ZIMMERMAN, Minn. - The operator of a horse-rescue organization in Minnesota said the number of neglected horses needing care has gone up dramatically as the economy slows.Drew Fitzpatrick is now caring for 90 horses at the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation in Zimmerman. She told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press Thursday the economic downturn has been tough on horses bought when times were good.Wade Hanson of the Humane Society said calls about neglected horses are running ... [full story]

Law Enforcement agencies from the Tri-County area are joining the State of Oregon in a 14-day “Passenger Restraint Enforcement Blitz” from February 4 - 17, police announced. Local agencies participating will include Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook County Sheriff’s Offices; Bend, Madras and Prineville Police Departments; and Oregon State Police. Participating agencies will provide regular and overtime enforcement of child restraint, safety belt and other moving violations. Oregon’s new child seat laws established the following requirements: ... [full story]

PHILADELPHIA - A flight from Puerto Rico to Philadelphia arrived seven hours late Thursday after making an emergency landing in Florida because of smoke in the cockpit.American Airlines Flight 1738, which took off from San Juan at 5:40 p.m., landed at West Palm Beach just before 9 p.m. after the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Passengers arrived in Philadelphia at 4:48 a.m., about two hours after taking off from the ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. — The Central Oregon Hotshots have announced that Terry Horton will return to Bend to play for the team in 2008, the Hotshot’s fourth season in the International Basketball League (IBL).  Horton, a 6’3” guard, averaged 20.8 points per contest for the Hotshots in 2007 over 20 games.   Terry Horton will return to the Central Oregon Hotshots for the 2008 season - submitted photo Horton is currently playing in Germany for the Iserlohn Kangaroos ... [full story]

PHOENIX - A U.S. airman stationed in Iraq thought it was a joke when told he would be going to Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix, then learned the news was on the level.Airman 1st Class Chadwyck S. McDaniel, of Oldsmar, Fla., entered and won the lottery for two tickets sponsored by Packages from Home to attend Sunday's game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, the non-profit organization said on its Web ... [full story]

DETROIT - Traffic appeared to be flowing smoothly from Canada across the U.S. border into Michigan as new identification rules took effect Thursday.At about 10 a.m., waiting times were only 5 minutes at the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, the Detroit Free Press reported.Trucks at the Blue Water Bridge between Sarnia, Ontario, and Port Huron, Mich., were delayed about 5 minutes. Cars were crossing without waiting."We're the busiest land-border crossing in the country," Ronald Smith, ... [full story]

Kris Arnold has been named the 2007 Volunteer of the Year for 106.7 KPOV, Bend Community Radio.  The award was presented at the annual KPOV Volunteer meeting.    Kris Arnold, 2007 KPOV Volunteer of the Year - submitted photo“We are a volunteer powered radio station,” said Mike Riley, president of the KPOV Board of Directors, “and we are honored to have someone of Kris’ caliber volunteering for the station.  She is a ‘volunteer among volunteers’ helping to ... [full story]

LAS VEGAS - U.S. President George Bush signed a 15-day extension Thursday to allow members of Congress to debate intelligence legislation due to expire Friday.The extension to the Protect America Act gives "Congress time to pass a good piece of legislation that makes sure our professionals have the tools necessary to do their job and provides liability protections to carriers who it is assumed helped us in protecting the American people," Bush said in Las ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - An effort to create a nationwide wireless network for police, firefighters and other emergency responders hit a snag when it drew little investor interest.The Federal Communications Commission had hoped to come up with airwaves dedicated for public safety use through an auction but it drew very little interest, The Washington Post said Thursday.The FCC proposal drew only one bid and that was far below the anticipated cost.The idea was to auction off the ... [full story]

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Prineville Field Office is seeking seasonal employees for the 2008 field season. We currently have seasonal (May through October) job opportunities available for work as Park Rangers and Recreation Technicians. These are field positions with duties primarily located in remote, but often busy, recreation-based outdoor settings. Primary duties include making public contacts and informing recreationists about regulations and environmental and land use ethics, so applicants should ... [full story]