AP-OR–2nd Right Now/1214
OREGON-MARIJUANA FAIR
Oregon buzz: Pot plants at state fair in a 1st for the US
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Nine living marijuana plants will be displayed at the Oregon State Fair in a first of its kind event for the United States starting next Friday.
The exhibit of the immature plants brings pot cultivation into the agricultural mainstream less than two years after Oregon voters legalized recreational marijuana.
The Oregon Cannabis Business Council says it’s the first time live cannabis will be shown at a U.S. state fair.
Oregon State Fair spokesman Dan Cox says the plants will be housed in a translucent tent with extra security.
No one under 21 will be allowed into the display and the plants may not have any buds.
Recreational marijuana remains illegal in 46 states. But the business is booming in Oregon.
Oregon recently quadrupled its recreational marijuana net state tax revenue estimate.
RANCHING STANDOFF-GOVERNOR
Oregon governor seeks to quash subpoena from Ryan Bundy
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Gov. Kate Brown has asked a judge to quash a subpoena that seeks her testimony at Oregon standoff defendant Ryan Bundy’s criminal trial in September.
Through her lawyer, Brown says she has no information pertinent to Bundy’s guilt or innocence in the case.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports she cites federal doctrine that protects high-ranking officials from “harassing and burdensome requests” for testimony.
Ryan Bundy, his brother Ammon Bundy and six co-defendants are scheduled for trial Sept. 7. They are charged with conspiring to impede federal employees at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge through intimidation, threats or force.
Ryan Bundy issued the subpoena Tuesday for Brown to appear at the trial and to produce any emails or memos between her and the FBI or other law enforcement agencies regarding the 41-day refuge occupation that weren’t already turned over to prosecutors.
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EUGENE EMPLOYEES-DRUG CHARGES
Eugene technicians face drug charges
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Two Eugene city employees are facing drug charges that stem from an investigation into a former co-worker, who was convicting of dealing marijuana and methadone.
The Register-Guard reports Monty Early appeared in court Thursday on a charge of delivery of oxycodone. Doug Gunderson has been charged with delivery of methadone.
The allegations against the two fleet service technicians come after former city worker Steven Hern was sentenced to probation after admitting his involvement in a marijuana distribution and money laundering scheme.
Court documents say Gunderson and Early told police they received drugs from Hern while the three men worked together in the city’s public works department.
Gunderson and Early remain on administrative leave.
Early’s attorney declined comment on the case, and Gunderson’s lawyer didn’t return a telephone message Thursday.
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BEND POT SALES TAX
Bend pot tax to go before voters
(Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
BEND, Ore. (AP) — Bend officials have decided to allow voters to weigh in on a 3 percent sales tax on recreational marijuana.
The Bend Bulletin reports that the City Council approved a measure that puts the tax proposal on the Nov. 8 ballot. If approved by voters, it would become the city’s first sales tax and would go into effect in January.
Medical marijuana would be exempted from the taxes.
City officials say the proposed sales tax on recreational pot would bring in about $345,000 a year for the city, which could be used for any purpose.
State law prohibits Bend from adopting a tax higher than 3 percent.
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EXPLOSIVE DEVICE-LYONS
Authorities destroy homemade explosive device in Lyons
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
LYONS, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say they destroyed a homemade explosive device found on a street in Lyons, about 70 miles south of Portland.
The Statesman Journal reports a city of Lyons Public Works employee found the device Wednesday in the road near the public library.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says the employee turned it over to them Thursday. The sheriff’s office says it was live and powerful enough to amputate someone’s hand if detonated.
Deputies immediately placed the device on the ground, cleared a safe area and notified the Oregon State Police Bomb Squad, who destroyed it.
The bomb was two inches long, wrapped in tape and had a fuse.
Authorities are investigating.
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COAST GUARD RESCUE
Coast Guard helps sailors in high seas off Washington Coast
SEATTLE (AP) — U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard crews were working to make sure five people on a sailboat that was taking in water off the Washington Coast made it safely to Tillamook, Oregon.
Coast Guard officials say they received a report Wednesday that a 43-foot sailing vessel was taking on water 218 miles west of La Push in 20-foot seas and 30-mph winds.
An electrical pump onboard couldn’t handle the flooding and people were using buckets to bail water.
Two Coast Guard aircrews flew from Warrenton, Oregon with the pump while another aircrew from Sacramento, California provided cover. Upon arrival, the sailors declined to be hoisted off the boat but the new pump worked to control the flooding.
An aircrew from Prince Rupert, British Columbia is providing aerial surveillance over the vessel and Coast Guard personnel are maintaining communication with the sailboat crew as they travel.
HERMISTON SHOOTING
2 dead, 1 hurt after shooting in Hermiston
(Information from: East Oregonian, http://www.eastoregonian.com)
HERMISTON, Ore. (AP) — A shooting in Hermiston left two men dead and a woman wounded.
The East Oregonian reports Kenneth Valdez was killed at his home Thursday morning. A 35-year-old woman, not yet identified by police, was also at the scene with a gunshot wound and taken to the hospital.
Jason Huston, who volunteered alongside Valdez as a wrestling coach at Hermiston High School, was also found dead at the home from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.
Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said the department was not searching for other suspects.
Police are searching for “missing and endangered” 14-year-old James “JJ” Hurtado, who police say is related to one of the parties involved.
He was last seen at 10 a.m. Thursday, when Huston picked him up in Umatilla and said they were going to play disc golf.
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HOMELESS SHELTER PROPERTY
Purchase offers complicate Portland shelter plan
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Seven companies have offered millions of dollars to buy Portland property slated to become a large homeless shelter.
The Oregonian/Oregon Live reports that the development companies offered between $6 million and $10 million for the warehouse, possibly complicating the City Council’s plans to convert it into a shelter for up to 400 people.
Portland’s sewer bureau had been taking offers for its 14-acre property, but the City Council voted last week that the sewer bureau should lease its property to the housing division for at least $10,000 a month.
The purchase offers were released Wednesday in response to a public records request. They complicate an ongoing disagreement about the value of the property.
Developer Homer Williams has promised to come up the money to operate a mass homeless shelter.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
