News Report With Kevin Hays (AUDIO)

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - (Audio transcript)

Here are today's top stories from Salem-News.com with Kevin Hays reporting...

LENGTH: 1:50

Cherriots will join with other public transportation systems throughout the country to highlight that public transit offers a quick, easy alternative to the high cost of driving during dump the pump day on June 8th.

As gasoline prices have increased, public transit systems across the U.S. are seeing an increase in ridership.

In Salem and Keizer, Cherriots ridership is up 5 - 10% over the past several months.

Three deserving Salem families will be moving out of their inadequate housing and moving into a new place to call home this summer, thanks to three mid-valley builders, a Salem building company, and hundreds of Habitat for Humanity volunteers.

Two 4-bedroom homes and one 4-bedroom manufactured home, will be built on adjacent lots on Valley View Drive N.W., as part of Habitat for Humanity`s Home Builders Blitz 2006, a national campaign to build 500 Habitat homes in five days.

The homes will be built from Monday through Friday.

Construction will begin each morning at 7:00 AM and wrap-up every evening at 7:00 PM.

By Friday evening, all three homes will be completed, including landscaping and cedar fencing.

A Linn County Grand Jury has indicted the parents of an autistic 19-year-old boy who died in an Albany apartment fire last month with murder.

45-year-old Nicolaas DeGroot and 48-year-old Elizabeth DeGroot are being held at the Linn County Jail since their arrest May 19th.

The DeGroot`s are accused of starting the fire that killed their son Christopher, who later died at a Portland Hospital.

Authorities say the couple locked their son inside the apartment.

The couple were originally charged with manslaughter and arson.

The count of arson has been dropped.

The latest Salem-area news, weather, sports and traffic is on demand at Salem-News.com I`m Kevin Hays reporting for Salem-News.com, have a safe and wonderful day!