Latest news with #KOIN
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Body found in Columbia River believed to be missing Vancouver teen
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Police say the dead body found in the Columbia River on Friday night is believed to be the missing teen who disappeared one week earlier. Franky Fred, 18, was last seen by friends at Vancouver Lake near the Columbia River on May 23. He was wearing black Nike shoes, black pants, and a white hoodie 'with Hawaiian flowers' when he went missing, and some of his personal items were left at the beach near the Columbia River, according to police. The body was found around 5:30 p.m. by multiple people swimming near a beach in the area of the 6300 block of NW Lower River Road. Fred's family has been notified. The Clark County Medical Examiner will positively confirm the identity at a later date. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Reopening of Portland's Doug Fir Lounge delayed again: What to know
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The wait for the debut of a quintessential Portland venue's new location isn't quite over yet. Contrary to previous reports, Doug Fir Lounge is no longer slated to reopen on 301 SE Morrison St. this summer. Tiny opossum settles in at Oregon Zoo after being rescued from wild 'The Doug Fir reopening schedule is still evolving and dependent upon permitting and construction timelines,' Monqui Presents Marketing Director Annie Ostrowski wrote in an email. 'We have high hopes of opening in 2025, pending no further delays, but we will report back when a more concrete date is confirmed.' The venue originally debuted within the Jupiter Hotel on East Burnside Street in 2004. When the relocation to the former Le Montage space was , the concert space was expected to make a comeback sometime the following year. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now However, permitting challenges have further postponed the reopening. Last summer, Portland Permitting & Development spokesperson Ken Ray that Doug Fir Lounge's building permit was still pending due to proposed interior renovations and exterior additions. Bureau of Environmental Services spokesperson Diane Dulken added that the agency was working with the venue to find a solution for the portion of development planned along property that city officials have protected for access to the . But according to Portland Maps, the pending permit was 'approved to issue' as of May 23. PHOTOS: Catalytic converter thief caught on camera at Reynolds School District, still at large As the Doug Fir Lounge continues to push for a 2025 opening, the concert promoting company behind it is eyeing the construction of another space. Local, independent brand Monqui Presents — along with global company AEG Presents — announced on Tuesday that they would break ground on their new Lloyd District venue in June. The site in the former Nordstrom building on Northeast Multnomah Street will offer a capacity of 2,000 to 4,250 people, in a 68-000-square-foot building. It is slated to open in 2027. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
OLCC removes labor agreement rule for cannabis businesses after Measure 119 ruling
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission is no longer requiring cannabis businesses to enter labor peace agreements in order to obtain or renew a cannabis license, the agency announced Thursday. The decision comes after a federal judge ruled Oregon Ballot Measure 119 unconstitutional earlier in May. 'Earlier this month, a federal judge issued a ruling barring the enforcement of Ballot Measure 119. Given this ruling and in consultation with the Oregon Department of Justice, the OLCC will no longer require labor peace agreements as part of cannabis license applications and license renewals,' the OLCC said in a press release Thursday. Portland has the worst housing crisis outlook, LendingTree finds Measure 119, also known as the United for Cannabis Workers Act, was passed by Oregon voters in November 2024 and took effect in December of that year. The measure required cannabis retailers and processors to remain neutral in their communications to employees from labor organizations about bargaining rights. After Measure 119 passed, the OLCC adopted the labor peace agreement requirement in order to comply with the ballot measure, which required cannabis processors, retailers, and labs to provide labor peace agreements with a bona fide labor organization in order to obtain or renew cannabis licenses. The measure was challenged in a lawsuit filed in February by two Portland cannabis businesses, arguing the measure violates the First Amendment and will harm cannabis companies. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now United States District Judge Michael H. Simon in Portland agreed with the cannabis companies, ruling Measure 119 is 'preempted by the (National Labor Relations Act)' and violates the First Amendment. 'Measure 119 is not limited to restricting only threatening, coercive, false, or misleading speech, but instead prohibits all speech by employers that is not 'neutral' toward unionization. Therefore, Measure 119 violates Plaintiffs' First Amendment rights to free speech,' Judge Simon wrote, in part. In response to Judge Simon's ruling, the plaintiff's attorneys with Fisher Phillips LLP told KOIN 6, 'We are pleased with Judge Simon's ruling. Judge Simon reached the right conclusion on this important case of first impression regarding National Labor Relations Act preemption and Constitutional First Amendment speech protections as related to laws requiring businesses to enter into labor peace agreements.' Armed man who threatened Papa Murphy's employees was pepper-sprayed multiple times, police say The plaintiffs' attorneys continued, 'This case is poised to have far-reaching impacts, as many states are considering imposing similar requirements not only on cannabis licensees, but also in other sectors, and this decision helps maintain the proper balance between labor and management and allows cannabis employees to decide for themselves whether to organize without undue influence.' Governor Kotek's office added that the governor — who was named among defendants in the lawsuit — 'respects the court's ruling.' Meanwhile, a spokesperson for UFCW 555, a labor organization that has been a strong proponent of Measure 119, told KOIN 6 News 'We now have conflicting federal rulings, with a judge in Oregon putting Measure 119 on hold while a California judge has upheld a similar law. One of these rulings is destined to be overturned on appeal. Our strong suspicion is that Judge Simon's opinion, which flaunts Supreme Court precedent, will be the one reversed.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Historic lawsuit filed against big oil companies for Washington mother's heat dome death
