News Stories Jun. 29, 2018

All lanes of US 26 are closed this morning at milepost 48.5 east of Welches, following a head crash. The closure is expected to be lengthy, and detours are being worked on. ODOT recommends avoiding the area or expect delays.

A Washington federal court on Thursday granted a request by the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation for immediate relief to prevent law enforcement from halting their members from selling fireworks sanctioned by tribal permit or confiscating the merchandise. Earlier this week, several fireworks stand operators had been given a day to close their stands or risk arrest and seizure of their merchandise by Klickitat County officials.

WASHINGTON – Sen. Ron Wyden announced the Senate Thursday passed several measures he fought to include in the Senate Farm Bill, including the bipartisan Hemp Farming Act, as well as several provisions to help hop growers and provide drought relief to Oregon farmers. The bipartisan Hemp Farming Act defines hemp as an agricultural commodity and removes it from the list of controlled substances. The Hemp Farming Act gives states the chance to become the main regulators of hemp production, allows hemp researchers to apply for competitive federal grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and makes hemp farmers eligible to apply for crop insurance.

Annual Water Quality Reports for 2017 have been by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. They are available online on the Tribal Website – there are three, the Sidwalter Community Water System, Simnasho-Schoolie Water System and the Warm Springs Water Treatment Plant Community Water System. Information will be posted in the community, in the next Spilyay Tymoo and you can find links on the KWSO website under local news. A Water and Wastewater open house is set for July 9^th at the Community Center from 5:30-8pm for community member to learn more about the reports and get information on current and future water and wastewater projects.