Date: 07/09/2013 03:59 AM
AP-OR–1st NewsMinute/258
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon lawmakers closed on another legislative session yesterday. An improving economy allowed for an end to years of painful budget slashing and brought an increase in school funding. Howver, majority Democrats’ achievement of $6.8 billion in school funding was overshadowed by the failure of weeks of negotiations over pensions.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Legislature has passed a bill to allow struggling timber counties to use measures other than voter-approved property taxes to pay for public safety. After passing in the Senate and House yesterday, the bill now goes to Gov. John Kitzhaber for a signature. The bill would allow the governor to declare a public safety emergency after consulting with legislators and sheriffs and getting approval from the county.
OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) – A fellow church-goer has pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and related charges in the October slaying of a 21-year-old Gresham, Ore., barista. Jonathan Holt was sentenced to life without parole yesterday in Oregon City in the death of Whitney Heichel (HY’-kel). Police say Holt talked Heichel into giving him a ride on the way to work before sexually assaulting and shooting her.
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) – The governor and members of Oregon’s congressional delegation have created a task force to find solutions to the water problems of the Klamath Basin. Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, Republican Rep. Greg Walden and Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber announced it yesterday. They say it will have more than 20 people representing Oregon and California state agencies.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
