Stories for March 16, 2010

Wash. apartment fire sends 8 to hospitals

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) -- A two-alarm fire at the Garden Terrace apartments in Wenatchee sent eight people to hospitals and forced about 150 residents from their units. About 100 people were able to return to their apartments after the fire was extinguished but 45 others were sheltered by the Red Cross, at hotels or with family and friends.

2 residents dead after Wash. apartment fire

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) -- Authorities say two women are dead after a fire at the Garden Terrace retirement apartments in Wenatchee.

Senate OKs jobs bill for Obama's signature

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate is sending the first of several promised election-year jobs bills to President Obama for his signature.

Nichols wins winter gold to go with summer one

WHISTLER, British Columbia (AP) -- Alana Nichols won the Paralympic sit-ski giant slalom to become the first American woman with gold medals in the summer and winter games.

Crew dismantling rare Ore. covered railroad bridge

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (AP) -- Carefully, piece by piece, the Hamilton Construction crew is dismantling an aged and rare covered railroad bridge in Cottage Grove, Ore. Hamilton superintendent Bob Fletcher says the job requires surgical care. Anything too dramatic could send the whole 94-year-old bridge tumbling into the Row River.

The high life

Ospreys choose area light poles for their ample nests.

Yakima, Wash., airport briefly evacuated

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) -- To the security screeners at the Yakima Air Terminal, the device in the belongings of a departing passenger looked like a grenade. That prompted the brief evacuation of about a dozen people from the terminal Tuesday evening.

Reports: NHL wants to impose head-shots rule now

TORONTO (AP) -- The NHL wants to adopt a new rule against blindside hits to the head before the end of this season, according to two reports Wednesday.

Portland: not as shady as it wants to be?

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Urban tree lovers in Portland, Ore., are worried that the city is turning into a haven for skinny, ornamental trees while development cuts down thick shady trees.

Jacksonville edges Arizona State 67-66

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Ben Smith scored a game-high 26 points, including a 24-foot jump shot with 1.5 seconds remaining and Jacksonville rallied to upset top-seeded Arizona State in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday night.

DE Edwards reaches 4-year deal with Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Free agent defensive end Dwan Edwards has signed a four-year contract with the Buffalo Bills.

Source: DE Edwards reaches 4-year deal with Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- A person familiar with negotiations says free agent defensive end Dwan Edwards has agreed to a four-year deal potentially worth close to $18 million with the Buffalo Bills.

County jobless rate near 15 percent in February

State employers cut 8,300 workers after January gain

February job losses largely wiped out much of the gains made in January as Washington employers cut 8,300 workers, compared with a revised gain of 11,100 jobs the previous month.

Tavares, Roloson lead Islanders past Canucks

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- Rookie John Tavares broke out of a scoring slump with two goals and three assists, Dwayne Roloson made 35 saves, and the New York Islanders beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 on Tuesday night.

Sharpshooting Suns rout reeling Minnesota 152-114

PHOENIX (AP) -- Jason Richardson scored 27 points and Amare Stoudemire 25, then sat with the rest of the Phoenix starters while the Suns' reserves finished off a 152-114 rout of Minnesota on Monday night in the highest-scoring game by an NBA team this season.

UCLA reinstates suspended football player

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- UCLA guard Stan Hasiak has been reinstated to the football team and will participate in spring practice.

Bryant leads Lakers over Kings 106-99

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol added 28 points and 11 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers completed a sweep of their Northern California swing with a 106-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

Man, 78, sentenced for vehicular assault

A 78-year-old Vancouver man who had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.34 when he struck a pedestrian with his car has been sentenced to six months in jail.

Clark County man gets 15 months for writing threatening letters to judge

A Clark County man who wrote threatening letters to Superior Court Judge Robert Harris has been sentenced to 15 months in prison. Russell E. Butterfield, 41, pleaded guilty before Clark County Superior Court Judge John Nichols on Monday to intimidating a judge. As part of a plea agreement, one of the two original counts of intimidating a judge were dropped.

Varnado leads Miss State past Jackson St

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -- Jarvis Varnado scored 21 points and had 11 rebounds to lead Mississippi State to a 81-67 victory over Jackson State on Tuesday night in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Angels to attempt world record wearing blankets

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Taking a page from the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Angels will try to break the world record for most fans wearing fleece blankets.

Big 4th quarter for Smith in Denver win

DENVER (AP) -- J.R. Smith scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Denver Nuggets pull away for a 97-87 victory Tuesday night over the Washington Wizards.

Bend, Ore. man injured in tree-climbing accident

BEND, Ore. (AP) -- A Deschutes County, Ore., sheriff's officer says a 42-year-old Bend man has been seriously injured in a tree-climbing accident near Tumalo Falls.

