Stories for January 9, 2012

NC panel: Sterilization victims should get $50K

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- A task force is recommending that people who were sterilized against their will under an old North Carolina state program be paid $50,000 each in compensation.

Man defends cutting fingers off dead man

DENVER (AP) -- A homeless man says he did what he had to do to survive when he cut off a dead man's fingers to get a gun believed used in a suicide in Grand County west of Denver.

Man defends cutting fingers off dead man

DENVER (AP) -- A homeless man says he did what he had to do to survive when he cut off a dead man's fingers to get a gun believed used in a suicide.

Blazers, Clippers meet again

Revitalized L.A. gave Portland its first loss

The Trail Blazers play host to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday in hopes of avenging their first loss of the season.

Teenager charged with arson in Central Oregon fire

BEND, Ore. (AP) -- A 16-year-old boy has been charged with arson and animal abuse after police say he set fire to a Redmond home.

Boys basketball: Woodland 61, R.A. Long 59

Woodland 61, R.A. Long 59 — Tanner Huddleston’s sixth 3-pointer, with 12 seconds left, stopped a long league losing streak for the Beavers.

GIrls basketball: Kelso 54, Hudson’s Bay 39

Kelso 54, Hudson’s Bay 39 — Natasha Marith scored 14 points and Kelso used a fast start to each half to beat the visiting Eagles.

Funeral Thursday for Seattle police officer

SEATTLE (AP) -- The funeral will be held Thursday for Seattle police officer Richard Nelson who shot himself following his arrest for drug possession.

Mosque defaced, 3 cars torched in West Bank

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israeli police say a mosque has been defaced with Hebrew graffiti and three cars have been torched in a Palestinian village in the West Bank.

Watchdog: Israel settlement building up 20 percent

JERUSALEM (AP) -- An Israeli monitoring group says Israel stepped up settlement building in the West Bank last year -- a sticking point in the deadlock in peace talks with the Palestinians.

Abbas calls Jordan talks with Israel 'important'

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) -- The Palestinian president says talks between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators in Jordan provide an "important opportunity" for reviving full peace negotiations.

Taiwanese LHP Wei-yin Chen agrees with Orioles

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Taiwanese left-hander Wei-yin Chen and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a three-year contract worth $11,338,000, a move aimed at improving a starting rotation that struggled last year.

Orioles sign Taiwanese LHP Chen to 3-year contract

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Baltimore Orioles have signed Taiwanese left-hander Wei-yin Chen to a three-year contract, a move they hope will enhance a starting rotation that struggled in 2011.

Girls basketball: Fort Vancouver 44, Columbia River 30

Fort Vancouver 44, Columbia River 30 — Mar’Shay Moore scored 21 points and the Trappers built an early lead en route to the 3A Greater St. Helens League win.

Girls basketball: Camas 36, Heritage 35

Camas 36, Heritage 35 — Sydney Allen scored 12 and Tatum Schroeder added 10 to lead the Papermamkers to the non-league victory.

Boys basketball: Camas 63, Heritage 60

Camas 63, Heritage 60 — Trent Johnson scored 18 points as the Papermakers scored a nonleague road win.

Boys basketball: Mark Morris 74, Hockinson 56

Mark Morris 74, Hockinson 56 — Rem Bakamus scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half, leading the Monarchs to the 2A Greater St. Helens League win.

Boys basketball: Columbia River 49, Kelso 42

Columbia River 49, Kelso 42 — The Columbia River Chieftains led with their defense Monday night in Kelso.

Spain police probe US student death in Barcelona

MADRID (AP) -- Spanish police says they are investigating the death of a U.S. student in Barcelona but at this point do not suspect foul play.

Seattle student found dead in Barcelona, Spain

MADRID (AP) -- Spanish police are investigating the death of a U.S. student from Seattle in Barcelona but so far do not suspect foul play.

Falcons drive seagulls off Portland garbage

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Three falcons are making hundreds of seagulls nervous at Metro's Central Transfer Station for Portland garbage.

Impasse on Oregon home care workers contract

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon's largest public employees union launched a statewide radio ad campaign Monday accusing Gov. John Kitzhaber of trying to eliminate health insurance for thousands of low-wage home care workers.

Eugene man pleads guilty to Medicaid theft

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- A Eugene home care worker for the elderly and disabled admitted he overbilled Medicaid and pleaded guilty to theft charges in a plea bargain with prosecutors.

