| Man who claimed ‘mercy killing’ portrayed as master deceiver
Information presented to a Multnomah County grand jury paints a much different portrait of John L. Roberts than the one that emerged last week. Roberts, 51, who was indicted Friday in the murder of his wife, Virginia Roberts, was described by some family members as a loving husband who fulfilled his terminally-ill wife's last request by shooting her in the head. But not everyone supported this image of Roberts. Some warned anonymously on The Outlook's web site and in interviews with a reporter that he is a skilled manipulator, and that his defense was untenable. A "memorandum of law" released on Monday by the Multnomah County district attorney's office concurs. The memorandum alleges there was no evidence that Virginia Roberts wanted to die. It further alleges that Roberts has engaged in elaborate acts of deceit in the past, that he had drinking and financial problems and that he was an unfaithful husband.
Cost-cutting trickles down to rental cars
Michael Klatt misses the days when rental cars were shiny and new. In June, he rented a Ford Taurus in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that had loose steering and stained seats. "I was literally touching it to see if it was wet," he says. The car, which had 20,000 miles on it, also had brakes that were a little wonky -- he had to push down hard on the pedal to make them work. "Before you didn't get a car with 20,000 to 25,000 miles," the New Hill, N.C., resident and longtime Hertz customer says. "You can tell: They ride rough; they have a shimmy going down the road; the seats have stains on them. It's like rent-a-wreck." Paula Rivera, a Hertz spokeswoman, says the company's fleet age -- typically eight to 12 months and 16,000 to 20,000 miles -- hasn't changed, and that its cars are maintained in accordance with manufacturer guidelines.
JOB CLASSIFICATION: Stripper lawsuit gets OK Court says lawyer can ...
People pass the Girls of Glitter Gulch topless club Thursday on Fremont Street. The state Supreme Court said Thursday that a Tucson, Ariz., lawyer may pursue a class-action lawsuit that would force strip clubs to classify dancers as club employees and pay them wages.
Photo by Jeremy Lyverse/Review-Journal.
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