Stories for November 30, 2010

Chargers denial doesn't end AEG speculation

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Although the San Diego Chargers have denied that they've agreed to sell a minority stake to billionaire Philip Anschutz, there are still more questions than answers about the team's possible relocation to Los Angeles.

Chargers deny report that AEG is buying a stake

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- An attorney for the San Diego Chargers has denied a report by a Toronto radio station that billionaire Philip Anschutz will buy 35 percent of Southern California's only NFL team.

Simpson warns colleagues of fight over budget cuts

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Republican co-chairman of President Barack Obama's deficit commission is warning fellow panelists "the heat is on" as they push politically volatile proposals to tame a runaway debt.

Washington State clobbers Sacramento State 84-36

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) -- Klay Thompson scored 16 points and Washington State scored the game's first 27 points on the way to an easy 84-36 victory over Sacramento State on Tuesday night.

Sikma leads Portland past Saint Louis 69-60

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Luke Sikma scored a career-high 26 points as Portland outlasted Saint Louis 69-60 on Tuesday night.

$1M in hearing aids donated to School for Deaf

The smiles said it all. Savannah Andersen, 3, beamed a 500-watt glow as she had her devices fitted. Colt Franklin, 6, began to mouth some words and mimic a few new sounds. The look that spread like sweet syrup down the face of Ashantay Truong, 9, as realization set in? Priceless.

Once again, Blazers fail to finish off opponent

Another poor fourth quarter sinks Portland, 88-78

\Once again, the Philadelphia 76ers finished well, while the Portland Trail Blazers did not. Elton Brand scored 18 points while Jrue Holiday and Andres Nocioni added 11 each to help the Sixers past the Trail Blazers 88-79 on Tuesday night. The Sixers have won consecutive games for the first time since March 24-26, 2010.

Northern Arizona downs CS Bakersfield 81-77

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) -- Gabe Rogers scored 26 points, including the go-ahead basket with 1:39 left, to propel Northern Arizona to an 81-77 victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Tuesday night.

Inquest set Jan. 10 in fatal police shooting

SEATTLE (AP) -- A King County judge has set Jan. 10 for the start of an inquest into a Seattle police officer's fatal shooting of a Native American woodcarver.

9 Washington high schools improve graduation rates

SEATTLE (AP) -- In six years, Washington high schools have made enough progress helping kids earn a diploma to have nine fewer schools on a national list of so-called "dropout factories." That's according to a report to be released Tuesday by the America's Promise Alliance.

Culpepper, UTEP edge New Mexico State 74-72

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) -- Senior guard Randy Culpepper led UTEP with 32 points in a 74-72 victory over New Mexico State on Tuesday night.

Montana tops Cal State-Fullerton 75-67

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) -- Will Cherry scored 18 of his 24 points in the second half Tuesday night to lead Montana past Cal State-Fullerton 75-67.

Northwestern State defeats Centenary 82-55

NATCHITOCHES, La. (AP) -- Will Pratt scored 17 points and William Mosley had 11 points and a career-high 11 blocked shots to lead Northwestern State to an 82-55 victory over winless Centenary on Tuesday night.

Colorado runs past Texas-Pan American 83-64

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -- Levi Knutson had a season-high 18 points, Marcus Relphorde scored 16 and Colorado beat Texas-Pan American 83-64 Tuesday night.

Malone, Auburn defeat Georgia Southwestern 78-50

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Andre Malone scored 17 points and Rob Chubb 12 as Auburn lost one big early lead, then pulled away again for a 78-50 victory over Georgia Southwestern on Tuesday night.

Wash. work release inmate dies in 11th floor jump

SEATTLE (AP) -- The King County jail commander says a 29-year-old work release inmate broke a window on the eleventh floor of the county courthouse in Seattle and jumped to his death.

Tulane holds off Alabama State 84-69

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Aaron Holmes scored 19 points to lead five players in double figures as Tulane defeated Alabama State 84-69 on Tuesday night.

Morgan, Yale hold off Hartford 81-76

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) -- Austin Morgan scored 22 points, hitting all five of his 3-pointers, as Yale held off Hartford 81-76 on Tuesday night.

No criminal charges against barista who killed man

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- The Lane County district attorney's office says no criminal charges are planned against a barista who fatally shot a man during a coffee stand robbery in Eugene.

Florida Atlantic edges Mississippi State 61-59

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -- Kore White scored 18 points to lead Florida Atlantic to a 61-59 victory over Mississippi State on Tuesday night.