North Carolina tops William & Mary 80-72 in NIT

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Dexter Strickland hit the go-ahead free throws with 2:34 left and North Carolina held William & Mary scoreless for the final 5 minutes in the Tar Heels' 80-72 win in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday night.

Glacier Bancorp releases pricing of stock offering

KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) -- Glacier Bancorp, Inc. has announced the pricing of a $132 million common stock offering.

9th Circuit: OT laws don't cover seminarians

SEATTLE (AP) -- The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that seminarians are not covered by overtime laws.

Ribeiro, Morrow, Lehtonen lead Stars over Sharks

DALLAS (AP) -- Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow each scored twice, including short-handed goals in the third period, Kari Lehtonen made 44 saves in his second start of the season, and the Dallas Stars boosted their fading playoff chances with an 8-2 rout of the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.

Roberson scores 22 to lead T Tech past Seton Hall

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- John Roberson scored 22 points and Darko Cohadarevic recovered from a first-half low blow to score 12 points, leading Texas Tech to a 87-69 victory over Seton Hall in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament Tuesday night.

Predators edge Flyers in shootout

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Martin Erat scored the only goal of the shootout to lead the Nashville Predators to a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.

Grizzlies extend undermanned Bulls' skid to 8

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- O.J. Mayo scored 24 points, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range, and the Memphis Grizzlies sent the undermanned Chicago Bulls to their eighth straight loss with a 104-97 victory Tuesday night.

Mueller helps Avalanche sweep Blues

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Peter Mueller scored twice on a three-point game that matched his career best and Paul Stastny netted his fifth goal in three games with two assists, helping the Colorado Avalanche sweep the season series against the St. Louis Blues with a 5-3 victory on Tuesday night.

Wild extend home win streak over Oilers to 13

ST. PAUl, Minn. (AP) -- Chuck Kobasew scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Minnesota Wild beat the Edmonton Oilers for the 13th straight time at home, 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Fiddler, Lombardi lead Coyotes past Lightning

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Vernon Fiddler and Matthew Lombardi scored in a 2-minute span midway through the first period, Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 27 shots and the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Tampa Bay Lighting 3-1 Tuesday night.

Horner scores 25 and NC State nips USF 58-57

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Dennis Horner scored 25 points and Richard Howell's go-ahead layup with 8 seconds left barely beat the shot clock as North Carolina State defeated South Florida 58-57 in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday night.

Maple Leafs score 2 in 19 seconds to beat Senators

OTTAWA (AP) -- Phil Kessel got his 26th goal and John Mitchell and Mikhail Grabovski scored 19 seconds apart in the second period, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.

8 years for man who killed 4 in drunken crash

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) -- A Snohomish man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for a drunken driving crash that killed four people.

Yanks slip past Astros 4-1

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Manager Joe Girardi started his potential regular lineup, closer Mariano Rivera worked out of a bases-load jam in his first appearance and the New York Yankees beat a Houston Astros split squad 4-1 on Tuesday night.

Cavs top Pistons 113-101, LeBron has triple-double

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- LeBron James had his fourth triple-double of the season, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 113-101 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.

Rays pitchers blank Red Sox 7-0

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) -- Right-handers Wade Davis, Dan Wheeler and Andy Sonnanstine combined on a four-hitter and Sean Rodriguez homered for the fifth time this spring, helping the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-0 victory over a Boston Red Sox split squad on Tuesday night.

Ovechkin-less Caps beat Panthers 7-3

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- Brooks Laich scored twice goals and five other Washington players had goals to lift the short-handed Capitals to a 7-3 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.

Ginobili gets 22, Spurs hang on to beat Heat 88-76

MIAMI (AP) -- Manu Ginobili scored 22 points, George Hill had 16 and the surging San Antonio Spurs wasted most of a 25-point, third-quarter lead before beating the Miami Heat 88-76 on Tuesday night.

Canadiens win 6th straight, hand Rangers key loss

NEW YORK (AP) -- Sergei Kostitsyn snapped a third-period tie with a deflected goal and the Montreal Canadiens stretched their winning streak to six with a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Tuesday night in the 600th meeting between the Original Six rivals.

UAB ousts Coastal Carolina 65-49

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Elijah Millsap scored 15 points and UAB never trailed in defeating Coastal Carolina 65-49 Tuesday in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Crawford's big 2nd quarter leads Hawks over Nets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Jamal Crawford hit a 30-footer at the buzzer to cap his game-breaking, 15-point second quarter and the Atlanta Hawks ran away from the woeful New Jersey Nets 108-84 on Tuesday night.

Jury awards VirnetX $106M in Microsoft dispute

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A jury has awarded communications company VirnetX Holding nearly $106 million after determining Microsoft violated two of its patents.

Microsoft hit with $106M fine in patent dispute

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. has been hit with a nearly $106 million fine for violating two patents held by a communications company.

