Page 2A
NORTHWEST
East Oregonian
Friday, June 19, 2015
Blazes burn in four states amid hot weather
The Associated Press
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through parched parts of the
West, where temperatures
are rising Thursday. Here’s
a look at the latest hotspots
and what crews are doing to
control them.
ALASKA
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burning outside Anchorage,
one that tripled in size and
forced the evacuation of
campsites on the Kenai
Peninsula and another
in the heart of Alaska’s
dog-mushing community
WKDW ¿UH¿JKWHUV KDYH NHSW
from growing.
A blaze in the Kenai
National Wildlife Refuge
ballooned to about 14
square miles as tempera-
tures warmed in low
humidity. Eight structures
— anything from a home to
a chicken coop — have been
destroyed since Monday.
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between a highway and the
Kenai River, Alaska’s most
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¿JKWHUV KDYH NHSW DQRWKHU
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miles, this one in Willow,
where the Iditarod Trail
Sled Dog Race normally
begins. Some residents were
expected to return Thursday
to the community about 40
miles north of Anchorage.
A preliminary assess-
Greg Barnette/The Record Searchlight via AP
In this June 17 photo, Redding firefighters battle a
blaze evening off Buenaventura Boulevard in south-
west Redding, Calif.
ment showed 132 properties
were in the burned area and
26 homes were destroyed,
the
Matanuska-Susitna
Borough’s Facebook page
said Thursday.
ARIZONA
$VPRN\EUXVK¿UHQHDU
a rural Arizona community
was contained mainly to a
dry riverbed, allowing most
of the hundreds of evac-
uated residents to return
home.
7KHÀDPHVKDYHEXUQHG
at least three residences
near Kearny, about 85
miles southeast of Phoenix,
and torn through nearly 2
square miles of salt cedar
trees.
A handful of people who
live close to a riverbed must
stay away because of their
homes’ proximity to the
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spokesman Mike Reichling
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faced triple-digit tempera-
tures suffered heat-related
problems, but there were no
serious injuries, he said.
CALIFORNIA
A Southern California
GHVHUW ZLOG¿UH EXUQHG
three homes Thursday and
another blaze in the San
Bernardino
Mountains
grew to over 15 square
miles as smaller blazes
erupted in drought-parched
areas up and down the state.
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burned in grass, trees and
brush.
$DFUH¿UHHUXSWHGLQ
a palm grove in the desert
town of Thermal, 135 miles
southeast of Los Angeles.
By late afternoon, it had
BRIEFLY
Applications
due June 26 for
drought funding
burned three homes and
several outbuildings, state
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About an hour’s drive
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burning since Wednesday
exploded in size in the San
Bernardino National Forest.
About 400 people,
including residents of
about two dozen homes and
several hundred campers,
had been evacuated as the
¿UHEXUQHG%LJ%HDU/DNH
2WKHU¿UHVEHLQJIRXJKW
included a 100-acre blaze
in Yuba County in the
Sierra Nevada foothills
north of Sacramento. More
than a dozen homes were
ordered evacuated after a
WUDLQLQJ¿UHIRUVWDWHFUHZV
reportedly was swept out
of control by gusty winds
north of Smartsville.
Crews also fought a
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posa County; a 50-acre
blaze in San Joaquin
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near the Central California
town of Bootjack.
WASHINGTON
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south of Spokane was
under control but sent up a
massive smoke column in
eastern Washington.
Brian Schaeffer with the
Spokane Fire Department
says that air and ground
crews got the less than
150-acre blaze halfway
contained, Spokane news
station KHQ-TV reported.
East Oregonian
Farmers, ranchers and
foresters in Oregon’s 19
drought-declared counties
have until Friday, June 26
to apply for federal funding
from the U.S. Department
of Agriculture.
Up to $2.5 million
is available through the
USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service
to assist producers with
improving management
practices and sustainability.
Funding comes from
the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program, and
is available only within
those counties where Gov.
