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Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878
Oregon Attorney General in Coos County for Town Hall ODFW seeks comments for Dungeness crabbing rules
By Nate Schwartz World Editor
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield visited the South Coast this week, holding a town hall at the North Bend Senior Center. The event was well attended with extra seats hauled out to accommodate over 30 civically engaged locals on hand to voice their concerns, and in many cases support, for the work of the AG and Oregon’s Department of Justice (ODOJ) The World had the opportunity to interview Rayfield ahead of the event, allowing for more context and color to many of the issues also on the mind of town hall attendees. Rayfield opened By Nate Schwartz the event by addressing the World Editor three main areas of focus for the roughly 1,600-employee departAhead a meeting in Salem on ment, with a budget of nearly $1 August 14, the Oregon Departbillion. ment of Fish and Wildlife are One of the ODOJ’s priorities accepting public comment in reis tackling organized crime. Raygards to further changes to comfield was candid about the budget mercial Dungeness crab fishing issues facing counties and cities, regulations. A major portion of and the direct effects that lack of Coastal Oregon’s fishing industry, funding has on public safety. The (Photo by Nate Schwartz): Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield fielded questions on environmental protection, fighting executive orders and protecting businesses from property crime. Dungeness are a species that have ODOJ comes in to do its part in of providing letters, official ple of the anti-trust work the that would be more a part of the become emblematic of the area’s breaking up the high-level crime department does. Oregon led the ODOJ’s purview. comments and amicus briefs for blue economy. that local sheriff’s offices and po“We put together public safety nine-state coalition that saw that organizations or specific cases These proposed changes would lice departments don’t have the roundtables, which is a combina- merger struck down in the courts. of interest. These help to create be a doubling down on whale resources or man hours to tackle. tion of DAs, Sheriffs and Chiefs. Had it gone through, certain entanglement prevention, for a legal standing for when federal This was pertinent to a which stricter regulations were alcommunities would be beholden We do that a couple times a year or private industry incursions question asked by the Chair ready passed earlier this year. As to just one grocery provider who to talk about how we can work occur. of the Bay Area Chamber of of April 1, 2026, crabbers were held outsized power to set gromore collaboratively together,” When asked by The World Commerce’s Legislative Acrequired to comply with a 20% cery prices and suppress wages Rayfield told The World. “Your where the line between economic tion Committee, Ron Kutch. As reduction in pot limits, mandatory for their employees. local law enforcement do that development and environmental someone who represents to local use of secondary buoy tags, and a Ashley Audycki of local cliday-to-day work. They’re the protections does or should lie, business community, Kutch was depth restriction of 40 fathoms. mate justice organization Rogue Rayfield was quick to describe concerned about the high rates of ones responding to a burglary or While ODFW had been proClimate asked Rayfield about a drug delivery that’s going on that dynamic as an oversimplifiproperty crime in Coos County. posing these changes for several those protections as they pertain in the community. We handle a cation. Rayfield clarified that while years, the adoption was accelto environmental justice. How separate level, like your orga“For us, you enforce the laws most instances of petty theft erated by a higher rate of whale does the ODOJ hold leadership nized crime, a deeper level of that are on the books, and it has and other low-level offenses to and turtle entanglements in the and legislators accountable and investigation. If requested, then businesses will be handled by to be done agnostically. The past two years. In 2024 and 2025 steer economic progress in a way policy decisions about how and we would come down and help local law enforcement, when a record number on humpback that protects our environment out.” cases get complicated the ODOJ when you do things are going to whales were caught in Dungeand public health, especially in Another of those departmental conducts District Attorney Assist happen in the state legislature or ness crabbing gear. According to the context of our current energy priorities is in the realm of conWork, providing guidance and through the administrative rules ODFW, three were recorded in costs? resources where needed. Rayfield sumer protections and economic 2024 and a further four in 2025. Rayfield described the dejustice. Rayfield used the merger used mass-shoplifting linked to TOWN HALL Many of these entanglements are Continued on Page 8 partment’s advisory capacities, larger retail theft rings and online between grocery giants Kroger reported after the whale has alspeaking to the importance and Albertsons as an examfences as an example of crime ready traveled hundreds of miles while encumbered by fishing gear, with some being found as far as Southern California and Mexico. One juvenile humpback was stranded on a Yachats beach earlier this season. According to Crystal Adams, Executive Director at the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, who’s offices are here in Coos Oregon Humane is thrilled to volved with Oregon Humane,” says work in a shelter hospital – gaining Bay, these regulatory changes are announce a $1 million gift to support Albaugh. “As a graduate of Oregon real-world clinic experience includthe veterinary training partnership State University, it was particularly ing high-volume spay/neuter surgery. not unwelcome as long as they with Oregon State University’s Gary meaningful how the two organizaEach year, more than 100 students are reasonable on a financial level R. Carlson, MD, College of Veteritions work together to provide critcomplete a two-week rotation in and lead to positive conservation nary Medicine (CCVM). The donor, ical training for future veterinarians Oregon Humane’s shelter hospital outcomes. Audrey Albaugh of Coos Bay and while caring for the most vulnerable with an option for an additional one “We are regulated to conPortland, is an Oregon State alumna pets in our community. week at the Community Veterinary striction currently, so adding on and generous supporter of Oregon Established in 2007, Oregon HuHospital. regulations is never a good thing, Humane. mane’s innovative partnership with The U.S. is facing a critical veternever a happy thing for the fleet, “My lifelong love of animals, and Oregon State’s CCVM was the first but as long as we do it together the special connection I share with in the country to give fourth-year and the outcome is good,” said Donates my own pets inspired me to get inveterinary students the opportunity to Continued on Page 8 Adams. “If there’s a reason for it, as long as the outcome shows that its effective, we’ll be alright, we’ll work together and figure out how to do this.” The hang up with this recent round of proposed changes is that they are additive, rather than restrictive. The last changes reduced pot sizes and fishing depths, these new changes will families, veterans, and others Fraud Control Unit, became part of Oregon’s U.S. Attorney’s require new electronic monitoring Staff Report who rely on these federal proof Vice President J.D. Vance’s Office: for vessels’ hydraulic systems, Two Oregon defendants grams,” said U.S. Attorney for National Fraud Enforcement Mehrdad Gerami, 67, of Coos will add additional guidelines received criminal charges in con- the District of Oregon, Scott E. Division’s nationwide announce- Bay, Oregon, was charged by for experimental fishing gear nection with healthcare fraud as Bradford. “Strong coordination ment of charges. Across 45 states information with conspiracy permitting, and modify which among local, state, national, and and territories, efforts were led to commit health care fraud in surface gear commercial crabbers announced as part of a national filing day during the Department international partners is essential by 50 state-run Medicaid Fraud connection with medical sleep can use. of Justice’s 2026 National Health to protecting the integrity of our Control Units to bring charges on study testing resulting in a “The first round of regulaCare Fraud Takedown. health care system and ensuring 455 defendants nationwide. loss of at least $2,124,363.41. tions we’ve been working on for “Health care fraud inflates those who exploit it are held Coos Bay included one of As alleged in the information, years,” explained Adams. “This costs, restricts access to critical accountable.” the two fraudsters in Oregon Gerami owned and operated new information is different. services, and siphons taxpayer These investigations, spearannounced during this nationdollars from senior citizens, peo- headed by the Oregon Departwide effort. According to official See DOJ ODFW ple with disabilities, low-income Continued on Page 8 Continued on Page 8 ment of Justice’s Medicaid communication from the District
Coos Bay women donates $1million for veterinary training
Coos Bay man charged with over $2 million in fraud during DOJ Takedown
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