JAIL DEATH
Jailed man who attempted suicide dies at hospital
HILLSBORO, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a man who was jailed in Hillsboro has died at a hospital after attempting to kill himself.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that 36-year-old Ryan Freeman was found unresponsive in his cell Friday evening and that he died Monday at a local hospital.
The sheriff’s office says Freeman was lodged in the jail’s medical observation unit and was discovered by jail staff during a regularly-scheduled check. The sheriff’s office says medical staff began life-saving measures before he was taken to a hospital.
Preliminary investigation shows that Freeman took his own life by tying an item around his neck.
Freeman was jailed in January after he was indicted on sexual abuse, attempted rape, assault and other charges.
Sheriff’s office detectives are investigating.
FREEZE-DRIED FOOD PLANT
Gov. Cuomo announces new freeze-dried food plant in New York
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The leading supplier of freeze-dried foods for the United States military is expanding its operations with a facility in Monroe County.
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced that Oregon-based OFD Foods, LLC will build a 50,000-square-foot plant in Henrietta that will create 30 full-time jobs.
Cuomo says the company received up to $400,000 in state grant funds to build the $25 million facility.
Construction on the new plant will begin in April and is expected to be completed by June 2018.
OFD Foods, LLC, produces its own food brands, such as Mountain House and Easy Meal, for emergency preparedness and disaster recovery markets.
CHILD SEX ABUSE-STANDOFF
Salem man accused of sexually abusing 3 girls
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A Salem man has been arrested in connection with the sexual abuse of three girls younger than 12 after a two-hour standoff in Lincoln City.
The Statesman Journal reported James Raymond Killion was arraigned on several sex abuse charges Monday.
Marion County deputies investigating sex abuse allegations had alerted Lincoln County law enforcement Friday that Killion was armed in a white van and possibly headed to the coast.
Officers later spotted Killion parked in the van and holding a handgun. They began talking with the suspect over the phone.
Oregon State Police took over the negotiations and eventually got Killion to put the gun down and surrender to police.
Killion is accused of sexually abusing three girls between 2007 and 2013.
He’s scheduled for another court appearance next week.
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PORTLAND LANDSLIDES
Portland officials weigh reopening roads after landslides
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Two roads in Portland remain closed as crews work to clear the debris left by landslides.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that a landslide closed a section of West Burnside Road on Wednesday. Portland Bureau of Transportation spokesman Dylan Rivera says the slide was the largest of the 42 landslides that have struck the area since November.
City officials are planning to have an update Tuesday on whether the road may be opened Wednesday.
The Historic Columbia River Highway between Multnomah Falls and Angel’s Rest also remains closed. The road was hit by five landslides within a four-day period.
The Oregon Department of Transportation plans on keeping the highway closed in the area through at least Monday, depending on conditions.
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MAYOR-SOLICITING SEX
Oregon mayor accused of soliciting sex with 14-year-old girl
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The 71-year-old mayor of a town in southern Oregon has been arrested and accused of setting up a meeting to have sex with a 14-year-old girl who was actually a police officer.
Court documents say Kenneth Barrett spent two weeks exchanging Facebook messages with an online decoy created to target adults soliciting sex with children.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Barrett began a two-year term as mayor of Winston in January.
Police say he was arrested when he showed up to a designated meeting spot in Myrtle Creek on Sunday.
A probable cause affidavit says Barrett mentions in online messages that he’s the mayor of Winston and acknowledges the person he thinks he’s talking with is 14.
Barrett faces charges of online sexual corruption and unlawful possession of a firearm.
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YOUTH COACH-SEX CHARGES
Youth coach charged with sexual abuse
(Information from: KATU-TV, http://www.katu.com/)
LINCOLN CITY, Ore. (AP) — A youth coach in the coastal town of Lincoln City has been charged with more than two dozen sex crimes.
KATU-TV reports 22-year-old Tyler William Lopez was charged Monday with sex abuse crimes involving seven boys.
Lopez worked as a football coach at Taft High School in Lincoln County, and as a baseball coach at Lincoln City Youth League. Officials say he passed both background checks.
Lopez’s bail was set at $1.5 million and he remains in jail.
Lincoln City Police believe there may be more victims or witnesses and are hoping they’ll come forward to speak with investigators. Anyone with information is asked to call Lincoln City police at (541) 994-3636.
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XGR-BOTTLE-BILL
Bottle refund going to 10 cents in Oregon
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Starting on April 1, Oregonians will be able to double the money they get back for recycling their old plastic water bottles, soda cans and beer bottles at redemption sites throughout the state.
A measure which requires payment of the 10-cent refund for covered beverage containers beginning the first of the month, regardless of refund value indicated on the container, was overwhelmingly approved by the Oregon Senate on Monday and heads to Gov. Kate Brown for her signature.
The Oregon Legislature set a trigger for the deposit to increase to 10 cents if the recycling rate fell below 80 percent for two consecutive years. Last year state officials said that had happened and the increased bottle rate was set in motion.
Oregon was the first state to adopt a bottle refund bill back in 1971 as a way to encourage recycling. Ten other states have similar laws, but only Michigan currently offers a 10-cent refund.
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This article has been corrected to show that the measure specifies that 10-cent refund applied to containers beginning April 1, regardless of what it says on the container, and that increased rate had been decided previously.
PORTLAND ACADEMIC BUILDING
$100M health, education center planned for PSU campus
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The city of Portland and its three biggest colleges said Monday they are teaming up to build a $100 million education and health center.
The building would be constructed at what is currently a city-owned parking lot near Portland State University. Besides PSU, the other schools chipping in are Portland Community College and Oregon Health & Science University.
The 200,000-square-foot building will house the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, PSU’s Graduate School of Education and PCC’s dental programs.
It’s the first time the three colleges will be together in one building.
The building expected to open by September 2020 is still in the design phase. It’s projected to be at least seven stories tall.
PSU has asked the Oregon Legislature to approve $51 million in bonds for the project.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.
