March 2, 2017

University of Texas System kills proposal for Houston campus

The University of Texas System has killed its controversial proposal for development of a 300-acre campus in Houston, a project pushed by Chancellor Bill McRaven.

In a press release, McRaven suggests that debate about the merits of the project had become a distraction from the “extraordinary work underway on the 14 campuses of the UT System.”

“I accept full responsibility for the lack of progress on this initiative. I am grateful to the Regents, my system staff and the university presidents for their engagement over the last year,” McRaven said in a memo to Regents’ Chairman Paul Foster.

McRaven also recommended to the Board of Regents that the UT System real estate office develop a plan to divest the UT System of the land, which it bought for $215 million.

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/university-texas-system-kills-proposal-for-houston-campus/rCdaVIzdHwu2sicmt3a3xJ/

March 1, 2017

Corpus Christi judge hears arguments in Texas voter ID case

A federal judge who previously found Texas lawmakers disenfranchised minority voters when it passed a voter ID law questioned state lawyers Tuesday who denied legislators intended it to be discriminatory.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos interrupted Texas Assistant Attorney General Angela Colmenero three times during a hearing in the Corpus Christi courtroom. The judge questioned the lawyer's arguments meant to prove the legislators did not have ill intent and the law drew wide public support.

“But there could be public support for things that are unconstitutional, correct?” Gonzales Ramos said.

“I get your argument but it’s kind of a fine line there,” she later said.

Read more: http://www.caller.com/story/news/politics/elections/2017/02/28/voter-id-hearing-set-tuesday/98493448/

March 1, 2017

Florida man steals, sells neighbors monkey for cash, police say

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Police say a Florida man was arrested after he stole his neighbor’s pet monkey and sold it, according to WTVJ.

Vanessa Di Gennaro told authorities she was cleaning her house in Homestead, Florida, Sunday and put her monkey, Zoe, in the backyard. When she came out, Zoe, a white-tufted marmoset with a value of $2,900, was gone.

"She's a very delicate animal on top of everything; she's not like a dog that you can leave alone. They get into things, they hurt themselves really easy. You have to watch them," she said of her companion animal, which she got because she experiences seizures and anxiety.

"She's my baby; she's my kid," Di Gennaro said. "She goes everywhere with me. I love her to death."

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/crime--law/florida-man-steals-sells-neighbor-monkey-for-cash-police-say/yGpSZ2qcoG8yfbwtHzFUgP/

March 1, 2017

San Antonio man let friend have sex with dead prostitute before he burned body, police say

Police have arrested a man who they say strangled a prostitute and allowed an acquaintance to have sex with the woman's body before burning her "beyond recognition."

Javier Hernandez, 29, was charged with first-degree murder Sunday. Police said he told an unnamed witness that he he was full of “adrenaline” as he committed the crime, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Express-News, Hernandez confessed to the witness that he killed a prostitute and burned her body next to his home. An acquaintance of Hernandez had sex with the dead woman’s body before she was burned, the affidavit states.

Police in late January discovered the burned body of an 18- to 35-year-old Hispanic woman in a garage in south San Antonio.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2017/02/28/san-antonio-man-let-friend-sex-dead-prostitute-burned-body-police-say

March 1, 2017

When hate is the new normal: Another threat at Dallas' JCC, a swastika on Woodall Rodgers

No doubt you've heard by now, if you pay attention at all to the internet or television or radio: Another round of bomb threats went out Monday to at least 13 more Jewish Community Centers and to the Anti-Defamation League , bringing the number to ... what, 80, 90, 100 such threats since the beginning of the year? It's hard to track the figures. They aren't exactly accurate.

I know for a fact that Huffington Post's interactive map, updated Monday, is wrong. The map lists but a single bomb threat made against the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center of Dallas on Jan. 18. But, in fact, there have been two; the most recent came last week, and, till now, has gone largely unnoticed.

Sunday night, about two bourbons into the Oscars broadcast, I opened my email and found a note that had gone to all JCC members from Artie Allen, its chief executive officer. Allen wrote that on Friday, local authorities called JCC officials to let them know that "based on their investigation ... we should have received a bomb threat email earlier in the week." Which was news to the folks at the J off Northaven Road in North Dallas. There had been no phone calls, no emails, no nothing. Business as usual.

But, Allen wrote, "after going through our system, in fact, we found the email had hit our spam filter." That's right: The terroristic threat wound up in the junk folder alongside erection-pill ads, pleas from Nigerian princes who need fast cash and Nextdoor notifications. It's almost funny. Almost. Sounded funnier Sunday night, at least, when read through the bottom of the whiskey glass that now keeps me company.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/02/28/hate-becomes-new-normal-another-threat-dallas-jewish-community-center-swastika-woodall-rodgers

March 1, 2017

Longtime Eugene police detective quits amid accusations of extramarital affairs

A longtime Eugene police officer has sidestepped potential criminal prosecution by agreeing to quit and never work again in law enforcement.

