Company Urges Lawmakers to Protect Americans’ Privacy BELLEVUE, Wash. – Nearly four years ago, Verizon Wireless said that a wireless directory would be a “dumb idea.”  Now, as another company leaks its plans to sell the cell phone numbers of private citizens, Verizon Wireless this week called on that company to halt the mining and sale of these numbers. “Stop it.  This is a violation of Americans’ privacy.  People expect their cell phone numbers to ... [full story]

RALEIGH, N.C. - A dry winter suggests a bad spring and summer lie ahead for central North Carolina, U.S. weather officials said.The U.S. Drought Monitor listed 70 of the state's 100 counties as being in exceptional drought this week, the Raleigh News & Sentinel reported. That is the most severe category.Normally, the winter is the wet season, when reservoirs recharge, but precipitation in January was one-quarter of the normal level. Jeff Orrock, warning coordination meteorologist ... [full story]

Years ago, facing legal and political pressure for marketing cancer sticks to youth, R.J. Reynolds put out to pasture its infamous Joe Camel mascot. Today's "Scratch-it for Schools" campaign by the Oregon State Lottery may not sport a character with a hump, but its cynicism brings back memories of old Joe. Last November, the Oregon Lottery, with help from the Oregon Department of Education, invited K-12 public schools to gamble on Scratch-it for Schools. This ... [full story]

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Researchers in Denmark tracked a genetic mutation showing that people with blue eyes have a single, common ancestor. Hans Eiberg of the University of Copenhagen and his team examined mitochondrial DNA and compared the eye color of blue-eyed individuals in countries as diverse as Jordan, Denmark and Turkey."Originally, we all had brown eyes," Eiberg said in a statement. "But a genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the ... [full story]

REDMOND, Ore. - Redmond School District is hosting two forums focusing on strengthening community connections and discussing the Facilities Task Force suggested options for a potential May 2008 bond measure. Forums will be held Friday, February 1, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Elton Gregory Middle School and Saturday, February 9, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Redmond High School.  Informational booths regarding district/school initiatives and programs will be available between 8:30 a.m. 9 a.m. During the meetings, community and ... [full story]

LOS ANGELES - The two remaining Democratic presidential hopefuls focused more on attacking Republicans than each other in a debate Thursday in Los Angeles, CNN reported.The debate was the last before the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday primaries, which could make one of the two rivals the presumptive candidate.Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois also mentioned John Edwards a number of times, CNN said. Edwards, a former senator from North ... [full story]

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed officers arrested a man claiming to be a free-lance reporter outside of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's home.The high-profile couple has been even more closely watched since rumors began swirling that Jolie is pregnant for the second time.LAPD officer Karen Smith told E! Online the alleged trespasser was arrested outside the family's Hollywood Hills home Wednesday afternoon after a housekeeper noticed a strange car blocking ... [full story]

ANCHORAGE, Ala. - A wounded Iraq war veteran is asking for help finding his snowmobile, stolen two weeks before Alaska's Tesoro Iron Dog snow machine race.Charlie Potter, who nearly lost his arm in Iraq, hopes to ride 2,000 miles in the world's longest, toughest snow machine race as part of Team Wounded Warrior to show other wounded vets that their lives can return to normal after injury, the Anchorage Daily News said Thursday.The sled and ... [full story]

SALEM – A special legislative session is set to open on February 4 based on a proposal passed early in the 2007 legislative session that establishes annual sessions.  A twenty-eight day time limit is imposed as legislators gather to review proposals ranging from economic stimulus legislation to compensation for volunteers who donate their time to non-profit organizations. “I believe that the idea of annual sessions is one that will make government more accountable and efficient ... [full story]

HARTFORD, Conn. - The Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled that a town zoning board did not engage in religious discrimination when it blocked a Cambodian Buddhist temple.The court's 45-page opinion, released Wednesday, hinged on a detailed analysis of federal and state laws, the Hartford Courant reported. The justices pointed out that Newtown officials had said they would welcome the proposed temple in a more suitable site than a residential neighborhood.The temple, if built, would be ... [full story]