Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 2017)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian Page 2A Legislation would raise state’s smoking age to 21 Backers of right to die fear Trump Supreme Court nominee PORTLAND (AP) — Supporters of a terminally ill person’s right to take his or her own life said Wednesday they are alarmed by President Donald Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court and worry that Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation could mean a renewed battle over the legality of laws permitting the practice. Gorsuch, a Denver-based judge on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, wrote a 2006 book titled “The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia” that included an extensive discussion of Oregon’s law, which allows doctors to prescribe lethal medication to patients to have less than six months to live and who request it. In the book, Gorsuch refers to the practice as “essentially a right to consensual homicide.” Oregon voters first approved a right-to-die ballot measure in 1994 and again in 1997 when the state legislature sent the matter back for a second vote. The first-in-the-nation law survived a 2006 By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau SALEM — An Oregon lawmaker who is also a family physician plans to reintroduce legislation this week that would raise the legal smoking age from 18 to 21. The proposal by Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, D-Beaverton, is intended to limit teenagers access to tobacco. “As a family physician, I always think it’s better to prevent disease than to cure it, and one of the best things we can do in Oregon to prevent disease is to stop people from using tobacco and other dangerous prod- ucts that contain nicotine and other harmful substances,” said Steiner Hayward, who has lost family members to smoking-related illnesses. “I’ve seen the effects as a physician and as a family member all too well,” she added. “Oregon deserves a better future than this.” “The cost in lives and lost productivity and children’s wellness is inestimable,” Steiner Hayward said. “This bill is personal, too. I lost my father, my father-in-law and one of my beloved aunts to smoking-related illnesses. I’ve seen the effects as a physician and as a family member all too well. Oregon deserves a better future than this.” Recent research, including some from the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office, shows that brains under age 26 are more susceptible to addiction. “If you don’t start smoking by age 21, you are less likely ever to start,” said Noe Baker, a spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, one of 20 organi- zations campaigning for the law change. The legislation would impose first-time civil penalties of $50 for clerks and $500 for managers who sell to minors. People of legal age who give tobacco to minors would likely face Paris Achen/Pamplin Media Group Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, D-Beaverton, announces legislation that would raise the legal smoking age to 21, during a news conference Wednesday at the State Capitol in Salem. similar penalties as store clerks, Steiner Hayward said. “We made a conscious decision not have criminal penalties because we know that tobacco companies tend to target low-income communities who can least afford it,” Steiner Hayward said. “We know many of the clerks working in stores are working hard to support their families or making extra money while getting an education, and we didn’t want to unduly punish them, and we didn’t want to give them criminal records.” In 2015, Hawaii became the first state in the nation to raise the smoking age to 21. California followed suit last year. An additional 210 cities and counties, including New York City and Boston, have similar laws. No cities or counties in Oregon have raised the smoking age, but Lane County is currently considering such a proposal. “It is sort of picking up at county levels, and we are hoping to bring it statewide,” Baker said. At the current smoking rate, 68,000 Oregon kids alive today will eventually die from tobacco-related disease, Friend said, quoting statistics from Tobacco Free Kids. Oregonian households pay an estimated $780 a year for the medical care of smokers, Steiner Hayward added. Oregon also loses an estimated $3 billion in lost productivity and health care costs per year from smoking-related disease, according to figures from Tobacco Free Kids. Steiner Hayward said she thinks this year’s legislation has better prospects than a former iteration proposed in 2015 as Senate Bill 732. The 2015 bill stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee as other issues took priority. This year’s bill has bipartisan support. Rep. Richard Vial, a freshman Republican from Scholls, is a sponsor of the bill and spoke in support it Wednesday at the Capitol. “Often, those of us who are considered perhaps more conservative legislators hear that we don’t want a nanny state, that we don’t want over regulation of our lives, but to me this is very much like seatbelts