Washington, DC - Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-Oregon) announced today that he will offer an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget to raise the federal tobacco tax to fund the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP).  The Smith amendment will allow for up to a 61 cent increase in the tobacco tax (totaling $1.00) with revenue directed at the reauthorization and expansion of SCHIP.  “While I support the budget’s underlying language on SCHIP reauthorization, ... [full story]

The Minnesota company that announced last month it was buying Bend-based Unicom for $13.9 million is now being acquired by Portland’s Integra Telecom, Inc. Integra Telecom, Inc., a provider of local, long-distance and Internet services for businesses, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Eschelon Telecom, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESCH). The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2007 upon obtaining necessary governmental and shareholder approvals. Upon closing, Eschelon ... [full story]

A Wyoming couple was involved in a single vehicle fatal traffic crash Tuesday morning about nine miles east of Burns on Highway 20, resulting in the death of the passenger and minor injuries to the driver. Oregon State Police (OSP) said preliminary investigation suggests driver fatigue and an unrestrained passenger contributed to the accident and death.   76-year old Ted Frome was killed, and his wife Betty received minor injuries in the accident on Highway 20 ... [full story]

A 17-year old California resident was arrested Tuesday afternoon in connection with the stabbing of an Albany man earlier that morning, detectives reported.  The teen told police he thought the victim was breaking into a car.   Bryon Varela – APD photo About 4:45 a.m. March 20, Albany Police responded to the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Calapooia Street to a report of a stabbing.  They found the unidentified victim, a 40-year old Albany resident, lying in ... [full story]

SAN DIEGO - President George W. Bush on Monday nominated the presiding judge of the San Diego Superior Court for a seat on the San Diego federal court. Judge Janis Sammartino was nominated to fill the vacancy created by the death of Judge Judith Keep in September 2004. The Senate must confirm her nomination before she could take the seat.   Judge Janis Sammartino She was one of 11 federal judges for both the district and appellate ... [full story]

TIJUANA, Mexico - It would be the biggest sewage treatment plant the city has seen, and it wouldn't cost Mexico a penny. Won over by the possibility of free sewage treatment and the prospect of a vast supply of recycled water, high-level Mexican officials are openly endorsing a binational plant promoted by a San Marcos, Calif., company. Though set in Tijuana, the $170 million facility would be funded by U.S. taxpayers. Mexican officials have said ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - At the same time Justice Department officials were crafting letters assuring lawmakers that fired U.S. Attorney Carol Lam was "vigorously" enforcing immigration laws, they privately questioned her prosecution philosophy, made snide remarks that she "can't meet a deadline" and suggested she be put "on a very short leash" or be removed.   Carol Lam Internal memos released Monday demonstrate conflicting views within the Justice Department over Lam and seven other U.S. attorneys whose abrupt firings ... [full story]