(Portland, OR) -- A man is facing charges after allegedly attacking a garbage truck driver in the West Slope area. Police say a resident called 911 yesterday after seeing a man steal shoes and a hat from their front porch. The resident said the man was speaking incoherently and appeared to be on drugs. Deputies were searching for the man when the driver of a garbage truck said he was attacked by a man that matched the description of the suspect. Police tracked down and arrested Austin Roach nearby.

(Salem, OR) -- Governor Kate Brown wants educators to be in the next group of people who receive COVID-19 vaccines. Brown says kids need to get back into school. She says besides education, schools also provide meals for students and oversight to make sure they're safe. Health care workers and long-term care residents are in the first group that's currently being vaccinated. Brown wants teachers to be in the next group.

(Portland, OR) -- Oregon health officials are reporting another hiccup in the flow of COVID-19 vaccines from the federal government. Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen says they've learned the next shipment of vaccines will be smaller than expected. There will be 30-percent fewer doses of the Pfizer vaccine and seven-thousand fewer doses of the Moderna vaccine. Allen says they need to be prepared for the shipments to change depending on the federal government's shipment schedule.

(Portland, OR) -- Nearly three-dozen more Oregonians are dead after contracting COVID-19. The Oregon Health Authority confirmed 35 new coronavirus deaths yesterday, raising the state's death toll from the pandemic to one-thousand-382. Officials also reported one-thousand-282 new cases of COVID-19. A total of 524 people are currently hospitalized, which is four fewer than Monday. Since the pandemic began, there have been more than 105-thousand cases of COVID-19 in Oregon. A total of 72-hundred Oregonians have now received vaccinations.

(Hood River, OR) -- Officials say it'll take several days to get natural gas flowing again to 55-hundred homes in White Salmon and Hood River. On Sunday, a car crashed into a distribution station. It's been repaired, but service technicians need to go to each address to turn on the gas. To help with the cold overnight temperatures, Northwest Natural is offering portable heaters and blankets along with housing in seven hotels. A total of 40 service technicians have been brought in to restart gas service.

(Oak Grove, WA) -- The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is investigating a crash and a shooting that happened in Oak Grove early yesterday morning. Residents near Southeast Oatfield Road and Concord Road reported hearing a crash and gunfire. Deputies found a Jeep with damage from hitting a curb. Several bullet casings were found nearby along with a gun in the Jeep. A K9 searched the area, but no suspects were found. A house and a parked car were hit by the gunfire, but no one was hurt.

(Portland, OR) -- Two people are hospitalized following a shooting at a clinic near PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. Police responded to the medical facility on Northeast 87th Avenue yesterday afternoon to find a man and a woman suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were rushed to a hospital. One of the people hospitalized is reported to be the suspect. The hospital was placed on a modified lockdown while police investigated the situation.

(Salem, OR) -- Relief is on the way to Oregon tenants who are behind on their rent. The special session of the Oregon legislature passed a bill that creates a 150-million dollar fund for landlords. It pays 80-percent of the back rent as long as landlords forgive 20-percent of the cost. The bill also creates a 50-million dollar fund for rent relief and extends the eviction moratorium another six months.

(Hillsboro, OR) -- Washington County Sheriff's deputies are getting body cameras. The Board of Commissioners approved one-point-three million dollars over five years to provide 210 cameras for deputies and 129 cameras for patrol vehicles. It'll take a year to train deputies and deploy the cameras. The program should be in full operation by 2022

(Salem, OR) -- Police say four people were arrested after demonstrators broke into the Oregon State Capitol building yesterday morning while protesting the special legislative session. The building is closed because of COVID-19 restrictions, with only members of the special session being allowed in. Oregon State Police and Salem Police responded to get the demonstrators out of the building. Police called for backup after demonstrators allegedly sprayed bear spray on them. Four people were arrested and police are trying to locate 40-year-old Jeremy Roberts, who's accused of breaking a window on a door and attacking two reporters.

(Portland, OR) -- Health officials in Oregon are confirming 846 new coronavirus cases and six new deaths. The Oregon Health Authority reported the new numbers yesterday. It's the lowest single-day rise in new COVID-19 cases so far this month. There are currently 528 people hospitalized, which is two fewer than Sunday. Since the pandemic began, there have been one-thousand-347 deaths in Oregon and more than 103-thousand cases.

(Salem, OR) -- Oregon restaurants are getting some help from a bill that passed the special session of the Oregon legislature. It allows restaurants with liquor licenses to sell individual cocktails or wine to go in sealed containers. It also caps delivery fees at 15-percent. Some delivery companies were charging over 30-percent.

(Portland, OR) -- Customers of Pacific Power will see their electricity bills go down five-percent next month. The company says a combination of renewable energy and improvement in transmission lines helped lower costs. More than half of the rate decrease is due to lower fuel costs and increases in federal tax credits for renewable energy.

(Portland, OR) -- Police are trying to identify a second suspect in a carjacking that happened Sunday night. A woman was near Southeast 30th and Bybee Avenue in Portland when she was approached by two juveniles. They allegedly threatened her with a gun and forced her out of her car. She wasn't hurt. Police found the vehicle and after a short pursuit the suspects ran from the car. One of the suspects, a 13-year-old, was found nearby and arrested. The other suspect remains at large.

(Jefferson, OR) -- An arrest has been made in the death of a man near Jefferson. On December 5th, the body of 41-year-old Richard Anderson was found on a rural property. Linn County Sheriff's detectives developed information that led them to Portland, where search warrants were served at two locations. Police say 59-year-old Phillip Gurule was arrested and charged with Anderson's murder. Detectives have not said how Anderson was killed.