and child restraints, those things that really do contribute to a society that we all feel good about,” Vial said, who also has lost family members to smoking. Steiner Hayward has seats on both the Senate Health Care Committee and the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, which could help advance the legislation to the Senate floor. The health committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the bill at 1 p.m. Feb. 7 in Hearing Room B at the State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E. in Salem. BEND (AP) — Oregon’s Deschutes River saw a large number of native sockeye salmon return to its waters in 2016. A total of 536 sockeye salmon returned to a complex of hydroelectric dams and reservoirs called the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project, reported The Bulletin. That’s a significant improvement over recent years — since 2010, annual returns have ranged between 19 and 86 fish. “We are not pointing to this and saying mission accomplished, but at the same time it’s a really great result for 2016,” said Steven Corson, a spokesman for To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255 or go online to www.eastoregonian.com and click on ‘Subscribe’ East Oregonian (USPS 164-980) is published daily except Sunday, Monday and Dec. 25, by the EO Media Group, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, OR. Postmaster: send address changes to East Oregonian, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Single copy price: $1 Tuesday through Friday, $1.50 Saturday REGIONAL CITIES Forecast SATURDAY FRIDAY A little snow; up to an inch 2-4 inches of snow 21° 16° 27° 26° Not as cold with a shower SUNDAY Mainly cloudy, showers around PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 41° 36° 50° 37° 47° 34° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 23° 22° 23° 17° PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 20° 11° 43° 28° 70° (1934) -17° (1950) 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 Trace 0.05" 1.65" 1.51" 1.43" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH Yesterday Normals Records LOW 21° 4° 44° 29° 70° (1995) -25° (1950) 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 0.02" 0.00" 0.03" 1.69" 1.10" 1.31" SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today First Full Feb 3 Feb 10 7:15 a.m. 5:03 p.m. 10:20 a.m. 11:46 p.m. Last New Feb 18 44° 37° 46° 31° Seattle 42/32 ALMANAC Yesterday Normals Records 39° 33° Feb 26 Today MONDAY Mostly cloudy with a little rain Spokane Wenatchee 25/7 24/15 Tacoma Moses 43/29 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 27/14 23/13 45/32 43/25 30/22 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 40/29 23/17 Lewiston 24/17 Astoria 27/17 44/35 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 35/29 Pendleton 27/18 The Dalles 23/17 21/16 30/25 La Grande Salem 26/21 38/31 Albany Corvallis 40/31 39/32 John Day 29/23 Ontario Eugene Bend 31/22 39/31 23/16 Caldwell Burns 35/26 28/18 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 44 25 23 56 28 27 39 21 23 29 42 26 19 56 42 55 31 29 21 35 22 38 25 22 38 23 30 Lo 35 18 16 48 18 18 31 15 17 23 35 21 16 40 38 45 22 17 16 29 16 31 7 16 31 17 22 W r sn sn r sn sf i sf c sn sn sf sf r sh r sn c sf sn sn r s sf r c pc Hi 46 32 34 53 36 38 49 29 23 42 44 37 34 53 50 54 34 28 27 35 35 44 25 36 38 26 29 Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Lo 20 62 33 42 47 4 46 53 23 72 40 W c pc s r pc s r sh s pc s Lo 41 28 28 46 27 33 45 23 22 37 36 36 32 43 46 48 29 23 26 35 29 43 23 29 36 24 24 W r sn sn r sn sn i sn sn sn r sn sn r r r i sn sn i sn i sn sn i sn sn Fri. Hi 47 68 52 50 72 16 51 62 43 83 54 Klamath Falls 42/35 Lo 27 64 36 36 48 3 41 52 23 75 40 (in mph) Today Friday Boardman Pendleton NNE 4-8 NW 3-6 NE 4-8 VAR 2-4 W s c s r pc pc r pc pc pc s UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. REGIONAL FORECAST Coastal Oregon: Periods of rain today; arriv- ing in the afternoon across the north. Eastern Washington: Mostly sunny today, except mostly cloudy across the south. Eastern and Central Oregon: Today: snow, 1-2 inches in south and central parts, upper and with little or none across the north. Western Washington: A little rain across the south this afternoon; mostly sunny elsewhere. Cascades: Snow at times today, accumulat- ing 1-2 inches; colder. A little snow at times tonight. Northern California: Heavy rain today; how- ever, a bit of snow in the interior mountains. 