2nd Oregon News Minute from the AP

Date: 02/04/2013 09:28 AM

OR–2nd NewsMinute/298
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

 

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon state lawmakers begin their five-month push today to write a new budget and enact dozens, maybe hundreds, of other initiatives. Democrats running the House and Senate say they’re focused on jobs and the economy. But they’ll also be pushing legislation on housing, immigration and the environment. Republicans will be in the minority, but they may be able to team with centrist Democrats in the Senate to block certain measures.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) – Thousands of hunters of deer and elk in Oregon are facing fines for failing to report their hunting results under a mandatory program passed by the Oregon Legislature. The Medford Mail-Tribune reports that the hunters who failed to make Thursday’s reporting deadline for 2012 hunting results face $25 fines. Before the program began and was penalty-free, the agency received information from just 3 percent of hunters.

HILLSBORO, Ore. (AP) – The Washington County sheriff’s office says a prolific car thief stole four cars in four days before he was caught when a deputy saw a stolen car drive by. The deputy was at the scene where one stolen car was found Saturday in Aloha when the recently reported stolen car drove by. The deputy stopped it and arrested 21-year-old Travis Kitchen of Hillsboro. Kitchen also was wanted for failing to show up for sentencing in another Washington County case.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon has recently added more quick-charge stations for drivers of electric vehicles using the West Coast Electric Highway. The electric highway, which is a tri-state effort of Washington, Oregon and California, extends from British Columbia to Baja California. With the installation of more quick-charge stations, The Salem Statesman Journal reports that Oregon has completed its portion of the highway.

 

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.