In brief: ExxonMobil test module halted
LEWISTON – ExxonMobil’s test module will be staying put near Kamiah over the weekend, after a difficult first leg in which power was knocked out to about 1,300 homes and businesses east of Orofino.
Idaho Department of Transportation spokesman Adam Rush said the 500,000-pound test shipment is scheduled to move again Monday night. He said ExxonMobil and the transport company continue to investigate how the load snapped a guy wire for a high-voltage power line.
Pius Rolheiser, spokesman for ExxonMobil subsidiary Imperial Oil, said the findings will help them adjust plans for future moves.
Montana transportation officials said the load is now expected to travel over Lolo Pass early Thursday.
Early prison release plan criticized
The head of Washington’s prison system is not a fan of releasing inmates early to help cut the state’s budget deficit.
Secretary of Corrections Eldon Vail told the Associated Press that even inmates who are locked up for nonviolent offenses pose a high risk to commit crimes once released from prison. Washington already has a small prison population for a state of 6.6 million people.
The state House has advanced a bill to release some inmates four months early, while the state Senate is proposing that some be released two months early. The measures are intended to save millions of dollars from a total budget deficit projected to be some $5 billion.
FEMA approves aid for Oregon coast
SALEM – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a request by Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber for federal assistance to Lincoln and Coos counties to help recover from tsunami damage.
Kitzhaber said the FEMA assistance will go mostly for repairs at the Port of Depoe Bay and the Port of Coos Bay’s Charleston Harbor.
The tsunami that resulted from a massive earthquake off the coast of Japan last month also severely damaged the Port of Brookings in Curry County.
But Curry County was included in the initial federal disaster declaration on March 21.
The Oregon Emergency Management agency and FEMA will start working with county officials next week.
Man fatally stabs himself after song
BEND, Ore. – Police in central Oregon say a 19-year-old man performed a song he introduced as “Sorry for the Mess” at a coffee house “open microphone” event, then fatally stabbed himself in the chest.
Lt. Chris Carney said patrons at Bend’s Strictly Organic Coffee rushed to help Kipp Rusty Walker on Thursday night and police and medics arrived quickly. But the young man died at St. Charles Medical Center from multiple stab wounds.
Coffee shop co-owner Rhonda Ealy told KTVZ that “people at first thought it was some sort of theater.”