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Federal Insider Trading Case Exposes Questions Over Government Ethics

Merkley and Warren Demand White House Answers

By John Oliver A former White House employee profited from advance knowledge of presidential speeches, drawing federal penalties and a congressional inquiry into financial trading, confidential government information and business interests connected to the president’s family. Oregon U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren are demanding answers from the White House following a federal insider trading enforcement case involving a former presidential employee who used confidential information about President Donald Trump’s speeches to make profitable financial wagers. The congressional inquiry, announced Tuesday, November 10, raises questions about the administration’s internal ethics safeguards, the handling of sensitive government information and potential conflicts of interest involving members of the president’s family and the rapidly expanding prediction-market industry. The investigation centers on Gabriel Perez, a former White House teleprompter operator who used advance knowledge of words and phrases expected to appear in presidential remarks to purchase financial contracts tied to those statements. His trading activity, conducted between December 2025 and February 2026, resulted in a federal civil enforcement action and financial sanctions totaling more than $172,000. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the federal agency responsible for regulating derivatives markets, announced its settlement with Perez on August 28. Under the enforcement order, Perez was required to surrender $107,539.02 in trading profits and pay a $65,000 civil monetary penalty. He was also prohibited from trading in CFTC-regulated markets for three years.

Student Cast and Crew

Bring “Once Upon a Mattress” to Grants Pass High School

The federal action established that Perez had improperly exploited information obtained through his government employment for personal financial benefit. It did not establish that President Trump, his family members or other White House employees participated in the transactions. Merkley and Warren are now seeking to determine whether the administration's existing policies adequately prevent such conduct, whether additional employees have been investigated for similar activity and how officials responded after the trading came to light. Their inquiry was formally directed to White House Counsel Will Scharf in a letter dated November 9, with a requested response deadline of November 23. The controversy reaches beyond one employee's financial transactions. It involves an increasingly sophisticated marketplace in which individuals can wager on political developments, economic announcements, election outcomes and even the precise language used by government officials. The availability of such contracts has created additional opportunities for individuals possessing confidential information to gain a financial advantage over ordinary market participants.

Perez's position placed him in proximity to information that could directly influence the value of those contracts. As a White House teleprompter operator, he had access to prepared presidential remarks before their public delivery. That access allowed him to anticipate particular words or phrases the president was expected to use, information unavailable to most traders purchasing contracts on the same outcomes. The transactions involved Kalshi, a federally regulated prediction-market exchange where participants buy and sell contracts whose value depends on whether specified events occur. Unlike traditional stock purchases, these contracts allow traders to take financial positions on narrowly defined outcomes. A contract might concern whether a particular economic report exceeds expectations, whether a political event occurs or whether a public official uses a specific expression during a scheduled address. When those outcomes depend on information known in advance to a limited number of government employees, the potential for improper trading becomes a matter of federal regulatory concern.

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see MERKLEY, page 7

Grants Pass Senior Earns Beat the Odds Scholarship as College Plans Take Shape By John Oliver A Grants Pass High School senior whose years of personal growth have led to accomplishments in writing, public speaking and athletics has earned a scholarship to help carry those interests into college. Max Fitzgerald is a recipient of the 2026 Beat the Odds Scholarship, a $5,000-a-year award for Oregon students who have overcome significant hardships while succeeding academically. On track to graduate as valedictorian, Fitzgerald plans to study communications or public policy, pursuing fields connected to the writing and speaking that have become central to his high school years. His selection also extends a recent record of scholarship recipients at Grants Pass High School. Four students from the school have earned Beat the Odds awards over the past three years, drawing recognition for both their individual accomplishments and the local programs helping them prepare for higher education. For Fitzgerald, who is neurodivergent, the path

to those accomplishments developed gradually. He spent years learning skills, becoming more comfortable expressing himself and discovering where his abilities could take him. His growth has encompassed the classroom, athletic competition and opportunities to represent his community. Writing became an interest in middle school. By high school, that interest had developed into work for the student newspaper, giving Fitzgerald a place to practice communicating through

the written word while pursuing his academic coursework. His experience also extends to speaking before an audience. Fitzgerald has represented Rogue Valley Boys & Girls Club chapters in the Youth of the Year public speaking competition. Alongside his newspaper work, that participation has helped shape an educational direction in which communication is both an area of study

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see BEAT, page 3

By John Oliver Sixty Grants Pass High School students will bring a kingdom’s matrimonial troubles to the stage November 13 as the school’s Theatre Department opens “Once Upon a Mattress Youth Edition,” a musical comedy whose two-weekend run includes a children’s royal festival and a sensory-friendly performance. The fall production runs through November 22 at the GPHS Performing Arts Center, with students handling both the performances and the creation of its technical elements. Theatre teacher Julia Cuppy directs the musical, joined by choreographer Denise Baker, music director Jamie Banister and producer Tianna Eddy. At the center of the story is a royal decree that has put weddings throughout the kingdom on hold. Queen Aggravain will allow no couples to marry until her son, Prince Dauntless, finds a bride. She also controls the tests each prospective princess must pass, setting impossible standards that have kept the prince single and everyone else waiting. Princess Winnifred the Woebegone arrives from the swamps to challenge that arrangement. Far removed from the delicate royal ideal, Winnifred must face the queen’s Sensitivity Test before she can marry Dauntless. Among those counting on her success are Lady Larken and Sir Harry, whose own path to the altar depends on the royal wedding taking place. The musical recasts “The Princess and the Pea” with songs, courtship and a contest of wills between an unconventional princess and a queen determined to control her son’s future. Its comedy grows from the collision between Winnifred’s personality and the expectations of the royal household, while the kingdom’s other couples have their own reasons to hope she succeeds. Behind the curtain, students in Cuppy’s Technical Theatre class are responsible for designing and creating all technical elements of the production. Professional theatre technicians and designers Wayd Drake, Andrew Eddy, Ruth Sears and Monica McFadden are mentoring the students as that work moves from the classroom to the stage. The production’s November 21 schedule will begin with a Royal Family Festival at 10 a.m., followed by an 11:30 a.m. sensory-friendly performance. The morning event gives children an opportunity to enter the musical’s fairy-tale world before taking their seats for the show. Festival activities include being crowned a

