Stories for June 11, 2010

Obama, Britain's Cameron to talk about oil spill

WASHINGTON (AP) -- With a British company the villain, the Gulf oil spill is raising tensions on both sides of the Atlantic.

Army chief of staff visits Wash. base

FORT LEWIS, Wash. (AP) -- Army chief of staff Gen. George Casey has praised the performance of the 5th Stryker Brigade in Afghanistan, saying the soldiers "have had a tough fight in a very tough area."

Is the soggy season finally over?

With 80-degree weather forecast, find out why some people are still rooting for rain.

Cal State Fullerton beats UCLA 4-3

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Chris Colon had two hits, including his 17th homer, and Cal State Fullerton continued its mastery of UCLA with a 4-3 victory Friday night in the an NCAA Baseball Super Regional at sold-out Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Malkin levels broadside at Obama, disloyal Republicans

Conservative commentator rallies the troops at state GOP convention

Michelle Malkin brought a banquet hall full of partisan Republicans to their feet Friday with a blistering attack on the Obama administration and on Republican elected officials who betray the principles of their party. Living up to her reputation for acid rhetoric, the conservative author, blogger and commentator addressed an audience of 850 at the state Republican Party Convention on what she labeled the “culture of corruption” — the title of her best-selling book on President Barack Obama, in which she asserts that he exported the corruption of Chicago politics to the White House.

Portland police arrest 5 in anti-gay assault

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A Portland police spokeswoman says five people have been arrested in connection with a Thursday night assault. Spokeswoman Mary Wheat said Friday that the victim told investigators he was attacked by a group of people he knew who used anti-gay slurs while beating him.

Another Baird briefly tries for congress

At 24, Bryan Baird too young to run for Brian Baird’s seat

Bryan Baird of Vancouver filed Friday afternoon for the 3rd District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Brian Baird. Clever, right?

Port Angeles lawyer files for 5th District seat

PORT ANGELES, Wash. (AP) -- A Port Angeles lawyer who had said he was running for Clallam County prosecutor has filed to run for Congress. David R. Fox filed not in the 6th District where he lives but in Washington's 5th District, which includes Spokane.

Padres rally with 2 in 9th to beat Mariners 4-3

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Nick Hundley hit a sacrifice fly to cap two-run ninth inning and give the San Diego Padres a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.

Man pulled from water in Depoe Bay dies

DEPOE BAY, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon State Police say a man pulled from the water in Depoe Bay on the coast has died.

Coast Guard pulls man from water on Ore. coast

DEPOE BAY, Ore. (AP) -- The Coast Guard says a rescue swimmer lowered from a Coast Guard helicopter has retrieved a man from the water in Depoe Bay on the Oregon Coast.

OR board denies parole for rapist Gillmore

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- An Oregon parole board panel said Friday it has denied parole for serial rapist Richard Troy Gillmore.

Palin chats with WA US Senate contender Didier

RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) -- Sarah Palin met Friday with Republican U.S. Senate contender Clint Didier and declared "he has the right game plan for America."

Black leaves game to attend daughters' graduation

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- San Diego Padres manager Bud Black left Friday night's game against the Seattle Mariners early to catch a flight so he can attend his daughter's college graduation.

When it comes to some records, it’s OK to be the worst

Greg Jayne: By the Numbers

If Nolan Ryan hadn't been a pretty good pitcher and an extraordinarily durable one, he would not have been sent to the mound often enough to have so many lousy moments. All of which brings us to Jamie Moyer.

City awash in politicking as GOP convention hits stride

State Republicans are meeting in Vancouver

Dino Rossi arrived in Vancouver, Clint Didier flew to the Tri Cities to meet with Sarah Palin, gossip swirled about a rumored Palin appearance, delegates crowded the lobby of the Hilton Vancouver Washington, and a patriot group staged its own event a block away at the Red Lion Inn at the Quay, Meanwhile, conservative talk show hosts held forth in Esther Short Park, followers of Lyndon LaRouche erected an Impeach Obama/Restore Glass-Steagall sign by the clock tower, a fenced beer garden drew a few thirsty partisans, and the sun came out at last.