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – After a Washington woman's death during the 2021 heat dome in the Pacific Northwest, a new lawsuit filed by her daughter is seeking accountability from major oil companies. Misti Leon filed the first-of-its-kind wrongful death lawsuit in King County Washington on Thursday, against some of the largest oil companies in the world, including Exxon Mobil, Chevron, BP, Shell and Conoco Phillips. The lawsuit argues that the companies have been deceptive to the public about their knowledge of fossil fuels driving climate change and extreme heat events, which led to the death of 65-year-old Juliana 'Julie' Leon. Portland has the worst housing crisis outlook, LendingTree finds The lawsuit stems from the that blanketed the Pacific Northwest in heat for five days in late June. During those five days, two days were above 90 degrees while three days saw high temperatures well above 100 degrees. During the heat dome, hundreds of people died across Oregon and Washington. 'The day Julie died was the hottest day ever recorded in Washington with temperatures in Seattle, where Julie died, peaking around d 108° F,' the lawsuit states. Residents appeal Oaks Amusement Park's plan to install 135-foot Drop Tower ride The morning of July 28, 2021, Julia Leon drove almost 100 miles from her Ferndale home to a doctor's appointment in Seattle, following up after undergoing bariatric surgery two weeks prior. 'It was the third consecutive day above 100°F and record nighttime temperatures prevented the built environment from being able to dissipate the heat it had absorbed throughout the day. In effect, Seattle had turned into an oven,' the lawsuit notes. 'On that day, Julie was overcome by heat while driving through Seattle with her windows rolled down,' the suit explained, noting the air conditioning in her car was broken. 'She managed to safely pull off the highway and onto a residential street before losing consciousness.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Court documents then describe how a good Samaritan found Julie in her car about two hours later, unresponsive and hot to the touch. First responders administered over a dozen rounds of CPR and other lifesaving measures but could not revive her. The lawsuit says Julie's internal temperature was 110° F when she died, with her official cause of death determined to be hyperthermia. 'The extreme heat that killed Julie was directly linked to fossil duel-driven alteration of the climate,' the lawsuit alleges. Portlanders hold opposing protests over funding parks vs. police The lawsuit claims that the major oil companies have been deceptive about climate harms and have documented knowledge about fossil fuels driving climate change. 'Defendants have known for all of Julie's life that their affirmative actions and omissions would claim lives,' the lawsuit says. 'Julie is a victim of Defendants' conduct.' The suit claims that as early as the 1950s, the oil companies knew their products were already impacting 'the structure of the atmosphere.' Largest K-12 budget in Oregon history advances in state legislature 'Defendants' deceptive conduct has resulted in very real consequences: accelerated alteration of our climate, extreme weather events (such as heat domes), and loss of life,' the lawsuit argues. 'These companies knew that their products, if used as intended, would cause many people to die. Despite this knowledge, defendants aggressively sought to build demand for their products without ever providing warnings to consumers. Further, defendants affirmatively misrepresented their products' dangers and the actions needed to mitigate them.' The complaint continues, 'Beginning as early as the 1970s, Defendants conspired to discredit the burgeoning scientific consensus on the existence and cause of climate change, deny their own knowledge of climate change-related threats, create doubt about the consequences of burning fossil fuels, and delay the transition to a lower-carbon future.' Attorneys for Leon's estate noted that climate scientists say the heat dome would have been ''virtually impossible,'' without climate change, citing a study published in World Weather Attribution. 'Defeat for democracy'? Waldport City Council reinstates mayor after hostility complaints The lawsuit seeks a court ruling that the oil companies engaged in wrongful conduct along with an economic award for damages. Misti Leon is also hoping to hold the companies accountable for her mother's death, their role in driving climate change, and to reduce the number and likelihood of deaths from future climate disasters. In a statement to KOIN 6 News, Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr. of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP, counsel for Chevron Corporation, said, 'Exploiting a personal tragedy to promote politicized climate tort litigation is contrary to law, science, and common sense. The court should add this far-fetched claim to the growing list of meritless climate lawsuits that state and federal courts have already dismissed.' Spokespeople for BP, Conoco Phillips and Shell declined to comment on the pending litigation. KOIN 6 News has also reached out to Exxon Mobil. This story will be updated if we receive a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Reclaim compassion': Congresswoman Dexter gets emotional during town hall
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Congresswoman Maxine Dexter got emotional Thursday during a town hall with local veterans. Dexter, alongside Congressman Mark Takano, addressed Veterans Thursday morning, working to ensure them that they and their families would receive the 'support, care and benefits that they have earned and deserve' During the town hall, one veteran spoke to the pair about entitlement reform and the possibility of inheritance taxes, which future generations may not be able to afford. In her response, Dexter started getting emotional while speaking on the opportunities that she had growing up and how moving forward the Democratic party needs to be more pragmatic in their approach to patriotism, but also how they need to push kindness and compassion for everyone. 'You can't work your way through college and pay for your housing in Portland, let alone, I grew up in Seattle. Like I could pay for my higher ed and pay for my rent, and have health care with my union. We don't see that for people anymore. That stability is not there. And so that is where my compassion is. It's not codependency. It's what we deserve as Americans to expect that everyone has a stable ground beneath them,' she said. 'The American dream is not just aspirational for the few who already have access to privilege, but for everybody. And that's why I'm serving, quite frankly, I gave up a career I love because my kids and your kids, and your grandkids deserve a future that has the same opportunity that I had to work my way. I am the American dream personified. It's not fair for people anymore. So I hear you. Freedom is something that we need to reclaim as Democrats, but we also need to reclaim compassion and loving your neighbor in a way that we aren't seeing right now.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
