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Indonesian Quake Death Toll Passes 4,300

(BANTUL, Indonesia) - After sleeping outside in streets and fields, Indonesian earthquake survivors scavenged their wrecked villages Sunday for food, clothing and anything of use as the death toll rose to more than 4,300. Some 200,000 people were left homeless.

Waves of aftershocks compounded the terror of the magnitude-6.3 quake, which flattened villages and towns on densely populated Java island early Saturday — Indonesia's worst disaster since the 2004 tsunami. Power and phone service remained out amid fears that a nearby rumbling volcano might erupt.

Nations worldwide hurried to send food, supplies and funds. The Rome-based U.N. World Food Program said a plane with medicine and medical personnel was en route, as were eight truckloads of fortified noodles and biscuits. The U.N. children's agency UNICEF said it was ready to send tents, hygiene kits, health kits and school supplies.

Sunday Night/Monday Morning News Report (AUDIO)

(SALEM) - HERE ARE TODAY`S TOP STORIES FROM SALEM-NEWS.COM, WITH KEVIN HAYS REPORTING…..

GOVERNOR KULONGOSKI IS ASKING THAT ALL STATE FLAGS AT PUBLIC ISTUTUTIONS BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF FROM SUNRISE UNTIL NOON ON MONDAY.

A CREWMAN FROM A 280-FOOT VESSEL WAS AIRLIFTED BY THE US COAST GUARD SUNDAY MORNING 34 MILES OFF THE OREGON COAST NEAR COOS BAY.

AN EARTHQUAKE RATTLED OFF THE OREGON COAST ON SATURDAY. THE 4.8 QUAKE, STRUCK AT 12:50 PM, AND WAS CENTERED 194 MILES WEST OF COOS BAY.

CITY OF SALEM PUBLIC WORKS CREWS ARE CURRENTLY IMPROVING DOWNTOWN SALEM SIDEWALKS. THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE PART OF THE DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1985.

Prescribed Burn Planned This Week For Umpqua Beach

The purpose of the burn is to reduce hazardous fuel buildup, and control non-native vegetation growing in the area.

(FLORENCE) - This week, fire management personnel from the Siuslaw National Forest are planning to conduct a prescribed burn on the Umpqua Beach portion of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.

`This is a continuation of on ongoing program to reduce hazardous fuels and non-native vegetative species on the Oregon Dunes`, said Tim McKillop, assistant fire management officer on the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.

Under the Healthy Forest Initiative hazardous fuels reduction is intended to reduce the potential for fires in forest areas adjacent to communities and high-use recreation areas.

The prescribed burn will be conducted between Staging Area #2 and Staging Areat #3 at Umpqua Beach located south of Winchester Bay.

Salem Drinking Water Voted Best in the Northwest (AUDIO)

Salem water will now go on to compete at the American Water Works Association's Annual Conference and Exposition to be held in San Antonio, Texas next month.

(SALEM) - Salem's drinking water was recently voted "Best of the West" at the 2006 Spring Conference of the Pacific Northwest Section of the American Water Works Association.

A panel of 4 judges selected Salem's drinking water from 6 entries from around the Pacific Northwest.

Official: Iraq Civilian Deaths Unjustified

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - Military investigators probing the deaths last November of about two dozen Iraqi civilians have evidence that points toward unprovoked murders by Marines, a senior defense official said Friday.

The Marine Corps initially reported 15 deaths and said they were caused by a roadside bomb and an ensuing firefight with insurgents. A separate investigation is aimed at determining if Marines lied to cover up the events, which included the deaths of women and children.

If confirmed as unjustified killings, the episode could be the most serious case of criminal misconduct by U.S. troops during three years of combat in Iraq. Until now the most infamous occurrence was the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse involving Army soldiers, which came to light in April 2004 and which President Bush said Thursday he considered to be the worst U.S. mistake of the entire war.

The defense official discussed the matter Friday only on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the investigation. He said the evidence found thus far strongly indicated the killings in the insurgent-plagued city of Haditha in the western province of Anbar were unjustified. He cautioned that the probe was not finished.

