Portland Council Approves Its Terms for Moda Center Remodel

Posted Today At 9:59am by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- Portland City Council is approving a non-binding term sheet that outlines the framework for an agreement with the Trail Blazers to remodel the Moda Center. The vote was eight-to-four. It would require the Blazers to stay in Portland for 20 years and play all home games at the Moda Center. It would also require union labor agreements, community benefit commitments and protections on public funding. It's a starting point for negotiations with the Trail Blazers.

Oregon State Hospital Superintendent Out

Posted Today At 9:58am by 24/7 News Source

(Salem, OR) -- Oregon State Hospital, which houses the state's most severe mental health patients, including those who committed crimes, is undergoing another leadership change. The Oregon Health Authority announced yesterday it will not move forward with Superintendent Sean Murphy's trial-service period. It didn't give a reason why. Murphy was appointed in June. Jim Diegel, the previous interim superintendent, will return to the position until a permanent superintendent is hired.

Flock Cameras Vandalized

Posted Today At 9:58am by 24/7 News Source

(Grants Pass, OR) -- The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is canceling its contract with Flock. The company makes automated license plate reading cameras. Vandals recently damaged the 10 Flock cameras in the county. There have also been public concerns over the potential infringement of Fourth Amendment rights. Officials say that while the technology has been beneficial in solving crime, it's clear the county is not willing to accept its use. While the cameras are now off, it's unclear when Flock will remove the equipment.

Flags At Half-Staff Tomorrow For Bulldozer Slain Fighting Fire

Posted Today At 9:57am by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- Flags will fly at half-staff across Oregon tomorrow to honor a bulldozer killed while fighting the Wrights Spring Fire in Klamath County. Governor Tina Kotek ordered flags be flown at half-staff on state buildings on August 14th to honor Jason Ensign. He was killed August 6th fighting the Wrights Spring Fire in Klamath County. The 47-years-old was operating a bulldozer as a contractor for Green Diamond Resource Company when fire conditions changed rapidly and blocked his escape route. He was found dead inside the cab of the bulldozer. Kotek said that Ensign's death is a stark reminder of the dangers first responders bravely confront every day when protecting communities.

Mt. Hood Meadows Ends Summer Operations Early

Posted Today At 9:56am by 24/7 News Source

(Mt. Hood, OR) -- Mt. Hood Meadows is ending its summer operations early because of the Grasshopper Fire. The ski resort has been under a Level 3 Go Now evacuation since August 4th. Much of the east side of the Mt Hood National Forest remains closed, in addition to intermittent closures of Highway 35, which leads to Meadows. General Manager Greg Pack says the resort's priority now is supporting the wildfire response. A spike camp for 300 firefighters is set up in the Meadows parking lot.

Oregon Wildfire Update

Posted Today At 9:56am by 24/7 News Source

(Salem, OR) -- Nearly two-and-a-half-million acres have burned in Oregon and almost 12-thousand firefighters are working to contain the blazes. There are 30 large fires burning in the state. Oregon Department of Forestry forecasters predict monsoonal moisture in some parts of eastern Oregon through Sunday. Some storms will only have dry lightning, which could spark new fires and create strong winds.

Grasshopper Fire Destroys Homes In Wasco County

Posted Today At 9:55am by 24/7 News Source

(The Dalles, OR) -- Half a dozen homes are destroyed along with 15 outbuildings as the Grasshopper Fire continues to grow in Wasco County. The County Sheriff's Office says six homes and 15 outbuildings have been destroyed so far and that number may rise. Winds caused the fire to expand quickly on Tuesday. The Sheriff's Office says they will do damage assessment when it's safe to go into the fire zone. Their top priority is the safety of residents, firefighters and emergency personnel.

Grasshopper Fire Grows

Posted Today At 9:55am by KBND News

(Wamic, OR) -- Firefighters continue their battle to contain the rapidly growing Grasshopper Fire east of Mt. Hood. Officials say the blaze grew by over six-thousand acres on Tuesday. It's now burned 83-thousand acres and is 20 percent contained. Winds caused the fire to remain active. More than 18-hundred firefighters are working to build lines around the fire. The Oregon State Fire Marshal sent two more task forces of local firefighters to protect homes and other structures. Three management teams, including one from Australia and New Zealand, are coordinating the operations.

