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Oregonians are Giving More to Charity, Study Shows

(PORTLAND – AP) - Oregonians are giving to charity in ever-increasing numbers, according to a new study from the Giving in Oregon Council.

In the early 1990s, Oregonians gave less per capita than people in most other states.

But Greg Chaille, the president of the Oregon Community Foundation, says donations from state residents just topped one billion dollars for the first time.

He says the state now ranks 15th in the nation for giving, and that studies also show Oregonians volunteer in large numbers as well.

Chaille says the recession of the early 2000s exposed more Oregonians to community problems and prompted them to donate.

Construction Underway on New Downtown Salem Sidewalk Improvements

Downtown merchants and property owners will be advised weekly of project developments.

(SALEM) - City of Salem Public Works crews are currently improving downtown Salem sidewalks.

The improvements, are part of the downtown streetscape improvement program will has been in place since 1985.

The new streetscape improvements are occurring at the following locations:

128 Liberty St. NE – Around the Reed Opera House

155 Liberty St. NE – Salem Arts Building

181-191 High Street NE – The Grand Hotel and Grand Theater

525-545 Ferry St. SE – Ira`s Alley Building

WAR to Headline Northwest Art & Air Festival

Formed in Long Beach in 1969, the large combo initially served as rocker Eric Burdon's group, backing the ex-Animal on his 1970 million-seller "Spill the Wine."

(ALBANY) - Classic rock/soul/funk artists WAR will be the headline act for the 2006 Wah Chang Northwest Art & Air Festival at Timber Linn Park in Albany.

Freewheeling WAR mixed rock, jazz, and soul influences throughout the 1970s, resulting in a series of rhythm and blues and pop hits with funky melodies and politically aware messages.

The band signed with United Artists in 1971 and had its first smash the next year with "Slippin' into Darkness."

In the mid-1970s, "The World Is a Ghetto," "The Cisco Kid," and "Why Can't We Be Friends?" all went gold.

WAR continued to perform throughout the '80s and then went through a revival in the early 1990s when all their albums were reissued. They are acknowledged as a primary influence on contemporary R&B and hip-hop.

Ballot Measure Signatures Submitted For Early Count

(SALEM – AP) - Tax activist Bill Sizemore had his hand in three of the five statewide initiative petitions submitted today for early-signature verification. Each stands a good chance of getting on the November ballot.

The three would bar barring insurance companies from using customer credit ratings to set rates, cut individual state income taxes by allowing use of a federal exemptions on state tax returns and require regional election of Oregon Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges.

The fourth would bar governments from condemning property on behalf of private owners.

The fifth, submitted by unions, would require large corporations to divulge the share of taxes and expenses attributed to their Oregon operations.

OSU to Host Spanish Program For Elementary Students

The first registration deadline is May 31st.

(CORVALLIS) - The Hispanic Beaver, a three-week summer Spanish program for second- through fourth-grade students who have had little or no Spanish, will be held June 26th to July 14th on the OSU campus.

Students will be initiated to language learning by engaging in activities and projects focused on Spanish and Latin American societies through a well-developed language component, workshops, crafts, films, games and more, said Angela Palacios, an instructor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.

`The point of the program is for the children to have fun gaining general knowledge of Spanish-speaking cultures, communication skills and sensitivity to different cultural contexts,` Palacios said, adding that all of the activities are instructed in Spanish.

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures is offering the event and Precollege Programs is sponsoring it.

Op-Ed:
Corporate Remediation
Key to ANY Oregon Future

Oregon's Tax-Avoidance Debacle Must End

(SALEM) - If ever there was a political-issue certainty, we now face one in Oregon, absolutely and irrevocably.

Four Northwest Offices Locked Down Amid Gun Scare

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - The offices of four Northwest lawmakers were among those locked down Friday as Capitol police launched a floor-by-floor search of a House office building after an unidentified caller reported gunfire.

Two Northwest members of Congress - Democratic Reps. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Brian Baird of Washington - were in the Rayburn building at the time of the lockdown.

Blumenauer has an office in the building, while Baird was in the gym when the lockdown started. Baird told KIRO Radio he saw no one with a gun other than police searching the building.

Three other Northwest lawmakers - all Democrats - have offices in Rayburn, the largest office structure on Capitol Hill.

Swegle Family Literacy Program Wins Pioneer Award

(SALEM) - The STARS, Striving To Achieve Reading Success, Family Literacy Program, created by Swegle kindergarten teacher Amy Bandonis, has won the prestigious "Pioneer Award", presented by the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators.

Each year COSA gives this award to ten outstanding educational programs throughout the state.

STARS targets students in grades K-1 who are below reading level.

A parent, or other family member, must accompany the student to each class, which are held for eight consecutives Thursdays after school.

Friday Night News Report With Kevin Hays (AUDIO)

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

SALEM POLICE SAY THREE PORTLAND WOMAN WERE ARRESTED ON PROSTITUTION CHARGES AFTER USING THE INTERNET SITE CRAIG`S LIST TO SOLICIT CUSTOMERS.

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F-15 Jet Fighter Flyovers Scheduled for Monday

(SALEM) - The Oregon Air National Guard will salute America's fallen
heroes and veterans Memorial Day with flyovers for various ceremonies at locations throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Two F-15 Eagle jet fighters from the 142nd Fighter Wing will depart the Portland Air Base. One jet will fly over community events in Southern Oregon and the other will cover the Portland and Southwest WA area at the following times and locations: