In brief: Despite more bee colonies, Idaho honey production down

IDAHO FALLS – The United States Department of Agriculture says honey production has dropped 2 percent in Idaho despite an increase of 9,000 honey bee colonies in the state.

Idaho Falls beekeeper Wayne Jones said cool, wet weather last spring killed a lot of blossoms, leading to fewer flowers for bees to visit.

He said colony collapse disorder could also be a factor.

Jones said the reason Idaho might appear to have an increase in honeybee colonies is because more beekeepers are registering with the state.

Experts say honeybees pollinate 80 percent of the insect-pollinated plants.

Two women face charges in Portland road-rage case

PORTLAND – Two women are facing charges after their road-rage incident led to a crash on Interstate 205 on Wednesday that injured eight people, Oregon State Police said.

Connie Poff, 53, of Milwaukie, was arrested Friday on suspicion of assault, recklessly endangering a person and other charges. Mary Cochran, 27, of Clackamas, was also cited on charges of recklessly endangering a person, criminal mischief and reckless driving.

Police said the women were speeding on I-205 south of Portland on Wednesday morning. They said Poff drove in front of Cochran’s vehicle and braked. Cochran lost control and collided with a van carrying eight people.

The van’s driver and six passengers were taken by ambulance to Oregon Health & Science University for minor injuries. Cochran also was treated at the hospital for minor injuries.

Oregon Senate approves immigrant tuition bill

SALEM – The Oregon Senate has voted to allow some young illegal immigrants to pay resident college tuition if they were brought to the United States as children.

The Senate’s 19-11 vote on Thursday sends the measure to Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber, who said he will sign it.

Illegal immigrants in Oregon pay college tuition at the rate charged to nonresident students, which is about $20,000 more than the cost for Oregon residents. Proponents say young people shouldn’t be priced out of college because their parents chose to immigrate illegally.

Critics say the state shouldn’t be subsidizing a college education for people who violated immigration laws.

At least 14 other states allow young illegal immigrants to pay in-state college tuition. Colorado’s Legislature approved similar legislation this month, and the governor said he’ll sign it.