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see ONCE, page 13

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Wednesday, November 11, 2026

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OREGON

Southern Oregon Sets Veterans Day Schedule of Parades, Community Meals and Musical Tributes By Ellen Ward Veterans Day observances will stretch from morning breakfast tables in Ashland and Merlin to evening concert stages in Medford and Roseburg on Wednesday, November 11, with Southern Oregon communities hosting parades, memorial ceremonies, meals and public tributes honoring military service. The day’s schedule gives veterans, families and other residents opportunities to participate close to home or travel to larger regional gatherings. Klamath Falls and Eagle Point will hold morning parades, Central Point will gather at its war memorial, and Grants Pass will offer an afternoon veterans meal before the Josephine County Courthouse’s green illumination marks the final evening of a weeklong tribute. In Merlin, the Veterans Walk of Honor will host its annual breakfast and ceremony at Merlin Community Park, 100 Acorn Street. Breakfast is free for veterans and begins at 9 a.m., followed by the ceremony at 11 a.m. Although the park’s general calendar entry begins at 8 a.m., the detailed program identifies 9 a.m. as the breakfast starting time. Residents seeking additional information can call 541-4256860. Ashland’s Veterans Day breakfast begins earlier, at 7 a.m., at Elks Lodge No. 944, 255 Main Street. Local Scouts and American Legion Post 14 are participating in the free breakfast for veterans. An ending time has not been confirmed for this year’s gathering. Central Point’s Veterans Day Commemoration begins at 9 a.m. at the war memorial in Don Jones Memorial Park, 223 W. Vilas Road. The public program includes guest speakers and recognition of the My Veteran/My Hero tree dedications. Twenty-one trees have been dedicated to local veterans and heroes through the program since 2023. Light refreshments will be available, and the community is welcome to attend. Eagle Point’s observance combines a parade, a walking procession, a school gymnasium ceremony and an afternoon gathering with veterans service organizations. Participants will begin assembling at Eagle Point High School at 9:30 a.m., with the parade departing at 10:15 a.m. Vehicles and floats will start on Nova Street, turn left onto

West Main Street and right onto Royal Avenue, then continue to Highway 62 and the Veterans Affairs Domiciliary in White City. Walking participants will follow a shorter route behind the honor guard. Their procession begins on North Platt Street, turns onto Main Street, Royal Avenue and Napa Street, and returns to the high school. A flyover is scheduled for 11 a.m., when the Veterans Day celebration also begins in the school’s main gymnasium. Lunch follows at 11:30 a.m. Veterans service groups will be available to answer questions from former service members and other residents, with speakers and performances by the Eagle Point High School Band and a local band included in the program. The celebration concludes at 3 p.m. In Klamath Falls, the Veterans Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. at the intersection of South Spring and Main streets. Participants will proceed along Main Street to Veterans Park. The procession is expected to last approximately one hour. Drivers heading downtown should allow additional time. Partial street and lane closures are scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. while traffic-control equipment is installed

and removed. After the parade, Pelican Pointe Assisted Living will host its Home of the Brave Open House and Veteran Luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. at 615 Washburn Way. Residents seeking information about attendance, reservations or any meal charge can contact Amber Anderson at amanderson@CogirUSA.com. Grants Pass veterans can gather later in the afternoon for a free fish-and-chips meal at American Legion Post 28, 206 NW F Street. Auxiliary Unit 28 will serve from 3 to 5 p.m., with beverages available for purchase and donations welcome. Veterans planning to attend are asked to call 541-474-6400 before the meal to reserve a place. Code 4 Taphouse and Eatery, 515 Rogue River Highway, also has a Veterans Day observance scheduled Wednesday, featuring a special menu honoring those who served. Separate event hours, menu prices and eligibility requirements have not been specified. Information is available at 541-476-1775. After dark, the Josephine County Courthouse will remain illuminated in green for the final scheduled night of Operation Green Light for Veterans. The county’s observance began

November 4 and continues through November 11. Residents and businesses have also been invited to participate by displaying a green light. The courthouse illumination is a public tribute rather than a separately scheduled evening ceremony. Medford’s evening program centers on the Southern Oregon Concert Band’s Sweet Land of Liberty concert, scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. in Steadman Auditorium at Oakdale Middle School, 815 S. Oakdale Avenue. The program honors military service while recognizing the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Planned selections include Armed Forces Salute, Hymn to the Fallen and Semper Fidelis, along with a patriotic singalong. Concert information is available at 541-324-0404. Farther north, Canyonville will hold its Veterans Day Remembrance Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial outside City Hall, 250 N. Main Street. The approximately 30-minute program includes guest speakers and musical tributes. A community flyover is planned, weather permitting, and light refreshments will follow. Roseburg’s 71st Annual Douglas County Veterans Day Parade also begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The procession starts at Northeast Jackson Street and Northeast Diamond Lake Boulevard, travels along Jackson Street, turns onto Southeast Lane Street and Southeast Main Street, and concludes in front of the Douglas County Courthouse on Southeast Douglas Avenue. This year’s parade honors America’s 250th anniversary. Spectators can watch from locations along the downtown route. The Umpqua Community College Symphonic Band and Roseburg Concert Chorale will close the day with a Veterans Day concert at 7 p.m. in Jacoby Auditorium, 1140 Umpqua College Road. The ensembles will perform patriotic favorites and traditional selections. General admission is $15, senior admission is $10, and students are admitted free. An event flyer also advertises free admission for veterans, though that provision is omitted from the college’s written announcement. Veterans seeking to confirm admission arrangements can call 541-440-4691 before attending.

