SHARK ATTACK OREGON
Police: Shark attacks surfer off Oregon coast
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Police say a shark has attacked a surfer north of Cannon Beach off the Oregon coast.
Oregon State Police spokesman Lt. Steve Mitchell says in a news release that 29-year-old Joseph Tanner of Portland, Oregon, was apparently bitten while surfing near Indian Beach at Ecola State Park on Monday afternoon.
Mitchell says Tanner was bitten in his upper thigh and lower leg.
Tanner was stabilized at the scene and flown to a Portland hospital with serious injuries.
Authorities are investigating.
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CATTLE THEFT-SENTENCE
Woman sentenced for cattle theft
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A 55-year-old woman has been sentenced to fines and probation for first-degree cattle theft.
The Salem Statesman reports that Anita Branton pleaded guilty to committing theft of livestock valuing $10,000 or more on or between 2013 and 2014.
Branton was ordered Monday to pay $18,000 in restitution.
Branton’s attorney, Walter Todd, said she would pay the amount on Monday. He says Branton received stolen cattle but did not steal them herself.
Branton will also pay a $200 fine after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges of disfigurement of earmarks on cattle and obliteration or disfigurement of brands on cattle.
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SEXUAL ASSAULT-NURSE ACCUSED
Portland hospital hit with second lawsuit in sex abuse case
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Providence St. Vincent Medical Center is facing another lawsuit in connection with sexual abuse allegations against a former nursing assistant.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the $1 million suit filed by a 66-year-old woman Friday alleges the hospital failed to protect her from Adeladilew Mekonen.
Mekonen pleaded not guilty last month to raping two elderly patients and was indicted last week on charges related to the abuse of five other people.
The woman in the lawsuit says she was heavily medicated with painkillers when Mekonen attacked her.
An 87-year-old patient is also suing the hospital for $1.5 million in damages related to the alleged abuse.
Providence officials have said they won’t comment on pending litigation and that they’re cooperating with the sheriff’s office investigation.
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WOLF ATTACKS
3 wolf attacks on cattle confirmed in southern Oregon
(Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/)
MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say wolves killed two calves and wounded a third last week in western Klamath County.
The Mail Tribune reports the area where the animals were killed is known to be frequented by the Rogue Pack. But authorities haven’t confirmed whether the pack is to blame.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reports say wolves killed an 800-pound calf Oct. 2, and three wolves were observed feeding on the carcass the next day. A 600-pound calf was killed Oct. 4 and a third calf suffered wolf bites the following night.
John Stephenson with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it’s now a higher priority to have a Rogue Pack member collared to keep track of the animals.
He says the pack could be as large as nine wolves.
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CHILD PORN-SENTENCE
Springfield man gets prison time for child porn
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A 20-year-old Springfield man has been sentenced to five years in prison in a child pornography case.
The Register-Guard reports that Aryavong Aaron Khounlavouth was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to three counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse. Seven other charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Khounlavouth was arrested in June after authorities connected him to a child pornography case in Canada.
Authorities had found that a Canadian man was trading child pornography with several people online, including someone using a computer at Khounlavouth’s apartment.
Court records say Khounlavouth admitted to investigators he downloaded the pornography and said he had tried to give up watching the material but was unable to stay away.
He apologized for his actions during his sentencing Monday.
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GRESHAM HOMICIDE
Woman, 19, arrested in Gresham homicide
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a 19-year-old woman accused of killing a man in Gresham.
A Gresham police spokesman said Monday that Ariana Marlene Cortez has been booked into the Multnomah County Jail on a murder charge in the stabbing death of Otoniel Hernandez-Duarte. He said the investigation remains active.
Gresham police say 19-year-old Hernandez-Duarte and Cortez got into a fight at a party and Cortez attacked him with a knife.
Hernandez-Duarte was able to walk to a neighbor’s house and knock on the door, but then collapsed. The neighbor called 9-1-1.
Oregon court records show Cortez has previous arrests for misdemeanor theft, most recently pleading guilty in March to stealing merchandise from a Fred Meyer store.
The Gresham woman does not yet have a listed attorney in the murder case.
JORDAN COVE PROTEST
Protesters call for action against Jordan Cove gas pipeline
(Information from: Herald and News, http://www.heraldandnews.com)
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) — Protesters are calling for unity and action against a proposed liquefied natural gas pipeline in Klamath Falls.
The Herald and News reports that opponents of the Jordan Cove Energy Project demonstrated Saturday against the pipeline, chanting “water is life” and “you can’t drink oil.” A second protest was scheduled for Sunday.
Renee Frye organized the protest and says the pipeline poses a significant pollution threat because it will cross an estimated 400 waterways and 700 private properties
Featured protest speaker Walking Eagle Thom, chief and medicine man of the Karuk Tribe, says the action against the Jordan Cove project was inspired by ongoing protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota.
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ISLAMIC WORKER LAWSUIT
Islamic woman sues for $1M after firing from Ore. nonprofit
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A woman of Islamic faith has filed a $1 million lawsuit against a Portland nonprofit, alleging she was fired because of her religion, national origin and disability of asthma.
The lawsuit filed last week by Sharmin Rahman contends she was fired by Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare after wearing a head scarf, asking for prayer breaks and refusing to shake the hand of a male boss.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare offers help to those who are homeless or have problems with addictions or mental health. A spokesperson was not available to comment on the suit.
The lawsuit states the Bangladesh-born woman began work as a case manager in December 2014 and was let go in less than five months. The listed reason was “Inability or Not Qualified,” which she disputes.
According to the suit, Rahman’s asthma came into play when she asked a supervisor to not smoke during “walk-and-talk” meetings.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
