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Oregon Sex Abuse Victims in Catholic Church Scandal Awarded Over $50 Million

More than 200 victims will share the amount that slightly tops $50 million.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - A settlement in a Portland, Oregon court means victims of childhood sex abuse in the Catholic Church will be compensated with millions of dollars, and secret files relating to pedophile priests in the Portland Archdiocese that span half a century will be publicly disclosed.

More than 200 victims will share the amount that slightly tops $50 million.

Governor Orders Flags at Half-Staff in Memory of Virginia Tech Tragedy

Flags will be flown at half-staff through sundown on Sunday, April 22nd.

(SALEM) - Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has ordered all flags at public institutions be flown at half-staff today, Tuesday, April 17th, through sundown on Sunday, April 22nd, in memory of the lives lost at Virginia Tech yesterday.

“Yesterday’s events at Virginia Tech were not just a tragedy for Virginia, but for our entire nation,” said Governor Kulongoski.

33 individuals, including the shooter, lost their lives, and dozens more were injured in the worst mass shooting rampage ever in the U.S.

Eugene Police Seeking Bank Robbery Suspect

The suspect was described as a white male, 35 to 40 years old, standing roughly 6’2” and having a slender to medium build.

(EUGENE) - Eugene Police are looking for a suspect who robbed a bank Monday in southeast Eugene.

The Key Bank located at 2995 Hilyard Street was robbed at approximately 4:50 PM.

The male suspect entered the bank and demanded money, and left by unknown means with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Oregon House Passes Two Historic Bills for Basic Fairness and Equality

House Bill 2007 passes 34-26, Senate Bill 2 Passes 35-25; Both Bills Receive Bi-Partisan Support

(SALEM) - Today, after nearly 4 hours of debate on the House floor, both The Oregon Family Fairness Act (House Bill 2007) and The Oregon Equality Act (Senate Bill 2) passed the Oregon House with bipartisan support.

Senate Bill 2 will ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in several areas.

House Bill 2007 will create a new statute in Oregon law to provide same-sex couples with Domestic Partnerships.

Oregon`s Governor Signs Safer-Cigarette Bill Into Law

Requires only cigarettes that self-extinguish be sold in Oregon.

(SALEM) - Governor Ted Kulongoski on Tuesday, joined by legislators, Oregon State Fire Marshal Nancy Orr and members of the Oregon fire service, signed into law legislation (HB 2163) requiring all cigarettes sold in Oregon to be self-extinguishing to prevent accidental fires.

From 1999 through 2005, cigarettes caused 8,824 fires in Oregon resulting in 37 deaths, 185 injuries and more than $32 million in direct property loss.

Memorial Fund Established in Wake of Virginia Tech Massacre

32 individuals lost their lives, and 15 were injured in the worst mass shooting rampage ever in the U.S.

(BLACKSBURG, Va.) - On Monday, the 16th of April, a campus resident senior student shot two students in Ambler Johnston residence hall and proceeded shortly thereafter to the other side of the Drillfield, entered Norris Hall and randomly shot more than 40 students and faculty in several classrooms.

The individual has been identified as Cho Seung-Hui, 23. Cho was enrolled as an undergraduate student in his senior year as an English major at Virginia Tech. Cho, a South Korean native, was in the U.S. as a resident alien with a residence established in Centerville, Va. Cho was living on campus in Harper Residence Hall.

Oregon Gas Prices Continue to Surge Above $3

Of the state's four major metropolitan areas, Salem is less than two cents away from surpassing the record set on June 1st, 2006.

(SALEM) - Just when it appeared the gasoline price surge was coming to an end, it reversed itself.

In the past week, the national average price for a gallon of regular jumped by more than seven cents to $2.87.

Oregon's average price followed suit, going up more than six cents per gallon to $3.07.

Arsenic Contamination in Oregon, Washington Wells Raises Concerns

The health concern about arsenic is primarily related to its role as a carcinogen, even at extremely low levels, causing skin and possibly other cancers.

(CORVALLIS, Ore.) - Public concerns about high levels of arsenic in well water have prompted a recent and continuing testing program in the area around Sweet Home, Ore., and may raise a warning flag for other areas of the state that could also face problems with this toxin due to geology or land use practices.

Some areas in the Tualatin Basin near Portland; the Ontario region in Eastern Oregon; areas around Creswell and Cottage Grove south of Eugene; and much of the Puget Sound area are also known to have some concerns about high groundwater levels of arsenic.

Same-Sex Unions a Step Away From Reality in Oregon

The Oregon Family Fairness Act passes in the Oregon House.

(SALEM) - In what will be remembered as a historic decision, the Oregon House has voted to pass the Oregon Family Fairness Act (House Bill 2007) that will allow gay marriage in Oregon

Bryan Boyd with Basic Rights Oregon says it is the day they have waited many years for.

"This is absolutely fantastic, the day we were waiting for for a number of years."

Virginia Tech Gunman Identified (VIDEO)

A 9-millimeter handgun and 22-caliber handgun were recovered from Norris Hall.

(BLACKSBURG, Va.) - The Virginia Tech Police Department has confirmed the identification of the gunman responsible for the multiple fatalities at Norris Hall on the Virginia Tech campus Monday.

The individual has been identified as 23-year old Cho Seung-Hui (pronounced Choh Suhng-whee). Cho was enrolled as an undergraduate student in his senior year as an English major at Virginia Tech. Cho, a South Korean native, was in the U.S. as a resident alien in Centerville, Va. He was living in a dorm on campus, Harper Residence Hall.