Stories for June 21, 2011

McIlroy says he can handle pressure of stardom

LONDON (AP) -- Newly crowned U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy says he is confident he can handle the pressure that comes with being considered the heir apparent to Tiger Woods.

Wilsonville councilors vote to stop cash payments

WILSONVILLE, Ore. (AP) -- For the past two decades, city councilors in Wilsonville have taken a monthly payment in lieu of city-paid health insurance. The five councilors currently get $480 a month and receive no other compensation.

Vettel, Alonso look to rebound at F1's European GP

MADRID (AP) -- Formula One championship leader Sebastian Vettel looks to get back to winning ways at the European Grand Prix, while Fernando Alonso hopes to revive his dwindling title chances with victory in front of his home fans at Valencia's street circuit.

Corvallis judge acquits man of rape charge

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- A man charged with rape and sex abuse was acquitted in a trial before a judge in Corvallis.

Corvallis judge acquits man of rape charge

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- A man charged with rape and sex abuse was acquitted in a trail before a judge in Corvallis.

Portland homeless count up 7 percent in two years

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A count of the homeless conducted on Jan. 26 found more than 1,700 people on the streets of Portland and Multnomah County and another 1,000 in shelters or subsidized motels. That's up about 7 percent in two years.

Olazabal to play in British Open qualifying

LONDON (AP) -- European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal will be among the 288 players taking part in final qualifying next week for the British Open.

Eugene man killed in Warm Springs crash

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon State Police say 43-year-old William Todd Lea of Eugene was killed Tuesday when his pickup truck left Highway 26 and crashed into boulders near Warm Springs.

Italian rider De Bonis loses doping ban appeal

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- Italian cyclist Francesco De Bonis has lost his appeal against a two-year ban for doping based on blood-test results from his biological passport.

State revoking Yakima teacher's license

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) -- The state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction plans to revoke the teaching certificate of Yakima teacher Michele Taylor who was accused of sexual misconduct with students.

Record number to compete in Spokane's Hoopfest

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) -- A record 27,500 basketball players are expected to compete these weekend in Spokane's Hoopfest.

WSP motorcycle trooper injured near Clearview

SEATTLE (AP) -- A Washington State Patrol motorcycle trooper is in a Seattle hospital with broken ribs and a head injury suffered when he rear-end a minivan Tuesday on Highway 9 near Clearview.

Fleeing pickup crashes in Port Gamble

PORT GAMBLE, Wash. (AP) -- The Washington State Patrol says a speeding pickup truck fled from a Jefferson County deputy across the Hood Canal floating bridge Tuesday night and crashed down a 100-foot embankment in Port Gamble.

Boeing showcases new 787 at Paris Air Show

LE BOURGET, France (AP) -- Boeing is showcasing it 787 Wednesday at the Paris Air Show.

Malaysia doping lab loses suspension appeal

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- Malaysia's drug testing laboratory has lost an appeal against its suspension by the World Anti-Doping Agency for failing to meet international standards.

Railroad buffs' delight

Southern Pacific 4449 steams through Vancouver.

Auto thefts declined 6 percent in Oregon last year

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports auto thefts declined about 6 percent last year in Oregon to about 9,200 vehicles. That's an average of about 25 stolen vehicles a day in the state.

Battle Ground man arrested in alleged sex crimes involving Oregon teen

A Battle Ground man was arrested Friday by Newberg, Ore. police on charges alleging he sent sexually explicit photos of himself via the Internet to a 16-year-old female and intended to have sex with her.

Maine town leaders vote: Alcohol Mary Road to stay

GREENWOOD, Maine (AP) -- Selectmen in a western Maine town say a small hidden-away road named for a Prohibition bootlegger will keep its name.

More than $1 million raised for Seve foundation

VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) -- More than $1 million has been donated to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation following a series of fundraising activities at Wentworth in honor of the late Spanish golfer.

