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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 2017)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian Page 2A Thursday, November 2, 2017 Task force recommends how to cut Oregon’s pension deficit By ANDREW SELSKY Associated Press “The governor’s pawn shop politics won’t fix PERS.” — Knute Buehler, Republican candidate for governor SALEM — A task force delivered its final report Friday to Gov. Kate Brown on options to shrink the state’s bloated pension-fund deficit by $5 billion over the next five years. Two of the suggestions — including privatizing the state’s public universities — didn’t thrill the Democratic governor. Brown’s main Republican rival in next year’s guberna- torial race, Knute Buehler, threw cold water on another option: raising taxes on beer and wine. Brown thanked the seven members of her task force for their research and commitment to identify ways for Oregon to keep its promise to retirees. She had convened the task force to identify opportunities to pay up to a quarter of the Public Employee Retirement System’s, or PERS, unfunded liability. At the end of 2016, it was estimated that PERS lacked 25 percent of the funds needed to pay the projected benefits employees have already earned, the task force report said. That deficit has ballooned to at least $25.3 billion, according to a calculation released in September. It is a huge problem bedeviling state lawmakers and other officials who aim to balance the state’s budget without depriving retired and current public sector employees — including those who work for the state, counties, cities and school districts — of their promised pensions. The task force examined state assets, one-time revenue streams, and assets of other public employers that could be sold, bonded against or otherwise leveraged in order to cut the pension system’s unfunded actuarial liability. They urged the governor and other state officials to weigh the benefits and costs of acting on the options “against the expected down- sides of inaction.” One option looked at several state-controlled enti- ties that maintain substantial amounts of cash and short- term investments to cushion against financial downsides, and said the money could be pooled, with some transferred to PERS to reduce the deficit. Woman who bilked retiree out of $3M gets prison BRIEFLY Missing hunter found alive in Mount Hood National Forest PORTLAND (AP) — A hunter has been found alive southeast of Portland after leaving his group and failing to return. The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that Nicholas Benim was located by U.S. Forest Service personnel west of Hideaway Lake in the Mount Hood National Forest. The hunter left his group Sunday afternoon and was due back a few hours later. The sheriff’s office says the 34-year-old Molalla man was reportedly in OK condition and was being taken to meet family and friends. Autopsy provides clues in death of teen at bus stop CENTRAL POINT (AP) — An autopsy is narrowing the focus in the search for the person who hit and killed a 13-year-old girl who was waiting for the school bus at the end of her driveway in rural southwestern Oregon. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday that Meadow Boyd was likely struck by something extending from a passing vehicle, such as a side mirror, mounted rack, trailer or cargo. Authorities say the driver would have known they struck something but might not have realized it was a person. It was dark and there were garbage bins at the end of the driveway. Meadow was found lying alongside the 5100-block of East Evans Creek Road, north of Rogue River, by a passer-by. pink bunny costume. Sgt. Chris Burley says the stabbing happened shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday in Old Town Chinatown. He says the victim was approached and then attacked by a costumed man he didn’t know. Officers searched for a suspect, but could not find anyone matching the description. An ambulance took the victim to the hospital after officers provided first aid. Medford may expand bad behavior ‘exclusion zone’ MEDFORD (AP) — Medford may expand a new “exclusion zone” that bars people engaging in certain behaviors from entering the city’s downtown core. The Mail Tribune reported Wednesday that the exclusion zone in the downtown area appears to have created problems with public drunkenness, graffiti and public urination elsewhere in the city. The law was passed in April. Jackson County Administrator Danny Jordan sent a letter Sept. 27 asking the city to expand the boundaries of the zone to include the Jackson County Courthouse and other county buildings. Homeless advocates say the law unfairly criminalizes homelessness and an expansion of the zone could impact people using a warming shelter. The City Council will consider the new boundary request at a meeting Thursday. BEND(AP) — A lawsuit alleges Deschutes