Beat the Odds Scholarship awarded to Max Fitzgerald From page 1 and a means of advocating for others. Fitzgerald intends to use his voice to advance understanding, empathy and opportunity. Communications and public policy offer different avenues toward that goal, and both remain among his plans for college. Athletics occupy another part of his high school career. Fitzgerald competes in cross country and track, maintaining those commitments alongside the academic work that has placed him on course to become his class’s valedictorian. Kyle Swanson has observed Fitzgerald in both the classroom and on the track. Swanson taught him Advanced Placement U.S. History and coached him in track at Grants Pass High School, seeing how his approach to learning carries across different settings.

“Max has a special knack of enriching all those around him,” Swanson said. Swanson described Fitzgerald as an independent thinker with an inquisitive approach to his studies. He credited him with seeking a deeper understanding of subjects and bringing out the best in people around him. The scholarship recognizes that combination of academic achievement, personal perseverance and involvement beyond coursework. Established in 2007 through a partnership between Stand for Children Oregon and The Renaissance Foundation, Beat the Odds provides college assistance to Oregon students who have succeeded despite hardships. Applicants must reside in Oregon, be firstgeneration college students and maintain a grade-

point average of at least 3.0. The Renaissance Foundation underwrites the scholarship. The foundation’s Renaissance Scholars Program supports students with significant financial need who will be the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree. Its renewable scholarships provide up to $5,000 annually for expenses including tuition and fees, housing, books and supplies. Scholar events, an online resource library and other programs provide additional support. Janene Kajitani, development director at Stand for Children Oregon, has led the Beat the Odds selection process since the program began. Across those years, she has seen some schools consistently produce substantial numbers of strong applicants.

“Grants Pass High School is a standout,” Kajitani said. “In the past three years, four scholars have been selected from Grants Pass.” She also identified the preparation available to students locally, crediting the high school’s counseling staff and programs that help students consider what comes after graduation. “The counseling team at GPHS is amazing, and programs like AVID and Project Youth+ help students explore and prepare for college and careers,” Kajitani said. For Fitzgerald, the next step is to pursue the college studies that connect his interests in writing, speaking and public service. The scholarship provides financial support for that transition as he works toward completing his senior year at the top of his class.

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

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POLITICS

Oregon Joins Federal Legal Battle Over Veterans’ Medical Care VA Abortion Restrictions Face Court Challenge By John Oliver Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in a federal court challenge to restrictions on abortion services and counseling within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, placing Oregon among the states contesting a Trump administration policy that reversed expanded reproductive health coverage for veterans and eligible family members. The legal action, announced Monday, November 9, comes two days before Veterans Day and raises questions about the federal government's authority to determine which medical services veterans may receive, the circumstances under which physicians can provide pregnancy-related treatment, and the financial consequences for patients who must obtain care outside the VA system. At the center of the dispute is a federal regulation finalized December 31, 2025, that eliminated abortion coverage previously available when a pregnancy threatened a patient's health or resulted from rape or incest. The revised policy also reinstated restrictions on abortion counseling by VA medical professionals. The federal government maintains that life-saving medical treatment remains permissible under applicable VA policy, although the attorneys general contend that the regulatory language creates uncertainty about emergency care. The case, Minority Veterans of America v. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, is pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Oregon is not a plaintiff in the underlying lawsuit. Instead, Rayfield joined attorneys general from 21 other states and the District of Columbia in submitting a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the organization challenging the federal regulation. Filed November 6, the brief asks the appeals court to set aside the VA rule, arguing that the federal government failed to adequately consider the medical consequences, financial burdens and potential disruptions to patient care resulting from its policy reversal. The controversy stems from changes made to veterans' health coverage during two presidential administrations. For more than two decades, the VA generally excluded abortion services and abortion counseling from its medical benefits package. In September 2022, the Biden administration expanded eligibility to permit abortion care when a pregnancy endangered the patient's life or health, or when the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest. The policy also permitted VA medical professionals to discuss abortion as a treatment option. Those provisions applied within the federal veterans' health system, including facilities located in states where abortion services were otherwise restricted under state law. The Trump administration began reversing that policy in 2025, publishing a proposed regulation in August and receiving objections from state attorneys general during the federal rulemaking process. In December, the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion addressing the VA's statutory authority to provide abortion services. The VA subsequently directed implementation of the earlier restrictions before finalizing the regulation at the end of the year. Federal officials maintain that the 2022 ex-

pansion exceeded the authority Congress granted the Department of Veterans Affairs. Under the administration's interpretation, the VA is authorized to provide medical services consistent with federal statutes governing veterans' benefits, but that authority does not extend to the broader abortion coverage established during the Biden administration. The administration also argues that the VA secretary has authority to determine which services are appropriate for inclusion in the federal medical benefits package. The attorneys general dispute that interpretation and contend that the reversal fails to adequately address the medical needs of patients who previously qualified for treatment. The consequences could extend beyond the relatively small number of abortions performed directly through VA facilities. According to figures cited by the Oregon Department of Justice, 73 percent of patients receiving abortion services during the first year of the expanded VA policy had pregnancies that threatened their health. Another 17 percent received treatment following rape, while 10 percent faced pregnancies that threatened their lives. Oregon and the other participating jurisdictions argue that approximately 90 percent of patients who previously qualified for abortion services would no longer be eligible under the revised restrictions. Those percentages describe the patients who received abortion care through the VA during the reporting period. They do not represent the percentage of all veterans who use VA health care or the proportion of Oregon veterans affected by the change. The medical implications are a central part of the legal challenge. Pregnancy complications can involve conditions that threaten a patient's health before becoming immediately life-threatening. Preeclampsia, severe hypertension and gestational diabetes are among the conditions identified in the multistate filing as examples of medical circumstances that can complicate pregnancy. The attorneys general contend that removing the broader health exception may require physicians and patients to wait until a condition reaches a more dangerous stage before certain abortion services become available through the VA. They also challenge the regulation's treatment of emergency medical care, arguing that provisions addressing life-saving services for certain dependents and survivors are not expressed with the same clarity for veterans receiving direct

