KWSO News 4/2/19

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has formed an outreach committee to encourage response to the 2020 Census, ahead of a Supreme Court decision that could lead to undercounts of immigrant communities. The governor announced on Monday that the newly formed Complete Count Committee will ensure a fair and accurate Census count. The U.S. Constitution mandates a complete count of the country’s population every 10 years. Census numbers determine how much money states get in federal funding. It’s also used to draw state legislative maps, which can have resounding effects on future elections. Brown says next year’s Census count will be made more difficult because of a Trump administration push to ask how household members are U.S. citizens. Immigrant groups have argued that a citizenship question will discourage participation from households with non-citizens, leading to an undercount. The Supreme Court is expected to make a decision this year on whether the administration can include a citizenship question–something that has not happened since 1950.

The Museum at Warm Springs is looking for Warm Springs Tribal and Community Members to take part in its upcoming exhibit entitled “Babies First Home: Cradle Boards of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.” The exhibit will celebrate the baby board as a childhood treasure. They will accept submissions of up to three boards per person, and miniature versions are acceptable. They will also accept baby boards for sale as well. April 8^th at 5pm is the deadline – contact Natalie Kirk at the Museum at Warm Springs for details. The exhibit will be on display at the Museum April 18 through June 8^th.

Warm Springs Tribal Members will vote this Thursday to elect members of the 28^th Tribal Council. Voting is being done at three locations this year. It will take place at the Community Center, at the Seekseequa Fire Hall and Simnasho Longhouse to make it easier for all eligible Tribal Member voters to take part. Voting will be done from 8am until 8pm this Thursday. If you are an off-reservation voter voting by absentee ballot and have not mailed it in yet, you can drop it off to the Vital Statistics office or at a polling station on Election Day. If it is being mailed, in order to be counted, it needs to reach the Warm Springs Post Office by 4:30pm Thursday and if shipped via Fed Ex or UPS, it will need to be received by 5pm Thursday at the Vital Stats office to be counted.

Folks are invited to take a stance on the fight against Cancer by volunteering for Jefferson County’s Relay for Life Event that is slated for July 13th & 14th at the Jefferson County Fair Grounds Complex in Madras. During Relay for Life, teams camp out at the Fair Grounds and at least one team member is on the track at all times, because cancer is a disease that never sleeps.  Most fundraising is done prior to the event, but some teams also hold fundraisers at the event. Teams can include former and current cancer patients, those who have lost a loved one to cancer, families, businesses, and anyone who wants to join the fight against cancer. There are many ways to be involved – as a participant or a team captain, sharing your story or volunteering before and during the event. For more information,  www.relayforlife.org, follow them on Facebook or contact Shari Durgan (541) 420-6090.

Madras Baseball and Softball play at La Pine today at 4:30, Boys tennis will be at Stayton while girls’ tennis hosts Stayton at 4 today.