Last king tides of the season at Oregon Coast come this weekend
The last of the king tides are expected this weekend along the Oregon Coast, and efforts to document them continue. Meg Reed, who heads the Oregon King Tides Project, is asking people to share photos taken this winter to help record sea level change. For those taking photos this weekend, Reed urged them to stay in a safe place up and away from the ocean and to try to include a recognizable landmark in the photos. Images can be uploaded to the project’s website. (Karen Richards/KLCC)
Smith Rock project will limit access to iconic park in late summer
Smith Rock State Park is getting a new bridge, but installing it will mean losing access to some of the most iconic parts of the park during July and August. The bridge, which crosses the Crooked River, provides access to some of the most popular hiking and climbing spots, including Misery Ridge and Monkey Face, and while construction is ongoing, there will be no temporary crossing. The construction will most likely take place between July 1 and Aug. 15, but the exact dates are unclear because it will depend on river flows and raptor nesting. (Zach Urness/Salem Statesman Journal)
Cannabis shop robberies spike in Clark County
Robberies at cannabis shops in Clark County increased last year. According to the Vancouver Police Department, four such robberies were reported in 2022, up from one in 2021 and three in 2020. Statewide, there were at least 100 armed robberies at cannabis retail stores last year, as reported by The Seattle Times. Because pot is illegal nationally, cannabis retail stores run entirely on cash, as national banks and credit card companies are hesitant to work with them. The industry has lobbied for legislation to protect banks who work with licensed cannabis businesses, but it hasn’t been able to gain approval in the U.S. Senate. (Sarah Wolf/The Columbian)
Central Oregon food banks get help from new warehouse
NeighborImpact, a Redmond-based service organization that acts as the regional partner of the Oregon Food Bank, plans to break ground Friday on a $5.5 million food warehouse in Redmond. Once finished, the building will be more than triple the size of the current warehouse — going from from 3,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet. The expansion will help area food pantries keep up with skyrocketing demand. “For the last couple of years now we’ve really been at capacity,” said Jordan Reeher, program coordinator for NeighborImpact. “We’ve completely outgrown the space.” (Nick Rosenberger/Redmond Spokesman)
Nonprofits prepare to help Eastern Oregonians as extra SNAP benefits end
Extra emergency food benefits for Oregon residents in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are coming to an end in February. In Eastern Oregon, officials are encouraging people in need of that assistance to reach out to area nonprofits for extra nutritional needs. Some of those options include the Pendleton Salvation Army, several churches, Neighbor2Neighbor and the Community Action Program of East Central Oregon. (John Tillman/East Oregonian)