KMED NEWS FOR THURSDAY 2/12/26
A RULING IS EXPECTED TODAY IN THE LAUNDROMAT MURDER TRIAL OF JESUS PENA, JR. WHO IS CHARGED WITH SHOOTING AND MURDERING 51 YEAR OLD JUSTIN KEATON TWO YEARS AGO IN A WELDON CLEANERS ON CRATER LAKE AVENUE. THE SHOOTING STEMMED FROM A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE TWO MEN. NBC 5 REPORTING PROSECUTORS SAY EVIDENCE INDICATES PENA FIRED EVERY ROUND IN HIS GUN AT THE VICTIM.
SENATE BILL 1541 PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE ON A PARTY LINE VOTE. IT’S THE SO-CALLED CLIMATE SUPEFUND BILL ORIGINALLY PUSHED BY SENATOR JEFF GOLDEN OF ASHLAND. A COASTAL REPUBLICAN SENATOR RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THE COST. SENATOR DAVID BROCK WARNS THE BILL WILL DRIVE UP FUEL, HOUSING, AND THE COSTS OF GOODS STATEWIDE.
OREGON STATE POLICE INVESTIGATING ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE ACTIVITY AT HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN GRANTS PASS. GRANTS PASS SCHOOL DISTRICT 7 HAS PLACED A STAFF MEMBER ON LEAVE, NOT MUCH MORE KNOWN AT THIS TIME.
WE’RE GETTING A GOOD IDEA ON WHAT OPTIONS ARE BEING DISCUSSED FOR PLUGGING THE HOLES IN THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION’S BUDGET PROBLEMS. LEGISLATORS ARE CONSIDERING NOT FILLING 138 OPEN POSITIONS IN THE AGENCY WHICH WOULD SAVE ABOUT 70 MILLION OUT OF THE 240 MILLION DOLLARS THAT THEY’RE IN THE HOLE. NOT FILLING THOSE POSITIONS WOULD CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS ACCORDING TO ODOT’S INTERIM DIRECTOR, WHO TELLS LAWMAKERS AT A LEGISLATIVE HEARING RECENTLY THAT EVERYONE IS CARRYING THE WORKLOAD OF TWO OR THREE PEOPLE”.