Regional News Archives for 2015-09

Suspect Sought Following Stabbing

(Portland, OR)  --  A woman is being sought by police after the stabbing of another woman in Southeast Portland.  Authorities say the 50-year-old victim was seriously wounded Monday night in the 82-hundred block of Southeast 82nd Avenue.  The suspect, who's described as being 35 to 40 years old with long black hair, fled the scene.  Police say the suspect may have been accompanied by another woman walking a white boxer dog.

Woman Accused Of Killing Boyfriend

(Klamath Falls, OR)  --  A woman is facing a murder charge after the death of her boyfriend in Klamath Falls.  Police say Kim Johnson Noud told them Kenneth Wilkinson accidentally shot himself in the chest while playing with a handgun on September 27th.  Authorities say Wilkinson was actually shot in the back.  Noud is facing charges of murder and unlawful use of a weapon.

West Linn HS Teacher Accused Of Sexually Abusing Students

(Lake Oswego, OR)  --  A West Linn High School teacher is accused of sexually abusing two male students.  Police say 34-year-old Jonathan Michael Peachey, who teaches Spanish and English Language Development at the school, reportedly touched the boys inappropriately at a home in Lake Oswego.  The charges against Peachey include third-degree sex abuse, first-degree official misconduct, and furnishing alcohol to a minor.  He's scheduled to be arraigned this morning.

Lawmakers: Bridge Repair Will Mean Higher Fuel Tax

(Salem, OR)  --  Oregon legislators say the state gas tax will have to be raised in order for aging bridges to be fixed.  Lawmakers met yesterday in Salem to address the problem of bridges deteriorating across the state.  Senator Rod Monroe is among the lawmakers who told KOIN-TV that any funding package for bridge repair will require a gas-tax increase.  The state transportation department says 61 bridges in Oregon are classified as structurally deficient.

Missing Cornelius Man Being Sought

(Cornelius, OR)  --  Washington County authorities are looking for a Cornelius man who's been reported missing.  Sheriff's deputies say 25-year-old Matthew Pugh hasn't been seen since the morning of September 26th.  Officials say Pugh's abandoned car was found later that day with the engine running at a house on Southwest Plum Tree Court in Cornelius.  Pugh is described as white, five-feet-eight, 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.  Anyone with information is asked to call 503-846-2700.

Recreational Marijuana Sales To Start Tomorrow

(Portland, OR)  --  Early sales of legal marijuana are set to begin tomorrow at medical pot dispensaries across Oregon.  Growers say there will be a limited supply of marijuana at first because state permits to grow cannabis won't be distributed until January.  About 200 of Oregon's 345 medical marijuana shops have registered to sell recreational pot.

Decline In Gas Prices Continues

(Portland, OR)  --  Drivers in Portland continue to pay less at the gas pump.  The latest survey by Triple-A shows the average for a gallon of regular is two-48, down more than a penny from yesterday.  It's also about a nickel a gallon lower than a week ago.

Police ID Suspect In Deadly Shooting

(Portland, OR)  --  A suspect in a shooting that left a man dead in Southeast Portland is being sought.  Police say 30-year-old Ricky Dean Seaman is accused of shooting Tyler Jeffrey Woods to death Friday night.  Authorities say the shooting happened in the area of Southeast 132nd Avenue and Bush Street.  Seaman is described as white, five-feet-ten-inches tall, weighing 180 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair, as well as tattoos on his neck.  Anyone knowing his location is asked to call 503-823-4357.

Oregon Fugitive Wanted Since 1990 Arrested In Mexico

(Portland, OR)  --  A man who's been wanted by Oregon authorities for 25 years is now in custody, after being arrested in Mexico.  Officials say Paul Jackson was apprehended yesterday by Mexican authorities and U.S. marshals.  Jackson was indicted on rape and kidnapping charges in June 1990, but fled before a trial could begin.  Deportation hearings are to begin soon for Jackson in Mexico.

State Orders Ride The Ducks Shutdown

(Olympia, WA)  --  A hearing is scheduled to take place this week concerning the state's emergency order to temporarily shut down operation of Ride the Ducks of Seattle.  The state Utilities and Transportation Commission issued the order yesterday, following a National Transportation Safety Board report on the Duck vehicle involved in last Thursday's deadly crash on Seattle's Aurora Bridge.  The report said the vehicle's front axle had not had a safety fix that was recommended in 2013 for owners of the World War Two-era amphibious vehicles.  The crash, which remains under investigation, killed five people and injured dozens of others.

Man Accused Of Seriously Injuring Toddler

(Portland, OR)  --  Bail is set at more than a quarter-million dollars for a man who's accused of seriously injuring a two-year-old child.  Paul Anthony Mendez is facing charges of first-degree assault and first-degree criminal mistreatment.  Police say Mendez is accused of causing serious physical injury to the son of his girlfriend.  He's scheduled for another court appearance on October 6th.

Suspect Arrested In Deadly Hit-and-run

(Portland, OR)  --  A suspect in a deadly hit-and-run crash in Portland is behind bars.  Twenty-year-old Frederick James Ryerson, Jr. is facing charges in connection with the crash that killed 34-year-old Christopher Bryan Chandler.  Chandler died at a hospital following the Sunday morning crash in the Kern neighborhood.  Ryerson was arraigned yesterday.

Portland Scraps "Auto Pay" For Water Bills

(Portland, OR)  --  The city of Portland is no longer offering water customers the option of "auto pay."  The option allows customers to set up their credit cards to make an automatic payment every month.  Fred Miller, with the Portland Office of Management and Finance, told KATU-TV that credit card companies changed their security standards earlier this year, and it's been difficult for the city to comply with the new standards.  He says the city hopes to have auto pay operating again next year.

Fuel Prices In Portland Continue Slide

(Portland, OR)  --  The price of gasoline is still on the decline in the Portland area.  Triple-A reports the average for regular is about two-50 a gallon, a penny below yesterday's average.  It's also six cents a gallon less than at this time last week.

Kelso Teachers Agree To End Strike

(Kelso, WA)  --  Kelso teachers will be back on the job today, after their union agreed to end an eight-day strike.  Officials say both sides made compromises in arriving at the contract agreement yesterday.  Classes will start two hours late today to allow teachers and staff to prepare.  Contract talks centered on teacher pay and workload.

Man Who Drove Wheelchair Into Traffic Dies

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say a man who drove a motorized wheelchair into traffic in Southeast Portland has died of his injuries.  Authorities say 39-year-old Ronald Shapland was hit by a pickup early Saturday morning on Southeast 82nd Avenue and Clinton Street.  Officials say Shapland may have been intoxicated.  The driver of the pickup, 68-year-old George Michael Bute, cooperated with police following the crash.

Columbia County Wreck Kills One, Injures Two

(Columbia County, OR)  --  One person is dead and two others are seriously injured, following a crash in Columbia County.  Sheriff's deputies say a car traveling south on Old Portland Road yesterday afternoon crossed the center line and hit an oncoming box truck.  The driver of the car died at the scene, and a passenger in the car was airlifted to a Portland hospital.  The driver of the truck was transported to a hospital by ambulance.

Suspected Arsonist Arrested

(Forest Grove, OR)  --  A 19-year-old man who's accused of setting fire to two houses in Forest Grove is facing charges.  Henry Louis Gulacy has been arrested in connection with the fires, one on August 28th at a home on Hawthorne Street with a family of five inside.  The second fire happened on September 17th at an unoccupied house on 9th Avenue.  Gulacy is charged with two counts of first-degree arson.