VA care. The federal government maintains that emergency interventions necessary to save a patient's life remain permissible under its policies. The disagreement concerns how those protections are defined, how physicians are expected to interpret them and whether the regulatory language adequately addresses medical emergencies. The coalition further argues that restricting abortion counseling interferes with the exchange of medical information between patients and their health care providers. Under the revised policy, VA professionals are prohibited from providing abortion counseling as a covered service, reversing the authority granted under the 2022 regulations. For Oregon, the legal dispute presents an additional question because state abortion laws and federal veterans' health policies operate under separate legal authorities. Oregon generally permits abortion services under state law, but those protections do not automatically require federal VA facilities to provide procedures excluded under federal regulations. A veteran living in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Bend, Medford or Grants Pass may therefore have legal access to abortion services through Oregon's civilian medical system while being unable to obtain the same treatment through the VA. That difference can affect where a patient receives care, whether additional medical appointments are necessary and how treatment expenses are covered. In Southern Oregon, the practical consequences may be particularly significant for veterans who depend primarily on VA facilities and have limited alternatives for specialized medical services. Veterans receiving care through the VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics in White City, or through outpatient services serving the Rogue Valley and surrounding communities, are subject to the same federal coverage regulations governing VA facilities elsewhere in the country. The restrictions are not specific to Southern Oregon, and there is no verified public figure establishing how many veterans in Josephine, Jackson, Douglas or Klamath counties have been directly affected. Nevertheless, a patient who previously qualified for pregnancy-related abortion care through the VA may now need to seek treatment through a civilian provider. Depending on the circumstances, that could involve additional travel, separate insurance arrangements or expenses that would not have arisen if the treatment remained available

within the federal system. The availability of civilian services also varies by community. Residents of smaller towns and rural areas may face longer distances to specialized medical providers than patients living in Oregon's larger metropolitan areas. Whether a particular veteran encounters those difficulties depends on individual medical needs, insurance coverage, provider availability and the type of treatment required. The federal regulation does not establish that every veteran seeking pregnancy-related medical care must travel outside the region or pay personally for treatment. The coalition's legal arguments also extend to the potential financial consequences for state governments. When services are unavailable through the VA, eligible patients may seek care through private insurance, civilian medical providers or publicly supported health programs. Oregon's Medicaid program, the Oregon Health Plan, is among the state-supported systems identified as potentially affected by patients seeking care outside the federal veterans' health network. The attorneys general contend that shifting certain services away from the VA could increase financial pressure on state medical assistance programs and other health care resources. However, the Oregon Department of Justice has not released a specific estimate of additional costs to Oregon taxpayers resulting from the VA policy. Nor has the state established how many patients have transferred their care to the Oregon Health Plan because of the restrictions. The dispute also involves differences between direct VA medical benefits and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, commonly known as CHAMPVA. While VA health care primarily serves eligible veterans, CHAMPVA provides qualifying medical coverage to certain spouses, surviving spouses and dependent children. The federal regulation addresses both programs, although the eligibility requirements and coverage provisions are not identical. The attorneys general argue that inconsistencies between those provisions could complicate decisions about emergency treatment and leave patients uncertain about which services are covered. The underlying lawsuit was brought by Minority Veterans of America in May 2026. The organization challenges the legality of the VA's policy reversal under the Administrative Procedure Act, the federal law governing how administrative agencies adopt, revise and justify regulations. The case does not directly ask the court to establish a nationwide constitutional right to abortion. Instead, it asks the judiciary to determine whether the VA acted within its statutory authority and complied with federal administrative requirements when it withdrew previously authorized medical services. The distinction between those legal questions is important to the case. A court could evaluate the legality of the agency's rulemaking without deciding the broader constitutional questions surrounding abortion rights. The participating attorneys general maintain that the VA failed to adequately justify departing from its earlier findings concerning veterans' medical needs. Federal officials, meanwhile, defend the reversal as a return to the agency's longstanding interpretation of the statutes governing veterans' health benefits. Continued on page 7 >>>

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

POLITICS

Merkley and Warren Demand White House Answers From page 1 Perez's activity attracted attention after unusual trading patterns were identified. Kalshi investigated the transactions, froze his account and referred the matter to federal regulators. The resulting CFTC investigation examined trading connected to multiple presidential appearances, including remarks associated with the State of the Union address and the World Economic Forum. Federal regulators determined that Perez had violated duties of trust and confidence associated with his government employment. His cooperation with investigators was considered in determining the financial penalty. The enforcement action was civil rather than criminal. Although federal prosecutors were reportedly informed of the matter, prosecutors in Manhattan declined to open a criminal investigation at that stage. No publicly announced federal criminal indictment against Perez had emerged from the reviewed information as of November 10. The White House had also taken action before the senators announced their inquiry. In July, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Perez had been placed on unpaid administrative leave. Administration officials maintained that employees were expected to comply with government ethics requirements and that the conduct attributed to Perez was unacceptable. The White House Management Office had also distributed an internal memorandum warning employees against using nonpublic information to place prediction-market wagers. By August, Perez was no longer serving in his White House position, although the circumstances of his departure had not been publicly clarified. Those actions form part of the record now being examined by Merkley and Warren, who are seeking a more complete accounting of the administration's response and the protections governing employees with access to confidential information. The senators' letter requests information about internal investigations, ethics training, employee financial disclosures and any changes made to White House policies following the discovery of Perez's trading activity. They also want to know whether other employees have been investigated for similar conduct and whether White House officials communicated with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or the Department of Justice during the Perez investigation. The inquiry seeks details about the officials involved in any such communications, when they occurred and what information was exchanged. The existence of those questions does not establish improper interference with federal investigators. The senators are requesting records and explanations to determine what occurred. Another element of the inquiry concerns the relationship between the president's family and companies operating within the prediction-mar-

