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(SALEM) - THE SALEM-KEIZER TRANSIT DISTRICT WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING NEXT MONTH ON PROPOSED CUTS AND FARE INCREASES.

THE FBI AND SALEM POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A BANK ROBBERY MONDAY AT THE UMPQUA BANK ON LANCASTER DR NE.

THE PARENTS OF A DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED TEENAGER FROM ALBANY HAVE BEEN ARRAINGED ON CHARGES STEMMING FROM AN ARSON FIRE THAT KILLED THEIR SON.

HEAR THESE STORIES AND MORE FROM KEVIN HAYS...

All Oregon Parks Reserved Camp Sites Gone For Memorial Day Weekend

(SALEM) - The dash to reserve a state park campsite for Memorial Day weekend is over.

According to Reservations Northwest, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department's campsite reservations center, all sites at the 28 parks that accept reservations are booked for the three-day period.

However, 22 other state parks have sites available on first-come, first-served terms in every area of Oregon.

"Some pretty good options still exist out there," said OPRD Recreation Programs Manager Richard Walkoski.

State Land Board Approves Settlement to Remove Wreckage of The New Carissa

(SALEM) - The State Land Board on Tuesday approved settlement of an appealed lawsuit by Green Atlas Shipping Company, which will enable the state to remove the wreckage of the New Carissa, the cargo ship that ran around near Coos Bayin February 1999.

Under the settlement, the State of Oregon will receive approximately $22.1 million to pay for removing the wreckage and to cover legal expenses.

"I'm pleased with this settlement, because it enables us to begin making plans to remove the wreck of New Carissa from a beautiful stretch of beach," said Governor Ted Kulongoski, chair of the Land Board. "This settlement allows the Land Board to carry out its responsibility to keep the coastline clean and safe for our citizens and visitors."

DHS Medicaid Home Care Program Audited

(SALEM) - Secretary of State Bill Bradbury released an audit report
reviewing the Department of Human Services Medicaid In-Home Care Payments, finding that some providers did not provide the services for which they were paid.

There are approximately 17,000 medicaid in-home care providers in Oregon who receive $98.9 million in state funds.

The Secretary of State's audit found that the majority of those providers are performing as expected and in accordance with law, however, there are some instances of providers who received overpayments or who did not provide services for which they were paid.

Salem Police Seek Bank Robbery Suspect

(SALEM) - The FBI and Salem Police are investigating a bank robbery Monday afternoon at the Umpqua Bank, located at 2595 Lancaster Drive NE in Salem.

Bank Employees say the man displayed a note to the teller, and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspect is described as white, in his mid-to-late 50's, with a gray beard, eyeglasses, and a large nose.

`Click it or Ticket` Puts Life-Saving Reminder on Road

As of Jan. 1st, 2006, Oregon law requires occupants of certain commercially operated passenger vehicles to use safety restraints

(SALEM) - As the travel season shifts into high gear in Oregon, law enforcement agencies across the state are taking the national `Click It or Ticket` campaign on the road again.

Local police departments, sheriff`s offices and Oregon State Police always pay attention to make sure that drivers and passengers are safely restrained in their vehicles. But during the national `Click It or Ticket` blitz May 22nd through June 4th, they will be watching closely for this vital yet simple safety law.

`Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and disability for all Americans age 1 through 34, according to the National Centers for Disease Control,` said Carla Levinski, occupant protection program manager at the Oregon Department of Transportation`s Safety Division. `The goal is simple – to save more lives by convincing and reminding seat belt users and non-users to buckle up on every trip.`

Beer, Cars Overshadow Corvallis Man`s Run For The Presidency

(CORVALLIS) - Folks at the Benton County Fairgrounds showed quite a bit more interest in a car sale and a microbrew festival than in their homegrown presidential contender - Michael Charles Smith.

Nonetheless, Smith made the best of things as he opened his quixotic run for the presidency over the weekend with a fundraising dance at the fairgrounds.

He welcomed his two dozen or so supporters, encouraged everyone to get out on the dance floor and even picked up his tuba to sit in with the band on a couple of polkas, the Corvallis Gazette-Times reported on Monday.

"For those of you who don't know me," he began after letting the Hilltop Big Band warm up the crowd, "I'm Michael Smith, and I'm running for president."

The small crowd cheered. Then Smith, a Hewlett-Packard employee, acknowledged his candidacy is the longest of longshots.

"Realistically," he said, "I don't have my bags packed for Pennsylvania Avenue just yet."

Soldiers Complete Training and Prepare to Deploy

(CAMP SHELBY, MISS) - More than 900 Oregon National Guardsmen completed their final phase of training Saturday at Camp Shelby, Miss., in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan in mid-June.

They marked the milestone with a deployment ceremony today and Oregon Governor Ted Kulongsoki was on hand.

"The reason I came down here is the pride I take in them," said Kulongoski of his visit with the soldiers. "They are truly the best Oregon has to offer. They are great soldiers and they are great citizens."

This is the largest overseas deployment of Oregon's citizen soldiers since World War II and they have been training at Camp Shelby for nearly four months. Brig. Gen. Douglas A. Pritt, who commands the 41st Brigade Combat Team, will lead the Oregon soldiers as well as 400 from Oklahoma and others from 32 other states and Puerto Rico.

Cherriots Holding Public Hearing on Proposed Service Reductions and Fare Increase

Marion and Polk county voters supported the Salem-Keizer Transit District's 5-year local option tax levy, however with only 38 percent of voters in Marion County casting a ballot during the May Primary Election, the measure failed.

(SALEM) - The Salem-Keizer Transit District is conducting a public hearing for the purpose of receiving input on proposed service reductions and a fare increase. These actions are intended to help the District maintain a balanced budget for the next two fiscal years.

Weekday-focused reductions.

These reductions are targeted toward weekday transit service, and would affect specific routes as follows:

Eliminate several 15-minute trips in the morning and afternoon peak periods

Route 1 South Commercial

Salem Hospital Offering Home Pool Safety Class

(SALEM) - How safe is your family`s pool?

Do you know how to handle an emergency water rescue?

Salem Hospital is offering a two-hour class to keep you and your family and friends safe in the water this summer.

A portion of the class will be in the pool, so if you plan on attending, please bring your swimsuit.

Al least one adult is required per child under 10.