McClenathan gets No. 1 spot in Top Fuel qualifying

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (AP) -- Cory McClenathan secured his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season Saturday when his quickest-ever pass in NHRA history a day earlier wasn't threatened as qualifying concluded at the 41st annual NHRA Supernationals.

Hight stays on a roll

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (AP) -- Robert Hight stayed hot on Friday with a 4.025-second pass at 313.00 mph to earn the provisional Funny Car pole at the 41st annual NHRA Supernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Vancouver welcomes delegates, honors designer

SethAaron Henderson gets key to city at GOP-sponsored Party in the Park

The key to the city doesn’t actually open anything, but Vancouver’s most recent recipient, Project Runway winner SethAaron Henderson, joked “I’m going to try, anyway.” Mayor Tim Leavitt handed over a shiny, oversized cardboard key before presenting Henderson a plaque featuring a smaller bronze version on Friday in Esther Short Park, part of a day long public celebration sponsored by the state Republican convention.

Mystics topple Sky 95-78

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) -- Lindsey Harding led a balanced attack with a game-high 25 points and the Washington Mystics earned a 95-78 victory over the Chicago Sky on Friday.

Portland lawyer fatally shot in Dominican Republic

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Oregonian reports that a well-known Portland business and construction trial lawyer was found fatally shot Friday at his winter home in the Dominican Republic.

Cuba frees 1 political prisoner, transfers 6 more

PEDRO BETANCOURT, Cuba (AP) -- Cuba has freed one of its ailing political prisoners and is transferring six others closer to home in a deal with the Catholic Church.

GOP gathering brings little lunch business

Downtown restaurants lose out to box meals

Only a handful of diners wearing red party credentials could be spotted in downtown restaurants at the noon hour Friday, the opening day of Vancouver’s largest-ever convention. About 1,600 Republican delegates, and 2,000 visitors overall, are forecast to descend on Vancouver this weekend for the state GOP convention. They will hear from candidates and vote on the party’s platform heading into the November elections.

Pondexter scores 25 as Liberty beat Dream 91-79

NEW YORK (AP) -- Cappie Pondexter scored 25 points to lead the New York Liberty to a 91-79 victory over the first-place Atlanta Dream on Friday night.

Gators beat rival Miami 7-2 in NCAA series opener

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Alex Panteliodis pitched his first complete game and Florida took advantage of two errors to beat Miami 7-2 in the opener of their best-of-three series.

Mariners reliever Mark Lowe likely out for year

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Seattle Mariners reliever Mark Lowe is likely out for the season while he awaits back surgery.

Upon further review, DC's Pontius loses hat trick

SEATTLE (AP) -- D.C. United's Chris Pontius has lost a hat trick a day after he was credited with one in a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Sounders.

Indy hopeful for Big Ten tilt

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- With 12 teams in the league, the Big Ten can now host a conference championship game in football.

TV ratings up big for NHL in time for new deals

NEW YORK (AP) -- What if there's another Ottawa-Anaheim series?

Man held on $1M bail in fatal Tukwila crash

SEATTLE, Wash. (AP) -- State Patrol says a half-empty bottle of vodka was found in the SUV that struck a car with three Federal Way teenagers, killing two of them, as the man arrested for the crash made his first court appearance.

Ethnic rioting spreads in Kyrgyzstan, with 80 dead

OSH, Kyrgyzstan (AP) -- Ethnic violence is spreading across southern Kyrgyzstan, where at least 80 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded.

USC's goals change, but expectations stay same

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Captain Compete will have to put away the mask and the Speedo for a little while at Southern California. In the wake of the NCAA's crushing sanctions, the Trojans don't know whether they'll ever get back to their unique version of normal.

Braves put McLouth on DL

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Atlanta Braves have placed outfielder Nate McLouth on the 15-day disabled list with a head injury.

Regulators shut Seattle-based bank

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Regulators have shut down a bank in Washington, bringing to 82 the number of U.S. bank failures this year.

