(Gresham, OR)  --  The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is releasing new information about a man who drowned in the Sandy River near Oxbow Park on Wednesday.  Witnesses say 46-year-old Derek Johnson, of Portland, was stand-up paddling when he fell into the river and didn't resurface.  His cause of death was ruled a drowning.  Johnson wasn't wearing a lifejacket. 

(Grants Pass, OR)  --  Oregon State Police say they've shut down an illegal marijuana operation near Grants Pass.  Troopers seized more than 31-hundred plants in five large greenhouses.  Three people, one adult and two juveniles, who live in New York, were arrested.  Police also seized a semi-automatic gun with no serial number.  There were multiple code violations on the property and Jackson County will take enforcement action against the property owner that could result in it being closed for a year.

(Portland, OR)  --  A Multnomah County grand jury has determined the fatal shooting by two officers in February was justified.  Officers responded to a disturbance call on Southwest Broadway Drive where shots had been fired.  Residents in the area were told to shelter in place.  While officers were investigating shots were fired and 30-year-old Joel Arevalo was killed.  Police haven't said why they fired.  The District Attorney's Office is asking a judge to release the grand jury transcripts to the public, so more details can be revealed.

(Salem, OR)  --  The Oregon State Fire Marshal is pre-positioning firefighters in Klamath County in advance of elevated fire risk this weekend.  The structural taskforce includes 14 firefighters, four engines, and a water tender.  They'll remain in Klamath County for 72 hours and longer, if needed.  The crews will be able to respond quickly to protect structures if a fire starts.  Wildland firefighters are already in the area.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Oregon Brewers Festival is back after being canceled for two years, because of the pandemic.  About 80-percent of the 42 beers and two ciders are exclusive to the festival.  It's open from noon to 9 p.m. each day through Saturday.  There's plenty of shade under tents and trees.  Misters are set up to keep people cool.  This is the 33rd year for the festival.  They expect around 35-thousand visitors, which is less than the usual number.  Organizers scaled back, because they didn't know what the demand would be following the pandemic.

(Tualatin, OR)  --  A suspect is under arrest after allegedly stealing a minivan with an infant inside.  Police say the victim was dropping a dog off at the Oregon Dog Rescue in Tualatin yesterday and left the minivan running.  A man jumped into the minivan and drove away with the victim's nine-month-old child inside.  The suspect left the child on the side of the road in Oregon City.  The child wasn't hurt and was turned over to police.  The victim's phone was in the minivan and police used that to locate the vehicle in Northeast Portland.  After a brief foot pursuit, 24-year-old Marcus Paul was arrested.  He's charged with kidnapping, theft of a motor vehicle and endangering the welfare of a minor.

(Portland, OR)  --  Blood and platelet donations are down 20-percent this summer and the Red Cross is urging you to sign up to donate.  They especially need type O negative donors, but all types are needed.  Everyone who donates during August will be registered for a chance to win gas for a year, up to six-thousand dollars.  There will be three winners.  All donors in August will receive a 10-dollar e-gift card.

(Portland, OR)  --  It appears the spike in COVID-19 cases in Oregon from the B.A.5 variant is trending down.  The Oregon Health Authority reports new cases are down 13-percent.  There were 176 fewer hospitalizations over the last two weeks and 13 fewer deaths.  COVID-19 test positivity declined from 15 to 13-percent.

(Portland, OR)  --  A Multnomah County jury has found 22-year-old Michael Ramirez guilty of two murders in two days.  In 2019, Ramirez was with a group of people prowling cars near Southeast 103rd and Reedway when Sergey Peshkov confronted them.  Ramirez shot Peshkov several times killing him.  Several hours later, Ramirez returned to view the body and brag about the killing.  The next day, Ramirez got into an argument with Lorenzo Gordon and fatally shot him.  Prosecutors say Ramirez incriminated himself while in jail.  He'll be sentenced on two counts of Murder in the Second Degree on September 16th.

(Tigard, OR)  --  The family of a man who was shot and killed by Tigard Police in 2021 is settling with the City for three-point-eight million dollars.  The family of 26-year-old Jacob MacDuff announced the settlement yesterday.  Police shot and killed MacDuff while responding to a domestic disturbance call.  MacDuff was locked in the cab of his pickup and refused to come out.  Police tried to force him out and fatally shot him during the process.  Police knew from previous contact that MacDuff suffered from mental health issues.  As part of the settlement, Tigard Police are making changes in training and how they deal with people in a mental health crisis.

(Portland, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into an officer-involved shooting in St. Johns.  The Portland Police Bureau says officers were responding to a report of gunfire early yesterday morning when the incident happened.  Police say an officer contacted the suspect but he got into a truck and tried to run over the officer, who fired at the vehicle.  The truck hit a patrol car and fled.  Police lost the vehicle in the neighborhood.  It's unknown whether the driver was injured by the shooting.

(Portland, OR)  --  The U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI are asking victims of hate crimes to report them.  Calls to the Oregon Department of Justice Bias Response Hotline increased 53-percent from 2020 to 2021.  Kieran Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office says violent acts motivated by hate have no place in the community.  They believe incidents of hate crimes are underreported and they need victims and witnesses of hate crimes to come forward.

(Portland, OR)  --  The air from Vancouver to Eugene will be extra smoggy this week.  An Air Quality Advisory has been issued for elevated levels of ozone pollution.  It could be unhealthy for sensitive groups like children, people over 65, pregnant women and people with heart disease or respiratory conditions.  You can help reduce smog by limiting driving, refuel vehicles when it's cooler, don't use gas powered engines, and postpone painting and aerosol spray projects. 

(Salem, OR)  --  Governor Kate Brown is issuing an emergency declaration due to this week's heat wave.  The governor has directed the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to activate the state's Emergency Coordination Center to provide essential protective measures.  The emergency order requires state agencies to provide any help requested by OEM.  Brown says Oregonians need to be aware of the dangers caused by prolonged hot weather.  211 is available for anyone in need of help.

