KWSO News for Tue., Jan. 6, 2026

Coach John Charles invites youth to Sunday sports camps in Warm Springs

Youth interested in doing something every Sunday to stay active and have fun can check out the Academy for PIRS’ Sports Agility Camps that are making a return to the Warm Springs Reservation.

John Charles is the Executive Director and Founder of The Academy for PIRS, says this will be the fourth year having camps at Warm Springs, every Sunday for about 20 weeks. This year the first camp is on January 11th and they will go all the way towards the end of April.

Charles says, “Camps are for kids that are from ages 9 to 18 years old. And it’s agility, basketball centric. We come in and we talk a little bit, just a little bit about prevention, intervention and recovery. You know, how to get out of situations that they might be facing at schools. But then the biggest thing is just let them play, educate them on how to work out, how to eat right before a game or before competition, how to eat after a competition.”

They provide snacks for during or after the workout. Charles encourages youth to enjoy a Sunday with others. “It’s just a place for people to just come and have fun, relax. No screen time, no phone, no computer. Just good old, old fashioned playing sports.”

The Agility Camps will be at the Old Elementary School Gym, 1112 Wasco Street in Warm Springs from 12:30 – 2:30 PM.

 

Telecom celebrating the start of Fiber to the Home project on the reservation

Warm Springs Telecom is going to be having their Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Warm Springs Fiber to the Home project this Thursday 10 AM to 12 PM at the Tribal Administration Building.

Everyone is invited to join Telecom as they celebrate a historic milestone for the community—the beginning of fiber optic installation bringing high-speed internet to up to 900 homes.

Refreshments will follow the ceremony, across the parking lot at the Credit Enterprise building.

 

CTWS Tribal Council hearing Tribal Member Concerns this morning

Tribal Council is scheduled to meet today with Tribal Member Concerns on the morning agenda beginning at 9:00 this morning. At 1:30, Cheryl Tom & Reona Trimble will present on the Early Childhood Education Center, followed by the Joint Health Commission at 2:30 and at 3:30 is a Miss Warm Springs Update from Waurica Miller and Minnie Yahtin.

 

DMV giving preference to rural customers for scheduling drive tests

Oregon DMV now gives local preference to rural customers scheduling behind-the-wheel drive tests for Class C driver licenses, the basic license for passenger cars.

As of Jan. 1, Senate Bill 9 requires DMV field offices in 20 rural counties to give priority to applicants who live within the same county, live within 50 miles of a DMV field office, or live in one of two counties without a DMV office.

Oregon DMV says, “Giving local preference will improve the drive test process for people who live in less populated areas.” Customers in rural counties can face challenges getting a driver’s license due to the limited number of drive tests offered in their area, combined with the fact that customers from across Oregon sometimes come to those locations for a test.

The 20 rural counties include Crook, Jefferson and Wasco. DMV will offer rural customers three different options to schedule local preference Class C drive tests:

• At their local DMV office through the lobby check-in kiosk
• Scheduling with an employee at the DMV office
• Calling DMV Customer Assistance

 

Heavy snow, hazardous travel conditions expected in Oregon mountain passes this week

Heavy snow in the next couple days could lead to treacherous travel conditions in Pacific Northwest mountain passes.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning along the Cascades. It covers parts of Washington down to Central Oregon, this morning through Thursday afternoon. Up to 30 inches of snow could fall at areas above 25-hundred feet. The weather service warns the heavy snowfall, and low visibility could create extremely dangerous driving conditions. Gusty winds could also bring down tree branches and power lines.

Along the Southern Oregon Cascades, a winter storm watch is in effect this morning through Thursday morning for snow and strong winds. The forecasts for most of Oregon show temperatures rising and precipitation ending before the weekend.

 

Corporation for Public Broadcasting votes to dissolve after Congress defunding

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced Monday that its Board of Directors voted to dissolve the organization after 58 years of service to the American public. The decision follows Congress’s rescission of all of CPB’s federal funding and comes after sustained political attacks that made it impossible for CPB to continue operating as the Public Broadcasting Act intended.

First authorized by Congress under the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, CPB helped build and sustain a nationwide public media system of more than 1,500 locally owned and operated public radio and television stations, including KWSO.

CPB wrote in a press release Monday, “While CPB’s chapter is ending, the mission of public media endures. Local stations, producers, journalists, and educators across the country will continue serving their communities, informing the public, and elevating local voices.”

 

Causeway removal project kicks off, a big step to improve salmon habitat

A small project at the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia rivers could make a big difference for salmon. That project officially kicked off Monday. Northwest Public Broadcasting’s senior environmental correspondent Courtney Flatt reports was there.

“For decades, the Bateman causeway connected the Richland shoreline to an island popular with Tri-Cities anglers, birders and nature enthusiasts. But, that land bridge also blocked the Yakima River — creating a pool of warm water that was deadly for migrating salmon.

Joe Blodgett is with Yakama Nation Fisheries. He’s hopeful removing the causeway will help migrating salmon, he says, “This is going to be very beneficial in helping the goals of having all stocks that were once here in the Yakima (River) be able to come back in self-sustaining numbers.”

A handful of onlookers watched from the shore as two excavators stripped trees and shoveled dirt from the causeway. Booms blocked debris from flowing downstream. The project is expected to last through February.”

 

Central Oregon weather

Today Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Light southwest wind increasing to 9 to 14 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight Rain, mainly before 1am. Low around 30. South wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Rain and snow likely, becoming all rain after 4pm. Snow level 2200 feet. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.