CONTROL IS
OUT THERE DO NOT EXIST.
>> OUR THOUGHTS ARE CERTAINLY
WITH THE EPSTEIN FAMILY
SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF THIS
VIRTUAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
IS THE IMPORTANCE OF TALKING TO
YOUR KIDS ABOUT THE DANGERS
OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
THOSE OPEN LINES
OF COMMUNICATION ARE SO
CRITICAL AS FAR AS THE SIGNS
OF POTENTIAL DRUG USE KEEP AN
EYE OUT FOR UNUSUAL
IRRITABILITY, DRASTIC CHANGES
IN CLOTHING STYLE AND IRREGULAR
EATING OR SLEEPING PATTERNS
AMONG OTHER THINGS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN
HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE KGW DOTCOM
AND THE PANDEMIC LOCAL LEADERS
IN OREGON ARE PUSHING BACK
AGAINST THE RETURN TO EXTREME
RISK STARTING TOMORROW.
FIFTEEN COUNTIES INCLUDING
MULTNOMAH AND CLACKAMAS IN THE
PORTLAND AREA WILL HAVE A
NEW ROUND OF COVID RESTRICTIONS
THAT INCLUDES NO INDOOR DINING
AND RESTAURANTS.
AND RESTAURANTS. THOSE FRUSTRATED WITH THE MOVE
SAY A KEY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THIS AND PREVIOUS LOCKDOWNS IS
THAT WE HAVE VACCCINE ACCESS
NOW GOVERNOR BROWN, WE HAVE
GOTTEN OUR VACCINES HONESTLY
VULNERABLE OF DESCHUTES COUNTY.
CENTRAL OREGON HAVE GOTTEN
THEIR VACCINES VERY, VERY HIGH
PERCENTAGE.
PERCENTAGE. IT'S TIME TO GO FORWARD.
WE DO NOT NEED TO GO BACKWARDS
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN. YOU JUST FEEL LIKE THIS WILL
NEVER END.
NEVER END. >> WE ASKED THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE WHY NOT ALLOW
RESTAURANTS TO STAY OPEN BUT
REQUIRE VACCCINE PROOF FOR
CUSTOMERS WHO WANT TO DINE
INDOORS.
INDOORS.
INDOORS. A SPOKESPERSON SAID THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF PRIVACY, EQUITY
AND IMPLEMENTATION QUESTIONS
AROUND THAT IDEA AND THAT
ACTION IS NEEDED NOW MULTNOMAH
COUNTY'S CHAIR DEBORAH KAFOURY
DID NOT CRITICIZE THE GOVERNOR.
SHE SAID SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT
BOTH HOSPITAL CAPACITY
AND BUSINESSES.
AND BUSINESSES. SHE WANTS THE GOVERNOR AND THE
LEGISLATURE TO GET EMERGENCY
MONEY TO BUSINESSES HURT BY THE
SHUTDOWN FAST ON THE COGAT
VACCCINE FRONT, OHSU SAYS IT'S
EASIER TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS ON
ITS WEBSITE NOW COMPARED TO
THOSE EARLY DAYS THE VACCCINE
ROLLOUT WHILE MOST NEW SLOTS
ARE STILL RELEASED AT NINE,
THEY'RE NOT FILLING UP
IMMEDIATELY LIKE BEFORE
AND THAT MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE
TO LOG ON EXACTLY AT 9:00
AND START FRANTICALLY HITTING
REFRESH TO GET A SPOT.
I DID THAT FOR A WHILE.
THIS IS BECAUSE VACCCINE
OPTIONS HAVE EXPANDED SO
COMPETITION ISN'T AS FIERCE.
OHSU GIVES VACCCINE THAT THE
PORTLAND AIRPORT AND HILLSBORO
STADIUM YOU CAN FIND MORE
INFORMATION ON THE OHSU COVID
VACCCINE WEBSITE AS OLDER MORE
VULNERABLE PEOPLE GET
VACCINATED.
