Salem-News.com Washington articles Page 33

National Average Dips below $2 a Gallon in Time for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving travelers this week will encounter the lowest gas prices since February of 2005.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Thanksgiving travelers will see gas prices that haven't been this low since February of 2005, according to Marie Dodds with Oregon AAA. The national average drops 18 cents this week to $1.88, while Oregon's average plummets 19 cents to $2.03.

Dodds says the return of substantially lower gasoline prices provides some economic relief to drivers at a time when it's sorely needed. Oregon's average is $1.12 lower than it was a year ago, while the national average is $1.20 lower." The national average dipped below $2 a gallon last Friday for the first time since March of 2005, and then fell another dime between then and today.

FBI Increases Reward for `Operation Backfire` Fugitives

The feds say animal rights activists are "terrorists" and responsible for at least 25 domestic terrorism criminal actions totaling over $48 million in damages.

(Washington, D.C.) - Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced an increased reward for information about fugitives being sought for their role in a domestic terrorism cell.

Specifically, the FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Josephine Sunshine Overaker, Joseph Mahmoud Dibee, Justin Franchi Solondz, and Rebecca Rubin. These individuals were members of the domestic terrorism cell, referred to as “The Family,” the FBI says, adding that their criminal actions included vandalism, animal releases, arsons and attempted arsons across Oregon, Washington, California, Wyoming and Colorado.

“We depend on the assistance of our domestic and international law enforcement partners in this ongoing fugitive search,” said Executive Assistant Director Arthur M. Cummings, II, FBI National Security Branch.

Gas Prices Continue to Fall

National Average closes in on $2 a Gallon; Oregon Average at Lowest Point since March 2006.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Oregon's gas prices are at their lowest level since March 2006, according to Oregon AAA. The statewide average for regular unleaded drops another 16 cents this week to $2.22. The national average falls another 15 cents to $2.07 and is at its lowest level since March 18, 2005.

AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds says both averages are about a dollar lower than they were a year ago, and are about 50% lower than the record highs of more than $4 a gallon we set in July."

The national average for diesel also drops below $3 per gallon this week for the first time since September of last year. And Oregon's average for diesel is just above $3 per gallon, also at the lowest point since September 2007.

Peace Corps Analyzes Volunteer Production State by State

Oregon, Montana and Washington on List of Top 10 Producers Per Capita.

(SEATTLE) - Oregon, Montana and Washington have made the Peace Corps’ list of top 10 producers per capita. Oregon ranked No. 3 per capita with around six Peace Corps volunteers currently serving for every 100,000 Oregonians.


Montana ranked No. 5 per capita with around five Peace Corps volunteers currently serving for every 100,000 Montanans. Washington ranked No. 7 per capita with around five Peace Corps volunteers currently serving for every 100,000 Washingtonians.


Vermont achieved the highest per capita numbers of Peace Corps volunteers in the field, with close to 10 Peace Corps volunteers currently serving for every 100,000 Vermont residents.

Wanted California Man Captured After Oregon Freeway Chase

Police say the elude and subsequent search happened between Eugene and Sutherlin.

(EUGENE,. Ore.) - Police say a multi-agency effort led to the arrest Tuesday of a California man who tried to flee from police in two separate attempts last night between Eugene and Sutherlin. Oregon State Police credited Sutherlin Police for continuing to search and eventually locating the suspect. An OSP spokesman says the incident lasted nearly nine hours.

Falling Gas and Oil Prices Bring Some Relief

Gas prices continue to plummet, with the Oregon average dropping 9 cents this week and the national average losing 15 cents. Both averages are at their lowest level since mid-April.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - "If there's a silver lining in all of the bad economic news, it may be that gas and oil prices are declining. The national average for regular unleaded plunges 15 cents this week to $3.48, while Oregon's average drops another 9 cents to $3.49. Both are at their lowest points since mid-April." AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds says "AAA predicts pump prices will continue to drop with our national average falling to near $3.00 a gallon before Thanksgiving."

Korean Shipping Company Admits to Illegal Dumping

Fines will be used in part to fund the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's project to restore Puget Sound.

(SEATTLE) - STX Pan Ocean Co., Ltd., a South Korean shipping company pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Wash., to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships by knowingly failing to maintain an accurate Garbage Record Book.

The inaccuracy was a failure to record a dumping incident during which approximately six 55-gallon drums, 30 plastic lined rice sacks, and approximately 200 garbage bags containing oil contaminated grain were thrown into the ocean during a voyage from Korea to Longview, Washington July 24th.

Two senior officers of the marine motor vessel Pan Voyager, a ship owned and operated by STX, Emilio D. Canillo and Bong Jun Gang pleaded guilty to Misprision of a Felony for failing to notify Coast Guard inspectors of the false document.

Expect Wind, Rain and Temperature Drop from West Coast Storm

Satellite images show a large plume of moisture streaming into the West Coast. Rain and wind will intensify through the day from northern California to the lower mainland of British Columbia, with winds gusting as high as 60 mph in coastal areas along with rain and strong surf.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The powerful Pacific storm moving into the Pacific Northwest today will not only bring dramatic changes to the West, it will influence the weather across the country through early next week, according to AccuWeather.com.

A weak storm system moved into the Northwest on Thursday, setting the stage for the second, more powerful storm arriving today. On Saturday, the precipitation fans out across the Intermountain West.

O`Brien Auto Group New Owner of Salem`s DeLon Auto Center

O'Brien Auto Group, the largest auto dealer in Washington state, has completed its purchase of DeLon Auto Center and invited Salem-News.com to see for ourselves what this evolution means to Salem.

(SALEM, Ore.) - There's a new kid in town, and his name is Mike O'Brien. He has quite a reputation for his success on the business front, as well as out on the field. Maybe it's just the shot in the arm Salem needs to remind consumers that the best value may indeed be just down the street.

The O'Brien Auto Group purchase includes all four DeLon dealerships and represents OAG's formal entry into the Oregon market.

DeLon has been a pillar in the Willamette Valley for decades, but change is inevitable. Tom DeLon retired recently, and Michael O'Brien, owner of O'Brien Auto Group found a natural fit with the Salem dealerships.

Bonneville Hot Springs to Pay $470,000 for Class Sexual Harassment and Retaliation

EEOC Says Many Women Subjected to Vulgar Sexual Comments, Unwanted Touching, Propositioning

(SEATTLE) - North Bonneville, Wash., resort destination Bonneville Hot Springs will pay $470,000 to a class of sexual harassment and retaliation victims to settle a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the EEOC announced today.

The Bonneville Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa is located in North Bonneville, Washington, 40 minutes from Portland and Vancouver. It offers to "share the healing waters with thousands of rejuvenation seekers around the world" on its website, but it took the EEOC to heal the resort's employees woes.