Idaho lawmakers consider ‘Greater Idaho’ movement
A committee is now considering the ‘Greater Idaho’ movement in the Idaho House of Representatives. House Joint Memorial 1 states the Idaho Legislature is ready to begin talks with the Oregon Legislature on the proposal, which would move Idaho’s border west and annex 15 Oregon counties. Greater Idaho now has support from 11 Oregon counties east of the Cascade Mountains. But several southwest Oregon counties were removed from the proposed map after voters in Douglas and Josephine counties rejected the measure last May. It would take an act of both state legislatures, and the approval of Congress, to shift the border. A full hearing before the Idaho House committee on state affairs is scheduled for later this month. (OPB Staff)
Kotek’s proposed budget omits funding for next piece of OSU-Cascades
Gov. Tina Kotek unveiled her first proposed budget this week and it raised some eyebrows in Central Oregon, where the community hoped to see funding included for a new health and recreation center. Oregon State University-Cascades had requested $45 million in state bonds for the $60 million project on its 128-acre campus in West Bend. The remaining $15 million would come from student fees. University officials plan to appeal to the governor and state lawmakers for the bonds. Proponents of the facility envisioned a fall 2027 opening. (Gary A. Warner/The Bend Bulletin)
‘Forever chemicals’ found in Camas water
The city of Camas sent a notice to drinking water customers earlier this month, which said elevated levels of chemicals known as PFAS had been found in a city well located south of East First Avenue near Louis Bloch Park in downtown Camas. PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down naturally and can build up in the bodies of humans and animals, including many freshwater fish found in lakes and rivers. (Kelly Moyer/Camas-Washougal Post-Record)
Can robots replace humans to prune fruit trees?
While walking around a block of Envy apple trees, three men — Dave Allan, a grower; Ruben Gonzalez, the orchard manager; and Matt Whiting, a Washington State University scientist and professor — talked of automation, imagining a future when trees could be pruned not by human hands gripping shears but by robots. Their aim was to collect information that could be useful for researchers working to create intelligent robotic pruning systems. (Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press)
Corgi Beach Day canceled over permit issue
The Oregon Humane Society fundraiser Corgi Beach Day, which draws hundreds of corgis and people to the beach during the summer for a costume contest, races and other activities, is not returning this year. “It is unfortunate but we are not going to be able to have a Corgi Beach Day in 2023,” the Portland Corgi Meetup Group said in a Facebook post on Saturday. “Cannon Beach will not approve a summer permit for our group.” The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department said the organizers did not apply for the event this year. (Nicole Bales/The Astorian)
