1st Oregon News Minute from the AP

Date: 12/21/2012 03:59 AM

OR–1st NewsMinute/267
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

 

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) – Transportation officials say a 33-mile stretch of Interstate 5 in southern Oregon has reopened after a seven-hour closure due to a sudden dump of snow. Oregon Transportation Department spokesman Gary Leaming said the freeway reopened last night. The closure was one of a number of weather-related problems across the state.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) – Josephine County commissioners have voted to move forward with the creation of a special law enforcement tax district, the first step in asking voters for new taxes to pay for sheriff’s patrols, prosecutors and the jail. The sheriff and district attorney made deep cuts this year after a special federal subsidy for timber counties ran out. Josephine County voters refused to approve a tax hike to make up the difference.

TILLAMOOK, Ore. (AP) – Police have revoked the concealed-weapons permit of a 61-year-old Tillamook man after he wriggled in his theater seat during a showing of “The Hobbit” and shook loose a loaded semiautomatic handgun. A 7th-grade student found the weapon on Wednesday with a round in the chamber and the safety off. Gary Quackenbush says he’s embarrassed that the gun fell out of his holster.

NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) – Officials at the Oregon Coast Aquarium at Newport say two endangered female sea turtles found this week on the stormy north Oregon coast have died. The aquarium’s Jim Burke says a Green Sea Turtle had numerous shell and skull wounds and was extremely dehydrated and in cold shock. An Olive Ridley Sea Turtle had been unresponsive since she was found Monday.

 

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.