EUGENE REST STOPS
Eugene council makes permanent 2 programs for homeless
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The Eugene City Council has unanimously voted to make permanent two programs that provide those without homes legal and safe places to sleep.
The Register-Guard reports city councilors on Monday agreed to remove the sunset dates for the rest stop and dusk-to-dawn overnight sleeping programs. Both had been set to expire March 31.
Five rest stops are currently in operation and are managed by separate organizations that each provide legal shelter for up to 20 people.
The city is exploring providing additional rest stops in other parts of Eugene.
The dusk-to-dawn program, run by St. Vincent de Paul, provides a place for homeless people to sleep between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m.
City officials say each program has served over 300 people.
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ELDER ABUSE CASE-DEATH
Suspect in elder abuse case shoots self as warrant served
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — Authorities say a Vancouver woman fatally shot herself after waving a handgun at detectives as they served a search warrant at her home in an alleged elder abuse case.
Vancouver Police said in a news release that when detectives arrived Tuesday afternoon, they entered an apartment with the search warrant after no one answered the door.
Police say detectives entered a bathroom and found the suspect who brandished a gun at them.
Police say the detectives retreated and started communicating with the woman but several minutes later detectives heard a single gunshot.
SWAT personnel attempted a tactical rescue of the suspect but police say the woman was deceased.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
OFFICER SHOOTS MAN-VANCOUVER
Officer who shot man who tried to hit him with car named
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — Police have identified an officer who shot a man Saturday after the man tried to hit him with a car.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Monday that Officer Ken Suvada shot a wanted man who tried to hit him with a vehicle as authorities were trying to arrest him.
Police say the suspect then fled in the car and hit another vehicle with two people inside before crashing into a nearby building. Police captured him after he fled the car on foot.
The Columbian reported Tuesday the man shot has been identified as 23-year-old Dominic Tovar. Police say he was wanted for missing an appointment at the Vancouver Community Correction’s office.
Police say he remains hospitalized but is expected to survive.
Suvada is on leave while an investigation continues.
RANCHING STANDOFF-OREGON
Ammon Bundy on stand in second Oregon standoff trial
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Ammon Bundy is testifying for the defense in the conspiracy trial of four men who followed his call to occupy a national wildlife refuge in Oregon to protest federal control of Western lands and the imprisonment of two ranchers convicted of setting fires on public land.
Bundy testified Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Portland in the second such trial to play out over the Oregon case.
Bundy, his brother Ryan and five others were acquitted last fall of conspiracy for their role in the armed standoff.
Four lesser-known men involved in the standoff are being tried on similar charges.
Bundy was brought from Las Vegas, where he’s awaiting trial on charges he led armed gunmen to block a federal cattle roundup near his father’s Nevada ranch in April 2014.
OREGON-ICE DETENTIONS
Activists: ICE officers arrest foreign workers in Oregon
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Community activists and union leaders say federal immigration officers stopped two vans carrying workers headed to a forest to pick an ornamental shrub, detained 19 of them and then took 10 of them away.
Pedro Sosa, who works with the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker group, said 10 of the Latino workers away after the traffic stop on a highway just outside the town of Woodburn in the predawn hours Friday. He said most of the workers are Guatemalan and at least one is Mexican.
Sosa said Tuesday four or five of the workers remain in detention, and may have been taken to a detention center in Tacoma, Washington.
Rose Richeson, spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the Pacific Northwest, said she is gathering information on the matter.
SALEM-INCLUSIVE CITY
Salem approves ‘inclusive city’ resolution
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Salem City Council has unanimously approved a resolution declaring Oregon’s capital an “inclusive city.”
Under the resolution approved Monday night Salem would not allow city resources to be used to enforce federal immigration law.
The resolution brought forth by Councilor Tom Andersen resembled the idea of sanctuary cities, which have come into the spotlight following the election of President Donald Trump, who has said he might target federal aid to cities that help shield people in the country illegally.
The Statesman reports the move by Salem was largely symbolic, as Oregon law right now prohibits state resources being used to enforce federal immigration law.
EUGENE-DOGS
Opposition to proposed downtown dog ban in Eugene
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A proposed downtown dog ban in Eugene is being criticized as discriminatory against homeless people and impossible to enforce.
The Register-Guard reports about two dozen people spoke against the idea at a City Council meeting Monday evening.
The proposed ordinance would ban owners from bringing their dogs to the downtown core, with the exception of dog owners who live and work in the area, K-9 police dogs and service dogs.
Some critics said the focus of the city councilors should be on real solutions to improve downtown safety.
Less than a dozen people voiced support for the proposed ban, saying it has been effective near the University of Oregon campus and other cities and is one small step on the long road to improve downtown safety that will require many short- and long-term solutions.
SUSPICIOUS DEATHS-PORTLAND
Man, dog found in Portland apartment died of homicide
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a man who was found with the body of his dog inside a Portland apartment Monday died of homicide.
Portland police say the Oregon State Medical Examiner determined that 59-year-old Eleazar “Tony” Herrera Villegas died of homicidal violence.
A Jack Russell terrier dog named Max found dead in the residence will have a necropsy performed at Oregon State University.
Police say Villegas lived at the apartment with his girlfriend. She is cooperating with investigators and is not a suspect.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
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