Date: 04/11/2013 09:29 AM
OR–2nd NewsMinute/346
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon state Senate is scheduled to vote today on a Democratic plan to cut pension benefits for retired government workers. The measure would save state and local governments about $460 million over the next two years, mostly by reducing cost-of-living increases for retirees earning more than $20,000 a year. The measure is expected to pass in a party-line vote over vehement opposition from Republicans. Public-employee unions say the measure would illegally break a contract between the state and its workers.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The recently fired head of Oregon prison industries has sued the Department of Corrections for $1.5 million, Robert Killgore’s lawsuit filed in Marion County Circuit Court alleges wrongful discharge, discrimination and retaliation for whistle blowing. A Corrections spokeswoman told The Statesman Journal Director Colette Peters would not comment on the lawsuit. Peters fired Killgore on March 13, five weeks after the Department of Justice completed an investigation initiated by complaints from Killgore.
GLADSTONE, Ore. (AP) – Police in the small Oregon community of Gladstone say two goats were agile enough to tuck themselves in among several large boulders in their pen when coyotes attacked through a broken fence. Officers say a goat named Penelope was able to free herself yesterday when police responded to a call about the attack and the coyotes ran off. But a second goat named Isabella had gotten wedged between two large boulders. Police called firefighters who used special prying tools to free Isabella. Neither goat was seriously hurt.
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) – Authorities in southwest Oregon say two burglars took silver ingots, collectible coins, electronics and jewelry in a break-in last fall. They also took a carton of orange juice from the refrigerator, shared it and left the carton on the garage floor. Uh, oh. Jackson County deputies say the state police crime lab was able to get DNA evidence from the carton, and it matched two suspects in an FBI database. One man is in custody and the sheriff’s office is still investigating the other suspect.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