Portland to test police officers for steroids

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Portland Police Bureau will include testing for steroids in this year's random testing of officers for drug abuse.

Family to sue owner of bus where FAMU student died

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- The family of a Florida A&M band member who died after a hazing ritual last November will sue the company that owns the bus where it took place.

Romney wins New Hampshire primary

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has won the New Hampshire Republican primary. Romney is the first Republican to win both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary in a competitive race since Iowa took the leadoff role in 1976.

Hillsboro man sentenced in girlfriend's stabbing

HILLSBORO, Ore. (AP) -- A 48-year-old Hillsboro man who stabbed his girlfriend was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

FIFA pledges to protect match-fixing witnesses

ZURICH (AP) -- FIFA has pledged to protect witnesses who report match-fixing plots by organized crime syndicates.

Report: NYC school employee faked daughter's death

NEW YORK (AP) -- A New York City school employee has lost her job over accusations she faked her daughter's death so she could take a vacation to Costa Rica.

Report: NYC school employee faked daughter's death

NEW YORK (AP) -- A New York City school employee has lost her job over accusations she faked her daughter's death so she could take a vacation to Costa Rica.

2-alarm fire damages Spokane Valley business

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. (AP) -- A two-alarm fire Monday night caused significant damage to the Industrial Systems and Fabrication business in Spokane Valley.

Va city's spending on NFL player visit not illegal

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) -- A state audit has found that Portsmouth's spending of $40,000 in public money on an NFL player's appearance wasn't illegal.

Women's WCup races moved from Maribor

OBERHOFEN, Switzerland (AP) -- The International Ski Federation says women's World Cup races scheduled for Jan. 21-22 in Maribor, Slovenia, have been moved because of warm temperatures and too little snow.

Activists hope to cap corporate privileges

Public invited to workshop on promoting community rights within Vancouver

In the past two decades, a growing number of cities and towns have passed or attempted to pass ordinances to diminish the ability of corporations to override community decisions. Now, there may be a nascent effort toward that end in Vancouver.

Former OR halfway house director admits embezzling

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A former director of Portland's federal halfway house has pleaded guilty to embezzling money from the government-funded nonprofit.

USS Reagan arrives at Puget Sound for overhaul

BREMERTON, Wash. (AP) -- The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan arrived in Puget Sound on Tuesday for a year-long stay at Bremerton.

Bremerton, Wash., welcoming aircraft carrier

BREMERTON, Wash. (AP) -- The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., is awaiting the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan for a year of maintenance work.

Gregoire calls for $3.6B transportation package

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Gov. Chris Gregoire is asking the Legislature to pass a "bold agenda" that includes a sales tax increase, school reforms and a $3.6 billion transportation package.

Gregoire to deliver state of the state speech

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Gov. Chris Gregoire will address the Legislature Tuesday in her state of the state speech.

Thousands expected at service for slain WA ranger

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) -- Thousands of people are expected at Tuesday's memorial service for Margaret Anderson, the Mount Rainier National Park ranger who was fatally shot on New Year's Day.

La Center teen still in critical condition

Cody Sherrell, the 14-year-old boy who collapsed and suffered cardiac arrest during basketball practice at La Center Middle School last week, is still listed in critical condition at Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in Portland, hospital officials said Monday.

Wash. Supreme Court hears arguments on arena debt

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The Washington Supreme Court is considering arguments over the debt troubles surrounding Wenatchee's events arena.

Wash. Supreme Court to hear case on arena debt

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The Washington state Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday over whether a public facilities district in Wenatchee should be able to refinance a nearly $42 million debt for an events arena.

Home makeover

Battle Ground couple with severe health problems get help from their neighbors.

Local legislators focus on priorities for state

While tax hikes, same-sex marriage and legalizing marijuana emerged as hot topics for state legislators convening in Olympia on Monday, Southwest Washington lawmakers also were abuzz about job creation, cutting government spending, and adequately funding education.

Vancouver strikes a deal over contamination

WWII-era shipyard debris will be left where it is; city will be reimbursed for expenses

The federal government and Kaiser have agreed to pay Vancouver $383,000 to reimburse the city for costs related to contaminated World War II debris buried near the Marine Park boat landing.

Local deputy had role in Mount Rainier search

He manned plane that scoured area for ranger’s killer

A local lawman was part of the manhunt for a murder suspect on Mount Rainier.

Report says state failing on higher education

Government not offering adequate opportunities

SEATTLE — Education researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have a message for the citizens of Washington: state government is failing to meet its responsibility to provide enough opportunities for a college education in Washington.

