Browse All News Articles on Salem-News Page 2359

Senators Introduce Bill Requiring Access to Voter Registration for Veterans

Feinstein, Kerry, Reid, Obama, Clinton, Leahy, Schumer, Murray, Wyden are behind legislation that would give veterans access to voter registration services at VA facilities.

(WASHINGTON, D,.C.) - U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) today introduced a bill to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide voter registration services to veterans in the department’s care.

Watch for our Series on El Toro Marine Base Contamination

All Marines and their family members who were stationed at El Toro and Camp Lejeune, where the contamination-related problems are a matter of record and have inspired several ongoing investigations, need to be aware of the possible related health risks.

(SALEM, Ore.) - El Toro MCAS was the Marine Corps' top aviation base on the west coast until its 1999 closure that sent the 3rd Marine Air Wing down to Miramar, "Fighter Town USA", which booted the Navy and its Top Gun program off to the Nevada desert where it is now located in Fallon.

The story of El Toro begins in haste; World War Two was on and the Marines needed a place to train and organize the aerial arm of the war effort, so the farm fields and orange orchards around Trabuco Canyon Road in Orange County were plowed down and the runways and associated buildings were constructed.

Iran Stresses Diplomatic Solution to Nuclear Standoff

Washington's push for additional UN penalties contradicts the report by 16 US intelligence bodies that endorsed the civilian nature of Iran's programs.

(TEHRAN (FNA)) - Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said Monday that Iran wanted no confrontation in the dispute over its nuclear program and was optimistic about the future course of the nuclear talks with world powers.

"We have a forward-looking and constructive approach and believe that we can move forward towards an agreement with understanding," Saeed Jalili said after returning to Tehran from talks in Europe.

He was referring to remarks by US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack who said Tehran should either chose cooperation or confrontation.

Torture and Terrorists: The Opinion of a Combat Infantryman

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

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I have been reading in the Oregonian Newspaper the McClathcy articles about the American soldiers who want to live and go home, versus the Iraq and Afghanistan terrorists who want to die and go to their heaven with 40 virgins (after they are dead?)

I'm going to express my disdain and contempt for the American Pentagon swivel chair waffle butts writing this stuff because they have no concept of what it is to be a frontline soldier in about th worst type of war we've ever been in.

Hoopla Event a Major Success for Adults and Kids (VIDEO)

Basketball fans from all over the state closed down Court Street for the tenth year in a row.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The grand-daddy and largest by far of all of Oregon's three-on-three basketball events, the Hoopla, is the basketball competition in Salem that closes the street in front of the state capitol each year.

It was in full swing Saturday, and in addition to the great basketball, Hoopla 2008 features many things for Oregon’s youngsters, including their free Kids Clinic and a number of contests.

Gerald Moore of Portland, Oregon is one of the players who has graduated from college and is now seeking to begin his career as a professional basketball player. He says the significance of the role model is not to be overlooked, and he says a large number of kids are staying out of trouble every day by vesting time in sports.

Veterans Increasingly Becoming Victims of Violent Crime in the U.S.

The people who lay their lives on the line for their country are encountering violent crime for a variety of reasons.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Criminal, violent acts against American combat veterans are on the rise in the streets of this nation. It may not be anything new, but there does appear to be an increase in the number of crimes taking place against people who once served in uniform. Some of it relates to chance, but several of the reported cases apparently involved veterans specifically being targeted.

One recent story involves a 21-year old Marine Lance Corporal named Robert Crutchfield, who survived 14 months of intense fighting in Iraq, only to be gunned down by robbers at home on leave during the Christmas holiday, on January 5th. It happened at a bus stop at East 72nd Street and Superior Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio; in America's heartland.

Death Investigation Underway in Vernonia

Columbia County's Major Crime Team is heading the investigation.

(VERNONIA, Ore.) - The investigation into the death of an adult male that occurred Friday night, July 18th, around 11:30 PM in Vernonia, is continuing.

The Columbia County Major Crime Team, with Oregon State Police as the lead investigating agency, is attempting to figure out what happened and who is responsible.

So far, the identity of the victim and additional preliminary investigative details are being withheld. Oregon State Police officials say the identification is pending an autopsy and review with the Columbia County District Attorney's Office.

No Injuries in Salem Townhouse Fire

Firefighters battled the blaze for approximately 20-minutes before they had it under control.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Firefighters say a smoldering cigarette butt in an outdoor smoking area is to blame for a fire that raged through a Salem townhouse Friday night.

Salem Fire Department Spokesman Bill Holmstrom, says firefighters were called out to the scene Friday at 9:05 PM on a first alarm assignment, which sent 3 Engines, a Ladder Truck, a Medic Unit and a Battalion Chief to the apartment fire at 6467 Fairway Avenue SE.

Holmstrom said, "When firefighters arrived on scene they had flames shooting approximately 20-feet above the rear of this two-story townhouse."

Afghanistan is a Land of Diverse Cultures and Severe Prejudice

"The Kite Runner" brings a large dose of Afghan cultural strife to Americans for the first time. This article attempts to interpret the questions that the movie leaves.

(SALEM, Ore.) - You have to work hard to name a country more different and removed from the United States than Afghanistan. It is the historic crossroads between the Eastern and Western worlds, a place that has been settled since the earliest days of man. Even though the U.S. and several other nations are sending military troops there year after year to fight a war against criminal insurgents, few in the west really understand the dynamics of this place.

I am no expert, but I have spent time covering the war in Afghanistan and between that experience and my long list of contacts and Internet sources, it made sense to write this and spread the knowledge about this fascinating and captivating land that is as stark, cold and empty as it is historic, vibrant and mystic/exotic.

Woodburn Drag Strip Grandstand Theft is a Symptom of Meth Abuse and Ignorance

A scrap metal company in Salem worked with police to bust two men, but the meth problems generally behind this type of crime, are poorly addressed in this country.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregonians keep getting clobbered over the head with the stories of the meth freaks, but we must have a shorter attention span that I realized. In spite of all the methamphetamine horror stories, police, federal officials in particular, are spending your tax dollars like chumps, arresting people for marijuana while the crank fiends dismantle the very place we live in.

Meth addicts are human beings operating on a distinctly different level from all others. For the public, their own children and families, and in this case, an Oregon drag strip, they represent a hazard. Meth users are way more dangerous to society than other drug violators. The problem is not getting any better; we have our priorities extremely mixed up.