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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2015)
NATION Did Obama meet goals from last State of the Union? Page 2A East Oregonian By NEDRA PICKLER Associated Press WASHINGTON — Pres- ident Barack Obama used his last State of the Union to de- clare 2014 a “Year of Action,” and he can claim credit for accomplishing several of the goals he laid out. The smaller ones. That’s because while he was able to check off most of what he promised to do through ex- ecutive action in last year’s speech, Obama was unable in the bitterly partisan elec- tion year to get Congress to go along with the bigger plans he had for the country that re- quired their approval. As Obama prepares to make that annual trek up Pennsylva- nia Avenue to address Congress once again, here’s a look back a - es he made — and which got AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File President Obama is turning to his biggest television audi- ence of the year to pitch tax increases on the wealthiest Americans and put the new Republican Congress in the po- sition of defending top income earners over the middle class. and eligible for work permits. MINIMUM WAGE One of Obama’s most ambitious ideas was to raise America’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour, upping the ante from the $9-an- hour proposal he made in the 2013 State of the Union. Con- gress wasn’t keen on the idea, but the president was able to unilaterally make the change for new federal contractors. The White House estimated it would directly help a few hundred thousand people, but argues the bigger impact has been that several states and lo- calities raised their minimum wage last year after Obama IMMIGRATION “Let’s get immigration re- form done this year,” Obama declared to a Congress that had long blocked his efforts. And so he did, although it was not the broad plan he envisioned that would have allowed a path to citizenship for more than 11 million immigrants illegally in the United States. Instead, Obama took executive action to make more than 4 million of those immigrants eligible for protection from deportation raised the debate. RETIREMENT SAVINGS Obama was able to create a new retirement savings account — dubbed “myRA” for “my IRA” — geared toward low- and middle-income Americans who don’t have the upfront investment that many commer- cial IRAs require. For years, Obama has been asking Con- gress to encourage more Amer- icans to grow a retirement nest egg by allowing all workers to be automatically enrolled in opt out. But Congress hasn’t acted on that, so Obama of- fered the more modest myRA plan. The Treasury Department Tuesday, January 20, 2015 NORTHWEST BRIEFLY has set up a new security as the basis for the investment and for the past month has been running a pilot program with a small group of employers, with plans to expand the program by the end of 2015. TAXES While most of Obama’s proposals last year were posi- tions he had long advocated, one of the few new proposals he offered was extension of the earned-income tax credit, which helps boost the wages of low-income families through tax refunds. Obama wanted it broadened to provide more help to workers without chil- dren, a view embraced by some Republicans and conservative economists. “Let’s work to- gether to strengthen the credit, reward work, and help more Americans get ahead,” Obama said optimistically — too op- timistically, it turned out. The proposal never passed. ENERGY Obama said the goal of his energy policy is to create jobs and a cleaner planet and an- nounced that he wanted to set higher fuel economy standards for trucks. He followed up by visiting a Safeway distribution center to promote the idea. The process for making the change is underway within the admin- istration, with a new regula- tion planned to be proposed in SEATTLE (AP) — At least six people have a leg injury as protesters chanting “black lives a state highway and interstate off ramps. Seattle police spokesman Patrick Michaud told and it was related to the protests, but didn’t give further details. alternate routes Monday afternoon as dozens of people blocked the northbound lanes of State Route and southbound off ramps to Mercer Street was also impacted as protesters marched to that area in the South Lake Union neighborhood. Police moved to clear protesters from the roadways, and by about 4:30 p.m. both State Route Organizers said they were engaging in “civil disobedience” to protest police violence. USDA sending $23M to Washington SALEM (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is sending $23 million to Washington prevent soil erosion. The Capital Press reports the federal dollars will be matched by conservation districts, tribes, in the projects. The federal money comes from a new program created in the 2014 Farm Bill. The projects include: • A group of efforts in the Palouse Conservation District. • Work led by Trout Unlimited on the Upper Columbia. March 2016. habitat in the Puget Sound. Middle school class ponders: What would zombies do? “When