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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 30, 2016)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian Page 2A Wednesday, March 30, 2016 AG: Wolf delisting bill likely moots case Brown signs bond bill to pay for capitol renovations By KRISTENA HANSEN Associated Press By HILLARY BORRUD Capital Bureau SALEM — The Oregon Capitol is on track to receive a $50 million renovation, after Gov. Kate Brown signed legislation Tuesday to pay for much of the project by issuing bonds. The project is a win for Senate Pres- ident Peter Courtney, D-Salem, who tried unsuccessfully last year to gain passage of a $337 million overhaul of the Depression-era building that ZRXOGKDYHLQFOXGHGDVHLVPLFUHWUR¿W to help it withstand an earthquake. The scaled-down version approved by lawmakers earlier this month would not protect the capitol against an earthquake, although elements of the project would lay the foundation IRUDIXWXUHVHLVPLFUHWUR¿W Relatively little of the project cost is related to the security upgrades Courtney cited as a top priority, after protesters who wanted a higher minimum wage caused at ruckus at the capitol in February. During a press conference earlier this month, Courtney described the capitol as a dangerous place for women and chil- dren due to structural problems and a lack of security. Spending authority and $30 million in bonds for the project were included in two bills that the Legislature passed in the waning days of the session early this month. The state already sank $23.8 million into the capitol renovation project in order to plan the initial larger project, legislative administrator Kevin Hayden said in an interview earlier this month. The Legislature did not release a detailed spending plan until Feb. 29, the day before the state House voted on the legislation to partially pay for it. It was not clear where lawmakers will get the additional $20 million to cover the project cost. The latest plan calls for the state to build two new vaults under the capitol to house electrical and mechanical equipment, including a new boiler to replace a system that failed in the fall. The vaults account for a third of the project cost and could house VHLVPLFUHWUR¿WV\VWHPVLIODZPDNHUV decide to move ahead with that plan in the future. A legislative document describes each vault as “a cornerstone for the future seismic base isolation of the capitol.” Other large-ticket items in the project range from adding two entrances accessible to people who use walkers or wheel chairs — only one entrance is currently accessible Paris Achen/Pamplin Media Group The governor has signed a bill that provides for the sale of $50 million in bonds to pay for renovations to the Oregon State Capitol. — to replacing leaky skylights and caulking around all of the marble on the exterior of the building. Hayden said the state discovered the extent of leaks in the existing caulking and sealant around the marble three years ago, when workers pressure washed the building. There is also $4.9 million iden- WL¿HG IRU PLVFHOODQHRXV ³EXLOGLQJ system modernization” work that would supposedly be selected from the earlier renovation plan. Architects hired by the state esti- mated it would cost just $143,000 to PRYH WKH 2UHJRQ 6WDWH 3ROLFH RI¿FH IURPWKHEDVHPHQWWRWKH¿UVWÀRRURI the capitol, a change that Courtney has described as a top priority to improve security. Hayden said other work, such as remodeling entrances and moving FHUWDLQVWDWHRI¿FHVZLOOIUHHXSVSDFH if the state decides to implement metal detectors and bag searches in the future. “But there isn’t a plan to do that immediately,” Hayden said. At the March 3 press conference, Courtney said the Oregon State Police recently completed a report that revealed it would be simple for intruders to gain access to the building after hours, when the doors are closed to people without security badges. Courtney said the potential for outsiders to gain access to the Capitol was especially worrying for women. “This report, my wife read this and said, ‘I’m not going back in the