Conrad Wilson
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We're bracing ourselves for this being the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history.
Authorities say they don't expect to find any more survivors from Tuesday's rupture of a 900,000-gallon chemical tank at the Nippon Dynawave packaging company in Longview.
Governor Bob Ferguson says the impacts to the community and families are profound.
Officials say air quality and drinking water in Longview are not affected by the chemicals, though some did spill into the Columbia River.
The Federal Chemical Safety and Hazards Investigation Board announced it has opened an investigation into the rupture.
For NPR News, I'm Conrad Wilson in Portland.
We're bracing ourselves for this being the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history.
In a unanimous decision, the Oregon Supreme Court said defendants' criminal charges must be dismissed if the state fails to provide a public defender within 60 or 90 days after the first court appearance, depending on the severity of the charges.
Under this decision, prosecutors would still be allowed to refile a case later on so long as the state is able to provide counsel.
We have been living in this public defense crisis for several years now.
Nadia Dahab is the attorney who argued the case on behalf of unrepresented people before the state Supreme Court.
These ongoing constitutional violations have become the norm.
and Oregon constitutions say people charged with a crime have a right to an attorney.
For NPR News, I'm Conrad Wilson in Portland.
The ruling blocks federal officers from using chemical or projectile munitions.
That includes pepper balls, tear gas or other crowd control devices, the judge wrote, unless there's an imminent threat of physical harm.
The decision applies to the area only outside the Portland ICE facility and remains in place for 14 days.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson praised the ruling, saying federal officers have used unconscionable levels of force.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said officers were taking constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law.