AP-OR–1st NewsMinute,279
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – An early spring storm has dropped more
than half a foot of snow on Oregon’s southern Willamette Valley.
Slides and snow in the southern Cascades halted an Amtrak train and
briefly trapped several vehicles. An Amtrak spokeswoman said the
Coast Starlight train from Los Angeles to Seattle with 246
passengers on board hit a tree lying across the tracks in the
Cascade Mountains yesterday and a mudslide then derailed the
baggage car. No injuries were reported.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – An Oregon judge has rejected a
Republican’s lawsuit challenging the election date for labor
commissioner. A lawyer and a campaign manager for GOP candidate
Bruce Starr said yesterday that a Marion County judge declined
Starr’s request to require that the labor commissioner be chosen in
the May 15 primary.
UNDATED (AP) – Another tough summer could be shaping up for
salmon and farmers in the Klamath Basin. Klamath County
commissioners declared a drought Tuesday, the first step toward
state and federal drought declarations that would trigger aid
programs and allow farmers to pump emergency wells for irrigation.
Officials are warning that water shortages could produce a repeat
of 2002, when tens of thousands of adult salmon died of diseases in
the Klamath River in low warm water conditions before they could
spawn.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A report prepared for the Oregon Lottery
Commission says it needs to focus more on problem gambling,
especially among young people, as it considers online games. One of
the recommendations calls for a ban on cartoon characters in
advertising. The 26-page report was ordered by the commission. A
copy was obtained by The Oregonian through a public records
request.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-03-22-12 0404EDT
