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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 2018)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian Page 2A Friday, February 16, 2018 Oregon reports increase in deaths related to meth use House passes bill to keep guns from abusers Under existing law, only convicted abusers in domestic relationships, such as a spouse, former spouse, co-parent or live-in partner, are prohibited from having guns. The bill expands the ban to current and past intimate partners of all kinds and stalkers. Barker said as a compromise with reluctant supporters of the bill, he and other sponsors agreed to remove a provision that would automatically dispossess an accused abuser or stalker of their guns if they missed one court hearing. A study by the Oregon Depart- ment of Justice showed that more than 16 Oregonians were killed in nine separate domestic violence incidents between Dec. 25, 2016, and Jan. 16, 2017. Not all of the fatalities involved romantic rela- tionships. Women are more likely to be killed in domestic disputes when a gun is present in the home, Barker said. Laws aimed at keeping guns from abusers have reduced homicides of intimate partners, according to recent research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau SALEM — The Oregon House of Representatives passed a bill 37-to-23 Thursday to keep domestic abusers and stalkers from having firearms. House Bill 4145 closes the so-called “boyfriend loophole,” or “intimate partner loophole,” in state law that omitted stalkers and domestic abusers who are not a spouse, former spouse, live-in partner or co-parent from the gun ban. “I believe from the bottom of my heart this bill will save lives in Oregon,” said Rep. Jeff Barker, D-Aloha. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. Floor debate over the bill drew out emotional speeches and revelations about personal expe- riences from lawmakers. Barker, a former police officer, recounted responding to a gruesome scene in which a young mother had attempted to protect herself from her abuser and had her hand blown off before being killed. Rep. Janeen Sollman, D-Hill- sboro, wept as she talked about verbal and physical abuse she Jaime Valdez/Portland Tribune The Oregon House voted 37-to-23 Thursday to close the so- called “boyfriend loophole” in state gun law. “I believe from the bottom of my heart this bill will save lives in Oregon,” said Rep. Jeff Barker, D-Aloha. experienced from an alcohol father. Rep. Andy Olson, R-Albany, said he also had witnessed horrific domestic abuse during his former career as a police officer. Olson voted against the bill because, he said, it would not prevent abusers from obtaining guns illegally and killing or injuring others. The legislation also fails the address the root cause of gun violence, he said. “This bill doesn’t fix the systemic problems our state is experiencing; that is why I am going to vote no.” The legislation also would require Oregon State Police to notify other law enforcement when they learn someone has tried to obtain a gun illegally. SALEM (AP) — Deaths connected to the use of methamphetamine have reached higher rates than previously recorded in Oregon, surpassing the death rates from heroin and nearly matching the rates from opioids, according to state figures. The state recorded 141 meth-related deaths in 2016, rising from the 51 overdose deaths from meth recorded in 2012, according to numbers from “We can’t the Oregon Health arrest our Authority. During the way out same time frame, heroin-related of this.” deaths decreased Dave Okada, from 124 to 107. Pharmaceutical Salem Police Lt. and synthetic opioid overdoses dropped from 174 to 149, the Statesman Journal reported. Numbers from the Oregon State Medical Examiner show 232 meth-re- lated deaths in 2016 and 93 in 2012. It also recorded 124 heroin-related deaths in 2016 and 147 in 2012. The discrepancy between the figures from the state agencies can be attributed to the interpretation of what constitutes a meth-related death. The health authority collected its data from death certificates. As meth-related deaths have increased, so too has the number of convictions for meth possession. The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission recorded a steady rise in convictions from 2008 to 2016, according to its sentencing data. The state had more than 2000 meth possession convictions in 2008, according to the commission. By 2015, that number soared to 3,665 convictions. The next year saw a slight decrease, dropping to 3,612 convictions. Law enforcement agencies are looking to curb drug use by empha- sizing treatment options like through drug courts. Salem Police Lt. Dave Okada said agencies are working together to address the issue, but it’s going to take considerable combined effort to make a dent in the problem. “We can’t arrest our way out of this,” Okada said. “It’s a societal issue, and what we really need to do is continue with education and prevention efforts.” Lawmakers move to ease scrubbing of racist provisions By ANDREW SELSKY Associated Press SALEM — When Oregon lawmaker Julie Fahey and her husband bought a house, the deed said that only whites could live there unless the person was a domestic servant. Across America, many home owners and buyers of older prop- erties like Fahey are shocked to see racist exclusions remaining on deeds, decades after they were outlawed. Fahey researched how to remove the offensive language, and discovered that doing so would be complicated and expensive. Notice would have to be served to every person and institution with financial interest in the property and a request filed in court. Fahey, a Democrat in the Oregon House of Representatives who is white, decided to sponsor a bill to make it easier for people to scrub the offensive language from their deeds. The measure unani- mously sailed through Oregon’s House of Representatives on Wednesday, but not before it opened a window on how the racist provisions are hurtful, and race unenforceable. They were outlawed by the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968. Before, the Federal Housing Administration denied mortgages based upon race and ethnicity, a practice known as redlining that kept people who weren’t white from buying into more desirable areas where property values were rising. C a l i f o r n i a lawmakers passed a bill in 2009 to have racist covenants purged when- ever property changes hands, but former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it, noting the covenants are already void and raising concerns about counties raising fees to cover costs. California lets residents request to have the covenants redacted, and several other states have also taken measures to purge racist language from housing documents. Still, these whites-only covenants remain on property deeds across the country, from South Carolina, to Missouri, to Washington state. A study by the how they underscore housing inequalities that persist today. Sen. Lew Frederick, an African-American representing Portland, told a hearing on the bill last week that the deed to his own home still has language that says he cannot live there. “This is not enforced, but it’s quite a surprise to discover that I am illegal living in my own house,” Frederick said. Rep. Mark Meek, who is a realtor and represents the Portland Fahey suburb of Oregon City, described “uncomfortable discus- sions” with clients that arise when racist exclusions are listed. “I say it’s not enforceable, but the history of it and really the true ugliness of it (persists) even though we’re in a different era,” said Meek, a Latino. “I think it comes to a time where we don’t erase that history but ... we make a path for those citizens and those owners of those properties who say that’s no longer allowed here.” The U.S. Supreme Court in 1948 made restrictions based on 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. 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Circulation Manager: Marcy Rosenberg • 541-966-0828 • mrosenberg@eastoregonian.com Copyright © 2018, EO Media Group REGIONAL CITIES Forecast SUNDAY SATURDAY Mainly cloudy and breezy Mostly cloudy with a few showers 51° 42° 54° 35° MONDAY Snow and rain; breezy, colder Very cold with clouds and sun Sunshine, but cold PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 40° 17° 26° 10° 31° 10° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 57° 37° 56° 44° PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW 46° 47° 66° (1982) 31° 29° -5° (1923) 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" 0.62" 2.05" 2.36" 2.00" HERMISTON through 3 p.m. yesterday TEMPERATURE HIGH Yesterday Normals Records LOW 50° 48° 63° (2016) 28° 29° -8° (1936) 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" 0.48" 0.52" 1.58" 2.29" 1.80" SUN AND MOON Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today First Full Feb 22 Mar 1 Last Mar 9 32° 16° 36° 19° Seattle 49/43 ALMANAC Yesterday Normals Records 44° 21° 6:56 a.m. 5:23 p.m. 7:31 a.m. 6:27 p.m. New Mar 17 Today TUESDAY Spokane Wenatchee 40/30 51/33 Tacoma Moses 49/42 Lake Pullman Aberdeen Olympia Yakima 54/35 40/34 49/43 49/41 59/35 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 48/44 50/42 Lewiston 57/42 Astoria 49/39 50/43 Portland Enterprise Hermiston 50/44 Pendleton 40/34 The Dalles 56/44 51/42 54/42 La Grande Salem 43/37 52/44 Albany Corvallis 49/44 51/43 John Day 46/37 Ontario Eugene Bend 49/32 50/42 47/35 Caldwell Burns 49/34 