(Portland, OR) -- Health officials say another Oregonian has died from COVID-19. The Oregon Health Authority confirmed the coronavirus death of a 91-year-old Josephine County woman yesterday. Health officials also reported one-thousand-153 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. Oregon has now seen a total of 102-thousand-930 cases of COVID-19 along with over one-thousand deaths since the pandemic began.

(Portland, OR)  --  TriMet General Manager Doug Kelsey is retiring.  Kelsey announced last week he plans to retire on March 5th when his contract expires.  Kelsey was TriMet's Chief Operating Officer from 2015 through 2018.  The Board of Directors selected Kelsey as the GM in 2018 to replace retiring General Manager Neil McFarlane.  TriMet says the search for a new GM will start immediately.   
 

(Portland, OR) -- Police are releasing the identity of a woman who was shot to death in north Portland. The Portland Police Bureau says 53-year-old Kelley Marie Smith was killed in the shooting Thursday night at North Vancouver Avenue and North Stanton Street. Police are investigating her death as a homicide.

(Portland, OR) -- Police are searching for a suspect accused of stabbing a man outside his home in Portland's Old Town neighborhood. The Portland Police Bureau says the victim had just stepped outside to smoke a cigarette yesterday morning when a stranger walked up and tried to stab him. Police say the victim initially tried to fight the man off but was later stabbed in the back as he tried to run away. He was rushed to a hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries. Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to contact police.

(Seattle, WA) -- Two Oregon men are among four self-described neo-Nazi skinheads facing federal hate crime charges in connection to an assault at a bar in Washington state. The U.S. Attorney's Office says a grand jury in Seattle indicted 38-year-old Randy Smith of Eugene and 24-year-old Daniel Delbert Dorson of Corvallis late last week. Also indicted were 43-year-old Jason Stanley of Boise, Idaho and 44-year-old Jason Desimas of Tacoma, Washington. The four are accused of assaulting a DJ at The Rec Room Bar & Grill in Lynnwood, Washington in December of 2018 after he refused to change the music he was playing. Court documents say the men "willfully caused bodily injury" to the DJ and two other men because of the victim's "actual and perceived race." The suspects were allegedly celebrating so-called "Martyrs Day" marking the death of white supremacist Robert Jay Matthews.

(Portland, OR) -- Police say two boys are safe after going missing from the Aloha area. The Washington County Sheriff's Office says 10-year-old John Busby and 11-year-old Taylor Busby were found safe last night and returned to their family. The boys had gone missing around 1 p.m. yesterday near Southwest Doyle Place and Southwest Alexander Avenue.

(Oregon City, OR) -- Governor Kate Brown is appointing John Wentworth to be the next Clackamas County District Attorney. The current DA, John Foote, is retiring effective December 31st. The Governor's appointment will allow Wentworth to assume the office a few days early which will help with the transition. Wentworth is a graduate of Clackamas High School, OSU and the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College.

(Portland, OR) -- One person is injured following a shooting in northeast Portland. Police say the shooting happened around 3 p.m. yesterday in the 67-hundred block of Northeast Killingsworth Street in the Cully neighborhood. One person was hospitalized for injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

(Portland, OR) -- Oregon health officials are confirming a record-shattering rise in coronavirus deaths in the state. The Oregon Health Authority reported 54 new COVID-19 deaths yesterday. That breaks Oregon's previous record of 36 new deaths reported last Tuesday. Health officials also reported one-thousand-129 new cases yesterday. Oregon has now seen a total of one-thousand-214 deaths from COVID-19 and more than 96-thousand cases of the virus since the pandemic began.

(Salem, OR) -- A new interactive map is available to show COVID-19 risk in outdoor recreation areas. The goal is to increase accessibility to the outdoors for all Oregonians. Parkpulse was designed by a Portland landscape architecture firm called Knott. You'll find the map online at parkpulse dot io. >>Oregon Coast Aquarium To Close Friday (Newport, OR) -- The Oregon Coast Aquarium will close this Friday because of the new COVID-19 risk level guidelines. It'll remain closed until further notice. Lincoln County is currently listed as a High risk level. Automatic refunds will be issued for tickets purchased after December 18th.

(Salem, OR) -- Small businesses in Oregon are getting additional tax relief if they're affected by the pandemic. Governor Kate Brown says penalties are being waved on 2019 income tax and interest is being waived on 2019 income tax for businesses with less than five-million dollars in gross receipts. Three-year payment plans are available to businesses that can't pay their taxes now.

(Portland, OR) -- An investigation is ongoing into a shooting that struck several cars in the Cully neighborhood. Police say officers responded to the 45-hundred block of Northeast Cully Boulevard around 8 o'clock last night on reports on gunfire. Responding officers found several vehicles had been struck by gunfire. No injuries were reported. Police are still searching for a suspect.

(Manzanita, OR) -- Several people are injured following a multi-vehicle crash Sunday morning on Highway 101 near Oswald West State Park. Oregon State Police say witnesses reported an Infiniti had been weaving for several miles before crossing into oncoming traffic and hitting an RV. The RV then hit three other vehicles. Three people were hospitalized. Police say the driver of the Infiniti admitted to drinking alcohol and using cocaine before getting behind the wheel.

