Date: 09/08/2014 04:00 AM
AP-OR–1st NewsMinute/338
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) – No student at the Umatilla School District will be charged for lunch anymore. The East Oregonian reports that the school district announced its free lunch program to begin this year. The district hasn’t sent letters out to parents about the new program yet, but school officials are seeing less home-made lunches. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is footing the bill for the free lunches under the Community Eligibility Provision program.
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) – A 19-year-old woman was grazed by a bullet after a handgun fell from her boyfriend’s pants and fired. The Medford Mail Tribune reports the woman was taken to Providence Medford Medical Center for treatment. Medford police Sgt. D.J. Graham didn’t know how serious the injury was, but said it was described as a grazing wound across the side of her head that cut her skin. Graham says the woman was doing a load of laundry Saturday night when she pulled her boyfriend’s pants out of a backpack. A small 9 mm handgun in a pant pocket fired.
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) – Authorities busted an outdoor marijuana growing operation of roughly 5,000 plants in the Neil Creek drainage area, south of Ashland. The Medford Mail Tribune reports yesterday that a U.S. Forest Service employee discovered the massive growing operation while hunting in January, which sparked an investigation that included surveillance. Authorities arrested two men from Mexico who were tending the growing operation.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – One of the last resorts for mentally ill people in Eugene suffering a crisis will be closed this month after a change in state health care policy took one-third of a shelter’s money. The Royal Avenue Program’ shelter, based in a former motel, offers beds plus short-term care provided by caseworkers and counselors during mental health hospitalization. The shelter accommodated 19 people at a time, usually housing them for about a week while they moved into other treatment. Last year, the shelter served 369 people.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.
