Alleged abuse — Hood River County sheriff’s deputies arrested a former youth coach accused of sexually abusing a minor. The sheriff’s office said 24-year-old Gerardo Morales of Parkdale was booked into jail Wednesday on charges of sodomy, sexual abuse and attempted coercion. A news release from the office said Morales has worked with local children through sports and youth group programs, and that the investigation began three days before the arrest.

Cooking oil spill — Firefighters and hazmat crews responded after about 2,000 gallons of used cooking oil spilled Friday from an overturned tanker in the northwest Portland area. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue said the tractor-trailer rig was heading uphill on a curve when the trailer overturned. No one was hurt. Officials said an initial investigation shows that the oil flowed down about 100 feet of roadway and off an embankment. It reportedly was contained to a ditch and did not contaminate two nearby creeks. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality was notified. A cleaning company was called in to remove the oil from the roadway.

Human remains identified — Human remains found near Nicolai Mountain more than three years ago have been identified as those of a man whose last known address was in California. Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin said investigators still don’t know the circumstances of Justin Anthony Eraci’s death. He said items found near the remains indicate the 31-year-old had spent some time in Portland before his death. Those with knowledge of Eraci and his activities in northwestern Oregon are asked to call sheriff’s Detective Ryan Humphrey at 503-325-8635.

Ground breaking at VA hospital — Construction has started on a $7.5 million substance abuse-treatment building at the Roseburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center campus. Interim VA Director Doug Paxton told those at Thursday’s groundbreaking that the building will add to, rather than replace, the existing mental-health building. The building scheduled for completion next year will feature private rooms in which 22 veterans can receive residential rehabilitation treatment for substance abuse.

Bull Elk poaching — The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division said two bull elk were illegally killed in Lincoln County, and it wants anyone with information to contact the state’s Turn in Poachers hotline. Senior Trooper Ryan Kehr said the animals were seen floating in the Siletz River on March 4. Both were shot and left to waste with no meat removed from the carcasses. It’s believed the elk had only been dead for a few days. A reward of up to $6,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction. The Turn in Poachers hotline is 1-800-452-7888.

Whooping cough — New confirmed cases of pertussis have been reported in Benton County. The county Health Department said the patients are from Linus Pauling Middle School and Crescent Valley High School. A department official said there were also confirmed cases of what’s commonly known as whooping cough at Philomath schools.