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NORTHWEST East Oregonian Page 2A Thursday, March 16, 2017 Portland council moves to rein in protests Oregon bill preps for abortion restrictions, health care cuts PORTLAND (AP) — In Oregon’s ultra-liberal city of Portland, where protest is a way of life, the new mayor is taking on the sacrosanct. Mayor Ted Wheeler and the City Council unanimously approved an emer- gency ordinance Wednesday that would allow city leaders to eject disruptive protesters from meetings and ban them from council chambers for up to 60 days in some cases. As they voted, commissioners said months of protests by a small group of people have shut down meetings, disrupted government business, caused stress to city staff, undermined projects and prevented other residents from appearing before the council. “I don’t know why you’ve decided that your voices are more important than anyone else who comes to this chamber to give testimony,” said Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, who was elected to the Council last fall and called the interrup- tions “toxic.” “The fact that I can’t singlehandedly and immediately satisfy your demands does not mean that we are not listening to you.” The American Civil Liberties Union immediately condemned the ordinance as unconstitutional and protesters tried to prevent the vote by shouting down commissioners as they were polled. People in the chamber held up posters with an image of Wheeler’s head that read “Gas the Peaceful, Let the Poor Freeze.” The poster is a dual reference to Portland’s vast numbers of homeless and anger over how the Portland Police Bureau handled almost daily protests after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. In papers filed with the City Council, ACLU-Oregon’s legal director Mat dos Santos said city officials have the right to throw out disruptive individuals on a case-by-case basis, but banning a person from future meetings based on their current behavior is unconstitutional. “People have the right to express unpopular, even offensive ideas,” he wrote. “The government cannot bar communicative acts ... based on the mere By ANDREW SELSKY Associated Press SALEM — Oregon lawmakers, anticipating federal abortion restrictions and health-care cuts, considered a proposed law Wednesday that would ban interference in terminating a pregnancy, and would ensure full reproductive health care coverage. The measure sponsored by a host of lawmakers in one of America’s most liberal states could set a precedent for other states. But some of the witnesses who testified Wednesday before the House Committee On Health Care warned that the legislation could provoke the federal government to cut up to $10.7 billion in funds to Oregon. The bill requires coverage of medical services, drugs and products related to reproductive health, with no co-pay or deductible. The Oregon Health Authority would implement programs to reimburse those costs to those “who would be eligible for medical assistance if not for certain federal require- ments.” The measure, sponsored by three House represen- tatives and 19 senators, prohibits any “public body” from interfering in a woman’s choice to have an abortion, and interfering in any licensed health care provider terminating a pregnancy. The chief executive of Providence Health Plans, which runs eight hospitals and bills itself as Oregon’s largest health care provider, said that as a Catholic-spon- sored organization it is “strongly opposed” to the measure. “Catholic institutions are not permitted to provide, or cooperate with the provision of, abortion services,” Mike Zacchino/The Oregonian via AP, File In this Feb. 22 photo, Mimi German, center, and, Star Stauffer, right, disrupt the Portland City Council meeting to protest Mayor Ted Wheeler’s performance regarding police tactics related to protests, people of color, and homeless issues, in Portland. fear of disruption in reaction to those acts.” The vote came after nearly four hours of a city agenda that was largely made up of members of the public taking the floor to criticize Wheeler. Several commenters preceded their remarks by calling the day “Unconstitutional Wednesday.” “Locally, we’re going to have the war on protesters, backed up now by a City Council ordinance,” said Charles Bridge- Crane Johnson, a local activist. “Shame on all of you. I know you can see our attempts to communicate with you and you ignore them.” Before the vote, Wheeler said the provision allowing people to be banned from the council chambers won’t be used until a federal court rules on its constitu- tionality. “There is a difference of opinion among informed attorneys as to whether this is constitutional or not. It may not be constitutional,” Wheeler said, adding that passing it would allow the court evalua- tion to start. A federal judge in 2015 ruled that the city acted unconstitutionally when it threw out a protester and banned him for 60 days. But the judge left open a window for the city to revise its ordinance and bring it back for review, said Michael Cox, a spokesman for the mayor. The revised ordinance contains an appeals process and specifies the types of behavior that can get a person banned, he said. Weekly or even daily protests are nothing new in Portland, but in recent months even this city has had more than its share — and Wheeler has seemed more willing than previous mayors to push back. That approach, plus a constellation of highly charged events, has created an atmosphere of anger and distrust for