Bobcats streak ends at 6; Pacers win 99-94

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Danny Granger scored 26 points to help the Indiana Pacers beat Charlotte 99-94 on Tuesday night, denying the Bobcats what would have been a franchise-record seventh consecutive victory.

Ryan Miller pulled, Thrashers edge Sabres 4-3

ATLANTA (AP) -- Buffalo's Ryan Miller was pulled after giving up three goals in the first 6 minutes and Jim Slater's third-period goal gave the Atlanta Thrashers a 4-3 win over the Northeast-leading Sabres on Tuesday night.

Karl back on the bench for Nuggets

DENVER (AP) -- Nuggets coach George Karl was back on the bench Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards after missing four games over the past week for cancer treatments.

Ark-Pine Bluff beats Winthrop 61-44 in NCAA opener

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- Arkansas-Pine Bluff finally found a road trip to its liking.

Fiance shares more details about missing Wash. mom

SEATTLE (AP) -- Authorities searching for a Silverdale, Wash., woman and her 8-year-old son who disappeared last weekend say the woman's fiance has been sharing more about Shantina "Kat" Smiley and their relationship. So far, that hasn't helped solve the case.

Bruins score 3 in 3rd to beat Hurricanes 5-2

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Mark Recchi, Michael Ryder and David Krejci scored third-period goals to help the Boston Bruins maintain eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

Eagles sign Bell to offer sheet

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Philadelphia Eagles have signed free agent running back Mike Bell to an offer sheet.

Michigan's Harris undecided on plans for next year

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan guard Manny Harris says he has not decided if he will return for his senior season or enter the NBA draft.

Connecticut edges Northeastern 59-57 in NIT

STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- Jerome Dyson scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half and Connecticut hung on to beat Northeastern 59-57 Tuesday in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Red Sox minor leaguer has brain surgery

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Highly regarded Boston Red Sox minor league prospect Ryan Westmoreland has undergone surgery in Arizona to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain.

Vancouver citizen survey now online

Vancouver residents can now participate in an online version of the City of Vancouver’s 2010 community survey.

Henderson says he'll be back for training camp

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson is back on his feet and says he's on track to return to the field for training camp.

Knoblauch pleads guilty in assault case

HOUSTON (AP) -- Former major league infielder Chuck Knoblauch has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault on his common-law wife.

Chargers COO Steeg leaving team

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- San Diego Chargers chief operating officer Jim Steeg says he is leaving the team at the end of the month.

Steen ties franchise record

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Alex Steen of the St. Louis Blues tied a franchise record for fastest goal to start a game, scoring at the eight-second mark Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche.

Duquesne suspends Clark indefinitely

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Duquesne University forward Bill Clark has been suspended indefinitely for what the school said was conduct unacceptable to the team.

Injured Buffalo wrestler standing on his own

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Dan Bishop stood on his own for the first time as the University at Buffalo wrestler took the latest step in his recovery from a severe spinal cord injury.

Bulls without top 4 scorers in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- The Chicago Bulls were without their top four scorers Tuesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies because of injuries and a suspension.

Erratic Weaver, Angels beat Padres 4-3

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -- Jered Weaver was erratic through 3 1-3 innings for the Los Angeles Angels, who won 4-3 on Tuesday against a San Diego Padres team that stole six bases and got two spectacular diving catches from outfielder Aaron Cunningham.

Packers sign former Aussie rules player to punt

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Looking for another potential solution to their recent punting problems, the Green Bay Packers have signed former Australian rules football player Chris Bryan.

Pierre, Kotsay each get 3 hits for White Sox

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Juan Pierre and Mark Kotsay each had three hits and the Chicago White Sox beat the Colorado Rockies 6-1 Tuesday.

Jackson struggles in Arizona's loss to Reds

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Arizona starter Edwin Jackson allowed seven runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings and the Cincinnati Reds earned a 13-7 win over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Wenatchee World names FitzSimmons managing editor

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) -- The editor of The Daily News in Longview has been named managing editor of The Wenatchee World.

Jets, FB Richardson agree on 1-year deal

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Jets and fullback Tony Richardson have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, keeping one of the league's best lead blockers in the backfield for the NFL's top-rushing team.

Washington state lost 8,300 jobs in February, wiping out previous month's gains

February job losses wiped out much of the gains made in January as Washington employers cut 8,300 jobs last month, compared with a revised gain of 11,100 jobs the previous month.

Seahawks send Tapp to Eagles for Clemons, pick

RENTON, Wash. (AP) -- The Seattle Seahawks have traded pass-rushing defensive end Darryl Tapp to Philadelphia for defensive end Chris Clemons and the Eagles' fourth-round choice in next month's draft.

Red Bulls work out at new stadium for 1st time

HARRISON, N.J. (AP) -- The Red Bulls worked out at their gleaming $200 million stadium for the first time Tuesday. It may be a long time before they play a game there that counts.

