MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER-THEFT
Former employee accused of stealing from disabled clients
(Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
BEND, Ore. (AP) — Officials say a former employee for a mental health provider in central Oregon has been accused of stealing $16,000 from developmentally disabled clients.
The Bulletin reports that Rick Treleaven, the executive director for Best Care Treatment Services, confirmed that the Oregon State Police has launched an investigation into the allegations. The center, based in Madras, is also doing an internal investigation.
Heather Martinez-Crowe, the Madras facility director, says she first became suspicious after reviewing questionable bank statements in September. The accused employee, whose name has not been released, was let go soon after.
OSP confirmed the investigation was underway, but declined to comment further.
Treleaven says a lack of oversight in employees’ access to client bank accounts may have played a role and stricter standards have been put in place.
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HEROIN OVERDOSES-IMMUNITY
Heroin crime immunity yields mixed results, AP review finds
Authorities in the Cincinnati area made an offer last month: Hand in potentially deadly drugs and you won’t be charged.
But the blanket immunity there hasn’t brought in any heroin so far.
An Associated Press review has found that results from similar efforts elsewhere have been mixed. But that hasn’t dissuaded supporters who feel like their backs are against the wall as they try to combat the opiate epidemic.
National addiction experts stress simply offering immunity for turning in drugs isn’t enough. They need to be combined with efforts to end the cycle of drug abuse, arrest and incarceration.
In Gloucester (GLAW’-stur), Massachusetts, addicts can turn in their drugs to police without fear of arrest. But officials say less than 20 percent of the over 500 addicts placed into treatment since June 2015 has actually done so.
FATAL CRASH-SENTENCE
Cousins sent to prison for fatal Portland crash
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Two men charged in a speed-racing crash that left a woman dead in Portland have been sentenced to nearly four years in prison.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that Jose David Lara and Oswald Alexander Reyes were sentenced to 45 months in prison Friday. They both pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in the December 2015 death of Linda Johnston.
Authorities say the two men, who are cousins, had been speeding side-by-side along a Portland road when one of them slammed into Johnston’s vehicle.
The 65-year-old victim died at the scene.
Both Lara and Reyes stayed at the scene and were not suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
They apologized for their actions in letters read aloud in court Friday.
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NORTHWEST STORM
Thousands await power as less severe Northwest storm fizzles
SEATTLE (AP) — Thousands of residents in the Pacific Northwest remained without power Sunday as the remnants of a potentially apocalyptic typhoon began to fizzle out.
Emergency crews in Oregon and Washington worked through the night to restore power lines and remove dozens of downed trees to clear roads that the storm had damaged over the past two days.
Meteorologists still expected rain and wind gusts as high as 30 mph throughout Sunday, but conditions were not expected to be as bad as predicted.
The storm was originally forecast to be one of the worst in recent history.
Officials with the National Weather Service said in a statement they plan to study why the storm was not as extreme as anticipated over the next few weeks.
OREGON-MARIJUANA-DEJA VU
Investors anxious as Oregonians again vote on marijuana
AURORA, Ore. (AP) — Eighteen years after Oregon legalized marijuana for medical use and two years after voters decided to allow the use of recreational pot, many Oregonians will think they are experiencing deja vu when they see the issue on their ballots for the Nov. 8 election.
Oregon voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2014, but Measure 91 gave counties and towns the opportunity to opt out and ban pot businesses. About 100 towns and counties did so. Now, residents of about 50 of them will be voting on the issue again.
A lot of money is riding on the outcomes. Some cannabis entrepreneurs invested vast sums in the business, only to see local jurisdictions then outlaw pot commerce.
Other states across America are also grappling with the issue of how to deal with the emerging marijuana business.
GIRLFRIEND KILLED-CONVICTION
Man convicted in girlfriend’s death
(Information from: The News-Review, http://www.nrtoday.com)
ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) — A man faces sentencing in the death of his girlfriend in July 2015.
The News-Review reports jurors found 52-year-old Gregory Louis Solberg guilty of killing 44-year-old Tonya Marie Fullen.
A deputy and emergency responders found her body at her home in Drain, Oregon.
Solberg was arrested after being interviewed during the investigation.
He faces a 25-year mandatory minimum sentence.
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PORTLAND-PROTESTS
Protesters set up tents outside Portland mayor’s house
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Dozens of protesters chanting “Black Lives Matter” and other slogans marched for several miles through Portland neighborhoods, briefly stopping traffic before finally ending outside the mayor’s house and setting up tents.
The protesters, who set up more than a half-dozen tents Friday evening, were angry that Mayor Charlies Hales worked with the City Council this week to approve a new police contract that includes more pay for officers.
Some motorists who were blocked during the evening’s commute were upset – a cacophony of horns sounded at one intersection the protest march blocked.
On Wednesday police used pepper spray and arrested 10 people as demonstrators stormed City Hall to object to the action on the police contract. Protesters said they were disappointed Hales was bringing the matter to a vote now instead of letting his successor, Mayor-Elect Ted Wheeler, take up the issue in January so there would be more time for public input.
CALIFORNIA WET WEATHER
2nd storm lashes Northern California
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A second storm fueled in part by a typhoon is hitting California’s border with Oregon with heavy rain and gusty winds as it makes its way south.
After an overnight lull, rain returned Saturday afternoon to Eureka and nearby cities, where winds at 40 mph and gusts up to 70 mph were being recorded in the highest points.
National Weather Service Matthew Kidwell says moisture from Typhoon Songda is enhancing the storm expected to reach the San Francisco Bay Area later Saturday.
Officials in Del Norte and Humboldt counties are providing sand and sandbags for residents to protect against flooding. Farther south in the San Francisco Bay Area, residents are cleaning gutters and clearing trees
The storm follows a potent weather system that walloped Northern California on Friday, knocking out power, flooding roads and delaying flights.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.