Latest Oregon news, sports, business and entertainment

EARTHQUAKE-OREGON COAST

Moderate earthquakes recorded off Oregon, California coasts

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Scientists say two moderate earthquakes occurred off the Oregon and California coasts late Saturday and early Sunday but neither triggered a tsunami warning.

The U.S. Geological Survey says a 5.0 earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean about 93 miles southwest of Gold Beach, Oregon, at about 10 p.m. Saturday.

Scientists say a 4.6-magnitude quake in the ocean about 97 miles west of Brookings, Oregon, followed at about 3 a.m. Sunday.

Neither quake prompted a warning from the National Tsunami Warning Center.

OREGON SCHOOLS-LEAD TESTING

Oregon school districts could be reimbursed for lead testing

(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Oregon officials say school districts that paid to test their water sources for lead will likely be reimbursed.

The Oregon Department of Education tells The Register-Guard that the Oregon Legislature will provide $5 million from its state emergency funds.

State officials say requests for the reimbursements must be submitted to the Department of Education by Dec. 1.

State officials also say eligibility for the reimbursements include using Oregon Health Authority accredited labs that follow U.S. Environmental Protection Agency protocols.

___

BODY FOUND-TILLAMOOK COUNTY

Body found on Oregon coast believed to be Portland man

(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a body found along the coast in Tillamook County is believed to be that of a missing Portland man.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that 86-year-old Duane Anderson was last seen at a Portland gym Wednesday. He was reported missing that night after he failed to show up for a planned golf outing.

Deputies discovered Anderson’s car along the coastline and the U.S. Coast Guard launched a search in the area, about 90 miles west of where he was last seen.

The body was located Friday and police are still waiting to confirm the identity.

It is unclear how the man died.

___

BOAT CAPSIZES-OREGON

3 men dead after crab boat capsizes near Bandon

(Information from: The World, http://www.theworldlink.com)

BANDON, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say three men died after their recreational crab boat capsized at the Coquille River bar near Bandon.

The U.S. Coast Guard tells the Coos Bay World that the boat capsized at about 8:30 a.m. Saturday in 6- to 8-foot waves.

Officials say a Coast Guard helicopter crew recovered two bodies in the water and that Bandon Police recovered a third body from the rocks on a jetty.

Names haven’t been released.

___

MARIJUANA TOURISM-OREGON

Southwest Oregon pot growers eye potential for tourism

(Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/)

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — Pot growers in southwest Oregon say the industry could eventually join vineyards and pear orchards as Rogue Valley agricultural mainstays and draw in more tourists.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission says Jackson and adjacent Josephine counties have about half of the 258 indoor and outdoor grow sites in the state.

And Jackson County has about a third of all the large commercial outdoor marijuana operations.

Dewey Wilson is growing 1,100 cannabis plants with a potential value of more than $2 million along the Rogue River.

He tells the Mail Tribune that he’s converted an old barn that once housed cows to be used for tourism if the state allows it.

State officials say it’s not clear when supply might outpace demand for marijuana in Oregon.

___

OREGON-GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE

Oregon GOP and Democrat governor candidates spar in debate

BEND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and her Republican challenger debated for the first time

Brown is the incumbent, but she is running for the first time. She was secretary of state when she ascended to the governorship when Gov. John Kitzhaber resigned amid an influence-peddling investigation. Bud Pierce, an oncologist who practices in the state capital of Salem, emerged as the Republican challenger in the state’s primary election, in May. They are competing to fill the remaining two years of Kitzhaber’s term.

In her opening statement on Saturday, Brown said she is proud that Oregon created the first automatic voter registration program and that the state is moving away from coal energy.

Pierce, in his statement, noted his humble background said he will not leave rural Oregon behind if he’s elected.

APPEAL REJECTED

Appeal rejected for man convicted in ex-fiancee’s death

(Information from: KVAL-TV, http://www.kval.com/)

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A man convicted in the death of his ex-fiancee will not get an appeal on the grounds that police interrogated him after he told them he did not have legal representation.

KVAL-TV reports Robert Allen Cromwell was convicted in the 2013 death of 26-year-old Casey Wright.

He is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

The Lane County District Attorney’s Office said the Oregon Court of Appels rejected the claim that police should have stopped the interrogation when they learned Cromwell did not have legal representation.

A police officer’s affidavit says Cromwell read Wright’s text messages while she slept and then hit her four times in the head with an aluminum baseball bat.

___

RAZOR CLAM-CLOSURE

Oregon Coast closes to razor clamming and mussel harvesting

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — State officials have closed razor clam digging and mussel harvesting along the entire Oregon Coast because of rising marine toxin levels.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the closure Friday in a news release. The closure extends from the Columbia River to the California border.

Recent shellfish samples taken indicate levels of the marine biotoxin domoic acid have risen above alert levels.

Domoic acid, a natural toxin produced by certain types of marine algae, can be harmful or fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities.

Coastal scallops are not affected by the closure when only the adductor muscle is eaten. The consumption of whole recreationally harvested scallops is not recommended.

The area will remain closed until tests show toxin levels have dropped.