Portland Man Killed In Hit-and-run Crash

(Portland, OR)  --  Police are looking for a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run crash that left a Portland man dead.  Thirty-four-year-old Christopher Brian Chandler was found lying in the area of Southeast 29th and Stark Street around two o'clock yesterday morning, and died later at a hospital.  Police say the suspect was driving a white, mid-2000s Honda Civic four-door, with the license plate number believed to be IVD-1036, but the state is unknown.  The car may have front-end damage and a broken windshield.

NTSB: Duck Vehicle Didn't Have Recommended Fix

(Seattle, WA)  --  An investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board says the Ride the Ducks vehicle involved in Thursday's deadly crash with a charter bus had not received a recommended safety fix.  Investigator Earl Weener says the fix had been recommended in 2013 by the Atlanta company that refurbishes the World War Two-era amphibious vehicles.  The top executive with the Seattle Ride the Ducks company says the business is trying to determine whether it received notification of the recommendation when it was issued.  The death toll from the crash has risen to five, with a 20-year-old woman dying yesterday at a Seattle hospital.

Gas Prices Fall

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland-area fuel prices are still falling.  Triple-A reports the average for regular is about two-51 a gallon, down six cents from a week ago.  The national average for regular is two-29 a gallon.

One Dead Following Gresham Shooting

(Gresham, OR)  --  Gresham police are investigating a shooting that left one person dead.  Authorities say the shooting happened around 7:30 last night in the 28-hundred block of Southeast Rosefinch Drive in Gresham.  The victim was found dead at the scene.  Police say there are no outstanding suspects, but there's no word on whether an arrest has been made.

Drowning Victim Identified As Portland Man

(Portland, OR)  --  Sheriff's deputies say a man whose body was recovered from the Willamette River has been identified as a Portland resident.  Thirty-two-year-old Ernest Lee Foster was reported missing a week ago.  A search was conducted on Ross Island, and Foster's body was recovered from the river Tuesday.  The drowning has been ruled accidental.

Drug Take-back Day Set For Tomorrow

(Portland, OR)  --  Tomorrow, you'll have a chance to safely dispose of unwanted, unneeded, or expired medications during National Prescription Drug Take-back Day.  The annual event, which is hosted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, is being held by police and sheriff's departments at various locations across the Portland-Vancouver metro area.  Officials say more than 24-hundred tons of combined medications were surrendered nationwide during the previous nine Take-back events.  More information, including locations of collection sites, is available online at dea.gov.

Man Arrested For Forcing Girlfriend Into Prostitution

(Lake Oswego, OR)  --  An Oregon man is accused of forcing his girlfriend to sleep with other men for money.  Earlier this week, police responded to a home in Lake Oswego after a woman reported being held against her will by boyfriend Selva Mudaliar.  The victim also told police Mudaliar used to work as her pimp and forced her into prostitution.  The suspect was arrested and is charged with compelling prostitution, assault and menacing.

Mayor Hales Announces State Of Emergency For Housing, Homelessness

(Portland, OR)  --  Mayor Charlie Hales is announcing a State of Emergency for housing and homelessness in the city.  The number of homeless people living on city streets continues to grow, alongside rising rent prices.  Hales is proposing a declaration of emergency to push through several measures including waiving zoning codes and converting city-owned buildings into shelters.  Among all of his goals he says homeless veterans and women are a top priority.  The council will discuss the proposal early next month.

2 Women, 1 Man Arrested For Shoplifting

(Portland, OR)  --  Three young adults are accused of stealing tens-of-thousands-of-dollars worth of clothes in Portland.  JocCrystal Jackson, Cache Coleman and Jabril Coleman were arrested late last week in connection to shoplifting.  Police found 45 garbage bags full of stolen clothes in a home and many of which still had security tags on them.  The clothes are said to be valued at 50-thousand dollars or more.  The trio is facing various theft charges.

Teacher Assigns Controversial Homework At Portland School

(Portland, OR)  --  A controversial assignment at a Portland charter school was meant to be a learning opportunity, according to the school's president.  The assignment from a class at Self Enhancement Academy was broken down into three categories, "Pimp," "The B Word" and "The N Word."  President Tony Hopson told KATU, the assignment aimed to unveil why the words are inappropriate for students to use.  Hopson issued a letter yesterday apologizing to students and parents.

Police Searching For Missing Man In Gresham

(Gresham, OR)  --  Police are searching for a missing man in Gresham.  Frank Wilson hasn't been seen since Thursday, and could be in need of medical attention.  The 68-year-old man has heart problems and diabetes.  He is described as being six-foot-one, 235 pound, with brown eyes and short gray hair.  He drives a 2003 Ford pickup with a disabled veteran license plate.  Anyone with any information is urged to call 9-1-1.

Clatskanie Planning Commissioner Resigns Amid Indecency Charges

(Clatskanie, OR)  --  The husband of Clatskanie Mayor Diane Pohl is resigning from the city's planning commission after his arrest for public indecency.  Ray Pohl is out on bail after he was booked into jail last week.  He is charged with 30 counts for allegedly exposing himself at drive-through coffee shops in the area.

Man Dead, Woman Injured In Northeast Portland Shooting

(Portland, OR)  --  A man is dead and a woman is injured in a Northeast Portland shooting.  It happened last night near Northeast 15th Avenue and Buffalo Street.  Authorities say the woman is expected to survive the shooting.  So far, police don't have a suspect.

Oregon State Student Reports Sexual Assault

(Corvallis, OR)  --  A student at Oregon State University is recovering from an apparent sexual assault on campus.  An 18-year-old student told police she was attacked early yesterday morning while walking between Waldo Hall and Arnold Dining Center.  Authorities are now looking for a bearded man in his 40s with grayish black hair.

Clatskanie Planning Commissioner Resigns Amid Indecency Charges

(Clatskanie, OR)  --  The husband of Clatskanie Mayor Diane Pohl is resigning from the city's planning commission after his arrest for public indecency.  Ray Pohl is out on bail after he was booked into jail last week.  He is charged with 30 counts for exposing himself at drive-through coffee shops in the area.

Portland Declares Housing Emergency For Homeless Women

(Portland, OR)  --  Mayor Hales is declaring a housing emergency next month to try provide shelter for all homeless women.  The city in the declaration could bypass zoning codes to locate shelters for the homeless.  Hales is also looking for cooperation from the state to allow officials to waive parts of state building code.

ODOT Asks Police To Clear Homeless Camp

(Portland, OR)  --  ODOT is asking Portland police to break up a homeless camp near North Interstate and Greeley Avenues.  There are complaints it's attracting too many people and there's too much garbage.  The move is expected by early next week.  ODOT says they would try to have social service information available when police clear the camp.

Bar Ordered To Pay $400K In Damages For Banning Transgenders

(Portland, OR)  --  A North Portland bar is ordered to pay 400-thousand dollars in damages for turning away a group of transgender patrons.  A state appeals court ruled yesterday against owner Chris Penner's challenge to a Bureau of Labor and Industries finding.  He was accused of telling Rose City T-Club members not to come back to his establishment because he didn't want it known as a "tranny bar" or "gay bar."

Earth Crusaders Ordered To Vacate Gladstone Property

(Portland, OR)  --  The man running several non-profit activities out of the decommissioned Gladstone plant is ordered to vacate the premises.  Jerry Herrmann and his Earth Crusaders have occupied the Clackamas River property rent free for 23 years.  Gladstone leased the property to him in 1992 to use for non-profit ventures rent free if he cleaned up and maintained the land.  A judge yesterday rejected his claim he had a legal contract to stay until next summer.

Portland Approves Contract For Bike Share Program

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland city officials are clearing the way for a bicycle rental program to roll out next summer.  City Council last night approved a contract to use one-point-five million dollars in mostly federal money to buy equipment.  The contract commits the city to five years of running the bike share program.

