Column: Tariffs Are Still Costing Northwest Fruit Growers

When the U.S. government slapped tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum in 2018—25% on steel and 10% on aluminum—it didn’t take long for the blowback to hit American farmers.

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Hood River County, Home Page, Wasco County, Klickitat County Columbia Community Connection Hood River County, Home Page, Wasco County, Klickitat County Columbia Community Connection

ALLYSHIP 101: NO STUPID QUESTIONS Being a Powerful Ally to LGBTQIA2S+ Friends, Family, and Community Members.

Curious about the ever-expanding alphabet that describes the queer community? Feel shy about asking a sensitive question? Concerned about the safety of people in your life with diverse identities? Just want to know more? This is the event for you.

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Home Page, Wasco County, Hood River County, Klickitat County, Skamania County Washington Gorge Action Programs Home Page, Wasco County, Hood River County, Klickitat County, Skamania County Washington Gorge Action Programs

Report Highlights Income Inequality, Social Isolation

Nearly 40 percent of residents in Klickitat and Skamania counties are served by Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP). While poverty has been on the decline since 2015, rates are still higher than the rest of the state, and gaps in income inequality are increasing.

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Home Page, Hood River County, The Dalles, Wasco County, Klickitat County Columbia Community Connection Home Page, Hood River County, The Dalles, Wasco County, Klickitat County Columbia Community Connection

Diversity Whitewater Aims to Grow Local Paddling Community for a 2nd Year

Starting this August, residents around the Columbia River Gorge will have a unique opportunity to learn whitewater hard-shell kayaking for no cost this summer, thanks to a kayak progression program aimed at diversifying paddle sports in the region.

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Home Page, The Dalles, Wasco County, Hood River County, Klickitat County Columbia Community Connection Home Page, The Dalles, Wasco County, Hood River County, Klickitat County Columbia Community Connection

Mental Health, Crisis & Suicide Line Switches to 988 - Klickitat County Health Director Talks Support in the Washington Gorge.

Join us for a conversation with Erinn Quinn & Leah Becknell as they talk with us about the switch to 988, accessing mental health services in Klickitat County and keeping your head space out of the gutter. For more information or to chat with mental health support, call 988 or visit: https://988lifeline.org/

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The Dalles, Home Page, Wasco County, Hood River County Columbia Community Connection The Dalles, Home Page, Wasco County, Hood River County Columbia Community Connection

The Return of the Farm Crisis — And What Washington (and Salem) Don’t Get

According to Bloomberg Law, family farm bankruptcies rose 55% in 2024, and filings are climbing fast in 2025. The first quarter alone saw 82 Chapter 12 bankruptcies, nearly double last year’s pace. Iowa leads the nation in filings, not in crop production, but in collapse.

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Home Page, The Dalles, Wasco County, Hood River County Columbia Community Connection Home Page, The Dalles, Wasco County, Hood River County Columbia Community Connection

Celebrating Excellence in Math Education: Leslie Wetherell and Julie Cucuel Honored with Regional Awards

The Oregon Council of Teachers of Mathematics (OCTM) has recognized two outstanding educators from our region with the prestigious Regional Math Educator Award, highlighting their exceptional dedication to advancing mathematics instruction and supporting educators throughout the area.

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Home Page, Wasco County, The Dalles, Hood River County, Klickitat County, Podcast Columbia Community Connection Home Page, Wasco County, The Dalles, Hood River County, Klickitat County, Podcast Columbia Community Connection

CCCNews Podcast: Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee Talks Kids, Screen Time & Balance

In the latest episode of the CCCNews podcast, we sit down with award-winning psychologist and author Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee to explore the impact of screen time on children and families. With a research focus on the mental, physical and relational tolls of over-engagement with technology, Dodgen-Magee offers both science-backed insight and compassionate guidance for parents and caregivers.

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Home Page, Wasco County, The Dalles, Hood River County, Klickitat County Columbia Community Connection Home Page, Wasco County, The Dalles, Hood River County, Klickitat County Columbia Community Connection

Column: Thoughts from the Tractor Seat, When Labor Costs Dig Deeper Than Tariffs

If you've followed agriculture news in recent years, you'd think the biggest threat to American farmers is a trade war with China. Tariffs get the headlines. They make good sound bites. But here in the Pacific Northwest—where apples, pears, and cherries still depend on hands, not machines—the real crisis isn’t across the ocean. It’s right here in the paycheck.

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Hood River County, Home Page Columbia Community Connection Hood River County, Home Page Columbia Community Connection

Hood River County Library Foundation to Host Annual Feast of Words Gala and Fundraiser

Come celebrate the Hood River Library Foundation’s annual Feast of Words Gala and Fundraiser on Saturday, April 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. With libraries located in Hood River, Cascade Locks, and Parkdale, and a bookmobile, the Hood River County Library District offers a wide range of services to everyone in the community.

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Home Page, Wasco County, Hood River County, Klickitat County, The Dalles Mid-Columbia Community Action Council Home Page, Wasco County, Hood River County, Klickitat County, The Dalles Mid-Columbia Community Action Council

MCCAC and Partners Awarded $1 Million Through Governor’s Housing 360 Initiative

Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) has been awarded $1 million as part of Governor Tina Kotek’s new Housing 360 pilot program announced last week. The funding will support innovative approaches to housing individuals experiencing homelessness who face mental health challenges, with a special focus on Tribal communities in the Wasco County region who are disproportionately affected by homelessness.

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Home Page, Wasco County, Hood River County, Klickitat County Columbia Community Connection Home Page, Wasco County, Hood River County, Klickitat County Columbia Community Connection

Washington House Vote Threatens Funding for Columbia River Gorge Commission

The Columbia River Gorge Commission, the agency responsible for managing and protecting the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (National Scenic Area), faces an existential threat after the Washington State House voted to eliminate all state funding for the agency.

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