Richard James Ascoli Jr., 20, was arrested by police Tuesday on suspicion of sexual abuse and sodomy. He appeared in Multnomah County Circuit Court Wednesday and is scheduled for another appearance on June 27.
A Gresham man is accused of sexually assaulting two boys under the age of 10 and authorities believe there could be other victims.
Ascoli is not related to either boy, said Lt. Claudio Grandjean, a Gresham police spokesman. He is believed to have met the children at Rockwood Central Park at Southeast 176th Place and Yamhill Street. Ascoli has been allegedly abusing one of the victims since 2012.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in court, Ascoli told Multnomah County Child Abuse Team detectives on June 13 that he performed oral sex on one boy at the park three days before. Ascoli, who has a mental disorder, said he and the boy ran when a man spotted them behind some bushes and intervened.
Ascoli also told detectives he brought the same boy into a park bathroom two weeks before the June 10 incident, the affidavit said. Ascoli was apparently not arrested after the interview.
A Gresham resident told investigators that he went to Ascoli's home on Monday after his nephew saw Ascoli walk with a boy from the park into his home, the affidavit said. The resident said he saw the boy leaving Ascoli's home as he arrived and when he asked Ascoli if he'd done anything sexual with the boy, the 20-year-old reportedly said, "Yeah, but he started it."
The resident called Gresham police and told officers about the incident and where Ascoli lives, the affidavit said. Officers found Ascoli at Rockwood Central Park with his grandmother on Tuesday and questioned him about the sexual abuse allegations. While they were speaking to him, a second boy walked up to them.
Ascoli admitted to police officers that he fondled and performed oral sex on that boy as well, the affidavit said. Ascoli was then arrested.
Grandjean said Wednesday that he was looking into why there was a delay in the arrest.
Anyone with information on any other possible victims is asked to contact Portland Police Detective Mike Malanaphy at 503-823-0278 or mike.malanaphy@portlandoregon.gov.
-- Everton Bailey Jr.
Three years ago in September, Tuan Anh Tran Caraballo was a young Cuban refugee crossing into the United States with a little over $100 in his pocket. In September this year, Tran Caraballo will start classes at Stanford University with nearly a full-ride scholarship worth almost $60,000.
Three years ago in September, Tuan Anh Tran Caraballo was a young Cuban refugee crossing into the United States with a little over $100 in his pocket.
In September this year, Tran Caraballo will start classes at Stanford University with nearly a full-ride scholarship worth almost $60,000.
One of the bridges that helped him come so far -- literally and academically --is Mt. Hood Community College, where he started by learning English and finished Saturday with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and an associate's degree.
Tran Caraballo, who will turn 23 next week, still has far to go. After earning a bachelor's degree at Stanford, he expects to go to medical school and become a pediatrician, drawing on inspiration from his childhood in Havana.
"The first meeting I had with Tuan, he told me he was going to transfer from Mt. Hood to an Ivy League school," says Nicci Harwood, Tran Caraballo's adviser in the college's TRIO Student Support Services program. "I believed him. There's something about Tuan. He's very focused. He's enthusiastic about everything."
Harvard University turned down his application, dashing his Ivy League plan. But Stanford took a close look at his personal story through admissions essays before offering him one of just 34 spots awarded to transfer students out of the more than 1,500 applicants.
Stanford also offered to pay not only his full tuition but also other expenses, including room, board and transportation. It was slightly better than another generous offer from Johns Hopkins University, so he decided to head south to California rather than east to Baltimore.
Stanford will cover most of the $63,664 annual cost of attending the college, including annual tuition of $42,000 and expenses such as room, board, health care and transportation. His Pell grant plus outside scholarships or work-study should cover the remainder and enable him to graduate debt-free, he said.
He will reapply for the financial package each year but expects no problems as an enrolled student.
Tran Caraballo doesn't yet know how many of the academic credits he earned at Mt. Hood will transfer to Stanford. He said it probably will take him three years to earn his bachelor's degree there.
Tran Caraballo takes his success in stride.
"I feel already successful no matter where I go, no matter what I am," he says.
But his mother was so proud she couldn't speak for a day when he called to tell her he would be going to one of the world's most prestigious universities.
"I don't consider myself smart; it takes me time," he says of his academic achievement. He says his formula is a simple blend of effort, commitment and enthusiasm.