LaRussa says Suppan on his way to join Cardinals

PHOENIX (AP) -- St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa said veteran right-hander Jeff Suppan was on his way to Arizona to join the team, and was expected to arrive late Friday night in Phoenix.

Wellemeyer goes on Giants' DL, Martinez comes up

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- San Francisco Giants fifth starter Todd Wellemeyer has been placed on the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps muscle. He was injured during Thursday's game against the Cincinnati Reds when he hit into a double play with the bases loaded in the top of the third inning.

2 overdue hikers found safe in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A Marion County sheriff's spokesman says two hikers reported overdue on Wednesday have been found safe in the Mount Hood National Forest with their three dogs.

Seahawks LB Hill closer to Seattle-area trial

SEATTLE (AP) -- Seattle Seahawks starting linebacker Leroy Hill is closer to a trial on a domestic-violence charge.

Coulthard, McCoy lead Queen's birthday honors

LONDON (AP) -- Racing driver David Coulthard, jockey Tony McCoy and former England World Cup goalkeeper Bert Williams have received awards in Queen Elizabeth II's birthday honors' list.

Killer whales swim into Oregon river

NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) -- A pod of killer whales provided a rare sight for sightseers along Yaquina Bay in Oregon when they swam past the docks and up the Yaquina River.

Penguins' Orpik operated on for sports hernia

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik has undergone surgery to repair a sports hernia and will require a month to six weeks of rehabilitation.

New York Giants sign third-round pick Chad Jones

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Safety Chad Jones has become the first New York Giants draft pick to sign his contract.

AP source: Hawks set to hire Larry Drew as coach

ATLANTA (AP) -- A person familiar with the situation says that the Atlanta Hawks are poised to hire Larry Drew as their next head coach.

787 test pilot stars in new IMAX movie

SEATTLE (AP) -- The chief test pilot for Boeing's 787 jetliner program is becoming a movie star.

Pain sends Rangers LHP Holland to team facility

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Rangers left-hander Derek Holland is back at the team's facility in Arizona after feeling pain in his left shoulder halfway through a bullpen session on Wednesday.

Texans TE Daniels signs restricted tender

HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels has signed his restricted free agent tender.

Bear finds its way onto roof of Pennsylvania mall

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) -- A black bear that found its way to the roof of a mall in northeastern Pennsylvania has been removed.

Purke pitches TCU past Texas 3-1 in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Matt Purke gave up three hits and struck out 11 to lead TCU to a 3-1 victory over Texas on Friday in the first game of their best-of-three super regional series.

Pro Bowl WR Austin signs $3.2M tender with Cowboys

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Pro Bowl receiver Miles Austin has signed his $3.168 million contract tender with the Dallas Cowboys.

Reds RHP Bailey has rehab setback

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Right-hander Homer Bailey has suffered a setback in his recovery from shoulder inflammation.

Parents: Teenage sailor rescued in Indian Ocean

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) -- The parents of a California teenager who was stranded at sea say she has been rescued by a French fishing crew.

Family: Rescue boat nearing stranded teen sailor

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) -- A family spokesman says a French fishing vessel is expected to shortly reach a stranded California teen in the southern Indian Ocean.

Air Force holds exercise off Pacific NW coast

SEATTLE (AP) -- The U.S. and Canadian air forces will practice intercepting aircraft next week off the coasts of the Pacific Northwest, Canada and Alaska.

Decathlete injured in hurdles

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Washington decathlete Jeremy Taiwo fell hard during the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships and has been hospitalized as a precaution.

Redskins sign 3 draft picks: Morris, Capers, Cook

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- The Washington Redskins have signed three draft picks.

Chargers sign WR Reed to 1-year deal

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The San Diego Chargers have signed free agent wide receiver Josh Reed to a one-year contract.

Penn State's Paterno says health is fine

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Penn State coach Joe Paterno says his health is just fine after illness forced him to miss a few appearances.

Bahamas sprinter gets medal stripped from Jones

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) -- Sprinter Pauline Davis-Thompson has received an Olympic gold medal a decade after finishing second to disgraced American Marion Jones at the Sydney Games.

