Stories for March 11, 2010

Israel seals off West Bank to prevent unrest

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel has sealed off the West Bank for 48 hours, preventing Palestinians from entering Israel because of fears of unrest.

Russia criticizes US, NATO over Afghan drugs

BRUSSELS (AP) -- Russia's envoy to NATO is criticizing the alliance's military strategy in Afghanistan -- where the emphasis has shifted away from fighting drug trafficking -- saying the resulting surge in heroin smuggling is endangering Russia's national security.

Ore. woman sues life insurance company over claim

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- The wife of a Eugene man who died in a kitchen accident is suing his life insurance company. Michele Vinson says the company is refusing to pay because David Vinson had been drinking that day.

UNLV avenges regular-season sweep, tops Utah 73-61

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Freshman guard Anthony Marshall led UNLV with 13 points and a season-best 12 rebounds and the Runnin' Rebels avenged Utah's regular-season sweep with a 73-61 victory in the Mountain West Conference quarterfinals Thursday night.

New Mexico State defeats San Jose State 90-69

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Jonathan Gibson scored 22 points to lead New Mexico State past San Jose State 90-69 Thursday night and into the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference tournament against Nevada.

Blazers rally to beat Warriors

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Brandon Roy scored 41 points, Andre Miller added 15 points and seven assists and the Portland Trail Blazers overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Golden State Warriors 110-105 on Thursday night.

Harden paces UC Davis by Cal State Fullerton 68-65

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Joe Harden had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead UC Davis to a 68-65 victory over Cal State Fullerton in the second round of the Big West Conference tournament Thursday night.

Lawrie's throws perfect game for Washington

SEATTLE (AP) -- Danielle Lawrie threw her second perfect game of the season and Washington-record third overall, striking out 14 in Washington's 3-0 victory over Miami of Ohio on Thursday in the first home night game in Husky softball history.

Washington rallies to beat Oregon State 59-52

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Isaiah Thomas scored 15 points and third-seeded Washington roared back from a big second-half deficit to keep its NCAA tournament hopes alive with a 59-52 victory over Oregon State in the Pac-10 quarterfinals Thursday night.

Sharks rally to beat Predators 8-5

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Joe Pavelski capped a four-point third period with the tiebreaking goal after a scintillating spin move that rallied the San Jose Sharks to an 8-5 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night.

Kiprusoff, Flames blank Senators

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) -- Miikka Kiprusoff made 33 saves for fourth shutout of the season and 34th overall, and Jamal Mayers and Christopher Higgins scored in the Calgary Flames' 2-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.

Wash. teen enters plea in alleged school plot

OKANOGAN, Wash. (AP) -- A 17-year-old Brewster youth charged as an adult with attempted first-degree murder has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he planned to bring guns to Chelan High School and open fire.

Union boys beat Rainier Beach, reach semifinals

Chris Morgan scored 17 points and Kyle Holmes added 15 as the Union boys basketball team beat Rainier Beach of Seattle 69-54 Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state tournament.

Georgia beats Arkansas 77-64 in SEC tourney

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Trey Thompkins had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and Georgia beat Arkansas 77-64 in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament on Thursday night.

11 young men charged in Portland jeans thefts

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Portland police say a ring of juveniles and young men has stolen thousands of dollars worth of designer jeans from upscale stores in the area, often reselling the items for profit.

NFL panel finds some injuries more common on turf

NEW YORK (AP) -- An NFL panel has found that certain serious knee and ankle injuries happen more often in games played on the most popular brand of artificial turf than on grass.

Hayes leads Miami, Ohio past Buffalo, 73-59

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Kenny Hayes scored 27 points and Miami (Ohio) defeated Buffalo 73-59 on Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament.

No. 25 UTEP avoids upset bug at C-USA tourney

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Jeremy Williams scored 17 points, Randy Culpepper added 10 and No. 25 UTEP beat Central Florida 76-54 in the Conference USA tournament quarterfinals Thursday night for its 15th straight victory.

Sam Houston State moves to fianls with 88-85 win

KATY, Texas (AP) -- Ashton Mitchell's lay in with 11 seconds left broke an 85-85 tie and helped Sam Houston defeat Southeastern Louisiana 88-85, earning the Bearkats a berth in the Southland Conference Championship game.

Dunn, Udoh lead No. 21 Baylor past Texas 86-67

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- LaceDarius Dunn, benched with three quick fouls in the first half, rebounded with 17 of his 19 points after intermission and No. 21 Baylor made it three in a row over Texas with an 86-67 victory Thursday night in the Big 12 quarterfinals.

Stanford upsets Arizona State 70-61 in Pac-10

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jeremy Green scored 18 points, Landry Fields added 17 and Stanford surprised second-seeded Arizona State 70-61 in the Pac-10 Conference tournament quarterfinals Thursday night.

List of low-performing Wash. schools released

SEATTLE (AP) -- State education officials have released a list of Washington schools eligible for federal school improvement dollars.

Wash. lawmakers settle on K-12 reforms

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- State lawmakers are moving ahead with major education reforms in the last hours of their regular session.

Holy Names rolls past Prairie girls at state

Prairie girls basketball team lost 62-36 to Holy Names of Seattle in the quarterfinals Thursday of the Class 3A state tournament.

Texas Southern tops Prairie View A&M 66-49 in SWAC

BOSSIER CITY, La. (AP) -- DeAndre Hall scored 19 points and Texas Southern defeated Prairie View A&M 66-49 Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.

Nevada rolls past Idaho 87-71 in WAC quarterfinal

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Luke Babbitt scored 21 points to lead five Nevada players in double figures and the Wolf Pack poured in seven 3-pointers in the first half en route to an 87-71 win over Idaho Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Western Athletic Conference tournament.

Long Beach State eliminates Cal Poly-SLO 79-69

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- T.J. Robinson had 18 points and eight rebounds and Larry Anderson added 16 points to lead Long Beach State to a 79-69 victory over Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo in the second round of the Big West Conference tournament Thursday night.

Fredette's 45 points leads No. 14 BYU past TCU

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Jimmer Fredette set a tournament record with 45 points and Brigham Young broke the school's 60-year-old mark for wins in a season with a 95-85 victory over TCU in the Mountain West Conference quarterfinals Thursday night.

Portland bomb squad checks items in Milwaukie home

MILWAUKIE, Ore. (AP) -- The Portland police bomb squad is assessing suspicious items found in a Milwaukie home.

Hampton beats Norfolk State 73-70 in MEAC tourney

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -- Darrion Pellum scored 19 points to lead Hampton to a 73-70 victory over Norfolk State in the quarterfinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament on Thursday night.

WA Legislature toughens cell phone driving law

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The Washington state Legislature has approved a measure that makes it easier for police to ticket people who are driving while either texting or talking on a cell phone without a headset.

Magic roll past Bulls 111-82 as Rose sprains wrist

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Vince Carter had 23 points to help the Orlando Magic pull away early and cruise past the injured Chicago Bulls, 111-82 on Thursday night for a season-high seventh straight win.

Reserve scores career-high 17, Baylor holds off CU

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Reserve Whitney Zachariason scored a career-high 17 points and 16th-ranked Baylor shook off pesky Colorado with a late run that carried the Bears to a 72-65 victory in the first round of the Big 12 women's tournament Thursday night.

