(Salem, OR) -- The Oregon Attorney General's Office has released a report that found employees of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission didn't break any laws when they were allowed to buy rare liquors. The investigation reviewed 10-thousand internal documents and emails. More than 40 OLCC employees, commissioners, and liquor store owners and employees were questioned. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission will review the report as it determines whether ethics rules were violated.

(Portland, OR) -- New data show more than 300 lives were lost to fentanyl in Multnomah County last year. The county released preliminary data from its fentanyl overdose mortality report yesterday. The data show a total of 322 people died from fentanyl overdoses countywide in 2023. That brings the total number of fentanyl overdose deaths in Multnomah County to 868 since 2018.

(Corvallis, OR) -- The increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is 10 times faster than any other point in the last 50-thousand years. Studying air bubbles trapped miles deep in Antarctic ice, researchers from Oregon State University found the increase is greater than any natural increase in carbon dioxide that occurred. They say this increase is due to human causes and it will overwhelm the ocean's ability to trap carbon dioxide. It also leads to increased westerly winds that cause the ocean to release more carbon dioxide, which results in warmer temperatures.

(Salem, OR) -- The Oregon Lottery is warning of jackpot scams. Following the one-point-three-billion-dollar Powerball winner in Oregon, the scammers send text messages claiming the winner is donating prize money at random to 10 people. The victim is asked to call a phone number to claim the money. The lottery says other scams might also be circulating. Don't give your personal or financial information over the phone and if something appears too good to be true, it usually is.

(Vancouver, WA) -- The Clark County Sheriff's Office is trying to identify a home invasion robbery suspect. Saturday morning, the armed suspect entered a home after a resident opened a sliding glass door to let out their dog out. The suspect threatened the resident with a gun, stole a purse and a Honda CRV that was in the garage. Police located the car, but the suspect eluded officers. The car was found abandoned in Longview. The suspect is described as a white male, six-feet one-inch tall with broad shoulders and 180 pounds. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a black facemask with white print on it.

(Salem, OR) -- If you filed your Oregon income taxes using TurboTax you may need to file an amended return. In some cases, TurboTax selected the standard deduction when an itemized deduction would have saved more money. As many as 12-thousand taxpayers may have been affected by the problem. Turbo Tax contacted those customers and provided instructions for filing the amended return with the Oregon Department of Revenue at no extra cost.

(Portland, OR) -- A violent burglary suspect is behind bars after breaking into a Northeast Portland automotive business and doing tens of thousand of dollars in damage to vehicles. Portland Police arriving at the shop on Northeast Airport Way early Sunday, noticed several windows broken and the suspect yelling from inside. He threw a hammer at officers from a broken window, narrowly missing them. Crisis intervention specialists arrived and talked him out. Thirty-four-year-old Alvie Sanders was treated for self-inflicted injuries and booked into jail for burglary, theft and criminal mischief.

(Portland, OR) -- Oregon is being called one of the nation's top ten most dangerous states. U.S. News and World Report's public safety rankings are based on 2022 statistics for violent crime and property crime in each state. Oregon is ranked the 8th most dangerous state. Washington is 5th, while New Mexico takes the top spot as the most dangerous state in the nation.

(Salem, OR) -- The Public Utility Commission will take public comment this week on a proposed seven-percent rate increase for customers of Portland General Electric. The hearing will be held on Zoom Thursday evening at 6 p.m. on the PUC's website. The proposed rate hike follows another large rate hike last January. PGE says it's for a battery power storage facility, transmission and distribution, technology upgrades and generation facilities. The increase would cause an average residential bill to go up eleven dollars a month.

(Portland, OR) -- The Oregon Zoo's California condor hatching program is celebrating a record-setting hatch. Officials say a total of 13 fluffy condor chicks are hopping in their nest boxes. The zoo has been hatching condors to help grow the species for 20 years. The chicks will spend at least eight months with their parents before moving to pre-release pens for about a year. They'll eventually be released in California or Arizona. In 1982, only 22 condors remained in the wild. Now there are 560.

(Salem, OR) -- State lawmakers will embark on a 12-stop tour of the state this summer, to hear Oregonians priorities for transportation. Members of the Joint Committee on Transportation will hold hearings in each of the 12 cities, which include Albany, Eugene, Coos Bay, Hermiston and Bend. They say they'll use information gathered to craft a transportation package for the 2025 legislative session. The tour starts in early June and runs through the end of September.

