AP-OR–1st NewsMinute,339
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Legislature has arrived at its own
deadline for adjourning, and there’s still no agreement on some
major pieces of legislation. Lawmakers in the House are working
with Gov. John Kitzhaber to find some combination of legislation
that all would find acceptable. Caught in the mix are Kitzhaber’s
two education bills and one of his health care initiatives, a
Republican proposal to withdraw more water from the Columbia River
for agricultural use, and the budget. The Legislature has until
next week to finish its work, but state lawmakers said earlier this
year that they wanted to finish everything no later than today.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Rural legislators say a budget-slashing
plan to cut detectives from the Oregon State Police will
disproportionately affect rural areas. In a last-ditch effort to
rescue positions they say are critical to public safety in
sparsely-populated areas, legislators say they found $6 million
yesterday to stave off some proposed cuts. State police expect to
lose 12 instead of 25 detective positions. Rep. Greg Smith says
losing a single trooper is like cutting the police force of a rural
community.
GRESHAM, Ore. (AP) – Gresham police say they’ve made an arrest
in a fatal stabbing in an apartment complex. Police responded late
Monday night to a report of a bleeding man at an address on East
Burnside Street. They found a man who had been injured in a fight.
The victim later died at a hospital. Police said last night they’re
working to verify the name of the arrested person.
BAKER CITY, Ore. (AP) – After trying to fire his court-appointed
attorney, a defendant accused in an Eastern Oregon killing has
refused to attend his own trial. The Baker City Herald reports that
56-year-old Daniel Myers is on trial in the fatal shooting a year
ago of 39-year-old Travis Weems outside Myers’ cabin near Sumpter.
The trial began last week and is expected to wrap up this week.
Myers is accused of murder as well as weapons and methamphetamine
charges.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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