News Stories Wed., Apr. 18, 2018

The U.S. Department of State will host a town hall April 25 on upcoming negotiations between the United States and Canada to modernize the Columbia River Treaty Regime. The Town Hall, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 5-7 p.m. at the Historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington. U.S. Columbia River Treaty Negotiator Jill Smail will lead the town hall. U.S. government representatives will provide a general review of the upcoming process and plans for engaging the region.  They will also take questions from the public; folks can send questions in advance to ColumbiaRiverTreaty@state.gov.  Key United States objectives include continued, careful management of flood risk; ensuring a reliable and economical power supply; and better addressing the ecosystem in a modernized treaty regime.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s low unemployment rate refuses to budge. The state Employment Department said Tuesday the jobless rate for March was 4.1 percent — the same as in February, January and December. It was also 4.1 percent in March 2017. Oregon’s nonfarm payroll employment increased by 4,200 jobs last month, following a revised gain of 700 jobs in February. Manufacturing rebounded in March after a lackluster February, and state economists say the retail industry has been hiring at a strong clip after a tepid holiday-hiring season. Motor vehicles and parts dealers have been adding a lot of workers in the retail sector, and food and beverage outlets have also been hiring.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of the Interior has released list of 2018 first quarter accomplishments. “Under the Trump Administration, Interior has made incredible strides in creating a conservation stewardship legacy, modernizing our infrastructure, helping combat opioid addiction, securing the southern border, and so much more,” Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said in a news release. Zinke specifically noted an initiative to protect the migration corridors of North American big game species, work opening the 1002 section in Alaska for responsible energy development, a partnership with BIA and other groups to form opioid task forces to crack down on drug abuse in Indian Country, and introduction of a bipartisan solution to fix the aging infrastructure in National Parks.