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David Ayon-Urbano has argued he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed a teen outside Salem in June 2024, and that the incident was orchestrated by another teen.

To prove Ayon-Urbano’s self-defense theory, however, he and his attorneys have said they need the other teen’s social media records.

The Oregon Supreme Court declined yesterday to force Meta to provide access to those records. OPB’s Troy Brynelson reports on that ruling today.

In another legal matter, Pendleton’s city council voted this week to reject a settlement to resolve a lawsuit over the city’s homelessness policies.

Here’s your First Look at Wednesday’s news.

— John Hill

Top story

Oregon Supreme Court declines to compel social media records in upcoming murder trial

Oregon’s top court has declined to compel the social media giant Meta to release records that could be relevant to a Salem man’s upcoming murder trial.

Justices for the Oregon Supreme Court wrote in a recent briefing that attorneys representing David Ayon-Urbano had not yet proved that the high court’s “extraordinary” intervention is necessary to obtain the records.

Ayon-Urbano shot and killed 16-year-old Hector de Jesus Gonzalez Mendoza the evening of June 23, 2024, during a late-night encounter outside Salem. Prosecutors have charged him with second-degree murder.

Ayon-Urbano, who was 19 at the time, has argued in court that another teen orchestrated the fatal encounter.

To prove Ayon-Urbano’s self-defense theory, he and his attorneys said they need the other teen’s social media records. But a 40-year-old federal law prevents criminal defense attorneys from directly subpoenaing the tech company. (Troy Brynelson)

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3 things to know

1. The Oregon Supreme Court has agreed to review a class-action lawsuit over PacifiCorp’s role in four wildfires that burned over the 2020 Labor Day weekend. (April Ehrlich)
2. It took months for Pendleton city staff to negotiate a tentative settlement to resolve a lawsuit over the city’s homelessness policies, but it took only three hours to unravel. Lawyers representing five unhoused residents say they now plan to proceed with the lawsuit. (Antonio Sierra)
3. The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it will consider the legality of a Washington law to protect runaway transgender youth that opponents contend tramples on parental rights. (Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard)

Northwest headlines

• 21-year-old man dies after jumping into Blue Pool in Willamette National Forest (KLCC staff)
• University of Oregon sets aside $15 million in student building fees to replace natural gas boiler (Rebecca Hansen-White, KLCC)
• Oregon court system to gain new ombudsman for public to report grievances, concerns (Shaanth Nanguneri, Oregon Capital Chronicle)
• Thousands of immigrants got scammed by a Washington attorney exploiting humanitarian visas, lawsuits say (Associated Press)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

• Daughters of the American Revolution leader reflects on the 250th anniversary of this country
• Portland punk rock nonprofit Volume Bomb launches UnMuted program to highlight queer and female-led bands
• Woodburn gets national recognition with All-American Cities Award

One more look

Nanaimo bars bring a sweet taste of Canada to Portland

If you visit Lauretta Jean’s, a small bakery in Southeast Portland, you’ll see a mouth-watering assortment of pies, cakes and cookies. But you’ll also see something you won’t find in many other bakeries.

There in the case you’ll see a no-bake, square delicacy called a Nanaimo bar.

Kate McMillen says bakery customers “have a hard time pronouncing it,” let alone spelling it. Then they want to know what exactly is it.

The answer: It’s a slice of Canadian history with its own lore from Nanaimo (nuh-nigh-mo) a small coastal city on Vancouver Island. It has a chocolatey, nutty wafer bottom layer, a creamy custard filling and a chocolate ganache topping.

Though the tasty bars are typically served during the holidays, you can eat them any time, especially today as Canadians celebrate their national day. (Winston Szeto and Crystal Ligori)

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/01/oregon-supreme-court-social-media-opb-first-look/