(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Police recovered 10 stolen vehicles in their latest auto theft mission.  Five drivers tried to elude police and officers pursued three of the vehicles stopping them.   Seven people were arrested and one ghost-gun with a destroyed serial number was recovered.  Portland Police worked with the crowdsourced Facebook group PDX Stolen Cars, Gresham Police, Port of Portland Police, Multnomah and Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies and the District Attorney's Office.

(Washington, D.C.)  --  Oregon's two U-S Senators have introduced a bill to fund research to benefit forests and farming.  The Oregon Research Bounty Act would invest in eleven projects in the state's agriculture and forest products sector including research in wine grape smoke exposure, hemp, tree fruits, soil and sudden oak death.  Several of the programs were created by previous federal legislation.  The newly proposed act would provide permanent funding.

(Portland, OR)  --  Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson is proposing a nearly four-billion-dollar budget for next year.  It increases spending on homelessness by 24 percent.  Twenty-nine-million-dollars would be spent on substance use and recovery.  Eight-hundred-thousand dollars would go toward a partnership with Portland to reduce retail and auto theft.  There will be several opportunities for public comment before final approval June 6th.

(Portland, OR)  --  Oregon is one of the worst states in the nation when it comes to rising rates of auto loan delinquency.  That's according to Wallethub data, which reveals where delinquencies are increasing the most.  The top five states where auto delinquencies have increased the most are Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Georgia and Rhode Island.  In each of these states the average number of loan delinquencies in the fourth quarter of 2023 were above eleven-percent.  To determine the states most delinquent on auto loans WalletHub analyzed data on consumer delinquency rates between Q-3 and Q4 of 2023.

(Salem, OR)  --  Salem Police arrested a suspect on gun and drug possession charges on Tuesday.  35-year-old Daniel Northcutt was located at a hotel.  He initially refused to come out of the room, but eventually surrendered without incident.  A search found a handgun, a sawed-off shotgun, and one-and-a-half ounces of powder and 50 pills believed to be fentanyl.  They also recovered a thousand dollars in cash.  Northcutt was charged with felon in possession of a firearm and possession of controlled substances.

(Vancouver)  --  Clark County Sheriff's detectives have a mystery on their hands, after a resident stumbled across a body at a transient camp on Monday.  The partially decomposed remains were found inside a tent, in a wooded area near Northeast 179th Street and 10th Avenue.  Initial estimates are that the remains had been there between 6 and 12 months.  There is no indication of foul play.  The person's identity will be determined by the Clark County Medical Examiner.

(Portland, OR)  --  Nurses at the Multnomah County Jail have passed a no confidence vote in the director and senior clinical manager.  Nurses say staffing is inadequate and it's a hostile work environment.  Seven inmates died last year and three died the year before.  Nurses claim County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson won't meet with them, but she says she's tried.  She also says they've hired 14 people and rehired 15 people.  The nurses dispute those numbers.  They want the Corrections Health Director and Nursing Supervisor to be removed.

(Portland, OR)  --  Planning is underway for a new park in North Portland that will give access to the Willamette River.  Willamette Cove is located north of St. Johns and was a former industrial site that left a lot of waste that still needs to be cleaned up.  When that's finished, work can begin on the new 27-acre park.  It'll include trails, interpretive signs and access to the river along with parking and restrooms.  Metro wants your opinion on how the park should be developed.  There's a survey on Metro's website that will be available through May 10th.

(Portland, OR)  --  A mother on fentanyl gave birth in a tent in downtown Portland, Oregon across the street from a fire station.  KGW reports the woman had used fentanyl an hour before the birth and had no prenatal care.  Her partner said the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby's neck and the mother was bleeding a lot.  She refused transport to a hospital.  Twelve days later, the baby was taken to the hospital and it's not known what its condition is.  Three years ago, Portland passed illicit- drug decriminalization measures, but lawmakers retreated on those measures after drug use exploded in the city.

