More than 11,000 Oregonians impacted in data breach settlement with vision care provider
Oregon and three other states recently reached a $2.5 million settlement with EyeMed Vision Care, resolving an investigation into a data breach affecting millions of customers. An estimated 2.1 million people were affected, including more than 11,000 Oregonians, according to a statement from Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. An unauthorized user gained access to the EyeMed email account in June 2020, exposing approximately six years of personal and medical information, including Social Security numbers, full names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, vision insurance account/identification numbers, medical diagnoses and conditions, and treatment information. After the unauthorized user gained access, approximately 2,000 phishing emails were sent from the compromised email account. The settlement with the states of Oregon, New Jersey, Florida and Pennsylvania does not include personal restitution. There is a pending private class action lawsuit. (OPB Staff)
State plans to pause applications for the homeowner assistance fund
Oregon Housing and Community Services plans to pause accepting new applications for the Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund at the end of this month. The fund provides assistance to eligible homeowners who’ve fallen behind on mortgage payments and are at-risk of losing their home in foreclosure. The agency says the move will allow it to address a backlog of applications and better project the amount of federal HAF funds remaining for homeowners. It isn’t the first time the agency has had to pause applications. At the end of 2022, applications were halted for the same reasons and reopened in March. To serve the most at-risk homeowners, as an exception to this pause, OHCS will continue to accept new applications submitted by housing counselors on behalf of homeowners who are in a judicial foreclosure or forfeiture action, or have a verified foreclosure sale date. (OPB Staff)
To help solve homelessness, Central Oregon Villages thinks big with tiny homes
With homelessness on the rise in Central Oregon, a plan to provide more shelter is taking shape. Earlier this week, construction began on the first of 20 so-called “pallet shelters” on church property near 27th Street and Bear Creek Road in Bend. Five of those easy-to-build shelters, which are a quick and temporary solution to homelessness, are expected to become the homes for four women and one family with children by the end of May. In October, the Bend City Council unanimously approved a three-year contract to Central Oregon Villages with $1.45 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to assist operations. Entry for older women and families with children who are homeless will be the first priority, but the shelters will be open to individuals who pass a criminal background check, abstain from drugs and alcohol, and participate in a case management program with the nonprofit. (Anna Kaminski/The Bend Bulletin)
Ashland measure to redirect food and beverage tax money to parks too close to call
The vote in Ashland to redirect the city’s tax on prepared foods and restaurant meals to fund parks is hanging by a thread. As of Wednesday morning, the measure was being narrowly rejected by voters, with just 40 votes separating the two sides. Supporters say the additional money is a must to cover ongoing parks maintenance costs, but critics of the idea argue the city will use the added money irresponsibly. It could be weeks before the final results are known. According to Jackson County Clerk Chris Walker, ballots will be accepted up to a week after the election, as long as they were postmarked by May 16, and voters also have 21 days to fix issues like a signature mismatch. (Roman Battaglia/Jefferson Public Radio)