some. The city has been panned for its response to its homeless crisis during an especially harsh winter. Four people have died of exposure and a stillborn infant was found with his homeless mother at a street side bus stop earlier this year. Lane County boosts age to 21 for buying, using tobacco EUGENE (AP) — Commissioners in the Oregon county that includes Eugene have increased the legal age for using and buying tobacco products to 21. Lane County is the first county in Oregon to raise the age limit from 18. The ordi- nance was approved Tuesday by a 3-2 vote and applies countywide starting April 13, the Register-Guard reported. The ordinance is the latest in the Tobacco 21 campaign, an effort to pass similar local and state laws around the country. California and Hawaii have statewide laws setting the minimum age for tobacco purchase or use at 21, and Oregon lawmakers are considering doing the same. “This will allow the product to get out of the school system,” said Commissioner Faye Stewart, who voted in favor of the change. Violators of the new rule may be fined up to $50. Commissioners Jay Bozievich supports a higher minimum age but voted against the ordinance. He said he was swayed by the thought of active military members returning to Lane County to learn it is illegal for them to buy cigarettes. He had called for a grand- father clause that would allow anyone who turned age 18 before April 13 to be exempt from the new age limit. “You don’t criminalize an addiction,” Bozievich said. “You treat it.” During public comment, Tamara Miller of Eugene argued against such a clause. “If we are going to protect kids in this community, why not protect them all now?” she said. Commissioner Sid Leiken cast the other “no” vote, saying the legal age should be uniform across Oregon, and legislators are already pursuing the matter in Salem. Didn’t receive your paper? Call 1-800-522-0255 before noon Tuesday through Friday or before 10 a.m. Saturday for same-day redelivery — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. 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Single copy price: $1 Tuesday through Friday, $1.50 Saturday Copyright © 2017, EO Media Group REGIONAL CITIES Forecast TODAY FRIDAY Partly sunny and cooler A little afternoon rain 52° 36° 53° 46° SATURDAY Cloudy with a touch of rain SUNDAY Partly sunny and cooler PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 59° 32° 49° 32° 48° 36° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 53° 43° 57° 34° PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 63° 55° 78° (1901) 49° 35° 1° (1906) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date 0.06" 0.93" 0.61" 4.85" 3.34" 3.12" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH Yesterday Normals Records LOW 62° 58° 77° (1940) 47° 34° 15° (1944) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date 0.01" 0.46" 0.47" 3.92" 2.12" 2.71" SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today Last New Mar 20 Mar 27 7:06 a.m. 7:02 p.m. 11:25 p.m. 9:19 a.m. First Full Apr 3 52° 31° 52° 37° Seattle 52/38 ALMANAC Yesterday Normals Records 61° 31° Apr 10 Today MONDAY Times of clouds and sun Spokane Wenatchee 47/28 51/31 Tacoma Moses 53/34 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 55/32 46/33 50/39 52/34 57/30 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 54/38 55/37 Lewiston 58/34 Astoria 55/34 53/37 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 55/37 Pendleton 49/27 The Dalles 57/34 52/36 60/35 La Grande Salem 52/33 56/37 Albany Corvallis 55/35 56/38 John Day 53/38 Ontario Eugene Bend 60/35 56/38 52/32 Caldwell Burns 60/38 52/28 Astoria Baker City Bend Brookings Burns Enterprise Eugene Heppner Hermiston John Day Klamath Falls La Grande Meacham Medford Newport North Bend Ontario Pasco Pendleton Portland Redmond Salem Spokane Ukiah Vancouver Walla Walla Yakima Hi 53 55 52 53 52 49 56 52 57 53 58 52 48 60 51 54 60 57 52 55 54 56 47 48 55 55 57 Lo 37 28 32 42 28 27 38 32 34 38 34 33 29 41 39 40 35 33 36 37 27 37 28 29 38 37 30 W pc pc pc pc pc c pc pc s pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc s pc pc pc pc pc pc pc s s Hi 49 60 61 56 59 54 53 54 53 64 63 58 57 63 50 57 65 52 53 51 60 51 50 57 51 53 52 Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Lo 38 66 42 42 48 29 44 42 29 68 42 W pc c pc pc pc sf s s s t s Lo 42 44 47 50 38 47 47 43 43 54 46 50 49 49 46 49 45 43 46 45 45 47 42 46 47 46 39 W r pc r r pc pc r r r pc c pc pc r r r pc r r r r r r r r r c Fri. Hi 63 73 60 53 71 43 55 65 57 74 53 (in mph) Klamath Falls 58/34 Boardman Pendleton Lo 40 68 49 49 48 30 43 47 32 70 42 W pc c pc sh pc pc pc s pc t pc REGIONAL FORECAST Coastal Oregon: Some sun today; a shower in spots across the north. Mainly cloudy tonight. Eastern and Central Oregon: Times of clouds and sun today; a passing shower in the south. Western Washington: Clouds and sun today. A brief shower or two; only in the morning across the south. Eastern Washington: A bit of ice in the mountains today; sunny in central sections. Partly sunny elsewhere. Cascades: A blend of sun and clouds today. Partly cloudy tonight. A little rain tomorrow. Northern California: Some sun today; cloudy in the morning, then some sun in central parts in the afternoon. Today Friday WSW 7-14 W 7-14 NNE 4-8 N 4-8 UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. 