Spokane fourth in nation in auto theft rate

SEATTLE (AP) -- The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports auto thefts increased nearly 10 percent last year in Washington to more than 29,000. That's an average of 80 stolen vehicles a day in the state.

Pakistan army asks 4 officers about extremist ties

ISLAMABAD (AP) -- The Pakistan army says it is questioning four more officers about suspected links with a banned extremist group.

Stocks slip after Fed trims economic forecasts

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks are closing lower after the Federal Reserve brought down its estimates for U.S. economic growth.

Stocks inch up ahead of Federal Reserve meeting

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks are inching higher as investors wait to hear what the Federal Reserve will say about the economic recovery.

Stocks drop ahead of Federal Reserve meeting

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks are falling in early trading as investors wait to hear what Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says about the economic recovery.

US stock futures point to lower opening

NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. stock futures are pointing to a lower opening ahead of the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates.

Former U.S. attorney pushes legalizing pot in Washington

SEATTLE — A man who once served as the Justice Department’s top official in Seattle said Tuesday that he is sponsoring an initiative to legalize possession of up to an ounce of dried marijuana in Washington state, a measure he hopes will help “shame Congress” into ending pot prohibition.

CRC parking garages to cost up to $176 million

3 structures would accommodate light-rail commuters

The three park-and-ride garages slated to be built in downtown Vancouver for light-rail commuters are expected to cost $158 million to $176 million, the Columbia River Crossing said Tuesday. The cost, estimated in 2010 and expected to be updated again this summer, includes design and construction and accounts for risk and inflation, but does not include the cost of acquiring property, a CRC spokeswoman said.

Cuts pose a threat to Larch fire crews

Program trains inmates to fight blazes in forests

A Department of Natural Resources program that employs inmates to fight forest fires may face setbacks as the agency continues to finalize its budget for the next biennium. Joe Shramek, the manager of the DNR’s Resource Protection Division, said he is uncertain of how cuts within the agency will flesh out overall. Even so, Shramek said he wants to protect the correctional camps program, which places minimum security inmates from corrections centers, including Larch and Cedar Creek, on the frontline of forest fires.

Physicians tout personalized health care model

Approach helps businesses save money, they say at Vancouver forum

A new model of personalized health care could help local businesses save money on employee health plans, according to a presentation by a panel of physicians at a Community Choices health forum in Vancouver on Tuesday. PeaceHealth and Southwest Washington Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health Systems and Providence Medical Group are all experimenting with a “patient-centered” model in which all of a patient’s needs are met in one place, also known as their “medical home.” The model is essentially high-functioning primary care, focused on prevention and easy access to doctors or other health care providers via same-day appointments and secure email, for example.

School’s out, summer is in

Last of county’s students will wrap up their year this afternoon

“Who Let the Dogs Out?” Teachers and staff at Hathaway Elementary.

Utah man updated Facebook status during police standoff

SALT LAKE CITY — Jason Valdez is no stranger to Utah police. His latest brush with the law, however, may have been the most public. An armed Valdez, 36, held a woman hostage at a motel in a tense, 16-hour, overnight standoff with SWAT teams, all while finding time to keep his family and friends updated on Facebook, authorities said.

Chelsea hires Villas-Boas as manager

LONDON (AP) -- Chelsea has hired Portuguese coach Andre Villas-Boas as the club's seventh manager in eight years under billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

US diver Jones banned for marijuana positive test

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- American national team diver Harrison Jones has been suspended for one year after testing positive for marijuana.

Officials: 57 militants escape Yemen jail

SANAA, Yemen (AP) -- Security officials say 57 militants, mostly from al-Qaida, have escaped from a prison in southern Yemen.

GOP women defend party against 'anti-women' charge

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Women in Congress are waging an early skirmish in the 2012 election -- for the votes of women.

Pentagon gets cyberwar guidelines

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama has signed executive orders that lay out how far military commanders around the globe can go in using cyberattacks and other computer-based operations against enemies and as part of routine espionage in other countries.

