Date: 11/08/2012 04:00 AM
OR–1st NewsMinute/332
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Oregon Democrats are on track to pick up four seats for a 34-26 majority in the House. The Democrats’ 16-14 edge in the Senate is unchanged after Tuesday’s election. If the numbers hold, Republicans will lose the power they had to block Democratic legislation and exert their influence over state budget decisions. House Democratic leader Tina Kotek is likely to be the next House speaker.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Opponents of Oregon’s 2004 same-sex marriage ban say votes to legalize such unions in three other states give them hope for the 2014 election. Basic Rights Oregon executive director Jeana Frazzini says the approval of same-sex marriage in Washington state, Maryland and Maine shows voters are willing to take on the issue. Voters in Minnesota rejected a proposal to define marriage as solely a heterosexual union. Domestic partnerships are legal in Oregon, but same-sex marriage was banned by ballot measure in 2004.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Police in Salem, Ore., say that a 17-year-old high school student accused of pointing a handgun at another student during class has been taken into custody. No one was injured and police did not immediately find a gun. Lt. Dave Okada said the North Salem High School student was in class yesterday morning when he was seen “pointing what appeared to be a handgun” at another student. Officers responded and found the teen several blocks from the school.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – A dozen officers responded to a report of shots fired and people screaming in a Eugene, Ore.-area neighborhood only to find an unsuccessful effort to interrupt a dog’s attack on a cat. The Register-Guard reports that Lane County sheriff’s deputies and Eugene police swarmed the area yesterday and determined no actual shots had been fired. Sheriff’s Sgt. Carrie Carver says an unidentified person had been firing a cap gun in an effort to scare a dog that was attacking a cat.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.