Salem-News.com Washington articles Page 38

400 Pound Washington Man Arrested in Stolen Car Ring

Two Arrested Stolen Car Suspects Possibly Tied to Eight Vehicle Thefts in Oregon & Washington in One Week.

(KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.) - Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers arrested two people west of Klamath Falls Tuesday afternoon who they say may be responsible for the theft of eight vehicles during a one-week period in Oregon and Washington.

OSP Senior Trooper Ryan Niehus says that at 3:40 PM on January 22nd, OSP troopers were set up to intercept and stop a stolen Honda passenger car eastbound on Highway 140W.

Photojournalist Highlights `Focus The Nation` Global Warming Teach-in

The community is invited to hear Gary Braasch, noted photojournalist, discuss his newest book, "Earth Under Fire: How Global Warming is Changing the World," which documents through essays and photographs the rapid climate change around the world.

(VANCOUVER, Wash.) - Professors teaching each other's classes, a brown bag discussion on global warming science policy, and a guest presentation by an award-winning photojournalist mark Washington State University Vancouver's activities as a participant in the Focus The Nation national Teach-in.

Focus The Nation is an unprecedented educational initiative on global warming solutions for America occurring at more than 1,500 campuses, faith and civic organizations and in all 50 states on January 31st.

Coming Days Will be Cold But Little Snow Until Thursday (VIDEO)

Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be mostly sunny with highs only reaching 30 to 35 degrees and a northeast wind is expected in the 15 to 25 mph range.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Forecasters call for mostly cloudy conditions as we approach the Martin Luther King Holiday Monday. Conditions will grow clear and cold into the night with a chance of sprinkles and flurries in the evening.

The snow level will drop to 1000 feet but no snow accumulation is expected. Lows are expected to be 20 to 25 degrees with a north wind blowing 5 to 10 mph.

Vancouver YWCA Announces Winners of Val Joshua Racial Justice Awards

The awards will be presented at the YWCA Annual Celebration on Wednesday, January 23rd.

(VANCOUVER, Wash. ) - The Clark County YWCA in Vancouver says they are pleased to announce Jamie McCoy and Richard Twiss as the 2007 Val Joshua Racial Justice Award winners.

The students in Soar International won the first YWCA Youth Social Justice Award. With their group leader, Jean Walker, they work to help students in Rwanda, eradicate landmines in Vietnam and provide school supplies to homeless children in the Portland-Vancouver area. They have raised funds to support their work with a benefit concert at Esther Short Park.

Cold Blast Coming to Northwest (VIDEO)

A dip in the jet stream this weekend will allow Arctic air to spill southward from British Columbia, bringing significantly lower temperatures to much of the West Coast.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Bitterly cold air is driving southward along the Rockies this weekend. Weather forecasters say cold air will also push southward along the Pacific Coast late in the weekend into next week.

Oregon could see the coldest day in three years on Monday. Expect a high temperature of 42 °F and an unusually cold overnight low of 21 °F which they say will feel more like 14 °F.

Gas Prices Ease at the Pumps

Gas prices this week are down in all four of Oregon's measured metropolitan areas, and in Vancouver, WA.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - "The price of gas is down a few cents this week, as the price of crude continues to back further away from the record $100 per barrel set two weeks ago." AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds says the national average and the Oregon average are only a cent-and-a-half apart now.

The national average for regular unleaded is down about four-and-a-half cents in the past week to $3.061 per gallon, while Oregon's statewide average is down four-and-a-half cents to $3.076. The price of crude is at less than $92 per barrel today.

Video and News Seminar with Tim King

(SALEM, Ore.) - Join Tim King for an evening of enlightening information about today's news media, as viewed through his twenty years in the industry as a reporter, photojournalist, producer and war correspondent.

Powerful Santa Ana Wind Looms (VIDEO)

A frigid air mass this weekend could reach coastal areas of the Northwest, producing the lowest temperatures so far this winter.

(SALEM, Ore) - Weather forecasters report that the Pacific Northwest will enjoy a break from the constant parade of storms the next couple of days, while southern California residents brace for a strong Santa Ana wind event Wednesday into Thursday.

Gusty winds across the northern Rockies are the result of the clash of high pressure off the Pacific coast and a low over Canada's Prairies. Rain and mountain snow fell Monday night in Washington and northern Oregon. Through tonight, heavy snow will shift southward through the northern and central Rockies.

Wind generation in BPA Control Area Surpasses 1,000 MW for the First Time

Reaching this 1,000 MW milestone is significant because of the challenges involved with integrating wind power into the region's electrical grid.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Northwest region has reached a major milestone in the effort to include more clean, emission-free energy in its power supply, Bonneville Power Administration say.

They report that for the first time, the amount of wind power being delivered to customers through its transmission lines has exceeded 1,000 megawatts. That amount of electricity is enough to meet average electricity demand for approximately 680,000 Northwest residences.

Clark County Fire Crews Stand Down After Tornado

"If you live in the affected area, please stay inside if possible. As power is restored, there is the potential for live downed power lines that may be difficult to distinguish at night." - Leah Edwards, Clark County Fire

(VANCOUVER, Wash.) - Clark County Fire District 6 in Washington scaled back operations at 7:00 PM in response to the afternoon tornado. Approximately 70 firefighters and 20 command center staff from nearly every fire agency in Clark County responded to emergencies associated with the Hazel Dell area tornado.

Spokeswoman Leah Edwards said most calls crews responded to were for property damage, downed power lines, and downed trees.