A BIG COURT WIN FOR PACIFICORP IN ITS LONG-RUNNING BILLION DOLLAR CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT FOR CAUSING SOME OF THE 2020 WILDFIRES. WEDNESDAY THE OREGON COURT OF APPEALS RULED IN FAVOR OF THE POWER COMPANY SAYING A FEDERAL JUDGE IN MULTNOMAH COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT MADE A MISTAKE IN THE WAY HE GAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE JURY. THE CASE HAS BEEN SENT BACK TO COURT FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION. THE JURY EARLIER FOUND PACIFICORP GROSSLY NEGLIGENT IN CAUSING THE SOUTH OBENCHAIN, SANTIAM CANYON, THE 242, AND THE ECHO MOUNTAIN COMPLEX WILDFIRES. THIS LATEST COURT ACTION ESSENTIALLY REVERSES THE BILLION DOLLARS AWARDED IN DAMAGES.
OPEN BURNS LATE WEDNESDAY MORNING CAUSED A COUPLE WILDFIRES IN JOSEPHINE COUNTY. NEWSWATCH 12 REPORTS The Illinois Valley Fire District, Rural Metro Fire – Josephine County and ODF Southwest Oregon District responded to the fires, ONE IN THE 300 BLOCK OF LAKESHORE DRIVE IN SELMA, THE OTHER ON HOLLAND LOOP ROAD IN CAVE JUNCTION. BOTH FIRES ARE BEING MOPPED UP.
GOVERNOR KOTEK HAD HER PROSPERITY COUNCIL SURVEY THE STATE LOOKING FOR IDEAS TO IMPROVE BUSINESS IN OREGON. THE STATESMAN JOURNAL REPORTS MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE TOOK PART IN THE SURVEY. ONE RESPONDENT SAYING THAT OREGON FEELS LIKE A SPIDER WEB BECAUSE OF ALL ITS RULES AND REGULATIONS. OTHERS SAYING OREGON MADE A MISTAKE IN DISCONNECTION THE STATE FROM ANUMBER OF FEDERAL TAX CUTS. MANY PEOPLE REMARKED THAT THE STATE’S CLIMATE PROTECTION PROGRAM SHOULD BE PAUSED OR DISMANTLED DUE TO THE HIGH COSTS.