1st Oregon News Minute from the AP

Date: 12/28/2015 03:59 AM

AP-OR–1st NewsMinute/266
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

BEND, Ore. (AP) – The Bend-Fork Rock Ranger District is tightening oversight in a newly-strengthened permit approval process after two snowmobile clubs performing trail maintenance ended up causing $200,000 in damage. The Bulletin reports the U.S. Forest Service, Central Oregon Snowbusters and La Pine Lodgepole Dodgers are sharing the repair costs in what the agency says is a shared misunderstanding. Officials say the groups had good intentions.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The oxygen tanks designed to help a man breathe easier after surgery instead fueled a fire that destroyed his home and threatened his life. KATU-TV reports the tanks exploded one-by-one after the motor home caught fire in Southeast Portland. Firefighters say the victim was recovering from open heart surgery. He was treated for smoke inhalation after the fire but he is expected to recovery. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

WOODLAND, Wash. (AP) – The Washington State Department of Transportation says it will reopen the third northbound lane of Interstate 5 near Woodland after landslide repair work in the new year. Only two lanes of the freeway have been open since a landslide on Dec. 9 kept the northbound lanes of I-5 closed for more than a day north of the Washington-Oregon border. Officials say the hillside needs to be stabilized after dumping debris, trees and car-sized boulders on the roadway.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Two big water main breaks in Portland were keeping maintenance crews busy on Sunday. KGW-TV reports the water main breaks forced roads to be closed in two parts of southwest Portland.

 

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