Pistons hopeful Stuckey is close to playing again

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Pistons coach John Kuester says he's hoping Rodney Stuckey will play Friday.

Beasley back in Heat lineup

MIAMI (AP) -- Heat forward Michael Beasley was back in Miami's starting lineup Tuesday night against San Antonio, after a two-game absence with a bruised left thigh.

Federer upset by Baghdatis at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) -- Marcos Baghdatis upset top-ranked Roger Federer 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (4) in the third round of the BNP Parabas Open, beating the Swiss for the first time in seven meetings.

Murray advances at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) -- Andy Murray defeated American Michael Russell 6-3, 7-5 to reach the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.

Ernie Kent is out at Oregon

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon has let go of Ernie Kent after 13 years as men's basketball coach at his alma mater.

Obama predicts Jayhawks will win national title

NEW YORK (AP) -- The First Fan is a big fan of basketball programs from Kansas.

Obama fills out tournament bracket again for ESPN

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) -- President Barack Obama predicts Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky and Villanova to make the men's basketball Final Four.

Narveson boosts bid for spot in Brewers' rotation

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -- Left-hander Chris Narveson boosted his bid for a spot in the Brewers' rotation, pitching four scoreless innings as Milwaukee beat the Kansas City Royals 2-0 Tuesday.

Nets point guard Devin Harris out with bad cold

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Nets Point guard Devin Harris is going to miss the New Jersey's game with the Atlanta Hawks with an upper respiratory illness.

West Bank street named for dead US activist

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- Palestinians in the West Bank city of Ramallah have named a street after an American activist from Olympia, Wash., who was crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer in a 2003 protest against house demolitions in Gaza.

Wizards F Josh Howard has knee ligament surgery

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Washington Wizards forward Josh Howard could miss the start of next season after having surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee.

Players: Beckham injury to have profound impact

CARSON, Calif. (AP) -- Los Angeles Galaxy players say David Beckham's expected prolonged absence following an injury suffered in Europe will affect the team profoundly.

Escapee from Idaho caught in Spokane

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- Police have arrested a woman who walked away from the Pocatello Women's Correctional Center in Idaho last weekend.

Westbrook leads Indians past Giants

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) -- Jake Westbrook outpitched two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum and Travis Hafner drove in three runs, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 7-1 win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.

After trying season, Smith rewarded with NCAA bid

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- In 19 seasons as a coach, Tubby Smith has won a national title and taken his team to the NCAA tournament 16 times.

Silva pitches 4 shutout innings, Cubs beat Rangers

MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- Carlos Silva solidified his claim on a spot in the Cubs' rotation with four shutout innings and Xavier Nady had a two-run double Tuesday, leading Chicago to a 4-1 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Oswalt helps lead Astros over Red Sox 3-0

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) -- With Brad Mills managing against his former team, Roy Oswalt allowed two hits in four innings Tuesday to lead the Houston Astros over a Boston Red Sox split squad 3-0.

Bears sign CB Jennings, release FB McKie

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -- The Chicago Bears have signed free agent cornerback Tim Jennings to a two-year contract and released fullback Jason McKie.

Police log: Dog killed by two pit bulls

Two pit bulls attacked and killed a dog Monday, according to the pet owner who reported the incident to police.

Roethlisberger yet to be interviewed by Ga. police

ATLANTA (AP) -- An attorney for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says the two-time Super Bowl winner has yet to meet with Georgia authorities who are investigating a sexual assault allegation made against him by a 20-year-old college student.

Free agent LB Andra Davis signs with Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Free agent linebacker Andra Davis has signed with the Buffalo Bills.

Appalachian State's Edwards ready for any NFL role

BOONE, N.C. (AP) -- The wiry and fast quarterback who led Appalachian State to a stunning victory at Michigan thinks he can play the position at the next level. The college coach who won two lower-tier national championships with him is even more convinced.

Inter Milan and Mourinho beat Chelsea in UCL

LONDON (AP) -- Samuel Eto scored in the 78th minute, leading Inter Milan and coach Jose Mourinho over Chelsea 1-0 Tuesday night and into the European Champions League quarterfinals.

Braves tag Marlins ace Johnson in 6-3 victory

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida ace Josh Johnson struggled through three innings and the Atlanta Braves beat a Marlins split squad 6-3 Tuesday.

Illinois St player charged with assault

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois State has suspended a member of its men's basketball team after he was charged in an alleged sexual assault.

Rams sign veteran OL Fraley

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The St. Louis Rams have added depth to the offensive line, signing veteran center Hank Fraley.

Turnbow leaves with severe shoulder pain

VIERA, Fla. (AP) -- Former All-Star closer Derrick Turnbow says his chances of making the Florida Marlins are "over" after he left Tuesday's game with severe shoulder pain.

Howard hits 1st spring homer, Phillies beat Tigers

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) -- Ryan Howard hit his first home run of the spring and highly touted Domonic Brown connected twice, leading Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies over the Detroit Tigers 6-1 Tuesday.

