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Medford Area Teens Killed in Single Vehicle Crash Early Tuesday

Police from throughout Oregon are hoping that young drivers learn from tragedies like this.

(SALEM) - Three Medford-area teenagers, graduates this year from South Medford High School, were killed early Tuesday morning when their vehicle lost control on Highway 238 near Ruch, crashed into a tree and came to rest upside down in the Applegate River. Oregon State Police troopers are continuing the investigation.

Police say that at approximately 12:15 AM, a 1994 BMW 740 four-door driven by 18-year old Kyle Charles Ross of Medford, was westbound on Highway 238 near milepost 27 at a high rate of speed negotiating a right-hand curve. Investigators say Ross lost control causing the car to
travel off the north side of the highway and down an embankment where it struck a tree.

Iraq Official: U.S. Soldier`s Bodies Found

(BAGHDAD, Iraq) - The bodies of two U.S. soldiers have been found near where the men went missing, a senior Iraqi military official said Tuesday, but the U.S. military said it could not confirm the report.

Maj. Gen. Abdul-Aziz Mohammed said the bodies of Army Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, of Houston, and Army Pfc. Thomas Lowell Tucker, 25, of Madras, Ore., were found on a street near a power plant in the town of Youssifiyah, just south of Baghdad.

U.S. Maj. Doug Powell said he could not confirm the report.

Salem SWAT Team in Standoff Monday Evening (VIDEO EXCLUSIVE)

The police standoff began around 6:30 PM at 2115 Liberty Road NE, near the intersection of Pine.

(SALEM) - Salem Police spent their evening involved in a standoff with a man that began around 6:30 PM. All traffic near the house near the intersection of Pine and Liberty was been blocked off for several hours, and drivers passing through the area were diverted.

Neighbors in the Pine/Liberty area were advised to remain indoors, with police suspecting that the man was armed and may be dangerous.

Tuesday Morning News Report With Kevin Hays (AUDIO)

(SALEM) - Here are today`s top stories from Salem-News.com I`m Kevin Hays reporting...

An umbrella group that includes al-Qaida in Iraq claimed in a Web statement monday morning that it has kidnapped two U-S soldiers reported missing south of Baghdad.

A 22-year-old soldier from Milwaukie is dead, after an explosion in Iraq. Army Specialist Robert Jones was killed Friday in an ambush while on foot patrol in Baghdad.

Sprague High School was the scene of second arson fire within the last week. The first one happened Wednesday June 14th. Fire Spokesman Bill Holmstrom says it was set in the girl's bathroom.

Oregon to Test Birds as Part of Nationwide Avian Influenza Detection Effort

(SALEM) - State and federal wildlife biologists will be testing wild birds in Oregon this summer and fall as part of a nationwide effort aimed at the early detection of HPAI H5N1 `bird flu` virus in North America .

Milwaukie Soldier Dies in Iraq

(MILWAUKIE AP) - One day after his Father's Day letter arrived home, a soldier from Milwaukie is the latest soldier with Oregon ties to die in the Middle East.

Army Spc. Robert Jones, 22, was killed Friday in Baghdad. Kathy Walker, a family friend, told The Oregonian that Jones was hit by mortar and died instantly.

The newspaper said Jones is the 59th casualty to date in Iraq and the Middle East with Oregon ties. Another Oregon soldier, Army Pfc. Thomas Lowell Tucker, 25, of Madras, is missing and may have been kidnapped by a group linked to al-Qaida.

Salem Police in Standoff

(SALEM) - Salem Police have been involved in a standoff with a man that began around 6:30 PM. The area around Pine and Liberty has been blocked off for several hours.

Drivers are asked to avoid the area, and neighbors in the Pine/Librerty area are advised to remain indoors as police suspect that the man is armed and may be dangerous.

Witnesses in this normally calm neighborhood say it began with an apparent argument between a man and a woman.

But Salem Police say the incident stems from an ongoing narcotics investigation.

Sidewalks Getting a Major Facelift in Downtown Salem

(SALEM) - The city of Salem is proceeding with the construction of new sidewalk improvements in three downtown locations.

New sidewalks are being laid in parts of downtown Salem and city officials say they appreciate the patience of drivers and shoppers as they endeavor to create what will be in the end, a much improved downtown pedestrian area.

The new construction is being performed as part of the Downtown Streetscape Improvement Program which has been in place since 1985.

DEQ Awards $10,000 Grant to Marion County For Thermostat Collection Program

The collection program will begin this fall.

(SALEM) - The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has awarded a $10,000 household hazardous waste grant to Marion County, which will work with the Oregon Environmental Council to collect mercury-containing thermostats locally.

Marion County and Portland General Electric are providing $10,000 and $5,000 in matching monies, respectively.

Through the pilot project, the county will contract with OEC to encourage homeowners throughout the county to replace their mercury-containing thermostats with more efficient digital thermostats, and to return their used mercury thermostats to Lowe`s home improvement stores in Marion County.

Another Oregon Soldier Killed in Iraq

(MILWAUKIE AP) - A 22-year-old soldier from Milwaukie is dead, after a mortar explosion in Iraq.

Army Specialist Robert Jones was killed Friday in an ambush while on foot patrol in Baghdad, according to family friends.

A 2002 graduate of Rex Putnam High School, Jones was on his second tour of duty in Iraq.

According to his father, Jones sent him a Father's Day card that arrived Thursday, sending his love, and wishing his father a happy holiday.