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Wasps, Squirrels Damaging Oregon White Oak Trees

"The damage to these trees seems to be common around the Willamette Valley," says ODF Forest Pathologist Alan Kanaskie.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Recently, stewardship foresters with the Oregon Department of Forestry have been receiving phone calls from landowners, homeowners and other members of the public concerned about the appearance of numerous dead branches and leaves on Oregon white oak trees.

Investigation by agency foresters resulted in the discovery that the damage is being caused by both insects and mammals.

Portland Police Issue Warning of Scam Involving Grandparents

The typical scam involves a frantic call from a "grandchild" in trouble, or someone saying the grandchild is in trouble with the law.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - The Portland Police Bureau would like to remind Portland area residents, especially seniors, that a common scam known as the "Grandparent Scam" remains active in the community.

The "Grandparent Scam" has been around for many years and is just one variation of the impostor scams that dupe people into losing thousands of dollars.

WHOOPS! Towing Operator on the Run After Failing to Show Up for Court

Anyone with information on the location of Michael Alan Selmer, should contact their local law enforcement non-emergency number, or the Oregon State Police.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - A 35-year-old Polk County man under investigation for running an illegal towing operation and failing to register as a sex offender in Oregon, failed to show up for his first court appearance in Salem.

The Judge issued an immediate no bail arrest warrant for Michael Alan Selmer. Selmer is the subject of an ongoing investigation after Oregon State Police received information he acquired two tow trucks and began advertising towing services in Salem and Independence areas with the name "Whoops! Towing".

Marine Board Warns of Hazards on Oregon Waterways

Trees, root wads and other natural debris are a common part of Oregon's rivers and streams.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - As a result of less snow pack and lower rainfall amounts this winter, many Oregon lakes and rivers will be reaching historically low levels which will expose previously unseen hazards to boaters this summer.

Stumps, rocks, logs and other obstructions could be just below the surface, resulting in hull or prop damage in areas that are normally navigable. These obstructions also impact the water dynamics and the currents in rivers, which can increase the difficulty to navigate safely, especially for paddlecraft.

Calling All Oregon DIY Beverage Makers

Excepting the soft drink category, all participants must be age 21 and over to enter.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - The 149th Oregon State Fair is officially accepting entries for its Homebrew Beer and Amateur Wine competitions, raising a pint and a wine glass in honor of Oregon's best DIY beverage makers.

The Oregon State Fair runs August 22 through September 1 in Salem. Discounted admission tickets are on sale now.

Aviation Official: Air Algerie Flight has Crashed; Changed Flight Pattern Due to Storm

Almost half of the passengers were French citizens, an airline official said.

(ALGIERS) - An Air Algerie flight crashed on Thursday en route from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso to Algiers with 110 passengers on board, an Algerian aviation official said.

There were few clear indications of what might of happened to the aircraft, or whether there were casualties, but Burkino Faso Transport Minister Jean Bertin Ouedrago said it asked to change route at 9.38 p.m. because of a storm in the area.

Prince of Pot Freed from US Clutches

The cannabis warrior should be home in Canada by mid-August.

(COTTAGE GROVE, Ore.) - In 2009, a dear friend to this reporter personally, Mr. Marc Emery, aka The Canadian "Prince of Pot" was extradited to the U.S. from his homeland Canada, where he pleaded guilty to one count of "Conspiracy to manufacture marihuana".

The then 56-year old martyr publicly acknowledged that he had sold cannabis seeds to American customers via mail order since 1994, and quite frankly, gaining immense popularity as well as making a financial Killing as he did it. For that dung-smearing in ole Uncle Sam's face, he was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment in US federal corrections, which he's about finished having served in multiple facilities across the nation.

Hamas Pricks Israel`s Soft Under-Belly, Ben Gurion Airport

The British gave up Lydda airport in April 1948 and IDF soldiers captured the airport on 10 July 1948, in Operation Danny, when the population was driven out as part of Israel's ethnic cleansing programme.

(LONDON) - Hamas has hit Palestine's bloodthirsty occupier where it could hurt real bad -- in the soft under-belly that is Ben Gurion airport. The Resistance has achieved this by lobbing a rocket too close for comfort and causing air carriers in the United States and Europe to halt flights to Tel Aviv after warnings from governmental agencies concerned about passenger safety.

"The carriers are making the right call," said Robert Mann, an airline consultant in Port Washington, New York.

Portland Teen Dead After Shooting in SE Portland

No motive has been determined in the shooting.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - Homicide detectives are continuing their investigation into Tuesday night's shooting that left one man dead in Southeast Portland.

The victim has been preliminarily identified as a 19-year-old male. Detectives have learned that several neighborhood residents heard several gunshots prior to the discovery of the victim.

Arizona Death Row Inmate Takes Two Hours to Die after Lethal Injection

Wood had been one of six death row prisoners who sued Arizona last month arguing that secrecy surrounding the drugs used in other botched executions in Ohio and Oklahoma violated their rights.

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) - An Arizona inmate took almost two hours to die by lethal injection on Wednesday and his lawyers said he "gasped and snorted" before succumbing in the latest botched execution to raise questions about the death penalty in the United States.

The execution of convicted double murderer Joseph Wood began at 1:52 p.m. local time at a state prison complex, and the 55-year-old was pronounced dead just shy of two hours later at 3:49 p.m.