Seattle signs Hawthorne to extension through '11

RENTON, Wash. (AP) -- The Seattle Seahawks have signed linebacker David Hawthorne to a one-year extension through the 2011 season.

Hummer, hot-shooting Princeton top Lafayette 82-64

EASTON, Pa. (AP) -- Ian Hummer scored 22 points and Princeton shot 75 percent from the field in the second half to pull away from Lafayette 82-64 on Tuesday night.

Glover, Iona hold off Norfolk State 73-64

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- Mike Glover scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Iona over Norfolk State 73-64 on Tuesday night.

Dykstra, South Dakota State whip Nevada 82-65

BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) -- Jordan Dykstra scored 23 points and South Dakota State extended its best start to a season at the Division I level with an 82-65 victory over Nevada on Tuesday night.

Cartwright, Eggleston lead Penn over UMBC 71-59

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Miles Cartwright scored 19 points and Jack Eggleston 17 to lead Pennsylvania to a 71-59 victory over winless Maryland-Baltimore County on Tuesday night.

Saints DE Will Smith: Arrest a 'misunderstanding'

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith says his weekend arrest on a domestic abuse charge was the result of "an unfortunate misunderstanding."

Hall of Fame hockey writer Jim Kelley dies at 61

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Jim Kelley, a longtime sports writer and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 61.

No. 2 Ohio State takes 58-44 win at Florida State

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Jon Diebler scored 12 points and Jared Sullinger notched his third double-double of the season Tuesday night to lead No. 2 Ohio State to a 58-44 victory over Florida State in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game.

Sheriff suspends river search for missing OR man

NEWBERG, Ore. (AP) -- The Yamhill County sheriff's office says it has suspended the search for a Newberg, Ore., man believed to have disappeared last Friday while fishing on the Willamette River.

Western Carolina rallies in 66-65 win over Bradley

CULLOWHEE, N.C. (AP) -- Mike Williams scored 16 points and Western Carolina used a late run to beat Bradley 66-65 on Tuesday night.

New Mexico senator seeks football helmet review

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall has asked the Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate whether safety standards for football helmets are adequate to protect players from concussions and other head injuries.

Brand helps 76ers beat Trail Blazers

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Elton Brand scored 18 points while Jrue Holiday and Andres Nocioni added 11 each to help the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 88-79 on Tuesday night.

Stetson holds off Savannah State 69-64

DELAND, Fla. (AP) -- Aaron Graham scored 16 points to lead Stetson over Savannah State 69-64 on Tuesday night.

Rondo's 23 leads Celtics over Cavs

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Rajon Rondo scored a season-high 23 points with 12 assists to lead the Boston Celtics to their fourth straight win, 106-87 on Tuesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who can now start concentrating on LeBron James' upcoming visit.

Nets' Harris leaves with injured left knee

NEW YORK (AP) -- New Jersey Nets guard Devin Harris injured his left knee midway through the third quarter against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night and will not return.

Scott leads Miami past Mississippi 86-73

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) -- Durand Scott scored 27 points to lead Miami to an 86-73 victory over Mississippi on Tuesday night.

Historic Arnada

Survey documents the classic houses of this neighborhood.

Oklahoma's Venables 'not interested in any job'

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables doesn't plan on pursuing the head coaching vacancy at Miami.

No. 10 Kentucky breezes by Boston U. 91-57

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Brandon Knight scored 23 points and No. 10 Kentucky bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 91-57 win over Boston University on Tuesday night.

Wake Forest edges Iowa 76-73

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -- Freshman J.T. Terrell scored a season-high 32 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left to help Wake Forest beat Iowa 76-73 on Tuesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Fire in Colfax, WA business closes Main Street

COLFAX, Wash. (AP) -- A stubborn fire has caused extensive damage to a business on the main street of Colfax in southeast Washington. There are no reports of injuries.

AP source: Giants, Tejada agree to 1-year deal

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A person familiar with the deal says the World Series champion San Francisco Giants have agreed with free-agent shortstop Miguel Tejada on terms of a one-year contract.

Tractor-trailer falls off hoist; 1 dead, 1 injured

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) -- The Whitman County sheriff says a tractor-trailer fell off a hoist at an industrial site near Pullman, Wash., killing one man and seriously injuring another.

Oregon hiker missing in Calif. near Mt. Whitney

INDEPENDENCE, Calif. (AP) -- Rescue crews are searching by ground and by air for a hiker from Oregon who is missing in the wilderness near California's Mt. Whitney.

