Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
BEND, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Health Authority is delaying the rollout of changes to the state’s Medicaid program that would allow patients to seek alternatives to painkillers and surgery to cope with back pain. The Bulletin reports that the new coverage policy was slated to take effect Jan. 1. An Oregon Health Authority spokeswoman says the authority is looking for a way to let the entire package of guidelines on back pain take effect at the same time.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Court documents show a Springfield man accused of killing his father with a baseball bat earlier this month admitted his crimes to police with little remorse. The Register-Guard reports that an attorney for Michael Bryant says he plans to include substantial evidence of serious mental illness in his client’s defense. Bryant faces several charges including aggravated murder.
KLAMATH FALLS, Oregon (AP) – The Klamath Irrigation District will reinstate its membership with the Klamath Water Users Association, a nonprofit that lobbies for agriculture. The Herald and News reports that the board voted to rejoin the group after withdrawing from the association on Nov. 16. At a special meeting this week, many people questioned why the board had decided to leave the association in the first place.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Oregon officials are investigating a Eugene employee for doing professional engineering work for the city without a license for six years. The Register-Guard reports that Tom Larsen was officially removed from a traffic engineering position in April. Larsen had told his supervisor and state regulators that he had failed to pay the fees to renew his license and it had expired at the end of 2008.
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