"I call it the alchemy of success," he says. "Something doesn't come from nothing. You have to give something in exchange. It's not intelligence, not your aptitude. It's not your money. It's your hard work that makes the difference."
Michael Russell, one of Tran Caraballo's chemistry instructors at Mt. Hood, says his student's work ethic has taken him far, but he also sees a student with exceptional ability.
Bernadette Harnish, another chemistry instructor, agreed.
"He didn't just want to get an A," she says. "He sincerely wanted to know the material and understand it."
Tran Caraballo stood out among her chemistry students in another way, she says. "Sometimes when I get an A-plus student, they tend to be arrogant. He is very humble."
Tran Caraballo learned his study habits early in Havana, where students didn't have Internet access, updated textbooks and advisers to help. Every top grade he earned had to come through extraordinary effort, he says.
"Here it's so easy to study," he says.
Cuban days He grew up in a middle class household by Cuban standards, with his Cuban mother and a Vietnamese father, who had come to Cuba to study and ended up staying.
When he was just 10, a classmate died of leukemia. Tran Caraballo is impressed with the front-line care Cuban doctors provide, but he says his country has fewer resources for advanced treatments that perhaps could have saved his friend in a more developed country.
The experience stuck with him and inspired him to want to be a children's doctor. He showed enough academic promise early to be admitted into a challenging Havana high school named in honor of former premier Vladimir Lenin of the Soviet Union, which was allied with Cuba during the Cold War.
After high school, Tran Caraballo had to turn down a college scholarship offered through the Vietnamese Embassy in Cuba to complete his country's compulsory military duty. After 18 months of service, he enrolled in the University of Havana but lasted just a few months.
"They only teach you what the government wants you to know," he says, and the courses of study are outdated because Cuban professors are cut off from much of the world.
In 2009, Cinthia Cabrera, now his fiancée, moved to Gresham to live with her father, a relatively simple move for her because he had become a U.S. citizen.
Tran Caraballo's path was much harder. Cuban authorities wouldn't let him travel to the United States or even bordering countries. He was allowed to fly to Vietnam, where his father's family still lives, and from there he could fly to Mexico. He landed in Mexico City with a little over $800 from both his Cuban and Vietnamese families. Path to Gresham In Mexico, police stopped him. To stay out of jail, he paid them off with about $700 so he could reach a border crossing in Texas, where he declared his intention to seek political asylum. The American government often allows access and aid to help Cubans fleeing their communist homeland.
"The United States is the only country that gives benefits to the Cuban people," he says. "This is the land of opportunities. This is the best country for immigrants."
Unlike many newly arrived Cubans, Tran Caraballo didn't have family in America. He had acquaintances in Florida, but he had a place to stay with his girlfriend's family in Gresham. The home is just a two-mile bicycle ride from the English as a Second Language courses offered at Mt. Hood.
"I have always been concerned with my education," he says. "I learned enough English in three months that I was able to take regular classes after that."
He is one of 160 students in Mt. Hood's TRIO program, which the U.S. Department of Education funds for citizens and some other students, including Cubans such as Tran Caraballo, who face barriers to college. TRIO helped him with academic advising and other support through college, as well as assistance as he applied for scholarships and college admission.
He helped his older brother, Doanh Tran Caraballo, follow his footsteps from Cuba to Oregon. Both his brother and fiancée also are students at Mt. Hood under the TRIO program.
After medical school, Tuan Ahn Tran Caraballo might return to Cuba as a visitor and perhaps a medical volunteer, but he wants to make Oregon his permanent home. He would like to practice pediatrics and perhaps research childhood cancer, hopeful that one day he can save children facing life-threatening illness, like his young friend back in Havana.
"If I happen to make a lot of money, I will never mind to pay a lot of taxes," he says. "I owe this country a lot."
-- Eric Apalategui
Catch up on some of yesterday's headlines from Portland and Multnomah County.
The Metro cemetery program, dogged for decades by poor management and shoddy record-keeping, is under investigation by the Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board regarding the unlawful resale of hundreds of unoccupied graves and the excavation of human remains later found in an east Multnomah County field.
