Kotek Stops Undercover License Plates for ICE

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Salem, OR) -- Governor Tina Kotek is directing the Oregon Department of Transportation to stop issuing undercover license plates for ICE vehicles. She says it violates Oregon's sanctuary law. She also says it won't increase the risk that agents will be 'doxed,' because agents aren't assigned to specific vehicles. DMV paused issuing undercover plates to all federal agencies on April 15th, pending a review of state law. Moving forward, other federal agencies will be able to get undercover plates, just not for ICE vehicles. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed suit against the State of Oregon over the issue.

Oregon Corrections Data Stolen

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Ontario, OR) -- A former Oregon Department of Corrections employee at the Snake River Correctional Institution is accused of stealing data including 33-thousand files. Corrections learned about the incident on January 5th, but it started last July. The files include various information about adults in custody, staff, vendors, and visitors. A private data forensics company is working to determine who was affected. An investigation is underway into the former employee.

Sandy Shooting Identifications

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Sandy, OR) -- Authorities are identifying the victims in Sunday's domestic violence shooting in Sandy that killed three people and wounded a police officer. Bryan Moore is accused of killing Mary Overson, Mary Beth Overson, and Kobyn McClure. He wounded Police Officer Garrett Thornton, who is hospitalized in stable condition. Moore is also accused of kidnapping two separate people and holding them hostage. Moore faces three counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and firearm charges.

Goat Herd Wanders Into Parking Lot

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Tigard, OR) -- A herd of a dozen goats wandered into a Tigard parking lot Sunday afternoon. Police responded to the Unitus Business Center on Southwest Durham Road near 76th Avenue and found the goats munching on plants. Their owners were located and the goats were returned Sunday evening.

Teen Charged In Fatal Crash

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Sandy, OR) -- A teenager was cited for careless driving in connection with a deadly three-car crash on Friday east of Sandy. Oregon State Police say a 16-year-old driver turned onto Highway 26 from Southeast Weber Road and was hit by a Ford Focus. The Focus crossed the center line and hit a U-Haul truck head-on. The driver of the Focus, 39-year-old Briande Lybbert died at the scene. The passenger and driver of the U-Haul were hospitalized with minor injuries.

Coos Bay Bank Embezzlement

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Coos Bay, OR) -- A Coos Bay woman has been indicted for allegedly embezzling nearly two-million-dollars from the bank where she worked. Federal prosecutors say Heather Casas was the bank manager and took the money over four months in 2024. She was arraigned Thursday in Eugene. Her trial is scheduled to begin in August. If convicted, Casas faces up to 30 years in prison and a million dollar fine.

Rural Maternity Care Funding Approved

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Salem, OR) -- Oregon's request for funding to stabilize maternity care services in rural parts of the state has been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Along with a state match, state health officials say a total of 37-and-a-half-million dollars will help 21 rural hospitals provide additional staffing and medical equipment in 17 counties.

PacificSource Announces Layoffs

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Springfield, OR) -- The health insurance company PacificSource has announced plans to layoff 97 Oregon employees. The company says it's leaving the Montana market and it's reorganizing its operations in Oregon. The layoffs will be effective July 31st. PacificSource offers health insurance in Oregon and Idaho.

Road Rage Investigation

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- A vehicle was struck by gunfire during a road rage incident early Sunday in Southeast Portland. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office says the 24-year-old victim was eastbound on Foster Road near Richey Road, when he passed an SUV, possibly a blue Ford Expedition. Someone in the SUV then shot at his pickup. Deputies found evidence of gunfire, including impact points on the truck and shell casings. No one was hurt. Anyone with surveillance video of the area or who may have other information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office.

Cruise Ship Rescues Mariner

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Tillamook, OR) -- A Canadian man sailing from Hawaii to British Columbia was rescued nearly 500 miles off the coast of Tillamook, after he was injured at sea. The boat was in 30-foot seas with gale force winds when the mast broke and the man injured his shoulder. The engine on his boat had also failed. A luxury cruise ship called the Silver Whisper diverted 120 miles off course to rescue the distressed mariner. The ship's medical team was able to provide care until they arrived in Vancouver. The Coast Guard says he was well-prepared and had previously made the journey four times. They credit his satellite communication device for averting a tragedy.

Mazama Newt Eggs Laid At Oregon Zoo

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- For the first time in captivity, two Mazama newts have laid eggs at the Oregon Zoo. Mazama newts live in Crater Lake and their survival is threatened by the invasive signal crayfish. A pair of newts have laid 52 eggs that appear to be developing. The eggs are about the size of a mustard seed. If they hatch, it could be a significant development in saving the species.

Man Charged For 2024 Kidnapping

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- Federal charges have been filed against a Salem man for an alleged kidnapping near the Oregon coast. Around midnight on July 4th, 2024, Gene McLenithan is accused of taking two strangers from their tent along a Tillamook County hiking trail. He bound the victims, covered their eyes and eventually told them he planned to sexually assault them. He made his first court appearance Thursday and was ordered to remain in custody.

