Stories for June 7, 2010

Most Ore. field burning banned this summer

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon's new ban on most field burning takes effect this summer. However, grass seed farmers and environmental lawyers are still sparring over how to determine who's entitled to a burn permit out of a small allotment for farmers facing extreme economic hardship.

Defense attorney: Blagojevich 'didn't take a dime'

CHICAGO (AP) -- An attorney for Rod Blagojevich says the former governor is an honest man who "didn't take a dime."

Prosecutor: Blagojevich part of illegal shakedowns

CHICAGO (AP) -- A federal prosecutor says former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was trying to use his power of government to get something of personal benefit for himself.

Blagojevich lawyers ask judge to throw out charges

CHICAGO (AP) -- Lawyers for ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich have asked a federal judge to throw out corruption charges against him, saying they violate his freedom of speech.

Obama pitching seniors on health bill

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is turning his attention back to the massive health care bill he signed earlier this year, and trying to win over the most skeptical constituency: seniors.

Community scoreboard, June 8

This week's community sports results.

Council closer to vote on purchase of new city hall building

Just one more vote by the Vancouver City Council stands between the potential purchase of the former Columbian building for a new City Hall. The council approved the first reading of the ordinance allowing the $18.5 million purchase of the building and surrounding land Monday night; a public hearing and final vote will be Monday, June 14, at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 210 E. 13th St.

Fullerton advances to Super Regional

FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) -- Christian Colon had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in three runs as Cal State Fullerton beat Minnesota 9-5 on Monday night to win the Fullerton Regional.

Clark County searchers join effort to find Portland boy

It was about 6:55 a.m. Saturday when a text message appeared on the cell phone of Jan Foltz, a retired schoolteacher, Battle Ground resident and field-qualified volunteer member of Silver Star Search & Rescue. “Call out search for missing 7-year-old in Oregon. Special request through CRESA. Call ASAP.”

Top 2 Ore. legis. leaders say no special session

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon's top two legislative leaders say this isn't the time for a special session. Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Dave Hunt issued a joint news release Monday saying the Legislature should hold off calling itself into special session to rebalance the current state budget, which has fallen $577 million in the red.

Tips about missing Oregon boy pour in

Searchers comb through woods around school

PORTLAND — Twenty-two state, local and federal agencies are following up on more than 1,200 tips in the search for a 7-year-old Portland boy who has been missing for four days.

Ore. woman hospitalized after crash gives birth

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The father of a 19-year-old Gresham, Ore., woman who remains hospitalized after a mid-April car crash says his daughter has given birth to a baby girl.

Japan's new PM says he'll honor base deal with US

TOKYO (AP) -- Prime Minister-elect Naoto Kan says Japan will honor an agreement with Washington to move a key Marine base to a less crowded part of Okinawa -- an issue that led to the downfall of his predecessor.

Reinsdorf group withdraws from Coyotes competition

PHOENIX (AP) -- A group headed Jerry Reinsdorf has withdrawn from efforts to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes, a move that leaves Ice Edge Holdings as the last potential buyer that would keep the NHL team in Arizona.

Judge bars records release in police shootings

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) -- A Pierce County Superior Court judge has refused a request by The Seattle Times and other news media to release more than 2,000 pages of law-enforcement reports and other records about the fatal shootings of four Lakewood, Wash., officers.

Putin condemns Israeli raid on Gaza-bound ship

ISTANBUL (AP) -- Russia's prime minister has condemned Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla in a major victory for Turkey.

Police: Dutchman confesses to killing Peru woman

LIMA, Peru (AP) -- Peruvian police say the Dutchman Joran van der Sloot has confessed to killing a young woman in his Lima hotel room last week.

Surging Angels beat A's 4-2 for sixth straight win

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Bobby Abreu hit a two-run homer, Scott Kazmir won for the third time in four starts and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Monday night for their season-best sixth straight victory.

Washington State falls to Arkansas

Cougars eliminated from NCAA baseball tournament

Washington State is eliminated while the Razorbacks (43-19) advance to a super regional against top-seeded Arizona State.

FBI: Mexicans chased away US agents after shooting

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) -- A spokeswoman for the FBI tells The Associated Press that Mexican soldiers pointed their rifles and chased away U.S. Border Patrol agents investigating the shooting of a 15-year-old Mexican.

