AP-OR–1st NewsMinute,335
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – An Oregon judge has declared a mistrial
after jurors said they were hopelessly deadlocked in the murder
trial of a 24-year-old hotel clerk accused of killing her newborn
son. Angelica Swartout of Springfield was accused of smothering the
baby in an employee bathroom at the hotel where she worked and
putting the remains in a garbage can in 2010. Investigators
searched the county landfill, but didn’t find any remains. Judge
Suzanne Chanti set a new trial date of April 16.
ST. HELENS, Ore. (AP) – A Kalama, Wash., man has pleaded not
guilty to 24 charges including aggravated murder in the shooting
death of the Rainier, Ore., police chief. The Oregonian says
22-year-old Daniel Butts did not speak at yesterday’s arraignment
as his lawyer entered pleas on his behalf. Butts was chained around
his waist, feet and wrists. Butts is accused of shooting
55-year-old Chief Ralph Painter, who had responded to a report of a
suspicious person at a car stereo shop last year.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Economists say Oregon will take in $35
million less than was projected three months ago, but that amount
that isn’t likely to require cuts beyond those recommended by key
legislators last week. The latest shortfall was revealed in a
quarterly revenue forecast released yesterday. The hit is less
severe than the $50 million to $80 million that lawmakers feared.
In all, the new forecast projects, the state will take in $341
million less than lawmakers assumed when they approved the budget.
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) – The National Park Service will have the
power to ban helicopter flights over Crater Lake without having to
go through so much red tape. Oregon Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden and
Jeff Merkley inserted a provision giving that power to the park
service into a Federal Aviation Administration bill that Congress
passed this week. Leading Edge Aviation of Bend had applied to
provide helicopter tours of the park in 2009, but the park service
opposed them because of noise.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-02-09-12 0402EST
