AP-OR–2nd Right Now/1231
RANCHING STANDOFF-FINICUM LAWSUIT
Widow of slain federal wildlife refuge occupier plans to sue
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon police and two FBI agents could face a lawsuit from the widow of an Arizona rancher who took part in the Malheur Wildlife Refuge occupation and was killed in a confrontation with authorities.
California-based attorney Brian Claypool told the Oregonian/OregonLive that Jeanette Finicum and the family are definitely pursuing a lawsuit.
Prosecutors determined Oregon State Police officers were justified in firing at Robert “LaVoy” Finicum.
Claypool says evidence shows shots were fired contrary to statements made during the investigation.
The Department of Justice is investigating whether an agent lied about firing two shots that did not hit Finicum and if four others worked to hide it later.
Claypool said a press conference is planned for September.
He also represents Ryan Bundy in his case related to the occupation.
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AIR SHOW-PLANE CRASH
Flight instructor dies in biplane crash at Oregon air show
MADRAS, Oregon (AP) — A longtime pilot and flight instructor from Alaska has died after his biplane crashed during an air show in central Oregon.
Sixty-one-year-old Marcus Bruce Paine appeared to be attempting a very low-altitude loop when his Boeing Stearman plane went down at about 3 p.m. Saturday.
Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins says officials with the Federal Aviation Administration were attending the Airshow of the Cascades at Madras Airport when the crash occurred. He says the agency is investigating, along with the sheriff’s office and the Madras Police Department.
The airshow’s website says Paine lived in Anchorage, had extensive military experience and was a pilot for more than 20 years. It says Paine’s flight school teaches aerobatic flight, stall and spin awareness and other topics.
HIKER FALLS-DEATH INVESTIGATION
Man who died after falling off trail in Columbia Gorge ID’d
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities have identified the hiker who died after falling off a trail in the Columbia River Gorge as 36-year-old Viren Viuhkola of Tualatin.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office says Viuhkola was hiking with his friend Ryan Hunter on Friday morning when he fell 40 feet off the side of the trail near a small waterfall. Hunter called 911 and emergency workers from the sheriff’s department and the Corbett Fire Department responded.
The rescue crews attempted life-saving efforts but Viuhkola succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Department is conducting an investigation into the death.
ARMED MAN HIT
Armed man who was hit by police car last week has died
REDMOND, Ore. (AP) — A man who was struck by a police car in central Oregon last week after reportedly pointing a handgun at passing motorists has died.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said 63-year-old Michael W. Gaskill died at a hospital in Bend on Saturday.
Gaskill was hospitalized with serious injuries on Thursday afternoon after he was hit by a Redmond Police patrol car.
Several people had called 911 on Thursday to report that Gaskill was waving a handgun at passing motorists. According to a police statement made that day, responding officers made contact with Gaskill, who was still armed. Sometime after that Gaskill was struck by the police car. Officials have not yet said whether Gaskill was struck intentionally.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is overseeing the major incident team investigation. Two Redmond Police Officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard practice.
DYING SALMON
Changes at Snake River dams helping Idaho sockeye salmon
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Federal officials say more endangered sockeye salmon will complete the trip upstream to central Idaho this year because of structural changes at two Snake River dams in Washington state.
Officials say success with the new systems at Lower Granite Dam and Little Goose Dam, which pull cold water from deep in the reservoirs for the fish ladders, could lead to similar changes at other dams on the Snake and Columbia rivers.
The changes to the dams made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers follow the massive die-off of sockeye salmon in the Columbia Basin in 2015.
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report earlier this year cited hot water throughout the basin as the cause, but also noted a lack of action by federal managers as playing a role.
FISH AND GAME-COMPUTER BREACH
Hunting, fishing licenses on sale again in Washington
SEATTLE (AP) — Hunting and fishing licenses are on sale again in Washington state, after someone hacked or attempted to hack into an outside vendor’s system, exposing several million records containing the personal information of hunters and anglers throughout the Northwest.
Washington halted all license sales after the intrusion was discovered last week, but resumed them Saturday through its network of 600 dealers across the state. Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman Bruce Botka says online sales remain suspended because officials still can’t ensure the internet system’s security.
The vendor concerned is Dallas-based Active Network, which processes online license sales in several states.
Idaho and Oregon have also halted online sales of fishing and hunting licenses, but they allowed sales to continue at businesses and state offices.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are investigating.
UNIVERSITY BREAK-INS
Former student convicted in university break-ins, sex abuse
(Information from: Gazette-Times, http://www.gtconnect.com)
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — A former Oregon State University student will spend up to five years in prison after his conviction on charges related to campus-area break-ins.
The Corvallis Gazette-Times reports Ronald Wesley Vaughan was sentenced after pleading guilty to charges of burglary, sexual abuse and criminal trespass.
Vaughan was accused of sexually assaulting a woman while she showered in her home near the campus.
Police say a cell phone found at the scene of the woman’s assault was matched to Vaughan.
He was also accused of breaking into three dormitory rooms.
Vaughan will be supervised for three years after his release and required to register as a sex offender.
He was given credit for time served.
Defense attorney Shaun McCrea said in court that Vaughan had no history of previous crimes.
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OIL TRAINS-NOTICE
Washington responders to get notice of oil train shipments
(Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com)
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Emergency responders in communities along oil train routes in Washington state will start receiving advance notice of the shipments this fall.
The Spokesman-Review reports that terminals, refineries and other facilities that receive crude oil by rail must begin notifying the state Department of Ecology in advance of shipments under a new rule adopted this week. The state will relay the information to local emergency responders.
Gov. Jay Insless says that following recent oil train disasters, the state is trying to improve public safety and protect the environment.
Typically, two or three oil trains per day transport volatile crude from the Bakken oil fields through Spokane and Spokane Valley en route to Western Washington. A consultant warned state officials last month that a derailment or fire in downtown Spokane would pose severe challenges for responders, including the possibility of train cars falling from elevated tracks onto buildings.
The rule is Washington’s first reporting requirement for oil shipments.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
