For 20 years, America has been sending drug offenders in possession of crack cocaine to jail at considerably higher rates than those who possess powdered cocaine. Possession of five grams of crack cocaine, an amount equal to five packets of sugar substitute, landed a person in jail for a minimum of five years. It took 100 grams of powder cocaine to earn a five-year sentence. Also, last year 82 percent of crack defendants were black. ... [full story]

The plane had barely come to a halt at the gate when a passenger in an aisle seat popped up, snapped open an overhead compartment and jerked out his suitcase. A metal cane came tumbling with it, whacking the woman next to me on the head. Stunned, she grabbed her head and sat back down. Others around her started buzzing about what happened. "That man pulled out his suitcase and the cane was in front ... [full story]

Qualcomm Wednesday won one of its many battles with Nokia over patents and related licensing fees, as a Dutch court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Finnish phone maker. The action potentially removes one arrow from Nokia's quiver, but it does little to shift power in the conflict between the two telecom giants. Nokia said it has not decided whether to appeal. The Dutch court action was one piece of a busy news day for ... [full story]

What:   Remaining bowls from the Empty Bowl event will be sold as a fundraiser for NeighborImpact during the First Friday Art Walk on December 7, in downtown Bend from 5-8 p.m.  The bowls will be sold for $15 each and would make a wonderful holiday gift.  Each bowl comes with a moving poem written by children living in an emergency shelter. When:           December 7, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. Where:          Thump Coffee, 25 Minnesota Ave.  ... [full story]

A heavy equipment operator excavating near the intersection of Powers Road and Blakely Road ruptured a natural gas line Wednesday afternoon, prompting an evacuation and the closure of about 1,200 feet of the roadway, officials reported. Bend Fire Captain Chuck Goss said an alarm was received about 1:45 p.m., November 14, and arriving crews isolated and evacuated the area with the assistance of law enforcement personnel when the gas line rupture was discovered.  Cascade Natural ... [full story]

An investigation into suspected child abuse prompted deputies to raid a southeast Prineville home on Tuesday morning, leading to the arrest of a 40-year old man on assault, drug, and other charges.   Daniel Kentner - CCJ photo According to a news release prepared by Detective Sergeant Travis Jurgens with the Crook County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received the report about 8:20 a.m., November 13.  An initial investigation into the possible child abuse resulted in a search warrant ... [full story]

Officials report the cause of a fire in the living room of a northeast Bend home Wednesday evening has yet to be determined and estimated $65,000 in damage to the structure and contents. Bend Fire Captain Andy Hood reported that an alarm was received about 7:45 p.m., November 14.  Three engine companies, a command vehicle and 14 firefighters responded to the 1,200 square-foot single-story home at 1041 NE 8th Street and found moderate smoke with ... [full story]

WARSAW, Poland -- Two people were killed and 13 injured when a truck collided with a train at an unprotected ground-level crossing at Poledno in northern Poland, police said.Pawel Fratczak, spokesman for the Poledno firefighters service, said the train engineer and a passenger died in the collision, Polish Radio reported Thursday.The 13 injured were rushed to a hospital and doctors said their injuries were minor.An initial investigation into the crash suggested the truck driver did ... [full story]

LONDON -- Doctors testifying at the London inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, said a pregnancy test was not performed before she died.Bruno Riou, a doctor at Pitie Salpetriere hospital in Paris, said the princess' chances of survival when she was brought into the hospital after the 1997 crash were "almost nill," The Mirror reported Thursday.Michael Mansfield, a lawyer for the father of Diana's boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, told the inquest that an ... [full story]

MOSCOW -- Russian weather experts said Thursday that oil spilled from a tanker four days ago may soon reach the Azov Sea.The Russian hydro-meteorological service said in a statement Thursday that the spill, which originated in the Kerch Strait between the Azov Sea and the Black Sea, was headed for the larger body of water, RIA Novosti reported."According to estimates, about half of the spilled fuel oil remains on the southwest shore of the Tuzla ... [full story]