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Oregon Guard Night Crew Mission in Iraq (VIDEO)

Oregon Guard soldiers assigned to an aviation support mission for the next year gain confidence in their roles.

(BALAD, Iraq) - Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan have a seven day a week job with few exceptions. Members of an Oregon National Guard aviation support group stationed at Camp Anaconda at Balad, Iraq, are a shining example of those whose operation never rests.

In fact, the Oregon Guard 2/641 Aviation Support Group is in charge of the flight missions of two types of aircraft; the C-23 Sherpa transport plane and the "White Birds" which are the C-12 and Citation jet.

The Army's motto is "We Own the Night" and aviation is one specific area where operational tempo often increases after the sun falls. Flying slow, lumbering aircraft like the Sherpa can be dangerous during the day when enemy fire from the ground can inflict serious damage. At night, Iraq's temperatures are also reduced so the stress on the airplane is less.

Expert Says China Was Taught Lessons in Socialism America Should Have Learned (VIDEO)

Al Hayward is an experienced trade expert who has specialized in trade with China and other, some former, Communist countries.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Al Hayward knows China like few others. He has decades of experience working there and getting to know the culture, and people. He says he has watched the evolution of capitalism here in the United States slowly evolving into socialism, which is all too familiar to him, and he believes the slippery slope is suddenly getting steep.

“I can tell you, I’ve been there, I’ve seen it," Hayward says, "and I can tell you that socialism and communism didn’t work in Russia, it didn’t work in East Germany, it didn’t work in red China and it won’t work here.”

China Expert Hayward Warns Against Obama`s `Socialist` Plan For America (VIDEO)

An interview with Al Hayward, 25-year China expert, who says his opinions about Obama won't be popular but promises of less work - more money have failed before.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Al Hayward, a Chinese trade expert, says “you can drown by tipping the canoe too far in either direction”, and he is worried that what he calls Barack Obama’s “socialistic promises” are tipping this country too far toward communism.

“What bothers me very much is the fact that Obama’s campaign is based on ‘do less, work less, get more’, and the reality of this is it doesn’t work that way,” Hayward said.

Al Hayward has lived, worked, and done business in mainland China and other communist countries for decades, and he is currently working on a 20 billion dollar “City of Tomorrow” project near Macau.

The Vibrant Colors of Oregon`s Autumn Leaves (VIDEO)

A visual inspection of some of this Northwest state's most vibrant fall colors.

(MCMINNVILLE, Ore.) - Oregon's trees and landscapes have been blazing to life this week as fall brings the state some of the most vivid and memorable reds and oranges. Each year's weather impacts the outcome of these colors, and 2008 was a banner year for mother nature.

The video shots in this photo essay were recorded in historic Dayton, Oregon and nearby McMinnville. Each community celebrates the arrival of the fall colors and few miss the dazzling array of what is almost a chorus of changing tones.

Oregon's Willamette Valley is packed with these gardens of change and Salem, Portland and Eugene joins the list of cities and communities that boast some of the most colorful tones and arrangements.

SEIU Members Launch New TV Ad on Gordon Smith`s Role in Digging Our Economic Hole

SEIU says members are holding Senator Smith accountable for his Washington record that gave CEOs golden parachutes but left Beaver State families stuck in a hole and holding the bill.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Today, SEIU announced a new television ad, titled "Hole," that will air on cable and broadcast across most of Oregon through the end of October.

The ad highlights Gordon Smith's legislative history of siding with CEOs and housing lenders that made off with millions of dollars while hard working Americans across the country are struggling to survive foreclosure and make it through the economic recession.

The independent ad buy of more than $400,000 is in response to Smith's efforts to portray himself as a champion for working families and Main Street businesses after years of voting in support of the Bush-Cheney agenda.

PSA Targets Sarah Palin`s Anti-Abortion Position

In some red states, the fight has progressed to the point that rape victims left pregnant by their attackers are forced to carry the babies to full term, only to deal with the rapists later seeking parental rights.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Survivors of sex abuse are rallying against the politics of the GOP's vice-presidential pick. Sarah Palin's staunch anti-abortion views actually have a backfire effect for rape victims. The woman featured in a TV PSA that is currently running was raped, and must carry the child to full term under Palin's plan.

Sexual abuse survivors like Coral Theill, formerly of Polk County, Oregon, take strong exception to Palin's position. Theill's story involved the Polk County, Oregon justice system backing the sex abuser who was friends with judges, police and others in the local area.

Lively Presidential Debate No Revival for McCain Campaign (VIDEOS)

John McCain hoped to get a boost, but debate watchers say Obama was the winner.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Tonight's Presidential Debate was a little more aggressive, a bit more poignant, even angry and pathetic at times, but it failed to bring about a much needed revival for Senator John McCain as polls continue to show support shifting toward Senator Barack Obama.

McCain repeatedly stated that a vote for Senator Barack Obama would lead to increased taxes, but Obama's plan as he has described it, would cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans, while raising the burden for a small part of the nation's richest citizens. Obama says McCain's plan would leave the average American behind, giving tax breaks to oil and gas companies.

Fire Threatens Thousands in Southern California (VIDEOS)

Wind driven fires are sending local residents from Oceanside and Los Angeles into evacuation centers.

(LOS ANGELES) - Firefighters in Southern California should get a break from nature Tuesday night and Wednesday as the winds continue to shut down.

The predicted weakening will not be enough of a change though, according to state fire officials. They say the wind flow will remain offshore through Wednesday, and that will keep the area very dry.

Almost without exception, California wildfires break out simultaneously, sending fire crews in many directions. This series of fires falls right in line with the pattern and involves substantial portions of Southern California.

An Iraq War Veterans` Welcome Home to Remember (SLIDESHOW)

Salem-News.com photojournalist Tim King has returned from Iraq, where he spent several weeks embedded with an Oregon Guard unit. Along the way he witnessed a hero's welcome at the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport for soldiers and Marines returning home from Iraq.

(DALLAS, Tx.) - It isn't often that a legacy can change.

The sound of clapping hands is an unexpected greeting for soldiers and Marines returning home from the war in Iraq. Too many stories about mistreated Vietnam vets leave an expectation of something totally different.

In fact, it takes a moment for these troops returning home on the military R&R flights to even comprehend the idea of dozens and dozens of people gathered there to simply welcome them home, but that is what happens almost every day at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport in Texas.

Marine Military Police Beat at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq (VIDEO)

Marine Corps Military Police have their hands full with a never ending list of tasks necessary for war zone security.

(Al Asad, Iraq) - Marine Corps military police in Iraq have a never ending yet ever changing job description. In one day here at the Al Asad Air Base in the Anbar Province, I will see these Marine MPs search base housing units of foreign employees, inspect commercial trucks that deliver supplies here, operate a traffic check point, and even search a FedEx jet delivering supplies to Iraq.

Most of these Marine MP's are actually from aviation roles, but a shortage of Marines has them performing jobs more closely related to security.