Latest Oregon news, sports, business and entertainment

 

CHILD NEGLECT CHARGES

Day care owner charged with leaving infants to go tanning

(Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com)

BEND, Ore. (AP) — Police say a 31-year-old Bend woman has been accused of leaving seven children at her home day care while she went tanning.

The Bulletin reports January Neatherlin was booked into jail Wednesday on child neglect, reckless endangerment, theft and criminal mistreatment charges.

Bend Police Lt. Jason Maniscalco says Neatherlin police received a tip that led them to set up surveillance outside the home and say officers watched as parents dropped off children.

Hours later police say they saw Neatherlin drive away and say she was found at a tanning salon.

Out of fear for the children’s safety, police say officers entered the home and found seven unattended children ranging in age from 6 months to 4 years inside.

Detectives called the parents, who took their children to a hospital for evaluation as a precaution.

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RANCHING STANDOFF-BUNDY LAWYER

Lawyer for Oregon standoff leader sees charges dismissed

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

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed criminal charges against the lawyer for the leader of the armed occupation at an Oregon wildlife refuge.

U.S. marshals tackled Marcus Mumford and zapped him with a stun gun as he argued with a judge last fall over releasing his client, Ammon Bundy, shortly after his acquittal in the standoff.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on Wednesday carried out a request from prosecutors. Acting U.S. Attorney John Harrington declined to explain why they wanted to dismiss the case now.

Mumford had been charged with failing to comply with official signs that prohibit the disruption of federal officers’ work and failing to comply with a federal officer’s direction to stop resisting.

His lawyer said the marshals engaged in “outrageous” misconduct.

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GUN DEALER INDICTED

Gun dealer indicted on federal firearms charges

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A 67-year-old gun store owner north of Eugene has been indicted on federal firearms charges for allegedly selling guns to someone he knew was a convicted felon.

The U.S. Justice Department said in a news release Wednesday that Nicholas Russell of Albany was indicted Wednesday on charges that he sold high-caliber firearms, including a handgun and two rifles, to the convicted person between Nov. 19, 2016 and Jan. 25, 2017.

Russell is the owner and operator of Albany Guns, Coins and Jewelry.

Reached at the store Wednesday, Russell told The Associated Press he was aware of an investigation but not the indictment and couldn’t immediately comment.

XGR-TRANSGENDER RECORDS

Transgender birth records bill passes Oregon House

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A proposal that would privatize the process for transgender individuals to make changes to their birth certificates cleared the Oregon House on Wednesday in a 37-23 vote.

Under House Bill 2673, transgenders with Oregon birth certificates would be able to update their names and genders through a private process under the Oregon Health Authority, circumventing public paper trials and involvement of the courts. The bill now heads to the Senate.

Proponents say nine in 10 transgender Oregonians do not have vital records that accurately reflect their names and genders, which can hamper their abilities to get health care, housing or a job. It’s also seen as a way for Oregon to protect against discrimination as protections for transgender youth were recently revoked at the federal level.

PORTLAND-FREE SPEECH DEBATE

Ultra-liberal Portland moves to reign in protesters

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — In Oregon’s ultra-liberal city of Portland, protests are a way of life.

But the new mayor is taking on the sacrosanct.

The City Council approved an emergency ordinance Wednesday that would allow the city to eject disruptive protesters and ban them from council chambers for up to 60 days in some cases.

The commissioners voted unanimously after months of raucous protests that they say have shut down meetings, disrupted business and prevented others from testifying.

The ordinance is being called unconstitutional by the American Civil Liberties Union and by protesters, who tried to shout down the commissioners as they voted.

Mayor Ted Wheeler says the provision allowing people to be banned from the council chambers won’t be used until a federal court rules on its constitutionality.

TRUMP TRAVEL BAN-LAWSUITS-THE LATEST

The Latest: Government calls ruling flawed, vows court fight

The Justice Department calls a ruling by a federal judge in Hawaii that halts President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban “flawed in reasoning and in scope.”

The agency said in a statement Wednesday that the executive order falls within Trump’s power to protect national security and that the department will keep defending it in court.

In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson questioned whether the administration was motivated by national security concerns. He issued the decision Wednesday, just hours before the ban was supposed to take effect.

Watson also said Hawaii would suffer financially if the ban blocked the flow of students and tourists to the state, concluding that Hawaii was likely to succeed on a claim that the executive order violates First Amendment protections against religious discrimination.

XGR-REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Oregon: Possible model for other states in reproductive care

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Preparing for federal abortion restrictions and health-care cuts, Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban interference in terminating a pregnancy, and would ensure that health-care services related to reproductive health are fully covered by insurance.

Even before a House committee discussed the measure Wednesday, it was generating a lot of interest. House Speaker Tina Kotek said the measure makes sure all reproductive health care is affordable and accessible.

An opponent said in written testimony that to not acknowledge any protection of unborn viable children is legislating murder.

OREGON DOUBLE HOMICIDE

2 men killed southeast of Portland, Oregon; suspect arrested

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say they have arrested a man in connection with the slaying of two men southeast of Portland, Oregon.

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday evening that 33-year-old Robert Hilands was arrested and booked into jail on charges of aggravated murder and unlawful use of a weapon.

Sgt. Brian Jensen said deputies found the bodies near a gate Tuesday in the community of Beavercreek. He says two women called 9-1-1 to report they couldn’t find their boyfriends after receiving information the men were being shot at.

The sheriff’s office identified the victims as 40-year-old Dustin Childress of Molalla and 50-year-old Thomas L. Hegar. An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday but authorities say both died of gunshot wounds.

Jensen says it’s unclear if the boyfriends are the same men found dead.

 

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.