(Portland, OR)  --  The National Weather Service is extending its excessive heat warning for Portland through Saturday.  The warning also applies to Vancouver, Salem, the Columbia River Gorge, Central and Northeast Oregon.  Highs from Vancouver to Salem will be in the upper 90s through Saturday.  East of the Cascades, highs could reach 110 to 113 degrees. 

CORALLIS, OR -- Researchers at Oregon State University may have found a way to use artificial intelligence to help protect bees during the development of new pesticides. 

Typically, pesticide developers expose a group of bees to a new chemical and if more than 50% survive, it’s deemed nontoxic for these critical pollinators. But, OSU Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering Cory Simon says this new AI can predict bee toxicity in a fraction of a second, "Instead of conducting 1,000 bee toxicity experiments, which is time consuming, expensive, and yeah it kills a lot of bees, we could narrow down to a few pesticides that our model predicts not to be toxic for the experiments."

He says the system uses data from past experiments conducted on bees, "It learns to find patterns in the molecular structure of the pesticides. And then, when a new pesticide molecule comes along, it looks for the patterns in that pesticide to see if it’s more similar to the toxic or nontoxic ones that we observe in the experiments."

Simon believes the machine could be expanded to be useful in an infestation emergency, "Where there is a pest invading a field and they need to make a quick decision ‘which pesticide should we use among these new ones?’ And they haven’t had experiments yet, our model could be used to predict which pesticide to apply with the lowest risk to bees."

While herbicides, fungicides and insecticides are widely used on Oregon crops, those same plants rely on bee pollination. OSU estimates almost 100 commercial crops in the U.S. would vanish without bees to transfer pollen needed for reproduction, so protecting them from becoming collateral damage to pesticides, researchers say, is critical to the protection of our food supply.

(Seaside, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into a fire that destroyed two homes in Seaside.  Firefighters responded to the houses located on 4th Avenue early yesterday morning.  At least five propane tanks exploded during the fire, causing some damage to a home across the street.  Highway 101 was closed while the fire was put out.  The highway has reopened.  No one was hurt in the fire.  Firefighters from six nearby departments responded to help.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police are releasing the names of two people killed in a shooting on July 17th.  Police responded to a shooting near Southeast 26th and Belmont where they found two victims.  Police say 34-year-old Dante Hall died at the scene, while 24-year-old Victoria Brown died at a hospital.  No suspect information has been released and there have been no arrests in the shooting.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Oregon Health Authority is increasing distributing of air conditioning units as the heat wave gets underway.  The Oregon Legislature approved a program to allocate five-million dollars to buy air conditioners for high-risk Oregonians who are eligible to receive medical assistance from the state or federal government.  Over the weekend, organizations working with the OHA distributed 500 air conditioners.  Another two-thousand units are on order.  OHA is partnering with more community organizations to increase distribution of the units.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland's 911 center is hiring.  The Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications is hiring 911 dispatchers.  No previous experience with emergency communications is required.  They offer a paid training program with classroom learning, simulation exercises, support from an experienced coach and daily performance feedback.  Applicants need to be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma and the ability to type 40 words a minute with 90-percent accuracy.  They're taking applications through August 14th.

(Portland, OR)  --  A former Portland Police officer is pleading guilty to assault and misconduct for an incident that happened during a demonstration.  Authorities say 52-year-old Scott Groshong was driving an unmarked van and saw Portland Skate and Snowboard Shop being burglarized.  He saw a man take an item and run across the street.  Groshong used the minivan to hit the man causing serious injury.  The incident was recorded on video.  Groshong didn't report the incident to a supervisor, in his police report, or to the Department of Motor Vehicles.  The judge sentenced Groshong, who's now retired, to three years probation, 80 hours of community service, and his state law enforcement license was revoked.

(Eugene, OR)  --  Nigeria's Tobi Amusan is celebrating after setting a new world record in the women's 100-meter hurdles.  The 25-year-old finished with a time of 12-point-12 seconds to win a thrilling semi-final race at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon on Sunday.  Amusan held nothing back at Hayward field in Eugene for the pre-championship event.  The stellar performance came after she set the African record just the day before.  She finished with an even faster time in the final, finishing in just twelve-point-oh-six seconds, but there was too much tailwind to make it a new record.

(Forest Grove, OR)  --  Hazmat crews remain on the scene of an ammonia leak at a warehouse in Forest Grove.  The Forest Grove Fire Department says crews were still actively working to ventilate the 20-thousand-square-foot room where the leak occurred as of about 5 a.m. this morning.  The department says crews worked through the evening to stop the leak and ventilate the fumes.  Officials say there's still an odor of ammonia in the area but that the scene has been cleared and roadways have reopened.  Anyone experiencing difficulty breathing in the area is advised to call 911.

(Portland, OR)  --  A Portland Police officer was injured by a hit and run suspect Sunday morning.  Police responded to Southeast 153rd and Powell on a report of people stealing a pickup.  A suspect got in the truck and sped away hitting the officer and crashing into an occupied car.  The officer was hospitalized with serious, but not life-threatening injuries.  An elderly woman in the car that was hit also went to a hospital.  Police later located the stolen vehicle, but the suspect got away.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police shot and killed a person involved in a domestic violence incident early Sunday morning.  Police responded to Southeast 148th and Clinton where a man and a woman were physically fighting.  While attempting to arrest the man, the suspect fired a shot and the officer returned fired killing the man.  Police have not released the names of the people involved.  The shooting will go before the Police Review Board for examination.
 

(Portland, OR)  --  Multnomah County and the City of Portland have issued emergency declarations ahead of this week's hot weather.  The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Watch from Monday through Friday, warning of dangerously hot conditions that could exceed 100 degrees for three or more days in a row.  Overnight lows will be in the mid to upper 60s.  The city and county will have overnight cooling shelters starting on Tuesday and some library branches will be open later than usual.  211 will have information on cooling centers.  TriMet will provide free transportation to cooling centers.