Cavs' owner moved on from LeBron

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert expects Cleveland fans to be boisterous but behave when LeBron James returns this week.

DA: Not enough to charge Titans Britt in bar fight

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Authorities says there is not enough evidence to charge Tennessee Titans receiver Kenny Britt in a bar fight.

Repaired Boeing 787 flies back to Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) -- The Boeing 787 that made an emergency landing in Laredo, Texas, because of an electrical fire during a test flight is safely back in Seattle.

Appeals court backs exasperated judge on Hastings conviction

The Court of Appeals has rejected claims made by an attempted murder convict that a Clark County judge showed bias when he told the defendant at a 2009 sentencing hearing that he should be gagged and to “shut your damn mouth.”

Yankees GM to play guest elf descending building

NEW YORK (AP) -- If negotiations with Derek Jeter haven't sent Brian Cashman climbing up a tree, they have the New York Yankees general manager descending a building on a rope.

Dolphins activate DE Phillip Merling

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -- Defensive end Phillip Merling has been activated by the Miami Dolphins less than four months after an Achilles' tendon injury that was feared to be season-ending.

Harbaugh won't attend Michigan dinner

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) -- Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh says his schedule will not allow him to attend a Michigan banquet honoring his 1985 Wolverines team this week.

NCAA declares 7-foot Indiana player ineligible

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The NCAA has declared Indiana center Guy-Marc Michel ineligible to play college basketball.

Zook will help Leshoure if NFL is the right move

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois football coach Ron Zook says he's talked with junior tailback Mikel Leshoure about the possibility of leaving for the NFL a year early.

NKorean soldier at border wishes for peace

PANMUNJOM, Korea (AP) -- A soldier from secretive North Korea at the heavily armed border says he is aware of his country's deadly attack on a front-line South Korean island and says he hopes for peace.

MLB players, umps, executives meeting postponed

NEW YORK (AP) -- Major League Baseball says Friday's meeting among management, players and umpires has been postponed because of a death in the family of one of the participants.

Packers, CB Williams agree to contract extension

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- The Green Bay Packers have agreed to a contract extension with cornerback Tramon Williams.

Man gets 20 years for sexually soliciting Vancouver girl, 9

A Tigard man was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in federal prison for sexually soliciting a 9-year-old Vancouver girl.

SWAC to induct 6 into Hall of Fame

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference will induct six new members into its Hall of Fame, including former major league pitcher Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd.

Clark, Bleiler make US Snowboarding team

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) -- Two-time Olympic medalist Kelly Clark headlines the eight-person U.S. snowboarding team for the 2010-11 season.

Oceania gives up fight for 2018, 2022 WCup votes

ZURICH (AP) -- FIFA will choose the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts with 22 executive committee members after the Oceania Football Confederation accepted the loss of its voting rights.

Oregon climate report predicts wildfire risk

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- A state climate report predicts that Oregon may face summer water shortages, an increased wildfire risk and more extreme weather events if temperatures keep warming up.

Wash. dog trainer's killer gets more than 26 years

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) -- A man convicted of murdering a well-known Washington dog trainer has been sentenced to 2612 years in prison.

Portland, Ore. area among hardest hit by recession

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A new study shows the recession hit the Portland metro area harder than many other big cities around the world.

Auburn could be fined if Newton off-limits

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- The Southeastern Conference could fine Auburn if quarterback Cam Newton isn't available for postgame interviews following the league championship game.

Jeter imagined in all 30 major league uniforms

DALLAS (AP) -- Having trouble imagining what Derek Jeter would look like in a different uniform?

Tiger Woods gets last chance for a win this year

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) -- Tiger Woods attributes his first year without a win to turmoil at home and on the golf course.

Bucs place Cody Grimm and Davin Joseph on IR

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released safety Sabby Piscitelli and placed safety Cody Grimm and left guard Davin Joseph on injured reserve.

Concussion-free Bouchard cleared to return to Wild

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Center Pierre-Marc Bouchard is set to suit up for the Minnesota Wild for the first time in more than a year.

Steelers' Harrison fined $25K for Fitzpatrick hit

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been fined $25,000 for his hit on Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Harrison now has four fines this season totaling $125,000.

Swiss skier Cuche posts fastest time in training

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) -- Didier Cuche of Switzerland has turned in the fastest time in a World Cup downhill training session on the demanding Birds of Prey course.

Pressure's on Jets D to put pressure on Brady

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) -- The pressure's on the New York Jets to make Tom Brady miserable next Monday night.

