1st Oregon News Minute from the AP

Date: 01/28/2013 03:59 AM

OR–1st NewsMinute/343
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

 

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The family of a 14-year-old girl who was killed nearly two years ago in Portland has filed a complaint over the police investigation into her March 2011 murder. The Oregonian reports the complaint filed Friday asks the Independent Police Review division to look at whether police botched the investigation and whether their actions impeded efforts to learn the location of Yashanee Vaughn’s body. Vaughn’s family was upset to learn this month that defense lawyers for the Portland teenager convicted in her death knew for months where Vaughn’s body was. The family searched four months for her body.

BEND, Ore. (AP) – A federal judge in Oregon has partially dismissed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination by former Sunriver police chief Michael Kennedy. But Kennedy’s attorney told The Bulletin that aspects of the case that were not dismissed will go forward. Kennedy sued last year, claiming his firing in February 2012 by the managing board of the Sunriver Service District was politically motivated. He is seeking $1 million.

BEND, Ore. (AP) – Bend’s housing market crash has turned out to be an opportunity for several developers who have bought up more than 900 residential lots that were left undeveloped. The Bulletin says an examination of Deschutes (duh-SHOOTS’) County deed records shows developers picked up the majority of the lots in two dozen subdivisions between 2009 and 2012. In 18 of the subdivisions, the previous developer lost the properties to foreclosure after the housing market fizzled and collapsed in 2008.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Republican Party will get a new leader next weekend who will get to take a fresh stab at putting the party on a path back to relevance. The GOP hasn’t won a statewide race in a decade, controls just one of five congressional seats and is now in the minority in the House and Senate. The party didn’t recruit candidates willing to run for treasurer or attorney general last year. Five candidates are running for chairman of the state GOP.

 

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.