Salem-News.com - News with Video Page 224

Does Obama Have Control of the DEA?

Has the time arrived for Obama to take his gloves off and overhaul the DEA from top to bottom, or is it even an option?

(SALEM, Ore.) - The DEA is defying President Barack Obama's word that the Department of Justice would no longer be used to harrass and arrest owners and operators of medical marijuana dispensaries.

"I would not have the Justice Department prosecuting and raiding medical marijuana dispenseries; it is not a good use of our resources," then Presidential Contender Obama said, on August 21st 2007.

The group Americans for Safe Access reports that on Thursday, the Drug Enforcement Administration, teeming with officials from the Bush Administration, raided a medical cannabis dispensary in South Lake Tahoe, California.

Joaquin Phoenix Takes a Dive; Career and All

Joaquin Walks the Line and Takes a Fall.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Last week, The Rolling Stone reported that Joaquin Phoenix was making his move from actor to rapper official. He announced that he would mark the event with a performance at a Las Vegas club.

The video below attests to what this looks like, and sounds like, and it isn't good. The Rolling Stone suggested that the performance was nothing short of a train wreck, with Phoenix struggling to even put sentences together during this official debut.

Making matters all the worse, Phoenix fell off the stage at the conclusion of his one-song set.

Inauguration of Obama Marks New Era in History

Protests were few during this Presidential Inauguration; but numerous when the same occasion was marked for George W. Bush.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The whole world took a step forward today with the Inauguration of the new President of the United States, Barack Obama. The 44th President of the United States is as radically progressive as the last President was militaristic.

Shortly after taking office today, Obama ordered prosecutors to freeze all the cases currently pending at Guantanamo Bay for 120 days. They are expected to approve the request; that includes a list of several people that the Bush Administration says were part of the 911 conspiracy against the United States.

Obama Becomes 44th U.S. President (VIDEO)

The festivities will continue throughout the evening and into the night, with the Presidential Inaugural Committee hosting 10 official inaugural balls.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The hour has arrived, and the United States has a new President. It is an amazing story to say the least, as this nation stands, united, and takes it's first step on this new day.

After attending morning worship, per the tradition set by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, Mr. Obama met outgoing president George W Bush and the two went together to the US Capitol, where there were performances by Aretha Franklin, composer John Williams, and the US Navy Band and Marine Band.

As Barack Obama took the oath of office today, he became our 44th president and the first African-American to serve in the highest office in the land.

President-Elect Obama on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: `Our separate dreams are one` (VIDEO)

The next U.S. President comments on one of the nation's greatest Civil Rights leaders.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - President-elect Obama joined Americans across the country today in honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by joining in one of the 11,000 public service planned for today. This morning he released an official statement honoring Dr. King:

"Today, we celebrate the life of a preacher who, more than forty-five years ago, stood on our national mall in the shadow of Lincoln and shared his dream for our nation. His was a vision that all Americans might share the freedom to make of our lives what we will; that our children might climb higher than we would...

Oregonians Turn Out for Service of Major Thomas Egan (VIDEO)

Thomas Egan had been living alone and without a roof over his head when he died. He had friends and at least one distant relative, but this vet passed away as a forgotten man.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - Maj Thomas L. Egan was a retired Oregon National Guard officer who the world seemed to forget, and then remember, but just a little too late. The 60-year old veteran was found in mid-December frozen to death on a Eugene, Oregon sidewalk, near the corner of West First Avenue and Blair Boulevard.

This veteran was remembered and honored Saturday at the Oregon Guard Armory in Eugene at 1:30 PM. One of the people sure to attend events like this is Q Madp of IraqWarHeroes.org.

Coast Guard Airlifts Crewman 150 Miles Offshore (VIDEO)

The Coast Guard conducted a medevac of a crewmember off the 623-foot container ship Dapenghai 150 miles west from the entrance of the Columbia River Saturday.

(SEATTLE) - In this video released by the Coast Guard, an HH-60 helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria, Ore., conducts a medevac of a crewmember off the 623-foot container ship Dapenghai 150 miles west from the entrance of the Columbia River. The rescue was completed Saturday, Jan. 17th 2009.

Officials say the rescue helicopter crew transported the crewmember to an awaiting Life Flight helicopter crew at Astoria Regional Airport.

Around 8:30 AM Saturday, the Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, Ore., launched an HH-60 rescue helicopter crew to the scene, after receiving a report of a 36-year-old male crewmember suffering a possible stroke.

Gran Torino, PTSD & Clint Eastwood (VIDEO)

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Pharmacologist and Toxicologist.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - Gran Torino and Clint Eastwood have put together one of the best depictions of War Veteran PTSD.

For my fellow combat PTSD Veterans tell non-victims such as rear-echelon sob’s this movie is a good example of what PTSD is! Clint shows survivor guilt, paranoia, total irascibility, hate of all enemies and even a death wish which are all symptoms of PTSD.

For his survivor guilt he earned a Silver Star Medal as the survivor of an Infantry attack on an enemy strong point in the Korean War. He was presumably a Veteran of 2 or 3 tours. His survival is hard to believe.

Everyone Lives During U.S. Airways Crash in Hudson Bay (VIDEO)

The jet reportedly was taken out by a flock of birds. Passengers told reporters they could smell smoke and then the plane just started turning.

(NEW YORK) - A U.S. Airways jet has gone down in the Hudson River off New York City. More than 150 people are reported to be aboard the aircraft which amazingly, did not break up or catch fire during the crash into the water.

At this time, the plane is mostly above water and barges and rescue vessels are pulled up alongside to remove the passengers.

New York has been the scene of bitter cold winter weather and rescue experts say that is making the job of reaching the aircraft and retrieving the people more difficult.

World Record Holding Solar Car Will Cruise Through Oregon

The Solar car uses photovoltaics cells (solar cells) to convert sunlight into electricity, then stores the electricity in batteries that power an electric motor that drives the car.

(MULINO, Ore.) - Xof1, the power of one Solar Car Tour, recent world distance record holder is cruising through Oregon. Marcelo da Luz will be driving down the Cascade Highway 213 tomorrow, Friday Janusry 16th making a brief stop in Mulino.

Xof1 is a project to develop and build a solar car and set a new world record for distance. The catalyst for the project, Marcelo da Luz, was inspired to create xof1 after learning about the World Solar Challenge.

He says a number of people from various backgrounds have come together to make this project a reality, adding that the project provides an opportunity to make a positive contribution towards a cleaner future and promote new ideas.