Vote On Pot Stores Delayed

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland city officials are delaying a vote on new regulations for marijuana retailers.  The regulations are to prevent too many pot shops from operating too close to each other.  Existing retailers are concerned the licensing process could force an existing shop to shut down in favor of a new one.  Officials say they might consider exemptions to allow a case-by-case evaluation.

Survey: 24% Of UO Female Undergrads Experience Sexual Contact By Force

(Eugene, OR)  --  A report finds 24 percent of undergraduate women at the University of Oregon say they've had non-consensual sexual contact through force.  U of O was one of several universities in a survey on campus rape taken last spring.  U of O's rate was slightly higher than the national rate of 23 percent.

PSU Professor: Large Earthquake Coming

(Portland, OR)  --  A large earthquake is overdue to hit the West Coast.  A Portland State University tells KOIN 6 News scientists became aware of the increased risk after looking at a few factors.  Among them were geology deposits, a series of tree die-offs, and knowing the time of the last large earthquake.

Reservoir Project Will Cost $100M More Than Expected

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland's plan to build a new underground drinking water reservoir is going to cost at least 100-million dollars more than previously estimated.  City Council members were also told last night it will take two years longer to build.  Water officials say they need it to comply with federal rules to cover open-air reservoirs or treat the water.

Employment Picks Up In Portland

(Portland, OR)  --  Hiring is picking up in the Portland area.  A new report from the Oregon Employee Department says 48-hundred jobs, mostly private sector jobs, were added last month.  They say the metro area employment base has expanded four percent over last year.

Motorcyclist Critically Injured

(Portland, OR)  --  A man is in critical condition after crashing his motorcycle into a cargo van. It happened yesterday afternoon at Southeast Oak Street and Grand Avenue.  Authorities say the van's driver is cooperating with investigators.
 

Arson Suspected In High School Fire

(Portland, OR)  --  A fire at Roosevelt High School is being investigated as an arson.  The blaze Sunday night burned construction materials in the school's gym.  No one was hurt.  The school opened the next morning at its normal hours.

Tualatin High Teacher Indicted For Sex Abuse Of Student

(Tualatin, OR)  --  A Tualatin High School teacher is facing a grand jury indictment for sexually abusing a student.  Thirty-two-year-old Jonathan R. Maggiano was arrested earlier this month, but he pleaded not guilty to multiple sex charges yesterday afternoon during his arraignment.  The technology teacher is on paid administrative leave.

Clatskanie Mayor Facing Recall Effort

(Portland, OR)  --  An effort to recall the mayor of Clatskanie is officially on the books.  A prospective petition to recall Mayor Diane Pohl was submitted yesterday at the City's Recorder office.  Opponents of Pohl say the mayor failed to support a police officer who filed a report alleging misconduct by former Police Chief Marvin Hoover.

Shleifer Furniture Building Being Developed Into Hotel

(Portland, OR)  --  The Shleifer Furniture Company on Grand Avenue is closing after almost 80 years.  The owner is selling the building to a developer who wants to convert it into a hotel.  The building was originally erected as a hotel in 1906.

OR Tribes Receive More Than $3M For Wellness Programs

(Portland, OR)  --  Five of Oregon's Native American tribes are getting more than three-million dollars of federal money for public safety and wellness programs.  The money will help tribes with programs like fighting alcohol and drug abuse, victim assistance, violence against women, and community policing.  The funds are part of a 97-million dollar program to help tribes around the country.

Man Beats Mom, Sister With Nunchucks

(Lafayette, OR)  --  A Lafayette man is in custody accused of beating his mother and sister with a pair of nunchucks.  Kasey Heermann faces several charges including attempted murder and strangulation.  The attack happened Saturday afternoon in the home the 28-year-old shares with his mother.

Aloha Woman Sentenced For Trying To Suffocate Children

(Portland, OR)  --  An Aloha woman is headed behind bars for a year after she admitted trying to suffocate her own children when they were babies.  Rosa Vasquez-Vasquez pleaded guilty in July to criminal mistreatment after facing assault and strangulation charges.  Vasquez-Vasquez told authorities that depression led her to thoughts of harming her children.

School Fire Damage At $50,000

(Portland, OR)  --  This weekend's fire at Roosevelt High School is expected to set the district back about 50-thousand-dollars.  Authorities say a fire near a stage at the school was contained to a pile of materials in a construction area, and that helped reduce the overall damage.  The school was able to open normally yesterday.

Survey: Oregon Among Most Fair Tax Systems In US

(Undated)  --  Oregon has one of the most fair tax systems in the country, compared to other states.  Financial website WalletHub looked at how well states manage to keep income, sales, property, and other taxes from being unfairly burdensome to the lower and middle classes.  It found Oregon had the second best system in the nation, behind only Montana.  The survey says neighbor Washington has the worst system in the nation.

Man Dead, Woman Critical After Domestic Stabbing

(Gresham, OR)  --  Police in Gresham are still investigating a weekend disturbance call that resulted in the discovery of a body and a victim fighting for her life.  Umberto Arango Velasco was found dead inside an apartment on Sunday afternoon when a tactical team entered.  It happened after a woman who also lived there was stabbed and got away.  Authorities say Mariya Dela Torriente is in critical condition.

2 Women Seriously Injured In Nunchucks Attack

(Lafayette, OR)  --  Two women are being treated for serious head injuries after a male relative attacked them with nunchucks, which are Asian hand weapons, at a home in Lafayette.  The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office says Kasey Heermann is facing an attempted murder charge following the attack.  It happened around midday Saturday at the home at 1282 East Third Street.  Heermann will be arraigned this afternoon.  His bail is set at 465-thousand-dollars. 

Coos Bay Woman Dies In Near Head-On Crash

(Douglas County, OR)  --  An unidentified Coos Bay woman is dead following a near head-on crash on Highway 38 in Douglas County.  State Police say the crash was reported around 7:20 p.m. Saturday and happened just east of Scottsburg.  The woman was headed west when she crossed the center line and crashed nearly head-on into another vehicle.  The driver and passenger in the other car were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Fire Breaks Out At Roosevelt High School

(Portland, OR)  --  Classes will be held as usual today at Roosevelt High School in north Portland, even though a fire broke out there Sunday evening.  Portland Fire officials say a pile of materials in the school's gymnasium caught fire just after 7 p.m.  The materials were for a construction project that's being done in that section of the school.  School administrators say smoke from the fire didn't affect the rest of the school.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.
 

2 Hikers Rescued From South Sister Mountain

(Bend, OR)  --  Two hikers are safe after they spent Saturday night on South Sister mountain when they became lost coming down the peak.  The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office got an emergency call Saturday night from Mohammed Alnemer who said he and another hiker were lost in an icy area, but had no shelter or supplies with them.  Rescue crews had to wait until Sunday morning to search for them due to the steep terrain.  The two hikers were cold and tired, but otherwise all right.
 

One Killed In Crash Near Astoria

(Astoria, OR)  --  State police are looking into a deadly head-on crash near Astoria.  Investigators think a 16-year old girl lost control of her car in a corner and slammed into a state Department of Fish and Wildlife truck on Highway 202 on Saturday.  The teen girl, later identified as Jade Morgan by KATU-TV, was killed in the crash.  The driver of the other car was treated at a hospital for undisclosed injuries.

Volunteers Remove Invasive Weeds At Tryon Creek Watershed

(Portland, OR)  --  Volunteers with the group Solve Oregon were busy Saturday getting rid of invasive weeds at the Tryon Creek Watershed in southwest Portland.  The group says invasive weeds can crowd out native plant life.  The weeds also end up affecting water quality at the state's waterways and beaches.