Ellis returns to Warriors' lineup

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Golden State's Monta Ellis is scheduled to return to the Warriors' starting lineup Thursday following a six-game absence due to a strained lower back.

Cuddyer homers to lead Twins past Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Michael Cuddyer homered, reigning AL MVP Joe Mauer had two hits and the Minnesota Twins beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-3 on Thursday night.

Franzen, Zetterberg lead Red Wings

DETROIT (AP) -- Johan Franzen scored twice, and Henrik Zetterberg had a goal and two assists in the Detroit Red Wings' 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.

Kessel scores in OT for Maple Leafs

TORONTO (AP) -- Phil Kessel scored at 3:33 of overtime to give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.

Jordan sparks late run, Tulsa prevails 80-64

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Jerome Jordan had 21 points and 12 rebounds and Tulsa closed with a 27-7 run en route to an 80-64 victory over Marshall on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA tournament.

Kostitsyn gives Canadiens SO win over Oilers

MONTREAL (AP) -- Andrei Kostitsyn scored on Montreal's fifth shootout attempt and Jaroslav Halak turned aside five shots in the tiebreaker to help the Canadiens extend their winning streak to four games with a 5-4 victory over Edmonton on Thursday night.

Mason and Blues top Islanders in shootout

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- T.J. Oshie and Brad Boyes scored shootout goals to lift the surging St. Louis Blues to a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday night.

Crawford scores 29, Hawks beat Wizards 105-99

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Jamal Crawford scored 29 points and the Atlanta Hawks avoided a three-game losing streak by beating the Washington Wizards 105-99 Thursday night.

Tyus scores 24, Florida downs Auburn 78-69 at SEC

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Alex Tyus scored 24 points, and Florida snapped a three-game skid by beating Auburn 78-69 Thursday night in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.

Pothier scores in overtime for Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Brian Pothier scored at 23 of overtime to give the Carolina Hurricanes a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.

Georgia Tech edges North Carolina 62-58 in ACCs

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) -- Derrick Favors had 18 points and nine rebounds to help Georgia Tech hold off North Carolina 62-58 in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Thursday night.

UConn's Calhoun says he will sign a new contract

STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun says he intends to sign a new contract.

No contract yet, but Calhoun plans to stay

STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun plans to stay at Connecticut, although a school spokesman says reports he has reached an agreement on a new contract are premature.

South Carolina St. beats Md.-Eastern Shore 59-53

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -- Jason Flagler scored 20 points and South Carolina State rallied from a 10-point deficit to defeat Maryland-Eastern Shore 59-53 on Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament.

Joseph leads Minnesota past Penn State, 76-55

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Devoe Joseph scored 15 points to help Minnesota beat Penn State 76-55 on Thursday night in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.

Bruins beat Flyers 5-1

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Tuukka Rask made 31 saves, and Mark Recchi, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci scored second-period goals to help the Boston Bruins beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1 on Thursday night.

Bassett leads Ohio past Kent State, 81-64

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Armon Bassett scored 38 points to lead Ohio past top-seeded Kent State, 81-64 Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament.

Stephen F. Austin defeats Texas A&M-CC, 60-53

KATY, Texas (AP) -- Walt Harris scored 15 points, 11 in the second half, to lead Stephen F. Austin to a 60-53 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Thursday and earn a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament Championship.

Blue Jackets hold off Thrashers, 2-1

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Kristian Huselius had a goal and an assist and the Columbus Blue Jackets weathered a late rally to beat Atlanta 2-1 on Thursday night, with the Thrashers' loss clinching the Southeast Division title for the Washington Capitals.

Redskins' Snyder supports free agency approach

VIENNA, Va. (AP) -- Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder says he supports the measured approach to free agency taken by new coach Mike Shanahan and general manager Bruce Allen.

Harangody, Notre Dame hold off Pittsburgh 50-45

NEW YORK (AP) -- Luke Harangody came off the bench and hit three key free throws in the final two minutes, helping Notre Dame hold off No. 16 Pittsburgh 50-45 in the Big East tournament quarterfinals Thursday night for its season-best sixth straight victory.

Jets, S Pool agree in principle to 1-year deal

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Jets and safety Brodney Pool, whose career was threatened by several head injuries, have agreed in principle to a one-year contract.

No. 9 Wildcats rout Oklahoma State 83-64

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Jamar Samuels scored 21 of his career-high 27 points in the first half, helping No. 9 Kansas State turn a rematch into a rout with an 83-64 win over Oklahoma State Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament.

Bulls' Derrick Rose sprains wrist against Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Bulls guard Derrick Rose has sprained his left wrist after another collision with Orlando's Dwight Howard.

Stephens gets first WTA Tour win at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) -- Sloane Stephens got her first victory on the WTA Tour, beating Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 7-6 (5), 7-6 (7) in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday.

Bullocks signs with Bears

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -- Restricted free agent safety Josh Bullocks has signed his one-year tender offer from the Chicago Bears.

Riley, No. 20 Cowgirls hold off Kansas 76-69

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Andrea Riley scored 37 points, Toni Young added 16 and No. 20 Oklahoma State put away Kansas 76-69 on Thursday in the first round of the Big 12 tournament.

Guyton, Louisiana Tech defeat Fresno State 74-66

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Jamel Guyton scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Louisiana Tech to a 74-66 win over Fresno State Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Western Athletic Conference tournament.

WA lawmakers prepare for adjournment, overtime

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- As the clock runs out on the Legislature's 60-day session, lawmakers will adjourn, but they may not be going far.

Gov. Chris Gregoire calls special session

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Gov. Chris Gregoire is calling a special session so that lamwakers can finish their work on patching a $2.8 billion budget hole.

Legislature adjourns, prepares for overtime

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The Legislature's 60-day session has officially ended, but lawmakers won't be going far.

Judge invites comment on 9/11 health settlement

NEW YORK (AP) -- A federal judge says he will hold a hearing in a week to let people weigh in on a settlement that would pay up to $657 million to people who got sick after toiling in the ruins of the World Trade Center.

Lawyers urge WTC workers to take $657M settlement

NEW YORK (AP) -- Lawyers and city officials say they are confident they can get ground zero responders to agree on a settlement for sick people who toiled in the ruins of the World Trade Center.

Judge to hear plan to pay $657M to WTC responders

NEW YORK (AP) -- A settlement that could pay up to $657.5 million to workers sickened by dust from the destroyed World Trade Center is going before a judge.

Deal could pay $657M to sickened WTC responders

NEW YORK (AP) -- Lawyers representing New York City, construction companies and 10,000 ground zero workers have agreed to a settlement that could pay $657.5 million to responders sickened by dust from the destroyed World Trade Center.

Judge: death penalty applies in Ore. bank bombing

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- A judge has ruled that prosecutors can seek the death penalty in the aggravated murder trial of a father and son accused of a December 2008 bank bombing in Woodburn that killed two police officers.

NYC to pay up to $657M to settle WTC health cases

NEW YORK (AP) -- New York City has agreed to pay up to $657 million to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits filed by ground zero rescue and response workers who say they were sickened by World Trade Center dust.

Cal cruises into Pac-10 semis with 90-74 victory

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Jerome Randle scored 22 points without missing a shot in the first half, and top-seeded California easily advanced to the Pac-10 tournament semifinals with a 90-74 victory over Oregon on Thursday.