Kate Brown has declared a
drought emergency: Baker,
Coos, Crook, Deschutes,
Douglas, Gilliam, Grant,
Harney, Jackson, Jefferson,
Josephine, Klamath, Lake,
Lane, Malheur, Morrow,
Umatilla, Wasco and
Wheeler.
Priority will be given to
applications from the most
drought-stricken counties
as measured by the U.S.
Drought Monitor.
Interested landowners
should apply to their local
USDA Service Center. The
RI¿FHLQ8PDWLOOD&RXQW\
can be reached at 541-278-
8049, and in Morrow
County at 541-676-9011.
Oregon individual health insurance rates to go up
PORTLAND
(AP) — Health
insurance premiums are poised to
go up for 220,000 Oregonians who
buy their own coverage, according
to the state’s proposed rates unveiled
Thursday.
In some cases, insurance compa-
nies proposed rates that were similar
to or better than the current rates, but
they were told by the state that they
must be raised. The state says the cost
of medical care has far outstripped
revenue, forcing insurers to dip into
reserve funds.
The proposed premiums are still
subject to public comment and formal
approval.
Under the state’s proposal, the cost
for the lowest priced silver plan for a
40-year-old will be $271 per month
next year, up nearly $50 from this year,
the Oregonian reported ,
Most insured Oregonians get
coverage from an employer or the
government, so they’re unaffected
by the proposed rate hikes. About 75
percent of people in the individual
market, who are affected, qualify for
federal tax credits averaging almost
$200 per month.
Moda Health, which covers more
than 100,000 Oregonians in the indi-
vidual market, would raise premiums
an average of 25.6 percent under the
state’s rates.
Last year, Oregon avoided some of
the big premium hikes seen elsewhere
following the implementation of Pres-
ident Barack Obama’s health care law.
6WDWHRI¿FLDOVKDYHRIWHQERDVWHGWKDW
Oregonians enjoyed some the lowest
premiums in the nation. But now the
state says those rates were too low.
According to the state, in 2014,
insurers spent $830 million on medical
care for people with individual
plans and collected $703 million in
premiums.
211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211
333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211
2I¿FHKRXUV0RQGD\WKURXJK)ULGD\DPWRSP
&ORVHGPDMRUKROLGD\V
“We need to ensure a market that
long term is stable, competitive and
ensures pricing that is much closer
to the cost of delivering health care,”
said Pat Allen, director of the state
Department of Consumer and Busi-
ness Services, which oversees the
Insurance Division.
To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255
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TODAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Mostly sunny,
breezy and nice
Mostly sunny and
nice
Partly sunny
81° 52°
82° 52°
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Breezy and nice
with sunshine
Partly sunny and
pleasant
PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
87° 57°
86° 53°
83° 53°
HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
83° 51°
85° 50°
PENDLETON
through 3 p.m. yesterday
TEMPERATURE
HIGH
LOW
89°
79°
100° (1961)
55°
53°
38° (1902)
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"
0.05"
0.86"
4.99"
6.94"
7.37"
HERMISTON
through 3 p.m. yesterday
TEMPERATURE
Yesterday
Normals
Records
HIGH
LOW
92°
80°
108° (1961)
57°
54°
40° (2010)
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"
Trace
0.41"
3.14"
4.03"
5.52"
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today
Sunset tonight
Moonrise today
Moonset today
First
Full
5:05 a.m.
8:48 p.m.
8:27 a.m.
10:52 p.m.
Last
New
June 24
July 8
July 1
89° 55°
88° 54°
Seattle
71/52
ALMANAC
Yesterday
Normals
Records
89° 57°
July 15
Spokane
Wenatchee
77/50
81/56
Tacoma
Moses
72/46
Lake
Pullman
Aberdeen Olympia
Yakima 83/51
73/44
64/47
72/44
84/49
Longview
Kennewick Walla Walla
72/47
83/57 Lewiston
85/51
Astoria
82/54
65/49
Portland
Enterprise
Hermiston
75/52
Pendleton 73/43
The Dalles 83/51
81/52
80/52
La Grande
Salem
77/47
77/51
Albany
Corvallis 77/49
80/49
John Day
76/47
Ontario
Eugene
Bend
87/57
78/48
74/43
Caldwell
Burns
84/55
80/46
Medford
86/55
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 Washington: Times of clouds and
sun today, but sunnier across the south and
in central sections.
