Oregon News Exploration is working with local news outlets and community leaders to get a sense of where Gorge residents get the local information they need.

As the Hood River County Christmas Project (HRCCP) gears up for its 100th year, the spirit of giving is more vibrant than ever. This year's project is set to serve 1,008 households, a first in Christmas Project history and a marker of how this organization continues to strive for new heights in community support and volunteerism.

On December 7th at 11:00 a.m. PST, one local family from the Columbia Gorge will receive the gift of transportation thanks to The United Way of the Columbia Gorge’s partner Underriner Ford and Nissan of The Dalles.

This year the Gorge-to-Mountain Express(G2M) seasonal service will begin on Saturday, December 16th. The G2M bus connects Hood River, Pine Grove, Mt Hood/Parkdale, Mt. Hood Meadows, and Teacup Nordic Center 7 days a week up to 6 times a day.

As the winter months quickly approach, Insitu, Washington Gorge Action Programs, and The Next Door Inc. are teaming up to host a coat drive for local area youth and we need our community’s help! Now through February, you can donate new or like-new outerwear ranging in all sizes from toddlers to teens, with an urgent need for coats and boots for older kids from 12-18 years of age. 

Sense of Place, will feature Mountaintop to Backyard: The Beauty of the Gorge’s Native Plants on December, 13th, 2023. This event will be offered in person at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, Oregon, and via livestream. 

With severe weather hitting the region, the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council and its partners are ensuring our most vulnerable community members can access shelters, emergency lodging, and street outreach resources.

Capt Mo Donahue Revier stepped down after leading the squadron since June 2020, and 1st Lt Katie Walker took command of the Gorge Composite.  On Oct 3, C/Lt Col Isaac Walker, after over two years of leadership, passed command of the cadets to C/2nd Lt Zachary Luhan.

"There will be a planned power outage that will affect some members in the Odell and Pine Grove areas beginning around 11:40 a.m. on Sunday, November 19. Some members will have brief interruptions at the beginning and the end of the work, and some will be off for up to 4 hours.

Abstract artists wrought from the isolation and uncertainty of the early days of the COVID pandemic continue their path of creativity and are sharing their works with the public at the Hood River Library this month at 502 State Street.

Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) is pleased to announce that we are now scheduling appointments for all household types for the December 1, 2023 opening date of our Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). With winter approaching, there will be an increased need for our most vulnerable community members to keep their homes warm and safe throughout the season.

Today, the Oregon Employment Department announced the 2024 contribution rate for Paid Leave in Oregon and the 2024 tax rate for Unemployment Insurance. The department is mailing each employer their annual notice of the new rates. 

With respiratory season upon us, and family gatherings planned as the holidays approach, North Central Public Health District is offering free iHealth COVID-19 test kits, with a limited drive-up pickup for your convenience.

The festive spirit of giving is returning to Hood River with the third annual "Cookies, Cocoa, and Photos with Santa" event, organized by Jennifer Josephson of Windermere Real Estate and Cara McNulty of Kiddie City Child Care Facility. This festive community event hopes to bring holiday cheer to the community while raising money to help those experiencing homelessness this holiday season.

The Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service will waive most day-use fee sites on National Forests in the region on Veterans Day, November 11. This fee-free day is in recognition of our nation's veterans and is the last fee-free day for the USDA Forest Service in 2023.

Oregon and Washington drivers face some of the nation's most perilous road conditions, with new research pinpointing Washington ranks third in the nation for fatal crashes during bad weather, and has the highest rate of accidents involving 'other' adverse conditions. Oregon has the sixth-highest rate of weather-related driving fatalities in the country.

Sense of Place will feature Beaver Power: Teaming Up with Nature’s Engineers to Restore Our Watersheds on November, 15th, 2023. This event will be offered in person at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, Oregon, and via livestream. 

In a collaborative effort, the Hood River County Sheriff's Office, along with several other law enforcement agencies, conducted a sting operation to lure child predators in Cascade Locks on October 21, 2023, leading to the apprehension of two suspects.

Earlier today a car hit a pole at approx. 2719 Skyline Rd. The good news is we're told the driver is ok. The bad news is the pole is not going to survive. The crew is responding and getting geared up to take an outage to replace the pole. There will be 23 total meters affected.

Reading is a critical skill for helping kids start, and stay, on a path to success in school and beyond. Across Oregon, students in early grades are still behind in reading skills as a result of the pandemic, which is a concern not only for educators and parents but for the entire community.