Regional News Archives for 2014-08

Cyrus' VMA Date Out On Bail

(Dallas, OR)  --  Miley Cyrus' date to the MTV Video Music Awards is out on bail after he turned himself in at the Polk County Jail.  Sheriff Bob Wolfe says Jesse Helt had a warrant out for his arrest for a parole violation.  Helt accepted Cyrus' award for video of the year during last Sunday's ceremony and read a speech that noted problems faced by homeless youth.  Helt had been living on the streets of Los Angeles while looking for a job.  Polk County officials say he failed to meet as scheduled with his probation officer after pleading guilty and serving time for misdemeanors.

Suspects In Shooting Of Deputy Arrested

(Klamath Falls, OR)  --  A couple of people suspected in the shooting of a Klamath County sheriff's deputy are in custody.  Authorities say 30-year-old William Jack Parkerson and 34-year-old Karey Leigh Pascoe are facing charges of attempted aggravated murder with a firearm and first-degree assault with a firearm.  Deputy Jason Weber is listed in serious condition after being shot in the face and side during a traffic stop.  A third person in the vehicle with the suspects was also charged for a probation violation.

Suspect In Woman's Death Still At Large

(Beaverton, OR)  --  Police are still looking for a suspect in the murder of 29-year-old Nicole Laube.  She was stabbed to death last week at her place of employment, the Timber Creek Apartments in Cedar Mill.  A memorial service for Laube was held last night at a church in Beaverton.  Rewards totaling 39-hundred dollars are offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Eyman Seeks To Overturn $15 Minimum-wage Laws In WA

(Seattle, WA)  --  Washington state political activist Tim Eyman is seeking to mount a challenge to city laws that mandate minimum wages above the state minimum wage.  Eyman says he's gathering signatures for an initiative that would prohibit Washington cities from setting minimum wages above the state minimum of nine-32 an hour.  If passed, the initiative would overturn recent minimum-wage increases to 15-dollars an hour in Seattle and SeaTac.  Eyman says he'd like to get the initiative on the November 2015 statewide ballot.

Sex-assault Suspect Arrested After Leaving Note

(Beaverton, OR)  --  Police say a note left behind by a man who sexually assaulted a Beaverton woman has led to an arrest.  Authorities say the suspect came back to the apartment nearly two weeks following the August 15th assault to leave an apology note on the victim's door.  Police say the note contained enough information to lead to the arrest of 33-year-old Cruz Bonilla of Hillsboro.  Bonilla is facing charges of burglary and sex abuse.

Car, MAX Train Crash, One Injured

(Portland, OR)  --  Investigators are trying to find out what led to a crash involving a car and a MAX train in North Portland.  One person aboard the Yellow Line train suffered minor injuries in the crash, which happened yesterday at North Interstate Avenue near Russell Street.  Police say a car traveling on North Interstate made a left-hand turn into the train.  Yellow Line service was delayed until around 7 p.m.

Deaths Of Hillsboro Family Members Ruled Accidental

(Hillsboro, WA)  --  The state medical examiner says the deaths of four members of a Hillsboro family who drowned in Henry Hagg Lake were accidental.  The body of three-year-old Jeremy Scholl was recovered from the lake Monday evening, and the bodies of his mother, uncle, and grandmother were recovered Tuesday.  They're identified as 25-year-old Gabriela Garcia-Ixtacua, his uncle, 13-year-old Michael Garcia-Ixtacua; and his grandmother, 42-year-old Jova Ixtacua-Castano.  The Washington County Sheriff's Office says none of the victims was wearing a flotation device.

Man Plead Guilty To Fatal Beating

(Polk County, OR)  --  Two men accused of beating a drug informant to death are facing life sentences after pleading guilty.  Forty-four-year-old Jimmy Fears and 24-year-old Zachary Mersch were sentenced yesterday after admitting to murdering 29-year-old James Hawkes the Fourth and leaving his body at a Polk County cemetery.  The victim's body was found last December.  Fears and Mersch will be eligible for parole after 25 years.