County prosecutors couldn’t file charges in an alleged rape because either the hospital or the Bend Police Department lost blood and urine samples that would have been evidence of a crime. The Bulletin reports the lawsuit filed this week asks for more than $1.6 million in damages against St. Charles Bend and the police. The lawsuit alleges the plaintiff was at a 2015 Halloween party with her husband and some friends when someone slipped an unidentified date rape drug into her drink. The lawsuit alleges she was sexually assaulted by a man who had been hired to help with event security. Bend City Attorney Mary Winters says the case will be handled by the city’s insurance company. PORTLAND (AP) — Portland police say a man is expected to survive after getting stabbed by someone dressed in a 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 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 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 postal holidays, 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 Copyright © 2017, EO Media Group TODAY FRIDAY Cloudy with a couple of showers A little morning rain; cloudy 57° 37° 46° 29° SATURDAY SUNDAY Mostly cloudy with a little rain Cloudy and cold; ice at night PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 45° 32° 43° 29° 37° 23° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 49° 29° 60° 36° PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 55° 56° 76° (1901) 52° 36° 12° (1935) 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" 0.00" 0.04" 13.70" 10.34" 10.03" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH Yesterday Normals Records LOW 61° 58° 72° (1988) 55° 35° 8° (2003) 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" 0.00" 0.03" 7.80" 7.33" 7.31" SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today Full Last Nov 3 Nov 10 New Nov 18 44° 29° 41° 23° Seattle 50/38 ALMANAC Yesterday Normals Records 47° 34° 7:36 a.m. 5:40 p.m. 5:21 p.m. 5:27 a.m. First Nov 26 Today MONDAY Mostly cloudy and chilly Spokane Wenatchee 47/31 50/29 Tacoma Moses 49/34 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 53/33 49/34 50/37 50/34 55/31 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 50/38 58/40 Lewiston 60/37 Astoria 53/38 51/37 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 53/39 Pendleton 49/34 The Dalles 60/36 57/37 56/37 La Grande Salem 52/35 55/39 Albany Corvallis 54/40 54/37 John Day 51/38 Ontario Eugene Bend 54/39 53/38 50/32 Caldwell Burns 55/42 49/30 Corrections REGIONAL CITIES Forecast 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 51 53 50 54 49 49 53 55 60 51 55 52 49 59 54 56 54 61 57 53 53 55 47 48 53 58 55 Lo 37 33 32 46 30 34 38 36 36 38 34 35 33 41 42 43 39 37 37 39 29 39 31 33 40 40 31 W r c r sh c sh r sh sh sh c sh sh c r r sh sh sh r c r sh sh r sh r Hi 49 45 41 51 42 42 49 44 49 43 47 44 40 49 51 53 52 50 46 50 44 51 39 40 49 47 47 Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Lo 36 72 52 44 53 21 45 53 52 61 58 W s s s pc pc s pc pc c s pc Lo 32 22 21 39 16 24 34 28 29 31 28 27 25 32 38 39 31 28 29 37 17 35 22 24 37 31 25 W sh r sh r sn r r sh r sh sh r r r sh r sh r r sh sh sh c r sh r r Fri. Hi 54 79 65 56 78 35 61 68 59 81 68 (in mph) Klamath Falls 55/34 Boardman Pendleton Lo 28 68 53 49 53 30 48 49 37 60 58 W s c s pc pc c pc pc pc pc r REGIONAL FORECAST Coastal Oregon: Periods of rain today; arriv- ing during the afternoon in the south. Eastern and Central Oregon: A couple of showers today, except dry in the south; cooler near the Cascades. Western Washington: Occasional rain today and tonight. A couple of showers tomorrow. Eastern Washington: Showers around to- day; some sleet in the morning, then snow and sleet in the mountains. Cascades: Periods of rain today; arriving during the afternoon in the south. Northern California: Cloudy today; rain and drizzle, except dry in the interior mountains. Today Friday SW 7-14 SW 6-12 NNE 6-12 N 4-8 UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. 0 1 1 1 1 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 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. WINDS Medford 59/41 Classified & Legal Advertising 1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678 classifieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Fri. WORLD CITIES Hi 67 84 66 56 77 34 58 67 66 72 68 and money laundering and is sched- uled to be sentenced in two weeks. Prosecutors are recommending that he serve nearly five years in prison. Van met the victim, identified in court papers as R.W., while running a landscaping business in the suburbs south of Denver. The customer moved from Colorado to Oregon after retirement. Prosecutors said Van and Phan sought loans from R.W., saying the landscaping business was struggling to stay afloat. At one point, Van presented his financial problems as so dire he was contem- plating suicide. Moreover, the pair said Van needed more money because he was going through a divorce and had legal troubles. They promised to pay him back with interest. Prosecutors said they made some interest payments to keep the scheme going. Mostly, however, the money vanished in a long run of bad gambling luck. The judge is requiring Phan and Van to pay back $2.9 million, plus interest. All parties agreed it will be virtually impossible for the money to be repaid. 