If you live in Bend and you want to help a less fortunate senior in the community this holiday season, you can do it by taking advantage of today’s Cyber Monday sales.  The “Be A Santa To A Senior” program launched in 2003, and the program’s Malia Eley says it’s already doled out more than two million gifts to seniors nationwide since then.  Here in Bend you can donate to a senior in our community through a gift purchase on Amazon Business - their new partner this year - through December 18th.  Seniors can use the basics – including toiletries and personal care items.

For more info, go to “beasantabend.com”.

(Wilsonville, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into the officer-involved shooting death of a man near Wilsonville.  The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office says the shooting happened Friday night while police were responding to a report of a domestic disturbance involving a gun.  Police say a woman called 9-1-1 just before 8 p.m. saying her husband was wielding a handgun and threatening to kill her and himself.  Responding officers and deputies say the man refused to comply with verbal commands to surrender and was shot "during the ensuing interactions."

(Portland, OR)  --  An arson investigation is underway into a fire that severely damaged a Portland Police vehicle.  The Portland Police Bureau says someone set fire to a fully marked police vehicle Saturday night in the 800-block of North Graham Street.  Police are working to identify a suspect.

(Portland, OR)  --  A woman is hospitalized with serious injuries after being shot multiple times inside her home in southeast Portland.  Police say the woman was shot in both legs around 3:00 Sunday morning in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood.  It's not yet clear what led to the shooting or whether police have identified a suspect.

(Salem, OR)  --  Dozens of right-wing demonstrators descended on the home of an Oregon workplace safety inspector over the weekend.  They were protesting over a hefty fine issued to a Salem gym for violating COVID-19 orders.  The Oregonian reports about 50 Patriot Prayer members gathered in Silverton yesterday at the home of an inspector with the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  The agency issued a 90-thousand-dollar fine last week to Courthouse Club Fitness for keeping its four Salem locations open in defiance of Governor Kate Brown's two-week freeze.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is marking a grim new milestone in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.  The Oregon Health Authority says the state's death toll has now surpassed 900.  The OHA's daily report Sunday documented nearly 16-hundred new coronavirus cases and nine more deaths, bringing the state's respective totals to 74-thousand-120 cases and 905 deaths.  The nine newly reported deaths from the virus were people between the ages of 69 and 88 years old.

(Undated)  --  A Salem nurse is on administrative leave after posting a video on TikTok making clear her disregard for COVID-19 precautions and restrictions.  Salem Health hospital officials identified the nurse as Ashley Grames.  Her TikTok account has been deleted but not before it started making the rounds on Friday.  In the video, Grames mocks her co-workers' reactions to her refusing to abide by health guidelines.  She says she doesn't wear a mask except for at work, still travels freely and allows her kids to have playdates.  The hospital where Grames works has been on the Oregon Health Authority's list of workplaces with the most employee-related coronavirus cases since May.

(Portland, OR)  --  Skiing and snowboarding season officially gets underway today at Mt. Hood Meadows.  Staff members say masks or face coverings are required in all parts of the ski area.  Lift rides will be socially distanced, and all lift tickets and equipment rentals must be reserved and paid for online.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  A man is facing charges after allegedly burglarizing a Baskin Robbins in Aloha.  The Washington County Sheriff's Office says police arrested 28-year-old Mauricio Castro-Moreira on Saturday for the burglary earlier this month.  Police say he smashed the glass front door of the shop on November 16th and stole cash from the register.  Police used surveillance footage to identify him.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say one person was arrested during dueling demonstrations outside the Justice Center.  The Portland Police Bureau says two groups of about two-dozen people each gathered at the building yesterday afternoon.  One of the groups was calling itself pro-police, with members carrying "Trump 2020" flags.  The other group called themselves antifascists and counterprotesters.  It's not yet clear what led to the arrest or which group the person arrested was in.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon State University is testing out a new tool that could alert Oregonians about possible exposure to COVID-19.  Nearly five-thousand faculty, staff and students have downloaded Oregon Exposure Notifications for their smartphone.  The app uses Bluetooth technology to anonymously tell other users when someone who was near them tests positive for COVID-19, giving them information about how to get tested themselves.  The system does not collect any personal information, and doesn't track a user's location.

(Portland, OR)  --  Thousands of unemployed Oregonians are set to lose their jobless benefits right after Christmas if Congress fails to extend Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and funding established through the CAREs Act.  The Oregon Employment Department says 70-thousand workers will lose their benefits on December 26th.  OED also estimates the current two-week freeze will impact roughly 51-thousand jobs. 

(Portland, OR)  --  Work is underway to clean up a homeless camp at Portland's Laurelhurst Park.  City crews and volunteers began talking with people in the camp yesterday to get them into warming centers and shelters.  Portland issued a warning to people living in the camp that they would have to vacate the area last week. 