Derek Redmond's father to carry Olympic torch

LONDON (AP) -- Twenty years after helping his injured son cross the finish line in Barcelona, Jim Redmond has been selected to carry the Olympic flame during the torch relay ahead of the London Games.

Ainslie to sail with America's Cup champion Oracle

LONDON (AP) -- Three-time Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie will sail in next year's America's Cup with defending champion Oracle, gaining experience for what he hopes will be a title challenge with his own team.

Damages doubled for Danish fan's attack on referee

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) -- An appeals court has ordered a Danish fan to pay the country's soccer federation nearly $320,000 in damages for trying to attack the referee during a European Championship qualifier between Denmark and Sweden in 2007.

Cantona campaigns for homeless, not presidency

PARIS (AP) -- Former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona wants France's next president to pay more attention to the homeless, but doesn't necessarily want the job himself.

Top-seeded Wickmayer advances at Hobart

HOBART, Australia (AP) -- Top-seeded Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium beat Australian wild-card Casey Dellacqua 6-1, 6-1 Tuesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Hobart International.

2 men killed in traffic crash near Tacoma

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) -- Authorities say a sport utility vehicle crossed the center line on state Route 167 and struck an oncoming car head-on near Tacoma, killing both drivers.

Iran sentences former U.S. Marine to death

Arrested during trip to see family, he’s accused of being spy

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A former U.S. Marine interpreter arrested while on a trip to visit his Iranian grandmothers has been sentenced to death as a CIA spy, state radio reported Monday, in a case likely to become a new flashpoint in the escalating tensions between Tehran’s defiance over its nuclear program and Washington’s efforts to impose more crippling sanctions.

Port of Vancouver set to reappoint top manager

Larry Paulson, who will retire in April, not expected to get an increase in salary

Port of Vancouver commissioners are expected to reappoint Larry Paulson as the port’s top manager Tuesday, with no increases in his annual salary or monthly car allowance.

Economist Scott Bailey to recap 2012 Forecast in Web chat

Bailey, regional labor economist for the state Employment Security Department in Southwest Washington, will break down and recap the Economic Forecast Breakfast.

Ducks' Jacques suspended 3 games for illegal check

NEW YORK (AP) -- Anaheim Ducks forward Jean-Francois Jacques has been suspended for three games by the NHL after he illegally checked an opponent in the head during a game Sunday.

High court weighs policy against curse words on TV

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court is considering whether government regulators may still police the airwaves for curse words and other coarse content at a time when so many Americans have unregulated cable television, and the Internet is awash in easily accessible adult material.

No doubt about Alabama: Tide is No. 1 in AP poll

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Alabama split the games and swept the titles.

Portland police use tear gas to end standoff

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Police tossed tear gas canisters into a rural southeast Portland home to end a five-hour standoff and flush a muddy, bloody man who had run into the house and fired at least two shots.

Economic Forecast speaker profiled in Wall Street Journal

The Columbian's 2012 Economic Forecast Breakfast keynote speaker, slated to present Tuesday in Vancouver, was featured in a Wall Street Journal profile on Monday.

World Series winners to get White House honor

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals will be honored by President Barack Obama at the White House on Jan. 17.

Fish and Wildlife Commission appointee draws fire

Okanogan County commissioners complain Jay Kehne does not reflect their opinions

Man dies in south Seattle shooting

SEATTLE (AP) -- Police say a 30-year-old man has died after a shooting in south Seattle.

Police seek Neighbors on Watch volunteers

The Vancouver Police Department is accepting applications for citizen volunteers through Jan. 26.

Microsoft CEO hits familiar chord in CES swan song

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer struck familiar chords Monday in his swan song at the International Consumer Electronic Show.

Alabama State defeats Arkansas-Pine Bluff 62-55

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Ivory White and Tramaine Butler scored 14 points each as Alabama State defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 62-55 Monday night in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game.

1 dead in E. Ore. convenience store shooting

HERMISTON, Ore. (AP) -- A shooting at a convenience store in the northeast Oregon town of Hermiston has killed one person.

Suspects in thefts from crime scene speak out

DENVER (AP) -- A Craig couple accused of stealing from a murder-suicide scene in Grand County before authorities got there are defending their actions.

Cincinnati upsets No. 11 Georgetown 68-64

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sean Kilpatrick scored a career-high 27 points, and Cincinnati went 6 for 6 from the free throw line in the final 70 seconds Monday night to upset No. 11 Georgetown 68-64.