(Salem, OR) -- Oregon's Department of Fish and Wildlife has a new Director. Dr. Debbie Colbert is the first woman to be appointed to the permanent role. She's been ODFW's Deputy Director for Fish and Wildlife Programs for several years. Prior to that, she was Deputy Director for Administration. She's also worked for Oregon Water Resources and Oregon State University and, at one point was a researcher at sea. Colbert was selected by unanimous vote Friday, by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

(Sandy, OR) -- A man is recovering after being pulled from the Sandy River in Troutdale. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office says the man was swimming in the cold waters when he became disoriented. Another swimmer pulled him out of the water to safety. First responders performed first aid and rushed him to a hospital, where he is recovering.

(Tigard, OR) -- An investigation is ongoing into a house fire in Tigard. Firefighters responded to the blaze in the 10500 block of Southwest Johnson Street around 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon to find heavy flames coming from the home. Officials say everyone inside the home was able to escape safely. Investigators are still looking into what caused the fire.

(Hillsboro, OR) -- The Oregon International Airshow is coming up this weekend at the Hillsboro Airport. Performers include the Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team, the Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet Demo Team. Flybys with Air Force F-35A Lightnings and historic aircraft. There's also static displays on the tarmac. Friday night features a new drone display after the sun goes down. You can buy tickets online in advance.

(Portland, OR) -- Construction begins this week on Fourth Avenue in downtown Portland to bring corner ramps up to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Work starts between Grant and Mil streets. When that's complete, contractors will work between Mill and Burnside. To reduce the impact on pedestrians and businesses, they'll do one corner at a time.

(Portland, OR) -- Portland Police coordinated another mission focusing on stolen vehicles Friday night. They locate one stolen vehicle for every attempted stop. Two drivers tried to elude police and were caught. Four stolen vehicles were recovered. Seven people were arrested. Police seized two illegal guns with extended magazines and one gun had an illegal switch making it fully automatic. Portland worked with Gresham Police, Port of Portland Police, and the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office.

(Portland, OR) -- The Rose Festival is joining two new initiatives that promote downtown and small businesses. The weekend of the Starlight Parade, May 31st through June 2nd, will be the Rose Festival's Starry Nights Small Business Event. Customers who visit certain businesses can use a QR code to enter for prizes. The Rose Festival is also joining Sage Hospitality Group's five hotels that will be offering custom room packages for each weekend of the Festival.

PORTLAND, OR -- The FBI is investigating an emerging social media scam. Hackers take over a person’s Facebook account, then post big-ticket items for sale that don’t exist, like trucks, trailers and ATVs. They claim to be selling the possessions of a relative forced to move into "aged care" and can only communicate through online messaging apps. In just one Oregon incident, around a dozen people lost more than $10,000.

FBI Portland Cybersquad Supervisory Special Agent Yaqub Prowell says the first step to protecting yourself is to try to avoid getting hacked. "We want to use strong, unique passwords, as just kind of the basics of cyber hygiene. You definitely want to enable multi-factor authentication, wherever that’s available. You want to avoid unsecure wifi networks." He adds, "Also limit oversharing. Be mindful of what you post on social media, because personal information can always be used against you."

Prowell says hackers use various tactics to achieve one goal: Getting money. "In order to make that money, they have to get you to do something that you may not normally do." He says they do that by using social psychology. The items listed for sale in the scam are well below market value. It's a strategy Prowell has seen before, "Something that looks like a deal that’s just amazing and too good to be true, combined with the fact that it appears to be emanating or originating from someone that you know, that plays into our basic psychology; now we have trust."

The hackers then use that trust to convince the victim to put a "deposit" down on an item, using a money transfer app. "At the end of the day, criminals want to make money. So, in general, if you are suddenly being asked for money from people that you know, and they’re asking you to send that money via electronic means, you really need to make sure that they are legit and that what they’re requesting is a legitimate request." Prowell says, "Please, pick up the phone. Talk to your friend. Actually have a more close, genuine, human connection, to [be] assured that those communications that you’re having are legitimate."

It's just the latest cybersecurity threat. According to the FBI's latest report, Oregonians lost over a billion dollars in 2023 to cyber-related fraud and other internet-based crimes. Prowell says, "These things can be mitigated and avoided with some basic cyber hygiene, as well as just developing the muscle memory of not being complacent in your communications with individuals that are purporting to be trustworthy." 

He urges victims of cyber crimes to report it, regardless of dollar amount, at IC3.gov.

(Beaverton, OR)  --  Construction will cause long delays on Highway 217 southbound starting at 9 p.m. Friday.  Crews will be building a new auxiliary lane between Allen Boulevard and Hall Boulevard.  Only one lane will be open southbound.  The work is expected to be complete by 5 a.m. Monday.

