Two Bend residents were badly injured in a head-on collision on icy Highway 20 near the Old Bend-Redmond Highway Monday morning, deputies reported. Deschutes County Sheriff's deputies, Oregon State Police troopers, and Bend Fire personnel responded to the scene north of Bend about 7 a.m., December 17, Sheriff’s Deputy Lisa Jeffcott and Sgt. Ronny Dozier said. According to a news release, Jacob A. Vinson, 28, apparently lost control of his 2006 Toyota Tundra pickup and crossed into ... [full story]

Six teenagers police believe are responsible for a rash of graffiti vandalism to numerous businesses, vehicles and other property in the south side of Bend over the past few months have been arrested, police announced Sunday. An investigation led to the identification of the teens, aged 16 to 18. Citations for first-degree criminal mischief were issued to William P. Hill, 18, four 17-year-olds, and one 16-year-old.  All of the suspects are boys, Bend Police Lt. ... [full story]

Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a man alleged to have assaulted a woman as she slept in her apartment early Saturday morning. The victim’s seven-year-old son was in her bedroom, and her nine-year-old daughter was in an adjoining bedroom during the assault.   BPD released a drawing of the suspect. Beaverton Police responded to 6160 SW Alice Lane shortly before 6 a.m., December 15 and contacted the 46-year old female victim. According to a ... [full story]

HILLSBOROUGH, N.H. -- U.S. presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., received an endorsement Monday from Democrat turned independent, Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut."As president, John McCain will bring America together again," Lieberman told a gathering in Hillsborough, N.H. "He will inspire a new American unity and a new American patriotism. He will push all of us to work together to solve our biggest problems, and defeat our most dangerous enemies.McCain then spoke, saying he was ... [full story]

KETCHIKAN, Alaska -- Police blamed unattended cooking for a deadly Ketchikan, Alaska, fire that killed four siblings, ages 3 to 17.Four of Lodivinia Credito's five children died over the weekend of smoke inhalation due to the Saturday morning fire. the ded were identified as Kristinenoell Credito Harris, 3; Denbert Credito, 5; Alysha Credito, 12; and Debertson Bertolano, 17, the Anchorage Daily News said. A fifth child, age 14, was at a friend's home during the ... [full story]

SEOUL -- An oil slick from South Korea's largest oil spill 10 days ago is spreading havoc along the scenic west coast, threatening the sanctuary of migratory birds.South Korea's Coast Guard said Monday the oil slick, already more than 320 feet long, is located at the mouth of the Cheonsuman Bay, Yonhap news agency reported.The slick was created when tar-like clumps of oil melted in warmer water temperatures, officials said. Gusty winds and high waves ... [full story]

TOKYO -- The approval rating of Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's Cabinet has fallen to 35.3 percent, down 11.7 points from last month, a new poll indicated.The nationwide telephone opinion survey, conducted during the weekend by Kyodo News, also found the disapproval rating of the Fukuda government jumped 11 points to 47.6 percent during the same period.Kyodo News said this is the first time the disapproval rating percentage -- blamed largely on public discontent over ... [full story]

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lanka Tamil Tigers' leader Velupillai Prabakharan suffered minor injuries in an aerial attack by Sri Lankan forces last month, the Nation reported Sunday.The elusive leader was injured Nov. 28 but the Tigers -- who have been waging a bitter battle for years for a separate homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil-speaking minority -- are keeping the incident secret so as not to demoralize his supporters, the report said.Prabhakaran, whose injuries were ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- Environmentalists are finding a perhaps unlikely ally in the U.S. armed forces, reports said.The largest solar array in North America is set to open Monday at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., The Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram reported Sunday. And the Naval base at Guantanamo Bay is partially wind powered.The high price of fuel, the push to reduce dependence on foreign oil, and social concern all contribute to a certain military eco-friendliness that has ... [full story]

SALT LAKE CITY -- Bird enthusiasts flocked to Utah's Zion National Park to help count beaks for the annual bird census.About 20 volunteers joined the 108th Annual Christmas Bird Count Saturday to participate in the nation's largest bird count, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Sunday. They were given paperwork and maps and then dispatched to various corners of the park to begin counting.They joined the approximately 55,000 birders in North and South America who participated ... [full story]