capitol again,’” Courtney said during a press conference with reporters at the end of the legislative session in early March. “My staff read it and said, ‘I’m a woman, I’m not coming back in this capitol at night’ ... And it was alarming. They actually demonstrated how you can get into this building. You would not believe how easy it is to get into this building.” However, Courtney said he would not release the state policy report on capitol security problems. “Go ahead and ask for a public record,” Courtney said. “But you’re not getting the report. Because I don’t want this falling into the hands of some really bad people who can use it .” The only vocal opponent of the renovation plan this year was Senate Minority Leader Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, who wanted to scale the project back to add only one accessible entrance and move the state police RI¿FH Ferrioli said it would be better for the state to increase the amount RI ERQG UHYHQXH DYDLODEOH WR UHWUR¿W public school buildings for earth- quakes. “Colleagues, you heard earlier in this session the $175 million that was allocated to school seismic upgrades is far oversubscribed because the need is much greater than people anticipated,” Ferrioli said during a 6HQDWH ÀRRU VSHHFK ³6R FROOHDJXHV dollars are needed. There is a wait list. Children are at risk.” Courtney also said he was concerned about the safety of school FKLOGUHQVSHFL¿FDOO\WKHEXVORDGVRI children who visit the capitol. “This building is in deplorable condition,” Courtney told reporters. “It’s a safety threat. It’s a health threat. And we’re not stepping up.” Subscriber services: For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255 Didn’t receive your paper?&DOO EHIRUHQRRQ7XHVGD\WKURXJK)ULGD\ RUEHIRUHDP6DWXUGD\ for same-day redelivery — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 2I¿FHKRXUV0RQGD\WKURXJK)ULGD\DPWRSP &ORVHGPDMRUKROLGD\V SUBSCRIPTION RATES /RFDOKRPHGHOLYHU\ 6DYLQJVRIIFRYHUSULFH (=3D\ SHUFHQW ZHHNV SHUFHQW ZHHNV SHUFHQW ZHHNV SHUFHQW (=3D\ RQH\HDUUDWHZLWKDPRQWKO\FUHGLWRUGHELWFDUGFKHFNFKDUJH www.eastoregonian.com To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255 or go online to www.eastoregonian.com and click on ‘Subscribe’ (DVW2UHJRQLDQ(USPS 164-980)LVSXEOLVKHGGDLO\H[FHSW6XQGD\0RQGD\ DQG'HFE\WKH(20HGLD*URXS6(%\HUV$YH3HQGOHWRQ25 3HULRGLFDOVSRVWDJHSDLGDW3HQGOHWRQ25Postmaster:VHQGDGGUHVVFKDQJHVWR (DVW2UHJRQLDQ6(%\HUV$YH3HQGOHWRQ25 Plenty of sunshine Abundant sunshine 63° 39° 66° 43° A shower in the afternoon Pleasant with clouds and sun 71° 47° 71° 46° 68° 46° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 70° 40° PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH Yesterday Normals Records LOW 59° 58° 80° (2004) 32° 37° 18° (1954) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date Trace 1.49" 1.34" 3.86" 2.74" 3.89" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH Yesterday Normals Records LOW 66° 61° 80° (1994) 28° 37° 12° (1954) PRECIPITATION 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date 0.00" 1.21" 0.83" 2.70" 1.52" 3.10" SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today Last New Mar 31 Apr 7 6:39 a.m. 7:21 p.m. 1:21 a.m. 11:02 a.m. First Full Apr 13 75° 45° 74° 44° 73° 42° Seattle 66/46 ALMANAC Apr 21 Multimedia consultants 7HUUL%ULJJV WEULJJV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP -HDQQH-HZHWW MMHZHWW#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP 6WHSKDQLH1HZVRP VQHZVRP#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP 'D\OH6WLQVRQ GVWLQVRQ#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News: HPDLOFRPPXQLW\#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRPRUFDOO7DPP\0DOJHVLQL LQ+HUPLVWRQDWRU5HQHH6WUXWKHUVLQ3HQGOHWRQDW To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries: HPDLOUVWUXWKHUV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRPRUYLVLWZZZHDVWRUHJRQLDQ FRPFRPPXQLW\DQQRXQFHPHQWV To submit a Letter to the Editor:PDLOWR0DQDJLQJ(GLWRU'DQLHO :DWWHQEXUJHU6(%\HUV$YH3HQGOHWRQ25RUHPDLO HGLWRU#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP To submit sports