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Columbia County Spotlight
Wildfire smoke to blow into Portland Tuesday, poor air quality expected
Smoke from various wildfires will blow into Portland on Tuesday, July 16, creating hazy skies and worsening air quality in the metro area. KOIN 6 Meteorologist Josh Cozart forecasts southerly winds pushing the smoke north into the Willamette Valley. Although air quality is expected to suffer in Portland, the conditions will be far less severe than those seen in 2020, when then-acting U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar declared a federal public health emergency in response to the wildfire smoke smothering the city. Temperatures are expected to reach 96 degrees in the Portland metro area late Tuesday afternoon. A KOIN 6 Weather Alert is in place Tuesday for dangerous heat, dry weather, and an increased wildfire potential as thunderstorms have a chance of producing dry lightning east of the Cascades. KOIN 6 News is a partner of this publication. Find the original story here.
Scappoose's Max Nowlin impresses at Les Schwab Bowl, eyes senior season
Scappoose High School senior-to-be Max Nowlin is having a nice run. His Indians baseball team won their second straight 4A state championship this past June, and earlier this month the two-year starting quarterback for the Scappoose football team played and impressed at the Les Schwab Bowl, a game pitting some of the state’s best against one another as part of an exhibition at Lewis & Clark College in Lake Oswego. ...
Ever wonder how the minor leagues work? Let Arizona's Director of Player Development, Shaun Larkin,tell you
Have you ever wondered how the minor league’s work in regards to player personnel? Who says who goes up or down the ranks and when? Well, as the Director of Player Development for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Shaun Larkin is that guy. The former professional player and coach who spent a handful of years in both...
Peter Courtney, longtime Senate leader, dies at 81
Tributes are being paid by nearly every top official in Oregon to Peter Courtney, the longest serving state legislator and Senate president. Courtney died Tuesday, July 16, of complications stemming from cancer, according to an announcement by Gov. Tina Kotek. He had surgery to replace an aortic valve six months ago after he had been diagnosed in 2023 with congestive heart failure. He had already had a kidney removed in 2021 as a result of urethral cancer. He was 81. ...
Possible thunderstorms put Portland area on the lookout for fire
The National Weather Service in Portland has issued a fire weather watch for the area as the chance for thunderstorms looms. The fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecasted to occur, and the watch will remain in effect from Tuesday afternoon, July 16, until Wednesday evening, July 17, a press release stated. The watch covers fire zones 684, 686 and 688, which encompass the majority of the Portland metro area. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms in the forecast, which can cause fires when lightning ignites dry materials. Winds from the storm can then cause the fire to spread quickly and erratically. The National Weather Service encourages people to pay attention to the forecast and listen for possible red flag warnings, which means that the conditions for fires to break out are present or imminent.
Eastern Oregon city manager to take the helm in Scappoose Sept. 1
The city of Scappoose has officially appointed Ben Burgener as city manager, a position he will assume Sept. 1 after finishing his current term as city manager of the small Eastern Oregon town of Stanfield. The appointment was made at a Wednesday, July 10, special meeting of the city council. “We gave him a letter of intent,” Mayor Joe Backus told the Spotlight. “He signed that. We then went into...
Kah-Nee-Ta opens Thursday July 18
The newly renovated Kah-Nee-Ta Resort will open to the public Thursday, July 18 after six years of closure. The $13.1 million project has been the work of a partnership between the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Mt. Hood Ski Bowl operators. The redesigned resort features 30 pools, including hot mineral soaking pools, cold plunges, a lazy river and soaking tubs. The poolside also features shade and rentable cabanas. The...
U.S. Senate Democrats’ report looks at impact on Pacific Northwest states in post-Roe v. Wade world
A new report out of the U.S. Senate highlights the impacts on Oregon, Washington and Idaho, after the U.S. Supreme Court withdrew federal protection for abortion in 2022. The report was released by lead Democrat Maria Cantwell of Washington, and cosigned by Sens. Patty Murray of Washington, Chuck Schumer of New York and Senate majority leader, and 13 more Democratic senators. The report includes data that is broken out by...
Local officials condemn violence, call for unity following Trump assassination attempt
Oregon elected officials from both parties and all levels of the political stage condemned violence following the failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on Saturday, July 13. The presumptive 2024 Republican Presidential nominee was wounded when a gunman opened fire during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. An ex-volunteer fire chief attending the rally was killed, and two others in the stands were critically wounded. Live coverage and video...
Oregon Health Authority needs more language and behavioral health services, report says
The Oregon Health Authority needs to step up efforts to provide health care for Oregonians who speak different languages and to expand access to behavioral health care treatment, a new state report found. The report, released the week of July 15 by the authority’s Ombuds Program, scrutinizes shortcomings in the state’s Medicaid program, which provides medical, dental and behavioral health care for low-income Oregonians. It found that people who speak a language other than English can struggle to access services, especially when providers lack staff...
Feds commit another $1.5 billion for new I-5 bridge
Another grant of $1.49 billion will boost to $2.1 billion the federal commitment to a replacement for the Interstate 5 Bridge that spans the Columbia River between Portland and Vancouver, Wash. The announcement was made Friday, July 11, by the Oregon congressional delegation. The earlier announcement of $600 million was made seven months ago by the Washington congressional delegation. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which has made this the currently largest bridge project in the nation. ...
Our TV picks for Tuesday, July 16: 2024 MLB All-Star Game; America’s Got Talent
2024 MLB All-Star Game KPTV 5 p.m. The Boys of Summer are gathering at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, for the Midsummer Classic as the best of the National and American leagues battle it out. Expect the late Willie Mays — a two-time All-Star MVP Award winner — to be honored. America’s Got Talent KGW 8 p.m. The auditions continue as even more amateur performers step up to the critical gaze of judges Howie Mandel, Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara. Can these hopefuls do enough to impress the judges and punch their way to the live episodes?
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK: Get your groove on at Harefest and the Reggae Festival
MONDAY, JULY 15-SUNDAY, JULY 21 HAREFEST — “The Mother of All Tribute Festivals," Harefest will return with an extra day added. This year’s event will run Thursday-Saturday, July 18-20 at the fairgrounds in Canby. The event features camping spots available and three days, three stages, and 27 bands assuming the style and musical tributes to classic bands such as Journey, CCR, Alabama, STYX, Scorpions, and more. For more information, and to purchase tickets, go to harefest.com. ...
Our TV picks for Monday, July 15: 2024 Home Run Derby; All American; 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way
2024 Home Run Derby ESPN 5 p.m. One of the most celebrated parts of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Weekend is the Home Run Derby. Last year, Adler Rutschman put on a clinic, switch-hitting for the final 30 seconds of his time at the plate. From Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. All American ...
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