Astros sign Quintero

HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Astros have signed catcher Humberto Quintero to a one-year contract for $1 million.

Sony Open to be aired live in 3-D

HONOLULU (AP) -- Sony Corp. has extended title sponsorship of the Sony Open in Hawaii through 2014 and will broadcast the PGA Tour event in January live in 3-D.

Joannie Rochette to skip Canadian championships

OTTAWA (AP) -- Olympic bronze medalist Joannie Rochette will not compete at the Canadian figure skating championships in January.

Uribe and Dodgers finalize $21M deal

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Infielder Juan Uribe and the Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized a $21 million, three-year contract.

Bengals sign rookie K Stitser; Pettrey cut

CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Cincinnati Bengals will try another rookie at kicker.

Dodgers trade INF Theriot to Cards for Hawksworth

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have traded infielder Ryan Theriot to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Blake Hawksworth.

Toronto FC trades Joseph Nane to Colorado Rapids

TORONTO (AP) -- The Colorado Rapids have acquired midfielder Joseph Nane from Toronto FC for a third-round pick in the 2012 draft.

Ore. artist brings past alive with vintage signs

ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A southern Oregon artist is bringing the past alive with some vintage signs.

Rivals again? Pitt, Duquesne meet in City Game

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A rivalry isn't truly one unless both teams realistically have a chance to win when they meet. For years, that's why the Pitt-Duquesne series was a rivalry in name only.

Republican asks for recount in S. Ore. senate race

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A Republican legislative leader is asking for a recount in a close southern Oregon race that could determine control of the state Senate.

Delonte West has surgery on broken right wrist

BOSTON (AP) -- Boston Celtics guard Delonte West is recovering from surgery to repair his broken right wrist.

US severs computer access to diplomatic messages

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Reeling from disclosures of sensitive diplomatic messages, the State Department has disconnected access to its files from the U.S. government's classified computer network. The move dramatically reduces the number of employees inside the government who can see important diplomatic messages.

Bills sign OG Dile, DB Williams to practice squad

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- The Buffalo Bills have signed guard Marc Dile and defensive back Trae Williams to their practice squad.

Lions QB situation again uncertain

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) -- The Detroit Lions may have more problems at quarterback.

Lesbian nurse expects Air Force reinstatement

SEATTLE (AP) -- A lesbian flight nurse who was discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy says she expects to be reinstated to the U.S. Air Force reserve by next month at the latest.

Blackhawks' Marian Hossa to miss 2-3 weeks

CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa will likely miss two to three weeks because of a lower-body injury, leaving the defending Stanley Cup champions without one of their top scorers.

Ore. man dies, nephew burned in mobile home fire

MERLIN, Ore. (AP) -- A southern Oregon man has died in a mobile home fire that left his nephew critically injured.

Texans defense finally backs up Kubiak's talk

HOUSTON (AP) -- Texans coach Gary Kubiak kept insisting his defense was improving, even as opponents piled up big plays and points.

UConn says it's earned a shot at BCS game

STORRS, Conn. (AP) -- Connecticut isn't making any apologies for putting itself in position to get a BCS bowl berth.

Murray to lead Democratic effort in 2012 races

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Democrats plan on turning to Sen. Patty Murray of Washington to steer the defense of 21 Democratic seats up for re-election in 2012.

Ore. fines chemical weapon disposal company

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined the operator of the Umatilla chemical weapons disposal facility $58,600 for hazardous waste violations.

Gov. Gregoire appoints Suzan DelBene to cabinet

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Gov. Chris Gregoire has appointed a former congressional candidate as the new director of the state Department of Revenue.

Columbia shipping to close for river lock repairs

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Columbia River is about to close for shipping for more than three months so the Army Corps of Engineers can replace navigation lock gates at three dams.

Irish will take three-game winning streak to bowl

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- This much we know: Brian Kelly didn't come to Notre Dame to be part of 7-5 seasons. After his first eventful and emotional year as head coach of the Irish, he'll gladly take it.

Seattle considering making felons' housing easier

SEATTLE (AP) -- The city of Seattle is considering whether to make it illegal for landlords and employers to discriminate against people convicted of nonviolent and nonsexual crimes because of their criminal records.

Former Sen. Jeannette Hayner dies

WALLA WALLA, Wash. (AP) -- Former state Senate Majority Leader Jeannette Hayner has died at the age of 91.

Former Sen. Jeanette Hayner dies

WALLA WALLA, Wash. (AP) -- Former state Senate Majority Leader Jeannette Hayner has died at the age of 91.