or outdoors information or tips: VSRUWV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP COMMERCIAL PRINTING Production Manager: Mike Jensen PMHQVHQ#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP REGIONAL CITIES Today SUNDAY SATURDAY PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 68° 36° NEWS To submit news tips and press releases:FDOO ID[HPDLOQHZV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP Real Estate Advertising: Jodi Snook MVQRRN#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP FRIDAY Mild with plenty of sun ADVERTISING Advertising Director: Jennine Perkinson MSHUNLQVRQ#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP Legal Advertising:$PDQGD-DFREV DMDFREV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP Single copy price: 7XHVGD\WKURXJK)ULGD\6DWXUGD\ Forecast THURSDAY Corrections The headline of a story in Tuesday’s East Oregonian mischarac- WHUL]HGDODZVXLW¿OHGUHFHQWO\E\3RUWODQG*HQHUDO(OHFWULF3*(LV suing the insurance companies behind a performance bond on the utility’s 440-megawatt Carty Generating Station south of Boardman. Infant Savannah Martin of Irrigon died May 28, 2015. The East Oregonian had an incorrect date in a story in Tuesday’s paper. 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. ClassiÀed Advertising: FODVVL¿HGV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP Copyright © 2016, EO Media Group TODAY PORTLAND — Two weeks after the signing of new legis- lation that upholds in state law the delisting of the gray wolf as endangered, Oregon’s top attorney has now launched an effort to end wolf advocates’ lawsuit once and for all. Attorney General Ellen 5RVHQEOXP ¿OHG D QRWLFH ZLWK the state appellate court on Monday, using an attached copy of the new law, House %LOO DV MXVWL¿FDWLRQ IRU why wolf advocates’ complaint against the state is likely no longer relevant. This is what conservative lawmakers hoped to accomplish with HB 4040 — among the most contentious bills of the year — and what environmentalists had feared. In December envi- ronmentalists sued state wildlife RI¿FLDOV RYHU WKHLU GHFLVLRQ WR remove the gray wolf from the state’s Endangered Species Act list, saying the decision was premature. Nothing is settled yet and the MXGJHZLOOKDYHWKH¿QDOVD\%XW parties on both sides agree the situation is gloomy for the wolf advocates’ case. “We don’t have a next step yet,” said Arran Robertson, a spokesman for Oregon Wild, adding they’ll be discussing a game-plan this week with the other environmentalists that are part of the suit. The issue dates back to November, when the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission determined the gray wolf’s population was robust enough to remove the species from the state’s endangered list. Oregon Wild, Cascadia Wildlands and the Center for Biological Diver- sity followed with their lawsuit, arguing the commission used ÀDZHG VFLHQWL¿F HYLGHQFH DQG the delisting decision should Spokane Wenatchee 61/40 68/45 Tacoma Moses 67/40 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 69/39 60/38 66/42 68/39 72/40 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 70/41 63/40 Lewiston 69/38 Astoria 62/40 64/45 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 71/45 Pendleton 56/30 The Dalles 68/36 63/39 70/40 La Grande Salem 60/33 70/42 Albany Corvallis 68/40 70/42 John Day 61/37 Ontario Eugene Bend 66/38 68/42 58/29 Caldwell Burns 64/36 60/28 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 64 59 58 63 60 56 68 61 68 61 62 60 58 72 63 65 66 69 63 71 60 70 61 57 70 63 72 Lo 45 28 29 45 28 30 42 35 36 37 29 33 29 41 46 45 38 37 39 45 26 42 40 30 43 40 40 W s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s pc s s s s s s s s s s NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Thu. Hi 62 62 65 62 64 60 71 65 70 65 66 63 61 73 61 64 68 72 66 72 67 72 63 62 71 66 74 Lo 44 31 36 46 32 32 44 38 40 40 33 36 33 45 46 46 40 39 43 49 32 44 43 34 46 45 43 Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. W s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s WORLD CITIES Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Hi 