Karmageddon wins $82,000 feature at Monmouth Park

OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) -- Karmageddon drew off in the stretch and posted a 412-length victory over favored Pascal's Paradox in the $82,000 allowance feature at Monmouth Park on Friday.

Kurt Busch captures pole at Michigan

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) -- Kurt Busch is on the pole for Sunday's NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway.

World Cup fans come out for opening game in NYC

NEW YORK (AP) -- Soccer fans have jammed bars, restaurants and streets across New York to celebrate the start of the World Cup.

Plea deal sought for Ore. man in Ohio ID theft

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- An Oregon man accused of assuming the identity of an Ohio boy to disguise his disappearance from his family in Bulgaria is seeking a plea deal in a passport fraud case.

MLB creates new department for player development

NEW YORK (AP) -- Major League Baseball is creating a new department to oversee player development.

Meriwether Jessica wins Belmont feature

NEW YORK (AP) -- Meriwether Jessica, the longest shot in the race at 10-1, beat Diamond Dina by 112 lengths Friday in the $54,000 allowance feature for fillies and mares on the turf.

Entire lineup from last year's Vikes expected back

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota Vikings are on track to bring back their entire starting lineup for this season, a rarity in the NFL these days.

NCAA could make harsh penalties the new norm

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The NCAA has been talking tough for months and is finally backing it up.

Kulongoski says Guard could ease water woes

MALIN, Ore. (AP) -- On a visit to the drought-stricken Klamath Basin, Gov. Ted Kulongoski said the Oregon National Guard can provide water to Malin (muh-LIN) residents if their domestic wells go dry.

Police say Aloha man strangled mother

ALOHA, Ore. (AP) -- Court documents filed in Washington County say a 78-year-old woman allegedly killed by her son was found face down in her kitchen with blood under her head.

Australia's Brad Jones won't return to World Cup

MULDERSDRIFT, South Africa (AP) -- Backup Australia goalkeeper Brad Jones will not return to the World Cup after leaving the team to return home because of an illness in his family.

Woods' US Open playing partners are Els, Westwood

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- Tiger Woods will play the first two rounds of next week's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach with a familiar foe.

Vettel tops Canadian GP practice

MONTREAL (AP) -- Sebastian Vettel topped the Canadian Grand Prix speed chart with a fast lap of 1 minute, 16.877 seconds, showing Red Bull has more than enough speed to extend its season-opening pole streak to eight.

Spokane 5-year-old hospitalized after house fire

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- A 5-year-old boy is reportedly hospitalized in serious condition after a fire at his home in northeast Spokane.

Spokane 5-year-old on respirator after house fire

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- A 5-year-old boy is reportedly in critical condition on a respirator after a fire at his home in northeast Spokane.

'Noles clip Vandy 9-8 on McGee's walkoff homer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Mike McGee's walkoff home run in the ninth inning lifted Florida State to a 9-8 victory over Vanderbilt on Friday in the first game of their best-of-three Super Regional.

Selig to be in KC for 'major announcement'

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Kansas City Royals have confirmed that baseball commissioner Bud Selig will be in town next Wednesday, perhaps to formally award the 2012 All-Star Game to Kansas City.

Fans at Wrigley boo when BP Cup presented

CHICAGO (AP) -- Fans at Wrigley Field let out loud boos when the BP Crosstown Cup was presented before the Cubs' game against the White Sox.

Panthers LB Davis to undergo ACL surgery Saturday

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis will undergo surgery Saturday to repair his second torn anterior cruciate ligament in seven months.

Grand Old Party talks new media strategies

A couple hundred members of the Grand Old Party got a crash course on new media this morning as part of the second day of the state Republican convention here in Vancouver. Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are key to spreading word-of-mouth, driving traffic to pro-conservative sites and even to activism, a panel of the party’s top Tweeters told a workshop.

Health overhaul to force changes in employer plans

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republicans are pointing to a leaked administration document as evidence President Barack Obama has broken his promise that Americans who like their health plans can keep them under his new overhaul law.

PSU ladies-only camp draws interest from a Paterno

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- The giddy rookies started snapping pictures the moment they stepped onto the pristine stadium turf.

