Tag: The Newsroom

The Oregon Department of Justice said Thursday it will not investigate whether politics played a role in the decision by regulators last year to keep quiet the death of an infant in day care. The newsroom found that child care regulators chose not to include the death of 9-month-old William Cannon in an annual tally of deaths posted online. “That review did not reveal information that would support a reasonable probability that an investigation would lead to evidence sufficient to warrant criminal charges,” Boss wrote, adding that the office would take no further action. State officials did not confirm the boy's Aug. 22 death until Tuesday, in response to questions from The Oregonian/OregonLive. Federal rules require the Office of Child Care to disclose annually on its website the aggregate number of day care deaths. Wilson, the Grants Pass Republican, last month asked for an investigation by either the Oregon or U.S. Department of Justice. The Oregonian/OregonLive has highlighted more day care problems since revealing William’s death. A criminal case into William’s death remains under investigation and William’s mother questions if the lack of a forensic autopsy means official missed any clues. Meanwhile, in response to questions from The Oregonian/OregonLive, regulators have now acknowledged that they previously did not disclose the day care deaths of two other children, from 2011 and 2012, citing inconsistencies in state data. -- Brad Schmidt 503-294-7628 @_brad_schmidt Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.