(Salem, OR) -- The Oregon Department of Human Services will take over day-to-day management of people who are in shelters because of the wildfires. Red Cross has been coordinating the effort. At its peak in October, more than two-thousand people were sheltering in 79 hotels. That's now down to 558 rooms at 54 hotels throughout the state. DHS will have one staff member assigned to five hotels in their region.

(Salem, OR) -- Governor Kate Brown is bringing the Legislature into a special session to consider an 800-million-dollar relief package for COVID-19 and wildfires. Brown says many Oregonians are struggling to pay rent, buy food and other expenses. The one-day special session will be held December 21st. It's expected to include a renter and landlord relief package, COVID-19 liability protection for schools and cocktails-to-go for restaurants.

(Portland, OR) -- A Portland tax preparer is pleading guilty to tax fraud. Court records show 37-year-old Elizabeth Munoz advertised on business cards she'd get her clients the "Biggest Refund Guaranteed." Federal prosecutors say she prepared nearly 12-hundred tax returns for 629 clients and charged them 150 dollars per return. She used fake tax schedules and tax credits to create three-million dollars in tax loss. She'll be sentenced in March and will have to pay full restitution to the IRS.

(Portland, OR) -- Health officials say a total of 29 Oregon counties are in the Extreme Risk category for COVID-19 infections. There are no counties in the High Risk category. Lake County has moved from Extreme to Moderate. And there are six counties in the Lower Risk category: Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Sherman, Wallowa, and Wheeler. Governor Kate Brown says Oregonians have the ability to move counties out of the Extreme Risk category by wearing masks, avoiding groups and washing their hands frequently.

(Portland, OR) -- As more of the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, you'll be able to get it at Fred Meyer. The grocery chain is working with state health departments and the federal government to be part of the federal roll-out plan. Fred Meyer has 133 pharmacies across the Pacific Northwest. Fred Meyer already offers antibody and COVID-19 testing.

(Portland, OR) -- Health officials say 48 more Oregonians have died from COVID-19. The Oregon Health Authority reported the new deaths yesterday along with one-thousand-562 new cases of COVID-19. Wednesday's daily death count was just half a dozen deaths shy of Tuesday's record-breaking daily death count of 54. Oregon has now seen a total of one-thousand-262 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

(Portland, OR) -- Police are confirming a 16-year-old boy was killed in a shooting Monday afternoon in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood. The Oregon State Medical Examiner says Abdushukri Uren died of a gunshot wound. The shooting happened near Southeast 136th near Division. The suspect fled the scene. Investigators are seeking information from witnesses who may have been in the area or anyone who may have video along the road.

(Portland, OR) -- Police say a worker at a North Portland marijuana dispensary was shot and killed during an armed robbery. Police were called to the store on North Washburne Avenue and Lombard Monday night where they found 44-year-old Michael Arthur had been shot. Police haven't released details about the robbery. An arrest has not been made in the case.

(Portland, OR) -- Four people are lucky to be alive after having to jump from their burning boat in the Multnomah Channel near Hadley's Landing on Sauvie [[ SO'-vee ]] Island. It happened Tuesday afternoon. They swam to shore and were treated by medics. Two dogs that were on the boat were rescued by River Patrol deputies. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

(Portland, OR)  --  Wilson High School in southwest Portland will be renamed after one of five history making black women.  It was previously named after the 28th President Woodrow Wilson.  He was known for introducing segregation in the federal government and praising the confederacy.  Following the death of George Floyd, students and alumni requested the change.  Some of the names in consideration are: Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells and Harriet Tubman.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  One person is injured following a shooting in northeast Portland.  Police say the shooting happened around 3 p.m. yesterday in the 67-hundred block of Northeast Killingsworth Street in the Cully neighborhood.  One person was hospitalized for injuries.  An investigation is ongoing.

(Salem, OR)  --  A new interactive map is available to show COVID-19 risk in outdoor recreation areas.  The goal is to increase accessibility to the outdoors for all Oregonians.  Parkpulse was designed by a Portland landscape architecture firm called Knott.  You'll find the map online at parkpulse.io 

(Salem, OR)  --  Small businesses in Oregon are getting additional tax relief if they're affected by the pandemic.  Governor Kate Brown says penalties are being waved on 2019 income tax and interest is being waived on 2019 income tax for businesses with less than five-million dollars in gross receipts.  Three-year payment plans are available to businesses that can't pay their taxes now.

(Portland, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into a shooting that struck several cars in the Cully neighborhood.  Police say officers responded to the 45-hundred block of Northeast Cully Boulevard around 8 o'clock last night on reports on gunfire.  Responding officers found several vehicles had been struck by gunfire.  No injuries were reported.  Police are still searching for a suspect.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon health officials are confirming a record-shattering rise in coronavirus deaths in the state.  The Oregon Health Authority reported 54 new COVID-19 deaths yesterday.  That breaks Oregon's previous record of 36 new deaths reported last Tuesday.  Health officials also reported one-thousand-129 new cases yesterday.  Oregon has now seen a total of one-thousand-214 deaths from COVID-19 and more than 96-thousand cases of the virus since the pandemic began.

(Newport, OR)  --  The Oregon Coast Aquarium will close this Friday because of the new COVID-19 risk level guidelines.  It'll remain closed until further notice.  Lincoln County is currently listed as a High risk level.  Automatic refunds will be issued for tickets purchased after December 18th.