Cascades: Mostly sunny today; pleasant.
Clear to partly cloudy tonight. Mostly sunny
tomorrow.
Northern California: Windy at the coast
today; plenty of sunshine in the interior
mountains.
To submit a Letter to the Editor:PDLOWR0DQDJLQJ(GLWRU'DQLHO
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COMMERCIAL PRINTING
Shane Weston
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Hi
65
75
74
66
80
73
78
78
83
76
79
77
69
86
59
65
87
85
81
75
77
77
77
74
75
83
84
Lo
49
42
43
51
46
43
48
46
51
47
44
47
36
55
47
51
57
51
52
52
42
51
50
41
50
57
49
W
c
s
s
pc
s
pc
pc
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
pc
pc
s
s
s
c
s
pc
pc
s
c
s
pc
Hi
67
78
79
69
82
76
81
80
85
79
82
78
72
89
59
63
88
86
82
80
81
82
78
76
79
84
86
NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY
Sat.
Lo
51
45
48
52
47
44
51
47
50
51
47
45
38
59
47
49
60
51
52
57
47
55
51
43
57
58
53
W
c
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
pc
pc
s
s
s
pc
s
pc
s
s
pc
s
s
WORLD CITIES
Today
Beijing
Hong Kong
Jerusalem
London
Mexico City
Moscow
Paris
Rome
Seoul
Sydney
Tokyo
Hi
79
93
89
68
75
69
71
80
83
58
72
Lo
61
83
59
53
58
56
53
62
63
49
66
W
pc
pc
s
pc
t
sh
pc
s
pc
sh
r
Hi
90
92
82
70
74
76
73
79
77
58
78
Sat.
Lo
66
83
59
56
57
59
56
61
63
48
68
W
pc
pc
s
sh
t
t
pc
s
t
sh
pc
WINDS
Boardman
Pendleton
Today
Saturday
WSW 10-20
W 10-20
NE 3-6
N 4-8
UV INDEX TODAY
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Coastal Oregon: Clouds giving way to some
sun today, except variable cloudiness across
the north.
Eastern and Central Oregon: Mostly sunny
and comfortable today; not as hot in the
upper Treasure Valley.
Western Washington: A passing shower in
the morning, but any time in central parts
today.
To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries:
HPDLOUVWUXWKHUV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRPRUYLVLWZZZHDVWRUHJRQLDQ
FRPFRPPXQLW\DQQRXQFHPHQWV
&ODVVLÀHG$GYHUWLVLQJ
FODVVL¿HGV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP
Today
(in mph)
Klamath Falls
79/44
To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News:
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REGIONAL CITIES
Forecast
2
5
7
NEWS
To submit news tips and press releases:FDOO
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Multimedia consultants
• Jeanne Jewett
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Single copy price:
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Copyright © 2015, EO Media Group
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
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www.eastoregonian.com
SALEM (AP) — A
proposal permitting
pharmacists to prescribe
hormonal birth control
is advancing through the
Legislature.
The bill allows women
to skip their doctor’s
visit for a birth control
prescription.
A pharmacist could
prescribe oral birth control
or hormonal patches after
she completes a 20-question
risk-screening assessment.
It cleared a Senate panel
Wednesday.
Lawmakers have given
bipartisan support to the
measure, but the Oregon
Catholic Conference says
they oppose it. They said
they couldn’t support
expanding access to
contraception.
Last week, Oregon
EHFDPHWKH¿UVWVWDWH
requiring insurance
companies to cover up to
12 months of birth control
at a time.
Bend Republican Rep.
Knute Buehler said the two
measures combined allow
Oregon women to have
the easiest access to birth
control in the nation.
