AP-OR–2nd Right Now/1144
OREGON-BOTTLED WATER BATTLE
Fight over plan to bottle water in Oregon town is on ballot
CASCADE LOCKS, Oregon (AP) — A proposal for Nestle to build a water bottling plant in Cascade Locks, Oregon, is set to be one of the most heated battles in the state’s May 17 primary.
Measure 14-55 asks the voters of surrounding Hood River County to ban the commercial production and transport of bottled water.
Nestle says the operation would generate 50 jobs and annual revenues of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Town leaders and some residents want it, but others are fiercely opposed.
The plan has divided the town in the Columbia River Gorge, which has a 19-percent unemployment rate.
It means Cascade Locks must face the bigger dilemma of generating income without spoiling the jaw-dropping Columbia River Gorge scenery that makes it special.
RANCHING STANDOFF
Oregon refuge standoff defendant can be his own lawyer
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — One of the defendants involved in the armed takeover of an Oregon wildlife refuge has been allowed to represent himself in the case.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports U.S. District Judge Anna Brown allowed Jason Patrick to be his own lawyer Wednesday, but not without questioning his ability to act appropriately without legal counsel to guide him. She appointed Andrew Kohlmetz to be his standby attorney.
In previous court appearances, Patrick has been scolded for making outbursts and speaking out of turn.
The 44-year-old roofer from Georgia is now the third co-defendant in the case to represent himself. A request from a fourth defendant, Duane Ehmer, is pending.
Patrick has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and weapons charges related to the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge earlier this year.
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SEX ABUSE-CO-WORKER
Seaside man accused of sexually abusing co-worker
(Information from: The Daily Astorian, http://www.dailyastorian.com)
ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) — An employee of a sushi restaurant in Astoria is facing sexual assault charges after being accused of touching a co-worker inappropriately while he was training her.
The Daily Astorian reports that Maximo Cruz Figueroa, of Seaside, was arrested Tuesday. He faces charges of third-degree sex abuse and harassment with a sexual component.
The 26-year-old victim had reported to police on Friday that she had been touched inappropriately by the man who had recently hired her at the restaurant.
Police say managers at the restaurant have cooperated in the investigation and have placed Cruz on leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
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COLD CASE ARREST
Arizona man arrested in Oregon in 2007 cold case
PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) — An Arizona man accused of using the credit card of a former business partner presumed dead has been arrested.
Yavapai County Sheriff’s officials say 53-year-old Anthony Richards was taken into custody recently in Oregon on a warrant and extradited to Arizona.
They say Lawrence Powers has been missing since April 2007. He was 58 at the time and had a joint gold mining claim with Richards near Bagdad, Arizona.
Powers was declared to be presumed dead by a California court in 2012.
Sheriff’s officials say Richards was indicted on 23 counts including 19 of identity theft for use of Powers’ credit card for purchases in three states.
Other charges are forgery, trafficking in stolen property and theft of Power’s handgun and credit card.
Richards remains jailed on a $100,000 bond.
CAMPAIGN 2016
Trump, Ryan prepare to meet as Republicans call for unity
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan are sitting down face-to-face for the first time, a week after Ryan stunned Republicans by refusing to back the mercurial billionaire for president.
The much-anticipated meeting Thursday morning will play out as polls suggest Republican voters are getting behind Trump, who effectively clinched the nomination last week. GOP lawmakers are increasingly calling for the party to end its embarrassing bout of infighting and unite to beat likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in November, and many want to see Ryan get on board.
Ahead of the meeting Ryan insisted party unity was his goal, too.
For his part, Trump insisted defiantly that he doesn’t need the blessing of Ryan or other Republican leaders wary of the candidate.
PASTOR-SEX ASSAULT
Priest pleads guilty to trying to lure girl in Vancouver
(Information from: The Columbian, http://www.columbian.com)
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — A Catholic priest has pleaded guilty to trying to lure a 14-year-old girl into his car while she was walking home in Vancouver.
The Columbian reports that Michael Patrick, the former pastor of an Oregon church, entered the plea Friday to attempted luring. Prosecutors are recommending a six-month jail term when he’s sentenced later this month.
An Archdiocese of Portland spokesman says Patrick hasn’t been assigned to a parish since his April 2014 arrest and that they are still investigating the incident.
Court documents say the girl reported that a man had pulled up next to her as she was walking home and told her to get inside his car. She said she told him no multiple times and walked away, but that he continued to follow her.
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FLIGHT DIVERTED-NO BEER
Passenger’s quest for beer forced flight to divert, feds say
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A passenger who authorities say forced an Alaska Airlines flight to be diverted after he didn’t get a beer has pleaded not guilty in Portland, Oregon, to a charge of interfering with a flight crew.
A federal indictment unsealed Tuesday says 32-year-old Luke Watts of Portland threatened to become violent if flight attendants didn’t serve him a beer during a March flight from Sacramento, California, to Seattle.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Tolkoff says Watts then locked himself in the bathroom and screamed and pounded on the door. He also demanded hugs from flight attendants.
Concerned about the potential for violence, the pilot decided to land in Portland.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta on Tuesday allowed Watts to remain free while awaiting trial.
PORTS-AIR POLLUTION
US senators want air pollution reduced at ports, railyards
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A group of U.S. senators, all Democrats, are asking federal regulators to do more to cut air pollution around port cities and railyards.
New Jersey Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker joined New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin and Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley on Wednesday in a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce emissions at ports and freight railyards.
The lawmakers say many of the ports and railyards are located near lower-income neighborhoods and those residents are disproportionately exposed to high levels of air pollution resulting in serious health problems.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.