VACCINATED. THERE HAS BEEN A SHIFT IN WHO'S
BECOMING INFECTED CHILDREN 10
AND YOUNGER ARE NOW GETTING
COVID AT HIGHER RATES THAN
PEOPLE 70 AND OLDER.
IN FACT, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY
OF PEDIATRICS REPORTS CHILDREN
MAKE UP 20 PERCENT OF ALL
NEW CASES.
NEW CASES. THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS KIDS
CAN'T GET THE COVID VACCINE YET
THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON
LEARNING IS ALSO PLAYING A ROLE
WHILE THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY
OF CHILDREN WHO GET COVID WILL
SURVIVE, THERE'S STILL A RISK.
>> IT'S STILL A DANGEROUS
DISEASE FOR KIDS.
IT STILL IS TRANSMITTED BY KIDS
.
.
. WE
. WE STILL SEE LONG COVID IN KIDS
WE SEE THE MULTISYSTEM OREGON
FAILURE PROBLEM IN KIDS UNTIL
NUMBERS ARE LOWER, EXPERTS WARN
AGAINST SETTINGS WHERE KIDS ARE
SPENDING THE NIGHT TOGETHER OR
EATING IN A COMMUNAL SETTING
LIKE AN OVERNIGHT CAMP.
>> A SAD UPDATE TO A MISSING
PERSONS CASE YOU MAY HAVE HEARD
ABOUT ACCORDING TO THE
WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE, SEARCHERS FOUND THE
BODY OF TOMTER TANOUS IN GAYLES
CREEK AROUND THREE O'CLOCK THIS
AFTERNOON TANOUS HAD
ALZHEIMER'S AND WALKED AWAY
FROM HIS CARE FACILITY.
THEY FOUND HIS BODY ABOUT A
MILE AWAY.
MILE AWAY. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DOES NOT
SUSPECT FOUL PLAY IN THE DEATH
OF A TENSE SITUATION IN
SOUTHEAST PORTLAND EARLIER
TONIGHT A SMALL GROUP
OF PROTESTERS TOOK OVER THE
INTERSECTION.
INTERSECTION. A SOUTHEAST GRAND IN MORRISON
THAT RESULTED IN SOME
CONFRONTATIONS WITH DRIVERS.
AT ONE POINT A CAR FORCED ITS
WAY THROUGH THE LINE OF PEOPLE
WITH A PROTESTER ON ITS HOOD.
THAT PERSON WAS KNOCKED TO THE
GROUND BUT WAS ABLE TO WALK
AWAY.
AWAY.
AWAY. ONE
AWAY. ONE PERSON.
ONE PERSON. THE GROUP ALSO STARTED HITTING
A DRIVERS TRUCK DURING AN
ARGUMENT.
ARGUMENT.
ARGUMENT. THIS WAS BILLED ON SOCIAL MEDIA
AS WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A
PEACEFUL SIT IN ORGANIZED BY
BLACK ACTIVISTS.
BLACK ACTIVISTS. THEY'RE CALLING FOR THE
ABOLITION OF POLICE.
>> PORTLAND IS DEALING WITH A
MASSIVE HOMELESS PROBLEM AS YOU
PROBABLY KNOW AND THAT'S ONLY
GOTTEN WORSE DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
PANDEMIC.
PANDEMIC. BUT THERE IS HOPE ON THE
HORIZON FOR HOUSING OPTIONS.
>> DAN HAGGERTY BROKE IT DOWN
ON THE STORY TONIGHT.
PORTLAND HAS BEEN UNDER A
HOUSING EMERGENCY FOR MORE THAN
FIVE YEARS NOW.
COMMISSIONERS PREVIOUSLY VOTED
TO EXTEND IT ANOTHER YEAR
AND THIS WEEK THEY APPROVED
SOME ZONING CHANGES THAT THEY
HOPE WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT.
IT'S CALLED THE SHELTER TO
HOUSING CONTINUANT PROJECT.
WE FIRST TOLD YOU ABOUT LAST
MONTH.
