MV ADVANCEMENTS AND OTHER SHELTERED CARE WORKSHOPS ARE CHANGING OPERATIONS TO MEET NEW FEDERAL GUIDELINESa new federal rule aimed at helping workers with developmental disabilities may end up hurting the very people they are trying to help.     The issue is sheltered care workshops.  Workshops that pay sub-minimum wages to workers with disabilities who do not have the same output as a worker without disabilities.    The federal government, armed with a 1999 Supreme Court decision views those sheltered car workshops as discriminatory and the goal from the feds now is to mainstream people with disabilities as much as possible.The states of New York and Oregon have selected to start phasing out sheltered care workshops before they are sued by the federal government.  Critics are concerned, claiming that mainstreaming workers with development disabilities won't work in all cases.    The Kansas City Star points to Vermont.  Six years after sheltered workshops there were eliminated, only 36 percent of the people employed in sheltered care were able to find and keep jobs in the open market.This is forcing organizations like MV Advancements in McMinnville to change they way they operate.  Executive Director Kathy Schlotefelt tells KLYC News their organization is committed to doing everything they can to help clients and businesses who use their services.  But they too are looking at more community based jobs, or main streaming clients.    We talked to Schlotefelt at length about what this looks like for MV advancements.  Listen for the interview tomorrow morning at 7:40am on KLYC radio

POLK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ADDS PROSECUTORS, STAFF.DALLAS - Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton today announced the hiring of three new criminal prosecutors and two staff people to that office as a result of the passage of the public safety levy in May. The new attorneys hired are: Gary L. Nelson Mr. Nelson joins the Polk County DA's Office from the Kauai, Hawaii, Prosecuting Attorney's Office where he handled domestic violence and complex property crimes. Mr. Nelson earned his JD at the University of Hawaii and his BA from Oklahoma State University. Bradley M. Weyer Mr. Weyer joins the Polk County DA's Office from the Marion County DA's Office, having worked there as both a clerk during law school and a full time deputy in the misdemeanor section. Weyer earned his JD from the Willamette University College of Law and his BA from Washington State University. Matthew T. Wilson Mr. Wilson earned both his JD and BA from Willamette University. He also completed his third year clerkship with the Marion County DA's Office. Also starting this month are Legal Assistant Holly Smith and Office Specialist Katie Brown. "The people of Polk County made a very strong investment in public safety. I am pleased we were able to attract such talented people to work for our community," stated Felton.

NO CHARGES TO BE FILED AGAINST NEWBERG CITY MANAGER.CITY COUNCIL TRYING TO DETERMINE NEXT STEPSthe Newberg City Attorney received the Marion County District Attorney's press release via Flash Alert .   The Marion County District Attorney's Office has declined to file any criminal charges against Newberg City Manager Jacque Betz related to her decision to place Newberg-Dundee Police Chief Brian Casey on administrative leave.  The City has requested police reports in an effort to gain insight into what led to the investigation and to understand how best to move forward. "We understand the frustration of our citizens in not knowing what is going on, and frankly we share that frustration", said City Manager Pro Tem Terry Mahr. "We pledge to share as much as we legally can as soon as we have any information". The City Council will hold a council meeting and executive session on August 17th, the earliest possible date due to scheduling issues to discuss next steps.

Western Display will continue in business, but Brian Casey is retiring after more than 24 years of shooting off fireworks.   Newberg Old Fashioned Festival 2015 was his last show.