Two Firefighters Injured In Oregon City Blaze

(Oregon City, OR)  --  Two firefighters are recovering from injuries they suffered while battling a three-alarm fire in Oregon City.  Traffic was shut down on Molalla Avenue between Holmes Lane and Warner Street during yesterday's early-morning blaze, which damaged a commercial building.  One firefighter suffered minor burns, while another twisted his ankle.  Investigators are trying to determine what caused the fire.
 

Total Of Four Members Of Family Drown In Hagg Lake

(Gaston, OR)  --  Authorities say four members of a Hillsboro family drowned in Hagg Lake.  Three more bodies were found yesterday after the body of a three-year-old boy was found in the lake on Monday.  Those found yesterday included 42-year-old Jova Ixtacua-Castano; her 13-year-old son, Michael Garcia-Ixtacua; and her 25-year-old daughter, Gabriela Garcia-Ixtacua.  The three-year-old boy found Monday was Jeremy Scholl, the son of Gabriela Garcia-Ixtacua.

Man Accused In Hit-and-run Crash Involving Bicyclist

(Clackamas, OR)  --  A Clackamas man is accused of hitting a bicyclist with his vehicle and driving away from the scene.  Police say 49-year-old Leodan Juarez Belton struck the bicyclist as he entered the parking lot of a gas station on Southeast 82nd Avenue yesterday afternoon.  Authorities say Belton checked on the cyclist, went into the store and got ice cream for him, then took off in his pickup truck as medics approached.  Belton was arrested more than an hour later.  The cyclist suffered minor injuries.

Intel Tax-break Plan Approved

(Hillsboro, OR)  --  A plan to provide Intel with two-billion dollars in potential property-tax breaks over 30 years is moving forward.  The Hillsboro City Council and the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved the deal yesterday.  The two-billion in tax breaks is based on 100-billion dollars in local investment by the tech giant.  "The Oregonian" reports the property tax breaks, which will apply only to equipment, are made possible by Oregon's Strategic Investment Program.

Portland Ranks Among Cities With Worst Drivers

(Northbrook, IL)  --  A new study released by Allstate Insurance ranks Portland among the U.S. cities with the worst drivers.  The annual America's Best Drivers Report ranks Portland at 177th out of 200, down from 154th in 2013.  According to the study, Portland drivers average seven-point-three years between crashes, compared to the national average of ten years.  Seattle comes in at 173rd, while Fort Collins, Colorado ranks as the city with the nation's safest drivers.

WA Shop Sells Superman Comic For Record Price

(Federal Way, WA)  --  A comics store in Federal Way, Washington now has the distinction of selling the most expensive comic book ever purchased.  An original copy of the 1938 Action Comics Number One, also known as the first-ever Superman comic book, was sold for three-point-two-million dollars on eBay over the weekend by Darren Adams, owner of Pristine Comics.  That broke the record of two-point-one-million dollars for another Action Comics Number One, sold three years ago by actor Nicolas Cage.

Hop Growers Report Good Harvest

(Independence, OR)  --  Willamette Valley hop growers say they're having a good harvest this season.  Farmers say winter flooding and hot summer temperatures have driven the bounty.  Growers are also benefiting from the nationwide growth in the number of craft breweries over the past decade.  The national average price for hops has doubled since 2004.

Boy Drowns Near Henry Hagg Lake

(Washington County, OR)  --  Authorities say a four-year-old boy died after being pulled unconscious from water near Henry Hagg Lake.  Forest Grove Fire & Rescue officials say efforts to resuscitate the boy after he was pulled from the water yesterday were unsuccessful.  Officials say there was no sign of an adult who was caring for the child at the scene and it's possible that person might also have drowned.  Investigators say a pair of adult flip-flops were in the area where the boy was found and a car was parked in a nearby lot.

Woman, Toddler Found Safe

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say a Portland woman and her two-year-old niece are safe after they were reported missing.  Officials say Tamika Bradley and her niece were expected to take public transit Sunday afternoon to Bradley's mother's home in Vancouver, but they never arrived and were reported missing.  Police say the pair were "safely located" yesterday, but no other details have been released.