(Portland, OR)  --  The name of a man who was shot and killed by Portland Police on Monday has been released.  Officers were investigating an armed robbery when they served a search warrant near 111th and Northeast Halsey.  Investigators say 45-year-old Richard Perez fired at SERT officers and they returned fire killing him.  No officers were injured.  Two other people at the scene were arrested.  One was booked on a robbery charge and the other had a parole violation.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland's Bloom tour starts on Friday.  It's part walking tour and part floral show.  Local florists have teamed up with nearly 30 businesses downtown, in Old Town and the Central Eastside to create spectacular, large, one-of-a-kind floral arrangements.  The floral displays will remain in place through June 11th.  You'll find a list of the locations on the Visit Downtown Instagram and Facebook sites.

(Portland, OR)  --  A major closure of I-5 will happen in June.  ODOT will close four miles of I-5 in southwest Portland from June 28th through July 1st.  The closure is needed to rebuild the bridge over 28th Avenue.  The new bridge is being built under the existing structure, to save time and more than five-million-dollars in construction costs.  I-5 northbound will close from Barbur Boulevard to Terwilliger and southbound I-5 will close from Terwilliger to Capitol Highway.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police conducted a mission focused on crime in the Jantzen Beach and Delta Park areas on Wednesday.  They stopped ten vehicles, made six arrests and recovered two stolen cars.  Officers also seized 45 grams of methamphetamine.  

(Clackamas, OR)  --  A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of man in Clackamas April 29th.  The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office says 26-year-old Dominique Britt was involved in the homicide.  She knew the victim, Nathan Anderson, and the other suspect, Cody Denewith.  Both Britt and Denewith are charged with Murder in the Second Degree.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police have arrested a suspect in a fatal shooting that happened last Sunday in the Lloyd Neighborhood.  Bruce Glass, of Portland, was fatally shot near Northeast 3rd and Weidler.  On Tuesday, 54-year-old David Carter, of Portland, was arrested on drug and gun charges.  On Wednesday he was charged with Murder in the Second Degree.

(Portland, OR) -- First Lady Dr. Jill Biden made a whirlwind visit to Portland on Thursday to attend a fundraiser for the Democratic Party. Tickets to the sold-out event ran from one-thousand to 10-thousand dollars. She was only in town for a few hours before flying to California for another event Thursday evening.

(Portland, OR)  --  All registered voters in Multnomah County should have their ballots for the May 21st Primary election.  If you haven't received your ballot, call your county elections office.  Oregon's Primary is closed, which means only voters registered with a party can vote for those candidates.  All voters will decide non-partisan races and measures.  Ballots need to be postmarked no later than May 21st if you mail it, otherwise drop it in a county elections dropbox by 8 p.m. May 21st.

PORTLAND, OR -- Oregon’s only authentic Chinese Garden unveiled a new name for its teahouse on Wednesday, celebrating culture, nature, poetry and, of course, tea. The naming ceremony featured a traditional performance by the International Lion Dance team. 

Lan Su Chinese Garden sits on a full city block in downtown Portland's Chinatown. Its teahouse closed in October for renovations. VP of Operations Dan Barbato says it’s now fully restored with a renovated windows, a remodeled kitchen and a new seasonal menu, "Most importantly, there’s an incredible selection of more than 20 different teas from mainland China, Taiwan and right here in the Pacific Northwest." 

Until last fall, the teahouse was operated by the Tao of Tea tea company. When the teahouse reopened in February, it came under the management of the garden. It took time to select a new name, with help from the community. "In Chinese culture, names are very significant and a lot of intentionality is put into the selection of a name," says Executive Director Elizabeth Nye. "Yun Shui" was chosen through an online vote; it means "cloud and water" in Chinese, in part, referencing the reflection seen in the pond just outside the teahouse doors. Nye adds, "The actual building that this teahouse is in is named 'The Tower of Cosmic Reflections.' Now the teahouse business is 'Cloud and Water,' so there’s a very nice partnership between those two names."

Lan Su opened in 2000 and is one of only a handful of Chinese gardens in North America. Nye says it's a special place, "We have the only functioning teahouse of all of the Chinese Gardens in the United States. So, it gives an opportunity for people, not just in Portland and Oregon, but really the country, to come together and experience a true Chinese experience." She adds, "This garden was built entirely in China, brought over here and reconstructed with the help of 65 artisans that traveled to put it back together. It is truly unique in North America."

(Portland, OR) -- Mayor Ted Wheeler and Police Chief Bob Day are speaking out against recent acts of destruction and alleged violence across the city. Wheeler and Day spoke during a press conference yesterday with local and federal law enforcement partners. The two condemned recent acts including a May Day demonstration in which several businesses were vandalized and 17 cop cars were torched. They also spoke out against the days-long occupation of the PSU library by protesters of the Israel-Hamas war.

