CHICAGO -- The new pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago urged his parishioners to carry on the legacy of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright in his Easter sermon.The Rev. Otis Moss III told his congregation at his first Easter sermon they should pray for the wisdom to overcome the negative image painted of the South Side Church that holds Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama, Ill., among its followers.The church's former pastor, Wright, ... [full story]

BASRA, Iraq -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki went to Basra Monday to try to restore order in a city where instability is growing, government officials said.Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said plans are under way to beef up the presence of government security forces in the city, reported KUNA, the Kuwait news agency.Meanwhile, security sources said Basra's al-Merbed Hotel was targeted by an overnight rocket attack, during which three missiles landed near the building, KUNA ... [full story]

NEW YORK -- The New York Police Department has been having trouble recruiting new officers and keeping the ones they have reportedly because of starting pay levels.A low starting salary in the high-cost city has contributed to low recruitment levels and a double-digit dropout rates among the recruits who do enlist.The New York Post said Monday that the latest academy class saw 914 officers graduate out of more than 1,100 who began the class. The ... [full story]

SASKATOON, Saskatechewan -- An outbreak of a highly contagious form of equine herpes has numerous horses and stables in quarantine near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, veterinary officials said.Dr. Katharina Lohmann of the large animal clinic of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine told the Regina Leader Post the equine herpes virus type one, or EHV-1 is much like the herpes simplex in humans, and horses can transmit it to another by sharing a feeding bucket.It does not ... [full story]

LOS ANGELES -- Meg Whitman, the new national co-chairwoman of Republican John McCain's presidential campaign, may be eying a run for governor of California in 2010.GOP strategist Rob Stutzman says by the end of the McCain campaign Whitman will have a good idea of what she'll have to go through herself to win an election in a state the size of California, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.Whitman, the outgoing chief executive officer of EBay, ... [full story]

PRINEVILLE, Ore. -- An 18-year-old Prineville man was arrested Wednesday morning following a 5 ½ month investigation into the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl at a party held in a private residence, deputies reported.   Jake Keys - CCJ photo  Jake Keys, 18, struggled briefly and attempted to flee as he was being taken into custody about 8:30 a.m., March 19, Crook County Sheriff’s detective Sgt. Travis Jurgens said. The rape investigation began October 1, 2007, ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- A 42-year old Bend man died in a hospital emergency room Thursday night after he lost control of his motorcycle, left the road and was thrown from his bike on O.B. Riley Road about ½ mile north of Empire Boulevard in Bend, Oregon, police reported.   Raymond Paul Triplett was transported by ground ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center where he was later pronounced deceased, Bend Police Sgt. Clint Burleigh said. Officers were ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- Reading over the agreements terminating the City's nascent Master Developer relationship with Ray Kuratek's and Jeff Holtzman's Juniper Ridge Partners, LLC (JRP), one thing stands out: they gain not only $2,515,000, but also an exclusive three-year option on the 50 acres surrounding the Les Schwab property. At a price to be set by up to three appraisals (one by a City appraiser, one by a JRP appraiser, and, if there is no ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- The Bend Fred Meyer store on Highway 97 is carrying a new line of eco-friendly garden products in response to the growing demands for more sustainable, organic products. The products, manufactured by TerraCycle, Inc., are made entirely from waste and school children can earn money by helping collect some of the waste items used to make the products. TerraCycle’s mission is to provide organic and eco-friendly products without charging a premium. The ... [full story]

Alternative High School Experiences Big Success With First-Ever After School Program BEND, Ore. -- Marshall High School may be small, but its students do things in a big way. At the beginning of the year, the school started a robotics program – the first after school program in the school’s 11-year history. Earlier this month, the fledgling team scored in the top three Oregon teams at their first statewide robotics competition and took home first ... [full story]