KWSO News for Tuesday, June 30th

The Jefferson County Fair Board announced on Monday that the upcoming fair will not feature carnival rides after its long-term operator withdrew due to a lack of personnel. Organizers stated that efforts to secure a replacement carnival company have been unsuccessful. However, officials emphasized that the fair itself is not canceled; the event will run from July 22 to July 25, featuring traditional livestock exhibits, food vendors, a rodeo, live music, and community events.

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report reveals that federal replacement fishing sites along the Columbia River continue to experience severe safety and sanitation issues. According to the GAO, the Bureau of Indian Affairs has invested more than $17 million since 2020 to overhaul 31 sites utilized by four Columbia River Treaty Tribes. While urgent plumbing and restroom projects have been completed, critical safety upgrades like lighting and security cameras remain stalled due to lack of funding. The report states incomplete facility management data has left some sites ineligible for financial assistance, prompting the GAO to urge the Department of the Interior to update its funding models.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has downgraded its health advisory for Lake Billy Chinook in Jefferson County to a precaution after testing showed toxic algae levels dropped below human safety thresholds. However, OHA warned that toxin levels remain dangerously high for pets, and dog owners should keep animals out of the water. Recreationists are advised to avoid water that appears foamy, scummy, or thick, as blooms can shift rapidly.

Five years after a historic Pacific Northwest heatwave caused over 100 heat-related deaths in Oregon, state-funded cooling programs have run out of money. Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) reports that laws co-sponsored by State Representative Pam Marsh successfully distributed thousands of heat pumps, but lawmakers failed to allocate additional funds. Furthermore, local initiatives like the Portland Clean Energy Fund are restricted by geographic boundaries, leaving vulnerable residents just outside city limits without access to emergency air conditioning while Multnomah County investigates four potential heat-related deaths.

The Oregon DMV will shut down its entire computer network for a major software upgrade beginning Thursday, July 2, at 4:00 PM. The outage will suspend almost all services, including online transactions via DMV-2-U. Physical offices will remain closed through Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day. State officials noted this is the first major overhaul since 2019, with normal operations expected to resume on Monday morning, July 6.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is warning travelers to expect significant delays during the three-day Fourth of July weekend. Safety officials refer to the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” due to a spike in crashes involving young drivers. ODOT recommends checking TripCheck.com for real-time updates and urges drivers to remain alert for pedestrians and wildlife near popular recreation areas.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday to allow states to continue counting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, provided they are postmarked by election day. Dirk VanderHart reports that the ruling followed a challenge by conservative groups against a Mississippi law. Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read called the decision a win for voters but cautioned that postal service changes could delay mail delivery, advising voters to mail ballots at least a week before elections.

Former NBA players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis have been indicted in Brooklyn as part of an ongoing federal sports gambling investigation. Authorities allege Beasley altered his play while with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024 based on performance wagers, benefiting himself and others, including Davis. The indictment names six individuals in a scheme involving hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies agreed to a major trade on Monday, sending two-time All-Star Ja Morant to Portland. In exchange, the Grizzlies will receive Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. The acquisition adds Morant to a crowded Portland point guard rotation that currently includes Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, and Scoot Henderson.

In 2026 World Cup action, Paraguay earned the tournament’s biggest upset by defeating four-time champion Germany 4-3 on penalties, advancing to face the winner of France vs. Sweden. Meanwhile, Morocco eliminated the Netherlands 3-2 following a 1-1 draw, marking the earliest World Cup exit for the Dutch; Morocco moves on to play Canada.

Expect sunny skies today with a high near 76 and northwest wind gusts up to 34 mph, followed by a clear night with a low around 43. Wednesday will bring increasing clouds and a high near 77, accompanied by afternoon gusts reaching 33 mph.