El Paso Border Patrol shooting murky

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) -- U.S. and Mexican officials are trading suggestions of misconduct as the shooting of a 15-year-old Mexican by a U.S. Border Patrol agent on the border with Texas swells into a full-blown international incident.

Glitch in Wash. tsunami alert test

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Washington state emergency management officials are investigating what went awry in Monday's monthly test of the tsunami alert and warning system in four coastal counties.

Parade politics

There's a technique to appearing in parades, and local politicians are mastering it.

No winners for Wash. Lotto, Hit 5 top prizes

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- No winning tickets were sold for the Washington State Lottery's $2.8 million Lotto jackpot or the $380,000 Hit 5 cashpot Monday night, so prizes will increase to $3 million in Lotto and $410,000 in Hit 5.

Miami tops Texas A&M 10-3 to reach super regional

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) -- Miami has won the rain-delayed Coral Gables regional championship, beating Texas A&M 10-3 behind Harold Martinez's three RBIs.

Miami leads Texas A&M in game suspended by rain

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) -- Miami led Texas A&M 3-2 in the second inning of the Coral Gables regional final suspended due to rain Monday night.

Hammel boosts Rockies to 5-1 win over Astros

DENVER (AP) -- Jason Hammel pitched 7 1-3 crisp innings and Clint Barmes had a two-run double, lifting the Colorado Rockies to a 5-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night.

WA penitentiary guard attacked by inmate

WALLA WALLA, Wash. (AP) -- A Washington state spokeswoman says a state penitentiary inmate attacked a corrections officer with a sharpened toothbrush, causing superficial neck wounds.

Smith, Kilcrease lead Alabama past Georgia Tech

ATLANTA (AP) -- Jake Smith drove in four runs, reliever Nathan Kilcrease held Georgia Tech scoreless over the final five innings and Alabama beat the Yellow Jackets 10-8 to win the Atlanta Regional title on Monday night.

Selig to continue to look at expanding replay

SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) -- Bud Selig says he will continue to look at expanding the use of instant replay, but doesn't think it will happen this year -- if at all.

Lee tosses 7-hitter as Mariners beat Rangers 4-2

Cliff Lee threw a seven-hitter to help the Seattle Mariners snap a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night.

B.G. police make arrest in 2009 homicide

Investigators say they have DNA evidence

Battle Ground police arrested a 27-year-old man in connection with the 2009 homicide of Battle Ground resident Curtis Dunn. After a yearlong investigation, police arrested Veniamin V. Tasmaly at his Battle Ground home in the 8100 block of Northeast 179th Street at about noon Monday. He was booked into the Clark County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder. Tasmaly will be arraigned in Clark County Superior Court at 9 a.m. today.

Clemson tops Auburn 13-7 to win regional

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Kyle Parker hit a three-run homer and Richie Shaffer had a bases-clearing double to lift Clemson to a 13-7 victory over Auburn on Monday night.

Vehicular homicide charge dropped against B.G. man

He pleads guilty to DUI; crash deemed unavoidable

Clark County prosecutors Monday dismissed a vehicular homicide charge against a Battle Ground man accused of driving drunk and killing a man in 2006. The reason? The state couldn’t prove the crash was avoidable. Jason D. Simonds, 32, was driving on a dark stretch of Northeast 72nd Avenue at 2 a.m. when he struck a driver who had stepped out if his brown Oldsmobile after getting it stuck part way in a ditch. Accident reconstructionists concluded that because of the poor visibility, any driver -- drunk or not -- would have had minimal time to see the car and brake.

Dice-K goes 8 scoreless as Red Sox top Indians 4-1

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched eight shutout innings and pushed his scoreless streak to 15 in Cleveland, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 4-1 win over the Indians on Monday night.

Uribe leads Giants over Reds 6-5

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Juan Uribe drove in four runs with two singles, providing the Giants' final lead in a back-and-forth game, and San Francisco's balky bullpen held on for a 6-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.

Chargers WR Floyd signs one-year tender

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The San Diego Charger say wide receiver Malcom Floyd has signed his one-year contract tender as a restricted free agent worth $3,168,000.

Harrell's squeeze in 10th lifts Vanderbilt

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Connor Harrell's squeeze bunt with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning gave Vanderbilt a 3-2 win over Louisville on Monday night.

