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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 2019)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian A2 National wildlife refuge management under fire Washington governor pushes expanded health coverage be subject to “special use permits” that include new requirements for “compati- bility” between agriculture and waterfowl habitat. These stipulations include flooding fields after harvest, limiting tillage in the autumn, prohibiting the planting of genetically engineered crops and disal- lowing the hazing of water- fowl during the first four months of the year. According to the farm plaintiffs, these restrictions will render agriculture less productive and undermine its future viability in the area by reducing revenues and creating operational difficulties. The Tule Lake and Lower Klamath national wildlife refuges were estab- lished with the purpose of leasing land for agriculture, which is worth about $30 million in the two areas and supports about 600 jobs in the region, the complaint said. Environmental groups suing over the manage- ment of the Klamath-area national wildlife refuges take aim at other aspects of the government’s plan: the amount of water allotted for waterfowl habitat, the continued use of pesticides and the impacts of graz- ing on federally protected species. SALEM (AP) — The federal govern- ment recently fended off attacks from all sides while defending its management of six national wildlife ref- uges against legal chal- lenges from farmers and environmentalists. The Capital Press reports the U.S. Inte- rior Department is fac- ing three lawsuits filed by three environmental groups who allege its plans for the 200,000-acre Klam- ath Basin National Wild- life Refuge Complex along the Oregon-California bor- der violates several federal laws. A fourth complaint from six farms and agriculture groups alleges the agency has unlawfully exceeded its authority by restricting leases of refuge land for agricultural purposes. The agricultural plain- tiffs —Tulelake Irrigation District, Klamath Water Users Association, Tally Ho Farms Partnership, Four H Organics, Woodhouse Farming and Seed Co. and Tulelake Growers Asso- ciation — claim a com- prehensive conservation plan adopted in 2017 will substantially reduce acre- age available for farming within the refuge complex. Under the plan, certain new agricultural leases will By SALLY HO Associated Press SEATTLE — Washing- ton’s governor and New York City’s mayor unveiled major initiatives to expand health insurance coverage Tuesday, the latest moves by key Dem- ocratic leaders to address Trump administration health policies they say are keeping people from getting the care they need. Washington Gov. Jay Ins- lee, a likely presidential can- didate, proposed a publicly run health insurance option for state residents who are not covered by private employers and buying insurance off the marketplace created under former President Barack Obama’s health care law. “We need to write another chapter of health care reform,” said Inslee, who pro- vided no details on how the program would be funded. It came the same day New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, also considered a 2020 presidential contender, revealed a $100 million-a- year plan to expand health care coverage to those who lack it, including immigrants in the U.S. illegally. A day earlier, California Gov. Gavin Newsom pro- posed state-funded health Forecast for Pendleton Area TODAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY Cloudy and milder Times of sun and clouds Partly sunny Sunny to partly cloudy Mostly sunny 49° 40° 53° 32° PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 46° 32° 45° 28° 44° 27° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 44° 36° 51° 32° 44° 31° 43° 30° OREGON FORECAST 42° 30° Tacoma Olympia 51/47 44/38 41/29 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 51/44 Lewiston 52/48 43/38 Astoria 53/47 Pullman Yakima 42/34 51/45 49/41 Portland Hermiston 52/47 The Dalles 44/36 Salem 41/35 53/44 Yesterday Normals Records 44/37 PRECIPITATION John Day Bend 56/45 50/35 48/35 Ontario 44/32 Caldwell Burns 36° 31° 40° 28° 65° (2002) -20° (1937) 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date Albany Eugene 0.03" 0.04" 0.32" 0.04" 0.13" 0.32" WINDS (in mph) 46/34 43/24 0.05" 0.09" 0.46" 0.09" 0.17" 0.46" through 3 p.m. yest. HIGH LOW TEMP. Pendleton 44/34 49/40 La Grande 54/45 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date HERMISTON Enterprise 55/46 Corvallis 37° 28° 41° 27° 65° (1933) -14° (1937) PRECIPITATION Moses Lake 53/45 Aberdeen 41/37 36/32 of the state Medicaid system and the insurance program for state employees. A measure expected in the legislative session that starts next week would direct the state agency to seek contract proposals from insurers. Ins- lee said reimbursement rates would be consistent with fed- eral Medicare plans. Washington Insur- ance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said President Don- ald Trump’s administration has put up “real roadblocks” to health care access and that if the state’s public option is approved, it wouldn’t need federal approval. The Trump administra- tion said in July that it would freeze payments under an “Obamacare” program that protects insurers with sicker patients from financial losses, which is expected to add to premium increases. Inslee said 14 counties in Washington state are at risk of losing access to individ- ual health insurance options. Rising costs are causing Today 52/37 Thu. NNE 4-8 SSE 6-12 Boardman Pendleton Medford W 3-6 S 6-12 SUN AND MOON Klamath Falls 46/31 Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019 Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today 7:35 a.m. 4:30 p.m. 9:50 a.m. 8:11 p.m. First Full Last New Jan 13 Jan 20 Jan 27 Feb 4 NATIONAL EXTREMES Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 84° in Edinburg, Texas Low -22° in Daniel, Wyo. NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY State of Washington opposes federal nuke waste proposal SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The state of Washington said Tuesday it opposes a fed- eral proposal to reclassify some radioac- tive waste on a site in the state that con- tains the nation’s largest supply because it fears much of the waste will be left in the ground. The state this week filed its objections to a Trump administration plan to reclas- sify millions of gallons of waste stored in underground tanks at Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The objections were accom- panied by a letter from Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson. The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking to reclassify a large percent- age of the waste as lower-level waste. That would allow treatment and disposal options that would not