3rd Oregon News Minute from the AP

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — New data show Oregon high schools send six in 10 graduates to college. That’s a lot fewer than the state’s goal of having 80 percent of its young people earn a community college or university degree. The new stats show that even some of Oregon’s strongest school districts are falling short of the college goal.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Six Creswell siblings have become wards of the state as their parents await trial in the death of their teenage son. The Register-Guard says Brandi and Russel Bellew face second-degree manslaughter charges in the death of 16-year-old Austin Sprout. The family attends a church in Pleasant Hill, which believes in using prayer instead of medical care.

SILVERTON, Ore. (AP) — Fire officials say they’ve taken another look at the blaze that caused $310,000 damage at the historic Palace Theatre in Silverton. Palace co-owner and Silverton Mayor Stu Rasmussen said after the April 11 blaze that he suspected a popcorn machine. But fire officials say investigators decided the fire started in the concession stand area but the popcorn machine has been ruled out. The cause was initially listed as “undetermined.”

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Salem police say a U.S. Fish and Wildlife officer who found a high school teacher and a 17-year-old student parked in a prohibited area of a wildlife refuge kept investigating. Police say wildlife officer Rachel York told the teen’s parents about the incident after driving her home Friday night. She said the girl told her that her relationship with the 49-year-old man was sexual. York notified Salem police, who yesterday arrested Sprague High School teacher Michael Montgomery for investigation of five counts of second-degree sex abuse.