(Portland, OR) -- The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is introducing its first-ever comfort dog. The sheriff's office says Burton, or Burt for short, will help sooth people experiencing trauma. That includes both victims and the first responders who help them.

(Portland, OR) -- Police are seeking the public's help as they work to identify a burglary suspect in Northwest Portland. The Portland Police Bureau released surveillance images of the suspect yesterday. The man is accused of burglarizing multiple homes in the area. Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

(Portland, OR) -- An Oregon native is set to blast off into space for the first time in over a decade. NASA astronaut Don Pettit will launch to the International Space Station aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket this September. The Silverton native will spend six months at the station, along with cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. It's been 12 years since Pettit traveled to outer space. He's made the trip four times.

(Portland, OR) -- The first critically endangered California Condor hatched at the Oregon Zoo turns 20 years old this week. Kun-Wac-Shun, or, number 340, hatched at the zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation on May 9th, 2004. Since 2005, he has been flying free over Central California's Pinnacle National Park, where he is one of the most dominant males in the flock. He has fathered five wild-hatched chicks, including the first condor to fledge from its nest at Pinnacles in more than a century. In 1982, only 22 remained in the wild. Thanks to recovery programs like the Oregon Zoo's, the Condor population has rebounded to more than 500.

(Aloha, OR) -- A 24-year-old man is facing a murder charge in connection to another man's death in Aloha. The Washington County Sheriff's Office arrested Austin Chan yesterday for the death of 53-year-old Chad Thibodeaux of Olympia, Washington. Police say he was found dead with wounds to the head near Southwest Rachelle Court and 203rd Avenue. Police arrested Chan about an hour after finding Thibodeaux's body. Chan is being charged with second-degree murder.

(Gresham, OR) -- A popular bronze sculpture in Gresham's Nadaka Park has been stolen. Gresham Police say the two-foot-tall bronze otter, named Slider, was stolen sometime over the last two weeks. The sculpture was made by local artist Rip Caswell, and his son Chad. A raven, named Seeker, remains on top of a nearby wooden pole. Police are asking for tips if anyone sees it for sale. Local metal recyclers have been asked to watch for it.

(Portland, OR) -- Cleanup continues at Portland State University's Miller Library following a days-long occupation by protesters of the Israel-Hamas war. KATU-2 reports the library suffered heavy vandalism and graffiti and was covered in piles of trash, tents and wooden pallets. Portland police officers in riot gear descended on the library a second time last Thursday night after activists who had been removed from the premises earlier that day allegedly broke back into the building. At least 30 people are facing charges. The activists were among thousands around the U.S. holding demonstrations and occupations at college campuses to call for a cease-fire from Israel and an end to U.S. aid to the nation's war efforts.

(Portland, OR) -- An electric scooter exploded and caught fire in a Portland apartment complex on Tuesday. A resident heard an explosion and reported the fire. When firefighters arrived they found smoke in the hallways and a stairwell was filled with smoke. A sprinkler head was spraying water. A lithium-ion battery powered scooter had ignited on the stairwell landing. The fire didn't extend to the apartments and firefighters removed the scooter from the building. The say don't charge devices in stairways, only charge them when you're home, and if a battery changes shape or color stop using it.

(Portland, OR) -- The Oregon Health Authority is launching a fentanyl awareness campaign on its social media site. It's called "Fentanyl Aware" and will post messages on fentanyl risks, harm reduction strategies, and Oregon's good Samaritan law that provides legal protections for people using Narcan during an overdose. The messages will be posted over the next five weeks.

(Ashland, OR) -- Residents of Ashland are being warned to avoid accidentally feeding bears. As bears come out of hibernation, they're hungry and fruits and berries aren't available, so bears look for other sources of food. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Ashland Police are warning residents to secure garbage cans, barbecue grills, bird feeders and pet food that will attract bears. In some cases, hungry bears will break into homes, cars, and sheds looking for food.

(Portland, OR) -- A new OHSU study finds the use of nicotine and cannabis during pregnancy dramatically increases the rate of infant death. Researchers evaluated hospital data and vital statistics from more than three million pregnant patients with documented substance use. They found that the rate of infant death was four times higher in users of both cannabis and nicotine compared with non-users, and nearly twice as high compared with users of just one of those. Researchers are calling for more research and patient education for better outcomes. The study is published in JAMA Network Open.