Norfolk State beats Howard 68-48

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- Chris McEachin and Pendarvis Williams scored 16 points apiece and the Norfolk State defense turned in a tough effort in the Spartans' fifth straight win, 68-48 over Howard on Monday night.

North Carolina A&T edges Florida A&M 85-82 in OT

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) -- Adrian Powell scored 22 points, including five in overtime, as North Carolina A&T edged Florida A&M 85-82 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game Monday night.

Martinez leads Wyoming over Idaho State 73-79

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) -- Luke Martinez scored a career-high 23 points to lead Wyoming over Idaho State 73-49 on Monday night.

Coppin State beats South Carolina State 82-61

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) -- Michael Harper scored 25 points and Logan Wiens added 23, including going 5 of 6 on 3-pointers, for Coppin State in an easy 82-61 win over South Carolina State on Monday night.

Hassan, Savannah State beats Morgan State 57-55

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) -- Rashad Hassan scored 15 points, including the game-winning dunk, to lift Savannah State past Morgan State 57-55 on Monday night.

Air Force rally overtakes Texas-Pan American 67-50

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) -- Todd Fletcher led four Air Force players in double figures with 15 points, and Kamryn Williams had his first career double-double to lead the Falcons to a 67-50 victory over Texas-Pan American on Monday night.

Florida Atlantic defeats Arkansas State 58-50

JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) -- Greg Gantt had 21 points and seven rebounds to lead Florida Atlantic to a 58-50 victory against Arkansas State on Monday night.

Most read stories on Columbian.com, week of Jan. 1

Most read stories on Columbian.com last week.

North Carolina Central beats Bethune-Cookman 69-64

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Ray Willis scored 21 points to lead North Carolina Central in a 69-64 win over Bethune-Cookman on Monday night.

Ore. man to serve nearly 19 years for sex abuse

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- A 39-year-old Florence, Ore., man has been sentenced to nearly 19 years in prison for the repeated sexual abuse of an underage girl.

Food dispute triggered Ohio murder-suicide

LOGAN, Ohio (AP) -- An Ohio sheriff says an argument over what a terminally ill woman should be given to eat apparently triggered a shooting that left four people dead, including the gunman.

4 dead in apparent murder-suicide in SE Ohio

LOGAN, Ohio (AP) -- School officials say one of four people killed in an apparent murder-suicide in Ohio was a loved and respected high school Spanish teacher.

Anthony helps Knicks avenge loss to Bobcats

NEW YORK (AP) -- Carmelo Anthony shook off a poor shooting night to make the tiebreaking basket with 2:39 remaining and score 22 points, and the New York Knicks avenged an embarrassing loss to the Charlotte Bobcats with a 91-87 victory on Monday night.

Mercer beats South Carolina Upstate 73-66

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) -- Justin Cecil scored 26 points to help lead Mercer to a 73-66 win over South Carolina Upstate on Monday night for the Bears' fourth win in five games.

WA boy who collapsed at basketball practice dies

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The 14-year-old La Center, Wash., boy who collapsed during a middle school basketball practice on Jan. 3 died Monday at a Portland hospital.

Wash. boy who collapsed at practice dies

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A 14-year-old La Center, Wash., boy who collapsed during a middle school basketball practice has died in a Portland, Ore., hospital.

1 boy who collapsed improving; 1 still critical

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- One of two Northwest middle school students who collapsed at separate basketball practices has improved to good condition. The second student remains in critical condition.

Florida Gulf Coast defeats Jacksonville 77-66

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Bernard Thompson scored 16 points and Sherwood Brown had 15 as Florida Gulf Coast defeated Jacksonville 77-66 Monday night.

Wozniacki wins 2nd-round match at Sydney

SYDNEY (AP) -- Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki came back from 4-0 down in the final set to beat Dominkia Cibulkova of Slovakia 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 Tuesday and advance to the quarterfinals at the Sydney International.

Granite Falls WA body is ID'd as Tacoma man

GRANITE FALLS, Wash. (AP) -- A 30-year-old man found fatally shot in the Granite Falls, Wash., area was from Tacoma.

Johnson's 24 points lead No. 13 Miami women

DULUTH, Ga. (AP) -- Shenise Johnson scored 24 points, Morgan Stroman added 18 with 10 rebounds and No. 13 Miami beat Georgia Tech 77-65 on Monday night.

