Chris Pietsch / The Register-Guard Jud Turner covers his heron sculpture near the University of Oregon campus in Eugene on Monday with a knitted fig leaf in protest of the cancellation of a figure-drawing class at the university. The department cited concerns about safety for the nude models and a lack of funding to keep the sessions going.

Seismic upgrades — A panel of experts is recommending that Oregon spend at least $100 million a year to prepare schools and emergency buildings for a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. The recommendation was among nearly two dozen sent to state lawmakers Tuesday. The Legislature last year created a task force to recommend immediate steps that can be taken to improve Oregon’s ability to withstand a massive offshore quake. The panel said the money should be used to retrofit unsafe buildings, tear them down or replace them. Other suggestions include hiring an earthquake adviser to the governor and developing education programs for schoolchildren, businesses and the public.

Turning it into an ad — Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley has turned plagiarism accusations against his Republican rival, Monica Wehby, into a television ad. Merkley’s campaign released the ad Tuesday, two weeks after news reports showed her health care and economic proposals closely resembled statements made by other Republicans. Wehby, a doctor, has run on her expertise in health care and describes herself as an independent thinker. Merkley has tried to pierce her image as a moderate and uses the plagiarism allegations to link her to national Republican figures, including Karl Rove and the Koch brothers.

Police chase doughnut van — Police in Portland said they chased a stolen doughnut delivery van and arrested the driver. As one officer in downtown Portland learned the van had been taken after its driver left it parked and unlocked with the keys inside while he delivered pastries early Tuesday, another officer spotted the vehicle in southeast Portland. After a short pursuit, police said, the driver pulled over, and the officer ordered him to put both hands out the window. As he did so, police said, “The officer observed a pastry fall from the suspect’s hands.” Sgt. Pete Simpson said 34-year-old Peter Leon Johansen was booked into jail for investigation of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, first-degree theft and attempting to elude. The legitimate driver was taken to reclaim the Donut Land van.

Sex offender gets 6 years — A homeless sex offender who had been accused of raping a woman newly arrived in Portland was sentenced to more than six years in prison. The Oregonian reports that 47-year-old Clarence Ray Williams pleaded no contest last month in circuit court to first-degree sexual abuse and attempted first-degree rape. He was sentenced Tuesday. A 20-year-old woman who had recently moved to Portland told police on March 11 that she had left a party and was walking near the Willamette River alone in the early morning when a stranger pushed her down. She said she hit her head on a rock, lost consciousness and awoke to find a man raping her. Investigators said Williams stole the victim’s credit cards, which he used at various locations. Williams was deemed a sex offender for a 1991 third-degree rape conviction.

Water permit denied — State water regulators have denied a permit sought by a mining company trying to develop nickel ore deposits in southwestern Oregon. The Oregon Water Resources Department order issued Tuesday says there was no water in the creek when its staff visited a couple of weeks ago, and if there was, any withdrawals could affect protected salmon downstream. Red Flat Nickel Corp. is trying to develop a nickel mine on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. The remote site is in the headwaters of the Smith River in Northern California. Company representative John Magliana did not respond to an email for comment. Steve Pedery of the conservation group Oregon Wild said he expects the fight to block development of a mine is far from over.