Upgrades Planned For Pride Plaza

Posted Today At 9:54am by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- The City of Portland is starting construction on two projects that will upgrade street space for walking, gathering and celebrating Darcelle 15 and the LGBTQ+ community. Darcelle Promenade will get new artwork and lighting. It celebrates the legendary Portland performer who ran Darcelle 15 Showcase. The Promenade will create a visual connection between SW Harvey Milk Street, the Flock Food Hall at SW Ninth Avenue and Alder Street.

Strong Winds Explode Grasshopper Fire, Forcing New Evacuations

Posted Yesterday At 9:57am by 24/7 News Source

(Wamic, OR) -- Residents around the city of Dufur in Wasco County are fleeing their homes after strong winds caused the Grasshopper Fire to grow rapidly yesterday. Fire officials say the blaze has grown by about 15-thousand acres since Monday morning. Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation orders were expanded last night to cover all areas immediately west of Highway 197 around Dufur. The town of Dufur was placed under a Level 2 "Get Ready" evacuation notice around 10:15 last night. Containment of the fire fell from 23-percent to 20-percent yesterday.

Violent Crime Spree Sentence

Posted Yesterday At 9:56am by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- A Multnomah County judge has sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for a violent crime spree. Last year, Jeffrey Boone robbed a Subway shop, putting a gun to the neck of an employee. He went to a nearby home and forced a resident to hand over car keys. He fled in the vehicle, crashed into a car and tried to steal that driver's keys, but she had them in her pocket when she ran. Boone hit another woman in the head with his gun and stole her car. He crashed in Marion County and was arrested by an Oregon State Police trooper. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges.

Rose Quarter I-5 Shutdown Coming In September

Posted Yesterday At 9:56am by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- Construction is set to create major traffic delays in the Portland area in about a month. I-5 southbound will close at I-405 in the Rose Quarter starting September 11th to allow crews to make major repairs to the freeway surface. The closure will last up to five weeks. All I-5 southbound traffic will be directed onto I-405, which will cause delays, especially during the commute. ODOT says they evaluated options and a five week closure was the quickest and most efficient way to do it.

Anti-Gun Measure Brings More Guns

Posted Yesterday At 9:55am by 24/7 News Source

(Corvallis, OR) -- Passage of Ballot Measure 114 three years ago in Oregon has resulted in more guns being purchasedn the state. The measure remains tied up in court, and if it does pass the legal challenges it won't take effect until 2028. Research at Oregon State University found 63-thousand additional background checks to buy guns were made after the measure passed. The new law could require expensive training and a permit to buy a gun.

Measles Exposure Location

Posted Yesterday At 9:55am by 24/7 News Source

(Gresham, OR) -- Health officials are warning of a new measles exposure location in the Portland area. The Oregon Health Authority reports someone with measles was at the Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center emergency department waiting room on Saturday, August 8th from around 9:15 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. Anyone who was in the waiting room those hours should watch for symptoms of measles.

Oregon Wildfire Update

Posted Yesterday At 9:54am by 24/7 News Source

(Salem, OR) -- As Oregon wildfires grow in size, so does this record setting year for fires. The Big Grass Fire, south of Jordan Valley, could become the largest ever fire in modern times. It's burned nearly 554-thousand acres. It's 41 percent contained. More help is coming to the Rowe Creek Complex, now at 371-thousand acres. A task force from Lincoln, Tillamook and Yamhill counties deployed over the weekend. Another task force from Lincoln, Linn and Tillamook counties just deployed to the 15-thousand-acre East Evans Creek Fire, in southern Oregon.

Storm Drain Death

Posted Yesterday At 9:54am by 24/7 News Source

(Eugene, OR) -- New details are coming to light regarding a man who was found dead inside a storm drain in Eugene. Detectives with the Lane County Sheriff's Office say 55-year-old Bradley Treloggen crawled into the drain on his own before being found dead last Thursday. Video footage of the intersection shows Treloggen was alone when he opened the grate and entered the drain. Once inside, he couldn't get out. The Lane County Medical Examiner is still investigating his cause of death.

