Date: 05/11/2016 06:20 AM
AP-OR–2nd Right Now/1084
CAMPAIGN 2016-SANDERS-OREGON-THE LATEST
The Latest: Sanders tells Oregon “We must defeat Trump”
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Bernie Sanders concluded his Salem rally as he typically does in states with upcoming primaries, asking supporters to deliver the highest voter turnout in Oregon Democratic primary history when they vote on Tuesday.
Sanders told about 4,000 supporters at the Salem Armory that Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump must be defeated, saying, “At the end of the day, love always trumps hatred.”
Sanders also said as he’s said previously that he is in the best position to defeat Trump in the general election.
Sanders touched on differences between him and Hillary Clinton for only a short time late into his hour-long speech.
EASTERN OREGON-SCHOOL PLOT
Boys plead not guilty to La Grande High School threat
(Information from: The (La Grande) Observer, http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/)
LA GRANDE, Ore. (AP) – Two boys accused of planning mass violence at La Grande High School have pleaded not guilty.
The Observer newspaper reports the boys who are 15 and 14 appeared by teleconference Monday from a juvenile jail in Walla Walla, Washington.
The teenagers were arrested last month after officers in the Eastern Oregon community learned of a “Columbine-type” threat. They’re charged with criminal conspiracy to commit murder.
Also Monday, a Union County judge denied a defense request to have the boys released from the Walla Walla facility and be placed on house arrest.
The 14-year-old’s lawyer, Bob Moon, said the staff at the juvenile jail described his client as pleasant, happy and polite.
Prosecutor Christopher Storz countered that those are descriptions from staff members, not mental health professionals, and releasing the boys could put the community in danger.
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FIRED CLERK-LAWSUIT
$1 million lawsuit filed by ex-county clerk heads to trial
(Information from: The Daily Astorian, http://www.dailyastorian.com)
ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) – The case of a former Clatsop County clerk who filed a $1 million lawsuit against the county after she was fired in 2014 is set for trial.
The Daily Astorian reports that the county’s attorney had requested that the case brought by Maeve Kennedy Grimes be dismissed, but a judge denied the motion Monday and set trial for May 24.
Former County Manager Scott Somers fired Kennedy Grimes in December 2014 after two errors were found on the November general election ballot.
The lawsuit claims Kennedy Grimes contacted the Secretary of State’s Office after being alerted to the mistakes and was directed to distribute supplemental ballots. Kennedy Grimes claims Somers was upset she didn’t include him in that decision.
Somers previously described Kennedy Grimes’ actions as insubordinate and disrespectful.
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GOP 2016-TRUMP INTERVIEW
AP Interview: Trump narrows VP list as he moves into general
NEW YORK (AP) – Donald Trump says he’s narrowed his list of potential running mates to “five or six” people, and is leaning against accepting public money to finance a fall campaign against likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
But in a break from recent major party nominees, Trump does not plan to invest heavily in a data-driven effort to target voters in the fall campaign.
Nor does the billionaire businessman expect to release his tax returns before the November election. He’s cited an ongoing audit of his finances as the main reason for withholding the information, but also says he doesn’t believe voters are interested in the information.
Trump’s comments come as he ramps up for a long, expensive general election campaign.
CHILD SEX ABUSE-PLEA
Marion County man pleads guilty to sex abuse of minor
(Information from: KATU-TV, http://www.katu.com/)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A Marion County man charged with raping a young girl has pleaded guilty to nearly a dozen charges against him.
KATU-TV reports that Brandon Lee Watson pleaded guilty this week to multiple counts of rape, sodomy and sex abuse.
He is accused of sexually abusing the girl, who was under the age of 14, between 2012 and 2015.
He faces up to 40 years in prison when he’s sentenced Monday.
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WRONG BABY CREMATED
Parents sue for $3 million after wrong baby cremated
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Parents are suing for $3 million after they say they were given the wrong baby’s cremated ashes.
The lawsuit filed last week says Norma Arellano and Sergio Maldonado were given the ashes of a baby girl instead of their son, who died five days after his premature birth.
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center chief executive Janice Burger said in a statement emailed to the Oregonian/OregonLive that changes have been made to prevent similar mistakes.
She said everyone at Providence is deeply sorry.
Hospital spokesman Gary Walker said the babies’ similar names contributed to the mix-up.
St. Vincent’s, the Gable Funeral Chapel and First Call Plus of Oregon Mortuary Services are named in the lawsuit.
The chapel and mortuary service declined to comment.
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CAMPAIGN 2016
Trump, GOP trying to come together as needs align
WASHINGTON (AP) – Donald Trump and Republican Party leaders are confronting an uncomfortable new reality: They may not like each other, but they may need each other.
That’s forcing an awkward reckoning on both sides as GOP lawmakers struggle to make peace with the divisive billionaire as their presidential standard-bearer, and Trump’s team seeks to bulk up its unconventional campaign with the party’s organizational prowess.
The New York real estate mogul claimed two other Republican primary victories Tuesday, in West Virginia and Nebraska, contests where he was virtually unopposed given that his Republican rivals dropped out a week ago.
SISTERS MANAGER-RECORDS
DA orders Sisters government to release public records
BEND, Ore. (AP) – Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel has ordered the city of Sisters to release records related to an investigation of its former city manager.
The city parted ways with Andrew Gorayeb last month, agreeing to severance package worth $100,000. The manager had been on paid leave after the council received complaints about his behavior from employees.
Newspapers including The Bulletin and The Nugget sought more information about the situation, but city leaders denied their request, citing exceptions to public records law.
But Hummel said Tuesday the city officials were wrong. He said the government’s business is the public’s business, and officials should only deny records requests in rare instances when the law clearly requires confidentiality.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