Police: 4 missing women may be among killer's pics

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- Family and friends of four women who have been missing since the 1970s have told police they recognize their loved ones in photos found in a serial killer's locker.

Davis remembered during Dodger Stadium service

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Former Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Willie Davis was remembered as an electrifying on-field presence and a larger-than-life personality in a memorial service Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

Ore. man pleads not guilty in medical pot case

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) -- A medical marijuana patient arrested for carrying a small amount of the drug into a Springfield courthouse has pleaded not guilty.

Browns re-sign 2 players

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Cleveland Browns have re-signed tight end Greg Estandia and defensive back Ray Ventrone.

Lance Mackey wins Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

NOME, Alaska (AP) -- Lance Mackey has won the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race one more time.

Mackey passes last checkpoint still in the lead

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Three-time defending champion Lance Mackey is in the driver's seat and headed for the finish line in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Paralympic Committee issues reporting guidelines

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The International Paralympic Committee has a produced a guide aimed at helping reporters treat participants at the Paralympic Games like athletes first.

WA Senate OKs data center tax exemption

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The state Senate has approved a temporary tax exemption for companies that want to build server farms in Washington.

Kiraly preparing for grassroots volleyball tour

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- Volleyball great Karch Kiraly is preparing for the second Corona Light Wide Open, one of the nation's leading grassroots beach volleyball tours.

Mauer returns from absence, gets 2 hits for Twins

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Minnesota star Joe Mauer got two hits in his return from a four-day absence, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Twins 3-1 Tuesday.

NASCAR tests spoiler at Talladega Superspeedway

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- NASCAR is testing spoilers at Talladega Superspeedeay.

Teen girl faces 18 years for Sultan killing

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) -- A Snohomish County girl has been convicted of a gang-related killing on a Sultan street and faces more than 18 years in prison.

Former Padres GM Towers hired as Yankees' scout

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Former San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers has been hired as a special assignment scout by the New York Yankees.

Woods' return a boon for marketers

NEW YORK (AP) -- Tiger Woods' return to golf is a long-awaited boon to sponsors that stood by him and marketers that stand to get big exposure from the Masters audience.

WA Senate approves updated furlough bill

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The Senate has approved a measure that directs agencies to trim about $50 million in payroll costs through cuts furloughs and other steps.

Fans say they're set to welcome Woods back

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. (AP) -- There seems to be one overwhelming sentiment among golf fans who heard that Tiger Woods will make his return at the Masters.

Nationals end 0-11 skid, post 1st exhibition win

VIERA, Fla. (AP) -- The Washington Nationals ended an 0-11 spring skid with their first exhibition win, beating the Florida Marlins 12-3 in a split-squad game Tuesday that featured a grand slam by Willie Harris.

White Sox's Mitchell to miss season

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Chicago White Sox outfielder Jared Mitchell will miss the 2010 season after surgery on his left ankle.

Tomlinson says Favre didn't tip hand about plans

NEW YORK (AP) -- LaDainian Tomlinson says Brett Favre gave no indication whether he would return for another season when the two chatted recently about playing for the Minnesota Vikings.

Furman women's basketball coach resigns

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) -- Furman women's basketball coach Sam Dixon has resigned following a 7-23 season. He had coached the Southern Conference school for eight years.

Missouri forward Bowers postpones wrist surgery

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Injured Missouri forward Laurence Bowers will postpone surgery on two torn wrist ligaments until after the Tigers' NCAA tournament appearance.

Dodgers' Wade needs shoulder surgery, out 3 months

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Cory Wade is expected to miss at least three months because he needs surgery on his right shoulder.

Amir Khan comes to America to expand fan base

NEW YORK (AP) -- Amir Khan knows well how fellow Brit Naseem Hamed used a win over a New Yorker at Madison Square Garden in his U.S. debut to attract new fans.

Wild sign UMass sophomore center Casey Wellman

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota Wild have signed center Casey Wellman to a two-year contract.

NFL picks 2 new co-chairs of concussion committee

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL has picked two new co-chairmen -- and a new name -- for its committee on concussions.

Family of killed luger will get insurance payout

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The family of the Georgian luge athlete who died in a training crash on the Olympic track hours before the Vancouver Games formally opened last month will receive an undisclosed insurance settlement.

DePaul ready to make coach 1 of Big East's richest

CHICAGO (AP) -- DePaul is serious about restoring a once-proud program and is prepared to make its next men's basketball coach one of the richest in the Big East.

Armstrong, Contador to race in Criterium

MADRID (AP) -- Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador will compete in the Criterium International, their first race together since the Tour de France last year.

Chiefs beef up offensive line with Lilja signing

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Kansas City Chiefs have signed free agent left guard Ryan Lilja in another step toward beefing up their offensive line.

