The Latest: Meeting between armed group, locals uncertain

Published January 14, 2016

The latest on an armed group that took over federal buildings at an Oregon wildlife refuge (all times local):

12:21 p.m.

The leader of an armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge in Oregon says there may not be a meeting with local residents because they can't find a place for the gathering.

The group had planned to hold a meeting Friday evening in Burns to explain themselves and inform residents when they will leave.

Leader Ammon Bundy told reporters Thursday that the meeting is now in doubt because Harney County officials won't let the armed men use the fairgrounds, as they had hoped.

Bundy has previously said the occupiers wouldn't leave until a plan was in place to turn over federal lands to local authorities. His group began occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Jan. 2.

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9:46 a.m.

Officials with the Oregon county where an armed group is occupying a national wildlife refuge have told the group they can't use county facilities to hold a community meeting.

The armed men plan to hold a meeting Friday in Burns to explain themselves and inform residents when they will leave.

The Oregonian (bit.ly/1SQnaVx) reports that officials in Burns, about 30 miles from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, said the meeting can't be held at the Harney County fairgrounds or any other county facility.

Organizers of the community meeting have said it will go on even if the county does not provide a location.

On Wednesday, the county fire chief — a sympathizer of the armed group — resigned over the county's refusal to host the meeting.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/us/the-latest-meeting-between-armed-group-locals-uncertain