Oregon Trooper's Badge, Baton Stolen During Burglary

(Government Camp, OR)  --  Oregon State Police say a trooper's badge and baton were stolen during a recent burglary in Government Camp.  Authorities say the burglary took place at the state transportation department's compound on Highway 26 near Timberline Road.  OSP says the stolen badge is silver with ID number 631.  Anyone who has information helpful to the investigation is asked to call Oregon State Police at 503-731-3030.

Bicyclist Killed In I-84 Crash

(Hood River, OR)  --  Authorities say a bicyclist who was killed in a crash on I-84 near Hood River was a Mosier firefighter.  Police say 52-year-old Ellen Dittebrandt was approaching an off-ramp when she was hit from behind by a pickup truck around 6:30 yesterday morning.  Dillebrandt died at the scene after being thrown off her bike.  The driver of the pickup, 55-year-old John Allman of Portland, is cooperating with the investigation.

Vancouver Man Drowns In Yale Lake

(Clark County, WA)  --  Police are investigating the drowning of a Vancouver man in Yale Lake.  The body of 22-year-old Stephen W. Rilea was recovered yesterday from the lake, which sits in the Clark-Cowlitz county line.  Authorities say Rilea's body was located in an area where he had been swimming yesterday.

Suspect Accused Of Attempted Rape

(Salem, OR)  --  A man is in custody after being accused of trying to rape a woman in the Salem area.  Marion County sheriff's deputies say the intended victim was able to elude the attacker after he broke into her home on State Street Saturday morning.  Authorities say after the report was called in, deputies found the suspect at a residence nearby.  Multiple charges are expected to be filed against 19-year-old Armando Cervantes.

Geologist: Quake Hitting Oregon Matter Of When, Not If

(Portland, OR)  --  A Portland State University geologist says a major earthquake hitting Oregon is not a matter of if, but when.  Scott Burns tells "KOIN-TV" that three faults run beneath the city of Portland, and the Juan de Fuca plate is located off the Oregon Coast.  Burns says the 6.0 quake that struck the San Francisco Bay area over the weekend is a reminder that a big temblor could just as easily hit Portland.  He says a large quake hits the Pacific Northwest about every 500 years on average, and the last big one struck the region more than 300 years ago.

Search Continues For Suspect In Woman's Murder

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say it appears a woman who was stabbed to death at a Northwest Portland apartment complex probably knew the assailant.  Twenty-nine-year-old Nicole Laube died in the Tuesday evening attack at Timber Creek Apartments.  Deputies say before the victim died, she told a neighbor the man who attacked her was wearing a dark hoodie and camouflage pants.  No suspects have been identified.
 

Teen Who Tortured Boy Gets Eleven-year Sentence

(Portland, OR)  --  A 16-year-old boy is scheduled to spend eleven years in custody for carving a swastika on the forehead of another teen.  Blue Christian James Kalmbach is one of four teens to be sentenced in relation to the February torture of the then-16-year-old victim.  Prosecutors say Kalmbach attacked the victim with a crowbar and used a box-cutter-type knife to carve the swastika in his forehead.  Kalmbach pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, and second-degree assault.

One Killed In Collision In North Albany

(Albany, OR)  --  Police have a person in custody following a head-on collision that killed a Eugene man.  Authorities say the vehicles collided on Highway 20 in North Albany, around seven a.m. yesterday.  Thirty-seven-year-old Gabriel Lopez died in the crash.  Police have arrested 32-year-old Damon Selves, who allegedly swerved into the oncoming lane and crashed into Lopez's car.

Poll: Richardson Trails Kitzhaber By Four Points

(Salem, OR)  --  A new opinion poll on the Oregon governor's race shows GOP state Representative Dennis Richardson trailing Democratic incumbent John Kitzhaber by a margin of 45 percent to 41 percent.  The telephone survey, commissioned by Richardson and conducted by pollster Bob Moore, questioned 500 likely voters and has a plus-or-minus four-percent margin of error.  Earlier this month, a Survey USA poll commissioned by KATU-TV showed Kitzhaber with a 48-to-36 lead over Richardson.