(Portland, OR) -- The Oregon DMV has fixed a problem with a computer system that's used to process driver's licenses, ID cards or instruction permits that require photos. The system went down on Monday. The cause was a configuration issue with the program. It was the first time it occurred, and DMV says it was difficult to find the cause. The system is fixed and starting Thursday DMV offices will again be able to offer new driver's licenses, ID cards or instruction permits.

(Portland, OR) -- Healthcare deductibles and copays are on the rise for Oregonians. The Oregon Health Authority reports that between 2015 and 2022 the costs of deductibles and copays increased 17 percent. That doesn't include increases in premiums. In 2022, Oregonians with commercial health insurance paid 13 percent of their total health care costs, while people with Medicare Advantage paid nine percent. At least 28 percent of Oregonians were considered underinsured in 2021, meaning that even though they had health insurance, it was too expensive for them to use.

SALEM, OR -- Voters’ pamphlets for Oregon’s May primary are starting to arrive in mailboxes. State Elections Division Director Molly Woon says her office is getting a lot of calls from people wondering why former President Donald Trump - the only Republican Presidential candidate - does not appear in the pamphlet. 

"Candidate Trump did not submit a voters’ pamphlet statement for the May primary. And, just to make very clear, our office does not have any say in which statements appear in the pamphlet." Woon says, "It doesn’t affect whose name is on the ballot, so his name will clearly be on the ballot, but he is not in the pamphlet." She told reporters this week the Secretary of State's Office only prints what candidates submit, exactly how the statement is submitted. "We did reach out to the Trump campaign about how to submit the statement; we sent them multiple reminders. But, ultimately, we can’t force anyone to participate in the voters’ pamphlet process. But we do hope they'll consider submitting one in the general election in November."

For Democrats, campaigns are underway in several states to encourage voters to choose "uncommitted" instead of President Joe Biden, to protest Biden's Middle East policies. But, "There is no ‘uncommitted’ box on an Oregon ballot," says Woon. Write-in is always an option, but there are very few reasons those are counted. Woon says write-in candidates are considered if no one filed for that race, "The other reason that write-ins would be counted is if the cumulative number of write-in votes is greater than the top vote-getter."

The deadline to register for the May election, update your registration or change your party affiliation is April 30. Woon says, "For folks who make that change, that do a party change or you’re registering for the first time, updating your address close to the deadline of next Tuesday, it is possible they will receive two ballots." She adds, "This is totally normal." That’s because some counties pre-print ballots, so they’re ready to be mailed May first. "For a voter who receives two ballots, the most important thing is for them to know they cannot vote twice. They can only vote once. That second ballot that reflects their change is the ballot they should use. And if they have any questions or they’re not sure which ballot to vote, they should contact their county clerk."

(Salem, OR)  --  Computer problems at the Oregon DMV are preventing field offices from making driver's licenses or IDs.  The problem started on Monday.  If you have a license that's about to expire they can issue a 30 day temporary permit.  DMV can also process all vehicle related transactions.  Replacement and renewal credentials can be done over the DMV's website.

(Salem, OR)  --  Computer problems at the Oregon DMV are preventing field offices from making driver's licenses or IDs.  The problem started on Monday.  If you have a license that's about to expire they can issue a 30 day temporary permit.  DMV can also process all vehicle related transactions.  Replacement and renewal credentials can be done over the DMV's website.

(Portland, OR)  --  A woman who's accused of retail theft in Oregon and Washington has been indicted by a Multnomah County grand jury.  Twenty-four-year-old Janeice Downs was arrested in Washington and is currently lodged in the King County Jail.  In Washington she's accused of stealing over 400-thousand dollars worth of items.  In Multnomah County, she allegedly stole 56-thousand dollars in goods from stores.  She also faces charges in other Oregon counties where she allegedly stole from stores.

(Eugene, OR)  --  The former police officer accused of killing his ex-wife and underage girlfriend in Washington state and then abducting his one-year-old child is dead following a pursuit with Oregon State Police.  Police say Elias Huizar died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound yesterday following a car chase that ended when Huizar crashed into a semi on I-5 south of Albany.  The one-year-old boy in the car was unharmed and placed with child protective services.  Huizar was accused of killing his ex-wife at the school where she worked in Washington's Tri-Cities on Monday, and the body of his underage girlfriend was found near the school shortly after.  Huizar was due in court on Monday on charges of raping a teenage girl.  