NFL to offer full refunds if lockout cancels games

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL will offer full refunds to fans with general admission tickets if games are canceled next season because of a lockout.

Capitals get D Hannan from Avs for F Fleischmann

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) -- The Washington Capitals have added experience to their defense by acquiring Scott Hannan in a trade that sends forward Tomas Fleischmann to the Colorado Avalanche.

Car prowls on the rise, Vancouver police say

With gift-buying season in full swing, the Vancouver Police Department issued a blunt warning: Don’t leave valuables in your car. Reported auto prowls city-wide are up 56 percent this year compared to 2009, said Kim Kapp, a police spokeswoman. In raw numbers, that’s a jump from 969 smash-and-grabs in 2009 to 1,509 in 2010.

Japanese veteran Tateyama joining Texas Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Japanese free-agent pitcher Yoshinori Tateyama has agreed to a one-year contract with the AL champion Texas Rangers that includes club options for each of the two seasons after that.

Shaq eager to watch LeBron's return

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Like most NBA fans, Shaquille O'Neal plans to watch LeBron James' return to Cleveland on Thursday night.

Olympic sailor, scientist Britton Chance, 97, dies

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Olympic champion sailor and medical scientist Britton Chance has died at 97.

Terps' Friedgen named ACC coach of year

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) -- Maryland's Ralph Friedgen is the Atlantic Coast Conference's coach of the year for the second time.

Wenatchee museum features fly-casting great

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) -- At age 91, there aren't been too many outdoor sports that Bill McGuire hasn't mastered.

Oklahoma St's Gundy wins Big 12 coach of the year

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Mike Gundy has been chosen as the Big 12 coach of the year after directing No. 16 Oklahoma State to a share of its first South Division title.

Roethlisberger wearing boot on injured foot

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is wearing a protective boot on his sprained right foot but is expected to play Sunday when Pittsburgh and Baltimore face off for first place in the AFC North.

Study shows Ore. trails nation for personal income

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- A new study shows a growing gap between personal income in Oregon and the rest of the nation.

Hahnemann loses place at English team Wolves

WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) -- American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann has been dropped as starting goalkeeper by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Southern Miss heads to Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) -- The University of Southern Mississippi has accepted an invitation to play in the third annual Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Dec. 21.

Longview's squirrel bridge open again

LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) -- Squirrels in Longview, Washington, can rest easier now that the city's "Nutty Narrows Bridge" is back in place.

Rabid fox cases jump to 7 in S. Ore. county

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) -- Three additional cases of rabies have been found in foxes in a southern Oregon county this month, pushing the total to seven cases this year.

ECU accepts invite to Military Bowl

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- East Carolina is headed to the Military Bowl.

Speedskating body takes teen's doping case to CAS

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- The Dutch skating federation and national doping authority say they are appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over a decision by the federation's own appeals panel to overturn a teenage speedskater's doping ban.

Stocks rise sharply on fresh signs of job growth

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks are rising sharply after a report showed that small businesses are hiring more workers than economists expected.

Ore. police kill 2 pit bulls after long dog fight

SILVERTON, Ore. (AP) -- Police in Silverton had to shoot and kill two pit bulls after the dogs kept fighting for more than 15 minutes.

Sharapova to play in Fed Cup for Russia

MOSCOW (AP) -- Maria Sharapova will lead Russia in its Fed Cup first-round match against France next season.

NYC bees turn red from cherry juice

NEW YORK (AP) -- A bunch of Brooklyn bees have been coming home looking flushed.

WA state hospitals post surgery infection data

SEATTLE (AP) -- Washington state hospitals are becoming more transparent. Thanks to a new state law, they will be posting surgery infection data online starting Tuesday.

Roadside Secret Santa at it again along NJ highway

LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) -- An annual Christmas mystery is playing itself out again along a busy New Jersey highway.

Marysville church sheltering honeybees

MARYSVILLE, Wash. (AP) -- A Marysville, Washington, church is giving sanctuary to a hive of honeybees.

FIA releases entry list for 2011 F1 season

PARIS (AP) -- Formula One's governing body has released the official entry list for the 2011 season, with only six teams having set their lineups.

Dog electrocuted in Seattle while on walk

SEATTLE (AP) -- Seattle City Light is trying to determine what caused a dog to be electrocuted while being walked in the city's Queen Anne neighborhood.

Eagles-Cowboys game remains on Sunday night

NEW YORK (AP) -- The last-place Cowboys are getting another chance in prime time.

