State budget proposal based on big changes…
Governor Kitzhaber rolled out his budget proposal this week. In it, he expects revenues over the next two years to hold steady. But, due to an increase in demand for services as well as increased costs, the legislature is going to face a tough time balancing the budget without making some big changes.
204 – “There’s two or three big reorganizational changes and those are, you know my budget is predicated on our ability to make those things happen.”
To keep pace, he’s proposing a two-tier approach to cut costs in the Oregon Health Plan. In the first year, a reduction in payments to physicians and curtailing some covered services.
202 – “and in the second year, fundamentally reorganize the way health care is organized and delivered for that population. More of a regional delivery model where we integrate, you know, mental health and physical health and long term care and focus more on prevention and community based management of chronic conditions.”
Social services will be impacted, but so will education.
203 – “We’ve, are attempting to fundamentally reorganize the way we provide services to ‘at-risk’ children, many of whom, you know, enter school really behind the curve in terms of their ability to learn.”
Education will get just over a third of the $14.75-billion expected to come in over the next two years.
On a split vote yesterday the Lane County Commission voted to eliminate their own assistants. The controversial positions were added last year in a process that was determined to be in violation of state open meetings laws. Coos County Judge Michael Gillespie determined that Eugene commissioners Rob Handy and Peter Sorenson conducted illegal deliberations while trying to gain approval for the aides. They were the two dissenting votes in the cost-cutting move yesterday. In addition to the estimated $180-thousand savings by eliminating the positions, the board also voted to cut $1.1-million from the current budget… about one-percent of Lane County’s general fund.
The 2010 Soul Blues Artist of the year and his band will headline this year’s Confluence 2011 in Gardner. Curtis Salgado along with Alan Hager, and Carrie Cunningham and the Six-Shooters will be some of the performers on stage February 19th and 20th at the Old Jewett School. In addition to the music, the festival features several Oregon wineries and breweries as well as food samplings from coastal restaurants.
Winter Steelhead are on the move… well, sort of. Fish biologists say they’re moving into the river, but low water will keep them in lower reaches of the Siuslaw until we get a little rain. That hasn’t stopped volunteers with the Salmon Trout Enhancement Program from setting up a fish-trap on Whittaker Creek. Tuesday a busload of third graders from Siuslaw Elementary School were at the trap with volunteers, collecting and counting fish… as well as learning about their life cycle. Last week about 18 seventh graders donned chest waders and assisted in gathering eggs.
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore (AP) - Hundreds of Oregon juvenile offenders are
scheduled to be released into less-restrictive environments and
hundreds more now under supervision could be released back into
their communities. That's the likely result of a major budget cut
to the Oregon Youth Authority proposed by Gov. John Kitzhaber
yesterday as part of his attempt to bridge a $3.5 billion state
budget deficit.
PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Department of Transportation
says a fire involving a tractor-trailer rig closed the eastbound
lanes of Interstate 84 east of Pendleton for more than three hours.
The route was closed at 7 last night and the department announced
the lanes had reopened by 10:45 p.m. The department says cleanup
crews were working in the area. There's no word on injuries.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Portland official says a house fire that
caused $30,000 damage was apparently started by tenants using a
hole in the floor as an ashtray. The Portland Fire and Rescue
spokesman called it --quote-- "stupid smoking," and says the
caller who reported yesterday's fire hung up on a 911 dispatcher,
then refused to cooperate when the dispatcher called back. No one
was hurt.
CORBETT, Ore. (AP) - The husband of one of two sisters found
safe in the Columbia River Gorge after they were reported missing
says he's relieved. Fifty-three-year-old Leesa Azar, and her
50-year-old sister, Leslie, had called home Tuesday evening saying
they were heading back to their car after a day hike near Horsetail
Falls. They were spotted shortly after noon yesterday, in good
condition.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Democrats in the Oregon Senate today will
unveil their legislative priorities. Democrats hold a 16-14
majority in the Senate. But successful Democratic Senate bills will
also have to get support from at least one Republican in the House,
where Democrats and Republicans are tied with 30 members each.
NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) - State police say the driver in a crash that
killed two men near Seal Rock has been arrested for investigation
of two counts of manslaughter. Troopers say the two victims were
riding with Jose Manuel De Leon Colomo of Newport when his van
crashed on U.S. 101 Tuesday and broke into several pieces.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Coming up on the schedule this evening, it’s senior night at Siuslaw High School as the Viking Wrestling team hosts their final Far West League Dual meet of the year, this against the Sutherlin Bulldogs. Action on the mat begins at six.
On the college hardwood this evening, Oregon State will host the Washington Huskies at six… the pregame show on KCFM begins at 5:30. The Ducks are at Matthew Knight Arena for a six o’clock game against Washington State… the pregame begins here on Coast Radio Sports at 5:30.
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