Oregon News from the AP

AP-OR–2nd NewsMinute,294
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Federal prosecutors say a gold and silver
coin dealer from Tigard has been indicted on 13 counts of mail
fraud and wire fraud for taking customers’ money but failing to
deliver coins. The U.S. Attorney says Lawrence Heim’s customers
lost more than $1.7 million. Heim hosted a radio program and
operated a website on which he advertised the sale of gold and
silver coins through his U.S. Gold and Silver Investments Inc. in
Portland.

ENTERPRISE, Ore. (AP) – Oregon officials say they’ve raided a
huge marijuana growing operation that had operated for years in a
remote area in the northeastern corner of the state. It’s the
second large-scale marijuana operation to be discovered in the area
this summer. The Oregonian reports the site was on private land in
Wallowa County. Officers found and destroyed more than 10,300
plants ranging from 3 to 5 feet high and worth an estimated $25
million. In June, authorities seized 91,000 plants in the same
general area.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – State lawmakers today will get a fresh
picture of Oregon’s tax collections and economic outlook.
Legislative committees are scheduled to get the quarterly revenue
forecast following a period of relatively flat job growth. It will
be the first forecast of the two-year budget cycle that began last
month.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Oregon environmental authorities are
encouraging people to irrigate with the water drained from sinks,
showers and laundry – known as graywater. Officials just approved
rules governing permits for graywater systems, which will be
offered starting next spring. The idea of using soapy water for
irrigation has been around awhile, but it was prohibited in Oregon.
The Legislature approved the practice in 2009, but until now there
were no rules to govern it.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-08-26-11 0931EDT