OPB’s First Look: Funding drought on the Oregon range

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Good morning, Northwest.

Ranchers in Central Oregon are putting projects to boost wildfire resilience on hold as the federal government yanks financial support for that work.

OPB’s Alejandro Figueroa recently visited with Jim Bob Collins in Wheeler County. Collins’ family has ranched there for more than a century, and last year he watched the Shoe Fly Fire torch thousands of acres that will struggle to recover.

He helps explain what happens if dead trees fall in the dry forest and no one is there to remove them.

In other news, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson rejected demands from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to change or repeal sanctuary laws. And early forecasts suggest a wet fall and winter for the Pacific Northwest.

Here’s your First Look at Wednesday’s news.

— Bradley W. Parks

With less federal funding, Central Oregon ranchers forced to delay wildfire resilience projects

Wildfires are a normal part of the landscape in Central and Eastern Oregon, but in recent years they’ve become increasingly common and destructive there. Recovering from them takes time and money, both of which are tough to come by.

The latter especially has dried up like the grasses torched in last year’s fires. The federal government has walked back or put on hold about $90 million worth of conservation work.

Burn scars leave soils susceptible to erosion, and charred trees spell trouble.

“They’re going to start falling over,” fourth-generation rancher James “Jim Bob” Collins said. “When you have a bunch of trees laying dead on the ground ... that’s a really good way to ruin the soil.” (Alejandro Figueroa)

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5 things to know this morning

• The governors of Oregon and Washington told federal officials yesterday that their states will not abandon sanctuary laws in the face of threats by the Trump administration to pull funding or prosecute local officials. (Dirk VanderHart)

• Portland city councilors may have violated public meeting law when they text messaged each other during budget meetings earlier this year. But because complaints about the alleged violations were filed too late, the city said yesterday it won’t be taking any action against involved councilors. (Alex Zielinski)

• Now that it appears the Trail Blazers are staying in Portland, business leaders are breathing a sigh of relief. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has publicly suggested that the new owners should be prepared to renovate the Moda Center or build a new stadium. (Kyra Buckley)

• Clark County agreed to pay approximately $2.2 million to resolve claims from three Latino employees at the county’s public works department. The latest settlement brings the county’s total payment to more than $4 million over incidents including racist remarks, physical threats and workplace double standards. (Erik Neumann)

• In Monday’s newsletter, we featured a story on the budget crisis facing Oregon timber counties. OPB environmental policy reporter April Ehrlich and “Morning Edition” host Jess Hazel dive deeper into the issues. (April Ehrlich and Jess Hazel)

Headlines from around the Northwest

• Springfield Creamery co-founder Sue Kesey dies at 86 (Karen Richards)

• Here’s what an early La Niña prediction could mean for the Pacific Northwest (Riley Martinez)

• Portland-area taxes need major overhaul, advisory group says (Alex Zielinski)

• Providence to close maternity unit​​​​​​​ at Seaside hospital (Amelia Templeton)

• Medford airport expands runways, plans new terminal upgrades (Emma J Nelson)

• Washington’s hydropower has created a data center boom (Monica Nickelsburg)

• As gun tests in criminal investigations surge, Washington struggles to keep up (Jake Goldstein-Street)

Sights and sounds from Fiesta Mexicana in Woodburn

Woodburn’s Fiesta Mexicana is one of 28 events designated a cultural heritage in the state of Oregon, and it remains the only event with this designation to celebrate and recognize Latinidad in the state.

What started as a small celebration to mark the end of the harvest season 61 years ago has become one of the longest-running celebrations in Oregon.

“For Mexicans and Hispanics, celebration is about identifying themselves, finding their roots,” says Juan Cervantes Morales, a Mixteco community member and local vendor, “The Fiesta Mexicana meets all those criteria.”

The festival marked its 61st year this weekend. OPB will have more stories from Fiesta coming in September as well as a short documentary in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. (Alicia Avila)

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