Lawmakers to break new ground in Salem…
The 76th Oregon Legislative Session is scheduled to begin next Monday and when lawmakers return to Salem they’ll face some different conditions than what they’re used to. This session, in the house, there’s an even 30-30 split between Republicans and Democrats. That’s prompted an innovative power sharing arrangement. Coos Bay Democrat Arnie Roblan will split Speaker of the House duties with Roseburg Republican Bruce Hanna. There have never been “co-speakers” and the new arrangement will bring an added wrinkle. Hanna says it could force lawmakers to work more closely together and not be concerned as much about partisan politics. What won’t change in Salem this session, however, is the money challenge. Despite having an additional $1.8-billion in revenue, lawmakers still don’t expect to have enough money to fund all programs that have been provided in the past. In fact, one of the first things they’ll have to deal with next week is balancing the current budget that runs through the end of June.
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Roblan, Hanna and Coos Bay Democratic Senator Joanne Verger will be on this afternoon’s Our Town on KCST. That show airs from four to six pm on FM 106.9.
Some of that increased revenue going to Salem is in the form of increased taxes on motor fuel. The 2008 Legislature increased the gas tax from 24 to 30-cents a gallon, but delayed implementation until January First of this year. That’s expected to generate about $300-million for the Oregon Department of Transportation. While State taxes make up about ten-percent of the cost for fuel in Oregon, it’s still less than in neighboring states. In Washington drivers pay 37 ½ cents a gallon in taxes; in California it’s nearly 47-cents. Oregon’s average for a gallon of regular unleaded as measured by Triple-A, is up six cents to $3.14. In Florence the average is up seven cents to $2.99 a gallon.
The number of Coho Salmon returning to Tahkenitch Lake is nearing counts from the 1960s and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has the video evidence to back that up. Fish biologist John Spangler says video recording equipment on loan from the Siletz Band of Indians allowed him to get a good count of wild coho returning to spawn in the lake’s streams. On one day more than 700 fish passed by the camera and totals for the past few months matched numbers recorded in the 1960s. In a story published in the Salmon Trout Enhancement Program Newsletter this week Spangler said there are some modifications still needed in order to get a better count, and, he adds, it may be better suited to monitor smolt counts as they head down stream to the ocean in the spring. Anglers reported good success for wild coho in Tahkenitch as well as Siltcoos this fall.
Florence Police Chief Maury Sanders said the New Years’ holiday in Florence was relatively quiet. Between Friday, December 31st and Sunday the second there were no arrests for driving under the influence by either city police officers or Lane County Sheriff’s Deputies. Sanders said there were also no major crashes or other incidents reported in that time period.
Eugene man pleads guilty to sexually abusing boy
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EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - A Eugene man has pleaded guilty to
repeatedly sexually abusing a boy and filming some of the sexual
encounters.
The Register-Guard reports that David James Woodworth made the
plea Tuesday to 20 counts that included sexual abuse, sodomy and
using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct. He
previously denied the allegations.
Judge Charles Zennache says Woodworth could face more than 306
years in prison, since 16 of the charges carry mandatory minimum
prison terms under state law.
Court documents show that Lane County authorities arrested
Woodworth in September after a woman said she found in his computer
dozens of photos of him sexually abusing a boy.
An affidavit shows the woman also told authorities she found
child pornography in a photo album and on his cell phone.
---
Information from: The Register-Guard,
http://www.registerguard.com
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Texas couple accused of violating the
U.S. embargo against Iran in a money laundering and tax fraud
scheme have pleaded not guilty in an Oregon courtroom. Dr. Hossein
Lahiji (la-hee-zhee) and Najmeh Vahid (nahj-meh vah-heed) appeared
in federal court in Portland, the headquarters of a charity that
prosecutors say was the conduit for more than $1.8 million
disguised as contributions. They were released after yesterday's
brief hearing.
KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) - A 36-year-old man has been charged with
kidnapping and criminal endangerment after a six-hour standoff at a
Montana hotel, where he allegedly barricaded himself with a
17-year-old boy. Police say Thomas Mulligan met the teen on the
Internet several months ago. Mulligan has previous convictions for
theft, burglary and kidnapping in Oregon.
NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) - Oregon State Police say the body of a
63-year-old Ridgefield, Wash., woman has been found on a beach
south of Newport. Lt. Mike Turner says the body of Katharine C.
Strange was identified through items found in her car in the
parking lot of Lost Creek State Park. The body was found Monday.
KGW-TV says there were no signs of foul play.
NEWBERG, Ore. (AP) - The body of a Newberg boater who
disappeared Nov. 26 while fishing in the Willamette River has been
found. Yamhill County Sheriff Jack Crabtree says another boater
spotted the remains of 49-year-old Kevin Williams on Monday, about
two miles upriver from Newberg. Officials say identification found
on the body confirmed it was Williams.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A man molested as a child by a Portland
priest alleges in a lawsuit that he has yet to see any of the
$900,000 settlement paid by the Archdiocese of Portland nearly
eight years ago. The suit alleges that lawyers who represented him
claimed $877,000, leaving him with no more than $23,000.
WOODBURN, Ore. (AP) - The Marion County sheriff's office says it
has rescued nine neglected horses from a muddy field in Woodburn.
Neighbors told deputies the animals were eating wooden fencing to
survive. Three owners have been arrested for investigation of nine
counts of animal neglect.
EPHRATA, Wash. (AP) - One of two winning Mega Millions tickets
was bought at a Safeway supermarket in the Eastern Washington town
of Ephrata (eh-FRAY'-tah). The other winning ticket was sold in
Idaho. Lottery officials said today the winners will be sharing a
$380 million jackpot.
DALLAS (AP) - Jason Terry scored 12 of his 18 points in the
fourth quarter and the injury-depleted Dallas Mavericks held on for
an 84-81 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers last night.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 points and 10 rebounds and Marcus Camby
contributed 10 points and 20 rebounds for Portland.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
The Number one ranked Newport Cubs moved to eight-and-oh on the season with a 72-25 win over the Siuslaw Vikings last night in Florence. In other boys’ prep action, Mapleton moved to eight-and-two with a 66-23 Mountain West League win over Lowell. Micah Espinosa had 30 points and eight rebounds… Tim Sherrett had 20 points and 15 rebounds.
For the Girls, the Lady Vikings held on down the stretch for a 42-37 non-league victory over the Newport Cubs. Kasey Strenke had 16 points, ten in the fourth quarter; Leigh Aurich had 13. The Lady Sailors fell to Lowell in their Mountain West League opener, 41 – 29. Liz Harry led Mapleton with nine points.
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