Nebraska will seek Big Ten membership

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- The University of Nebraska plans to apply for membership in the Big Ten Conference and expects to be accepted.

Game 4 earns best preliminary rating since 2004

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Celtics' series-tying win earned the highest preliminary rating for Game 4 of an NBA finals since 2004.

Inmate gets 20 years for 1987 Portland murder

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A man imprisoned for rape since 1989 was sentenced Friday to another 20 years in prison for the murder of a Portland woman in 1987.

De Rossi presents new injury worry for Italy

IRENE, South Africa (AP) -- Italy has another key injury concern just three days before its World Cup opener: Daniele De Rossi.

Super Bowl hero David Tyree drops in on Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- During the New York Giants' final organized team activity of the offseason, the guy getting all the attention wasn't wearing a uniform or a helmet.

NCAA may boost penalties for hockey head shots

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The NCAA is considering a crackdown on hits to the head in hockey.

Balloons cause "boom," minor power outage

A pair of wayward Mylar balloons tripped two power circuits Thursday night, causing a minor outage that lasted about two hours, according to a Clark Public Utilities spokeswoman.

Current, former NBA players aiming to improve AAU

DALLAS (AP) -- A growing number of NBA players are forming their own AAU teams.

Former Red Wings coach Bobby Kromm dies

LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) -- Former Detroit Red Wings coach Bobby Kromm has died.

McMenamins plans pub-hotel development in Bothell

BOTHELL, Wash. (AP) -- The Portland company known for turning old buildings into pubs plans an entertainment complex at a historic school building in Bothell, a northeast Seattle suburb.

Crosby, Stills & Nash to open amphitheater season

Projects include cover CD, box set culled from ’74 tour

Crosby, Stills & Nash fans already knew last summer that the group had an unusual new studio CD in the works — a collection of covers of songs by other artists. On tour last summer, the trio road tested a few songs that were under consideration for the disc, including the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday,” the Allman Brothers Band’s “Midnight Rider,” Bob Dylan’s “Girl From the North Country” and the Grateful Dead’s “Uncle John’s Band.”

CU Board of Regents backs move to Pac-10

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -- The University of Colorado has officially joined the Pac-10.

Colts' mini-camps end as Bethea signs 1-year deal

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Pro Bowl safety Antoine Bethea has signed a four-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts.

Colts offseason camps end with familiar look

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indianapolis Colts have ended their summer mini-camp schedule the same way they started.

Texas regents to meet Tuesday about Big 12 future

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- University of Texas regents will meet next week to decide whether the Longhorns will remain in the Big 12 or switch to another conference.

Appeals court sides with Bonds on evidence

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A divided federal appeals court has dealt the federal government a significant setback in its prosecution of Barry Bonds on perjury charges.

4 cows killed by lightning near Milton-Freewater

WALLA WALLA, Wash. (AP) -- Four cows standing under a tree in a pasture were killed by a bolt of lightning near Milton-Freewater, Ore.

Girl injured in pizza delivery crash near Spokane

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- A 9-year-old girl remains in critical condition in Spokane after a crash that also injured her father and grandmother.

Seeking asylum, dozens of Somalis await in Tacoma

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) -- Nearly 80 Somali nationals who are seeking asylum in the United States after entering the country through Mexico have been transferred to a detention center in Tacoma -- the latest group of a growing number of East African immigrants who are seeking entrance to the country through routes usually used by Latino immigrants.

BSU accepts invite to Mountain West Conference

BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Boise State University has accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference in 2011.

Cubs manager Piniella criticizes baseball analyst

CHICAGO (AP) -- Cubs manager Lou Piniella has criticized longtime Chicago baseball analyst Steve Stone for questioning how he's handling prized rookie outfielder Tyler Colvin.

Suspect competent for Seattle rape-slaying trial

SEATTLE (AP) -- The man accused of raping two Seattle women in their home and stabbing one of them to death has been found competent to stand trial.

