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Murmurs: Federal Investigation Targets Pamplin
FEDERAL INVESTIGATION TARGETS PAMPLIN: The three-alarm fire that sent smoke billowing from Ross Island on July 20 may be the least of Robert Pamplin Jr.’s problems. An email WW obtained under a public records request shows federal Department of Labor investigators are probing the tangled finances of the shrinking Pamplin empire. (Pamplin Communications sold its 24 Oregon newspapers last month.) As WW previously reported, Robert Pamplin sold Ross Island from Ross Island Sand & Gravel to the Pamplin pension fund for $10.8 million in an unusual 2022 transaction that left the fund holding an asset Pamplin previously argued in court had no value and which is still subject to an expensive, unfinished reclamation plan. (The Department of Labor regulates pension funds.) On May 2, David Wehr, a DOL investigator in Seattle, wrote to the state seeking information about Ross Island Sand & Gravel’s obligation to post a $6 million bond to ensure completion of the reclamation project. “We would like to know if the bond has been provided, how the amount of the bond was determined and what liabilities exist if the bond is not established,” Wehr wrote. (The company has failed to post the bond and faces a $2.9 million state penalty for that failure.) DOL and Pamplin representatives did not respond to requests for comment. Bob Sallinger, executive director of Willamette Riverkeeper, has said for years Pamplin should turn over Ross Island to a responsible custodian. “This fire just speaks to the neglect that’s occurring,” Sallinger says. “Dr. Pamplin made a lot of money mining Ross Island. He owes it to the public to resolve these issues and make the community whole.”
Richland Police Department launches summer program to connect with youth, the community
RICHLAND, Wash. - The Richland Police Department has kicked off a test program that is designed to connect law enforcement officers with the youth in the communities they serve.
After Supreme Court decision in Oregon case, California governor orders clearing of homeless camps
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered state agencies Thursday to start removing homeless encampments on state land in his boldest action yet following a Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to enforce bans on sleeping outside in public spaces. This executive order directs state agencies “to move urgently...
Man’s suicide in basement cell prompts renewed calls for more jail oversight in WA
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Family members of a man whose suicide went undiscovered in Garfield County’s jail for over 18 hours are calling for more oversight into local jails across Washington. Kyle Lara’s parents settled a claim with the county, in […]
FBI Issues Jugging Warning: Video All Washingtonians Need to See
The FBI has issued a warning of an increasing crime trend called "jugging." Jugging is when a criminal suspect or group targets a customer leaving a bank ATM, or building with a significant amount of cash. Thieves approach victims as they get into their vehicles, or in some cases actually follow the victim as they drive off, to rob them at another location.
Hermiston City Council Honors Hispanic Advisory Committee
The Hermiston City Council paid tribute Monday night to the Hermiston Hispanic Advisory (HAC) Committee with a certificate of recognition. The HAC was formed in 2012 to serve as liaison between city and its Hispanic community. It was the first of its kind in Oregon and likely the Pacific Northwest. Over the years, the committee has played a key role in the city’s annual Cinco de Mayo celebration, advocated for “fair and sensible” immigration reform and helped secure a home for Hermiston’s adult soccer league,
Idaho’s Mandatory Power Outages Draw Mixed Reactions
We're in the middle of one of the most dangerous wildfire seasons in recent memory as wildfires rattle the state of Oregon to its core. The people of Boise and surrounding areas are feeling the effects as well. Drastic times call for drastic measures. Whether we're happy with their plan...
Oregon study says numbers make people care more about climate change
(The Center Square) – Climate scientists may be overlooking an effective way to educate the public about climate change, according to study from the University of Oregon funded by the National Science Foundation. University of Oregon, Michigan State University, and Ohio State University researchers found that people are more likely to trust and share social media posts that contain numbers more than those without, the study found. The researchers looked...
Judge seeks perspective of 5,000 Oregon foster children as the state moves toward reforms
Children who spent time in Oregon’s foster care system have a chance to talk about their experiences with a federal judge who is finalizing a historical settlement in a class-action lawsuit. The settlement, announced in May, requires the Oregon Department of Human Services, which runs the foster care system, to improve in its placement of […]
Oregon tops country in share of people retaining Medicaid, study finds
Oregon, known nationally for its innovative approach to Medicaid, has kept more people than any other state on the free health insurance since an unwinding of enrollments started last year, a new study found. About four of five people enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan have retained Medicaid coverage since April 2023, when the state […]
“Sus” Magazine Amplifies LGBTQ+ Voices Throughout Oregon
It’s been ages since Portland has had a dedicated LGBTQ+ print publication in the tradition of folded outlets like PQ Monthly and Just Out, which reported on stories about the LGBTQ+ community from its own perspective. A new free newspaper, Sus magazine (susworld.org), has taken the reins, reporting news and sharing art and creative writing from within the community. But unlike its predecessors, Sus isn’t based in Portland—and it doesn’t write about just us, either.
New Campground Limits Coming to WA Beginning August 18th
Beginning August 18th, all campgrounds in Washington State will have new limits on how many nights people can stay. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission recently approved the new limits, as of August 18th, campers can only stay ten consecutive nights in any campground in the state, within a 30-day period. Campers will also only be allowed to stay a total of 90 days per calendar year in all state parks.
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