Documents released Tuesday by the Lane County District Attorney’s Office show that prosecutors promised not to pursue potential charges against now-former EPD Detective Ted Williams so long as he resigned and relinquished his state-issued police certifications.

Williams, a police department employee since 1995, finalized a separation agreement with the city Feb. 2. He was placed on paid administrative leave last year.

“In the end, accomplishing his termination of employment from EPD, as well as decertifying him as a police officer, are the paramount concerns for justice in this matter,” Lane County Chief Deputy District Attorney Erik Hasselman wrote in a Feb. 19 memo in which he explained the charging decision.

Read more: http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/35325265-75/longtime-eugene-police-detective-quits-amid-accusations-of-extramarital-affairs.html.csp

March 1, 2017

Two 13-year-old boys arrested in connection with arson at North Eugene High School

Two 13-year-old boys have been taken into custody on charges of second-degree arson in connection with the Feb. 15 fire at North Eugene High School, according to Eugene police.

The two teens, who were not identified because of their ages, were arrested Friday and Tuesday. They both are being held ub juvenile detention center at the John Serbu Youth Campus, Eugene police spokeswoman Melinda McLaughlin said. She added that investigators do not believe anyone else was involved.

Police declined to say what led investigators to the boys or how the fire was started.

The fire was reported at 7:55 p.m. Feb. 15 in a three-sided area with an aluminum cover, McLaughlin said. The flames then spread to a 600-square-foot wooden storage shed that mostly contained equipment for the track team. Damage to the equipment and the shed was estimated at $70,000.

Read more: http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/35327767-75/two-13-year-old-boys-arrested-in-connection-with-arson-at-north-eugene-high-school.html.csp#

March 1, 2017

University of Oregon laying off 75 nontenured faculty in cost-cutting plan, union says

To save money, the University of Oregon is preparing to trim about 75 jobs from its nontenured faculty, according to United Academics, the labor union representing the faculty.

Plans call for reductions of 25 positions from the College of Arts and Sciences, 25 from the College of Education and 25 from other university units, the union said it has learned.

The 75 faculty cuts are expected to come largely from the ranks of the career nontenured faculty, which today number 934.

In addition, the UO so far this year has given layoff notices to four classified employees, and more cuts may be on the way, said Theodora Ko Thompson, president of the UO’s Service Employees International Union.

Read more: http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/35314610-75/uo-laying-off-75-nontenured-faculty-in-cost-cutting-plan-union-says.html.csp

March 1, 2017

Lawmakers examine impacts of rent control, just cause eviction

SALEM — As the Legislature considers passing rent control and restrictions on no-cause evictions this year, lawmakers are trying to sift through how the differing policies are working.

"Oregon is facing a housing crisis, and the Speaker is hopeful that the Legislature will pass meaningful solutions this session," said Lindsey O'Brien, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Tina Kotek, whose constituents have experienced mass evictions in North Portland.

The bill dominating discussion, and which will receive a public hearing Thursday, March 2, would outlaw no-cause evictions and lift the statewide preemption on rent control in local jurisdictions. The legislation is more stringent than an ordinance passed last month in Portland and is missing exemptions such as those in San Francisco that are meant to prevent discouragement of new construction of residential buildings.

Legislators are deliberating these measures under increasing political pressure from tenants who have experienced skyrocketing rents. Meanwhile, landlords are pushing back on the proposed legislation, arguing it is overbearing, will have unforeseen consequences and will fail to solve the state's affordable housing shortage.

Read more: http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/347630-227387-lawmakers-examine-impacts-of-rent-control-just-cause-eviction

March 1, 2017

County's largest homeless shelter provider plans 'innovative' affordable housing project in North...

County's largest homeless shelter provider plans 'innovative' affordable housing project in North Portland

Transition Projects Inc. plans to construct 70 units on Portland Development Commission land after tiny-home pilot project in Kenton ends.

There's a lot planned for a plot of land in North Portland's Kenton neighborhood.

Transition Projects Inc. — the county's largest homeless shelter provider — has signed a letter of intent with the Portland Development Commission to develop land, which is also planned for 14 transitional tiny homes for homeless women, for a future "innovative affordable housing project."

Tyler Roppe, Kenton Neighborhood Association president, says the neighborhood received notice yesterday, Monday, Feb. 27, that the nonprofit had signed the letter after eyeing the site at 2221 N. Argyle St. for the last year. Transition Projects Inc. Executive Director George Devendorf confirmed with the Tribune that they are planning to break ground at the site by spring 2018 as long as they can secure funding.

Read more: http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/347633-227438-countys-largest-homeless-shelter-provider-plans-innovative-affordable-housing-project-in-north-portland