San Diego State holds off Colorado State 72-71

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- D.J. Gay sank two free throws with 23 seconds left and Travis Busch missed a desperation runner at the buzzer as San Diego State edged Colorado State 72-71 Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Conference tournament.

Gilbert Arenas changes uniform from No. 0 to No. 6

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Goodbye, "Agent Zero." Gilbert Arenas is switching his uniform number.

Arenas submits paperwork to change jersey number

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Gilbert Arenas doesn't want to be "Agent Zero" anymore.

Yanks catcher Cervelli to wear special helmet

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Francisco Cervelli is choosing safety over style.

More charges pending for man who beat skier

Clark County prosecutors waited for Michael Collins' Skamania trial to end

After Michael D. Collins was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison last month in the near-fatal beating of a cross-country skier, prosecutors had some loose ends to tie up. Namely, what do they do with two pending felony charges in Clark County?

Oregon, Tennessee hope to defend track titles

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Oregon will try to defend its national championship in men's indoor track and field, while Tennessee hopes for a repeat on the women's side. The two-day NCAA championships start Friday.

UC Irvine cuts ties with men's basketball coach

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) -- Pat Douglass is out after 13 seasons as UC Irvine men's basketball coach.

Oregon's James pleads guilty to misdemeanor

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon running back LaMichael James has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor harassment charge and has been sentenced to 10 days in jail for an altercation with a woman outside his apartment last month.

US seeks more time in case of HGH doc's assistant

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- The U.S. government is asking a New York court for more time to decide whether to pursue or drop its case against a Canadian doctor's assistant accused of smuggling human growth hormone into the United States.

Rays make first spring cuts

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Rays have optioned left-handed pitcher Jake McGee to the minor leagues and reassigned shortstop Tim Beckham and catcher Nevin Ashley to minor league spring training camp.

WA Legislature allows more to OK medical marijuana

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- More medical professionals will be allowed to authorize the use of medical marijuana for qualified patients under a measure approved by the Washington state Legislature.

Rangers rough up Cook in 16-5 win over Rockies

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Aaron Cook was hit hard in his second spring start, allowing nine hits and nine runs, five earned, in 2 2-3 innings, and the Colorado Rockies were pounded by the Texas Rangers 16-5 on Thursday.

Rangers rough up Cook in 16-3 win over Rockies

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Aaron Cook was hit hard in his second spring start, allowing nine hits and nine runs, five earned, in 2 2-3 innings, and the Colorado Rockies were pounded by the Texas Rangers 16-3 on Thursday.

Opening night arrives for film shot in Ridgefield

Vancouver filmmaker's first full-length feature film set to premiere in Ridgefield. Read more in Friday's Columbian.

Thompson leads Northwestern past Indiana 73-58

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Northwestern's Michael Thompson scored 11 of his 16 points during a late run Thursday, leading the Wildcats past Indiana 73-58 in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.

Silva throws 3 scoreless innings in Cubs win

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -- Carlos Silva threw three scoreless innings after making an adjustment during a bullpen session, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 8-7 on Thursday.

Raiders release DT Gerard Warren

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Raiders have released defensive tackle Gerard Warren after three seasons with the organization.

Broncos re-sign DL Smith, release 2 other players

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- The Denver Broncos have re-signed defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith and released starting inside linebacker Andra Davis.

Indians, White Sox play to 5-all tie after 10

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Brian Horwitz hit a run-scoring single in the ninth inning for Cleveland, and the Indians and Chicago White Sox called off their exhibition game Thursday with the score tied at 5 after 10 innings.

Ex-AP reporter, bureau chief Nance dies in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A former Associated Press reporter and photographer who covered the Vietnam War and later oversaw the news cooperative's operations in the Philippines has died. John Nance was 74.

Arizona re-signs Bridges; LBs Porter, Foote visit

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- The Arizona Cardinals have re-signed offensive tackle Jeremy Bridges to a three-year contract and welcomed free agent linebackers Joey Porter and Larry Foote for a visit.

Els takes the lead at Doral

DORAL, Fla. (AP) -- Ernie Els ran off three straight birdies early and avoided some mistakes when the weather did an about-face at Doral for a 6-under 66 that gave him a one-shot lead in the CA Championship.

Schwartzel takes lead at Doral

DORAL, Fla. (AP) -- Five birdies were enough to put Charl Schwartzel among the leaders at the CA Championship. He wound up alone at the top because he was the one player who managed to avoid a bogey.

Hill exits Oregon treasurer's race

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Former Oregon Treasurer Jim Hill's bid to reclaim his old job lasted less than 48 hours.

Ray Charles musical set for Broadway in November

NEW YORK (AP) -- A musical celebrating Ray Charles is headed for Broadway this fall.

MLS players authorize league's 1st strike

NEW YORK (AP) -- Major League Soccer players have overwhelmingly voted to authorize the first strike in the league's history, which would wipe out openers scheduled to start March 25.

Southern Miss advances to semifinals, 58-44

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Angelo Johnson scored 17 points and No. 6 seed Southern Mississippi defeated third-seeded UAB 58-44 Thursday, the second upset in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA tournament.

Drogba selected Africa player of year for 2009

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) -- Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba has been selected Africa's soccer player of the year for the second time.

Free agent pitcher Michael Feliz suspended

NEW YORK (AP) -- Free agent minor league pitcher Michael Feliz has been suspended for 50 games following a positive test for stanozolol under baseball's minor league drug program.

Alabama State defeats Alabama A&M 56-45 in SWAC

BOSSIER CITY, La. (AP) -- Tramayne Moorer scored 18 points as Alabama State defeated Alabama A&M 56-45 Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.

Symphony to Conduct reprise of out-of-tune raffle

Vancouver businessman agreed to return Mustang convertible for do-over drawing

“And the winner is,” is one theme the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra wishes it didn’t have to reprise. But it does. The nonprofit hometown orchestra bungled a high-stakes raffle drawing on Feb. 21 — omitting precisely 89 tickets from its pool of 1,000 — so it’s going to return all tickets to the tumbler and go for an encore.

Akron defeats Eastern Michigan 97-89 in 2OT in MAC

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Anthony Hitchens made a 3-pointer to open the second overtime and defending champion Akron held off Eastern Michigan 97-89 on Thursday in a heated quarterfinal matchup of the Mid-American Conference tournament.

AP sources: Woods likely to return at Masters

DORAL, Fla. (AP) -- Tiger Woods intends to remain out of golf at least until the Masters, two people with knowledge of his plans have told The Associated Press.

Votto homers, Reds beat Brewers 3-1

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) -- Joey Votto homered for his first hit of spring training, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-1 victory over a Milwaukee Brewers split-squad on Thursday.

Ethier, Blake each homer as Dodgers top Royals 6-4

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -- Russ Ortiz pitched three scoreless innings, and Andre Ethier and Casey Blake homered as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Kansas City Royals 6-4 on Thursday.

Dodgers frustrated with Belisario's absence

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking into contingency plans for their opening-day bullpen while Ronald Belisario tries to report to camp.

WA lawmakers let schools raise more through levies

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The Washington state Legislature has approved a measure that lets cash-strapped school districts ask voters for additional money.

Lincecum struggles through another start

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Tim Lincecum's 19-pitch first inning was an adventure.