Obama address: Surge troops home by summer 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama says 10,000 troops will come home from Afghanistan by the end of this year as the U.S. mission shifts from combat to support after nearly 10 years of war.

Obama to set course for drawing down Afghan war

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a prime-time address to the nation Wednesday night, President Barack Obama is expected to announce plans to withdraw roughly 10,000 U.S. forces from Afghanistan within the next year.

Ore. man sentenced to 49 years in child porn case

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- An Oregon man has been sentenced to nearly a half century in prison after earlier pleading guilty to federal child pornography charges related to photographing his sexual abuse of his 6-year-old stepdaughter and 14-year-old disabled stepson.

Road to majors can involve long bus rides

Peavey impressing, learning with Class A Savannah Sand Gnats

For the first time in his life, Greg Peavey is getting paid to play baseball. So naturally, there has been a change in his lifestyle as result.

WA says Tacoma bridge tolling bugs fixed

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) -- A Washington state transportation official says the tolling vendor for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge has fixed system bugs that caused thousands of Good to Go! account holders to wrongly receive fine notices.

Greek PM readies for austerity package vote

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- With a confidence vote now safely past him, Greece's prime minister must now consolidate support for a new austerity package he needs to push through parliament.

Mets to help fund new Sept. 11 charity program

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets are helping to fund a new charity program for families affected by the Sept. 11 attacks.

OR man charged in landlady death OK for trial

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- A judge says a Eugene, Ore., man accused of killing his landlady and burying her body in her backyard is competent to stand trial after more than two months in Oregon State Hospital.

Salem: employee tackles car to prevent theft

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Salem police say they've arrested a woman who apparently drove through a parking lot with a person clinging to the hood of her car.

Ethics committee member urges FIFA to fix image

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- One of the men who decided to suspend leading FIFA executives Jack Warner and Mohamed bin Hammam says while soccer's world governing body has been tainted, the game will overcome bribery and corruption issues.

Phillies blast Cardinals bullpen in 10-2 win

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley each had a two-run single during Philadelphia's season-best nine-run eighth inning, lifting the Phillies to a 10-2 rout over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

Clark County gains 300 jobs in May

Regional economist warns the upward trend remains slight

Clark County’s economy gained in May, with payrolls expanding by 300 jobs from the same period a year ago, the state Employment Security Department reported Tuesday.

2-time water polo Olympian banned for 2 years

SYDNEY (AP) -- Two-time Olympic water polo player James Stanton has been banned for two years for testing positive for a banned substance.

Weeks helps surging A's walk to 7-3 win over Mets

NEW YORK (AP) -- Josh Outman threw another impressive game, Jemile Weeks scored three times and the streaking Oakland Athletics walked their way to a 7-3 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night, handing rookie Dillon Gee his first loss of the season.

WNBA announces 30 finalists for top 15 of all time

NEW YORK (AP) -- Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper and Diana Taurasi lead the list of 30 current and former players announced Tuesday night as finalists for the WNBA's top 15 players of all time.

Pirates beat Orioles 5-4, reach .500

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Orioles' Blake Davis made an error in his major league debut and Pittsburgh scored the tying and go-ahead runs in the Pirates' 5-4 victory over Baltimore on Wednesday.

Donald to play Australia Masters before Christmas

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- World No. 1 Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and defending champion Stuart Appleby will headline the Australian Masters, which will be played the week before Christmas at Victoria Golf Club.

OR Zoo caracal gives birth to 3 kittens

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Oregon Zoo is singing the praises of a caracal named Peggy, who recently gave birth to three healthy kittens. Senior Africa zookeeper Asaba Mukobi says Peggy is protective, makes sure all three get fed and "sets boundaries for the kittens now that they're moving around."

Uggla, McCann back Beachy, Braves top Jays 4-1

ATLANTA (AP) -- Brandon Beachy had a career-high 11 strikeouts in his return from the disabled list, Dan Uggla and Brian McCann hit two-run homers, and the Atlanta Braves completed a sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 5-1 victory Wednesday.