(Portland, OR)  --  Health officials are confirming nearly a dozen new coronavirus deaths in Oregon along with more than one-thousand new cases.  The Oregon Health Authority reported ten new deaths from COVID-19 yesterday and one-thousand-99 new cases of the virus.  It's the fourth time in the past week that Oregon has seen single-day increases of over one-thousand new cases.  Officials also announced a new record for hospitalizations, with more than 400 Oregonians currently hospitalized for COVID-19.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police shut down a portion of I-205 in Portland yesterday after someone climbed over the pedestrian bridge rail.  The Portland Police Bureau says officers responded to the highway between Washington and Market Streets yesterday afternoon on reports that someone was trying to break into a car.  Responding officers say the suspect then ran out onto the bridge and straddled the rail.  Police shut down the southbound lanes while working to get the person to safety.

(Portland, OR)  --  One person is dead after being struck by a MAX train in northeast Portland.  Police say the person ran across I-84 near the Hollywood Transit Center and then jumped in front of the train.  The person died at the scene.  Police say it's not yet clear whether the person was trying to outrun the train or if they died by suicide.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say they've identified a suspect in connection to the placement of severed deer heads near Black Lives Matter signs in Lake Oswego.  The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office says they've tracked down a 19-year-old man believed to be responsible for the incident.  The severed deer heads were found late last month in the yards of two different families along Greentree Road.  One of the heads was next to a Black Lives Matter sign and a Biden-Harris campaign sign.  The other was near a Black Lives Matter sign.  Police say it's up to prosecutors whether or not to file charges against the man.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say they've made an arrest in connection to the stabbing death of a Portland business owner.  The Portland Police Bureau and U.S. marshals arrested 30-year-old Allen Coe yesterday for the death of 33-year-old Matthew Choi late last month.  Choi was found stabbed to death inside his apartment in southeast Portland'd Buckman neighborhood.  Choi was the owner of Choi's Kimchi and was a well-known fixture in the Portland Farmers Market community.

(Portland, OR)  --  Mayor Ted Wheeler and Oregon's largest grocery workers union are calling for more widespread coronavirus testing.  United Food Workers Local 555 wants frequent and routine screenings to become more common for both grocery store employees and the public at large.  Mayor Wheeler says he is still working on an exact number needed to provide more precise information for the community about the risks they face. 

(Portland, OR)  --  Search efforts are underway for a small plane believed to have crashed down in a remote area of the Mount Hood National Forest near Estacada.  The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office says they received a report from aircraft controllers that a Cessna 150 may have crashed Monday morning.  Authorities say 44-year-old Jared Scott Sabin of Salem and his son Gavyn Scott Sabin were on board the plane.  The two had reportedly planned on stopping in Troutdale before flying on to Idaho and Utah.  Aircraft controllers say they lost contact with the plane a few minutes after the pilot reported they'd run into bad weather and that ice was forming on the plane.  Crews still haven't found any wreckage.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into a stabbing that seriously injured one person in southwest Portland.  Police say the stabbing happened around 5:50 last night at Southwest 17th Avenue and Morrison Street.  The victim was rushed to a hospital in serious condition.  Police say the suspect left the scene and remains at large.

(Portland, OR)  --  Sweeping new coronavirus restrictions take effect today in Oregon as case numbers continue to surge.  Governor Kate Brown announced a two-week freeze on Friday that closes gyms and fitness centers and limits all restaurants and bars to takeout service only.  Indoor and outdoor gatherings are also restricted to no more than six people from a maximum of two different households.  Brown says Oregon is on pace to have an average of 15-hundred new COVID-19 cases a day within a month if nothing changes.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon health officials are reporting the state's second-largest daily death toll from coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.  The Oregon Health Authority confirmed 13 new COVID-19 deaths yesterday.  That's just one death shy of the state's record of 14 deaths reported on October 31st.  Health officials also reported 935 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, raising the state's daily average to a new high of 952 cases per day over the past week.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon and California are announcing a partnership with leaders of the Yurok and Karuk Tribes and energy company Pacificorp to restore the salmon population in the Klamath River.  Both states will supply resources to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation to remove the four Pacificorp-owned hydroelectric dams along the Klamath River. The project is slated to begin in 2022 with dams scheduled to be removed by 2023.

(Portland, OR)  --  The University of Oregon and Oregon State University are offering free coronavirus tests to all of their students ahead of Thanksgiving.  The schools say nearly 70-thousand students will have access to get screened on campus before traveling home for the holiday weekend.  Students are asked to register beforehand.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon's unemployment numbers are down.  The Oregon Employment Department reports that unemployment fell to six-point-nine-percent in October, which is a full percentage point down from what it was the month before.  Oregon's unemployment numbers are close to the national average.