(Portland, OR)  --  Educators will have free access to seven Portland cultural attractions over two separate weeks.  The organizations include the Oregon Historical Society, Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Lan Su Chinese Garden, and the Portland Art Museum.  The weeks are July 25th through the 31st and August 8th through the 14th.  Educators only need to identify themselves as a teacher and they don't need to show school identification.

(Hillsboro, OR)  --  Washington County fire agencies are enacting a high-fire danger burn ban starting on Monday.  It means all yard debris burning is prohibited along with agricultural burning and fires to clear land.  The ban does not stop outdoor cooking, warming or recreational fires.  Fires in fire pits are allowed as long as they have a three-foot clearance and flames are no higher than two feet.  Barbecue grills, smokers and other outdoor cooking appliance are also allowed.

(Bend, OR)  --  A fourth case of bird flu is causing the poultry quarantine to expand in Deschutes [[deh-SHOOTS]] County.  The Oregon Department of Agriculture says the virus has been detected in a non-commercial flock of 40 chickens and ducks.  The quarantine of all poultry animals now stretches halfway through Redmond and that includes the fairgrounds where the Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo starts August 3rd.  ODA is working with 4-H on a plan that will allow participants to exhibit and sell market birds, but a show for breeding birds has been canceled.

(Salem, OR)  --  An inmate from the Santiam Correctional Facility who walked away from a work van is back in custody.  Jay Marsh got out of the van on Monday when it was at a stop light in Lebanon and walked away.  The Linn County Sheriff's Office says Marsh was arrested in Lebanon and returned to prison.

(Portland, OR)  --  The State of Oregon has completed a settlement from a lawsuit filed in 2012 that claimed the state violated the law by segregating people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in sheltered workshops that often paid them less than minimum wage.  The settlement was reached in 2016.  It brought improvement in employment practices and opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.  In 2016, there were 143 people in community employment and that number has grown to over 15-hundred as of last year.  The state is working to increase job opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.

SALEM, OR -- The hiring frenzy continues, with statewide unemployment holding near record lows. "Oregon’s unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 3.6% in June and it was the same as the U.S. rate," State Employment Economist Gail Krumenauer said Wednesday. Oregon’s jobless rate has been below 4% for the past four months. The record low for the state is 3.4%, set just before the onset of the pandemic. 

"Oregon employers added 8,700 jobs to nonfarm payrolls in June," said Krumenauer, "Many sectors had large job gains in June. Construction added 2,800 jobs over the month." Healthcare and Leisure & Hospitality also saw gains. "No broad sector of Oregon’s economy had large job losses in June.

As of June, the state has regained 94% of the jobs lost when the pandemic began, slightly below the U.S. average of 98%.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Biden announced Wednesday plans to use executive power to address climate change because he says Congress is not taking action. He stopped short of a formal emergency declaration, something Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and a handful of other Democrats are asking for. 

"And if folks want to understand what that does, think about President Trump declaring an emergency on the southern border to allow him to move around billions of dollars to build a wall," Merkley tells KBND News, "Well, in this case, let’s move money around to build out the American-made manufacturing of solar panels and wind turbines."

KBND's Heather Roberts asked Merkley, "How do you respond to people who say this is really just a distraction from the concerns over the economy and 9.1% inflation?" Sen. Merkley responded, "We’re paying painful prices at the pump because we’re addicted to oil and we’re enriching the dictators in Russia and Iran. Why should we be enriching those dictators when, right now it costs 3 cents a mile to drive on electricity and 30 cents to drive on gas?"

He believes emergency funding could be used to bring down the cost of electric cars, solar panel production and wind turbines.

(Portland, OR)  --  Cases of COVID-19 in Oregon have declined slightly while test positivity increased to 13-point-nine percent.  The CDC reports that 21 counties in the state have high levels of community transmission.  The B.A.5 variant is the most common in Oregon.  The Oregon Health Authority reports hospitalizations peaked at 479 earlier this month and hospitals are not expected to be overwhelmed with COVID patients.

(Portland, OR)  --  An investigation is ongoing into a shooting that killed a man in North Portland.  Police say two men were in a car near North Interstate Avenue and Terry Street Tuesday night when they were shot.  The passenger died at the scene.  The driver was hospitalized.  Detectives haven't made an arrest and no information about a suspect has been arrested.

(Portland, OR)  --  Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson is being acquitted of riot charges.  A judge issued the ruling today saying the state did not prove its case.  Activist Russell Schultz was also cleared.  The judge didn't acquit the third defendant, Mackenzie Lewis, whose trial continues.  All three men were accused of rioting on May Day in 2019 outside of the former pub Cider Riot where several members of Antifa were meeting. 

(Oregon City, OR)  --  The band Metallica is partnering with Clackamas Community College for the fourth year in a row to help students in technical education programs.  Money from the band is used to buy tools, personal protection equipment and other support for students in the industrial technology, welding and automotive programs.  The Metallica Scholarship Initiative supports over two-thousand students at 32 community colleges in 27 states.

(Salem, OR)  --  A new Oregon Health Authority report says per person health care costs grew faster than income between 2013 and 2019, before the pandemic.  The report says health care costs jumped 49-percent, driven by prescription drug costs and the cost of professional services.  Personal income grew 31-percent and average wages grew 21-percent.  Data from 2020 and 2021 was not included, so it's not clear what direct impact COVID-19 had on health care costs.

(Troutdale, OR)  --  The body of a man who was missing in the Sandy River has been recovered.  Police say 53-year-old Christopher Smaka was reported missing on July 12th after telling friends he was going to the river for a swim.  Deputies found his shoes and personal items near the bank of the river.  On Monday, a person called 911 to report a body floating in a deep pool.  Smaka's body was located across the river from where his personal items were found.  The Clackamas County Medical Examiner made a formal identification.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police are releasing the name of a man who was killed in a shooting last Friday evening.  Police say 44-year-old Aaron Follstad-Martin was shot near Southeast 124th and Powell.  Officers arrived on the scene to find Follstad-Martin deceased.  Detectives have not said what led to the shooting.  There has not been an arrest and police have not released information about a suspect.
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The January Sixth Committee will hold its last scheduled hearing Thursday, when the group of bipartisan Senators is expected to reveal new details from the investigation. U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) says he hopes Americans are paying attention and learning from the mistakes made that day, "And that we need to reinforce the strength of our fundamental institutions, including our courts, including Congress and including the behavior of the Executive Branch. They all bear responsibility to sustain the vision of the checks and balances that are written into our Constitution." He tells KBND News, "And if those institutions fail us, as they have so often, recently, we need to repair and strengthen them. They are not nearly as strong as we thought. They’re more fragile, they’re more subject to human pressure, they’re more subject to corruption than we ever anticipated."