MONTH.
MONTH. IT
MONTH. IT CHANGES CITY CODES THAT
REGULATE WHERE HOMELESS
SHELTERS CAN OPEN UP CREATING A
LOT MORE POTENTIAL SPACE FOR
THEM TO DO SO.
IT ALSO SPEEDS UP THE
PERMITTING PROCESS AND THEY
WAIVE SOME ZONING RESTRICTIONS
TO HELP NONPROFITS AND OTHER
AGENCIES TO OPEN UP THESE
SHELTERS AND ALSO LEGALIZES
LIVING IN RVS AND TINY HOMES ON
WHEELS EVEN IN RESIDENTIAL
AREAS.
AREAS.
AREAS. NOW THE STATE OF OREGON
CONSIDERS THOSE VEHICLES SO
YOU'RE NOT LEGALLY ALLOWED TO
LIVE IN THEM IN THE CITY.
>> BUT PORTLAND HAS ENFORCED
THAT RULE FOR YEARS.
>> THE PLAN ALSO ALLOWS GROUP
HOMES TO BE BUILT IN SINGLE
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AREAS SO
PEOPLE CAN LIVE TOGETHER IN
LARGER GROUPS AND STILL SHARE
COMMON SPACES LIKE KITCHENS
AND BATHROOMS.
AND BATHROOMS. THAT WASN'T UP TO CODE UNTIL
NOW ANY TIME THE CITY MAKES ANY
CHANGES LIKE THIS WE HEAR A LOT
OF PUSHBACK AT FIRST THE PLAN
INCLUDED ALLOWING HOMELESS
CAMPS IN PARKS AND OPEN SPACES
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DID NOT
LIKE THAT.
LIKE THAT. SO THE CITY TOOK THAT IDEA OFF
THE TABLE.
THE TABLE. THERE WAS ALSO SOME CONCERN
THAT EAST PORTLAND WOULD BEAR
THE BRUNT OF THESE NEW SHELTERS
BECAUSE OF A MAP THAT WAS
SHOWING THE AREA'S POTENTIAL
FOR NEW SITES.
THE CITY SAYS THESE MAPS SHOW
THE AMOUNT OF VACANT OR
UNDERUTILIZED LAND BY
NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE SHELTERS
WOULD BE PERMITTED, NOT WHERE
SHELTERS WOULD GO.
THERE IS MORE AVAILABLE LAND IN
OUTER EAST PORTLAND BECAUSE IT
HAS MORE VACANT LAND AND LARGER
PARCELS WHEN IT COMES TO
IMPLEMENTATION, SHELTERS WILL
BE FOCUSED WHERE THERE IS
GREATEST NEED.
GREATEST NEED. ONE THING A PLAN DOES NOT DO IS
ACTUALLY PROVIDE ANY PERMANENT
HOUSING.
HOUSING.
HOUSING. THE CITY SAYS IT'S MEANT TO BE
THE FIRST STEP THOUGH TO START
THIS TRANSITION AND IS WORKING
TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING NOW WHEN YOU DON'T GET
ALONG WITH OTHER PEOPLE OR YOU
HAVE PROBLEMS REINTEGRATING
INTO THE SYSTEM, YOUR DOG IS
ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU.
>> SO I THINK THAT'S VERY
IMPORTANT TO OUR VETERANS THERE
BY OUR SIDE AND GOOD TIMES
AND WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH
AND FOR MANY VETERANS DOGS ARE
SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST PETS.
BUT RIGHT NOW THE COST
OF TAKING CARE OF THEM HAS
BECOME EVEN MORE OF A HARDSHIP
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE LIVING ON
THE STREET.
THE STREET. KATHERINE COOK SHOWS US HOW ONE
NONPROFIT IS TRYING TO HELP
WERE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS
JAKE LYNDE AND JASMINE HAVE
BEEN INSEPERABLE SHE'S THE
GREATEST.
GREATEST.
GREATEST. SHE'S DEFINITELY THE BEST DOG
I'VE EVER HAD.