(Portland, OR)  --  Macy's is closing its Lloyd Center Mall location early next year.  The department store chain says it will close its Lloyd Center location in January, laying off all 83 employees there.  

(Medford, OR)  --  Police are searching for a missing foster child they say could be in danger.  The Child Welfare Division of the Oregon Department of Human Services says 16-year-old Lydia Jazmin went missing from the Medford area one week ago today.  She's described as four-foot-ten and 200 pounds with dark brown hair.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Independent Restaurant Alliance of Oregon is asking the state for help before the "freeze" adds restrictions that impact their business.  In an open letter yesterday, the group, which makes up over 300 restaurants and bars, asked Governor Kate Brown for a number of things including financial assistance.  The letter says shutting down costs each location about 40-thousand-dollars.  The group wants a plan that "simultaneously supports the health" of their guests, employees, and "the livelihoods of the people and businesses."

(Portland, OR)  --  A 64-year-old Salem man is facing five decades behind bars after being convicted of sexually abusing children in Clackamas County.  A judge sentenced Michael Wayne Champagne yesterday after a jury found him guilty of seven counts of sexual abuse.  He's accused of abusing two girls under the age of ten over the course of three years.  The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office began investigating him in the summer of 2019.

(Portland, OR)  --  A 38-year-old woman is facing life in prison after stabbing her husband's ex-wife at least 60 times, killing her.  The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office says a judge sentenced Angela McCraw-Hester yesterday after she pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder.  Police say she broke into the Gresham home of 34-year-old Annastasia Hester in June of 2016 and stabbed her to death.  Court documents say McCraw-Hester's husband Matthew Hester was involved in a custody battle with his ex-wife.  Matthew Hester is awaiting trial on multiple charges including conspiracy to commit murder.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon has 781 new coronavirus cases and four new deaths.  The Oregon Health Authority reported the new numbers yesterday.  The state is now averaging 927 new cases per day over the past week. 

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Researchers at Oregon State University have come up with a way to put a printed circuit board on fabric.  The technology uses a special ink that creates the circuitry.  It could be used to make fabrics that warm or cool the person.  It could also deliver drugs or monitor the condition of a wound.  The technology still has a long way to go before it can be used in consumer applications.

(Salem, OR)  --  The State of Oregon is facing a lawsuit over the Oregon Cares Fund.  The fund was established by the Legislature using money from the CARES Act to help Black owned businesses, nonprofits and Black families struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.  The lawsuit was filed by Great Northern Resources and alleges the fund is unconstitutional.  Governor Kate Brown issued a statement saying Black Oregonians are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and this fund is intended to help provide more support.

(Vancouver, WA)  --  A 20-year-old Sunriver man is dead after becoming trapped underwater while whitewater kayaking in Clark County.  The Clark County Sheriff's Office says Blaine Davis was kayaking with friends on Sunday when he became trapped in Canyon Creek where it flows into the Lewis River.  Police say Davis's friends pulled him from the water and attempted CPR, but he died at the scene.  Police say Davis was wearing a lifejacket and all the appropriate safety gear.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Oregon Zoo's winter light display is back with a new way to enjoy the sights.  Zoo Lights will start November 23rd and continue through December 25th.  Two days each week, you'll be able to drive through the displays.  The other five days it'll be open for walking tours.  The zoo has more details on their website.

(Portland, OR)  --  Governor Kate Brown is urging residents to closely follow health guidelines as coronavirus cases continue to skyrocket.  Brown posted a video address to Twitter last night saying more restrictions could be on the way.  Brown says she's working with her health care advisers to determine what difficult steps are necessary to stop the exponential spread of COVID-19.  Oregon health officials reported another record-shattering spike yesterday with one-thousand-122 new cases.

(Portland, OR)  --  Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of an exploding whale in Oregon.  On November 12th, 1970, officials used boxes of powerful explosives to get rid of a whale carcass that had washed up on shore near Florence, about three hours south of Portland.  The explosion sent bits of blubber into the air and scattered the whale across several miles.  Video of the news coverage has been seen over 350-million times in recent years. 

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland city officials are considering adding a new tax to pay for climate initiatives.  The Oregonian reports that a draft plan from Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability would target facilities that emit large amounts of carbon and other pollutants.  Facilities that could be targeted would include factories and manufactures, as well as colleges, universities and potentially hospitals.  The plan would generate ten-million dollars a year for Portland, which would then go to fund investments in clean energy and public transit.

