ELECTION-OREGON-CORPORATE TAX
Voters and corporations tensely await outcome of tax measure
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Major corporations in Oregon and from out of state, smaller local businesses and individual voters intently awaited the outcome of a state ballot measure that, if passed, would tax companies’ sales of more than $25 million.
Tens of millions of dollars were thrown into the battle over Measure 97 by both sides, with the “no” campaign largely funded by mostly out-of-state corporations.
Opponents and even the Legislative Revenue Office say every Oregonian will be affected.
ELECTION-OREGON-MEASURES
Corporate tax dominates, but Oregon weighs 6 other measures
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon tax measure has grabbed headlines, but voters are considering many other issues.
Six measures covering everything from guaranteed outdoor school to additional funding for veterans’ services are also on the ballot.
Measure 94 would amend Oregon’s constitution to allow state judges to serve beyond age 75.
Measure 95 would let public universities invest in the stock market.
Measure 96 would use lottery funds to help military veterans access services.
Measure 98 would use state funding to boost Oregon’s high school graduation rate, which is among the nation’s worst.
Measure 99 would use lottery proceeds to fund outdoor education for all fifth- or sixth-graders.
And Measure 100 would ban commerce on the parts from 12 animal species that are poached at high rates, including elephants, tigers and leopards.
ELECTION-OREGON-THE LATEST
The Latest: Republican Richardson wins secretary of state
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Republican Dennis Richardson has defeated Democrat Brad Avakian in the Oregon secretary of state race, the first time a GOP candidate has won a statewide race in 14 years.
Partial returns show Richardson narrowly defeated Avakian, who is the state labor commissioner.
Republicans hadn’t won a statewide election since 2002, when Gordon Smith was elected to the U.S. Senate. The GOP hasn’t won the governor’s office since 1982. And the last Republican secretary of state was Norma Paulus, who held the position in the 1980s.
FATAL CRASH-PREGNANT WOMAN
Driver mistake leads to pregnant woman’s death in Beaverton
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a pregnant woman has died after being struck by an SUV and pushed through the glass window of a Beaverton business.
Beaverton Officer Mike Rowe says the driver mistakenly put the car in reverse as she tried to pull out of a parking lot Tuesday. The vehicle backed into the 37-year-old victim, who had been walking on a sidewalk.
She was hospitalized with injuries initially described as not life threatening, although she later died at the hospital.
Neither the driver nor the victim has been identified.
SPRINGFIELD CHASE-ARREST
Suspect in high-speed chase lied about baby in car
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a man who led Springfield police on a chase at speeds of up to 100 mph called 911 from the driver’s seat to report that he had a baby in the vehicle.
The Register-Guard reports police Sgt. Rich Charboneau says the suspect, identified as Erick Michael Lucero, didn’t comply when the dispatcher told him to pull over Tuesday. Lucero led police near Jasper before crashing through a locked gate.
Charboneau says there was no baby found in Lucero’s car, but there was a female passenger.
Police say Lucero struggled with officers before his arrest.
The chase allegedly began when an officer tried to pull over Lucero for speeding and failing to use a turn signal.
He’s been jailed on 18 charges, including drug possession and improper use of 911.
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ST HELENS HOMICIDE
Deputies arrest 3 for hindering prosecution in woman’s death
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Deputies say three people have been arrested for hindering prosecution in the death of a 24-year-old Portland woman.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that two men and a woman were booked into Columbia County Jail on the charges Monday night. Deputies say they hindered the prosecution of three people accused of killing Apache Rose Hightower, whose body was found in September.
Deputies say one of the men arrested Monday is also facing a charge for possession of methamphetamine and the other man is facing a credit card fraud charge. Authorities say the woman was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Court documents say the group concealed and destroyed a car that may have helped authorities convict Hightower’s killers.
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OSU ENROLLMENT
OSU enrollment increases, mostly online and on Bend campus
(Information from: Gazette-Times, http://www.gtconnect.com)
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Enrollment at Oregon State University is 2.9 percent higher than last year, although Corvallis has only seen a fraction of that growth.
The Corvallis Gazette-Times reports that OSU’s total fall enrollment is 31,303. School officials announced Monday that OSU has 852 students more than the start of the 2015 school year and is the state’s largest university for the third year in a row.
Officials say the increase in students studying at OSU’s main campus in Corvallis is less than one percent. The university’s online enrollment and enrollment at its Bend campus jumped by more than 10 percent each.
OSU officials say the school has grown over the past three years. That sets it apart from other public universities in the state, where enrollment is starting to decline.
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ANTLER INJURY
Oregon hunter injured by antler of elk carcass
(Information from: KATU-TV, http://www.katu.com/)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say an Oregon hunter has been hospitalized after being impaled by the antler of an elk he had just killed.
KATU-TV reports that Crook County Sheriff’s Office deputies say 69-year-old Gary Heeter of Bend went hunting Saturday and was dragging the elk’s carcass behind his four-wheeler. Deputies say the vehicle flipped, sending Heeter backward onto the elk’s antler.
Hospital officials said Monday that Heeter was in fair condition.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Ryan Seaney says Heeter was hunting with a group and members of his party started first aid before first responders arrived.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
