This week's state dispatch of news from the state legislature, state politics and government, and other quick recaps of stories of statewide importance. This week, we look at a potential revival of the Columbia River Crossing, Free Fishing Weekend throughout the state, and two legislators who will not run again in 2020.

The Banks Braves varsity football team last week cruised through a second-round playoff against No. 9 Baker, winning 34-14, and this Saturday, in a semi-final match in the OSAA 4A state championship tournament, they’ll take on No. 5 Marist Catholic Spartans this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Hillsboro Stadium.

You could go to Fred Meyer at 5 a.m. on the Friday after Thanksgiving and maybe get in a fistfight over discounted socks with a hungover, bleary-eyed shopper juiced up on caffeine and holiday angst. Or you could go fishing.

It’s the time of year when fog becomes a likely part of Tualatin Valley drivers’ daily commute, and it seems to occur with regular frequency this year. Here are some safe driving tips for the fall and winter commute.

In this week's installment of Washington County news, we cover volunteer opportunities in Washington County, how to provide input to the county on a variety of issues, and updates on Metro's Chehalem Ridge Nature Park.

The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) 4A football championship tournament is down to the elite eight.

A new feature: Check in on Wednesdays for a quick roundup of news from the state legislature, state politics and government, and other quick recaps of stories of statewide importance. This week, we talk about some of the candidates we'll be covering for the May 2020 Primary Election, look at a retiring politician, and hear a plea from ODOT to drive safer around emergencies on the road.

As written by deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Banks: A lot going on at Main Street businesses including theft and vandalism. This and more in the October 2019 police log.

A law passed in 2017 will become effective January 1, 2020, and drivers — especially of fuel efficient and electric vehicles — can expect to pay a lot more to register or renew a vehicle's tags.

Every Tuesday, check in for quick updates on news from Oregon's congressional delegation representing readers in our newspaper's territory, as well as other news of impact from the national stage. This week, we cover news surrounding impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, Oregon Senator Wyden denouncing the Turkish government, how the Portland Trailblazers tie into that, and more.

According to ODOT, the Wilson River Highway — signed as Highway 6 — is closed at the summit of the coast range near the Tillamook and Washington County line.

Oregon State Representative Tiffiny Mitchell (D-Astoria, District 32) announced via email newsletter that on October 16 she completed the process of becoming a living kidney donor.

The Banks Braves varsity football team, the reigning Oregon 4A high school state football champions, carry their undefeated, season-long streak into Friday’s playoff matchup against Marshfield High School (Coos Bay) at Friday, November 8 at 7 p.m. at Banks High School.

Newly elected West Oregon Electric Co-op board member Erika Paleck is holding a community meeting with several other officers of the utility cooperative on Tuesday, November 12 in Timber.

There's a lot going on at the Banks Public Library this month, ranging from reading to Marlena the dog, a pie sale to support the library, crafting events, and much more!

Crews from Banks Fire District 13 returned to Oregon on November 3 after working the Kincade Fire on a 24 hour on, 24 hour off schedule. Some crews from Forest Grove Fire & Rescue and other agencies have stayed a little longer to assist on a new fire near Red Bluff. California.

The local National Weather Service branch located in Portland issued an advisory for the greater Portland metro area and the Oregon Coast, noting that sustained eastern winds of 15 - 25 miles per hour, with gusts of wind 40 to 50 miles per hour might be expected from 7 p.m. Monday night into Tuesday morning.

From Banks Fire District 13, Timber resident lieutenant Scott Arlin, Buxton resident Engineer Julie Kemper, and Banks resident Duty Officer Chris Lanter volunteered to head to California, where a total of 15 teams made up almost 300 Oregon firefighters are assisting in batting northern California wildfires.

Two separate public meetings of citizen committees will meet close to home in Forest Grove in the next seven days, bringing a slew of updates and discussion about forestland locally and statewide to committee members and members of the general public.

Two days after Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s flavored vape ban executive order went into effect on October 15, the Oregon Court of Appeals temporarily stayed part of the order after several vape businesses and a trade group challenged the rule in two separate lawsuits.

Voters' pamphlets for the upcoming November 5 special district election have been mailed county-wide, but there won't be a ballot following it - for readers in Banks, Buxton, Manning, Roy and Timber, there's simply nothing to vote for.

Dozens of local artists throughout Washington County — including six from the Gales Creek and Banks areas — will open their studio doors to visitors on Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., as part of the free 2019 Washington County Open Studios Tour.

Local fire officials and community members gathered together last week to break ground on the future Hornshuh Creek Station in Buxton.

As written by deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office in Banks: The September 2019 police log

In a move to stem illnesses and deaths that the Oregon Health Authority and the Centers for Disaease Control has tied to vaping products, governor Kate Brown issued a 6 month ban on flavored vape products, among other efforts to halt severe lung illnesses.

Goodbye, Frontier: the company expects to be rid of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana customers by the end of the year, pending regulatory approval and final business negotiations as it sells operations in those states to WaveDivision Capital (This article is first in a series of many surrounding internet technology issues).

State, tribal, and local leaders will meet to discuss the further development of the Salmonberry Trail in Tillamook on Friday, Oct. 11 at 10 a.m.

Vernonia Route 6, opened this April as a three day a week service between Banks, Vernonia and Hillsboro, has just expanded to five days a week, according to Todd Wood, Transit Program Administrator with Columbia County Rider.

It's a full docket for the Banks Public library this month, with a book sale starting Thursday, Oct. 3, opportunities to read to Marlena the dog, and more!

Every Tuesday, check in for quick updates on news from Oregon's congressional delegation representing readers in our newspaper's territory, as well as other news of impact from the national stage. This week, we cover a series of town halls from Rep. Bonamici, reactions from Sen. Merkley to improve vaping safety, and reactions from Oregon's Congressional delegation on recently opened impeachment proceedings surrounding President Trump.