Driver killed in crash at NJ raceway identified

OLD BRIDGE, N.J. (AP) -- Authorities have identified the drag racing driver killed in an accident at a New Jersey Raceway as 58-year-old Neal Parker of Millville, N.J.

Driver killed in crash at New Jersey raceway

OLD BRIDGE, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey State police say a driver has been killed in a crash at a New Jersey raceway.

Driver killed in crash at NJ raceway

OLD BRIDGE, N.J. (AP) -- A New Jersey State Police spokesman says a driver has been killed in a crash at a New Jersey raceway.

Featherweight runner-up gets two-year doping ban

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- The runner-up in last year's featherweight division at U.S. boxing nationals has been banned for two years for doping.

Front Row Motorsports fights "excessive" penalties

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) -- Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins says he plans to appeal some of the stiff penalties NASCAR handed out to his No. 38 team for using illegal valve stem caps during last week's race at Pocono.

Bryant on side, Brooking on field for Cowboys camp

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Rookie receiver Dez Bryant is working with a trainer instead of catching passes from Tony Romo on the first day of a Dallas Cowboys minicamp.

Chicago celebrates Blackhawks' Stanley Cup win

CHICAGO (AP) -- Ecstatic Blackhawks fans and proud Chicago residents have lined the streets and climbed lampposts to cheer on the Stanley Cup winners as they paraded through the city's downtown.

Lobo: Age why she's 1st of UConn Huskies in hall

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Rebecca Lobo doesn't think much of being the first player from seven-time national champion Connecticut to be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. To her, she's just the first of many yet to come.

Danny Lopez leads boxing Hall of Fame inductees

CANASTOTA, N.Y. (AP) -- Danny "Little Red" Lopez heads the 13-member class to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Officer, deputy punched in Beaverton, Ore.

BEAVERTON, Ore. (AP) -- Police say a man resisting arrest punched a Beaverton officer and a Washington County deputy before he was stunned with a Taser and subdued.

Man gets 21 years in bull rider's heroin death

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) -- A federal judge has sentenced a Cheyenne man to 21 years in prison for his role in providing the heroin that killed a professional bull rider and a young mother last year.

Logano feels he was 'done wrong' by Harvick

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) -- NASCAR driver Joey Logano says he was "done wrong" by Kevin Harvick in last week's Cup race at Pocono and doesn't regret charging after the veteran in the pits.

Chief justice compliments Sotomayor, Stevens

FARMINGTON, Pa. (AP) -- Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts praised the court's newest member, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and paid tribute to retiring Justice John Paul Stevens in the closing remarks of a judicial conference in a southwestern Pennsylvania resort.

Atty: Minn. cop turned robber wanted to be killed

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- An attorney for a Minneapolis SWAT officer who robbed a bank says the officer's life was falling apart and he was hoping to die in a confrontation with police to secure an insurance payout for his sick daughter and wife.

Springfield, Ore., man charged with sex abuse

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) -- A Springfield man has been arrested after police uncovered allegations he sexually abused underage girls dating back more than two decades.

Worried families calling Arlington about mix-ups

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Arlington National Cemetery is getting a steady stream of phone calls from families worried that the remains of their loved ones may have been misidentified or misplaced.

London Olympic chief Coe backs BP sponsorship

LONDON (AP) -- London Olympics organizing chief Sebastian Coe says he has confidence in BP's continued sponsorship of the 2012 Games.

Navarro wins 5th stage of Dauphine

GRENOBLE, France (AP) -- Daniel Navarro of Spain has won the fifth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine with a solo effort in the last 25 miles, while Janez Brajkovic of Slovenia retained the overall lead.

US players stuck in traffic jam caused by elephant

IRENE, South Africa (AP) -- This traffic jam had animal magnetism.

Buffalo head falls, traps man snoozing in recliner

ISLAMADORA, Fla. (AP) -- Most people would only worry about being crushed by a buffalo out in the wild. It turns out the animals can be dangerous when they're mounted on walls, too.

Helicopter and horses join search for Oregon boy

A week has elapsed since 7-year-old Kyron Horman went missing.