Lesbian teen sues Miss. school over prom flap

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi is suing to force a school district to host a prom it canceled after a lesbian student asked to bring her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.

Wolf throws 3 scoreless innings in Brewers loss

PHOENIX (AP) -- Milwaukee's biggest offseason acquisition is on his way to a nice spring with his new team.

Pivotal Investments launches networking program for clean-tech industry

Portland venture capital firm Pivotal Investments is recruiting Washington business leaders for a new network aimed at building the Pacific Northwest’s nascent clean-tech industry.

Buffalo Bills re-sign TE Klopfenstein

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- The Buffalo Bills have re-signed tight end Joe Klopfenstein a week after allowing him to become a free agent.

No. 15 Tennessee beats LSU 59-49 in SEC tourney

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Wayne Chism had 17 points and 10 rebounds and No. 15 Tennessee overcame its worst first half of the season to beat LSU 59-49 in the first round of the Southeastern Conference on Thursday.

Jackson strong again, Diamondbacks beat Angels 4-1

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- With the uncertain status of Brandon Webb, newcomer Edwin Jackson's performance thus far this spring must be comforting for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Utah State's streak hits 16 with 84-60 victory

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Tai Wesley, Brian Green and Pooh Williams each scored 18 points to lead Utah State to its 16th straight victory, 84-60 over Boise State in the quarterfinals of the Western Athletic Conference tournament Thursday.

Toledo's Cross resigns after school's worst season

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) -- Gene Cross has resigned as Toledo's men's basketball coach following the worst season in school history.

Dempsey returns from 712-week layoff

TURIN, Italy (AP) -- American midfielder Clint Dempsey returned from a 712-week layoff, entering as a second-half substitute Thursday night as Fulham lost to Juventus 3-1 in the first leg of the Europa League's third round.

UCLA defeats Arizona 75-69 in Pac-10 tourney

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Michael Roll scored 19 points, Reeves Nelson added 18 and UCLA held off Arizona 75-69 Thursday in a Pac-10 Conference tournament quarterfinal between two powerhouses that once ruled the league but have struggled this season.

Jerry Jones' oil, gas company sued in fraud case

DALLAS (AP) -- A lawsuit accuses an oil and gas company owned by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones of aiding an alleged $15 million fraud.

No. 23 Texas A&M beats Nebraska in Big 12

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Donald Sloan scored 23 points and Bryan Davis had a key three-point play at the 1:01 mark, enabling No. 23 Texas A&M to stave off upset-minded Nebraska 70-64 in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament on Thursday.

Albany, Pepsi agree on $20 million settlement

ALBANY, Ore. (AP) -- The city of Albany has accepted $20 million to settle a lawsuit it filed over a promised Gatorade plant that was never built.

Tomlinson leaves Vikings, headed to Jets

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- LaDainian Tomlinson has left the Minnesota Vikings facility without a deal in place and is on his way to New York to visit the Jets.

New Mexico survives scare from Air Force

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Darrington Hobson's 28 points helped eighth-ranked New Mexico stave off a scare from the scrappy Air Force Falcons 75-69 Thursday in the Mountain West Conference quarterfinals.

Pro day a snap for BC LB McLaughlin

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) -- Some of the Boston area's top college football prospects are showing NFL scouts what they can do.

Gold medalist Henry Wittenberg dies at 91

NEW YORK (AP) -- Henry Wittenberg, an amateur wrestler who went undefeated for more than 300 matches and won a gold medal at the 1948 London Olympics, has died. He was 91.

Navarro leaves wild Rays win with injured thumb

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- Tampa Bay catcher Dioner Navarro was struck by a pickoff throw during the Rays' 16-15 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday and departed with an injured left thumb.

Marquette hangs on to beat No. 10 Villanova 80-76

NEW YORK (AP) -- Lazar Hayward gave Marquette the lead for good with a 3-pointer with 1:51 to play, then added the clinching free throws with 3.2 seconds left, and the Golden Eagles went on to another close win, 80-76 over No. 10 Villanova on Thursday in the Big East tournament quarterfinals.

No. 15 Texas beats Mizzou 64-59 in Big 12 tourney

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Brittainey Raven scored 11 points and No. 15 Texas held off Missouri 64-59 in the first round of the Big 12 women's tournament Thursday.

Hockinson boys basketball eliminated at state

Mount Baker rallies for 59-56 win in Yakima

Lackey throws 3 shutout innings in Boston win

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -- John Lackey is off to a nice start with the Red Sox.

Cal serial killer's photos were found in Seattle

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) -- Prosecutors in California said convicted serial killer Rodney Alcala used his camera to gain the trust of young women. The photographs he snapped decades ago could contain images of more victims.

Betty White to host 'Saturday Night Live'

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Internet has gotten its way: Betty White will host "Saturday Night Live."

Hingis to face Serena in World Team Tennis

NEW YORK (AP) -- Martina Hingis will face top-ranked Serena Williams and two former No. 1 players in World Team Tennis competition.

Blanton shuts down Tigers in Phillies' 4-0 victory

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) -- Joe Blanton used a mix of fastballs and changeups to shut down the Detroit Tigers, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-0 victory Thursday.

Harris leads Michigan past Iowa 59-52

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Manny Harris had 22 points and nine rebounds to help Michigan defeat Iowa 59-52 on Thursday in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.

Colts sign free agent OL Andy Alleman

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indianapolis Colts have signed free agent guard Andy Alleman.

Braden is eyes of A's pitching staff

PHOENIX (AP) -- Dallas Braden has found a whole new role to play for the Oakland Athletics' young pitching staff. He's become a second set of eyes to many of the younger hurlers.

Cuban 1B-OF agrees in principle to deal with Rays

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) -- Cuban Leslie Anderson has agreed in principle to a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Johnson leads 12th-seed Miami past Wake 83-62

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) -- Redshirt freshman Reggie Johnson scored a season-high 22 points against his hometown school and 12th-seeded Miami routed fifth-seeded Wake Forest 83-62 on Thursday in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

Meadowlands to reschedule 9 harness racing dates

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Meadowlands Racetrack is rescheduling nine dates on its harness racing calendar for later this year.

$1.5M award in Fire District 5 sex harassment case reinstated

It also rejects agency’s request for a new trial

More ex-players join antitrust suit against NCAA

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Former college basketball players spanning many eras have joined a lawsuit filed by ex-UCLA star Ed O'Bannon against the NCAA for profiting from the use of their images without permission.

NCAA schools win override vote on amateurism rule

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The NCAA will reconsider a proposal that would require players to enroll in college within a year of high school graduation to avoid losing years of eligibility.

Red Bulls acquire Robinson from Toronto

SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) -- The New York Red Bulls have acquired Welsh former national midfielder Carl Robinson from Toronto FC for a fourth-round pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.

Cardinals beat up on Nunez in 5-3 win over Marlins

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) -- The Florida Marlins got another strong start from ace Josh Johnson but a bad ending from their closer Thursday.

NY gov drops support for Aqueduct racino group

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Gov. David Paterson's administration has dropped its support for a consortium chosen to build and operate up to 4,500 video slot machines at the Aqueduct racetrack, promising to further delay plans to put a racino in Queens.

Sonnanstine sharp as Rays beat Blue Jays 4-1

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) -- Andy Sonnanstine pitched four scoreless innings and Evan Longoria, Jason Bartlett and John Jaso drove in runs during a three-run fifth that helped a Tampa Bay Rays split-squad beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Thursday.

