Pirates Release UK-Owned Wheat Bulk Ship off Somalia

The vessel is owner-managed by London-based Holbud Ship Management.

(NAIROBI, Kenya) - The shop MV AL KHALIQ has been freed today after a multimillion ransom was delivered. "She sailed free after the last pirate left the vessel this morning," an ECOTERRA marine biologist reported from the central Somali coast.

The Panamanian-flagged 22,000 dwt handymax bulker MV AL KHALIQ was captured on 22 Oct. 2009 around 180 miles west of the Seychelles. The crew consists of 24 Indian sailors and two Burmese nationals.

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Five of Ten Americans on Child Abduction Charges Taken to Port-au-Prince Court

Court hearing includes main figure in alleged child abduction scandal.

(PORT-AU-PRINCE/SALEM) - Five of the ten Americans held on child abduction charges were in a Port-au-Prince court today for hearings. The Americans were accused of trying to take 33 Haitian children out of the country to the Dominican Republic last month.

Laura Silsby, the leader of the group, was among the five Americans in court.

Salem's Cartoon Strip Only on Salem-News.com

PTSD - Medical Marijuana Toxicology - Pharmacology

Op Ed: People-Power, Perseverance Can Outmatch Corporatism

Part Three-Supremes Seaside Signal Series, New Strengths Combined Can Rescue Nation.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - The 'massive movement of millions' historically, has been the only engine to eliminate any major default in our system of democracy.

Three now-famed American Presidents found it so after a disappointing first-year administration followed by acclaimed achievement of historic proportion.

Captain Richard Conklin and RX Patrol and When Does this Guy Sleep?

The bigger picture behind local cases of Oxycontin theft.

(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) - Tim King sent me the following news article last night about a break-in to rob OxyContin at a Walgreens south of Portland.

I see stories of break-ins all over the U.S. and Canada every day. Most of the articles read as the one does below that Tim sent me.

Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Will Speak in Florida

Dr. Leveque will explain how he came to practice medicine, discussing several ways he was able to help people in his career.

(ORLANDO, Fla.) - Dr. Phil Leveque, Salem-News.com writer and also one of the most noted and educated physician/pharmacologist/forensic toxicologists in the world today, will speak at the University of Central Florida this week about medical marijuana, a subject drawing increasing attention from one side of the U.S. to the other.

During Dr. Leveque's talk on Wednesday, 100-200 people from a Florida Chapter of NORML are expected to attend.

Could Wreckage Discovered Near Coos Bay be From Missing Boat C-Lady?

The Coast Guard is looking into the matter and no recovery of the vessel is planned.

(COOS BAY, Ore.) - The Coast Guard reports that wreckage from a white-hulled boat, including an anchor, windlass and bow stem, was found by the master of the fishing vessel Grumpy J while bringing his nets up from a depth of approximately 500 fathoms, or 10,500 feet, on the first day of February.

Lt. John Dixon, a Coast Guard investigator stationed in North Bend, Oregon, says the wreckage was pulled up this past week by the fishing vessel Grumpy J.

Oregon Community EFFORT for Haiti: Priceless

I ask for teams all around to join our team and help alleviate a small need, to help us remember our connection and common humanity.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The need in Haiti is great, during this time many have gathered to give and do what they can to help. I am honored to coordinate such a project through Clackamas High School and Linwood Elementary, with several more community groups joining weekly.

We are collecting clothes and hygiene supplies to bring to Haiti in April. The flood of community support has been tremendous.

Gaza Schoolchildren Struggling to Learn

"When they hear Israeli jet planes, the children scream and cry loudly out of fear" -Khalid Salim 43, a science teacher in Gaza

(GAZA STRIP) - Nearly half a million children in Gaza returned to overcrowded and dilapidated schools on 1 February, many attending in a shift system, with missing textbooks, stationery or uniforms.

"I don't have a school uniform because my Dad doesn't have a job and said he doesn't have enough money to buy me one," said Mohammed al-Khouli, a nine-year-old at the government-run al-Mu'tasem primary school in Gaza City. "I have to borrow pens and pencils from other kids in my class because I don't have any."

Go Along to Get Along? Building Team Morale

Transparency is a partnership between the leader and the team.

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) - In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn’t.

“What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” asks Linus. “These five fingers,” says Lucy. “Individually they’re nothing, but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold.”

Gaza in Plain Language (VIDEO)

Cutting to the chase over Israel's "Operation Cast Lead".

(LONDON) - It really is time that the story of what is being done to the oppressed people of Gaza gets as wide a coverage as possible, in these days of overt and blatant mainstream-media bias for Zionist Israel.

If it arouses your anger and compassion as much as it did mine, when reading Joe Mowrey's fine essay and editing the video, please share it with as many people as you can.

American Entropy

America has been a net debtor nation since 1986 with a current national debt of about $12 trillion, and a deficit of nearly $2 trillion.

(CALGARY, Alberta) - Entropy, also known as the second law of thermodynamics, is the measure of disorder in a system. The entropy of the universe as a whole tends to a maximum.

In the context of nations, this means that no nation or empire lasts indefinitely. On this point history is clear and unequivocal: Ancient Greece and Rome, Persian empire, Turkish empire, British empire, the Mongol empire of the 13th century which was the world’s largest contiguous empire.

'Spiritual Warrior' James A. Ray Charged With 3 Counts of Manslaughter

How The hopes and expectations Of Spiritual Materialism are shaping many lives.

(LAGUNA BEACH) - "Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32

Many Americans are shaking their heads and “Tsk-tsking” about the avoidable deaths of three people who attended self-help guru James A. Ray’s retreat in Sedona, Arizona last October.

Government Whistleblower Expansion Moves to Senate Floor

The bill is expected to be voted on by the full Senate by the end of the week.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Priority legislation of Senator Martha Schrader (D-Canby) received unanimous support in the Senate Commerce and Workforce Development Committee this afternoon. Senate Bill 996 expands protections for public employees who want to report waste, fraud, or safety hazards.

“Employees should be able to report fraud or waste without fear of retribution,” said Schrader.

Corporate Kicker Rears Its Ugly Head

Statement by OCPP executive director Chuck Sheketoff on the March revenue forecast.

(SILVERTON, Ore.) - Today's revenue forecast by Oregon's state economist shows that the ill-thought-out kicker law can rear its ugly head in the most surprising places. Unless the legislature takes the opportunity to reform it once and for all, the kicker will continue to haunt Oregon's finances and economy.

According to the forecast, revenue is down $365.4 million from the close of session forecast. A big contributor to the negative number is the out-of-control cost of the Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC).