PORTLAND TRUMP-PROTEST-THE LATEST
The Latest: Police: At least 26 people arrested in protest
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland Police said on Twitter that they’ve arrested 26 people related to the anti-Trump riot, not 29 as they first said.
Portland Police said on Twitter they would have a complete update on arrests, charges and photos related to the hours-long incident.
The streets were largely quiet as of 2 a.m. throughout the city.
TRAIN KILLS MAN
Train kills pedestrian in downtown Corvallis
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a pedestrian was struck and killed by a train in Corvallis.
The Corvallis Gazette-Times reports a passer-by reported the collision Thursday afternoon.
Sgt. Ryan Eaton of the Corvallis Police Department confirmed that the death was under investigation.
Authorities were not releasing any additional information on the identity of the victim or the circumstances of the accident Thursday afternoon.
BODY FOUND-ASTORIA
Police work to identify body discovered under Astoria bridge
(Information from: The Daily Astorian, http://www.dailyastorian.com)
ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) — Police in Astoria say an unidentified body has been found beneath a bridge.
The Daily Astorian reports that police Chief Brad Johnston says a passerby spotted the body in water under the Old Youngs Bay Bridge on Thursday. The deceased has been described as a white male possibly in his 50s to 70s.
Authorities are working with the Clatsop County medical examiner to identify the man.
Police say there is no indication of foul play at this time.
The man is believed to have died within a day or two of being discovered.
___
SALEM-MACY’S
Macy’s to close store in Salem
(Information from: Statesman Journal, http://www.statesmanjournal.com)
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Macy’s Inc. has announced plans to close its store at the Lancaster Mall in Salem early next year.
The Statesman Journal reports that the announcement comes as the Cincinnati-based retailer posted year-over-year sales declines in a Thursday earnings report. Macy’s is also closing its downtown Portland store and selling the property for $54 million. The downtown Salem location will remain open.
The company had announced earlier this year that it would shutter 100 of its stores.
It has seen a consistent drop in sales for the first three quarters of the year, with a 4.2 percent year-over-year drop.
Macy’s has been at Lancaster Mall for the past decade.
___
BANK ROBBER SENTENCED
Man sentenced for robbing 2 Springfield banks
(Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A Lane County man convicted of robbing two banks has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison.
The Register-Guard reports that 40-year-old William John Kesler, of Veneta, was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to two robbery charges as part of a plea deal that got him a shorter sentence.
Kesler was accused of taking more than $6,000 from a Chase Bank in August and $200 from a U.S. Bank in September. Both banks were located inside Springfield grocery stories.
Prosecutors acknowledged that Kesler was forthcoming about the crimes after his arrest.
Kesler’s attorney said his client’s actions were the result of him losing his job and becoming desperate to support a heroin addiction.
Kesler apologized in court Wednesday, saying he didn’t intend to cause any harm.
___
ELECTION-OREGON-LEGISLATURE
Democrats still control Oregon legislature, minus a seat
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Republicans, by the thinnest of margins, managed to grab one seat from the Democrats in the Oregon Senate, while the ratio remained the same in the state House.
Results from the 2016 general election show that the Democrats will still dominate the legislature, though they are one seat short of a supermajority in each chamber that would have enabled them to pass laws more easily.
The change in the Senate, which cost the Democrats their supermajority there, was due to the loss to the GOP of the seat previously occupied by Sen. Alan Bates. The Democrat died of an apparent heart attack Aug. 5 while on a fishing trip. Retired Southern Oregon University administrator Kevin Talbert is filling in the remainder of the term until January.
KIDS SUE-CLIMATE CHANGE
Judge: Youth climate change lawsuit against feds can proceed
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge in Oregon says a lawsuit brought by young climate activists against the federal government can proceed.
U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken on Thursday denied requests by the federal government as well as trade groups representing energy giants to dismiss the case. They had argued that lawmakers and federal agencies, not by the court, should determine climate change policy.
The lawsuit filed last year in federal court in Eugene alleges the federal government has known for decades that carbon pollution causes climate change but has failed to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The plaintiffs include 21 youths as well as climate scientist James Hansen. They are seeking a court decision that finds the government is violating their constitutional rights to life, liberty and property by allowing dangerous emissions to be released into the atmosphere.
SALMON-DAMS
House members send letter opposing dam breaching
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse and numerous other Republican lawmakers have sent a letter opposing the removal of four dams on the Snake River to restore wild runs of salmon.
The lawmakers sent the letter on Thursday to members of the House Appropriations Committee, asking that money be retained in the federal budget to operate the dams. Newhouse represents central Washington.
The House in previous years adopted language that prohibits and use of federal funds to remove any federally-owned or operated dam.
A federal judge recently ordered the government to study breaching the four dams to restore diminished runs of wild salmon.
The four dams are located on the Snake River between the Tri-Cities and Pullman and produce about 5 percent of the electricity in the Northwest.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
