2nd Oregon News Minute from the AP

Date: 11/30/2012 09:22 AM

OR–2nd NewsMinute/302
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

 

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Authorities in Eugene say a man who was among about 30 inmates released from the Lane County Jail in a budget move is accused of robbing a bank less than an hour later. The Register-Guard reports that Eugene police arrested 33-year-old Christopher Weaver shortly after a stickup yesterday at a Pacific Continental Bank branch. Officers handed him over to FBI officials, who took him back to the jail.

SYLVAN, Ore. (AP) – Authorities say a man was cooking hashish – increasing the potency of marijuana – when the process exploded, damaging his apartment in Sylvan and leaving him with severe burns. Washington County deputies say the man was using highly volatile chemicals last night and they became unstable. The blast blew furniture and other household items 50 feet out of the apartment. He’s hospitalized in stable condition.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A grand jury has indicted a former Clackamas County election worker accused of tampering with ballots before the November election. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum says 55-year-old Deanna Swenson of Oregon City has been charged with altering a cast ballot, unlawfully voting more than once and official misconduct. Swenson is accused of filling in ovals on ballots where preferences had been left empty by voters, thus casting additional votes for Republicans.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Gov. John Kitzhaber today will propose an increase in funding for Oregon schools, but the money wouldn’t be enough to cover rising costs. A summary released by his office yesterday says he’ll recommend $6.15 billion in K-12 school funding over the next two years. That’s an increase over current funding, but it’s not enough to maintain the current level of service in schools. To bridge the gap, Kitzhaber hopes lawmakers will cut benefits for retired public employees.

 

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.