At last, Houston back in NCAA tournament,

HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Cougars are suddenly front-page news again.

Toronto FC sends forward Ali Gerba home

TORONTO (AP) -- Toronto FC has sent forward Ali Gerba home while the team prepares for the season in Charleston, S.C.

Falcons release former first-round pick Hill

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) -- The Atlanta Falcons have released former first-round pick Tye Hill and signed safety Matt Giordano.

Wash. House approves bonds for school upgrades

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The Washington House is endorsing a plan to upgrade energy efficiency at schools around the state.

Platini makes his case for more referees

MILAN (AP) -- Michel Platini wants more referees on the field for soccer games.

Foundation to build Seattle's greenest building

SEATTLE (AP) -- A charitable foundation getting ready to build its new Seattle headquarters wants to build the city's greenest building ever.

Study: Women's teams outperform men in grad rates

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- A new study shows players on the teams headed to the NCAA women's tournament are graduating at a higher rate than those in the men's field.

Lions QB Stafford settling in

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) -- Last spring, Matthew Stafford was trying to fit in with the Detroit Lions.

Mariners send 2nd overall pick Ackley to Double A

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -- The Seattle Mariners have sent second overall draft choice Dustin Ackley to Double-A West Tennessee, where the impressive 22-year-old will likely begin his first full professional season.

Florence close to passing Old Town fireworks ban

FLORENCE, Ore. (AP) -- The Florence City Council has moved closer to banning fireworks in Old Town.

Nationals 1B Dunn leaves game with back spasm

VIERA, Fla. (AP) -- Washington Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn left Tuesday's split-squad game against the Florida Marlins after two innings because of a spasm in his lower back.

John Smoltz joins TBS as analyst

ATLANTA (AP) -- John Smoltz is joining Turner Broadcasting's baseball crew as an analyst.

Expect huge TV audiences for Woods' Masters return

NEW YORK (AP) -- CBS Sports' president thinks that Tiger Woods' return to golf will be one of the "biggest media spectacles in recent memory."

Ovechkin: 'Disappointed' in 2-game suspension

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin was surprised and says he was "disappointed" by the NHL's decision to suspend him for his hit on Chicago's Brian Campbell.

Dallas, Ore., warehouse to hit auction block

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Officials in the Polk County community of Dallas are hoping a buyer can be found for the old Tyco building.

Hawks' Campbell has broken clavicle, rib

CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell will miss seven to eight weeks with a broken collar bone and a fractured rib, the result of a hit from Washington Capitals' star Alex Ocvechkin.

Katie Smith signs with Washington Mystics

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Katie Smith has signed with the Washington Mystics, with general manager Angela Taylor calling the guard "the LeBron James of this free-agency process."

Myrtle Creek council considers turning off lights

MYRTLE CREEK, Ore. (AP) -- The lights may go out in Myrtle Creek.

NOAA Fisheries lists Pacific smelt as threatened

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) -- The Pacific smelt, a small fish that is popular as food and bait, but is beset by climate change, declining river flows, and shrimp fishing, is getting federal protection.

Bills' Gailey not ready to name starting QB

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey isn't prepared to name a starting quarterback, and anticipates holding an open competition going into training camp.

Gordon's wife expecting a baby boy

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- Jeff Gordon says his wife is expecting a baby boy.

LT lured to NY by familiar offense, chance to win

NEW YORK (AP) -- LaDainian Tomlinson says playing in a familiar offensive scheme on a team with a chance to win a championship and living in New York played major roles in choosing to join the Jets.

Man who allegedly pulled gun at mall will be arrested, police say

He is recovering from a gunshot wound at hospital

A Vancouver man who allegedly pulled a handgun during an argument outside the Outback Steakhouse at Westfield Vancouver mall — and ended up getting shot in the leg — on Monday afternoon is headed for jail when he’s released from a hospital, police said.

WA February jobless rate increases to 9.5 percent

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Washington state's unemployment rate for February has slightly increased to 9.5 percent, and the state saw a loss of about 8,300 jobs.

Boise State player arrested on battery charge

BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- A Boise State football player suspended from the team earlier this month has been arrested and charged with felony aggravated battery.

Puck in gold-medal game heads to Hall of Fame

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The gold-medal puck is going to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Cruz rewarding Rangers for their patience

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -- Two years ago, Nelson Cruz didn't even make the Rangers' roster out of spring training.

Oregon's Feb. unemployment rate at 10.5 percent

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Unemployment in Oregon fell slightly in February to 10.5 percent.

Hurt dog shows up at New Mexico emergency room

FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) -- The patient was only slightly injured when he limped into a hospital in the northwest New Mexico city of Farmington.

Russian skier banned for refusing drug test

OBERHOFEN, Switzerland (AP) -- The International Ski Federation has banned Russian cross-country skier Elena Vedeneeva from competing for two years after she refused to take a drug test.

