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The Diane Downs` Case Was No Small Sacrifice

The Diane Downs case is a notorious piece of Oregon crime history. But was justice served? Not by today's standards.

(British Columbia) - On May 19, 1983, Elizabeth Diane Downs and her three small children were shot on a country road near Springfield, Oregon. Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died, but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter Christie survived.

Within three weeks, Diane had lost custody of her remaining wounded children and had become the number one suspect in the eyes of the police department and District Attorney’s office. I came across some very interesting information about the Diane Downs case because Rule attended the trial and also wrote a book about the case called Small Sacrifices.

Thousands Turn Out as Salem Becomes Basketball City USA

Another big hit this year was the return of an old Salem classic: Bob's Hamburgers.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Thousands of basketball players, their families, and just fans of the game, turned out Saturday for the 16th annual Oregon National Guard 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Salem.

The streets surrounding the Oregon State Capitol grounds were transformed into basketball courts, where players from every age group and ability, showed off their best Michael Jordan, LeBron James, or Larry Bird basketball skills.

Israel Says Hamas Will Pay Heavy Price for Soldiers Death

Israel said Palestinians on Saturday launched 86 rockets across the border.

(GAZA CITY) - Israel on Sunday declared dead a soldier feared abducted by Hamas Islamist militants in the Gaza Strip and said it would continue to fight even after the army completes destroying cross-border tunnels used by Palestinian fighters to attack its territory.

As Israeli television showed live footage of some tanks withdrawing from Gaza in an apparent winding down of the 26-day campaign, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas would pay an "intolerable price" if it continued to attack Israel.

Missing Ore. Woman May Have Been Spotted on Washington State Ferry

Police are quickly working on recovering the ferry and Anacortes and Friday Harbor terminal's surveillance video to see if they can spot Huston or her vehicle.

(FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash.) - Police in Washington State are actively searching for a missing Oregon mother who was spotted by a couple boarding a ferry in Anacortes headed for Friday Harbor Thursday morning.

The San Jan County Sheriff's Office says the couple was able to tell deputies everything currently known about 38-year-old Jennifer Huston and her vehicle. Police said the couple spotted a woman matching Huston's description on the 9:00 a.m. ferry, and even had all the current details about her vehicle.

Teen Drowns While Swimming in Willamette River

Fire and rescue crews remind everyone swimming or playing in any body of water in Oregon to wear a life jacket, whether or not you are a good swimmer.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - Rescue crews are still searching for the body of a teenager who drowned Friday afternoon while swimming in the Willamette River near the Sellwood Bridge has been recovered.

Portland Fire and Rescue says 18-year-old Mario Antonio Martinez Villalta was swimming with another person from the East Bank of the Willamette River near a construction barge and was having trouble making it back to shore.

Salem`s Riverfront Park Playing Host to Family Fest

The event is free to the public.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Family Building Blocks is holding it's 5th annual Riverfront Family Fest on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Salem's Riverfront Park.

Activities include: dancing, music, raffles, crafts, tasty treats, helicopter landings, fire trucks and much more. Kids and parents can learn about water safety, health and hygiene, healthy eating, sports safety, fire safety and bus safety.

Craigslist Ad for Car Turns Out to be Front for Armed Robbery

The suspects are described only as two white males, possibly in their 20's, wearing dark clothing and dark masks.

(BORING, Ore. ) - The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in locating the suspects involved in an armed robbery of a man, and his family, who were going to purchase a used car he found on Craigslist.

When the victim and his family arrived at a Boring, Ore. gas station at about 10:30 p.m., the seller called and told him to drive to "his" nearby home. When they arrived the victim noticed that the home was dark. They stopped in front of the home, and when they did they were confronted by two armed men with semi-automatic handguns.

Search for Missing Oregon Mom Will Continue Through the Weekend

The Newberg-Dundee Police Department is receiving many tips and potential leads and they will follow-up on each one, investigators said.

(NEWBERG, Ore. ) - The search for a missing Oregon mother who vanished after getting gas from a Newberg gas station last week, will continue through the weekend Salem-News.com has learned, even though two law enforcement agencies say they have exhausted all leads, and will stop for now.

Despite some media reports in Oregon saying the search is coming to an official "end", police, family, and friends of 38-year-old Jennifer Huston don't see it that way, and will continue their search for her on the ground handing out fliers of the missing woman at various events taking place throughout the Willamette Valley. Several police agencies will also continue their searchers by land, water, and air during regular patrols.

Health Advisory Issued for Devils Lake on Oregon Coast

Swallowing or inhaling water, as well as skin contact with water, should be avoided. Drinking water directly from Devils Lake is especially dangerous.

(LINCOLN CITY, Ore. ) - A health advisory was issued Friday due to high levels of blue-green algae and toxins in Devils Lake, located just south of Lincoln City in Lincoln County.

Water monitoring has confirmed the presence of high levels of cyanotoxins produced by blue-green algae. These dangerous cyanotoxin concentrations in the water can be harmful to humans and animals.

Oregon Health Insurance Rates Going Down

For a similar small employer plan, the average 2015 premium is an estimated $308 per month, compared with $327 in 2014.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - The Department of Consumer and Business Services' Insurance Division has approved rates for 2015 individual and small employer health insurance plans, and on average, they are lower than 2014 rates.

Although the rate changes vary by insurer, the average monthly premium for an individual standard plan for a 40-year-old in Portland in 2015 is estimated at $250, compared to $262 in 2014.