Teen Reports Being Hit By Blow-dart While Jogging

(McMinnville, OR)  --  Police say a McMinnville teenager reported being hit in the back with a blow-dart as he was jogging in a local park.  KPTV reports the incident happened as the teen was jogging Tuesday evening along the shoulder of a road in Joe Dancer Park with his high-school cross-country team.  The teen, who wasn't seriously hurt, reported seeing a small, older-model light-blue pickup truck passing by at the moment he was hit.  The truck had horizontal lines running along the side panels.

Homicide Victim Identified As Aloha Man

(Wilsonville, OR)  --  A man who was found shot to death on August 11th is being identified as an Aloha resident.  The body of 45-year-old Misael Delgado-Nunez was found in a field off State Highway 551 between Wilsonville and Aurora.  There's no word on whether the victim was shot at the scene or at another location.  Clackamas County sheriff's deputies haven't identified any suspects.    
 

Police ID Woman Killed At Apartment Complex

(Portland, OR)  --  Authorities say a woman who was stabbed to death at the apartment complex where she worked was a wife and a mother of two.  Twenty-nine-year-old Nicole Laube [[ lob ]] was fatally stabbed Tuesday afternoon at the Timber Creek Apartments in Cedar Mill.  Washington County sheriff's deputies say they only have a vague description of the suspect, who's still at large.  Investigators say they don't know whether Laube knew her killer.
 

Toddler's Finger Caught In Escalator, Severed

(Tigard, OR)  --  A two-year-old boy is being treated, after one of his fingers was severed when it became caught in an escalator at the Washington Square Mall.  Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue officials say the escalator near the food court was taken apart and the severed finger retrieved for possible reattachment.  The toddler also sustained injuries to a second finger.  There's no word yet on his current condition.

Fire Burns Atop Downtown Building

(Portland, OR)  --  Investigators are trying to find out what caused a fire on top of a high-rise building in downtown Portland.  The blaze was reported around 12:30 this morning on the roof of the 15-story Yeon Building, on Southwest 5th Avenue near Alder.  "The Oregonian" reports firefighters had the blaze under control in less than 20 minutes.  No injuries were reported.

Two Shot Near Salem Restaurant

(Salem, OR)  --  Marion County sheriff's deputies are investigating a shooting that sent two people to a hospital.  Detectives say the shooting happened around nine o'clock last night in the parking lot of the Red Robin restaurant on Center Street Northeast.  Deputies say an altercation took place and multiple shots were fired.  Information on the victims' conditions hasn't been released.
 

Vancouver Woman Accused In A String Of Robberies

(Vancouver, WA)  --  A Vancouver woman is facing charges after being accused of committing a string of robberies.  Authorities allege that 35-year-old Marie Berry used a Car2Go Smart Car as her getaway vehicle during the robberies, which began in April.  Police say two banks and five stores were held up, with the perpetrator in each case described as a five-foot-tall woman in her 30s.
 

Campers Go Missing In Tillamook County

(Tillamook, OR)  --  Authorities are searching for two campers who went missing from the Tillamook State Forest.  Sheriff Andy Long says 53-year-old Nicholas Santangelo and 35-year-old Justin Norton haven't been seen since late Monday night, when they left their campsite off Highway 6.  The men were in a 1998 green Ford Explorer with Oregon license plate WBR-922.  Anyone with information on the men's whereabouts is asked to call the Tillamook County Sheriff's Department at 503-842-2561.

Salem Man Faces Multiple Child-porn charges

(Salem, OR)  --  A Salem man is facing more than 120 child-porn-related counts.  Sheriff's deputies say Robert Littleton Willis is accused of having multiple images and videos of child pornography on his computer.  Officials say relatives in Mill City became suspicious after they were asked by Willis to hide his computer.  Deputies say the relatives called authorities after they found the images on the computer.

Man Killed In Crash On U.S. 197

(Dufur, OR)  --  Oregon State Police are investigating a deadly crash on U.S. 197 near Dufur.  Troopers say Henry Jacob Girtz was a passenger in an SUV that collided with a pickup truck that turned into its path, and died at the scene.  The driver, 59-year-old Linda Girtz, was seriously injured and airlifted to a Portland hospital.  A second passenger is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, and the driver of the pickup wasn't injured.

