On this day, May 21, 2001, in Seattle, Wa., members of the Earth Liberation Front torched the Univ. of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture causing about $6 million in damage. An Oregon tree farm owned by Jefferson Poplar Farms was also burned. four people were later convicted of taking part in the firebombing. One later committed suicide in prison.
Also on this day, May 21, 2002, The George W. Bush administration said it will allow new mining to resume on nearly one million acres of the Siskiyou region.
Also on this day, May 21, 2006, demolition crews destroyed the 499-foot cooling tower of the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant. Demolition of the containment dome was scheduled in 2008.
Also on this day, May 21, 1998, 15 year-old Kipland Kinkel killed one classmate and wounded 19 more at Thurston High School. His parents, William and Faith, were found shot dead at home and a 2nd student died the next day. He had been expelled from school the previous day for bringing a gun to school. Kinkel dropped an insanity plea in 1999 and pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and 26 counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced over 111 years in prison.
Justice Thomas Balmer grants the stay, without explanation.
In a hasty action, the Oregon Supreme Court has granted an
order placing a preliminary injunction on the decision by Baker County Circuit Court Judge Matt Shirtcliff which swept away all of Governor Brown's executive orders on the COVID-19 outbreak. What this means is that economic activity will remain shuttered until the High Court decides the issue. The stay was granted by Oregon Supreme Court Presiding Justice, Thomas A. Balmer at 7:45 pm this evening. The motion was granted without comment and little explanation. "This court has considered defendants' emergency motion and plaintiffs' and inervenors' objections, including factors each identified as relevant to whether this court should issue a stay. The emergency motion is granted."
Justice Balmer, a Democrat, was first appointed to the High Court in 2001 by then Governor John Kitzhaber. He is currently running for re-election to another six-year term.
Expect a fairly quick decision. Legal responses are due Friday, May 22. Legal experts regard this as a signal that the court is leaning toward deciding in favor of the Governor.
--Staff Reports| Post Date: 2020-05-18 18:16:11 | Last Update: 2020-05-19 18:17:24 |