Broken pipe valve floods Baker County Courthouse

BAKER CITY, Ore. (AP) -- The historic Baker County Courthouse in Baker City was closed temporarily after a valve on a water pipe failed during the weekend, causing extensive water damage in the 101-year-old building.

Winter Weather Advisory issued for Gorge

A winter weather advisory took effect in the Columbia River Gorge Tuesday as snow and freezing rain fell throughout Skamania County.

Ore. man guilty of double murder in drug deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A former drug dealer has been convicted of aggravated murder in the deaths of two other Oregon dealers at their suburban Portland townhouse.

Grant will fix up Oregon covered bridge

VIDA, Ore. (AP) -- Lane County, Oregon, officials have received a $2 million federal transportation grant to fix up one of the state's best-known covered bridges.

NM clerk foils robbery with package of pastries

DEMING, N.M. (AP) -- Robbers, beware of clerks wielding pastries.

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO to retire

TORONTO (AP) -- Richard Peddie says he will retire as president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment at the end of next year.

OSP: Accident near Rainier kills 1, blocks highway

RAINIER, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon State Police say an early morning accident Tuesday has killed one man and blocked Highway 30 about three miles east of Rainier.

Report: Pa. billionaire interested in Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- In calling Terrence Pegula "a great guy," Buffalo Sabres minority owner Larry Quinn has declined to confirm a report that the Pennsylvania billionaire is interested in buying the NHL franchise.

OSP: One dead in crash near Rainier

One person is confirmed deceased Tuesday morning following a two-vehicle fatal traffic crash on Highway 30 about three miles east of Rainier.

Water main break floods Mt. Vernon homes

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) -- Officials in Mount Vernon, Washington, are trying to find what caused a water main to break and leak more than 1.5 million gallons in a city neighborhood.

NFL extends Sirius XM contract for 5 years

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL has extended its contract with satellite radio provider Sirius XM for five years.

Wash state finds some inaccurate price scanners

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Washington state's Department of Agriculture says it's found that some retail store price scanners aren't accurate. But the agency says it appears shoppers are slightly more likely to be undercharged than overcharged.

B.G. man critically injured after crash into ditch

A resident in the Pleasant Valley area called 911 early this morning to a report a car had crashed into the driveway of a home in the 6200 block of Northeast 159th Street An engine crew from the Vancouver Fire Department’s Glenwood station was dispatched to the home to find a man partially ejected from the passenger door of a BMW.

Yakima man pleads guilty in mother-in-law's death

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) -- A Yakima man has pleaded guilty to shooting his mother-in-law to death.

Cable rates go up for much of Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Cable TV rates are going up for many Oregonians.

Palestinians confront Israeli control in West Bank

BANI HASSAN, West Bank (AP) -- With a pledge to rebuild a demolished road, the Palestinian prime minister is opening a confrontation with Israel over the large parts of the West Bank that are under sole Israeli control.

Portland Muslim leaders meet with city officials

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A closed-door meeting between more than 50 members of Portland's Muslim community and city leaders discussed security concerns following last week's foiled bomb plot.

Cancellara joins new Luxembourg-based team

LUXEMBOURG (AP) -- The new Luxembourg pro cycling team says it has signed time-trial world champion Fabian Cancellara.

Hotels dismiss room shortage fears for Rio 2016

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Hotel industry officials in Brazil say there won't be a shortage of rooms in Rio de Janeiro during the 2016 Olympics.

Drunk-to-keep-warm defense works for DWI suspect

JACKSON, Mo. (AP) -- A southeast Missouri man has been acquitted of drunk driving after claiming that he consumed alcohol to keep warm after -- but not before -- he lost control of his vehicle on an icy road.

A Form of Competition

Vancouver’s Tran brothers represent USA in martial art

The Tran brother's sport is forms taekwondo, the non-contact version of the martial art. It is often called by its Korean name: poomsae.

Community notebook: Camas, Vancouver sites hosting youth state soccer matches

The Washington Youth Soccer Recreational Cup state tournament will enter its statewide elimination phase on Saturday and Sunday at various locations, including some in Camas and Vancouver.

High school scoreboard, Nov. 30

High school sports results as reported on Nov. 29

Community scoreboard, Nov. 30

Community sports results reported for the week of Nov. 22-29

Region’s blood supply at critically low level, official warns

Clark County’s hospitals need your blood, and soon. After a cold and icy Thanksgiving week, where people either stayed indoors or headed out of town, the Puget Sound Blood Center fell to a critically low level of blood supply.