Gonzalez hits pair of homers in Padres' win

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Adrian Gonzalez's first of two solo homers broke up Cole Hamels' bid for a no-hitter with one out in the seventh, Wade LeBlanc pitched seven impressive innings and the San Diego Padres beat the struggling Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 Monday night.

Army: 5 soldiers implicated in 3 Afghan deaths

FORT LEWIS, Wash. (AP) -- An Army spokeswoman says five soldiers from the same unit have now been implicated in the murders of three Afghan civilians.

Felix changes mind about Duke, signs with Devils

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Standout junior college recruit Carrick Felix has signed a letter of intent at Arizona State after being released from his Duke scholarship at his request.

Vancouver woman sentenced to 21 months in elderly mother’s 2008 death

A Vancouver woman convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the 2008 death of her elderly mother was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison, despite efforts by her defense attorney for an exceptionally lesser punishment. “This is a case of love gone wrong,” defense attorney Steve Rucker told Clark County Superior Court Judge Barbara Johnson. It wasn’t a typical manslaughter case, such as a bar brawl or another violent act that became deadly, he said. “Her crime is that she took responsibility of her parent” despite her own inability to do so.

Rose, Fowler come up short at US Open qualifier

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Major champions Tom Lehman, Davis Love III and Ben Curtis all made the field on Monday for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Two youngsters who beat all three a day earlier at the Memorial Tournament -- Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler -- did not.

Kline, Arico pitch Virginia past St. John's, 5-3

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -- Branden Kline pitched 5 1-3 solid innings and Virginia got just enough offense to advance to the super regional with a 5-3 victory against St. John's on Monday night.

DC's Barklage has ACL surgery, Wallace broken leg

WASHINGTON (AP) -- D.C. United midfielder Brandon Barklage has had season-ending surgery on a torn ACL, while defender Rodney Wallace is out six weeks with a broken leg.

Report: Landis hires legal team

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Daily News is reporting Floyd Landis has hired the same law firm that represented fellow cyclist Greg LeMond in a couple of lawsuits.

Dodgers place pitcher Charlie Haeger on 15-day DL

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Dodgers have placed right-hander Charlie Haeger on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained right big toe.

Arniel takes over as Blue Jackets head coach

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Scott Arniel (ahr-NEEL') is the new head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Slumping Figgins drops from 2 to 9 for Seattle

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Seattle Mariners slumping second baseman Chone Figgins has been dropped to the bottom of the batting order.

Nationals take slugger Harper with No. 1 pick

SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) -- The Washington Nationals have selected junior college slugger Bryce Harper with the No. 1 overall pick in the baseball draft.

Without cash, Wash. legal pot initiative in danger

SEATTLE (AP) -- An effort to legalize marijuana for adults in Washington is in danger of not making the ballot this year, after support from the state's progressive establishment failed to materialize.

DeLana Harvick playfully fires back at Logano

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) -- Apparently Joey Logano is right, Kevin Harvick's wife does wear the firesuit in the family.

CU hoops coach Boyle names Rodney Billups to staff

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -- New Colorado men's basketball coach Tad Boyle has brought Rodney Billups on board as director of basketball operations.

Martinez happy to see Cleveland

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Leading his 5-year-old son by the hand, Victor Martinez returned to a place where he had some of the best years of his life.

Former champion Foreman to have surgery on knee

NEW YORK (AP) -- Former junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman will need surgery on his right knee after tearing his meniscus and stretching ligaments in his fight Saturday night against Miguel Cotto at Yankee Stadium.

Prosecutors: Ex-FBI man used job to aid pro golfer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Prosecutors in California allege that an ex-FBI agent who pleaded guilty to illegally accessing an agency computer also misused his authority to help professional golfer Greg Norman.

Ore. woman, 70, OK after night in wilderness

HEPPNER, Ore. (AP) -- A 70-year-old White City woman was in good condition despite spending a night in the Morrow County wilderness.

No big surprises on first day of candidate filing

Murray leads the list; deadline is Friday

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray was among the dozens of incumbents and announced candidates who made it official Monday, the first day political hopefuls were allowed to file with state and local election offices for the August primary.