Davis leads James Madison past Hampton 74-67

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) -- A.J. Davis scored 21 points to lead James Madison to a 74-67 nonconference victory over Hampton on Monday night, ending a three-game losing streak for the Dukes.

East Tennessee State beats Kennesaw State 73-69

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) -- Adam Sollazzo scored 20 points and Tommy Hubbard had a double-double to help East Tennessee State defeat Kennesaw State 73-69 Monday night.

Mississippi Valley State beats Alabama A&M 81-69

NORMAL, Ala. (AP) -- Falando Jones scored 18 points to pace five Mississippi Valley State players scoring in double figures for an 81-69 win over Alabama A&M on Monday night, keeping the Delta Devils unbeaten in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Preserving the barns of Clark County

State initiative to register agricultural history helps farmers’ restoration work

They’ve been used and abused for more than 50 years, and remain an important reminder of Clark County’s agricultural roots. This is a story of three of the county’s historic barns.

Successful surgery for Celtics F Green

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) -- Forward Jeff Green had successful surgery Monday at the Cleveland Clinic to repair an aeortic aneurysm, discovered by the Celtics medical staff during a routine entrance physical in December.

Topliner sold for $1.4 million at Keeneland

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- A 10-year-old unraced mare named Topliner sold for $1.4 million on the opening day of Keeneland's January Horses of All Ages Sale on Monday.

Rams: Down to us and Dolphins for Fisher

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The St. Louis Rams are reporting on their website that they and the Dolphins are finalists in the bidding to hire Jeff Fisher as their head coach.

Auburn's Barbee signs contract through June 2017

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Auburn basketball coach Tony Barbee now has a signed contract, more than 21 months after his hiring.

Raptors Gray has procedure to fix rapid heart rate

TORONTO (AP) -- Raptors center Aaron Gray underwent a procedure Monday aimed at preventing episodes of a rapid heart rate that have kept the four-year veteran out of action so far this season. He's expected to return in two weeks.

Georgia's Boykin wins Paul Hornung Award

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Georgia senior cornerback and return specialist Brandon Boykin has won the 2011 Paul Hornung Award winner as the nation's most versatile player.

1 cat dies, 1 treated in Seattle house fire

SEATTLE (AP) -- Fire officials say a Seattle house fire that began with a hot plate killed one of 14 cats that were in foster care in the home. Medics treated a second cat with a specially designed pet oxygen mask and sent it on to a veterinary hospital.

Ex-Jets assistant Sal Alosi hired by UCLA

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Sal Alosi, the former New York Jets assistant coach who resigned last year after tripping an opposing player on the sideline, has been hired by UCLA as its strength and conditioning coordinator.

Fans arrive to find seats now a media area

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- There's another ticket mess at a football championship game.

Southern U beats cold-shooting Jackson State 68-37

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- Jameel Grace scored 12 points and Mike Celestin and Cameron Monroe scored 10 each as Southern University defeated cold-shooting Jackson State 68-37 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game Monday night.

Man sentenced in 20-ton cocaine smuggling scheme

SEATTLE (AP) -- A man convicted of conspiring to smuggle 20 tons of cocaine into the United States has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

AP source: Former Auburn TB Dyer to Arkansas St

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that former Auburn tailback Mike Dyer is transferring to Arkansas State.

Dalglish insists club committed to racism fight

LONDON (AP) -- Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish says it is "utterly rubbish" to suggest that defending Luis Suarez during a racism case means the club is not interested in fighting racism.

Angels, Kendrick agree to $33.5M, 4-year deal

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- All-Star second baseman Howie Kendrick has agreed to a $33.5 million, four-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels, passing up a chance to hit the free-agent market after next season.

Man in gallery lunges from bench, hits defendant

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A rowdy Portland, Ore., court sentencing turned briefly violent when a man in the gallery leaped from his seat and punched the defendant in the face.

Man in gallery lunges from pew, punches defendant

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A rowdy courtroom sentencing turned briefly violent when a man in the gallery leaped from his seat and punched the defendant in the face.

Former Yankee Carey dies in Calif. at 80

COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) -- Andy Carey, third baseman for the New York Yankees dynasty of the 1950s that won four straight American League pennants and two World Series, has died at 80.

Roy Disney family mulls bid for Dodgers

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The family of the late Roy E. Disney is in talks with other investors about making a joint bid to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers out of bankruptcy.

Green leads Stetson over North Florida 68-64

DELAND, Fla. (AP) -- Willie Green scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Stetson held off North Florida 68-64 on Monday.

