Oregon Department of Forestry officials raise public use restrictions

La Grande, OR—conditions across the region have shifted to a much warmer and drier weather pattern as we reach the height of summer. This shift has prompted Oregon Department of Forestry-Northeast Oregon District to implement public use restrictions, or Regulated Use Closure, on lands protected by ODF. The prevention of human caused fires is the primary objective of these additional…

Seeking to ‘protect public safety,’ Mayor Lori Lightfoot removes Christopher Columbus statues overnight from Chicago parks ‘until further notice’

By Gregory Pratt, Sophie Sherry, Armando L. Sanchez and Kori Rumore Chicago Tribune | Jul 24, 2020 at 4:11 PM Hoping to avoid another high-profile confrontation between police and protesters like the clash that happened last week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered the statues of Christopher Columbus removed from Chicago’s Grant and Arrigo parks early Friday. Not all Italian American leaders…

OSAA answers questions about full-contact sports like football

The OSAA has received many questions seeking clarification as to what’s allowed in football, cheerleading and dance/drill during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Here’s what OSAA announced on its webpage July 23: The Governor’s Office and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) have classified Football, Cheerleading, and Dance/Drill as full contact and therefore they are prohibited at this time. However, these sports and…

OSAA delays high school football indefinitely; pushes back date for first volleyball, soccer and cross-country events to Sept. 23

        Tyasin Burns and other Nixyaawii Community School student-athletes hope to play football this fall for the Pendleton Buckaroos, but the high school football season is being delayed by COVID-19. The season may be restructured if restrictions aren’t lifted by Sept. 28. High school football and other fall sports will be delayed because of COVID-19, according to a decision…

Oregon reports 307 new COVID-19 cases; 38 in Umatilla County

PORTLAND, Ore. — COVID-19 has claimed five more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 254, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 12:01 a.m. today. Oregon Health Authority reported 307 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today bringing the state total to 13,802. The new cases reported today are in the following counties:…

Governor Kate Brown Issues Statement on Oregon Schools

“It has become clear that school this fall will not look like a normal year.”  (Portland, OR) — Governor Kate Brown issued the following statement today, following yesterday’s meeting of the Healthy Schools Reopening Council: “As COVID-19 continues to spread across Oregon, it has become clear that school this fall will not look like a normal year. Many, if not…