Man who tossed cat down storm drain is sought

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- A $2,500 reward is being offered to help catch the person who tossed a cat down a storm drain in Olympia, Wash.

Zellous scores 21 as Fever hold off Mystics, 89-80

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Reserve guard Shavonte Zellous scored a season-high 21 points and the Indiana Fever held off the Washington Mystics 89-80 on Tuesday night.

Mom of toddler in motel parking lot enters plea

FIFE, Wash. (AP) -- A 22-year-old Washington mother whose toddler was found wandering in the middle of the night in a motel parking lot has pleaded not guilty to child abandonment. Police say the woman was out gambling.

Report: Rangers-Flyers for next Winter Classic

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Times is reporting the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers will play at Citizens Bank Park in the next Winter Classic game.

Husband of Kansas softball coach Smith dies

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- The husband of Kansas softball coach Megan Smith has died.

Konerko homers for Sox in 5th straight game

CHICAGO (AP) -- Paul Konerko homered in the second inning of Tuesday night's game against the Cubs, giving the Chicago White Sox first baseman a homer in five consecutive games.

Feds asking for delay of Bonds hearing

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Federal prosecutors are asking for a two-month postponement of Barry Bonds' next court date.

Real Salt Lake's Alexandre suspended, fined by MLS

NEW YORK (AP) -- Real Salt Lake midfielder Jean Alexandre has been suspended for one game and fined $500 by the MLS Disciplinary Committee.

'Bad Hair Bandit' makes it on national FBI website

SEATTLE (AP) -- A Washington bank robber known for wearing a variety of unattractive wigs is featured in a new wanted poster on the FBI website.

Warriors President Robert Rowell resigns

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Golden State Warriors President Robert Rowell is resigning his position as the club's top executive for business operations.

Blue Jays meet so Romero can clarify remarks

ATLANTA (AP) -- Toronto manager John Farrell says the Blue Jays held a team meeting to discuss pitcher Ricky Romero's remarks about his teammates.

Rays' Maddon admits violating rule

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon admits he broke a rule when he let outfielder Sam Fuld warm up as a pitcher but pulled him before he threw a pitch.

RHP Peavy set to return for White Sox

CHICAGO (AP) -- White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy is coming off the disabled list for a second time this season and is scheduled to start Wednesday's interleague series finale against the Chicago Cubs.

Astros OF Pence still having trouble with elbow

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Astros outfielder Hunter Pence likely won't return from a sprained left elbow until Friday.

Royals promote OF Dyson from Triple-A

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Kansas City Royals have recalled outfielder Jarrod Dyson from Triple-A Omaha.

Chipper returns to Braves after 4-game absence

ATLANTA (AP) -- Third baseman Chipper Jones returned to the Atlanta Braves' lineup for Tuesday night's game against Toronto after missing four games with a right adductor strain.

D-Backs promote PCL homer leader Wily Mo Pena

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have promoted Pacific Coast League home run leader Wily Mo Pena from Triple-A.

Dirk considering playing for German national team

DALLAS (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki is considering joining the German national team this summer to help their chances of qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Reyes tells Mets he won't negotiate during season

NEW YORK (AP) -- Jose Reyes has told the New York Mets he's not interested in negotiating a new contract during the season.

Former Seattle US attorney pushes pot legalization

SEATTLE (AP) -- A man who once served as the Justice Department's top official in Western Washington is sponsoring an initiative to legalize marijuana in the state.

McCourt lawyer: Selig hasn't acted in good faith

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- An attorney for Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt says baseball Commissioner Bud Selig didn't act in good faith when he rejected a proposed television deal that would help rescue the troubled franchise.

McKeon moves Marlins' Ramirez to cleanup

MIAMI (AP) -- New Florida Marlins interim manager Jack McKeon is hoping a move to the cleanup spot will jump-start Hanley Ramirez.

