AP-OR–1st NewsMinute,335
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Construction damage to a 6-inch natural gas
pipeline beneath a south Eugene street prompted authorities to
evacuate 10 homes for several hours. Police and fire crews
responded and traffic was shut down for several blocks around the
damaged pipe until last night. The damage was first reported about
2:30 p.m. yesterday. The Register-Guard newspaper reports that
residents were allowed to return home about 6:30 p.m.
LA GRANDE, Ore. (AP) – Oregon State Police say flames and smoke
from a dramatic hay truck fire closed eastbound lanes of Interstate
84 near La Grande for hours while firefighters extinguished the
blaze. Sgt. Kyle Hove says 58-year-old Paul A. Combe of Caldwell,
Idaho, was pulling two trailers late yesterday morning when he
looked in his rear view mirror and saw flames shooting from the
hay. Combe stopped on the highway shoulder and he and other
motorists tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire. No injuries
were reported. The fire’s cause wasn’t known.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Four men who say they suffered sex abuse
by a Boy Scout troop leader in the 1970s have filed suit against
the organization and its Portland branch, alleging the Scouts knew
the leader was a threat but did nothing to stop him. The suit filed
in Multnomah County Circuit Court seeks $5 million per victim. The
Boy Scouts of America says it’s reviewing the lawsuits. The men
allege that the Scouts organization in Oregon had been warned by
its California counterpart that the leader had abused children, but
didn’t bar him from the group.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Democratic State Rep. Jefferson Smith says
he’s running for mayor of Portland. Smith announced yesterday that
he would join the race to replace Sam Adams, who has said he won’t
run for re-election. Smith has represented part of east Portland in
the state House since 2008. He’s a Portland native and Harvard Law
School graduate. Smith co-founded The Bus Project, a nonprofit
aimed at getting young liberals involved in politics.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-09-14-11 0403EDT
