$240,000 barking lawsuit — A couple who sued their neighbors because of their constantly barking dogs was awarded nearly $240,000 in damages. A Jackson County jury found in favor of Dale and Debra Krein of Rogue River, awarding damages for what was described as more than a decade of ceaseless barking. The defendants said their dogs were necessary to protect their livestock from predators. The court last week found that the Tibetan mastiffs weren’t ideally suited to be livestock guardians and ordered them debarked within 60 days or replaced with a more suitable breed.

Inmate death — The Oregon State Police is investigating an inmate’s death at the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario. The Corrections Department said 53-year-old John McKinley died early Tuesday, about an hour after his cellmate alerted staff that McKinley needed medical help. State police investigate all unexpected prison deaths. The agency has yet to say if this one involved foul play. Several Snake River inmates have died at the hands of other prisoners in recent years. McKinley entered prison in November 2008 on convictions of sodomy and unlawful use of a weapon. His earliest release date was in 2038.

‘Military mistress’ — Oregon authorities say deputies in Alabama stopped the woman dubbed the “Military Mistress” who’s wanted on check fraud in three states but then released her because she wasn’t suspected of local crimes. Bobbi Ann Finley got her nickname in 2010, when national news outlets spotlighted allegations she went from one military base to the next, marrying service members to gain access to their bank accounts. In all, she married 14 U.S. service members. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said the 39-year-old and her new husband have been accused of writing bad checks in Oregon, Colorado and Oklahoma. The agency said it was notified Tuesday that the couple had been stopped by Alabama sheriff’s deputies, who seized the stolen car the couple were living in.

Life for retired teacher — A retired middle school teacher found guilty of sexual abuse has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. John Lulay, 66, of Sublimity, told the judge Tuesday that he has never harmed a child and would give his life to save one. He was charged in May 2014 in a case involving a young relative. More counts were added in November. A mother spoke on behalf of her children, telling the judge they will deal with this for the rest of their lives, and Lulay should spend the rest of his life paying for it.

Resort death — Defense lawyers for a mother accused of killing one daughter and injuring another at a Cannon Beach hotel last summer said they intend to present evidence she was in a “disordered mental state” at the time of the alleged crimes. Lawyers for Jessica Smith said in a defense motion that the evidence of Smith’s mental state may come in the form of expert testimony of a mental health professional or from laypersons with knowledge of the defense. The motion states a jury would have to consider whether Smith’s mind was and continues to be disordered, chaotic and abnormal.

Portland housing — Portland officials have pledged to put affordable housing in good neighborhoods. Local housing officials have hatched a plan to open 500 units in so-called “opportunity” areas. Their most prominent target so far is on the edge of Portland’s South Waterfront District, with the local housing authorities already pledging money toward 80 low-income units at a project set to get underway by 2017.