NCAA softball considers rules changes

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The NCAA is considering a change to its softball rules that would allow a defensive team to choose a penalty if a runner leaves base before the pitcher releases the ball.

Seattle homicide suspect arrested in Woodland

A man wanted in connection with a Seattle murder was arrested early this morning when a custodian at a Woodland school spotted Mussie E. Weldeyohhannes and called police.

Olympic speedskater plans bed-in for environment

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) -- In the spirit of John and Yoko, Olympic speedskater Kristina Groves is inviting Calgary's civic leaders to join her in bed.

Huntsman gets into White House race, promises jobs

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman joined the Republican presidential contest on Tuesday, pledging to run a civil campaign and claiming that he and President Barack Obama both love the United States but have different visions of its future.

Team doctor: Soler out of immediate danger

LONDON (AP) -- The doctor for Juan Mauricio Soler's cycling team says the Colombian's life is no longer in danger after having suffered head injuries in a crash during the Tour of Switzerland last week.

Jury convicts Gebauer of murder in Ore. shooting

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- An Oregon jury has found an unlicensed dentist guilty of murder in the shooting death of a fellow Russian immigrant who prosecutors said had been a patient.

Rain washes out Yankees-Reds game

CINCINNATI (AP) -- The game between the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds was postponed on Tuesday because of rain and a forecast of storms moving through all evening.

Cal's Campbell delivers big hits in 7-3 CWS win

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- No. 9 batter Derek Campbell drove in two runs, closer Matt Flemer pitched scoreless ball after freshman Kyle Porter's solid start and California beat Texas A&M 7-3 Tuesday at the College World Series.

NHL head shot ban gets clearer

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NHL ban on hits to the head is getting much clearer.

Padres place 1B Hawpe on DL, option LHP LeBlanc

BOSTON (AP) -- The San Diego Padres have put first baseman Brad Hawpe on the 15-day disabled list and optioned left-hander Wade LeBlanc to Triple-A Tucson.

Community notebook: Vancouver teen set to run on big stage at junior nationals

Alexis Fuller, 14, will run in the junior women’s 1,500 meters during the USA Track and Field Junior National Championships at Eugene.

In Our View: Pet Licenses Crucial

Local officials use carrot-and-stick approach; fines will quadruple on July 1

Well, that certainly got their attention. Using a carrot-and-stick approach, the Clark County Animal Protection and Control Advisory Board has managed to increase local pet licensing activity by 300 percent over last year. Kudos to the board for devising the strategy, to the county and affected cities for approving it and to Animal Control staff and workers for carrying it out. The carrot is a form of amnesty. If you get caught with an unlicensed dog or cat in unincorporated Clark County and the cities of Vancouver and Yacolt, your $25 fine will be waived if you buy a license.

Large haul of medals for Clark County Special Olympians at state event

Athletes competed in variety of championships

Special Olympics of Washington held state championships for five sports June 3-5 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and athletes from Clark County earned medals in all five.

Community sports scoreboard, June 21

Community sports results for the week ending June 20

Talking Points: New name for Qwest Field

What's the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking: New name for Qwest Field.

County’s surge in children bucks local, national trends

Lower cost of living, schools luring some families from Oregon

When economic conditions drove Jennifer and Erick Wegerer to move from Beaverton to Vancouver in 2004, they intended to return to Oregon once they had children who reached school age. That year, the Wegerers were laid off simultaneously from Sage Software, then Timberline Software, in Beaverton. Six weeks later, Erick found employment at Columbia Ultimate in Vancouver, and the couple moved close to his new job to save money on fuel and housing expenses and to start a family.

Weather Eye: Sun’s rays will reach down to us on this first day of summer

Summer officially begins this morning and we shall enjoy a very summerlike day as well. The rest of the week will follow what I discussed here on Sunday. Another pleasant day Wednesday, then more clouds and cooler weather the remainder of the week. We could even have some spotty drizzle on Thursday. The marine layer was so deep on Monday that the sun had a difficult time burning it off. There were also some pockets of drizzle, mist or light showers early on. Despite the clouds we were riding the 70-degree mark in most lowland areas.