>> JASMINE IS JAK'S SERVICE DOG
AND I REALLY CAN'T REALLY GO
VERY MANY PLACES WITHOUT EACH
OTHER.
OTHER.
OTHER. >>
OTHER. >> SO JAKE IS AN ARMY VETERAN.
HE'S PRETTY GREAT FOR MANY VETS
IT'S THE KIND OF FRIENDSHIP
THAT GIVES LIFE AND OFTEN SAVES
LIVES ESPECIALLY FOR VETS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS,
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, VETERANS GOING TO TAKE CARE
OF THEIR DOG.
>> SOMETIMES OUR DOGS ARE
BETTER THAN THEY DO.
RETIRED FIRST SERGEANT TINA
KENNEDY SPENT TWENTY TWO YEARS
IN THE ARMY.
>> GOING TO PUT YOU OVER HERE
WITH YOUR OCHOCO SWEETHEART.
FIVE YEARS AGO SHE OPENED FORT
KENNEDY, A NONPROFIT CENTER FOR
HOMELESS VETS IN SOUTHEAST
PORTLAND.
PORTLAND.
PORTLAND. THEY OFFER SHOWERS SERVICES
AND PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING ELSE
THEY NEED ON THE BABY CLOSET
PAPERBACK LIBRARY, LAUNDRY, DOG
FOOD, CAT FOOD.
SINCE THE PANDEMIC HIT, KENNEDY
WHO ALSO BENEFITS FROM A
SERVICE DOG.
SERVICE DOG. IF I START GETTING ANGRY SHE
KIND OF CALMS ME DOWN SAYS
THEIR STOCK OF PET SUPPLIES HAS
GREATLY DIMINISHED A RESOURCE
THAT MEANS EVERYTHING TO VETS
LIKE JAKE.
LIKE JAKE. >> IT IS SUCH A BLESSING.
IT IS SO WONDERFUL BECAUSE LIKE
I I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE
ENDS MEET UNLESS I HAD SOME
HELP LIKE THIS BEFORE GETTING
HELP THROUGH FORT KENNEDY WHERE
HE'S NOW A VOLUNTEER.
>> THIS PLACE IS IT'S CHANGED
MY LIFE.
MY LIFE.
MY LIFE. >> JAKE SPENT A SHORT TIME
LIVING ON THE STREET THE KIND
OF SITUATION WHERE PET CARE IS
EVEN MORE CRITICAL.
>> OH GOOD BOY.
ESPECIALLY LIVING IN THE CAR.
YOU CAN'T HAVE AN ANIMAL WITH
FLEAS LIVING IN YOUR VEHICLE.
IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.
YOU GUYS THINK IT'S BAD IN YOUR
HOUSE?
HOUSE?
HOUSE? >>
HOUSE? >> IMAGINE HAVING THAT IN YOUR
CAR AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE
WARMER WEATHER IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO GET TREATMENT FOR
YOUR PETS.
YOUR PETS. >> EILEEN VALADEZ WORKS FOR
SELLWOOD PET SUPPLY.
THE BUSINESS IS STEPPING UP TO
HELP MEET THAT SPECIFIC NEED.
THEY'RE OFFERING 20 PERCENT OFF
FLEA CONTROL PRODUCTS PURCHASED
AS A DONATION TO FORT KENNEDY
AND WILL MATCH EACH OF THOSE
DONATIONS THROUGH THE MONTH
OF MAY.
OF MAY.
OF MAY. >> IT'S FOR SOME PEOPLE JUST
LIKE IT'S SURVIVAL TO HAVE PETS
WITH THEM.
WITH THEM. >> SO YEAH, DEFINITELY SUPER
IMPORTANT TO HELP.
IT'S AMAZING TO KNOW WHO THE
COMMUNITY IS ACTUALLY
SUPPORTING THE VETERANS HERE
THE KIND OF PARTNERSHIP THAT
MAKES FRIENDSHIPS LIKE THIS ONE