(Hillsboro, OR) -- The Washington County Board of Commissioners has approved 10-million-dollars in Supportive Housing Services money for two new access centers to help people who are homeless. They'll be built in Hillsboro and Tigard. They'll offer showers, hot meals, storage and connection to case managers and services. They can also be used as emergency shelters during severe weather. Services will be offered seven-days-a-week, 12 hours a day after construction is complete. Two more access centers will be built in Beaverton and western Washington County.

(Portland, OR) -- For the first time, researchers in Oregon have identified a brain syndrome caused by fentanyl. A man in his 40s was hospitalized after snorting crushed fentanyl. There were no signs he had previously used opioids. An MRI showed inflammation in the white matter of his brain. It's happened in heroin patients, but this is the first time with fentanyl. Researchers say it can lead to permanent brain damage. The man was hospitalized for nearly a month before going to a nursing home for further rehabilitation. Researchers don't know how much fentanyl is needed to cause the syndrome.

(Portland, OR) -- Gas is a little cheaper at the pump. Triple-A reports Oregon's average declined four cents over the last week to four-46 a gallon. The national average declined two cents to three-64. Lower crude oil prices and weaker demand helped cause prices to decline. Unrest in the Middle East and the Russia/Ukraine war will continue to cause crude oil prices to fluctuate and that will impact gas prices. The summer driving season is about the begin and that'll increase demand keeping gas prices higher.

(Salem, OR) -- The Oregon Department of Education has renewed a program with the Oregon National Guard that allows students to earn high school credits. The Oregon Plan was established in 1995 and allows school districts across the state to award academic credits to students who complete qualified military training and instruction. Students learn basic finance, medic training, construction and engineering, and practice working in teams. Several high schools across the state are part of the program.

(Portland, OR) -- A Tigard man who got early release from federal prison, because of COVID-19, has been sentenced for a crime spree. Johnell Cleveland started committing crimes as soon as he was released. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and sex trafficking. He was sentenced to nine years in prison, must pay the Oregon Employment Department 32-thousand-dollars for fraudulently claiming Pandemic Unemployment benefits, and restitution to the sex trafficking victim will be determined in the future.

SALEM, OR -- The Real ID Act takes effect in one year. "Most people who travel by plane in the United States use their driver license to get through airport security, and their standard card is not going to be accepted anymore, starting May seventh of next year," says David House, with the Oregon DMV. 

Federal law passed in the wake of 9/11 requires air travelers to use an enhanced form of identification to get through airport security. But many states, including Oregon, delayed the rollout. House says, "Oregon passed a law in 2009 stating we will not spend state taxpayer money to meet this. In other words, we were saying 'No.' The legislature was sending a message, 'you're going to need to fund this if you want us to comply'." The state wasn’t initially set up for the required identity verification. "Those systems are in place now," says House, "We connected to them four years ago when Oregon made Real ID an option and made it available in 2020."

Drivers don't have to get a new license, "It is not required. No one is required to get Real ID on their driver license. There are other alternatives," says House. You could use a passport. But, if you don't already have one, the application period can be lengthy. 

Even if you don't fly often, House says it might make sense to get a Real ID license within the next year. "When that deadline next May approaches, the rush at DMVs across the country, and at the State Department to get passports, is going to increase; the demand will increase." He fears people will wait until April to start applying and think, "'OK, I booked my flight. It's a month away. No problem.' That might not be enough time to get Real ID," says House, "It's definitely not enough time to get a passport."

Real ID requires an in-person visit to the DMV, and you must bring proof of identitiy and two items proving where you live. The DMV's website has a list of acceptable documents. 

House urges Oregonians, "You've got to get ahead of this. If you put it off, you might miss your flight."

Images courtesy of the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles

(Portland, OR) -- A man is dead after being shot by police in Portland's Hazelwood neighborhood. The Portland Police Bureau says officers were serving a search warrant at a home at Southeast 124th Avenue near East Burnside last night when a man opened fire on them. Police say the officers returned fire, killing the man. The four officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.

(Portland, OR) -- Portland's firefighters union is blasting Multnomah County over an ambulance shortage that resulted in a stabbing victim being transported to the hospital in the back of a police car. Portland Firefighters Association President Isaac McLennan called the situation "infuriating" and "frustrating." McLennan says the union has been calling for action regarding the county's lack of ambulances for years. Officials tell KGW-TV, the number of calls designated "Level Zero" skyrocketed to nearly 15-hundred last year, resulting in fines of more than half-a-million dollars for the company that provides ambulance service to the area. Meanwhile, the stabbing victim eventually reached the hospital and was in critical condition as of late Sunday.

