1st Oregon News Minute from the AP

Date: 01/10/2013 03:59 AM

OR–1st NewsMinute/364
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

 

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Port of Portland commissioners have approved an incentive program to entice container-shipping companies to continue visiting the city amid a decline in productivity. The commissioners voted 7-2 yesterday to pay $10 per container to carriers who stop at the port. The program is capped at $1 million and expires at the end of 2013. Port of Portland spokesman Josh Thomas says the incentive is needed because there has been a sustained decrease in productivity since two unions got into a dispute over which was entitled to perform the work of plugging and unplugging refrigerated shipping containers.

SEATTLE (AP) – An attorney for the Canadian travel company whose bus crashed and killed nine passengers in Oregon says the driver had more than seven hours of sleep the night prior to the accident. Mark Scheer – attorney Mi Joo Tour & Travel – says black ice was a factor in the Dec. 30 crash near Pendleton, Ore. The crash left 38 people injured, including the driver. Scheer’s comments come a day after the U.S. Department of Transportation revoked the travel company’s authority to provide passenger service in the United States after determining a driver was not properly rested when his bus crashed.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A team of National Transportation Safety Board investigators has been dispatched to Peru to help determine the cause of a helicopter crash that killed all seven people on board, including five Americans. The Boeing-Vertol 234 helicopter operated by Oregon-based Columbia Helicopters went down in the Peruvian jungle shortly after takeoff Monday. The aircraft was carrying an external cargo secured by cables and was under contract for petroleum exploration support.

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) – The Benton County sheriff’s office says an 89-year-old woman was struck and killed Tuesday while crossing a road to pick up her mail. The woman, Hannelore Zimmerman, was dead when emergency crews arrived at the home south of Corvallis. The Corvallis Gazette-Times says the 65-year-old driver of the car was not injured and that she immediately stopped and called 911. Capt. Greg Ridler says drugs, alcohol and excessive speed are not believed to be contributing factors.

 

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.