(Manzanita, OR)  --  Several people are injured following a multi-vehicle crash Sunday morning on Highway 101 near Oswald West State Park.  Oregon State Police say witnesses reported an Infiniti had been weaving for several miles before crossing into oncoming traffic and hitting an RV.  The RV then hit three other vehicles.  Three people were hospitalized.  Police say the driver of the Infiniti admitted to drinking alcohol and using cocaine before getting behind the wheel.

(Salem, OR)  --  The Oregon Department of Human Services will take over day-to-day management of people who are in shelters because of the wildfires.  Red Cross has been coordinating the effort.  At its peak in October, more than two-thousand people were sheltering in 79 hotels.  That's now down to 558 rooms at 54 hotels throughout the state.  DHS will have one staff member assigned to five hotels in their region.

(Portland, OR)  --  The spread of COVID-19 continues in Oregon.  The Oregon Health Authority's latest weekly average shows the number of cases is up 14-percent, setting a new weekly high for the third week in a row.  Hospitalizations also set a record.  They're up 24-percent.  An average of 19 people are dying each day.  That's the highest number since the start of the pandemic.

(Portland, OR)  --  An increasing number of Oregon restaurants are at risk of failing because of COVID-19.  The National Restaurant Association says 80-percent of restaurants in Oregon report sales are down an average of 30-percent.  Nearly 40-percent of restaurant owners say they'll be out of business in six months if they don't get a relief package from the federal government.  

(Portland, OR)  --  Two men are pleading not guilty to charges associated with the death of a woman last month in rural Multnomah County.  Police say 50-year-old Joel Foran and 37-year-old Brandon Rossow moved 24-year-old Aubriel Haskett's body and left it on the side of Northeast Mershon Road, west of Corbett.  Foran is also charged with identity theft, impersonation, tampering with evidence and illegal drug possession.  They both remain in custody.  Haskett's cause of death hasn't been released.

(Portland, OR)  --  The barricades are coming down from around Portland's "Red House on Mississippi."  Mayor Ted Wheeler says the city reached a deal with the family living at the home on Saturday.  Activists on Twitter say protesters began taking down their barricades yesterday after police agreed not to forcibly remove the family from the home while negotiations continue.  Protesters flocked to the home last week after police forcibly evicted the Black and Indigenous family who lives there.  The family had owned the home since the 1950s but suffered a foreclosure after missing payments on their second mortgage.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon has over one-thousand new coronavirus cases along with half a dozen new deaths.  The Oregon Health Authority reported one-thousand-48 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday and six new deaths.  The new numbers raise Oregon's total number of cases so far to 93-thousand-853.  The state's death toll stands at one-thousand-155.

(Hillsboro, OR)  --  The Washington County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a scam involving an ad to help a company ship its packages for cash.  Police say the scammers are sending the victims items that were purchased with stolen credit cards.  They're usually small electronics or items that can be sold quickly.  The fraudulent companies appear legitimate and have real looking websites.  If you take one of these jobs, even if you don't know they're stolen items, you can be charged with a crime for shipping stolen merchandise.  The Washington County Sheriff's Office wants to hear from anyone who has fallen for the scam.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Oregon Zoo will stay brighter, later.  The Zoo is extending its drive-through Zoo Lights hours following updated guidelines from the Oregon Health Authority.  Zoo Officials say Zoo Lights will remain open an extra hour with additional time slots at 9:20, 9:40 and 10 p.m.  Reservations are available on the Oregon Zoo website.

(Portland, OR)  --  Multnomah County is distributing nearly five-and-a-half-million dollars in CARES Act funding to businesses that are at risk of failure because of the pandemic.  The money has to be used by the end of the month.  Priorities are businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, People of Color and women.  It'll mainly go to restaurants, food carts, bed and breakfasts and organizations that help the community.  The grants range from 500 dollars per food cart to 15-hundred dollars for restaurants.  The deadline to apply on the county's website is 5 p.m. tomorrow, December 15th.

(Portland, OR)  --  Multnomah County and the city of Portland are teaming up to distribute 500-dollar gift cards to those experiencing homelessness.  The Portland Housing Bureau and the Joint Office of Homeless Services is partnering in effort to pass out four-thousand gift cards for a total of two-million dollars.  The gift cards are intended to help those struggling to survive during the coldest months of the year.  The funding comes from the federal CARES Act. 

(Portland, OR)  --  Over a dozen more Oregonians have died from COVID-19.  The Oregon Health Authority confirmed 13 new coronavirus deaths yesterday, raising the state's death toll to one-thousand-123.  Officials also reported one-thousand-586 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.

(Portland, OR)  --  Protesters' occupation of Portland's "Red House on Mississippi" enters day four today.  KOIN-TV reports that demonstrators have moved their barricades down Mississippi Avenue, expanding their perimeter.  The demonstrators are trying to prevent the eviction of a Black and Indigenous family who has lived at the home since the 1950s.  The family says they're the victim of a predatory loan company.  Mayor Ted Wheeler says the city is working with several law enforcement agencies and bureaus to resolve the standoff.

(Salem, OR)  --  Oregon's jobless claims are up.  The latest report from the Oregon Employment Department shows about 14-thousand-and-seven-hundred Oregonians are filing for new unemployment claims.  A total of 53-thousand people in all filed new claims or continued previous ones.  The latest job losses come as Oregon implements new COVID-19 restrictions to blunt a recent surge in cases. 

(Waldport, OR)  --  The search continues for a suspect in connection to the murder of a Walport City Councilmember.  The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office says 66-year-old Mark Campbell was stabbed to death by an unknown suspect early Sunday morning.  Deputies say Campbell had gone into an unoccupied apartment next to his home and was attacked by an intruder.  An investigation is ongoing.