ket industry. Donald Trump Jr. has maintained business and advisory relationships involving Kalshi and Polymarket, two prominent companies operating in the market for contracts tied to future events. The senators identify those relationships as potential sources of financial conflicts because the companies operate in an industry subject to federal oversight and regulatory decisions. Their letter references reported financial interests involving Trump Jr. and 1789 Capital, a venture capital firm with which he is associated. Those interests include a reported equity position in Kalshi and a substantial investment involving Polymarket. The letter also addresses plans involving Trump Media and a proposed prediction-market product known as Truth Predict. These business relationships are not, by themselves, evidence of illegal activity. Nor has the Perez enforcement action established that Trump Jr. participated in his trading, supplied confidential information or directed any government employee to place financial wagers. The senators' concern instead involves whether private financial interests connected to the president's family could intersect with decisions made by federal officials responsible for regulating the industry. That question has particular significance because the Commodity Futures Trading Commission exercises authority over derivatives markets and certain event contracts, including products whose popularity has increased as political and economic wagering has become more accessible. Federal oversight determines which contracts may be offered, how trading platforms operate and what conduct violates market rules. The growing intersection between political information and financial speculation has compli-

cated traditional boundaries between government ethics and market regulation. Federal employees have long been subject to restrictions governing conflicts of interest, misuse of official positions and unauthorized disclosure of protected information. Those obligations apply regardless of whether a financial transaction involves conventional securities or newer forms of regulated derivatives. Prediction markets introduce an additional consideration because some contracts can be settled according to government decisions or statements that public employees may know about before the general public. An employee who learns the contents of a presidential speech, an impending policy announcement or another confidential government decision may possess information capable of affecting contract prices before the event becomes public. The Perez case demonstrates how that informational advantage can translate into financial transactions and, when misused, federal enforcement penalties. For Merkley, the issue places Oregon directly within a congressional examination of executive-branch accountability and the protection of government information. The senator's involvement does not mean that Oregon officials or residents participated in the trading activity. No Oregon state agency or Southern Oregon institution has been identified as a participant in the Perez matter, and the congressional inquiry has not produced any immediate change in Oregon law. Nevertheless, federal ethics requirements and the regulation of financial markets apply nationally. Oregon residents who participate in federally regulated trading platforms operate under the same market framework as participants else-

where in the country. The inquiry also concerns the conduct of federal employees whose salaries are supported by taxpayers across all 50 states, including Oregon. Government ethics policies are intended to prevent public employees from converting access obtained through official duties into private financial advantages. Enforcement of those requirements depends on internal supervision, disclosure obligations, independent regulatory oversight and appropriate disciplinary procedures. The White House's documented response to the Perez case included administrative leave and employee guidance. Whether additional measures were implemented, and whether the administration considers its existing safeguards sufficient, are among the matters the senators want explained. The letter further asks about the outcome of the internal employment investigation and whether presidential clemency would be considered if Perez were to face criminal liability. That question does not establish that a criminal prosecution is pending or that a pardon has been discussed within the administration. The distinction between the completed federal enforcement case and the broader congressional inquiry remains important. Perez's improper trading was addressed through a formal regulatory settlement. The questions involving additional White House employees, internal communications, presidential family business interests and the adequacy of administration safeguards remain subjects of congressional examination rather than established findings of misconduct. The November 23 deadline gives the White House approximately two weeks to respond to the senators' requests. The date was established by Merkley and Warren in their oversight correspondence and is not a deadline imposed by a federal court. The administration's response could clarify the extent of its internal investigation, identify additional safeguards adopted after the incident and provide information about communications with federal regulators. Whether the requested records will be supplied in full remains undetermined. For federal regulators, the Perez settlement has already established that the misuse of confidential government information in prediction-market trading can carry substantial financial penalties and restrictions on future participation. For Congress, the unanswered questions concern the broader system responsible for preventing that conduct before it occurs. The next development will depend on what the administration discloses, whether additional records become public and whether the congressional inquiry identifies conduct extending beyond the violations already established in the Perez enforcement action.

For Oregon veterans, that means the outcome of the federal litigation could determine whether certain reproductive health services are once again available through VA medical facilities, regardless of the broader protections established under Oregon law. Rayfield's participation places Oregon alongside Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia,

Washington and the District of Columbia. The coalition's filing does not suspend the federal regulation, and the appeals court has not issued a final decision resolving the challenge. Until the court rules or the federal government changes its policy, the restrictions adopted in December 2025 remain in effect. For veterans and eligible family members across Oregon, including those receiving care in the state's rural communities, the pending decision will help determine the scope of pregnan-

cy-related abortion services available through the federal health care system and the circumstances under which patients must obtain those services elsewhere. The case now places that question before a federal appeals court, where judges must evaluate the authority Congress granted the Department of Veterans Affairs, the administration's justification for reversing its earlier policy and the legal requirements governing medical benefits for those who have served in the United States military.

VETERANS from page 5 The legal proceedings follow a period of substantial changes in abortion law and federal health policy after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Although individual states now maintain differing abortion laws, federal medical programs continue to operate under regulations established by Congress and the executive branch. The resulting differences can affect patients whose health coverage comes through federal agencies rather than conventional private or state-regulated insurance.

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Relentless Heroes’ mission is to assist local Veterans when other programs or benefits cannot meet their needs in a timely manner. We work closely with the local Vet Center and provide assistance to individual Veterans during their time of need. Relentless Heroes has been able to make this possible through generous donations and community support. We would love it if you could join us in our mission to expand and continue to help our local veterans.