0 2 4 4 2 NEWS • To submit news tips and press releases: • call 541-966-0818 • fax 541-276-8314 • email news@eastoregonian.com • To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News: email community@eastoregonian.com or call Tammy Malgesini at 541-564-4539 or Renee Struthers in at 541-966-0818. • To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries: email rstruthers@eastoregonian.com or visit www.eastoregonian. com/community/announcements • To submit a Letter to the Editor: mail to Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com. • To submit sports or outdoors information or tips: 541-966-0838 • sports@eastoregonian.com COMMERCIAL PRINTING Production Manager: Mike Jensen 541-215-0824 • mjensen@eastoregonian.com Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. WORLD CITIES Hi 64 73 55 56 69 41 66 64 54 79 53 Classified & Legal Advertising 1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678 classifieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Fri. WINDS Medford 60/41 Corrections The East Oregonian works hard to be accurate and sincerely regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in the paper, please call 541-966-0818. Advertising Director: Marissa Williams 541-278-2669 • addirector@eastoregonian.com Advertising Services: Laura Jensen 541-966-0806 • ljensen@eastoregonian.com Multimedia Consultants: • Terri Briggs 541-278-2678 • tbriggs@eastoregonian.com • Danni Halladay 541-278-2683 • dhalladay@eastoregonian.com • Jeanne Jewett 541-564-4531 • jjewett@eastoregonian.com • Chris McClellan 541-966-0827 • cmcclellan@eastoregonian.com • Stephanie Newsom 541-278-2687 • snewsom@eastoregonian.com • Dayle Stinson 541-278-2670 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com • Audra Workman 541-564-4538 • aworkman@eastoregonian.com Subscriber services: For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255 Michael Cotton said. “This would be considered material cooperation and is a red line for Providence Health Plans that cannot be crossed.” However the bill allows a religious employer to use a health benefit plan that does not include coverage for contraceptives or abortion procedures that violate the employer’s religious tenets. Also, if the state Department of Consumer and Business Services concludes that enforcement may threaten federal funds, the department may grant a minimal exemption to the requirements “to ensure the continued receipt of federal funds.” House Speaker Tina Kotek told reporters that the measure makes sure that all reproductive health care is affordable and accessible. An editorial by The New York Times, entered as testi- mony by Rep. Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, one of the bill’s sponsors, said the bill may serve as a model for other states. The opinion piece by the newspaper’s editorial board said the measure is “a powerful defense, at the state level, of necessary reproductive health care.” If the bill becomes law, a person may not be excluded for “sexual orientation, gender identity” and other reasons. Basic Rights Oregon, which promotes equality for LGBTQ citi- zens, said “this legislation is a necessary step in the right direction to ensure that all transgender Oregonians have access to lifesaving care.” The Oregon Nurses Association said that with the Affordable Care Act facing repeal, “hundreds of thousands of Oregonians could lose no-cost-share coverage for essential repro- ductive health services. 0 8 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m. 0-2, Low 3-5, Moderate 6-7, High; 8-10, Very High; 11+, Extreme The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ num- ber, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017 -10s -0s showers t-storms 0s 10s rain 20s flurries 30s 40s snow ice 50s 60s cold front 70s 80s 90s 100s warm front stationary front 110s high low National Summary: Frigid air and snow showers will linger in the Northeast today. As spot- ty rain and ice break out over the northern Plains, valley rain and mountain snow showers will push inland over the Northwest. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 95° in Palm Springs, Calif. Low -11° in Windom, Minn. NATIONAL CITIES Today Albuquerque Atlanta Atlantic City Baltimore Billings Birmingham Boise Boston Charleston, SC Charleston, WV Chicago Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit El Paso Fairbanks Fargo Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Kansas City Las Vegas Little Rock Los Angeles Hi 78 53 37 39 57 54 59 34 54 42 39 36 74 74 39 86 7 43 84 72 42 58 61 86 53 82 Lo 47 36 26 21 31 39 41 19 32 21 32 23 63 39 22 55 -19 31 69 63 31 31 48 63 47 57 W s s pc pc pc s sh pc s pc s pc c c pc s pc i pc c s s c pc c pc Fri. Hi 77 66 44 46 52 66 69 37 64 47 49 41 81 67 43 86 8 40 83 80 51 67 67 88 69 84 Lo 47 53 37 35 37 55 50 24 47 44 32 36 64 41 35 53 -13 20 68 64 35 42 34 63 55 57 Today W s pc s s pc pc pc s s sh sh sn c pc sn s s pc pc pc sh s pc pc c pc Louisville Memphis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York City Oklahoma City Omaha Philadelphia Phoenix Portland, ME Providence Raleigh Rapid City Reno Sacramento St. Louis Salt Lake City San Diego San Francisco Seattle Tucson Washington, DC Wichita Hi 48 52 71 39 40 52 65 35 73 62 36 92 32 34 47 68 70 72 50 68 72 66 52 90 40 72 Lo 36 46 56 31 32 37 53 24 58 39 22 64 11 19 25 31 41 45 43 46 57 48 38 59 27 49 W s c s s c pc s pc c c pc s pc pc s pc pc pc c pc pc c sh s pc pc Fri. Hi 55 67 73 46 47 60 74 40 75 62 42 92 33 39 58 54 75 75 64 72 72 68 50 92 50 72 Lo 43 55 61 31 26 50 56 29 50 29 34 64 12 22 47 26 48 52 38 53 57 52 44 60 39 38 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. W sh c pc sn c c pc s c c s s s s s pc pc pc t pc pc pc r s s c