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Franz Bakery Settles Sexual And Racial Harassment Lawsuit

A company foreman admitted to making thousands of sexual and racial comments for several years, and even brought pornography to work to show to fellow employees and supervisors.

(PORTLAND) - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Thursday that it has settled its sexual and racial harassment lawsuit against U.S. Bakery, Inc, which operates Franz Bakery, after a federal judge ruled that the company was responsible for sexual and racial harassment.

"This was an egregious case of a foreman sexually and racially harassing employees for many years with impunity and represents an employer's abject failure to take its responsibilities seriously under the law," EEOC San Francisco Regional Attorney Bill Tamayo said.

The EEOC settled its lawsuit on behalf of four women - three white and one African American - through a consent decree that gives the EEOC monitoring power over the local employer for three years and court enforcement if necessary.

Three People Lucky to Escape Fire

If a person had not been awake, the circumstances could have been tragic, as the buildings had no smoke alarms.

(SALEM) - Eric Loyd was playing his Playstation when he heard a "whoosh" sound. He walked out his front door and was hit by a wall of heat. He saw his neighbor's house fully involved in fire, so he ran yelling, "Fire, Fire" to make sure everyone got outside safely.

His neighbors Floyd Rundeoius and Wanda Owens were also able to escape the burning trailer without injury.

Salem Fire Department received the call for a structure fire at Lana Lane Trailer Plaza located at 1940 Lana Avenue NE. The first alarm came in at 1:37 AM Thursday.

Firefighters stated they could see flames from several blocks away. First arriving firefighters reported a fully involved mobile home and travel trailer.

Op Ed: Rugged Oregon Realities
Wrecking Saxton Denial
Demanded by His Donors

Corporate Lawyer Can’t Avoid Overwhelming Evidence.

(SALEM) - Corporate lawyers don’t achieve lavishly-paid success by simple chance. Formal judgments sought facing that “fundamental force behind the bench” inevitably focus full attention on reality. That’s what must be “evidenced and documented” in detailed depth by court edict.

Judges demand that depth; legal-culture custom-controls it; public records must provide it; as Constitutionally-established by our Founders.

High Speed Semi North of Eugene Nabbed for Speeding

The driver was trying to catch up with others who were transporting gear for the rock band Steely Dan, set to play in Ridgefield Washington at the Clark County Amphitheater Thursday night.

(SALEM) - An Oregon State Police trooper driving an unmarked patrol car stopped and cited a truck driver at 89 mph Wednesday afternoon north of Eugene.
The driver said he was attempting to catch up with other vehicles transporting the Steely Dan entourage and equipment enroute to Vancouver, Washington for a Thursday night concert.

‘N Sync Band Member Lance Bass: I’m Gay

Bass has also made headlines for undertaking astronaut training and failing to raise money for a trip into space.

(NEW YORK) - 'N Sync band member Lance Bass, says he's gay and in a "very stable" relationship with 32-year-old actor Reichen Lehmkuhl, winner of season four of CBS' "Amazing Race."

Bass, formed 'N Sync with Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick, told People magazine that he didn't disclose his sexuality earlier because he didn't want to affect the group's huge popularity.

"I knew that I was in this popular band and I had four other guys' careers in my hand, and I knew that if I ever acted on it or even said (that I was gay), it would overpower everything," Bass told the magazine.

Commission to Consider Additional Ocean Commercial Salmon Fishing Opportunities

(SALEM) - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will discuss additional ocean commercial salmon fishing opportunities during the Aug. 4th commission meeting at Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife headquarters, 3406 Cherry Avenue NE, in Salem.

The commission was directed under the Governor’s state of emergency declaration to develop commercial salmon fishing opportunities in state waters to help mitigate for commercial fishing closures in federal waters.

These fisheries will help offset economic impacts to coastal communities affected by low returns of Klamath fall chinook.

The commission will consider opening specific terminal or “bubble” areas to provide additional commercial fishing opportunities while minimizing impacts to Klamath fall chinook, Oregon coastal coho, and other species of concern.

Local Farmworkers Will Build New Community Radio Station

"The huge mobilizations this Spring of immigrants have demonstrated more than ever the power of radio," -- KPCN Start-up Coordinator Adrian Valladares.

(WOODBURN) - Between August 18th and 20th, farmworkers and families and supporters from across the Willamette Valley, the Northwest, the United States and around the world will join PCUN in Woodburn to build an entire radio station from the ground up.

After that will come opportunities for local people to become involved in all aspects of the station’s operation, one of only ten such stations across the nation.

Hooley Introduces Legislation to Reimburse Soldiers, Families Who Purchase Protective Helmet Pad

Hooley’s legislation extends the period during which members of the Armed Forces deployed in contingency operations may request and receive reimbursement for helmet pads until September 30th, 2008.

(Washington, D.C.) - Oregon Congresswoman Darlene Hooley has introduced legislation to allow for the reimbursement of soldiers or their families for the purchase of helmet pads, which are designed to better protect the wearer from bomb blasts than military issued pads.

Soldiers or their family members would have one year from the purchase of the superior helmet pads to request reimbursement from the Department of Defense.

State Farm Opens New Salem Operations Center

The new operations center is part of State Farm’s Salem consolidation efforts.

(SALEM) - Like a good neighbor State Farm is staying in Salem.

State Farm spokesman Jeff Aeschliman says the new Salem Operations Center was built because they were far too small for the “big” office in north Salem. So, they sold it a year ago, and last month moved into the new building.

It was built for us but we are leasing it Aeschliman said.

The new building is about 40,000 sq. ft. There are 134 full-time employees, and a call center with about 35 part time employees.

Governor Orders Flags Flown at Half-Staff For Fallen Servicemen

Oregon honors Marine Captain Christopher Pate and Army SSgt Jason Evey.

(SALEM) - Governor Kulongoski has ordered all flags at public institutions to be flown at half-staff on Thursday, in memory of Army Staff Sergeant Jason M. Evey formally of Corvallis.

The Governor also ordered flags at public institutions to be flown at half-staff on Friday, in memory of Marine Captain Christopher T. Pate.

SSgt Evey was assigned to the Army’s 1st Squadron, 10th Calvary Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat team of Fort Hood, Texas.

Evey was 29 when he died on July 16th, 2006, in Baghdad, Iraq.