Click here to donate www.relentlessheroes.org “Every Veteran, Every Day”

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

NATIONAL

Threat Prompts U.S. to Disperse Military Aircraft from England By Ellen Ward A security threat prompted the United States to move refueling tankers and other military aircraft out of an air base in eastern England on Monday, scattering aircraft among installations across Europe while strengthening security at two bases used by American forces. The departures from RAF Mildenhall on November 9 marked the second time in less than two months that a threat involving a British installation had led to the withdrawal of American aircraft. U.S. officials described Monday’s movements as a precaution, undertaken before an attack occurred, but withheld details about the danger that triggered them. U.S. officials confirmed that a threat had prompted the relocation without identifying its origin. By Tuesday, American authorities had not publicly disclosed a suspected method of attack, a timetable or the intelligence behind their decision. Flight-tracking records showed at least 10 KC-135R Stratotankers leaving Mildenhall, with destinations including Germany, Scotland and Spain. Osprey aircraft also departed, including movements to nearby RAF Lakenheath. Initial counts differed as flight analysts tracked aircraft leaving the installation and arriving elsewhere. The departures involved aircraft with a central role in sustaining American air operations. Mildenhall houses the 100th Air Refueling Wing, the only permanently assigned U.S. refueling wing in the European region. Its tankers transfer fuel to other aircraft in flight, allowing them to travel farther and remain airborne longer. The installation also supports American special operations aviation. Some of the aircraft moved Monday

were permanently stationed at Mildenhall. Others were visiting or passing through. A U.S. official said they could return, but authorities announced no schedule for bringing them back. Security precautions extended beyond the aircraft departures. An American official confirmed that enhanced protective measures were in place at both Mildenhall and Lakenheath, although the military did not specify when those measures began or what restrictions they imposed. Reports indicated that the security posture had risen to Force Protection Condition Charlie, the second-highest level in the U.S. military’s system. The designation applies when an incident occurs or intelligence indicates that terrorist action against personnel or facilities is likely. The Pentagon had not immediately confirmed that specific alert level publicly. The latest threat follows a separate security investigation at RAF Fairford, another British base used by American forces. U.S. bombers were withdrawn from that installation amid an investigation into a suspected Iran-linked plot. British authorities subsequently charged two men under the National Security Act. The two episodes have raised questions about threats to American military operations on British soil, but authorities have not publicly established a connection between them. The Fairford investigation does not, by itself, explain what prompted Monday’s action at Mildenhall. Britain’s government said Tuesday that its bases remained safe and that their protection was a priority. British and American authorities were exchang-

ing intelligence and assessing threats together as the United States adjusted its aircraft deployments. American military officials said they were taking coordinated steps to protect U.S. and British personnel and their families. They declined to detail aircraft movements or specific security measures, citing operational security. The decision to disperse the aircraft reflects the military’s ability to shift operations among allied installations when commanders identify a potential danger. It does not establish that an attack was imminent, and officials have not announced that the Mildenhall threat resulted in an attempted strike. For now, the aircraft movements are more visible than the threat behind them. Tankers and Ospreys have left their usual operating location, security has increased at two American-used bases, and the intelligence that drove those decisions remains undisclosed. No return date or conditions for restoring the previous security posture had been announced Tuesday.

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

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Wednesday, November 11, 2026

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Wednesday, November 11, 2026

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

EVENTS

Steam Distillery marks five years with a move to Fifth Street By Bryce Robinson Steam Distillery opened five years ago in a former brewery banquet room. This Friday, the Grants Pass business will mark its anniversary at a new address with a familiar word in its history. The building at Fifth and H streets was once home to the Grants Pass Steam Laundry. The distillery will celebrate the opening of its new location Friday, Nov. 13, at 234 SW Fifth St., where the Horny Goat Gastro Pub previously operated. The public event runs from 5 to 6 p.m., with ambassadors from the Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce joining the business for a ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. The move takes Steam a few blocks from 505 SW G St., where it opened to the public in 2021. Michael Blair, Terry Hopkins and Scott Davis founded the company in 2019. By the time the bar and restaurant opened two years later, Blair was making small batches of vodka and gin on site, giving the bartenders house spirits to work with from the start. Steam occupied the former banquet room at Climate City Brewing, in a building that had housed one of Grants Pass’ earliest breweries. The distillery brought Victorian and steampunk design into the room, and in July 2021 the city’s Historical Buildings and Sites Commission reviewed a custom sign for the business. Commissioners approved the design after considering how it would fit the historic building. A local welder was tapped to make it. At the bar, flavored vodkas went into seltzers and a lavender lemongrass Collins was among the early cocktails. The distillery’s line-

term arrangement for Weekend Beer Company to serve from the site during Art Along the Rogue. The early October festival brought chalk artists to Fifth and H streets, with work on display along the blocks surrounding the former pub. Both of Steam’s addresses are in the same historic district, though each building came to the business by a different route. On G Street, a brewery’s banquet room became a place to make spirits and serve dinner. On Fifth Street, a building that spent decades as a laundry had already become a restaurant before Steam took over the corner.

up has also included a Mediterranean-style gin and an agave spirit. Customers could sit down for dinner and order a drink made with spirits produced in the same building. The Fifth Street address has been part of downtown commerce for more than a century. W.H. Baker built the laundry in 1903, moving an operation that had started across the street. Fire insurance maps from 1907 and 1911 identify it as Elite Laundry. It later operated as Grants Pass Laundry and Dry Cleaners, and laundry work continued at the site into the 1960s. Rogue Gold Cheese acquired

the property in 1970. The one-story building is part of the G Street Historic District. Its angled entrance faces the intersection, and its concrete construction was unusual for Grants Pass at the time. The property appears under its former H Street address in the district’s historic registration. In more recent years, diners knew the building as Roux 26 and later as the Horny Goat. Steam announced the move in September. While the property was between tenants, the Grants Pass City Council approved a short-

Hillcrest Village Cuts Ribbon Wednesday on 36 Affordable Apartments in Grants Pass By Ellen Ward Hillcrest Village will mark its grand opening Wednesday with a ribbon cutting at 952 NE Hillcrest Drive in Grants Pass, where the first affordable housing development in Josephine County designed specifically for veterans is preparing to welcome residents. The 36-apartment community reserves half of its homes for veterans and gives veterans priority for the other half. The Mid Rogue Foundation announced the project in February 2024, when it laid out plans to build affordable rentals on land it owned along Northeast Hillcrest Drive. The foundation broke ground in September 2025. Three residential buildings now hold a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, with a fourth building set aside for community services. The foundation planned the development with older residents and people with disabilities in mind. Its design called for step-free access, wider hallways and accessible bathrooms so residents could stay in their homes as their mobility needs change. The grounds include walking paths and garden space. Each apartment has air conditioning and its own washer and dryer. Water, sewer and garbage service are included in the rent.

