The Washington Legislature has convened in Olympia for its scheduled 105-day session.  Democrats and Governor Jay Inslee say more revenues are needed for a projected budget shortfall of more than two billion dollars, while Republicans say the state has enough for existing services and education, and the focus should be on efficient spending.  The lead budget writer for House Republicans, Bruce Chandler of the 14th District, thinks increasing taxes would hurt the state’s economy, which he believes has stabilized but has not recovered.  Inslee gives his state of the state speech on Tuesday.

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 69, Woodburn 61 Heritage 68, Hood River Valley 53 Horizon Christian 52, Dufur 44 Horizon Christian 65, Arlington 22 Dufur 68, Ione 29 Sherman 63, Spray-Mitchell 26 South Wasco 77, Condon-Wheeler 27 Sherman 76, South Wasco 66 Sunnyside Christian 61, Klickitat 29 Sunnyside Christian 68, Lyle-Wishram 26 Zillah 92, Goldendale 54 Naches Valley 61, Goldendale 33   Girls Basketball St. Helens 46, Hood River Valley 29 Kalama 79, Stevenson 19 Dufur 47, Horizon Christian 19 Dufur 39, Ione 23 Arlington 31, Horizon Christian 29 Sherman 47, Spray-Mitchell 36 Sherman 48, South Wasco 38 Condon-Wheeler 53, Sherman 17 Sunnyside Christian 55, Klickitat 15 Sunnyside Christian 68, Lyle-Wishram 26 Zillah 65, Goldendale 32 Naches Valley 59, Goldendale 27   Wrestling Boys Joe Linebarger finished second at 220 pounds to highlight The Dalles’ effort at a tournament at Portland’s Cleveland High School.  Linebarger fought through a bracket with a number of the top 220 pound wrestlers in Class 5A before falling in the final to Juan Hernandez of Putnam 11-9.   Girls Hood River Valley’s Jessica DeHart and Payton Rigert both finished second at a tournament in Kelso, leading HRV to a 16th place finish among 56 schools.

Wasco County Commissioners have sent a letter to Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber asking for a disaster declaration for orchardists impacted by November’s freezing temperatures.  In the letter, Commissioners point out some local orchards suffered damage with the potential of significant crop loss due to the freeze that took place the week of November 14.  Temperatures were at historic lows for that time of year, and Commissioners say losses that occurred as a result could be disastrous for local fruit growers.  A disaster declaration by the Governor could allow growers to obtain low interest loans.

About 10,000 people have shared their opinions on how the Oregon Liquor Control Commission should implement the new law allowing the sale of marijuana for recreational use through an on-line survey.  OLCC spokesperson Karynn Fish says the agency is looking closely at what Colorado and Washington have done so far with their marijuana regulations, but the agency is more concerned with getting local input.  The survey remains open until Monday at marijuana.oregon.gov.  The survey will be used to draft the agenda for a planned “listening tour” of the state beginning later this month.  

Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center is gearing up for a couple of its annual workshops coming up in February.  MCAREC Director Brian Tuck says one is the annual Mid-Columbia Cherry Day and Research Review.  That event will take place on February 5 at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles.  Call Wasco County Extension at 541-296-5494 to sign-up.  And on February 6, the Winter Horitculture Meeting will take place at the Best Western Hood River Inn.  To take part in that call 541-386-3343.

The visioning project aimed at turning land around Punchbowl Falls into a Hood River County Park is getting underway.  A public forum is set for Tuesday as the first step toward developing a conceptual park development and management plan, and an advisory committee will be looking to submit funding proposals for the 2015 grant cycle.  Western Rivers Conservancy has purchased over 100 acres along the Hood River extending a mile-and-a-half north from Punchbowl Falls and including the East and West forks of the Hood River, with the intention to conserve salmon habitat and provide permanent public recreational access, and convey it to Hood River County for a public park.  Tuesday’s forum begins at 6 p.m. in Hood River County Administration Building.  More information is available from Visioning Project coordinator Heather Staten at 541-490-5225.  A survey on the subject is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/punchbowlfalls.

An electrical failure at The Dalles Wastewater Treatment Plant resulted in discharge of fully treated but undisinfected wastewater for 70 minutes early Tuesday morning.  City Public Works officials say a 500 amp electrical breaker was tripped by an as-yet unidentified cause at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, shutting down the plant’s ultraviolet light disinfection system.  Plant staff responded and reset the breaker to bring the system back online at 5:40 a.m.   The volume of undisinfected effluent is estimated at 63,000 gallons.  Oregon Department of Environmental Quality officials have been notified of the event and DEQ guidance is being followed in response to this incident.

An accident on Interstate 84 near Arlington resulted in a submerged car leaking oil and gas into a creek.  According to the Oregon State Police, OSP dispatched on Monday received a report of a car in the water.   Responding troopers located an SUV submerged in the waters of Willow Creek along the westbound lanes of I-84 near milepost 148.   A check of the vehicle found no one was inside, but oil and gas leaking from the vehicle resulted in a slick covering approximately 300 feet of the Willow Creek Waterway.  A team from NRC Environmental Services contained the fluid spill to prevent further contamination before the vehicle was removed.  Emergency and environmental cleanup crews were on scene for approximately 7 hours investigating the crash and clearing the scene.

Boys Basketball South Albany 72, Hood River Valley 61:  The Rebels broke open a close game late to grab the victory, as Dominick Crittenden scored 21 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.  Parker Kennedy and Dallas Buckley score 12 points apiece for HRV. Glencoe 64, The Dalles 48:  A 20-4 second quarter was the difference as the Crimson Tide used a balanced offense with four players scoring in double figures to grab the win.  Dakota Murr scored 19 points and Coby Conlee 16 for the Riverhawks. Horizon Christian 71, Sherman 56 South Wasco 68, Culver 22   Girls Basketball Glencoe 46, The Dalles 35:  The Crimson Tide used a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter to come from behind and top the Riverhawks.  Illiana Telles led The Dalles with 14 points. South Albany 42, Hood River Valley 35:  The Rebels took control with a 14-2 stretch in the middle of the first half, and the Eagles could not get closer than six points after that.  Sara Henderson topped South Albany with 15 points, while Kelsey Wells led the Eagle effort with 18. LaCenter 44, Columbia 19 Sherman 46, Horizon Christian 28 Culver 26, South Wasco 20

YouthThink has changed its motto.  The organization that works to strengthen families and guide children toward healthy habits by increasing protective factors with social emotional literacy.  Debby Jones of YouthThink says it is based off the “Challenge Day” concept used at The Dalles High School, and the motto is simply “Do Something.”  Jones says some high school students have created short PSA videos to be shown before the weekly free Saturday morning movies YouthThink will be sponsoring for the next eight weeks at Columbia Cinemas in The Dalles.  The first movie is “The Lego Movie,” with doors opening at 9:15 a.m. Saturday and the film beginning at 10 a.m.