3A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2015
Brown: Oregon
will continue taking
Syrian refugees
States would accept 10,000
Syrian refugees in the next
year
Only one Syrian refugee
to date has settled in Ore-
gon, according to the state
Department of Human Ser-
vices.
Republicans,
includ-
ing state Rep. Bill Post,
R-Keizer, had pressed the
Democratic governor for
an answer. Brown sent a
letter and a FAQ sheet to
Post Tuesday outlining her
position.
“I am glad that she shares
my concern for the welfare
of those being persecuted
for their religious beliefs
and that the United States
and Oregon can be a safe
place for them,” Post said
in a statement. “I also hope
that she will regularly confer
with federal authorities as
well as other governors on
the implementation of the
screening process.
“My biggest concern is
for the safety of Oregonians
and it appears that this will
be handled by the Depart-
ment of Human Services. I
hope that DHS will report
to the Legislature and the
people of Oregon on their
vetting process as we move
forward in this situation.”
The Capital Bureau is a
collaboration between EO
Media Group and Pamplin
Media Group.
By PARIS ACHEN
Capital Bureau
SALEM — Gov. Kate
Brown announced on Twit-
ter Tuesday that Oregon will
continue to accept refugees
after a suspect in the Paris
attacks was found to possess
a Syrian passport.
The governor had de-
clined to comment Monday
on her position on accepting
refugees from the war-torn
Middle Eastern country,
where ISIS has taken a foot-
hold.
“Clearly, Oregon will
continue to accept refugees,”
Brown tweeted. “They seek
safe haven, and we will con-
tinue to open the doors of
opportunity to them. The
words of the Statue of Lib-
erty apply in Oregon just as
they do in every other state.”
Brown’s position con-
trasts with that of at least 27
governors, mostly Republi-
cans, who say they want to
block more Syrian refugees
from entering their states,
according to several media
reports.
Governors have no au-
thority to reject Syrian
refugees but could seek to
reduce state services provid-
ed to the newcomers. The
federal government decides
immigration policy. Presi-
dent Barack Obama recently
announced that the United
State audit reveals problems
complying with record requests
By PARIS ACHEN
Capital Bureau
SALEM — Oregon gov-
ernment agencies may be
jeopardizing public trust
with slow responses to more
complex public records re-
quests and inconsistent use
of exemptions, according to
a state audit report released
Tuesday.
The audit is part of
the fallout from an influ-
ence-peddling scandal in-
volving former Gov. John
Kitzhaber and first lady Cyl-
via Hayes.
Auditors recommended
that the state create an om-
budsman position to “serve
as an intermediary between
the public and state agen-
cies on complex records re-
quests.”
“The public and the press
have a right to see how their
government operates to
serve Oregonians,” Secre-
tary of State Jeanne Atkins
said in a statement. “This
audit demonstrates that state
agencies need to improve
consistency and develop
strategies to better respond
to public records requests of
all sizes. We must improve
the public’s trust in Oregon
government.”
Auditors scrutinized re-
quests made to nine state
agencies to determine how
agencies responded and how
records are organized and
stored.
Seaside man pleads not guilty to police chase
By KYLE SPURR
The Daily Astorian
The Seaside man who led
police on a wild chase through
a Cullaby Lake neighborhood
in October pleaded not guilty
Tuesday to a slew of felony
and misdemeanor charges.
Donald Allen Sanders, 34,
is accused of eluding police,
crashing into a yard, breaking
into a deputy sheriff’s home
and assaulting the deputy’s
wife before being arrested.
He is being charged with
15 counts. The charges include
¿rst-degree burglary, ¿rst-
and second-degree assault,
fourth-degree felony assault,
attempt to elude, attempted
unauthorized use of a vehicle,
reckless driving, unlawful entry
into a motor vehicle, reckless-
ly endangering another person,
¿rst-degree criminal mischief
and driving under the inÀuence
of intoxicants.