Home Destroyed By Fire

(Camas, WA)  --  Exploding ammunition kept firefighters from battling a Camas home fire.  Firefighters arrived on scene yesterday afternoon on Southeast Evergreen Highway and found flames pouring from the house.  In addition to the exploding ammunition, firefighters reportedly had trouble finding any hydrants to get water on the blaze.  No one was injured in the fire.  Investigators are still looking into what started it.

Man Found Dead After SWAT Standoff

(Gresham, OR)  --  A woman remains hospitalized in undisclosed condition after being stabbed in Gresham.  Police got into a standoff with the man inside the apartment where the woman was assaulted yesterday.  He was found dead once police went inside.  Neither person is being identified and police aren't disclosing the exact nature of their relationship.

Nurse Wins Wrongful Termination Suit Against Hospital

(Portland, OR)  --  A jury awards three-million dollars to a nurse who sued Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center for wrongful termination.  The Oregonian reports the jury found that Linda Boly was fired not for poor job performance but for taking issue with ways the hospital was slashing dollars.  Boly said those measures led to inadequate patient care.  The hospital was also ordered by the jury to pay her legal fees.

Census: Portland Bike Commuting Up Considerably

(Portland, OR)  --  New figures from the U.S Census Bureau show a considerable rise in the number of commuters who travel by bicycle.  The report shows the number of bike commuters went up seven-point-two percent in 2014 from the year before.  The same report shows the number of those commuting by car also rose, from about 210-thousand in 2013 to more than 217-thousand last year.

State: Bridge System Needs Repairs

(Salem, OR)  --  The state transportation department says Oregon's bridges need repairs, and the best way to make that happen is to increase funding.  Recent statewide inspections showed most of Oregon's bridges will need serious attention in the next 20 years.  The Department of Transportation says about 900 bridges will need to be repaired or replaced during that period, but funding only exists for about 300 bridges.  Officials say about 57 percent of Oregon's bridges will reach the end of their designed lifespans in five years.

Elderly Driver Killed In Salem Crash

(Salem, OR)  --  An 85-year-old man is dead, following a rollover crash in Salem.  Police Say Donald Wilson was driving Wednesday night along Zena Road Northwest, when he lost control and crashed east of Brush College Road Northwest.  Wilson was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.  The crash remains under investigation.

Funnel Clouds Reported Over Hillsboro, Albany

(Portland, OR)  --  The National Weather Service says it got reports of funnel clouds over Hillsboro and Albany.  Officials say the two reports were received yesterday between 1:30 and two o'clock in the afternoon.  Neither funnel cloud was reported to have touched down.
 

Accused Groper Arrested

(Hillsboro, OR)  --  A 19-year-old man is in custody, after being accused of groping a woman at a Dollar Tree store in Hillsboro.  Authorities say Jason P. Mikel was arrested yesterday after the victim picked him out of a photo lineup.  Police say Mikel may also be linked to another reported groping incident.  He's slated to be arraigned on September 29th.

Missing Gresham Man Reported To Have Health Problems

(Gresham, OR)  --  Police are looking for a missing Gresham man who's reported to have health problems.  Authorities say 65-year-old Jay Henkelman was last seen Monday at his home in southwest Gresham.  Henkelman is described as white, five-feet-ten, 165 pounds, with white hair.  Anyone who knows his location is asked to call Gresham police at 503-618-2719.

One Seriously Injured In Hit-And-Run

(Milwaukie, OR)  --  One person is being hospitalized for serious injuries following a hit-and-run crash in Milwaukie.  Police say the crash happened Wednesday night near Southeast Main and Milport, after one driver got out of his car and confronted the other driver.  Authorities say the other driver backed his vehicle up, hit the first man, then drove off.  Police say there are conflicting reports on the description of the suspect's vehicle, but he's described as white, slender build, between 30 and 40 years old, with a bald head or buzzed hair.

NV Governor: Yucca Mountain Unsuitable For Waste Dump

(Carson City, NV)  --  Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval says the proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain is not suitable because the federal government doesn't have land and water rights necessary to move forward with the project.  Sandoval made the remarks in a letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which held a public hearing on the proposal last night in Amargosa Valley, Nevada.  The NRC says an environmental study on the Yucca Mountain project shows that contamination risk is low and not dangerous to humans, but many state and federal officials in Nevada are against the proposal.  A decision on the project will have an impact on the storage of radioactive waste from Washington's Hanford nuclear site.
 

Gas Prices Down

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland-area gas prices are still falling.  The latest survey by Triple-A shows the average for regular is down a penny from yesterday, to two-59 a gallon.  That's also eight cents a gallon cheaper than a week ago.
 

One Killed In SE Portland Crash

(Portland, OR)  --  One person is dead, following a single-vehicle crash in Southeast Portland.  Police say the car slammed into a light pole at Southeast 33rd Avenue and Powell Boulevard around four o'clock yesterday afternoon.  The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.  That person's name hasn't been made public.

Body Found In Willamette River Identified

(Portland, OR)  --  Officials say a body found in the Willamette River has been identified as that of a Portland woman who had been reported missing.  The Oregon State Medical Examiner says no foul play is suspected in the drowning of 37-year-old Lisa Wright.  Wright had vanished on September 8th from her home in the Linnton neighborhood, and her belongings were found later that night near the St. Johns Bridge.  Her body was spotted in the river Tuesday by a construction crew.

Mohamud Appeals Conviction

(Portland, OR)  --  Mohamed Mohamud, who's serving 30 years in federal prison for trying to set off a bomb during a tree-lighting ceremony in downtown Portland, is appealing his conviction.  The brief, filed in federal court by Mohamud's defense team, is seeking to reverse the conviction.  He was arrested after trying to set off a bomb that turned out to be fake.  The bogus bomb was supplied by FBI undercover agents posing as al-Qaeda recruiters.

Clatskanie Mayor's Husband Free On Bail After Arrest

(Clatskanie, OR)  --  The husband of Clatskanie Mayor Diane Pohl is free on bail, after being arrested on multiple counts of public indecency.  Court documents show 64-year-old Ray Pohl is accused of exposing himself while at the drive-through of Flowers N Fluff Coffee Shop in Clatskanie for the past two years.  The complaints against Pohl were filed by an employee of the coffee shop.  Police say an investigation is being conducted to determine if there are any other victims.
 

Oregon's Minimum Wage Won't Rise In 2016

(Salem, OR)  --  Oregon's minimum wage will remain at nine-dollars-25-cents an hour in 2016.  State officials say the overall Consumer Price Index for Oregon rose only two-tenths of one percent for the year ending in August, not enough to trigger a cost-of-living increase.  Bills to raise Oregon's minimum wage failed to pass after being introduced in the Legislature earlier this year.
 

Gasoline Prices Cheaper

(Portland, OR)  --  Gas prices in the Portland area continue to get cheaper.  Triple-A reports the average for a gallon of regular is about two-61, two-and-a-half cents a gallon below yesterday's average.  It's also nearly 14 cents below the average at this time last week.

Hales Wants To Impose Fee For Demolishing Homes

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Mayor Charlie Hales wants to impose a 25-thousand-dollar fee on developers who demolish livable single-family homes.  Mayor's office spokesperson Dana Haynes says the fee is to make developers think twice before tearing down perfectly good homes and changing the character of Portland's historic neighborhoods.  The fee would not apply to homes that pose a hazard or are considered unlivable.  The proposal will get a hearing on October 14th.

Clatskanie Mayor's Husband Facing Indecency Charges

(Clatskanie, OR)  --  The husband of Clatskanie Mayor Diane Pohl is facing more than two-dozen charges of indecency.  Raymond Pohl is accused of harassing the family of a police officer who lodged racism allegations against Police Chief Marvin Hoover, who has since retired.  Mayor Pohl praised Hoover following his retirement, saying he did a good job during his time as a public servant.  Raymond Pohl's bail was set at 30-thousand dollars after he was booked into the Columbia County Jail.
 