Motorcyclist Killed In Collision With Deer

(Troutdale, OR)  --  A motorcyclist is dead following a collision with a deer in Troutdale.  Police say the crash happened yesterday morning on Northeast Graham Road, north of the Troutdale Airport.  The motorcyclist has been identified as 54-year-old Michael Roland of Gresham, who died at the scene.  Police say the deer was severely injured and had to be put down.

'Grotto' In NE Portland Celebrating Milestone

(Portland, OR)  --  A Northeast Portland landmark that draws thousands of visitors each year is celebrating its 90th anniversary.  The 62-acre sanctuary, known as "The Grotto," is planning a formal celebration in September.  The land was purchased in 1924 by a priest, who placed a down payment of three-thousand dollars, or every penny he had.  The Grotto, with its lush greenery and tranquil waterways, is visited daily by people who want a peaceful or spiritual experience and a brief escape from their busy lives.

Fourteen-year-old Shot At Home In Longview

(Longview, WA)  --  A 14-year-old boy is being treated for a gunshot wound to the face after he and a friend were handling a gun at a home in Longview.  The teen is being treated at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.  The boy's 15-year-old friend, who lives at the home where the shooting happened, told police the gun went off yesterday as he was placing it back in its safe.  There's no word on the condition of the 14-year-old.

Beaverton Council Votes To Streamline Nike Expansion Permitting

(Beaverton, OR)  --  The permitting process for Nike's planned expansion of its world headquarters will be streamlined, following a vote by the Beaverton City Council.  "The Oregonian" reports the City Council has reached an agreement with Washington County that will give permitting and planning authority solely to the county.  Beaverton city officials say the 150-million-dollar Nike World Headquarters expansion will add at least 500 jobs.  Nike currently employs about eight-thousand people in Washington County.

Body Of Hiker Recovered From Sandy River

(Sandy, OR)  --  Officials say the body of a hiker who was swept away in the swollen Sandy River has been recovered.  The incident happened around three o'clock yesterday afternoon when a footbridge on a trail to Ramona Falls in Mount Hood National Forest was washed away.  The man's body was located and recovered several hours later.  Rescue crews also retrieved a number of other hikers who became stranded on the far side of the river after the bridge went out.

Woman Accused In Daughter's Murder Pleads Not Guilty

(Astoria, OR)  --  A Washington woman who's accused of murdering her two-year-old and attempting to murder her 13-year-old remains behind bars without bail.  Jessica Smith has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder.  Court documents show Smith confessed to drowning the toddler at a Cannon Beach hotel and helping her teen daughter cut her own throat and wrists to prevent them from having to live with their father.  A status hearing for Smith is scheduled for September 30th.

Arrest Made In Plaid Pantry Robberies

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland police have a man in custody in connection with a string of robberies at Plaid Pantry convenience stores.  Authorities say they saw the suspect leave a Plaid Pantry on Northeast 15th Avenue early yesterday morning and jump into a stolen vehicle.  After a brief chase, police say they set out spike strips and stopped the car in the area of Northeast 96th and Sandy Boulevard.  Police say Demarcus Yordell Vance may be connected to as many as five armed robberies at Plaid Pantry stores within a 24-hour period.

Gunshot Victim's Body Found In Field

(Wilsonville, OR)  --  Police are trying to identify the body of a man who was shot to death.  The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office says the body was found Monday, in the area of Northeast Arndt Road and Highway 551 between Wilsonville and Aurora.  Deputies say the man was Hispanic, about five-feet-three, weighing 180 pounds, wearing an Army camo t-shirt, blue jeans, and black-and-orange Nike sneakers.  Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office's confidential tip line at 503-723-4949.

Inslee To Appeal Federal Aid Decision

(Olympia, WA)  --  Washington Governor Jay Inslee says he plans to appeal the federal government's decision to deny the state's request for individual emergency assistance to homeowners affected by wildfires.  The state has 30 days to file the appeal.  Inslee made the remarks a day after the Obama administration approved Inslee's request for federal assistance for Okanogan County and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.  The county and the confederated tribes will be covered for 75 percent of eligible expenses for wildfire-damaged facilities.