Sanders appeared in Clat-
sop County Circuit Court
via video link from Clatsop
County Jail Tuesday for the turned to his 1995 Nissan
arraignment hearing. He Maxima.
was originally arraigned last
Warrenton Police Chief
month, but the case went back Matt Workman responded to
to the grand jury, where more the Cullaby Lake area and
charges were added.
found Sanders driving toward
The
incident
him.
in October start-
Sanders lost con-
ed when Clatsop
trol, crashed near
County Sheriff’s
the deputy sheriff’s
Of¿ce Chief Dep-
house and ran on
uty Paul Williams
foot. He broke into
witnessed Sanders
the house on the
speeding past him
33000 block of Cul-
in Seaside, heading
laby Lake Lane and
northbound on U.S.
assaulted the depu-
Highway 101.
ty’s wife by slam-
Donald
Sanders contin-
ming her into the
Sanders
ued to the Cullaby
corner of a wall, the
Lake neighborhood.
indictment states.
He drove through barricades
The deputy sheriff grabbed
and went over lawns and down Sanders and Workman arrest-
walking paths. He caused ed him.
more than $1,000 in damage to
Charges against Sanders
county property, according to have aggravating factors since
the indictment.
the deputy’s wife was not pro-
He then stopped and tried voking him, and he allegedly
to steal a Clatsop County committed the assault in front
Parks Department pickup of the woman’s child.
truck, but the keys were not
A trial is scheduled to be-
inside the vehicle so he re- gin next week.
GO ONLINE
www.dailyastorian.com
Complicated
requests took time
policies on how those tech-
nologies may be used “in the
context of public records and
how to retain the data,” audi-
tors wrote.
lation she proposed during
this year’s legislative ses-
sion. The legislation was a
response to delays in the re-
lease of public records relat-
ed to an influence-peddling
scandal involving Kitzhaber
and Hayes. Reporters waited
months for the state to re-
lease documents concerning
the overlap between Hayes’
public-policy role and pri-
vate consulting contracts.
The legislation required
the Secretary of State’s Of¿ce
to audit agencies’ handling of
public-records requests.
During her State of
the State address in April,
Brown said the audit was
necessary before lawmakers
could consider “meaningful
changes to improve our pub-
lic records law.”
Lawmakers are meeting
in Salem this week to dis-
cuss possible bills for the
next legislative session, but
Democrats may wait until
2017 to propose any signif-
icant changes to Oregon’s
public records law.
The Capital Bureau is a
collaboration between EO
Media Group and Pamplin
Media Group.
Agencies furnished re-
cords relatively quickly —
in two weeks or less — for
routine requests, defined as
Exemptions are
commonly requested infor-
legally complex
mation that is easy to find,
Navigating the state’s va-
according to the audit.
More complicated re- riety of exemptions to dis-
quests could take more than closure also slowed respons-
265 days, result in high and es to requests. Agency staff
inconsistent fees and lead to may have to consult with
“the perception that agen- legal counsel to determine
cies are using these tactics whether exemptions apply,
according to the
to block the release
audit.
of public infor-
Auditors said an
mation,” auditors
ombudsman could
wrote.
help mediate dis-
Agencies charge
putes between agen-
different fees for
cies and the public
furnishing public
over public-records
records. Copies can
requests.
Wash-
range from 5 cents
ington state has an
to 25 cents per
open government
page. Staff time can
cost between $15 Secretary of State ombudsman, who
is appointed by the
and $40 per hour.
Jeanne Atkins
attorney general.
The Department
of Human Services, for in- The ombudsman assists the
stance, charged a requester public in making requests
$742 to provide an entire file and agencies in complying
last year relating to the li- with the state public disclo-
censing of a nursing facility sure law.
Gov. Kate Brown re-
and took nearly four months
quested the audit in legis-
to complete the request.
Agencies struggle with
fulfilling broad requests for
“any and all records” and
requests for social media
posts, text and instant mes-
Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber
sages or public records from
N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A
a personal email account.
Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500
Few of the agencies have
W A NTED
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Please read this notice carefully as your legal rights are affected whether you act or do not act.
PARA UNA NOTIFICACION EN ESPANOL, LLAMAR O VISITAR NUESTRO WEBSITE.
The Oregon Attorney General filed a lawsuit CV 10-933 MO. The letter must include the case
against certain manufacturers of liquid crystal name, your name, address, telephone number, and
display (“LCD”) flat panels. The lawsuit alleges signature. A letter on behalf of a political subdivision
that LCD manufacturers illegally agreed upon the must include the entity’s name, and the name, title,
pricing of LCD-flat panels. The Attorney General and signature of the person authorized to sign on
filed this action in her law enforcement capacity and behalf of the entity. The letter must be postmarked
on behalf of the State of Oregon, Oregon natural on or before January 15, 2016, and mailed to:
persons, and all political subdivisions in Oregon and Oregon LCD Settlement, c/o GCG, P.O. Box 10240,
sought equitable relief, restitution, civil penalties and Dublin, Ohio 43017-5740.
injunctive relief.