Study: 6 percent of Seattle drivers on cell phones

SEATTLE (AP) -- A survey by University of Washington students found that about 6 percent of Seattle drivers -- 1 in 16 -- were using mobile phones.

Beasley to be game-time decision Friday

MIAMI (AP) -- Heat forward Michael Beasley has a bruised left thigh and is listed as a game-time decision for Miami's key game against the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.

Kings G Quick out for birth of child

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kings goalie Jonathan Quick has left Los Angeles' road trip for the birth of his first child.

Rangers want young Elvis to stay focused

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -- Young Elvis is getting the message from the Texas Rangers.

Houston upsets Memphis 66-65 on last-second shot

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Aubrey Coleman scored 21 points, including a leaner in the lane with 5 seconds remaining, as Houston upset four-time defending Conference USA tournament champion Memphis 66-65 in the quarterfinals Thursday.

Zenyatta arrives at Santa Anita for season debut

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) -- Zenyatta has arrived at Santa Anita for final preparations ahead of her return to racing in the $250,000 Santa Margarita Handicap.

Oregon Supreme Court punts on Klamath water claims

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) -- The Oregon Supreme Court has kept alive claims by Klamath Basin farmers that the federal government should pay them for shutting off water to crops in 2001.

LeBron ready to return against 76ers Friday

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) -- Cavaliers star LeBron James is tired of watching basketball and ready to start playing again.

Italy murder convict blames Amanda Knox

ROME (AP) -- A man convicted in the 2007 slaying of a British student in Italy has written a letter implicating his co-defendants -- former University of Washington student Amanda Knox and her boyfriend at the time, Raffaele Sollecito (sol-EH'-chee-toh).

Ore. man headed to Death Row for triple killing

HILLSBORO, Ore. (AP) -- A jury has recommended the death penalty for an Oregon man convicted of murdering a woman and her two sons.

Alabama rallies from 18, beats S. Carolina 68-63

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Mikhail Torrance's 9-foot jumper broke a tie at 62 with 57 seconds left, and Alabama rallied from an 18-point deficit in the second half to beat South Carolina 68-63 Thursday in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.

Eagles sign WR Chad Hall

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Philadelphia Eagles have signed wide receiver Chad Hall to a three-year contract.

QB Moore signs 1-year tender with Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Matt Moore has signed his one-year, $3.043 million tender with the Carolina Panthers, who have declared him the starting quarterback going into training camp.

EPA to let states address rising ocean acidity

SEATTLE (AP) -- The U.S. Enviornmental Protection Agency says it will consider ways the states can address rising levels of carbon dioxide in oceans.

DC high school hires female football coach

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A high school in Washington, D.C., has hired a woman to coach its varsity football team.

Davies hopes to play by the end of next month

SOCHAUX, France (AP) -- American forward Charlie Davies hopes to resume training with Sochaux by late March and appear in matches next month.

Honduras schedules 3 World Cup warmups

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) -- Honduras will play Azerbaijan, Belarus and Romania in World Cup warmups.

No. 1 KU tops Texas Tech 80-68 to reach 2,000 wins

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Cole Aldrich had 12 points and 18 rebounds, and No. 1 Kansas become the third team to reach 2,000 wins by pulling out an 80-68 victory over scrappy Texas Tech on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament.

White Sox looking to keep ace Buehrle well rested

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Chicago White Sox ace Mark Buehrle won't have his second start of spring training until next Monday as the club seeks to keep him rested before the regular season begins.

Charges possible against ex-auditor

Skamania sheriff’s investigation results in recommendation

The Skamania County Sheriff’s Office has completed a five-month investigation of former Skamania County Auditor J. Michael Garvison’s travel expenses and has asked county Prosecuting Attorney Peter Banks to charge Garvison with first-degree theft and destruction of official documents. “J. Michael Garvison utilized county funds for repayment of per diem (expenses) and travel not authorized by county travel policy,” says the report, which was completed Friday and forwarded to Banks Monday. “He also told his staff to destroy documents that have not met the retention required by the state.”

Brian Giles cites knee pain in decision to retire

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Brian Giles says the pain in his arthritic right knee is getting worse, and the 39-year-old outfielder informed the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday that he will retire.

NY Red Bulls sign goalkeeper Greg Sutton

SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) -- The New York Red Bulls have signed goalkeeper Greg Sutton.

Kool leads Western Michigan in MAC tourney

CLEVELAND (AP) -- David Kool showed why he's the Mid-American Conference's player of the year, scoring 24 of his 26 points in the second half to rally Western Michigan to a 69-60 win over Central Michigan in the MAC quarterfinals on Thursday.

Spiller, Ford pass up running at Clemson's pro day

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -- Former Clemson stars C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford have passed up the opportunity to run at the school's pro timing day.

Wright leads Georgetown past top-seeded Syracuse

NEW YORK (AP) -- Chris Wright scored 27 points and No. 22 Georgetown sailed past No. 3 Syracuse with an impressive second-half surge, beating the top-seeded Orange 91-84 in the quartefinals of the Big East tournament Thursday.

Jonsson wins men's sprint; American Newell third

DRAMMEN, Norway (AP) -- Emil Jonsson of Sweden has won a men's 1.2-kilometer cross-country World Cup sprint, with Andrew Newell of the U.S. placing third 2 seconds back.

Gonzaga player has foot surgery

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Gonzaga forward Mangisto Arop (Uh-raup') has undergone successful surgery to fix a broken left foot and will miss the postseason.

Silverdome is open for business again

PONTAIC, Mich. (AP) -- The Silverdome's new owners say they plan to host six to eight events this year in the stadium that has been quiet since the Detroit Lions left eight years ago.

Virginia beats Boston College 68-62 in ACCs

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) -- Sammy Zeglinski scored 16 of his season-high 21 points in the first half to help Virginia beat Boston College 68-62 on Thursday in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

Rain suspends play at Puerto Rico Open

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Heavy rain forced the suspension of first-round play Thursday in the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open.

Manager convicted of embezzling Seattle Rotary

SEATTLE (AP) -- King County prosecutors say they will ask for more than four years in prison for the woman convicted of embezzling $350,000 from the Seattle Rotary when she worked as a manager.

Chances growing that Webb will start season on DL

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Arizona manager A.J. Hinch says there's an increasing chance that Brandon Webb will start the season on the disabled list.

NFL exec testifies in Williamses' drug lawsuit

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- An NFL executive says the league's independent drug testing administrator should not have exempted players who tested positive for a banned substance before two Minnesota Vikings tested positive two years ago.

Vikings players: Failed drug tests hurt image

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The agents for Minnesota Vikings players Kevin Williams and Pat Williams say negative publicity from their violation of the NFL's anti-doping policy has unfairly hurt them.

Skier Calhoun to carry US flag for Paralympics

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- Alpine skier Heath Calhoun will carry the flag for the U.S. Paralympic Team at the opening ceremonies of the Paralympic Games.

Hansen announces run to retain council seat

He was appointed in January to fill spot vacated by mayor

City Councilor Bart Hansen announced today that he will run to retain his seat on the Vancouver City Council. Hansen, 35, was appointed in January to fill Position 4, the seat vacated by Mayor Tim Leavitt.

