GAO asks NOAA to reassess Newport move; Civil War teams to honor Oregon Guard; Reedsport man facing sex abuse allegations; Voters to decide

Appeal of decision to move weather fleet to Newport upheld…

The transfer of a fleet of federal research vessels from Washington State to the Central Oregon Coast could be in jeopardy. The Government Accountability Office this week told the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that it should take another look at the agency’s decision to base four research ships and up to two visiting ships at the Port of Newport for 20 years beginning in 2011. NOAA recently awarded a 20-year lease to the Port after basing the ships in Seattle for the past 45. The Port of Bellingham, which also bid on the base, appealed the move saying the Newport site is at odds with NOAA’s own requirements. The base would be co-located with Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center and is within the 100-year flood plain on the south shore of Yaquina Bay. A GAO official says this does not overturn the move but simply asks NOAA to reassess the decision.

If Oregon voters turn down a pair of ballot measures in next month’s special election, schools, state agencies and social services providers will face the loss of an additional $733-million from the general fund. That could mean harm to schools, higher education and core services says Oregon House Speaker Dave Hunt. The Clackamas County Democrat says despite what opponents of tax increases passed by the 2009 legislature may say, there is no ‘secret plan’ to balance the budget should the two measures fail. He called the tax increases – quote – “targeted and modest”. If validated by voters January 16th, they would increase the $10 corporate minimum tax and require families earning more than $250-thousand a year to pay more.

Additional charges of rape, sodomy and sex abuse have been filed in Douglas County against a 33-year old Reedsport man following an investigation. Justin V. Ure (YURE) was arrested Monday after allegations of – quote – “questionable behavior” between he and boys visiting his apartment. Ure is being held in the Douglas County Jail in Roseburg.

When both teams hit the field tonight for the 113th Civil War they’ll be paying tribute to members of the Oregon National Guard’s 41 Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Each player will have a small decal of the unit’s ‘sunset patch’ on their helmets as a show of support for 3,000 citizen-soldiers of the unit currently serving a one-year deployment in Iraq. The 41 IBCT can be traced back to 1887 when the ‘Summers Law’ established the Oregon National Guard. The unit saw some of the fiercest fighting in World War II and earned the nickname “Jungleers” as they battled their way through remote locations in the South Pacific.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

College Basketball:
Amanda Johnson scored a career-high 32 points and added 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season, leading the Oregon women to a 95-68 victory over Portland last night. The Ducks, at six-and-one, are are off to their best start since 2006-07.

College Football:
The Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers have wrapped up final practices for the 113th Civil War game. The two foes will meet tonight, with the victor headed to the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day to play Ohio State. If the Ducks win, Oregon State would most likely go to the Las Vegas Bowl December 22nd with their probable opponent being BYU. Conversely, if the Beavers win, Oregon would likely wind up going against Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl December 30th in San Diego. Tonight’s game will air on Coast Radio Sports with the Duck broadcast on KCST… the Beavers on KCFM. Airtime is at five pm with kickoff set for one minute past six o’clock.

Also on the schedule tonight:
Prep basketball gets under way for the Mapleton Sailors on the road in Powers… boys and girls.