News Stories Fri., Mar. 30, 2018

The Children’s Protective Services Center in Warm Springs will re-open today after months of much needed renovations. Folks are invited to be a part of the ribbon cutting and blessing ceremonies this morning beginning at 10:00. Following lunch at noon, you will get a chance to tour the CPS center. The major renovation project included improvements and upgrades to the existing facility and the renovation of the Vern Jackson Home next door, which will be the first transitional home in Warm Springs – assisting families in reunification efforts.

The Portland City Council this week joined cities and tribes around the country in proclaiming May 5^th this year to be a Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. The proclamation also seeks support for a congressional resolution from Oregon’s delegation to designate May 5th, 2018 as the National Day of Awareness. In 2017 the US Senate passed a resolution creating the National Awareness day. Nearly 200 tribal, national and state organizations supported the resolution.  According to a study by the Department of Justice, in some tribal communities, American-Indian women face murder rates that are more than ten times the national average. Also, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, homicide is the third leading cause of death among American-Indian and Alaskan women between 10 and 24 years of age. The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center says that awareness has increased in recent years but more must be done at all levels to stop the disappearances and save lives. To address an issue it must first be acknowledged.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California, Oregon and other marijuana-friendly states want a meeting with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in hopes of resolving the conflict between federal and state laws that has left the nation’s cannabis industry in legal limbo. Marijuana is illegal at the federal level, even as 29 states have legalized pot in some form. Treasurers from California, Oregon, Illinois and Pennsylvania say they need greater clarity on how Washington will respond to the legalization trend in states.