The 18 homes set aside through Oregon’s Veterans General Housing Account Program require verification of military service. For the remaining apartments, veterans receive preference, and households without military service can also qualify. Applicants seeking veteran preference can document their service with a DD Form 214 or be referred through a qualifying agency. Household income is capped at 60 percent of the area median income under both

housing programs at the property. The dollar limit varies with household size. One-bedroom apartments can accommodate one to three people, and two-bedroom apartments are available to households of two to five under the property’s occupancy standards. The development charges no application fee and accepts tenant-based vouchers and other government rental assistance for qualifying apartments under Oregon’s Local Innovation and Fast Track Housing Program.

Getting municipal water to the property was a separate part of the project. The City of Grants Pass provided a $780,000 grant to help extend a water main to the site. The housing development drew funding from Oregon Housing and Community Services, People’s Bank, AllCare Health, the Carpenter Foundation, Four Way Community Foundation and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated through Josephine County. Home First Development served as the foundation’s development consultant, and CIDA designed the buildings. The foundation’s plans placed the community services building alongside the residential buildings and incorporated shared outdoor space into the site. Inside the apartments, the design included quartz countertops, vinyl plank flooring and energy-efficient fixtures. Leasing opened ahead of Wednesday’s ceremony. Prospective tenants can reach the leasing office at 503-405-5128 for current rents and apartment availability. The Mid Rogue Foundation has set a November or December target for the first move-ins. That puts the first leases on track to follow the ribbon cutting this fall, roughly a year after work began on the property.

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

ECONOMY

Postage Costs More, and a Fraction of an Ounce Can Still Send a Letter Back By Bryce Robinson A customer in Grants Pass can put an 82-cent Forever stamp on a standard business envelope, drop it in a mailbox and find it back in the mail days later. The envelope can be the right size, the address can be correct and the stamp can be valid. At 1.1 ounces, the letter needs another 29 cents. By the time the sender learns what was missing, a payment or an application may already be late. That is a costly way to communicate a small price difference. The Postal Service has a rate for each kind of envelope it handles, but the item most people use to pay for a letter offers little guidance about those rates. The word Forever tells customers the stamp will stay valid. The stamp itself carries no dollar amount and gives no indication that one ounce is the cutoff. For someone mailing a few documents from home, the difference between 0.9 and 1.1 ounces is hard to feel and impossible to judge by looking at the envelope. The absence of a printed price serves a purpose. A Forever stamp bought for 41 cents when it debuted in 2007 is worth 82 cents in postage today. Its value rises with the price of mailing a standard one-ounce First-Class letter. The stamp still does what it was designed to do. The communication problem is that customers have to look elsewhere to learn when one stamp stops being enough. A flexible domestic letter weighing up to one ounce costs 82 cents. Once it crosses that threshold, the price rises to $1.11 through two ounces. A square, rigid or lumpy letter can incur a 49-cent surcharge even if it

weighs less than an ounce, bringing the total to $1.31. A flexible large envelope that qualifies for the flat rate starts at $1.69. A card with a stiff insert can cost more to mail than a stack of paper that weighs the same. USPS already has one nationwide price for a basic letter. A qualifying envelope mailed from Grants Pass to Medford costs the same as one sent to Maine. The differences begin with what the Postal Service has to handle. A light, flexible envelope can pass through automated sorting equipment. A rigid or un-

even envelope can require separate handling. There is an economic reason to charge differently for those pieces. There is also a case for putting the weight limit and the most common extra charges in plain view where people buy stamps and drop off mail. The cost of getting that calculation right has grown. A basic stamp cost 58 cents in August 2021. It reached 82 cents in July 2026, an increase of about 41 percent in just under five years. For an Oregon business sending 1,000 invoices or notices at the retail stamp rate, that

is $240 more in postage alone. Returned mail adds staff time and can delay the payment the business sent the invoice to collect. The Postal Service faces its own arithmetic. It handles fewer pieces of mail while serving more addresses, leaving fewer letters over which to spread the cost of running the network. USPS reported higher compensation, benefit and fuel costs in its spring quarter and a $6.5 billion net loss for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. Those pressures help explain why postage has risen. They also make it more important for customers to know what they owe before an envelope enters the system. In Southern Oregon, the price increases come amid concerns about how quickly mail moves. Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley challenged the decision to move outgoing mail processing out of Medford, citing the consequences for rural residents, seniors and small businesses. Federal auditors found that postal cost-cutting slowed some mail, and postal oversight bodies have warned that rural customers are especially exposed to service changes. An envelope that has to make a second trip adds another delay to a delivery the sender may already have little room to spare. Underpaid letters can reach the recipient with postage due. Others come back, and the sender can add the difference without buying the original postage again. For a household mailing a check or a business waiting on a signed contract, the 29 cents may be the smallest cost in the transaction. By the time the envelope comes back, the days it spent in the mail are already gone.