Talking Points 11/30

What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:

Budget woes threaten program to help low-income teen moms

Barb Rowland stepped into Michaela Motschman’s Vancouver duplex on Monday, cheerfully greeting Michaela. “Where’s that little peanut?” Rowland asked next, smiling as she spotted 10-month-old Lilian.

In Our View: A Freeze to Love

Putting a hold on federal workers’ salaries is an appropriate tactic during economic crisis

President Barack Obama’s proposal to freeze salaries of about 2 million federal workers is a practical approach to the national deficit problem. His plan requires approval by Congress, and The Columbian urges such consent because the freeze would be a measured tactic that would save the federal government $5 billion over two years. We also like the fact that members of the military would be exempt from the freeze. That $5 billion in savings is not much when compared with the nation’s continuing annual deficits of $1 trillion-plus or the overall national debt of $14 trillion. But it’s a step toward a national solution to a national problem. As Obama said, “getting this deficit under control is going to require some broad sacrifice, and that sacrifice must be shared by the employees of the federal government.”

Battle Ground public servants will serve breakfast

The seven members of the Battle Ground City Council will take a break from establishing city policies to don aprons and flip pancakes Saturday morning. The event will raise money for the North County Community Food Bank’s Christmas food basket program, which provides fixin’s for Christmas meals to families in need.

State approves requests for Salmon Creek hospital

Portland-based Legacy Health System has won approval of two requests involving Clark County’s Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center, including changing the hospital’s original construction application to reflect a 24 percent cost overrun.

Westfield Vancouver mall introduces iPhone app

Westfield Vancouver mall this week introduced an iPhone application with a virtual personal shopping assistant and other interactive features.

Gorge commission sees resources eroding

Office hours will be cut even before budget cycle, likely to be grim, begins

Add the Columbia River Gorge Commission to the list of casualties as Washington and Oregon grapple with their respective state budget crises. Funding cuts from the two states over the past two years have forced the bistate panel to reduce its staff from 10.5 full-time employees to the equivalent of six, and another cut of $40,000 — equal to half a year’s salary and benefits — is expected within weeks. Those remaining have taken cuts in pay and hours. For the first time, the commission has no full-time senior planner, and staff attorney Jeff Litwak took a voluntary four-month unpaid leave of absence to help the commission through tight times.

Weather Eye: Does early snow reduce odds of white Christmas?

I usually say, about this time of the month, that it is hard to believe another month has gone by but it does seem they all just fly by. November was an interesting month weather-wise, with a number of surprises. We’ll check the local rainfall reports soon. The rest of this week looks like we’ll have a chance of rain most days and temperatures running at or below seasonal averages. Highs will be mostly in the low- to mid-40s with lots of snow in the mountains.

Mary Granger’s service to be held this weekend

The funeral for Vancouver philanthropist Mary Granger will take place this weekend.

DNA tests delaying investigation into shooting death of deputy’s son

Investigators are awaiting the return of DNA tests to complete their inquiry into the circumstances that permitted the 3-year-old son of a Clark County Sheriff’s deputy to shoot and kill himself. Ryan Owens shot himself with his father’s personal firearm at about 10 p.m. Sept. 14 while both his parents were at home. His father, Detective Ed Owens, has been with the sheriff’s office since 2004.

Tell us about your holiday decorations

Are you planning a festive display outside your home this holiday season? If so, we want to know about it. Please send us your address, a brief description of the decorations and the dates and times when your house will be on public display. We’ll also need a daytime phone number we can call if we have questions.

Death notices

A list of daily death notices

Our readers' views

Make taggers responsible for cleanup The Nov. 24 Columbian story, “Tagging’s High Price Tag,” decries the problem of graffiti. When one of these nuts with a paint can is caught, I think one answer to this problem would be to assign him an area to keep clean. In other words, he would be responsible to remove all graffiti that has been placed in his same area. He would have to pay for all cleaning materials needed to restore the place to what it looked like before the taggers did their dumb deed. Mommies and daddies would probably end up paying the price and they, along with the ACLU, would scream their heads off. But I’ll bet those taggers would be hoping they didn’t have some so-called friends who would keep them busy. It would save the city lots of money, too.

Why not scramble for dinner?

Simple, delicious recipe can be prepared in about 10 minutes and enjoyed any time of the day or night

If you’re an eggs-for-dinner fan, you’ll want to commit this recipe to memory. The surprising ingredient is creamed corn; try it again in the summer when you might have leftovers of Thomas Keller’s version (from his “Ad Hoc at Home” cookbook) on hand. And toss in fresh chopped chives, scallions or crabmeat for a more substantial light meal. Serve with a salad, quickly sauteed cherry tomatoes and thick slices of buttered toast.