Welker surprised by reaction to his return

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- Wes Welker is surprised by the strong, hopeful reaction to his return to practice just four months after major knee surgery.

This is a test from The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The IndyCar Series has acknowledged that a malfunctioning hose complicated efforts by Texas Motor Speedway's safety workers to extinguish the fire on Simona de Silvestro's car Saturday night.

Hamilton coach says no to Jackets

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The Columbus Blue Jackets are still in the market for a head coach after being turned down by Hamilton Bulldogs coach Guy Boucher (GEE boo-SHAY').

Red Sox place Papelbon on bereavement list

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Red Sox have placed closer Jonathan Papelbon on the bereavement list.

Witten's bat, legs lift Coastal in 10th

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) -- Rich Witten doubled to start the 10th inning and scored on reliever Heath Hembree's wild pitch, giving top-seeded Coastal Carolina the Myrtle Beach Regional title with an 11-10 victory over College of Charleston on Monday.

3 dead after natural gas line explodes in Texas

CLEBURNE, Texas (AP) -- Officials say three people have been killed and several other injured after a natural gas line exploded in rural north Texas.

At least 10 missing after rural Texas explosion

CLEBURNE, Texas (AP) -- At least 10 people are reported missing after an explosion that sounded like a tornado caused a massive fire in rural north-central Texas.

3 dead after Texas gas line explosion

CLEBURNE, Texas (AP) -- Officials say three people have been killed after a natural gas line explosion in rural north Texas.

IndyCar says bad hose complicated firefighting

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The IndyCar Series has acknowledged that a malfunctioning hose complicated efforts by Texas Motor Speedway's safety workers to extinguish the fire on Simona de Silvestro's car Saturday night.

Report: Inter Milan closing in on Benitez

MILAN (AP) -- Inter Milan reportedly is close to hiring Rafa Benitez as coach.

Franchitti tours NYC, discusses future of IRL

NEW YORK (AP) -- Dario Franchitti says new Indy Racing League CEO Randy Bernard is the "right man for the job" and is "coming in a good time."

Celtic and Sporting to play at Fenway on July 21

BOSTON (AP) -- Fresh off the NHL's Winter Classic and a series of midseason concerts, Fenway Park will host a soccer match between Celtic FC of Scotland and Sporting CP of Portugal.

Baker County to seek disaster aid

BAKER CITY, Ore. (AP) -- Baker County officials will ask Gov. Ted Kulongoski to declare an emergency in response to its worst flooding in more than 25 years.

Montgomerie qualifies for British Open

SUNNINGDALE, England (AP) -- Europe Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has clinched a spot in the British Open at St. Andrews in July.

Silva goes to 8-0 as Cubs finally beat Pirates

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Carlos Silva extended the best start by a Cubs pitcher in 43 years by allowing one run over seven innings, Ryan Theriot scored four times and Chicago beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 on Monday.

La Salle's Giannini gets multiyear contract

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- La Salle men's basketball coach John Giannini has agreed to a new multiyear contract.

Bruce heads back to Rams to retire

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Isaac Bruce is headed back to his old team to retire with the St. Louis Rams.

Mich. hit man pleads guilty to killing cop's wife

DETROIT (AP) -- An admitted Detroit hit man charged with killing a police officer's wife has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Culpepper signs on to play in UFL for Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Quarterback Daunte Culpepper is still playing professional football, albeit in the United Football League.

Mountain West opts not to expand

BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Boise State will not be getting an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference -- at least for now.

Enforcement of strengthened cell phone law begins Thursday

Liz Luce advocates a new kind of call-waiting: that is, waiting until the car stops before answering the phone or returning a text. Luce, the director of the Washington Department of Licensing, joined with the Washington State Patrol today to warn drivers that on Thursday texting or talking while driving becomes a primary offense.

Kiefer earns Wimbledon wild card

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Nicolas Kiefer of Germany is one of five players to receive a wild card into the men's draw at Wimbledon.

Former Red Sox pitcher Stephenson dies

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Jerry Stephenson, who pitched for the Boston Red Sox in the 1967 World Series, has died. He was 66.

Rules violation forced Ravens to cancel camp

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- The Baltimore Ravens have been ordered by the NFL to cancel their final offseason training camp because of a violation of workout rules.

