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Ambulances Unable to Reach Gaza Wounded as Israel Presses Attack

The UN estimates that Palestinian deaths have reached 500 and are rising, and some 2,500 have been injured in the offensive which Israel says it launched to end Hamas rocket attacks against its southern cities and towns.

(NEW YORK) - Ambulances and medical workers in Gaza are facing increasing difficulty in reaching the wounded, some are being killed in doing so, and a “humanitarian breathing space” is vital to ensure that food and medical supplies reach those in need as Israel’s offensive entered its 10th day, the top United Nations relief official in the area said today.

“Large numbers of people including many children are hungry, they are cold, they are without ready access to medical facilities, they are without access to electricity and running water, above all they are terrified. That by any measure is a humanitarian crisis,” UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory Maxwell Gaylard told a news briefing in Jerusalem.

Doctor Shopping Can Frustrate New Medicare Enrollees

We are entitled to much more; items such as the doctor's continuing medical education courses over the last five years so we can gauge how updated that MD elects to be.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Sometimes who your doctor happens to be can spell the literal difference between life and death, so that decision should never be taken lightly.

However, those newly enrolled in the Medicare system may find their former physicians do not accept Meduicare. For one reason or another, they may be forced to switch.

Doctor shopping is never a fun process. The way things are set up, it is not a consumer's market.

Police Release Preliminary Post-New Year`s Holiday Statistics‏

Oregon State Police troopers noted five fatal crashes and 85 DUII drivers arrests during this year's holiday period,

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Preliminary information gathered by Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Transportation, reflect an increase in fatalities during the 102-hour New Year's holiday period between 6:00 PM, Wednesday, December 31st, 2008, and 11:59 PM, Sunday, January 4th, 2009.

ODOT's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) reports information received from Oregon law enforcement agencies indicates 7 people were killed in five separate fatal crashes.

This was an increase in last year's holiday period when five people died in four separate crashes. During the 2007 holiday period there were four reported fatalities.

Art Mimics, Mocks, The Economic Downturn

Over the past few months, in sync with growing bad news about the economy, a number of artworks related to tight credit, high unemployment, corporate greed and Washington politics are showing up in artists' galleries.

(CHICAGO, Ill.) - Internet art gallery DiscoveredArtists.com reports that the adage, art mimics life holds true, and also reports that some art mocks life, especially art related to the recent economic downturn.

A growing number of paintings and fine art photos posted to the online art gallery are themed around current woes related to the financial crisis. The artworks range in temper from sympathetic, empathetic reflections on the plight of the common man, to critical commentary on corporate greed, and mockery of leadership responsible for the worsening economic outlook.

Truck Crashes Halt Traffic on Interstate 84 for 3 Hours (PHOTOS)

Jackknife crashes affect Interstate 84 eastbound traffic for 3 hours east of Mosier.

(MOSIER, Ore.) - Police say Interstate 84 eastbound lanes were closed about three hours Monday morning east of Mosier following multiple ice-related commercial truck crashes including a jackknifed set of double trailers at the Memaloose Rest Area.

Highway conditions were icy; state troopers say this was caused by freezing rain on top of packed snow.

A commercial truck pulling two semi-trailers was eastbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 72 when the rear trailer started sliding on ice, according to Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Michael Holloran.

Obama`s Plan for American Healthcare

Barack Obama and Joe Biden's plan could bring sweeping change to the American healthcare industry.

(SALEM, Ore.) - President-elect Barack Obama says that when it comes to health care reform, the American people are too often offered two extremes - government-run health care with higher taxes or letting the insurance companies operate without rules.

Obama says he and Joe Biden believe both of these extremes are wrong, and they say that’s why they’ve proposed a plan to strengthens employer coverage, makes insurance companies accountable, and ensure patient choice of doctor and care without government interference.

The Obama-Biden team says their plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing health care system, and uses existing providers, doctors and plans to implement the plan.

Bail Out Consumers Now: Economist Condemns Bank Bailouts, Calls For Homeowner Rescue

Homeowners and consumers need a Special Victims Unit, because the government is bailing out criminals.

(CLEARWATER, Fla.) - According to Dr. Ravi Batra, economics professor and author of The New Golden Age: A Revolution Against Political Corruption and Economic Chaos, bailing out banks is like bailing out criminals while victims are left to suffer.

Man Dies in Crash on Highway 30 near Knappa‏

OSP troopers from the Astoria Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

(ASTORIA, Ore.) - Oregon State Police troopers are continuing the investigation into a single vehicle traffic crash that resulted in the death of an Astoria-area man shortly after midnight on Highway 30 in the Knappa area.

According to OSP Lieutenant Duane Stanton, police, fire and medical agencies were notified early this morning at 12:03 AM of a single vehicle crash on Highway 30 near milepost 82.

Their preliminary investigation indicates a 2009 Toyota Tacoma pickup driven by 21-year old Robert James Rankin of Astoria, was eastbound on Hillcrest Loop when it failed to negotiate a curve.

Pressure Mounts For Gaza Ceasefire

Forecast from David Hartwell, Jane’s Country Risk Middle East Analyst.

(LONDON) - David Hartwell, Jane’s Country Risk Middle East Analyst, forecasts, “Israel probably judges that it has another week to 10 days to complete its operations in Gaza, given the time it has taken for international pressure to reach a point where engagement is deemed necessary."

Israel has received harsh criticism for its military action in Gaza. Protests have been organized in many countries calling for a cessation of the hostilities.

"Nevertheless, it will need to show tangible results to justify the expense of lives and money to the Israeli public. Thus, while calls for a truce will grow louder, until Israel feels it has achieved its objectives or the United States begins to voice public concern at the diplomatic cost of the operation - an unlikely prospect in the immediate term given the situation with the Bush administration - the fighting in Gaza will continue.”

Secretary General Says UN Has Key Role in Ending Gaza Conflict

Israel has cited rocket and other attacks by militants in Gaza against Israeli civilians as the reason for its military offensive and closing crossings into Gaza for much of the previous two months.

(NEW YORK) - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that the United Nations has an important role to play in halting the violence in Gaza, expressing regret that the Security Council did not reach agreement yesterday evening on how to end the conflict.

Despite the 15-member body's lack of concurrence during its emergency session which took place hours after Israel launched a ground offensive into Gaza.

Mr. Ban, who is scheduled to meet with Arab leaders tomorrow at UN Headquarters, said that he is pressing ahead with diplomatic efforts.