Ex-coach Dungy speaks to inmates in South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Tony Dungy has taken his message of hope to more than 1,700 inmates at a South Carolina prison complex.

Mexican tour bus overturns in Texas, killing 2

CAMPBELLTON, Texas (AP) -- An official says a Mexican tour bus carrying about 35 people has overturned along a southern Texas highway, killing at least two people and injuring an unknown number of others.

Indians get RHP from Brewers

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) -- The Cleveland Indians have acquired right-hander Omar Aguilar from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Winfrey due in Philly for 2-week defamation trial

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Talk show host Oprah Winfrey is expected to spend two weeks in Philadelphia defending a defamation case linked to a sex-abuse scandal at her South African girls' school.

Ex-Arizona G Shakur signs 10-day deal with Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed former Arizona guard Mustafa Shakur to a 10-day contract.

2 injured in Brazil after mayhem sparked by bomb

SAO PAULO (AP) -- Brazilian police say fans of a losing soccer team hurled a homemade bomb into the visitors' locker room, leaving two people slightly injured.

Swiss ski team fires women's Alpine coach

BERN, Switzerland (AP) -- Switzerland's ski federation has fired Hugues Ansermoz as head coach of its women's Alpine team because of poor results in slalom and giant slalom races.

Garzelli win Tirreno-Adriatico title

SAN BENEDETTO DEL TRONTO, Italy (AP) -- Stefano Garzelli of Italy won the weeklong Tirreno-Adriatico race Tuesday, making up two seconds on Michele Scarponi in intermediate sprints.

Wife of ex-Raven withdraws protection petition

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The wife of former Baltimore Raven Michael McCrary has withdrawn her petition for a protective order against her husband.

Woods to return to golf at the Masters

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) -- Tiger Woods will return to golf at the Masters next month.

Teacher cuts planned at Ore. youth facilities

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- About one-third of the teachers at the Hillcrest and MacLaren youth correctional facilities are expected to be laid off.

Ohio State adds 2 years to Tressel's contract

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State has added two more years to Jim Tressel's contract.

McCoy rides Binocular to Cheltenham Festival win

CHELTENHAM, England (AP) -- Tony McCoy rode Binocular to victory in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.

Menorah wins opening race at Cheltenham Festival

CHELTENHAM, England (AP) -- Menorah has won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival, beating Get Me Out Of Here by a head.

Magnitude-4.4 earthquake jolts Southern California

An earthquake east of downtown Los Angeles rippled across Southern California before dawn Tuesday, jolting millions of people awake and putting first-responders on alert but causing no damage, injuries or power outages.

Bill Gates, son take personal tour of Hanford

RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) -- The Hanford nuclear reservation had a famous guest this month: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who toured the site with his 10-year-old son.

Willamette forest ranks No. 1 in carbon storage

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- A new survey from The Wilderness Society environmental group says the Willamette National Forest in the top ranked federally owned forest when it comes to carbon storage.

WCHA suspends UND's Frattin 1 game

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) -- The Western Collegiate Hockey Association has suspended North Dakota forward Matt Frattin for one game.

Sumi is mascot of Paralympic Games in Vancouver

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- It's Sumi's time to shine at the Paralympic Games.

Ashland proposal would reduce court flexibility

ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Ashland officials are considering changes to the Municipal Court that would improve its efficiency, but remove some of the discretion the judge now has in levying fines.

Auditor: Ridgefield schools employee stole $806K

RIDGEFIELD, Wash. (AP) -- The state auditor's office says a former employee of the Ridgefield School District in Clark County overpaid herself nearly $807,000 over a 10-year span.

Group aims to stop Klamath Falls development

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) -- A group of Klamath Falls residents is trying to raise at least $800,000 to prevent further development of a subdivision near the Link River.

Junior hockey team moves to Vancouver

Beaverton squad moves to Mountain View Ice Arena

The River City Jaguars’ management team sees their team’s move to Mountain View Ice Arena in Vancouver as a win-win. For the Northern Pacific Hockey League franchise, it is a chance to create a real community connection that was lacking during the Jaguars five seasons at Beaverton’s Valley Ice Arena.

UFC fighter returns to Fisticuffs

Australian prepares at Vancouver gym for his next bout

George Sotiropoulos enjoyed the enthusiastic support of fans in his homeland. But the work done in his adopted home was more significant to his Feb. 20 win over Joe Stevenson at UFC 110 in Australia.

FIFA ethics chief tells WCup bidders to play fair

ZURICH (AP) -- FIFA's new ethics monitor has told candidates hoping to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups not to criticize rival bids.

Sno Phantoms win gold at Winter Special Olympics

Local athletes come back with seven first-place results

Athletes from the Sno Phantoms Alpine Ski and Boarding Team captured gold medals in seven events during the Special Olympics of Washington Winter Games, held March 5-7 in Wenatchee.

