AP-OR–2nd Right Now/1233
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE-OFFENSIVE FACEBOOK POST
GOP House candidate asked to withdraw over Facebook post
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon House Republicans are calling on one of their legislative candidates to withdraw from the November election because of an image posted on his Facebook page showing President Barack Obama with a noose around his neck.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports a spokesman for the Republicans called the post “absolutely abhorrent” and said George “Sonny” Yellott should apologize for the image. Yellott is running for House District 48.
The post featured an edited photo showing Obama’s head on former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in an image from the dictator’s 2006 hanging. The photo also showed a hooded figure placing a noose around Obama’s neck and the words, “The Making of a National Holiday.”
Yellott, a member of the Mt. Hood Community College’s board of directors, didn’t immediately return calls seeking comment.
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PORTLAND SCHOOLS-LEAD
Portland superintendent steps down amid lead scandal
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The superintendent of public schools in Portland, Oregon, is stepping down from her role, effective immediately, after the release of a scathing report on the district’s handling of high levels of lead found in schools’ drinking water.
Carole Smith has been superintendent since 2007. Several weeks after the lead scandal at two Portland schools broke this spring, she announced plans to retire within a year.
But Smith sped up her departure to Monday after the release of the findings of an independent probe. It concluded the district’s efforts to test water, fix problems and notify the public have been inadequate for 15 years.
Tom Koehler, school board chairman, said in a statement that officials will select Smith’s interim replacement this summer while searching for a permanent leader.
METH SEIZURE-PLEA
Woman admits to having 24 pounds of meth in car in Eugene
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A Washington state woman who authorities say was found with 24 pounds of crystal meth in her car during a Eugene traffic stop has pleaded guilty to felony drug charges.
The Register-Guard reports Teri Lynn Baker, of Kent, Washington, entered guilty pleas Monday to unlawful delivery and methamphetamine possession. As part of a plea deal, she faces nearly five years in prison for the November 2015 incident.
The 56-year-old woman had been stopped by an Oregon state trooper along Interstate 5 for speeding. Authorities say the trooper used a drug detection dog that discovered the meth inside a hidden compartment in the SUV.
She was arrested and taken to the Lane County Jail.
The judge said Monday Baker has attended all her court dates while out on pretrial release.
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OVER THE FALLS-FATAL
Man dies going over 100-foot Lava Canyon Falls
STEVENSON, Wash. (AP) — The body of a 25-year-old Beaverton, Oregon, man has been recovered from Muddy River after he slipped and went over the 100-foot high Lava Canyon Falls.
The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call on Sunday reporting that James Fowler was trying to across the river just above the falls when he stepped on a partially submerged rock and the swift water swept him over the falls.
The site was about 20 miles northeast of Cougar, Washington in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Officials say that Fowler’s body was seen floating face down below the falls. A witness tried to reach Fowler but the rugged terrain turned him back.
Search crews aided by a fixed-wing aircraft searched Sunday night and Monday morning. At about 12:30 p.m. Monday, Fowler’s body was recovered. His body was taken to the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office.
RANCHING STANDOFF-SEALED DOCUMENTS
Judge: Most documents in Bundy case in Nevada to stay sealed
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A federal judge is citing prosecutors’ concerns about threats of violence in a ruling that’ll keep many documents secret in the criminal case involving Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and a 2014 armed standoff with government agents.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Leen says she found a credible risk that public disclosure of information that prosecutors will have to provide to attorneys for the 19 defendants might be used to intimidate witnesses and court officials.
Leen’s order, issued Friday in Las Vegas, doesn’t apply to materials collected from the internet and other public sources.
It rejects arguments by some defendants and media including The Associated Press, the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Nevada newspaper publisher Battle Born Media that grand jury transcripts, FBI and police reports and witness statements should be made public.
BEND-CLIMATE CHANGE
Oregon city wants feedback on climate change measure
(Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
BEND, Ore. (AP) — A city in central Oregon is asking residents to weigh in on its plan to combat climate change.
The Bulletin reports that the Bend City Council is holding a special meeting Thursday to get public feedback on a resolution that sets goals to reduce carbon emissions.
The draft plan calls for making all city facilities carbon neutral, meaning city operations would emit no greenhouse gases or would offset emissions through measures like planting trees or purchasing renewable energy.
A large part of Bend’s economy is based on outdoor recreations on the river and in the mountains. Nikki Roemmer of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters says it is important that the city be proactive about protecting the environment.
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HIGH SPEED RAIL
Oregon leans toward putting off high-speed rail plans
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — After spending four years considering what to do with the Willamette Valley passenger rail line, Oregon officials are leaning toward maintaining the status quo.
The Register-Guard reports that the Oregon Department of Transportation is planning to keep the passenger rail line in its current location on the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The railroad owners focus on moving freight, causing delays for passengers.
The transportation department hopes to take public comment and have a final plan in 2018. The Federal Railroad Administration has the final say.
High-speed rail proponents hoped for a bullet train travelling up to 120 mph parallel to Interstate 5. That plan would require building a new rail line and stations and a draft environmental impact statement says it would be very expensive.
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HAY FIRE
Spontaneous combustion caused massive hay fire in Oregon
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A Junction City fire captain says spontaneous combustion caused a fire that burned a $1.5 million hay harvest.
Friday’s blaze was at the Bounds Hay Co., a few miles northwest of downtown Junction City. Capt. Jason Peterson tells The Register-Guard he can’t recall working a bigger fire in his 15 years with the department.
He says the fire will likely smolder for the rest of the week. Property owner Jesse Bounds has a water truck on the premises and will continue to monitor the scene.
Bounds said he believed moisture from a pile of waste straw mulch, mixed with direct afternoon sunlight, caused the straw to combust. Heavy winds then pushed embers onto a hay storage barn.
Two barns lost in the fire were insured.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.