Month: November 2016

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — An occupier of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge who took a plea deal before seven co-defendants were acquitted of the same charge says his lawyer is talking with prosecutors and withdrawing his guilty plea is a possibility. Jon Ritzheimer told The Associated Press late Wednesday that attorneys for several others who

ALBANY, Ore. (AP) — A mushroom picker who went missing near Sweet Home has been found alive and unhurt. Linn County Sheriff Bruce Riley says 58-year-old Oliver Mercer of Lebanon flagged down a fishing boat Thursday morning and got a ride to a dock, where he was reunited with friends. Mercer told searchers he walked

CAVE JUNCTION, Ore. (AP) — A southwest Oregon lumber mill that once employed more than 200 workers is auctioning off its assets. The Grants Pass Daily Courier reports (https://is.gd/xykqEi ) that Rough & Ready Lumber began a liquidation auction Wednesday, nine months after shutting down operations. The auction will run through Thursday and proceeds will

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Ducks have suspended linebacker Eddie Heard indefinitely following his arrest on misdemeanor assault and harassment charges. The University of Oregon Police Department said in a release that Heard punched a woman in the face outside of a Eugene bar early Sunday morning. There were multiple witnesses, the release said.

Throughout November, Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel will be hosting public meetings to discuss crime and community safety issues. The meetings are a part of the DeschutesSafe initiative that Hummel launched in June 2015 to analyze, evaluate and supplement current crime prevention programs. The purpose of these public meetings is to share with the

In the largest commitment to an accessible transportation system in state history, the Oregon Department of Transportation, Disability Rights Oregon and the Association of Oregon Centers for Independent Living announced Thursday a proposed agreement which will make the state highway system more accessible to those with disabilities. The agreement settles a federal lawsuit filed in

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A petition is calling for a senior law professor to resign from his position at the University of Oregon after she wore blackface for Halloween. The Register-Guard reports (https://is.gd/qaNjMy ) that UO Law Dean Michael Moffitt says the unidentified professor has been placed on administrative leave pending the completion of a

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Officials say a fire that damaged several townhouses in northeast Portland was intentionally set. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (http://bit.ly/2e4g97j ) that the Wednesday morning blaze burned three townhomes, displacing at least eight adults and 11 children. No injuries were reported. Officials say the 34-year-old suspect, Louis Duncan, was arrested that night and

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Police in Corvallis say a man has suffered life-threatening injuries after being burned in a field east of the Highway 34 bypass. The Gazette-Times reports (http://bit.ly/2f2cvry ) that police had responded Wednesday to a call about a man on fire. Several agencies responded to the scene, and the man was taken

As Oregonians prepare to set their clocks back an hour this weekend, SAIF wants to remind employers to keep safety in mind, while ODOT has a similar message for drivers to safely adjust to the time change. “Though we know a lot of Oregonians are excited to gain an hour on the sixth, daylight saving

Each dollar a state spends on mental health care cuts roughly 25 cents off its jail expenditures by reducing its inmate population, a new study shows. The findings, published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, suggest that 35 of the 44 states analyzed could reduce jail populations by spending more on public inpatient mental

Starting November 17, state park campers can make reservations for campsites, yurts and cabins to enjoy the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse. The normal advance campsite reservation window opens nine months before the first night of a visitor’s stay, but a temporary change to the reservation system will affect people who want to make

In a letter sent to President Barack Obama Wednesday, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., led 12 senators who urged the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to reject the proposed purchase of Aleris Co., by China-based Zhongwang International Group. Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Bob Casey, D-Penn., Joe Manchin, D-W.V., Kirsten

Cascade Youth & Family Center, a program of J Bar J Youth Services, has been awarded two grants totaling more than $1 million from the Department of Health and Human Services – Administration on Children, Youth and Families, addressing teen runaways and homeless, as well as human trafficking. One of the grants will help fund

PHOENIX (AP) — Eric Bledsoe dropped in a rainbow 3-pointer at the overtime buzzer, giving the Phoenix Suns a 118-115 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. Bledsoe finished with 20 points, his only 3 being the game-winner. The shot gave the Suns their first win of the season. The Suns. who made

ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) — Forecasters are predicting a cooler, wetter weather pattern for the Pacific Northwest this winter. The Mail Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/2ewm1Cy ) that the National Weather Service says there is a 70 percent chance that there’ll be winter conditions not seen in the Siskiyou Mountain range for five years. That would be good

The former Pioneer Memorial Hospital building in Prineville getting a second chance at life. The lights are coming back on at the hospital, which closed a year ago. Lutheran Community Services Northwest has been providing mental health services for Crook County for 30 years, and now it’s expanding into that building. “The primary purpose of

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland police say officers have arrested a 33-year-old woman in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man. Portland Police spokesman Sgt. Pete Simpson said in a news release that 36-year-old Jerry Wayne Robinson Jr. Garrett was stabbed to death early Wednesday. Police say Antoinette Garrett was arrested at the scene

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., announced Wednesday that he will be accepting applications to the U.S. Senate Page Program. From now until December 31 rising high school juniors or seniors will have an opportunity to apply to be part of the page program in summer 2017. Pages play a critical role in the day-to-day work of

As you prepare for the coming winter season, be sure to buy a Sno-Park permit, ODOT officials said Wednesday. This year’s Sno-Park season began Nov. 1 and runs through April 30, 2017. Oregon’s Sno-Park program helps provide snow removal at about 100 winter recreation parking areas (Sno-Parks) across the state. Sno-Parks are located in most