Letter: Keep Congress contained

In one recent poll, I heard that Congress had an approval rating of 9 percent. A first I thought we should replace the entire lot, but on further reflection, and for two reasons, we should leave them where they are:

Letter: To reduce violence, secure borders

In response to Heidi Yewman’s June 15 letter, “Washington scores low on guns safety,” to purchase a gun from a dealer at a gun show you must go through the same procedures and background checks as at any retail gun store. The 10th Amendment indicates that buying a gun at a gun show is no more a legal loophole than is buying tires at any retailer.

Letter: Honor our children with national day

Mayor Tim Leavitt accepted a city Proclamation for Children’s Day, celebrated across the country annually on the second Sunday in the month of June. As an advocate for National Children’s Day, I initiated requests across the nation with the hope of expanding the grass-roots movement for legalizing National Children’s Day.

Letter: Can we really trust elected officials?

The Columbian had a good story on June 16, “Herrera Beutler: Vote on light rail,” that raises interesting questions about who is in charge — the politicians or the taxpayers.

Letter: Cyclists unfairly maligned

Too bad there’s so much misunderstanding and misinformation about bicycling (Jim Souder’s June 16 letter, “Why are bicyclists not taxed?”) because its benefits, to both us and our community, are significant.

Death notices

A list of daily death notices

Vital statistics

Marriage dissolutions and applications and court sentencings.

Letter: Conduct unbecoming shared by many

Chris Hill’s June 17 letter, “Raise the bar for appropriate conduct,” pegged progressive liberalism as the cause of U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner’s bad behavior, as well as Bill Clinton’s. No doubt Weiner is a liberal progressive, but does that have anything to do with his virtual sex life, or sexual misconduct in general? Bad behavior is universal among all occupations and political philosophies. Let’s not forget the epidemic of Catholic priests who prey on male and female children. And who could forget the televangelists from the inaptly named “moral” majority — they’ve had many sex scandals. It happens in all walks of life.

State looks to boost technology companies

Innovate Washington will have Vancouver operation

The Legislature has created a new program to assist emerging technology and clean energy companies, dubbed Innovate Washington, the result of a merger that will eliminate the long-established Washington Technology Center and the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, known as SIRTI. Innovate Washington should be up and running by Aug. 1, said Chris Coleman, Washington Technology Center executive director. State legislation approved in this year’s session requires the new entity to establish a plan by Dec. 1, 2012, for establishing operations in Vancouver, Tri-Cities, and Bellingham. Coleman says there’s no timeline for establishing a base in Vancouver.

Banish burger blahs by tucking savory surprises inside patties

Before you toss the usual burgers on the grill this summer. Before you endure the usual groans from bored burger eaters among family and friends. Do this: Stuff it. Yep, surprise those blasé about burgers, and up your grilling game by tucking a chunk of cheese, a spoonful of sauteed mushrooms or some chopped, grilled red pepper — and more — inside a burger patty before grilling.

Food and wine calendar

Classes and events Chuck’s Produce & Street Market: Free classes. Call or check website for schedule. 13215 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., Building B, Suite 2. * 360-597-2711 or http://chucksproduce.com.

Washington View: Americans under siege from the federal bureaucracy

Partisan wrangling in Congress over the federal deficit and government spending has created gridlock. Not much else is getting done. Into that void have stepped federal bureaucrats who are circumventing Congress to implement sweeping policy changes. With President Obama’s legislative initiatives stalled in Congress, his appointed agency directors are finding ways to implement his programs without congressional approval. These aren’t penny-ante changes — some programs carry trillion-dollar price tags.