guarantee long-term protections. “This dangerous idea will only serve to silence the voices of tribal leaders, Han- ford workers, public safety officials, and surrounding communities in these import- ant conversations,” said Inslee, a Demo- crat who is considering running for presi- dent in 2020. “This is unacceptable, and we will not stand by while this administration plans to abandon its responsibility to clean up their mess.” Parks report presses for money for urban trails SALEM (AP) — A new report by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department calls for more funding for hiking and walk- ing trails in urban centers. The Statesman Journal reports that -0s 0s showers t-storms 10s rain 20s flurries 30s snow 40s 50s ice 60s cold front E AST O REGONIAN — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed major holidays EastOregonian.com To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255 or go online to EastOregonian.com and click on ‘Subscribe’ East Oregonian (USPS 164-980) is published daily except Sunday, Monday and postal holidays, by the EO Media Group, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, OR. Postmaster: send address changes to East Oregonian, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Copyright © 2018, EO Media Group 70s 80s 90s 100s warm front stationary front 110s Pesticide drift complaints for marijuana rare in Oregon SALEM (AP) — Oregon agricul- ture regulators have investigated 11 com- plaints of pesticides used on nearby prop- erties drifting onto marijuana and hemp farms. The Capital Press reports that only two drift complaints of the 11 investigated by the Oregon Department of Agriculture have resulted in citations being issued for pesti- cide violations. Sunny Summers, the department’s can- nabis policy coordinator, says drift contam- ination appears to be a “minor thing.” Since recreational marijuana was legal- ized in state in 2014, the department has investigated more than 250 cases in which routine tests have detected pesticide con- tamination of marijuana. Under state law, marijuana cannot be sprayed with any pesticides registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for specific crops or subject to maximum residue levels. high low 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. Subscriber services: For mail delivery, online access, vacation stops or delivery concerns call 1-800-522-0255 ext. 1 SUBSCRIPTION RATES EZPay 52 weeks 26 weeks 13 weeks the agency says $640 million is needed to create those trails for a population that’s getting older, more diverse and more urbanized. The report is produced every five years to set policy and help cities and counties get grant money. The department says the investment could save billions in health care costs because people are more likely to get out- side and exercise when they have options close to home. The report also examines how to bring recreation to low-income families that have traditionally been underserved. The Jan. 8 article “Every drop counts” had incorrect information in a quote about blood donor demographics. Donors ages 16 to 24 made up 31 percent of the people who showed up to donate blood for the Red Cross in the last year. Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. -10s some insurers to abandon the marketplace in largely rural counties. The Economic Opportu- nity Institute said more than 43,000 people dropped their health insurance last year in Washington. Officials aren’t commit- ting state dollars to subsidiz- ing Inslee’s program but sug- gesting that premiums paid by consumers will support it. Insurance carriers and health care providers who partici- pate in the program will also likely be squeezed. Washington previously had a version of this type of health coverage but it was eliminated during the Great Recession because it was heavily subsidized by the state. State Rep. Joe Schmick, a Republican, expressed skep- ticism that Inslee’s proposal could deliver without more taxes or health insurance costs. “Mark my words. This will cost people a lot more money, period.” BRIEFLY through 3 p.m. yest. HIGH LOW Yesterday Normals Records Spokane Wenatchee care coverage for 138,000 young people living in the country illegally and reinstat- ing a mandate for everyone to buy insurance or pay a fine — part of “Obamacare” that congressional Republicans eliminated last year. The efforts in liberal strongholds target President Donald Trump’s push to roll back his predecessor’s sig- nature law and are moves toward universal health care as championed by some Democrats. Health care was a top priority for voters in the November election, especially those who voted Democratic. In Washington, Inslee included $500,000 in his lat- est budget proposal to begin the work of setting up the statewide program known as Cascade Care. It aims to help lower-income people who don’t qualify for federal assis- tance get coverage by 2021. The program would be administered by the Washing- ton State Health Care Author- ity, the same agency in charge PENDLETON TEMP. 52/47 AP Photo/Ted S. Warren Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks Tuesday at a news conference in Seattle. ALMANAC Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. Seattle Wednesday, January 9, 2019 Local home delivery Savings (cover price) $14.50 41 percent $173.67 41 percent $91.86 38 percent $47.77 36 percent *EZ Pay = one-year rate with a monthly credit or debit card/check charge Single copy price: $1 Tuesday through Friday, $1.50 Saturday Circulation Manager: Bonny Tuller, 541-966-0828 ADVERTISING Regional Publisher and Revenue Director: • Christopher Rush 541-278-2669 • crush@eomediagroup.com Advertising Services: • Angela Treadwell 541-966-0827 • atreadwell@eastoregonian.com • Grace Bubar 541-276-2214 • gbubar@eastoregonian.com Multimedia Consultants: • Kimberly Macias 541-278-2683 • kmacias@eastoregonian.com • Jeanne Jewett 541-564-4531 • jjewett@eastoregonian.com • Dayle Stinson 541-278-2670 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com • Audra Workman 541-564-4538 • aworkman@eastoregonian.com Classified & Legal Advertising 1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678 classifieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com NEWS • To submit news tips and press releases: call 541-966-0818 or email news@eastoregonian.com • To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News: email community@eastoregonian.com or call Tammy Malgesini at 541-564-4539 or Renee Struthers at 541-966-0818. • To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries: email rstruthers@eastoregonian.com or visit eastoregonian. com/community/announcements • To submit sports or outdoors information or tips: 541-966-0838 • sports@eastoregonian.com Business Office Manager: 541-966-0822 COMMERCIAL PRINTING Production Manager: Mike Jensen 541-215-0824 • mjensen@eastoregonian.com