Coastal killing trial — A judge has set a trial date of June 28, 2016, for a Goldendale, Washington, woman accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter and trying to kill her 13-year-old daughter at an Oregon Coast resort hotel last summer. Jessica Smith has pleaded not guilty to an aggravated murder charge in the July 31 drowning death of the little girl and an attempted aggravated murder charge in the slashing of the older girl at a Cannon Beach hotel. The Oregonian reports that defense lawyer William Falls said Thursday in Clatsop County court that he’ll likely pursue a mental health defense. District Attorney Josh Marquis questioned the need for such a lengthy trial delay. Court records indicate Jessica Smith gave a detailed, videotaped interview to an FBI agent after her arrest. Marquis pushed for a summer 2015 trial. Prosecutors have not indicated whether they will seek the death penalty. Smith’s lawyers then said they’d accept an April 2016 date. But Greg Smith, the father of 13-year-old survivor Alana Smith, said by phone he would prefer a later date so his daughter could complete the school year.

Sexual discrimination alleged — Federal regulators said a chain restaurant discriminated against male employees when it refused to hire them for summer jobs in a Utah resort town. The claims against Ruby Tuesday came in a lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court in Portland by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The lawsuit says Ruby Tuesday posted an internal job announcement in 2013 for temporary summer jobs in Park City, Utah. Andrew Herrera, a Ruby Tuesday employee in Corvallis, said he wanted to apply for the job. But the announcement said only female employees would be considered — and only females were selected. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for Herrera and a class of employees, training on discrimination law and other relief. Ruby Tuesday did not return a call for comment.

Celebrity’s necklace — Southern Oregon authorities said a transient man has been accused of stealing a ruby necklace that once belonged to actress Ginger Rogers. Investigators said the necklace is worth $1,200 to $1,500, and the man pawned it for $424.37 in Medford. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said a resident who bought the piece at an auction hired 57-year-old Paul Michael Pedder as a laborer and noticed the necklace missing last week. The Medford Mail Tribune reports court documents say Pedder admitted selling the necklace. Rogers, who died in 1995, had a long history in Southern Oregon. She bought a retreat on the Rogue River in 1940, and a Medford theater is named for her. Pedder has not entered a plea. He’s asked for a public defender and remained jailed Thursday.

Man dies from fall — A man fell to his death early Thursday from a cliff on a Clackamas County mountain that’s popular for watching the sunrise. The Oregonian reports friends told search and rescue workers they were using flashlights at a viewpoint atop Goat Mountain about 3 a.m. but couldn’t find the man. Fire Lt. Clint Shaver said the man fell from a 230-foot cliff. The mountain itself rises 4,200 feet. The man was not immediately identified.

School completes drill — An Oregon high school where a student fatally shot a classmate in June has conducted an abbreviated, and delayed, emergency drill. Usually, lockdown drills are conducted as the school year begins at Reynold High School, where 15-year-old Jared Padgett shot 14-year-old Emilio Hoffman and, later, himself. But spokeswoman Andrea Watson told The Oregonian that things were different for the first drill of this school year, in hopes of reducing stress: The drill lasted three minutes, parents were notified last week it would be conducted, law enforcement officers weren’t scheduled to be on hand, and students were given the option of seeing counselors instead of participating. In a statement Thursday, Watson said the modified drill was completed successfully, and henceforth the Troutdale school plans to conduct drills as usual.

Woman hit by car — A woman who appeared to be “out of it” and perhaps under the influence of drugs ran into traffic and was hit by a car while fleeing police in Medford. Police said the 34-year-old Roseburg woman is in serious condition after the Tuesday night accident. It began when she walked into a home uninvited, sat down and told the surprised residents her name was Jessica. They said she acted as if she was under the influence of some kind of drug. They ushered her outside and called police. When an officer spotted her on a bench she tried to run across a street and was hit. The Mail Tribune reports she was initially listed in critical condition at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Train tested — TriMet tested the first Max train Wednesday on the Tilikum Crossing bridge over the Willamette River. The agency said it was a successful test of the first leg of the Portland-Milwaukie light rail transit project. KATU reports the 1,700-foot bridge will carry light rail and streetcar trains, buses, bicyclists and pedestrians. But no private vehicles will be allowed when it opens in September.

Sick student improving — The University of Oregon student with the bacterial infection that causes meningitis is showing signs of improvement. Lane County Public Health spokesman Jason Davis said doctors expect the woman to recover. The (Eugene) Register-Guard reports doctors are focusing on any possible permanent neurological damage. The student was diagnosed last week with the potentially life-threatening bacterial blood infection, meningococcemia. She’s being treated in a Portland-area hospital. No other people have been diagnosed with the illness. Nearly 800 University of Oregon students have been contacted and advised to get tested for the infection.