(Portland, OR)  --  One person is dead following an auto-pedestrian crash in Portland's Hazelwood neighborhood.  The Portland Police Bureau says the pedestrian was struck by a car and killed last night at Northeast 122nd Avenue and East Burnside Street.  No word yet on whether the driver is facing charges.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon health officials are reporting a record-shattering spike in coronavirus cases.  The Oregon Health Authority confirmed one-thousand-122 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.  That breaks the state's previous record of 988 new cases reported on Saturday.  Health officials also reported four new deaths from COVID-19.  Oregon has now seen a total of 53-thousand-779 cases of COVID-19 and 746 deaths since the pandemic began.

(Portland, OR)  --  A woman accused of attacking a witness in a deadly hit-and-run investigation has turned herself in to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.  Deputies day 28-year-old Alysha Esser and her boyfriend, Kevin Derrick, assaulted and intimidated a witness.  Derrick is facing charges for causing a deadly crash in Milwaukie back in September and fleeing the scene.  He is currently in jail.

(Florence, OR)  --  Authorities are warning residents to beware of king tides over the weekend.  The Environmental Protection Agency says some of the highest tides of the year will arrive on Oregon's coast this Sunday.  Residents are urged to stay away from the coastline to avoid being swept away.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  The Oregon Employment Department is making more progress reviewing unemployment claims that need special investigation.  In September, there were 52-thousand claims that needed adjudication.  There are now 26-thousand claims that need to be reviewed.  The employment department has hired and trained new adjudicators to speed up the process.

(Milwaukie, OR)  --  The suspect in a fatal hit and run in Milwaukie is back behind bars arrested on a new witness tampering charge.  Police say 30-year-old Kevin Derrick is charged with running down 50-year-old Robert Keys of Gladstone in September, killing him.  Derrick and his girlfriend, Alysha Esser, are accused of assaulting a witness to keep them from testifying.  Derrick is being held on a million dollars bond.  Esser remains at large.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say they've arrested an armed domestic violence suspect who was wearing body armor and carrying extra ammo.  The Portland Police Bureau says officers made the arrest yesterday.  Police say the victim called 911 and said the suspect was at a business located on Northeast Erin Way.  Police found 35-year-old Allen Chiu Ling in a car and took him into custody.  Police say he was wearing body armed and carrying a semiautomatic handgun with four extra magazines on his belt.  He was charged with Domestic Violence.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Portland Trail Blazers have announced that in collaboration with the NBA and public health officials, fans won't be allowed in the MODA [[ MOE'-duh ]] Center when the season begins in December.  The Blazers say they'll continue to evaluate the COVID-19 pandemic for when fans can return to the games.  They say health and safety are their top priority.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland's Christmas Tree has arrived at Pioneer Courthouse Square.  The Friday after Thanksgiving is usually when the lighting ceremony is held.  Thousands of people usually attend, but not this year, as COVID-19 is preventing the regular ceremony.  Instead, there will be a televised sing-a-long with caroling and on-screen lyrics.

(Portland, OR)  --  Crime Stoppers is offering a reward up to 25-hundred dollars for information in a double murder that happened in North Portland on September 29th.  Police say 41-year-old Billy Lewnes and 41-year-old Amber Coughtry were both found shot to death in the area of North Victory Boulevard and North Force Avenue.  Police don't have any information on the suspect.  Contact Crime Stoppers if you can help.

(Manning, OR)  --  New details are being released regarding a deadly crash on Highway 26 about 12 miles west of Manning.  Oregon State Police say a Toyota 4Runner crossed into oncoming traffic on Tuesday afternoon and hit a commercial van.  The driver of the 4Runner was killed, while the driver of the van was hospitalized.  Police say two people in another vehicle that was involved in the crash weren't seriously injured.  Highway 26 was closed for three hours for the investigation.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon has topped 52-thousand cases of COVID-19.  There were 876 new cases confirmed Wednesday and five new deaths.  Multnomah County had its highest number of new cases so far at 298 followed by Washington County with 103 and 83 in Marion County.  Since the pandemic began, there have been 742 deaths and 52-thousand-770 deaths.

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Oregon State University has the largest enrollment in the state for the seventh year in a row.  Despite the pandemic, OSU added 585 students, an increase of one-point-eight percent.  A total of 33-thousand-359 students are enrolled this fall.  Enrollment of veterans increased 11-percent.  The number of students of color increased seven-percent and make up a record 27-percent of the school's overall enrollment.

(McMinnville, OR)  --  Police say they've tracked down the truck involved in a fatal hit and run near McMinnville  on Saturday.  Police say the truck was seized by the Yamhill [[ YAM'-hill ]] County Sheriff's Office.  The body of 56-year-old Ricardo Morales Avila, of Salem, was found in a ditch on Durham Lane near Highway 18.  He was working as a grounds keeper at a nearby business when he as hit.  He died at the scene.  Investigators have not made an arrest in the case.

(Portland, OR)  --  A missing man who suffers from dementia is safe after returning home.  The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office says Earl Mills returned home safely last night.  He'd been reported missing Monday morning.