UPDATE: Vancouver woman charged in crash that killed Oregon boy

Officers allege that driver showed signs of impairment

A Vancouver woman has been charged with second-degree manslaughter in Beaverton, Ore., after a three-car collision killed a 10-year-old boy and sent two others to the hospital.

Tulsa's Damaris Johnson leaves school to turn pro

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Tulsa wide receiver and kick returner Damaris Johnson, the NCAA leader in all-purpose yards who was suspended for much of the season, is leaving to pursue a pro career.

Opponent of same-sex marriage files initiative

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- As lawmakers prepare to consider a measure to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state, an Everett attorney has filed an initiative seeking to clarify the definition of marriage.

NFL scouts barred from NFLPA bowl

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL has barred scouts from attending a Jan. 21 bowl game organized by the players' association, upsetting the union.

Son of Arkansas' Anderson arrested for DWI

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- The son of Arkansas basketball coach Mike Anderson has been arrested again on suspicion of drunken driving.

State lawmakers ready to talk spending

60-day session opens with state budget at the top of the agenda

OLYMPIA — Washington state lawmakers gathered Monday to begin a legislative session that is expected to include a broad revamp of government spending and a close review of whether the state should legalize gay marriage.

NFL, ex-players want concussion suits heard in Pa.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The National Football League wants to consolidate in Philadelphia a string of lawsuits filed across the country by former players who say they've suffered concussion-related brain injuries.

Rested, healthy Ravens relish benefit of bye week

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- As a reward for going 12-4 and winning the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens got to watch football over the weekend instead of playing it.

Report: WA falls short in higher education

SEATTLE (AP) -- Education researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have a message for the citizens of Washington state. They want them to know that the state government is failing to meet its responsibility to provide enough opportunities for a college education in Washington.

Schools chief defends keeping accused Ala. teacher

ALABASTER, Ala. (AP) -- A longtime Alabama school board president is defending the panel's decision in 1993 to reinstate a teacher who was accused of molesting a student, even though the teacher is now charged with more abuse.

Checking wrong box is company's $18,000 mistake

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- An Oregon paint company is paying a hefty fine for a paperwork mistake with the Environmental Protection Agency.

In Our View: Helping Businesses

Governor, Department of Revenuerecommend centralizing B&O tax collections

Any Washingtonian who ventures beyond state lines and talks about our state’s business climate will usually hear many questions about Microsoft, Costco and other corporate giants for which we’re famous. But here’s a fact that might surprise many people here and elsewhere: About 95 percent of the state’s employers have fewer than 50 workers, according to a recent press release from Gov. Chris Gregoire’s office.

Roseburg machete attack ends in guilty verdict

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) -- A Roseburg man faces more than five years in prison after jurors found him guilty of assault for charging into a Sutherlin man's home and striking him with a machete.

Martinez: Help us choose prep athlete of the week

Tim Martinez: High Schools

We're starting something new this week at The Columbian. We're allowing fans to vote on who should be our athlete of the week.

Prep sports schedule for week of Jan. 9-14

High school sports schedule for the week of Jan. 9-14

Editorial Cartoon: One way to lose weight

Jan. 9

Pitts: Paul doubles down on faulty premise

“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”

Off Beat: Mount Rainier shooting hits local ranger personally, professionally

There’s often a gulf of a century or more between Greg Shine and the people who are the focus of his work.

Letter: Rise in twins quickens resource drain

A Jan. 5 story reported “Number of U.S. women having twins soars,” that one in every 30 babies born in the U.S. was a twin. Overpopulation — the salient cause of misery upon this Earth — is busily constructing a future of unimaginable decay, destruction, genocide, and ultimately the extinction of the human species.

Letter: Freedoms are clearly defined

The 99 percent (general public) is being denied access to public and private parks, roads, sidewalks, bridges, ports, etc., by the 1 percent (Occupiers). The 1 percent claim brutal treatment by law enforcement when ordered to disband while leaving thousands of dollars (taxpayer money) to clean up their messes.

Letter: Bond funding builds strong schools

Ridgefield School District voters must reverse history and approve the upcoming school bond measure.

Letter: Denial and approval inconsistent

I agree with Marlin Dunlap’s Jan. 3 letter, “Hoops and red tape never cease.” Dunlap, a disabled veteran, is absolutely correct about Veterans Affairs and its regional offices.