Rowena Fire Reported To Be 65% Contained

(Portland, OR)  --  Officials say the Rowena wildfire in the Columbia Gorge is now 65-percent contained.  The Wasco County Sheriff's Office says more than 600 people are battling the fire, which has scorched about five square miles since it started last Tuesday.  Evacuation orders have been lifted for more than 700 residences.  Firefighters continue to establish fire lines in an effort to further contain the wildfire.

Mount Angel Murder-Suicide Still Under Investigation

(Mount Angel, OR)  --  Authorities continue to investigate after a standoff ended with a man killing his ex-girlfriend's mother and then taking his own life.  Police say Daniel Cuanas was found dead Saturday morning of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, following the armed standoff that involved his former girlfriend, Elizabeth Schwartz, and her mother, Kathleen Schwartz.  Elizabeth Schwartz was able to escape the home with her 15-year-old son, but her mother was found dead later by police.  Investigators believe Kathleen Schwartz was killed before police arrived at the scene.

Teen Accused In Six-year-old's Death Due In Court

(Bremerton, WA)  --  A 17-year-old boy who's accused of sexually assaulting and killing a six-year-old Bremerton, Washington girl is slated to appear in court this afternoon.  Police say the teenager lives in the same mobile home park where Jenise Wright lived.  Her body was found near the mobile home park Thursday.  The suspect will be facing charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and first-degree rape of a child.

Escaped Mill Creek Inmate Still At Large

(Salem, OR)  --  Authorities are still searching for an inmate who escaped from the Mill Creek Correctional Facility in Salem.  Officials say 34-year-old Jerry Teixiera was discovered missing from the prison around 2:40 p.m. Saturday, and he's believed to have ridden off with a woman named Lacey Evans.  Teixiera is described as white, six-feet-one, 190 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.  Evans is described is white, six feet tall, short, platinum-blonde hair, and noticeable tattoos on her chest.

WA Legal Marijuana Sales At $3.6 Million In First Month

(Olympia, WA)  --  Washington state officials say sales added up to about three-point-six-million dollars during the initial month of the state's legal marijuana market.  The state will receive 899-thousand dollars, or 25 percent, in taxes.  That's along with the usual sales taxes and business taxes.  Inventory has been limited, as many of the roughly 150 marijuana producers who have been issued state licenses haven't had enough time to get their crops harvested, processed, and ready for market.

Portland Setting Aside Money For Seismic Retrofitting

(Portland, OR)  --  The city of Portland is setting aside five-million dollars for seismic retrofits in historic Old Town-Chinatown.  KGW-TV reports many of the 19th-century buildings in that area of Portland are especially vulnerable, because of their age and the fact they're constructed of bricks.  Engineers with the state of Oregon say such buildings will be unable to withstand a quake that reaches a magnitude of eight or higher, which geologists say could hit the Pacific Northwest at any time.  The urban-renewal money being earmarked will help Old Town building owners make seismic renovations to the structures.

Suspect Sought After Shooting At Video Poker Parlor

(Portland, OR)  --  A suspect is at large following an armed robbery and shooting at a Southeast Portland video-poker lounge.  Police say the suspect, who was dressed in dark clothing and a hoodie, shot a customer who was following him out of Dotty's on Southeast Division Street after the robbery yesterday afternoon.  The wounded 58-year-old woman will reportedly recover.  The suspect was seen running west on Division Street following the shooting.

Rowena Wildfire Surpasses 2600 Acres

(Rowena, OR)  --  The Rowena wildfire that's burning in the Columbia Gorge is reported to have surpassed 26-hundred acres.  Officials report the wildfire is zero-percent contained.  About 600 area residents have been told to evacuate their homes as the fire edges closer to The Dalles.  KPTV reports an incident commander with the State Fire Marshall's Office has confirmed that at least one outbuilding has been destroyed.

Vigil For Jennifer Huston Set For This Evening

(Newberg, OR)  --  A public vigil is scheduled this evening in Newberg to honor the memory of Jennifer Huston of Dundee, whose body was found in a remote area of Yamhill County.  Police say Huston, who had been missing since July 24th, was found dead Tuesday near where her SUV was parked near Sheridan.  Officials say the 38-year-old wife and mother of two young children took her own life.  The service is scheduled to be held at seven o'clock this evening at Hillside Church, on North Main Street in Newberg.    
 

