News Stories for Tue., Oct. 10, 2017

New aerial photos show severe damage to some parts of the Columbia River Gorge from a large wildfire that continues to burn. The photos taken Sunday by The Oregonian/OregonLive (http://bit.ly/2ybBrc4) show the areas most impacted by the blaze include Oneonta Gorge, Eagle Creek and Tanner Creek. McCord Creek near Cascade Locks and Moffett Creek are also severely burned. Some trails in the gorge won’t open until spring and some may not open for a year or two. The fire erupted Sept. 2 and has burned more than 75 square miles. It continues to burn in some areas but is not expected to grow. The risk of rockslides and mudslides in the burned area is high as the winter rainy season begins.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a wildfire in the Southern California suburbs remains active and evacuated residents won’t be going home soon. The wildfire has burned nearly a dozen square miles. Anaheim police Sgt. Daron Wyatt says the fire remains a threat to about 3,500 Orange County homes Tuesday morning and neighborhoods might not open until Wednesday. The fire began Monday and was rapidly spread by the region’s notorious Santa Ana winds.

Congress has renewed the Special Diabetes Program for Indians but only for three months, the shortest extension on record. The program, which has contributed to a reduction in diabetes in Indian Country, was due to expire on September 30. It was saved, on a very temporary basis, by a provision in H.R.3823, the Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law a day before the deadline. But while the new law averts a temporary crisis, the National Indian Health Board pointed out that it expires on December 31. The organization has been lobbying for longer extensions in order to maintain Indian Country’s successes in preventing and treating diabetes.

The Oregon Department of Transportation is advising motorists to be on the lookout for migrating mule deer on US97 and other Oregon highways. The bulk of the deer migration starts about mid-October and extends until early-December in Central Oregon. Most of the animals travel during the dawn and dusk hours, but motorists can expect to see them at any time.

On Friday, the White House announced the nomination of Robert M. Weaver, a citizen of the Quapaw Tribe, to serve as the director of the Indian Health Service. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first permanent leader of the IHS in more than two years. Weaver IS known throughout Indian Country for his work on health care and economic development issues.