All three counties in Central Oregon saw their unemployment rates increase from December to January, while Jefferson’s gain was less than expected. Deschutes County had the lowest rate at 7.6 percent, while Jefferson County had the highest at 9.8 percent. Crook County: The county’s unemployment rate climbed to 9.5 percent in January, up 2.2 percentage points from December. The increase was greater than expected for the month. The rate is higher than the historical lows of ... [full story]

Following another vehicle too closely turned out to be a bad idea for a driver and his passenger who were arrested Monday morning on Interstate 5 north of Roseburg, Oregon after police found 11 pounds of marijuana hidden in the Washington men’s vehicle.   Vaughn James Hunt (left inset), Zachary Mack (right inset) - DCSO photos. 11 pounds of marijuana were discovered concealed in their vehicle - OSP photo  An Oregon State Police (OSP) trooper stopped a 1998 ... [full story]

A traffic stop for a speeding violation Saturday morning led to the arrest of a Happy Valley, Oregon man, and the discovery of over $100,000 worth of drugs in the suspect’s car, police announced Monday.   Manuel Martinez-Pardo (inset) - JCSO photo, and packages of suspected drugs found in the suspect's vehicle - OSP photo Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers stopped Manuel Martinez-Pardo, 24, about 10:45 a.m. on Interstate 5 north of Medford near milepost 37 for traveling ... [full story]

ALBANY, Ore. -- Federal and local authorities are continuing an investigation into an anthrax scare when envelopes containing a suspicious white powder were found at the Linn County Courthouse in Albany, Oregon on Monday.   Oregon National Guard 102nd Civil Support Team member 1st Lt. Jessy Claerhout (lower right), consults with CST Commander, Lt. Col. Steve Ferrell (lower left), before Staff Sgt. Jarrell E. Rysavy and Sgt. Joseph K. Plueard, both of the Oregon National Guard's ... [full story]

CANBY, Ore. -- Canby firefighters and gas crews initiated an immediate evacuation of a northeast residential neighborhood Monday when they discovered a leak in a natural gas line with circumstances officials called “eerily similar” to those of a Spring 2007 event in which three firefighters were inside the building when it exploded.   Firefighters and gas company crews work to protect homes and neighbors from a potential explosion - CFD photo  Fire crews first dispatched to a location ... [full story]

After five weeks, the Oregon Health Plan reservation list attracted the names of 91,675 uninsured Oregonians by the time it closed Friday at midnight. Final numbers were tallied over the weekend. The reservation list for the Health Plan's Standard benefit package, which insures a limited number of low-income adults who don't qualify for traditional Medicaid, had been open for people to sign up since Jan. 28. Within the next few days, a state computer will ... [full story]

DALLAS - A former Texas narcotics officer advises people on how to buy and sell marijuana without getting busted, in his book, "Never Get Raided."Barry Cooper, 38, an ex-cop who is widely known for reversing his stance on the war against drugs, released his second book Monday on how to break anti-drug laws without being caught, The Dallas Morning News reported. Police greeted the December 2006 release of Cooper's first book, "Never Get Busted Again," with ... [full story]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A gunman opened fire in a Florida fast-food restaurant Monday, killing an off-duty firefighter, wounding four others, and then killing himself, police said.Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Lt. Rafael Vazquez, 42, was having lunch with his wife and child at the West Palm Beach-area Wendy's restaurant when he was killed by a man who walked into the restaurant and started shooting at customers, The Palm Beach Post reported. Vazquez's wife was putting ... [full story]

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Britain is joining the United States in sending instructors to train the Pakistani military in counter-insurgency operations, the BBC reported.The report said Britain's defense ministry has already sent a team of instructors to Pakistan, while the United States plans to send up to 100 of its military trainers for a similar mission, as both countries seek to boost military cooperation with Pakistan.The objective is to check the spread of al-Qaida and Taliban ... [full story]

BUENOS AIRES - An Argentine farm worker has reportedly been diagnosed with yellow fever after a recent rash of deaths from the mosquito-borne disease in neighboring Paraguay.The man was said to have contracted the disease while working near the Paraguayan border. He is expected to make a full recovery, La Nacion reported online Monday.In Paraguay, eight people have died in the first reported outbreak of yellow fever since 1964 in the poor South American country.Paraguay ... [full story]