HILLSBORO, Ore. – A 22-year old Hillsboro man was arrested on Tuesday night after neighbors alerted police to the alleged abuse of his pit bull, whom he reportedly kicked and threw against a backyard shed, horrifically injuring the animal’s tail and head.   Brandon Matthew Nagy (above, WCJ photo) was arrested for allegedly kicking and throwing his pit bull against a shed wall, injuring it's head and tail (below, HPD photo)    Blood-smeared Brandon Matthew Nagy of 860 NE Sunrise Lane ... [full story]

REDMOND, Ore. – An 18-year-old driver was cited for failing to obey a stop sign and careless driving in connection with a two-vehicle rollover crash that injured the other driver and his passenger in Redmond, Oregon on Tuesday afternoon, deputies reported. Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies assisted by Redmond Police officers investigated the crash about 2:30 p.m., April 1, at the intersection of Antler Street and 8th Street, Sheriff’s Sgt. Vance Lawrence said. Preliminary investigation determined that Tyler ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- The Humane Society of Central Oregon is often asked, “What can I do to help the animals?”  An eleven-year-old from Bend, Oregon, Mimi Ausland, has made it as simple as a ‘click of the finger’ for anyone to help homeless animals. Through the creation of her web site, www.freekibble.com, Mimi hopes to feed the dogs in the shelter so the Humane Society of Central Oregon has one less thing to spend valuable ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. – A new x-ray inspection system was installed today and is now operational at the Deschutes County courthouse.   The added security measure is designed to enhance the current courthouse security that provides a safe environment for elected officials, court employees, case participants, and the visiting public.   Per the state mandate, the Sheriff of each Oregon County is required to provide security for the county courthouse. “You will be required to walk through a ... [full story]

PHOENIX -- A dog tied to a fence in a south Phoenix yard was killed by a swarm of angry bees that an expert said was apparently just passing through the neighborhood.The dog's owner and her cousin tried to rescue the Dalmation mix but the dog died shortly after firefighters arrived at the scene, KPHO-TV, Phoenix, reported Wednesday.Owner Chantell Amenta said she had to chain her dog Spot to a fence because he was constantly ... [full story]

PHILADELPHIA -- Abortion opponents say remarks by Sen. Barack Obama suggesting pregnancy is a punishment may hurt his chances to win the U.S presidency.Obama, a Democratic contender and Illinois senator, told a town-hall meeting in Pennsylvania Sunday he would advocate sex education in response to a question about AIDS."I've got two daughters -- 9 years old and 6 years old," Obama said. "I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. ... [full story]

NASHVILLE -- A grand jury in Tennessee will take up the case of a man accused of punishing his dog for chewing by filing the animal's teeth down almost to the gums.Chris Barnett faces felony charges of aggravated animal cruelty for his treatment of Lucas after the dog apparently chewed on wire fencing near his home, WSMV-TV in Nashville reports.At a preliminary hearing Tuesday in McMinnville, Tenn., testimony by a witness to the abuse brought ... [full story]

JERUSALEM -- Israel is concerned Syria has transferred chemical weapons to Hezbollah, while Syria has braced for an invasion, analysts said.Israeli officials decided Wednesday to redistribute biochemical masks on intelligence suggesting Syrian officials might transfer biological or chemical weapons to the military wing of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Jerusalem intelligence reporting bureau, DEBKAfile said.The Arabic-language al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper based in London quoted officials in Damascus as claiming the Israeli military is preparing for a large-scale ... [full story]

WASHINGTON -- Democrats, pointing to the slumping U.S. economy, are focusing on two economic advisers attached to John McCain's GOP presidential bid, sources said.Former Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, who guided financial deregulation through Congress, and Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive who oversaw HP's Compaq takeover before being fired, both are known as aggressive capitalists who may be falling from favor as the U.S. economy is mired in a malaise, The Washington Post reported ... [full story]

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco's Board of Supervisors has approved a resolution to greet the Olympic torch "with alarm and protest" when it arrives in the city next week.Before voting 8-3 for the measure, supervisors rejected a competing resolution to welcome the torch of the 2008 Beijing Games "in the true spirit of the Olympics," The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.Advocates for Tibet, Darfur and the religious sect Falun Gong are among groups that plan ... [full story]