AP-OR–1st NewsMinute,307
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Oregon Rep. Greg Walden has asked federal
firefighters to explain what residents and business people in the
Columbia Gorge think was a slow response to a wildfire on Mount
Hood. The Forest Service says the Dollar Lake fire began in a
wilderness area on Aug. 27, touched off by lightning, and says
shifting weather forecasts, a shortage of resources, high winds,
tough terrain and multiple wildfires breaking out in the region
gave firefighters problems in responding to the fire.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The Defense Department says a 35-year-old
soldier from Portland, Ore., has died in Afghanistan of wounds
suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with mortar, machine gun
and small arms fire. Sgt. 1st Class Danial R. Adams died Tuesday in
Wardak province. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Special
Forces Group (Airborne), Stuttgart, Germany.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A 34-year-old man has pleaded guilty to
four Portland bank robberies attributed to the “River Rat
Bandit.” The thief is blamed for a 2009 series of armed robberies
on both sides of the Columbia River that netted more than $96,000.
In addition to the four Portland bank jobs, The Oregonian says the
robber hit 14 banks or check cashing outlets in Washington state,
from Clark County to the Puget Sound area.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Public records show Oregon Labor Commissioner
Brad Avakian (uh-VAHK’-ee-in) has struggled to pay some of his
bills on time and failed to pay some of his taxes while serving in
the Legislature. The Democrat is now running for Congress in a
special election to replace Rep. David Wu, who resigned. Records
show that the Internal Revenue Service put a $13,000 lien on
Avakian’s home in 2005 for nonpayment of income taxes. Washington
County records show he was delinquent on his property taxes in 2006
and 2007.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-09-15-11 0403EDT
