Hate symbols banned on Grants Pass school grounds
The Grants Pass School Board voted this week to ban hate symbols on school grounds. Those include nooses, Nazi symbols and the Confederate flag. The Grants Pass Daily Courier reports that the policy allows the school board to add more symbols to the list of banned displays in the future. Administrators say all students and staff should be able to pursue an education free of harassment. (Grants Pass Daily Courier)
A new library is coming to southeast Bend
Plans for a new library in southeast Bend are moving forward with the selection of a location. The Deschutes Public Library branch will occupy a 100,000-square-foot building, which will sit on nearly 10 acres of land near the corner of 27th Street and Wilderness Way. Officials reviewed numerous sites but opted this week to move forward with the southeast Bend location. (OPB staff)
Clark County COVID-19 infection rates down, hospitalizations up
COVID-19 infection rates in Clark County decreased for the fourth week in a row, though hospitalization rates of those with or suspected of having COVID-19 slightly rose, according to the latest data from Clark County Public Health. The COVID-19 activity rate, which measures new cases per 100,000 people over seven days, decreased from 72.1 last week to 59.5 as of Thursday, according to public health data. (Nika Bartoo-Smith, The Columbian)
Portland begins drawing groundwater to supplement region’s water supply
The Portland Water Bureau began drawing groundwater Thursday to supplement the region’s water supply. Typically, the bureau draws all of its supply from Bull Run reservoirs to provide drinking water to the metro area. But dry weather throughout October means the bureau needs water from the Columbia South Shore Well Field. Officials say they will use about 35% Bull Run water and will supplement the remaining 65% with groundwater. (OPB staff)
Josephine County officials discuss proposed sales tax ahead of election
An ordinance on the November ballot asks whether residents support a 3% seasonal sales tax to fund law enforcement. At a press conference on Wednesday, representatives from Cave Junction, Grants Pass, Josephine County and the sheriff’s department explained the tax and answered reporters’ questions. Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel said if the tax is approved, his department would have 41 deputies, up from just 18 right now. (Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio)
