Ocean beach explorers lured by shipwrecks and other fascinating sights during the upcoming spring break are reminded to keep an eye on the tides and waves that exposed or created them. Beach safety education coordinator Robert Smith of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) warns sightseers and beachcombers that recent storms and the extremities of tides have greatly changed Oregon's beaches. "The ocean floor has been changed in many places," said Smith. "If you're ... [full story]

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. -- A 21-year old Portland man was arrested Wednesday and charged with the attempted murder of his friend after he allegedly shot him following an argument over a heated basketball game they had played at Somerset Park. Washington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Vance Stimler said that deputies were called to the park at 18300 SW Park View in an unincorporated area of Washington County, Oregon, about 4:15 p.m., March 19, in response to ... [full story]

MYRTLE CREEK, Ore. – Several people were injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving five passenger vehicles and two semi-trucks pulling trailers on Interstate 5 north of Myrtle Creek Tuesday afternoon, police reported.   The driver of a semi-truck was cited for careless driving in connection with the 7-vehicle pileup on an Oregon freeway - Witnesses said a semi-truck and trailer traveling south on I-5 near milepost 112 didn’t slow down as it approached backed-up traffic shortly ... [full story]

Oregon Communities Will Likely Continue To Meet Ozone Standards Wednesday's tightening of the federal ozone standard may cause many communities to scramble for new pollution controls or stricter regulations. But thanks to decades' old ozone reduction plans, Oregon's communities, even those of primary concern for ozone already meet the new standards. There are four areas of primary concern for ground level ozone (smog) in Oregon: Portland, Eugene, Salem and Medford. In 1977-78 Oregon developed ozone ... [full story]

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ore. -- Four Washington State residents received non-life threatening injuries Thursday afternoon in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 30 near the intersection with Lindberg Road in Columbia County, police reported. According to Oregon State Police (OSP) Trooper Justin Oxenrider, about 3:40 p.m. on March 13, Judith Ann Davidson, 64, was traveling west on Highway 30 in a 2000 Ford Contour when she stopped in the left lane to turn left onto Lindberg Road. ... [full story]

SALEM, Ore. -- Murder suspect Jose Rosendo Carrillo-Padilla, wanted for a 2001 murder, was recently spotted in the Salem area. Carrillo-Padilla has been on the Salem Police Department "most wanted" list since 2001 and is sought in connection with the shooting death of Miguel Ochoa-Ochoa in September of 2001.   2001 photo of murder suspect Jose Rosendo Carrillo-Padilla, fbi.gov photoCarrillo-Padilla was spotted on February 22 in the area of Lancaster Drive NE and Sunnyview Road NE in ... [full story]

ROCKAWAY BEACH, Ore. -- A 58-year old Chehalis, Washington man was killed Tuesday afternoon when he lost control of his logging truck, veered off Highway 101 near Rockaway Beach on the Oregon coast, and crashed into a hillside, police reported.   A Chehalis, Washington logging truck driver was killed Tuesday in a crash on Highway 101 near Rockaway Beach on the Oregon coast - OSP photo  Dale E. Pickett was driving a 1989 Kenwood loaded with logs when the ... [full story]

SALEM, Ore. -- Four students, a school bus driver, and the driver of the pickup that apparently crashed into the back of the Williamette Valley Christian School bus as it prepared to turn left an a northeast Salem intersection were injured Wednesday morning and sent to the hospital with injuries ranging from minor to serious but non life-threatening. The bus struck another car following impact, but that driver was not hurt, deputies reported.   Four children, ... [full story]

CLACKAMAS, Ore. -- The man caught on surveillance video allegedly masturbating then wiping sperm on a nearby woman shopping with her three-year-old daughter at a Clackamas Target store on March 8 turned himself in Tuesday at the county jail after seeing himself broadcast on local news stations.   Detectives believe the so-called "Target Masturbator" may be Ricardo Jose Faulk, who surrendered to authorities Tuesday - CCSO photo  According to Clackamas County Sheriff’s Detective Jim Strovink, Gladstone resident Ricardo ... [full story]

SALEM, Ore. — If you're waiting for a kicker check that never came, it may have been returned to the Oregon Department of Revenue because it couldn't find you. The U.S. Postal Service returned 25,000 undeliverable kicker checks to the department. So far, only 12,000 have been claimed by their rightful owners. "We still have almost 13,000 unclaimed kicker checks," said Department of Revenue Financial Manager Ken Ross. "We've posted on our website the names ... [full story]

EUGENE, Ore. – A 41-year old Eugene man originally thought to be a passenger in a pickup that crossed the centerline and crashed head-on into an oncoming car on March 4 was arrested this weekend and charged with manslaughter and driving under the influence of intoxicants.   Eduardo Gutierrez - LCJ photo  Oregon State Police (OSP) took Eduardo Gutierrez into custody over the weekend in connection with the collision on Highway 99 near Aubrey Lane that took ... [full story]

SALEM, Ore. -- A 22-year-old Salem man has been arrested following preliminary investigation into the murder and alleged sexual abuse of his girlfriend’s two-year-old daughter, police announced.   Russell Ros of Salem has been charged with murder in connection with the death and alleged sexual abuse of his girlfriend's two-year-old daughter. MCSO photo  According to a Salem Police Department news release, Natalia Lee was taken to Salem Hospital late Saturday evening and died shortly after midnight March ... [full story]

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- A traffic stop for a speeding violation on the Oregon State University campus early Sunday morning led to one arrest and one citation, the seizure of more than $2,000 cash, over a pound of marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms – drugs troopers believe would have been sold on the campus had they not been intercepted.   Drugs and cash seized during traffic stop on OSU campus. Sean Nada (inset). - OSP photos  Oregon State Police ... [full story]