RANCHING STANDOFF TRIAL-NEVADA
Defendant medical complaint interrupts Bundy standoff trial
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A medical complaint involving a defendant with a history of health problems briefly interrupted the Las Vegas trial of six men accused of wielding guns during an April 2014 armed standoff between followers of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and federal agents.
Trial was suspended for two hours, but reconvened Thursday with Gregory Burleson back in the courtroom and Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo back in the witness box.
Chief U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro said medics checked the 53-year-old Burleson in custody, and reported that his vital signs were normal but that he may have been dehydrated.
Burleson’s attorney, Terrence Jackson, had interrupted proceedings in front of the jury, telling the judge that his client needed immediate medical attention.
During the break, Jackson said his client has a history of seizures and thought he was having another.
EUGENE-DOWNTOWN DOGS
Eugene council bans dogs from downtown
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — People who don’t live or work in Eugene’s downtown core won’t be able to hang out there with a dog.
The Eugene City Council approved a trial ban Wednesday night in an effort to improve downtown safety. The ban that takes effect in April will expire in November unless the council votes to extend it.
The Register-Guard reports that downtown residents and employees have testified about fearing for their safety after encounters with aggressive dogs.
Much of the council’s discussion centered on whether the true aim of ordinance was to displace homeless people who are often accompanied by dogs. Supporters of the ban said that wasn’t the case.
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EUGENE PRIEST SENTENCED
Eugene priest sentenced for having sex with teen prostitute
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A Eugene priest found guilty of prostitution for paying a 17-year-old girl to have sex with him has been sentenced to three months in jail.
The Register-Guard reports Daniel MacKay was given a 90-day jail sentence Thursday. The judge said he would be eligible to serve 60 of those days in an alternative program, such as community service.
MacKay is accused of paying the teen for sex acts on several occasions last summer after she posted online prostitution advertisements.
He was arrested in October and then suspended from his duties at St. John the Wonderworker Orthodox Church. An update on his status with the church is unknown.
The 42-year-old priest has denied the allegations and said during trial that he gave the girl money because she needed help.
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COLE RIVERS HATCHERY
Federally owned hatchery in southwest Oregon up for bid
(Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/)
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — A hatchery in southwest Oregon’s Rogue River Basin is having its operations put up for competitive bidding.
The Mail Tribune reports the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and several private companies will be able to bid on the Cole Rivers hatchery next week.
The hatchery is one of seven owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Oregon and operated by the department. The cooperative agreement allows the state to raise salmon, steelhead and trout as mitigation for wild fish habitat lost by the construction of Corps dams.
The decision to put Cole Rivers out to bid comes after the Corps announced a review of its contracting rules found running mitigation hatcheries on a contract basis was more appropriate than the cooperative agreements.
The agreement for the state to run Cole Rivers expires June 30.
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RARE BALD EAGLE
Rare bald eagle makes home in southern Oregon
(Information from: Herald and News, http://www.heraldandnews.com)
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) — A patchy-colored bald eagle with a genetic condition similar to albinism has made its home in southern Oregon’s Klamath Basin.
The Herald and News reports the bald eagle is an oddity that attracts birders and photographers from around the world who flock to Klamath Falls each year for the annual Winter Wings Festival. Event organizers have nicknamed the bird “Blondie.”
The unique eagle has leucism, which causes partial pigmentation loss in animals. The rare hereditary trait results in a white or patchy appearance of skin, hair, feathers or scales. It results from a reduction in multiple forms of pigmentation.
State wildlife biologist John Muir noted that Klamath’s resident leucistic eagle is a rare sight.
He says conservation efforts have helped the bald eagle population increase in recent years.
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TINY HOUSE VILLAGE
Portland residents support tiny house village for homeless
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland residents are in favor of building a village of tiny houses for homeless women.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that the Kenton neighborhood in North Portland voted 178 to 75 in favor of the collection of 14 houses, marking the first round of approval for the project. The community would be comprised of a number of 8-by-12 feet sleeping pods with storage space.
The pilot program would form a community with shared restrooms, common space and a garden. Mayor Ted Wheeler is promoting the housing community as a better alternative to tent villages or people sleeping on the street.
Supporters of the program say it would function like a homeless shelter, with outreach workers and social service agencies visiting the community to help residents find access to health care, financial services and eventually, permanent housing.
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MONTANA OUTDOOR SUMMIT
Montana considers options to lure outdoor retailer expo
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has convened an outdoor recreation summit in the Capitol as state officials explore a bid for one of the country’s largest outdoor trade expos.
The Outdoor Retailer Show could be held this summer in Salt Lake City for the last time. Organizers have said they would look for a new home for the event because of Utah’s political climate over public lands.
Colorado, Oregon and Montana have been mentioned as options.
Bullock invited representatives from 30 Montana-based outdoor companies to the Capitol on Thursday to talk about strengthening business opportunities. But they are also expected to talk about hosting the show.
Montana might not have the necessary facilities to host such a huge event, but officials said they were looking at their options.
MARIJUANA CLUBS-NEVADA
Nevada Democrat argues for cities to license public pot use
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Cities and counties in Nevada would have the authority to allow adults to use marijuana in public under a proposal legislators are considering.
State law currently confines the use of medical marijuana and recently legalized recreational marijuana to private homes.
Sen. Tick Segerblom says Nevada should give local governments the discretion to provide space where the tens of millions of tourists who visit Nevada annually could smoke or consume pot.
Lawmakers on a judicial panel considered his Senate Bill 236 on Thursday. The Las Vegas Democrat’s proposal would leave it up to the local governments to permit short or long-term pot consumption at casinos, clubs, outdoor events, massage parlors and other public places.
Nevada is one of eight states that have legalized recreational marijuana. None currently allow its use at pot shops or anywhere else in public.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.