AP-OR–2nd Right Now/1112
BODY FOUND BURNING HOME
Cops seek ‘armed and dangerous’ man in Elma homicide, arson
ELMA, Wash. (AP) — Officials investigating the death of a man whose body was found outside a burning home say they are searching for the homeowner, who is now a homicide suspect.
Grays Harbor County officials consider 37-year-old Jacob Eveland armed and dangerous and say he could be headed to central Oregon.
The sheriff’s office responded to a shots fired call in Elma Tuesday night. When they arrived, they found a house engulfed in flames and the man’s body.
Officials say the deceased is a 47-year-old man, who had been occupying the home with other acquaintances.
Police say the victim was assaulted with an edged weapon and a firearm.
Police describe Eveland as a white male, 6 foot 1 inch tall, 220 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. He may be driving a gold Chevrolet Silverado.
HEAT WAVE
Officials heed warnings as early heat wave hits the West
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Parts of the Western U.S. are getting an early taste of scorching summer heat, forcing officials in California, Oregon and desert Southwest states to heed the warnings of dangerous, triple-digit temperatures in this first week of June.
Organizers rescheduled California’s state track and field championship events to start in the evening hours on Friday and Saturday.
Marching bands have asked officials with the Portland Rose Festival in Oregon if they can take off their hats and change their uniforms during judged performances to help stay cool over the weekend.
The severity of the forecast is also putting the area around Southern Nevada under an excessive heat warning, from Las Vegas to the California and Arizona borders.
CORPORATE TAX
Brown: Corporate tax money should go to school programs
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — With the largest corporate tax hike in Oregon history likely headed to voters in November, lawmakers have two different scenarios to consider for the next two-year budget cycle: one with an extra $6 billion in tax revenue, and one without.
That reality prompted Gov. Kate Brown on Thursday to release her own vision for that revenue if Initiative Petition 28 passes this fall.
It involves creating an endowment fund for high school vocational programs in hopes of boosting graduation rates; expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income households; and tax credits for corporations that dedicate a portion of their tax bill to the Oregon Growth Fund for small and minority businesses.
Cost estimates weren’t immediately available as discussions with lawmakers, who will ultimately decide the plan’s fate, were just beginning. But officials in Brown’s office say it’s a framework to start with.
FISH PASSAGE
Army Corps improving fish passage at Lower Granite Dam
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is making big improvements in fish passage facilities at Lower Granite Dam, hoping to increase the number of endangered salmon and steelhead that migrate through the Columbia-Snake river system.
The dam is located on the Snake River west of Pullman.
One project is designed to deal with high water temperatures in the river, which can hurt migrating fish. To help, the corps in February finished installing a system that draws water from lower depths closer to the surface.
The corps is also constructing a Juvenile Bypass System upgrade, which involves “daylighting” juvenile fish passage to an elevated flume.
This is expected to increase survival of juvenile fish.
WHISTLEBLOWER VERDICT
Agency director fired for whistleblowing gets more than $1M
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The former head of an Oregon agency has been awarded $1.26 million after a jury found she was fired for whistleblowing.
The Statesman Journal reports that Kyle Walker was fired in 2014 as CEO of the semi-independent state agency Oregon Travel Experience. According to court documents, Walker said she was wrongfully fired after raising concerns that the agency’s governing council was operating illegally.
OTE Executive Director Nancy DeSouza declined to comment directly on Friday’s verdict but said the state is considering an appeal.
The state claimed that it was immune from liability and any harm resulted from Walker’s own actions.
The Oregon Travel Experience maintains blue highway business signs, rest stops, travel information kiosks and the Oregon Heritage Tree program.
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WRESTLING COACH-ABUSE
Gresham wrestling coach admits abusing boys
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A former youth wrestling coach has pleaded guilty to sexual abuse.
Wyatt Deremer of Gresham was arrested last year after a mother told police the coach had inappropriate contact with her son.
Deremer admitted in court Thursday there was sufficient evidence to convict him of molesting four boys who were between 6 and 13 at the time of the abuse.
Sentencing has been scheduled for June 29. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the coach is expected to receive 10 years in prison.
WHITE SUPREMACIST LEADER-CONVICTION
White supremacist gang leader sentenced to federal prison
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The leader of a white supremacist gang who used his Portland auto shop to distribute methamphetamine and torture enemies has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.
The Oregonian/Oregon Live reports that federal and state prosecutors reached a settlement with lawyers for 48-year-old David Corbit, leader of the Krude Rude Brood.
Corbit had pleaded no contest to attempted murder and guilty to assault, robbery and kidnapping charges in two state cases. He pleaded guilty to the federal drug charge.
Federal agents worked with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s office to have undercover officers infiltrate the gang in the Portland area.
Corbit is a co-owner of Tom’s Auto Painting and Body Shop and was identified as the gang’s “enforcer.” The gang used home invasions, kidnapping and assaults to intimidate witnesses.
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TRAILER SHOOTING-SENTENCE
Marion County woman gets probation for husband’s death
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A Marion County woman who shot and killed her husband in December has been sentenced to five years of probation.
The Statesman Journal reports that 63-year-old Carolyn DiMatteo was sentenced on Wednesday after previously pleading guilty to criminally negligent homicide.
DiMatteo was arrested Dec. 26 after calling 911 and saying she had shot and killed her husband, 69-year-old Joseph DiMatteo, at their trailer near Lyons.
At sentencing, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Dale Penn said DiMatteo’s long, documented history as a victim of domestic violence was one of the factors that swayed him to grant her probation instead of prison time.
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