Oregon health care reforms coming together - Search centered near Cape Perpetua - Florence teacher comes full circle

Oregon lawmakers working on health policy exchange…

Oregon’s portion of last year’s health insurance overhaul is coming together. Lawmakers in Salem are working this week on a bill that would create an “exchange” where small businesses and individuals without medical coverage can enjoy some of the advantages of pooled purchasing power for health policies. It’s expected to serve as many as 350-thousand Oregonians by 2014. The Obama administration has given the state a $48-million grant to put together an online site for the exchange. The measure is in a Senate committee whose members were urged yesterday by consumer advocates to not allow insurance carriers with policies in the exchange to sit on its governing board. Dozens of amendments have been proposed, and the committee will begin work on them next week.

The search for a 53-year old Waldport Woman, missing for two weeks, is being focused on an area just south of Cape Perpetua. The car belonging to Margaret Mary Kohler was found yesterday in the Cummins Ridge Trail area of the Siuslaw National Forest. She was last seen headed out with her five-year old lab-collie mix “Roscoe” to take a walk. A friend reported Kohler missing February 19th.

Juline Walker has a lot on her plate. The 26-year old is preparing for her role on the bench this weekend as the assistant coach for the Siuslaw Viking girls basketball team as they enter the playoffs. That’s just part of her load. She’s also the Key Club advisor and Freshman Class advisor at Siuslaw High School. She works with Sea scouts and trains for triathlons. Oh, and Walker is also the Spanish Teacher at Siuslaw where she graduated in 2003. That’s the year that the Florence Rotary Club made what she calls a “contribution” to her future. It paid for part of her education at Willamette University in Salem. Florence Rotary has raised more than three-quarters of a million dollars in the past 50-years for scholarships awarded to Siuslaw and Mapleton High School students.

Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - An undercover investigation into illegal
weapons in the Portland area that stretched into Washington state
has led to the arrests of at least 36 people, with more
anticipated. Federal agents ran a sting out of a Portland smoke
shop, buying guns from people they described as drug dealers, gang
members and ex-cons. Authorities say at least five other suspects
remain at large.

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) - A 37-year-old Oregon man has been
sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay restitution
for defrauding investors of more than $555,000 in a scheme
involving interests in high-end bucking bulls. Matthew Opperman of
Sandy was sentenced yesterday in Clackamas County Circuit Court. He
had pleaded guilty to racketeering, forgery and securities fraud.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Salem police say a man they're calling the
"Droopy Drawers Bandit" made off with beer and cigarettes in a
convenience store burglary but nearly lost his pants in the
process. At one point in the heist early yesterday, surveillance
video shows the man's pants nearly falling down, revealing bright
red shorts. Police say the bandit apparently cut himself during the
crime, but got away.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A bill that would allow undocumented Oregon
youth to attend state universities at resident tuition rates drew
hundreds of people to an emotional state Senate hearing. Supporters
argue that young people brought to Oregon illegally should not be
barred from the public universities because of the high price of
out-of-state tuition. But one speaker at yesterday's hearing asked,
"How is it that people can break the law and get a benefit?"

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - More than 80 members of Oregon's Air
National Guard are headed to the Middle East for four months. Most
are from 116th Air Control Squadron based in Portland, and three
are from the 270th Air Control Squadron based in Klamath Falls. A
mobilization ceremony is planned this afternoon in Portland.

WILSONVILLE, Ore. (AP) - A man is hospitalized after a fire that
destroyed a manufactured home in Wilsonville. Tualatin Valley Fire
and Rescue got the call about 1:00 this morning from a passing
motorist reporting flames coming from the windows of the structure.
Firefighters found the man outside and took him to a hospital in
Portland.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Arizona State connected on 16 of 36 attempts from outside the 3-point line last night to beat Oregon for the second time this season, 73-53. The last-place Sun-Devils set season highs in 3-point attempts and makes. Jay-R Strowbridge had 17 for the Ducks who have now lost three-in-a-row. Oregon will be in Tucson tomorrow for an 11:00 game against the Arizona Wildcats… airtime here on Coast Radio Sports will be at 10:30.

The Wildcats earned at least a share of their first Pac-10 title in six years with a 70-59 win over Oregon State on Thursday night. Arizona pulled away from the beavers in the second half to move within a game of its first undefeated home season in 12-years. The Beavers shot well… 50-percent… but had 22 turnovers. They’ll take on Arizona State tomorrow at one… the pregame show on KCFM is at 12:30.

The Lady Vikings open up the first round of the OSAA 4A basketball playoffs tomorrow evening in Madras at 5:00 against the White Buffalos. Airtime on Coast Radio Sports is at 4:45. The winner of tomorrow’s contest will advance to the state ‘final-eight’ in Corvallis beginning next Wednesday.