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 Advertising Director: Marissa Williams 541-278-2669 • addirector@eastoregonian.com Advertising Services: Laura Jensen 541-966-0806 • ljensen@eastoregonian.com Multimedia Consultants: • Kimberly Macias 541-278-2683 • kmacias@eastoregonian.com • Jeanne Jewett 541-564-4531 • jjewett@eastoregonian.com • Dayle Stinson 541-278-2670 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com • Angela Treadwell 541-966-0827 • atreadwell@eastoregonian.com • Audra Workman 541-564-4538 • aworkman@eastoregonian.com • Grace Bubar 541-276-2214 • gbubar@eastoregonian.com Subscriber services: For mail delivery, online access, vacation stops or delivery concerns call 1-800-522-0255 ext. 1 — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — PORTLAND (AP) — A manicurist who helped trick an Oregon retiree out of $3 million was sentenced Wednesday to 21 months in federal prison. Thy Mihn Phan and her boyfriend led the victim to believe the money collected during a three-year scheme was to help with legal issues and a landscaping business. Instead, they blew almost every penny while enjoying a high- roller lifestyle at Las Vegas casinos, including Aria, Bellagio, Caesars Palace and MGM Grand. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford said the victim lost everything he Phan saved for retirement. “They didn’t just steal the victim’s money,” Bradford told U.S. District Judge Anna Brown. “They stole his dignity, they stole his happiness.” Phan, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy in April, got help at her sentencing from a translator who speaks Vietnamese. Her attorney, David Audet, sought a sentence of probation, but the judge said the “extraordinary” amount of money that was stolen made that impossible. Phan’s co-defendant, Hiep Cong Van, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy Lawsuit: Blood, urine samples misplaced in sex assault Man dressed as a pink bunny stabs man public universities. The report noted that Oregon’s excise taxes on beer and wine are $0.08 and $0.67 per gallon respectively, have not changed since 1977 and are among the lowest in the nation. It said increasing them to national average rates of $0.35 and $1.03 respectively would raise $61 million per biennium. Brown directed her staff to research the proposed the idea of pooling excess capital across state controlled entities, and to examine creating an incen- tive fund to partially match employers who further contribute to unfunded liabilities. “This ‘risk capital’ is rarely needed and may, in fact, never be drawn down.” the report said of the entities’ excess funds. In a statement, Buehler’s campaign derided that option as “raiding the state’s emergency funds.” “The governor’s pawn shop politics won’t fix PERS,” Buehler said. Another option the task force mooted would be for the state to transfer some of the surplus capital of Oregon’s hybrid workers’ compensation system to PERS, or to sell the workers comp system. Brown said she had “serious concerns” about that latter option, as well as one to sell Oregon’s 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: Rain showers will occur from the northwest Gulf coast to northern New England and the lower Great Lakes. Some snow will fall on parts of Minnesota and Montana. Rain and snow will affect the Northwest. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 92° in Horseshoe Bay, Texas Low 13° in Bodie State Park, 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 69 74 73 74 36 77 55 68 80 74 55 67 93 64 62 78 29 38 87 85 65 81 62 76 81 68 Lo 44 58 61 53 27 64 43 58 57 56 38 54 62 35 44 54 26 20 76 70 50 59 38 55 61 57 W s pc c pc c pc c c pc c sh sh pc pc r s pc c s c sh c pc s c c Fri. Hi 71 78 74 75 38 77 53 71 81 67 49 55 89 66 52 80 35 35 88 84 59 82 57 73 78 70 Lo 48 60 52 45 26 62 35 46 58 47 42 40 65 46 38 56 23 28 76 68 43 59 48 56 61 57 Today W s pc s pc c c c c s c c pc s pc pc s c sn pc pc c s c pc t c 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 71 80 84 52 44 75 83 71 80 55 75 82 62 70 76 38 64 66 73 69 70 67 50 82 76 68 Lo 60 66 71 37 28 63 66 60 50 32 58 61 53 56 54 24 41 52 49 54 60 57 38 55 59 46 W c t pc sh c c pc pc s pc pc pc sh c pc sf pc pc c s c pc r s pc s Fri. Hi 68 78 84 47 41 76 82 72 68 51 74 82 67 73 80 46 56 61 62 65 70 64 45 84 77 57 Lo 52 64 72 43 33 59 64 49 51 39 48 62 37 43 56 30 42 49 53 50 60 53 34 59 52 45 Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. W sh t pc pc sn sh pc pc pc pc pc pc sh c pc i c r c pc pc r sh pc pc c
