Columbia Gorge Community College has reached a transfer agreement between with Pacific Northwest College of Art at Willamette University in Salem, an opportunity for students interested in pursuing an art and design education.  CGCC announced that students who transfer to PNCA are now able to receive a scholarship of $22,000 per year, guaranteed for up to three-and-a-half years, for a total of $77,000.  The art scholarship is available to all CGCC graduating students who apply and are accepted into PNCA.  In addition, the agreement outlines a clear pathway for students to begin their coursework at CGCC and complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at PNCA.  CGCC officials say the agreement is part of PNCA’s sustained effort to make its nationally recognized fine art and design education available to more students.

Washington Third District Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler announced $583,390 has been included in an appropriations bill that will support an effort by Washington Gorge Action Programs to develop a child care facility in Goldendale.  The FY22 Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill included funding to renovate or construct a facility in Goldendale to serve as a child care or early learning center.  Currently there are no licensed child care providers operating in the region except for a Head Start program that is at capacity.

The Oregon Health Authority’s weekly COVID-19 report released on Wednesday shows an increase in daily cases, hospitalizations and COVID-19 related deaths.  The OHA reported 2,026 new daily cases of COVID-19 during the week ending July 18.  That represents a 54% rise over the previous week and the highest tally in seven weeks.  New COVID-19 related hospitalizations rose to 123, up from 104 the previous week.  There were 29 reported COVID-19 related deaths, up from 15 reported the previous week.  There were 62,098 tests for COVID-19 for the week of July 11 through July 17. The percentage of positive tests was 4.2%, up from 3.4% the previous week.  As of July 20, 2,452,035 Oregonians, or 57.5% of the state’s total population had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.  Case rates have generally been higher in counties with lower COVID-19 vaccination rates.  During the week of July 11 to 17, case rates in 15 counties exceeded the statewide average of 44.9 cases per 100,000 population.  All 15 counties had overall population COVID-19 vaccination rates of lower than 55%, and 13 of them had rates lower than 47%.

Klickitat PUD has received a $245,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce Community Services and Housing Division Office of Crime Victims Advocacy to provide customers COVID-19 relief programs.  The funding is federally provided through Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funds.  The grant will help establish three utility specific programs to assist Klickitat PUD customers, one for small businesses, one for residential customers, and the third for a summer low income eldery discount program.  PUD officials say the goal is to reach and assist as many customers as possible to prevent, prepare for, and recover from the coronavirus prior to resuming disconnects for non-payment.  To apply, go to klickitatpud.com.

Starting Thursday, no campfires will be allowed in Oregon state parks and in state-managed forests east of Interstate 5, even in designated campfire areas.  The Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department say this includes charcoal fires, cooking fires, warming fires, charcoal briquettes, pellet grills, candles, tiki torches and other devices that emit flames or embers.  Portable cooking stoves or propane lanterns using liquefied or bottle fuels are allowed, though propane fire pits are not.   This ban covers all state-managed parks and forestlands east of Interstate 5, and includes prohibitions on fires in designated fire rings.  The agencies say the public can also anticipate restrictions in other areas based on fire danger.  Restrictions may increase as fire danger rises in other parts of Oregon and will remain in place until conditions moderate.  State agencies strongly encourage checking fire danger levels and associated restrictions in a given area before traveling and daily during a visit.

Two COVID-19 testing research studies have begun in The Dalles this week at the North Central Public Health District office.  Oregon Health Sciences University research coordinator Laura Ferrera says the goal of the research project is to create a reliable, self-serve COVID test that people could operate themselves at venues such as at sports bars or airports.  She adds researchers hope to get 100 local participants in the study.  The larger study is open to anyone 18 and older, regardless of whether they’ve had COVID or been vaccinated.  It asks people to complete a survey and provide either a saliva sample and a nasal COVID-19 test, or two nasal COVID tests. The nasal tests are not the deep probe swab, nor are they the shallow swab.  They are midway between the two.  Researchers, who speak English and Spanish, will be in The Dalles most weekdays for the next two weeks, and will take walk-in or scheduled appointments.  To participate, call 503-593-3076 or email RADxOregon@ohsu.edu.  Participants receive a $50 VISA gift card.  The study is funded by the National Institute of Health, and Oregon Health & Science is partnering with NCPHD in The Dalles and One Community Health in Hood River on the research.  The two study sites in the Gorge are the only rural study sites in the nation.  The saliva and nasal samples collected will go into a biorepository bank at the University of Massachusetts.

Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden introduced three bills to help combat the effects of wildfire smoke, and recover from the damage it causes.  The Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act would allow the president to declare a “smoke emergency” when wildfire smoke creates hazardous air quality conditions, authorizing federal agencies to provide emergency assistance to communities.  The Smoke Planning and Research Act would provide federal funding to help communities research, develop, and implement plans to help mitigate smoke by establishing four Centers of Excellence at colleges, authorizes $20 million in funding through the Environmental Protection Agency to study the public health impacts of smoke, and create an EPA grant program to help local communities plan and respond to wildfire smoke.  The Wildfire Smoke Relief Act would provide federal emergency assistance to at-risk individuals in areas with unhealthy air quality caused by wildfires by authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide low-cost home improvements and smoke inhalation prevention equipment when wildfire smoke causes unhealthy air quality levels for three consecutive days, plus transitional sheltering assistance in extreme circumstances.

Home At Last Humane Society in The Dalles is in the midst of a fundraising drive to acquire 75 kennel sponsors and generate $45,000 by September 1.  Home At Last Executive Director Stephen Drynan says they have 45 kennel sponsors so far.  Kennel sponsors donate $600 per year to cover the operations of one kennel through a one-time donation or $50 monthly through an automatic withdrawal.  The money provides a full year of support to cover the costs of the kennel, including food, heating and cooling, caretakers and vet care.  For more information go to homeatlasths.org.

Mid-Columbia Community Action says it has received nearly $550,000 in American Recovery Plan Act and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds from Oregon Housing and Community Services to assist low-income residents in Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties keep current on their household utility bills this summer.  Community Action executive director Kenny LaPoint says the funding could not come at a better time with record setting heat this summer, and he is encouraging anyone who needs help in the three-county area to apply.  For information call Community Action at 541-298-5131 or email energy@mcccac.com.

The Hood River County Fair returns Wednesday after a one-year absence.  The fair will open in Odell at noon, with the carnival opening at 1 p.m.  One of the highlights of the opening day will be a celebration of Hood River Valley resident Naomi Frisbee’s 100th birthday.  She has been a part of the Odell Garden Club for a number of years, and fair manager Clara Rice says there will be a celebration at 7:30 p.m. on the park stage.  Full-day carnival ride bracelets remain on sale at a discounted price of $25 until 5 p.m. Wednesday.  They are available at the fair office in Odell, Mid-Valley Market, McIssac’s, Hood River Supply in Hood River and Odell, Columbia Bank in Hood River and White Salmon, and Juanita’s in Hood River and The Dalles.