Once the investigation is completed, perhaps in June, it will be up to a senior Marine commander in Iraq to decide whether to press charges of murder or other violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Three officers from the unit involved — 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. — have been relieved of duty, although officials have not explicitly linked them to the criminal investigation.

In an indication of how concerned the Marines are about the implications of the Haditha case, their top officer, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, flew to Iraq on Thursday. He was to reinforce what the military said was a need to adhere to Marine values and standards of behavior and to avoid the use of excess force.

Sunday Morning News Report (AUDIO)

(SALEM) - HERE ARE TODAY`S TOP STORIES FROM SALEM-NEWS.COM, WITH KEVIN HAYS REPORTING...

GOVERNOR KULONGOSKI IS ASKING THAT ALL STATE FLAGS AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF FROM SUNRISE UNTIL NOON ON MONDAY IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY.

A 4.8 EARTHQUAKE RATTLED OFF THE OREGON COAST ON SATURDAY NEAR COOS BAY.

RAIN HAS FORCED THE CANCELLATION OF THE CLASS 4-A QUARTERFINAL BASEBALL MATCH-UP BETWEEN WEST SALEM AND ALOHA.

THE OREGON AIR NATIONAL GUARD WILL SALUTE AMERICA`S FALLEN HEROES ON MONDAY WITH FLYOVERS FOR VARIOUS CEREMONIES THROUGHOUT OREGON AND SW WASHINGTON.

THE LATEST SALEM-AREA NEWS, WEATHER, SPORTS, AND TRAFFIC IS ON DEMAND AT SALEM-NEWS.COM.

Internet Classifieds for Alleged Prostitution Services Lead to Arrests in Salem

(SALEM) - Police in Salem used an unusual sting method involving the Internet to arrest three women for prostitution Thursday night at the Salem Inn on Freeway Ct NE.

Lt. Steve Bellshaw says officers worked from a tip, `We had received information that three prostitutes were working out of this motel and advertising on Craigslist, an internet classified ad site.`

Next it was time for officers from the Salem Police Community Response Team to make a date.

Crew Member Medevaced From 280-Foot Vessel Near Coos Bay

A Coast Guard flight surgeon from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, Calif., was informed of the man's condition and recommended a medevac.

(COOS BAY) - A crewman from a 280-foot vessel was airlifted by the Coast Guard Sunday morning 34 miles off the coast of Coos Bay.

Coast Guard officials said at 9:30 AM, the 13th Coast Guard District`s command center in Seattle received a call from the health provider aboard the fish processing vessel American Dynasty requesting medical assistance for a 47-year old crewmember suffering from a possible heart attack.

An HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station North Bend, was launched to medevac the man.

The helicopter lowered a rescue swimmer to the vessel.

Governor Calls For Flags to be Flown at Half Staff Until Noon on Memorial Day

Governor to give remarks at Willamette National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony.

(SALEM) - Governor Kulongoski has asked that all state flags at public institutions be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon on Monday, in memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice for their country in the line of duty.

`Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the many sacrifices countless men and women have made throughout our nation`s history to preserve our democracy and America`s cherished values`, Kulongoski said.

`Again, as we commemorate Memorial Day, we do so with special significance as many of Oregon`s finest citizens are still serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and in other important military assignments around the world.`

The Governor will offer remarks on Monday at the Willamette National Cemetery - Memorial Day Ceremony.

Salem-Keizer Education Foundation Welcomes New Board Members, Officers

(SALEM) - Five new community leaders are joining the board of directors of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation.

The Foundation will induct new board members and officers during its annual meeting on June 2nd.

Dennie Brooks, Diane Meza Childs, Jackie Franke, Velda Schooler and John Weeks are the newest Foundation board members.

All are active community volunteers and have previously held leadership positions on other nonprofit boards and committees.

Brooks is a health careers specialist at Salem Hospital.

Meza Childs is marketing director for the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center.