AP-OR–Right Now/1187
RANCHING STANDOFF
Judge sets September trial in Oregon standoff case
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A September trial has been scheduled for more than two dozen defendants charged in the 41-day takeover of a national wildlife refuge in Oregon.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna Brown set the date despite objections from several defense attorneys who said that wasn’t enough time to prepare. The judge left open the possibility for an eventual delay, but said the right to a speedy trial is paramount for now.
Also Wednesday, the judge upheld her decision to send Ammon Bundy and three other defendants to Las Vegas next week for a court appearance. The men face charges stemming from a 2014 standoff at Cliven Bundy’s ranch near Bunkerville, Nevada.
Defense lawyers have said it’s improper to make their clients defend two cases at once. They have asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overrule Brown.
RANCHING STANDOFF-MONTANA
FBI arrests another defendant in Oregon standoff
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Federal authorities have arrested a Montana man accused of taking part in the armed occupation of an Oregon wildlife refuge.
Jake Ryan was booked into a Portland jail Tuesday on charges of depredation of government property, conspiracy to impede officers and possession of weapons in a federal facility.
Ryan was to have a federal public defender assigned to him at his initial court appearance.
He is one of more than two dozen people arrested in connection with the 41-day takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The men and women were protesting U.S. land restrictions and the imprisonment of two Harney County ranchers who started fires.
The federal judge overseeing the case has scheduled jury selection to start Sept. 7.
WILDFIRE INSURANCE
Oregon considers renewing wildfire insurance
(Information in the following story is from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon is considering another year of insurance coverage to help pay for catastrophic wildfire seasons.
The Bulletin reports that British insurance giant Lloyd’s of London is offering the state another year of coverage despite three consecutive years of expensive, drought-fueled wildfires. The policy could protect the state from financial problems if 2016 is another expensive year for firefighting.
State fire officials on Tuesday recommended that Oregon continue purchasing the insurance.
The policy would also be available to private landowners.
Oregon fire officials and landowners would share the $3.5 million premium and up to $50 million deductible before Lloyd’s contributes up to $25 million.
The premium is down $300,000 from last year.
SUBARU IN CREEK
Woman safe after Subaru goes into Little Butte Creek
(Information in the following story is from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/)
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — A woman and a dog escaped from a vehicle that went into a tributary of the Rogue River.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office says the woman veered off a highway for an unknown reason Tuesday night and ended up in Little Butte Creek near Eagle Point. She managed to get out and call 911.
The Mail Tribune newspaper reports the Subaru Forester was submerged up to its doors. Sheriff’s deputy Jillian Winston says the woman had some soreness and was taken to a hospital to be checked out.
A dive plan planned to remove the vehicle Wednesday.
CANNON BEACH RECALL
3 Cannon Beach fire directors survive recall election
(Information in the following story is from: The Daily Astorian, http://www.dailyastorian.com)
CANNON BEACH, Ore. (AP) — Opponents of the Cannon Beach fire chief’s dismissal have failed in their effort to recall three directors of the fire protection district.
The Daily Astorian reports that voters opposed recalling Sharon Clyde, Garry Smith and Linda Beck-Sweeney. Two other directors were not subject to Tuesday night’s election. The margin of victory varied by director, but each survived by at least 10 percentage points.
A Cannon Beach resident organized the recall drive after Mike Balzer was fired last fall. He had been a volunteer firefighter for decades before becoming chief.
The directors said Balzer was a good firefighter, but his administrative skills were lacking.
Balzer has sued over his firing, saying it was about “personal animus.” A jury trial is scheduled for October.
OSU-ILLNESS
OSU working to contain possible norovirus outbreak
(Information in the following story is from: Gazette-Times, http://www.gtconnect.com)
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Oregon State University officials say they are taking steps to contain a possible norovirus outbreak after up to 60 students fell ill with symptoms.
The Gazette-Times reports that test results are not yet available to confirm an outbreak, but officials say the nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever symptoms are consistent with norovirus. The university said Tuesday it is working with Benton County health officials to prevent the spread of the highly contagious illness that began last Wednesday.
Bill Emminger from the county environmental health division says the illness does not appear to be connected with any particular location or food-service facility on campus. Most of the students affected have been residents of the dorms.
OSU staff members are sanitizing work areas in the dorms and dining halls.
KNIGHT DONATION
Nike co-founder pledges millions to Fanconi anemia research
(Information in the following story is from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny are donating $10 million over the course of a decade to an anemia research group named for a former University of Oregon president.
The Register-Guard reports two of Lynn and Dave Frohnmayer’s three daughters died from Fanconi anemia, prompting the couple to start the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund in 1989.
The Knights’ donation will go toward the group’s David Frohnmayer Scientific Research Fund.
Executive Director Pamela Norr said in a statement that the Knights’ donation is part of a $20 million campaign intended to speed up clinical trials and drug testing, among other goals.
Frohnmayer died of prostate cancer in March 2015 at the age of 74.
Lynn hopes the fund named for her husband will help researchers find new treatments.
FALSE TAX RETURNS-SENTENCE
Woman involved in $1 million tax fraud case heads to prison
(Information in the following story is from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A woman involved in a tax scheme in which she and three others filed false income tax returns to rack up more than $1 million in fraudulent funds has been sentenced to more than three years in prison.
The Oregonian reports that Tataneisha White was sentenced in federal court in Portland on Tuesday and ordered to pay nearly $627,000 in restitution to the IRS. She had pleaded guilty to several charges, including conspiracy to file false claims and theft of government funds.
White admitted to working with her accomplices to file nearly 230 false income tax returns and claim more than $1 million in the scheme.
White’s attorney had argued for a shorter sentence of two years, saying his client needs to get treatment for a pill addiction.
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