GOVERNOR DEBATE
Brown, Pierce meet in final gubernatorial debate
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Gov. Kate Brown and GOP challenger Bud Pierce attempted to draw contrasts with one another in their last pitch to voters on a debate stage.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Brown touted her 25 years of elected service during the event in Portland, arguing that’s why voters should choose her Nov. 8.
She spoke of a minimum wage increase passed on her watch, demanded more money for foster children and said she’s made a career out of helping and defending domestic violence victims.
Pierce said Brown’s record is proof that it’s time to elect people who can solve the problems that need to be solved.
Both candidates want to fill the final two years of the term John Kitzhaber would have served if he hadn’t resigned in February 2015 amid allegations and investigation of influence-peddling.
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DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS-DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Department of Corrections appoints interim deputy director
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A new interim deputy director has been named for the Oregon Department of Corrections.
The agency said in a news release that Corrections Director Colette S. Peters appointed Brian Belleque to the position, effective Thursday.
The appointment follows the resignation of Kim Brockamp, who was appointed to the job in January 2015.
The agency says Belleque has worked in corrections since 1983 after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from Southern Oregon State College.
He became a lieutenant and captain and then institution security manager at the Oregon State Correctional Institution in Salem. Belleque’s also held the position of assistant superintendent of security at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem and was later named superintendent.
He’s been the Westside Institutions administrator since 2009.
STUDENT’S OVERDOSE DEATH
Former UO student cleared in fellow student’s fatal overdose
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A judge has cleared a former University of Oregon student of wrongdoing in the death of a fellow student who suffered an overdose at his apartment in 2014.
The Register-Guard reports prosecutors had tried to blame Kevin Christopher Post, a pre-med student at the time, for Cody Bennett’s death. They argued that Post was responsible because he had given Bennett an unregulated, anti-anxiety drug shortly before he overdosed.
A judge determined Thursday that prosecutors failed to prove Post’s drug dealing caused the fatal accident.
A medical examiner had ruled Bennett died from a mixture of cocaine and alcohol that he consumed before arriving at Post’s apartment.
The 25-year-old Post is charged in a separate case and pleaded guilty last week to possessing and selling LSD and psychedelic mushrooms.
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TREASURER CANDIDATE-COMPLAINT
State rejects complaint against county treasurer candidate
(Information from: The World, http://www.theworldlink.com)
COOSE BAY, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s secretary of state has dismissed a complaint filed against a candidate for Coos County treasurer alleging she lied about her educational background.
The World reports that the secretary of state’s office found insufficient evidence to support the claim brought by Martin Brennan, of Coquille.
The candidate was required to provide proof of her educational qualification because of Brennan’s claim.
The state has closed its investigation.
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STOLEN FUEL-ARRESTS
Stolen fuel investigation leads to Prineville arrests
(Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)
BEND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities have arrested three Prineville residents following an investigation into stolen diesel fuel.
The Bend Bulletin reports that 23-year-old Daniel Wade Seaton was taken into custody last week, while 38-year-old Timothy Neal Evans and 37-year-old Judith Carter were arrested Thursday. They were all arrested at the same Prineville residence.
The Crook County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation after several reports of fuel thefts north of the city, including from unattended farm equipment.
Both Seaton and Evans are facing theft, criminal trespass and criminal mischief charges.
Carter was arrested for suspected heroin possession.
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DEPUTY KILLED-THE LATEST
The Latest: Suspect ID’d in killing of California deputy
ALTURAS, Calif. (AP) — Modoc County Sheriff’s Office in California has identified the suspect in the shooting of a deputy killed responding to a disturbance in Northern California.
The sheriff’s office in a statement Thursday identified the suspect as Jack Lee Breiner, 47, of Alturas, Calif.
Deputy Jack Hopkins, 31, was dispatched to Breiner’s home on Wednesday to investigate a report of a family disturbance.
The statement says Hopkins was shot and killed instantly after arriving at the property.
It says the suspect fled and was wounded in a shootout with another officer.
The statement says Breiner was taken into custody later.
ST LUKE’S-EMBEZZLEMENT
Oregon woman sentenced for Idaho embezzlement
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A Portland, Oregon, woman has been sentenced to two years, three months in prison for embezzling $850,000 from a Boise, Idaho-based health care provider.
A federal judge on Wednesday also ordered 44-year-old Sara Curnow to pay back the money to St. Luke’s Health System and serve three years of supervised release.
Curnow pleaded guilty in June to wire fraud.
Authorities say Curnow worked for Pinnacle Pension Services headquartered in Boise. Pinnacle handled flexible spending accounts for St. Luke’s Health System. Employees deposited pre-tax funds into accounts and Pinnacle approved disbursements.
Unused funds at year-end were supposed to be forfeited to St. Luke’s. Authorities say Curnow from 2009 to 2015 saw which St. Luke’s employees left forfeitures and created dummy claims payments, routing the money to her accounts.
POLICE-MENTAL HEALTH DATA
Lawyers concerned about collection of mental health data
(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland police have been collecting information about the mental state of arrestees since spring, but some lawyers say the practice raises privacy concerns.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that officers began recording the information in response to the city’s 2014 settlement with the federal government aimed at improving police treatment of mentally ill suspects.
Portland defense lawyers have said they appreciate the police department’s effort to improve its interaction with people with mental illness, but they worry the practice could breach suspects’ privacy and could be used against criminal defendants.
Metropolitan Public Defender Services Executive Director Lane Borg compared the information that recorded by police body cameras. He said such information can shed light on police encounters but could also be misused.
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Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