Cardinals recall 1B-OF Hamilton to replace Pujols

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The St. Louis Cardinals have recalled first baseman-outfielder Mark Hamilton from Triple-A Memphis to take the roster spot of injured star Albert Pujols.

Prosecutors want limits on McNamee questioning

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Prosecutors are trying to limit what baseball star Roger Clemens' attorneys can say during his upcoming steroids trial about a police investigation involving his chief accuser.

Obama Commerce pick hits fed fight with Boeing

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's pick to head the Commerce Department is criticizing a federal lawsuit against the Boeing Co. over the aerospace giant's decision to locate a new plant in South Carolina.

600 JBLM soldiers deploying to Afghanistan

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AP) -- About 600 Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldiers are preparing for a year-long deployment in Afghanistan.

CFL back on NFL Network

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Canadian Football League will be back for a second season on the NFL Network.

Santos to auction medals celebrating Pele's goals

SAO PAULO (AP) -- Santos says it will auction commemorative medals celebrating Pele's goals against Penarol in the 1962 Copa Libertadores final.

Li Na beats Kudryavtseva in 1st round of Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- French Open champion Li Na safely negotiated her opening match at Wimbledon, defeating Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia 6-3, 6-3.

Bobcats' Diaw picks up $9 million option

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Charlotte Bobcats forward Boris Diaw has exercised his player option for next season that will pay him $9 million.

Former OSU recruit Price now going to Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Former Ohio State recruit Ejuan Price is now heading to Pittsburgh.

3.8 magnitude quake off Ore. coast, hardly noticed

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A 3.8 magnitude earthquake about 230 miles off the Oregon coast did not trigger any initial reports that it was felt on land.

APNewsBreak: FIFA opens case against Lisle Austin

LONDON (AP) -- FIFA says it has opened disciplinary proceedings against CONCACAF Vice President Lisle Austin for breaching soccer regulations by going to court to challenge his suspension from the regional organization.

CWU chimpanzee speech researchers retire

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (AP) -- The researchers who made Central Washington University famous for chimpanzees who use sign language, Roger and Debbie Fouts, have retired.

Jagr eyes return to NHL perhaps with Wings or Pens

DETROIT (AP) -- Jaromir Jagr would like to play in the NHL next season.

Union files complaint against GOP senator

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The union representing Boeing Co. workers in Washington state has filed an ethics complaint against Sen. Lindsay Graham, alleging the South Carolina Republican is trying to pressure the National Labor Relations Board into dropping a suit targeting the aircraft manufacturer.

Stanley Cup final is most-seen NHL game since 1973

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Boston Bruins' Stanley Cup-winning conquest of the Vancouver Canucks stands as the most-watched National Hockey League game on American television since the 1970s.

Ray Flynn runs Millrose Games at Armory on Feb. 11

NEW YORK (AP) -- Former Olympic runner Ray Flynn has been selected director of the Millrose Games.

Red Bull GM hopeful of finding new ownership group

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The general manager of Red Bull Racing says he's optimistic he can find investors to keep the team going beyond this year.

McCoughtry's 14 leads Dream past Sky 71-68

ATLANTA (AP) -- Angel McCoughtry scored 14 points and newcomer Courtney Paris had nine points and eight rebounds to lead Atlanta past Chicago 71-68 on Tuesday afternoon.

NASCAR fines JGR crew chiefs $50,000 each

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- NASCAR has fined Joe Gibbs Racing's three crew chiefs $50,000 each for bringing unapproved oil pans to Michigan last week.

Jefferson prizes for public service awarded to 13

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, actress Marlo Thomas and sports team owner Jerry M. Reinsdorf are among those being honored in Washington with a national prize for public service.

Feds launch campaign on immigration victim relief

BOSTON (AP) -- Law enforcement and community groups in Boston are learning about options to help immigrants who are victims of human trafficking and other violence.

Seattle appeals decision withholding officer names

SEATTLE (AP) -- The Seattle city attorney's office wants a judge to overrule an arbitrator's decision that the names of disciplined police officers must not be made public.

