3rd News Minute from the AP

AP-OR–3rd NewsMinute,293
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Forecasters say a series of storms will
keep western Oregon wet as residents deal with flooding in the
Willamette Valley that took two lives this week in Albany. The jet
stream is aiming storms at the Northwest, bringing rain, mountain
snow and winds through much of the upcoming week.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) – A southwestern Idaho man has been sentenced
to seven years in prison and ordered to forfeit vehicles, $200,000
in cash and bank accounts for his role in a marijuana conspiracy
involving grow operations on public lands in Oregon and California.
Federal prosecutors say Jose Cardona-Ramirez’s sentence is to be
followed by five years of supervised release. His wife Victoria
Villa-Gonzalez got two years in prison for her role in the
marijuana conspiracy. Prosecutors say the couple and two others
produced over 12,000 plants.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Conservation groups have warned the state
of Oregon they will sue to reduce logging on state forests to
protect nesting trees for a threatened seabird called the marbled
murrelet. The groups sent the governor and state agencies formal
notices that a lawsuit will be filed if they do not rescind recent
decisions to increase clearcut logging on the Elliott, Tillamook
and Clatsop state forests. The birds spend most of their lives at
sea, but nest in old-growth trees near the coast.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) – Boise State football coach Chris Petersen
has named former Montana and Idaho assistant Jonathan Smith as the
Broncos new quarterbacks coach. Smith walked on at Oregon State
where he played four seasons at quarterback. He led the Beavers to
an 11-1 record in 2001 and was named the MVP of the Tostitos Fiesta
Bowl after leading OSU to a 41-9 win over Notre Dame.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-01-20-12 1101EST