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Weapons Expert is On The Move in Afghanistan (VIDEO)

DISPATCHES FROM AFGHANISTAN
When it comes time to provide security in a hot area, Shaughnessy is on the move and ready to protect his men, sometimes in the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan.

(KABUL, Afghanistan) - Weapons of war only work with proper maintenance. A veteran of many wars, Kevin Shaughnessy knows them all like the back of his hand, including former Soviet weapons which the U.S. and coalition forces now share the use of. As Tim King reports, these skills are coming in handy in Afghanistan.

Aurora Man Safe After Train Crashes Into His Pickup

The train's engine was approximately 30 cars past the crash site before it could fully stop the train, which was estimated to be traveling at 30-35 MPH.

(CANBY) - At about 5:40 PM, Canby Firefighters responded to a report of a car hit by a train at 99E and S. Barlow Road.

When Canby Fire Units arrived they transferred the shaken driver into their medic unit to further evaluate the 72-year old gentlemen from Aurora. He told the firefighters that he misjudged the road. He apparently started to cross the railroad tracks and his vehicle became stuck, or high centered on the tracks.

SNOW WATCH: City of Salem Crews Ready For Snow, Ice

St. Joseph School religious education class for Wednesday night has been canceled. Blanchet Catholic School open house has been canceled.

(SALEM) - City of Salem Public Works spokesman Mike Gotterba says plowing and sanding crews are ready to hit and clear the streets of Salem should snow fall Wednesday.

Cartoon Strip: Nota Bene by Leonardo No. 24 - I Love Hillary, Part 3 of 5

This is the twenty-fourth installment of the Salem-News.com original series "Nota Bene by Leonardo" by Salem cartoonist Glen Bledsoe.

(SALEM) - What a cliff-hanger readers were left with last week! Heart-break, hospitals and car crashes, oh my! Well, there weren't any hospitals or car crashes, but you have to admit that there was plenty of heart break. Poor Hillary.

Will she return to her philandering husband? And really just how good is Jenkins at the drums? What will Hillary's hair-brained scheme be this time? (Have you ever seen anyone with so many hair-brained schemes?)

Federal Report Validates Oregon Improvements to Child Protective Services

The Legislative Emergency Board last year set aside $2.5 million in General Fund dollars for DHS to access legal representation in child welfare cases.

(SALEM) - A federal report released Tuesday by the Oregon Department of Human Services validates the direction the state has been moving to improve child protective services.

At the state's request, the National Resource Center for Organizational Improvement provided technical assistance to DHS to identify opportunities to improve the safety of children in Oregon's child welfare system.

"We're pleased that the direction we've been moving is supported by the report's recommendations," said DHS Director Bruce Goldberg, M.D.

SNOW WATCH: Snow Advisory Issued For Willamette Valley

Rain hit the Salem-area around 5:30 PM, with snow showers expected to begin early Wednesday morning.

(SALEM) - A National Weather Service Snow Advisory remains in effect from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Wednesday for the coast range, inland valleys, Columbia Gorge, and Cascade foothills.

Rain will turn to snow Wednesday morning as colder Arctic air invades southwestern Washington and northwestern Oregon.

Accumulations of one to two inches are likely above 500 feet and local accumulations of an inch are likely in lowest valley elevations.

The heaviest snowfall is expected in the morning hours starting during the morning commute and snow showers will continue through the afternoon with some brief locally heavy accumulations.

Snowfall is expected to taper off in the late afternoon and evening.

Oregon Senate Approves Historic New Legislative Calendar

It will require a two-thirds vote of the Senate to deviate from the deadlines.

(SALEM) - Based on a recommendation by the blue-ribbon Public Commission on the Oregon Legislature, the Oregon Senate Tuesday by a 23-7 vote approved a resolution setting a June 29th cut-off date for this year’s regular session and creating a 20-day special session next year.

Senate President Peter Courtney and former House Speaker Karen Minnis spent 14 months analyzing issues and taking public testimony on issues surrounding legislative procedures.

Last April, it recommended the Legislature experiment with session timing and structure to improve its ability to make policies, adopt budgets and oversee state agencies.

Salem-News.com TOP STORIES for Tuesday (AUDIO REPORT)

Here are today`s top stories from Salem-News.com, Kevin Hays reporting. Listen to the audio report by scrolling to bottom of story.

(SALEM) - Gary Phillips, a Salem-Keizer School District school bus driver, remains in critical condition today after being hit Monday morning while walking on his way to work.
- Salem firefighters evacuated 160 people following an ammonia leak at the Rainsweet plant in Northeast Salem Tuesday morning.
- Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, joined by family and friends, took the oath of office Monday for his second four-year term as Governor of Oregon, calling upon all Oregonians to work together in building a brighter future.
- Frigid weather is on the way to the mid-valley. The National Weather Service says a blast of cold air from Canada will arrive Wednesday and linger into the weekend.

Oregon Gas Prices Dip Slightly

According to AAA, the current average price in the Salem-area for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.69.

(SALEM) - After several weeks of moving upward, average gasoline prices in Oregon have reversed -- at least for now.

In the past week, Oregon's average price for a gallon of regular dropped by a penny to $2.68.

That compares to the national average $2.30, which fell by more than two cents in the same time period.

At $2.68, Oregon's average gasoline price is still 2nd highest in the nation.

Removal of New Carissa Wreck from Oregon Coast Scheduled For 2008

The New Carissa ran aground on Feb. 4th, 1999, near Coos Bay.

(SALEM) - The Oregon Department of State Lands announced Tuesday that removal of the wreckage of the New Carissa cargo ship likely will take place in spring and summer of 2008.

In May 2006, the State Land Board approved a settlement with Green Atlas for the state to receive approximately $22.1 million to pay for removing the wreckage and to cover legal expenses.

DSL staff has begun working with state and federal agencies and Titan Marine to work out the details of the numerous permits required to complete the wreck's removal.