Date: 01/13/2016 03:59 AM
AP-OR–1st NewsMinute/283
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The armed activists occupying a national wildlife refuge in southeastern Oregon plan to hold a community meeting this week to explain themselves and inform residents when they’ll leave. The Oregonian reports that a leader of the anti-government group says the meeting will be held Friday evening in Burns, 30 miles from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The small group is under pressure from many locals to end the occupation.
ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) – The attorney for a mother accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter in Cannon Beach says the woman suffers from a mental disease and is unable to continue with her trial. The Daily Astorian reports the attorney is asking for a competency examination of 42-year-old Jessica Smith. Smith has pleaded not guilty to murder.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Oregonians have a few more weeks to get their health insurance plans locked down for 2016. Sign ups, renewals and changes to existing plans through Healthcare.gov can be made until Jan. 31, the last day of open enrollment. Individuals without health insurance face high penalties when filing their 2016 taxes.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The family of a worker who died from a fall has filed a $13 million lawsuit against the University of Portland, alleging its faulty equipment caused the accident. According to the suit, Thomas Smith was working at the university arena in 2014 when the lift he was using to reach speakers and lights tipped over. The 55-year-old struck his head on the arena floor, and died from his injuries three months later. A university spokeswoman declined to discuss the lawsuit when reached by The Oregonian. The company also declined comment.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.