Letter: Same-sex marriage not God’s design

I’d like to explain why I do not support Gov. Chris Gregoire’s recent endorsement of gay marriage. At the risk of sounding trite, it is absolutely true in my 57 years of life that gay men and lesbian women are among the brightest, wittiest, smartest, wealthiest, compassionate and decent people out there. Undisputed truth.

Letter: Too many strikes against mining plan

Kudos to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., for keeping the Forest Service and multinational mining corporations honest in her call for a full public review of exploratory drilling associated with an open-pit mine proposal in the shadow of Mount St. Helens. Here are three reasons I think Ascot’s mine proposal has three strikes against it:

Clark County building permits

Building permits over $25,000 issued by Clark County’s Department of Community Development for Dec. 19-Jan. 2.

Clark County business calendar

To submit to the business calendar, send information to mary.ricks@columbian.com or fax 360-735-4491. Sales awards are not published.

Resolutions for 2012: How to improve your kids’ health

Doctor Sara Bell, a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente’s Orchards medical office, has some great advice on making successful resolutions to improve your child’s health.

Op-Ed: Exploring effective pain relief options

One reason alternative therapies are not more commonly used by the public appears to be the lack of insurance coverage. Including alternative therapies in health insurance will make them more accessible to patients who may be struggling to find better ways to manage their pain.

Bits 'n' Pieces: Children inspire author to write, her characters

While Piper Cameron doesn’t always hang upside down from trees like Tina Marie, one could say that, at age 3, she was the inspiration for Kristy Cameron’s latest book, “Tina Marie’s Amazing World.”

Kaiser Permanente

Partner of the week

Open Forum, Jan. 9-15

An open forum for community discussion.

Real estate roundup

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

Texans eye Ravens while Phillips mulls interview

HOUSTON (AP) -- Texans coach Gary Kubiak says his players won't be distracted by defensive coordinator Wade Phillips' upcoming job interview as they prepare for this weekend's playoff game in Baltimore.

With NFL decision pending, RG3 meets coach again

WACO, Texas (AP) -- Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III has met with his coach again as he decides whether he will declare for the NFL draft.

Archie Manning: Peyton disappointed Polians let go

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Archie Manning says Peyton Manning was disappointed that Bill Polian was let go during the Indianapolis Colts' leadership shake-up but remains committed to coming back next season.

Giants minor league catcher suspended for 50 games

NEW YORK (AP) -- San Francisco Giants catcher Drew Stiner has been suspended for 50 games under baseball's minor league drug program after testing positive for a banned amphetamine.

Man gets at least 8 years for bank robbery

LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) -- A 70-year-old Washington state man faces at least eight years in prison for the February 2011 robbery of a US Bank branch in Lewiston and pointing a gun at officers trying to track down the robber.

About 100 soldiers restricted for theft probe

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AP) -- About 100 soldiers remain restricted at Joint Base Lewis-McChord while the Army Criminal Investigation Command looks into the theft of $600,000 worth of night vision equipment, laser sights and other gear.

Ear bitten off in Kennewick brawl

KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) -- A man had part of an ear bitten off during a brawl outside a Kennewick bar.

Super PACs leaning on wealthy donors for support

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Wealthy donors to outside groups backing Republicans Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich include a leading hotel magnate, a casino mogul and Romney's former partners at his private equity firm.

Demaryius Thomas a rising star after many injuries

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- Betrayed by his body, it took Demaryius Thomas until the end of his second NFL season to validate his status as the first wide receiver selected in the 2010 draft, ahead of Dallas' Dez Bryant.

Burglary suspect shot and killed near Everett

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) -- The Snohomish County sheriff's office says a homeowner shot and killed a burglary suspect just before noon Monday at a residence near Everett.

Venus Williams pulls out of Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Venus Williams says she is withdrawing from the Australian Open.

Ind. reaches online sales tax deal with Amazon.com

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Amazon.com will begin collecting Indiana's 7 percent sales tax from customers in 2014.

Bend considers making office of mayor elected post

BEND, Ore. (AP) -- Under a system some in Bend regard as "small town-ish," the city council appoints the mayor, a system that could change this year if the council gives voters the right to choose their mayor.

Biodiesel users see benefits in Central Oregon

BEND, Ore. (AP) -- Central Oregon businesses say they're willing to spend a little more to ensure their distribution systems are environmentally friendly.

Paternos make annual $100K donation to Penn State

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Sue Paterno says she and husband Joe gave $100,000 last month to Penn State, split between a library and an undergraduate fellows program that bear the family name.

