Here's a list of local issues that have been covered recently in the Gazette-Times and the status of those stories:

ODOT rethinks rail closure

The issue: In July, Oregon Department of Transportation's Rail Division issued an order to close crossings at Seventh Street near Western Avenue and another at the south end of 11th Street due to visibility problems and a continued threat of an accident.

What's happened so far: Business owners near the Seventh Street crossing objected to the order and asked the City Council to intervene. Councilors agreed and formally appealed to ODOT to remove the crossings from consideration.

Public Works engineers worked with property owners at the southeast corner of the 11th Street crossing to trim a line of 12-foot tall shrubs down to three feet. The change improved visibility enough that ODOT removed the crossing from the order.

What's next: Public Works and property owners at the Seventh Street crossing are negotiating a change to the metal shed that is obscuring views to the east. If a corner of the shed can be removed by mid-October, the Seventh Street crossing also likely will be removed from the order.

Accused robber may plea

The issue: Two Corvallis banks were robbed last winter by a man wearing an over-the-ear cell phone headset. The Washington Mutual Bank at 2055 N.W. Circle Blvd. in Corvallis was robbed on Dec. 28, 2007. On Jan. 10, a robber struck at the Washington Federal Savings Bank at 1111 N.W. Ninth St. In both robberies, the suspect's description and actions matched almost exactly.

What's happened so far: A Waldport man, Jack David Baird, 43, was arrested in connection with both robberies on Jan. 17. Police say they recovered a note left behind at the Dec. 28 robbery. The note, demanding money, had a fingerprint on it, and the Oregon State Police crime lab matched that print to Baird's. He has been charged with two counts of second-degree robbery and two counts of first-degree theft. Baird remains in the Benton County jail on $2,100,000 security in lieu of bail.

What's next: Baird's next court appearance is 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 26. He is expected to enter into a plea bargain.

OSU Baseball players busted

The issue: Two OSU baseball players and a player from last year's team were arrested in connection with some late night target practice with a .22-caliber rifle in a Corvallis neighborhood. Police say that John Wallace, 21, Jorge Reyes, 20, and Anton Maxwell, 22, fired rifle bullets into a neighbor's house March 18. One shot went into the sleeping neighbor's bedroom. The bullets also struck a car parked behind the house in a neighborhood north of campus. Investigators showed that the players were taking aim at soda cans along the base of a backyard fence.

What's happened so far: All three were arrested on March 19 and charged with unlawful use of a weapon, a Class C felony, recklessly endangering another, and criminal mischief. Wallace and Maxwell accepted a plea bargain on July 16. The two pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering another and were sentenced to 15 days in jail. Both have served their sentences.

What's next: Jorge Reyes' is expected to enter into a plea bargain at his next court appearance.