PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Two teenagers were arrested early this morning when police found them walking from a pharmacy parking lot in northeast Prineville as they responded to a burglary alarm at the business.   Matthew W. Walker – CCJ photo  According to Prineville Police Narcotics Detective Jeff Frickey, Prineville Police and Crook County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 18-year-old Matthew W. Walker and a 16-year-old boy when they arrived at Hans Pharmacy at 136 NE Third Street about 12:13 ... [full story]

REDMOND, Ore. -- Police are looking for an armed, masked man who held up Sassy's Cafe in southwest Redmond Monday night, then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. A multi-jurisdictional law enforcement search of the area conducted by Redmond and Bend Police officers and their K9 police dogs, Oregon State Troopers, and Deschutes County Sheriff's deputies was unsuccessful. � According to Redmond Police Detective Sgt. Cory Chase, a report of an armed robbery at Sassy's, ... [full story]

PORTLAND, Ore. – A 78-year old man previously convicted of rape and sodomy against his four-year-old victim has once again been arrested, this time accused of sexual activity involving a five-year-old girl. Deputies are concerned there may be other victims.   Edward Donnelly, MCJ photo  According to a news release issued by Washington County Sheriff’s Office, police were made aware of allegations from a family member about the victim’s father’s roommate, Edward Donnelly, 78, on March 1. ... [full story]

BEAVERTON, Ore. –  Beaverton Police are donating time and money and have established a fund to assist the children of Nabintu Kalamba, a 49-year old woman bludgeoned to death with a hammer by her husband Namegabe Mushegero, 51, earlier this month. Three of the couple’s children, eight- and thirteen-year-old boys named Akili and Amina, and one of their daughters, Ahadi Kelekele, 24, witnessed the murder. “This was a very traumatic event and what these children witnessed ... [full story]

SALEM, Ore. – Governor Ted Kulongoski yesterday celebrated President Barack Obama’s signing of legislation that designates 200,000 acres of land in Oregon as wilderness, the highest protection provided by federal law. The hard fought legislation (H.R.146) ensures lasting protection for five special places in Oregon by creating the following new wilderness areas: Copper Salmon Wilderness, Oregon Badlands Wilderness, Spring Basin Wilderness, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument/Soda Mountain Wilderness, and Mt. Hood/Columbia Gorge Wilderness.  “Oregon is fortunate to have vast areas ... [full story]

HB 2258 Changes Formula for Individual Development Accounts to Allow More Oregonians to Qualify; Corrects Inequity for Rural Families  SALEM, Ore.  – More low-income Oregonians will be able to take advantage of a program that encourages saving under changes approved today by the Senate. Individual Savings Accounts (IDAs) are matched savings accounts for low income families that provide incentives to save for college, starting a small business, or buying a home. Previously, the single qualification for ... [full story]

SB 200 Emphasizes Housing First For People Experiencing Homelessness SALEM, Ore.  – Legislation that establishes state policies to guide efforts to end homelessness was passed unanimously by the Senate this morning. SB 200 calls for a comprehensive and collaborative system of housing plus services as vital for any success in ending and preventing homelessness. “Each person experiencing homelessness faces unique barriers requiring an individualized approach,” said Senator Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland), chair of Senate Committee on ... [full story]

SALEM, Ore. — The House of Representatives today passed legislation to make it a crime for sexual predators to use text messaging to lure young victims. HB 2641, sponsored by Rep. Andy Olson (R-Albany) and Rep. Sherrie Sprenger (R-Scio), updates Oregon’s online luring law to include the popular technology. “HB 2641 addresses a fast growing communication problem, known as ‘sexting,’ that involves sending explicit messages and photos to lure victims,” Rep. Olson said. “The legislation ... [full story]

OTTAWA -- Ministers of the eastern Canadian province of Newfoundland are lobbying European Union officials in Ottawa to drop opposition to the annual seal hunt. Leading the delegation is provincial Fisheries Minister Tom Hedderson, who says Canada's federal Conservative government should support efforts to protect the world's largest seal hunt, CTV News reported. An EU vote is scheduled by the third week of April on whether to ban the import of seal products from any country, which ... [full story]

LIVERPOOL, England -- The wife of a British drug baron who flaunted a jewel-encrusted lifestyle was sentenced to two years in jail, prosecutors said. Sara Shea, 30, pleaded guilty to money laundering and received the sentence Monday in Liverpool Crown Court after prosecutors testified that she and her jailed husband, Keith Shea, had boxes of Rolex, Patek Philippe and Chopard watches scattered through their Mersyside home when arrested, The Times of London reported. In a sentence ... [full story]