(Portland, OR)  --  Governor Kate Brown is reminding Oregonians to enroll in health insurance if they haven't already.  Brown took to Twitter yesterday reminding residents they have five days left to sign up for health care coverage through the state.  Residents who need coverage can go to www.GetCovered2021.org to sign up.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Better Business Bureau is warning Oregonians about multiple scams involving the coronavirus vaccine.  The BBB NW & Pacific tells KATU-2 it's already seeing cases of scammers pretending to be involved in vaccine distribution.  The scammers tell victims they can push them to the front of the line for vaccination for a financial fee.

(Portland, OR)  --  An increasing number of Oregon restaurants are at risk of failing because of COVID-19.  The National Restaurant Association says 80-percent of restaurants in Oregon report sales are down an average of 30-percent.  Nearly 40-percent of restaurant owners say they'll be out of business in six months if they don't get a relief package from the federal government.

(Portland, OR)  --  Two men are pleading not guilty to charges associated with the death of a woman last month in rural Multnomah County.  Police say 50-year-old Joel Foran and 37-year-old Brandon Rossow moved 24-year-old Aubriel Haskett's body and left it on the side of Northeast Mershon Road, west of Corbett.  Foran is also charged with identity theft, impersonation, tampering with evidence and illegal drug possession.  They both remain in custody.  Haskett's cause of death hasn't been released.

(Portland, OR)  --  The spread of COVID-19 continues in Oregon.  The Oregon Health Authority's latest weekly average shows the number of cases is up 14-percent, setting a new weekly high for the third week in a row.  Hospitalizations also set a record.  They're up 24-percent.  An average of 19 people are dying each day.  That's the highest number since the start of the pandemic.

(Portland, OR)  --  Health officials say 30 more people have died from COVID-19 in Oregon.  The Oregon Health Authority says the youngest victim was a 39-year-old man from Umatilla County with underlying conditions.  The oldest person was a 97-year-old Multnomah County man who died in his home.  Health officials also reported one-thousand-243 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.  Multnomah County had the most new cases with 208 followed by Marion and Washington counties.

(Hillsboro, OR)  --  The Washington County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a scam involving an ad to help a company ship its packages for cash.  Police say the scammers are sending the victims items that were purchased with stolen credit cards.  They're usually small electronics or items that can be sold quickly.  The fraudulent companies appear legitimate and have real looking websites.  If you take one of these jobs, even if you don't know they're stolen items, you can be charged with a crime for shipping stolen merchandise.  The Washington County Sheriff's Office wants to hear from anyone who has fallen for the scam.

(Salem, OR)  --  Oregon's commercial crab fishery will open December 16th south of Cape Falcon.  That will allow Dungeness crabbing along most of Oregon's Coast.  The area north of Cape Falcon will remain closed to coordinate a start with Washington's crab fishery.  Testing of crabs along the Washington Coast have showed elevated levels of domoic acid which makes them unsafe to eat.  All of the crab tested off the Oregon Coast was safe.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is among 48 states suing Facebook.  The lawsuit accused the social media giant of being a monopoly and using its power to unfairly influence competitors.  The suit claims Facebook has bought some competing companies in a predatory manner and used its strength to block other companies from growing.  The suit seeks to stop Facebook from making similar acquisitions in the future and to force the company to divest of any illegally acquired companies. 

(Oregon City, OR)  --  The preliminary investigation into the arson at the former Blue Heron Paper Mill in Oregon City is complete.  Officials say the building was badly damaged in Saturday's fire, and that's making it difficult for investigators to safely get inside.  Clackamas Fire investigators are coordinating with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to safely continue the investigation and remove the fire debris.  A suspect was taken into custody the day of the fire.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Portland Police Bureau is removing three officers from protest duty.  The bureau says the officers are currently under investigation for allegedly using excessive force against protesters.  The allegations are part of a lawsuit against the city accusing police of excessive force against journalists and legal observers during summer protests against police brutality and systemic racism.

(Portland, OR)  --  More than a hundred demonstrators remain camped out around a house in Portland to prevent the ouster of a Black and Indigenous family who's owned the home since the 1950s.  Portland Police and Multnomah County Sheriff's deputies arrested longtime resident William Nietzche and six other people at the so-called "Red House on Mississippi" yesterday morning.  Police then fenced the house up and left, but hundreds of protesters who had gathered at the scene swiftly pulled down the fencing and put up their own barricades.  Nietzche's family was evicted from the home in September after failing to make payments on a second mortgage.  The family says they're the victim of a predatory loan company.

(Portland, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into the officer-involved shooting of a wanted fugitive in north Portland.  The Portland Police Bureau says U.S. marshals shot  31-year-old Jonathan Crowley yesterday afternoon while attempting to arrest him near North Lombard Street and Newell Avenue.  Police say marshals opened fire after Crowley attempted to run police over with his car.  Crowley was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland City Council members are considering easing up on some of the restrictions for where homeless shelters and outdoor camps can be set up.  The Planning and Sustainability Commission is holding hearings on proposals that would allow for temporary indoor and outdoor shelters to be set up in all zones of Portland for up to six months.  Another plan would allow for halfway houses and group homes to seek conditional permits under looser guidelines. 

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon has over 16-hundred new coronavirus cases.  The Oregon Health Authority reported one-thousand-691 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.  That raises the state's total number of cases so far to over 87-thousand.

