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Protecting Yourself From Common Scams

Scammer or scamster (n.): a person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud; chiseler, chiseller, defrauder, grifter, swindler, gouger

(SALEM, Ore.) - Most people believe that they would never be fooled by a scam artist, and that those who do fall for them aren't very bright.

The thing is, there are several different types of scams, from the subtle to the absurd, and scam artists spend a lot of time perfecting ways of separating people from their money and their identities.

Fully Disclose 9/11 Report

"Omission is the most powerful form of a lie." - George Orwell

(Saint James, MO.) - Dear Editor:
The real issue we Americans should pay attention to in upcoming weeks is the on-going effort yet again underway in Congress that is being driven by various politicians of both political parties to disclose the redacted 28 pages of the 9/11 Report that still remain classified. At the very least, doing so might provide some form of closure and relief for the families of 9/11 victims.

Further, the full disclosure may possibly open the door for more robust probing into what really happened on 9/11 and why.

142nd Fighter Wing to Conduct Night Flying

Training flights will be completed each evening before 10:00 p.m.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Oregon Air National Guard's 142nd Fighter Wing will conduct routine F-15 night flying training missions January 26-29.

The night training allows the Citizen-Airmen pilots based at the Portland Air National Guard Base to stay current with mandatory Air Force requirements.

Night flying is conducted almost monthly as it provides essential training for nighttime maneuvers.

City of Salem Considers New Streetlight Fee

The Salem City Council is expected to hold a public hearing on the streetlight fee in February.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Keeping Salem's more than 10,550 streetlights operating has squeezed funding for road repairs.

What's the crux of the problem? Streetlights and road repairs in Salem both depend on a shrinking pool of gasoline tax revenues. Money for basic road pavement maintenance has largely evaporated.

SWAT Stand-off with Suspect in Drive-by Shooting Ends in Arrest

OSP troopers are continuing the investigation of a drive-by shooting in Northern Klamath County

(LA PINE, Ore.) - Information from on-scene commanders indicates that just before 2:00 A.M., Sunday morning, 9-1-1 call centers received a report of shots being fired at or into a residence, south of La Pine. Troopers learned the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Gary Davis, of La Pine, had threatened a man at that location previously.

Shortly before 7:00 A.M., troopers tracked Davis to a residence in La Pine where he was staying with his girlfriend.

Two People Critically Injured in South Marion County Crash

Two vehicles collided head-on with each other at about 2:30 pm this afternoon on Liberty Rd S near Bunker Hill Rd S.

(SALEM, Ore.) - One the vehicles is a Green 1993 Ford Explorer, driven by 39-year old Michael Lowe of South Salem and the other is a Black 2013 Hyundai Elantra, driven by 58-year old Randy Harrison, also of South Salem.

Lowe was extricated from his vehicle by fire personnel. Both Lowe and Harrison were injured in the crash and transported by ambulance to Salem hospital where they are in critical condition.

Oregon Gas Prices Keep Tumbling Down

Lower gas prices are a welcome relief for consumers across the U.S.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - U.S. motorists are paying an average price at the pump today ($2.13 per gallon) that is more than forty percent lower than the 2014 peak of $3.70 reached on April 28.

The national average continues to test lows not seen since May 2009 and has now dropped a record 109 consecutive days for a total decline of $1.22 per gallon during this span.

Over 20 Trucks and Vehicles in Major Crash on I-84

4 people were transported with minor to serious injuries.

(EASTERN OREGON) - I-84 Eastbound is now open to single lane travel at MP 318, 12 miles east of Baker City. Both lanes of the Eastbound freeway had been blocked since around 4:54 a.m. due to a crash involving over 20 semi-trucks and other vehicles.

The Eastbound freeway is also open at La Grande and Pendleton.

When They Kill Journalists - Lasantha Wickrematunge; Six Years On

“I was surprised to see that this day (January 8th) was chosen for the presidential election, as the present administration is suspected to be behind the murder, and have done nothing to solve it.”- Johan Mikaelsson, author

(LOS ANGELES) - Six years ago in 2009, on a day like today (January 8th) was when I received the most dreadful phone call of my entire life, thus far.

At the time, I was residing off-Attidiya Road in Dehiwela, when a close friend living in Kalubowila rang me, and stated that Lasantha had been attacked a few minutes ago. That was all I recall hearing from the other end; it indeed was a brief phone call, yet, at the same time, I went completely blank with the malicious news that my ears did not want to perceive, and my heart did not want to accept.

More Problems for Uber and Lyft Drivers in Oregon

Independent contractors will soon deal with some very specific tax issues.

(SALEM, Ore.) - We've written before about how the issues of liability, insurance and accountability have proven extremely problematic for Uber and Lyft, two taxi-like companies that are trying to integrate themselves into the Oregonian (Portland, Salem and Eugene specifically) market.

The problems do not stop there, though and they do not stop with the CEO's and state officials. The independent contractors who are hoping to earn a living by driving for these independent and “alternative” companies will soon start having to deal with some very specific tax issues too.