0 1 1 0 0 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 44 68 48 53 71 20 58 60 39 76 50 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 NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Fri. WINDS Medford 56/40 returns are often unpredict- able and the reintroduction efforts are still in the early stages. More than 93 percent of the sockeye originated in the Middle Deschutes basin, according to genetic testing received by Portland General Electric in January. Most of those came from a lake created by the Round Butte Dam called Lake Billy Chinook. While waiting for new data, scientists continue to monitor water quality and work on habitat-improving projects in the area. “It’s an ongoing, scientif- ic-based effort to maximize the potential for a successful year,” Corson said. Classified & Legal Advertising 1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678 classifieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com 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 • Elizabeth Freemantle 541-278-2683 • efreemantle@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 Copyright © 2017, EO Media Group TODAY complex co-owner Portland General Electric. “Our goal is to have sustained and harvestable fish runs, but we are still in the beginning stages.” The dam complex is owned by PGE and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. It stretches over about 20 miles of the Deschutes River west of Madras. The complex was origi- nally designed in the 1950s and 1960s to include fish passages, but the passages were not effective. Round Butte Dam owners are now trying to reintroduce spring chinook and steelhead in addition to sockeye salmon. Corson said salmon Corrections SUBSCRIPTION RATES Local home delivery Savings off cover price EZPay $14.50 41 percent 52 weeks $173.67 41 percent 26 weeks $91.86 38 percent 13 weeks $47.77 36 percent *EZ Pay = one-year rate with a monthly credit or debit card/check charge www.eastoregonian.com growing movement to pass right-to-die legislation in other states. Advocates of aid in dying distinguish between euthanasia and aid in dying, in which the patient requests and takes the life-ending dose. Laws in states that allow aid in dying prohibit a doctor from administering the drugs themselves. Vermont, Colorado, California and Washington also have aid in dying laws. In Montana, the state’s high court has ruled that physicians who prescribe a lethal dose of medication to a terminally ill patient can’t be criminally prosecuted, although there is no formal statute allowing the practice. In Washington, D.C., the City Council approved an aid in dying bill in November that will take effect later this year unless Congress intervenes. Kevin Diaz, national director of legal advocacy for the Washington, D.C.- based Compassion & Choices, said he’s concerned about “an erosion around the edges” even where aid in dying is explicitly allowed, he said. 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. 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 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed major holidays Supreme Court challenge on a 6-3 vote. Four states now have similar laws and 25 more are considering them, said Peg Sandeen, executive director of the Death with Dignity National Center in Portland. Bills have been introduced in 16 states since January. “It is concerning that someone who has taken our issue on as his personal issue is the nominee,” she said. “It raises the specter that we are going to have to reargue and redefend the Oregon Death with Dignity Act all over again.” The 2006 ruling in favor of Oregon’s law was considered a rebuke to the George W. Bush adminis- tration and former Attorney General John Ashcroft. The court said they improperly threatened to use a federal drug law against Oregon doctors who prescribe lethal doses of medicine to dying patients who request it. Sandeen believes that if the matter came before the high court again, Oregon would still win — but the process would be detri- mental to patients and to a Large numbers of salmon return to Deschutes River Subscriber services: For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255 — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — Thursday, February 2, 2017 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: Bands of snow will fall downwind of the Great Lakes today. Showers will dampen parts of the South as rain soaks the California and Oregon coasts. Snow will blanket the Sierra Nevada and northern Rockies. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 91° in Cotulla, Texas Low -25° in Clayton Lake, Maine 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 60 66 49 47 13 58 32 40 75 40 25 26 51 39 24 70 8 14 78 73 31 75 33 68 44 67 Lo 33 43 25 24 -4 39 28 22 53 21 12 17 38 16 14 40 -9 3 63 52 17 48 19 49 30 53 W s pc s pc sn sh sn s s pc pc c c i pc s pc s s pc pc s pc pc c pc Fri. Hi 59 58 38 38 24 53 41 33 61 35 25 26 55 40 23 72 6 20 79 64 30 77 34 70 46 64 Lo 33 34 21 20 19 30 37 19 40 16 12 17 38 25 13 44 -9 10 64 49 12 51 21 49 25 52 Today W c sh pc pc pc sh sn pc c pc pc c c pc pc pc s s pc c pc s pc pc pc sh 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 40 45 81 22 19 48 75 42 40 28 45 75 37 40 60 17 51 61 38 42 66 62 42 76 49 39 Lo 24 32 68 9 8 27 55 24 26 18 23 51 14 19 37 5 40 55 22 31 54 55 32 45 29 19 W pc c pc s s pc pc pc pc pc pc s s s pc sn r r pc pc pc r s s s pc Fri. Hi 38 44 82 23 24 45 68 33 47 31 36 76 31 33 45 24 51 62 36 47 67 62 42 77 42 40 Lo 16 27 66 12 14 22 49 22 29 20 22 50 14 17 25 20 41 50 21 37 57 52 39 43 25 26 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. W pc pc pc s s pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc r pc r r pc c pc r i pc pc pc
