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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 2, 2019)
BASKETBALL: Treys in abundance for Pendleton hoopsters | SPORTS B1 E O AST 143rd year, no. 53 REGONIAN Wednesday, January 2, 2019 One dollar WINNER OF THE 2018 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Hermiston teen starts new year in remission By JADE MCDOWELL East Oregonian Laylah sandoval began 2018 with a cancer diagnosis, but she started out 2019 with the disease in the rearview mirror. The Hermiston High school student, 16, finished up chemo- therapy for osteosarcoma in sep- tember, and her first three-month scan came back clear in december. The quiet teenager, hair still close- cropped after losing it all to che- motherapy, wants those who might face similarly scary news in the future to know there is hope. “It’s hard when you first hear it and you’re going through it, but just know that there are people out there that care about you and you are going to get better,” she said. Her cancer journey started during the summer of 2017, when she started noticing an occasional pain in one of her legs. The pain turned more consistent as the year went on, and by december she had started limping. Her parents, noticing her limp, wondered about taking her to see a doctor. But she shrugged it off, convinced it was an injury that would heal on its own. Just before Christmas, how- ever, she was four-wheeling with her cousins and injured the same See Remission, Page A10 Staff photo by E.J. Harris Laylah Sandoval, 16, spent 2018 successfully battling with cancer. The Hermiston teen now has a new lease on life, having finished up her treatment in September, and is cancer free. Hitting 2019 at full speed new Oregon laws take effect Protections against domestic violence get stronger By HILLARY BORRUD The Oregonian/OregonLive Staff photo by Kathy Aney POrTLand — Oregon lawmakers passed more than 120 bills during the short legislative session this year. some of the most noteworthy laws, on issues such as taxes and drug price transparency, have already taken effect. However, many other measures took hold on new year’s day, from toughening penal- ties for domestic violence to making it eas- ier for kids who spent time in foster care to get free college tuition. Here’s a selection of some of the most important new laws that took effect Jan. 1: Gun ban for domestic abusers This law expands Oregon’s existing gun ban for those convicted of domestic abuse, so it covers an abuser even if he or she isn’t married to or living with the victim and they don’t have children together. House Bill 4145 closes what supporters called the “boyfriend loophole” and was a top priority for Gov. Kate Brown this year. Strangulation becomes a felony senate Bill 1562: This bill elevates the crime of strangulation during domestic vio- lence to a felony. sen. Bill Hansell, r-ath- ena, was among its chief sponsors, and it passed both chambers with unanimous sup- port. Before the law was passed, strangulation was usually a misdemeanor under state law except in limited circumstances, according to a recent Clackamas County news release. Tougher hit-and-run law starting Jan. 1, Oregon drivers must return to the scene of a hit-and-run crash as soon as they know or have reason to believe they hit a person or a pet. Lawmakers passed House Bill 4055 in response to a 2013 hit-and-run that killed two young stepsisters who were playing in a leaf pile near a street curb in For- est Grove. Plea deals House Bill 4149 prohibits prosecutors to condition a plea deal on defendants’ waiving their constitutional or procedural rights. For example, a defendant eager to get out of jail might waive his or her rights to appear at trial An American pit bull named Cash and his owner Raul Portillo walk the route of Tuesday’s Resolution Run at Riverfront Park in Hermiston. For more on the Resolution Run, see Page A10 See Laws, Page A10 Last baby of 2018 delivers joy, tax savings By KATHY ANEY East Oregonian Staff photo by Kathy Aney Neil Arnold looks adoringly at his new baby girl, Liliana, born on the last day of 2018 at St. Anthony Hospital. The first baby of the year gets the limelight, but it’s the baby born before the stroke of midnight that delivers the tax savings. Taxes, however, weren’t on the minds of Michelle aronson and neil arnold, who took turns holding their brand new daughter Liliana in the st. anthony Hospital birthing center on Tuesday. The 6-pound, 10-ounce bun- dle of joy arrived at 7:44 a.m. on new year’s eve. The baby came early by cesarean section to alleviate some health issues Michelle was experiencing. “she was supposed to be born on the third,” neil said. “That’s my birthday.” Instead, she arrived early. along with her thick brown hair, blue eyes WELCOME: First baby of the new year comes from Boardman, Page A10 and rosebud lips comes a tax credit. That’s different than prior years. Certified Public Accountant Lonnie read explained. read, of rHB Group LLC in Pendleton, said the Tax Cuts and Jobs act takes away the $4,050 personal exemption deduction for every family member listed on the tax return. “What you get instead is a $2,000 child tax credit for any child under the age of 17. That’s up from $1,000,” read said. “you get $2,000 more on your federal return to have have a baby born yesterday rather than today.” This isn’t the first time Michelle and neil have gotten a last-minute tax deduction. Their 2-year-old son, Hunter, was born on dec. 30.