(Oregon City, OR)  --  Residents in Oregon City are voting to recall Mayor Dan Holladay.  Unofficial results from last night's special election show more than 68-percent of voters approving a recall for Holladay, who was facing backlash over several controversies.  Earlier this year, he urged businesses to reopen in violation of stay-home orders involving the pandemic.  He also made comments on the NextDoor app following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis that many residents found inappropriate.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police are releasing the identity of a man who was shot and killed in southeast Portland over the weekend.  The Portland Police Bureau says 31-year-old Harold Andrew Major was shot to death Saturday night near Southeast 33rd Avenue and Powell Boulevard in the Richmond neighborhood.  Police are investigating his death as a homicide.  No arrests have been made.

(Portland, OR)  --  A two-week "social pause" mandate takes effect today for Multnomah and eight other counties experiencing serious spikes in COVID-19 numbers.  Governor Kate Brown announced the pause last week in an effort to combat the recent rise in cases.  Clackamas and Washington counties were added to the list on Monday.  Residents in the affected counties are being asked to limit social gatherings to their immediate households or no more than six people at a time.  Residents are also being asked to limit their social circles to the same six people for the next two weeks.  The mandate also pauses long-term care facility visits and encourages businesses to allow employees to work from home as much as possible.  The pause will last through November 25th.

(Timber, OR)  --  At least one person is dead following a crash on Highway 26 in the Oregon Coast Range.  Oregon State Police say the crash happened around 2:00 yesterday afternoon at milepost 35.  Multiple vehicles were involved.  An investigation is ongoing.

(St. Helens, OR)  --  No injuries are being reported after a tornado touched down in St. Helens.  The National Weather Service says the twister came down yesterday afternoon near McBride Elementary Schools just before 12:30 p.m.  At least three homes in the area suffered some damage, and several tree limbs were broken off.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Public Schools is keeping its running tracks and playing fields closed for the next two weeks as Multnomah County enters a two-week "social pause."  The school district says it was just about to reopen its school fields to the public before Governor Kate Brown announced the pause last week.  The two-week pause in social activities is aimed at curbing recent spikes in cases of COVID-19.

(Salem, OR)  --  Hospital capacity is becoming a greater concern for Oregon health officials as COVID-19 cases keep growing this fall.  Governor Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority discussed the issue yesterday, noting an 83-percent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the last four weeks in the state, including 57-percent in the Portland area.  Doctors worry higher transmission rates will put a greater strain on bed space, staffing and medical supplies. 

(Portland, OR)  --  Health officials are confirming three new coronavirus deaths in Oregon along with 771 new cases.  The Oregon Health Authority reported the new numbers yesterday, marking the sixth consecutive day the state has seen more than 700 new cases of COVID-19.  Officials say Oregon now has the fourth highest rate of COVID-19 transmission in the U.S.

(Portland, OR)  --  TriMet is putting its plans for a new light rail on hold.  KATU-2 reports the agency is putting the project on hold following last week's failure of a major transportation measure.  Measure 26-218 would have provided over two-billion dollars in funding for several projects including the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police in Washington County are searching for a missing and endangered woman.  The Washington County Sheriff's Office says 20-year-old Leah Stringer was last heard from on October 31st.  Investigators say there's been no activity on her social media accounts, and it's unclear whether she's still in the metro area.  She's described as five-foot-four and 130 pounds with a large tattoo of a lion and the St. Johns Bridge on her left thigh.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say more than a dozen people are facing charges in connection to illegal street races in Portland over the weekend.  The Portland Police Bureau says officers arrested 14 people for the races that took over several streets in Portland Sunday night.  Police say more than 400 cars gathered around Northeast Airport Way and 122nd Street, taking over the top deck of the Fremont Bridge, the Interstate Bridget, Sunset Highway tunnel and several intersections.  In all, 16 cars were towed away.

(Portland, OR)  --  A man is facing nearly two years behind bars after being convicted of beating a man during a protest in Portland over the summer.  A judge sentenced 26-year-old Marquise Love to 20 months in prison yesterday for the assault August 16th near Southwest Taylor and Broadway.  Love pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and felony riot.  Video of the incident shows Love beating Adam Haner until he was unconscious.  The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office says Love apologized and expressed remorse during yesterday's sentencing hearing.

(Portland, OR)  --  Two teenagers are dead and two others are critically injured following a crash in Gresham.  The Gresham Police Department says a total of six teenagers were inside a vehicle traveling at Southeast Linden Drive and Butler Road Friday night when the vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a pickup truck.  The teenage driver died at the scene, while another teen died on the way to the hospital.  Two other teens were hospitalized in critical condition, while the driver of the pickup truck was treated and released.