The state investigation, expected to be complete in the coming weeks, comes after an internal review and an independent audit revealed Metro staff mismanaged its cemeteries for more than 10 years. Metro has acknowledged that nearly 700 unoccupied graves were resold to modern buyers in violation of state law that governed the sale of abandoned burial plots.
• When they arrive at Lone Fir Cemetery in Southeast Portland by tour bus Wednesday morning, members of The Association for Gravestone Studies will tour one of Portland’s oldest and more historic resting places. But they will also see what’s become the bane of historic cemeteries: Vandalism.
Catch up on some more of yesterday's headlines from Portland and Multnomah County:
City spending: Portland leaders just spent six months cutting $16 million in expenses, but the city is still spending more money than it takes in, according to a report released today by City Auditor LaVonne Griffin-Valade. In her second evaluation of the city's long-term financial stability, which comes out every two years, Griffin-Valade and her staff notes that unlike comparable cities, Portland continues to spend beyond its means and faces a shaky future as a result. The report wasn't complete doom and gloom. The city is stable for now, thanks to a diverse revenue base that is projected to grow, along with fairly good credit.
PCC grad: At 45 years old, Michelle Reers is proving it's never too late to finish what you started. Reers was chosen from more than 5,000 Portland Community College graduates to deliver the student speech last Friday. A student leader with a 3.84 grade-point average, she is headed to Oregon State University's honors college this fall to study botany. It's been a long journey for a former college dropout who battled low self-esteem and meth addiction to get here.
School bullies: The fourth-grade boy twice tried to evade his tormenters. But the group of fifth-graders pursued him around the playground until finally cornering him behind the gym. More students joined the group, which grew to about 15 kids, according to a staff memo obtained by The Oregonian. The students hurled "extremely crude comments," the memo states. According to the parent of one witness, these included derogatory taunts about the boy's brown skin. None of us likes to think that bullying would occur in our community. But the May 24 incident offers some lessons in how parents and schools can address the problem.
Light rail: Metro can do a better job assessing whether strategies for increasing ridership are effective by reviewing the results of various programs once they are implemented, according to an audit that will be released today. The performance audit, conducted by Metro Auditor Suzanne Flynn and her staff, found that the regional planning agency should increase the use of “outcome measures” — actual results — to determine if pro-ridership efforts are working or not.
Fisherman's death: A Portland man died Tuesday after he dove into the Columbia River trying to retrieve his fishing pole near Lady Island. John Eugene Deranleau, 60, was one of two fishermen who set out in a boat he owned from Chinook Landing Marine Park in east Multnomah County around 11 a.m., said Multnomah County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Steve Alexander. Around 12:15 p.m. Deranleau's fishing pole fell into the water, and he dove in after it, Alexander said.
Bridge makeover: The Morrison Bridge will get a temporary makeover Friday — the longest day of the year — as part of the Alzheimer’s Association of Oregon’s efforts to honor the 76,000 Oregonians living Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. Purple lights, reflecting the primary color of the organization’s logo, will bathe the 55-year-old bridge during evening hours.
Grimmfest: The NBC television series "Grimm" makes viewers believe in witches, wolfmen and Oregon State University fans who are, literally, beavers. It takes a lot of imagination and creativity to create the illusion that lurking beneath the surface of ordinary Portlanders -- the series is set and filmed in the City of Roses -- are the creatures known as Wesen. Imagination and creativity are also well-represented among Oregon's community of digital media producers. So last Friday, a dozen of the state's digital storytelling creative companies gathered for "Grimmfest" -- an opportunity to pitch "Grimm"-related projects to representatives of Oregon Story Board.
Timbers: Coming off the biggest win of the season and riding an unprecedented 13-game unbeaten streak, the Timbers are feeling very good about themselves. So good, in fact, that at least one player is treating their next opponent as part of the routine. The next opponent? The two-time defending MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy, whom the Timbers will face Wednesday night at the StubHub Center. The Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane-led Galaxy.
-- The Oregonian
Portland-area nonprofits, community groups, government agencies and concerned citizens have teamed up to improve the lives of low-income east county residents.
The Rockwood Pathways Project, a community project designed to efficiently and effectively serve at-risk populations of Gresham's Rockwood neighborhood, has organized the support network.
"This care model puts the families in the middle of it all," said Sharon Darcey, executive director of Pathfinders of Oregon, a nonprofit with a mission to break the cycle of youth violence. "Often individuals and families won't know how to gain access to services."
