Oregon’s budget proposal hailed and assailed…
The co-chairs of Oregon's budget-writing committee are recommending deep cuts to schools, long-term care programs for seniors and just about every other program state government provides. The proposed education cuts are less severe than Governor John Kitzhaber proposed two months ago, but they would still leave schools with $1 billion less than what they say they need to continue current services. Lawmakers say the cuts aren't easy but are necessary because the struggling economy has severely cut back on state tax collections. Joint Ways and Means Co-Chair Dennis Richardson, a Republican from Central Point, had praise for the plan, saying it reflects his party’s efforts to bring state spending under control and protect against another economic downturn. The budget proposal sets aside $460-million in reserves, plus another $310-million in a “supplemental ending balance” that would be utilized only if state revenue is stable by February 2012. Heather Conroy, the Executive Director of one of the state’s largest employee unions, the SEIU Local 503, criticized the budget saying it would be inappropriate “for the Legislature to hold such a high amount in reserves” when services are being reduced and public employees are being asked to share in the sacrifice. She predicted that Oregonians would “not stand for drastic reductions in services” while there is money to pay for them. The Legislature is grappling with a $3.5 billion gap between revenue and the projected cost of continuing current services.
A California man pleaded guilty this week in Eugene to mail fraud and money laundering in a swindle that cost investors more than $18-million. Federal prosecutors say many of Louis J. Borstelmann’s victims are residents of Florence. Borstelmann admitted in federal court to soliciting about 100 people to invest in real estate through his company, Sunburst Associates. He falsely promised high rates of return and a security interest in property. Borstelmann admitted the alleged investments never existed and it was all a Ponzi scheme. He’s free until his sentencing, scheduled for June 14th. The 68-year old could get up to 30-years.
A $1,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for a livestock shooting in rural Douglas County. A black angus bull, valued at approximately $2,000 was found dead March 7th on a ranch in the South Smith River Road area near Reedsport. It appeared to have been dead for several days. Douglas County sheriff’s deputies and Oregon State Police Game Troopers are investigating, they believe the bull had been shot with a firearm. It’s the third such case in recent months. Two other head of livestock were reported shot and killed in September.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Florence increased by 8-cents this week, it’s now at $3.62 a gallon… a nickel above the national average price, but still 13 cents less than the statewide average as measured by Triple-A. Marie Dodds with Triple-A says uncertainty about the Middle East, Northern Africa and Japan will continue to drive the markets in the coming weeks. Oregon’s average price, at $3.75, is ninth highest of all 50-states. Hawaii and Alaska are one and two, California is third at $4.03 a gallon on average. Washington is fourth with an average of $3.78 a gallon.
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - The U.S. attorney's office says a
48-year-old Eugene man has pleaded guilty to three counts of mail
fraud and one count of tax fraud in an investment fraud scheme that
brought him more than $850,000. According to court papers, Hussein
Ali Mehdi admitted yesterday to submitting fraudulent claims for
class action settlements associated with various securities
litigation.
BEND, Ore. (AP) - A judge will decide the aggravated murder
trial of a central Oregon man accused of killing his wife and
burying her body in a barrel. Darrell Middlekauff of La Pine chose
a trial by judge without a jury to avoid a possible death penalty
if convicted in the 2002 death of Brenda Middlekauff. A decision by
Deschutes County Circuit Judge Stephen Tiktin is expected next
week.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon House panel holds a hearing today
on bills offered by the Oregon Cattlemen's Association. The
legislation seeks permission for ranchers to shoot wolves that
threaten livestock, dogs and people, and payment from the state for
livestock killed by wolves. Authorities say about 40 livestock have
been killed by wolves in Oregon since 2009.
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - About 20 wild horses from southeastern
Oregon will be put up for adoption in Grants Pass on April 16 at
the Josephine County Fairgrounds. The mustangs were rounded up to
control the size of herds on federal lands.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A United Airlines flight from Washington,
D.C., that was diverted to Chicago for security concerns landed
early this morning at its destination in Portland. United tells
KGW-TV that two or three passengers on Flight 251 who had not been
following crew instructions were not on board the plane when it
continued to Portland. Whether they were detained was not
immediately known.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Senate has voted to allow some
illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at Oregon public
universities. Immigrants who have completed at least three years of
high school education in Oregon would be eligible under the measure
passed yesterday and sent to the House.
CLACKAMAS, Ore. (AP) - Thanks to an alert witness, a Clackamas
County sheriff's spokesman says officers were able to make a bank
robbery arrest in less than five minutes yesterday. Detectives say
the holdup man left the U.S. Bank branch with an undisclosed amount
of cash and jumped in a nearby car. But within minutes officers had
30-year-old Cameron Carr under arrest.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Taking a look at Coast Radio Sports…
The team that was recruited by Dana Altman will be in Eugene this evening to take on the team he currently coaches, when the Creighton Bluejays meet the Oregon Ducks in game two of the College Basketball Invitational final series. Altman spent 16 years as the head coach at Creighton, taking his teams to 7 NCAA tournament appearances. The Oregon men are on the ropes and must win tonight to force a third and final game in the series… the Jays took game one Monday night in Omaha 84-78. Tonight’s game at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene tips off at seven. The pregame show on KCST begins at 6:30.
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