(Oregon City, OR) -- An identity thief with a long criminal past has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty. Fifty-two-year-old Trino Lopez has 40 criminal convictions dating back to 1995. In 2022, Lopez was arrested after stealing eight-thousand dollars' worth of items from a car. A search discovered 11-hundred ID theft-related items. Lopez was washing checks, in one case writing a check for 92-thousand dollars. Lopez was working with his fiancée, Tyanna Fitzpatrick. She faces more than 40 criminal counts.

(Portland, OR) -- First Lady Jill Biden is coming to Portland this week. The White House says Biden will deliver a speech at a political finance event in Portland this Thursday night. The visit is part of a the Fiirst Lady's tour of several western states this week.

After Portland, she'll travel to California and Arizona.

(Eugene, OR) -- The University of Oregon, and its partners at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of California, San Diego, are launching the largest wildfire detection network in the West. The new ALERTWest system has 12-hundred cameras. They will use artificial intelligence to continuously monitor for new wildfire starts and deliver timely alerts to dispatchers and firefighters. This enables faster response times and helps fire managers better allocate resources when battling multiple fires.

(Portland, OR) -- A medical trial at OHSU that uses gene editing had positive results for improving sight in people with a certain type of inherited retinal disease. The CRISPR [[ crisper ]] gene editing process was used. Around 79 percent of the study participants had improved sight. The study included 12 adults and two children. The inherited retinal disease affects around two out of every 100-thousand people.

(Beaverton, OR) -- The Highway 217 Auxiliary Lane Project will cause long delays on the southbound lanes starting Friday night. Construction crews will be building a new section of auxiliary lane between Allen Boulevard and Hall Boulevard and the freeway will be reduced to one lane. The Denny road on-ramp will also be closed. The lane closure begins at 9 o'clock Friday evening and will end by 5 o'clock Monday morning.

(Gresham, OR) -- Following a vote of no confidence in the principal at Gresham High School and District Administration, the Gresham-Barlow Board of Directors has affirmed its confidence in the Superintendent. Teachers and staff say the principal isn't holding students accountable for their actions. The Board says the Superintendent will urgently and effectively address the student behavior issues. The Board will meet this week to get an update on the Superintendent's action plan.

UPDATE (05/07/2024) -- State Police report the two men have been identified.

UMATILLA COUNTY, OR -- Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife troopers are looking for poachers who illegally killed and harvested several elk on private property in Umatilla County. 

OSP began investigating in February, in the area of Pine Creek Road, and discovered multiple people were captured on trail cameras trespassing on a private ranch back on December 29th and 30th. Investigators believe they are the same people photographed packing out elk meat through the property around the same time. 

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact OSP at 1-800-452-7888, or email the Turn in Poachers TIP line. Reference case number SP24-040213.  

(Portland, OR) -- Multnomah County's ambulance crisis caused a stabbing victim to be transported to a hospital in the back of a police car. Just after midnight Sunday, Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a person who had been stabbed multiple times. No ambulances were available, so the patient was loaded into a police car with a paramedic who cared for the person during the emergency ride to a hospital. The patient's condition hasn't been released. Multnomah County requires ambulances to be staffed with two paramedics. AMR says the shortage of paramedics has limited their ability to staff all ambulances with two paramedics.

(Portland, OR) -- A driver is under arrest following a crash in Portland that left a pedestrian with life threatening injuries. The crash happened early Saturday morning at Northeast Halsey and 92nd Avenue. The driver of a Toyota Sequoia hit a man who was seriously injured. He was transported to a hospital. The driver, 23-year-old Nicole Land, of Milwaukie, was arrested and booked for Driving Under the Influence, Assault and Reckless Driving.

(Salem, OR) -- A stabbing suspect was involved in a long standoff with the Marion County Sheriff's Office early Sunday morning. The stabbing happened near Phipps Lane Northeast and Beverly Avenue Northeast in Salem. The victim was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect ran into a nearby house. Marion County SWAT negotiators spent four hours talking with the suspect and the people in the house. Twenty-one-year-old Diego Guajardo, of Albany, peaceful surrendered and was arrested for assault.

(Portland, OR) -- The Multnomah County Elections Office is working to fix a mistake where the wrong ballots were sent to 92-hundred voters in East County. Their ballots were intended for voters outside of the Metro region and omitted Measure 26-244 which is for the Oregon Zoo. The problem was discovered the day ballots started arriving in mailboxes and corrected ballots were mailed by May 3rd. Affected voters will receive a letter explaining what happened and what to do. Each ballot has a specific identifier which will prevent more than one ballot from being counted.

(Portland, OR) -- Portland Parks and Rec is entering the final phase of a project to replace 100 year old light poles that were in danger of falling over. The poles have been replaced in 11 parks with the final three parks starting this week. They are Mt. Tabor, Lair Hill and Ladds Circle parks. The new lights are 66 percent more efficient than the old lights and they're also designed to be Dark Sky-friendly. They don't send light upward, which also helps nearby homes.

