1st Oregon News Minute from the AP

Date: 02/06/2014 03:59 AM

AP-OR–1st NewsMinute/250
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

 

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon lawmakers are beginning a debate over ways to fix the problems in Oregon’s troubled health insurance exchange and prevent repeats in the future. A state House committee yesterday dug into the first of several bills targeting Cover Oregon. The measure would order Cover Oregon officials to seek more flexibility from the Obama administration, giving more people access to tax credits that subsidize insurance premiums and more time to sign up.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon secretary of state’s office says its computer systems have been shut down after someone hacked the agency’s website. The agency says in a news release that the intrusion was detected and stopped, and law enforcement was notified. Officials are investigating the scope of the network intrusion.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Corrections Department has agreed to pay $150,000 to a deaf inmate whose lawyer says he was denied a qualified interpreter and was given menial jobs. The Oregonian reports that under terms of the settlement, Oregon state prisons will provide deaf inmates with sign-language interpreters for orientation, medical exams, counseling and other daily interactions. A Corrections spokesperson declined comment, citing unfamiliarity with the case.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Seattle-based luxury retailer Nordstrom says it is closing its stores in the Lloyd Center mall in Portland, Ore., and the Westfield Vancouver mall in Vancouver, Wash. The Oregonian reports that the closures expected next January will affect about 220 workers at Lloyd Center and 164 at Westfield Vancouver.

 

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.