70 75 60 54 83 45 51 65 60 76 66 Lo 36 66 43 40 51 35 44 53 37 63 52 W s c s pc s pc r s s t pc Thu. Hi 78 75 65 54 84 43 47 70 66 75 63 Lo 53 66 50 36 51 35 39 57 39 65 51 W pc pc s pc s sh r pc pc s s WINDS Medford 72/41 (in mph) Klamath Falls 62/29 Boardman Pendleton REGIONAL FORECAST Coastal Oregon: Pleasant today with plenty of sunshine; warmer in central parts. Clear tonight. Eastern and Central Oregon: Mostly sunny and warmer today. Mainly clear tonight; cold near the Cascades. Western Washington: Sunshine today. Clear tonight. Plenty of sunshine tomorrow. Eastern Washington: Mostly sunny today. Mainly clear tonight. Mostly sunny tomorrow. Cascades: Brilliant sunshine today; not as cool. Clear tonight. Northern California: Mostly sunny today; not as cold in the interior mountains. Clear and cool tonight. Today Thursday NNE 4-8 NNW 4-8 VAR 3-6 NW 3-6 UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. 0 3 5 therefore be independently re-examined. That’s where HB 4040 — backed by the Oregon Cattle- man’s Association and others concerned with wolves’ attacks on livestock — comes into play. HB 4040 essentially says the commission did everything it was supposed to do by law LQ UHDFKLQJ LWV ¿QDO GHFLVLRQ WR delist. That’s the very thing wolf advocates want re-examined, but with the Legislature’s seal of approval now established in state law, their “challenge is likely moot,” Rosenblum wrote LQ0RQGD\¶VFRXUW¿OLQJ 5RVHQEOXP¶V ¿OLQJ ² submitted about a week after the wildlife commission began revising its wolf management plan — stands in contrast to the way HB 4040 was initially portrayed at the Legislature in early February. In hearings, GOP lawmakers in the Oregon House repeatedly denied claims that the intent was to end the lawsuit. “Does this basically prevent litigation? ... and the answer that I have come up with, or the DQVZHUWKDW,FRXOG¿QGZDVQR it doesn’t,” Rep. Greg Baretto, a Republican who helped sponsor HB 4040, said during a Feb. 12 +RXVH ÀRRU VHVVLRQ ZKHQ WKH bill was up for vote. “They can still have their day in court. But what this does is it’ll DOORZ WKH /HJLVODWXUH WR DI¿UP or agree with this commission, this Fish and Wildlife Commis- sion, that has basically approved delisting, and that is what this bill does.” Rep. Chris Gorsek, a Demo- FUDW ZDV DPRQJ WKH ¿UVW YRFDO critics, who followed Baretto’s comments during that February ÀRRU VHVVLRQ E\ VD\LQJ ³,¶P concerned that the Legislature is being asked to step in a process that could involve any endan- gered species ... it’s not about the wolf, it’s about due process.” 5 3 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. ©2016 -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: Showers and severe thunderstorms will extend from the western Gulf Coast to the Mississippi Valley today. Rain will fall over the Upper Midwest with snow from the central Rockies to the northern Plains. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 92° in Presidio, Texas Low 10° in Bridgeport, Calif. 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 57 74 53 60 51 76 63 53 74 73 62 65 76 45 63 70 40 50 83 78 66 79 71 64 71 66 Lo 30 62 46 47 35 65 39 42 61 55 56 54 55 25 55 45 30 32 67 69 58 62 45 49 62 49 W s pc s s pc t pc s s s sh pc t c pc s sn r s t pc pc t pc t pc Thur. Hi 60 71 64 71 48 76 65 64 80 71 62 67 71 42 66 69 45 49 82 79 70 85 60 72 77 70 Lo 34 63 56 61 32 60 42 54 68 54 34 42 47 21 41 43 25 26 69 56 42 66 38 54 47 52 W pc t pc pc c r s pc t r r r s pc r pc r c pc t r t pc s t s Today 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 72 74 82 57 52 76 79 57 80 72 59 70 51 55 69 45 54 70 69 48 64 64 66 67 64 78 Lo 60 65 73 53 38 61 70 45 45 42 45 52 40 39 51 30 33 45 61 35 54 50 46 43 51 43 W pc t t sh r c t s t t s pc s s s sn sf pc t sh c pc s pc s t Thur. Hi 76 78 84 56 47 74 80 69 69 56 71 76 61 65 76 43 63 73 69 53 66 65 68 69 72 66 Lo 50 50 76 33 33 52 67 57 41 34 60 54 53 54 63 21 37 48 44 36 57 50 49 45 63 38 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. W r r pc sh c r r pc s c r s pc pc t sf s s pc pc pc s s s t pc