Latest Oregon news, sports, business and entertainment

 

AP POLL-TEENS-POLITICS

AP-NORC Poll: US teens disillusioned, divided by politics

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A survey of children ages 13 to 17 finds that America’s teens are almost as politically disillusioned and pessimistic about the nation’s divisions as their parents.

But they aren’t quite as quick to write off the future as adults.

The poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 8 in 10 teens feel that Americans are divided when it comes to the nation’s most important values. Six in 10 say the country is headed in the wrong direction.

Fifty-six percent of all teens surveyed believe America’s best days are ahead. That compares to 52 percent of adults in an AP-NORC poll conducted in June 2016 who said the nation’s best days are behind it.

MARIJUANA-LAWSUIT

Lawsuit targets former Jackson County commissioner, pot shop

(Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/)

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — A lawsuit contends a former Jackson County commissioner took cash payments for marijuana consulting while in office and bilked investors to finance a pot shop.

The Mail Tribune reports in a story on Sunday that the lawsuit filed Thursday in Jackson County Circuit Court contends Doug Breidenthal committed elder abuse and breached fiduciary duty.

The lawsuit, filed by Larry and Mary Nelson of Prescott, Arizona, and Greg Allen, seeks $529,000 in damages.

The lawsuit also seeks to freeze American Cannabis Co.’s assets.

Breidenthal didn’t respond to the newspaper’s repeated contact attempts by phone and email.

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TEACHER SENTENCING

Former high school teacher sentenced in sex abuse case

(Information from: Albany Democrat-Herald, http://www.dhonline.com)

ALBANY, Ore. (AP) — A former western Oregon teacher has been sentenced to 100 days in jail in a sex abuse case involving two girls at West Albany High School.

The Albany Democrat-Herald reports in a story on Saturday that 28-year-old James Walter Myrick was also sentenced to three years of probation.

Myrick pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree sexual abuse, third-degree attempted sexual abuse, and two counts of first-degree official misconduct.

Myrick was arrested in July following a six-month investigation.

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1992 MSU FIREBOMBING

Man admits to MSU firebombing 25 years later

(Information from: Lansing State Journal, http://www.lansingstatejournal.com)

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A man who denied firebombing an animal researcher’s laboratory at Michigan State University in 1992 even as he pleaded guilty now admits he carried out the attack.

Rodney Coronado tells the Lansing State Journal that he doesn’t regret the attack and admits to participating in attacks of other universities and private fur farms with members of the Animal Liberation Front in the early 1990s. He says he firebombed the lab of a MSU researcher studying minks to fight what he saw as animal abuse.

Coronado was indicted in 1995. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison and ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution.

Coronado has since moved to Grand Rapids and heads a nonprofit group called the Great Lakes Wolf Patrol.

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DOG ADOPTS PUPS

Oregon dog that lost pups in barn fire adopts 8 others

(Information from: KVAL-TV, http://www.kval.com/)

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) — A dog named Daisy that stopped eating after losing her seven puppies in a barn fire is described as being in heaven after adopting eight other pups whose mother died giving birth.

The 2-year-old Daisy is a mix between a Great Pyrenees and border collie. Her seven puppies perished in a barn fire in Roseburg earlier this month.

Recently, a border collie died in surgery trying to give birth to two more pups after delivering eight.

Daisy’s owner, Christine Nelson, learned about the orphaned puppies and they met Daisy on Friday.

Nelson tells KVAL-TV that “Daisy is in heaven.”

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RANCHING STANDOFF-AMMON BUNDY

Ammon Bundy, leader of refuge standoff, returns to Oregon

(Information from: KATU-TV, http://www.katu.com/)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Ammon Bundy, the leader of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge takeover, is back in Oregon.

KATU-TV reports that Bundy was transferred from custody in Las Vegas, where he’s been held on charges from a different standoff with government agents, to the Multnomah County Jail on Friday night.

He’s expected to be called as a defense witness in the second trial stemming from the refuge occupation. Bundy was acquitted along with five others in the first trial last year.

Fellow occupier Ryan Payne is also in Portland and is expected to testify next week.

Federal prosecutors are close to resting their case against the four defendants. Like the defendants in the first trial, the four face a primary charge of conspiracy to impede Interior Department employees from doing their jobs at the refuge through the use of force, threats or intimidation.

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INTERSTATE TOLLS

Oregon to seek federal approval for interstate tolls

(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon transportation officials intend to seek federal approval for interstate tolls.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the tolls would fund I-5 work.

Oregon Department of Transportation Assistant Director Travis Brouwer said officials believe there will be open spots in the government’s FAST Act program and they are researching next steps.

No openings have been confirmed by the Federal Highway Administration or the program’s manager.

President Donald Trump has yet to fill posts in the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Brouwer said the people who fill these open jobs would be crucial to any decisions about tolling.

He said it would still take years to put tolls in place if federal approval is secured.

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FATAL POLICE SHOOTING

Oregon officers who fatally shot man on roof identified

(Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)

BEAVERTON, Ore. (AP) — Two police officers in Oregon who shot and killed an armed man standing on the roof of a home Tuesday have been identified.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Officers Jason Buelt and Dan Cotton fired their weapons killing 51-year-old Douglas Michael Smith at the Beaverton home.

Beaverton Police Department spokesman Officer Mike Rowe says the officers opened fire after the man began waving a gun in the air and taking aim at people in other houses from his perch atop the roof.

Rowe says Smith refused to talk with officers, pointed the gun at them and fired a shot into the house.

Rowe says the Buelt and Cotton fired to stop the threat.

Both were placed on paid administrative leave while an investigation continues.

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Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.