Police: Dutchman says he knows Holloway location

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Dutch murder suspect Joran van der Sloot told police investigators that he knows the location of the body of missing U.S. teen Natalee Holloway, the chief of Peru's criminal police said.

Churchill Downs to host 2011 Breeders' Cup

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- The Breeders' Cup has awarded its 2011 season-ending, two-day event to Churchill Downs, giving the track the event for a second straight year.

Discovery of body parts leads to Ore. man's arrest

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) -- Police arrested an Oregon man who they say might be linked to gruesome discoveries along the Sacramento River.

Eugene puts misdemeanor offenders to work

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Some people convicted of misdemeanors in Eugene's Municipal Court will be able to work off their fines with a work crew, cleaning graffiti and picking up litter.

Everett espresso stand owner missing

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) -- The daughter of Everett espresso stand owner Bill Wheeler says he disappeared last month on a trip to Las Vegas to pick up an espresso machine.

NASCAR Hall of Fame attendance lags in 1st month

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The NASCAR Hall of Fame had 30,000 paid visitors in its first 21 days, making it hard to meet its first-year attendance goals.

2 UO students arrested for backpack robbery

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Police arrested two University of Oregon students suspected of robbery.

Officer, deputy punched in Beaverton

BEAVERTON, Wash. (AP) -- Police say a man resisting arrest punched a Beaverton officer and a Washington County deputy before he was stunned with a Taser and subdued.

Indians recall catcher Santana

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Cleveland Indians have recalled top prospect Carlos Santana from Triple-A Columbus.

Armstrong heads to Tour of Switzerland

LUGANO, Switzerland (AP) -- Lance Armstrong heads for the mountains this weekend at the Tour of Switzerland, his last race before the Tour de France.

Police: 16 people died in Arkansas floods

CADDO GAP, Ark. (AP) -- State police say 16 people are confirmed dead after flash floods hit a pair of remote valleys in southwestern Arkansas.

Police say 12 confirmed dead in Arkansas floods

CADDO GAP, Ark. (AP) -- State police say 12 people are confirmed dead after flash floods triggered by heavy rains slammed a pair of campgrounds in southwestern Arkansas.

All-Region Softball Player of the Year

Mariah Dawson Union High School

Mariah Dawson's second consecutive player of the year honor from The Columbian is not a career achievement award. Dawson was the most feared, most dominant, and most consistent pitcher, from March through the end of May.

All-Region Softball Team

Top softball players in Southwest Washington, as selected by The Columbian

Troopers tough on cell phone law skirters

Talking or texting while driving became primary offense Thursday

On the first day he could give a driver a ticket for doing nothing other than talking on a cell phone while behind the wheel, Trooper Steve Robley did just that, including one seven minutes after he clocked in. And guess what? There were no warnings given Thursday, only $124 tickets.

Camas’ Palodichuk is national player of year

Camas junior is honored by Parade Magazine

Nick Palodichuk has been on some big soccer stages. But until this week, he’d never been a cover boy. A junior at Camas High School, Palodichuk is the Player of the Year on Parade Magazine’s 2010 All-America High School Boys Soccer Team.

Felida couple get resourceful about recycling

Patty Page holds the rewards of her avid recycling efforts in one hand. A popcorn tub.

Prairie graduate Ard drafted by Marlins

Taylor Ard, a 2008 graduate of Prairie High School, was selected Wednesday by the Florida Marlins in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft. Ard was taken in the 34th round, the 1,067th overall pick.

New Youth Commission members sought

Nine spots are open on the 30-member Clark County Youth Commission.

Battle Ground offers free summer playground program

Battle Ground Parks and Recreation’s traveling summer playground program will be held in four neighborhood parks this summer.

Get Outdoors Day has full slate on Saturday

Smokey Bear, Ranger Rick and — if forecasts hold true — bright sunshine will greet participants at a National Get Outdoors Day event on Saturday at Vancouver’s Water Resources Education Center.

B.C. residents to shop tax-free in Washington

OLYMPIA — Beginning July 1, residents of British Columbia and Ontario become eligible for a nonresident sales tax exemption on purchases of goods in Washington for use outside the state, according to the Washington Department of Revenue. A change in Canadian tax law from a sales tax to a value-added tax activated the exemption.

