Groups Suing HUD Over New Restrictive Rules
Fair housing groups are suing the Department of Housing and Urban Development over changes they say would gut their ability to serve vulnerable populations in Oregon and nationwide. One new rule requires housing organizations to have a budget of at least 5 million dollars to qualify for grants – knocking out most nonprofits. Erin Kemple with the National Fair Housing Alliance, says small organizations play vital roles in enforcing fair housing practices. For example, she says some families with more than one child have been denied rentals and were told they needed separate bedrooms for each child.
“And that’s actually not true. And that’s the kind of thing that’s going to be missing because of this gap in funding, and because a lot of these smaller organizations may not survive.”
Federal fair housing enforcement has faced severe cuts under the second Trump administration. Officials with HUD say staffing reductions were designed to help focus resources on the agency’s core obligations.
Air Quality Alert
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency have extended an Air Quality Advisory for smoke that remains in effect until further notice. Officials say wildfire smoke combined with forecast weather conditions could push air quality into unhealthy levels across the region. Smoke can cause burning eyes and runny noses, and may worsen heart and lung conditions. Residents are urged to limit outdoor activity when smoke is present, keep children indoors, and follow medical advice if they have respiratory or heart-related health concerns.
E-Bike Safety and Regulation
Communities across the Oregon Coast, including the Florence area, are seeing more people using e-bikes and e-scooters for transportation and recreation. Law enforcement officials are reminding riders that those vehicles come with rules and responsibilities. Operators must generally be at least 16, follow speed and roadway restrictions, and use proper lighting when visibility is limited. Sidewalk use is restricted for many devices, and helmets are required or strongly recommended depending on the vehicle type. Officials say weather, traffic, and rider experience all play a role in safety, and they encourage users to know the laws before heading out.
Lane Use Scam
Lane County Land Management is warning residents about a scam targeting people with active land use applications. Officials say fraudulent emails are requesting additional fees by wire transfer to finalize permit approvals. The messages use real permit numbers and impersonate county employees, but come from non-county email addresses and demand payment through unusual methods. Lane County says it never accepts wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards, and never asks for banking information. Residents are urged to verify any suspicious request before responding.