(Salem, OR) -- Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared Sunday May 5th Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. Kotek says for too long, the unsolved deaths and disappearances of Indigenous persons, especially women, have not seen justice. She says marking the day of awareness will help address the root causes and systemic obstacles that contribute to the crisis.

(Portland, OR)  --  One person is hospitalized after a two-alarm fire engulfed a home that was filled with ammunition in Northeast Portland.  Firefighters responded to the home on Northeast 13th last night to find flames pouring out of the building.  Officials say there was a thousand pounds of ammunition in the garage as well as more ammo in the attic that was set off in the fire, putting crews at risk.  One person was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.  An investigation into the fire is ongoing.

(Portland, OR)  --  At least 15 Portland Police cars were destroyed by arson early Thursday morning.  The cars are used for training and were parked in a fenced area near 149th and Northeast Airport Way.  Firefighters put out the fire and no injuries were reported.  Portland Fire is investigating the arson.  Police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact them.

(Coos Bay, OR)  --  A dog is dead and two people are injured following a house fire in Coos Bay.  Fire officials say crews responded to the home early yesterday morning after a neighbor called 911.  Firefighters arrived to find two people trapped inside the burning home and rescued them, rushing them to a hospital.  Crews also found two dogs inside the home.  One of the dogs was dead, while the other was rescued and is said to be doing OK.  

(Roseburg, OR)  --  A woman is facing charges after allegedly assaulting and strangling another woman during a domestic disturbance in Roseburg.  Police arrested 29-year-old Jacelyn Crosser Wednesday.  Police say she strangled a woman and threatened to kill her with a knife while subjecting her to unwanted physical contact.  Crosser is being charged with strangulation, harassment and domestic menacing.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police made more arrests Thursday night at the Portland State University library.  After police left in the afternoon, activists returned pulling down fencing and removing things from dumpsters.  Around 7 p.m., officers returned and moved the crowd back.  They resecured the library and arrested more people.  In all, around 30 people were arrested Thursday, seven of them students.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police are searching for a five-year-old boy who may have been abducted.  Tra'Veon Lewis was reported missing Thursday and police say he was seen with two adults riding buses on Southeast Division Street.  Tra'Veon was wearing a red or orange sweatshirt with a multicolor "Champion" logo on the front and multicolored shorts.  The adults are a white man wearing a tan hooded sweatshirt over an orange sweatshirt and a blue face mask.  A white female had long blond hair in two braids, black shirt with round silver decorations.  They were pulling a red wagon and pushing a black wheelchair.  If you see them call 911.

(Portland, OR)  --  A Multnomah County judge has sentenced a man to prison for killing his girlfriend.  Nineteen-year-old Amara Marluke was a student at Portland State University.  In April 2022, officers responded to a shooting near PSU where they found Marluke dead.  Investigators identified her boyfriend, and PSU student, 22-year-old Keenan Harpole as the suspect.  He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon.  Harpole was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

(Portland, OR)  --  Police say people who occupied Portland State University's library caused substantial damage to the fire alarm system.  The alarm system box was pulled out of the wall, many pull stations were activated, and fire extinguishers were sprayed throughout the building.  The Portland Fire Bureau says the in-house fire suppression system remains intact.  The pull stations need to be reset and the emptied fire extinguishers will have to be replaced.  The building will be boarded up to prevent access until the repairs are made.

(Salem, OR)  --  Ten-million-dollars will be spent restoring fish habitat in Oregon.  The Private Forest Accord Grant Program has awarded its first-ever round of habitat restoration project funding.  It's going to 25 projects across Oregon that will restore critical spawning grounds, fish passage and habitat improvements for fish and wildlife.  The focus is on helping native salmon, trout and select amphibians. 

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland's Mayor is tapping three government and business officials to help lead the city's historic voter-approved government transition.  Mayor Ted Wheeler is elevating his Chief Administrative Officer Michael Jordan to serve as Interim City Administrator.  He's appointed two Interim Deputy City Administrators.  Current Deputy Chief of Staff Sara Morrissey will supervise City Operations.  Jonas Biery, former Vice President at investment banking firm D.A. Davidson & Company, will oversee Budget and Finance.  The temporary positions run through June of 2025.

(Portland, OR)  --  Several Oregon cities are being ranked among the best places in the nation to call home.   That's according to Livability's 2024 report on the 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S.  Livability looked at data on thousands of American cities and judged them based on nearly 100 data points, considering metrics like economy, housing, cost of living and amenities.  Beaverton, Hillsboro, Eugene, Medford and Salem all made the top 100 list.

