Local News
KWSO News 5/14/19
May
Oregon state Senators approved a multi-billion dollar business tax plan yesterday (5/13/19)on an 18-to-11 vote. Democrats hailed House Bill 3427, also known as the Student Success Act, and said it would reverse decades of underfunding the state’s schools. Democratic Senator Betsy Johnson has been known to go against her party. She was a key ‘yes’ vote on the tax plan but said she still wants to see lawmakers fix the state’s pension system to ensure the money makes it to the classroom. The state public employee pension system, or PERS, faces a massive debt. Johnson said ” Absent a significant fix to PERS the outcomes we so desperately want for schools will not be realized.” The school funding measure now goes to Governor Kate Brown who has said she will sign it. The governor has made education funding her priority this session. She helped negotiate the deal that brought Republican Senators back to Salem MONDAY after a four-day walkout designed to delay the tax vote.
Local fire agencies and prevention organizations across Oregon urge the public to consider alternatives to burning yard debris, as unseasonably warm and dry conditions are already causing fires across the state. While fire season has yet to be declared on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry, 126 fires have already burned nearly 1,000 acres in 2019. Warm and dry conditions during May have led to more than 70 fires, catching many people off guard and prompting county-wide burn bans in several areas across the state. “The window to burn safely has closed,” says ODF Fire Prevention Coordinator Tom Fields. “If chipping or recycling is not an option, then it’s best to hold off until after fire season next fall.” To do debris burns in Warm Springs – you must have a burn permit. You can get one and learn more about conditions and safety practices by stopping by Warm Springs Fire Management’s Dispatch office.
Another sign that summer is coming is a reminder from the Boys and Girls Club of Warm Springs to sign up your youth for the club’s summer program that will begin after the last day of school on June 11th. There is a $25 fee for the summer program – with scholarships available to qualifying families through the Warm Springs Housing Authority. Membership forms with updated contact information must be completed and fees paid to participate in Summer Programming that will include special events and daily activities plus Breakfast and Lunch through the Jefferson County 509J summer meal program.
Warm Springs Prevention and TRACES – which stands for Trauma, Resilience & Adverse Childhood Experiences) is hosting a Trauma, Healing and Resiliency Conference later this month on May 29th and 30th. The two full day sessions will be held at the Museum at Warm Springs. Everyone is invited to attend and participate. Sessions will focus on the Physical, Emotional, Spiritual and Mental aspects of dealing with Trauma and Healing. The conference is part of the Methamphetamine and Suicide Prevention Initiative. To learn more – you can speak to Rosanna Jackson at Warm Springs Prevention.
The NBA Conference Finals begin tonight when the Portland Trailblazers travel to Oakland to face the Golden State Warriors in the Western series. Tip off is at 6pm with the game being televised on ESPN . Tomorrow the Raptors and Bucks have their Eastern Conference game one in Milwaukee.