Wash. high court vacates predator designation

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The state Supreme Court has reversed a man's designation as a sexually violent predator.

Heat F Dorell Wright charged with DUI

MIAMI (AP) -- Miami Beach police say Heat forward Dorell Wright has been charged with DUI and driving with a suspended license.

KC sends Moustakas, 6 others to minor league camp

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -- Third baseman Mike Moustakas, the second overall pick in the 2007 draft, was among seven players reassigned to minor league camp Thursday by the Kansas City Royals.

Kansas City signs former Arizona receiver Urban

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Kansas City Chiefs have acquired free agent wide receiver Jerheme Urban, who spent the last three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

Stage adaptation of John Grisham novel is planned

NEW YORK (AP) -- A stage adaptation of John Grisham's first novel, "A Time to Kill," will have its world premiere next year in Washington in what is being billed as a "pre-Broadway" production.

Gilstrap done at Iowa State

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa State coach Greg McDermott says senior Marquis Gilstrap won't return next season after the school's request for an extra year of eligibility was denied.

Rockies, Helton agree to 2-year extension

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- The Colorado Rockies and Todd Helton have agreed to a two-year, $9.9 million contract extension that runs through the 2013 season.

Blatter: Goal-line technology was too costly

ZURICH (AP) -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the introduction of goal-line technology was rejected because it was too costly and would slow down games.

Reyes told to rest until thyroid normalizes

NEW YORK (AP) -- Mets shortstop Jose Reyes has been told to rest and refrain from athletic activity until his thyroid levels normalize.

House GOP adopts earmark moratorium

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republicans seeking to regain control of the House say they will stop stuffing spending bills with pet projects for their districts.

Luge federation sets up donation campaign

BERCHTESGADEN, Germany (AP) -- The international luge federation has set up a donation campaign to help the family of Nodar Kumaritashvili.

Coaches hired for women's football championship

NEW YORK (AP) -- John Konecki has been hired as head coach of the U.S. women's team for this summer's first world championships in Sweden.

Heavy rains wash out Astros-Nationals

VIERA, Fla. (AP) -- Thursday's scheduled exhibition game between the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals has been canceled because of rain.

Bengals give DT Tank Johnson 4-year deal

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Defensive tackle Tank Johnson has signed a four-year deal to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals.

APNewsBreak: Cadmium probe causes jewelry recall

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Federal regulators are recalling more children's jewelry due to high levels of the toxic metal cadmium.

Canadian skater Chipeur withdraws from worlds

OTTAWA (AP) -- Canadian silver medalist Vaughn Chipeur, who finished 23rd at the Vancouver Olympics, has withdrawn from the World Figure Skating Championships with a right foot injury.

More Lewis-McChord soldiers head for Afghanistan

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AP) -- About 600 soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord are preparing to deploy to Afghanistan.

Americans' net worth up for 3rd straight quarter

WASHINGTON (AP) -- American households saw their wealth increase at the end of last year, mainly because the healing economy boosted stock portfolios.

Case hearing for suspect in Seattle cop killing

SEATTLE (AP) -- The man accused of killing Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton is scheduled for a case hearing at 3 p.m. Thursday in King County Superior Court.

Suspect in Seattle cop killing erupts at hearing

SEATTLE (AP) -- A man accused of killing a Seattle police officer lashed out during a court hearing when he compared a sheriff's deputy accused of assaulting a teenage girl to Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler.

Guerin: NHL should outlaw hits like Cooke's

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bill Guerin says the NHL must outlaw hits to the head.

UO moves controversial group to downtown Eugene

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- The University of Oregon has moved a group that has drawn protests for inviting speakers with views considered anti-Semitic off of its main campus and to the Baker Downtown Center.

India set to host F1 race in 2011

SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) -- India is set to host a Formula One race starting in 2011.

Council eyes Calif., Oregon, Wash. salmon changes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- California salmon fishermen may not get much, if any, time on the ocean this year.

Stage is set for better West Coast salmon season

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- California's chinook salmon fishery is likely to be opened this year after two straight closed fishing seasons, but with restrictions.

Yakima man killed on Highway 97 near Ellensburg

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (AP) -- A 21-year-old Yakima man was killed in a crash Wednesday night on Highway 97 north of Ellensburg.

Polish brothers fail doping test at cyclo-cross

AIGLE, Switzerland (AP) -- Polish brothers Pawel and Kacper Szczepaniak have been suspended after failing doping tests when finishing 1-2 in the under-23 Cyclo-cross World Championship race.

10-year-old Marysville girl struck by car

MARYSVILLE, Wash. (AP) -- A 10-year-old girl suffered head injuries when she rode her bicycle between parked cars into the path of a car in Marysville. She was not wearing a helmet.

Struck Marysville girl, 10, in critical condition

MARYSVILLE, Wash. (AP) -- A 10-year-old girl who was struck by a car while riding a bicycle in Marysville remains in critical condition Thursday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen dies at 69

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Pro Football Hall of Famer and former television actor Merlin Olsen has died. He was 69.

Cepeda, Mays, McCovey, Perry make visit to Giants

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda and Gaylord Perry gathered for a little reunion and some good-natured ribbing.

Murder suspect accused of Marysville robbery

MARYSVILLE, Wash. (AP) -- Police say a Tulalip man wanted on a murder warrant in the beating death of a baby is suspected of robbing a pharmacy in Marysville.

Les Schwab pays $2 million to settle EEOC suit

SEATTLE (AP) -- Les Schwab Tire Centers has paid $2 million to settle a hiring discrimination suit brought four years ago by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Spokane sheriff doesn't want Pine Lodge for jail

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich (kuh-NEZ'-oh-vich) toured the Pine Lodge women's prison at Medical Lake that the state plans to close and says it is not a viable option for a new county jail.

Three boys struck by vehicle suffer minor injuries

A car driven by a 68-year-old man struck three boys, two on bicycles, in a crosswalk Thursday morning near the intersection of Southeast 136th Avenue and McGillivray Boulevard, according to the Vancouver Police Department.

Boonen wins 2nd stage of Tirreno-Adriatico

MONTECATINI TERME, Italy (AP) -- Former world champion Tom Boonen of Belgium won the second stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico race Thursday and Linus Gerdemann of Germany held onto the overall lead.

Vonn wins super-combined title after 2 events

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) -- Lindsey Vonn may have crashed in the giant slalom Thursday, but she got some good news after the race.

Winter storm adds snow in Washington mountains

SEATTLE (AP) -- A late winter storm is bringing snow to the mountains in Washington and rain to much of the rest of the state.

Jake Delhomme visiting Browns

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Free agent quarterback Jake Delhomme, released last week by Carolina, is visiting the Cleveland Browns.

4 champs in good spirits ahead of F1 opener

SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) -- Former champions Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and current champion Jenson Button were all smiles ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

PETA offers anti-meat trash cans for Colo. parks

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- The animal rights group PETA is offering to help the cash-strapped city of Colorado Springs by paying to put trash cans back in parks -- on one condition. The cans have to carry an anti-meat slogan and a picture of a woman in a lettuce bikini.

Log export plan concerns Port of Astoria tenants

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) -- Port of Astoria officials have started lease negotiations with a Bremerton, Wash.-company that wants to use 16 acres of the port's central waterfront to ship logs to Asia.

