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Bush to Send Up to 6,000 Troops to Border

(WASHINGTON, D.C.)) - President Bush, trying to build support for a major overhaul of the nation's tattered immigration laws, said Monday night he would order as many as 6,000 National Guard troops to secure the U.S. border with Mexico and urged Congress to give millions of illegal immigrants a chance at citizenship.

"We do not yet have full control of the border and I am determined to change that," the president said in a 17-minute prime-time address from the Oval Office.

Bush gave strong support to a plan that would give many of the 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States an eventual path to possible citizenship — a move derided by some conservatives in his own Republican Party as amnesty. He rejected that term.

"It is neither wise nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with deep roots in the United States and send them across the border," he said. "There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant and a program of mass deportation."

Low Voter Turnout Spells Doom For Salem-Keizer Transit District Measure

HEAR THIS STORY AND MORE SALEM-AREA NEWS FROM SALEM-NEWS.COM’S KEVIN HAYS ON NEWSRADIO 1190 KEX

(SALEM) - Low voter turnout locally and statewide has elections officials scratching their heads to find a logical explanation as to why so few voters are voting in Tuesday`s primary election.

As of 5:00 PM on Tuesday, only 30 percent of the 143,406 registered voters in Marion County had turned in their ballots.

In Polk County, voter turnout is even lower, 24 percent. In Linn County, 33 percent of the voters have turned ballots in, and in Benton County, the lowest voter turnout of all, 19 percent.

Statewide, low voter turnout could beat the previous low of 35 percent in 1998.

Kulongoski Hits Plan to Send Guard to Mexican Border

(SALEM) - Gov. Ted Kulongoski is taking a dim view of President Bush's plan to deploy National Guard troops to the Mexican border, saying it's a political gesture that will do little to resolve immigration issues.

"Within the conservative wing of the Republican Party, which this president is trying to appease, it may be good politics. But it is lousy policy," Kulongoski said in an interview Monday.

Kulongoski and Brig. Gen. Mike Caldwell, deputy director of the Oregon Guard, also said federal officials haven't given them any indication of how many Oregon troops might be deployed to the border.

"No one has said a word to us," the Democratic governor said.

State Unemployment Rate Remains at 5.5 Percent in April

Two industries that reported large gains during April were leisure and hospitality and professional and business services.

(PORTLAND) - Oregon`s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged in April at 5.5 percent. The rate, which has declined steadily during the past two years, was well below the year-ago reading of 6.3 percent.

Last month`s national rate remained unchanged 4.7 percent in April. This brought the U.S. rate to its lowest level since July 2001, when it was 4.6 percent.

Oregon added 9,800 jobs to its non-farm payroll employment in April. The growth was typical for the time of year. Most industries grew in accordance with their respective seasonal patterns.

Marion County Parks Are Now Open

(SALEM) - Looking for a place to take the family and enjoy the sun?

Marion County seasonal parks have re-opened to the public.

Marion County parks include: Spongs Landing on the Willamette River north of Keizer, Scotts Mills, and those in the North Santiam River basin, which are North Fork, Bear Creek, Salmon Falls, Niagara, and Minto Parks.

The parks are open from 10:00 AM until one-half hour after sunset.

Chemeketa Bids Farewell to Two Temporary Buildings

Within the next three years, the college hopes to have a new 40,000-square-foot building built to replace five older, outdated buildings.

(SALEM) - Chemeketa is saying farewell to two temporary buildings that have served the college for more than three decades.

Buildings 17 and 18 were closed earlier this year, after mold was discovered in one, and extensive water damage was found in the other.

Both buildings, were already being used by Linn-Benton Community College when they were purchased in the early 70`s.

State Music Championship Finals Results

(SALEM) - The 2006 State Music Championship finals took place over two weekends in May.

To be eligible for the State finals, a high school choir, band or orchestra must have received a No.1 superior rating in performance at their league or a sanctioned district and regional adjudicated festival.

They must submit recordings to an outside panel of music judges, who make the selection on the best 22 schools in choir, band and orchestra to compete in the State championships.

DHS Releases Statewide Older Adult Suicide Prevention Plan

(SALEM) - The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) today released a comprehensive plan for how the state can confront the problem of older suicide, which kills about 100 older Oregonians every year.

Oregon's suicide rates among people age 65 and older are higher than those of other age groups and have ranked at the top nationally for more than a decade, according to Mel Kohn, M.D., state epidemiologist in DHS.

"This is an important issue that will only get worse as our population ages," said Kohn. "This plan is both a call to action and a roadmap for preventing further deaths."

Health Care Coverage Protected for Millions of Americans with Diabetes

Statement of the American Diabetes Association on Cloture Vote on S.1955, the “Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization Act�

(ALEXANDRIA, VA) - L. Hunter Limbaugh, Chair of the National Advocacy Committee of the American Diabetes Association, issued the following statement in response to today`s defeat of `The Health Insurance Marketplace
Modernization Act` (S.1955).

`This bill was fundamentally flawed, as it would have jeopardized the health care coverage that millions of Americans with diabetes rely upon daily to manage their disease and prevent its serious and costly complications.

"S.1955 would have enabled health insurers to bypass existing state health protections, including coverage in 46 states and the District of Columbia, for life-saving diabetes supplies, medication, education, and treatment. Moving forward, ADA is eager to work with legislators from both parties to expand affordable, adequate and accessible health insurance to small businesses and other Americans who are uninsured and underinsured.`

Comments Sought on Bush`s Proposal to Put Guard Troops Along U.S.-Mexico Border

(SALEM) - Salem-News.com is seeking comments on President Bush`s proposal to place thousands of in many cases, battle weary National Guard soldiers on the U.S.-Mexico border.