Kelso Teachers To Strike

(Kelso, WA)  --  Public-school teachers will go on strike today in Kelso.  Contract negotiations ended yesterday evening without an agreement, and teachers will begin walking picket lines this morning.  For now, classes are cancelled for today only, and contract negotiations are scheduled to resume at ten o'clock this morning.  Teachers are calling for pay raises, compensation for heavier workloads, and due-process rights for employees.

Oregon Jobless Rate Up, Despite Job Gains

(Salem, OR)  --  Despite a rise in the number of jobs, Oregon's August unemployment rate is at six-point-one percent, up from July's five-point-nine percent.  The Oregon Employment Department reports the state added about 44-hundred jobs last month, following a revised gain of 74-hundred jobs the month before.  State officials say Oregon's payroll employment has grown by more than 60-thousand jobs over the past year.

Gas Prices Lower

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland-area gasoline prices continue to fall.  Triple-A reports the average for regular is two-63 a gallon, down two-and-a-half cents from yesterday.  It's also about 14 cents a gallon below the average of a week ago.

Body Of Woman Found Below St. Johns Bridge

(Portland, OR)  --  Authorities are investigating the death of a woman, whose body was found in the Willamette River.  The Portland Fire Bureau says the body was spotted around eleven o'clock yesterday morning under the St. Johns Bridge by a construction crew.  The identity of the woman hasn't been released.

Kelso Teachers Vote To Strike

(Kelso, WA)  --  Members of the union representing Kelso public school teachers say they'll go on strike unless a tentative contract agreement is reached today.  Kelso teachers have been working without a contract after the old one expired on June 30th.  Union officials say one of the main points of contention is extra paid days.  Contract negotiations are to resume at 4:30 this afternoon.

Clark County Deputy's Gun Goes Off During Struggle

(Hazel Dell, WA)  --  Clark County authorities say a woman has been arrested after she struggled with a deputy over his gun and caused it to go off.  Officials say the woman was pulled over in Hazel Dell yesterday for erratic driving, and she reached for the deputy's gun and pulled the trigger.  No one was hit by the gunfire, and the woman was arrested.  She's been identified as 33-year-old Jessica Farias, who's facing a charge of first-degree assault.
 

Man Dies After Fall From Cliff

(Linn County, OR)  --  A Lincoln County man is dead, after falling 100 feet off a cliff while on a camping trip in Linn County.  Authorities say 61-year-old Stephen Bass of Toledo fell from the cliff Sunday afternoon while with a friend near Gordon Meadows.  Crews had to rappel down the cliff to reach Bass's body, which was recovered yesterday.  Investigators are trying to determine what led to the fall.

Vancouver Considering Fireworks Ban

(Vancouver, WA)  --  The Vancouver City Council is getting public input on whether to impose an outright ban on fireworks, or to send the issue residents for an advisory vote.  The proposal is under discussion because of a number of complaints fielded by the city concerning the use of fireworks.  A public meeting was held on the issue last night, and two more hearings will take place before a final Council vote is taken.
 

Woman Killed, Toddler Injured In Crash Near Molalla

(Molalla, OR)  --  Oregon State Police are investigating a crash that killed a woman and seriously injured a toddler near Molalla.  Troopers say a car driven by 21-year-old Rosio Gonzalez of Woodburn crossed the center line of Oregon 211 yesterday morning and crashed into an oncoming pickup truck.  Gonzales died at the scene, and her 21-month-old passenger was airlifted to a hospital.  The driver of the pickup was also seriously injured.

Teen Hit By School Bus In Gladstone

(Gladstone, OR)  --  A 15-year-old girl is in a hospital, after being hit by a school bus in Gladstone.  Police say the teen was hit yesterday while in a crosswalk at the intersection of Southeast McLoughlin Boulevard and Glen Echo Boulevard.  Authorities say the bus was making a left turn when it hit the girl.  The teen's injuries are considered serious, but not life-threatening.

Officials Say Washington Wildfire Was Arson

(Spokane, WA)  --  The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Spokane Tribe of Indians say the Carpenter Road wildfire in Stevens County, Washington was deliberately set.  The fire has destroyed 42 structures and caused the death of a Fruitland man who was trying to save his property.  Marcella Teters, the Bureau of Indian Affairs' superintendent for the Spokane Indian Reservation, says the wildfire has burned more than 100 square miles since it was discovered on August 13th and has cost more than 20-million dollars to fight so far.  The Carpenter Road fire is now 95-percent contained, and rain is forecast for the area this week.

Gas Prices Continue To Fall

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland-area fuel prices are still dropping.  Triple-A reports the average for regular is about two-66 a gallon, more than two cents below yesterday's average.  It's also about 12 cents cheaper than a week ago.

Man's Body Found In Willamette River

(Portland, OR)  --  Authorities are investigating, after a man's body was found in the Willamette River near the Morrison Bridge.  Multnomah County sheriff's deputies recovered the body after it was spotted around 7:20 last night.  The identity of the man isn't being released until next of kin is notified.

Man Accused Of Plotting To Shoot Up Christian School

(Portland, OR)  --  Bail is set at 100-thousand dollars for a Portland man who's accused of plotting to shoot teachers at a school.  Oregon State Police say Zachariah Peterson posted messages online earlier this month, saying he had "nothing left to live for" and planned to carry out the shooting at a Christian school where he had been abused by teachers and administrators when he was a student.  Peterson is also accused of threatening children at the school.  Officials say FBI agents were able to trace the poster's IP address, leading to Peterson's arrest at his home in Southwest Portland.

Hundreds Evacuated As Wildfire Burns In Wishram

(Wishram, WA)  --  School is cancelled today in the Klickitat County community of Wishram, where a grass fire has scorched about two-thousand acres.  About 300 residents evacuated their homes after the fire was reported around noon yesterday.  Officials say the fire is a threat to homes and infrastructure in the area, though no homes have been lost so far.  A shelter has been set up by the Red Cross at Fathers House Fellowship on South Klickitat Avenue in Goldendale.

Man Shot To Death In Hillsboro

(Hillsboro, OR)  --  Police are looking for a suspect, following a shooting death in Hillsboro.  Authorities say the victim, a man in his early 20s, was found dead in the middle of Baseline Street near Southeast 11th Avenue around 2:20 yesterday morning.  The suspect is described to also be in his 20s, and wearing a black shirt.  The Washington County Major Crimes Team is helping with the investigation.

Portland-area Gas Prices Slide

(Portland, OR)  --  Drivers in the Portland metro area continue to pay lower prices at the gas pump.  Triple-A reports the average for regular is about two-68 a gallon, a dime below the average of a week ago.  Regular gas averages two-33 a gallon nationwide.
 

Youth Baseball Treasurer Accused Of Theft

(Woodburn, OR)  --  The treasurer of a youth baseball organization is accused of stealing eight-thousand dollars from the group.  Police say 47-year-old Julia Harmon of Woodburn admitted to stealing the money.  Harmon served as treasurer of the Mid-Valley Youth Baseball Association.  Authorities say the thefts happened between January 2015 and August 2015.
 

Man Accused Of "Flashing" In Custody

(Portland, OR)  --  A man who's accused of exposing himself to young girls is behind bars.  Portland police say Eric Garcia matches the description of a man who was reported to have been on a bicycle when he exposed himself to the victims, ages ten and 14.  The latest incident happened Wednesday near Chief Joseph School in North Portland.  Police are investigating to determine whether there are more victims.
 