Woman Dies In Vancouver Crash

(Vancouver, WA)  --  A woman is dead, following a crash that ended up at a Clark Public Utilities station in Vancouver.  Police say 44-year-old Trina Wase lost control of her SUV yesterday afternoon in the area of Northeast 28th Street and 112th Avenue.  Wase was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled.  Police say alcohol and excessive speed may have been factors in the crash.

UO President Resigns

(Eugene, OR)  --  University of Oregon president Michael Gottfredson, who's been on the job for two years, is stepping down.  In his resignation letter submitted yesterday, Gottfredson said he wants to pursue "other opportunities in academia" and that his resignation is effective immediately.  Gottfredson's spokeswoman, Jennifer Winters, says she can't comment on the reason for the president's resignation.  The university's Board of Trustees has 24 hours from the receipt of Gottfredson's letter to consider his resignation.

Rowena Wildfire Spreading Near The Dalles

(Rowena, OR)  --  A wildfire in Wasco County is spreading and poses a threat to about 275 structures.  The Rowena fire is located about six miles west of The Dalles, and Level Three evacuations are in effect for 75 homes between the 55-hundred and 62-hundred blocks of Highway 30.  Residents of homes further west on Highway 30 are being urged to prepare for evacuation.  The fire, which is burning in steep terrain, began in an area of brush Tuesday night.

Medical Pot Banned For Daycare Providers

(Salem, OR)  --  Daycare providers in Oregon are being banned from using medical marijuana.  A state board has voted to revoke medical marijuana cards from the owners of four Oregon home-based daycare centers.  The rule, which is effective immediately, is scheduled to last six months.  The Early Learning Council will consider a permanent rule after Oregon voters decide this fall whether to make marijuana legal for recreational use. 

Career Con Man Back Behind Bars

(Oregon City, OR)  --  A man who has a criminal history extending back to the 1960s is back behind bars.  Seventy-four-year-old Nickolas Kasemehas, known as the "Casanova Con Man," is being held on warrants out of Clackamas, Multnomah, and Marion counties.  Authorities say Kasemehas had been arrested in 2013, but cut off his electronic monitoring device in Portland and vanished.  His bail is set at more than one-million dollars and he's being held in the Clackamas County Jail.

Police: Dundee Mom Took Own Life

(Sheridan, OR)  --  Authorities say a Dundee mother of two, who was found dead in a remote area of Yamhill County, took her own life.  The body of 38-year-old Jennifer Huston was found Tuesday near her SUV near Sheridan.  Deputies say all evidence, including a note left in the SUV, points to Huston committing suicide.  The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office says Huston died of asphyxiation.

Missing Dundee Woman Found Dead

(Sheridan, OR)  --  An autopsy is being conducted on a Dundee woman who had been missing since July 24th.  The body of 38-year-old Jennifer Huston was found yesterday, near her parked SUV near Sheridan.  Huston was seen at a gas station and a pharmacy in Newberg on July 24th, but then vanished.  Police say they see no evidence that foul play was involved in Huston's death.

Gallup: OR, WA Drop In Uninsured Among Nation's Highest

(Undated)  --  A new Gallup survey shows Oregon and Washington with among the nation's best rates of decrease in the number of uninsured residents as a result of the Affordable Care Act.  According to the Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index, Washington's rate of uninsured is ten-point-seven percent, compared to nearly 17 percent pre-Obamacare.  That's the nation's fourth-highest rate of decrease of uninsured residents.  The survey shows Oregon has the seventh-highest rate of decrease of those without health-care insurance, with 14 percent uninsured, compared to 19-point-four percent pre-Obamacare.

Pedestrian Hit By Car On Sidewalk

(Milwaukie, OR)  --  A woman is being treated for serious injuries after being hit by a car while on a sidewalk near Milwaukie.  Authorities say the incident happened around 5:00 p.m. yesterday as the woman was walking along Oregon Route 99E, a mile south of Milwaukie.  Police say the car traveled off the roadway and onto the sidewalk, hitting the woman.  No names have been released.

