Month: October 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A 35-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the methadone overdose and death of his toddler nephew. Willie Lee Harris Jr. entered not guilty pleas Tuesday in Portland to several charges, including manslaughter, criminal mistreatment and unlawful possession of heroin. Two-year-old Reginald Harris Jr. died Oct. 10 of

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Chapter of The Satanic Temple has pushed back the start date of its after-school program at a Portland Elementary School. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (http://bit.ly/2e0cbtX ) that the temple’s “After School Satan Club” had been set to start Wednesday at Portland Elementary School with an open house for parents, students,

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — A Jackson County chiropractor has had his license suspended following allegations that he sexually abused a patient. The Mail Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/2dmpt6t ) that the Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners suspended Mark Evan Machala’s medical license late last month. The punishment comes after a female patient accused Machala of fondling her

The Deschutes Cultural Coalition of the Oregon Cultural Trust presented its fifth annual Ben Westlund Memorial Award to historian Bob Boyd from Bend on Wednesday October 12 at the High Desert Museum. The award was established in 2012 to honor the memory of former Oregon legislator and state treasurer Ben Westlund, who championed the creation

Bend Park and Recreation District is seeking adult volunteers to coach teams for the 2016 middle school boys’ basketball league. Coaches are needed now for teams at Cascade, Sky View, High Desert and La Pine middle schools. Basketball experience is preferred but not required. Training and on-going support is provided to volunteer coaches. The basketball

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., released the following statement after the Social Security Administration announced a cost-of-living adjustment of only .3 percent for 2017. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., also weighed in on the news, which follows a COLA of zero for 2016. “With today ‘s announcement, the Social Security Administration is saying that seniors only need

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say one of two hunters reported missing in the southwest Oregon wilderness has been found. Curry County Sheriff’s Deputy Tracy Morse told The Associated Press that 21-year-old Trevor Higgins was located by search crews Tuesday afternoon. She said she didn’t know exactly where Higgins had been found but that

Once again, Oregon’s high school graduation rate is among the worst in the country. “As the years go on, it gets more and more frustrating,” Summit High teacher Travis Overley said Tuesday. “I see the potential, I see the potential with these kids, and I see what we could do for them. And we can’t

Team sports bring people together, and the Special Olympics Unified Sports Teams do that, and much more. The Sisters High School Outlaws hosted the first Unified soccer game of the season Tuesday against the Bend High Lava Bears. More than than 30 athletes from both Bend and Sisters High played in Tuesday’s games, including Sam

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The attorney for Ammon Bundy told jurors Tuesday his client is being falsely accused as a conspirator. In his closing argument, Marcus Mumford said Bundy and others who occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge last winter made a peaceful stand — but a determined one– against what they saw as federal

The government can’t tell you how long or cold winter might be, but it does oversee things like natural gas rates. So if this winter is about the same as last year’s, it should cost you a little less to heat your home or operate your business with natural gas. The Oregon Public Utility Commission

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny have pledged $500 million to the University of Oregon toward a new scientific research facility. The Register-Guard reports (https://is.gd/AKl7vr ) that the donation is the largest ever awarded to UO and is meant to launch a $1 billion, 10-year effort to build a

Deschutes County this week is starting a fuels reduction project in an area of southwest Bend that is popular among walkers, runners and hikers. The project is expected to be completed in the spring, officials said Tuesday. Operators will be thinning trees and mowing brush as they remove hazardous fuels from the area. “This work

Winter weather has arrived to the higher elevations on the Deschutes National Forest and forest officials have now closed the Paulina Peak road for the season. As the seasons progress and conditions change, the public is reminded that they may encounter sudden seasonal closures or hazardous road conditions on the forest. Please take all precautions

Oregon Secretary of State Jeanne P. Atkins urged all eligible voters to make sure they will be able to cast their ballot in the upcoming election. Tuesday is the last day to register to vote in the upcoming November election. If you have an Oregon DMV number, registration in Oregon is simple, and can be

BEND, Ore. (AP) — Wildlife groups are offering $15,000 for information about a female wolf found dead in south-central Oregon and a federal agency is offering $5,000. The Bulletin reports (http://bit.ly/2dZ0cwY ) that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service described the wolf’s death as an illegal killing of an animal from an endangered species. The

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Gov. Kate Brown says if elected in November she plans to maintain a moratorium on the death penalty in Oregon. Spokesman Bryan Hockaday told The Oregonian/OregonLive (https://goo.gl/mYxdEA) Monday that Brown has made clear her personal opposition to capital punishment and her support of the current moratorium. Former Gov. John Kitzhaber announced

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The start of the school year helped fuel Oregon’s job growth in September as more educators were hired. The report released Tuesday shows most of the net gain of 7,185 jobs over August was in government, which added 3,300 jobs. The majority of new government jobs were for local education. The

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A woman has filed a lawsuit against a Tigard tanning salon after she discovered people could see through windows in her private room. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (https://is.gd/tQiVKV ) that Renee Baker claims in her lawsuit that she didn’t realize the windows were two-way glass before she stripped down to tan nude

ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) — A tight housing market in this trendy town is causing rental rates to shoot up and some are protesting hikes of up to $250 a month. The Ashland Daily Tidings reported Tuesday (http://bit.ly/2ehDTSZ) that the town now has a rental vacancy rate of just 1 to 2 percent and housing costs