KWSO Wednesday Morning News: Road Mowing, Legal Clinics, Young Life BBQ, Tribal Council Updates, and Newberry Geothermal Funding

BIA Roads is conducting roadside mowing today, starting in Greeley Heights and progressing through the agency area toward Highway 3. Motorists are asked to slow down around road crews and pass carefully when safe to prevent flying debris from hitting vehicles.

Warm Springs community departments and regional partners convened earlier this month for the Native Aspirations Community Prevention Meeting to coordinate local support initiatives. During the session, Legal Aid Services of Oregon announced two upcoming legal clinics set for October 5 and November 2 at the Warm Springs Community Action Team office to assist residents with wills, estate planning, tenant rights, domestic violence protection, and public benefits. Additionally, the Oregon Two Spirit Coalition unveiled plans to partner with The Cheezburger in November for an exhibit from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde titled “Transgressors,” which will showcase Two Spirit history and traditions.

A youth and family BBQ & Family Day hosted by Young Life is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon in the field behind the Warm Springs Community Center. Volunteer Evan Shaw noted that the event will offer food, games, prizes, and a supportive environment for students in 6th through 12th grade to build community connections.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Tribal Council approved several official travel delegations during its September 8 session, including designating Chairman Dennis White III as a voting delegate for the National Indian Gaming Association and sanctioning his participation in meetings with Lori Chavez-DeRemer and White House tribal leaders. Vice Chairman Carlos Calica presided over the September 9 session, which featured an open forum for member concerns before adjourning.

In Central Oregon, geothermal developer Mazama Energy secured over $135 million in venture capital and oil firm backing for Project Ceres at Newberry Volcano. The project aims to harvest deep subterranean heat through superhot rock engineering to produce 15 megawatts of continuous baseload electricity by 2027, potentially expanding the region’s clean energy grid and creating high-wage jobs.

Following a fatal chemical spill at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview, Washington Senator Jeff Wilson announced plans to introduce legislation in January creating state oversight for above-ground chemical storage tanks. The proposal follows a federal report showing the company failed to address internal safety warnings before the incident, prompting leaders to argue self-inspection models no longer protect worker safety.

The American Postal Workers Union praised a U.S. Supreme Court decision blocking new restrictions on mail-in ballots. Oregon Postal Workers Union President Daniel Cortez reassured the public of election integrity, noting that union members handle billions of mail items securely while advising voters to return their ballots early ahead of the October 14 mailing date to avoid potential processing delays.

Expect increasing clouds today with highs around 78°F, cooling to 47°F overnight. Thursday brings warmer weather near 81°F under mostly cloudy skies.