Community scoreboard, March 16

Community scoreboard for March 16

Community Notebook: Local club wins Oregon Swimming title

Columbia River Swim Team scored 70 more points than its closest competition, finishing with 939 at the Oregon Swimming Senior Championships. Vancouver Swim Club placed eighth among 27 clubs with swimmers in the championship meet for swimmers age 15-20.

Stars of the Day

Top performers of the day in high school sports

Fisher Investments project takes another step forward

PDX set to open new long-term parking garage

New branch managers join first Independent Bank

'Clunker' appliance program launches

Washington’s $6.3 million “Cash for Appliances” stimulus program began Monday.

Vancouver school board to discuss middle school grants

The Vancouver Public Schools board meets today for a special work session on School Improvement Grants sought for improvements at Discovery and Jason Lee middle schools.

Dam removal on Sandy subject of presentation

A scientist well-studied in the geological processes of Mount St. Helens will speak tonight about the effect of removing a large dam from a river also affected by volcanic eruptions in the past.

Vancouver Police cut facility hours and services

The Vancouver Police Department no longer staffs public service counters at the department’s East Precinct, 520 S.E. 155th Ave., or police headquarters, 605 E. Evergreen Blvd.

Death Notices, March 16

Announcements of Clark County deaths.

B.G. may limit number of fireworks stands

Nonprofits that operate them complain of dip in profits

The Battle Ground City Council may soon limit the number of nonprofit organizations allowed to open fireworks stands for the Fourth of July holiday.

Weather Eye: Hint of spring to return for the weekend

It sure felt like spring Monday, with afternoon temperatures in the mid- to upper 60s in some locations. I recorded a high of 68 degrees at my Salmon Creek weather station. That is the warmest it’s been since a high of 69 degrees March 6. And it looks like after a little downturn today, we should be back in the 60s Thursday through Saturday. A weather system moving through today will leave behind some clouds and maybe a shower early on St. Patrick’s Day, with skies clearing by sunset. I would expect some frosty mornings later in the week as well.

Sewer district board convenes this morning

The board of directors of the Clark Regional Wastewater District will meet in a public session this morning at Billygan’s Restaurant, 13200 N.E. Highway 99.

Food & wine calendar, March 16

Food and wine events and classes in Clark County

Partnership already paying off for Schlecht Construction

Schlecht Construction has partnered with Bergerson Construction in a joint effort to stay afloat in the sinking economy. The companies joined up to apply for contract work for the U.S. Coast Guard, which is flush with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding that has been doled out by Homeland Security to update and build new shoreline projects. After a year-long application process and waiting period, the partner contractors — Schlecht, with offices in Vancouver and Kelso, and Bergerson, based in Astoria, Ore., — recently won approval to be one of 16 companies that can bid on projects in eight states, including Washington, Oregon and California.

Shepherd’s pie celebration

Irishtown Bar & Grill co-owner and Dublin native shares recipe for St. Patrick’s Day

Shepherd’s pie was a staple of Peter Yeates’ childhood. Growing up in Dublin, he ate the dish at least once a week. “It’s very, very popular” in Ireland, said Yeates, who moved to the United States in 1971 and is now co-owner of Irishtown Bar & Grill in Vancouver.

Report: Ridgefield schools a fraud victim

Auditor says former employee overpaid herself $806K

The Ridgefield School District’s former assistant business manager overpaid herself at least $806,644 during a 10-year span and manipulated and destroyed records to hide the misappropriation of public money, according to the state auditor’s office. Peggy Kane, who was responsible for the district’s payroll processing, inflated her net pay by $1,000 to $10,000 per month for 111 months between July 1999 and April 2009, according to the Washington State Auditor’s Office report released Monday.

In Our View: Widening the Gap

In lifting school levy lid, legislators worsened funding disparities between rich and poor

Directly contradicting the mandate of the state constitution and a Feb. 6 ruling by a King County Superior Court, the Legislature last Thursday authorized greater — not lesser — local funding of public education. The misguided lawmakers approved a bill that will increase the levy lid from 24 percent to 28 percent.

National parks chief to give Marshall Lecture

Jon Jarvis is no stranger to the Pacific Northwest

Jon Jarvis will be pretty close to his own turf May 20, when he visits Vancouver to deliver the 2010 Marshall Lecture. Jarvis is director of the National Park Service, an agency that includes the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

Washington View: Idaho’s governor (and others) court Washington employers

When Idaho Gov. Butch Otter published his “Love Letter to Our Neighbors,” he touched off a political firestorm asserting his state is better for business. Otter sensed a weakness in Oregon’s business climate after lawmakers raised taxes on businesses and the wealthy by $727 million. Nike founder Phil Knight called it “Oregon’s Assisted Suicide Law II.”

Stories for March 16, 2010

Lead stories

Stories

State employers cut 8,300 workers after January gain