TOXIC ALGAE BLOOM
Warm Pacific Ocean ‘blob’ facilitated vast toxic algae bloom
SEATTLE (AP) — A new study finds that unusually warm Pacific Ocean temperatures helped cause a massive toxic algae bloom last year that closed lucrative fisheries from California to British Columbia and disrupted marine life from seabirds to sea lions.
Scientists linked the patch of warm ocean water, nicknamed the “blob,” to the vast ribbon of toxic algae that flourished in 2015.
It produced record-breaking levels of a neurotoxin that is harmful to people, fish and marine life.
The outbreak of the toxin domoic acid was the largest ever recorded on the West Coast.
It closed razor clam seasons in Washington and Oregon and delayed lucrative Dungeness crab fisheries along the coast.
High levels were also detected in many stranded marine mammals.
The study’s lead author was the University of Washington’s Ryan McCabe.
RANCHING STANDOFF
Ammon Bundy’s lawyers seek to stop trial amid appeals
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Ammon Bundy’s federal conspiracy trial resumed despite a motion from his lawyers seeking a postponement until a court rules on their appeals.
Among other things, attorneys Marcus Mumford and J. Morgan Philpot have taken issue with U.S. District Court Judge Anna Brown’s order that the ownership of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is not on trial, and her notice to jurors that the federal government owns the refuge that Bundy and his followers occupied for 41 days last winter.
As the appeals await rulings by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the trial continued Thursday. Mumford says Bundy might take the witness stand if time permits.
Bundy and six co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to impede federal employees from doing their refuge jobs during the standoff.
FATAL DUI-SENTENCE
Driver who smoked pot before fatal crash sent to prison
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A driver who struck and killed a Portland bicyclist while high on marijuana has been sentenced to more than six years in prison.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that 27-year-old Kenneth Britt Smith was sentenced Thursday for the December 2015 crash that killed Martin Greenough.
Investigators say Smith hit the 38-year-old victim along a section of road that doesn’t have a bike lane because it narrows to travel under an overpass.
Smith told police after his arrest he had veered to the right to avoid another car that swerved in his direction.
Authorities say Smith, a medical marijuana card holder, drove off after hitting Greenough and that he smelled of pot when they caught him miles from the crash site.
Smith pleaded guilty to manslaughter, DUI and hit-and-run charges.
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MASSAGE THERAPIST-SEXUAL ASSAULT
Woman sues Eugene massage therapist over sex assault claims
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A woman has filed a $1 million lawsuit against a Eugene massage therapist who had his license revoked after the woman accused him of sexually assaulting her during an appointment last year.
The Register-Guard reports the civil suit was filed this week against Hee Joon Yang and the salon where he worked at the time of the incident.
Court documents say the woman alleges Yang touched her inappropriately and sexually assaulted her during a December 2015 massage.
She reported the allegations to police, but a Lane County deputy district attorney didn’t find sufficient evidence to bring charges against Yang.
The state Board of Massage Therapists investigated the incident and revoked Yang’s license after finding he had engaged in unprofessional conduct.
Yang declined to answer questions about the case, saying he needed a lawyer or Korean interpreter.
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FOOTBALL HAZING-OREGON
Ex-Oregon football coach arraigned in hazing case
(Information from: Gazette-Times, http://www.gtconnect.com)
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — A not guilty plea has been entered for a former volunteer high school football coach charged in connection with an Oregon hazing incident.
The Gazette-Times reports that a judge entered the not guilty plea to a misdemeanor criminal mistreatment charge on behalf of 22-year-old Cooper Kikuta during his arraignment Tuesday. Kikuta, who has no previous criminal history, was granted conditional release.
The former assistant volunteer coach for Philomath High School is charged along with six varsity football players for a July hazing initiation in which 11 freshmen had intimate parts of their bodies targeted at a summer training camp.
Prosecutors allege Kikuta didn’t provide adequate care for the players who were under his supervision.
The juveniles cited in the case have admitted to the allegations against them.
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SHAVED HEAD INTRUDER
Man arrested after entering Keizer home, shaving head
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
KEIZER, Ore. (AP) — Burglary and criminal mischief charges have been filed against a man who shaved his head after entering an Oregon couple’s home.
A man who lives at the home in Keizer tells the Statesman Journal he confronted the intruder after hearing a noise coming from the bathroom.
Rather than panic, the man tried to have a peaceful conversation with the stranger. The intruder then swept a three-bladed razor across his own head, using hand sanitizer as lubricant instead of shaving cream.
The couple eventually persuaded the man to leave. He asked the woman for a hug at the doorstep, but was denied.
Officers were able to identify the suspect, 39-year-old Eric Avila, because of the couple’s description and by his partially shaved head.
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PORTLANDIA-FEMINIST BOOKSTORE
Feminist bookstore sours on ‘Portlandia’ comedy
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Portland feminist bookstore is cutting ties with the TV comedy “Portlandia,” which used its space to film sketches parodying a feminist bookstore.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that actors Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen wore long-haired wigs and frumpy clothing as the humorless, aggressively conscientious co-owners of the Women and Women First bookstore in IFC’s “Portlandia.”
The Portland store, In Other Words, initially enjoyed the publicity. But its front door now features a sign listing several grievances with the show, including transmisogyny, racism, gentrification, queer antagonism and devaluation of feminist discourse.
The 23-year-old nonprofit has faced financial struggles and is currently running a fundraising campaign to help stay afloat.
In Other Words did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday. An IFC spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment.
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UO CLASS OF 2020
UO says class of 2020 is most diverse ever
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The University of Oregon has attracted 50 additional black students to its freshman class, making the class of 2020 the school’s most diverse class ever.
The Register-Guard reports that the 50 extra students bumped the proportion of black freshman at the university up by 1 percentage point, boosting it to 3 percent.
The university has been focused on black student recruitment to meet the demands of the university’s Black Student Task Force, which said the small number of black students at UO can make some black students feel unwelcome or isolated.
Vice President for Enrollment Management Roger Thompson says his staff as focused on recruiting from Portland-area schools with large black student populations.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
