3rd Oregon News Minute from the AP

Date: 02/25/2013 10:30 AM

OR–3rd NewsMinute/266
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

 

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon House is considering a bill today that would authorize $450 million in bonds to help build a new Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River between Portland and Vancouver. The Oregonian reports the Senate will consider the measure as soon as Friday. The bridge was redesigned in December to raise the height from 95 to 116 feet to allow taller ships and barges to pass underneath.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – A Eugene man who was arrested early Saturday faces charges of unlawful use of a stun gun and felony assault because police say he turned a Taser back on an officer and zapped him three times with his own weapon. Police say the officer was incapacitated. Other officers used pepper spray to subdue Alexander Wright. The Register-Guard reports the man had been celebrating his 30th birthday at a tavern.

NORTH BEND, Ore. (AP) – The Coquille Tribal Community Fund has awarded $207,000 in grants to 34 non-profit organizations and public agencies in the Coos Bay area. The World reports the tribe distributes a portion of gaming revenues each year from The Mill Casino at North Bend. The fund has distributed $4.3 million since 2001.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Arborists expect a ponderosa pine at La Pine State Park near Bend will reclaim its title as the largest ponderosa pine in the nation. Portland arborist Brian French of the group Ascending the Giants climbed into the upper branches Saturday of the tree known as Big Red. He measured the height at 168 feet. The trunk as a circumference of 29 feet.

 

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.