In brief: Two detainees continue hunger strike in Tacoma
TACOMA – Two immigrants are reported to be continuing a hunger strike that began March 7 at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.
The News Tribune also reported that U.S. Rep. Adam Smith plans to visit the center today. The Washington Democrat has said he’s concerned about the strike.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the two detainees were under medical observation Wednesday and that both were eating occasionally, but not enough to rejoin the center’s general population.
The strike began with hundreds of participants refusing to eat to call for better treatment and an end to deportations.
Two bald eagles found shot, killed
PORT ANGELES, Wash. – A Washington Fish and Wildlife Department officer said two male bald eagles found dead east of Forks were fatally shot.
The Peninsula Daily News reported the birds found Saturday were an adult and an older juvenile. Wildlife Sgt. Eric Anderson said Wednesday the birds were shot with a rifle, apparently while perched on a branch near the Calawah River.
Anderson said it appears “the person simply shot them to kill them,” rather than for feathers or body parts.
Fish and Wildlife is offering a maximum reward of $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.
Bald eagles were removed from the list of threatened or endangered species in 2007, but the bird is still protected under Washington state and federal law.
Driver dies in plunge off coastal cliff
DEPOE BAY, Ore. – Oregon State Police said a speeding SUV plunged off a cliff on the Oregon coast, landing on rocks 250 feet below. The female driver was ejected and found dead at the crash site.
Lt. Gregg Hastings said the Wednesday morning crash happened about 3 miles south of Depoe Bay. He said a witness traveling south on U.S. Highway 101 reported being passed by a vehicle traveling at high speed that left the highway, traveled through a wide turnout and went over the cliff.
The driver was identified as 23-year-old Adriana Star Ruiz, of Lincoln City.
Father cleared after son escaped twice
PORTLAND – The Oregon Court of Appeals has reversed the child-neglect conviction of a Redmond father who was asleep twice when his 3-year-old son escaped their home.
A three-judge panel found in a decision handed down Wednesday that Jorge Negrete’s conduct wasn’t model parenting, but it also wasn’t criminal.
Negrete had been convicted of second-degree child neglect in Deschutes County Circuit Court after the 2011 escapes.
The judges who heard the appeal called the boy a “fearless toddler.” Neighbors found him unhurt, pushing his toy truck and accompanied by the family dog.
The court found that a reasonable juror could not find a crime beyond a reasonable doubt in Negrete’s conduct.