State seeks activist’s records — The state has asked a judge to order political activist Kevin Mannix to submit records connected to his involvement with the Oregon War Veterans Association, a charity accused of making unreported political contributions. Assistant Attorney General Heather Weigler says the state requested the material in July and Mannix has not delivered. An attorney for the former Republican gubernatorial candidate told The Register-Guard newspaper he was negotiating with the state over the release of records and believed an agreement was near before the attorney general’s office filed its motion. The state sued the veterans association in 2011. It contends the charity accepted contributions intended to help veterans and diverted the money for personal use or to benefit Mannix’s political campaigns.
Bar owner accused of discrimination — The Oregon labor commissioner has filed discrimination charges against a Portland bar accused of telling transgender patrons to stay away. KATU reports Commissioner Brad Avakian filed the charge Tuesday against the Twilight Room Annex, formerly known as the P Club. Bar owner Chris Penner is accused of asking a group of transgender patrons known as the Rose City T-Girls to stop visiting because he didn’t want it to be known as a “tranny bar." At the time he was accused last August, Penner said he was shocked and baffled by the discrimination allegation. He said he has gay and lesbian staff, and the bar has hosted same-sex wedding receptions and gay pride events. Investigators found no evidence to support Penner’s contention that the Rose City T-Girls disrupted business. The agency also concluded that Penner did not notify the group of any complaints about their behavior.
OSU wins grant for research vessels — Oregon State University says it’s been selected to lead the final design work and coordinate construction of up to three new coastal research vessels, which would likely be deployed one each to the East, West and Gulf coasts. The university said in a statement Wednesday the National Science Foundation has told the school it will get nearly $3 million to coordinate the design work. If money is appropriated for all three vessels, Oregon State estimates the grant could reach $290 million over 10 years. The school described the vessels as 175-foot-long floating laboratories that would be “more seaworthy and environmentally ‘green’ than previous research vessels."
Former city manager pleads to theft — A former city manager in the Oregon community of Dallas has pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree theft, one count of official misconduct and one count of falsifying business records. Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton says Jerry Wyatt’s plea agreement calls for a two-year prison sentence and full restitution. Felton said Wyatt will repay nearly $12,000, the amount sought by the city of Dallas. The Statesman Journal says the state Justice Department earlier reported that Wyatt had stolen about $14,000, charging personal items for himself and his family on a city credit card. He became city manager in 2007 and stepped down last July.
Temblor shakes metro Portland — A small earthquake in Southwest Washington shook parts of metropolitan Portland on Wednesday. The U.S. Geological Survey says the 3.7-magnitude quake struck just after 5 p.m. and was centered near Amboy, Wash., about 20 miles north of Vancouver. No damage was reported. An hour after the quake, more than 900 people had told the USGS that they felt it. Krissy Barber, of Gresham, told KATU-TV that it felt like everyone in her apartment building slammed their doors in unison, and the couch continued to shake for several seconds.
— From wire reports
