Salem-News.com Portland articles Page 54

Keeping a Clear Picture for the DTV Switch Friday

Unfortunately, local retailers have mostly been selling boxes in the $60 to $100 range, while the government coupons, still available for free, amount to a $40 savings on the cost of the box.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - For one of America's favorite pastimes, the digital age starts this Friday. It's the official day for the switch to digital television signals or "DTV," and it means Oregonians accustomed to watching free, over-the-air programs on older television sets need to have a digital converter box hooked up - or all they'll see is snow on the screen.

Jonathan Lawson, executive director of the Northwest-based advocacy group Reclaim the Media, says television stations have been doing a good job explaining that the change is near. However, the people who depend on older-model sets with the "rabbit-ear" style antennas also happen to be the viewers least likely to know about switch.

Will Oregon Human Services...Serve Fewer Humans? (AUDIO)

Critical Budget Vote Expected on Friday.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ONS) - Oregonians who live with disabilities and seniors in need of nursing care are holding their collective breath - waiting for the outcome of a legislative work session and vote this week. If the Human Services portion of the new state budget is approved, 38 percent of in-home care services and 40 percent of nursing home funding will go away.

Autopsy Completed on Pregnant Woman and Infant‏ Reportedly Murdered Through Internet Deception

Detectives believe the suspect may have had contact with numerous pregnant women in the Portland-Metropolitan area.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Oregon Medical Examiner's Office reports that an autopsy was performed Sunday on Heather Snively and her infant son to determine the cause of their deaths. Police believe Ms. Snively, in her third trimester of pregnancy, was Murdered last Friday by Korena Roberts.

The Medical Examiner's office determined that Ms. Snivley was killed by homicidal violence. After the apparent Murder, Roberts actually called 911 and tried to pass the dead or dying baby off as her own.

High Speed Crash Leaves Two Oregon Teenagers Dead

Police say it is not known at this time if alcohol was involved.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Police say two teens died Saturday night in a single vehicle crash on SW Laurel Road that left the vehicle they had been traveling in mangled. Sgt. Dave Thompson with the Washington County Sheriff's Office says the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when it left the roadway and struck a tree.

Historic Navy PT Boat Prevented from Sinking at Rose Fest

The PT 658 is owned by Dick Lowe, a Portland resident, and normally moors at the Swan Island Navy Reserve dock in Portland.

(ASTORIA, Ore.) - Coast Guard officials say a restored Navy motor torpedo boat PT-658 was saved from sinking today after a multi-agency effort at the 2009 Portland Rose Festival in Portland, Oregon. The crew of PT-658 had just returned to the dock after taking visitors on a short cruise when flooding was discovered aboard the vessel.

Shawn Eggert with the U.S. Coast Guard explains that all of the visitors were safely evacuated to shore while Commander Russ Proctor, Coast Guard Sector Portland Deputy Commander, who happened to be aboard the vessel for the cruise, coordinated damage control efforts.

Oregon Woman Accused of Killing Mother-to-Be & Taking Her Baby (UPDATE)

Detectives determined that the victim, a 21-year old Tigard woman, was killed by homicidal violence and her unborn male child did not survive.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - In a bizarre and tragic, developing story, Portland Police have identified a woman whose body was found in the crawlspace of a home in the Community of Marlene Village today.

Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled: 33 in Custody

Police say that because of the magnitude of these investigations, they could not have been accomplished without the interagency cooperation at all levels.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - A lengthy investigation into Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations in Washington County culminated in arrests last week. This group was suspected of importing Methamphetamine, Cocaine and Heroin into the Portland-Metro area.

This was a joint investigation with the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team (WIN-), Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

`United Oregon` March Dominates the Weekend in Portland (AUDIO)

The march is Sunday in Portland at 1:00 p.m., beginning from the Eastbank Esplanade near SE Main. The rally will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Terry Schrunk Plaza.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ONS) - Several thousand front-line workers and other Oregonians concerned about budget cuts affecting services, safety nets and infrastructure are taking to the streets of Portland Sunday. Roads will be blocked off to handle the crowds. SEIU Local 503 initially organized the rally to focus on public worker issues, and it quickly grew when people got word of the event.

Union member Phil Newton will emcee the rally. "It's encouraging because it's morphed from being a public employees' rally to being a get-together of various interests, like from AARP."

Effort to Recall Portland Mayor Sam Adams Gains Momentum

The Recall will not use paid signature gathers and has limited donations to $1000 from residents of Oregon and southwest Washington.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The political action committee 'Community to Recall Sam Adams' has over 500 volunteers signed up to help recall Portland mayor Sam Adams for willfully lying to get elected, orchestrating an elaborate cover-up and abusing his power.

The Recall can file to start collecting their goal of 50,000 signatures in a 90 day window from registered Portland voters on July 1st. The campaign's goals are to have 2000 volunteers and $20,000 in donations. Currently the campaign has received $1225.99 in donations.

Oregon Homeless Report Opens a Door at the State House? (AUDIO)

Homeless figures bring new urgency to a legislative proposal to issue lottery-backed bonds to help the residents of manufactured home parks buy the land they've been renting.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ONS) - A 35 percent jump in Oregon's homeless population is a startling statistic, from a state report that shows most of those without homes are families and the number of homeless school-aged children has almost doubled, to nearly 16,000.