Pathfinders is one of 13 social service organizations involved in the Pathways Project. To highlight the project, a recent community dinner celebrated the diverse cultures of Rockwood, an area noted for a high incidence of gang violence and poverty. The dinner, May 31, with an estimated 700 people attending, featured food from around the world. The dinner was followed the next day by festivities, educational booths and opportunities to register children for free or low-cost summer events.
But as much as it was about bringing people together, it was also about the future, said Darcey.
The Project is "a work in progress," she said. "All of our collaborative efforts are about changing lives for the better in the most effective way."
The Pathways Project envisions establishing a web of connections among service providers so that someone in need of one service will find a path leading to others. The state Department of Human Services, for example, might refer a mother to a parenting class, where she will not only get help with parenting, but guidance to other services that can help her and her family. Someone might go to Pathfinders seeking help finding a job or housing, and though Pathfinders doesn't provide those services, it could steer that person to agencies that do. The goal is to build a network in which agencies and community groups are better aware of one another and working in harmony.
Paths to help were not so clear for Sandra Casillas when she was poor, homeless and embroiled in domestic abuse and drug use.
"I became involved with the wrong groups by the time I was 14, " said Casillas, 31, now operations manager with the Center for Family Success in Northeast Portland. "I got into trouble and fell into drugs. I was pregnant when I was 17, had to run away from my first husband and had no place to turn."
Casillas found the maze of government and community services around her so confusing that for a time she struggled to live without them.
"I needed some sort of guidance or help," she said. "I would go to one service and be told I didn't meet their income requirements. Then I'd go to another and be told they couldn't help because of my address. What do you do when you're told you have to wait three more days for food and you have a baby on the way."
After hitting many dead ends, she finally found help.
"Eventually, I found my way to the housing and food services I needed," she said. "But it wasn't easy. All it took was someone to show me the right direction. Then I had doors opened for me, no one judged me and I was shown the way to services I needed. Now I want to open doors for others."
Linda Nilsen-Solares, executive director with Project Access NOW of Portland, explains that organizations involved with the Pathways Project want to eliminate the roadblocks Casillas encountered.
"We are really fortunate in the Portland Metro area that we have a lot of agencies that want to do good work," said Nilsen-Solares. Through Project Pathways, she added, "We can align our efforts and get better outcomes and spend fewer dollars."
Shane Bemis, mayor of Gresham, attended the weekend celebration and agreed.
"It's moving to see such human capital come together in Rockwood," he said. "These organizations are taking a vested interest in the community, and this is a wonderful opportunity for our residents to learn about what's available to help us all succeed."
Sharon Darcey of Pathfinders said the success of Sandra Casillas is but one example of the good things that are possible.
"This model of collaboration is new and everything is in theory," she said. "But imagine how many success stories there will be."
-- Nancy Anderson
The new summer program is called "Let's Go," after the established "Let's Go Camping" program that parks already offer. The new Let's Go activities offer organized hiking, birding, disc golf and paddling.
Oregon parks in the Willamette Valley and Columbia River Gorge will be offering many new family friendly activities this summer, from June 25 to Sept. 3.
Disc golf will be on display at a championship level at Milo McIver State Park near Estacada.
Led by rangers, some of state parks' new recereational activities require registration and a fee, but most do not.
"We know people want to get out and have fun, but sometimes they don't know how to get started with something new," said Steve Janiszewski, state parks support manager for the Willamette Valley and Columbia gorge. "We think a friendly state park ranger can help break the ice."
Activities include:
Hiking: A two-hour nature hike. Some are pet-friendly, all are free (some parks charge a $5 parking fee).
Birding: A two-hour walk and introduction to bird identification. Bring your own binoculars, or borrow one of ours. Free (some parks charge a $5 parking fee).
Disc golf: Learn the rules and techniques, and get some hands-on experience with this challenging sport. $10 per person (includes parking fee).
Paddling (canoeing and kayaking): A ranger will show you how, then you'll get into your own boat. $15 per person (includes parking fee).
Locations vary throughout the Willamette Valley and Columbia gorge. Programs are open to ages 8 and up (8-14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). To register, call toll free 888-953-7677, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Space is limited. A detailed list of parks, dates and times is online at oregonstateparks.org.