The Oregon Democrat calls the actions committed that day troubling for our Democracy.

Thursday’s hearing is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Some reports indicate we may get a look at texts sent by Secret Service agents who were with then-President Trump on that fateful day.

(Island City, OR)  --  Suspects in a business burglary near La Grande fired shots at an employee and Oregon State Police troopers.   The burglary happened Sunday at Bullseye Muzzleloaders and More.  When an employee confronted the suspect, shots were fired.  The employee wasn't hurt.  During a pursuit with Oregon State Police, the suspects allegedly kept shooting and disabled a patrol car.  A trooper who was preparing to use spike strips shot at the suspects.  When the car stopped, the suspects ran.  Two suspects were taken into custody.  One person escaped. 

(Multnomah County, OR)  --  The trial against three members of the far-right group Patriot Prayer is underway in Multnomah County.  Leader Joey Gibson and members Russel Schultz and Mackenzie Lewis face felony riot charges from May Day demonstrations in 2019.  Prosecutors intend to use video evidence from people who recorded the violence on their cell phones.  The defense claims members of the group tried to de-escalate the conflict.

(Hazel Dell, WA)  --  Police say a driver was killed in a three-vehicle crash Monday morning on I-5 in Hazel Dell.  Washington State Patrol says a pickup being driven southbound near 99th Street rear-ended a car, pushing it into a third car.  Judith Cherryhomes was driving the car that was rear-ended and died in the crash.  Two people in the third car that was hit were hospitalized.  The driver who caused the crash wasn't injured.  Investigators say there's no evidence drugs or alcohol were involved.  The cause of the crash was driver inattention.

(Portland, OR)  --  A police oversight group is urging the Portland City Council install a gunshot detection system.  The Focused Intervention Team Community Oversight Group has approved a proposal to Mayor Ted Wheeler to use ShotSpotter to help police respond to gun violence much faster.  The same system is used in several cities across the country.  However, the Chicago Inspector General found that 90-percent of the time officers could find no evidence of a shooting, even after they received an alert.  

(Portland, OR)  --  A new report shows significant increase in shootings and homicides in Portland since 2019.  The California Partnership for Safe Communities reports shows homicides increased 144-percent and shootings were up 241-percent.  Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler says the data will help the City focus on the problem.  It shows 10 groups and gangs are responsible for most of the shootings.  The highest concentration of shootings are in downtown and North Portland with pockets in Northeast and Southeast Portland.  The report recommends focusing efforts on those groups and areas of the city.

(Las Vegas, NV)  --  The Trail Blazers are claiming another title at Las Vegas Summer League.  Portland beat the New York Knicks 85-77 at the Thomas and Mack Center to earn this year's NBA summer league championship.  Forward Trendon Watford scored 19 points and collected seven rebounds as he was named the game's MVP.  The Blazers won their second Summer League title since 2017 and will receive the first ever championship rings for this year's effort.  

(Sherwood, OR)  --  Sherwood Police have arrested a man for alleged sex crimes involving a child.  Police say the victim recently told a family member about the abuse that occurred over several months.  Barry Collins Junior was arrested following a grand jury indictment.  He faces nine charges of sex abuse and he's being held on two-million-dollars bail.

(Lyons, OR)  --  Two people are dead following a crash near Lyons early Saturday morning.  The Linn County Sheriff's Office says a single car crashed into a utility pole on Lyons-Mill City Drive, east of Lyons.  The driver, 27-year-old Stephanie Wooley of Lyons and her passenger, 43-year-old Michael Carrol Junior of Idaho, both died at the scene.

BEND, OR -- Despite improved technology and a reduction in purchase prices, Americans aren’t rushing out to buy electric vehicles. "Gas and diesel prices soared to record highs this spring, and that has made electric vehicles more attractive to about a quarter of all consumers, especially younger generations," AAA's Marie Dodds tells KBND News, "But other factors, including the higher purchase cost of an EV, concerns about access to charging, and range anxiety, are still holding consumers back from going electric."

In the survey, about 25% of respondents say they're next vehicle is likely to be electric, "The number one reason is to save money on fuel – 77% say that’s why they’d want an EV," says Dodds. But, 24% weren't sure about buying an EV, while 51% thought it was unlikely or very unlikely they'd buy one. 

The numbers haven’t changed much since a 2019 survey. Dodds says consumers are worried about the higher price tag for EVs, access to charging and, there’s what she calls range anxiety, "60% of Americans think electric vehicles can travel between 100 to 350 miles before running out of charge, which is true. These findings suggest the increase in range over the last several years isn’t enough to completely address consumer concerns."

No surprise, younger drivers are more likely to buy EV: 30% of Millennials compared to 16% of Baby Boomers.

(Salem, OR)  --  Police say a wanted juvenile was killed in an officer-involved shooting Wednesday afternoon in Salem.  The suspect was wanted for a shooting at Salem Center Mall in March and a shooting in a parking lot at Columbia Bank last month.  Police found the suspect in a car on Oak Park Drive Northeast and claim the suspect pulled a gun, leading to an exchange of gunfire.  The suspect died at the scene.  An officer was also injured, but he's expected to survive.  The officers are identified as Brian Frazzini, Eric Hernandez, Ryan Morris and Adam Waite.  They're on administrative leave during the investigation.

