A bill in the Washington Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee would address some of the issues brought about by the state Supreme Court’s Blake decision that struck down the state’s main drug possession crime. The bill would make knowingly possessing a controlled substance a gross misdemeanor, create a pre-trial diversion system, and requires the courts to impose mandatory minimum jail time if the person does not agree to treatment, and completion of treatment would be required for the conviction to be vacated. Republican 14th District Representative Chris Corry says it’s not quite as tough as he would like, but if the bill moves forward he will strongly consider it. The bill has gone to the Senate Rules Committee for a second reading.
WA House Approves Alcohol/THC Prohibition
The Washington State House passed a bill to make it illegal to manufacture and sell alcohol mixed with tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana. When combined with alcohol, 17th District Representative Kevin Waters says the effects of impairment can be deadly, and the Stevenson Republican wants to get ahead of the issue before these types of products become more prevalent. In Washington, both substances are independently legal, but regulated. House Bill 1772 would prohibit the manufacture, importation and sale of products that combine THC and liquor. The bill passed 94 to 3 and now heads to the Senate.
Bill To Ban Over-The Counter Sexual Assault Kits Passes WA House
The Washington State House unanimously approved a bill by 14th District Representative Gina Mosbrucker to ban the sale and distribution of over-the-counter home sexual assault kits. The Goldendale Republican said the kits are not able to be put into the FBI’s criminal justice database, CODIS, which creates a DNA profile of a suspect and can help find repeat rapists. Mosbrucker noted she has the official sexual assault kit in her office, which is much different from the do-it-yourself kits. It tests blood, urine, hair samples, and many other methods of evidence collection, and is about a four-hour process. House Bill 1564 passed 96-0. It now goes to the Senate for further consideration.
February 28 Prep Basketball Roundup
Boys Basketball
Putnam 65, Hood River Valley 59 (overtime): Putnam came back from a nine-point fourth quarter deficit to knock HRV out of the state playoff race. The Kingsmen finished regulation time on an 11-2 run. That came after HRV had outscored Putnam 22-5 to overcome trailing by eight points late in the third quarter. Braeden Latta led the Kingsmen with 17 points, while Sawyer Clemett topped the Eagles with 14. Hood River finishes the season at Hillsboro tonight.
Girls Basketball
Putnam 62, Hood River Valley 23: Putnam clinched the outright Northwest Oregon Conference championship.
TD City Council Hears From Business Owners On Housing Facility
The Dalles City Council heard from a large number of downtown business owners concerned about the impact of Mid-Columbia Community Action’s conversion of the former Oregon Motor Motel into a transitional housing facility. Many who spoke voiced concerns that the facility would not be appropriate so close to the downtown area. But City officials pointed out that House Bill 3261, passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2021, leaves them very little discretion to review the shelter under local land use laws. Community Development Director Joshua Chandler says there are only four items they can actually review: location within an urban growth boundary, that it’s not designated for heavy industrial use, has adequate transportation access, and whether it is within a flood plain. Chandler added that under the state law, if this kind of project meets those four standards, the City has to approve it.
HR City Council Accepts Westside Feasibility Study
The Hood River City Council accepted a feasibility study for the proposed Westside Urban Renewal District that concluded sufficient tax increment revenues can be generated to fund major projects to help with development in that area. City Manager Abigail Elder says the next step is to write a plan to present to Council later this year. She added the Council will be getting topics to discuss over the next few months, including acreage for the district, what the maximum indebtedness should be, and what projects they would like to include. Elder added the goal is to have a final report ready before October 1.
CCA Plans Public Input Sessions For Strategic Planning Process
Columbia Center for the Arts will be holding a number of in-person and Zoom outreach sessions in March as part of its strategic planning process. CCA board chair Genevieve Scholl says they are going back to the drawing board to rebuild the entire organization for the Center, which is located in downtown Hood River. In-person sessions are planned at the Center March 9 to 11, and Zoom sessions March 12 to 14. There will also be an online survey available beginning on Wednesday. To sign up or to take the survey, go to columbiaarts.org.
February 27 Prep Basketball Roundup
Monday Schedule
Oregon Class 4A Boys Basketball Play-In
The Dalles 65, Pendleton 62: The Riverhawks came from being down by eight at halftime to advance to a first round state playoff game at Cascade on Saturday. Braden Schwartz scored 19 points and Henry Begay added 16 for The Dalles. Gauge Rueber scored 30 for the Buckaroos.
Tuesday Schedule
Northwest Oregon Conference Boys and Girls Basketball
Hood River Valley at Putnam: HRV’s scheduled games at Hillsboro on Monday were postponed, and the boys’ game will now be played on Wednesday. The Eagle boys playoff hopes remained alive when Milwaukie defeated Canby in overtime last night 96-89.
Hood River URA Board To Discuss Lot 1 On March 13
The Hood River Urban Renewal Agency board will wait until March to further discuss the pros and cons of a small urban renewal district for Lot 1 along the Nichols Basin. The Port of Hood River made the proposal at a meeting two weeks ago, and at the time the URA panel, made up of the Hood River City Council and two Port members, planned to continue discussions before Monday’s scheduled Council meeting. But City Manager Abigail Elder said a change was made to give municipal staff more time to go through details of a Lot 1 urban renewal district. The discussion is now planned for the URA’s meeting on Monday, March 13.
Klickitat County Commissioner Encouraged By EFSEC Process
A Klickitat County Commissioner said she feels encouraged by the process the Washington Energy Facilities Site Evaluation Council uses to evaluate solar projects after following other applications. Cypress Creek Renewables, the North Carolina firm looking to build the proposed Carriger Solar Project west of Goldendale, filed a permitting application through the state. County Commissioner Lori Zoller said while the County would like to have had an application come to them, there is a place for their voice to be heard at the state level. Zoller noted the state does take a deep dive into land use planning and environmental issues when considering these types of applications.