LONGVIEW, Wash.
$3²$¿UHRI¿FLDOVD\V
a wood products executive
was seriously injured when
two 3,000-pound concrete
blocks fell on him at his
Longview, Washington
company.
The Daily News of
Longview reports that
70-year-old John Leber was
ÀRZQIURP6ZDQVRQ%DUN
and Wood Products to a
Vancouver hospital, where
— Pat Allen,
Director of the state Department of
Consumer and Business Services
Didn’t receive your paper?&DOO
EHIRUHSP7XHVGD\WKURXJK)ULGD\
RUEHIRUHDP6DWXUGD\
for same-day redelivery
— Founded Oct. 16, 1875 —
Oregon Senate
committee clears
birth control
proposal
Giant concrete
blocks injure SW
Wash. man
“We need to ensure a
market that
long term is stable,
competitive and ensures
pricing that is much
closer to the cost of
delivering health care.”
Subscriber services:
For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255
he was reported in critical
condition Wednesday
evening after the accident
earlier in the day.
Longview Battalion
Chief Kevin Taylor says
workers were building a
retaining wall using the
concrete blocks on top of
a soft sand when the wall
collapsed.
The two blocks trapped
Leber’s lower body. With
the help of a crane, he was
freed in about 15 minutes.
The newspaper says
Leber is the president and
owner of Swanson Bark.
A state Labor and
Industries spokesman
said the department will
investigate.
7
5
2
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: Heavy rain from Bill will affect the middle Mississippi Valley today.
Downpours will dot the mid-Atlantic Ohio Valley and South Central states. Rain will soak
the Dakotas. Northwest Washington will be damp.
Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states)
High 117° in Blythe, Calif.
Low 34° in Truckee, Calif.
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
96
92
86
87
85
92
85
76
95
79
71
70
92
94
74
100
84
78
89
91
77
96
82
109
83
83
Lo
67
74
69
68
58
74
57
57
76
66
55
58
74
60
57
74
58
63
75
74
68
73
68
79
74
63
W
t
t
pc
t
t
pc
s
pc
t
t
pc
pc
c
s
pc
s
pc
t
pc
pc
t
t
c
s
t
pc
Hi
99
90
82
86
80
90
87
70
96
85
83
84
92
87
82
102
83
79
88
89
83
96
92
112
93
82
Sat.
Lo
67
75
70
73
58
75
60
60
76
67
66
68
74
60
70
74
61
59
74
76
70
73
72
81
75
63
W
t
t
pc
c
pc
t
s
s
t
t
pc
t
s
s
t
s
pc
c
pc
t
t
pc
pc
s
pc
pc
Today
Hi
Louisville
82
Memphis
85
Miami
92
Milwaukee
65
Minneapolis
81
Nashville
86
New Orleans
89
New York City
85
Oklahoma City
89
Omaha
85
Philadelphia
87
Phoenix
113
Portland, ME
77
Providence
82
Raleigh
94
Rapid City
87
Reno
93
Sacramento
93
St. Louis
80
Salt Lake City
95
San Diego
75
San Francisco
68
Seattle
71
Tucson
110
Washington, DC 91
Wichita
90
Lo
72
73
78
52
66
71
75
67
71
70
69
83
53
58
71
61
56
58
71
63
63
53
52
75
74
73
W
t
t
pc
pc
pc
t
pc
pc
c
pc
pc
s
pc
pc
t
pc
s
s
r
s
pc
pc
c
s
t
c
Hi
80
91
92
79
84
83
91
75
93
91
84
113
68
74
93
79
95
95
89
93
74
69
76
110
89
99
Sat.
Lo
73
76
78
61
65
73
75
67
71
66
73
84
56
61
74
58
57
57
78
66
64
54
54
77
77
74
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain,
sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.
W
r
pc
pc
t
t
t
t
pc
s
pc
pc
s
s
s
t
pc
s
s
pc
s
pc
pc
pc
s
c
s