(Portland, OR)  --  Health officials are confirming four new coronavirus deaths in Oregon along with 723 new cases.  The Oregon Health Authority reported the new numbers yesterday, pushing the state's daily average over the past week to 740.  Oregon has now seen a total of 51-thousand-155 cases of COVID-19 and 734 deaths since the pandemic began.  Health officials say active hospitalizations have skyrocketed to 269.

(Salem, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into the deaths of more than a hundred cackling geese in the Willamette Valley over the last month.  The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says tests show most of the geese died from a fungal infection.  The department is asking anyone who finds clusters of dead  geese or other birds to report it to the Wildlife Health Lab.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police are releasing the identity of a driver who died after crashing into a building and then a tree in northeast Portland.  The Portland Police Bureau says 27-year-old Armando Pascual Lopez was killed in the crash Friday night in the six-thousand block of Northeast Columbia Boulevard.  Police believe speed was a factor in the crash.

(Portland, OR)  --  A homicide investigation is underway into the death of a 23-year-old man whose body was found last week in Hillsboro.  The Hillsboro Police Department confirmed yesterday afternoon that Alexis Vega-Cruz died from homicide.  His body was found last Wednesday night, but police aren't revealing where he was found or how he died.  Police say there are "many factors in the investigation" preventing them from giving more details.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland residents are celebrating the victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.  Hundreds of people gathered Saturday for spontaneous celebrations, including a rally that drew several hundred people to Pioneer Courthouse Square.  Meanwhile, opposing demonstrations between Biden supporters and Trump supporters drew a heavy police presence outside the state Capitol in Salem.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say they received hundreds of calls over illegal street racing over the weekend.  The unified command law enforcement structure says Portland's emergency dispatch system was "flooded" with calls Saturday night about the racing events that blocked off whole intersections in two separate parts of the city.  Police say the racing and stunting started at Northeast 15th Street and Killingsworth Avenue and eventually moved on to Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. and Columbia boulevards.  Police say participants could be cited or even arrested.

(McMinnville, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into an apparent hit-and-run crash that killed a man near McMinnville.  The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office says someone called 9-1-1 yesterday morning after finding the man's body in a ditch along Highway 18 near Southwest Durham Road.  Investigators say it appears the man was struck by a vehicle sometime between 2 and 3 p.m. on Saturday.  Police are still searching for the suspect.

(Portland, OR)  --  One person is dead following a shooting in southeast Portland.  The Portland Police Bureau says the shooting happened around 7:30 Saturday night in the 35-hundred block of Southeast 33rd Avenue.  Responding officers found one person suffering from a gunshot wound and attempted life-saving measures, but the victim died at the scene.  It's not yet clear whether police have identified a suspect.

(Portland, OR)  --  A man is facing charges after allegedly driving at least 118 miles per hours on I-84 in Portland.  The Portland Police Bureau says an officer was driving on the highway near Northeast 162nd Avenue around 7 o'clock Saturday morning when they saw 22-year-old Reed Ezzell speed past him.  The officer caught up to him and pulled him over.  He was arrested for reckless driving.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is reporting its second-highest single-day increase in coronavirus cases.  The Oregon Health Authority confirmed a whopping 874 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.  The report follows Saturday's record-breaking 988 new cases in Oregon.  The state's previous record for single-day spikes was 805 new cases reported last Thursday.

(Portland, OR)  --  Three people are facing charges after allegedly vandalizing the Multnomah County Democrats building in northeast Portland.  The Portland Police Bureau says officers arrested 22-year-old Maximillian Jennings, 33-year-old Thomas Mollrocek and 24-year-old James Walker Prettyman last night.  Police say they're among several people who spray-painted the building and shattered its windows following a march from Laurelhurst Park.

(Salinas, CA)  --  A lettuce produce recall is in effect in Oregon and several other states over E.coli concerns.  The voluntary recall by producer Tanimura and Antle in Salinas, California was confirmed by an FDA tweet Friday.  The company's romaine lettuce packed as single heads with packaging dates of October 15th and 16th are affected.  The product was distributed in Puerto Rico and in 19 U.S. states including Oregon.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police in Hood River County are looking for the owner of a lost goat.  The Hood River County Sheriff's Office says someone called them Saturday afternoon to report a loose goat roaming at Mitchell Point.  A tag on the goat's collar identifies him as Maverick.

(Salem, OR)  --  Senator Shemia Fagan is set to become Oregon's next Secretary of State.  Oregon State Senator Kim Thatcher has conceded.  Fagan was the projected winner, but Thatcher wanted to see how votes came in on Wednesday.  Thatcher says she has reached out to Fagan and congratulated her on a well-fought race.