(Burns, OR)  --  A couple from Hines, Oregon is being sentenced for a poaching incident that left five elk dead in Harney County.  Chris Lardy and his wife Stephanie had late-season cow elk tags.  Witnesses saw them drive through sagebrush to pursue an elk herd.  They stopped and fired 30 to 40 shots into the herd.  The kept driving toward the herd and then randomly fired again.  They killed seven elk.  They tagged two of the animals and left the other five to waste.  Chris Lardy was convicted and sentenced to six days in jail and is prohibited from hunting for three years.  He must write a letter of apology to be published in the local paper.  The couple must also take hunter education courses following their suspensions to regain hunting rights.

(Grand Ronde, OR)  --  Oregon State Police need the public's help to find a suspect in a road rage incident that left a man dead on Highway 18 in the Coast Range west of Grand Ronde [[ rahnd ]].  It happened Wednesday night around 9 p.m.  The victim stopped to let the suspect vehicle pass when a passenger in the vehicle fired multiple shots, killing the driver.  A passenger in the victim's vehicle escaped injury.  Investigators are looking for a black car with a round emblem on its hood.  The shooting suspect is described as a young man in his early 20s, small in stature with short, dark hair.

(Portland, OR)  --  Starting this Saturday, people who are suicidal or experiencing another behavioral health crisis will have easier access to help in Oregon and nationwide.  They will be able to call or text 988 to get help from trained crisis counselors 24/7.  Counselors are linked to the existing national suicide prevention lifeline network.  In Oregon, calls are answered by Lines for Life statewide, and Northwest Human Services in Marion and Polk counties.

(Porltand, OR)  --  The suspect in a brutal attack that killed an 82-year-old man and sent another elderly man to the hospital is now charged with murder.  Police say 29-year-old Keffer White attacked Donald Pierce and the other man in southwest Portland on June 25th without provocation.  Pierce later died in a hospital from his injuries.  The other man was treated and released.  Witnesses said White stated he was going to kill the victims during the attack.  White is charged with murder, attempted murder and assault.

EUGENE, OR -- Oregon is the first state in the US to host the World Athletics Championship. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) recognized the big occasion on the Senate floor Wednesday night, "The eyes of the sports world are turning to the city of Eugene, where thousands of elite athletes have arrived for the World Athletics Championship that start Friday." 

He calls Eugene one of the athletics capitals of the world, in large part due to the newly renovated Hayward Field. Wyden also noted the team effort to bring the championship to Oregon, "The games are about to start. And I can tell you, an awful lot of Oregonians are thrilled at the prospect of witnessing this level of elite competition in person at Hayward Field and across the Willamette River in the streets of Springfield."

With COVID numbers rising in Lane County, the Oregon Health Authority is working with county public health, the University of Oregon and Oregon State University to monitor wastewater for COVID-19 and other viruses during the two-week event. In anticipation of thousands of visitors this week, Lane County Public Health also recommends everyone mask up while indoors. They stress this isn't a mandate. Health officials say Lane County’s medical system is already strained due to a high number of COVID cases.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- US Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) joined three other Democrats Wednesday to introduce new federal legislation to protect immigrant children held at the border. It’s called the Children’s Safe Welcome Act.

"It says our immigration system was set up for adults. But we’re going to make sure that it is adjusted with appropriate treatment for children," Merkley tells KBND News, "So children are not traumatized, children are not separated from their parents, children have court representation, children have minimum health, safety and nutritional standards that would be thoroughly applied."

Merkley says it’s in response to what he saw during a 2018 visit to a South Texas immigration center, "Four years ago, I went to the border and was the first member of Congress to discover the Trump Administration was ripping children out of their parents’ arms and was locking up hundreds, which became thousands of children, in a deliberate effort to discourage families from seeking asylum by mistreating children."

(Portland, OR)  --  A reward is offered for information leading to an arrest of the person who shot a car where a couple was sleeping inside.  On April 23rd, 2019 a woman and her boyfriend were sleeping in their car near Southeast 146th and Stark Street and the suspect fired several rounds into the car.  The woman suffered serious injuries.  Her boyfriend wasn't hurt.  Crime Stoppers is offering up to 25-hundred dollars for information that leads to an arrest.

(Portland, OR)  --  The U.S. Attorney for Oregon has announced he's leaving.  Scott Asphaug says he'll become the Justice Department's Resident Legal Advisor in Nairobi, Kenya.  He'll work with Kenyan law enforcement on justice sector issues.  The U.S. District Judge for Oregon announced Natalie Wight will be appointed to replace Asphaug on an interim basis.  President Biden has nominated Wight to serve as Oregon's next U.S. Attorney, pending confirmation by the Senate.

(Portland, OR)  --  Environmental services workers at OHSU in Portland walked off the job Wednesday to demand better working conditions.  The union employees say they've experienced bullying by managers and staffing issues.  They delivered a list of demands to management with more than 50 signatures.  OHSU released a response saying they recognize the issues raised by the staff and look forward to working collaboratively to reach agreement on a new contract.  OHSU says they've been bargaining with the union since February and more mediation is planned.

(Salem, OR)  --  A total of 485 artists in Oregon are getting grants that range from one-thousand to five-thousand dollars to help cover losses during the pandemic.  The money comes from the Oregon Community Foundation and the Miller Foundation.  Officials say 600 applications were received.  Awards were based on the artist's practice, impact of cancellations and loss of revenue.  Money went to artists across Oregon.  A variety of artists were represented including writers, dancers, musicians, theater, visual and design arts.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Boss is coming to the Northwest next year.  Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will launch their 31-stop tour February 1st in Tampa, Florida.  They'll perform at Portland's Moda Center on February 25th and Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena on February 27th.  Tickets go on sale July 27th.  This is Springsteen's first North American tour since 2016.

(Portland, OR)  --  Searchers are trying to find a 53-year-old man who's missing near Corbett.  Christopher Smaka's car was found near Gordon Creek Road.  He told friends he planned to swim in the Sandy River.  Searchers found shoes and personal items near the river.  Deputies used kayaks to search the river and drones were used to search from the air.  The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office also joined the search.