Pierce To Challenge Brown In Governor's Race

(Salem, OR)  --  Oncologist Bud Pierce says he'll enter the race for governor in 2016.  The Salem Republican is the only person so far to declare candidacy for the office.  Governor Kate Brown, who took over for John Kitzhaber after he resigned in February, hasn't said whether she plans to run for election to the office.  Pierce, who's making his first run for public office, says experience gained from a highly successful private life makes him qualified to be Oregon's chief executive.

Devlin To Run For Secretary Of State

(Salem, OR)  --  A co-chair of the Oregon Legislature's joint budget committee says he's running for secretary of state.  Democratic Senator Richard Devlin of Tualatin was elected last year to a fourth term.  Devlin is touting his experience in government as an advantage in his run for statewide office.  Republican Sid Leiken of Lane County has also said he'll run for secretary of state.

PPB, Multnomah D.A. Receive Grants To Test Rape Kits

(Portland, OR)  --  The Portland Police Bureau and the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office are each receiving two-million dollars for testing sexual assault forensic evidence kits.  The funding for Portland police is coming from the U.S. Department of Justice, while the D.A.'s office is getting a grant from the Manhattan District Attorney's office in New York.  The money is intended for testing rape kits that haven't been sent to crime labs and are being stored as evidence.

Suspect In Custody After Marijuana Cart Robbed

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland police have a suspect in custody, after a mobile marijuana cart was robbed.  The suspect, 34-year-old Kelly Foster Green, was arrested after fighting with the operator of the Smoke Buddy cart on North Alma Avenue and Willamette Boulevard, following the holdup around 10:20 yesterday morning.  Police say a second suspect, who reportedly got away with marijuana, is still on the loose.  Green is to appear in court today on charges of first- and second-degree robbery.

Gas Prices Lower

(Portland, OR)  --  Gas prices in the Portland area are still getting cheaper.  The latest Triple-A survey shows a gallon of regular averages two-73, which is two cents lower than yesterday.  It's also seven cents a gallon below the average of a week ago.

City Club Of Portland Wants Streets Fixed

(Portland, OR)  --  A newly-issued report contends that Portland city leaders should begin fixing the city's streets now rather than later.  The City Club of Portland says the more street-repair projects are delayed, the higher the cost to taxpayers.  The committee that authored the report is recommending a five-cent gas tax and a commuter tax to help fund much-needed street-improvement projects.  Tomorrow's City Club Friday Forum will focus on the panel's report.
 

Police: Alcohol Likely Factor In Deadly Crash

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say a woman who was hospitalized following a crash in Southeast Portland has died from her injuries.  Investigators believe alcohol was a factor in the Sunday morning crash on Powell Boulevard.  Police say 23-year-old Jane Taylor Robson left the roadway after striking the center divider near 78th Avenue and crashed into a tree.  Robson was ejected from her vehicle.

Suspicious Death Investigated Near Albany

(Albany, OR)  --  Linn County authorities are investigating a death that's being called suspicious.  Officials say sheriff's deputies responded yesterday afternoon to a 911 call, in which a man told dispatchers he had killed someone.  The deputies found the body of a woman in a house on Southeast Scravel Hill Road.  A man is being detained.  No names have been made public.

Missing Woman Sought By Portland Police

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland police are looking for a woman who hasn't been seen since Tuesday evening.  Authorities say items belonging to 37-year-old Lisa Wright were found near the St. Johns Bridge, several hours after she went for a walk around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.  Police say there was no sign that anyone jumped from the bridge, and there have been no reports of Wright threatening to harm herself.  Lisa Wright is described as being five-feet-four, weighing 125 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes, glasses, and a large tattoo on her right shoulder, last seen wearing a long-sleeve button-up shirt and tight-fitting pants.

Fuel Prices Fall

(Portland, OR)  --  Triple-A is reporting a further drop in Portland-area gas prices.  The average for a gallon of regular is two-74, down more than two cents from yesterday.  It's also seven cents a gallon below the average of a week ago.

Police Look For Man Who "Flashed" Ten-year-old

(Portland, OR)  --  Police are following up on a report of a man who exposed himself to a ten-year-old girl while she walked home from school in North Portland.  Authorities say the man was riding a bicycle when he approached the girl Tuesday afternoon and began to ask her questions before he exposed himself.  Police say the incident happened in the area of North Denver Avenue and Bryant Street.  The suspect is described as a white man in his 30s, with a medium to thin build, brown hair and mustache, wearing a blue t-shirt, blue cap, shorts, and black sneakers.

Wheeler Says He's Running For Portland Mayor

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon state Treasurer Ted Wheeler says he'll challenge fellow Democrat and incumbent Portland Mayor Charlie Hales in 2016.  Wheeler told "The Oregonian" that he doesn't have a fight with Hales, but rather with the problems he's failed to address as mayor.  Wheeler served as Multnomah County chair from 2007 to 2010, and was appointed to succeed state Treasurer Ben Westlund, who died in office in 2010.  Wheeler was elected in 2012 to a full term.

Bicyclist Killed In Newberg Crash

(Newberg, OR)  --  Yamhill County authorities are investigating a crash that killed one bicyclist and injured another in Newberg.  Sheriff's deputies say the crash between the two bikes and a compact SUV happened around 7:05 last night on North Valley Road near Dopp Road.  One cyclist died at the scene, and the other was airlifted to OHSU.  The driver of the SUV suffered minor injuries.

Haggen Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

(Bellingham, WA)  --  The Haggen [[ HAY-gun ]] supermarket chain is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  The company, which submitted the filing yesterday in federal court in Delaware, listed more than a dozen creditors, the largest of which is Unified Grocer, which is owed nearly 15-million-dollars.  Haggen announced last week that it's suing Albertsons for one-billion-dollars, accusing it of anti-competitive practices.  Haggen says it was forced to lay off hundreds of employees and shut down nearly a fifth of the stores it had purchased from Albertsons and Safeway.
 

Marion County Judge Accused Of Ethical Misconduct

(Salem, OR)  --  A Marion County Circuit Court judge who's accused of refusing to perform same-sex weddings is also accused of other ethics violations.  Judge Vance Day is being investigated for, among other things, hanging a portrait of Adolf Hitler in the county's courthouse without permission.  Day says he hung the portrait to honor the Americans that defeated Hitler's ideology.  The investigation of the judge is for alleged violations of the Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct and the Oregon Constitution on several occasions.

Man Found Dead Following House Fire

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say a man was found dead in a house that was damaged by fire in Southeast Portland.  Firefighters arrived around two p.m. yesterday at the home in the 42-hundred block of Southeast 9th Avenue.  Officials say after the fire was knocked down, the body of a man in his 60s was found in the house.  A second man who tried to rescue the victim from the burning home suffered minor injuries.

Area Gas Prices Lower

(Undated)  --  Gas prices continue to decline in the Portland metro area.  Triple-A reports the average for regular is about two-77 a gallon, down a half-cent from yesterday.  It's also six cents a gallon below the average of a week ago.
 

Man Facing Multiple Charges Following Fire

(Portland, OR)  --  A man who's a suspect in a suspicious fire at a Southeast Portland apartment is in custody.  Police say 28-year-old Joshua Aaron Bigsby has been linked to the Saturday morning fire, which injured two people at the apartment in the 15-thousand-800 block of Southeast Division.  One of those injured suffered serious burns.  Bigsby is facing charges that include first-degree arson, reckless endangering, and first-degree criminal mischief.

Police: Two-dozen Car Windows Shot By Vandal

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland police are investigating after a vandal shot out car windows with a BB gun in the Montavilla neighborhood.  Authorities say the damage was done during the Labor Day weekend along Multnomah Street near 80th Avenue.  Authorities say about two-dozen vehicles were damaged.  No suspects have been identified.
 