Adult Family Home Fire

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Vancouver, WA) -- One person was injured in an Adult Family Home fire Sunday morning in Vancouver. The first firefighters found smoke and flames coming from the back of the two-story house. During a search, firefighters found a man who wasn't able to walk. He was carried out and transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

Labor Day Wildfire Recovery Milestone

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Salem, OR) -- A major milestone has been reached for hundreds of Oregon families impacted by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. Oregon Housing and Community Services says all state-funded housing recovery developments for those impacted communities are now complete. The state legislature approved 150-million dollars in 2021 to rebuild housing in Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn and Marion counties. They were the most impacted by the disaster. OHCS says those communities are now fully occupied.

Oaks Park Celebrates 121st Birthday

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- Oaks Park in Portland is celebrating its 121st birthday. The park held a party on Saturday to mark the occasion. There was beer and spirits tasting, cake, and balloons as well as an unveiling of Oaks Park's redesigned Wrath of Willamette Willy game by local artist Mike Bennett. Oaks Park opened in 1905.

Man Breaks Into Home Turning It Into A Bunker

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Newport, OR) -- A man has been arrested in Newport after breaking into a home and fortifying it against attack. The home's owner called 911 after seeing on surveillance video a man, who he knew, enter his home with a stockpile of weapons. Police say Dominic Fashbaugh walked around the home with an assault-style rifle. He also had knives, brass knuckles and a padlock converted into a weapon. During a search of the house, police found blockaded doors and weapons concealed in various places, including a shotgun and rifle belonging to the suspect.

Portland Arts Tax Changing

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- Portland City Council has approved changes in the Arts Tax. Previously, everyone making over one-thousand-dollars a year paid the 35-dollar tax. Now, the tax has been increased to 50 dollars a person. Single filers making under 20-thousand-dollars and joint filers making under 40-thousand-dollars are exempt. The amount of the tax will increase with inflation in the future.

Oregon Sued Over Undercover License Plates

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Washington, D.C.) -- The Trump administration is suing Oregon and three other states for not allowing federal vehicles to get confidential license plates. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Oregon, Washington, Maine, and Massachusetts. The lawsuit claims the states' actions are unconstitutional. They say the agents need the secrecy to avoid targeted harassment. Oregon DMV says it's paused issuing the plates while it reviews policies to make sure they comply with Oregon law. State and local law enforcement are not affected.

Gracie Abrams Announces New Tour

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Undated) -- Singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams is coming to Oregon. The Grammy-nominated singer announced "The Look at My Life Tour" on social media Thursday, with 37-dates planned. The tour kicks off in Denver on December 2nd and includes two dates in Portland. She'll perform at the Moda Center on January 31st and February 1st. Tickets go on sale to the general public on June 5th.

Beaverton Apartment Shooting

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Beaverton, OR) -- A man is in custody after a shooting at a Beaverton apartment complex. Several people called 9-1-1 to report gunfire at the Monte Vista Apartments, just after 2:15 a.m. Thursday. Arriving officers found one vehicle hit by bullets, with two people inside. They weren't hurt. Investigators identified the suspect as 51-year-old Karl Armstrong Junior and believe the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute between people connected to the complex. Armstrong was arrested a short time later.

Romanian Woman Sentenced To Prison For Elderly Fraud

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- A federal judge has sentenced a woman to prison for stealing from elderly Oregonians. Court documents show 34-year-old Rexona Caldararu, a Romanian national in the country illegally, would watch elderly customers as they checked of grocery stores, memorize their PIN, follow them into the parking lot and claim they dropped cash. She would insist on helping to put the money in their wallet while stealing their debit card. She would withdraw money and make purchases. Caldararu defrauded 12 people and stole more than 73-thousand-dollars.

FEMA Money Helps Cover Pandemic Costs

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Salem, OR) -- Six years after the pandemic, FEMA is reimbursing the State of Oregon for some of the money it spent managing the virus. Oregon Health Authority has received 647-thousand-dollars for equipment and contracts issued to reduce or eliminate COVID-19. FEMA also awarded almost 400-thousand dollars for the hospital in Lincoln City to secure a resilient water supply, in an effort to mitigate future disaster impacts.

Newport Safeway Closing

Posted About A Week Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Newport, OR) -- Safeway has notified the State of Oregon its Newport store will close on July 25th. 69 workers will be affected. Some workers will be able to transfer to other stores, and a small number will be laid off. Other large grocery stores in Newport include Fred Meyer, Walmart, Grocery Outlet and several smaller stores.

TriMet Board Approves Cuts

Posted About Three Weeks Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- The TriMet Board of Directors has approved large cuts to the transit agency. 170 employees will be laid off. Starting in August, there will be a ten percent cut in service affecting 33 lines. 127-million-dollars in reserve funds will be used to minimize the cuts.

Oregon PUC Denies PacifiCorp's Interim Rate Increase Request

Posted About Three Weeks Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Salem, OR) -- The Oregon Public Utility Commission has denied PacifiCorp's request for an interim rate increase. The utility wants to raise rates 170-million-dollars, or eight-point-six percent. If approved, that would take effect next year. PacifiCorp also requested a two-point-eight percent increase that would take effect in June. The PUC says PacifiCorp has taken steps to improve its financial position and the interim rate increase was denied.