FOREST GROVE, OR -- A small, invasive beetle is expected to cause big problems in the coming months. A city of Portland employee recently spotted the Emerald Ash Borers while picking up his kids from summer camp in Forest Grove. Entomologist Christine Buhl was the first to respond from the Oregon Department of Forestry, "There were 16 trees and every single one of them was in a state of dead or dying. It was pretty bad. These trees were almost finished off; many beetles flying around the canopies, that had just emerged." Once the beetles emerge, though, the damage is already done. Buhl tells KBND News EAB kill ash trees when the larvae burrow under the bark and feed on the soft tissue just inside, and they can take out entire stands before they move on looking for new host trees. Ash trees are critical to stream habitat in Oregon, providing shade to wildlife and fish, while the roots help prevent erosion. 

"We are bracing for a scenario in which we may lose most of our Ash. It does take time for that to happen, so we have time to act." Buhl adds, "It’s going to be a heavy cost financially, but also ecologically, especially where we have pockets of Ash where it’s almost 100% tree Ash canopy." 

ODF has been preparing for the EAB’s arrival for years by collecting Oregon Ash seeds so they can be replanted. The beetle was first discovered in the U.S. in Michigan in 2002, but this is the first infastation on the west coast. "There is something we can do to slow the spread. Eradication in total has not been successful in each state that has tried it." To contain the spread, ODF urges you not to transport firewood or other wood products that could carry the beetle larvae, and report die-offs of ash trees and sightings of the small beetle. 

(Portland, OR)  --   Jury selection is underway in the trial of six members of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer in Portland.  Members are accused of starting a riot in connection with May Day demonstrations back in 2019.  Three members of the group have already taken plea deals in connection with the case, but leader Joey Gibson and members Russell Schultz and Mackenzie Lewis could face up to five years if convicted.  

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police performed fewer traffic stops last year, but disparities based on race still exist.  A new report shows traffic stops were down 44-percent, because of the critical shortage of officers.  Less than three-percent of drivers were searched, which the lowest rate on record.  Black and African American drivers were still more likely to be asked for consent to be searched, and they had a higher rate of consent.  The Police Bureau is in the final phase of changing a directive that requires officers to inform drivers of their rights and to get an audio recording of the consent.

(Newberg, OR)  --  The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office is investigating an accident on the Willamette River where two people floating on the river were hit by a boat and injured.  The victims were brought to Rogers Landing where they were met by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue firefighters and medics.  Life Flight flew one patient with serious injuries to a hospital.  The other person was trans

(Gresham, OR)  --  Gresham Police are trying to find a suspect in a shooting that happened Monday afternoon in a parking lot near Southeast 168th and Stark Street.  Two people were shooting at each other.  One person fled in a car that crashed near 190th and Stark Street.  Police took that person into custody.  The other suspect fled and hasn't been caught.  No one was hurt in the shooting.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Oregon Humane Society says it has too many animals and not enough staff.  Shelters across the country are experiencing similar problems.  For some families, inflation is making it difficult to afford a pet.  The Oregon Humane Society is also dealing with summer vacations where foster families are away and can't take pets.  They advise people considering a pet adoption to weigh the costs of caring for the animal before making a decision.

(Portland, OR)  --  The tenth annual Big Float was held in the Willamette River in downtown Portland over the weekend.  It was also the last Big Float.  People brought inner tubes and other floatables to swim in the river.  There were also food carts and music.  The Human Access Project organized the event to highlight completion of the Big Pipe Project which reduced sewer overflows during heavy rain storms.

(Sherwood, OR)  --  Sherwood Police have arrested a 19-year-old man for allegedly sexually abusing an 11-year-old child.  Police say Mann met the victim online.  Police were notified about the accusations last September.  Sherwood Police worked with Lake Oswego and Beaverton detectives to identify Mann as the suspect.  He was indicted by a grand jury and booked into the Washington County jail on charges of rape, sodomy, and sexual abuse.

(Portland, OR)  --  A suspect faces assault charges for a stabbing that happened Friday night in Sewallcrest [[ SU-uhl-crest ]] Park on Southeast 31st Avenue in the Richmond neighborhood.  Police say the male victim suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized.  The victim was an acquaintance of the suspect and several witnesses described the suspect to police.  Eric Bell was located a few blocks away on Hawthorne Boulevard and arrested.  He'll be charged with Assault in the Second Degree.

SALEM, OR-- The Oregon Health Authority has a new television, radio and print campaign to address excessive drinking called “Rethink the Drink.” The OHA's Rachel Banks says, "We have data showing us that alcohol consumption has increased during the pandemic, as people have coped with the stress and changes to daily life caused by the virus." But, she says people are ready to talk about their drinking. 

Deputy State Health Officer Dr. Tom Jeanne says the OHA recognizes the alcohol industry is a big economic driver in Oregon. "We’re not telling people to stop drinking. However, we need to talk about how excessive alcohol use is affecting us as a community and if we could be handling this issue in a healthier way."

The new campaign cost $772,000 - largely funded by federal grants. Dr. Jeanne says it’s a small price to pay compared with the harm of doing nothing, "Altogether, excessive alcohol use costs Oregon $4.8 billion every year in negative impacts. So that includes healthcare expenses, it includes motor vehicle crash es, it includes criminal justice costs and lost productivity. "

You’ll find more at RethinktheDrink.com. For help, call the free and confidential treatment referral hotline at 1-800-662-HELP or visit FindTreatment.gov.

PORTLAND, OR -- Drug overdose deaths more than doubled in Oregon, between 2019 and 2021, according to the Oregon Health Authority, and they say it’s largely due to the misuse of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid.

Preliminary data indicates the trend continues this year. OHA now has a Naloxone Rescue for Opioid Overdose webpage with frequently asked questions and a map showing pharmacies that distribute this life-saving medication.

