ELECTION-RECORD VOTERS
Record number of voters registered in Oregon
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s secretary of state says more than 2.5 million people are registered to vote for the first time in the state’s history and predicted a record participation in the Nov. 8 election.
The state is also on track to add over 250,000 new voters through the Oregon Motor Voter program in time for the election.
Secretary of State Jeanne P. Atkins said on Tuesday that Nov. 8th will be one of the busiest elections in Oregon’s modern history.
She encouraged voters to visit OregonVotes.gov to check their registration status. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 18, at midnight.
Oregon’s new voter registration law, Oregon Motor Voter, registers voters after they obtain or renew their driver’s license, permit or identification card.
SEX WITH TEEN-SENTENCE
Cottage Grove woman sentenced for having sex with teen
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A Cottage Grove woman has been given a 10-day jail sentence after admitting that she had sex with her 16-year-old neighbor last summer.
The Register-Guard reports that 27-year-old Jessica Jane Bennett was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor. She has the option of avoiding jail time by participating in an alternate program such as road crew or community service.
Authorities began investigating Bennett in July after the teen’s father contacted the Lane County Sheriff’s Office to report that the woman was naked in the boy’s bed.
Bennett allegedly admitted to authorities that she and the teen had sex multiple times that day. She said she knew the teen was underage and realized she had made a bad decision.
___
WARRENTON POLICE INVESTIGATION
State investigating Warrenton police officers
(Information from: The Daily Astorian, http://www.dailyastorian.com)
WARRENTON, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the conduct of Warrenton police officers.
The Daily Astorian reports that details of the state probe have not been released, but Warrenton police Chief Mathew Workman confirmed two officers are being investigated. He says three officers are on administrative leave, including one who was on leave prior to the investigation.
Workman says the department is cooperating fully with investigators.
The city police department only has 11 sworn officers and three reserve officers.
___
SHARK ATTACK OREGON
Police: Shark attacks surfer off Oregon coast
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Police say a shark has attacked a surfer north of Cannon Beach off the Oregon coast.
Oregon State Police spokesman Lt. Steve Mitchell says in a news release that 29-year-old Joseph Tanner of Portland, Oregon, was apparently bitten while surfing near Indian Beach at Ecola State Park on Monday afternoon.
Mitchell says Tanner was bitten in his upper thigh and lower leg.
Tanner was stabilized at the scene and flown to a Portland hospital with serious injuries.
Authorities are investigating.
___
WILDFIRE STUDY
Study: Human-caused warming burns more Western forests
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A new study on Western forest fires confirms what is already apparent — wildfire seasons are getting longer and more destructive.
But researchers with the University of Idaho and Columbia University also say humans are to blame for much of that increase.
The study says human-caused global warming contributed an additional 16,000 square miles of burned forests from 1984 to 2015.
Researchers say the 16,000 square miles represent half of the forest areas that burned over the last three decades.
The study found that longer and hotter dry spells are causing Western forests to dry out and become more susceptible to wildfires over a longer period of time.
The study says the trend is likely to continue for decades while there are enough trees to fuel the flames.
RANCHING STANDOFF
Ryan Bundy questions wife at Oregon standoff trial
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Ryan Bundy called his wife Angela to the stand as the defense resumed its case in the Oregon standoff trial.
Acting as his own lawyer, Bundy broke down Tuesday before posing his first question, finally composing himself to ask: “You’re my wife, right?”
Angela Bundy testified her husband arrived in Burns on Jan. 2, and planned to return home after a rally for two ranchers who were returning to prison to complete a sentence the protesters felt was unjust.
Angela Bundy said she packed Ryan one change of clothes and expected him home no later than Jan. 4.
Ryan Bundy was trying to establish he did not come to Oregon with plans to occupy the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. He’s charged with engaging in a conspiracy with his brother Ammon and others to impede federal workers from doing their jobs at the refuge.
MARATHON CONFUSION
Wrong runner awarded winning trophy at Portland Marathon
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The man who won Sunday’s Portland Marathon still doesn’t have his trophy.
Event director Les Smith tells The Oregonian/OregonLive that the people assigned to present awards to the top three men and women after the race missed Matthew Palilla.
Instead, they gave the winning trophy to a confused third-place finisher, who asked why they were giving it to him. After he walked away with the wrong trophy, the people handling awards realized the error.
Smith says the runner who got the wrong award has been alerted to the mix-up, and Palilla will get the right trophy.
The Bend man won the race in a time of 2:36:24.
___
SHARK ATTACK-ADVISORY SIGN
Oregon beach stays open despite shark attack; signs posted
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The state Parks and Recreation Department says Indian Beach at Ecola State Park will remain open despite a reported shark attack.
Spokesman Chris Havel said Tuesday that park employees will post advisory signs informing the public a shark was spotted.
Oregon State Police say the shark bit 29-year-old Joseph Tanner of Portland. The surfer made it back to shore Monday afternoon and was flown to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center for an injury described as serious.
A hospital spokesman said Tuesday he had no information about the patient. A fellow surfer who was at the beach Monday told KGW that Tanner works as a trauma nurse and directed his own first aid.
An online database shows it was the first shark attack off the Oregon coast since 2013.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.