Goat Stolen From Portland Home

(Portland, OR)  --  A Southeast Portland family is hoping to get its stolen goat back.  Police say Penelope the goat was swiped sometime Monday morning from the yard where she was kept at the corner of Southeast 122nd and Brookside.  Police say the family pet is a Nigerian dwarf goat, about two-and-a-half feet tall and weighing about 50 pounds.  Officials say the family wants Penelope returned and won't press charges.

Pedestrian Killed On Marquam Bridge

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland police are investigating a crash that killed a pedestrian on the Marquam Bridge.  Investigators say the pedestrian was struck by a tractor-trailer rig around 11 o'clock last night on northbound I-5.  The truck driver remained at the scene and cooperated with police.  Northbound I-5 traffic was rerouted to I-405 until the scene was cleared.

Search For Missing Woman Conducted In WA

(Newberg, OR)  --  The search for a missing Yamhill County woman is extending to the San Juan Islands in Washington.  Thirty-eight-year-old Jennifer Huston of Dundee, who is a graduate of Gig Harbor High School in Washington, disappeared on July 24th after leaving her home to run errands.  Investigators say there's reason to believe Huston may be in the San Juans, as they were among her favorite places to go while she was growing up.  Officials say a tower ping from her cell phone indicated she was driving north after filling up at a gas station in Newberg last week.

One Dead, One Critical Following Stabbing

(Portland, OR)  --  Police are investigating after one person was killed and another was critically injured in a stabbing in Northeast Portland.  Authorities say a man was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries last night after he ran from a home on Northeast 96th Avenue to a nearby Econolodge to seek help.  Police went to the home and engaged a suspect, who eventually surrendered after SERT personnel arrived.  The dead victim was found inside the home.  No names have been released.

Two DUII Arrests In 18 Hours For Wilsonville Man

(Wilsonville, OR)  --  A Wilsonville man is facing charges after being arrested twice for DUII within 18 hours.  The "Portland Tribune" quotes police as saying 32-year-old Kyle James Koontz was allegedly seen Wednesday in a near-catatonic state after reportedly inhaling electronics cleaner from a spray can while sitting in his vehicle.  Police say Koontz was arrested in a driveway on Southwest Stafford Road after several 9-1-1 calls reporting an erratic and reckless driver.  Authorities say Koontz was also arrested Tuesday evening for DUII at Argyle Square in Wilsonville.

WA AG Moves To Intervene In Marijuana Lawsuits

(Olympia, WA)  --  Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is asking a judge to allow his office to join lawsuits filed against the cities of Fife and Wenatchee.  Ferguson says he wants to defend Initiative 502, which legalizes the recreational use of marijuana for those aged 21 and older in Washington.  Fife and Wenatchee have enacted bans on marijuana sales, and are being sued by businesses that have applied for licenses to sell pot in those cities.  Ferguson says his office has "a clear interest in protecting the will of the voters."

Sinkhole Forces Closure Of Oregon 219 Near St. Paul

(St. Paul, OR)  --  A section of Oregon 219 in Marion County is closed in both directions because of a sinkhole that collapsed part of the road.  State transportation officials say the collapse happened yesterday just east of St. Paul.  Northbound traffic is being detoured to French Prairie Road to McKay Road and back to 219, while southbound traffic is being re-directed to River Road in St. Paul, then to Davidson Road and back to 219.  Officials say 219 will be closed indefinitely while the damage is assessed and repairs are made.

Police: Man Touched Children At Kmart, Fled

(Portland, OR)  --  A man who reportedly rubbed the shoulders of two young children at a Portland Kmart store is being sought by police.  Investigators say the incident happened around 11:30 yesterday morning after the children's mother stepped into the aisle next to where they sat on the floor.  Police say the woman heard the man talking to the children in both Spanish and English, then confronted him after he rubbed their shoulders.  The man, who's described as being five-feet-eight with a medium build and wearing a tan t-shirt with black and white stripes, then left the scene and was gone from the store by the time security arrived.
 

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