On today’s Newsmakers at Noon, the show opens with Haley Hamilton from the Home Builders Association of Marion & Polk Counties, previewing the 2026 Mid-Valley Home Show, happening January 9–11, 2026 at the Oregon State Fairgrounds (Jackman-Long Building) in Salem. Haley shares what attendees can expect and why the event matters for homeowners, builders, and the local economy.
At 12:30, Russ Rodgers, a disabled Marine veteran, and his daughter, Celeste, join the conversation to urge veterans, foster parents, their families, and supporters to submit public comments ahead of the January 15 deadline on Oregon’s Division 15 rules. The discussion covers Veterans Access Pass reductions, the December 15 virtual public hearing, and why community engagement is critical to ensure voices are heard.
The show then turns to state and national political headlines, including reports that Oregon quietly registered non-citizens to vote, ongoing debates over childhood vaccination schedules, potential funding cuts to Oregon FFA, and reaction to the Democrats’ political theater surrounding the January 6 anniversary.
Find more information about Division 15 Rulemaking here: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/prp/pages/prp-division%2015.aspx