Milo McIver State Park will once again welcome the Beaver State Fling disc golf tournament during the last weekend in June. The event is hosted by Stumptown Disc Golf and sponsored by Keen Footwear, Innova Disc Golf and Next Adventure, among others. It is one of seven national tour events in the country overseen by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), the sport's governing body. About 300 disc golfers, both pro and amateur, have already registered to compete.
"The Beaver State Fling is consistently one of the most popular disc golf events in the country. One year, all of the registration spots online sold out within 30 minutes," said Jeff Mittl, a co-director of the tournament and a member of Stumptown Disc Golf, a Portland-based club which volunteers to install and maintain courses in the area. "Players want to come here because of the course at Milo. It's one of the most challenging and visually pleasing disc golf courses around."
Each year, the tournament draws a few hundred spectators. There is no admission fee to watch, although day-use permits are required to park a vehicle at Milo McIver ($5 per car per day, or $30 per year). Generally, the competition rounds start at 8:30 a.m. and end between 4-8 p.m. each evening with a two-hour break for lunch. Following the final pro round on Sunday, at approximately 5 p.m., PDGA gear will be raffled off. The raffle will be followed by the awards ceremony.
On Thursday, June 27, before the tournament begins, several pro disc golfers will offer a free clinic for novice players at the park's Cedar Shelter from 5-7 p.m. For those who cannot attend, but want to learn the sport, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will offer low-cost introductory Let's Go Disc Golfing programs at various parks in the Columbia Gorge and the Willamette Valley, including Milo McIver, throughout the summer . To see all upcoming programs, check OPRD's online event calendar at oregonstateparks.org.
Milo McIver's 27-hole Riverbend disc golf course is open year-round and has both amateur and professional-length tee pads. In 2014, it will host the PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championships Aug. 12-17. The park is located northwest of Estacada off Springwater Road. For more information about the Beaver State Fling, visit beaverstatefling.com. For more information about the sport of disc golf and the PDGA, visit pdga.com.
-- Terry Richard
John Eugene Deranleau, 60, of Portland, was not wearing a personal flotation device, police said.
A Portland man died Tuesday after he dove into the Columbia River trying to retrieve his fishing pole near Lady Island.
Deranleau quickly began struggling, Alexander said, and the other fisherman tried to get the boat over to him. He was not wearing a personal flotation device, was face down in the water and unconscious by the time his friend maneuvered the boat over to him.
Deranleau's friend was unable to pull him onto the boat, Alexander said. Another boater saw what was happening and came over to assist.
They took Deranleau back to Chinook Landing and called emergency responders. The man was pronounced dead at the hospital.
-- Helen Jung
The fisherman dove into the water to retrieve his fishing pole, which had fallen in, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. He is not believed to have been wearing a personal flotation device.
The man was taken to an area hospital and his condition is unknown, said Multnomah County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Steve Alexander.
Alexander said the man was one of two fishermen who set out in a boat from Chinook Landing Marine Park in east Multnomah County. Around 12:15 p.m., his fishing pole fell into the water, Alexander said. The man dove in after it but quickly began struggling, Alexander said.
He was face down in the water for a few minutes as his friend tried unsuccessfully to pull him onto the boat. Another fisherman saw what was happening and came over to assist, Alexander said.
The fisherman is not believed to have been wearing a personal flotation device, he said. He was taken back to Chinook Landing and transported to a hospital from there.
Fans of fiery Szechuan cuisine, Korean barbecue, or Mexican taqueria fare know that the best of each are found in mom-and-pop shops, strips malls and other out-of-the-way spots outside the Portland city limits.
With nearly 45 restaurants from Beaverton to Gresham, from Vancouver to wine country, there are nearly as many restaurants from the Portland's suburbs represented in the 2013 edition of our Diner restaurant guide as there are from Portland proper.
Below, find roundups of the top spots to eat and drink in each of our city's suburbs and beyond:
Autism study: Pregnant women exposed to heavy diesel pollution are twice as likely to have a child with autism as those living in areas with low pollution, according to a study published today. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that diesel, mercury, lead, manganese and methylene chloride in the air significantly increased the risk of having a child with autism. The study comes in the midst of efforts to slash Oregon's pollution levels -- Portland has the state's highest levels of toxic pollution -- in addition to a growing focus on autism and its causes as rates increase around the country.