(Portland, OR)  --  Health officials are reporting a record-breaking number of new coronavirus deaths in Oregon.  The Oregon Health Authority reported 36 new deaths yesterday, breaking the previous record of 30 set on Friday.  The three-dozen new deaths raise the state's death toll from the pandemic to one-thousand-80. 

(Salem, OR)  --  A special session for the Oregon Legislature is in limbo as lawmakers remain divided on a proposal to extend the moratorium on residential evictions.  Members of the Oregon House are pushing a plan that would extend the moratorium through the end of June for renters facing financial woes, while creating a fund for landlords whose tenants have fallen behind on rent.  However, the Oregon Senate remains divided on its support for the proposal.  The current moratorium expires at the end of the year.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into an RV fire that injured a man in northeast Portland.  Firefighters responded to the area of Northeast 33rd Drive and Marine Drive yesterday morning.  Fire officials say someone was fueling a generator near the RV when the generator caught fire and spread to the vehicle.  The man fueling the generator was hospitalized for minor burns.

(Portland, OR)  --  Mayor Ted Wheeler says the FBI is investigating a racist kill list targeting community organizers of color.  In a press conference yesterday, Wheeler said the list is mostly comprised of Black people who have spoken out against police brutality and systemic racism.  The kill list is one of multiple threatening and racist letters that have been sent out recently to community members.  The Portland Police Bureau says it has reached out to everyone on the list to alert them.  An investigation is ongoing to identify who's behind the list.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon health officials are confirming a dozen new coronavirus deaths, including that of a 37-year-old Multnomah County man.  The Oregon Health Authority reported the new deaths yesterday along with one-thousand-331 new cases of COVID-19.  Officials say the 37-year-old man who died from the virus was otherwise healthy and did not have any underlying conditions.  Oregon has now seen a total of one-thousand-45 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

(Dallas, OR)  --  The U.S. Supreme Court will not consider a challenge to a transgender bathroom policy in an Oregon school district.  The policy in the Dallas, Oregon district allows transgender students to use school bathrooms that match their gender identity.  The policy includes locker rooms.  A group of parents sued to reverse the policy, claiming it blocks other students' privacy rights. 

(Salem, OR)  --  A Salem nurse is out of a job after posting a video on TikTok making clear her disregard for COVID-19 precautions and restrictions.  Salem Health hospital officials confirmed yesterday that Ashley Grames is no longer employed with them.  It's not yet clear whether she resigned or was terminated.  In the video posted late last month, 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.

(Portland, OR)  --  Mayor Ted Wheeler is calling on residents to shop local this holiday season.  Wheeler asked the community yesterday to try to find what they are looking for at local shops this year instead of turning to large online retailers like Amazon.  The mayor says local businesses need all the help they can get this year with Portland under the highest level of COVID-19 restriction in the state.

(Portland, OR)  --  Powell's Books is permanently closing its Home and Garden store in southeast Portland.  The bookseller announced the closure late last week, citing financial struggles brought by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.  The location has been closed since mid-March due to pandemic-related restrictions.

(Portland, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into a shooting that injured a woman in the Hollywood District over the weekend.  The Portland Police Bureau says the woman was shot Sunday night in the 38-hundred block of Northeast Sandy Boulevard.  She was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.  Police are still searching for a suspect.

(Vancouver, WA)  --  Hundreds of people gathered in the Vancouver area over the weekend to honor a 21-year-old Black man who was shot and killed by police in late October.  Family, friends and community members held a vigil yesterday afternoon for Kevin Peterson Jr.  The vigil was followed by a short march.  Peterson Jr. was shot 34 times by Clark County sheriff's deputies in the parking lot of a U.S. Bank on Northeast Highway 99 on October 29th.

(Portland, OR)  --  Custer Park in Portland's Multnomah neighborhood is no longer named Custer Park.  City Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who oversees the Parks Department, says the name glorifies a military oppressor instead of honoring the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Aparaho warriors who defended their homelands in what is now Montana.  The park is temporarily being renamed "A Park."  Over the next year, the Parks Department will work with neighbors, community stakeholders, historians and Indigenous Peoples to choose an appropriate name.

(Portland, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into the shooting death of a Portland man near Salem.  The Linn County Sheriff's Office says deputies responded to the town of Jefferson southeast of Salem Saturday afternoon on reports of a body.  Responding deputies found the man dead from gunshot wounds.  Police have identified the victim as 41-year-old Richard Anderson of Portland.  Police are investigating his death as a homicide.

(Portland, OR)  --  One man is hospitalized after being bitten by a shark while surfing off the coast of Seaside.  Police say the man was surfing near Seaside Cove around 3:30 yesterday afternoon when a shark bit him in the leg.  He was rushed to a hospital, where he was being treated in the trauma unit.  Police say his injuries are not life-threatening and he is expected to recover.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has opened applications for a drawing to purchase hard-to-find alcohol.  There are 13 brands and 118 bottles.  It includes one bottle of the extremely rare Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 Year Kentucky Bourbon which sells for 300 dollars a bottle.  You can enter the drawing on the OLCC's website.  If you win the drawing you still have to pay the listed price for the alcohol.

(Salem, OR)  --  An Oregon doctor who made headlines after saying he refuses to wear a mask while treating patients in his clinic has now had his license suspended.  The Oregon Medical Board says it is suspending the license of Dr. Steven LaTulippe.  Video surfaced last week of LaTulippe at a pro-Trump rally in Salem last month, saying neither he nor members of his staff wore masks while working at their clinic in Dallas.  Members of the medical board voted to suspend LaTulippe's license for violating a state health order.

