1st Oregon News Minute from the AP

Date: 07/29/2013 03:59 AM

AP-OR–1st NewsMinute/276
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

 

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A complex of wildfires burning in southwest Oregon near the city of Glendale has grown to more than 15 square miles. A fire spokesman says the Douglas County Complex of fires threatens about 300 homes and 45 have been evacuated. Other residents have been told to prepare for a possible evacuation. No injuries have been reported and no structures damaged.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Oregon death row inmate Mark Pinnell is seeking clemency from Gov. John Kitzhaber after more than two decades in prison. The Oregonian reports he’s the first person to ask for clemency since the governor declared a moratorium on executions in 2011. Pinnell argues he should be released because he was treated differently from his co-defendant in the 1985 murder-robbery of John Wallace Ruffner.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) – Japanese-American groups and individuals are questioning plans to build a fence around the Tulelake Airport that would cut through the site of the World War II era Tule Lake internment camp. The Klamath Falls Herald and News reports a petition from the San Francisco-based Tule Lake Committee says the proposed fence would desecrate the physical and spiritual aspects of the site.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A Republican state representative is getting an early start in his bid to be Oregon’s next governor. But if history is any guide, then Dennis Richardson has a challenging road ahead. No Oregonian younger than 27 has lived in the state under a Republican governor, and it’s been more than a decade since a GOP candidate was elected to statewide office. Richardson, who represents Central Point, announced his gubernatorial candidacy last week.

 

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.