Cat coming home: He'd nursed the cat with an eyedropper after she was abandoned under a porch at 2 weeks old. Later he took her everywhere, even on excursions from his home to the beach. When she disappeared on Labor Day, even her littermate was despondent. Now, after nearly 10 months and 3,500 miles, Mata Hairi is coming home. The owner, Ron Buss of Southeast Portland, got a call Thursday from a vet in Montana who identified the white cat with gray and black markings who fetches catnip like a dog. Buss learned she had traveled thousands of miles across the West with a homeless man who'd picked her up at Tabor Hill Cafe, a few blocks from Buss' house in Southeast Portland.
Questionable studies: Oregon researchers have found that a manufacturer's studies of a popular spinal fusion product overstated its effectiveness and downplayed harms that include risk of cancer. Findings by Oregon Health & Science University researchers were designed to settle questions raised over the product Infuse, manufactured by the Minnesota firm Medtronic to promote bone growth. In 2011, a journal associated with a spine surgeons' professional group accused the firm of bankrolling "biased and corrupted" research, and estimated adverse events in as many as 50 percent of patients.
Composting: Portland officials estimate the city has collected close to 120,000 tons of yard debris and food scraps since its residential composting program began about a year and a half ago. Now it looks like New York City is going to follow suit. With just a little over half a year left of his final term, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- who has made news for a number of bold, if divisive moves -- plans to get the city on path to require residential composting.
Port jobs: A federal judge declared Monday that the National Labor Relations Board exceeded its authority by awarding two Port of Portland jobs to union electricians instead of longshoremen. U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman issued an order vacating the August decision by the Washington, D.C.-based board, which found electricians were entitled to plug, unplug and monitor refrigerated containers. Problems related to the dispute at the Port's Terminal 6 led to mile-long lines of trucks last summer, causing cargo vessels to bypass Portland.
Schools contract: Portland Public Schools will extend the no-bid, $15,000-a-month consulting contract for the city of Portland’s former human resources director for up to another year. The district first hired Yvonne Deckard as a consultant in July 2012 and later renewed her contract for another six months in February. The district had paid Deckard a flat rate of $15,000 a month but did not require her to track her hours or turn in any specific written product.
Commuting: More than 80 percent of the Portland City Club's members have approved a bicycling study that calls for, among other things, a 4 percent statewide excise tax on new bike purchases to fund better research and education. The final vote by members of the city's oldest and most respected civic organization was 254-51 -- or 83 percent -- in favor of the 83-page "No Turning Back" report. City Club members voted in person and online late last week.
Portlandia: First, Democratic political strategist James Carville made a video pitch for "Portlandia." Now, the IFC press department has sent out buttons ("Baristas for Portlandia"), bumper stickers ("Bike Messengers of American Say 'Put an Emmy On It!'") and more to make a colorful case to Emmy voters on behalf of "Portlandia."
Preserves: Karl Sigel is a little worried about the canning jars of vodka he's brought to tonight's meeting of the Portland Preservation Society. The crowd ranges from children in tow to a few in their late 40s, who exclaim over the pickle selection at the bar as they garnish their own drinks. They sample popcorn flavored with homemade mushroom-herb seasoning and savor tiny bites of powerful kimchi.But mostly they move around the center table, checking out what their fellow foodies have brought to trade. The selection is mind-boggling to someone who associates just jams and jellies with the notion of canning.
The outbreak covers eight states, including Washington, but so far no illnesses have been identified in Oregon. The Food and Drug Administration has yet to test the product for the virus.
The hepatitis A outbreak linked to an Oregon berry processor continues to spread and now includes nearly 120 people, federal officials said Tuesday.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 118 people have been sickened in eight states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Washington. About half of those people had to be hospitalized.
The Food and Drug Administration has inspected Townsend Farms plant. So has the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The company passed the latter inspection but the FDA has not released its findings. It has yet to test the blend for hepatitis A either, according to a posting on the CDC website.
Class action lawsuits have been filed in Oregon, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Washington on behalf of those who paid for vaccines. If administered within 14 days of exposure, a hepatitis A shot prevents infection. Lawyers have also filed complaints on behalf of patients who became infected with the virus in several states.
-- Lynne Terry