Marquez rejoins Mexico after slight injury

JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- Mexico's best known player, defender Rafael Marquez, is back training with El Tri after missing several days with a right leg injury picked up in last week's 2-1 exhibition victory over Italy.

Indians activate Marte, send LaPorta to minors

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Cleveland Indians have activated infielder Andy Marte from the 15-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Matt LaPorta to Triple-A Columbus.

Tribes appeal Stevens Pass bike proposal

TULALIP, Wash. (AP) -- The Tulalip Tribes are appealing a federal decision to allow construction of a mountain bike park and water treatment system at Stevens Pass Ski area.

Should off-grid buildings still pay for services?

SEATTLE (AP) -- King County is figuring out whether buildings that go off the grid must still pay for the regional wastewater system they don't use.

Lost Mount Rainier climber an Olympia man

SEATTLE (AP) -- Officials haven't identified the climber lost in an avalanche on Mount Rainier but the parents of a 27-year-old Olympia man say it's their son, Mark Wedeven.

Missing climber after avalanche presumed dead

SEATTLE (AP) -- A park spokesman says a climber missing after a weekend avalanche on Mount Rainier is presumed dead.

State police say no OSU rape

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- State police say a rape reported at Oregon State University did not occur and the case is closed.

Pronger, desperate Flyers look for Game 6 rebound

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Chris Pronger's wry smile and sharp tongue hardly suggested he and the Philadelphia Flyers are shaken by big Dustin Byfuglien and the suddenly potent Chicago Blackhawks.

Jets to hold open minicamp practice at Meadowlands

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The New York Jets will hold a minicamp practice that will be open to the public next week at the new Meadowlands Stadium.

Mountain West opts not to expand, for now

BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Boise State will not be getting an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference -- at least for now.

John Wooden's final book to be released in July

NEW YORK (AP) -- A book on the life of John Wooden that he had been working on in recent months will be released in early July.

Not guilty plea in Seattle high school rape case

SEATTLE (AP) -- A convicted sex offender who was enrolled in a Seattle high school pleaded not guilty Monday to a new charge of third-degree rape.

Fourth Plain a food hot spot

International Food Festival aims to make community aware of corridor’s wide range of markets, restaurants

Whether you’re in the mood for a burger, tacos, gyros or fresh-baked ciabatta, you’ll find it on or near Fourth Plain Boulevard in Vancouver. However, the area has yet to achieve destination status. “There’s a perception that there’s no reason for people outside the area to come here,” said Sharif Burdzik, who works as an assistant vice president at First Independent Bank’s Fourth Plain Boulevard branch.

Jobs touts improvements in next version of iPhone

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Apple CEO Steve Jobs says the next iPhone will have a clearer screen and will be noticeably thinner than previous versions of the device.

Rogge vows to make Olympic luge safe as possible

SOCHI, Russia (AP) -- IOC president Jacques Rogge says Olympic officials will take all necessary measures to prevent another fatal luge crash at the Winter Games.

Robinho, Kaka lead Brazil, 5-1 over Tanzania

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) -- Robinho scored a pair of goals and Kaka added another as Brazil easily defeated Tanzania 5-1 in its last warmup before the World Cup.

Delta starts Seattle-Osaka nonstop flights

SEATTLE (AP) -- Delta Air Lines invited Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Port of Seattle officials to a ceremony Monday at Sea-Tac Airport to celebrate the inaugural nonstop flight to Osaka, Japan.

Jury selection begins in Zehm case

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Eighty potential jurors were called Monday for the federal trial of Spokane Police Officer Karl Thompson, who is accused of using excessive force in the deadly beating of a mentally ill janitor in 2006.

Reaching out to fund innovation

CREDC leads effort to build pot of money to boost new local firms

A general lack of funding is stifling business growth and innovation in Southwest Washington, community economic development officials and business owners say. In the aftermath of the financial crisis, commercial bank loans are still scarce and venture capital investment is even more elusive for startup companies seeking rapid expansion. And so the Columbia River Economic Development Council is leading an effort to build a $5 million community equity fund that would pump $500,000 to $1 million at a time into a handful of local early-stage companies.

Game 2 earns best preliminary rating since 2004

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Celtics' series-tying win earned the highest preliminary rating for Game 2 of an NBA finals since 2004.