Contador wins 4th stage of Paris-Nice

MENDE, France (AP) -- Two-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador won the fourth stage of the Paris-Nice race and took the overall lead from Jens Voigt.

FA fines Derby, Forest over player brawl

WEMBLEY, England (AP) -- Derby and Nottingham Forest have each been fined $67,000 by the Football Association after players and coaching staff from both sides began fighting at a League Championship game for the second time this season.

OSU wrestler avoid jail time

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- An Oregon State University wrestler who failed to follow a diversion program after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct last summer has been sentenced to probation.

Police log: Large teenage fight broken up

Authorities scattered a group of about 30 middle school aged students fighting near the intersection of Northeast 71st Street and Northeast 159th Avenue, less than a half-mile from Frontier Middle School.

Nats cut Guardado, Estes; reassign 6 to minors

VIERA, Fla. (AP) -- Left-handers Eddie Guardado and Shawn Estes have been released by the Washington Nationals in the first round of spring training cuts.

1 injured in Medford shooting

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) -- Medford police arrested a man suspected of shooting another man multiple times.

Officials break ground for NJ Nets' Brooklyn arena

NEW YORK (AP) -- Officials have broken ground on a New York City development project including a $1 billion arena for the New Jersey Nets basketball team amid hollers and whistles of the project's opponents.

Ex-New Orleans officer pleads in shooting cover-up

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- A second former New Orleans officer has pleaded guilty in an alleged conspiracy to cover up a deadly police shooting of unarmed residents after Hurricane Katrina.

Rams re-sign TE Fells

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The St. Louis Rams have re-signed tight end Daniel Fells, who caught three touchdown passes in 2009.

Clijsters, Wozniacki to play Eastbourne

LONDON (AP) -- Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki will begin their grass-court seasons at Eastbourne.

Hudson's Bay teacher dies after being thrown from horse

A woman was found dead this evening after she reportedly fell from a horse in the area of Northeast Hinness and Rawson roads, southeast of Hockinson. About 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, 911 dispatchers said the horse had returned to its stable and someone found the woman about a mile up a road from a gate, according to emergency radio traffic monitored at The Columbian.

Redskins sign free-agent tight end Sean Ryan

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Free-agent tight end Sean Ryan has signed with the Washington Redskins.

UNICEF appoints Messi a Goodwill Ambassador

BARCELONA, Madrid (AP) -- Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has been appointed a UNICEF global Goodwill Ambassador.

Bomb planted outside store kills 4 in NW Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) -- Pakistani officials say a homemade bomb has exploded on the outskirts of the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing four people.

Suicide bombing in NW Pakistan wounds 3 children

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) -- Pakistani officials say a botched suicide bombing aimed at a security convoy on the outskirts of the northwestern city of Peshawar has wounded three children playing nearby.

Pakistan tests missiles in Arabian Sea

ISLAMABAD (AP) -- Pakistan's navy has successfully test-fired a series of missiles and torpedoes in what it is calling a message to "nefarious" forces -- an apparent reference to India.

APNewsBreak: Terror suspect worked at nuke plants

BUENA, N.J. (AP) -- A spokesman for a group of nuclear power plants in New Jersey says a U.S. man charged in Yemen with being a member of al-Qaida had previously worked at the plants.

FBI looking into NJ man linked to attack in Yemen

BUENA, N.J. (AP) -- The FBI is investigating the case of an alleged al-Qaida member raised in New Jersey who's accused of trying to shoot his way out of a hospital in Yemen.

Friend: US man held in Yemen is longtime radical

BUENA, N.J. (AP) -- A former classmate of the U.S. man accused of belonging to al-Qaida and shooting up a Yemeni hospital tells The Associated Press he exhibited radical religious views in high school.

US man held as terrorist had been in Yemen 2 years

BUENA, N.J. (AP) -- A former neighbor says a U.S. citizen who is being held as a terrorist in Yemen and is accused of a hospital shootout there moved to the Middle East about two years ago.

NJ: Terrorism suspect didn't breach nuke plants

BUENA, N.J. (AP) -- A New Jersey official says a suspected terrorist who worked at a complex of nuclear power plants did not breach security there.

Gymnast gets 1-year doping ban, will miss Olympics

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- Russian gymnast Kristina Goryunova has received a one-year doping ban that will also keep her out of the 2012 London Olympics.

Pinera assumes Chile presidency amid strong quakes

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- Chilean President Sebastian Pinera is urging citizens along the coast to move quickly to higher ground following five strongly felt aftershocks, including the biggest since last month's 8.8-magnitude temblor.

Strongly felt quakes shake Chile inauguration

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- Two strongly felt earthquakes have rocked central Chile as dignitaries arrive for the inauguration of President-elect Sebastian Pinera.

Baker leads Iditarod at halfway point

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Satellite tracking shows three mushers have left Cripple, the halfway point in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Forest Service revising proposed Coyote Wall trails plan

Agency resumes work on trails plan for scenic Columbia Gorge spot

College notebook: Concordia’s Dixson learns at NAIA indoor nationals

Freshman makes most of experience at NAIA meet

Gabi Dixson adapted quickly to a new event and a new experience as a Concordia University freshman, just missing All-America status in the weight throw at last weekend’s NAIA indoor track and field championships. Dixson, a homeschool graduate who competed for Battle Ground High School, placed eighth in the weight throw, 2½ inches shy of becoming an All-American despite going into the meet just hoping to get her bearings in the event at such a high level of competition.

49th District town hall meeting set for Saturday

Legislators from Clark County’s 49th District will hold a town hall Saturday at the Clark County Elections Building, 1408 Franklin St.

Ogden, others to speak at Women's Day event

Retired Democratic State Rep. Val Ogden will tell her own story and consider the progress of women during a Friday evening event celebrating International Women’s Day. Also on the program are Clark College women’s studies teacher Ann Virtu Snyder and the Rev. Shelly Fayette of Vancouver’s Church of the Good Shepherd.

Mental health poster contest entries sought

Clark County’s government is holding a contest to find the best posters sharing a “vision of what mental health recovery means.”

Open house to address possible zoning changes

Clark County is holding an open house to talk about new development rules planned for the Fairgrounds-Discovery neighborhood south of Ridgefield.

Washougal city administrator finalists announced

The city of Washougal has announced the six finalists for the vacant city administrator position.

Police will target impaired drivers Friday

Buoyed by a report showing 2009 was the safest year on Washington roadways since 1955, seven Clark County law enforcement agencies will target impaired drivers Friday and again March 20.

State euthanizes five more sea lions at Bonneville Dam

State authorities euthanized another five California sea lions at Bonneville Dam this week, bringing the total to six that have been lethally removed so far this year.

In Our View: Change the Rules

State reps routinely engage in vote-by-proxy, but that doesn’t make it any less offensive

Legislators would go ballistic if someone else voted for you. For one thing, it’s against the law. Why, then, shouldn’t you be angry when legislators don’t also vote on their own? Of course you should be angry, but in the state House of Representatives the practice is more than just widespread, it’s pervasive. We’ve been unable to find one state rep who hasn’t, at one time or another, instructed a colleague to punch a “yes” or “no” vote while the absent politician was out in the hallways meeting with constituents, visiting a restroom or leaving the chamber for another reason.