File a claim: Only Oregon natural persons
Oregon has settled with all defendants for a total need to file a claim to obtain benefits in this
of $21,505,000 (“Settlement Fund”). The State of settlement. Claims can be completed online or by
Oregon, political subdivisions and Oregon natural mailing the claim form, available for download at
persons may be entitled to a portion of the Settlement www.OregonScreenSettlement.com,
to
the
Fund. “Political subdivisions” includes all Oregon Settlement Administrator. A deadline for filing claims
counties, cities, municipalities, public universities, has not yet been established. The State of Oregon
school districts, special districts, and all other local and political subdivisions that are owed money
government entities. “Oregon natural persons” under the distribution plan will be contacted and sent
means a human, not a business.
payment without any further action on their part.
Do nothing: If you or the political subdivision
tŚŽ/Ɛ/ŶĐůƵĚĞĚ͍
The State of Oregon and all Oregon political you represent do nothing, you will continue to be
subdivisions or natural persons who indirectly represented by the Oregon Attorney General. You
purchased at any time during the years 2002 to 2006, will be bound by the terms of this settlement, and
for their own use and not for resale, LCD panels will release Defendants and related entities from any
incorporated in flat panel TVs, monitors or notebook claims you may have relating to the allegations in
computers. An indirect purchaser is someone that this lawsuit. Oregon natural persons that do not file a
purchased products containing LCD flat panels from claim will not be entitled to any benefits in this matter
someone other than the company that manufactured and will be bound by the terms of the settlement.
the flat panel component, such as from an electronics
tŚŽZĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐDĞ͍
retailer or a device manufacturer other than one of
The Attorney General of Oregon represents the
the Defendants.
State, Oregon political subdivisions, and Oregon
natural persons. You do not have to pay the Attorney
tŚĂƚƌĞDLJZŝŐŚƚƐŶĚKƉƟŽŶƐ͍
Exclude yourself: Oregon political subdivisions General. The Attorney General will request the Court
and Oregon natural persons have the right to exclude approve attorney fees in an amount not to exceed 20%
themselves from this action. The State of Oregon of the total Settlement Fund, plus costs and expenses.
cannot be excluded. If you opt out, you will not be Additional costs to administer the Settlements will
legally bound by this settlement, but you will not get also come out of the Settlement Fund. If you want
any money or other benefits from this settlement. to be represented by your own lawyer, and have that
You will retain any rights you currently have, if any. lawyer appear in Court for you, you must exclude
Please note that under Oregon law, authority to bring yourself and hire an attorney at your own expense.
antitrust actions for indirect purchaser claims, like
,ŽǁŽ/'ĞƚDŽƌĞ/ŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͍
this action, was limited to actions by the Attorney
This Notice summarizes the lawsuits and the
General until January 1, 2010.
Settlements. You can get more information about the
To opt-out, complete the opt-out registration lawsuits and Settlements, the claims process or obtain
online at www.OregonScreenSettlement.com or a claim form at www.OregonScreenSettlement.com,
send a written letter stating that you want to be by calling 1-877-940-7791, or writing to: Oregon
excluded from the case: State of Oregon, ex rel Ellen LCD Settlement, c/o GCG, P.O. Box 10240, Dublin,
F. Rosenblum v. AU Optronics Corp. et al., case no. Ohio 43017-5740.
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How to identify
a possible
gas leak.
If you smell
ROTTEN EGGS
it could be a gas leak.
And the best thing to do is leave your home and call
NW Natural. We’ll be out to make sure everything is safe.
Unsure of what to do? Just take a look at our tips to the right.
Smell. Go. Let Us Know.
800-882-3377
If you smell a rotten egg
or sulfur odor, you hear a
blowing or hissing sound,
or you see blowing dirt, it
could be a gas leak.
What to do.
Leave your home and the
area immediately. Don’t use
any electrical device such
as a light switch, telephone,
appliance or garage door
opener. And don’t try to fi nd
the leak yourself.
Who to call.
Go outside and use your
cell phone, or a neighbor’s
phone, and call NW Natural
at 800-882-3377.