In brief: Speeding driver nearly hit herd
PORTLAND – Oregon State Police say a Forest Grove driver clocked at 103 mph narrowly avoided plowing his 2011 Chevrolet Cruze into a herd of mule deer.
A member of the police’s Gilchrist unit used his siren and horn to scare the deer off Highway 138E. Moments later, police said, 21-year-old Ji Wang sped through the area.
He was charged with driving in excess of 100 mph and faces a $1,100 fine.
Soldier accused of murder released
SEATTLE – One of four Washington state-based soldiers accused of murdering civilians while serving in southern Afghanistan in 2010 has been released as he awaits trial.
The Seattle Times reports that Pvt. 1st Class Andrew Holmes, of Boise, was released Friday from confinement at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. A base spokesman said Holmes reported to his unit, where he will be monitored and cannot travel outside Washington.
Holmes faces charges that include premeditated murder of a young Afghan farmer in January 2010. A pretrial investigation released last week recommended that Holmes be charged with manslaughter instead.
A forensic expert hired by the defense reviewed photos of the dead farmer and could not find wound patterns made by Holmes’ weapon. Based on that expert’s deposition, investigating officer Maj. Michael Liles said the Afghan’s death “was likely due” to shots fired by two other soldiers.
Army commanders at the base will review Liles’ report and can accept the recommendation to reduce the charge.
Searchers locate airplane wreckage
KENNEWICK – Authorities have found the wreckage of an airplane that crashed in rugged terrain in eastern Oregon.
The Tri-City Herald reports that the plane was reported missing early Sunday with three people on board. There was no information released Sunday evening about survivors.
Umatilla County Emergency Management officials say the plane was bound for Wyoming after taking off from Dallesport, Wash.
The Civil Air Patrol found the wreckage near Ukiah, about 50 miles south of Pendleton.
Professors group sanctions ISU
POCATELLO, Idaho – An organization that represents university professors has sanctioned Idaho State University for what the group said are poor faculty governance practices.
The 200 delegates at the 97th Annual Meeting of the American Association of University Professors voted unanimously on Saturday in Washington, D.C., to approve the sanction, making Idaho State the largest institution on the group’s sanctioned list that includes just five other schools.
The group in particular objected to the State Board of Education agreeing to Idaho State University President Arthur Vailas’ request to suspend the ISU Faculty Senate.
“The vote is absolutely meaningless,” said Idaho State University Communications and Marketing Director Mark Levine. “They represent a meaningless number of national faculty members. It’s a vote from an organization that represents less than 3 percent of U.S. faculty.”