(Portland, OR)  --  A man is facing charges in connection to a three-alarm fire at a paper mill in Oregon City.  Police arrested 29-year-old Enrique Mejia on charges including trespass and arson for the fire Saturday afternoon at the Blue Heron Paper Mill.  The mill has been abandoned since 2011.  The intense blaze burned for hours and forced officials to shut down Highway 99.

(Vancouver, WA)  --  Oregon's moratorium on evictions ends December 31st, and a large number of eviction proceedings are expected to begin.  Clark County is one of six counties in Washington State that are part of a pilot program to help reduce evictions.  The Eviction Resolution Program will help renters find solutions, rent assistance or possibly establish payments, to keep renters in their apartments.  Money for the program comes from the Federal CARES Act.
 

(Portland, OR)  -- Two fires in Northeast Portland are being called suspicious. That's according to fire investigators who say it's due to the timing and locations of the fires yesterday morning. The first fire was around 2:30 in the morning at an abandoned car wash on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Upon arrival, investigators say firefighters found tents and other camping supplies on fire. About two hours later, firefighters were called to a dumpster fire, just two blocks away from the car wash fire. That fire spread to a neighboring home, which was badly damaged. Anyone with any information is asked to call the PFR tip line at 503-823-INFO.

(Portland, Ore)  -- Police need the public's help in a fatal shooting in Northeast Portland earlier this week. Police say 20-year-old Gabriel Rivera was found shot to death at the intersection of North Columbia and Bank Street on Wednesday morning. This marks the 48th homicide in Portland this year. Anyone with any information is asked to call Portland Police.

(Marion County, OR)  -- Two people of a small plane are safe after the aircraft had to make an emergency landing in a field north of Keizer.  Authorities say the aircraft was occupied by a pilot and flight instructor when it encountered engine failure yesterday morning. The pilot managed to land the plane safely in a field off of Windsor Island Road.

(Portland, OR)  -- Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is joining other western state mayors to call on Congress to act on COVID-19 legislation. In an open letter, the mayors say residents and small businesses in their cities need funding after being hard hit by the pandemic. The mayors are pushing for funding in three areas they're calling critical. Those are residents facing food insecurity and housing instability, assistances to small businesses and organizations, and assistance for local governments.

(Beaverton, OR)  -- A popular holiday attraction in Beaverton is about to light up. Tonight will kick off the Winter Lights display. The attraction will feature light displays in five locations across Beaverton, each inspired by the most wonderful time of the year.  The Winter Lights will be held nightly through January third.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  Multnomah County has 292 more confirmed and presumptive cases of the coronavirus. That's according to the latest information from health officials. Meanwhile, Washington County is reporting 245 more cases. Statewide, there are over 11-hundred new cases reported, with 21 more deaths.

(Portland, OR)  --  Multnomah County is leading the state with the most new and presumptive coronavirus cases. That's according to the latest information from health officials, who report 282 more cases in the county. Washington County comes in second with 184 more cases. Statewide, one-thousand-244 new and presumptive cases have been reported. Meanwhile, hospitalizations have dropped. There are currently 549 COVID-19-related hospitalizations in the state. That's 28 fewer than the day before.

(Portland, OR)  -- The homeless will have easier access to the new homeless shelter in Portland. TriMet has donated an older bus to the newly opened Bybee Lakes Hope Center. Currently, there aren't many transit options for the guests to get to the center. Leaders at the center say the bus will provide transportation for the guests. Besides providing shelter for the homeless, the center also offers a job training program, mental health counseling, and rehabilitation.

(Salem, OR)  -- A sex offender serving time in a state penitentiary in Salem has died just months before his possible release. Authorities say 73-year-old Michael Murray died yesterday morning at the Oregon State Penitentiary. Murray was eligible for parole in April. He began serving his sentence in 2013 for a sodomy conviction. There's no word on what caused Murray's death.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police need the public's help with their investigation into the vandalism in Southeast Portland on Thanksgiving Day. Three suspects were arrested in connection with the vandalism on Thursday morning along Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, but police believe more people were involved. Anyone with any information is asked to call Portland Police.

(Salem, OR)  --  Police have released the name of the driver involved in the crash that killed Salem community leader Selma Pierce. The driver has been identified as 58-year-old David Holmes of Salem. Police say Pierce was walking with a family member on Tuesday along Doaks Ferry Road near Hidden Valley Drive in Salem when she stepped in the road and was hit by a passing vehicle.  According to investigators, Holmes stayed at the scene and has been cooperating with the investigation. No arrests or citations have been issued with this accident.

(Portland, OR)  --  An effort is underway to rebuild downtown Portland. The initiative is organized by a group of businesses called Rose City Downtown Collective. It's asking for the public to come out and support local businesses, organizations, and nonprofits to help rebuild the local economy. The downtown area has been hit hard by the coronavirus restrictions and months of protests.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police are releasing the identity of a man who was shot and killed in northeast Portland.  The Portland Police Bureau says 35-year-old Alexander Phillips was killed in the shooting early Monday morning near Northeast 122nd Avenue and Davis Street.  Police are investigating his death as a homicide.  No word on whether police have identified any suspects.

(Portland, OR)  --  A suspect is officially facing charges for the murder of a well-known Portland business owner.  A Multnomah County grand jury has indicted Allen Coe in the murder of Matthew Choi.  Court records say Coe broke into Choi's apartment in late October and stabbed him before turning on Choi's girlfriend.  Police say Choi died protecting his girlfriend from Coe, who fled shortly after the attack.  Choi was the owner of Choi's Kimchi and was a well-known fixture in the Portland Farmers Market community.  Coe is charged with murder, attempted murder, burglary and identity theft.

