OBIT-MYERS
Former 3-time Oregon AG dies
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Hardy Myers, a lawyer who became a politician in the state Legislature in his 30s and then was elected state attorney general three times, has died at age 77.
He was remembered for defending Oregon’s physician-assisted suicide law before federal courts, including the nation’s highest, and championing litigation against tobacco companies that brought in millions of dollars to Oregon.
Notes of praise and condolence poured in, including from Oregon’s governor and its Senate president, after word spread that Myers had died Tuesday night from complications from pneumonia. He also had lung cancer.
TRUMP PROTESTS-VANDALISM
Man remains jailed for vandalism during anti-Trump protest
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A judge has refused to release a 20-year-old man who prosecutors say used a baseball bat to smash cars and public property during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Prosecutor Ryan Lufkin says Mateen Shaheed wasn’t participating in the Nov. 10 protest turned riot, but that he used the event as an opportunity to vandalize an estimated $50,000 in property.
Shaheed was caught on video engaging in several acts of vandalism, including damaging vehicles at a Toyota dealership. He remains jailed on $250,000 bail.
Shaheed’s attorney asked a judge Monday for his release, but the judge denied the request, citing Shaheed’s previous criminal history.
Lufkin says Shaheed was arrested twice for abusing his girlfriends and damaging cars, once last year and again in July.
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EUGENE PARK-ATTEMPTED RAPE
Eugene park visitors catch man accused of attempted rape
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a suspect is in jail after visitors at a Eugene park helped capture the man accused of trying to sexually assault three women and robbery.
The Register-Guard reports the 35-year-old Beaverton man was arrested Wednesday. He faces charges of attempted rape, kidnapping, sexual assault and robbery.
Lane County sheriff’s Lt. Billy Halvorson says two passers-by at Armitage County Park went to help a woman who was struggling with a man who appeared to be trying to sexually assault her. The incident occurred after the suspect allegedly tried to sexually abuse two other women at the park.
Authorities say he also robbed a man.
The suspect had been detained by a Springfield K9 officer who was flagged down by people in the park.
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NEW FBI CHIEF
FBI names new special agent in charge of Portland Division
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The FBI has named a new special agent in charge of the Portland division, to replace a man who is retiring at the end of January.
FBI Director James B. Comey said Wednesday that Loren Cannon, who has been with the FBI since 1998, will assume his new role in late January.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that the current top FBI official in Oregon — Greg T. Bretzing — has held the job since March 2014.
According to the FBI, Cannon has most recently served at FBI headquarters as section chief of the Leadership Development Program in the Human Resources Branch.
He began his FBI career in the agency’s San Francisco Division, where he investigated violent crime, drug trafficking and international terrorism.
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STATE AGENCIES-INTERNET SECURITY
Audit finds that Oregon state agencies have weak IT security
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s chief auditing agency sharply criticized inadequate security of state agencies’ computer programs and data, saying in an audit on Wednesday that the governor, Legislature and others must create and fund a statewide security plan.
The audit by Secretary of State Jeanne P. Atkins’ office said the weaknesses increase the risk of a cyber attack and put individuals’ private information at risk.
The audit reviewed 13 state agencies’ information security and found that more than half had security weaknesses in six of the seven fundamental security controls reviewed and all agencies had at least two weaknesses.
PORTLAND PROTESTS-USE OF FORCE
Portland mayor asks for protest use of force investigation
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland’s mayor says he has asked for an investigation into police use of force against protesters during a Nov. 21 demonstration against President-elect Donald Trump.
Mayor Charlie Hales said in a news release Wednesday that he made the request to the Independent Police Review after he was made aware of new video footage Tuesday showing a Portland Police officer arresting a protester.
Police in response to the video said Wednesday they would release all police reports related to three arrests made during the incident.
Police say the seven-second video shows an officer attempting to use a mandibular angle pressure point on 24-year-old Kathryn Stevens and that the move was documented in officers’ reports.
Police say a longer video from a news outlet gives greater context around the three arrests.
HEROIN OVERDOSE-JAIL DEATH-LAWSUIT
Parents sue for $20 million over daughter’s jail death
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The parents of a heroin-addicted woman who died in Washington County Jail after reportedly writing notes asking for medical help have filed a $20 million lawsuit against the county and the health contractor that had been providing medical services at the jail.
Twenty-six-year-old Madaline Pitkin died in April 2014 at the jail, where she was detoxing after being charged with heroin possession.
Pitkin’s parents on Wednesday filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Corizon Health, Inc. and Washington County, alleging staff failed to act quickly enough as her health declined.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reported in an investigative piece earlier this year that Pitkin was in deteriorating health while in jail and had written four pleas for help before she died.
MEGABUCKS JACKPOT WINNERS
Salem couple wins $6.8 million jackpot
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A Salem couple has won $6.8 million in the Oregon Lottery’s Megabucks Jackpot.
The Statesman Journal reports that Angela and Brian Feiring won the jackpot Saturday after purchasing a lottery ticket at a south Salem gas station. Lottery officials say the Feirings opted for the lump sum cash payment and took home about $2.2 million after taxes.
Angela Feiring says the numbers they chose for their winning quick-pick ticket included their daughter’s birth date.
The Shell gas station will receive a 1 percent selling bonus of $68,000.
The couple has become the Oregon Lottery’s 257th Megabucks millionaires.
Officials say the lottery has put more than $11 billion toward economic development, watershed development, public education and state parks.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
