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Study: Sioux Falls is Safest Driving City

In Oregon, Salem ranked 67th, Eugene ranked 19th, and Portland Ranked 89th.

(SIOUX FALLS, S.D.) - Motorists in Sioux Falls " where the streets are laid out sensibly and the traffic enforcement is strong " are the nation's safest and Midwest cities account for half of those in the top 10, an insurance study shows.

Researchers with Allstate Insurance Co. found that each motorist in this growing city in southeast South Dakota has on average one accident every 14.3 years 30 percent better than the national rate of one every 10 years.

Governor to Meet With Mexican President in Yakima

(SALEM) - Governor Kulongoski will meet Wednesday with Mexican President Vicente Fox when Fox arrives at McAllister Air Base in Yakima, Washington.

Fox, who is nearing the end of his six-year term, is on a tour of Western states that does not include Oregon.

Kulongoski spokesman Lonn Hocklin said the meeting will be one-on-one with the leaders and staff members.

Memorial Day Events Around Oregon

(SALEM) - The Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs has received information about more than 40 Memorial Day weekend ceremonies and events which will occur throughout the state from May 27th-29th. The list includes:

Corvallis, May 29th, 2:00 PM - A ceremony to honor servicemembers who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan at the Veterans Memorial, 1100 NW Kings Blvd.

Salem, May 29th, 11:00 AM - The 26th annual Memorial Day program at City View Cemetery, 390 Hoyt Street South.

Mt. Angel, May 29th, 9:30 AM - Old-fashioned Memorial Day service at Calvary Cemetery, one-quarter mile north of town on Highway 214.

ODOT Proposes Using $160 Million in Federal Highway Funds For Mid-Valley I-5 Bridge Improvements

The OTIA III left some needs on I-5 -- the state’s primary freight and commercial route unfunded.

(SALEM) - The Oregon Department of Transportation on Wednesday proposed the use of a $160 million federal funding package for Interstate 5 bridge improvements not addressed by the Oregon Transportation Investment Act.

Tuesday Night/Wednesday Morning News Report (AUDIO)

This is the Salem-News.com audio news report from Kevin Hays.

(SALEM) - HERE ARE TODAY`S TOP STORY`S FROM SALEM-NEWS.COM's KEVIN HAYS...

THE DASH TO RESERVE A STATE PARK CAMPSITE FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IS OVER. ALL SITES ARE BOOKED FOR THE THREE-DAY WEEKEND.

THE LINN COUNTY DA`S OFFICE SAYS IT WILL NOW CHARGE THE PARENTS OF A TEENAGER WHO DIED IN AN ALLEGED ARSON FIRE WITH FIRST DEGREE MANSLUGHTER.

THESE STORIES AND MORE...

Parents Now Face First-Degree Manslaughter For Son`s Death

(ALBANY) - The Linn County District Attorney`s Office says it will now charge the parents of an autistic teenager from Albany with First Degree Manslaughter, after their son died in an alleged arson fire that killed him on Mothers Day.

Investigators say 19-year old Christopher Degroot was home at the time of the fire. Dead bolts had been placed on the apartment`s door, windows were locked closed, and there was no routine practice of leaving the dead bolt key in an accessible place, say investigators.

He was unable to escape the blaze because he had been locked inside the apartment by his parents, say Albany Police.

Agnes and Nicolaas Degroot remain in the Linn County Jail.

The couple also faces a charge each of First Degree Arson...

Judge Rejects Part of Dog Lawsuit Claim

(PORTLAND AP) - An Estacada family seeking $1.6 million for the death of their dog cannot be compensated for loss of companionship, a Clackamas County judge decided Tuesday.

The judge threw out the claim but will allow the jury to decide if the family should be paid for punitive damages and intentional infliction of emotional stress, The Oregonian reported on its web site Tuesday.

Circuit Judge Eve Miller said loss of animal companionship was not "a viable theory under Oregon law." She said there is no precedent for loss of companionship and that it was up to other courts or the state legislature to establish the concept.

The issue ended up in court after a 2004 incident in which a neighbor ran over Grizz, a 14-year-old cocker spaniel-Labrador retriever mix owned by Mark Greenup and his family.

Be Aware! Crosswalk Enforcement Campaign Planned in Hubbard

The goal of the campaign is simple pedestrian safety.

(HUBBARD) - The Hubbard Police Department will be holding a "crosswalk enforcement" campaign on Saturday, June 3rd.

OLCC Chair Philip Lang New Head of National Liquor Association

(SALEM) - Oregon Liquor Control Commission Chairman Philip D. Lang is new chairman of the board of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA), a group of 20 state and county liquor agencies headquartered in Alexandria, Va.

NABCA provides information and resources for government officials, advocacy groups, the alcohol beverage industry, and others impacting alcohol policy. The organization represents 18 states and two counties that directly control the distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages within their borders. Western members include Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

As OLCC chair for eight years, Lang, 76, has led a board of five commissioners in setting policy direction for the state agency. The former speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives was appointed by the governor.

Meth Epidemic Forum Thursday at Salem Hospital

Come and find out what’s being done to prevent meth from getting into our community.

(SALEM) - The public is invited to a free forum to learn the affect of meth in the local community and how the community is standing up to the challenge.

Bob Bovett, local attorney and member of the Governor's Meth Task Force, will participate in a panel discussion on the meth epidemic in Oregon.

The panel will include professionals from the community, who will address the legal, medical, and social ramifications of meth abuse.

Panelists include Anna Petersen, Executive Chair of No Meth, Not in My Neighborhood, and Walt Myers, former Salem Chief of Police and interim safety and security manager at Salem Hospital.