Clark County food & wine calendar

Send calendar information to food@columbian.com.

Washington View: State’s workers’ compensation system needs reform

Even though voters rejected Initiative 1082, which would have allowed private insurers to write workers’ compensation insurance in our state, the need to reform the system has become even greater. It has become too costly for employers and too cumbersome for injured workers, and in fact in 2011, rates will increase an average of 12 percent. When our state’s workers’ compensation system was established in 1911, it was designed to prevent injuries and deaths, treat injured workers quickly and effectively, be efficient to administer, and settle disputed claims quickly and without need for expensive legal wrangling. But that is not what it is today.

Community Sports Calendar, Nov. 30

The Community Sports Calendar lists local sports activities, organizations, team tryouts, camps, gyms and other resources. It is updated each Tuesday. Submit items to be listed by e-mail to paul.danzer@columbian.com.

King County buries remains of 205 indigent people

RENTON, Wash. (AP) -- A quiet ceremony has been held in Renton to bury 205 King County residents whose remains were unclaimed after they died.

Brees is Sports Illustrated's sportsman of year

NEW YORK (AP) -- Drew Brees has been honored as Sports Illustrated's sportsman of the year for his championship on the field and his charity off it.

More snow moving into Wash mountains, E. Wash

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- A storm packing heavy snow is moving across the Cascades and Eastern Washington.

Afghan province releases final election results

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Afghan election officials have released the final election results for a province where the tally from the September poll had been delayed following claims of irregularities and voter intimidation.

Rio 2016 signs up bank as first local sponsor

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Brazilian bank Bradesco is the first local sponsor for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Manassero wins Euro PGA Rookie of the Year award

VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) -- Matteo Manassero is the PGA European Tour's Rookie of the Year after becoming the youngest player to win a tour event.

Douglas optimistic about recovery, return to work

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Michael Douglas will find out in January if the throat cancer he announced over the summer has been eliminated and the 66-year-old actor is already looking forward to his next movie role.

Stocks fall on housing, Eurodebt concerns

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks are opening lower following disappointing news on housing prices and more worries about the debt crisis in Europe.

US stock futures fall ahead of economic reports

NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. stock index futures are pointing to a slightly lower opening as investors await news on consumer confidence and home prices.

Security summit overshadowed by WikiLeaks

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (AP) -- A group uniting the U.S., Europe and Central Asian nations is holding its first security summit in more than a decade, with Afghanistan and international terrorism high on the agenda.

'Law & Order' tees up plot with Tiger Woods echoes

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Tiger Woods may want to skip this week's episode of "Law & Order: Los Angeles."

Elizabeth Smart kidnapper suffers seizure in court

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The former street preacher charged with kidnapping and assaulting Elizabeth Smart has suffered an apparent seizure in the courtroom.

WikiLeaks: Karzai pardoned drug dealers

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A confidential diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks says Afghan President Hamid Karzai has freed dangerous detainees and pardoned suspected drug dealers because they had connections to powerful figures.

EU launches antitrust probe into Google searches

BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Commission says it is launching a formal investigation into whether Google has abused its dominant market position in online searches.

Oregon town showing support for Islamic center

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Residents in the Oregon town of Corvallis are showing their support for an Islamic center where a teenager accused of plotting mass killings in Portland occasionally worshipped.

APNewsBreak: FBI investigates Idaho private prison

BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Idaho U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson says the U.S. Department of Justice is looking into allegations of criminal conduct among the staff at the state's only private prison.

AP Enterprise: Guards shown watching inmate attack

BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- The surveillance video from the overhead cameras shows Hanni Elabed being beaten unconscious by a fellow inmate in an Idaho prison as correctional officers watch for several minutes, but no one intervenes.

IOC probes FIFA voter Hayatou over secret payments

ZURICH (AP) -- The International Olympic Committee will investigate FIFA vice president Issa Hayatou over allegations he took secret cash from FIFA's former marketing agency.

Egypt's ruling party wins most seats in 1st round

CAIRO (AP) -- Official election results show Egypt's ruling party has captured nearly all the parliament seats that were decided in a first round of voting. The opposition is decrying the results as "invalid" and says voting was riddled with violations.

Stories for November 30, 2010

Lead stories

Stories

Another poor fourth quarter sinks Portland, 88-78