(Eugene, OR)  --  A man is facing charges after allegedly murdering his 78-year-old mother in Eugene.  Police say 44-year-old George Michael Alvergue was arraigned on a charge of murder Wednesday for the death of Florence Alvergue.  Police found her body at a home in the 400-block of East 46th Street Tuesday evening.  Police haven't revealed yet exactly how she died.

(Portland, OR)  --  A Troutdale man is facing federal charges for allegedly helping ISIS.  The U.S. Attorney's Office says 31-year-old Hawazan Sameer Mothafar was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday.  He is accused of creating propaganda and recruiting materials in coordination with ISIS operatives overseas.  That includes making a publication on effective stabbing techniques and how to make a detonator for explosives. Prosecutors say because Mothafar is confined to a wheelchair, they did not request his detainment.

(Portland, OR)  --  The search continues for a suspect accused of shooting a man several times in Salem.  Police say the shooting happened Tuesday afternoon a few blocks from Waldo Middle School on Florence Avenue Northeast.  Responding officers found the victim suffering from several gunshot wounds and rushed him to a hospital, where doctors say he's expected to survive.  Detectives are asking for tips to help with the case.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon health officials are reporting a record-breaking spike in coronavirus cases.  The Oregon Health Authority confirmed a whopping 805 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.  That breaks the state's previous record for single-day case increases by more than 200.  Oregon has now seen a total of 47-thousand-839 cases of COVID-19.  Officials also reported five new deaths from COVID-19 yesterday, raising Oregon's death toll from the pandemic to 710.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Portland City Council is rejecting a proposal to make more budget cuts to the Portland Police Bureau.  City council members voted three-to-two against the proposal yesterday.  The proposal from Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty would have reallocated 18-million dollars from PPB to invest in a new model of community safety, directing the money to emergency food programs, protections for renters and homeless support services.  Police Chief Chuck Lovell argued the move would lead to officer layoffs and hurt public safety.  The Council already eliminated 15-million dollars from the bureau earlier this year.

(Portland, OR)  --  A man is facing charges after allegedly punching a Portland Police officer in the face during an investigation into a traffic crash.  Police say it happened Wednesday morning near Northeast 94th and Halsey.  Prior to the officer's arrival, the driver walked away, but police say he then returned to the scene and became agitated.  When officers tried to detain the driver, he allegedly punched the officer in the face.  Police arrested 26-year-old Alexander York of Portland. 

(Portland, OR)  --  Voters in Portland are resoundingly approving a measure to create a civilian oversight board for the Portland Police Bureau.  The latest ballot counts show Measure 26-217 passing with 82-percent support.  Under the measure, the board would investigate all city officer misconduct complaints and impose discipline in cases where infractions were found.  The new body will replace the Independent Police Review, which has drawn criticism because it cannot make its findings public, and has no say in how officers are punished.

(Portland, OR)  --  Governor Kate Brown is extending her executive order establishing a joint command for police response to election-related protests in Portland.  Brown announced yesterday the Oregon State Police and the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office will remain in command of protests through 5 p.m. on Friday.  The executive order allows police to use tear gas on protesters if deemed necessary and keeps the Oregon National Guard on standby.

(Gresham, OR)  --  Gresham's mayoral race remains too close to call.  As of last night, City Councilman Eddy Morales trails political newcomer Travel Stovall by 145 votes, which amounts to just one-third of a percentage point.  That razor-thin margin is significant under Oregon election law because one-fifth of a percentage point triggers an automatic recount.  The Multnomah County Elections Division says it could be counting through this month depending on the margin.

(Portland, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing in southeast Portland after more than two-dozen shots were fired in a residential neighborhood, striking an occupied home.  Police say officers found at least 25 shell casings at the scene of Tuesday night's shooting in the 73-hundred-block of Southeast Knight Street near Mount Scott Park.  Police say some of the bullets struck an unoccupied vehicle and a home with multiple people inside.  No injuries were reported.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland mayoral challenger Sarah Iannarone is conceding.  Iannarone announced her concession in a livestreamed video on her campaign's social media pages last night.  Iannarone congratulated Mayor Ted Wheeler on his victory and encouraged her supporters to hold him accountable.  Wheeler was leading with more than 19-thousand votes as of last night.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say officers arrested nearly a dozen people during protests in downtown Portland last night.  The unified police command tasked with responding to Portland protests declared a riot and activated the Oregon National Guard due to what they're calling "widespread violence."  Police say some of the protesters threw objects at police, and one person allegedly had an improvised explosive device as well as a knife and a loaded rifle.  Police arrested eleven people in total.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is dealing with a record-breaking number of active hospitalizations for COVID-19.  The Oregon Health Authority yesterday reported the highest number of active hospitalizations due to coronavirus in the state since the pandemic started.  Currently, 191 patients are in the hospital, which is up ten from Tuesday.

