NW Sports from the AP

AP-OR–1st NewsMinute,316
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Firefighters working on a dozen major
fires or groups of fires in central and eastern Oregon have things
to worry about as the Labor Day weekend nears. Jeree Mills, a
spokeswoman for the federal fire center in Portland, says hot, dry
and windy weather is expected over the weekend and again later next
week. So firefighters are trying to get lines established before
weather turns unfavorable. Mills says smoke is obscuring small
fires sparked by lightning strikes a week ago. That could allow
some fires to grow before they’re noticed.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A fire broke out in a building that’s part
of an upscale condominium complex along Portland’s south
waterfront, but firefighters quickly contained the blaze. The fire
erupted just at about 3:45 p.m. yesterday. No one was injured.
Using a crane, firefighters trained water on flames shooting from
the top of the building. A Portland Fire & Rescue spokesman says
initial damage to the building is estimated at about $30,000.

UNDATED (AP) – Police say a Springfield man hoped to get out of
jail by having a 10-year-old girl killed before she could testify
in court about how he sexually abused her. But the plan fell apart
when another inmate went to police. Jared Anthony Bernal had been
scheduled to go on trial yesterday in Eugene, Ore., on charges he
sodomized and sexually abused the girl. The case was postponed, and
Bernal now faces more serious charges.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Portland police are trying to determine
who tossed several kittens from a moving minivan in north Portland.
Other drivers stopped to pick up the animals and take them to the
Humane Society yesterday. The gold minivan drove off. KGW-TV
reports that one severely injured kitten had to be euthanized. Two
others are recovering. Police say Crime Stoppers is offering a
$1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-09-02-11 0422EDT