Reichert: Transfer Of Ridgway "Disrespectful"

(Seattle, WA)  --  GOP Congressman Dave Reichert of Washington is unhappy with the transfer of serial killer Gary Ridgway from a Washington prison to a high-security prison in Colorado.  Reichert was a King County sheriff's deputy and the lead investigator on the Green River Killer case, in which Ridgway was eventually convicted on 49 counts of murder.  Reichert told KING-5 that Ridgway's transfer from near isolation in Walla Walla to the general population of a Colorado prison is "disrespectful" to the families of the victims and the investigators in the case.  Ridgway began serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole in 2004.

Area Gas Prices Lower

(Portland, OR)  --  The price of gasoline is still on the decline in the Portland area.  Triple-A reports the average for regular fell a half-cent overnight, to about two-77 a gallon.  That's seven-cents below the average of a week ago.

Man Accused Of Killing Wife, Attempting Suicide

(Longview, WA)  --  A Longview man is facing charges, after being accused of killing his estranged wife and then trying to kill himself.  Cowlitz County sheriff's deputies say 73-year-old Cleon Moen will be arrested after he's released from a hospital, where he's being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning.  Moen is accused of killing Michelle Moen Sunday.  Cleon Moen was tried in November for assaulting his wife and shot himself in the courthouse parking lot after the trial ended in a hung jury.  He recovered from the wound.

Elderly Man Rescued After Falling Down Embankment

(Corbett, OR)  --  An 80-year-old man is recovering, after he was injured in a fall down a 75-foot embankment near Multnomah Falls.  Authorities say Bill Fulghan was hiking yesterday when he slipped and fell down the embankment.  Vaughan suffered minor head trauma, but refused to be taken to a hospital.

Burglary Suspect Caught In The Act, Detained For Police

(Portland, OR)  --  A burglary suspect is in custody, after he was caught by the intended victim and detained.  Washington County sheriff's deputies say 19-year-old Luis Marquez-Ventura climbed through a window to enter the home on Northwest Chanticleer Drive in Portland's Bethany neighborhood around 6:30 yesterday morning.  The victim, a 34-year-old man, encountered the suspect and wrestled him to the couch, where he detained him until deputies arrived.  Officials say Marquez-Ventura, who's facing multiple charges, was carrying debit cards and other items that appeared to have been stolen from cars.

Child Critically Injured In Crash

(Grand Ronde, OR)  --  A child is being treated for critical injuries, following a crash near Grand Ronde.  Oregon State Police say the head-on crash happened yesterday on Highway 18, about nine miles west of Grand Ronde.  The child was airlifted to a hospital.  No names have been released.

Double Murder In Clackamas Still Under Investigation

(Clackamas, OR)  --  Authorities say they haven't identified any suspects in a double murder at a home in Clackamas County.  The bodies of Lance Estler Fisher and Brenda Jean Roe Schumacher were found Wednesday in a home at the Hearthwood Village Mobile Home Park in Clackamas.  Officials report the victims died of homicidal violence, but the specific causes of death haven't been given.  Deputies say Schumacher was the manager of the mobile home park.

Wilsonville Woman Killed In Crash Involving School Bus

(Linn County, OR)  --  Oregon State Police are investigating a head-on collision that left a Wilsonville woman dead.  Authorities say 32-year-old Camille Nelson was driving west on Highway 20 in Linn County around 2 p.m. yesterday when she crossed the center line and crashed into the eastbound school bus.  Nelson died at the scene.  Several people aboard the bus, which was carrying the Sheldon High School soccer team, suffered minor injuries.
 

Marion County Judge Refuses To Perform Same-sex Marriages

(Salem, OR)  --  A Marion County judge is refusing to perform same-sex marriages.  Circuit Court Judge Vance Day is being investigated by the Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability because he won't perform marriages between partners of the same sex.  A spokesman for Day told KATU-TV that the judge is a Christian and his religious beliefs don't allow him to perform same-sex marriages.  The investigation will be followed by a hearing if charges are filed, after which a recommendation will be made on the case to the Oregon Supreme Court.
 

WA State Auditor Facing New Federal Charges

(Seattle, WA)  --  A new indictment returned against Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley outlines additional federal charges.  The "News Tribune" reports the superseding indictment, which was handed up yesterday, contains allegations that Kelley tried to launder money and evade federal taxes as recently as March 15th, the day before federal agents raided his home.  The number of criminal counts against Kelley now totals 17, including charges that he stole millions of dollars from customers of the title company he operated.

Teen Stabbed, Suspect Sought

(Aloha, OR)  --  Washington County authorities are looking for a suspect, after a 16-year-old was stabbed during an attempted robbery.  Deputies say the attacker tried to steal the victim's cell phone and scooter during the August 30th robbery attempt in the area of Southwest Kinnaman Street and 182nd Avenue in Aloha.  The two struggled, and the victim was stabbed in the chest.  Deputies describe the suspect as being 17 to 20-years-old with darker skin, about five-feet-seven with short dark hair, wearing earrings, a gray jacket, and black pants.
 

Fundraising Effort Launched For New Vancouver PD K-9

(Washougal, WA)  --  An effort is underway to help the Vancouver Police Department purchase a new K-9.  Washougal Mayor Sean Guard has launched an effort to raise money to help the police department replace Ike, a K-9 that was stabbed six times by a suspect Tuesday and was later euthanized.  Guard says he hopes the fund drive will give people an indication that something good can come out of an unfortunate circumstance.  Guard, who launched the effort on his Facebook page, is hoping to raise 15-thousand dollars for the cause.

Fuel Prices Lower

(Portland, OR)  --  Gas prices continue to decline as the Labor Day weekend looms.  Triple-A reports the Portland-area average for regular is two-80 a gallon, a penny-and-a-half below yesterday's average.  It's also nearly eight cents a gallon cheaper than a week ago.
 

Man Accused Of Stabbing K-9 To Death Appears In Court

(Vancouver, WA)  --  Officials say a man who's accused of stabbing a Vancouver police K-9 to death was wanted for assaulting a woman.  Jacky Karuo is now facing charges including harming a police dog and criminal impersonation.  Authorities say Karuo was running from police Tuesday when he was apprehended by the dog named Ike, but the animal was stabbed about a half-dozen times.  Police say Ike's injuries were too extensive for him to survive, and he was euthanized.

Man, Woman Found Dead In Clackamas Home

(Clackamas, OR)  --  Sheriff's deputies are investigating the deaths of two people in Clackamas as a double murder.  The bodies of a man and a woman were found yesterday morning, inside a home at a Hearthwood Drive mobile-home park.  Autopsies will be conducted this morning on the bodies, whose identities haven't been released.
 

Gang Violence Increasing In Portland

(Portland, OR)  --  A new report issued by the Portland Police Bureau shows the number of gang-related incidents in the city is on the rise.  Sergeant Pete Simpson says the Gang Enforcement Team responded to 121 incidents of gang violence as of September 1st, setting a new record.  Officials say most of those incidents involved gunfire.  Police say if more people cooperate with investigations instead of withholding information, it will go a long way toward curbing gang violence in Portland.

Police ID Woman Killed In Seven-car Pileup

(Aloha, OR)  --  Washington County authorities continue to investigate a seven-car crash that left a Hillsboro woman dead in Aloha.  She's been identified as 20-year-old Cassandra Stolzenberger, who was a passenger in one of the vehicles hit in the chain-reaction crash.  Sheriff's deputies say a truck pulling a trailer crashed into vehicles that were stopped in traffic Tuesday night on T-V Highway near Southwest 185th.  Four people suffered life-threatening injuries, and three others who were injured are expected to survive.

