U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley held an in-person town hall at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center in The Dalles, OR on Friday, January 13th, from 1-2 p.m. Many community members were in attendance and asked questions on a number of topics including housing, healthcare, minimum wage, the disappearance of town halls across the nation, the January 6th insurrection and more.

The eagles have landed! Join U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) park rangers at The Dalles Dam Visitor Center Jan. 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to catch a glimpse of bald eagles that congregate near the dam every winter in search of food.

The Wasco County District Attorney's office will no longer seek “harmful” and “discriminatory” monetary sanctions such as court fees, and fines, and will work to minimize the collateral consequences of legal system involvement.

Pattie Blagg said that the Dancing with the Gorge Stars had “its best crowd ever” on Friday January 13th, 2023. Now in its 9th season this production from Mid-Columbia Community Concert Association has really mastered that art of putting the ‘fun’ in fun-draising with an opening dance routine by The Dalles Dazzling Dancers, seven competitors of varying levels of skill, and professional dance performances from the Utah Ballroom Dance Company. 

Federal funding to stabilize people during the COVID-19 public health emergency is set to run out. This reduction will affect some 300,000 people utilizing the Oregon Health Plan who will no longer qualify. In addition, extended long-term support, providing extra food benefits are also coming to an end. Find out what to do here.

The Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) and the Snowden Community Council (SCC) are asking rural residents of Klickitat County to visit the FCC Broadband Map and verify their residential internet service information before Friday, January 13th, 2023. The FCC Broadband Map information will help determine which areas get included in federal broadband funding worth over $42 million.

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) will increase the maximum loan limit for the Oregon Veteran Home Loan for 2023, conforming to loan limits for mortgages set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). ODVA will now accept loans up to the new maximum loan amount of $726,200, an increase of $79,000 from $647,200 in 2022, for funding on or after January 1, 2023. 

Senator Jeff Merkley has announced in-person town halls for Wasco, Hood River, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, Lincoln, Tillamook, and Clatsop counties.

This year's winning grant recipients demonstrated a commitment to equity, expanding access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) or STEAM (STEM plus Arts) opportunities, cost-effectiveness, and the potential to create a lasting impact for local students. 

CCCNew’s Jim Drake interviews Irish Roots Band Kalos. The trio goes deep into how they make their music and what influences them and most importantly who gets to carry the accordion.

Poker Tournament and Silent Auction on tap at Bargeway Pub as locals pull together to fundraise for Luis Flores who has been stricken with debilitating medical issues. The event is set for Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Bargeway event site on the west side of the restaurant and pub. Read here for more details.

Games abound in this week’s round-up of local social events, music offerings and local shows. Scrabble, pool and poker options sit along side productions such as Dancing with the Gorge Stars at The Dalles High School Auditorium or “Ripchord” at the Bingen Theater.

People are being trafficked every day throughout the world and even here in your own home town. Do you know how to identify a trafficked victim? Read this story to learn the signs.

This year’s regional history forum series includes presentations on the geology of the Columbia River Gorge, local vineyards and wineries, Eleanor Borg, and Fort Dalles.

At its best, M3gan embodies the unhinged gleefulness of 80’s horror movies like Child’s Play, while keeping it fresh by inverting old tropes and subtly infusing the movie with a critique of our dependence on technology for our emotional needs. And while, for me, there could have been a little more gore, to its credit the movie actually manages to still create thrills while maintaining a PG-13 rating.

“Far too many of our neighbors continue to struggle to afford the cost of housing in Hood River and surrounding areas. We’re anxious to advance our efforts at Rand Rd. and bring this important affordable housing development to a  reality for our community,” said Joel Madsen, Executive Director of Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation.

Columbia Gorge Community College distributed 75 Dell laptops to 10 public libraries in the college’s service area thanks to funding from the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

In this edition of her column Living Well, Donna Henderson, LCSW, psychotherapist, artist and writer based in Maupin, South Wasco County shares the downlow on how shame might be holding you back from success and tips on how to set successful New Year’s Resolutions.

Goldendale City Council approved $1,700 in tourism funding for Goldendale’s 3rd annual LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration which has drawn hundreds of people from around the region two years in a row. But not before one councilor called the Pride event an attempt to erode and destroy traditional values and morals.