Methadone killed toddler — A medical examiner determined that a 2-year-old boy died from an overdose of methadone that police say was given to him by his now-deceased grandmother. The boy, Max Maciejewski, stopped breathing after he’d fallen asleep at his grandmother’s Eugene home in December. He was pronounced dead a short time later. Police subsequently conducted an investigation and now say have the evidence that would have allowed them to charge Carol Lumsden with first-degree manslaughter. Lumsden, 58, died from complications of the H1N1 virus in January. Lumsden possessed the powerful painkiller and is believed to have orally administered it to her grandson, police spokeswoman Melinda McLaughlin said. She said investigators spoke with witnesses who alleged that Lumsden had intentionally drugged other children in the past.

Gonorrhea on rise — A jump in the number of cases of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea over the past year in rural southwestern Oregon has state and local health officials alarmed and puzzled. Ruth Helsley, sexually transmitted disease program manager for the Oregon Health Authority, said the reason is unclear. She and Josephine County medical director Dr. David Candelaria say the sudden increase may be related to an increase in methamphetamine use, which increases sex drive and lowers inhibitions. State figures show Josephine County saw an increase of 270 percent, from 10 in 2012 to 37 in 2013. In Douglas County it went up 1,050 percent, from two cases to 23. Jackson County saw a 387 percent jump, from 31 cases to 151.

Coyote hunt — An animal-rights group and the organizer of an annual coyote-killing contest in southeast Oregon have settled competing lawsuits with an agreement that there will be no more hunting contests. Coyotes are classified as predatory animals under Oregon law, and there are no limits on killing them. Faced with that reality, the Animal Legal Defense Fund sued on the grounds that the contest violated anti-gambling laws. Organizer Duane Freilino said Friday he agreed to the contest-ending settlement because he ran out of money to pay attorneys.