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Year in Review: 2008 a Huge Year for Marijuana Reform

President-elect Obama's pledge to end federal raids in medical marijuana states is among the achievements for this movement.

(WASHINGTON, D.C. ) - In this annual season of year-end reviews, marijuana policy reformers are counting 2008 as one of their most successful years ever. 2008 saw major progress on legal reforms plus a raft of new data that validated reformers' critiques of current marijuana laws.

Among the changes are marijuana decriminalization Massachusetts, the addition of Michigan as the nation's 13th medical marijuana state, and new research verifying that marijuana helps with pain relief.

Police Identify Second Suspect in Woodburn Explosives Investigation

Investigators remain very interested in any information the public can provide.

(SALEM, Ore.) - 57-year old Bruce Turnidge of rural Salem, was arrested today at approximately 11:30 AM, as a second suspect in Friday's bank explosion in Woodburn that killed two police officer and injured a third severely, and also caused minor injuries to a bank employee.

Marion County Undersheriff Jason Myers says he is charged with the crimes of Conspiracy to Manufacture an Explosive Device and Conspiracy to Possess an Explosive Device.

Shelters Open in Washington County

Shelters open in the Washington County area.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Extreme cold weather continues with snow/precipitation forecast for tomorrow. Dave Thompson with the Washington County Sheriff's Office says it is important to outreach to the homeless and advise them of these shelter sites.

Gas Prices Tick Up for First Time in 86 Days

Oregon AAA says they are still at lowest level in nearly five years.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Oregon AAA says we've seen the national average tick up twice in the past week, after 86 consecutive days of declines.

"This development signals a potential period of firming prices during the upcoming holiday travel period," AAA Oregon Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds says.

"The national average falls nearly four cents in the past week to $1.66, while Oregon's average drops nearly eight cents to $1.73. Both averages are at their lowest point since February 2004 and more than $1.30 a gallon lower than a year ago."

Second Suspect Arrested in Bank Explosion

A second suspect is arrested in the bank explosion Friday that killed two police officers and injured a third, as well as one bank employee.

(SALEM, Ore.) - This morning investigators from the Marion County Sheriff's Office assisted by Federal, State, and local Law enforcement arrested a second male subject in connection to last Friday's deadly explosives incident in which two Police Officers were killed and another was seriously injured.

The Marion County District Attorney's Office will be releasing information on the latest suspect's name, age, charges, and future court dates later this afternoon.

Nicotine and Lung Cancer

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Pharmacologist, Toxicologist and Physician.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - Almost everybody knows that nicotine is that which makes cigarettes the lethal drug which they are. A recent article in the Oregonian newspaper stated that nicotine caused certain diseases.

Tobacco in cigarettes causes a very high number of deaths from lung cancer but death is NOT caused by nicotine. The culprit is TOBACCO TAR which has little to do with the effects of nicotine. For example nicotine skin patches and oral preparations to get users away from smoking do NOT cause any kind of cancer for that matter.

If you are paying attention you’re probably asking “what is going on”?

Washington County Encourages Citizens to Play It Safe and Stay Off Roadways

An update on roads, facilities, homeless shelters and warming centers and safety checks for neighbors with special needs.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Washington County services continued today despite a snow and wind storm affecting the Portland urban area. This is a summary of county activities over the last 24 hours and public guidance for coping with the winter weather.

Sanding and plowing operations over the last 24 hours have kept all snow response routes on county-maintained roadways open. Drivers are still encouraged to stay off the roads, if at all possible, by postponing trips or taking public transportation.

Wyden Charges Interior Department for `Contempt for the Public Trust` and `Untold Waste`

Senator praises Devaney’s investigation into political interference in ESA decisions.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - “Significant harm to the integrity of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the morale and reputation of the Fish and Wildlife Service as well as potential harm to individual species,” and the “untold waste of hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars” are just some of the consequences of what the Interior Department’s Inspector General Earl Devaney terms one former Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie MacDonald’s “zeal to advance her agenda.”

General Devaney released these findings in a 141 page report detailing his office’s year-long investigation, initiated at the request of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) who believed that 18 ESA decisions may have been tainted by Ms. MacDonald.

Suspect in Deadly Bank Blast Identified

The explosion Friday at the Woodburn bank led to the death of Oregon State Police Senior Trooper William Hakim and Woodburn Police Captain Tom Tennant.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon's NBC affiliate in Portland KGW is reporting the name of the person believed to be responsible for the deaths of two police officers during a bank explosion in Woodburn.

32-year old Joshua Turnidge, named as bomb suspect, was arrested Sunday night at his NE Salem home. He was reportedly deep in debt and had just completed a difficult divorce.

The TV station reports that he had moved into the rental earlier this month with his girlfriend and 2 kids.

Oregon`s Employment Situation

In November, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.1 percent from 7.2 percent in October.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.1 percent in November from 7.2 percent (as revised) in October.

The state’s unemployment rate has risen sharply over the past five months after remaining stable throughout the first half of the year at near 5.5 percent. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 6.7 percent in November, from 6.5 percent in October.

In November, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment declined by 6,300 jobs, following a drop of 11,700 (as revised) in October.