Cowlitz Tribe plans to manage Ilani casino after a divisive decision
The Cowlitz Tribe announced this week that it is taking over management of its Ilani Casino in Southwest Washington. Since the popular Portland-area casino opened, the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut has helped manage the facility. The Columbian reports that the Mohegan Tribe will continue to assist in casino management for just the next 15 months, until their contract expires. Some Cowlitz tribal members have questioned the decision, and say management should stay with a tribe that has a history of gaming experience. But Cowlitz leaders say they are thankful for their partnership with the Mohegan Tribe, and are ready to independently manage the business. (Shari Phiel/The Columbian)
Bend begins clearing homeless camps near Crux brewery
Bend began sweeping a homeless camp Tuesday near the Crux Fermentation Project brewery. Officials say it’s the first of the four sweeps scheduled in coming days. Half of the camps near Crux are on city-owned right-of-way and the other half are on Oregon Department of Transportation right-of-way. The city hired a private contractor, Central Oregon Bio Solutions, to clear its area, while ODOT crews will arrive Wednesday to clear camps on ODOT property. ODOT spokesperson Kacey Davey said the agency intends to remove homeless camps from the following properties by April 18: the nearby Colorado Avenue and U.S. Highway 97 interchange; the intersection of Reed Market Road and Highway 97 and the highway overpass that crosses Division Street. A Crux spokesperson said the camps have “gotten worse over time, resulting in frequent calls to police,” leaving some customers feeling unsafe, especially after dark. (Anna Kaminski/The Bulletin)
Legacy Health plans to reopen birth center in Gresham
Legacy Health will reopen the Family Birth Center in Gresham that closed last month. The Portland Tribune reports the birthing center will reopen within the next 90 days, according to a statement shared with employees and providers Wednesday morning. Legacy Mount Hood leaders said they closed the center because they didn’t have enough doctors to deliver babies. But the state says Legacy must keep its birthing center open to meet its licensing requirements. That’s partly because the center serves a greater number of emergency obstetric patients than any of Legacy’s other, larger hospitals. Since the closure, any pregnant patient arriving at Legacy Mount Hood has been seen by a nonspecialist provider and transferred to a different hospital. Details of the reopening are still being worked out. (Christopher Keizur/Portland Tribune)
Oregon irrigation district receives $10 million to help divert fish
Officials with an irrigation network in Central Oregon have wanted to replace some aging infrastructure for over a decade to keep fish out of canals that provide water from the Deschutes River to rural farmers in Jefferson County. With funds from the federal bipartisan infrastructure bill, the North Unit Irrigation District plans to spend $10 million to prevent fish from slipping through screens that divert fish as they pass. Those screens were built in the 1940s. Mike Britton, the district’s executive manager, said it’s “the largest diversion in the state that needs this type of help.” (Nathan Wilk/KLCC)
Coos County sees rapid increase in syphilis cases
Coos County health officials are urging sexually active residents to take precautions as the number of syphilis cases has recently spiked. In a typical year, the county has about eight reported cases of the sexually transmitted disease. In just a few months this year, there are 22 reported cases. Syphilis can cause serious health problems if left untreated. Symptoms vary but often begin with a painless sore or rash. In later stages, it can lead to serious health problems such as blindness, paralysis, and even death. People who think they may have been exposed to syphilis or are experiencing symptoms are encouraged to see a physician or visit a local health clinic for testing and treatment. (The World)