A joint English-Canadian research team has discovered genetic markers that can identify people predisposed toward developing Type 2 diabetes. The group believes these discoveries will help them to understand up to 70 percent of the disease's genetic background, and can help prevent people from developing Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease. The research is published online in the journal Nature. Led by scientists from Imperial College London and Canada's McGill University, ... [full story]

President's 'truest believers' plan mother of all presidential libraries and conservative think tanks After six years of incompetence and cronyism, a failed war against terrorism, the quagmire that is Iraq, wars against science, the environment, corporate regulation and the public's right-to-know, a chummy working relationship with the country's most reactionary conservative evangelical Christians, a politicized faith-based initiative, giveaways to the energy industry, tax relief for the wealthy, a culture of corruption culminating in the forced ... [full story]

What are you going to do with your part of $10 billion? If you are Joe or Jane Taxpayer and telephone customer, chances are that you are eligible to receive part of the broadest tax refund in U.S. history. The Internal Revenue Service estimates that up to 160 million returns will request a portion of the refund. PHONE-TAX CREDIT - Millions are expected to take advantage of the phone-tax credit. CNS Photo Illustration by Michael ... [full story]

A teacher’s aid at the Salem Child Development Center who was arrested in January and pleaded guilty to sexual abuse on a child was sentenced to 75 months in prison, authorities reported.   Joshua N. Shewell, Photo provided by SPD Joshua N. Shewell, 30, was accused of two counts of first-degree sex abuse and one count of first-degree sodomy against an eight or nine-year-old girl in 2001, Salem Police’s Public Information Officer Lt. Bill Kohlmeyer said.  Shewell ... [full story]

Dear Mr. Berko: I bought 300 shares of Life Time Fitness centers at $54.20 recently and in a rising market this stock hasn't been doing too well. In fact, I have a loss. Please tell me what you think of this company. Should I continue owning the stock? And do you think I should buy another 200 shares or do you think I should sell the 200 shares I own? I'm a member of the ... [full story]

If music were like boxing, you might expect an introduction like this when guitar mavericks Bill Frisell and Greg Leisz perform together: "In the left corner, ladies and gents, is Greg Leisz, a man so versatile he's played on albums by Beck, Wilco, Smashing Pumpkins, Joni Mitchell, Paul Westerberg, k.d. lang, Bad Religion, Matthew Sweet, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple. BILL FRISELL - Guitar maverick Bill Frisell has played with Lucinda Williams, Chet Baker, John ... [full story]

Recently honored with MotorWeek's "Best Minivan" award, the Kia Sedona is now being given The Car Book 2007's "Best Bet" distinction, along with seven other Kia vehicles: Rio, Rio5, Spectra, Spectra5, Optima, Sportage and Sorento. Rio and Optima were both recipients of the award in 2006, however this is the first time eight different models in the 11-vehicle Kia lineup have received the distinguished accolade. "Obviously we are extremely thrilled and proud to have eight ... [full story]

If it hasn't already begun to happen where you live, then over the next few months, the water in your favorite fishery will begin to warm up and all the bass will instinctively begin to think about reproducing. They will begin to move into shallow-water staging areas (shallow water warms more quickly than deep water does) to forage after a long winter before moving up on to bedding areas.   Larry Nixon is a former Bassmaster Classic ... [full story]

In an effort to protect infants and toddlers in foster care, Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) has introduced the Safe Babies Act of 2007.  Specifically, the legislation builds upon the innovative work being conducted in juvenile courts around the country, including Oregon.  The bill authorizes funding for juvenile courts to create “Court Teams” for the integrated handling of infant and toddler abuse and neglect cases in the foster care system. “In our nation, millions of children are ... [full story]

Heading south from the quirks of "Twin Falls Idaho," the Polish brothers (Mark, Michael) have gone to New Mexico, which subs for Texas, and made a sweet, congenial comedy of dreams. "The Astronaut Farmer" contains no murderously jealous astronauts. Billy Bob Thornton, looking more than ever like a Dust Bowl version of Humphrey Bogart, is the dreamer named Farmer who wants to be an astronaut. Charles Farmer was once a hot Air Force pilot, but ... [full story]