you’re president, will you remember me?” Davis asked Georgia. Other students, though con- cerned about the government lacking plans to store radioac- tive leftovers, believe nuclear energy is more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels, such as coal, which release harmful carbon dioxide emissions. Students in Davis’ class are almost evenly divided over the topic, with slightly more in favor of nuclear energy than against. The class, called “Zombie Apocalypse,” has intrigued By JOSEPHINE WOOLINGTON The Register-Guard EUGENE — Some sev- enth- and eighth-grade science students at Spencer Butte Mid- dle School have a bit of advice for coming up with long-term solutions for nuclear waste dis- posal: Stop spending money on nuclear power. “I feel like before you start making all this nuclear energy, you need to have a secure place to get rid of it,” 13-year-old Georgia Carleton said. “When you make a cake, you know where you’re going to store and get rid of your ingredients be- fore you make it. “There’s a lot of risk in- volved,” she added. The comments impressed teacher Shanna Davis. last school year — and not just because they think they’ll get to learn about zombies. Students study natural disas- ters, epidemics, survival skills and what to do during emer- gency situations. By the end of the year-long class, they’ll be trained in CPR. The class also covers why American culture obsesses over apocalyptic TV shows and movies, dating back to World War II. Many students say they ap- preciate learning about topics that they otherwise wouldn’t be taught. They say the class helps them understand what’s being talked about in the news. “It doesn’t get boring,” 14-year-old Kaia Lane said. “It’s practical science,” 12-year-old Abby Fowler add- ed. One student admitted that, before the class, the only thing he knew about nuclear energy Power Plant in “The Simp- sons.” Davis’ class has become one of the most popular elective Subscriber services: For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255 Didn’t receive your paper? — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 SALEM (AP) — An Oregon jogger thought someone knocked him in the head or he got hit by lightning or may have suffered a stroke when he felt a big blow to the head last week as he was jogging in Bush’s Pasture Park. When the 58-year-old man, Ron Jaecks of Salem, was struck a second time he saw a large winged animal he thought was a massive bat. Willamette University biology Professor David Craig told the Statesman Journal the attacker was likely an owl. Great horned owls are nesting in January and are known to attack anything they think threatens their nest. Corrections The East Oregonian works hard to be accurate and sincerely regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in the paper, please call 541-966-0818. ADVERTISING Advertising Director: Jennine Perkinson NEWS To submit news tips and press releases: Multimedia consultants • Jeanne Jewett To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News: • Stephanie Burkenbine for same-day redelivery To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries: • Dayle Stinson 541-966-0806 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com • Terri Briggs SUBSCRIPTION RATES www.eastoregonian.com by the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakima Nation as well as the tribes of the Colville Reservation. classes — courses that students are not required to take — at the south Eugene school. The school added an additional sec- tion of the class this school year so more students can sign up, and Madison Middle School in northwest Eugene also started using the curriculum this year. Davis’ husband, Geoff Davis, teaches the class at Madison. Shanna Davis, 32, created the curriculum two years ago. The goal is to teach students critical thinking skills and how to be prepared for a natural di- saster or emergency. “Even as a seventh- and eighth-grader, I want them to know that they’re powerful and - vis said. She also wanted to show students that science, history, politics and geography are re- lated to each other in life. To submit a Letter to the Editor: To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255 or go online to www.eastoregonian.com and click on ‘Subscribe’ Postmaster: Single copy price: TODAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY Fog in the a.m.; mostly cloudy Freezing fog in the morning Mainly cloudy 44° 27° 39° 26° 41° 30° TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 50° 37° 42° 28° 67° (1968) -13° (1922) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date 0.00" 0.70" 0.96" 0.70" 0.38" 0.96" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 54° 42° 61° (1977) 39° 29° -6° (1957) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date 0.00" 0.43" 0.79" 0.43" 0.27" 0.79" SUN AND MOON Jan 20 Jan 26 Partly sunny 40° 32° 48° 39° Full Feb 3 42° 30° 46° 38° 53° 40° 54° 42° Seattle 49/33 PENDLETON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today New First Intervals of clouds and sun HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST through 3 p.m. yesterday Yesterday Normals Records SATURDAY PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST ALMANAC Yesterday Normals Records Forecast FRIDAY 7:29 a.m. 4:44 p.m. 7:12 a.m. 5:32 p.m. Last Feb 11 Spokane Wenatchee 35/23 39/26 Tacoma Moses 48/30 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 39/25 39/25 49/35 48/31 45/25 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 49/31 43/28 Lewiston 44/27 Astoria 43/27 51/36 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 50/34 Pendleton 38/16 The Dalles 45/29 44/27 46/31 La Grande Salem 39/18 50/31 Albany Corvallis 50/31 49/32 John Day 40/21 Ontario Eugene Bend 37/23 48/30 42/22 Caldwell Burns 36/23 40/19 Medford 51/29 REGIONAL CITIES Today Astoria Baker City Bend Brookings Burns Enterprise Eugene Heppner Hermiston John Day Klamath Falls La Grande Meacham Medford Newport North Bend Ontario Pasco Pendleton Portland Redmond Salem Spokane Ukiah Vancouver Walla Walla Yakima REGIONAL FORECAST Eastern and Central Oregon: Areas of freez- ing fog in the morning; partly sunny today. Western Washington: Clouds giving way to some sun today; areas of morning fog. Areas of fog late tonight. Eastern Washington: Areas of fog during the morning; otherwise, mostly cloudy today. Cascades: Clouds giving way to some sun today; areas of freezing fog in the morning. Northern California: Partly sunny today. Clear tonight. Plenty of sunshine tomorrow. Lo 36 15 22 40 19 16 30 25 29 21 19 18 18 29 38 37 23 27 27 34 21 31 23 21 31 28 25 W pc c pc pc pc c pc pc c pc pc c c pc pc pc c c c pc pc pc c pc pc c c Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Hi 52 29 45 57 35 37 46 41 41 41 47 38 36 51 53 57 34 41 39 48 45 48 33 42 48 39 41 Lo 42 17 28 43 17 18 35 25 30 20 21 23 21 31 42 42 25 28 26 37 26 36 24 24 35 28 28 W pc c pc s pc c pc c c c s c c s pc pc c c c pc pc pc c c pc c c Hi 45 68 61 39 74 26 36 55 36 82 51 Lo 24 56 47 35 48 -2 29 44 24 70 37 W s s s c pc c c sh pc c pc Hi 42 71 66 41 73 11 38 57 42 80 44 Wed. Lo 18 55 47 32 47 -1 30 43 27 72 42 W s s s sh pc pc sn r c t r WINDS Boardman Pendleton Today Wednesday NNE 3-6 N 4-8 NNE 2-4 NNE 3-6 UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. Coastal Oregon: Partly sunny today, but more clouds across the north. Clear tonight. Hi 51 33 42 57 40 38 48 43 45 40 48 39 37 51 52 55 37 44 44 50 44 50 35 41 49 43 45 NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Wed. WORLD CITIES (in mph) Klamath Falls 48/19 COMMERCIAL PRINTING Production Director Jake Duquette Real Estate Advertising: Jodi Snook Copyright © 2014, EO Media Group 45° 29° To submit sports or outdoors information or tips: Legal Advertising: (USPS 164-980) 0 1 1 1 0 0 8 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m. 0-2, Low 3-5, Moderate 6-7, High; 8-10, Very High; 11+, Extreme The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ num- ber, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2015 Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. -10s -0s showers t-storms 0s 10s rain 20s flurries 30s 40s snow ice 50s 60s cold front 70s 80s 90s 100s warm front stationary front 110s high low National Summary: While brisk winds continue to chill New England, one band of nuisance snow will swing through the lower Great Lakes today as a second tracks over the northern Plains. The South and West will remain dry. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 81° in Del Rio, Texas Low -8° in Gunnison, Colo. NATIONAL CITIES Today Albuquerque Atlanta Atlantic City Baltimore Billings Birmingham Boise Boston Charleston, SC Charleston, WV Chicago Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit El Paso Fairbanks Fargo Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Kansas City Las Vegas Little Rock Los Angeles Hi 56 63 46 47 37 61 35 35 65 51 37 33 66 39 31 68 3 34 82 71 46 68 52 65 61 71 Lo 33 42 32 27 16 40 24 19 43 34 31 22 44 20 20 38 -6 25 67 51 29 44 31 47 38 51 W pc pc pc pc sf pc c s s c sn sn s pc sn pc pc sn s s c pc pc pc pc pc Hi 48 62 39 37 32 59 33 32 67 47 36 32 60 32 28 61 1 27 82 63 42 70 47 65 58 71 Wed. Lo 28 39 31 26 21 37 22 26 43 35 24 20 40 15 21 37 -10 10 67 51 27 46 27 38 40 51 W c s sn c pc pc c c pc sh sf sn c c sn c pc sf s pc c pc pc s pc s Today Louisville Memphis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York City Oklahoma City Omaha Philadelphia Phoenix Portland, ME Providence Raleigh Rapid City Reno Sacramento St. Louis Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco Seattle Tucson Washington, DC Wichita Hi 55 59 76 34 33 59 68 38 60 49 44 76 30 36 62 41 53 57 53 39 67 59 49 77 51 55 Lo 32 39 65 28 27 35 49 25 38 32 26 52 12 17 40 23 27 40 34 22 54 46 33 46 34 31 W c pc pc sn sn pc pc s pc pc pc pc s s s sn pc pc c pc pc pc pc pc pc c Hi 49 56 80 33 33 54 66 35 51 44 34 73 29 34 60 33 51 58 48 35 66 60 48 73 41 51 Wed. Lo 30 39 66 21 19 32 49 29 38 27 28 51 17 23 35 14 23 39 30 18 51 45 39 42 32 28 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. W pc pc c sf sf pc pc sn c pc sn pc pc c sh sf s pc pc s s s pc pc c c