Man Dies In Fall From Top Of Silver Falls

Posted Yesterday At 9:54am by 24/7 News Source

(Silverton, OR) -- A Kentucky man is dead after falling nearly 200 feet from the top of Silver Falls while posing for a photo. Oregon State Police say 20-year-old Zachary Mertens was at the top of the falls in an area closed to the public when he slipped and fell while posing for photos. He fell about 177 feet to the water and died. His body was recovered by the Marion County Search and Rescue team.

Family Killed In Fire

Posted Tuesday Morning by 24/7 News Source

(Eagle Point, OR) -- A mother and her three children were killed in a southern Oregon fire. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office says the family was in a fifth-wheel trailer in Eagle Point when the fire started. One family member escaped with minor injuries. Flames engulfed the trailer before fire crews arrived. Three children, all under the age of ten, died with their mother. Investigators believe the fire was a tragic, non-criminal accident, although the cause remains under investigation.

Sulfuric Acid Leaks From Tanker Truck In Portland

Posted Tuesday Morning by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- No injuries are reported after a tanker truck carrying five-thousand gallons of sulfuric acid started leaking at Hayden Island in North Portland. It happened yesterday. Portland Fire & Rescue had two truck loads of sand delivered to keep the chemical from going into nearby storm drains. Around 100 gallons of the chemical made it to a storm drain before the sand arrived. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Portland Bureau of Environment Services were notified.

Portland Supports Newport's Legal Expenses

Posted Tuesday Morning by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- The City of Newport is getting 20-thousand-dollars from Portland to help with legal costs to stop possible construction of an ICE detention facility. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security withdrew plans for the facility, but never said it wouldn't be built some time in the future. About two months ago, Newport's mayor asked other cities to help with costs to fight the plans. Legal expenses top 300-thousand-dollars. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson says Newport's fight is Oregon's fight, because it would affect people in communities across the state.

Bill To Block Advance Access To Trump Social Media Posts

Posted Tuesday Morning by 24/7 News Source

(Washington, D.C.) -- Two Oregon congresswomen are sponsoring a bill to stop President Trump from selling access to his social media posts before he makes them public. On August first, President Trump began charging 100-thousand dollars a month for the privilege of reading his posts early. Oregon Congresswomen Andrea Salinas and Janelle Bynum say that access could impact financial markets. Under the Stop Corrupt Trading Act, the President, Vice President and their families would not be allowed to sell non-public information for financial benefit.

Centennial Mills Building In Danger Of Collapse

Posted Tuesday Morning by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- The Centennial Mills building in Northwest Portland is a concrete skeleton with a huge metal water tank on top after last week's massive fire. It's in danger of collapse. The city doesn't want Union Pacific to run freight trains on the nearby tracks out of concern the vibrations could cause the building to come down. UP parked a buffer train filled with rocks to protect other trains, if there is a collapse. The city is setting up a camera to monitor changes in the building that might indicate it's closer to falling. Demolition could happen as soon as Friday.

Lebanon Brush Fire

Posted Tuesday Morning by 24/7 News Source

(Lebanon, OR) -- A mobile home fire turned into a brush fire near Lebanon and forced the evacuation of several homes. The flames were quickly burning up a hillside toward the homes when deputies from the Linn County Sheriff's Office evacuated 18 people. Firefighters got the fire under control after about 20 minutes. The only building lost was the original double-wide that started the fire. The cause is under investigation.

Murder Suspect Arrested

Posted Tuesday Morning by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- Portland Police arrested a man in connection with a fatal shooting last week. Police say two vehicles were at Macadam Avenue and Bancroft Street when shots were fired. 41-year-old Anwar Osman, who was driving one of the cars, was killed. His car crashed into a building. 42-year-old Mahmoud Said Ali was arrested and booked for murder.

FEMA Helps Fund More Oregon Fires

Posted Tuesday Morning by 24/7 News Source

(Salem, OR) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency will help pay for the costs of fighting two more Oregon wildfires. FEMA will pay up to 75 percent of the cost to fight the 50-thousand-acre Hagen Fire in Umatilla and Union counties, and the 47-thousand-acre Wrights Spring Fire in Klamath County. These are the sixth and seventh Fire Management Assistance grants approved for Oregon this fire season.