WASHINGTON - An Indiana man has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for selling more than $700,000 worth of counterfeit computer software on the eBay Internet auction site, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the U.S. Justice Department's Criminal Division and Susan W. Brooks, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, announced today. Courtney Smith, 36, of Anderson, Ind., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarah Barker of the Southern District ... [full story]

Two men were taken into custody Tuesday night after crashing their vehicle through a fence and fleeing on foot, suspected of burglarizing and vandalizing the well-known tourist attraction and surrounding grounds of Petersen Rock Garden between Bend and Redmond, authorities reported.  The driver is also accused of drunk driving and auto theft.   Petersen Rock Garden    Donald J. Bowling (left), and Robert Wayne Caward (right) – DCJ photos Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the popular attraction at ... [full story]

Behind closed doors, the Bush administration is moving ahead with its long-held goal to overhaul the nation's landmark law for wildlife protection, something several politicians have tried for years without success. A leaked document shows potential revisions to the Endangered Species Act that could give states more authority over imperiled species, limit the use of some federal safeguards and curb the autonomy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 114-page document was made public ... [full story]

A former border inspector who accepted more than $70,000 in bribes for allowing illegal immigrants into the country was sentenced to 57 months in prison Monday on bribery and smuggling charges. Richard Elizalda, 56, of Chula Vista, Calif., pleaded guilty to bribery and smuggling charges in September 2006. He admitted accepting between $70,000 to $120,000 in cash and automobiles and said he allowed hundreds of illegal immigrants into the country between 2004 and June 2006, ... [full story]

A Washington man was killed Tuesday morning when his vehicle drifted onto the shoulder of the highway, struck a rock wall and overturned, Oregon State Police (OSP) reported.   Alan Ray Obermiller of Arlington, WA was killed Tuesday in a single vehicle crash on Interstate 84 about ten miles west of Boardman – OSP photo Alan Ray Obermiller, 38, of Arlington, Washington was traveling west on Interstate-84 about ten miles west of Boardman, troopers said in a ... [full story]

A 26-year old surfer overcome by a series of large waves on Yaquina Head near the north end of Newport in Lincoln County died Tuesday afternoon, Oregon State Police (OSP) reported. The male victim, whose name is being withheld pending notification of his parents who are scheduled to return from a trip outside of the country sometime today, was surfing with two friends when a series of large waves overcame the group.  The victim became ... [full story]

(Washington, D.C.) - A coalition of governmental, community and conservation organizations said Tuesday there is an urgent need to improve state and community wildfire protection and called on Congress to support increased funding for the State Fire Assistance (SFA) program managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Some of the coalition members that signed a letter in support of the additional funding included the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Denver Water, the National Association of Counties, ... [full story]

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had increased in February, retreated in March. The Index now stands at 107.2 (1985=100), down from 111.2 in February. The Expectations Index declined to 86.9 from 93.8. The Present Situation Index increased slightly to 137.6 from 137.1 in February. The Consumer Confidence Survey is based on a representative sample of 5,000 U.S. households. The monthly survey is conducted for The Conference Board by TNS. TNS is the world's ... [full story]