Washington | featured news

To the founders of PDX Death Cafe, there is no greater way to spend an afternoon than to sit around, drinking tea and talking about the inevitable end, and all it entails.
There’s the stuff no one wants to think about. When should you write a will? How do you pursue hospice or palliative care for a loved one? What happens after you die?
But there’s fun stuff, too, depending on your perspective, such as, is it legal to be converted into a tree and buried in your backyard? What should be on the Spotify playlist for my funeral?

The visiting Falcons rushed out a 39-point lead early in the second quarter to cruise and remain undefeated in the 3A GSHL. Cassidy Gardner scored all 20 of her points in the first half to lead the Falcons.
PRAIRIE 78, EVERGREEN 17
PRAIRIE — Dana Vera 3, Meri Dunford 2, Allie Corral 9, Kendyl Carson 12, Brooke Walling 6, Mallory Williams 6, Cassidy Gardner 20, Claire Heitschmidt 8, Hannah Clouse 4, Haley Reed 6, Kylie Diaz 2. Totals 32 (9) 5-9 78.

Audrey Adams’ 16th rebound proved crucial, as her put back off a missed shot and ensuing free throw in the closing seconds sealed Woodland’s 49-46 home victory over Ridgefield in Friday’s 2A Greater St. Helens League girls basketball win.
The victory is what longtime coach Glen Flanagan called “a huge one” for his Beavers team that previously lost to Ridgefield earlier this season. Woodland’s now won four in a row.

Fort Vancouver boys basketball team’s 1-13 start is well in the rear-view mirror.
The Trappers are now winners of two straight 3A Greater St. Helens League contests and remain in the thick of the playoff hunt after staving off Mountain View, 80-73, in Friday’s 3A GSHL showdown.
“They’re starting to play together more and starting to play at a varsity level,” Ensley said. “It was a well-needed win. If they got us tonight, it would’ve put us out of the playoffs.”

Portland – Unemployment claims by federal workers in Oregon increased fourfold after the government shutdown began last month, according to data from the Oregon Employment Department.
Between Dec. 21 — the last day before the shutdown started — and Jan. 10, some 1,900 Oregon workers filed unemployment claims. That compares with 450 in the same period a year earlier.
The shutdown affects about 9,600 federal workers in Oregon, according to the employment department. But only some of those are eligible for unemployment benefits.

Washington – A federal agency is preparing to take responsibility for Sears’ pension plans, which cover more than 90,000 people.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. said in a new release Friday that it believes Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings Corp.’s “continuation of the plans is no longer possible” after the company filed for bankruptcy.

SALEM, Ore. – A federal bankruptcy judge has allowed the proposed sale of the troubled Lost Valley Farm to proceed despite objections by Oregon agencies over who will clean up the dairy’s wastewater and manure.
Court-appointed trustee Randy Sugarman recently entered into an asset purchase agreement for Canyon Farm LLC to buy the dairy’s land, equipment, property and water rights for $66.9 million, the Capital Press reported this week.