(O'Brien, OR)  --  Police have raided a major illegal marijuana growing operation near the Oregon-California border.  The property is located near the town of O'Brien, west of Medford.  More than 35-hundred marijuana plants were found in five large greenhouses.  The plants were destroyed.  The property owner also faces multiple code violations for illegal structures, unpermitted water tanks, illegal use of water in a creek, and unpermitted electrical work.  The property owner could face a year long closure of the property and possible civil forfeiture.  The investigation continues.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland International Airport is getting millions of dollars in federal funding to help reduce emissions.  A total of 18-million dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will go to the airport.  The money will be used to install a new heat pump and replace the chillers and boilers from the current system that was installed 50 years ago.  The new heat pump will reduce emissions by 83-percent.  The Port of Portland's ultimate goal is to have the airport produce zero carbon emissions by 2050.

(Portland, OR)  --  It's now safer for pedestrians and cyclists to cross from Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway to Capitol Highway.  The new Red Electric Bridge has opened.  The trail through Southwest Portland connects the Fanno Creek trail to the Willamette Greenway.  It follows the former Red Electric train line that was in operation from 1914 through 1929.  When the trail is finished, it'll run 16 miles from the Tualatin River to the Willamette River.

(Portland, OR)  --  One woman is dead and a man is injured following a shooting in Portland.  Police responded to a report of the shooting at East Burnside and 148th Avenue late Wednesday night.  The woman died by the time police arrived.  The man was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.  The suspect left the scene before police arrived and hasn't been arrested.  Police have not released a description of the suspect or details of what led to the shooting.

PENDLETON, OR -- The Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton is now the premier test site in the Pacific Northwest for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) visited the Pendleton UAS Range Thursday to congratulate the team on their work to expand the use of drones. "You all were showing us tremendous progress really early on," Wyden told the group, "Mountaintop rescue, precision agriculture, really exciting work done in terms of fighting fires - little drones getting in there, relaying the information."

Wyden says the facility's growth began in 2015 when the FAA cut red tape for unmanned aircraft test sites. "And then you all said, ‘we can make a big difference in the lives of a lot of people and the workers who are getting good wages, and the economic multiplier of the benefits'." 

The site now boasts a 14,000 square mile test range, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle industrial park, a dedicated UAS air traffic control tower and soon, a neighboring Radisson Hotel. "It has been a wonderful ride watching all of you build this out in eastern Oregon," said Wyden, "You did it!"

(Portland, OR)  --  More legal help is on the way for some Portland-area renters facing eviction. The Portland Housing Bureau is partnering with the Oregon Law Center, P-C-C and the United Way to provide free legal defense for low-income tenants who earn up to 60-percent of the area median income. Limited additional legal assistance is available to tenants making 60 to 80-percent of the area median income.
 

(Gresham, OR)  --  Gresham Police are identifying a man who was killed in a shooting last Friday at a MAX train platform. Police say 43-year-old Lucian Thibodeaux was shot at the 162nd Avenue MAX platform. Thibodeaux was rushed to a hospital, where he died. The suspect fled the scene. He's described as a man in his late teens or early twenties. Police don't know what led to the shooting, and there hasn't been an arrest in the case.

(Portland, OR)  --  A 58-year-old man involved in an hours-long hostage situation in Southeast Portland on July 4th is now facing nearly a dozen charges in the case. Portland Police say early Monday afternoon, family members discovered that Bill Waits was holding his own mother hostage at their home near Southeast 105th and Bush Street. Police called in hostage negotiators, who got Waits to surrender four hours later. Waits is now facing ten charges, including kidnapping, coercion, assault, felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon.

(Portland, OR)  --  The suspect in an alleged bias crime assault last Saturday on Portland's Eastbank Esplanade has been arrested for failing to show up at a court appearance. The judge issued a warrant for Dylan Kesteron's arrest. An off-duty Portland Police officer saw Kesterson near Southwest 3rd and Jefferson Street. He called two uniformed officers who were nearby at the Multnomah County Courthouse, and they arrested Kesterson. He is accused of hitting a man he perceived to be of Japanese descent several times in the head while yelling racial slurs. He also hit the victim's 5-year-old daughter on the bike helmet she was wearing. The man went to a hospital for treatment. Kesterson was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.

(Portland, OR)  --  A new political action committee will campaign against the proposed changes to the Portland city charter this election season. The Partnership for Common Sense Government calls the reforms approved by the charter commission costly, and believes city leaders would be less accountable. The PAC also argues the new form of government would be the first of its kind, and therefore untested. The change would create 12 city council seats across four districts, with members being selected through ranked-choice voting.
 

(Salem, OR)  --  Several state agencies in Oregon are working to help homeowners avoid foreclosure.  The mortgage foreclosure moratorium in Oregon expired in December 2021.  Rising inflation is putting budget pressure on households and missing a mortgage payment is a growing possibility.  The website Oregon Homeowner Help dot org is a hub for foreclosure prevention resources.  You can call 211 to be put into contact with certified housing counselors around the state.  The Oregon Attorney General's Office also has tips on how to avoid falling victim to a homeownership scam.

(Hillsboro, OR)  --  The Washington County Sheriff's Office is coordinating a blood drive in honor of a deputy who was critically injured in a crash in April.  Doctors used 90 units of blood to save Deputy Mike Trotter's life.  That's nearly nine times the amount a blood in an average adult.  Trotter survived but faces a long recovery.  The Sheriff's Office has organized a blood drive in partnership with Bloodworks Northwest to help give back to others.  To schedule an appointment to donate, visit the Bloodworks Northwest website.

(Portland, OR)  --  The body of a missing swimmer has been recovered from the Columbia River in North Portland Harbor.  The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office says crews pulled the body of 35-year-old Kevin McDowell from the water yesterday morning.  Police say he jumped into the water from a boat near Lemon Island on June 27th to help a woman who was struggling to swim.  The woman was able to get to safety, but McDowell didn't resurface.

(Portland, OR)  --  The body of a missing swimmer has been recovered from the Columbia River in North Portland Harbor.  The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office says crews pulled the body of 35-year-old Kevin McDowell from the water yesterday morning.  Police say he jumped into the water from a boat near Lemon Island on June 27th to help a woman who was struggling to swim.  The woman was able to get to safety, but McDowell didn't resurface.