(Kelso, WA)  --  A vehicle being pursued by Cowlitz County Sheriff's deputies late Tuesday night crashed killing three people inside.  Kelso Police responded to the crash and say the suspect's vehicle hit a second vehicle.  The three people in the suspect's vehicle were killed and two people in the second vehicle were injured.  Their conditions weren't released.  Washington State Patrol is conducting the investigation.

(Albany, OR)  --  Police are releasing the identities of a man who was killed and a woman who was injured when half a dozen officers opened fire on them following a car chase in Linn County.  Authorities say 30-year-old Cameron James Bielman of Anacortes, Washington was killed, while his 30-year-old passenger Yasmina Destinee Teal, also of Anacortes, was hospitalized for injuries.  Police were chasing the pair's vehicle in connection to a shooting a few hours earlier in Coburg that left one person critically injured on Sunday when the suspect vehicle crashed on I-5.  At some point after the crash, officers opened fire on the vehicle.  Six law enforcement members involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.

(Portland, OR)  --  Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war continue their occupation of the Portland State University library as the group's demonstration enters its seventh day.  KATU-2 reports the group was still inside the school's Miller Library as of 11 p.m. last night.  The students allegedly broke into the library Monday night after protesting in front of the library for five days.  Portland State University closed its campus yesterday in response to the occupation.  Police say the demonstration is now illegal and they're asking the protesters to leave.  Portland Police are working with other law enforcement to develop a plan to remove the protesters.

(Myrtle Point, OR)  --  Bail is set at one-million dollars for a convicted felon arrested in connection to a shooting on Old Highway 42 in Coos County.  The sheriff's office says 28-year-old Blaine Monson is charged with attempted murder, felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing for the shooting in Myrtle Point last Thursday.  Police say the victim was in his vehicle when Monson fired multiple rounds at him, hitting his car several times.  No injuries were reported.

(Portland, OR)  --  A former Oregon Department of Human Services caregiver has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman with disabilities who was in his care.  Federal prosecutors say Zakary Glover, who worked as a direct support crisis specialist for the state, was supposed to take the victim on an outing.  He took her to a dead-end road in Aumsville where the sexual assault happened.  The victim suffers from severe autism, epilepsy, cognitive delays and very limited verbal abilities.  Prosecutors say they wanted to send a strong message with the significant sentence.

(Portland, OR)  --  A recall is in effect for organic walnuts sold in Oregon that have been tied to an outbreak of E. coli cases.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning about Gibson Farms organic walnuts sold in bulk at co-ops and natural food stores in Oregon and 18 other states.  Over 12 people from Washington and California have been infected with E. coli after eating the nuts.  Seven of those people were hospitalized.

(Portland, OR)  --  Immigrant and refugee Portlanders will be able to get free help from Portland Community College's Legal Resource Center.  Portland's Office of Community & Civic Life signed an agreement with PCC that will allow immigrants and refugees to access legal help with DACA renewals, work permit applications, immigration legal screenings, and advance parole for DACA recipients.  Potential candidates can apply at the PCC Legal Resource Center. 

(Portland, OR)  --  The Portland Bureau of Transportation is establishing a hardship fund to help victims of auto theft and people with low incomes retrieve towed and impounded vehicles.  Money for the fund comes from a five-dollar surcharge on tows collected as part of the city's towing contracts.  The impound must be within the City of Portland.  An application needs to be filed within five days of the tow and before the vehicle is retrieved.  The city will pay 300 dollars in towing and storage fees for people who qualify.  The money is paid to the towing company and not as a reimbursement to the vehicle owner.

(Silverton, OR)  --  Silver Falls State Park is getting ready to host its annual Mother's Day Birding and Wildflower Festival on May 11th and 12th.  Activities include a wildflower show, a native plant sale, guided bird watching and wildflower walks, educational discovery tables, bird crafts and live raptor presentations.  All activities are free, but there is a five-dollar daily parking permit fee.  All activities happen from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the South Falls Day-use area, unless otherwise indicated in the full schedule on the Oregon State Parks website.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is being called one of the best states in the nation for nurses.  The personal finance website WalletHub ranks the Beaver State number six in its top ten list of the best states for nurses to work in.  WalletHub compared states on 20 different metrics of job satisfaction, including average salaries, job openings per capita and the quality of nursing homes.  Washington state came in first place.  The report notes that Washington nurses enjoy high-median salaries across various work settings in Washington as well as high levels of educational attainment.  WalletHub also notes Washington has some of the best-ranked nursing schools in the nation.