Police: Suspect Captured With Help Of iPhone App

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland police say a man who stole two vehicles and led officers on a chase was captured with help from a phone-tracking app.  Authorities say officers chased the man yesterday as he drove a Geo Tracker along I-205, but lost track of him.  The suspect ditched the car and then stole a Subaru from a woman at a gas station near Portland International Airport, but he later abandoned that vehicle.  Police say the 28-year-old suspect was apprehended later in the day with help from the app on the victim's iPhone, which she had left in the car.

Officials: Okanogan Complex Fire 45-percent Contained

(Okanogan County, WA)  --  Firefighters are making more progress against the largest wildfire in Washington state history.  Officials say the Okanogan Complex fire, which has burned 123 homes, has shrunk to 148-thousand acres and is 45-percent contained.  The Chelan Complex fire is 55-percent contained and is down to under 94-thousand acres.  That fire has burned 21 homes.

Fuel Prices Still Sliding

(Portland, OR)  --  Gasoline prices in the Portland area are still on a steady fall.  Triple-A reports the average for regular is two-81 a gallon, a penny-and-a-half below yesterday's average.  It's also about eight-cents cheaper than a week ago.
 

Man Accused Of Stabbing Vancouver Police K-9

(Vancouver, WA)  --  A man is behind bars after being accused of stabbing and critically wounding a Vancouver police K-9.  Authorities say Jacky Chan Karuo was chased by the dog, named Ike, while running from police near Fruit Valley Road yesterday evening.  Officials say when Ike caught up with the suspect, the dog was stabbed.  The dog underwent surgery last night, and Karuo was booked into the Clark County Jail on multiple charges.

Report: Portlanders Involved In Crashes Every Seven Years

(Undated)  --  An analysis issued by Allstate Insurance Company shows the average driver in Portland is involved in a traffic crash once every six-point-nine years.  That's about 45 percent more often than the national average of once every ten years.  The Allstate "Best Drivers Report" is based on claims filed with the insurer.  Portland ranks 183rd out of 200 cities on the "Best Drivers" list.

Man Facing More Than 100 Porn-related Charges

(Lebanon, OR)  --  Linn County authorities have a Lebanon man in custody in a child-pornography case.  Sheriff's deputies say 33-year-old Matthew Thomas Schuler is facing 103 counts related to child pornography.  Schuler is accused of downloading and sharing child-porn images.  Officials say a search of Schuler's home turned up a number of digital devices.
 

One Killed, Six Injured In Aloha Crash

(Aloha, OR)  --  One person is dead and at least six others are injured, following a seven-vehicle crash on Tualatin Valley Highway in Aloha.  The Washington County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened last night at the highway's intersection with Southwest 185th Avenue, when a truck pulling a trailer plowed into two lanes of stopped traffic.  Deputies say the crash killed a 20-year-old Hillsboro woman, but her name hasn't been released.  Firefighters treated at least a half-dozen people at the scene.

Critically Injured WA Firefighter Improving

(Seattle, WA)  --  A firefighter who was critically injured when three of his fellow firefighters were killed in the Okanogan County community of Twisp last month is reported to be improving.  Twenty-five-year-old Daniel Lyon of Puyallup is said to be responding well to treatment after suffering burns to 60 percent of his body.  Lyon was injured after the vehicle carrying the firefighters crashed while they were battling the Okanogan Complex fires on August 19th.  His physician, Doctor Tom Pham, says he expects Lyon to spend another two months at Haborview Medical Center in Seattle but eventually make a full recovery.
 

Vancouver PD K-9 Dies After Being Stabbed

(Vancouver, WA)  --  A Vancouver Police Department K-9 that was stabbed after chasing a suspect has died after undergoing surgery.  Authorities say domestic-violence suspect Jacky Chan Karuo was chased by the dog, named Ike, while running from police near Fruit Valley Road yesterday evening.  Officials say when Ike caught up with the suspect, the dog was stabbed several times.  Karuo was booked into the Clark County Jail on multiple charges.

Gas Prices Lower

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland-area gasoline prices are lower.  Triple-A's latest survey shows the average for regular is just under two-83 a gallon, down about a penny-and-a-half from yesterday.  It's also about eight-cents below the average of a week ago.

Multiple Offender Found With Gun, Drugs

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland police say they've arrested a multiple offender who was found with a loaded gun and narcotics.  Authorities say 55-year-old Mark Anthony Storey was arrested Saturday in North Portland.  Officials say Storey had been reported to have displayed the gun and made threats at the Elks Lodge.  Police say Storey was carrying a fully-loaded, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol and two baggies, one containing meth and the other cocaine.

Forest Grove Teacher Arrested

(Forest Grove, OR)  --  A teacher at a Forest Grove middle school is facing charges, after being accused of being in possession of meth and patronizing a prostitute.  "The Oregonian" reports Mike Maraia, who's a math teacher at Neil Armstrong Middle School, was stopped by police and found to be in possession of three grams of meth.  Authorities say Maraia was with a young woman, with whom he admitted to have planned to pay for sex.  Maraia has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Idanha Mayor Accused Of Meth Possession

(Jefferson, OR)  --  The mayor of the small Oregon town of Idanha is facing drug-related charges, following a traffic stop.  Marion County sheriff's deputies say Mayor Cletus Moore was pulled over for a driving violation, and a subsequent search of his vehicle found methamphetamine.  Officials say Moore and his passenger, Christopher Kosack, were booked at the Marion County Jail, then released.  Both are to appear in court on September 28th.

Some Uber, Lyft Drivers In WA Looking To Form Union

(Seattle, WA)  --  A move is underway in the Seattle City Council to allow drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft to have collective bargaining rights.  Councilmember Mike O'Brien is introducing the proposal, saying ride-share drivers have complained they make well below the minimum wage once expenses are tallied.  But there are concerns about the legality of the proposal because drivers are contractors and not employees.  The proposal is slated to get its first hearing tomorrow.

Six Displaced By Fire In Beaverton



(Beaverton, OR)  --  Six people are looking for new living quarters, after a fire ripped through an apartment complex in Beaverton.  Officials say the fire was reported shortly after one a.m. Sunday at the building on Southwest 125th Avenue near Hall Boulevard.  Everyone inside was able to get out of the complex safely.  Investigators are trying to determine what caused the blaze.

Suspicious Package At Oregon Department of Justice Found To Be Harmless

(Salem, OR)  --  Officials say a suspicious package found at the Oregon Department of Justice in Salem was found to be harmless.  Authorities say the package, which arrived around 2:30 yesterday afternoon at the building on Court Street Northeast, contained a white powder, which was found not to be toxic.  An Oregon State Police HazMat team was sent in and the third floor of the building was quarantined, but the all-clear was given later in the afternoon.

Man Recovering After SUV Plunges Into River

(Oregon City, OR)  --  A man is recovering at a hospital, following a crash that sent his SUV into the Willamette River south of Oregon City.  Oregon State Police say the crashed happened around 9:38 yesterday morning, when the SUV was sideswiped along northbound Oregon 99E by another vehicle.  The SUV went off the road and into the river.  Sixty-three-year-old Dale Harold Kingman of Oregon City was pulled from his vehicle and taken to a hospital, where he's listed in fair condition.  The driver of the other vehicle wasn't injured.

Fuel Prices Still Falling

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland-area fuel prices continue to fall.  Triple-A reports the average for regular is two-84 a gallon, a half-cent lower than yesterday.  It's also more than eight cents a gallon cheaper than a week ago.
 

Okanogan Complex Wildfire Shrinking

(Okanogan County, WA)  --  Officials are reporting the area covered by the Okanogan Complex wildfire in north-central Washington is shrinking.  The fire had reached more than 304-thousand acres at its peak, but officials say it's now down to less than 145-thousand acres.  Containment of the complex is now at 30 percent.

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