Morgan State coach Bozeman suspended by school

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Morgan State basketball coach Todd Bozeman has been suspended indefinitely without pay after being involved in a physical altercation with one of his players during a victory at South Carolina State on Saturday night.

Officials: White House chief of staff resigning

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two senior administration officials say the White House chief of staff, William Daley, is resigning. He's being replaced by Jacob Lew, the budget director.

Trial judge will review police officers' files

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- The judge who will preside over the trial of an Oregon woman accused of aggravated murder in the death of her newborn baby will review police officer personnel files sought by defense attorneys in the case.

Alex Tagliani signs with Bryan Herta Autosport

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Bryan Herta Autosport has signed Alex Tagliani to drive in the Izod IndyCar Series this season.

Vikings LB Greenway picked for Pro Bowl

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway has been picked for his first Pro Bowl.

Roma wins stage, Peterhansel keeps overall lead

ANTOFAGASTA, Chile (AP) -- Joan Roma of Spain has won Monday's eighth stage of the Dakar Rally in the car category, while Stephane Peterhansel finished fourth to keep the overall lead as the rally heads into the final week.

APNewsBreak: More aid for college athletes sought

WASHINGTON (AP) -- An advocacy group is pushing a "bill of rights" for student-athletes aimed at increasing financial assistance to college players.

Generator fumes sicken Hoquiam family of 5

HOQUIAM, Wash. (AP) -- The friend of a Hoquiam family may have saved 5 lives Sunday night by discovering they were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.

New UCLA coach Mora dismisses 3 from football team

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- New UCLA football coach Jim Mora has dismissed defensive back Randall Carroll, defensive end Wesley Flowers and tight end Raymond Nelson from the team.

Packers coordinator's son missing

OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) -- Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin's son is missing.

Doan gets his hat trick _ finally

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Shane Doan looked half exhausted and half stunned as the puck hit the back of the net.

NYC Marathon will return to live TV in 2012

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York City Marathon will be shown on live national television for the first time in nearly 20 years as part of a new five-year partnership with ABC and ESPN.

US House Speaker John Boehner visits Brazil slum

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- U.S. House Speaker John Boehner has started a trade-boosting trip to Latin America with a visit to a Brazilian shantytown that police have recently seized from drug traffickers.

Dereliction detailed in Wash. prison guard death

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) -- One of the three Washington state prison guards fired after the slaying of corrections officer Jayme Biendl was away from his post during the attack, and officials still don't know where he was.

Dereliction detailed in Monroe prison guard death

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) -- One of the three Monroe prison guards who were fired after the slaying of corrections officer Jayme Biendl was away from his post during the attack, and officials still don't know where he was.

Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi diagnosed with cancer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has cancer.

2 level-three sex offenders enrolled at UW

SEATTLE (AP) -- The University of Washington has sent an email notification to all students, faculty and staff at its Seattle campus because two level-three sex offenders are enrolled during winter quarter.

GM Nix: Bills resume talks with WR Johnson

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- The Buffalo Bills have had new talks in a bid to re-sign receiver Stevie Johnson. And general manager Buddy Nix regards adding a pass-rusher as being the team's top priority this offseason.

Layoffs target 4 firefighters in SW Ore. town

WINSTON, Ore. (AP) -- Four firefighters in the southwest Oregon community of Winston are scheduled to be laid off in less than one month after an outside audit found the fire district was in a financial crisis.

Obama welcomes NBA champ Dallas Mavericks

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is hailing the Dallas Mavericks at the White House seven months after they beat the Miami Heat in the NBA finals.

Fancy crosswalks wearing out in Bellingham

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) -- Four years ago decorative crosswalks were installed at six intersections in Bellingham as part of a "streetscape" project.

Chargers to stay in San Diego in 2012

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The San Diego Chargers are staying put next season.

2001 Heisman winner Crouch: I'm done with football

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Eric Crouch says he's finished with football.

Explosion on fishing vessel at Port Townsend

PORT TOWNSEND, Wash. (AP) -- The Coast Guard says there was an explosion Monday morning on board a vessel moored near the Coast Guard Cutter Osprey in Port Townsend.

Woods to start PGA Tour season at Pebble Beach

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) -- Tiger Woods is returning to the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for the first time in 10 years.

Mining firms show interest in Ore. gold, uranium

ONTARIO, Ore. (AP) -- A section of Eastern Oregon suffering from high unemployment hopes a renewed interest from mining companies in its uranium and gold stores leads to a jobs boom, but environmentalists remain skeptical the mining can be done safely.