Monthly PubTalk features investment, funding tips

VANCOUVER — The Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council and Oregon Entrepreneurs Network will hold a PubTalk event at 5:15 p.m. on June 16 at the AHA! offices in downtown Vancouver. The bimonthly networking event for entrepreneurs, investors and service providers will feature a panel of investors including Mark Fleischauer of J.H. Kelly, Angela Jackson of A.B. Jackson Group and Mike Reynoldson of InvestAmerica Venture Group.

Big Al’s grows into Oregon; Cinetopia may follow in 2011

BEAVERTON, Ore. — After years of waiting, commercial progress is finally coming to Progress Ridge with the expected opening of Big Al’s bowling center in August. And Cinetopia and New Seasons could — repeat, could — be next, with developers eyeing openings in 2011. Daniel Kirkwood, vice president of the development company for Big Al’s, said the 66,000-square-foot bowling center should open August 16. Kirkwood said Big Al’s will be a destination that can stand on its own but anticipated development for neighboring property will be the key to long-term success.

Worst of local housing slump declared dead

But a full recovery in Clark County is years away, Realtors say

The worst of Clark County’s housing slump is over, a panel of top-selling Realtors said Wednesday. However, a full-blown recovery could take years to materialize, as sellers continue to purge the market of distressed and vacant housing stock, said 12 real estate professionals at the third-annual Southwest Washington Real Estate Summit.

Cafe offers Hawaiian fare, friendly tips

Owner not shy about suggesting tasty seasonings

Why: It started as a side-of-the-road kind of thing, on a whim. It was 1996 and Kekoa Hunter, 43, figured he’d use the parking lot of his family’s Eugene, Ore., auto parts store as a locale to serve up some of his Hawaiian fare. He cooked. Customers came. So, too, did the authorities, who busted him for skirting permits. “It was supposed to be this casual thing,” Hunter said, a Cheshire grin crossing his face.

In Our View: Welcome, GOP!

Spirit of resurgence is glowing in downtown Vancouver

Already established is the fact that visiting Vancouver is good for Republicans. The GOP gathering through Saturday in downtown Vancouver is the largest non-presidential year state convention ever hosted by the Washington State Republican Party. We’d like to think this elephant stampede was sparked solely by the pachyderms’ passion for visiting our fair community. Yet to be established, however, is how this event could impact future convention business here. We hope this long-term impact will be significant, but there’s no way of knowing for sure. So to enhance that convention-recruiting potential, we’ll follow our heartfelt “Welcome, Republicans!” with a sincere “Spread the word!”

Bits'n' Pieces: Meal inspires VSAA student to organize art show

Atrip to Vancouver Pizza Company was more than just a meal for Vancouver School of Arts and Academics junior Kaori Freda. While dining, Freda noticed a display of art by students from another local school and was inspired to organize a VSAA show at the Uptown Village pizzeria.

Korn returns to roots on new CD

Veterans of hard rock look to replicate sound from first 2 efforts

Don’t tell the guys in Korn you can’t go home again. As the title of the band’s next album — “Korn III: Remember Who You Are” — suggests, this project was all about getting back to the sound the band had when it started. For “Korn III,” which is actually the group’s ninth studio CD, the group reunited with Ross Robinson, who produced the first two Korn albums, a self-titled 1994 release and the 1996 CD, “Life Is Peachy.”

Emergency drill ‘patients’ taken to Vancouver hospital

Volunteer “patients” portraying gunshot victims tested Southwest Washington Medical Center’s ability to respond to a regional mass-casualty incident Thursday. And their “families” added to the stress, as well.

Vital statistics

Marriage dissolutions and court sentencings

Correction: C-Tran official

C-Tran official: Scott Patterson is C-Tran’s director of development and public affairs. His title was incorrect in a front page story published Thursday.

Vancouver seeks new lodging tax committee member

The City of Vancouver is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. The committee is a sevenmember body that makes recommendations to the Vancouver City Council regarding expenditures of the city’s lodging tax revenue.