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This weekend marked the onset of the wildfire season, with over 1,776 acres ablaze in Central Oregon. The Butte Creek Fire is situated nine miles north of Clarno, on the eastern bank of the John Day River in Wheeler County. Fire crews from the Central Oregon Fire Management Service responded to the fire after receiving the initial report on Sunday at approximately 2:47 p.m. Within twenty-four hours, the Butte Creek Fire was reported to have expanded from 300 to 2,000 acres, ultimately reaching 3,000 acres by the last update on Monday evening. However, this figure was later adjusted to 1,776 acres on Tuesday afternoon due to enhanced accuracy in on-site mapping. The affected land comprises both private and federal territories managed by the Bureau of Land Management. While some structures were reported to be at risk, none were confirmed as damaged or destroyed as of Tuesday. As per the latest updates from Central Oregon Fire Info, fire crews are “actively engaged in active fire suppression activities,” with two interagency hotshot crews present at the location as of Tuesday afternoon. On Monday, Central Oregon Fire Info issued a warning via the X social media platform, advising boaters on the John Day River to exercise caution, as helicopters were drawing water from the river to fill buckets for use in combating the fire.

Experience the wonders of the universe this weekend with a local dance production’s recital titled "Into the Cosmos." Presented by the esteemed Klamath Dance and Exercise company, this year’s spring recital promises to elevate audiences beyond the confines of their earthly existence, featuring thematic backdrops of moons, planets, and stars above. Becky Chase, the director of the dance company, stated that the stage will showcase approximately 130 performers from the Klamath Basin, with participants ranging from just 2 years old to adults. There will be two performances scheduled for this Saturday at the Ross Ragland Theater, one at 3 p.m. and another at 7 p.m.
 

Oregon's prohibition on plastic grocery bags is set to intensify with a bill that is on its way to Governor Tina Kotek's desk. Starting in 2027, Senate Bill 551 will mandate that retailers and restaurants are prohibited from providing any type of plastic bags to customers during checkout. This regulation is already applicable to most single-use plastic bags due to legislation enacted by lawmakers in 2019. However, the previous law allowed stores to provide slightly thicker plastic bags deemed reusable, which critics argue are frequently discarded. Senate Bill 551 eliminates this loophole, designating bags made from recycled paper as the sole option available to stores and restaurants. The legislation does not affect grocery stores' ability to supply plastic bags for bulk items, raw meat, or certain other products. The bill, which was approved by the Senate with a vote of 22-8 on Tuesday, is significantly more restricted than an earlier version of SB 551 that the chamber passed in March. In addition to prohibiting plastic bags, the earlier bill would have prevented restaurants from providing customers with plastic utensils or single-serving condiments in plastic packaging unless specifically requested. Furthermore, it would have prohibited hotels and Airbnb hosts from automatically supplying guests with shampoo and other amenities in single-use plastic containers

Gas prices rose in Oregon and Washington during the Memorial Day weekend. According to Triple-A, the average price in Oregon increased by five cents to $4.02 per gallon. This figure is approximately 30 cents lower than the average at the same time last year. In Washington state, the average price went up by six cents to $4.41. Meanwhile, the national average remained stable at $3.17 per gallon.

For full details on these stories and more see the website at  heraldandnews.com