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

GRANTS PASS TRIBUNE

COMMUNITY Happy Alpaca’s First Holiday Catalog Extends Jacksonville Toy Store Tradition Into Rogue Valley Homes By John Oliver Holiday wish lists are moving from a Jacksonville storefront to kitchen tables across the Rogue Valley as Happy Alpaca Toys & Supply introduces its first printed Christmas catalog, expanding the reach of a business that kept a longtime downtown toy-store location in use. The catalog is arriving in mailboxes ahead of the holiday shopping season, featuring merchandise available at the independently owned shop at 180 W. California Street. Families can request a complimentary copy, browse the selection together and mark potential gifts before visiting the store. Mailed copies also include exclusive coupons. For Happy Alpaca, which opened in 2022, the publication represents an effort to reach customers beyond those who already know the shop at California and Oregon streets. For families familiar with the former Scheffel’s Toys & More, it adds another chapter to a corner’s decades-long association with children’s toys and holiday shopping. “Every toy in our store is there because we think it’s something special,” said Amy Kranenburg, co-owner of Happy Alpaca Toys & Supply. “Creating our first holiday catalog gives us a chance to share some of those favorites with a much bigger audience and hopefully introduce Happy Alpaca to families who haven’t found us yet.” The store developed the catalog in partnership with The Good Toy Group, a cooperative that helps independent toy retailers produce catalogs and coordinate marketing. The publication brings a selection of Happy Alpaca’s merchandise into homes while directing purchases back to the Jacksonville shop. Customers can also view the catalog digitally, although the business does not offer online ordering. The printed and digital editions allow shoppers to identify gifts in advance, then examine them in person or call to arrange a purchase for pickup. The distinction between browsing and buying is practical for families traveling from elsewhere in the valley. Catalog merchandise is available while supplies last, and a marked page does not reserve an item. Customers can call to confirm availability before making the trip. Paid holds require payment in full, with purchases set aside for up to seven days. If an item remains uncollected after that period, the store refunds the purchase and returns it to inventory. Gift wrapping is available at no charge. Inside the shop, the merchandise extends beyond the seasonal catalog. Wooden toys, building sets, dolls, stuffed animals, books, puzzles, art supplies and family games share space with a children’s clothing boutique. Brands carried by the store include Brio, Plan Toys, Lego, Calico Critters and Ravensburger. Several play areas allow children to handle toys during a visit. A train table, dollhouse and wooden kitchen provide places to build and rearrange, while a piano is available for visitors to play. A life-size alpaca near the entrance reflects the name Kranenburg and her family chose for the business. The store’s founding followed the closure of Scheffel’s Toys & More, whose former prem-

GRANTS PASS WEATHER 5 DAY OUTLOOK SOURCE: WEATHER.COM

WEDNESDAY

Mostly sunny 69/41

THURSDAY

Mostly cloudy 65/47

ises required approximately six months of renovation before Happy Alpaca opened. Kranenburg and her brother, Aaron Butler, chose to continue operating a toy store in the historic Fisher Building after the family purchased the property. That decision preserved a familiar use for a prominent downtown corner. The location had housed a toy store for about 30 years, giving the new business an existing connection to residents who had visited as children or brought their own families there. The siblings’ roots extend across Southern Oregon. They grew up in Keno, above the Klamath River, as the children of educators, and both trained as lawyers. Kranenburg raised her three sons in Jacksonville, while Butler raised his son and daughter in Miami. Their experiences buying books, games and toys for their own children helped shape the store’s inventory. The holiday catalog now gives that selection a wider audience through a cooperative established for a similar purpose more than two decades ago. The Good Toy Group began in 1999, when 21 independent toy-store owners gathered at the New York Toy Fair to discuss producing a shared holiday catalog. The organization reports that its membership has grown to approximately 120 members operating more than 200 storefronts in the United States and Canada. Its catalog program allows participating businesses to combine a professionally produced merchandise selection with their own store information and special offers. The cooperative also provides related digital marketing materials. Happy Alpaca’s participation connects the Jacksonville business with those shared resources while retaining its own name, location and purchasing arrangements. The launch comes as downtown Jacksonville prepares for Victorian Christmas, with community events scheduled throughout the weeks when families will be making holiday purchases. Happy Alpaca is already decorated for the season, and several activities will take place within the downtown area surrounding the store. The community tree lighting is scheduled for November 28 at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 206 N. Fifth Street. The holiday parade follows on December 5 at 10 a.m., with California and Fifth streets listed as the event location. Father Christmas visits are scheduled at the U.S. Hotel, at California and Third streets, on Saturdays and Sundays from November 29 through December 20. The visits run from

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are free. Holiday lights trolley tours begin December 1, offering an evening activity for visitors spending time in Jacksonville during the season. Those events provide opportunities to combine a shopping trip with other downtown activities, although the catalog itself is available now. Families do not need to wait for the Christmas events to request a copy or check on a gift. Happy Alpaca’s posted hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The business will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas and will close at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Complimentary catalogs can be requested at happyalpacakids.com or collected at the store. Customers can check merchandise availability and arrange paid holds by calling 541-899-7421.

FRIDAY Rain 52/42

SATURDAY Rain 58/44

SUNDAY Cloudy, rain likely 51/36

“Once Upon a Mattress” at GPHS From page 1 princess or prince, meeting the royal family, learning to curtsey, riding a pony and fighting a dragon. Games and refreshments are also included. Admission is $25 per participating child and covers all festival activities along with the performance afterward. The sensory-friendly show will feature reduced sound levels and a softly lit auditorium. Advance notice will be provided before loud or surprising sounds, allowing audience members to anticipate those moments during the performance. Opening night is Friday, November 13, at 7 p.m. The first weekend continues with 2 p.m. performances on Saturday, November 14, and Sunday, Novem-

ber 15. The musical returns Friday, November 20, at 7 p.m., followed by the Saturday morning festival and sensory-friendly show. The final performance is Sunday, November 22, at 2 p.m. Regular performance tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors, with free admission for children ages 5 and younger. Families can also purchase a $40 Family of Four package. Tickets and further details are available through the GPHS Theatre website at gphstheatre.com. “Once Upon a Mattress Youth Edition” is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals.