On this day, September 9, 1938, installation of the pioneer statue atop the Oregon Capitol Rotunda began. It took several days.
Also on this day, September 9, 1998 Keiko the killer whale star of the movie
Free Willy, left Oregon. He was flown to a sheltered bay in Iceland when Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society took over his care. Part of his training included swimming in the ocean outside the bay. Keiko disappeared on one of these excursions. He eventually turned up 870 miles away off the Norwegian coast.
Also on this day, September 9, 1942, A Japanese float plane, launched from a submarine, made its first bombing run on a US forest near Brookings, Oregon. Japanese planes drop incendiary bombs on Oregon in an attempt to set fire to the forests of the Northwest. The forests failed to ignite, but Pacific Coast citizens stepped-up their blackout drills in preparation for future Japanese raids.
“We write with deep concern for Oregonians’ safetyâ€
US Represenatives Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Cliff Bentz (OR-02) have urged Governor Tina Kotek to review every conditional commutation granted by her predecessor, Governor Kate Brown. The
letter comes after investigators linked four suspicious deaths from earlier this year to one person of interest, and reports indicate that this individual was released from prison early after being granted conditional clemency by Brown.
“In light of these recent events, we write with deep concern for Oregonians’ safety. It is no secret that the Portland area has already been experiencing a severe and dangerous crime crisis in recent years. 2021 and 2022 were the deadliest years in Portland’s history, with both years soaring past the previous homicide record set in 1987,†the lawmakers wrote.
As Portland’s homicide rate soared, Brown proceeded with granting some form of clemency to over 1,000 inmates -- more than all Oregon governors in the last 50 years combined. The person of interest in the serial killer case is believed to be one of those inmates, who has an extensive criminal record. The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office has referred to the individual as a “prolific thief and career criminal.â€
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
“Despite this extensive and troubling record, and despite the Portland area facing an unprecedented onslaught of crime, Governor Brown proceeded with granting this person a conditional commutation without any other public input or feedback,†the lawmakers continued. “Understandably, this situation has left many Oregonians deeply concerned about the hundreds of clemencies granted by Governor Brown. As we work to decrease crime and restore safety for Oregonians, we urge you to review every single conditional commutation granted by Governor Brown to ensure no one is a victim of the former governor’s reckless leniency. Additionally, we would like to work with you to determine a clear and transparent clemency procedure to ensure Oregonians have a say in the process.â€
--Staff Reports| Post Date: 2023-08-01 12:02:57 | Last Update: 2023-08-01 14:51:09 |
