Oregon Revenue Shortfall at $180-million
Oregon’s budget hole is nearly twice what anyone expected. State economist Tom Potiowski announced a budget forecast to lawmakers yesterday morning that shows a projected shortfall in tax collections of $180-million for the current biennium. Previous estimates were in the $100-million range. Governor Ted Kulongoski said the revenue forecast shows “this will continue to be a long slow economic recovery”. But, he called the shortfall amount “manageable”. In fact, the Oregon Legislature has already taken steps to cut tax credits aimed at spurring Oregon’s wind farm industry. That would save about $50-million. Lawmakers say they will also tap reserve funds, and if the size of the shortfall increases, may begin trimming agency budgets. Governor Kulongoski said reforms of the kicker law are needed now more than ever. He is pushing the legislature to refer a matter to voters that would divert excess funds into a reserve fund to help future lawmakers plug any gaps.
Public health officials are advising parents that children won’t be able to go to school or child care beginning February 17th if their shot records aren’t up to date. State law requires all children in public and private schools, preschools, Head Start and certified child care facilities be up-to-date on their immunizations or have a valid religious or medical exemption. Lorraine Duncan with the Oregon Public Health Division says the goal is to make sure children are fully protected. Last year nearly 47-hundred children were kept out of school on ‘exclusion day’ because their immunization records weren’t up to date.
Florence Planning Commissioners will have a discussion this evening on a proposal to change zoning district boundaries and code requirements for industrial properties in and around the Pacific View Business Park. The proposal, if ultimately approved, would combine three zoning districts into two; expand the number and types of land uses allowed in the area; and streamline other requirements. The work-session is the first step in a lengthy process… the Planning Commission meets at seven at city hall.
The word ‘confluence’ means a flowing or coming together. At this weekend’s “Confluence 2010” in the tiny community of Gardiner, just north of Reedsport, it means a lot of music will flow together with Oregon Beers and Wines, coastal cuisine and an array of art and craft vendors. The three-day festival begins at noon Friday at the former Jewett School on Highway 101 and runs through Sunday afternoon.
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
THE DALLES, Ore. (AP) - A woman who was struck and killed by a
train in Wasco County has been identified at Kathryn Robertson, the
daughter of Oregon Health & Science University President Dr. Joseph
Robertson. The Dalles Chronicle reports that the 25-year-old was
hit Sunday afternoon at a crossing in Rowena. A school spokesman
confirmed the death yesterday.
MILWAUKIE, Ore. (AP) - Clackamas County officials say an
83-year-old man accidentally crashed his car through parking
garage's concrete wall, left the car dangling on the edge of the
second floor, then walked back to his room at a Milwaukie
retirement community. The driver was identified as Kenneth
Schiedel, who tells The Oregonian, "I feel like the village
idiot."
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A founding member of the European Kindred
white supremacist prison gang has been sentenced to 7 1/2 years in
prison after pleading guilty to providing a firearm to a convicted
felon. David Patrick Kennedy was indicted by a federal grand jury
in 2008. He was sentenced yesterday in Portland along with
Christina Marie Allen. The two are now married.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) - Oregon State Police say a trooper who
stopped a car in southern Oregon for several traffic violations
found more than a quarter million dollars worth of marijuana neatly
packaged in the trunk. Lt. Jason Westfall says the trooper
conducted a search yesterday and located 113 pounds of marijuana
with an estimated street value of $282,000.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A 16-year-old who stabbed another student
in a math class at Roosevelt High School in Portland was sentenced
yesterday to 90 days in juvenile jail. The teen told investigators
he stabbed the other boy with a small folding knife last September
because he had been teasing him. The Oregonian reports the injured
boy has made a full recovery.
(The Oregonian)
WEST LINN, Ore. (AP) - The West Linn City Council voted to
censure Mayor Patti Galle. The resolution approved last night on a
3-0 vote says the council has lost confidence in the mayor. The
Oregonian reports Galle did not attend the meeting and Councilor
Teri Cummings walked out earlier, accusing the other three
councilors of hiding the resolution from her. The resolution
accuses the mayor of violating the confidentiality of executive
sessions and exposing the city to lawsuits.
(The Oregonian)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - A water line that cools a University of
Oregon lab broke yesterday and spilled several hundred gallons of
water into a utility tunnel. The cooling water is dyed green and
treated with a chemical to prevent corrosion. The university told
The Register-Guard the spill posed no chemical hazard and it was
diluted with other water before it reached the Willamette River.
(Register Guard)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Court of Appeals has upheld a
$355,000 jury award to a fired pastor, finding that a church can't
use the First Amendment as a defense in a defamation case. The
court ruled in the case of Tim Tubra that because church officials
accused him of being a thief in front of the congregation, the
statements were not religious in nature and thus didn't qualify for
First Amendment protection.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) - Oregon State Police say a trooper who
stopped a car for traffic violations in southern Oregon found 113
pounds of marijuana - more than a quarter million dollars worth -
in the trunk. Lt. Jason Westfall says 26-year-old Ricardo Sanchez
of Pasco, Wash., was arrested Monday for investigation of
distribution of a controlled substance.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon State University says the state's
agricultural sales plummeted last year, hurt by a weak economy, low
prices and oversupply. A report released Monday says farms and
ranches grossed $4.1 billion in 2009, down 14.8 percent from 2008 -
the biggest drop since at least 1976.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Not only are the signs wrong, they're hard
to pronounce.
A chagrined Oregon Department of Transportation is having to
redo some street signs along Southeast Powell Boulevard in
Portland. They're supposed to say "141st" and "151st" streets.
Instead, they read "141th" and "151th."
Transportation Department spokesman Brad Wulfer says it will
cost less than $100 to redo the signs.
He adds: "What's to say? People do make mistakes."
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Prep Wrestling:
Siuslaw had four wrestlers place at last weekend’s 30-team Cottage Grove Invitational, including Jacob Graber who finished second at 125 pounds; Nick Ough, who tied for fifth at 140 and Sonny Tupua who finished fifth at 215. The fourth wrestler was Kwartell (KORR-tell) Hendrickson who tied for third at 171. Hendrickson was also named as Coast Radio Sports’ Athlete of the Week. In addition to his finish in Cottage Grove he also claimed victory at 171 pounds in a Far West Dual meet last week. Honorable mention is given to Blake Huff. The Viking sophomore claimed victory at 112 pounds in a Far West Dual meet against South Umpqua.
On the Schedule:
The Siuslaw Vikings wrap up the second-third of the Far West Basketball season tonight on the road at Brookings-Harbor High School… the girls at six, the boys right after. The pregame show on KCST is set for 5:45. In Sunset League action, Reedsport is in Bandon for boys and girls basketball… and the Mapleton Sailors are in Triangle Lake for two Mountain West games against the Lakers.
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