Chance of even split in Oregon Senate gets slimmer
The chance that both of Oregon's legislative chambers will be split evenly between the two parties is diminishing as the final votes in last week’s General Election continue to be counted. Campaign strategists conceded Tuesday it would take marked changes in the vote trends to bring the candidates trailing in two close Senate races to victory. Both camps say they want to make sure the counting has gone properly. Final numbers, or at least close to final, are expected by Friday… the deadline for handling challenged ballots. The Republican surge in this year's campaigns has left the House in a 30-30 tie. Absent a late shift in the vote totals or a re-count that turns the results around, the Democrats would remain in control of the Senate by a reduced margin of 16-14.
Another large shaker occurred off the Oregon Coast this week. The U.S. Geologic Survey reports a 4.2 magnitude quake shook the ocean floor 100 miles west of Coos Bay just before eight pm last night. The horizontal quake did not produce a warning, nor a tsunami.
Most state offices will be closed the day after Thanksgiving as part of a cost-cutting move ordered by the Governor last year. To address budget shortfalls predicted in 2009 Governor Kulongoski ordered a total of ten unpaid days off and reductions in salaries of most state employees. Seven of those ‘furlough’ days have been taken. The eighth will be on November 26 when the majority of non-essential state services will be unavailable.
All banks, financial institutions, government offices: local, county, state and federal, will be closed tomorrow in observance of Veterans Day. Schools in grades K-through-12 will have the day off, as will higher education. Many schools will also have Friday off, making it a four day weekend for students.
Retail gas prices are inching up in many markets around the country because of crude oil price increases. According to Triple-A of Oregon crude is nearing a two-year high at $87 a barrel. The national average price for regular unleaded, as measured by AAA, is up six cents this week to $2.86. Oregon’s statewide average price is holding steady at $2.97. In Florence, mostly in response to a ‘rebranding’ of one station, the average price went down two-cents this week and is at $2.82.
Here is the latest Oregon news from The Associated Press
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Convicted child killer Elizabeth Diane Downs
will have a parole hearing Dec. 10. She was convicted in 1984 of
one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder in the
shooting of her three young children on a rural road at
Springfield.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Gov.-elect John Kitzhaber holds a news
conference today to discuss his transition and what needs to be
accomplished between now and his inauguration. An aide says fellow
Democrat Tom Imeson will be involved with the transition but she
declined to offer details.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A 23-month-old boy has died, a day after
he was struck by a car in Portland. The Oregonian reports Seamus
DuBarry was hit on Monday while riding in a stroller. The boy's
father and another man were injured. Police identify the driver as
75-year-old Thomas Van Wickle.
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin says he
won't seek another term as the No. 2 Democrat in Oregon's Senate.
Instead, Devlin says he'll ask to be named Senate co-chair of the
Ways and Means committee, which works on budget issues.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - A Bend real estate agent and her police
captain husband have pleaded not guilty to federal fraud and
conspiracy charges. Tami Sawyer and Bend Police Capt. Kevin Sawyer
are accused of misusing millions of investor dollars to finance
their personal expenses.
MONMOUTH, Ore. (AP) - The passenger in a car was killed in a
collision with a horse on Highway 99W south of Monmouth.
Oregon State Police say the horse had wandered into traffic
Tuesday. The crash smashed the passenger side of the car, killing
30-year-old Jeffrey Matthew Collins of Dallas, Ore.
KGW reports the driver was not seriously injured.
The horse was killed.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points and 17
rebounds and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Detroit Pistons
100-78 last night. Portland's three-time All-Star Brandon Roy
raised eyebrows when he left for an extended period in the first
half and iced his right leg. He returned later in the game.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Oregon backup quarterback Nate Costa will
need season-ending surgery for a right knee injury suffered in
Saturday's victory over Washington. Costa was hurt when he bobbled
a field goal attempt -- he also serves as the holder -- and was
tackled as he tried to scramble to the sideline.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Prep Football:
Undefeated Far West League football champion Siuslaw Vikings have been preparing this week for the opening round of the OSAA 4A playoffs. Siuslaw will kick off against the La Grande Tigers Friday evening. The Tigers, one-and-two in Greater Oregon League play and four-and-five overall, come into the playoffs as the bottom seeded team… the Vikings are seeded number on. That game will be Friday night.
(through noon only)
Season ticket holders during the regular season can reserve their regular seats for the game this afternoon between two and four at the high school. Adults are $6… students $4.
College Basketball:
The Dana Altman era of Oregon Duck Basketball will officially get under way this Friday night when Oregon hosts the BTI Invitational at Mac Court in Eugene. The Ducks will face North Dakota State Friday evening, Denver Saturday and then wrap up against UC Santa Barbara on Sunday. That game will air on Coast Radio Sports beginning at six pm.
Oregon State Basketball begins season number three under Craig Robinson Sunday at home against UT-Arlington. Tipoff at 1:30… the pregame show on KCFM begins at one Sunday afternoon.
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