Argentine hooligans stay at school

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) -- A group of Argentine hooligans say they are in South Africa only to cheer for their team at the World Cup.

Mirza, Lucic win in first round of Aegon Classic

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) -- India's Sania Mirza beat Taiwan's Chan Yung-Jan 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of the Aegon Classic on Monday for just her second win this year.

England unimpressive in 3-0 win

MORULENG, South Africa (AP) -- England turned in an unimpressive performance to overcome a South African league club 3-0 Monday in the team's final training match before it opens its World Cup schedule against the United States.

Tiller man convicted of sex abuse

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) -- A Douglas County jury convicted a Tiller man of sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl.

Yale hockey player needs marrow donor

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) -- Doctors say a Yale women's hockey player has about a month to find a matching bone marrow or cord blood donor to save her life.

Robby Ginepri beats James Ward at Queen's

LONDON (AP) -- Robby Ginepri has set up a meeting with No. 7-seeded fellow American Sam Querrey at the Queen's Club grass-court tournament.

Brown sidesteps questions on future with Bobcats

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown is sidestepping questions about his future, saying only, "I'm under contract and doing my job" after putting six players through a pre-draft workout.

Army names new officer to chemical operations

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) -- A former commander of the Pueblo Chemical Depot has been named director of stockpile operations for the Army agency that oversees storage of the nation's chemical weapons.

SAfricans split on Mandela's attendance at opening

JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- South African soccer fans are split whether Nelson Mandela should attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup.

Kidnapper gets 6 years for Roseburg attempted rape

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) -- A man sentenced to 130 years in prison for the kidnap and rape of a 10-year-old Eugene girl has been sentenced to another six years for attempting to rape a pregnant woman at a downtown Roseburg business.

Blatter: stadium stampede a warning for World Cup

JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter says the South African stadium stampede that left a policeman seriously injured is like a wakeup call to warn World Cup organizers.

Speed camera foe buys Tenn. city's police website

BLUFF CITY, Tenn. (AP) -- After a Tennessee police department let its website expire, the site was snatched up by a new owner -- a man who uses it to gripe about traffic cameras that issue speeding tickets.

BP plans to replace containment cap next month

HOUSTON (AP) -- BP PLC says it plans next month to replace a cap over the oil well blowout at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico with a slightly bigger cap.

World Matchplay returns to European Tour in 2011

WENTWORTH, England (AP) -- The Volvo World Matchplay Championship will return to the European Tour schedule in 2011 after a year's absence.

Alberto Contador keeps yellow jersey in Dauphine

SAINT-LAURENT-DU-PONT, France (AP) -- Two-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador has kept the yellow jersey in the Criterium du Dauphine.

'Normal' day planned at missing boy's school

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Classes at Skyline Elementary School resume Monday despite the disappearance of Kyron Horman.

Arizona motorcyclist injured in Padden crash

A 73-year-old motorcyclist suffered critical injuries late Sunday in a crash on Northeast Padden Parkway.

Maryland's McFadden wins Honda Award for lacrosse

NEW YORK (AP) -- Caitlyn McFadden of NCAA champion Maryland has won the Honda Sports Award as the nation's top college women's lacrosse player.

Eugene surgeons fined in billing case

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- The Oregon Medical Board has fined four Eugene heart surgeons for allegedly overbiling Medicare.

Tony Romo withdraws from US Open qualifying

THE WOODLANDS, Texas (AP) -- Tony Romo has withdrawn from a U.S. Open sectional qualifier after it was delayed for the second time due to bad weather.

Tony Romo shoots 71 in US Open qualifying

THE WOODLANDS, Texas (AP) -- Tony Romo is four shots behind leader Casey Clendenon midway through a sectional qualifier for the U.S. Open.

Tony Romo's US Open bid delayed by weather

THE WOODLANDS, Texas (AP) -- Tony Romo's bid to qualify for the U.S. Open has been delayed by bad weather.

Tony Romo tees off at US Open qualifier

THE WOODLANDS, Texas (AP) -- Tony Romo has teed off in his bid to qualify for the U.S. Open.

Missing Portland boy's school making changes

PORTLAND - The disappearance of a 7-year-old Portland boy has prompted the school superintendent to order all elementary schools to notify parents when students are absent without approval.