(Dallas, OR)  --  A doctor from Dallas is making headlines after saying he refuses to wear a mask while caring for his patients.  Video surfaced of Dr. Steven LaTulippe giving a speech at a "Stop the Steal" election rally in Salem in November.  LaTulippe said in the speech that he and his staff have "not once" worn a mask at South View Medical Arts.  Currently, there is a state government order that requires health care providers to wear face coverings.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland's oldest drag club Darcelle XV is being added to the National Register of Historic Places.  The designation was approved by the National Park Service.  It's the first LGBTQ-plus historic site designated in Oregon and one of only eleven sites nationally that have been selected for their significance to LGBTQ Americans.  Darcelle's was opened by Walter Cole in 1967 and pre-dates the famous Stonewall uprising that is often regarded as the start of the LGBTQ rights movement.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  Multnomah County will be giving grants to restaurants and food carts to help them survive the restrictions from COVID-19.  They're currently limited to take out only.  Starting Thursday, they'll be able to have outdoor dining.  The county expects to receive seven-and-a-half-million dollars from the state.  The grants will be prioritized to small businesses owned by women, Black, Indigenous, People of Color and Tribal-owned businesses.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is recording another record-breaking single-day death toll from the coronavirus pandemic.  The Oregon Health Authority reported 24 new deaths from COVID-19 yesterday, setting a new record for the number of deaths in a single day.  Oregon has now seen a total of 936 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.  Officials also reported one-thousand-233 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.

(Salem, OR)  --  A well-known community leader is dead following a car crash in Salem.  The Salem Police Department says 66-year-old Selma Pierce was killed in the crash last night.  The retired dentist was married to 2016 gubernatorial candidate Bud Pierce, who confirmed her death on Facebook last night.

(Portland, OR)  --  A Portland-area Walmart is expected to reopen today after closing its doors due to an outbreak of coronavirus.  Multnomah County health officials say there have been at least ten cases of COVID-19 linked to the Walmart at Eastport Plaza.  The store closed for a deep cleaning on Monday.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Clackamas County Winter Fair is underway.  The festival features a drive-thru light show with a corresponding holiday radio station participants can tune into.  The fair runs through December 31st at the fairgrounds in Canby.

(Oregon City, OR)  --  Clackamas County Elections has officially certified the results of the recall of Oregon City Mayor Dan Holladay and it becomes effective immediately.  Oregon City Commission President Rachel Lyles Smith will assume duties and responsibilities of the Mayor.  A special election for the Mayor's position is expected to be held March 9th.  Holladay was recalled following a series of controversial decisions.

(Gresham, OR)  --  Gresham's mayoral race is headed for a recount.  The Multnomah County Elections Office says Eddy Morales is trailing Travis Stovall by just 13 votes.  That margin is narrow enough to trigger an automatic recount.

(Sheridan, OR)  --  One person is dead and two others are injured following a crash on Highway 18 near Sheridan.  Oregon State Police say 26-year-old Clayton Gruber was driving east on the highway yesterday morning when he lost control of his car and crossed into oncoming traffic, hitting two other vehicles.  One of the other drivers was killed in the crash while his passenger was hospitalized for injuries.  Gruber was also hospitalized.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon's tally of coronavirus cases is now past the 75-thousand mark.  The Oregon Health Authority reported one-thousand-314 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.  That raises the state's total number of cases so far to 75-thousand-431.  Health officials also reported seven new deaths, raising Oregon's death toll from the pandemic to 912.

(Portland, OR)  --  A homicide investigation is underway into the shooting death of a 37-year-old man in northwest Portland.  The Portland Police Bureau says Anthony Tyler McNaughton has died from his injuries following the shooting Friday afternoon near Northwest Broadway and Glisan Street.  Police are still working to identify a suspect.

(Portland, OR)  --  A federal judge is holding the Portland Police Bureau in contempt for violating a court order restricting its use of less-lethal weapons like tear gas and projectiles.  A federal judge says officers violated the order during protests against police brutality and systemic racism in June.  U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez issued the order on June 26th in response to a class-action lawsuit filed by Don't Shoot PDX that accused police of indiscriminately using tear gas against protesters.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon Health & Science University is looking for volunteers in the Portland area who want to take part in a Phase Three clinical trial for a potential COVID-19 vaccine.  This vaccine is the one that was developed by scientists at Oxford University and AstraZeneca.  Participants will receive two injections four weeks apart and will be monitored over two years.  OHSU is looking for a diverse group of candidates, but are prioritizing those older than 55 and who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color.

(Portland, OR)  --  Drivers should be on the lookout for black ice this morning in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington.  The National Weather Service says freezing conditions overnight could lead to the formation of black ice on roadways in the area.  An advisory is in effect for the Oregon Coast Range, Cascade foothills, Columbia Gorge, South Washington Cascades and Willamette Valley.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  Multnomah County is among nearly two-dozen counties to be placed under the "Extreme Risk" category of the state's new COVID-19 restriction framework when the two-week freeze ends Thursday.  Under the new guidelines, restaurants and bars will be limited to outdoor dining, while retail and grocery stores can only have half their usual capacity.  Indoor gyms will remain closed, but outdoor fitness classes can go forward with 50 people at max.  Churches and funeral homes are limited to 25-percent capacity.