AP-OR–2nd Right Now/1213
AIRPORT INTRUDERS-OREGON
Portland airport fence breached 4 times in 2015
PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — Portland International Airport had a record four perimeter fence breaches in 2015, including one instance in which a person scrambled over the fence to avoid being hit by gang gunfire.
In three other 2015 breaches, people crashed their cars into the fence; in June, after driving through a fence, the driver and passenger fled and were later arrested. Last year saw a big jump in security breaches at Portland, which has five others going back to 2004.
Portland airport spokeswoman Kama Simonds says none of the 2015 breaches appear to be intentional.
Airport officials revealed the incidents during an Associated Press investigation which documented at least 345 perimeter security breaches at 31 of the nation’s busiest airports between 2004 and mid-February.
Airports say their outer defenses are strong.
HAYES EMAIL-ATTORNEY FEES
Judge: Cylvia Hayes must pay $128,000 to The Oregonian
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A judge has ordered former first lady Cylvia Hayes to pay The Oregonian/OregonLive nearly $128,000 in attorney fees the news organization incurred in her unsuccessful lawsuit to stop the release of her emails.
A Marion County judge’s ruling came on Wednesday, almost 18 months after The Oregonian asked for business emails between Hayes and former Governor John Kitzhaber that were exchanged on a personal account.
Hayes contended she wasn’t a public official and not subject to state public records law. Judges disagreed and decided most of the emails should be released.
Kitzhaber yielded to political pressure and quit over allegations that Hayes used their relationship to win contracts for her consulting business. Hayes and Kitzhaber remain under federal investigation to determine if either used their positions for personal gain, but no charges have been filed.
Hayes says she plans to appeal.
CANADA WILDFIRE-OREGON FIREFIGHTERS
40 Oregon firefighters leave to fight giant blaze in Canada
(Information from: KATU-TV, http://www.katu.com/)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Forty firefighters from central Oregon have been sent to help battle a wildfire in Canada that has destroyed parts of Fort McMurray in Alberta.
KATU-TV reports that the firefighters, including the 20-member Prineville Hotshots crew, flew from the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho on Wednesday.
U.S. officials sent a total of 200 firefighters on Wednesday to help extinguish the 500,000-acre blaze. The firefighters are from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service.
The fire, which started May 1, has forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate, burned nearly 2,000 structures and hurt the region’s oil sands industry because of production shutdowns.
Canada has sent firefighters to the U.S. each of the last five years.
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SPIKE STRIP-LAWSUIT
Woman accused of driving stolen car sues Portland for $49K
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A woman is suing the city of Portland over claims that she was stopped by police, ordered out her car at gunpoint and handcuffed after being wrongly accused of driving a stolen car.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Sophia Holmes filed the $49,000 lawsuit last month, which also alleges officers endangered her life during the January incident by using a spike strip to flatten her tires.
Police reports say an officer had matched only part of Holmes’ license plate to the license plate of a car reported stolen. Police don’t mention Holmes being handcuffed or say guns were drawn.
Police say they apologized to the driver and provided information on where she could get her tires fixed.
Holmes is seeking damages for medical and counseling expenses as well as emotional distress.
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PORTLAND POLICE CHIEF
Hunting trip shooting prompts Portland chief’s removal
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland’s top police officer was placed on paid administrative leave this week after authorities learned he may have lied about accidentally shooting a friend in the back during a hunting trip last month in eastern Oregon.
Portland Police Chief Larry O’Dea was placed on leave Tuesday by Mayor Charlie Hales after a series of agency investigations were launched last week into the April 21 incident.
The controversy stems from the fact that O’Dea told authorities at the scene the victim accidentally shot himself, but later disclosed to Hales that he fired the gun on accident. County sheriff’s officials where the incident occurred learned O’Dea was involved almost a month later while interviewing the unidentified victim.
Assistant Chief Donna Henderson was named as acting chief while the probes are underway.
KID DRIVER CRASHES
Portland police: 11-year-old driving stolen car crashes
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland Police say an 11-year-old boy has been arrested after he crashed a stolen vehicle into other cars in north Portland.
Officers responded Wednesday morning to reports that a possible drunk driver hit two parked cars and drove from the scene.
Police found the stolen vehicle about a mile from the crash scene. They say the driver and passengers ran and hid in the neighborhood before they were found and taken into custody.
No one was hurt in the crashes.
Officers later determined that the 11-year-old boy and a 13-year-old male passenger were reported runaways. Both were lodged in juvenile detention center for unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
HEALTH OVERHAUL-ALASKA
Rate filings for individual Alaska health plans due in July
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The lone insurance company expected to offer individual health plans to Alaskans next year will have until mid-July to make its rate filings.
State Division of Insurance Director Lori Wing-Heier said initial rate filings were expected in early May.
But Moda Health’s announcement this month that it will not be participating in the individual market next year complicated matters, leaving Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield as the only company in that market, barring any further changes.
Wing-Heier said the division asked Moda to provide the information it would have included in its rate filing had it made one and with Moda’s agreement provided that to Premera.
She says Premera will incorporate Moda’s data into its filings so they will be adequate for the risk the company will be assuming.
MOM-SCALDING
Mom gets nearly 6 years for scalding daughter as punishment
(Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/)
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — A Medford woman who admitting to scalding her 3-year-old daughter’s arms as punishment has been sentenced to 70 months in prison.
The Mail-Tribune says 27-year-old Felicia Burton admitted in Jackson County Circuit Court Tuesday that she held her daughter’s hands and arms under hot running water because the child made a mess in her pants in 2014. She pleaded guilty to assault and criminal mistreatment
Court documents show Burton waited a day before seeking medical care. The girl was later taken to a Portland hospital where a doctor described her burns as life-threatening because of the high risk of infection.
Defense lawyer Jeni Feinberg says Burton feels remorse for what happened.
A court-appointed advocate told the court the child is recovering from physical injuries but has emotional scars.
Burton’s partner, Brian Schott, also faces a charge first-degree criminal mistreatment.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