In Our View: Filing Week Opens

Even before competition officially began, Pridemore, Benton faced funding realities

Today marks the beginning of “Filing Week.” Incumbents and would-be politicians have from 8 this morning until 5 p.m. Friday to declare their candidacies in the Aug. 17 primary and the Nov. 2 election. Last week turned out to be “Fleeing Week.” Two major local politicians left races and closed down their campaign operations. This will be one of the few times you will ever see Craig Pridemore and Don Benton mentioned in the same sentence. The hard-core liberal and the arch-conservative, respectively, don’t share much in common other than their status as state senators who are not up for re-election this year. Last week, though, both bowed out of races for federal office. On Tuesday, Pridemore dropped out of the 3rd Congressional District competition and endorsed Democrat Denny Heck. On Thursday, Benton left the race to replace U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and endorsed Republican Dino Rossi.

Body and spirit merge at new community center

Nonprofit center shares space with church at former Bally site, although each operates independently of the other

When old buddies Brett Wilkerson, manager of Vancouver’s Heathman Lodge, and Danny Clinton, former pastor at Living Hope Church, came together to start a new church in East Vancouver, they based it in leased space at the Firstenburg Community Center — because, Wilkerson said, church and community belong together. “You could go to Sunday service and then take your kids swimming,” he said.

The economy may be bust, but drums can still boom boom boom

Heritage High plans fundraiser to replace beat-up instruments

Student percussionists at Heritage High School are eager to beat their own drums — and play the marimbas and keyboard, too — in a special performance to raise money for some sorely needed instruments. Students will perform several percussion pieces, including some they have composed.

Program offers children free meals over the summer

People 19 and younger eligible to participate

Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department is again sponsoring the Summer Food Service Program for Children, which provides free meals to children throughout the summer. Meals will be offered at no charge to children younger than 19 years old at various locations.

PDX noise committee will convene in Vancouver

The effects on Vancouver of a runway extension project at Portland International Airport will be among the topics of a PDX Citizen Noise Advisory Committee meeting Thursday at the Marshall Community Center in Vancouver. The committee will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Marshall Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd.

3rd District candidates forum set for July 8

Leadership Clark County will host the community’s first forum for all 3rd Congressional District candidates Thursday, July 8, at Clark College’s Gaiser Hall. The 6 p.m. event will be free to the public.

B.G. approves SUV purchase for city manager

Mayor says it will save money; councilor criticizes decision

The city of Battle Ground purchased a 2010 sport utility vehicle to be used by the new city manager, rather than give the top official a monthly vehicle allowance. After approving City Manager John Williams’ contract, the council gave Williams the OK to spend up to $22,000, including sales tax, on a vehicle. The vote was taken at the April 19 city council meeting, following an executive session to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment. Councilman Paul Zandamela voted against the policy change. Deputy Mayor Phil Haberthur was absent.

Liquor licenses

The following have applied to the Washington State Liquor Control Board:

Clark County building permits

Building permits more than $25,000 issued by Clark County’s Department of Community Development for May 24-28.

Real estate roundup

Recent commercial real estate transactions as reported by area brokerage firms.

Vancouver building permits

Building permits more than $25,000 issued by the city of Vancouver for May 24-28.

Bits 'n' Pieces: Vancouver couple take ‘cemetery tour’

Paquita and Jim Rupp of Vancouver recently returned from a 5,500-mile, 13-state trip that their family jokingly called their “cemetery tour.” They took gravestone rubbings all over the Midwest for genealogy research. The stops included a spot near Springfield, Mo., where Jim’s great-grandfather fought in the Civil War at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek.

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Clark County business calendar

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Rescue teams find missing rafters

Father, two young daughters cold and wet but uninjured

A large group of law enforcement and rescue agencies located and came to the aid of a father and his two daughters after a rafting mishap Saturday on the East Fork of the Lewis River. Clark County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Shane Gardner said Heith Hammond, 31, and his two daughters, ages 9 and 10, were rescued about 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

Off beat: Reminder of athletic club still just the push of a button away

When the Oxford Athletic Club closed its doors a few days ago, it meant that another name that’s been part of the community for decades is in danger of fading away. But whatever happens, the inspiration for that name will continue to be part of the lives of thousands of Vancouver residents, even if they don’t realize it.