43/26 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 50 44 47 56 43 40 50 50 56 46 52 43 41 53 49 52 49 56 51 50 48 52 40 41 49 50 59 Lo 43 32 35 43 26 34 42 41 44 37 27 37 36 36 44 45 32 40 42 44 32 44 30 34 45 42 35 W r c pc s pc c pc pc c pc s c c pc sh pc pc c c r pc r c c r c c Hi 48 48 52 52 49 46 52 53 57 51 53 48 46 56 50 52 53 57 54 52 55 53 43 46 51 56 56 Today Beijing Hong Kong Jerusalem London Mexico City Moscow Paris Rome Seoul Sydney Tokyo Lo 21 64 46 36 49 21 35 40 19 71 38 W s pc s pc pc sn pc pc pc s pc Lo 37 29 29 39 27 31 35 33 37 35 28 33 30 34 37 38 34 35 35 36 29 36 23 28 38 36 28 W r sh r c c sh r sh sh sh pc sh sh r r r c c sh r sn r r sh r sh sh Sat. Hi 45 69 48 49 76 26 47 56 34 81 52 (in mph) Klamath Falls 52/27 Boardman Pendleton Lo 30 64 43 38 48 22 31 45 21 71 34 W c pc pc pc pc sn pc c s pc pc REGIONAL FORECAST Coastal Oregon: Rain and drizzle across the north today; clouds and sun in central parts. Mostly sunny in the south. Eastern and Central Oregon: Clouds and sun today with a shower during the after- noon; breezy across the north. Western Washington: On-and-off rain and drizzle today with snow in the Cascades. Rain tonight. Eastern Washington: Mostly cloudy today. A bit of snow in the mountains; a bit of snow and rain in the north and near the Idaho border. Cascades: Clouds and sun today; a couple of fl urries, but a little rain across the north. Northern California: Plenty of sunshine today. Clear tonight. Sunny to partly cloudy tomorrow. Today Saturday WSW 12-25 WSW 10-20 WSW 12-25 WSW 12-25 UV INDEX TODAY Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. 0 1 2 2 1 NEWS • To submit news tips and press releases: call 541-966-0818 or 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 sports or outdoors information or tips: 541-966-0838 • sports@eastoregonian.com Business Office Manager: Janna Heimgartner 541-966-0822 • jheimgartner@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 53/36 Classified & Legal Advertising 1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678 classifieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Sat. WORLD CITIES Hi 46 74 60 49 78 25 49 54 39 83 47 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 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 — TODAY University of Washington found racial restrictions in scores of neighborhoods in Seattle and its suburbs. “No person other than one of the Caucasian race shall be permitted to occupy any portion of any lot in said plat or any building thereon except a domestic servant actually employed by a Caucasian occupant of said lot or building,” says a restriction in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. Another covenant says: “No part of said property hereby conveyed shall ever be used or occupied by any Hebrew or by any person of the Ethiopian, Malay or any Asiatic Race.” Fahey’s own deed for her house in the university town of Eugene, dated May 31, 1949, says only a “Caucasian” can use or occupy any building in the subdivision “except as domestics.” Her bill, which goes before the Senate, would enable a home- owner to notify interested parties by certified or registered mail about the plan to scrub a racist covenant. The new process would ensure that no other fees would be imposed. 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. ©2018 -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 will soak areas from northeastern Texas to southern New England today. Rain will also fall on the coastal Northwest and in part of New Mexico. Expect snow over the northern Rockies and Appalachians. Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 89° in Presidio, Texas Low -8° in Crosby, N.D. 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 52 72 58 59 33 67 45 48 80 60 28 35 60 46 33 57 17 25 80 76 38 79 38 62 58 75 Lo 33 54 28 26 15 49 33 24 58 30 12 23 41 25 17 43 0 16 67 55 24 58 26 44 36 51 W c c sh c pc c pc sh pc r pc c r s pc r pc s pc sh pc pc s s r s Sat. Hi 57 70 42 39 30 67 50 34 73 46 35 40 61 52 35 65 18 23 80 70 40 80 52 68 50 75 Lo 35 49 36 29 8 44 34 30 56 33 20 30 46 35 27 47 6 7 68 54 27 57 31 45 36 49 Today W s sh pc pc c sh c pc pc r sn pc r s pc c pc pc pc sh sn c s s r s 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 51 61 85 28 23 64 80 58 46 31 62 71 46 54 78 38 56 65 39 48 73 65 49 65 61 45 Lo 31 40 65 16 18 39 60 26 34 25 27 49 17 24 44 16 28 37 26 35 50 45 43 48 31 30 W r r pc s s r pc sh c s sh pc sh sh sh s s s pc s s s r c c pc Sat. Hi 44 47 85 35 34 48 79 37 61 43 40 74 31 37 47 30 64 69 47 58 71 64 48 71 43 61 Lo 34 37 68 22 18 36 61 32 34 27 33 52 26 30 39 19 38 43 28 45 51 49 36 53 33 34 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 s sn c r c pc c s pc s pc pc r c s s c pc s s r pc r pc