The latest news stories in the Klamath Basin and around the state of Oregon from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM/102.5FM, BasinLife.com and The Herald & News.
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020
Klamath Basin Weather
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 65. Overnight, a 20% chance of showers before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Overnight, cloudy with a low around 40 and gusty winds.
Wednesday
A 50 percent chance of rain after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 59.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 60.
Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 65
Today’s Headlines
The Klamath County Public Health Air Advisory is Green until noon today.
Klamath County Public Health officials report three new cases of COVID-19 in the community, bringing the total to 29.
The total includes 10 active cases and 19 recoveries. In addition to these positive lab results, there have been 1,088 negative tests in Klamath County.
Governor Brown announced a framework this week for lifting “Stay home. Save lives.” There is no indication that what she calls “reopening Oregon” will happen soon, as the intent is to prevent a spike in cases.
She did indicate that lifting the “stay home” order will involve the input from local leaders and business people throughout the state. Meanwhile, community members are asked to continue isolating best practices. It is important that community members continue to stay home, practice social or physical distancing of six feet, disinfect surfaces, and frequently wash their hands.
Now that COVID-19 is in our community, these actions are urgent to prevent further spread.
COVID-19 claimed two more lives on Sunday in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll from 72 to 74, the Oregon Health Authority reported this morning.
OHA also reported 66 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 1,910.
The new COVID-19 cases reported are in the following counties: Clackamas (1), Curry (1), Deschutes (2), Jackson (1), Klamath (2), Linn (2), Marion (18), Multnomah (26), Polk (1), Umatilla (2), and Washington (4).
When Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act three weeks ago, the bill included some much-needed economic support for Main Street.
For millions of Americans that is coming in the form of Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,200 for qualified individuals and additional dollars for households with children. The first waves of these payments are being issued to people who have direct deposit information on file with the Internal Revenue Service or Social Security Administration.
Other qualified Americans will receive hard copy checks over the next several months. While almost $150 billion has already landed in the hands of working families, not all eligible consumers have received their funds.
The delay is caused by an overwhelming volume of payments for the U.S. Treasury to distribute, and the effective dates the Treasury set on the payments.
For example, while the Treasury announced the first wave of payments would be deposited into accounts April 13, the effective date set was April 15.
The Treasury processed another wave of payments Friday, but the funding won’t likely post to consumers’ accounts this Monday, because the effective date is not until April 22.
The confusion between when payments are issued, vs. when the funds are actually posted to consumers’ accounts is frustrating. But the good news is, the payments are coming.
Home Depot has donated fire extinguishers as a graduation gift to Klamath Housing Authority’s First Ready to Rent class.
Home safety is covered in the course, and fire extinguishers are a first line of defense for renters or homeowners. Participants enroll in a six-week rental housing readiness training where individuals work closely with a housing specialist to understand the application and rental process, prioritize housing needs, create a workable budget and accept responsibility for past rental issues while working through credit repair.
Graduates also learn about renter’s rights and Fair Housing / Landlord – Tenant information. The course is designed to help tenants combat screening barriers and help landlords fill vacancies with tenants that understand landlord-tenant responsibilities. The first step is to become a successful renter, some may pursue the dream of homeownership!
This class was made possible through sponsorship with Klamath Rental Owners Association, Klamath Community College, and Klamath Housing Authority.
In Medford, the Britt Music & Arts Festival’s Board of Directors, staff, and musicians of the Britt Orchestra Committee have agreed the 2020 BFO Season cannot proceed as planned.
All previously scheduled performances between July 31 – Aug. 16 have been canceled. The Britt staff and BFO musicians will explore a variety of alternative possibilities, ranging from virtual concerts to smaller, more intimate performances by members of the Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) as conditions permit.
For those who have purchased tickets to the 2020 Britt Festival Orchestra, the value of tickets will be credited to their Britt account by default if they do not request a donation or refund option. Britt Fest asks customers to consider a tax-deductible donation of the value of tickets to the Britt Festival Orchestra, which will help to ensure the future of the BFO.
Alternately, they may use the value of 2020 tickets toward 2021 Festival ticket purchases, or they will issue refunds.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced Friday, April 17 the issuance of more than $28 million to 18 counties in western Oregon as a part of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act extension, according to a news release.
The funding will go directly to the counties, supporting investments in education, infrastructure, public safety, health services and other critical expenditures made by these jurisdictions.
The Bureau of Land Management manages the SRS program in Oregon and California Railroad Revested Lands, known as the O&C Lands, in concert with the U.S. Forest Service. The O&C Lands lie in a checkerboard pattern through 18 counties of western Oregon.
These lands contain more than 2.4 million acres of forests with a diversity of plant and animal species, recreation areas, mining claims, grazing lands, cultural and historical resources, scenic areas, wild and scenic rivers and wilderness. SRS payments are made to over 700 counties across the United States, including the 18 counties containing O&C Lands, according to a formula set by Congress.
…For complete details on these and other stories see today’s Herald & News. Wynne Broadcasting and the Herald and News…stronger together to keep you informed.
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