KWSO News Nov. 2, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says opioid overdose deaths hit the highest level ever recorded in the United States last year. A DEA report obtained by The Associated Press shows heroin, fentanyl and other opioids continue to be the highest drug threat in the nation. U.S. health secretary Alex Azar said earlier this month overdose deaths have now begun to level off. Preliminary figures show about 72,000 people died in 2017 from opioid-related overdoses across the United States.

Many people drove as much as three hours to attend a rare public meeting about Hanford in Hood River [Oregon] last night [Thursday]. In common for many: Concern about the Columbia River, and the health of their communities. Correspondent Anna King was there:

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — State lawmakers are vowing to take on the link between mental health problems and incarceration in the upcoming legislative session. Oregon Public Broadcasting reported Thursday that about half of all inmates locked up in Oregon have mental health issues, and that’s partly because police officers have nowhere else to take them. Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney says a new committee is going to look at the problem and suggest monumental change. The committee will come up with policy recommendations for the 2019 legislative session. Oregon’s health authority and criminal justice departments have agreed to share data with the committee. Senate Republican Leader Jackie Winters is also a member of the committee.

Madras High School Football is in the playoffs for the first time since 2012. And, they will face the top-ranked Rainier Columbians – a team the Buffs lost to in the regular season. Madras Head Coach Kurt Taylor talks about tonight’s defense:

Listen to a live broadcast of the game tonight live on KWSO – 91.9fm on the radio or www.kwso.org online. You also have the option to use the Tune In Radio App to listen to KWSO.

On Saturday Madras Boys Soccer hosts a quarterfinal game against Newport – Toledo.  Newport is ranked #15 in the OSAA 4A system.  They are 7-5 in league play and 10-6 overall.  Madras is ranked #9 by OSAA.  They are 7-2-1 in Tri Valley League play this year and 11-3-1 overall.  KWSO will broadcast that game Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock.

Central Oregon Community College is commemorating Native American Heritage Month with a trio of events being held throughout November. All are free and open to the public.  First, a screening of the documentary “In the Light of Reverence: Protecting America’s Sacred Lands” is showing on this coming Monday from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Madras campus (with a light lunch included), and on November 8th at 4pm at the Bend campus’s Boyle Education Center.  The documentary, produced by Sacred Land Film Project and narrated by Peter Coyote and Tantoo Cardinal, tells the story of three indigenous communities and the lands they struggle to protect: the Lakota of the Great Plains, the Hopi of the Four Corners area, and the Winnemem Wintu of Northern California. The other two events are – November 15, an evening of flute music with guest musician Clem Picard from Warm Springs, from 5-7:30 p.m., in the Hitchcock Auditorium on the Bend campus. And, a celebration with traditional Native dancing, singing and drumming with Quartz Creek Dancers and Carlos Calica on Nov. 20, at the Bend campus.