(Portland, OR)  --  Health officials are confirming four new coronavirus deaths in Oregon along with 597 new cases of COVID-19.  The Oregon Health Authority reported the new numbers yesterday.  The new cases push the state's daily average for the past week to a record-breaking 546 cases.  Oregon has now seen a total of 47-thousand-49 cases of COVID-19 and 705 deaths since the pandemic began.

(Eugene, OR)  --  A man is facing charges in connection to a homicide in Eugene.  Police say officers responded to a home on East 46th Avenue Tuesday night on reports of a death there.  Responding officers found Florence Alvergue dead at the scene.  Police arrested 44-year-old George Alvergue for investigation of murder.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is being elected to a second term.  The Oregonian reports Wheeler is leading the mayoral race with 47-percent of the vote as of late last night.  Challenger Sarah Iannarone follows with 41-percent.  Write-in candidates collected 13-percent of the vote.  Election officials say 90-percent of the votes have been counted as of 11 p.m. last night.

(Portland, OR)  --  U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon is holding onto his seat.  Election officials report the Democratic incumbent leading with 57-point-seven-percent of the vote as of 4:00 this morning.  That's with more than 91-percent of the votes counted.  Republican challenger Jo Rae Perkins follows with 38-point-seven-percent.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon election officials are reporting record-breaking voter turnout for yesterday's election.  The Oregon Secretary of State's Office says two-point-15-million Oregonians cast their votes as of yesterday.  That breaks the previous record of two-point-05-million votes set during the 2016 presidential election.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is on track to become the first state in the nation to legalize psychedelic mushrooms.  Election officials report Measure 109 is passing with 55-point-seven-percent of the vote as of 1:30 this morning.  That's with 88-percent of the votes counted so far.  The measure decriminalizes magic mushrooms under supervised use.  Therapists will be able to oversee its use after a two-year period where the state must work out regulations governing their use.

(Portland, OR)  --  Political newcomer Mingus Mapps is enjoying a wide lead over incumbent Chloe Eudaly in the race for Portland commissioner position 4.  The Oregonian reports Mapps in the lead with nearly 56-percent of the vote as of 11:45 last night.  Eudaly trailed with 43-percent. 

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland voters are giving their approval to a new five-year tax levy aimed at funding city parks.  Election officials report Measure 26-213 is passing with 64-percent approval as of 11:00 last night.  The measure will levy 80 cents per one-thousand dollars of assessed home value and is expected to raise 240-million dollars for Portland parks over five years.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is winning her reelection bid.  Election officials report the Democrat leading with 56-point-eight-percent of the vote as of 3:15 this morning.  That's with 89-percent of the votes counted.  Republican challenger Michael Cross follows with just over 40-percent.

(Beaverton, OR)  --  Nike is laying off roughly 700 employees at its world headquarters in Beaverton.  Nike announced this week the layoffs will happen before the end of the year.  Nike reported the workforce reduction to the state as part of what it calls a restructuring for the company.  New CEO John Donahoe announced in July that the sports apparel giant would refocus its business model to emphasize online sales directly to consumers.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is marking a grim new milestone in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.  The Oregon Health Authority confirmed nine new deaths from COVID-19 yesterday, raising the state's death toll from the pandemic above 700.  Officials also reported 495 new cases, bringing the state's case count above 46-thousand-400.

(Vancouver, WA)  --  The Vancouver chapter of the NAACP is speaking out against destruction caused during recent protests following the police killing of a 21-year-old Black man near the city.  The organization released a statement over the weekend saying it condemns the actions that resulted in damage and destruction during Friday night's protest in Esther Short Park.  The group says non-peaceful behavior is antithetical to their values.  The statement also expressed appreciation for a peaceful vigil held earlier that night for 21-year-old Kevin Peterson Jr.  He was shot and killed by police Thursday near Vancouver after he allegedly ran from deputies conducting a narcotics investigation.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon's tally of coronavirus cases is now past the 45-thousand mark.  The Oregon Health Authority reported 524 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, raising the state's total number of cases so far to 45-thousand-429.  It's the fourth day in a row officials have reported more than 500 new cases of COVID-19 in Oregon.  Health officials also confirmed two new deaths, raising the state's death toll to 691.

(Portland, OR)  --  Community members are paying tribute to a business owner killed in a recent stabbing.  The Portland Farmers Market held a memorial on Saturday for Matthew Choi of Choi's Kimchi.  He was stabbed to death just over a week ago in his apartment in Southeast Portland. 

(Portland, OR)  --  A pro-Trump caravan made its way through the Portland International Airport terminal yesterday afternoon.  The caravan wrapped up a demonstration in which hundreds of supporters of President Trump gathered in the parking lot of a former K-Mart store at East Burnside and 223rd Avenue.  Similar caravans have been reported across the country leading up to tomorrow's presidential election.