(Portland, OR)  --  Triple-A is reporting some relief at the pump in Oregon and nationwide.  The average in Oregon has fallen three cents to five dollars and 47 cents.  Washington state is five dollars and 45 cents, which is four cents lower than a week ago.  The national average price for a gallon of gas declined eight cents over the last week to four dollars and 80 cents.

CORVALLIS, OR -- Oregon State University begins a unique partnership this month, joining a Klamath-area tribe to study the impact of removing four dams.

The removal of four Klamath River dams built between 1918 and 1962 is expected to be a massive undertaking. "By a number of measures, it is the largest restoration, the largest dam removal in history, globally," says OSU Water Resources Engineering Professor Desiree Tullos, who is leading the research project. She says they'll document how the system changes as it undergoes the dam removal, "The changes in water quality, water quantity - How does that impact the food web? Things like algae, the cyanobacteria - How does that translate into disease risk for salmon? Or whitewater recreationalists? Or the tribes to perform their ceremonies?" 

Over the next five years, they’ll collaborate with the Yurok Tribe in a first-of-its kind partnership, "It’s a big piece of what we’re trying to do," says Tullos, "to document, not just the western science, but also the tribal knowledge and the tribal processes. How do they make decisions? How do they understand the system?"

She hopes the data will be useful for future dam removal plans, "There’s just not a ton of research out there that shows how the full food web responds when you have a big change in water quality. If I can say anything about what I expect, I expect to be surprised."

The dams provide hydroelectric power for PacifiCorp, but don’t meet current fish passage guidelines. Managers determined decommissioning the dams was more cost effective than paying for the needed upgrades. Work is expected to begin next year, with the four dams slated for removal in 2024. 

Photo courtesy PacificCorp

(Vale, OR)  --  Officials say a grass fire has burned over 42-thousand acres near the Oregon/Idaho border and the town of Vale.  No buildings have been damaged.  The cause of the Willow Creek fire is under investigation.  The blaze is currently 45-percent contained.

(Salem, OR)  --  Authorities are confirming a bat found in a home in the Marion area of Marion County tested positive for rabies.  Public health officials says it's the third bat this year in the state that tested positive.  They caution home owners to wear thick gloves if they need to handle bat.  It's better to use a shovel.  Around ten-percent of bats carry rabies.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Fire quickly stopped a fifth floor apartment fire in downtown Portland Wednesday morning.  The apartments are located near Southwest 12th and Alder.  When firefighters arrived, they found flames coming from a fifth floor apartment.  The building is older, and doesn't have sprinklers.  The fire was kept to the unit where it started.  No one was hurt.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

(Woodburn, OR)  --  Police say a 13-year-old was killed in a car crash near Woodburn.  It happened Tuesday night on Highway 99-E.  Oregon State Police say a 17-year-old driver passed another car, lost control and ran into a motorcycle.  The teen's car rolled several times and landed in a ditch.  Troopers say the 13-year-old passenger was thrown from the car and died at the scene.  They say he was not wearing a seatbelt.  The 17-year-old driver and the motorcycle rider were both hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.  The investigation continues.

SALEM, OR -- The agency responsible for regulating Oregon’s pot industry is calling on Congress to change banking regulations. It’s a renewed push by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission - to remove barriers to banking services for legal cannabis businesses. "We’ve been hearing from the industry, we’ve also seen a proliferation of crime for the past few years occuring at our licensed retail businesses, just because they are cash heavy," OLCC’s Bryant Haley tells KBND News. He says they have all that cash because federally insured banks are not allowed to do business with companies selling a product considered illegal at the federal level. 

The agency recently sent a letter to Oregon’s Congressional delegation, "Our chair of the commission Paul Rosenbaulm is not pleased with federal stagnation, so he’s really been pushing this issue as something that we need to discuss." Haley adds, "This is what we can do to show support, to show solidarity with the industry for this undue burden placed upon them, versus the business down the street selling ‘x’ widgets. I hate to quote my 7-year-old who loves to use this term, but it’s not fair."

He says regulators know complete legalization of cannabis is unlikely, but allowing legal businesses access to financial services is long overdue, "So many states in this country are operating some sort of cannabis program."

(Salem, OR)  --  Anyone working for the minimum wage in Oregon will get a raise today.  The last phase of the state's minimum wage increase takes effect today, July 1st.  Oregon has three rates.  The Portland area rate increases to 14 dollars and 75 cents, the standard rate will be 13 dollars and 50 cents and the rate for nonurban counties will be 12 dollars and 50 cents an hour.  Starting next year, the minimum wage will increase based on the Consumer Price Index.

(Redmond, OR)  --  A Terrebonne man has been arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a two year old child.  Police were investigating 30-year-old Andres Carrera-Garcia for possession of child sexual abuse material he downloaded from the Internet when he admitted to sexually molesting a two-year-old child.  Digital evidence backed up the allegations.  Carrera-Garcia faces 10 charges.  Detectives believe there may be more victims and they're asking anyone with a child who had unwanted contact with Carrera-Garcia to call them.

(Salem, OR)  --  The cryptocurrency financial institution BlockFi will pay 100 million dollars in a multi-state settlement.  The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation says BlockFi violated Oregon Securities Law.  The company wasn't registered in Oregon.  BlockFi would take cryptocurrencies and promised investors at least six-point-two percent interest each month.  They told investors that loans were overcollateralized, when they weren't.  Money from the settlement will be split between the SEC and states.  Oregon will get nearly one-million dollars.

(Portland, OR)  --  A Salem drug trafficker has been sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison.  Chase Russell-Brown rammed patrol cars and nearly hit officers in a Salem parking lot.  He was arrested and a search of his car found methamphetamine and heroin that was packaged for sale, along with two handguns and spare ammunition.  Russell-Brown pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say they've arrested a suspect in connection with a stabbing in Portland's Old Town on Monday.  Police responded to Northwest 3rd and Glisan where they found a person with a severe stab wound to the arm.  The injury was life-threatening.  The person is hospitalized in critical condition.  Police had a picture of the suspect and officers found 27-year-old Spencer Kilpatrick and arrested him.  He's charged with Attempted Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.