Browse All News Articles on Salem-News Page 2546

UN Seeks $3.8 Billion for Humanitarian Emergencies in 24 Countries

450,000 people in Somalia and 130,000 families in the occupied Palestinian territory would benefit from the funds.

(UNITED NATIONS) - The UN says people in Somalia, Sudan, the occupied Palestinian territory, and the DRC to name just a few – living in such extreme circumstances will need continued generosity in 2008.

“Floods, hurricanes, cyclones, and drought also struck more frequently in 2007, and this trend points to a future where aid agencies, and the world’s vulnerable poor, will have to respond ever more frequently to climate-related disasters,” he added.

Oregon Outlines Procedure to Donate Kicker Refund to a Specific Program

Do not mail endorsed kicker checks back to state, officials say.

(SALEM , Ore.) - Because many Oregonians have inquired about how to donate their state income tax "kicker" refunds to specific state programs, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services has established a Web site that describes how to do it.

According to the Website, a citizen should send a personal check, not an endorsed kicker check, to the desired state agency, board or commission. The Web site provides links to the mailing addresses.

Oregon State Police Forensics Unit Sees 2000th DNA Database Hit

The nationally accredited forensic laboratory system serving all state and local law enforcement agencies, medical examiners and prosecuting attorneys in Oregon.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Forensic evidence linking a convicted offender to a homicide became the 2000th DNA database hit reported by the Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory DNA unit.

The Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory DNA unit recorded the 2000th DNA database hit November 20th. The first hit to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) happened August 1st 1994. Twelve years later the 1000th hit was recorded on September 28th 2004. Now, less than two years later, the DNA unit recorded the 2000th hit.

Victim in Fatal Pedestrian Accident Identified

Oregon State Police troopers from the Salem Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Police in Salem say a 42-year old pedestrian named Silvia Sanchez Flores died Sunday evening when she was struck by a van attempting to cross NE Portland Road east of Interstate 5.

Around 7:12 PM Sunday, a 2002 Ford Windstar van driven by 18-year old Justin M. Neill of Salem, was northbound on NE Portland Road in the left lane when it collided with the victim, who was attempting to cross on foot from the west to the east side of NE Portland Road in front of the Oregon State Fire Marshal Office.

Vernonia Gets Good News from Governor and FEMA

The healing process for flood victims will take several months. In the meantime, however, over 1,100 volunteers and several cooperators are working to help residents return to normalcy.

(VERNONIA, Ore.) - One week after Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski declared a state of emergency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized a full declaration for federal assistance for flood victims in Columbia County.

On Wednesday, Kulongoski asked President Bush for an expedited federal declaration of emergency. As of noon today, FEMA began taking applications for federal assistance for flood victims.

Vernonia Flood Victims Low on Heat

The residents there need help to stay warm.

(VERNONIA, Ore.) - Flood victims in the Vernonia area are in dire need of heat sources. The winter storm that ravaged the area over the past week left many families without operational electric or natural gas heat sources.

The recent drop in temperature has literally left people out in the cold, and is leading to more and more flood victims showing up at the local hospital. There are ways Oregonians can help.

One Dies in Crash on Beltline Road

Police included safety tips on who wrong way drivers are, and what to watch out for.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - One person died and two others received non-life threatening injuries Sunday morning when a wrong way driver collided with another car on Beltline Road west of River Road in Eugene.

Next of kin have been notified and Oregon State Police have included some driving safety tips at the end of the news release.

Sensor Problems Again Cause Atlantis Delay

The objective of the mission is to install the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory.

(CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.) - One of four engine cutoff sensors (ECO) inside the liquid hydrogen section of Atlantis' external fuel tank gave a false reading while the tank was being filled.

The ECO sensors help protect the shuttle's main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low.

Atlantis was first scheduled to launch December 6^th but was delayed after two liquid hydrogen ECO sensors gave false readings.

Products that Perpetrate Crime... Say What?

If our civil society is to remain civil much longer then things need to change, and soon!

(SALEM, Ore.) - We all see them... in use, in ads or on shelves.

Devices whose only real use, and advertised use despite cynically placed boilerplate 'warnings', is to break the law.

Speed scofflaw devices, these new paints and screens for license plates to avoid being identified by red light cameras when the driver runs the red light, etc.

Space shuttle Atlantis to launch Sunday

(CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.) - Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to launch Sunday, December 9, at 3:21 p.m. EST, (12:21 P.M PST) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

The prior launch was postponed because of an issue with a fuel cut-off sensor system (or ECO) inside the external fuel tank. After three days of reviewing data on a problem with fuel sensors the Shuttle program manages made the decision to liftoff.