(Portland, OR)  --  A suspect has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting last December in Portland.  It happened near Southeast 148th and Taggart Street.  Officers found 41-year-old Michael McFadden injured.  He died at a hospital.  Investigators say it was not a random shooting.  On Monday, Homicide detectives arrested 48-year-old Donald Burgett, the second.  He was booked for Murder in the Second Degree.

(Portland, OR)  --  Willamette Week reports there's so much trash in the water of the Willamette River that the State Department of Environmental Quality is proposing it be regulated under the federal Clean Water Act.  The river would be the third body of water in the nation to be regulated that way.  Only California's Los Angeles River and the Potomac in Maryland are as dirty.  The listing would give the DEQ a tool to pressure riverfront property owners to prevent camping or clean it up.  The DEQ invites public comment until June 17th.

(Salem, OR)  --  The winner of the Oregon Lottery's latest million-dollar raffle had stuck the ticket in a Tupperware container with other tickets and just learned she's the big winner.  52-year-old Leslie Carr took the pile of tickets to a retailer where they were checked, and she found she won.  The news about the billion-dollar Powerball win reminded her about the tickets she had and took them in to be checked.  Carr works as a medical receptionist.  She plans to pay off their mortgage, buy a new truck and vacation in Hawaii.

(Salem, OR)  --  Two state lawmakers hope an informal workgroup can help find solutions to chronic absenteeism in Oregon schools.  Representative Hoa Nguyen, an East Portland Democrat who also serves on a school board, and Senator Suzanne Weber, a Tillamook Republican and former educator, are organizing the group.  Other members include district superintendents, parents, teachers, and other school staff.  They plan to meet monthly to create a legislative proposal for the 2025 session.

(Portland, OR)  --  More than four-thousand people volunteered to clean up Oregon during SOLVE's weeklong Spring Cleanup that ended on Earth Day.  There were projects across Oregon and in Southwest Washington.  Nearly 22-thousand pounds of litter and marine debris were picked up and almost 22-thousand square feet of invasive plants were removed.  The cleanup started in 1986 as the Oregon Spring Beach Cleanup and has expanded to projects across the region.

(Hillsboro, OR) -- Police in Hillsboro are investigating an apparent kidnapping that was captured on a home's doorbell camera. Police say the home's residents heard knocking on their door late Sunday night and checked their doorbell camera. The footage showed a woman standing on the doorstep frantically knocking and ringing the doorbell while a man ran up to her. She then screamed, "please help me!" twice while the man picked her up and dragged her into a white pickup truck. The residents called police, but the suspect and victim were gone. Police say the residents do not know the woman or the man in the video. An investigation is ongoing.

(Portland, OR) -- Oregon is getting over 80-million dollars in federal funding for solar energy projects. The Environmental Protection Agency announced yesterday Oregon will receive more than 86-point-six-million dollars of the total seven-billion dollars going out nationwide. The grants are part of the EPA's Solar for All grant competition. The funding will go towards launching programs to provide rooftop solar energy to lower-income households.

(Government Camp, OR) -- The Timberline Lodge is seeking donations to help it rebuild following a three-alarm fire that caused heavy damage last week. The historic lodge on the slopes of Mt. Hood reopened on Sunday after closing over the weekend due to the fire last Thursday. The lodge was built in 1937 and is also known for the location of where the movie The Shining was set. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing along with damage assessments. Donations can be made on the Timberline Lodge's website of Facebook page.

(Portland, OR) -- An investigation is ongoing after a large warehouse in North Portland caught fire Sunday morning. The 10-thousand square foot building housed an automotive repair shop. There were no windows and the smoke was under heavy pressure when the first Portland Fire & Rescue crews arrived. They cut a hole in to roof to vent the smoke and firefighters knocked down the flames in about 30 minutes. No one was injured.