United States Supreme Court Seems Split on Allowing Cities to Regulate Homelessness

The US Supreme Court today dove into the high-stakes case on homelessness that originated in Grants Pass with justices struggling to figure out where to draw the line on how far cities can go to regulate how people sleep or camp in public spaces. The Oregonian reports they also asked if the Supreme Court even needed to intervene in this case since Oregon in 2021 adopted its own state law that allowed for "objectively reasonable" time, place and manner limits on sitting, lying or sleeping outside. During two-and-a-half hours of lively argument, conservative justices questioned why federal judges should weigh into municipal policy decisions. They wondered why those affected by camping ordinances in Grants Pass can't raise the defense in state courts that their individual circumstances left them with nowhere else to sleep once they're fined or charged with a crime in state courts, instead of seeking a broad ban on the city's ordinances. The liberal justices, in turn, hammered the city’s lawyer, who claimed that homelessness isn’t considered a status. Attorney Theane D. Evangelis, representing Grants Pass, argued that the city's laws punished the general conduct of sleeping outside in public places and not the broad condition of being homeless. The case arose when several homeless people filed suit against Grants Pass in 2018, alleging the city's aggressive enforcement of its public camping and sleeping ordinances were intended to banish them from town. A divided 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals barred the city from enforcing the laws, finding they criminalized the status of being homeless in violation of the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment, and the city petitioned for the Supreme Court’s review. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision by the end of June. ...Read more

Thirty Oregon Counties will Receive More Than $47.7 Million in Federal SRS Payments in 2024

US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced Friday that 30 Oregon counties will receive more than $47.7 million in federal payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS). The SRS funds are allocated from the US Forest Service for schools and road maintenance, youth job training, wildfire prevention, watershed restoration and habitat conservation. Locally, Douglas and Klamath counties will receive by far the largest amount of SRS funding with $6.67 million and $6.37 million, respectively. Jackson County will receive more than $1,462,000 and Josephine County will get $950,157.29. Nationwide, SRS provides critical funding for schools, roads and other municipal services to more than 700 US counties. A portion of US Forest Service funds generated through multi-use activities such as timber production, grazing and special use permits supports rural counties with federal forestland to improve the health of forested communities. More funding for rural counties is expected from the Bureau of Land Management in the near future. ...Read more

Three Rivers School District Hosting Thursday Night "Kickoff to Kindergarten" Classes

Do you have a child that will be attending a Three Rivers District school this fall as a kindergartner? If so, please come to the "Kickoff to Kindergarten" this Thursday, April 25th, at 6 p.m.. Learn the skills that a typical 5-year-old needs to be familiar with by the time they start school at this week's event. Families will receive a free kit containing age-appropriate learning materials to use with their child at home. The kit includes items such as alphabet cards, color and shapes cards, memory match cards and a book. Parent sessions will start promptly at 6 p.m.. Pizza and water will be provided, but daycare for children is not. Bring immunization records, birth certificate and proof of address. The program is open to all children who will be 5 by September 1st. RSVP by calling your local neighborhood school. If you need help determining which school is in your neighborhood, please call (541)-862-3111. ...Read more