Date: 03/20/2014 04:00 AM
AP-OR–1st NewsMinute/286
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Gov. John Kitzhaber plans to release an independent review of what went wrong with Oregon’s troubled health insurance exchange. Kitzhaber’s office has scheduled a news conference for today to disclose the findings of the review and “steps he is taking to ensure that Cover Oregon delivers on its promise for Oregonians who need health coverage.” The governor’s office says the review by First Data Government Solutions is based on interviews with 67 people and the review of more than 3,200 documents.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Gov. John Kitzhaber has signed a bill allowing local governments to ban medical marijuana stores. The governor’s signature yesterday comes as many Oregon communities move swiftly to block marijuana dispensaries within their borders. The new law gives cities and counties until May 1 to enact moratoriums for up to a year.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A spokeswoman for Legacy Health’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland says either a transformer or a generator blew in the sub-basement last night, affecting power temporarily and causing black smoke to shoot out some vents. Portland firefighters responded after a report of an explosion at the hospital in northwest Portland. The Oregonian reports that Legacy Health spokeswoman Amber Shoebridge says emergency generators kicked in. She says no patient care was affected.
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) – Authorities say an Oregon man has died while kayaking on the Colorado River inside Grand Canyon National Park. Park rangers say the body of 31-year-old Curtis Joyce, of Portland, was recovered yesterday. They say Joyce was part of a private river trip of nine self-supported kayakers. The group was nearing the end of a 12-day trip Tuesday.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.
