AP-OR–2nd Right Now/1250
PORTLAND POLLUTION-GOVERNOR
Gov. directs cease and desist order to glass company
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Gov. Kate Brown has directed that a Portland glass company stop using several air pollutants, including lead, after monitoring at a nearby daycare showed lead levels four times higher than the 24-hour benchmark.
The state Department of Environmental Quality issued Brown’s order to Bullseye Glass on Thursday.
Bullseye was told to halt the use of lead, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, all chromium compounds, cobalt, manganese, nickel, and selenium in any uncontrolled furnace for the next 10 days.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality announced Feb. 3 it discovered hazardous levels of cadmium and arsenic in the air near Bullseye Glass.
Bullseye had suspended use of cadmium, chromium and arsenic in response. Bullseye said in a news release Wednesday they are working to install filtration systems and support stronger regulation of air toxics.
RANCHING STANDOFF-RECALL PETITION
Recall petition against Harney County official validated
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A recall petition against a Harney County official who didn’t support the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge has gathered enough signatures to force him to resign or face a recall election.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office notified Judge Steve Grasty Thursday in a letter that the petition had been validated. He has until Tuesday to resign or submit a “statement of justification” that would appear on the recall election ballot.
Grasty, who acts as chairman of the county commission, says he won’t step down.
He has been criticized for demanding that Ammon Bundy and his supporters leave Harney County during their 41-day occupation of the refuge to protest federal land-use policies.
A recall election will be held by June 28.
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PORTLAND HOMELESS
Portland buys bus tickets for homeless to leave Portland
(Information from: KGW-TV, http://www.kgw.com/)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland has launched a program that offers homeless people looking to leave the city a ticket out.
KGW-TV reports that the “Homeward Bound” program began Thursday with Portland purchasing its first round of bus tickets for homeless people. At least 40 people have expressed interest in wanting to leave the city.
Officials have been taking names of those who want to sign up for the program since March.
The Portland-area nonprofit Transition Projects is in charge of interviewing candidates, confirming whether a homeless person will have a family or friend help them in their new destination and following up with the individual once they’ve arrived.
In addition to bus tickets, the nonprofit’s Susan Salisbury says officials will pay for train and plane tickets and even offer gas money.
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OREGON-SUPERDELEGATES
Superdelegates choose between Sanders and Clinton in Oregon
SALEM, Oregon (AP) — After Bernie Sanders won Oregon’s Democratic primary this week, two superdelegates announced they’ll back the Vermont senator and one declared support for Hillary Clinton. The moves came amid increased discomfort with a system viewed as undemocratic, even among some of the superdelegates themselves.
The issue is particularly critical in this election, because even though Sanders beat Clinton by nearly 10 percentage points in the primary, the former secretary of state could still amass most of the Oregon delegates if a certain number of the 13 superdelegates swing her way. The odds of this happening are very remote, though it is mathematically possible.
The breakdown of the Oregon primary gives Sanders 34 pledged delegates and Clinton 25, with two pledged delegates still unallocated amid close returns. Adding the declared superdelegates gives Sanders a total of 37 and Clinton 32.
If all three undeclared superdelegates go for Clinton, the result would be 37-35, a squeaker for Sanders. That is, if the superdelegates don’t change their minds, which they are all entitled to do.
RANCHING STANDOFF
Occupier pleads guilty: ‘Damned if I do, damned if I don’t’
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Nevada man who participated in the armed occupation of an Oregon bird sanctuary has pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge.
In exchange for Corey Lequieu’s plea, prosecutors agreed to drop weapons charges.
A federal judge scheduled sentencing for Aug. 25. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Gabriel says prosecutors will recommend 2 ½ years in prison.
The Ammon Bundy-led takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge began Jan. 2 and lasted nearly six weeks. The occupiers wanted the government to relinquish public lands to locals and free two imprisoned ranchers.
Lequieu is the first of 26 defendants charged with conspiracy to plead guilty. The trial for the other 25 is set for Sept. 7.
Asked why he pleaded guilty, he said: “Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.”
BUILD A WALL-PROTEST
Oregon high school students protest ‘build a wall’ banner
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Hundreds of Oregon high school students walked out of class Thursday to protest a banner that made reference to Donald Trump’s plan for a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.
A sign reading “build a wall” appeared briefly in a cafeteria Wednesday at Forest Grove High School in suburban Portland. School officials quickly removed it.
Students who protested Thursday morning marched down a street before eventually returning to school. Some students from other Oregon high schools joined the demonstration.
The Forest Grove district has the highest percentage of Latino students in the Portland area. Officials said the students responsible for the banner were disciplined.
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has said he wants to clamp down on illegal immigration and for Mexico to pay for a border wall.
TRESPASSING BOATERS
State orders Willamette River boaters to move on
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon regulators are telling people living on boats on the Willamette River to move on or risk fines.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that the Oregon Department of State Lands is cracking down on long-term boaters on the river, saying they are on a state-owned waterway without permission.
So far 14 boat owners on the river between the Willamette Cove and the Fremont bridge have been given trespassing notices on suspicion of living along state-owned waterways for at least 30 days.
Boaters have been given 20 days to move to another spot at least five miles away and not return for a year, move to a marina or contest the citation. If they don’t comply, they can be fined $100 a day until they move or their boats will be seized.
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SHERIFF-DODGE CHARGER
Sheriff Dan Staton to give up $34,000 Dodge Charger
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The embattled Multnomah County Sheriff Dan Staton is giving up his nearly $34,000 car after the vehicle was found to have been bought outside normal county procedure.
Staton told The Oregonian/OregonLive Wednesday the Dodge Charger will go to a “first responder,” in what he called an “appropriate use of taxpayer dollars.”
The county fleet department had said last June it couldn’t afford to replace Staton’s car with a more expensive model. The sheriff’s office then used discretionary funds from its own $135 million budget.
Staton recently said he wasn’t aware the purchase had deviated from department protocol.
The Oregon Department of Justice recently completed an investigation of the sheriff prompted by allegations that he created a hostile work environment. Staton was cleared of criminal wrongdoing.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