Wash. Dems ignore calls for reform

This week, the Washington state Legislature is burning the midnight oil to reconcile House and Senate versions of the budget for 2011-2013. Though differing in details that may need to be resolved in a special session, each version arrives at the same answer for a $2.8 billion deficit: raising taxes by at least $600 million. With the deep recession lingering in our state, that’s the wrong answer. A last-minute budgetary crisis wasn’t our only alternative. From the late 1980s to the present, successive Republican reformers — Bob Williams, Linda Smith, Joe Zarelli, and Dino Rossi, to name some of the most prominent — have argued passionately for a thorough restructuring of our state’s spending. This approach has repeatedly, and rightfully, been praised by recent Columbian editorials, including the Feb. 27 “Cheers & Jeers.” But during a decade of one-party, liberal control of the state’s budget, reform has been set aside in favor of an easier way out: more spending.

Our Readers' Views

Poor farm park plan raises questions A March 5 Columbian story reported, “County has rich plans for former poor farm.” I am a nearby resident of the former county poor farm, and have been involved with the discussions concerning its future use. I wasn’t, however, a participant, nor invited to be included, in the volunteer panel that came up with the proposal. In general, I hail this proposal to use this unique resource in our community for such a broad benefit to all, with strong ties to the agricultural heritage of the site. However, I have serious concerns about certain important aspects of the plan.

County home sales surge

Buyers snap up repossessed homes, which drag down median price

Banks unleashed a backlog of repossessed homes in February, which were priced to entice more buyers to step into the market. That contributed to a 35.9 percent rise in sales, according to a report released Wednesday. But bargain-priced homes that were foreclosed on and those being sold as short sales continued to drag down median home prices throughout the county and kept the housing market just out of reach for move-up buyers, real estate experts say. That was particularly true for those who continue to owe more for their current home than it would fetch on today’s market.

Death notices, March 11

A daily list of death notices.

Weather Eye: March weather is definition of a mixed bag

Nothing like some snowflakes, ice pellets, blustery winds that are shivering to the bone. But some rainbows and sunshine made it feel like it was all worth it. We did that this week and will most likely another time or two before the month of March is in the record books. Yes, there were reports of snow, enough to whiten the ground in the higher regions of the county, ice pellet or hail showers, a scattered rainbow or two and, of course, some chilly winds.

Bill would extend sales tax deduction in Washington

A jobless benefits bill that passed the U.S. Senate on Tuesday would deliver another year of sales tax deductions for residents of Washington and eight other states if it passes the House and is signed into law. The extension has been inserted in federal spending bills since 2004, largely through the efforts of Washington’s Democratic U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver.

Software tax may hit hard

Bill could drive high-tech companies out of county, insiders say

Washington businesses could soon start paying the same tax buying custom software that they shell out on a trip to the mini-mart. A tax bill under consideration in the final days of the legislative session this week, House Bill 3191, proposes to charge standard retail sales tax on custom software along with candy, gum and bottled water.

Mayor says B.G. prospering despite struggles

State of the City speech highlights growth amid tough economic times

Battle Ground Mayor Michael Ciraulo delivered an optimistic State of the City speech Wednesday night, highlighting strides in growth and development in 2009 and his hopes for the county’s second largest city in 2010. In his 45-minute speech, Ciraulo focused on the addition of new businesses, creation of new jobs and the dedication of city residents and employees during a tough 2009. But he also acknowledged the recent struggles he and the city council have faced.

Ask the Gardening Expert, March 11

I am wondering about my house plants. They are not looking very good right now and I wonder if you could give me an idea as to what to do about them? I have been careful to water them all once a week, so I know they are not too dry. You say you know they are not dry, but are they too wet? I have several dozen plants in my house that I take outside in the spring when the night air is at least 50 degrees. I used to kill my house plants with too much water. I remember in the master gardener training course the instructor told us to “make your house plants beg you for water.” I’m not too sure if the plants like that, but I now only water when the soil is dry an inch down. For some plants, I only add water once a month. I water others more often, but not on a schedule. I feel that watering once a week is too often for most plants. This time of year they want the best light your house windows can supply. Water lightly and don’t add fertilizer until spring growth begins. Spring is a good time to re-pot them as well. Use clean pots and nice new potting soil.

Revised salmon recovery plan has big price tag

Stream restoration, hatchery upgrades to cost $740M over 50 years

A newly revised salmon recovery plan for Southwest Washington sets the ambitious goal of recovering five runs of wild salmon, steelhead and bull trout in the lower Columbia River. Achieving it will be expensive.

Blues, blushes & birds: Avian motifs, soft tones for spring

The return of birds and birdsong are one of spring’s most welcome signs. This year, retailers are acknowledging this with pretty avian motifs on all sorts of home decor. Pottery Barn’s collection features sparrow-printed bedding and table linens, embroidered and printed pillows, and even a wall canvas with an antique bird illustration. There are stoneware birdbath serving bowls, and mugs with wee “nests” tucked into the handles.

Garden Calendar, March 11

Clark County NeighborWoods Stewards: Train to become a volunteer, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdaysthrough April 20, at the Marshall Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver, or the Firstenberg Center, 700 N.E. 136th Ave., Vancouver. Training is free and covers tree identification, biology, care and regulations. Applications: 360-619-1108 or http://www.cityofvancouver.us/urbanforestry.

The Garden Life: Bulbs require advance planning

As wonderful as spring-blooming bulbs can be in the garden, there is a side to using them successfully that leaves many gardeners dazed and confused. To be truly successful with bulbs in the garden, the gardener has to learn to think now about planning for next year’s flower show. So even if you can’t plant bulbs now, it is the time to look at your garden and decide which bulbs you want and where in the garden you want them to be. Beginning gardeners see flowering bulbs in a neighbor’s spring garden and want some for their own. However, if you go out looking for bulbs to buy at this time of year, there is none to be found. Spring-blooming bulbs are available for purchase in the fall because that is when they need to be planted to flower in spring. The key to understanding this dilemma is to know why we plant spring bulbs in mid- to late autumn.

Energy Adviser: Region can save even more energy

I know we’ve saved a lot of energy here, but how much can we save in the future and how? The latest plan released in February by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council estimates the region can save 5,900 average megawatts of energy during the next 20 years — enough to serve about 4.3 million Northwest households for a year.

C-Tran proposes 5 cent fare increase

Open houses on third hike in three years begin Wednesday

Clark County’s transit agency is proposing to boost fares for the third time in as many years. C-Tran proposes to increase the current base fare for adults by a nickel, to $1.55. The cost for Express rides to Portland, which doubled to $3 five years ago, would increase by 25 cents.

Congress finally salutes service of WWII women pilots

Blanche Bross was a “Pistol Packin’ Mama.” That was the name of the B-17 bomber frozen in time behind her, anyway. Helen Johnson just wanted to fly, and volunteering for a WWII women’s aviation program gave her the chance.

High School Scoreboard 3/11

Today’s schedule Boys basketball

Timbers, Sounders meet again to kick off season

Northwest rivalry matchup to benefit Seattle charities

The Portland Timbers don’t play a counting game for more than a month. But today’s visit to Qwest Field isn’t a run-of-the mill preseason tilt. It’s Portland against Seattle.

Stories for March 11, 2010

Lead stories

Stories

Clark County prosecutors waited for Michael Collins' Skamania trial to end

Vancouver businessman agreed to return Mustang convertible for do-over drawing