Conn. court: Ex-NFL player can't sue lawyers

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Connecticut's second-highest court has ruled ex-NFL player and investment firm founder Bob Simms can't sue his ex-wife's lawyers for fraud in a long-running divorce and alimony case.

Papers suggest Oregon paid for old recruit info

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The University of Oregon has released documents related to its use of recruiting services that suggest the school paid for information that was outdated.

1 suspect in Yakima shooting is victim's cousin

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) -- A man arrested for investigation of his role in a fatal Yakima shooting is the victim's cousin.

Simon confirmed as federal judge for Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A Portland attorney has been confirmed as a federal judge for Oregon.

Djokovic thrashes Chardy to open Wimbledon bid

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Novak Djokovic joined the rest of the big four of men's tennis in the second round at Wimbledon on Tuesday by comfortably beating Jeremy Chardy of France 6-4, 6-1, 6-1.

Blatter backs top FIFA official after Qatar gaffe

ZURICH (AP) -- FIFA President Sepp Blatter is backing his organization's secretary general after an embarrassing email about World Cup host Qatar.

Oregon sued over transgender insurance coverage

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- A national civil rights group has filed a lawsuit against the state of Oregon, claiming it denied insurance coverage for a transgender state worker.

Ore. Scandinavian festival draws fairgrounds crowd

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) -- The 44th annual Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival turned the Clatsop County Fairgrounds into a land of old-country culture and customs last weekend.

Thunder try to continue run of strong draft picks

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The quick rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder from the depths of the NBA to Western Conference finalists has been fueled by a series of strong drafts.

Rutgers now plays at High Point Solutions Stadium

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) -- Rutgers football stadium has a new name.

Bellingham man biking to all 30 major ballparks

SEATTLE (AP) -- A Bellingham man is about half way through a bicycle trip to all 30 major league ballparks.

APNewsBreak: Gingrich campaign finance team quits

ATLANTA (AP) -- The top fundraisers for Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign have abandoned his struggling bid amid anemic fundraising and heavy spending.

NBA owners, players meet for important session

NEW YORK (AP) -- NBA owners and players are meeting again in what Commissioner David Stern has called "a very important day in these negotiations."

Yankees' Jeter resumes onfield work after injury

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- New York Yankees' shortstop Derek Jeter has resumed onfield work.

Grieving Virginie Razzano wins at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Virginie Razzano has won for the first time since the death of her fiance, beating Sania Mirza of India 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3 in the first round at Wimbledon.

Smith leaving Sporting Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) -- Sporting Kansas City says Ryan Smith is leaving the MLS team for family reasons and will not be back this season.

Ore. rancher compensation for wolves bill revived

SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon lawmakers have revived a bill to compensate ranchers for livestock killed by wolves.

Report: Oregon cities slow to recover jobs

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A new report says it may take years for Oregon cities to recover enough jobs to get back to the levels they had before the recession.

Speeding motorcycle rider killed in Olympia crash

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The Washington State Patrol says a 22-year-old Wisconsin man was killed Tuesday in a high-speed motorcycle crash in Olympia.

USATF says Hightower not in the mix for CEO

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- USA Track and Field has ruled out the possibility of board president Stephanie Hightower taking over as the organization's new CEO.

Fake scholarship prank draws laughs, scolding

BANGOR, Pa. (AP) -- It turns out a Pennsylvania high school graduate's scholarship was just a load of bull.

Algae advisory issued for Lost Creek Lake in Ore.

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) -- A voluntary advisory has been issued warning people and pets against contact with water in Lost Creek Lake in southern Oregon after tests showed an outbreak of blue-green algae above levels considered unhealthy.

Santos, Penarol vie for Copa Libertadores title

SAO PAULO (AP) -- Two of South America's most successful soccer teams face off in the Copa Libertadores final on Wednesday, with Santos attempting to win its first title since Pele was playing and Penarol trying to revive its dominance of the 1960s and '80s.