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OREGON FFA STATE CONVENTION RETURNS IN PERSON FOR 2022 | BUSINESS & AG LIFE, B1
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Despite appearance of
omicron subvariant,
surge is not necessarily
on the horizon
By FEDOR ZARKHIN
The Oregonian
SALEM — The omicron sub-
variant fueling COVID-19 surges
in Europe has been found in the
wastewater of at least four Oregon
communities, according to
Oregon State University analyses
of wastewater collected as part of
a statewide early warning system.
The fi ndings from early March
don’t guarantee a surge in cases,
but they could underscore the
potential benefi ts — and short-
comings — of a state-funded
wastewater testing system billed
as a way to reliably know the state
of the pandemic in various corners
of Oregon.
Oregon health offi cials hired
Oregon State University to analyze
wastewater samples from more than
40 wastewater plants statewide, pro-
viding offi cials with measures of
how much virus is in a community
and the particular variants of the
virus that are most common.
The method has taken off
locally and nationwide, with fed-
eral health offi cials using waste-
water analyses from across the
country to track rising cases and
an increase in the omicron subva-
riant BA.2. But one state offi cial
involved in the project indicated
the full benefi ts of the program
are yet to be seen.
“This is all very much
emerging science,” said Dr.
Melissa Sutton, the Oregon Health
Authority’s medical director for
respiratory viral diseases who is
working with Oregon State Uni-
versity analysts.
The core theoretical benefi t
behind wastewater testing is that
it can provide offi cials and the
public advance notice of rising
cases, faster than can be identifi ed
through traditional testing.
But it’s not yet clear exactly
how much lead time the pro-
gram will provide. While an OSU
researcher said the university pro-
duces test results twice a week,
state health offi cials post results to
a public website once a week, and
with a one-week delay.
And, speaking Tuesday, March
22, Sutton referenced data for
Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group
Cattle graze the fi eld at a ranch on Airport Lane, La Grande, on
Thursday, March 17, 2022. A controversial animal rights initiative,
known as IP13, appears to have stalled as organizers failed to gather
the signatures necessary to put it on the ballot this November.
OFF THE TABLE
Animal rights
proposal likely won’t
show up in this year’s
ballot, organizers say
By ALEX WITTWER
EO Media Group
A GRANDE — A controversial
proposal on animal cruelty laws
appears to be off the table, for now,
but proponents of the initiative say their
campaign isn’t over yet.
“We just submitted the initiative for
2024 and are waiting for confi rmation
from the state,” an organizer with the Yes
on IP13 campaign said. “At this point, it
does not look like we will gather enough
for 2022. I believe the plan is to shift gears
to the newly numbered initiative as soon
as we have it.”
Initiative Petition 13, otherwise known
as the Abuse, Neglect and Assault Exemp-
tion Modifi cation and Improvement Act,
would remove exemptions to the Oregon
animal abuse laws that protect hunters,
farmers and anglers from abuse violations.
That means hunters could possibly be
prosecuted for killing and harvesting wild
animals, as could farmers who send their
livestock to slaughterhouses.
David Michelson, the author of the initia-
tive and the lead organizer for the campaign,
acknowledged the proposal’s long road, and
said that like other social justice reforms
throughout history, it will take time.
L
Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group
A cow and calves rest in a fi eld along Peach Road, La Grande, on Thursday, March 17, 2022. Initiative
Petition 13, otherwise known as the Abuse, Neglect and Assault Exemption Modifi cation and
Improvement Act, would remove exemptions to the Oregon animal abuse laws that protect hunters,
farmers and anglers from abuse violations.
“This is asking for quite a shift from
the norm, and I think, like with any social
change, it’s controversial,” he said. “But
every social justice movement in his-
tory has been met with controversy,
unfortunately.”
Michelson noted a petition to allow
women to vote in Oregon faced similar
political headwinds in the early 20th cen-
tury, but the story of how women fought
for suff rage in Oregon has been inspira-
tional to the Portland-based activist, who
said he would “like to see this (initiative)
as being part of that history of progressive
ballot measures that push us forward.”
But even if the initiative fails to muster
the signatures necessary to reach the
ballot this November, Michelson has his
eyes set on 2024.
“We are planning, as we have always
planned, to submit our initiative for 2024
with the anticipation that even if we
qualify for 2022, it is unlikely that it’ll
pass on the fi rst attempt,” Michelson said.
“Speaking back to the initiative that gave
women the right to vote, it was voted on
See, Animals/Page A7
See, COVID/Page A7
Earth Day Oregon heads east for 2022
Annual event increases
its presence by partnering
with Eastern Oregon
nonprofits, businesses
By ALEX WITTWER
EO Media Group
JOSEPH — Eastern Oregon is
joining in Earth Day Oregon for the
fi rst time.
Wallowa Land Trust joined the
nonprofi t coalition this year, and has
partnered up with
Terminal Gravity
Brewing, Moonlight
Graphics and Wild
Carrot Herbals. As
well, Greater Hells
Canyon Council
Kleinhanzl
and Farmers Ending
Hunger — which has several partici-
pating farms in Hermiston and Echo
— have joined Earth Day Oregon for
this year’s campaign.
“Oregon Earth Day came about
more to celebrate the work that’s
being done specifi cally in our state
that’s helping to conserve our lands
WEATHER
INDEX
Business ........B1
Classified ......B2
Comics ...........B5
Crossword ....B2
Dear Abby ....B6
Horoscope ....B2
Lottery ...........A2
Obituaries .....A5
SATURDAY
Opinion .........A4
Spiritual ........A6
Sports ............A9
Sudoku ..........B5
and care for a planet,” said Sarah
Kleinhanzl, communications and out-
reach coordinator for Wallowa Land
Trust. “As Wallowa Land Trust, our
mission is to conserve and promote
healthy landscapes here in Wallowa
County, and so those missions obvi-
ously interlock pretty well.”
One of the ways Wallowa Land
Trust is raising funds is through an
in-person fundraising event on Friday,
April 22.
“We haven’t had any in-person
fundraisers for a couple of years
because of COVID-19, so we’re really
excited about it,“ Kleinhanzl said.
Full forecast on the back of B section
Tonight
Friday
40 LOW
66/39
Partly cloudy
Periods of sun
The fundraiser will include silent
auctions for local art, live music,
drinks, food and beer donated by Ter-
minal Gravity Brewing. Kleinhanzl
said it would be “a chance to recon-
nect with our community and raise the
money for our conservation work.”
“We’re really grateful for the local
support,” she said. “The three part-
ners that we partnered with have
been really supportive throughout the
years, and we’re really glad that they
joined us.”
The land trust does not have
See, Earth Day/Page A7
CONTACT US
541-963-3161
Issue 36
3 sections, 32 pages
La Grande, Oregon
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to news@lagrande
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