West News

Atmospheric River Soaks Pacific Northwest with Record-Breaking Rain

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard rescued five people from flooded areas on Tuesday as an atmospheric river brought heavy rain, flooding and unseasonably warm temperatures to the Pacific Northwest. The conditions also closed rail links, schools and …

Calif. 2nd: Retaliation in Police Citation Quota Case May Not Be an Uninsurable ‘Willful Act’

California Labor Code section 1102.5 prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for refusing to participate in unlawful activities. That explains why, after the city of Whittier paid a $3 million settlement to six police officers who claimed they were disciplined …

Berkshire Utility Reaches $299 Million Oregon Fire Accord

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co.’s PacifiCorp said it will pay $299 million to settle claims over wildfires that burned homes in southwest Oregon, averting another jury trial in litigation that has already exposed the utility to billions in damages. The accord, …

GM`s Cruise Robotaxi Service Faces Fine in Alleged Cover-Up of San Francisco Accident’s Severity

California regulators are alleging a San Francisco robotaxi service owned by General Motors covered up the severity of an accident involving one of its driverless cars, raising the specter they may add a fine to the recent suspension of its …

US Navy Plans to Raise Jet Plane off Hawaii Coral Reef Using Inflatable Cylinders

HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. Navy plans to use inflatable cylinders to lift and roll a jet plane off a coral reef in Hawaii before removal from the ocean waters where the aircraft crashed on Nov. 20. Rear Adm. Kevin …

Ore. Supreme Holds Claims for Lost Money are No Exception to Statute of Repose

Oregon’s statute of repose bars any action for negligent injury filed more than 10 years after the act or omission that caused the damage, even if money is the only thing at stake, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. In …

Officials Begin Clearing Debris, 3 Remain Missing in Alaska Landslide that Left 3 Dead

WRANGELL, Alaska (AP) — Searchers looking for three people who remain missing after a massive landslide that killed three others and injured a fourth have changed their strategy from holding an active search to a reactive search that will involve …

Los Angeles Freeway Is Fully Reopened After Arson Fire

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An elevated Los Angeles freeway closed for more than a week because of an arson fire reopened ahead of Monday morning`s commute, at least a day earlier than previously announced and weeks ahead of the original …

Investigators Found Fire and Safety Hazards on Land Under I-10 in Los Angeles Before Arson Fire

LOS ANGELES (AP) — State investigators repeatedly identified fire and safety hazards at a leased storage space under an elevated Los Angeles freeway before it burned in an arson fire, documents show. The Nov. 11 blaze, fed by flammable materials …

Details of California Wildfire Plan Sketchy But It’s Useful Marketing Tool for Data Vendors

A proposal by California’s insurance regulator to require insurers to write more policies in areas at risk of wildfires is more a promise than a plan, but the announcement is giving data analytics vendors a new way to pitch their …

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