AP-OR–2nd Right Now/1090
RANCHING STANDOFF
First Oregon standoff defendant sent to prison
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The first defendant in the armed takeover of an Oregon wildlife refuge early this year has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for his role in it.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that Corey Lequieu, 46, was sentenced Tuesday, the first person to be sent to prison in the federal conspiracy case.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna J. Brown also sentenced Lequieu to three years of supervised release after prison and an amount of restitution to be determined later.
In May, Lequieu was the first of 26 standoff defendants charged with conspiracy to plead guilty. He admitted to impeding federal employees through threats, intimidation or force from working at the refuge outside Burns, Oregon.
The conspiracy charge carries a prison sentence of up to six years. But federal prosecutors recommended less time as part of a plea agreement, at least partly because Lequieu was the first in the case to take responsibility.
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ESTACADA COUNCILMAN-SEX ABUSE
Ex-Estacada councilman sentenced in child sex abuse case
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A former councilman for the Clackamas County city of Estacada has been sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually abusing a young relative.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that 34-year-old Curt Steininger was sentenced Tuesday after pleading no contest to sex abuse charges.
His alleged victim had reported to police that Steininger repeatedly touched her genitals and forced her to touch him inappropriately starting in 2008, when she was 6.
Steininger, an Oregon Army National Guard veteran, had won a seat on the Estacada City Council in 2012 before resigning in 2014.
He spoke briefly in court before being cut off by his attorney after he told the victim’s mother he didn’t forgive her.
Attorney Richard Cohen says his client will get treatment for a drug addiction while in custody.
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TODDLER KILLED-ARREST
Portland man arrested in killing of girlfriend’s toddler
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A 20-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son in Portland.
Police say homicide detectives were called to a hospital Monday to assist in an investigation regarding Zackariah Luda Daugherty’s traumatic injuries. The child died the next day from what the state medical examiner determined was homicide violence.
The suspect is being held in the Multnomah County Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
Police say the toddler’s death marks the twelfth homicide in Portland this year.
BEND’S BOOM
Some Bend residents displeased with side effects of growth
(Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
BEND, Ore. (AP) — As Bend’s economy and population continue to grow some residents are displeased with some of the side effects.
The Bulletin reports that as Bend looks to expand its urban growth boundary and fill in unoccupied parcels residents have been outspoken that they don’t want their neighborhoods to change.
In one example, hundreds of people showed up at a Bend Planning Commission meeting opposed to proposed multifamily housing development on land owned by Central Oregon Community College, with many people opposing the planned density.
Others opposed to change have been spotted with bumper stickers reading “Bend sucks, don’t move here.”
The irritation isn’t new. Bend’s population has been growing steadily since the 1990s. In 2000, three City Councilors were elected as part of the “slow-growth” platform.
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DEPUTY CRASH-INJURY
Off-duty sheriff’s deputy injured in motorcycle crash
HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. (AP) — An off-duty sheriff’s deputy was injured when his motorcycle collided with a bus near Happy Valley.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office says authorities responded to an intersection Tuesday afternoon on reports that a TriMet bus and motorcycle were involved in a crash and that the motorcyclist appeared to have critical injuries.
Responders determined the motorcyclist was a Clackamas County Sheriff’s deputy who had been driving his personal motorcycle.
He was flown to a local hospital for treatment. His name has not been released.
The bus driver is cooperating with the investigation led by Oregon State Police.
OREGON-RECALL ELECTIONS
Voters recall of official in Wheeler County, Oregon
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Residents of the least populous county in Oregon have voted overwhelmingly to recall their top county administrative official, according to unofficial returns.
Wheeler County Clerk Barb Sitton says there was a 65 percent return of ballots from eligible voters in county where voter participation is customarily high.
She told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Fossil that 406 ballots were for the recall of Wheeler County Judge Patrick C. Perry, and 208 were against. Sitton said Tuesday the county is awaiting confirmation from the secretary of state’s office of the numbers and guidance on the next step. Perry is one of three members of the county commission.
The recall had cited conflicts of interest. Perry had said the recall was “based on unfounded and vague allegations.”
OREGON UNEMPLOYMENT
Oregon jobless rate jumps to 5.2 percent; labor force grows
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s jobless rate has climbed above 5 percent for the first time since January.
The state Employment Department says Oregon added 3,800 jobs in July, but the unemployment rate rose to 5.2 percent because of an increase in job seekers.
July’s job gain, however, was a little weaker than the average monthly increase over the past year.
Health care and social assistance was the industry that added the most jobs in July, while manufacturing and construction lagged.
The national unemployment for July was 4.9 percent.
OREGON FIRENADO
Winds whip up firenados out of Oregon field fire
CORNELIUS, Ore. (AP) — A small fire on an Oregon farmer’s field whipped up several firenados — tornados comprised of flames and smoke.
The smoky twisters cropped up in the field after a piece of farming equipment on Friday sparked the fire, which ultimately burned about 7 acres.
Cornelius Fire Department spokesman Matt Johnston said erratic winds contributed to the flaming phenomenon. He said the fire sucks in oxygen to fuel itself and the heat rises, causing the spinning column of flames and smoke.
Johnston filmed one in an adjacent field that swirled for about two minutes and shot up about 200 feet.
While Oregon has had a tame wildfire season so far, Johnston said three days of expected triple digit heat has crews worried.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
